InDEPENDENT research & development

innovation for mission-essential research

Through its independent research and development (IRAD) initiative, NSRI develops technical capabilities and competencies for its sponsor, U.S. Strategic Command, as well as the broader Department of Defense community focused on detecting and countering weapons of mass destruction. Through this initiative, the institute:

Partners with University of Nebraska colleagues to enable and support its core research areas now and into the future.
Catalyzes innovation efforts that support its mission and proactively serve customers throughout the Department of Defense and other federal agencies.
Cultivates national security-focused research within the University of Nebraska campuses.

Projects

Ranging from developing an agent to protect from COVID-19 to understanding the neuroscience of national security decision making to building sensors for detection of weapons of mass destruction and more, NSRI IRAD projects continue to provide University of Nebraska researchers and students have tremendous capacity for innovation and foresight in the realm of national security.

View Projects

2023 PRIORITIES

The annual request for proposals is administered through the University of Nebraska System Collaboration Initiative, which typically launches in October with applications due in January. The 2023 RFA is now closed. The following areas were NSRI's priorities for the 2023 cycle.

Strategic Deterrence & Nuclear

Data science to inform deterrence and decision making
Improvement of non-kinetic capabilities

Food, Agriculture & Environment Security

Improved diagnostics
Minimally or non-invasive sensors for disease monitoring
Surrogate development for foreign plant and animal pathogens
Transmission suppression in the built environment

Chemical and Biological Defense

Field-forward capabilities
Mobile, automated detector

Calendar

The 2023 Request for Applications is now closed. Selected projects will be announced in July.

Selection Process

NSRI manages the application and selection process for its independent research and development program through the NU Collaboration Initiative in the preliminary data and application preparation grant category.

Within this category, reviewers are asked to rate applications to determine the potential for the PI/Co-PIs to build research teams that will actively seek and ultimately receive extramural funding.

Final decision on efforts selected for funding under NSRI IRAD are made by the NSRI Science and Technology Advisory Council. Final funding decisions are made by the NU Executive Vice President and Provost and NU Vice Provost.