The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, the University of North Dakota (UND) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) announced today that they are developing a regional partnership to explore complementary scientific research efforts.
The partnership will allow the three organizations to conduct more joint research in the areas of high-performance computing, nano science, national security, energy and environmental science. UND, NDSU and Argonne, a multi-purpose scientific laboratory located outside of Chicago, have had ongoing discussions about joint research opportunities for three years and are now exploring ways to expand collaboration.
"This is a true testament to the success of the Red River Valley Research Corridor (RRVRC)," Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D, said. "Our nation's Department of Energy national labs are hotbeds of technological development and research, and Argonne wants to build on the innovation happening here in North Dakota with a partnership that will allow them to work together on the greatest energy challenges facing the nation. This is an exciting day for the research corridor, one that will lead to a growth in our research industry and attract new, high-paying jobs to the state."
The RRVRC is a corridor along the Red River of the North that is anchored by UND and NDSU. It was established in 2002 by Dorgan in an effort to bring research dollars to North Dakota.
The formalization of this partnership will enable Argonne, UND, and NDSU to engage in basic research projects that require a long-term commitment and will enhance each organization's efforts to develop technologies that will address the nation's energy and environmental challenges.
UND and NDSU scientists have already accessed Argonne's Advanced Photon Source and the Center for Nanoscale Materials, two world-class scientific user facilities located at the laboratory. Other opportunities exist to perform research at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, which houses one of the world's fastest public computers for scientific study, and initiate collaborative research projects.
"This three-party partnership will support President Obama's plan to reinvigorate the American scientific enterprise," Argonne director Eric Isaacs said. "It will open the door to university faculty exchanges and expand the educational opportunities for UND and NDSU students by means of internships. Argonne runs very robust graduate and undergraduate research programs that pair some of the world's brightest scientists with students, who assist in research to solve real world challenges."