One example of how the RSG money has impacted is the research work of Eugene Caldona, NDSU assistant professor of coatings and polymeric materials.  His research project focuses on enhancing migration controlled autonomous reparability of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings by using hydrophobically modified graphene oxide.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based coatings are known for their unique properties: flexibility, transparency, biocompatibility, and impressive corrosion resistance. These features make PDMS an ideal material for a wide range of applications, from biomedical devices to electronics. However, one limitation of PDMS is its tendency to tear and scratch under stress, which can compromise its performance, especially in demanding environments. In the latest research, Caldona’s research team is exploring a novel approach to address this issue—integrating octadecylamine (ODA) for self-repair and fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO) to enhance the material's robustness.

This enhanced PDMS composite opens up exciting new possibilities for applications where durability and surface integrity are critical. Industries such as biomedical devices, electronics, automotive, and aerospace could benefit from more resilient PDMS-based coatings that can self-repair after damage.

Barney Geddes, NDSU assistant professor of microbiological sciences, is researching bacterial and plant phenotyping imaging and analysis with the use of flow cytometry and multi-modal microplate imaging. Flow cytometry is a lab method that measures the characteristics of cells or the particles in a sample.

The overarching goal is to create new-to-nature symbioses between rhizobia and non-legume plants (specifically cereals like wheat, maize, and rice), to enable nitrogen fixation in these crops. This would replace the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which are a significant source of environmental pollution (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication).

The research could lead to the engineering of rhizobium partners that would allow cereal crops to produce root nodules and fix nitrogen autonomously. This could eliminate the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, significantly reducing agriculture's environmental footprint and increasing sustainability.

Jiale Xu, NDSU assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, is researching the risks of polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) transport through landfill liners.  PFAS compounds, like PFOA and PFOS, are found in elevated concentrations in landfill leachates. As a result, they pose a risk to environmental and human health. These compounds are highly persistent, meaning they don’t degrade easily in the environment.

The main goal of this research is to characterize and predict the transport of PFAS through non-permeable geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) used in landfills. Specifically, the study aims to investigate the mechanisms by which PFAS migrate through GCLs; assess the influence of GCL properties (e.g., composition, thickness) on PFAS retention and transport and provide data that can inform the design of more effective landfill containment systems and improve treatment methods for PFAS-contaminated leachates.

This study is critical for assessing how long PFAS contamination risks remain and how landfill management practices might need to evolve to address these contaminants.