Mar 19, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Research & Creative Scholarship Opportunities


Click on any of the following links for information:


Research & Creative Scholarship Opportunities

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Research and creative scholarship is an integral part of the University’s mission and an important facet of most graduate education programs. Faculty and students pursue research in virtually all academic departments on campus, and in many cases, research or creative scholarship is a required portion of the graduate programs. In addition, there are many interdisciplinary and mission-oriented institutes on campus that carry out research. Graduate students can become involved in the research occurring in the institutes and centers.

Graduate students generally pursue research in collaboration with a faculty advisor housed in the student’s major department. Academic credit is given for research, which contributes to the thesis or dissertation the student prepares as part of his/her Graduate Program of Study.

The mission of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is to support and expand competitive research and creative scholarship at USD. The ORSP achieves this mission through several activities and services including the Office of Human Subjects Protection, pre- and post-award support, internal grants programs, and relations in the context of competitive research development. Facilities that are available for student research include computer labs on campus housed in both central locations and within certain departments, scientific instrumentation, fine arts facilities, field equipment, the IRB, and other specialized resources within departments. An overview of USD’s research centers, programs and facilities is listed at: www.usd.edu/research.

Research & Creative Scholarship Funding & Fellowships

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Prospective graduate students are encouraged to investigate opportunities for research that are available to them in the discipline of their choice. Many students find financial support in the form of Graduate Research Assistantships, which are funded through a combination of University funds and research grants obtained by faculty. Students may also apply for graduate fellowships operated by a number of federal funding agencies. A list is available at the Graduate School Scholarships website (https://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/professional-development/scholarships).

Graduate Research and Creative Scholarship Grants are also available to students on a competitive basis. Through these grants, graduate students can receive support for their research or creative scholarship projects. The call for proposals is typically held in the fall and spring semesters. For more information, consult information in the Graduate Research website (www.usd.edu/graduate-school/graduate-research) or contact the Graduate School for more details.

Research Facilities and Centers

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Al Neuharth Media Center

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Michelle Van Maanen
Chair, Department of Media & Journalism
605-677-5477

Michelle.VanMaanen@usd.edu

The Al Neuharth Media Center is named for the late Al Neuharth, who was a 1950 journalism graduate of USD and the founder of USA Today and the Newseum. The center is funded in part by the Newseum Institute, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to providing a forum for educational programs and thought-leadership initiatives, as well as educational materials addressing the five freedoms of the First Amendment: speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.

The Al Neuharth Media Center houses South Dakota Public Broadcasting, the USD Department of Media & Journalism, the Psychophysiology Media Research Laboratory (Communication, Media Psychology, and related effects), and all USD student media, including KYOT-TV, KAOR-FM, and The Volante campus news organization which Neuharth edited as a student in 1949.

Al Neuharth has left behind a legacy of First Amendment rights for students, providing The Volante staff with its modern facilities, training opportunities and the Al Neuharth Scholarships for Excellence in Journalism. In keeping with his interests, the Newseum Institute has been particularly focused on journalism education, supporting the First Amendment, and helping to diversify staffing in newsrooms around the nation. At USD, it has sponsored since 1989 an annual Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media.

The Al Neuharth Media Center building is operated jointly by the Newseum Institute and the University. Conference and meeting facilities at the Al Neuharth Media Center are available for booking by university departments, organizations and programs. The refurbished building, completed in 2003 with major funding from the Newseum Institute, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and the University of South Dakota Foundation, is a popular venue for workshops, training classes, lectures, luncheon meetings and dinner programs. The state-of-the-art Newseum Institute Conference Room accommodates up to 100 for a sit-down meal and about 180 people for auditorium-style seating. The Freedom Forum Board Room is designed for smaller gatherings of about a dozen people. The center’s spectacular two-story Newseum Institute Concourse is ideal for receptions and social gatherings. For reservations and inquiries, contact Katie Heine at the Al Neuharth Media Center at 605-677-5477 or Katherine.Heine@usd.edu

Center for Brain and Behavior Research (CBBRe)

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Center for Brain and Behavior Research (CBBRe)
Lee Medical Building Room 233
605-658-6314

cbbre@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/cbbre

Our Mission

The University of South Dakota Center for Brain and Behavior Research (CBBRe) promotes innovative basic to translational research that addresses problems in neurology, neuropsychology and psychiatry. The CBBRe provides outstanding training of research students and fellows, feeding the pipeline of creative independent scientists in the fields of neuroscience and behavioral science within the northern plain states and nationally. The core members of the center are recognized in their field and are actively involved in research, the education of students, and in service to the neuroscience community.

Our Research Strengths

  • Stress and Addiction: Neural and behavioral processes underlying stress, mood and emotion, and related psychiatric disorders - particularly addiction/substance dependence and affective disorders.
  • Neural and Behavioral Development: Neural, cognitive and behavioral development and related developmental disorders - particularly behavioral/cognitive disorders, learning disabilities, and communication disorders.
  • Cognition and Plasticity: Neural and behavioral processes underlying decision making, learning, memory and motor function, and related neurological disorders - particularly stroke, traumatic brain injury, pain, cancer within the nervous system, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Center for Ultra-Low Background Experiments in the Dakotas (CUBED)

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Dongming Mei
Department of Physics
605-677-5649
Email: phys@usd.edu  

www.usd.edu/research/cubed-research

The Center for Ultra-Low Background Experiments in the Dakotas (CUBED) originated under a grant from the South Dakota 2010 Initiative in an effort to promote the involvement of scientists and students from South Dakota institutions in experiments planned for the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) at the former Homestake Mine in Lead, SD. The overall goal of the center is to perform material purification and crystal growth underground for ultra-low background experiments at SURF. When accomplished, SURF will be the only site in the world where highly pure germanium crystals are grown in a deep underground environment. The project has involved zone refining, crystal growth, crystal characterization, detector fabrication, and the detection of rare physics processes. CUBED has received significant support from the Department of Energy’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and established connections with international institutions and industry. In 2017, CUBED received a prestigious award from the National Science Foundation for Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE). PIRE-GEMADARC, an international consortium led by USD, has started international research on advanced germanium detectors and technologies for the search for dark matter and detection of neutrinos with 13 institutions across 5 counties. Internships and scholarships are provided. The majority of our graduate students have attended various domestic and international conferences and given presentations. Graduate students have the opportunity to visit schools overseas during the course of pursuing a degree in Physics at USD and most graduate students will have published research papers in scientific journals before completing their degrees. The obvious job opportunities arising for graduate students affiliated with CUBED exist at SURF, other national labs, research institutions, and with semiconductor industry partners as well as computational analysis and big data processing enterprises.

Disaster Mental Health Institute

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Raluca Simons, Ph.D., Director 
South Dakota Union 114
605-677-5353

dmhi@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/dmhi

The Disaster Mental Health Institute’s mission is the promotion, development, and application of both practice and research in disaster psychology. Through the USD Department of Psychology the DMHI offers an undergraduate Minor in Disaster Response and for psychology majors a Specialization in Disaster Response (see the psychology department’s section of this catalog for details). These programs help students learn how to serve their communities in times of disaster, and include real-world practicum experiences in preparing for or responding to disasters with American Red Cross Disaster Services. DMHI faculty are engaged in cutting-edge research and disaster preparedness and response, both in the United States and around the world, and they bring that knowledge and experience into the classroom. Students learn directly from faculty who are shaping the future of the field world-wide.

Gallagher Center for Experiential Learning & Education Abroad

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Gallagher Center for Experiential Learning & Education Abroad
ID Weeks Library, Suite 103

605-658-3599
engage@usd.edu

www.usd.edu/gc

The Center houses resources for students who want to enrich their academic experiences while making themselves marketable after graduation. Students can find opportunities for service-learning, “AWOL” service-learning programs, studying abroad, National Student Exchange, and nationally competitive awards and fellowships, among others.


Service-Learning & Community-Based Research

The center is home to service-learning-connecting academic work to community needs-as well as alternative events of service like alternative spring breaks and weekends through AWOL program. Grants are available for faculty and students who want to connect with the community to address an identified community need-either through a course or through a co-curricular venue.

 Study Abroad & Off-Campus Faculty-Led Programs
The center is the first point of contact for students and faculty who want to study internationally through the university’s study aboard programs. Students can also study at other colleges and universities in the US and its territories, and Canada, through National Student Exchange.

Government Research Bureau

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Shane Nordyke, Coordinator
Dakota Hall 233D
605-677-5242
grb@usd.edu 
 
www.usd.edu/grb 

USD’s Government Research Bureau provides expert research design and analysis services to stakeholders at every stage of the public policy and administration process. The GRB has a distinguished history of providing services to support South Dakota’s governments, nonprofits, and businesses. It leverages the research talent at the University of South Dakota to provide its clients with customized research design and analysis solutions. The GRB is committed to producing the highest quality work for the GRB’s clients while also building a place where USD’s students and faculty can contribute to the well-being of the state and region.

Institute of American Indian Studies

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Slagle Hall, Room 102
605-677-6497

iais@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/iais

Established in 1955 by the South Dakota State Legislature [SDCL 13-57-3.2], the Institute of American Indian Studies develops and promotes American Indian-related projects, activities, and programs at the University of South Dakota. These projects include on- and off-campus programs to promote education and awareness of American Indian culture and issues and strengthening relations with tribes, tribal colleges, and other appropriate American Indian organizations in the state, region, and beyond.

Missouri River Institute

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David Swanson, Director
Missouri River Institute
605-677-6175

mri@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/mri

The University of South Dakota established the Missouri River Institute to develop and promote research, education, and public awareness related to the natural and cultural resources of the Missouri River Basin. The MRI promotes interdisciplinary research on the Missouri River by contributing faculty, students, equipment, and funding resources toward research projects that address issues related to the Missouri River system. The MRI is developing new curricula and academic programs for introductory and advanced river studies at USD. This includes undergraduate courses and graduate programs centered on riverine and environmental studies. The MRI is also active in outreach projects to promote understanding of and interaction with the river. 

USD is located near the last remaining unmodified portion of the Missouri River downstream of the dams, a 59-mile section of river from Gavins Point Dam to Ponca State Park, Nebraska. The University’s unique location allows it to integrate river research within campus life on a daily basis. Under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the federal government declared this particular section the Missouri National Recreational River in 1978. It therefore provides a natural field laboratory for research, teaching and outreach activities. 

The Missouri River Institute gives students a unique opportunity to get involved directly in the Missouri River’s natural and cultural heritage. Direct inquiries about research and education opportunities to the Director of the Institute, the Student Engagement Action Coordinator, or to individual faculty mentors.

National Music Museum

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Matt Collinsworth, Director
605-658-3454

nmm@usd.edu
www.nmmusd.org

Note: The National Music Museum is closed to the public during construction of an addition and renovation of the Carnegie building.  It is expected to reopen in early 2021. NMM staff are located in Julian Hall until the construction is completed.

The ingenious intersection of music, art, science, engineering, and technology is showcased at the National Music Museum, one of the great museums of its kind in the world. Housed in a restored Carnegie library building, the NMM’s ever-growing collections of more than 15,000 American, European, and non-Western instruments from virtually all cultures and historical periods are the most inclusive in the world. Although music museums are found in many cities, the comprehensive nature of the NMM’s collection makes it the premier institution of its kind. Included are many of the earliest, best preserved, and historically most important musical instruments known to survive, dating back to as early as the 16th century. All reflect the ageless, universal power of human ingenuity and imagination. Concerts are presented amid the intimacy and superb acoustics of the Arne B. Larson Concert Hall, bringing the Museum to life with sound. Self-guided multi-media tours also allow visitors to hear many examples from the more than 1,100 instruments on exhibit in nine galleries. Group tours must be arranged two weeks in advance. Admission for USD students, faculty, and staff is free.

The NMM is also a leading institution for organological research and hosts national/international conferences that attract scholars from around the world. USD students, from across many disciplines, can find unique research ideas in the NMM. In addition to musical instruments, the NMM’s resources include a specialized library and extensive archives, with special emphasis on the documentation of the American music industry. NMM faculty and staff are leading scholars in the field, publish widely, and provide international leadership. Graduates of the University’s graduate program, with a specialization in the history of musical instruments, now hold positions with other major musical instrument collections, museums, and libraries, both in the U.S.A. and abroad.

Sanford Research/USD

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David A. Pearce, Ph.D., Executive Vice President for Innovation and Research, Sanford Health
2301 E. 60th Street North
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

605-312-6300
Fax: 605-312-6071
Email: ReseachAdminAsst@SanfordHealth.org

www.sanfordresearch.org/

Sanford Research is a non-profit organization and part of Sanford Health, an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas. Sanford Research is dedicated to excellence with research groups in Diabetes, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies, Cellular Therapies and Stem Cell Biology, Pediatrics and Rare Diseases, Environmental Influences on Health and Disease, Genetics and Genomics, Enabling Technologies, and Population Health. Central to the success of Sanford Research are its 30 principal scientists and more than 200 research staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, and administrative personnel who support them. Sanford Research is housed in the Sanford Center, a 299,000 sq. ft. building in Sioux Falls, SD that includes state-of-the-art equipment and core facilities to support a wide variety of competitive research programs.

South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN)

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Barbara Goodman
Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences
Sanford School of Medicine

http://brin.usd.edu 

The University is the lead site for the South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (SD BRIN). Project partners at seven institutions in South Dakota collaborate to conduct research funded under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. SD BRIN underwrites the Bioinformatics, Genomics and Proteomics Core Facilities and supports a large number of library scientific databases and journals.

South Dakota Oral History Center

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University Libraries, Room 231
605-677-6386
sdohc@usd.edu

www.usd.edu/library/sdohc

The South Dakota Oral History Center (SDOHC) houses collections of audio interviews relating to the experiences of the peoples of the Northern Plains. In all, the Center houses seven collections. The John S. Painter Collection, Stanislaus Maudlin Collection, James Emery Collection, Lindley Collection, and Frank Day Collection comprise the smaller five and cover a variety of topics from traditional American Indian music to an in-depth oral diary of Stanislaus Maudlin of Blue Cloud Abbey and recordings of prominent regional speakers. The American Indian Research Project is composed of about 2,400 tapes addressing experiences of Dakota and Lakota peoples and other nations of the Northern Plains. Topics range from ancient stories and traditional religious beliefs to recent political and social views reflecting Native American life ways. The South Dakota Oral History Project contains almost 3,500 recorded interviews covering a myriad of aspects of South Dakota history. The SDOHC began collecting interviews some fifty years ago and continues to do so today. A valuable resource for students and researchers, the SDOHC houses some 6,000 recordings, making it one of the largest oral history collections in the United States. The Center is located in Room 231, I.D. Weeks and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whether planning a project or simply seeking a tour, patrons are encouraged to make appointments in advance by telephone or email.

The Dr. Joseph H. Cash Memorial Library is a branch of the SDOHC that contains books, photographs, films, and videos on North American frontier history with special emphases on Native America, the mining industry, and western literature. The collection is a gift of Dr. Cash’s family to honor his service to the University as Professor of History, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Director of the Institute of American Indian Studies. The Cash Library is available for use in Room 304, I.D. Weeks by students, faculty members, and researchers, who are encouraged to contact the SDOHC for an appointment.

South Dakota Small Business Development Center

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Beacom School of Business
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
605-367-5757
jeff.eckhoff@usd.edu
http://sdbusinesshelp.com/


The South Dakota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves as an advisor for South Dakota businesses to start or grow by assisting with business planning, operational improvement, and product or market development.

Through a network of six offices across the state, we provide professional and confidential business assistance in: business planning, financial projections, exporting, contracting with the government, continuous improvement, early stage research grants, and angel capital to individuals starting a business or looking for ways to grow an existing business.

Services are provided under the SBDC umbrella through the following programs:
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - Business plan development and review, financial projections and analysis, advice on organization, management and marketing issues.

Manufacturing & Technology Solutions (MTS) - Targeted specifically to manufacturers looking to become more profitable through continuous improvement (Lean manufacturing) and innovation of new products and markets and the incorporation of technology.

Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) - Assist companies wishing to contract with the Federal or State government. Assistance includes registration, technical assistance on bid and proposal preparation, and receiving payments.

International Trade Center (ITC) - Readiness assessments and one-on-one technical assistance on logistics, documentation, payment and other issues related to exporting.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Early stage research grants for product innovation in targeted areas. Connect entrepreneurs with research and commercialization resources.

Enterprise Institute - Intellectual Property and patent right search and protection, competitive analysis and early stage equity capital identification.

W.H. Over Museum

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L.E. Bradley, Director
1110 N. University Street
Vermillion, SD 57069

605-659-6151
whover@usd.edu
www.whovermuseum.org/

The mission of the W. H. Over Museum operated by a privatized non-profit, all volunteer organization, is to collect, preserve, document, exhibit, research, study, and interpret objects relating to natural and cultural history of South Dakota and the region. The museum provides interpretive exhibits, educational programs, publications and other appropriate means of conveying an understanding and appreciation of this region.

W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership

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David C. Earnest, Ph.D., Director
Cheryl Hovorka, Program Assistant
132 Dakota Hall
605-677-5702

Cheryl.Hovorka@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/farbercenter

The South Dakota Board of Regents established the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership in the fall of 1997 as a Center of Excellence. The Center is housed within the Department of Political Science and offers a minor in Civic Leadership Studies. The term “civic” was chosen to emphasize that the Center’s focus is not narrowly governmental but rather broadly inclusive of all aspects of our lives together as citizens of a community, state, nation, and world. The mission of the Center is to prepare students and help communities to face difficult public problems in a manner consistent with constitutional values. The Center fosters responsible and ethical leadership through education, service, and scholarship in the public interest.

The W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership was founded on the belief that there is leadership within every person. Its initiative stresses the importance of principled leadership based on core values and emphasizes leadership as a process, not just a position. Viewed in this way, leadership requires responsible action of individuals in every part of society not simply those in formal leadership roles.