South Dakota scientists use AI to sharpen medical images, detect dark matter

DSU helps lead statewide research into AI-powered science and healthcare

Researchers across South Dakota’s university system are using artificial intelligence to unlock breakthroughs in both high-tech healthcare and frontier physics.

Dakota State University and five other South Dakota institutions are participating in Ge-STAR — short for Germanium-based Science and Technology Advancement Research — a four-year, $7 million research initiative funded by the National Science Foundation. The project is aimed at advancing the science and application of high-purity germanium, a rare element used in sensitive radiation detectors and advanced medical imaging systems.

While the physics behind the work is highly technical, DSU’s role centers on a practical and increasingly accessible tool: artificial intelligence.

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