Research Laboratory Infrastructure Improvements in the Electrical Engineering and Physics Building at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该项目涉及南达科他州矿业技术学院（SDSM T）的电气工程和物理大楼的翻新，以支持安全条件下的生产性研究活动。 对以下系统的改进预计将超过在该大楼进行的研究活动目前的安全、环境和操作要求：a）通风系统，包括湿度和温度控制; B）冷却水，以操作激光器和低温设备; c）消防安全和安全监测系统。这些改进将直接有助于提高研究和研究培训的效率、生产率、质量和数量，使研究实验室能够过渡到更安全和更有成效的研究实验室。通过改进和革新将促进和/或加强以下研究活动：a）开发下一代太阳能电池的先进材料; B）对低成本生物质原料转化为燃料的生物物理过程进行基础研究; c）开发使用纳米材料的电路、微波天线和太阳能电池网格线的低成本印刷; d）发展先进的光谱学方法，包括振动和频产生光谱学，以研究纳米热矿;以及e）半导体和铁电材料的理论和实验研究。此外，预计这些改进将有助于开发、参与和利用一系列大规模物理实验，包括与IceCube项目有关的高能宇宙射线和μ子物理实验。预计该活动将促进SDSM T的研究生和本科生的教学、培训和学习以及研究活动。此外，这些设施还用于许多外展活动，包括与邻近的美国-印度高等教育机构的合作活动，如玫瑰花蕾苏族保留地的Sinte Gleska大学。该大学保持着一个永久的美洲原住民外展计划，为南达科他州的几乎所有美洲原住民服务。 此外，这些翻新的研究实验室将直接进入更广泛的研究社区。 建筑物中的房间还为SDSM T和校园外的其他学生提供本科研究体验。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This project involves renovation of the Electrical Engineering and Physics building at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSM&T) in support of productive research activities under safe conditions. The improvements to the following systems are expected to exceed the current safety, environmental and operational requirements of research activities that are carried out at this building: a) ventilation system including humidity and temperature controls; b) cooling water to operate lasers and cryogenic equipment and c) fire safety and safety monitoring system. The improvements would directly contribute to the efficacy, productivity, quality and quantity of research and research training by enabling a transition to safer and more productive research laboratories. The following research activities will be enabled and/or enhanced by the improvements and renovation: a) development of advanced materials for next generation solar cells; b) fundamental studies in biophysical processes for the conversion of low cost biomass feedstock to fuels; c) development of low-cost printing of electrical circuits, microwave antennas, and grid lines for solar cells using nanomaterials; d) development of advanced spectroscopy methods, including Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation spectroscopy to study nanothermites; and e) theoretical and experimental studies of semiconductor and ferroelectric materials. In addition, the improvements are expected to contribute to the development, participation in and utilization of a number of large-scale physics experiments including high-energy cosmic ray and muon physics experiments associated with the IceCube project.The activity is expected to advance teaching, training and learning, as well as research activities of graduate and undergraduate students at SDSM&T. In addition, these facilities are used for many outreach activities including collaborative activities with neighboring American-Indian institutions of higher learning such as Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. The University maintains a permanent Native American outreach program, serving the nearly all Native Americans in South Dakota. In addition, these renovated research labs will be accessible directly to a wider research community. The rooms in the building also host undergraduate research experiences for SDSM&T and other students from outside the campus.