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South Dakota State University will serve as the host of a new National Science Foundation-backed Research Experiences for Undergraduates site aimed at disrupting the illicit economy. 

South Dakota State University had been named the lead institution for a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates site aimed at disrupting the illicit economy.

Rachel Willand-Charnley, scientist and professor in ������Ƶ's College of Natural Sciences, will serve as the program director and lead investigator.

"As a scientist, I am committed to the preparation and training of our next generation scientists to develop sustainable solution that will address a variety of critical needs for our society," Willand-Charnley said. "It's a privilege to be named director of a program in which I have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research and collaborations alongside talented, well-established colleagues." 

“We approached Dr. Willand-Charnley to be the lead investigator because of her past experience and expertise as an interdisciplinary science to pull teams together from a variety of fields of expertise to produce impactful programs and research,” said Brian Logue, ������Ƶ professor and a co-investigator on the project.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) is a aimed at offering cutting-edge research opportunities for undergraduate students. REUs are hosted at different university sites each summer and are focused on solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary research.

������Ƶ's Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics will serve as the host site for this new, collaborative REU that will give nine students the opportunity to engage in unique research focused on disrupting the cyber, physical and social elements of the illicit economy.

"Students will conduct transformative research in computer science, mathematics, industrial engineering, material and metallurgical engineering, behavioral science and chemistry/biochemistry," Willand-Charnley said. "The goal is to provide the requisite training, skills and experience for participants to successfully pursue graduate studies in security-based topics calibrated toward undermining the illicit economy and advancing scientific fields."

This REU, titled is being funded through a three-year, $361,424 NSF grant.

"Our research in this REU will focus on chemical fingerprinting of substances for authentication purposes and also disruption of chemical terrorism by creating therapeutics and methods of analysis to deter terrorists," Logue said.

The undergraduate students will be mentored by faculty members as they engage in their research projects. The project will leverage the fully renovated biochemistry/tissue culture labs and organic chemistry/wet labs in ������Ƶ's Avera Health and Science Center to conduct research.

One of the research projects will be focused on the forged products that have become more and more harmful to society.

"I am working on the development of functional materials for new types of anti-counterfeiting labels," said Chaoyang Jiang, professor at the University of South Dakota and a co-investigator on the project. "It is essential for us to combat these criminal activities using a new generation of anticounterfeiting labels."

The students will also receive specialized training and skills from experts in computer science, mathematics, industrial engineering, material and metallurgical engineering, behavioral and chemistry to create a truly unique research experience.

"Undergraduate research was formative for me in my career," Logue added. "It offers the opportunity for students to critically think about problems that no one else has solved. They get to do some experiential learning in exciting areas of science."

In the latter half of the program, students will participate in workshops related to science communication and professional development. The grant will also fund opportunities for the students to showcase their work at conferences.

The long-term goal of NSF's REU programs are to provide students with opportunities to consider graduate research and careers in key areas. ������Ƶ is the host site for separate REU projects in the fields of engineering, agriculture and other life sciences.

The South Dakota School of Mines and USD are the collaborating institutions on this project that is jointly funded through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Applications for the REU program are due March 7.