Center Directors
Stephen Gent
605-688-5337 | stephen.gent@sdstate.edu
Stephen Gent is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the North Central Regional Sun Grant Center. Dr. Gent's industry-driven projects include grain dryer design and optimization; biofuel and biobased products from agricultural residues, algae and non-food oilseeds; and implantable medical devices to treat cardiovascular diseases, to name a few. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has managed projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Transportation and industry.
Rajesh Kavasseri
605-688-4371 | rajesh.kavasseri@sdstate.edu
Rajesh Kavasseri is an Associate Dean for Research at SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. His academic areas of focus include electric power systems, nonlinear system dynamics and control, and time series analysis, and he has coauthored over 100 peer-reviewed journals in those fields. Rajesh excels in making connections and collaborating with other academic institutions and local companies, which directly helps Innovate SoDak benefit the region.