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NSF EPSCoR Projects

Through Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) awards from NSF EPSCoR, we develop and manage integrated science and engineering projects that strategically build research capacity and competitiveness for Montana. 

MT NSF ESPCoR Research

Montana EPSCoR develops and manages integrated science and engineering projects that address Montana priorities and build new research capacity and increase research competitive for the Montana University System and partners, including Montana's 7 tribal colleges. These projects are funded through competitive Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) awards through four different Tracks. NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 awards are the core of Montana EPSCoR activities, currently providing $20M over 5 years. Track-1 RII awards align with state priorities developed through the Montana Science & Technology Plan with oversight from the Montana Science & Technology Committee. These RII awards build on existing research capacity and form a partnership between Montana and the NSF. 

Current Montana Track-1 project (2018-2023): Consortium for Research on Environmental Water Systems (CREWS)

The CREWS project is a five-year, $20M NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 partnership between the University of Montana, Montana State University, Montana Technological University, Salish Kootenai College, Little Bighorn College, and business and government partners to study Montana’s environmental water systems and specific water quality issues. The PI is Dr. Ray Callaway (UM) and the co-PIs are Dr. Rob Walker (MSU), Dr. Maury Valett (UM), Dr. Jerry Downey (MTech), and Dr. Stephanie Ewing (MSU)

Project Overview: This project will investigate the sources, and fate and transport, of pollutants originating from rangeland and crop production agriculture, and from surface coal mining in Montana. The primary focus of the project is to study the fate of agrichemicals such as nitrate and pesticides across landscapes and into ground and surface waters. The research will include analysis of the interactions between these chemicals and their uptake across microbial membranes associated with agrichemical transformation, and their impacts on biofouling of reverse osmosis systems used for removal of pollutants. The sources and fates of arsenic and heavy metals released during coal mining operations will also be investigated, and the potential impacts of nitrate on algal blooms and associated transport of those metals in surface waters will be studied. The broad environmental focus of the project will facilitate programs in STEM education encompassing levels of education ranging from K-12 through mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students as well as junior faculty. Significant outreach and diversity components involve inclusion of faculty and students from two tribal colleges, and a structural equation model will be developed that will test the relationships between trust, community resilience, and demographic variables.

Sensor

 

Featured Projects

  • RII Track-1: 2023-2028

    PI: Robert Walker (MSU) PI/PD
    Sensors, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence in Real Time Fire Science (SMART FireS) is a partnership among Montana State University, University of Montana, Salish Kootenai College, Little Big Horn College, Montana Technical University and Flathead Valley Community College. The vision of this partnership is to expand jurisdictional research capacity in order to address knowledge gaps associated with prescribed fire usage and to understand prescribed fire’s impact on individuals and communities.
  • RII Track-1: 2018-2023

    PI: Ragan Callaway (UM) Project Director
    The Consortium for Research on Environmental Water Systems (CREWS) is a five-year, $20M NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 partnership between the University of Montana, Montana State University, Montana Technological University, Salish Kootenai College, Little Bighorn College, and business and government partners to study Montana’s environmental water systems and specific water quality issues.
  • RII Track-2 FEC: 2022-2026

    PI: Jesse Johnson (UM)
    The University of Montana and the University of Alaska, Anchorage will conduct scientific research that is responsive to the needs of their natural resource based economies