Research Office

Internal Funding Opportunities

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.

Seed Grants for New Faculty

2022 Call For Proposals Research Seed Grants FOR NEW FACULTY will be issued March 2022.

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.

Past Awardees and Projects

2021
Name	Department	Details
Gavillott, Yann	MBMG	Paleoseismic Investigation of the Bitterroot fault to Improve Seismic Hazards Assessments of the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys, western Montana
Huft, Nathan	Mechanical Engineering	Cold wire gas metal arc welding for additive manufacturing, cladding, and joining

2020
Name	Department	Details
Irons, Trevor	Geophysical Engineering	Next generating batteries for geophysical and remote sensing applications

2019
Name	Department	Details
Atkinson, Dawn Corbitt, Stacey	Writing	Create & Investigate the development of an open textbook for a co-requisite pairing of Writing Fundamentals and Introduction to Technical Writing
Gilkey, David	SHIH	EHAC survey analysis
Gotkowitz, Madeline	MBMG	Groundwater recharge estimates informed by stable isotopes of water
Oppong Anane, Akua	Freshman Engineering	Tabletop university game to increase freshman engineering student engagement at Montana Tech
Staple, Ryan	Biological Science	Blood storage lesion

2018
Name	Department	Details
Curtiss, Phillip	Computer Science	Fusing Data Sets from the VAO using a modified 2D DWT for viewing in the NASA FITS Liberator
Graff, Joel	Biological Sciences	Identifying and prioritize novel mycobacteriophage proteins that warrant further investigation in the laboratory
Jiang, Daqian	Environmental Engineering	Bio-Electrochemically Induced Degradation of 8:2-fluorotelometer alcohol: Feasibility and Mechanisms
Lucon, Peter	Mechanical Engineering	Acquire instrumentation, build proof of concept devices, and generate initial data for NSF, DARPA, DOE and NSF MRI
Prieto, Dario	Mechanical Engineering	In-operando study of mining byproducts as catalysts for natural gas upgrading
Thomson, Connie	MBMG	Determining surface water influences on groundwater near the Montana Resources process water pond

2017
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

2016
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

2015
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

2014
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

2013
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

2012
Name	Department	Details
Al-Rawashdeh, Waleed	Mathematical Sciences	Weighted Composition Operators Between Weighted Bergman and S^P 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

2011
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

2010
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

2009
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	Technology Counts: An examination of the uses of technology in the teaching of K-12 mathematics

2008
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

2007
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.

2006
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

2005
Name	Department	Details
North-Abbott, Mary	Petroleum Engineering	Development of the Coalbed Methane (CBM) Petroleum Engineering Research Program at Montana Tech

2004
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

2003
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

2002
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

2001
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

2000
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

1999
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

1998
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.

1997
Name	Department	Details
Gammons, Chris	Geological Engineering	Hydrothermal Workstation
Keller, Barbara	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

Faculty Development Initiative

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.

Past Awardees and Projects

2017 - 2018
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 - 2017
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 - 2016
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