Advancing Science Excellence in North Dakota (ASEND)

北达科他州“推进北达科他州科学卓越（ASEND）”计划旨在扩大北达科他州的研究能力，并加强其参与国家主流科学、工程和数学（SEM）企业的能力。 这一举措利用了北达科他州现有的研究优势，并利用机会将研究融入教育和该州的经济。ASEND计划将在北达科他州州立大学（NDSU）和北达科他州大学（UND）开发SEM基础设施。北达科他州（ND）将专注于三个研究领域：催化、生物复杂性和多感官整合。 这些领域中的每一个都被确定为国家的利基，并有助于国家利益。 在催化领域，一个跨学科的研究人员网络将建立在ND目前在聚合物和组合化学方面的专业知识的基础上，开发新的工艺和材料，特别是那些具有技术转让/商业化潜力的工艺和材料。生物复杂性的重点领域将首先集中在寄生对生物复杂性的影响。 一个跨学科的研究小组将调查寄生虫对宿主种群遗传学，景观生态学，性选择，宿主生物能量学，生物多样性和进化的作用。多感觉整合研究领域将汇集认知和感觉心理学家与神经生理学家研究感觉，知觉，认知和行动。 研究人员将研究与多感觉整合相关的神经活动的部位、结构和过程。 潜在的应用包括虚拟环境的开发和评估。 除了研究工作，ND项目还包括一个多方面的人力资源开发计划，旨在增加ND大学系统学生参与研究的机会，并增加代表性不足群体的成员数量（例如，低收入，第一代大学生，妇女，美洲原住民）参与SEM研究活动。 此外，还将实施一项技术转让计划，以促进学术界与私营部门的伙伴关系，并将研究纳入国家经济。 技术转让工作包括将本科生、研究生和教师与当地产业联系起来的项目，以及商业可行性支持项目。

The North Dakota "Advancing Science Excellence in North Dakota (ASEND)" initiative is aimed at expanding the research capacity of North Dakota and to strengthen its ability to participate in the nation's mainstream science, engineering, and mathematics (SEM) enterprise. This initiative capitalizes on North Dakota's existing research strengths and takes advantage of opportunities to integrate research into education and into the economy of the state. The ASEND initiative will develop SEM infrastructure at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the University of North Dakota (UND) North Dakota (ND) will focus on three research areas: catalysis, biocomplexity and multisensory integration. Each of these areas has been identified as niche to the state and contributing to national interests. In the area of catalysis, an interdisciplinary network of researchers will build on ND's current expertise in polymers and combinatorial chemistry to develop novel processes and materials, particularly those with technology transfer/commercialization potential. The biocomplexity focus area will concentrate initially on the influence of parasitism on biocomplexity. An interdisciplinary team of researchers will investigate the role of parasites on host population genetics, landscape ecology, sexual selection, host bioenergetics, biodiversity and evolution. The multisensory integration research area will bring together cognitive and sensory psychologists with neurophysiologists to study sensation, perception, cognition and action. Researchers will investigate the sites, structures and processes of neural activity associated with multisensory integration. Potential applications include the development and evaluation of virtual environments. In addition to the research efforts, the ND project includes a multifaceted human resource development program designed to increase the opportunities available for students of the ND University System to participate in research and to increase the number of members of underrepresented groups (e.g., low income, first-generation college, women, Native Americans) involved in SEM research activity. Moreover, a technology transfer program designed to facilitate academic-private sector partnerships and integration of research into the economy of the state will be implemented. The technology transfer effort includes programs linking undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty with local industries and a commercial feasibility support program.