Several internal funding opportunities are available for faculty with the Seed Grants for new faculty and the Faculty Development Initiative. These competitive opportunities are offered in the spring.
The Seed Grants for New Faculty program is a competitive funding opportunity available each spring semester for tenure-track or MBMG faculty in their first or second year of employment at Montana Tech.
The purpose of the program is to “stimulate research and scholarly activity among new additions to the Montana Tech faculty by providing all new faculty the opportunity to compete for seed-money grants to help them embark on a program of research and/or scholarly activity at Montana Tech.” These one-time, $7,000 awards are considered a “starter” and are expected to lead to active research projects, grant proposals, publications, and/or products of research. Proposals are typically due in March.
Seed-grant proposals are reviewed by the Research Seed Grant Committee with members from each of the Colleges at MTech.
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Birkenbuell, Lorrie |
OSH |
Assessing Particulate Matter Wall Loss with Conductive vs. Non-Conductive Cassettes used for Airborne Mineral Dust Sampling |
|
Shrestha, Kishor |
Civil Engineering |
The Performance-Based Contracting for Road Maintenance Activities |
|
Yakovlev, Petr |
MBMG |
Constraining Cenozoic Extension in the Swan Range using Low-Temperature Thermochronometry and Cosmogenic Radionuclide Dating. |
|
Zodrow, Katherine |
Enviro Engineering |
Living Microfiltration Membranes: From Biomimetic to Biological |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Autenrieth, Dan |
OSH |
An Intervention Study to Improve Hearing Protector Use in the the Montana Logging Industry: A Point-Source Approach |
|
Cox, Alysia |
Chemistry |
Merging Microbial Activity with Geochemistry in Hydrothermal Ecosystems |
|
Korzeb, Stanley |
MBMG |
Lead Isotope Study of the Boulder Batholith Mineral Deposits and Volcanic Host Rocks, Southwestern Montana |
|
Pal, Robert |
Biology |
Biogeographic Research on Exotic Plant Invasion |
|
Wang, Lei |
General Engineering |
Reliability-Based Design Framework for Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Structures |
|
Yang, Xufei |
Environmental Engineering |
Characterization of Fog Samples at and Downwind from the Berkeley Pit |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
English, Alan |
MBMG |
Using Stable Isotopes, Major Ions, and Trace Elements to Evaluate Recharge Areas and Flow Paths for Cold-Water Springs and Geothermal Springs Adjacent to Yellowstone National Park |
|
Miah, Khalid |
Geophysical Engineering |
Ice Energy - a Renewable and Sustainable Energy Source to be Harnessed in Terrestrial and Space Environments |
|
Nagisetty, Raja |
Environmental Engineering |
Application of QUAL2Kw Model to Estimate In-stream Dissolved Oxygen Response to Different Nutrient Load Scenarios for Upper Silver Bow Creek, Montana |
|
Pramanik, Brahmananda |
General Engineering |
High-Strain Rate Mechanical Characterization of Engineering Materials Via Developing Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar Test Facility in Montana |
|
Rosenthal, Scott |
Mining Engineering |
Investigation of Current Underground Mine Industry for Safe Design of Mobile Equipment Entries, Adits, Drifts and Haulageways |
|
Sorenson, Karen |
PTC |
The Rhetorical Construction of Extraterrestrial Life and the Paranormal |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Bayat, Jahan |
General Engineering |
Modeling the Mechanical Properties of Biological Cells and their Connectors |
|
Capoccia, Stella |
Biology |
Territory, Dispersal, and Population Estimates of the Urban Pidgeon in Uptown Butte, Montana |
|
Hawthorne, Nick |
PTC |
Interactive Glassware Application Development for Google Glass |
|
Hill, Bryce |
Electrical Engineering |
Acoustic Feedback for Object Tracking |
|
Mosolf, Jesse |
MBMG |
Deciphering the Helena Volcanic Fields and Eruptive and Techtonic History Using Modern Analytical Techniques |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Crowley, Jack |
MBMG |
Mobile Field GIS Deployment for Seamless Data Integration with the Ground Water Information Center: Potential Efficiencies as Compared to Traditional Paper-based Manual Data-entry Data-processing Models |
|
Scarberry, Caleb |
MBMG |
Stratigraphy of the Eocene Lowland Creek Volcano Field, Southwestern Montana |
|
Skinner, Jack |
General Engineering |
An Investment in Emerging Nanotechnology at Montana Tech |
|
Yan, Qi |
General Engineering |
Reliability of Bluetooth Travel Time Data |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Al-Rawashdeh, Waleed |
Mathematical Sciences |
Weighted Composition Operators Between Weighted Bergman and SP Spaces |
|
Revenaugh, Lance |
Business & IT |
The Role of ERP in Strategy Alignment: Examining the world’s largest ERP implementation |
|
Vertanen, Keith |
Computer Science |
Prototype Recognizer for Dwell free Eye Typing |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Getty, John |
Petroleum Engineering |
Developing standardized methodologies, quantifying instrument accuracy and designing an instrument calibration protocol for use in measuring static gel strength in oil well cements |
|
Shyba, Lori |
Professional and Technical Communication |
Book, Pathmaze: Travel, Technology and Our Changing Times |
|
Hailer, Katie |
Chemistry |
Determining the role the putative lactam utilization protein ybgL plays in the recognition and repair of the exidized guanine lesion spiroiminodihydantoin in hexavalent chromium treated E. coli |
|
Shaw, Glenn |
Geological Engineering |
Monitoring the Response of Groundwater Recharge to Climatic Variation in the Headwaters of the Boulder River, Montana |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Danielson, Chris |
Liberal Studies |
Moral Panics, Popular Culture, and the Mobilization of the New Right |
|
Klem, Michael |
Chemistry & Geochemistry |
Synthesis and Hyperthermic Study of Magnetic Nano-Materials for Potential Anti-Cancer Applications |
|
Shearer, Heather |
Professional and Technical Communications |
Organizational Communication in the 'Promised Land': How texts mediated the life cycle of Peoples Temple Agriculture |
|
Smith, Larry |
Geological Engineering |
Preliminary Age-dating of Glacial Lake Missoula Sediments with the Use of the Optically Stimulated Luminescence |
|
Sudhakar, K.V. |
Metallurgical & Materials Engineering |
Characterization and Comparison of Beta-Tiatanium (B-Ti) Alloys for Biomedical Applications |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Elliott, Colleen |
MBMG |
Purchase and Implementation of Digital Field Mapping Technology |
|
Kukay, Brian |
General Engineering |
Proof Loading, a Non-Destructive Approach to Post-Fire Assessments |
|
Meredith, Elizabeth |
MBMG |
Methanogen Nutrient Assessment of Montana Coal Aquifers |
|
Risser, Scott |
Liberal Studies |
Tangled Web: An Investigation of Online Interactions |
|
Smith Risser, Hilary |
Mathematics |
Technolgoy Counts: An examination of the uses of technology in the teaching of K-12 mathematics |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Ackerman, Frank |
Computer Science |
An Investigation into the use of scriptable commercial computer games in teaching Computer Science and Software Engineering |
|
Battle, Laurie |
Math |
Stochastic Simulation Modeling of Native-Nonnative Trout Interactions |
|
Cox, Lief |
Geophysical Engineering |
Finite element modeling and visualization software to design and interpret 3D electrical and electromagnetic surveys |
|
Van Dyne, Michele |
Computer Science |
Intelligent Multi-Agent Research Lab |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Downey, Jerome |
Metallurgy |
Control of PIC Emissions During Fluid-Bed Combustion of Tire-Derived Fuel |
|
Good, William |
Biology |
Life History and Stadia Form of the Mayfly, Ephemerella inermis Eaton |
|
Jaansalu, Kevin |
Metallurgy |
Thermodynamic Property Measurement of Metastable Forms of Metallic Elements |
|
Kasinath, Rajendra |
Environmental Engineering |
Collodial Apatite nanoparticles with active luminescent and magnetic properties for biotechnology applications |
|
Pedulla, Marisa |
Biology |
Mycobacteriophage characterization: morphological, genomic, and protein profiling of viruses isolated by Montana students. |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Alvarado, Arlene |
Biology |
Is mate choice in wild deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) affected by infection of the male by Sin Nombre virus (SNV)? |
|
Icopini, Gary |
MBMG |
Enhancing in situ Biodegradation of Organic Contaminates |
|
McGrath, Steve |
MBMG |
Recovery of Copper and Zinc from AMD Treatment Sludges |
|
Tucci, Nicholas |
MBMG |
Microbial Characterization of Iron-, Manganese-, and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in the Orphan Boy Mine Shaft, Butte, MT |
|
Zhou, Xiaobing |
Geophysical Engineering |
Retrieval of Soil Moisture from Space-borne Radar Backscattering Data in Montana |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
North-Abbott, Mary |
Petroleum Engineering |
Development of the Coalbed Methane (CBM) Petroleum Engineering Research Program at Montana Tech |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Apple, Martha |
Biology |
Instrumentation for Field Measurements of Leaf Physiology |
|
Hamon, Matt |
Professional and Technical Communication |
Enduring Legacy: A Portrait of the Basques |
|
Heath, Leo |
Petroleum Engineering |
Small Diameter Tubing Design for Wellbore Gas-Water Unloading |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Bardsley, Sally |
Safety, Health & Industrial Hygiene |
An Evaluation of the Physiological Effects of Cooling Vests Worn Under Impermeable Clothing During Moderate Work |
|
Conrad, Paul |
Mining Engineering |
Investigation of the Potential for Metals Leaching from Coal Ash Disposed in Reclaimed Surface Mines |
|
Kuenzi, Amy |
Biological Sciences |
Baseline Studies of Bat Communities in Southwestern Montana |
|
Parker, Steve |
Chemistry |
A Study of the Carbon and Oxygen Stable Isotope Fractionation Patterns During Diel Cycling in the Clark Fork River, Montana |
|
Shirk, Henrietta |
Professional and Technical Communication |
Proposal to Support the Development of a Usability Testing Lab in the Professional and Technical Communication Department |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Carstarphen, Camela |
MBMG |
Conserving and Protecting Montana's Ground Water by Creating K-12 Educational Opportunities for Teachers and Students |
|
Kennelly, Patrick |
MBMG |
First Steps Incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) Technology into Montana's K-12 Earth Science Education Program |
|
Kerschen, Mike |
MBMG |
Determine the source of CO2 in the flooded underground mines and Berkeley pit Using 13/C/12C |
|
McIntosh, Allison |
Nursing |
Collaboration Between Montana Tech Nursing Department and the Belmont Senior Citizens' Center |
|
Rose, James |
MBMG |
Age-Dating Groundwater Recharge in Springs Near Yellowstone Park |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Carstarphen, Camela |
MBMG |
Conserving and Protecting Montana's Ground Water by Creating K-12 Educational Opportunities for Teachers and Students |
|
Donovan, Rick |
General Engineering |
Rocky Mountain Agile Virtual Enterprises |
|
Jensen, Roger |
SHIH |
Signal-word Panel Formats for Workplace Safety Signs |
|
Kennelly, Patrick |
MBMG |
First Steps Incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) Technology into Montana's K-12 Earth Science Education Program |
|
Praetorius, Pete |
PTC |
Technical Communications in the Northern Rocky Mountains |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
McNearny, Rich |
Mining Engineering |
Enhancement of InSAR Imaging Resolution |
|
Olson, John |
MBMG |
Using Single Well Tracer Tests to Determine Site Specific Aquifer Hydraulic Conductivity: A New Method to Evaluate Septic Drainfield Impacts |
| Name | Department | Details | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cross, Carl |
Metallurgy |
Development of a Weldability Testing Facility at Montana Tech |
Awarded |
|
Hanson, Klark |
MBMG |
Implementation and Evaluation of Methods for the Rapid and Efficient Speciation of Metals in Sediments |
Awarded |
|
Hobbs, David |
Chemistry |
Chemical Speciation and Molecular Modeling of Aqueous Metal Complexes |
Awarded |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
English, Alan |
MBMG |
Source-Rock Determination Using Lead and Strontium Isotope Ratios |
|
Jarvis, James |
MBMG |
High Sensitivity Application of Full-scan Gas Chriomatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Screening Technique for Organic Contaminates near Lewistown, MT |
|
Rutland, John |
Business and Information Technology |
Task Relevant Ability and Group Performance |
|
Stierle, Andrea |
Chemistry |
Investigation of the Production of Bioactive Metabolites from the Yew-Associated Penicillium sp. |
| Name | Department | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Gammons, Chris |
Geological Engineering |
Hydrothermal Workstation |
|
Keller, Barabra |
MBMG |
An Evaluation of Lead and Strontium Isotope Ratios as a Technique for Fingerprinting Southwest Montana Watersheds |
|
Ziaja, Malgorzata |
Petroleum Engineering |
Application of an Experimental Technique for Measuring the Reactive Forces at the Bi-Center PDC Bit |
The Montana Tech Faculty Development Initiative is an occasional funding opportunity established to enable and accelerate research and creative scholarship by growing the number of research-engaged instructional faculty and their research/creative productivity.
Tenured and tenure-track academic/teaching faculty (including Highlands College) are eligible. These six-month grants provide up to $7,000 each. Funding may be used for summer salary, adjunct course coverage, materials, supplies, equipment, and travel clearly related to enabling and accelerating research and creative scholarship by the applicant. Proposals are typically due in November, in the years the opportunities are open.
The Faculty Development Initiative proposals are reviewed by the Dean’s Council, chaired by the Provost.
| 2017 | Department | Proposal Title for 2017 Report out in Spring 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Autenreith, Dan | OSH | A Pilot Study Examining the Effect of Head Protection Weight on Muscle Loading in the Cervical Spine. |
| Graff, Joel | Bio | Increasing the Amount of Internet Content Used in Biology Course |
| Hailer, Katie | Chem | Metal Accumulations & Genetic Changes in a Human Population in an Open-Pit Mining Community |
| Khalil, Mohamed | Geophysical | A Static Shift Correction for 2-D Resistivity Data Through Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Data |
| Koontz, Brian | CS | Identifying & Developing User Interfaces to Efficiently Present High-Volume Real-time Data in the Electric Power Industry |
| Pramanik, Brahma | Mech/Gen Eng | Developing an Efficient Model-Experiment Strategy for Predicting the Ability of Composite Material in Impact Energy Absorption |
| Richards, Lee | Pet Eng. | Treatment of Produced Water Utilizing Flare Gas |
| Stewart, Jerry | Highlands | Construction of Simulation Boards for the Automotive Technology Program |
| Yang, Xufei | Env Eng. | Characterization of Carbonaceous Aerosols Emission from Wood Stoves. |
| 2016 | Department | Proposal Title for 2016 Report out in Spring 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Campos, Isabel | LibStudies | The Sputnik & Fizzle Publishing Series. |
| Cox, Alysia | Chem | Unraveling the Mudpot Mystique |
| Elakovich, Denise | Highlands | Merging Psychology Concepts with Math Tereby Increasing Students' Retention and Math Success |
| Hoffman, Todd | Pet Eng | An Improved History Matching Methodology |
| Lovell, Elyse | Highlands | Merging Psychology Concepts with Math Tereby Increasing Students' Retention and Math Success |
| Roos, Chris | Min Eng | Evaluating the Variability in Estimates of Loading Productivity |
| Smith, Larry | GeoEng | Optically stimulated Luminescence Dating of Pleistocene & Holocene Lakes, Montana & California: Towards Climate Histories. |
| Stack, Theresa | SHIH | Standing Up on the Job for Improved Health |
| Wang, Lei | GenEng | Robust design Methodologies for Geotechnical Design of Geothermal Foundation |
| Webb, Michael | Chem | Study of Small Molecule Therapeutics for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Wesenberg-Ward, Karen | Chem | Incorporation of Aronia Berry Extract into an Edible Film to control Oral Multispecies Biofilm Formation. |
| 2015 | Department | Proposal Title for 2015 Report out in Spring 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Amtmann, John | SHIH | Effects of Swim Strokes in Labor-Wear with and Without a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) over 25 Yards |
| Apple, Martha | BioSci | Glacier National Park Snowfield Plants Project Completion and Developing a Grant Proposal on the Interactions of Treeline Dynamics with Snowpack and Snowmelt Hydrology |
| Capoccia, Stella | Bio Sci | Manuscript Completion: Biodiversity of Amphibians, Flying Icon: Feral Pigeons and their Human Ecology & The Conceptualized Environmentalist; Perceptions. Grant Proposal to Study the Sustainability of Backyard Chickens. |
| Gammons, Chris | GeoEng | Exploring New methods to Remove Nitrogenous Compounds from Mine Wastewater |
| Hill, Bryce | ElecEng | Mining Telecommunications Network |
| Kuenzi, Amy | BioSci | Climate Change and Ecological Processes Determining Sin Nombre Virus Activity in Montana |
| Kukay, Brian | GenEng | Predicting the Wood Density and Flexural Properties of Pine-Beetle Infested Pinus Contorta (Pine Beetle Kill) in South-West Montana |
| Miah | GeoEng | Design, Build and Test a Versatile Fiber-optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) System for the use in Seismic Applications |
| Mitra, Atish | MathSci | Cohomological Asymptotic Dimension |
| Nagisetty | EnvEng | Assessing the Effectiveness of Riverine Wetland in Processing the Nutrients for Blacktail Creek in Butte, MT |
| Shaw, Glenn | GeoEng | Identifying Source Waters to the Boulder River, MT: Installation of Soil Monitoring Equipment |
| Sorenson, Karen | PTC | Manuscript Completion: Cosmos and the Rhetoric of Popular Science |
| Southergill, Glen | PTC | Serious Game Strategic Communications |