Widener University

WIDENER UNIV - HE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

WIDENER UNIV - HE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS

OPIOID WORKFORCE EXPANSION PROGRAM- PROFESSIONAL

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS

NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM

NSL - BACCALAUREATE NURSING - NEW

RCN-UBE: BROADENING UNDERGRADUATE PARTICIPATION IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION RESEARCH THROUGH CURES USING DIGITIZED NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS DATA

NSL - BACCALAUREATE NURSING - LOAN GRANT WITH FUNDS FOR NEW BUDGET PERIOD

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EPIIC: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR GROWTH IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (BRIDGE-TECH) -THE BRIDGE-TECH (BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR GROWTH IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES) PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER A COHORT OF FIVE PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS (PUIS) COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING REGIONAL INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO RESEARCH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION. THESE INSTITUTIONS EACH SERVE REGIONS WITH UNTAPPED ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL BUT FACE COMMON CHALLENGES SUCH AS LIMITED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, FRAGMENTED PARTNERSHIPS, AND UNDERDEVELOPED SUPPORT FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. THROUGH A COORDINATED, COHORT-BASED APPROACH, THE PROJECT WILL EMPOWER FACULTY AND COMMUNITIES BY DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMMING, AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. ULTIMATELY, BRIDGE-TECH SEEKS TO BUILD ECOSYSTEMS WHERE INNOVATION THRIVES AND CONTRIBUTES TO LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS. TECHNICALLY, BRIDGE-TECH PROPOSES A SCALABLE MODEL TO INCREASE INNOVATION CAPACITY AT PUIS THROUGH STRATEGIC CAPACITY-BUILDING AND SHARED INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON FIVE INTERRELATED GOALS: (1) INCREASE INDUSTRY-SPONSORED RESEARCH, (2) ENHANCE INNOVATION CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, (3) DEVELOP DESIGN THINKING AND INNOVATION ACCELERATOR, (4) DRIVE AND EXPAND INNOVATION IN RAPID MANUFACTURING, AND (5) CREATE SYNERGISTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH. EACH INSTITUTION WILL IMPLEMENT CUSTOMIZED, LOCALLY GROUNDED ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS CREATING INNOVATION CENTERS, FORMING REGIONAL COUNCILS, CONDUCTING ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENTS, AND LAUNCHING FACULTY FELLOWS PROGRAMS, WHILE LEVERAGING COHORT-WIDE TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND SHARED RESOURCES. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED RESEARCH FUNDING, EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY ENTITIES, IMPROVED IP AND COMMERCIALIZATION PROCESSES, AND THE TRAINING OF OVER 40 FACULTY MEMBERS. THE COLLABORATION ULTIMATELY AIMS TO ELEVATE THE ROLE OF PUIS IN NATIONAL INNOVATION NETWORKS WHILE SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

THE GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS PROGRAM (CAMPUS PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 20125. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUSES. THESE COMPREHENSIVE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE VICTIM SERVICES (INCLUDING LEGAL SERVICES), IMPLEMENT PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION STRATEGIES TO PREVENT, PROSECUTE, AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING. THE CAMPUS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP CAMPUS-BASED COORDINATED RESPONSES AMONG CAMPUS VICTIM SERVICES, CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HOUSING OFFICIALS, ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENT LEADERS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND DISCIPLINARY BOARDS, AND ENHANCE VICTIM SAFETY AND ASSISTANCE AND HOLD OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE. TO BE EFFECTIVE, THESE RESPONSES MUST BE LINKED TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PROSECUTORS OFFICES, COURTS, AND NONPROFIT, NONGOVERNMENTAL VICTIM ADVOCACY AND VICTIM SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS. WIDENER UNIVERSITY IS A PRIVATE INSTITUTION LOCATED IN CHESTER, PA. WITH THIS NEW AWARD, WIDENER UNIVERSITY, IN COLLABORATION WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE PROJECT OF DELAWARE COUNTY AND CHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL: 1) CREATE A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM TO OVERSEE ALL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES; 2) PROVIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING BYSTANDER INTERVENTION AND ONGOING PREVENTION ACTIVITIES TO ALL STUDENTS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; 3) PROVIDE ONGOING TRAINING TO ALL CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO THESE CRIMES; 4) PROVIDE ACCESS TO 24-HOUR CONFIDENTIAL VICTIM SERVICES AND ADVOCACY; AND 5) CONDUCT ONGOING TRAINING TO ALL PERSONNEL IN THE CAMPUS RESOLUTION PROCESS.

BIOMECHANICAL AND FUNCTIONAL INJURY THRESHOLDS AND RELATED HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN NEONATAL BRACHIAL PLEXUS

DEVELOPMENT OF A ROOFTOP OBSERVATORY

CAREER: INVESTIGATING INJURY MECHANISM AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES OF NEONATAL BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (BHWET) PROGRAM

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (BHWET) PROGRAM

YOU BELONG HERE: STRENGTHENING MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING AT WIDENER UNIVERSITY - YOU BELONG HERE: STRENGTHENING MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING AT WIDENER UNIVERSITY WILL STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR ITS 3,166 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ON ITS CHESTER, PA CAMPUS. THESE SERVICES WILL INCLUDE OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE, AND ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ACCESSING SERVICES TO MANAGE SUCH CHALLENGES. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO PROVIDE TIERED TRAINING ON IDENTIFYING AND MAKING SERVICE REFERRALS FOR STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS. EXTRA ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO FIRST-YEAR, FIRST-GENERATION (FY/FG) STUDENTS WHO HAVE SHOWN PARTICULAR NEED ON WIDENER'S CAMPUS IN RECENT YEARS. STUDENTS WILL BE HEAVILY ENGAGED IN WIDENER'S PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING USING UNDERGRADUATES AS MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADORS TO CONDUCT OUTREACH AND BASIC EDUCATION AND STUDENTS FROM WIDENER'S MSW AND PSYD GRADUATE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND SCREENING STUDENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROGRAM. GOAL 1: DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED, COMMUNITY APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY AND PROGRAMMING. OBJECTIVES: (1.1) HIRE A QUALIFIED PROJECT COORDINATOR (PC) TO OVERSEE OF WIDENER'S GLS PROGRAM. (1.2) A COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS (THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE [MHCAC]) WILL BE DEVELOPED. (1.3) MHCAC MEMBERS WILL BE BETTER INFORMED ON RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR SERVING STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER NEEDS. (1.4): MHCAC AND THE PC WILL DELIVER (1) UPDATED PROTOCOLS ON CRISIS RESPONSE, POSTVENTION, AND LETHAL MEANS AND (2) CLEAR REFERRAL MECHANISMS FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS COMMUNITY SERVICES. GOAL 2: DEVELOP AND DELIVER PROGRAMMING THAT CONSIDERS AND ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF FIRST-YEAR, FIRST-GENERATION (FY/FG) STUDENTS. OBJECTIVES: (2.1) AT LEAST ONE MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITY PER MONTH WILL FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON FY/FG STUDENTS. (2.2) AT LEAST 45 (90%) STUDENT ORIENTATION LEADERS WILL BE TRAINED BY PEER EDUCATORS IN CHALLENGES FACING FY/FG STUDENTS. (2.3): AT LEAST TWO SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES WILL BE DELIVERED EACH MONTH TO ENCOURAGE HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON FY/FG STUDENTS (2.4) AT LEAST 50 STUDENTS PER SEMESTER WILL PARTICIPATE IN VOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SCREENING. GOAL 3: DEVELOP A MULTI-TIERED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR WIDENER FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS ON IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CHALLENGES. OBJECTIVES: (3.1) INTENSIVE QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER (QPR) TRAINING, INCLUDING TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PREPARATION, WILL BE PROVIDED FOR TWO FACULTY OR STAFF MEMBERS EACH YEAR. (3.2) ON-CAMPUS QPR WILL BE PROVIDED FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL FACULTY EACH SEMESTER IN YEARS 2 AND 3 FOR A TOTAL OF 20. (3.3) TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED TO 60 STUDENT LEADERS PER SEMESTER ON IDENTIFYING AND PROVIDING APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS FACING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. GOAL 4: INSTITUTIONALIZE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS THROUGH ACTIVITIES FUNDED THROUGH THIS GRANT. OBJECTIVES: (4.1) COORDINATE WITH THE BREATHE BOARD, THE STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND ACTIVE MINDS TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS. (4.2) FIFTY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADORS (MHAS) WILL BE TRAINED TO ASSIST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. (4.3) TWENTY PEER EDUCATORS (GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM WIDENER’S MSW AND PSYD PROGRAMS) PROVIDE TRAININGS, CONDUCT SCREENINGS, AND OFFER PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR UNDERGRADUATES. (4.4) MHAS WILL FACILITATE PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS. INCLUDING OUTREACH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SCREENING, AT LEAST 2,000 STUDENTS PER SEMESTER WILL BE SERVED FOR A TOTAL OF 6,000 THROUGHOUT THE GRANT PERIOD.

ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE: AN INSTITUTE FOR 21ST CENTURY TEACHER LEADERS

DELAWARE COUNTY CENTER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION

HIGH-SPEED PULSE-WIDTH MODULATION FOR LOW-NOISE MOTOR CONTROL

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

CENTER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION

ERI: AI-ENHANCED DYNAMIC INTERFERENCE SUPPRESSION IN COGNITIVE SENSING WITH RECONFIGURABLE SPARSE ARRAYS -3D COGNITIVE SENSING, FACILITATED BY A RECONFIGURABLE SPARSE ARRAY (RSA), OUTPERFORMS FIXED ARRAY CONFIGURATIONS BY EFFECTIVELY MINIMIZING INTERFERENCE FROM VARIOUS SOURCE DIRECTIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAME NUMBER OF EXPENSIVE RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) FRONT-END COMPONENTS. THE RSA ACHIEVES THIS REDUCTION IN COSTLY ANTENNA COMPONENTS BY SHARING THEM BETWEEN ACTIVE ANTENNA LOCATIONS SELECTED THROUGH FAST RF SWITCHING. COGNITIVE SENSING USING RSA EMULATES THE PERCEPTION-ACTION CYCLE (PAC) OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES. RSA GATHERS REAL-TIME DATA FROM DIFFERENT SPATIAL ANTENNA LOCATIONS, PERCEIVES SURROUNDINGS, AND DYNAMICALLY ADAPTS ANTENNA LOCATIONS AND SUBSEQUENT ARRAY PROCESSING, KNOWN AS BEAMFORMING. GIVEN THAT ACTIVE ANTENNA LOCATIONS CAN CHANGE DEPENDING ON DESIRED SOURCE AND INTERFERENCE DIRECTIONS AND OTHER PARAMETERS, THIS WORK ADDRESSES THREE MAIN CHALLENGES SPECIFIC TO ARRAY RECONFIGURABILITY: FREQUENT AND COMPLEX ANTENNA SWITCHING, COMPUTING OPTIMUM ACTIVE ARRAY STRUCTURES, AND IMPLEMENTING BEAMFORMING WITHIN THE FAST PAC. OVERCOMING THESE CHALLENGES REQUIRES FAST ITERATIVE OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHMS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TECHNIQUES SUCH AS OFFLINE DEEP LEARNING (DL)-BASED NEURAL NETWORK TRAINING, AND ENFORCEMENT OF SIMPLIFIED ANTENNA SWITCHING CRITERIA. THE RSA DESIGN IS EXPLORED FOR TWO KEY APPLICATIONS: SPECTRAL SENSING (SS) IN COGNITIVE RADIO (CR) AND LOCALIZATION AND TRACKING IN COGNITIVE RADAR SENSING. ENABLED BY SS FUNCTIONALITY, A CR DETECTS UNDERUTILIZED FREQUENCY BANDS FOR OPPORTUNISTIC USE AND AUTONOMOUSLY CLASSIFIES RF SIGNALS. INTEGRATING RSA DESIGN WITHIN CR ENHANCES INTERFERENCE MITIGATION, IMPROVING SERVICE QUALITY, BANDWIDTH AVAILABILITY, AND SPECTRUM UTILIZATION. THESE ADVANTAGES BENEFIT REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES BY ENHANCING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES, SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT, AND COEXISTENCE MEASURES. WHILE CR TYPICALLY RELIES ON PASSIVE OR RECEIVE-ONLY SENSING, AN RSA-ENABLED COGNITIVE RADAR SYSTEM ENHANCES PERFORMANCE BY OPTIMIZING ANTENNA LOCATIONS AT BOTH THE TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER, ALBEIT THROUGH DISTINCT APPROACHES. THIS ADVANCEMENT WOULD PROPEL STATE-OF-THE-ART WEATHER MONITORING, MILITARY RADAR, RADAR FOR SELF-DRIVING CARS, INDOOR HUMAN ACTIVITY CLASSIFICATION, FALL DETECTION, AND REMOTE VITAL SIGN ESTIMATION. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS PREDICATED ON DEVELOPING FAST ITERATIVE ALGORITHMS, INCLUDING DL TECHNIQUES, TO ENABLE DYNAMIC INTERFERENCE SUPPRESSION BY SWIFTLY AND INTELLIGENTLY SELECTING SUBSETS OF ANTENNAS FROM A UNIFORM GRID OF ANTENNA LOCATIONS. CURRENT ALGORITHMS ARE EFFECTIVE ONLY UNDER SEVERELY LIMITED SCENARIOS: THE ASSUMED PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT IS OFTEN UNKNOWN, AND REAL-TIME RECONFIGURABILITY IS A CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGE DUE TO THE HIGH RUN TIMES OF OPTIMIZING THE ARRAY TOPOLOGY. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH AIMS TO TRANSFORM THE CURRENT PARADIGMS FOR SS AND SIGNAL MODULATION CLASSIFICATION VIA TWO NOVEL IDEAS: (I) THE ADOPTION OF MULTI-BAND RSA IN CR AS A MECHANISM TO ENHANCE SOURCE ID CLASSIFICATION ACROSS A RANGE OF FREQUENCY BANDS WHILE CONSIDERING REALISTIC CHANNEL IMPAIRMENTS, AND (II) THE OPTIMIZATION OF RSA FOR MULTI-BAND SENSING BY INCLUDING ADVANCES IN MACHINE LEARNING AND CONVEX OPTIMIZATION. THE DESIGN OF DL MODELS IS EXPECTED TO PROCESS MULTIPLE FREQUENCY BANDS OF INTEREST IN A UNIFYING FRAMEWORK. THE PROPOSAL INTEGRATES DATA-DEPENDENT TECHNIQUES AND PRIOR ENVIRONMENT KNOWLEDGE INTO DL MODELS, RESULTING IN NOVEL ARCHITECTURES WITH GREATER ACCURACY THAT WILL ADVANCE ADAPTIVE SENSING BY OVERCOMING BOTTLENECKS SPECIFIC TO DATA-DEPENDENT IMPLEMENTATION. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WOULD ADVANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF RADAR SENSING BY (I) EFFICIENTLY SOLVING HIGH-RESOLUTION RSA MULTI-INPUT/MULTI-OUTPUT (MIMO) RADAR FORMULATION FOR GENERATING EXCEPTIONALLY ACCURATE RECEIVE BEAMPATTERNS THAT ARE ROBUST TO UNKNOWN JAMMING AND CLUTTER ENVIRONMENTS, AND (II) TRAINING DL MODELS THROUGH SOLVING COMPLEX OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS, TO REALIZE AN END-TO-END TRANSMITTER DESIGN TO PREDICT TRANSMIT ANTENNA LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS TRANSMIT WAVEFORMS FOR MAXIMIZING THE POWER TOWARDS TARGET LOCATIONS. SINCE RADAR SENSING CAPABILITY IS LIMITED DUE TO VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS NOISE, CLUTTER, AND JAMMING SIGNALS, THIS PROPOSAL OFFERS A PROMISING SOLUTION AS IT INVOLVES INTEGRATING RSA INTO MIMO RADAR TRACKING TO BOLSTER INTERFERENCE REJECTION CAPABILITIES. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

RAPID: DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE-BASED RESEARCH EXPERIENCES TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY EDUCATION

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: RUI: HOW ENERGY ECONOMY AND MUSCLE PROPERTIES SHAPE FISH SWIMMING STRATEGIES IN THE FIELD

RUI: THE ROLE OF EARLY SPLICING FACTORS IN TISSUE-SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVE SPLICING

MAXIMIZING THE IMPACTS OF INCLUSIVE COURSE-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES: FROM HYPOTHESIS TO UNDERGRADUATE CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION -THIS PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST BY TRAINING A HIGHLY SKILLED STEM WORKFORCE THROUGH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES. HOWEVER, SUCH EXPERIENCES ARE UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED AND MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT INSTITUTIONS WITH FEWER RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, MANY STUDENTS FIND ACCESSING THESE OPPORTUNITIES DIFFICULT DUE TO TIME AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF COURSE-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES (CURES) USING DIGITIZED NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS (DNHC) DATA. THESE CURES CAN BE TAUGHT AT ALL INSTITUTION TYPES, IN ONLINE, IN-PERSON, AND HYBRID FORMATS; AND THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS. FACULTY FROM FOUR INSTITUTIONS (GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, WIDENER UNIVERSITY, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY, AND WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY) WILL COLLABORATE TO MEASURE THE IMPACTS OF THESE CURES ON STUDENT LEARNING AND STUDENT SCIENCE IDENTITY. STUDENTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE CURES MAY APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MENTORED AND FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED COHORT-BASED SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE. HOW THE CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES MAY FURTHER IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING GAINS WILL ALSO BE ASSESSED. THIS STUDY WILL PRODUCE A RICH DATASET FROM MULTIPLE INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THIS WILL DOCUMENT THE IMPACTS OF DNHC CURES AND CONNECTED CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES. THIS WILL HELP TO ENCOURAGE BROADER USE OF DNHC CURES AND SUPPORTED CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES AND HELP LEAD TO A DIVERSE AND SKILLED STEM WORKFORCE. GAINING BROAD INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR DNHC CURE IMPLEMENTATION AND STUDENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS REQUIRES CLEAR EVIDENCE OF STUDENT GAINS AND THE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACTS OF THESE EXPERIENCES ON STUDENT SCIENCE IDENTITY WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO PERSISTENCE IN STEM. THIS PROJECT WILL FORMALLY DETERMINE THE IMPACTS OF DNHC CURES AND CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES ON STUDENT LEARNING IN DATA SCIENCE AND GEOSPATIAL SKILLS, AND STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE IDENTITY AND SELF-EFFICACY ACROSS INSTITUTION TYPES AND STUDENT POPULATIONS. THIS WILL LEAD TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF THESE EXPERIENCES ACROSS DEMOGRAPHIC STUDENT POPULATIONS AND DIVERSE INSTITUTIONAL TYPES. TO REFINE BEST PRACTICES FOR MENTORING UNDERGRADUATES THROUGH NATIONAL CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES, TRAINING MATERIALS FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS WILL BE CREATED, AND THE IMPACTS OF UNDERGRADUATE CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES WHERE STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR CURE RESEARCH WILL BE ASSESSED. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE A LARGE MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL DATASET THAT WILL ENABLE THIS PROJECT TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BROADER UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION ENTERPRISE'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CURES AND CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES WHILE ALSO ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO MAKE CURES MORE WIDESPREAD BY PROVIDING STRONG EVIDENCE OF THEIR EFFICACY AND IMPACTS. INCREASED USE OF DNHC CURES AND INCLUDING CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND PARTICIPATION WILL IMPROVE UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF RESEARCH FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, PERSONAL OBLIGATIONS, OR PHYSICAL ABILITIES THAT MAY OTHERWISE LIMIT THEIR PARTICIPATION. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES TRAINING FOR DIVERSE EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS IN SKILLS CRITICAL TO A HIGHLY SKILLED STEM WORKFORCE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND CONFERENCES TO IMPROVE THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING IN SCIENCE. THE NSF IUSE: EHR PROGRAM SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. THROUGH ITS ENGAGED STUDENT LEARNING TRACK, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CREATION, EXPLORATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROMISING PRACTICES AND TOOLS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EAGER: THE LONG REACH OF CULTURE: CULTURAL CONTEXTS AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES OF CHILDHOOD EXPLORATION AND INTERACTIONS WITH NATURE -NUMEROUS STUDIES NOTE THAT, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, CHILDREN IN MANY WESTERN SOCIETIES SPEND LESS TIME ENGAGED IN INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION, LESS TIME IN OUTDOOR GREEN SPACES, AND MORE TIME IN STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE SUPERVISED BY ADULTS. WHILE THESE SHIFTS FREQUENTLY REFLECT PARENTAL CONCERNS FOR THEIR CHILDREN?S SAFETY AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECENT STUDIES HIGHLIGHT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE AND TIME SPENT IN NATURE AMONG CHILDREN. WITH THAT IN MIND, THE CURRENT STUDY EXAMINES CHILDREN?S EXPLORATORY BEHAVIOR IN TWO SOCIETIES WHERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDEPENDENCE AND TIME SPENT IN NATURE ARE CULTURAL PRIORITIES IN CHILDHOOD. THE RESEARCH TEAM INVESTIGATES CHILDREN?S INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTS (E.G., PLAYING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION) AND THE TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS CHILDREN EXPLORE (E.G., GREEN SPACES VERSUS PLAYGROUNDS). THE RESEARCHERS THEN EXAMINE HOW THESE EXPERIENCES MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN?S SPATIAL COGNITION, EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, AND WELL-BEING. FINALLY, THE RESEARCHERS SURVEY THE CHILDREN?S PARENTS TO ESTABLISH POSSIBLE LINKS BETWEEN PARENTING BEHAVIOR AND CHILDREN?S OUTCOMES. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS STUDY CAN HELP PARENTS AND EDUCATORS DEVELOP A MORE BENEFICIAL BALANCE BETWEEN (1) PROTECTING CHILDREN?S SAFETY AND STRUCTURING THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND (2) PROMOTING AUTONOMY, EXPLORATION, AND EXPERIENCE IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS. THE PROJECT ASSESSES CHILDREN?S EXPLORATORY BEHAVIOR AND TIME SPENT IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH SEVERAL MEANS INCLUDING: GPS-TRACKING VIA PHONE, A VEGETATION INDEX WHICH IS COMBINED WITH GPS DATA, AND A QUESTIONNAIRE CONCERNING CHILDREN?S EXPERIENCES IN NATURE. THE RESEARCHERS COMBINE THESE MEASURES WITH EXPERIENCE SAMPLING METHODOLOGY USING TEXT MESSAGES THROUGHOUT THE TESTING PERIOD SO THAT CHILDREN CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR LOCATION, ACTIVITY, AND MOOD. CHILDREN COMPLETE A SERIES OF MEASURES ASSESSING (1) SPATIAL ABILITY, INCLUDING A VIRTUAL NAVIGATION VIDEO GAME AND A MENTAL ROTATION TASK, AND (2) EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ASSESSMENTS FROM THE NIH TOOLKIT COGNITIVE BATTERY AND PARENTAL REPORT. ADDITIONALLY, RESEARCHERS USE QUESTIONNAIRES TO DOCUMENT CHILDREN?S WELL-BEING (VIA SELF-REPORT) AS WELL AS STRENGTHS AND DIFFICULTIES (VIA PARENTAL REPORT). FINALLY, PARENTS COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRES REGARDING THEIR PARENTING STYLE, SUCH AS THEIR SOCIALIZATION GOALS AND CONCERNS ABOUT RISKY PLAY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION

TRANSLATIONAL TEAM-BASED TRAINING FOR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS (T3-BME)

OROPHARYNGEAL BOLUS FLOW DYNAMICS

EAGER: ADSORPTIVE SEPARATION OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS IN DNA GRAFTED MESOPOROUS CARBONS

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

MRI: ACQUISITION OF AN EEG-NIRS BIMODAL NEURAL SIGNAL RECORDING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT AIMS TO USE SEWAGE SLUDGE ASH (SSA), AN INDUSTRIAL BYPRODUCT FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT, TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE LOW-CARBON CEMENT. ACTIVITIES:THE TEAM WILL DEVELOP LOW CARBON GEOPOLYMER CEMENT. THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) THOROUGHLY CHARACTERIZE THE SEWAGE SLUDGE ASH BOTH PHYSICALLY AND CHEMICALLY; AND 2) INVESTIGATE VARIOUS INFLUENCING FACTORS SUCH AS THE ACTIVATOR/BINDER RATIO AND ACTIVATORS COUPLED WITH CURING CONDITIONS TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMAL SET OF FACTORS THAT YIELD COMPETENT MECHANICAL AND ENGINEERING PROPERTIES. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:DELIVERABLES INCLUDE ANNUAL AND FINAL REPORTS ON THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A LOW CARBON GEOPOLYMER CEMENT USING THE WASTE PRODUCT SSA. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND LANDFILL MANAGERS, SPECIFICALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA, WATER QUALITY MANAGERS, AND THE CEMENT INDUSTRY.

RCN-UBE INCUBATOR: NETWORK FOR THE INTEGRATION OF NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY COURSE-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

ADVANCED EDUCATION NURSING TRAINEESHIP

NSL - GRADUATE NURSING - NEW

NSL - GRADUATE NURSING - LOAN GRANT WITH FUNDS FOR NEW BUDGET PERIOD

ADVANCED EDUCATION NURSING TRAINEESHIP

THIS PROJECT WILL DESIGN AND FABRICATE A LOW-COST SMART WATER MONITORING DEVICE, NEEDED BECAUSE LEAD CONTAMINATION IS A CLOSE-TO-HOME PROBLEM CAUSED BY CORRODED LEAD SERVICE PIPES CONNECTING HOUSEHOLDS TO MAIN LINES OR LEAD-BASED PLUMBING. IT WILL IDENTIFY AND MEASURE LEAD LEVELS AT THE TAP IN REAL TIME AND ISSUE ALERTS. PROVIDING PERVASIVE REAL-TIME MONITORING OF LEAD LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER WILL DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREVENTION OF LEAD POISONING AND ITS ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, PARTICULARLY ON VULNERABLE YOUNG CHILDREN AND INFANTS. (PROVIDE FOR CLEAN AND SAFE WATER)

FOSTERING INCLUSION, INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY: A NATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION IN REHABILITATION AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES -THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING DESIGN TEAMS AND TRAINEES WITH A DISABILITY, INCLUDING THOSE FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS, TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCT INNOVATIONS IN REHABILITATION AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES. THIS OBJECTIVE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A TWO-YEAR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT A NATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION TO BE HOSTED AT AN ESTABLISHED VENUE SUCH AS THE SUMMER BIOMECHANICS, BIOTRANSPORT AND BIOENGINEERING CONFERENCE (SB3C) WHERE UNDERGRADUATE TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN SUBMIT THEIR DESIGNS. THE ABSTRACTS WILL BE REVIEWED BY FACULTY EXPERTS AND THE TOP SIX TEAMS WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND THE VENUE AND PRESENT THEIR WORK IN A SPECIAL PODIUM SESSION. EACH OF THE FINALISTS WILL RECEIVE $3000 FOR TRAVEL AND PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT. AN INNOVATIVE ELEMENT OF THIS YEAR?S PODIUM SESSION IS THE INCLUSION OF AN INVITED MOTIVATIONAL WITH A DISABILITY. AS A ROLE MODEL, THIS SPEAKER WILL KICK OFF THE SESSION WHILE PRESENTING THEIR SCHOLARLY CONTRIBUTION IN AREAS THAT PROMOTE DEVICE DESIGN IN REHABILITATION ENGINEERING OR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES. THE STABILITY OF THE COMPETITION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS ALLOWS THE ORGANIZER TO RECRUIT EARLIER AND BE ABLE TO CONFIRM WITH TEAMS THAT FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR TRAVEL AND PROTOTYPING IN ADVANCE OF THE SUBMISSION DEADLINES. THIS COMPETITION WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FACULTY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO USE IT AS A MOTIVATIONAL COMPONENT IN THE PROCESS OF FOSTERING CREATIVITY. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE THROUGH THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMPETITION WILL LEARN ABOUT BIO-SOLID MECHANICS, BIO-FLUID MECHANICS, DEVICE DESIGN, REHABILITATION, CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANICS, FUNCTIONAL TISSUE ENGINEERING, BIO-HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER, AND BIOENGINEERING EDUCATION. NUMEROUS PODIUM SESSIONS, POSTER SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND PLENARY TALKS ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND EXCITE THE ATTENDEES INCLUDING THE SESSION FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE DESIGN COMPETITION. THE UNDERGRADUATE DESIGN COMPETITION WILL BROADEN THE BENEFITS OF THE COMPONENT OF MOTIVATION TO OTHER UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND THEIR FACULTY MENTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FURTHER, THE MATERIALS DEVELOPED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE SHARED WITH ALL FACULTY MENTORS INVOLVED IN PRIOR AND FUTURE COMPETITIONS. THIS COMPETITION PROVIDES A NATIONAL VENUE (WITH MANY INTERNATIONAL ATTENDEES) FOR TEAMS TO SHOWCASE THEIR INNOVATIONS IN THE AREAS OF REHABILITATION AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND COMPETE WITH THEIR PEERS. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A RESEARCH-DRIVEN EVENT WITH TECHNICAL SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS BY FACULTY, CLINICIANS, AND INDUSTRIAL REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN DEVICE DESIGN, REHABILITATION, DISABILITIES, AND NUMEROUS OTHER AREAS. ALSO, FUNDING WILL MAKE TRAVEL POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT ATTEND AN ACADEMIC CONFERENCE. ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES VALUABLE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS, INCLUDING CONTACTS FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL AND EMPLOYMENT. THE INCLUSION OF THE COMPETITION AT THE CONFERENCE ALSO EXPOSES ATTENDEES TO INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, OR THOSE UNDERGOING REHABILITATION. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

ADVANCED EDUCATION NURSING TRAINEESHIPS

GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS