UND Early Career Scholars Program Sets New Record

(Photo by Adam Kurtz/UND Today)

(By Adam Kurtz. UND Today) – The University of North Dakota’s Early Career Scholars Program hit a new milestone this year, as faculty and mentors gathered to celebrate a record-setting cohort — and to hear what can happen when new researchers are given time, support and the freedom to collaborate across disciplines.

The annual ceremony took place in the UND Core Technology Services building, the new home for the Division of Research & Economic Development. At the event, scholars, mentors and campus leaders recognized the 2025 cohort’s work and welcomed the incoming 2026 group.

The Early Career Scholars Program pairs early-career faculty with experienced mentors and encourages cross-collegiate teams, with the goal of accelerating research trajectories, building lasting collaborations and positioning teams for publications and external funding. The program — now in its fourth year — funded a record number of projects this cycle.

UND President Andrew Armacost told attendees the energy in the room was hard to miss, pointing to the sense of commitment and shared purpose that comes with research and discovery — and the way mentorship and collaboration help keep that work from becoming isolating. He also tossed aside his notes, to speak off the cuff.