The National Science Foundation has awarded a total of $6.27 million to eight researchers at IU.
The recognition, given by the NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, is among the most prestigious that can be given to junior faculty, according to an IU press release.
The five-year grants are typically awarded to faculty who support both research and education.
The eight IU faculty given these grants represent six departments in three schools across two campuses, IU Vice President for Research Fred H. Cate said in the release.
“This award is a great recognition of the scholarships and commitment to education of IU’s young faculty,” Cate said in the release.
M. Kevin Brown, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at IU-Bloomington, will receive $675,000 to research construction of carbon-carbon bonds. This research could held advance drug molecule synthesis, lowering the cost of some drugs used to treat conditions such as cancer or depression, according to the release.
Brown’s grant will also provide support for an exhibit Brown created for the WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology. The exhibit teaches chemistry through a matching game based on scent.
Lisa Jones, an assistant professor in IU-Purdue University Indianapolis’ School of Science will receive $1.1 million to develop a new technique to deliver clearer imaging of proteins living inside cells.
Jones’ grant will also fund one to two undergraduates’ students work in her lab as a part of the IUPUI Summer Scholars Institute.
Kimberly Novick, an assistant professor in IUB’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, will study the return of forests in the eastern United States in relation to global temperature trends with her $750,000 grant.
This grant will also support IU’s participation in a new workshop series called Project Budhurst. The series will teach young people how to contribute data-driven climate research gathered through environmental observation.
Steve Pressé, an assistant professor in IUPUI’s School of Science will receive $1 million to study events such as molecular diffusion in cells. His grant will also fund a summer camp program at the Indianapolis Zoo called “The Bacterial Serengeti,” which will teach children ages 8 to 12 about relationships in bacteria, according to the release.
A $500,000 grant will be given to Filippo Radicchi, an assistant professor in IUB’s School of Informatics and Computing, to develop methods to analytically and computational understand and prevent infrastructure collapses following major events like terrorist attacks and natural disasters. This funding will also support similar research and education courses in IU’s new intelligent systems engineering program.
Megan Thielges, an assistant professor in IUB’s Department of Chemistry, will receive more than $966,000 for research on chemical mechanisms that advance cellular protein interactions, according to the release. Thielges will use her grant money to help fund efforts to engage women in science in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and the IU Women in Science, Technology, Informatics and Mathematics Living-Learning Center.
Lixin Wang, an assistant professor in IUPUI’s School of Science will study non-rainfall water sources and their contribution to ecological functions with her $780,000 grant.
Data from this research will be used in a summer training program for local high school teachers, to develop curriculum for undergraduate courses and as learning materials for students in grades 3 through 9.
A $500,000 grant awarded to Yan Yu, an assistant professor in IUB’s Department of Chemistry, will be used to study Janus particles. This research could affect the particles’ potential as a carrier for programmable drugs often used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
This grant will also contribute to a “biomaterials ambassador” outreach program, where undergraduate students working in Yu’s lab teach biomaterial lessons in middle and high schools.
Cate said in the release these awards reflect IU’s commitment in sciences.
“Moreover, each project reflects our faculty’s deep commitment to the education of the next generation of scientists, with many grant recipients engaging in innovative educational programs designed to reach Indiana’s young people where they learn through partnership with local schools, museums and other state and regional organizations,” Cate said in the release.
Carley Lanich
