HELENA — Research projects at Montana State University and the University of Montana have been awarded a total of $8.3 million in grants from the university system’s $15 million Montana Research and Economic Development Initiative.
MSU plant sciences professor Barry Jacobsen won $2.27 million for his project that seeks to make farms and ranches more efficient by using data from satellites and other sensors to target pesticides and fertilizers to specific spots.
Professor Joe Shaw won $2.49 million for research on compact optical sensors that could be used for precision agriculture and medical imaging.
In Missoula, assistant research professor Sarj Patel received $2.2 million to develop diagnostic tools for survivors of traumatic brain injury and to expand clinical services.
Chemistry professor Chris Palmer received nearly $1.3 million to advance new technology to allow continuous water quality monitoring.