Pere Miro headshotPere Miro, Ph.D, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, received a $79,000 grant for his project, “Discovering the Role of Transient Species in the Nucleation of Actinide Molecular Metal Oxides.” This project is relevant to the study of old uranium mining sites such as the Edgemont Mill Disposal Site in Edgemont, South Dakota. Miro’s project will help better understand the development of new processes for the treatment of mining tailings, contaminated underground waters and nuclear waste.

Wenqin Xu, Ph.D., head shot

Wenqin Xu, Ph.D, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, received an award of $20,000 for his project in experimental support and technology development for underground, neutrinoless double beta decay. Xu’s research will continue to contribute to the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR (MJD) NeutrinoLess Double Beta Decay (NLDBD) experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota.

Both Miro and Xu plan to further their research through the grants provided by the Board of Regents.

“The Competitive Research Grant program is a great way to highlight some of the important research happening here at USD,” said Daniel Engebretson, Ph.D., vice president for research and sponsored programs. “It’s encouraging that the state recognizes the benefits of research being conducted at the universities across the state, and having the state’s support is an honor. Dr. Miro and Dr. Xu are both talented, motivated researchers who will make an impact far beyond the borders of our state.”

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