A study group that assists the United States in the science and technology of defense and national security has asked an ISU professor to participate in the group.

Surya Mallapragada was nominated to the group by the dean of the College of Engineering. Colleges across the United States were asked to nominate one or two people to participate in the study group.

Mallapragada was chosen out of approximately 200 nominees.

“It is quite an honor to be selected,” she said.

The group will consist of 12 to 15 people, mainly scientists of engineering and technology with some chemists and physicists.

Participants are planning to attend meetings that will focus on studying different defense and security systems. They will be doing research dealing with the science and technology that can help out soldiers in combat and visiting defense installations to see how they can be improved.

“I will be doing some exciting research,” she said.

The meetings will be a substantial time commitment, Mallapragada said.

“Some of the leading people in the world in their area will be participating,” said Dennis Smith, communication specialist for engineering communications and marketing. “It will be a good chance to establish relationships with promising scientists and engineers.”

By recruiting these elite scientists and engineers, the military can stay one step ahead of the technology, Smith said.