The National Strategic Research Institute has appointed 14 University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty as NSRI fellows. The group is among 30 NU system researchers named 2024 NSRI fellows.

Bringing forward their expertise from a range of disciplines — chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, pharmacology, psychology and more — the new fellows expand the network to 161 researchers. NSRI Fellows aim to build multidisciplinary teams that develop solutions for complex problems across the spectrum of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.

“It is motivating to see this program continue to expand — to see so many University of Nebraska researchers commit to using their expertise for national security,” said Joshua Santarpia, NSRI science and technology adviser. “Advancing and evolving threats demand this type of nimble, interdisciplinary contingent of academic researchers. This network has already proven to be incredibly valuable to NSRI and the U.S. Department of Defense, and we look forward to engaging this new group of fellows.”

NSRI is the DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Center sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command and affiliated with the University of Nebraska System. As a UARC, NSRI must maintain essential research and engineering capabilities for the DOD to leverage. The NSRI fellows help bring that requirement to fruition, contributing their expertise, laboratories and students to deliver defense solutions.

The 14 new fellows from UNL are:

• Aron Barbey, psychology
• Rick Bevins, psychology
• Andreia Bianchini-Huebner, food science and technology
• Clay Cressler, biological sciences
• Nathan Huynh, civil and environmental engineering
• Louise Lynch-O’Brien, entomology
• Patrice McMahon, political science
• Benny Mote, animal science
• Massimiliano Pierobon, computing
• Robert Powers, chemistry
• John Ruberson, entomology
• Cody Stolle, mechanical and materials engineering
• Harkamal Walia, agronomy and horticulture
• Karrie Weber, biological sciences

Stolle, research assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, focuses his research on vehicles, structures, computer simulation analysis and the design of features for structural rigidity and energy absorption. Leveraging the staff and capabilities of the UNL Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, he provides tested and crashworthy designs of perimeter defense systems, transportation safety and logistics solutions, threat deterrence and countermeasure assistance and improved threat identification procedures.

“I am thrilled to be an NSRI fellow and join an elite collection of specialized and talented experts contributing to the protection of the nation’s warfighters and infrastructure,” Stolle said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute my body of knowledge and the capabilities of the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility to NSRI’s focus areas of strategic deterrence, threat-based training, and threat detection and countermeasure development.”