Rollins College

ROLLINS COLLEGE EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR INSTITUTION DUE TO COVID-19

ROLLINS COLLEGE EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR STUDENTS DUE TO COVID-19

ROLLINS COLLEGE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

ROLLINS COLLEGE UPWARD BOUND

UPWARD BOUND

UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

RUI: CHANGES IN MYTILUS EDULIS COMPLEX DISTRIBUTION AS IT CORRELATES TO INCREASING SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN THE INTERTIDAL -CLIMATE CHANGE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES WORLDWIDE, WITH DRAMATIC ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS. THIS STUDY INVESTIGATES HOW RISING OCEAN TEMPERATURES AFFECT BLUE MUSSELS, WHICH ARE VITAL TO MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND GLOBAL AQUACULTURE. BLUE MUSSELS ARE BEING COLLECTED AROUND HOKKAIDO, JAPAN, WHERE OCEAN WARMING IS OCCURRING AT A HIGH LEVEL AND VARIES AROUND THE ISLAND. THIS, COMBINED WITH DIFFERENCES IN TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE BETWEEN THE TWO BLUE MUSSEL SPECIES IN HOKKAIDO, IS BEING USED TO DETERMINE HOW OCEAN TEMPERATURES ARE INFLUENCING COMMUNITY COMPOSITION. BY COMBINING GENETIC TOOLS, TEMPERATURE DATA, AND REPRODUCTIVE STUDIES, THIS PROJECT EXPLORES HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING MUSSELS AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT TRAINING IS A KEY ASPECT OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE AND ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO COURSE-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES (CURES), AND DATASETS SERVE AS CASE STUDIES IN UPPER-LEVEL UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY COURSES. THE GOAL OF THIS STUDY IS TO EXPLORE THE EFFECTS OF RISING SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES (SST) ON THE DISTRIBUTION, REPRODUCTIVE DYNAMICS, AND HYBRIDIZATION OF THE MYTILUS EDULIS SPECIES COMPLEX IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN, WHERE UNPRECEDENTED DECADAL SST INCREASES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED. FOCUSING ON M. TROSSULUS AND M. GALLOPROVINCIALIS, IT AIMS TO (1) RE-EXAMINE SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS AFTER 17 YEARS, (2) EVALUATE CHANGES IN REPRODUCTIVE STAGES, AND (3) INVESTIGATE GENETIC STRUCTURES OF HYBRID POPULATIONS. THE PROJECT INTEGRATES TRADITIONAL GENOTYPING WITH DOUBLE-DIGEST RESTRICTION-SITE ASSOCIATED DNA SEQUENCING (DDRAD-SEQ) TO ASSESS SHIFTS IN POPULATION STRUCTURE. SST TRENDS ARE BEING ANALYZED USING LONG-TERM REMOTE SENSING DATA, WHILE HISTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES WILL MEASURE REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSES. THIS RESEARCH LEVERAGES HOKKAIDO'S HYBRID ZONES AS NATURAL EXPERIMENTS TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENTIAL SPECIES RESPONSES TO CLIMATE WARMING, PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO THE MECHANISMS DRIVING BIOGEOGRAPHIC SHIFTS, REPRODUCTIVE ADAPTATIONS, AND GENETIC VARIABILITY IN HYBRID SYSTEMS. THE FINDINGS ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE-RELATED PRESSURES ON MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND INTERTIDAL ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS. 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.

RUI: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN MUSICAL ACOUSTICS

RUI: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN MUSICAL ACOUSTICS

ROLLINS COLLEGE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROJECT

ROLLINS COLLEGE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM - THE ROLLINS COLLEGE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, COLLABORATIVE, WELL-COORDINATED, AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING AND ENHANCING NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW THE ROLLINS WELLNESS CENTER TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO AN ALARMING RATE OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AND MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH SIX KEY ACTIVITIES OVER THE PROPOSED THREE-YEAR PERIOD: (1) CREATING A NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE TO LINK ROLLINS COLLEGE WITH APPROPRIATE CARE PROVIDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY; (2) TRAINING GATEKEEPERS (STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF) TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THOSE AT-RISK FOR SUICIDE; (3) ADMINISTERING EFFECTIVE VOLUNTARY SCREENINGS AND ASSESSMENTS; (4) PROVIDING OUTREACH AND INFORMATION TO PROMOTE SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS, ENCOURAGE HELP-SEEKING, AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF CRISIS RESOURCES; (5) PROVIDING MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO COLLEGE STUDENTS BY EMPLOYING APPROPRIATELY TRAINED STAFF; AND (6) INCREASING PEER-TO-PEER PREVENTION AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES. WHILE THIS PROJECT WILL AIM TO ADDRESS THE ENTIRE CAMPUS’ VULNERABILITY TO SUICIDE AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THERE ARE SEVERAL POPULATIONS IDENTIFIED AS BEING PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. THESE INCLUDE A GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS OF COLOR; LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) STUDENTS; STUDENT VETERANS; AND THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, COMMUTER STUDENTS AND FINANCIALLY INSECURE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS POPULATIONS OF FOCUS. THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN WILL SUPPORT AN ESTIMATED 3,200 COLLEGE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY ANNUALLY AND OVER 5,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING CORE STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTING THE SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPED BY JED CAMPUS; DEVELOPING MOUS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH, EATING DISORDERS, AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE TARGET POPULATIONS; ENHANCING THE EXISTING QPR GATEKEEPER PROGRAM AND ADDING A YOU CAN HELP GATEKEEPER PROGRAM; EXPANDING LIFE SKILLS TRAINING ACROSS CAMPUS AND THROUGH CURRICULUM; ADDING IN-PERSON SCREENINGS AT WELLNESS DAYS/EVENTS; ENSURING UNIVERSAL SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND SUICIDE IDEATION AT ALL ROLLINS WELLNESS CENTER APPOINTMENTS; AND EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AIMED AT INCREASING HELP-SEEKING, DECREASING HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS SUCH AS BINGE DRINKING, AND INCREASING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES; BOLSTERING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING TO ROLLINS BY DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS WITH MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES BOTH PRIOR TO WHEN THEY ARRIVE AND AS THEY ARRIVE ON CAMPUS; DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A COLLEGIATE RECOVERY PROGRAM; AND SUPPORT STUDENT GROUPS THAT ENGAGE IN MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES BY ENCOURAGING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN PEER-TO-PEER WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND FUNDING FOR THEIR PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES, ESTABLISHING AN ACTIVE MINDS CHAPTER ON CAMPUS, AND PARTNERING WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE AND TARGET POPULATIONS IDENTIFIED TO OFFER WELLNESS SERIES AND OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE GROUPS.

EAGER: RUI: ELUCIDATING THE ROLE OF EXOSOMES IN THE REGULATION OF STEROIDOGENESIS -EXOSOMES ARE RECENTLY DISCOVERED SMALL MEMBRANE-BOUND PARTICLES THAT ARE SECRETED INTO BLOOD BY CELLS, CARRYING BIOMOLECULES THAT MAY REPROGRAM RECIPIENT CELLS AND INITIATE NEW FUNCTIONS. DESPITE BIOMEDICAL INTEREST IN EXOSOMES AS BIOMARKERS AND THERAPEUTICS, THEIR NATURAL PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTION REMAINS UNKNOWN. THIS RESEARCH EXPLORES ONE POTENTIAL ROLE OF EXOSOMES, AS COMMUNICATION LINKS BETWEEN ENDOCRINE GLANDS (THE ADRENAL GLANDS, OVARIES, AND TESTES) AND OTHER TISSUES OR ORGANS WHICH CAN ONLY SYNTHESIZE HORMONES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. USING NEWLY DEVELOPED METHODS, THIS PROJECT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER EXOSOMES ORIGINATING FROM ENDOCRINE CELLS CARRY THE NECESSARY BIOCHEMICAL INFORMATION TO INITIATE LOCAL STEROID HORMONE PRODUCTION IN NON-ENDOCRINE ORGANS, IN A LIZARD MODEL. SUCH LOCATION SHIFTS IN HORMONE PRODUCTION ARE OBSERVED IN MANY BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES, INCLUDING PROSTATE CANCER, MENOPAUSE, IMMUNE CELL DEVELOPMENT, AND NON-BREEDING AGGRESSION IN ANIMALS. THIS RESEARCH MAY PROVIDE A UNIFYING MECHANISM FOR THESE DIVERSE PROCESSES, WHILE ALSO SERVING AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING OF SEVERAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN UNDERGRADUATE LABORATORY COURSES, IMPACTING MORE STUDENTS. THROUGH STUDENT TRAINING AND COLLABORATIONS, THIS RESEARCH WILL LIKELY LEAD TO NEW INSIGHTS AND FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE HIDDEN ROLES THAT EXOSOMES PLAY IN HORMONAL FUNCTION, ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY, AND BEHAVIOR. EXOSOMES ARE NANOSIZED VESICLES SECRETED INTO PLASMA THAT CARRY NUCLEIC ACIDS AND OTHER MOLECULES THAT CAN ALTER PHENOTYPES OF RECIPIENT CELLS, BUT THEIR INTRINSIC ORGANISMAL FUNCTIONS REMAIN UNSTUDIED AND UNKNOWN. THIS RESEARCH TESTS THE HYPOTHESIS THAT EXOSOMES ARE INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION OF LOCAL STEROID HORMONE SYNTHESIS, WHICH OCCURS WHEN ?NON-ENDOCRINE? TISSUES (E.G., LIVER, INTESTINE) SYNTHESIZE BIOACTIVE STEROIDS, WITH EXOSOMES SERVING TO TRANSFER NECESSARY STEROIDOGENIC ENZYME MRNA FROM ENDOCRINE GLANDS TO INITIATE THE PROCESS. USING THE ANOLIS LIZARD MODEL SYSTEM, THIS RESEARCH WILL TEST IF EXOSOMES ARE NECESSARY FOR BOTH EXTRA-ADRENAL GLUCOCORTICOID HORMONE SYNTHESIS AND EXTRA-GONADAL SYNTHESIS OF SEX STEROID HORMONES. THIS STUDY FIRST AIMS TO DETERMINE IF LOCAL STEROIDOGENESIS INCREASES PLASMA EXOSOME SECRETION USING NANOPARTICLE TRACKING ANALYSIS. THE SECOND AIM WILL DOCUMENT IF PLASMA EXOSOMES CONTAIN STEROIDOGENIC ENZYME MRNA USING RT-PCR WITH TARGETED PRIMERS. THE THIRD AIM WILL USE A NEW PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENT TO BLOCK EXOSOME SECRETION TO TEST ITS NECESSITY FOR LOCAL STEROIDOGENESIS. USING NOVEL TECHNIQUES AND TESTING PARADIGMS, A UNIFYING AND UBIQUITOUS MECHANISM FOR ACTIVATING STEROIDOGENIC MACHINERY IN NON-ENDOCRINE TISSUES WILL BE TESTED. THE TRANSFER OF MRNA BETWEEN TISSUES VIA EXOSOMES TO REGULATE PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS AND BEHAVIOR WILL TRANSFORM CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF CELL-TO-CELL COMMUNICATION, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR MANY FIELDS OF BIOLOGY. THIS PROJECT ALSO SERVES TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC TRAINING FOR YOUNG BIOLOGISTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, AND WILL DOUBTLESSLY LEAD TO COLLABORATIONS AND NEW BIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS ON THE ROLE OF EXOSOMES IN STEROID-REGULATED FUNCTIONS. 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.

TRIO - TALENT SEARCH - TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

RUI: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN MUSICAL ACOUSTICS

THEORY OF ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: ECOLOGY OF A REVERSE ZOONOSIS: HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN THE TRANSMISSION PERSISTENCE AND VIRULENCE OF WHITE POX DI

RUI: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN MUSICAL ACOUSTICS

RUI: PUBLIC POLICY AND MOBILIZATION

RUI: DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS USING ELECTRON BEAMS: A THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION

RUI: HIGH SPEED ELECTRONIC SPECKLE PATTERN INTERFEROMETER FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN MUSICAL ACOUSTICS

IOS RAPID: DOES ADAPTATION TO URBANIZATION PROMOTE RESILIENCE DURING A NATURAL DISASTER? A TEST OF BROWN ANOLE (ANOLIS SAGREI) BEHAVIOR AND STRESS AFTER HURRICANE IRMA.

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,998 TO ROLLINS COLLEGE TO PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEW SUNRAIL COMMUTER SYSTEM AND TO CONNECT WI

GLOBAL LINKS INDIA ALUMNI CONNECT: PROMOTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EAST INDIA.

PRIORITIZING DIGITAL PRESERVATION EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH: A PROPOSAL TO HOST THE FIRST EVER POWRR (PRESERVING DIGITAL OBJECTS WITH RESTRICTED RESOURCES) WORKSHOP IN THE SOUTHEAST

ROLLINS COLLEGE ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING

THEORY OF ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS