2512856
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
NRT: Training next generation resource managers with converging technologies for sustainable uses of water and land.
The ongoing challenge of environmental degradation of water and land has significant implications for the well-being of both current and future generations.
The causes of this degradation are often complex, leading to consequences that can directly and indirectly affect various aspects of society in communities across different regions.
Without a holistic perspective and a systematic approach, the strategies used to mitigate resource degradation tend to be piecemeal, resulting in less effective and efficient outcomes.
Training resource managers with interdisciplinary perspectives and the capability to adopt a holistic approach is key to preparing the next generation of resource managers to face current and future environmental challenges.
This is especially critical for rural communities with limited access to information, technology, and economic resources that could be used to monitor their current status and develop strategies to protect natural resources.
This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the University of North Dakota (UND) will leverage expertise from the Departments of Earth System Science and Policy, Geography and GIScience, Atmospheric Sciences, and Aviation, supported by Teaching & Leadership, Education, Health & Behavior Studies, and the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems at the UND, to develop a graduate training program focused on stakeholder-driven, faculty-guided, and student-led research regarding sustainable management of water and land resources.
The training program anticipates benefiting 60 graduate students in STEM master's and doctoral programs, including 15 NSF-funded trainees (5 PhD students and 10 master's students).
The UND NRT training program will prepare future resource managers with a thorough understanding of the complex interactions between nature and society and the use of a set of advanced technologies.
The UND NRT program will foster close collaboration with stakeholders, including government agencies, tribal research and education institutions, and the private sector, to work on projects that assess the current status of land and water resources, explore practices for their efficient and sustainable use, and develop effective strategies to protect these essential natural resources.
The program will begin by building a strong scientific foundation with in-depth knowledge from fields such as earth systems, physical geography, remote sensing, autonomous systems, and environmental policy and management.
The program will then focus on cultivating an interdisciplinary research environment through close collaboration with the stakeholders on jointly developed research projects.
This approach aims to establish practical, demand-driven research directions, promote collaboration opportunities, and support the career development of individual trainees.
The NRT program will provide NRT and non-NRT trainees with a regionally responsive, place-based learning environment.
Ultimately, through a multifaceted approach, the program aims to equip future environmental leaders with the knowledge, skills, and global awareness necessary to address complex environmental challenges, protect society's natural resources, respect local values, and enhance community well-being and resilience.
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training.
The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high-priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The ongoing challenge of environmental degradation of water and land has significant implications for the well-being of both current and future generations.
The causes of this degradation are often complex, leading to consequences that can directly and indirectly affect various aspects of society in communities across different regions.
Without a holistic perspective and a systematic approach, the strategies used to mitigate resource degradation tend to be piecemeal, resulting in less effective and efficient outcomes.
Training resource managers with interdisciplinary perspectives and the capability to adopt a holistic approach is key to preparing the next generation of resource managers to face current and future environmental challenges.
This is especially critical for rural communities with limited access to information, technology, and economic resources that could be used to monitor their current status and develop strategies to protect natural resources.
This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the University of North Dakota (UND) will leverage expertise from the Departments of Earth System Science and Policy, Geography and GIScience, Atmospheric Sciences, and Aviation, supported by Teaching & Leadership, Education, Health & Behavior Studies, and the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems at the UND, to develop a graduate training program focused on stakeholder-driven, faculty-guided, and student-led research regarding sustainable management of water and land resources.
The training program anticipates benefiting 60 graduate students in STEM master's and doctoral programs, including 15 NSF-funded trainees (5 PhD students and 10 master's students).
The UND NRT training program will prepare future resource managers with a thorough understanding of the complex interactions between nature and society and the use of a set of advanced technologies.
The UND NRT program will foster close collaboration with stakeholders, including government agencies, tribal research and education institutions, and the private sector, to work on projects that assess the current status of land and water resources, explore practices for their efficient and sustainable use, and develop effective strategies to protect these essential natural resources.
The program will begin by building a strong scientific foundation with in-depth knowledge from fields such as earth systems, physical geography, remote sensing, autonomous systems, and environmental policy and management.
The program will then focus on cultivating an interdisciplinary research environment through close collaboration with the stakeholders on jointly developed research projects.
This approach aims to establish practical, demand-driven research directions, promote collaboration opportunities, and support the career development of individual trainees.
The NRT program will provide NRT and non-NRT trainees with a regionally responsive, place-based learning environment.
Ultimately, through a multifaceted approach, the program aims to equip future environmental leaders with the knowledge, skills, and global awareness necessary to address complex environmental challenges, protect society's natural resources, respect local values, and enhance community well-being and resilience.
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training.
The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high-priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "U.S. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP (NRT) PROGRAM", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF24597
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Grand Forks,
North Dakota
58202-9011
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
University Of North Dakota was awarded
Project Grant 2512856
worth $1,999,846
from the Division of Graduate Education in September 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Grand Forks North Dakota United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.076 Education and Human Resources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/21/25
Period of Performance
9/1/25
Start Date
8/31/30
End Date
Funding Split
$2.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$2.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2512856
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
491101 DIVISION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
Funding Office
491101 DIVISION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
Awardee UEI
RSWNKK6J8CF3
Awardee CAGE
4B858
Performance District
ND-00
Senators
John Hoeven
Kevin Cramer
Kevin Cramer
Modified: 8/21/25