U.S. Sen. John Hoeven recently visited with researchers at the NDSU Office of Research and Creative Activity to learn about initiatives at NDSU and their connection to Department of Defense funding. 

Hoeven has been selected for the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense, a group that provides funding for projects serving defense priorities.

During the visit, Hoeven met with Kelly A. Rusch, vice president for research; Jolynne Tschetter, executive director of corporate and foundation research relations; and researchers Dane Battocchi, assistant professor of coatings and polymeric materials; Chad Ulven, associate professor or mechanical engineering; and Shane Stafslien, senior research specialist in the Bioactive Materials Research Laboratory. 

The group toured labs and met with research staff and students. Hoeven learned about research into coatings that limit corrosion and wear on military infrastructure; research into limiting the buildup of organics such as barnacles; high performance materials created from bio-based sources, including soybeans and studies related to limiting bacterial accumulation on water filtration systems. 

“North Dakota plays an important role in our nation’s defense with missions at Minot Air Force Base, Grand Forks Air Base and our Fargo Air Guard, but our state is also conducting important research and development for our military,” Hoeven said. “We appreciate the good work of these researchers in developing new tools to keep our military on the cutting-edge.” 

“Sen. Hoeven was highly engaged in discussions with our researchers and he asked many thoughtful questions about the work,” Rusch said. “His role as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense connects well with the expertise of our researchers at NDSU and we look forward to ongoing discussions on future funding opportunities.”

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