National Strategic Research Institute: Recent Episodes
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The National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska (NU) is one of 14 Department of Defense (DoD)-established University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) in the United States. UARCs are research organizations within a university or college that are established to provide or maintain essential engineering, research and/or development capabilities through a long-term, strategic relationship with the DoD.
Established in 2012, with the DoD sponsor, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), NSRI helps the Department of Defense and other federal agencies meet evolving national security objectives — chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive — across all domains by responsively delivering innovative research and solutions while developing the workforce.
The success of NSRI is driven by our partnership with the University of Nebraska and other universities, providing unique access to academic perspectives and research methods not currently found anywhere else in the DoD. Our research community includes over 350 researchers in diverse disciplines and state-of-the-art facilities to generate innovative, real-world solutions. Furthermore, projects undertaken from an academic perspective ensures that critical skill sets are nurtured, developed and remain available for sustaining the mission in the future.
NSRI has established and developed a research portfolio to address the research needs and advance the mission of USSTRATCOM and other DoD entities. Working with our sponsors and partners, we generate cutting-edge research solutions in the prevention, detection, protection, response and recovery from threats by:
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Conducting relevant research to address CWMD mission gaps
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Anticipating emerging/unexpected threats and rapidly responding with focused, collaborative concepts and capabilities
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Delivering game-changing solutions to the warfighter addressing the toughest mission challenges
Facilitated through the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska, a new project leverages the one-of-a-kind installation and full-scale testing capabilities of the UNL Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF). The new contract builds upon four previous projects, bringing the total funding for this work to $5 million since 2015.https://nsri.nebraska.edu/news/news-releases/2023/02/unl-midwest-roadside-safety-facility-launches-fifth-project-for-dod
How do we understand and adapt deterrence to emerging security challenges that arise from a complex system of integrated, interacting and rapidly evolving challenges?
In her NATO-funded project through NSRI, Dr. Michelle Black tested and began the validation of a multi-actor deterrence framework that helps answer this question.
Now, an NSRI IRAD team of researchers from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is exploring how to convert the methodology into a unique deterrence laboratory.
Led by Dr. Justin Bradley, the Nebraska Intelligent MoBile Unmanned Systems (NIMBUS) Lab at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is working to develop an algorithm to control drone swarms for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
The $250,000 project through the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska will leverage the lab’s custom-built "mothership" drone, years of experience and desire to take on the challenge of real-world limitations.
The work is funded by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory, which is looking to swarming technology to be able to execute time-consuming or dangerous tasks using unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Current environmental monitors typically consist of bulky, intrusive stationary or portable systems that cannot be worn comfortably on the body during physical activity.
An interdisciplinary research team of faculty and students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Texas A&M (A&M) is developing a sensitive surveillance system in the form of a wearable electronic nose that will automatically and passively monitor the air to detect previously defined environmental and chemical threats.
This new small, adhesive device transforms each person into a probe while collecting more and better data that provides decision makers with detailed, real-time information to determine threat status.
"The NSRI IRAD project has provided us the opportunity to learn more about potential airborne hazards and threats, the human body's response and available sensing technologies," said NSRI Fellow Dr. Eric Markvicka, UNL assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering. "We have also identified and addressed critical challenges related to the integration of polymer-based gas sensors with supporting electronic components and the intimate integration of these technologies with the human body."
https://nsri.nebraska.edu/news/news-releases/2022/06/nsri-irad-2021-update-personal-wearable-sensor-platform-for-detecting-localizing-wmds
Six University of Nebraska students have joined the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) as strategic deterrence interns.
Throughout the summer, they will each use their problem-solving skills to address real-world, mission-related policy and technical challenges for U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), which sponsors NSRI as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC).
“Through this experience, they will have the opportunity to dive deeply into USSTRATCOM’s primary focus — strategic deterrence,” said Maj. Gen., USAF (Ret.) Rick Evans, NSRI executive director. “Especially given current events, this is an extremely valuable experience for these young leaders who could quite possibly be contributing significantly to our Nation’s national security in the future — we certainly hope to inspire them to aim for that ambitious target.”
Full release at https://nsri.nebraska.edu/news/news-releases/2022/06/nu-students-join-nsri-as-strategic-deterrence-interns.
Dr. Neal Woollen, Senior Research Strategy Officer, National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska