
Category: Research

ACU biology professor uses CCCU grant to study zebrafish
Through a 2021 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities grant, Dr. Andrew Holowiecki, assistant professor of biology at Abilene Christian University, and his team of undergraduate researchers are studying the embryonic development of zebrafish in hopes of better understanding human development. ACU was one of nine CCCU institutions awarded a grant and has received … Continued
ACU’s NEXT Lab construction permit application accepted for formal review by NRC
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has docketed Abilene Christian University’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab construction permit application, placing it under formal regulatory review. The application is the first for a new research reactor in more than 30 years and the first-ever for an advanced university research reactor. “This is a significant achievement, and … Continued
ACU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry receives continuous grant funding
Abilene Christian University’s chemistry and biochemistry programs received a research grant from the Welch Foundation this year, marking more than 60 years of funding. This round is their highest award yet at $150,000 over the next three years. The Welch Foundation supports chemistry research in Texas, and members of the Department of Chemistry and … Continued
Students help preserve campus history at ACU Museum
Abilene Christian University has over a century’s worth of history, meaning that the ACU Museum, on the corner of Campus Court and East North 16th Street, has a plethora of artifacts in need of identification, labeling and appropriate display. In the Historical Methods course this fall, students are taking part in that process … Continued
ACU named top 50 nationally in Undergraduate Teaching and Undergraduate Research by U.S. News & World Report
Abilene Christian University emerged with a strong showing in its first year as a National University in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2022-23 rankings. ACU was one of only 19 U.S. institutions ranked in the top 50 nationally in both Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects and Undergraduate Teaching, alongside Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, … Continued
ACU’s NEXT Lab awarded infrastructure grant from Department of Energy for second year in a row
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) announced a grant of $292,770 to be used for infrastructure at ACU’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab, the second consecutive year for ACU to receive the grant. The funding will expand the radioactive materials characterization capability in the NEXT Lab. Specifically, it provides the … Continued
ACU’s NEXT Lab submits construction application with NRC to build research reactor sponsored by Natura Resources
In yet another significant step toward the goal of building a molten salt research reactor, Abilene Christian University’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab submitted an application for a construction permit with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday. The application is the first for a new research reactor in more than 30 years … Continued
ACU NEXT Lab partners with Teledyne Brown to design molten salt research reactor
Abilene Christian University’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Laboratory has contracted Teledyne Brown Engineering to perform front-end engineering and design work to produce the first university-based molten salt research reactor (MSRR). “We received interest in working on this first-of-a-kind project from over a dozen top engineering companies,” said Dr. Rusty Towell, director of NEXT Lab and … Continued
Development Corporation of Abilene commits $2.9 million to ACU’s NEXT Lab facility expansion
At its July meeting, the Abilene City Council approved a $2.93 million incentive package that enables the Development Corporation of Abilene to enter into an agreement with Abilene Christian University’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab to expand its research and development facility at the former Taylor Elementary School site. “This project is an incredible opportunity … Continued