DoD names engineering, science fellows for research program
Nanomaterials integration, lithography, and self-powered sensors are among the six research topics a Department of Defense National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellows program will explore.
By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- EDN, June 3, 2008
The Department of Defense (DoD) has selected six university faculty scientists and engineers to form the first class of its new National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellows (NSSEFF) program, which provides grants to researchers from US universities to conduct long-term, unclassified, basic research of strategic importance to DoD.
“Up to $3 million of direct research support will be granted to each NSSEFF fellow for up to five years,” said William Rees, deputy under secretary of defense for laboratories and basic sciences, in a statement Monday.
The fellows conduct basic research in core science and engineering disciplines that underpin future DoD technology development, the government branch said. The DoD did not disclose the specifics of the research areas to be approached, but said the research is crucial to applications such as sensors, surveillance, information security, cyber and force protection, and power projection. (See “NSSEFF program winners” below for more on the research topics.)
In addition to conducting the research, the fellows will have the opportunity to participate fully in the DoD research enterprise and share their knowledge and insight with DoD military and civilian leaders, researchers in DoD laboratories, and the national security science and engineering community.
The DoD reported that in response to the NSSEFF announcement, nearly 150 academic institutions submitted more than 500 nomination letters. More than 350 technical white papers were received and, following what the DoD described as a “rigorous technical review,” and 20 semifinalists were invited to submit full proposals outlining their research plans.
The DoD said it may announce additional winners of this year’s NSSEFF awards at a later date.
The DoD further explained that upon successful completion of negotiations between their academic institutions and DoD research offices, grant awards will be made to the faculty members’ home institutions for support of their research.
NSSEFF program winners
Below are the six university faculty scientists and engineers chosen by the DoD and their general research topics.
Diana L Huffaker of the University of California, Los Angeles, will explore dissimilar and nanomaterials integration as a platform for new medium and long wave infrared device functionality;
Stephen L Mayo of the California Institute of Technology will research engineering proteins for anti-viral applications;
Chad A Mirkin of Northwestern University will research functional one-dimensional structures based on on-wire lithography;
Carey E Priebe of Johns Hopkins University will explore fusion and interference from multiple and massive disparate data sources;
Barbara G Shinn-Cunningham of Boston University will research managing acoustic communications in high-stress settings;
And Susan Trolier-McKinstry of Pennsylvania State University will explore high strain actuators for miniaturized actuators and self-powered sensors.
