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�ձ�av��Ƶ will improve medical imaging and health care outcomes through the advanced study and application of the chemical element germanium.

The National Science Foundation has invested $7 million in six South Dakota universities to launch "Ge-STAR: Germanium-based Science and Technology Advancement Research," a transformative research initiative that aims to position South Dakota at the forefront of germanium science and technology.

Germanium is a chemical element found in the Earth's crust and is similar in nature to silicon. Crystalline germanium is widely used as a semiconductor material in electronic applications and is highly important for the production of advanced radiation detectors, key instruments used in the search for dark matter, neutrinos and high-precision medical imaging.

This four-year project brings together a strong consortium of six South Dakota institutions — University of South Dakota, South Dakota Mines, �ձ�av��Ƶ, Black Hills State University, Dakota State University and Mount Marty University — working alongside major health care partners, such as Sanford Health and Avera Health, to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into germanium crystal growth, detector development and next-generation applications in physics and medicine. By moving from traditional trial-and-error methods to AI-driven optimization, the project will enable real-time data analysis, improved material quality and revolutionize how detectors are designed for ultra-sensitive measurements.

“This project is a major step forward for South Dakota’s research ecosystem,” said Dongming Mei, principal investigator and professor at USD. “By integrating AI into germanium technology, we will accelerate innovation, advance fundamental science and deliver practical applications in health care.”

Beyond fundamental science, the project is expected to transform medical imaging and improve early disease detection, including applications in precision oncology and radiation therapy. AI-assisted imaging techniques developed under during the project will support faster, more accurate diagnoses while reducing radiation exposure, offering benefits for patient care, particularly in rural communities. 

“At �ձ�av��Ƶ, we will help to improve medical imaging,” said Robert McTaggart, professor and assistant head of �ձ�av��Ƶ's Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics. “That includes fostering engineering physics education to improve germanium technologies. It also means modeling the use of medical isotopes with better detectors to improve image quality and reduce the radiation required in medical imaging. The artificial intelligence can then be trained on the simulation results to find cancers that humans may not notice in a medical image.”

Results of this work will allow for more accessible cancer screenings for patients in rural areas. However, improved medical imaging modalities will not mean much unless patients and hospitals use them.

����. Michelle Lichtenberg from �ձ�av��Ƶ's College of Nursing will evaluate pathways to improving both the access to and acceptance of advanced medical imaging. This is the first collaboration that I am aware of between physics and nursing at �ձ�av��Ƶ,” McTaggart added.

More than 20 researchers will collaborate on this initiative, bridging expertise in physics, engineering, computer science and materials science. The project will also train 100 graduate and undergraduate students and engage 28 K-12 teachers and 350 students.

In addition, the "Ge-STAR" project will strengthen the capabilities, enhancing its role as a national laboratory for rare-event physics experiments. The technology developed under Ge-STAR will enable internal charge amplification and machine learning-based background suppression, critical for detecting extremely low-energy events such as interactions from low-mass dark matter particles and solar neutrinos.

“This is not just a research project; it’s an investment in South Dakota’s future,” Mei said. “Ge-STAR will create high-paying jobs, foster industry partnerships, and bring global attention to South Dakota as a leader in AI-driven materials science.”

By combining cutting-edge technology, education and collaboration, Ge-STAR is poised to deliver transformative advances in science and medicine while contributing to economic growth and innovation across the region.