MUSings
Monday
November 16, 2020
Clayton T. Christian
Commissioner of Higher Education
Montana’s universities not only educate the next generation of leaders and thinkers. They also catalyze the growth of emerging industries vital to Montana’s economic future.
Research conducted by Montana faculty has led to 319 innovations currently licensed to companies for commercialization. This includes 43 new spin-out companies in the last 10 years, feeding a growing Montana innovation ecosystem in biosciences, agriculture, optics and software. In addition to partners from the private business sector, this research and development engages state agencies, non-profits, tribal colleges and community colleges to find Montana solutions to Montana problems and needs.
At the University of Montana, research in health and life sciences is contributing to a growing statewide network of Biotechnology companies. One such firm, FYR Diagnostics spun out of a UM lab headed by Dr. Sarj Patel, develops techniques to detect biomarkers that offer early indicators of disease in humans, animals and crops. Another UM spinout company, Innimune, recently attracted $22 million in venture capital to develop immune therapies and components for more effective vaccines.
Montana State University, meanwhile, has played a central role in the Gallatin Valley’s growing optics and photonics hub. Fueled by a close collaboration with MSU’s Spectrum Lab to develop new marketable technologies and Gallatin College to train optics technicians, more than 30 optics and photonics companies call Bozeman home, employing more than 800 high-tech workers. Technologies developed by MSU’s Spectrum Lab are being applied in Montana to increase agricultural profitability, map wildfire in real time and develop new sensors for autonomous vehicles.
MSU’s newest spinout, VIRIS Detection Systems, emerged from the lab of Dr. Blake Weidenheft, an expert in CRISPR gene-editing techniques. VIRIS has already received $1.25 million in venture capital funding to deploy CRISPR techniques in improved virus-testing platforms.
Now, efforts at both of Montana’s flagship campuses are deepening the statewide impact of public university research by supporting new high-tech businesses, with a focus on companies looking to start up in rural areas. The Accelerate Montana Rural Innovation Initiative at UM and Prospect Montana at MSU provide business consultations, gap funding for early stage ventures, and access to networks of Montana entrepreneurs. The goal is to see more innovations move from concept to storefront in Montana, creating high-quality jobs in the process.
Of course, the ultimate beneficiaries of this cutting-edge science — and our universities’ role in bringing the results to market — are our students, the young minds who will turn today’s opportunities to work in labs and interact with business into the innovations of tomorrow.
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Montana State University
MSU to lead study examining COVID-19's
effect on U.S. nursing workforce
 BOZEMAN — Montana State University has been selected to lead a two-year study about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses, the largest group of U.S. health care workers, focusing on changes in employment, earnings and the supply of nurses. The study is being funded by grants totaling $430,000 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, the Johnson & Johnson Foundation in partnership with the Johnson & Johnson Center for Health Worker Innovation and UnitedHealth Group.
The study is being led by Peter Buerhaus, professor in the MSU College of Nursing and director of the MSU Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies, along with co-researchers Douglas Staiger, professor of economics at Dartmouth College, and David Auerbach, senior director of research and cost trends at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission.
“Over the last century, nurses have faced many shocks, including world wars and economic recessions, but they have not experienced a pandemic in modern times,” Buerhaus said. “For the country’s well-being, it is critical to track and understand the effects of COVID-19 on the nursing workforce.”
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University of Montana
UM study reveals patterns that
shape forest recovery after wildfires
MISSOULA — New University of Montana research suggests recurring continent-spanning drought patterns set the tempo for forest recovery from wildfire.
A study published Nov. 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that forest recovery from fire follows a drought seesaw, called a climate dipole, that alternates between the Northwest and the Southwest every few years.
The researchers examined the relationship between this drought seesaw and post-fire regeneration of ponderosa pine across the Interior West of the United States. They found that severe droughts under climate change are making it increasingly difficult for tree seedlings to regenerate after fire.
“Managers and scientists are increasingly concerned that western forests won’t be able to recover from wildfire under hotter and drier conditions,” said Caitlin Littlefield, the study’s lead author. “Forest recovery hinges on the success of tree seedlings, which are particularly vulnerable to drought. We wanted to explore how patterns in drought variability across the western U.S. affect post-fire tree regeneration to better understand where and when we can predict robust recovery – or lack thereof.”
Read more
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MSU-Northern
MSU-Northern students benefit from summer internships
 HAVRE — Every summer 50-70 MSU-Northern students take part in am internship with various companies from around the globe. Those opportunities have included working on cruise ships, mining sites, research projects, agriculture, banking, police/sheriff departments, construction sites, youth programs and much more. These internships give students a chance to apply classroom learning to on-the-job situations, help students develop career skills and make connections beyond campus.
Nate Sage is a diesel student who worked for Butler Machinery in Dickinson, North Dakota this past summer. His internship allowed him to work alongside Caterpillar technicians on large diesel agricultural equipment, heavy equipment and power-generation engines.
Nate put his education to work while learning how to trouble-shoot and repair machine systems. He wrote-up detailed service reports, performed tasks in a safe and efficient manner and located and retrieved service information by way of computer-based applications and service manuals. He also had a chance to develop excellent customer service skills.
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University of Montana Western
In honor of First-Generation Student Day,
past and present scholars share their stories
DILLON — Louise Driver, Director of Financial Aid at the University of Montana Western, was among several faculty, staff and students who shared their stories earlier this month in celebration of First-Generation Student Day.
Although her parents never attended college, Driver says that they always encouraged her and her siblings to further their education.
"Go to college no matter what your age and never give up on your dream," said Driver. "It may take some of us longer to complete our degree as we put college on the back burner to focus on our family or any other reason in our life’s path. Also, it does not matter how long it takes you to get your degree, keep moving toward it, and it will happen."
Read more
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Montana Tech
USGS to award remote sensing fellowships
to Montana undergraduate and graduate students
 BUTTE — The fast-growing field of remote sensing is defined by the USGS as the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance, often from a satellite or aircraft.
To encourage students to pursue this cutting-edge field, the agency is offering 10 competitive fellowships for applied remote sensing projects for undergraduate and graduate students at six higher educational institutions across Montana. In addition to helping launch careers, the projects will provide the state with valuable data and analysis for natural resource management. Recipients will be chosen through a competitive selection process for projects related to Montana resource-management fields including agricultural, range and forest, water and minerals.
Learn More
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Great Falls College MSU
Duo cooking up plans to improve
Great Falls College MSU Food Pantry
 GREAT FALLS — Nolin Waterhouse and David Mariani love food.
Now, they are looking to share that love and the food itself with the Great Falls College campus community. The two grocery store veterans have teamed up to give the food pantry on campus a higher profile while reducing any attached stigma about using the pantry.
"They have done such a good job of organizing the pantry and promoting it around campus," said Dr. Susan J. Wolff, CEO/dean of Great Falls College MSU. "It's great to see our students doing something to help others out. We all know that there are people who can use a hand right now."
Waterhouse and Mariani are now cooking up plans for a Chopped Challenge, based on the popular television show.
Read more
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Montana State University Billings
MSUB Releases 2021 Viewbook
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Helena College
First-Generation students share their stories of being
the first in their family to attend college
 HELENA — In celebration of National First-Generation Student Day Nov. 9, Helena College shared a video compilation of stories told by current and former TRIO students from across Montana.
The federally funded TRIO programs are designed to identify and provide services to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including low-income students and those who aim to be the first in their family to attend college. TRIO programs, including Montana GEAR UP and Montana Educational Talent Search, support students and their families with college and career readiness through academic preparedness, postsecondary planning and financial aid knowledge so that they may succeed in their education beyond high school.
The video was produced by Montana's community of TRIO programs.
Watch
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Gallatin College
"Farm to Table" Restaurant Management option positions
students to be restaurant managers or entrepreneurs
 BOZEMAN — The "Restaurant Management: Farm-to-Table" option at Gallatin College is focused on management of restaurant enterprises with an emphasis on farm-to-table sourcing and healthful cuisine. Graduates find employment as foodservice and restaurant managers or as entrepreneurs launching their own restaurant or foodservice enterprise.
This option is also tied to the provision of foodservices in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, assisted living and retirement homes, as well as other institutions including schools, workplaces, colleges and universities and more. The curriculum includes hospitality-specific courses and draws from courses in sustainable food systems, food and nutrition, culinary arts and business.
Learn more
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Missoula College
Paralegal Studies program prepares
students to excel in the legal field
 MISSOULA — The Paralegal Studies program at Missoula College prepares students for challenging and diverse careers in private law practices and in the law-related areas of business, industry and government.
Students gain the skills needed to analyze legal issues and to perform a variety of activities, including drafting legal documents, interviewing clients, conducting legal research, and preparing cases for trial.
Listen to Department Chair Cheryl Galipeau and Program Director Tom Stanton discuss the field.
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