With the goal to maximize the impact of Federal support, each NSF EPSCoR proposal must be developed with specific research areas where science and technology growth efforts are focused.  In the past, Montana’s NSF EPSCoR funding has been channeled to successfully produce nationally/internationally recognized research centers and groups that generate significant scientific discoveries for the nation and economic growth for the region.  Just a few of the achievements in recent years include the development of the Center for Biofilm Engineering, the Center for Bioinspired Nanomaterials, the Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, the Center for Environmental Health Sciences, and the Thermal Biology Institute.  In developing these Centers, many of the same time-tested methods and programs to successfully build research infrastructure in all areas in the state have been utilized: hiring world-class faculty into the Montana University System, recruiting for and creating graduate programs, and supporting undergraduate research. Click here for past research areas or other historical information.

The current research focus areas draw upon resources that have been developed through past awards and other assets that are unique to Montana, and, for their significance to the people of this region and the nation, their viability and the likelihood of enthusiastic participation by researchers from Montana’s universities, tribal colleges and commercial research community.  The same programmatic methods used in the past to create the above mentioned research centers and to further build the science infrastructure in Montana will be used, also integrating other historically successful programs such as educational outreach and commercial start-up support, whenever possible.