Graduate R&D Assistantships

The Graduate Research and Development Assistantship (GRDA) program was developed in 2006 to provide financial and technical support to South Dakota companies pursuing a research and development activity to expand their business.

• Is a joint venture between small businesses, universities, and South Dakota EPSCoR

• Allows companies to pursue R&D activities at a university

• Supports a student pursuing their Masters or PhD


“Funding from South Dakota EPSCoR has allowed me to purchase various catalysts for experimenting at the bench-top level, an essential part of the biofuel development. The work is anticipated to produce novel methods to catalyze biodiesel fuels, permitting an existing biodiesel industry to expand and a subsequent rise in production and consumption of bioenergy.”

--Erin Jo Mercer, GRDA recipient with South Dakota Soybean Processors


“The South Dakota EPSCoR GRDA has been instrumental for the progress of my program of study and the ability to conduct research with commercialization potential. The program links industry and universities, it provided early direction and emphasis on my research with support in both domains. ”

--Bernt Asklidsen, GRDA recipient with RealTronics