National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska

Edgar Cahoon, director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Plant Science Innovation, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the nation’s highest honors for scientists and engineers. Cahoon has published nearly 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, with his work cited more than 19,000 times. He also holds 36 patents connected to his research. His honors include an honorary doctorate from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Nebraska System’s Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award. Currently, Cahoon is involved in two large collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy. The Center for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproduct Innovation is a large bioenergy research center trying to engineer sorghum to make oil in its leaves and stems. Another DOE project, “Bigger, Better, Brassicaceae Biofuels and Bioproducts,” looks at how oil seeds and the mustard family make fatty acids, with the goal of making it a better feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel. Get details ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gXi_8jt4 #NationalSecurity #CBRN #PlantScience #AgSecurity #AgInnovation

Patrick Rhoads is the Research Director for the Nuclear Programs at the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, the University Affiliated Research Center designated by the United States Department of War and sponsored by United States Strategic Command 🤝 🇺🇸 Since joining NSRI in 2020, Rhoads has led, executed and delivered research and development projects for several federal government sponsors, including the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of State, and agencies within the Department of War, including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Strategic Command. Efforts have included policy recommendations, arms control technologies, nuclear forensics, wargames and tabletop exercises. In his 38-year federal career prior to NSRI, Rhoads rose to the executive level in 2004 and retired at this level 16 years later. Bio ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gap5E5-a NSRI Research Focus Area ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gZDZQCs #StrategicDeterrence #Wargaming #NuclearForensics #ArmsControl #NationalSecurity #CWMD #CBRN

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering and Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources have achieved “Awardable” status through the DARPA Expedited Research Implementation Series (ERIS) Marketplace. Nebraska’s solutions are designed to advance technologies for defense against potential biological threats, human-made or naturally occurring. The researchers are working in coordination with the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska, the University Affiliated Research Center designated by the U.S. Department of War and sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command, to deliver actionable solutions that enhance operational readiness against emerging biological threats. Nebraska’s video, “An AI-Assisted Early Warning Systems for Simultaneous Surveillance of Animal and Crop Pathogens at the Watershed Scale,” accessible only by government customers on the DARPA ERIS Marketplace, presents an actual use case in which researchers couple novel sample collection with real-time detection of pathogens, both known and emerging, enabled by federated AI models, said Li. Get details ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gRVydfge 📸 Noe Hernandez and Edwin Ojeda Olivares, graduate students in Civil and Environmental Engineering, conduct water samples from a local river. #CBRN #CWMD #StrategicDeterrence #NationalSecurity #HomelandSecurity #AgSecurity #Agriculture #Environment

Transdisciplinary teams of researchers from NSRI and the University of Nebraska System's four campuses are addressing many national security challenges for food, agriculture and environment security. Following are the current priorities for teams of faculty in this area. 🔹 Agriculture Cybersecurity: Advance protection of precision agriculture equipment by reducing vulnerabilities 🔹 Agricultural Chemicals: Detect, transport, treat and mitigate “forever chemicals” 🔹 Extreme Weather: Identify impacts and build resiliency methods to support national security efforts 🔹 Disease Research: Develop novel methods to prevent, detect and treat diseases of agricultural animals and crops 🔹 Built Food & Ag Environment: Investigate mechanisms to increase the resiliency of industrial food processing and agricultural processes #NationalSecurity #AgSecurity #Agriculture #CWMD #CBRN #StrategicDeterrence

Great to be on campus! 🤝 NSRI recently engaged with undergraduate researchers at the University of Nebraska at Kearney's 2026 Student Research Day, hosted by UNK's Office of Research & Creative Activity. Among the many posters, students presented compelling work in the social and behavioral sciences, including research on alliance and threat perceptions in the United States and China, and influences on problem-solving in military decision-making. 📸 Pictured: Lillian Wagoner presents her research on U.S.-China alliance and threat perceptions. #NationalSecurity #StrategicDeterrence #CWMD #CBRNE #BeBlueGoldBold

Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have been asked by federal partners to receive and monitor U.S. citizens from the cruise ship associated with a hantavirus outbreak. These individuals will be observed in the National Quarantine Unit, located on the campus of Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC. Nebraska Medicine and UNMC are working closely with the Douglas County Health Department, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and federal health partners to coordinate the effort. The National Quarantine Unit is the only federally funded quarantine unit in the United States, designed specifically to safely house and monitor people who may have been exposed to high-consequence infectious diseases. “We are prepared for situations exactly like this,” said Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Our teams have trained for decades alongside federal and state partners to make sure we can safely provide care while protecting our staff and the broader community. We are proud to support this national effort.” Watch today's press conference at https://lnkd.in/gSQd8duN. #Hantavirus #InfectiousDiseases #NationalSecurity #HealthSecurity #CBRN

The National Strategic Research Institute is conducting a year-long study to identify breakthrough solutions for radiation protection, ranging from advanced nanocomposite shielding to medical countermeasures. Dr. Terry Thiem, NSRI director of medical countermeasures, talked with Terry Gerton on the Federal Drive early this year about the project. Tune in at https://lnkd.in/guBreA96. Transcript available at https://lnkd.in/e73Ut8fr. #Protection #DefenseResearch #MilitaryHealth #CBRN #GammeRadiation

Who's working on the next generation of CBRN medical countermeasures? We are — and we need a leader to help drive it. NSRI is hiring a Director for Prophylactics and Therapeutics. This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge biomedical research and national defense, leading our efforts to develop therapeutics and pre-exposure prophylactics that protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. We're looking for someone who brings deep expertise in drug development or repurposing, understands the regulatory landscape and knows how to build and lead high-performing research teams in a fast-moving federal environment. If that's you — or someone you know — please apply. Link in comments. #NowHiring #Biodefense #CBRN #CWMD #MedicalCountermeasures #NationalSecurity #HigherEducation

Alexey Kamenskiy, Ph.D., professor and chair of biomechanics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has been inducted into the 2026 Class of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows, one of the highest professional distinctions in the field. Election to the AIMBE College of Fellows places Kamenskiy among the top 2% of medical and biological engineers worldwide. The honor recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to research, practice, or education, as well as those advancing innovation in biomedical engineering. Get details at https://lnkd.in/gpEpXd9J. Read NSRI's feature of the Biomechanics Research Building for insights and capabilities at https://lnkd.in/gihxnht7. #Biomechanics #BiomechanicsResearch #Military #MilitaryHealth

Technological innovation will bring important new benefits to agriculture, and the nation’s land-grant universities are central to advancing that progress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientist said in an April 28 Heuermann Lecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Scott Hutchins (pictured), the USDA’s under secretary for research, education and economics, said land-grants play a “pivotal role” in ag-focused research, producer impact and training of students as the next generation of scientists. “The sustainability and continuance of what land-grants provide to agriculture has been unbelievable, and it has been the reason we have been successful,” Hutchins said. #AgSecurity #Agriculture #NationalSecurity #CWMD #CBRN #Plant2026