Tech, LSU partner to solve structural integrity issues

Research, perseverance, leadership in cutting-edge science, and plain hard work toward a specific goal for more than a dozen years has led to a key partnership between Louisiana Tech University and LSU that will pay off in breakthrough industry solutions and new educational advances and opportunities on both campuses.

The two universities recently announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded the establishment of the Center for Innovations in Structural Integrity Assurance (CISIA), the first Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) for either institution.

The NSF created the IUCRC program in 1973 to foster long-term partnerships among industry, universities, and government. Administrative expenses of the IUCRC’s are provided by the federal government while research activities are supported by industry members who also vote on the center’s research portfolio each year.

“This IUCRC is a distinct recognition of the excellent research conducted by Louisiana Tech faculty in collaboration with LSU,” said Tech President Dr. Les Guice. “Our industry partners will greatly benefit from these stronger partnerships with the researchers and talented students, and that will be great for Louisiana.”

“Louisiana Tech and LSU have been close partners on funded research for a long time, and this accomplishment is one more impressive outcome of the collaborations between our faculty and administrations,” said Dr. Ramu Ramachandran, Tech’s Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM).

“With the support provided by the National Science Foundation, I am sure we will deliver exceptional value to our current and future industry partners in the coming years.”