994 Journeys

Research and Economic Development has planned a great line-up of researchers to share their "994 Journeys" in 2025-2026. During these sessions, we ask our speakers to "tell their story" -- which usually includes some fun background, where they trained, how they came to MSU, and a few key highlights on their research and scholarship. 

All presenations take place at 4:00pm and will be held in SUB 233

Monday, January 26, 2026

Nicholas Lux

Nick Lux is a Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in MSU’s Department of Education and is an affiliate in the Montana Engineering Education Research Center (MEERC) and the Center for Research on Rural Education (CRRE). He has worked in the fields of K-12 and higher education for over 25 years and currently teaches in the Teacher Education Program and specializes in educational technology. His research and teaching interests include technology integration in K-12 teaching and learning, rural education, STEM education, and STEM identity formation.

Monday, February 9, 2026

Catherine Kirkland

Dr. Catherine Kirkland is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering, where she is affiliated with the Center for Biofilm Engineering and the Energy Research Institute. Her research focuses onbiofilm-based technologies for environmental remediation and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study complex environmental systems. Dr. Kirkland completed postdoctoral work at MSU developingmicrobially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) for sealing leaky wellbores—a technology subsequently commercialized with applications in the oil and gas industry and carbon sequestration sector. In addition to herbiofilm and NMR research, Dr. Kirkland is a dedicated educator and co-PI on an NSF-funded initiative to revolutionize environmental engineering education for the 21st century.  She teaches courses onstormwater management,wastewater treatment, and sustainable waste management.  She brings an interdisciplinary perspective to engineering, with a prior BA degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Rhodes College and international research experience as an NSFGRFP Fellow in the Netherlands.

Monday, March 30, 2026

Jason Bolte

Jason Bolte is a composer and educator. He currently resides in Bozeman with his wife Barbara, their two beautiful daughters, and dog Allie. Jason teaches music technology and composition at MSU and he serves as the Director of the School of Music. Jason earned a B.M. with an emphasis in Music Engineering Technology and a M.M. in Music Composition from Ball State University. He holds a D.M.A. in Music Composition from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he was a Chancellor’s Doctoral Research Fellow, a Dean’s Doctoral Fellow, and an Ovation Scholar. Jason’s music explores the North American mountain west, modular synthesis and live performance, intersections of music, art, and science, and other compelling spaces. His music has been performed and presented around the world by Ensemble Dal Neinte, A/Tonal Ensemble, Maverick Ensemble, Elektramusic, junctQín, NewKeys, Alcome, and the NYU New Music Ensemble, among others.