S.D. Professors display importance of research

S.D. Professors display importance of research South Dakota professors traveled to Washington, DC last week to display their cutting-edge research to federal policy makers at the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)/Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Coalition meeting. The meeting gives researchers from South Dakota an opportunity to showcase the current state-of the-art research being conducted that has been supported by South Dakota EPSCoR. Dr. Garth Spellman from Black Hills State University, Dr. Gina Forster from The University of South Dakota, and Dr. Chaoyang Jiang also from USD attended the annual EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition meeting. "The coalition meeting provides a great opportunity to show federal policy makers the research being done in South Dakota with the help of programs such as EPSCoR," said Jiang. Forster's research examines the neurobiology of stress and addiction by studying the interaction between chronic stress and drugs of abuse. Jiang researches plasmonic materials, which with their unique optimal performance provide superior potential for applications such as ultra sensitive chemical detectors, board-range solar cells, and a nano-electro-mechanical system. Spellman's research focuses on understanding and preserving biodiversity through evolutionary genetics. South Dakota EPSCoR promotes research, builds research infrastructure, and stimulates technology-based economic development throughout the state of South Dakota.  To learn more about the research displayed in Washington DC go to www.sdepscor.org.