Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research

The Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research

The Enterprise and Empowerment Foundation of Norfolk State University*

Gateway to the Technological Transformation of the Hampton Roads Region

The gateway to the RISE Campus^TM and the City of Norfolk’s vibrant downtown area, the brand new Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research is a state-owned, six-story, approximately 128,000-square-foot structure. Opened in April 2007, this cutting-edge facility is the anchor for applied research, graduate-level education and training, and home to enterprise development for the workforce and businesses of the future in science and technology.

The Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research is also home to advanced research in Computational Science, Engineering, Gaming, Information Assurance, Materials  Science, as well as, skills development initiatives. Researchers based at this facility have access to next generation laboratories supporting work in modeling and simulation, photonics, nanotechnology, crystal growth, device fabrication, and sensors development. Additionally, a future-of-the art Class 100/1000 Clean room is available in the facility for education and high-end research.

The thematic research taking place in the Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research can
be broadly described as applied research in the areas of homeland security and national defense.
Additionally, the McDemmond Center will serve as the anchor for subsequent applied research
themes on the RISE Campus™. The Advanced Materials, Computational Science, Gaming,
Modeling and Simulation, and Advanced Technology (e.g. Devices and Engineering Systems) clusters of Norfolk State University (NSU) serve as key elements of the overall research portfolio of the RISE Campus™.

The Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research incorporates one of NSU’s most successful Centers of Excellence: The Center for Materials Research (CMR). CMR conducts cutting-edge research in the areas of crystal growth and nanotechnology, polymer processing and thin film deposition, nonlinear optics and laser design, optical spectroscopy and magnetic resonance. CMR researchers focus on problems of fundamental and practical importance in photonics and spin electronics, specifically, in random medium lasers, nanomaterials, transparent gain ceramics, optical  composites, photovoltaic polymers, and spin-polarized transport phenomena.

Also based in the Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research is NSU’s Center for
Gaming and Simulation (CGS). The mission of CGS involves the realization of valid models for
educational game design and development. The research focus is on the design of innovative
solutions that incorporate embedded assessment in the implementation of educational tools. CGS is
presently involved in several projects aimed at enhancing K-16 Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Researchers working in the Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research facility are
connected to the world via the Enterprise and Empowerment Foundation’s RISE SuperNodeSM, a
private synchronous optical network (SONET) with ultra-high capacity, fault-tolerant design,
supporting speeds from 1.5 megabits per second (DS-1) up through multiple 10 Gbps (10,000
megabits per second) Lightwave networks. The RISE SuperNodeSM provides Internet connectivity
across the University’s entire enterprise.

The applied research and supporting activities in the Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied
Research will lead to the technological breakthroughs and innovations that will spur continued
economic growth in the Hampton Roads region, as well as, contribute to the strengthening of the of
the nation’s on-going military and homeland security efforts.