The National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska has appointed 21 NU researchers as NSRI Fellows. Hailing from the four NU campuses, the researchers span disciplines from engineering to psychology, food science to cybersecurity and more.
As a University Affiliated Research Center designated by the Department of Defense and sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command, NSRI and NU must maintain essential engineering and technology capabilities for the DOD to leverage. More than 140 NU researchers serve as NSRI Fellows to help fulfill UARC requirements and deliver solutions.
“NSRI Fellows bring forward expertise and enthusiasm to contribute solutions to our primary DOD mission areas — strategic deterrence and countering weapons of mass destruction,” said Joshua Santarpia, PhD, NSRI fellows program director and science and technology advisor, as well as an associate professor of pathology and microbiology at UNMC. “While NSRI serves as a trusted resource and guide, NSRI Fellows build the capacity of the four campuses and our institute to deliver. They help ensure we can meet our commitment and our mission.”
Nominated by their peers, confirmed by campus research offices and appointed by NSRI leadership, the cohort of new fellows offers a broad range of expertise that can be applied to challenges within warfighter safety, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations and NSRI’s recently launched focus area — food, agriculture and environment security.
UNMC’s NSRI Fellows 2023 Cohort
- Christopher Barrett, MD, assistant professor, UNMC Department of Surgery
- Elizabeth Beam, PhD, assistant professor, UNMC College of Nursing
- Edward Fehringer, MD, professor, UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
- Mark Hamill, MD, associate professor, UNMC Department of Surgery
- Kevin Kemp, MD, assistant professor, UNMC Department of Surgery
- Joseph Khoury, MD, Stokes-Shackleford Professor and Chair, UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology
- Miguel Matos, DO, associate professor, UNMC Department of Surgery
- Micah Schott, PhD, assistant professor, UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Dong Wang, PhD, UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Sowmya Yelamanchili, PhD, associate professor, UNMC Department of Anesthesiology
One of the new fellows from UNMC, Dr. Beam, spoke about how she has dedicated much of her career to mission-critical training and education, working within the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit at UNMC. She also served as the principal investigator of the 2021 NSRI independent research and development project, “Educational strategy assessment for improving respiratory protection equipment use.”
“I am the granddaughter of a Nebraska World War II Hump Pilot, so I always feel a connection to the Air Force,” Dr. Beam said. “I like the idea of projects that are based in relationships and moving critical ideas forward. Several areas of my work may have applications, and I look forward to learning more about how my research interests could be helpful to NSRI’s mission.”
The nomination process for new fellows will begin Nov. 1. Learn more about the NSRI fellows at the National Strategic Research Institute.
Congratulations Dr. Beam and all of the NSRI fellows!