Fargo, N.D. – North Dakota State University, in the top 108 research universities in the U.S., is launching efforts to further enhance the economic impact of research at NDSU. In a planned year-long transition, Dr. Philip Boudjouk has been named to a new role as executive director of corporate research relations at NDSU.

Boudjouk will work to enhance corporate research partnerships to bring NDSU-developed technologies to the marketplace. Since 2000, NDSU research activities advanced from $50.1 million to $134 million. “This new role represents an opportunity to focus on an area that we have been working on to expand our current research relationships with the private sector, developing pathways to bring NDSU-developed technologies to the marketplace,” said Boudjouk.

As efforts continue to develop university research, Dr. Kelly Rusch joins NDSU as vice president for research and creative activity. She will facilitate, coordinate and advance research at NDSU and foster economic development. She comes to NDSU via Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La., where she served in numerous leadership positions, and served as a Dow Chemical Distinguished Professor and a Formosa Plastics Endowed Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

“I welcome the opportunity to build upon the research excellence established at NDSU. Faculty and students bring exceptional research talent to NDSU and we are working to expand opportunities that further advance research, with positive economic impact to the region,” said Rusch.

To reflect these transitions, the former title of the Office of Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer (RCATT) at NDSU is being shortened to Research and Creative Activity (RCA) as of Oct. 1.

In late 2013, additional laboratories will open in Research 1 in the NDSU Research and Technology Park, where researchers will work to develop technologies with private companies that can be transferred to the commercial marketplace.

About NDSU

NDSU, Fargo, North Dakota, USA, is notably listed among the top 108 U.S. public and private universities in the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education’s category of “Research Universities/Very High Research Activity.” As a student-focused, land grant, research institution, NDSU is listed in the Top 100 research universities in the U.S. for R&D in computer science, chemistry, physical sciences, psychology, social sciences, and agricultural sciences, based on research expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation. www.ndsu.edu/research