Saint Marys College

SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICATION FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICATION FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

CARES ACT HEERF INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

CARES ACT HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND - IHES

HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM (STEM)

HIGH POTENTIAL SPHERE OF SUCCESS: IMPROVING ACADEMIC STANDING, RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES OF FIRST GENERATION AND LOW-INCOME STUDENTS AT SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

MENTORED ACCESS TO SUCCESS IN UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAMS

SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICATION TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS PORTION

FY 2015 STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTES FOR STUDENT LEADERS ON WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

PREPARING HUMANIZING AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT STEM TEACHERS THROUGH STEM TEACHER EDUCATION GROUNDED IN JUSTICE, COMMUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP -THE PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL NEED FOR HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STEM TEACHERS IN DIVERSE CLASSROOMS AND IN HIGH-NEED DISTRICTS. THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM GIVEN THE DECLINE IN STEM CERTIFICATES NATIONALLY OVER THE LAST DECADE, STEM TEACHER TURNOVER, AND THAT WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE UNDER-REPRESENTED IN STEM TEACHING. TO ADDRESS THIS NEED, THIS PROJECT WILL PREPARE PROSPECTIVE STEM TEACHERS TO BE GROUNDED IN RIGOROUS STEM DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES ALONGSIDE HUMANIZING, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, AND JUSTICE-ORIENTED TEACHING PEDAGOGIES. FEATURES OF THE PROJECT FOR PROSPECTIVE STEM TEACHERS INCLUDE: 1) FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HIGHLY MOTIVATED STEM MAJORS TO BECOME STEM TEACHERS, 2) ENHANCED LEARNING TO TEACH STEM, FIELD EXPERIENCES, AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE ALONGSIDE PRACTICING TEACHERS; 3) JUSTICE-ORIENTED TEACHER PROFESSIONAL CAREER TRAJECTORY SUPPORT; AND 4) BELOVED STEM EDUCATOR COMMUNITY ? WITHIN SAINT MARY?S, WITH LOCAL TEACHERS, AND WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL STEM AND EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS. THE PROJECT TEAM EXPECTS THAT STEM TEACHERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WILL NOT ONLY ENTER THE PROFESSION BUT PERSIST AS EQUITY-ORIENTED TRANSFORMATIVE URBAN SCHOOL CHANGE AGENTS. THIS PROJECT AT SAINT MARY?S INCLUDES A PARTNERSHIP WITH MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, A HIGH-NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE FOSTERING SCHOLARS? GROWTH ALONG FIVE KNOWLEDGE BASES: STEM CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, KNOWLEDGE OF SELF: STEM TEACHER POSITIONALITY, KNOWLEDGE IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES, HUMANIZING PEDAGOGICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND KNOWLEDGE OF EDUCATIONAL (IN)JUSTICE AND TEACHERS AS CHANGE AGENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OVER FIVE YEARS (2023-2028) FOR 17 HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS TO COMPLETE A 4+1 CONSISTING OF A BA/BS IN A STEM DISCIPLINE (BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, CHEMISTRY, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, OR PHYSICS); A MINOR IN JUSTICE, COMMUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP; A SECONDARY TEACHING CREDENTIAL; AND MASTER?S IN THE ART OF TEACHING. THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIELD BY GENERATING NEW KNOWLEDGE ON THE CONVERGENCE OF STEM DISCIPLINARY, SECONDARY PEDAGOGY, AND JUSTICE STUDIES AS FOUNDATIONS FOR STEM TEACHER PREPARATION. INSIGHTS GAINED ABOUT STEM TEACHERS? TRAJECTORIES THROUGH CASE STUDY DATA AND PARTICIPANT SURVEYS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE STEM TEACHER PREPARATION AND RETENTION IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOLS. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO IMPACT A) SAINT MARY?S STEM TEACHER CANDIDATES BY PREPARING THEM TO ENTER STEM TEACHING GROUNDED IN STEM DISCIPLINARY, SECONDARY PEDAGOGY, AND JUSTICE STUDIES; B) STEM TEACHERS AND YOUTH IN MT. DIABLO BY BRINGING HIGHLY QUALIFIED STEM TEACHERS INTO THE DISTRICT AND OFFERING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE; AND, C) STEM TEACHER EDUCATION THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND RETENTION OF STEM TEACHER CHANGE AGENTS. THIS PROJECT ADVANCES A SCALABLE MODEL OF HUMANIZING, CULTURALLY RELEVANT STEM TEACHER EDUCATION. THE PROJECT FINDINGS WILL BE DISSEMINATED THROUGH PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS. THIS TRACK 1: SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (NOYCE). THE NOYCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS TALENTED STEM UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE K-12 STEM TEACHERS AND EXPERIENCED, EXEMPLARY K-12 TEACHERS TO BECOME STEM MASTER TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND RETENTION OF K-12 STEM TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 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.

MENTORED ACCESS TO PROGRAMS IN SCIENCE (MAPS)

PRISM WOMEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM

IIBR INFORMATICS: INTUITIVE SAMPLING, TRACKING AND COUNTING SOFTWARE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

EXPLORATION OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII EPIGENETIC REGULATION IN A RESEARCH-CLASSROOM SETTING

HSI IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION PROJECT: FIRST YEAR APPROACHES TO ENHANCE SCIENCE IDENTITY AND STEM PERSISTENCE -WITH SUPPORT FROM THE IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION: HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS (HSI PROGRAM), THIS TRACK 2 PROJECT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE PERSISTENCE AND SUCCESS OF STUDENTS FROM GROUPS HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE STEM FIELDS, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF STEM COURSES, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION WITH A LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES BASED CURRICULUM. THIS KIND OF INSTITUTION IS UNDER-STUDIED, AND THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE BOTH AS A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT AND PROTOTYPE FOR OTHER PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS. SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA WILL IMPLEMENT A BROAD APPROACH THAT INCLUDES: (1) DESIGNING A SCIENCE-MOTIVATED AND CONTEXTUALIZED CALCULUS READINESS COURSE; (2) INTEGRATING RESEARCH-ORIENTED MODULES IN INTRODUCTORY LABS FOR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS; (3) INTRODUCING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE BRIDGE MIDWAY THROUGH THE YEAR; AND (4) REDEVELOPING EXISTING ADVISING COHORTS AND DEVELOPING PEER MENTORING FOR FIRST YEAR STEM STUDENTS. THE INVESTIGATORS WILL ALSO (5) ESTABLISH AN EDUCATOR LEARNING COMMUNITY TO FOSTER A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND INCLUSION, AND TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE AND EXCELLENT STEM EDUCATION. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS WORK ARE TO INCREASE THE RETENTION RATE OF STEM-INTERESTED STUDENTS, REDUCE OBSERVED GAPS IN RETENTION AND SUCCESS RATES FOR STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS AND EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE SCIENCE IDENTITY OF FIRST YEAR STEM-INTERESTED STUDENTS. THE ACCOMPANYING STEM EDUCATION RESEARCH HAS TWO AREAS OF FOCUS: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCIENCE CONTEXTUALIZED MATH COURSE COMPARED TO A TRADITIONAL CALCULUS READINESS COURSE; AND CHARACTERIZING THE NATURE OF THE PEER MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP AND HOW ITS ASPECTS AFFECT SCIENCE IDENTITY AND STUDENT RETENTION IN STEM. TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCIENCE CONTEXTUALIZED MATH COURSE, THE INVESTIGATORS WILL COMPARE RETENTION RATES, SUCCESS RATES, AND COURSE GRADES IN STEM COURSES OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW SCIENCE CONTEXTUALIZED COURSE TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EXISTING MODEL OF REMEDIATION. THEY WILL ALSO COLLECT QUALITATIVE DATA TO ADDRESS THE RELATED QUESTION OF HOW WELL THE SCIENCE CONTEXTUALIZED MATH COURSE SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IDENTITY. TO ASSESS THE PEER MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP AND ITS IMPACTS, THE INVESTIGATORS WILL ANALYZE QUALITATIVE DATA FROM POST MENTOR-MENTEE MEETING REPORTS, AS WELL AS COMPARE FIRST YEAR RETENTION AND SUCCESS RATES OF STUDENTS WITH PEER MENTORS COMPARED TO THOSE WITHOUT PEER MENTORS. THE HSI PROGRAM AIMS TO ENHANCE UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION AND BUILD CAPACITY AT HSIS. PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE HSI PROGRAM WILL ALSO GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO ACHIEVE THESE AIMS. 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.

BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED APPROACHES TO OVERCOME MUTUAL-INTERFERENCE BY ACTIVE SENSOR SYSTEMS

MRI: ACQUISITION OF A LASER CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE TO ENHANCE FACULTY RESEARCH AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRAINING

BELMONT FORUM COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION -THIS AWARD PROVIDES SUPPORT TO U.S. RESEARCHERS PARTICIPATING IN A PROJECT COMPETITIVELY SELECTED BY A 55-COUNTRY INITIATIVE ON GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH THROUGH THE BELMONT FORUM. THE BELMONT FORUM IS A CONSORTIUM OF RESEARCH FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON SUPPORT FOR TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. IT AIMS TO ACCELERATE DELIVERY OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH MOST URGENTLY NEEDED TO REMOVE CRITICAL BARRIERS TO SUSTAINABILITY BY ALIGNING AND MOBILIZING INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES. EACH PARTNER COUNTRY PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THEIR RESEARCHERS WITHIN A CONSORTIUM TO ALLEVIATE THE NEED FOR FUNDS TO CROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS. THIS APPROACH FACILITATES EFFECTIVE LEVERAGING OF NATIONAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT EXCELLENT RESEARCH ON TOPICS OF GLOBAL RELEVANCE BEST TACKLED THROUGH A MULTINATIONAL APPROACH, RECOGNIZING THAT GLOBAL CHALLENGES NEED GLOBAL SOLUTIONS. THIS AWARD PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. RESEARCHERS TO COOPERATE IN CONSORTIA THAT CONSIST OF PARTNERS FROM AT LEAST THREE OF THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES. THE TEAMS WILL DEVELOP AND EMPLOY NEW TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION AS A SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEM TO HELP INFORM DECISION-MAKING FOR SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT, AND JUST SYSTEMS OF CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION. THE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION (DISCO) PROJECT SEEKS TO PRODUCE BOTH THEORETICALLY INFORMED AND PRACTICALLY ORIENTED KNOWLEDGE ON HOW SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION (I.E., CONSUMPTION THAT IS LESS RESOURCE AND CARBON-INTENSIVE AND/OR LESS ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING) CAN BE ENABLED THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES. THE TEAM SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND IF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN OUR INTENTIONS AND ACTIONS (E.G., RECYCLING, BUYING SECOND HAND, FOOD WASTE DIVERSION) WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY. THE PROJECT TEAM SEEKS TO BUILD UPON EXISTING RESEARCH EXAMINING SINGLE APP USE AND APP USE WITHIN A RELATIVELY HOMOGENOUS COMMUNITY, TO ADDRESS THREE QUESTIONS AROUND (1) HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES BECOME PART OF OUR ROUTINES, (2) HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES CAN INTERACT WITH EXISTING CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND (3) WHEN DO THESE TECHNOLOGIES SUCCEED IN SHIFTING BEHAVIOR (I.E., UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS)? THE PROJECT TEAM WILL USE METHODS FROM LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS AND ETHNOGRAPHY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED TECH SOLUTIONS. WITH THE FOCUS ON FOOD AND MOBILITY SERVICES THE ANALYSES WILL PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CHANGING BEHAVIOR AROUND TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD, BOTH LARGE PORTIONS OF MOST INDIVIDUALS DAILY CARBON CONSUMPTION. THE PROPOSAL TEAM REPRESENTS SIX COUNTRIES (SWEDEN, NORWAY, TURKEY, USA, AND JAPAN) IN RELATED FIELDS (SOCIOLOGY, COMMUNICATION, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES). THE PROJECT?S OVERALL APPROACH STEMS FROM THE RANGE OF FIELDS EMPLOYED AND IS ORGANIZED INTO 5 WORK PACKAGES WITH INTERCONNECTED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT WITH SOCIETAL PARTNERS PARTICIPATING IN WORKSHOPS AND AS PART OF THE EXPERT TEAMS. 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.

PRIMES: MATROIDS, POLYHEDRAL GEOMETRY, AND INTEGRABLE SYSTEMS -THIS PRIMES AWARD FOR A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PI CHAVEZ AND THE INSTITUTE FOR PURE AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS (IPAM) COMBINES THE PURE AND APPLIED SIDES OF MATROID THEORY WHILE ADVANCING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AT SAINT MARY?S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA (SMC), A HISPANIC SERVING AND PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION. TWO MAJOR AIMS ARE: 1) FORMALIZE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SMC AND IPAM, INCLUDING THE PI'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SPRING 2024 GEOMETRY, STATISTICAL METHODS, AND INTEGRABILITY LONG PROGRAM, AND 2) ADVANCE THE PI'S SCHOLARSHIP AND ITS IMPACT ON UNDERGRADUATE SUCCESS BY SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND FUNDING A YEAR OF TEACHING LEAVE TO SUCCESSFULLY ATTAIN THESE GOALS. THE PI WILL CONDUCT SEVERAL RESEARCH PROJECTS, SOME OF WHICH WILL INCLUDE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS, THAT STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PURE AND APPLIED SIDES OF MATROID THEORY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PI IS DEDICATED TO ENHANCING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN STEM AND WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH, SUPPORTING SMC STUDENT GROUPS, AND ENGAGING WITH PROJECTS THAT HIGHLIGHT VOICES OF MINORITIZED MATHEMATICIANS. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES. (1) INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KP-SOLITON SOLUTIONS AND FLAG POSITROIDS THROUGH CLASSICAL AND TROPICAL GEOMETRIC LENSES. THIS PROJECT FURTHERS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS APPLIED INTERPRETATION OF POSITROIDS AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IN THE TROPICAL GEOMETRIC SETTING. (2) EXTEND CURRENT POLYHEDRAL AND GEOMETRIC RESULTS ON THE PARTIAL PERMUTAHEDRON AND USE A NEW APPROACH TO DESCRIBE TRIANGULATIONS OF THE CLASSICAL PERMUTAHEDRON. THIS OFFERS NEW INSIGHT ON A CLASSICAL OBJECT, ADDS USEFUL INFORMATION TO THE FAMILY OF GENERALIZED PERMUTAHEDRA, AND IS A GREAT SETTING FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH. (3) USE POLYTOPAL METHODS TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS ABOUT POSITROID, POLYPOSITROID, AND FLAG POSITROID INVARIANTS. TWO PROJECTS IN THIS DIRECTION ARE: (A) PROVE POSITROID POLYTOPES ARE EHRHART POSITIVE, AND (B) DESCRIBE EHRHART POLYNOMIALS OF FLAG POSITROIDS. THESE RESULTS WILL DEEPEN THE COMBINATORIAL CONNECTION OF POLYTOPES, POSITROIDS, AND THE NONNEGATIVE GRASSMANNIAN. THE EXPANDING IMPORTANCE OF MATROID THEORY IN BOTH THE CLASSICAL AND APPLIED SENSE SHOWS HOW NECESSARY CROSS-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IS TO BRIDGING THESE TWO AREAS. 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.

HIGH POTENTIAL-REACH, INSPIRE, SUPPORT, EMPOWER (HP-RISE)

STUDY OF THE US INSTITUTE FOR STUDENT LEADERS ON WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS REFER TO THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CASH GRANTS WHILE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF GRANTS EQUALS TOTAL OF ALL AMERICORPS VISTA PROJECTS, TH

SUSI 2014: EDUCATING TOMORROW'S GLOBAL WOMEN LEADERS

23-BPSF23-0081 PLANETARY ANALOG FIELD SCIENCE EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES: ADVANCING FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH AND TESTING FIELD INSTRUMENT OPERATIONS

STUDY OF THE US INSTITUTE FOR STUDENT LEADERS ON WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: IRES: DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL PAPER-BASED DEVICES TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND WATER IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

LEAPS-MPS: SYNTHESIS AND BINDING THERMODYNAMICS OF THREE-FOLD SYMMETRIC ORGANOMETALLIC RECEPTORS FOR INORGANIC PHOSPHATES -IN THIS PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE MPS-LEAPS (LAUNCHING EARLY-CAREER ACADEMIC PATHWAYS) PROGRAM AND MANAGED BY THE BROADENING PARTICIPATION PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY (CHE-BP), PROFESSOR WAN-YI CHU AND HER STUDENTS AT SAINT MARY?S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA WILL PERFORM STUDIES FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFICIENT RECEPTORS FOR AQUEOUS INORGANIC PHOSPHATE ANIONS. PHOSPHATES ARE IMPORTANT FERTILIZER INGREDIENTS THAT ARE EXHIBITING A RAPID DECLINE IN MINEABLE RESERVES. LARGE AMOUNTS OF PHOSPHATES ARE NOW ACCUMULATED IN FRESH WATER SOURCES DUE TO FOOD CONSUMPTION AND AGRICULTURAL RUNOFFS. EXTRACTING AND RECYCLING THESE PHOSPHATES FROM WATER IS A CHALLENGING TASK DUE TO ITS HIGH HYDRATION ENERGY. PROFESSOR CHU AND HER STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP A NEW FAMILY OF ORGANOMETALLIC RECEPTORS AND EVALUATE THEIR PHOSPHATE BINDING EFFICIENCY. THE RECEPTORS ARE DESIGNED TO OVERCOME THE LARGE HYDRATION ENERGY OF PHOSPHATES THROUGH METAL-LIGAND COOPERATIVE INTERACTIONS IN A THREE-FOLD SYMMETRIC H-BOND ASSEMBLY. THEIR STUDIES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED PHOSPHATE EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGIES TO ENSURE LASTING FOOD SECURITY. THIS WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, ALLOWING THEM TO GAIN RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN THE LAB AND BECOME BETTER PREPARED FOR FURTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SCIENCES. THIS WORK AIMS TO ELUCIDATE THE THERMODYNAMIC FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE METAL-LIGAND COOPERATIVE BINDING OF PHOSPHATES IN ORGANOMETALLIC COMPLEXES. THE PROPOSED COMPLEXES ARE DESIGNED TO INTERACT WITH PHOSPHATES THROUGH METAL-LIGAND BONDING WITH A METAL CENTER AND H-BONDS IN THE SECONDARY COORDINATION SPHERE. THE H-BONDS ARE ASSEMBLED IN A THREE-FOLD SYMMETRIC FASHION TO ENHANCE THE BINDING OF TETRAHEDRAL PHOSPHATES THROUGH GEOMETRIC RECOGNITION. PROFESSOR CHU AND HER STUDENTS WILL FIRST ESTABLISH THE SYNTHESES OF A SERIES OF STRUCTURALLY SIMILAR COMPLEXES THAT ARE PROMISING AS PHOSPHATE RECEPTORS. THEY WILL FOCUS ON METALS WITH HIGH PEARSON?S HARDNESS LEVELS, SUCH AS FE(III), CU(II), AND ZN(II). THE LIGAND STRUCTURES ARE SYSTEMATICALLY VARIED WITHIN THE SERIES TO AFFORD BINDING CAVITIES THAT FEATURE DIFFERENT SIZES AND RIGIDITY. PROFESSOR CHU AND HER STUDENTS WILL FURTHER MEASURE THE ASSOCIATION EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANTS, ENTHALPIES, AND ENTROPIES OF PHOSPHATE BINDING IN THESE COMPLEXES. THESE THERMODYNAMIC VALUES WILL BE CORRELATED WITH THE STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS IN THE ORGANOMETALLIC SERIES. THESE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RECEPTOR STRUCTURE AND PHOSPHATE BINDING EFFICIENCY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SET OF DESIGN CRITERIA FOR SELECTIVE ORGANOMETALLIC PHOSPHATE RECEPTORS. 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 NETWORKS AND NARRATIVES: LAUNCHING A DIGITAL AND PUBLIC HUMANITIES MINOR [THROUGH THIS GRANT, SAINT MARY?S COLLEGE WILL LAUNCH AN INTEGRATED, 15-CREDIT DIGITAL AND PUBLIC HUMANITIES (DPH) MINOR THAT INCLUDES TWO REQUIRED COURSES, SIX ELECTIVES, AND FOUR ELECTIVE MODULES. THE MINOR WILL INTEGRATE PROJECT-BASED, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH A HANDS-ON MODEL OF HOW HUMANITIES RESEARCH ENGAGES WITH AND INFLUENCES THE WORLD. THE DPH MINOR WILL BE THE FIRST AT SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY FIELDS WITH THE HUMANITIES IN A FORMAL CURRICULAR PATH. THE MINOR ALSO USES A NEW CURRICULAR FORMAT FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS BY CREATING MODULE COURSES THAT ENABLE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP COMPETENCIES IN DATA MANAGEMENT, TEXT MINING, ETHICS, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN A FOCUSED, FLEXIBLE FORMAT.]

BAY BRIDGE REU SITE: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR FUTURE SCIENTISTS AND TEACHERS

PLANNING: ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AT PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS FOR COLLABORATIVE CONSORTIUM BUILDING -SAINT MARY?S COLLEGE SEEKS TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT, CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH A CONSORTIUM OF PEER INSTITUTIONS, THAT WILL BE USED TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN TO ELEVATE THE COLLEGE'S RESEARCH FOCUS. THIS PLANNING PROJECT INVOLVES A RIGOROUS EVALUATION PLAN TO ASSESS EXISTING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, BOLSTERED BY EVALUATIONS UNDERTAKEN BY PARTNER INSTITUTIONS, TO INFORM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPANSION OF THE COLLEGE?S RESEARCH CAPACITY. THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION WILL BE USED TO CREATE A PLAN TO EXPAND RESEARCH SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE TO FACILITATE INSTITUTIONAL AND COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL PLANNING AND SUBMISSION, WHICH WILL IN TURN BE SHARED WITH PEER INSTITUTIONS IN THE MIDWEST TO CREATE A MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE CONSORTIUM THAT CENTERS RESOURCE-SHARING AND COLLABORATION TO ENABLE THE FULL PARTICIPATION OF UNDERGRADUATES IN THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS. THROUGH BUILDING THIS COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT, THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERDISCIPLINARY AND INTER-INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO A RICHER, MORE NUANCED UNDERSTANDING OF CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING RESEARCH AT INSTITUTIONS WITH A PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT BASE SAINT MARY?S COLLEGE HAS RECRUITED ST. CATHERINE?S UNIVERSITY AND ALVERNO COLLEGE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW CONSORTIUM. WITH THIS GRANT, SAINT MARY?S WILL HIRE AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR TO DEVELOP A SURVEY INSTRUMENT AND ANALYZE THE DATA GENERATED. THE EVALUATOR WILL CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT USING A MIXED METHODS APPROACH INTEGRATING QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA FROM VARIOUS SOURCES INCLUDING EXTANT DATA ANALYSIS, SURVEYS, INTERVIEWS, OBSERVATIONS, AND DOCUMENT REVIEW. TWO GOALS SHAPE THIS PROPOSAL: 1) ASSESS SAINT MARY?S INTERNAL RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IN RELATION TO A GOAL OF INCREASING RESEARCH RESOURCES FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS, AND TO ASSESS THE CONSORTIUM PARTNERS? RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS; 2) ANALYZE THE DATA GENERATED FROM THE SAINT MARY?S ASSESSMENT AND SYNTHESIZE IT WITH THE PARTNERS? RESULTS TO INFORM AN ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED NEEDS. THE DATA THAT WILL BE GATHERED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE THE RESEARCH TEAM TO DETERMINE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE RESOURCES AND COLLABORATE CROSS-INSTITUTIONALLY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF UNDERGRADUATES IN RESEARCH AND INCREASING RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY ACROSS THE CONSORTIUM. A STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE UTILIZED TO SHARE THIS MODEL WITH OTHER PUIS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. 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.

BUILDING CAPACITY TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR FUTURE STEM TEACHERS WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF JUSTICE, COMMUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP

COLLABORATIVE RESERACH: STANDARD: COMPARISON OF COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS CAMPUS CULTURES (THE 4C PROJECT): TOWARD EVIDENCE-BASED CUSTOMIZATION OF LEARNI

CREATING A FACULTY LEARNING COMMUNITY IN THE HUMANITIES [SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSES THE CREATION OF A FACULTY LEARNING COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE AND HIGH IMPACT COURSE EXPERIENCES DESIGNATED FOR THE NEW HUMANISTIC PRACTICE REQUIREMENT OF THE UNDERGRADUATE CORE CURRICULUM. THIS NEW REQUIREMENT INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO THE VARIOUS WAYS HUMANITIES DISCIPLINES ARE ADOPTING 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES, COMMUNICATION MEDIA, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE. THE APPLICATION OF HUMANITIES DISCIPLINARY CONTENT WITH PRACTICED SKILLS PROMOTES DIVERSITY IN HUMANITIES AS STUDENTS IN THE HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN ACADEMIA CAN MORE EASILY RECOGNIZE AND ARTICULATE THE UTILITY OF CLASSROOM BASED LEARNING TO PROSPECTIVE POST-GRADUATION OUTCOMES. THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FACULTY WITH CENTRALIZED SUPPORT FROM ACADEMIC AFFAIRS TO CREATE AND ADAPT SKILLS-BASED HUMANITIES PRACTICES FOR BROADER UNDERGRADUATE AUDIENCES THROUGH THE CORE CURRICULUM.]

OFF-CAMPUS COMMUNITY SERVICE

SIGNAL PROCESSING METHODS TO ISOLATE INDIVIDUAL BAT FM CALLS FROM WITHIN THE NOISE OF A SWARM

I-CORPS: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CHAIN -THE BROADER IMPACT/COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF THIS I-CORPS PROJECT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION WHEN WORKING WITH CRYPTOCURRENCY. WITH THIS SAFETY NET, MORE CRYPTOCURRENCY OWNERS WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE ENTERING THE MARKET, EXPANDING THE PLATFORM BEYOND THE 1 BILLION MEMBERS EXPECTED BY 2023. CURRENT BLOCKCHAIN PARTICIPANTS HAVE OPENED THEIR IDENTITIES AND TRANSACTIONS FOR THE WORLD TO SEE EVEN THOUGH THEY RISK THE DANGERS THAT COME WITH THAT TRANSPARENCY. EVEN PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE NOT DISCLOSED THEIR WALLET IDENTITIES HAVE FOUND THEIR TRUE IDENTITIES TO HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED AND HAVE FACED THREATS. WHEN AN OWNER CONDUCTS A LARGE CRYPTOCURRENCY TRANSACTION, THE RISK OF DAMAGE DUE TO EXPOSURE CAN BE HIGH WHETHER IT BE FOR INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES. FOR THOSE MARKET SEGMENTS, CONFIDENTIALITY - AS A SERVICE ENABLED BY THIS TECHNOLOGY - WOULD HELP LOWER THE RISK OF EXPOSURE AND THUS REDUCE DAMAGE SUBSTANTIALLY. THIS I-CORPS PROJECT IS BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM TO ENABLE CONFIDENTIALITY AND TRANSACTION MONITORING AS A SERVICE FOR BLOCKCHAIN SYSTEMS WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING TRANSACTION COSTS AND ENHANCING AUDITABILITY. THE CORE TECHNOLOGY THAT UNDERGIRDS THE PLATFORM COMBINES A MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHM WITH SECURE ENCRYPTION TECHNIQUES. THIS PLATFORM WILL SATISFY REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE SAFETY AS WELL AS CONFIDENTIALITY FOR BLOCKCHAIN USERS AND PLATFORMS. THE APPROACH USES MACHINE LEARNING, OPTIMIZATION, AND ENCRYPTION TECHNIQUES TO MASK TRANSACTIONS AND TO PROVIDE CONFIDENTIALITY WHILE ALSO USING MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS TO DISCERN WHEN SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IS HAPPENING ON THE TRANSACTION GRAPH. THE PRIVACY-PRESERVING MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES HAVE NEVER BEEN USED IN PRODUCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF BLOCKCHAIN. INTELLECTUALLY, THE ALGORITHMS ENHANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES ON ENCRYPTED DATA. THE TECHNOLOGY WILL REDUCE FINANCIAL CRIME WHILE PRESERVING CONFIDENTIALITY. 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.

PARTNERS IN PUBLIC HISTORY: TRAINING STUDENTS AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

INTERDISCIPLINARY ART CONSERVATION MINOR [OUR PROJECT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A MINOR IN ART CONSERVATION BY CREATING A SET OF INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES INTEGRATING THE STUDY OF CHEMISTRY AND ART HISTORY. WE PLAN TO RECRUIT CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS AS LECTURERS AND INSTRUCTORS TO SUPPORT OUR FACULTY IN INTRODUCING FULL HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL ENGAGEMENT IN OUR NEW COURSES.? WE WILL ALSO INVOLVE PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT MUSEUMS AND OTHER VENUES BOTH AS CONSULTANTS FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND AS POTENTIAL PROVIDERS OF INTERNSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM WILL INTERTWINE THE STUDY OF MATERIAL SCIENCE WITH ARTISTIC UNDERSTANDING ISSUES, WHICH INVOLVE CULTURAL, HISTORIC, AND ETHICAL QUESTIONS.?THE MINOR WILL SERVE A STUDENT POPULATION THAT INCLUDES A RELEVANT PERCENTAGE OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, HOPING TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY IN CONSERVATION STUDIES. AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL FOSTER?ACTIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND THE SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS, BRINGING TOGETHER FACULTY FROM MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES.]

CLIMATE SMART STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART [SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART (SMCMOA), A UNIT OF SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA, SUBMITS A PROPOSAL TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES CLIMATE SMART HUMANITIES ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAM FOR THE CLIMATE SMART STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART PROJECT. THE ESTIMATED PROJECT BUDGET WILL BE $100,070, INCLUDING A REQUESTED $50,000 IN FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE NEH, AND $50,070 IN GIFTS RAISED FROM THIRD-PARTY NON-FEDERAL SOURCES. THE AIM OF THE PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A DECARBONIZATION AND DESIGN PLAN FOR SMCMOA TO PROTECT ITS COLLECTIONS, ENHANCE ITS PHYSICAL PLANT, AND BECOME THE FIRST CARBON-NEUTRAL BUILDING ON SAINT MARY?S CAMPUS.]

CONFERENCE: SYMPOSIUM - SICB 2023 - VISIONS FOR A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE, AND SAFE FUTURE FOR FIELD BIOLOGY -THIS AWARD SUPPORTS A SYMPOSIUM, ?ENVISIONING A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE, AND SAFE FUTURE FOR FIELD BIOLOGY,? AT THE 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY (SICB). A TOTAL OF 11 SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS WILL PRESENT ON IDENTIFYING BARRIERS, ADVOCACY, AND PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY AND SAFETY IN FIELD SETTINGS. THE AWARD PRIMARILY OFFSETS TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS. THE SYMPOSIUM WILL CLOSE WITH A DISCUSSION TO GENERATE IDEAS FOR INCREASING INCLUSIVITY AND ACCESS TO FIELD-BASED DISCIPLINES FOR SCIENTISTS WITH DIVERSE IDENTITIES. THIS SYMPOSIUM HAS THREE KEY AIMS TOWARD PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) IN FIELD BIOLOGY: (1) BRINGING ATTENTION TO CURRENT ISSUES ON THE TOPIC, (2) FACILITATING PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCHOLARS AND SCIENTISTS, AND (3) GENERATING SCHOLARLY WORK ON THE SUBJECT TO FURTHER THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THIS AREA. BY ADDRESSING CURRENT ISSUES AND NEW FRONTIERS IN FIELD BIOLOGY SAFETY AND INCLUSIVITY, THIS SYMPOSIUM CHALLENGES ATTENDEES TO ADDRESS THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR, FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES, AND SHIFT THE CULTURE OF FIELD BIOLOGY TOWARD A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE. OUTCOMES FROM THIS SYMPOSIUM WILL INCLUDE A WHITE PAPER OUTLINING BEST PRACTICES FOR ADVANCING DEI EFFORTS IN FIELD-BASED STEM DISCIPLINES. THIS AWARD PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR A SYMPOSIUM FOCUSED ON PROMOTING DEI IN FIELD BIOLOGY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY (SICB), HELD IN AUSTIN, TX IN JANUARY 2023. SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS INCLUDE SCIENTISTS FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES IN FIELD WORK; SPEAKER SELECTION SPOTLIGHTS THE CHALLENGES OF FIELD WORK FOR DIVERSE SCHOLARS AND PROVIDES A PLACE FOR FACILITATED DISCUSSION AND EXPLORATION OF SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED. SPECIFICALLY, SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS ADDRESS: (1) BARRIERS TO INCLUSION AND ACCESS, (2) ADVOCATING FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION IN THE FIELD, AND (3) VISIONS FOR A MORE ACCESSIBLE FUTURE. THE SYMPOSIUM STRUCTURE WILL CHALLENGE ATTENDEES TO ADDRESS THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR, FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES, AND SHIFT THE CULTURE OF FIELD BIOLOGY TOWARD A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE. THE SYMPOSIUM CONCLUDES WITH A ?GALLERY WALK? AND DISCUSSION, MODERATED BY A TRAINED DEI FACILITATOR, TO GENERATE IDEAS FOR IMPROVING FIELD SCIENCE SAFETY, INCLUSIVITY, AND ACCESS. THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE A WHITE PAPER REPORT, COAUTHORED BY SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZERS AND SPEAKERS, OUTLINING BEST PRACTICES FOR ADVANCING DEI EFFORTS IN FIELD-BASED STEM DISCIPLINES. EACH SYMPOSIUM SPEAKER HAS ALSO COMMITTED TO SUBMITTING A MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION IN THE JOURNAL INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY TO DISSEMINATE RESULTS OF THE SYMPOSIUM. THIS AWARD IS CO-FUNDED BY THE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND THE PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND BIOMECHANICS PROGRAMS IN THE BIO DIVISION OF INTEGRATIVE ORGANISMAL SYSTEMS AND THE FIELD STATIONS PROGRAM IN THE BIO DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. 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.