Ying Huang, NDSU associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and Welch Faculty Fellow Professor, has been named Undergraduate Research Director. In this role, Huang will develop campus-wide undergraduate research and creative initiatives; manage and serve as project lead on an undergraduate research program funded by the NIH INBRE program; and provide leadership for Student Research Day.

NDSU has key strengths in undergraduate research, including multiple federally funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs, substantial funding from NIH for undergraduate research through participation in the NIH INBRE run by UND, and a nationally renowned Discipline-Based Education Research program that includes an interdisciplinary graduate program. The robust and thriving undergraduate research campus community will benefit from the creation of the new Undergraduate Research Director position, possible due to strategic use of resources to advance the research mission. Huang will be the inaugural Undergraduate Research Director for NDSU.

“I am excited to see how Dr. Huang will build on her considerable experience in research and the use of an evidence-based framework for mentoring students and mentors themselves,” said Colleen Fitzgerald, NDSU vice president for research and creative activity. “Her candidacy was also a testament to how our RCA Faculty Fellows program develops research leadership. Her experiences as a Faculty Fellow managing the NIH INBRE biomedical undergraduate REU program positioned her to go to the next level as Undergraduate Research Director."

Adding this role is intended to strengthen contributions from NDSU’s research and innovation portfolio in support of President Cook’s goals of enhancing student enrollment, retention and academic success, and supporting practices that advance a diverse, inclusive, and accessible community for all students, faculty, and staff.

The Undergraduate Biomedical Research Program is intended to provide a coordinated, educational and dynamic research experience that encourages interest in biomedical-related undergraduate research and is scheduled for summer 2023. Student applications are being accepted through March 10 and more information is available.

Huang is an NSF CAREER awardee. During her 10 years at NDSU, she has researched smart cities, written 120 publications and earned $11 million in researching funding as PI and CO-PI. She leads a research team of 28 undergraduate and 31 graduate students, three post docs, two high school teachers, and four visiting scholars.

Special thanks to Kristen Fellows and the search committee: Ryan McGrath, Adam Gladen, and Sijo Mathew.

The Undergraduate Research Director role is a part time, two year appointment and will be effective in early March. Huang will remain an NDSU Engineering faculty member during that time.