9452894 Engstrom The South Dakota EPSCoR Systemic Improvement Plan is designed to move the state towards greater research competitiveness in the upcoming three to five year period. The plan focuses on enhancing the research capability and productivity within South Dakota, building upon previous EPSCoR programs and independent research accomplishments. Three institutions will be involved: the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The plan is organized into two fundamental parts, the building of infrastructure and scientific research focus areas. Infrastructure development will include: 1) strategies that build a sustained research base in South Dakota; 2) strategies that impact short-term research productivity; and 3) strategies that relate to economic development. The infrastructure activities will be implemented within the context of three interdisciplinary and interinstitutional scientific research foci. The first group, "Surface and Interfacial Science," builds upon developing expertise in structure and processes occurring at the junction of two dissimilar phases. The second project, "The Role of Membranes in Cell Regulation," involves scientists from various disciplines within the biological sciences. A third project, "Imaging and Modelling of Coupled Environmental Processes," will build upon cooperation of the universities with the EROS Data Center north of Sioux Falls.
