University Of Southern Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI INBRE

CARES ACT: HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND-INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS - CARES ACT

NATIONAL FORMULATION SCIENCE LABORATORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

GEOSPATIAL MODELING

COMPOSITE MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: CONGRESSIONAL PLUS UP FY07

REGIONAL GEOSPATIAL MODELING

MISSISSIPPI FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS NETWORK

2010-2013 OMNIBUS PROGRAM/MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM

2020-2023 GULF OF MEXICO AND SOUTH ATLANTIC GREATER AMBERJACK RESEARCH PROGRAM

2016-2018 GULF OF MEXICO RED SNAPPER RESEARCH COMPETITION

COASTAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, DATA DEVELOPMENT, AND INFORMATION SERVICES

IMPROVED MAGNETIC GRADIOMETERS FOR UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, GULF PARK CAMPUS 730 EAST BEACH BOULEVARD, LONG BEACH, MS 39560-6259 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: DR. SHANNON CAMPBELL CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS (VOICE, FAX): 228.214.3243 (VOICE) EMAIL ADDRESS: SHANNON.CAMPBELL@USM.EDU WEBSITE ADDRESS, IF APPLICABLE: WWW.USM.EDU LIST ALL GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED IN THE APPLICATION, IF APPLICABLE: $7.9 MILLION GULF PARK CHILDREN’S COLLABORATIVE THE LANGUAGE SPEECH DISORDER INNOVATIVE THERAPY CENTER IS PLANNED TO BE A 21,536 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY PROVIDING INTENSIVE, SPECIALIZED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, COMPLEX COMMUNICATION NEEDS, SIGNIFICANT LANGUAGE OR LEARNING DISABILITIES, OR A COMBINATION OF THESE FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 13 YEARS ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST. THE BUILDING WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI’S GULF PARK CAMPUS IN LONG BEACH, MS. IT WILL HOUSE TWO UNIVERSITY-BASED PROGRAMS, THE CHILDREN’S CENTER FOR COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND DUBARD SCHOOL FOR LANGUAGE DISORDERS. THE CORE MISSION OF THE CHILDREN’S CENTER IS TO PROVIDE TRANSDISCIPLINARY THERAPY AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS WITH SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AT NO COST TO FAMILIES. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY, PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS, EDUCATIONAL AUDIOLOGY SERVICES, AND LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS. THERAPY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN THE HOME, COMMUNITY, AND CENTER LOCATION DETERMINED BY EACH CHILD’S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND THE FAMILY’S PRIORITIES. THE CORE MISSION OF THE DUBARD SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-13 ON THE PUBLIC-SCHOOL CALENDAR. STUDENTS ARE PLACED EITHER THROUGH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS IN COLLABORATION WITH THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR ARE PARENTALLY PLACED. ENROLLMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO FAMILI ES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY NATIONALLY CERTIFIED SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND CLASSROOM THERAPY ASSISTANTS WHO ADDRESS EACH CHILD’S INDIVIDUAL SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND ACADEMIC GOALS IN THE CONTEXT OF SMALL CLASSROOMS. CLASSROOMS HOUSE A MAXIMUM OF TEN STUDENTS TO PROVIDE A SMALL TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO OF NO MORE THAN 5:1. BOTH THE CHILDREN’S CENTER AND THE DUBARD SCHOOL TRAIN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND OFFER REGULAR CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONALS ACROSS A MULTITUDE OF FIELDS.

2018-2021 OMNIBUS PROGRAM/MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM

2014-2017 OMNIBUS PROGRAM/MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM

PR 73-0097-20 PARALLEL RESEARCH IN OCEANOGRAPHY, NUMERICAL MODELING, OCEAN BIO-OPTICS, AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES

EXPERIMENTAL OYSTER LEASES AS A PLATFORM FOR DEMONSTRATING EFFECTIVE RESTORATION STRATEGIES AND ASSESSING INFLUENCE ON GULF STURGEON HABITAT

PARALLEL RESEARCH IN OCEANOGRAPHY, NUMERICAL MODELING, OCEAN BIO-OPTICS, AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES. PR# 73-0226-14.

AS STATED IN ATTACHMENT 2 ENTITLED 'CORROSION CONTROL MODELING AND METHOD DEVELOPMENT'

THE CEDAR POINT MARINE AQUACULTURE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI: CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

ART: ACCELERATING RESEARCH TRANSLATION IN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI FROM CONCEPTS TO CAREERS -THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (USM) LOCATED IN HATTIESBURG, MS IS LEADING A SYSTEMATIC AND DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO DEVELOP A NOVEL MODEL (U-MODEL) IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A MORE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH CULTURE AT USM. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP FOSTER GREATER TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THAT PREPARE USM STUDENTS FOR NON-ACADEMIC CAREERS, ACCELERATE ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND STRENGTHEN MISSISSIPPI?S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM. ACHIEVING THESE GOALS SUPPORTS MISSISSIPPI?S KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY AND PROMOTES THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE STATE?S INDUSTRIES. USM WILL DEMONSTRATE THE EFFICACY OF THE U-MODEL FOR SUPPORTING HIGHER TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SHORT-TERM PROJECTS AND LONG-TERM INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT (1) PROMOTE HUMAN BEHAVIORS TO SHIFT RESEARCH CULTURE, (2) INCREASE CAPACITY TO ENHANCE INNOVATION, AND (3) CREATE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE ENGAGING TO WOMEN AND MINORITIES. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS VERY HIGH TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ECOSYSTEM, WILL SERVE AS USM?S MENTOR INSTITUTION. ALSO, JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, A FELLOW MISSISSIPPI RESEARCH CONSORTIUM MEMBER, WILL ASSIST USM WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS (TIP) DIRECTORATE, THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR), THE IUSE PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION (DUE) AND THE NSF RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP (NRT) PROGRAMS IN THE EDU DIRECTORATE, AS WELL AS ENG, SBE, AND MPS DIRECTORATES. 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 PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

FOUNDED IN 1972, THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM (MASGC) IS AN ORGANIZATION OF NINE UNIVERSITIES AND LABORATORIES SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, EXTENSION AND LEGAL PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. COORDINATED BY A CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT IN OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI, THE CONSORTIUM MEMBERS INCLUDE AUBURN UNIVERSITY, DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB, JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA. EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT STAFF WORK AT OFFICES IN BILOXI, OCEAN SPRINGS AND OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI AND DAUPHIN ISLAND, MOBILE AND TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA. MASGC ENVISIONS A FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY ALONG OUR COASTS IN HARMONY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ATTRACT AND SUSTAIN THEM. THIS IS A VISION WHERE WE USE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IN WAYS THAT CAPTURE THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL BENEFITS THEY OFFER, WHILE PRESERVING THEIR QUALITY AND ABUNDANCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MASGCS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED UNIVERSITY- AND COLLEGE-BASED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT (COMMUNICATIONS, EXTENSION AND LEGAL) PROGRAMS TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT LEAD TO THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCES IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI THROUGH INFORMED PERSONAL, POLICY AND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. MASGC HAS FOUR PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS: HEALTHY COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE 2024-2027 OMNIBUS PERIOD MASGC WILL INVEST $10,274,229 IN FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS. THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT 30 COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, LEGAL AND OUTREACH PROFESSIONALS BASED AT SIX INSTITUTIONS TOTALING 7.8 FTES. MASGC WILL FUND APPROXIMATELY 11 COMPETITIVE RESEARCH PROPOSALS USING CORE OMNIBUS FUNDS WITH AT LEAST ONE PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE CLIMATE AND RESILIENCE FUNDING PROVIDED TO EVERY SEA GRANT PROGRAM. MASGC WILL ALSO SET ASIDE 1.3% OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND POST-RESEARCH PROJECT EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT STAFF, RESEARCH SCIENTISTS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, MASGC HAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, A BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTING OF A HIGHLEVEL ADMINISTRATOR FROM EACH MEMBER INSTITUTION, AN ADVISORY COUNCIL AND A MANAGEMENT TEAM. ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY IS ESSENTIAL, AND THE MASGC IMPLEMENTS POLICIES APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS FISCAL GUIDELINES SET BY NOAA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. THE MANAGEMENT TEAM CONSISTS OF VARIOUS POSITIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING ACTIVITIES AND PURSUING STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL CONTRIBUTES TO PROGRAM PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION, WHILE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SETS ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY. MASGC HAS SIX MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES, EACH WITH CORRESPONDING IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES. THESE OBJECTIVES COVER ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY, FISCAL MANAGEMENT, FUNDING ACQUISITION, GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, REGIONAL COLLABORATION, AND RESEARCH SUPPORT.

PURPOSE: THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS VALIDATION AND CERTIFICATION. TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM OF PLASTIC WASTE POLLUTION, THE PROBLEM WILL CREATE A SKILLED WORKFORCE IN SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS THROUGH TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. IT WILL ALSO ESTABLISH TESTING STANDARDS AND CONDUCT CERTIFICATIONS TO ASSESS THE BIODEGRADABILITY AND COMPOSTABILITY OF NEW AND RECYCLED MATERIALS. FINALLY, THE PROJECT WILL PROMOTE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND WORKING DEMONSTRATIONS. THESE ELEMENTS ARE INTERCONNECTED. THE GOAL TO SUPPORT A CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE, AND ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTE TO A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE KEY ASPECTS PROPOSED IN THIS PROGRAM TO TACKLE PLASTIC WASTE INCLUDE: 1. DEVELOP AND DELIVER A "MATERIAL SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM" WITH ONLINE AND HANDS-ON TRAINING.2. ESTABLISH A BPI-CERTIFIED LAB EXCEEDING BASELINE STANDARDS, CONDUCTING CERTIFICATIONS AND PARTICIPATING IN ASTM STANDARD DEVELOPMENT.3. PARTNER WITH COMPANIES FOR REAL-WORLD DEMONSTRATIONS OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS IN ACTION.4. ENGAGE THE PUBLIC THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SUMMER CAMPS AND RECYCLING DEMONSTRATIONS.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES ARE EXPECTED FROM THE PROPOSED PROGRAM: 1. DECREASE PLASTIC POLLUTION BY CREATING A SKILLED WORKFORCE, ESTABLISHING TESTING STANDARDS, AND PROMOTING AWARENESS. 2. PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AS ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL PLASTICS THROUGH TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND DEMONSTRATION. 3. ADVANCE THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, PARTICULARLY BY FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS FOR OCEAN PLASTICS POLLUTION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE MAJOR BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE: 1. U.S. INDUSTRY: THE U.S. INDUSTRY WILL GAIN ACCESS TO A SKILLED WORKFORCE TRAINED IN SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND CERTIFIED TESTING FACILITIES. 2. U.S. PUBLIC: THE PROGRAM, THROUGH ITS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, WILL PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS, LEAD INDIVIDUALS TO EMBRACE AND ADOPT SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, AND HELP REDUCE THE PLASTIC WASTE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION THAT IT CAUSES IN LANDFILLS AND OCEANS. ALL THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM WELLNESS OF THE U.S. PUBLIC. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET INCLUDES 15% FOR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND ANOTHER 15% FOR COMPANY TESTING VOUCHERS.

: IN TODAYS DATA-DRIVEN WORLD, THE ABILITY TO MANAGE AND UTILIZE METADATA EFFECTIVELY HAS BECOME CRITICAL FOR ADVANCING INNOVATION. RECOGNIZING THIS NEED, A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA, AND INDUSTRY HAS GIVEN RISE TO THE DATA ASSEMBLY HUB FOR UNCREWED SYSTEMS (DAH). INITIALLY SEEDED BY NOAA FUNDING, THIS INITIATIVE HAS PRODUCED AQUAVIEW, A GROUNDBREAKING PORTAL THAT SIMPLIFIES METADATA MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS FOR OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC DATASETS. AS NOAA CONTINUES TO ACT AS THE PRIMARY CUSTODIAN OF THIS VITAL DATA, ENHANCING AQUAVIEWS CAPABILITIES HAS BECOME AN URGENT PRIORITY. HOWEVER, AS THE VOLUME AND COMPLEXITY OF DATA CONTINUE TO GROW, SO DO THE CHALLENGES. THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES BY ENHANCING AQUAVIEWS FUNCTIONALITY TO SUPPORT ADVANCED ANALYTICS, SCALABILITY, AND SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF AI-DRIVEN TOOLS. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROJECT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS. IT REPRESENTS A STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT WITH THE NEEDS OF MODERN RESEARCH ECOSYSTEMS. BY ENABLING RESEARCHERS AND DATA SCIENTISTS TO DERIVE ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FROM THEIR DATA, AQUAVIEW FOSTERS COLLABORATION, REDUCES INEFFICIENCIES, AND DRIVES INNOVATION. THE PROPOSED UPGRADES AIM TO POSITION AQUAVIEW AS A FLAGSHIP NOAA SYSTEM AND A MODEL FOR ADAPTIVE, INTELLIGENT METADATA MANAGEMENT.

PURPOSE: ESTABLISH AN ACCREDITED OCEANOGRAPHIC CALIBRATION LABORATORY ON THE GULF TO STRATEGICALLY IMPROVE DATA EFFICACY FOR INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND US GOVERNMENT INTERESTS.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: DESIGN AND ESTABLISH A CALIBRATION FACILITY INCLUSIVE OF CALIBRATION INSTRUMENTS, STANDARDS, SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS. ACQUIRE AND INSTALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND TRAIN STAFF TO WORK WITH THE EQUIPMENTS.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THIS PROPOSED FACILITY WILL SERVE THE U.S. RESEARCH, DEFENSE, AND MARINE OPERATIONS COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH QUALITY AND RAPID RE-CALIBRATION SERVICES. POSITIVE IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED FOR RESEARCH, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, SHIPPING OPERATIONS AND DEFENSE OPERATIONS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: NIST: ESTABLISHING AN ACCREDITED OCEANOGRAPHIC CALIBRATION LABORATORY ON THE GULF WILL STRATEGICALLY IMPROVE DATA EFFICACY FOR INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND US GOVERNMENT INTERESTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF NIST. MISSISSIPPI: NIST CERTIFIED CALIBRATION SERVICES ARE IN HIGH DEMAND RELATIVE TO THEIR AVAILABILITY. A LAB IN MISSISSIPPI WOULD BE STRATEGIC NOT ONLY FOR MISSISSIPPI, BUT ALSO FOR ATTRACTING BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES. PUBLIC: AN ACCREDITED OCEANOGRAPHIC CALIBRATION LABORATORY WHICH WOULD AID IN QUICKER RE-CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF OCEANOGRAPHIC SENSORS WOULD BENEFIT ACTIVITIES IN RESEARCH, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, SHIPPING OPERATIONS AND DEFENSE OPERATIONS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

POLYMERIC MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPUTATIONAL MODELING

CORRELATING EARLY PROTECTIVE COATING MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES WITH CORROSION RELATED FAILURE VI REAL AND ACCELERATED CORROSION TESTIN

PARALLEL RESEARCH IN OCEANOGRAPHY AND NUMBERICLA MODELING TASK1 AND TASK2

PARALLELL RESEARCH IN OCEANOGRAPHY AND NUMERICAL MODELING

RII-TRACK 2 FEC: ADVANCING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY THROUGH PLASTICS RESEARCH: EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND INCLUSION (ASPIRE) -PLASTICS HAVE TRANSFORMED AND BROADLY BENEFITED MODERN SOCIETY; HOWEVER, WITH A CUMULATIVE GLOBAL PRODUCTION EXCEEDING 9 BILLION METRIC TONS, THE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PLASTIC AND PLASTIC WASTE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY INTERTWINED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE. MISMANAGED PLASTIC LIFECYCLES IRRECOVERABLY COMMIT NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES TO EITHER PYROLYSIS PROCESSES OR TO LANDFILLS, WHICH GENERATES SUBSTANTIAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND PRODUCES MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION. THESE CONSEQUENCES EXACERBATE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, PUTTING BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN HEALTH AT RISK, WITH COASTAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH VULNERABLE HEALTH CONDITIONS, BEARING A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN. THIS RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT TRACK-2 FOCUSED EPSCOR COLLABORATIONS AWARD WILL ENABLE RESEARCHERS FROM INSTITUTIONS IN TWO EPSCOR JURISDICTIONS (MS AND AL), INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (USM) AND AUBURN UNIVERSITY (AU), TO ESTABLISH A TRANSDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM TO ADDRESS PLASTIC WASTE CHALLENGES AND THEIR CLIMATE AND HEALTH IMPACTS, WHILE BUILDING COMMUNITY CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ADVANCING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL RESEARCH AND HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND RECYCLING SERVICE PROVIDERS, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL ASSESS THE IMPACT OF MICROPLASTICS ON MARINE, AQUACULTURE, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, DEVELOP BLEND COMPATIBILIZERS TO IMPROVE MIXED POLYOLEFIN RECYCLING, AND CREATE NEXT-GENERATION BIO-SOURCED POLYMERS. THE PROJECT FEATURES A COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING PLAN THAT FOCUSES ON ENHANCING THE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES OF RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON ADVANCING STEM DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY. PROGRAM ELEMENTS INCLUDE MENTORSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT FOR EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS, VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, STUDENT-LED SYMPOSIA TO FOSTER NETWORKING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOR UNDERGRADUATES, AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING SESSIONS FOR WORKERS IN CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURE, AND MARINE SECTORS TO BETTER MANAGE PLASTIC WASTE. A ROBUST OUTREACH PROGRAM WILL FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SETTING UP RESEARCH EXHIBITS ALONG THE COAST, LEADING HANDS-ON EXPEDITIONS FOR PLASTIC DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM BEACHES, AND ENHANCING RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. THESE PLANS ARE STRATEGICALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT ON PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS. COLLECTIVELY, THE PROJECT WILL SERVE AS A REGIONAL HUB FOR PLASTIC-CLIMATE-HEALTH RESEARCH, ADVANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL EQUITY, AND WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. THE TRANSDISCIPLINARY ADVANCING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY THROUGH PLASTICS RESEARCH: EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND INCLUSION (ASPIRE) PROJECT SEEKS TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION ON VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN AL AND MS, LEVERAGING INNOVATIVE AND INCLUSIVE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH. ASPIRE WILL FOSTER SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH, INTEGRATING THE FIELDS OF POLYMER SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY, (BIO)ENGINEERING, SOCIAL/HEALTH SCIENCE, AND MARINE ECOLOGY. SPECIFICALLY, PROJECT TEAMS AT THE USM AND AU WILL: 1) DEVELOP ADVANCED DETECTION METHODS TO ANALYZE MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN FIELD AND AQUACULTURE SAMPLES, PAIRING THESE FINDINGS WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR SURVEYS TO IDENTIFY MICROPLASTIC-TO-HUMAN EXPOSURE PATHWAYS; 2) SYNTHESIZE BLEND COMPATIBILIZERS CONTAINING DYNAMIC CROSSLINKERS TO ENHANCE MIXED POLYOLEFIN RECYCLING, EXTENDING THE LIFESPAN AND IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF RECYCLED PRODUCTS FOR SUSTAINED USE; AND 3) DESIGN INHERENTLY RECYCLABLE POLYMER THERMOSETS COMPRISED OF DYNAMIC CROSSLINKS USING SUSTAINABLE, BIO-DERIVED BUILDING BLOCKS, CONCURRENTLY ESTABLISHING FUNDAMENTAL CHEMISTRY-STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THESE PROJECTS WILL BE INFORMED BY TECHNOECONOMIC AND LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS TO ENSURE MAXIMIZED SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY. ASPIRE AIMS TO FOSTER A DIVERSE WORKFORCE BY ACTIVELY RECRUITING UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, NURTURING EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE MENTORING PROGRAMS AND SEED GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND PARTAKING IN OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AIMED AT K-12 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM WILL ENGAGE COASTAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, PROVIDING TARGETED TRAINING TO LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOCUSING ON EFFECTIVE PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT. COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REGION, PEOPLE WITH VULNERABLE HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS BEAR THE BRUNT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION AND ASSOCIATED CLIMATE CHANGE. ASPIRE STRIVES TO ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THESE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. 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.

RII TRACK-2 FEC: EMERGENT POLYMER SENSING TECHNOLOGIES FOR GULF COAST WATER QUALITY MONITORING

PURPOSE: THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS IN 1966 (AMENDED IN 2008, PUBLIC LAW 110-394) TO BE A HIGHLY LEVERAGED FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERSHIP TO HARNESS THE INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY OF THE NATIONS UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND GENERATE OPPORTUNITIES IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED COASTAL AND GREAT LAKES COMMUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND EDUCATION. SEA GRANT'S MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE PRACTICAL USE AND CONSERVATION OF COASTAL, MARINE AND GREAT LAKES RESOURCES IN ORDER TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT. THIS GRANT IS THE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM LAYS OUT ITS PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THE GOALS LAID OUT IN IN THEIR FY2018-23 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTPS://SEAGRANT.NOAA.GOV/INSIDESEAGRANT/PLANNING. IN ADDITION TO REQUIRED GRANT PROGRESS REPORTING, THE RECIPIENT WILL REPORT DEFINED

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D, STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT.

DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE THAD COCHRAN CENTER FOR MARINE AQUACULTURE

A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULTS

2006-2007 OMNIBUS PROGRAM / MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM

FY 2007 COMPETITIVE TRAINING GRANTS PROGRAM

CARES ACT: HIGHER EDUCATION EMEGERNCY RELIEF FUND- STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

GOLDEN EAGLE TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM

'CORROSION AND CORROSION CONTROL STUDIES OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS THAT ARE MECHANICALLY-COUPLED OR ADHESIVELY-BONDED TO POLYMER-MATRIX COMPOSITES IN DIVERS

PURPOSE:THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO COMMERCIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ADVANCED ENERGYTECHNOLOGIES BY 1) QUALIFICATION TESTING FOR THE APPLICATION, AND 2) CREATING WORKING/PERMANENTDEMONSTRATIONS ON-SITE TO SERVE AS COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION TOOLS, ASSIST COMPANIES INMAKING INFORMED TECHNOLOGY CHOICES, AND AID ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS TECHNOLOGYADVANCEMENTS.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:OF THE TWO MAJOR ACTIVITIES, THE PROJECT NARRATIVE CALLS OUT THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AS THE EARLY FOCUS, WITH FOLLOW-ON FUNDING FOR HIGHLY SPECIALIZED TESTING/EQUIPMENT. EXPECTED OUTCOMES:THE INVESTMENT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE A RESOURCE FOR THESE PROGRAMS THAT CAN THEN BE USED TO SUPPORT NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND BETTER MEASUREMENTS AND DATA FOR PARTNER BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES:LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WILL BENEFIT FROM THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE RURAL DIGITAL FORENSICS INITIATIVE (RDFI). THE PURPOSE IS TODEVELOP A TRAINING AND LAB SOLUTION FOR DIGITAL FORENSICS THAT IS APPLICABLE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A WORKING FORENSICS LABORATORY AS A REAL-WORLD TRAINING/EDUCATION FACILITY; CREATING A HIGH-QUALITY DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION STUDIO; DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA DELIVERY MECHANISM TO REACH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL FORENSICS NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES; PROVISION OF FORENSIC SERVICES; CREATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA EDUCATIONAL TOOLS TO ASSIST WITH LINE OFFICER TRAINING IN DIGITAL FORENSIC INVESTIGATION BASICS; AND REGULAR PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS.

NATIONAL SECURITY TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATION AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION EFFORTS FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

REGIONAL GEOSPATIAL MODELING-FY2009

NRT: TRAINING NEXT-GENERATION SCIENTISTS WITH EXPERIMENTAL, THEORETICAL, AND COMPUTATIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR COMPLEX INTERFACES (INTERFACE)

REGIONAL GEOSPATIAL MODELING 2011

INSTITUTE FOR DISABILITY STUDIES: MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SERVICE

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION WORKFORCE

HEALTH CARE AND OTHER FACILITIES

MISSISSIPPI'S UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE (UCEDD)

USM/GCRL SOUTHEAST AREA MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (SEAMAP)

RESPONSE-DRIVEN POLYMERIC FILMS CENTER

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO SUPPORT NOAA'S NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION BY ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN UNCREWED SYSTEMS DATA ASSEMBLY HUB (UXS DAH). THE DAH SHALL SERVE AS A PUBLIC FACING, COMMERCIAL CLOUD-BASED REPOSITORY THAT AGGREGATES DATA AND OBSERVATIONS THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY SCIENTISTS, RESOURCE MANAGERS AND INDUSTRIES INTERESTED IN ENVIRONMENTAL MODEL DEVELOPMENT, FORECAST IMPROVEMENTS AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION. THE WORK WILL SERVE AS CRITICAL PILOT FOR MANAGING COMMERCIAL CLOUD SERVICES FOR OTHER NOAA OBSERVATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

REGIONAL SPATIAL MODELING-FY2010

INSTITUTE FOR DISABILITY STUDIES: MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SERVICE

NEW GK-12 CONNECTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM: MOLECULES TO MUSCLES (C2M2)

UCEDD CORE

PURPOSE: PROVIDE RESOURCES AND KNOW-HOW TO INNOVATORS, WHICH WILL ACCELERATE MS AND US COMMERCIALIZATION AND MARKET ADOPTION OF GRAPHENE.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ESTABLISH A GRAPHENE PRODUCT VALIDATION LABORATORY, A CONCERTED GRAPHENE CENTER FOCUSED ON COMMERCIALIZATION AND VALIDATION.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: MORE US GRAPHENE-BASED INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION WILL OCCUR BY IMPLEMENTING THE GRAPHENE PRODUCT VALIDATION LABORATORY AND EXPECTED COMMERCIALIZATION OF THESE MATERIALS WOULD BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE 2D MATERIALS INDUSTRY.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: NIST: GRAPHENE RESEARCH IS AN IMPORTANT MISSION FOR NIST. A GRAPHENE PRODUCT VALIDATION LABORATORY THAT WOULD PROVIDE RESOURCES AND KNOW-HOW TO INNOVATORS, WHICH WILL ACCELERATE US COMMERCIALIZATION AND MARKET ADOPTION OF GRAPHENE, WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. MISSISSIPPI: A GRAPHENE PRODUCT VALIDATION LABORATORY WOULD HELP THE RECIPIENT TO BECOME A TRUSTED AND RESPECTED ORGANIZATION FOR GRAPHENE QUALITY STANDARDS. PUBLIC: GRAPHENE IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY APPLICABLE ADDITIVES OF RECENT HISTORY. AN ACCELERATED COMMERCIALIZATION WOULD HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPHENE FOR POSSIBLE USES SUCH AS VIRUCIDAL COATING FOR COVID-19, CREATION OF SUPER BATTERIES, AND ANTI-ICE AND HEAT-REFLECTIVE COATINGS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

TAS::89 0321::TAS NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS FOR IMPROVED PHOTOVOLTAICS

DISCRETIONARY

CALCULUS TO CAREERS: SCHOLARSHIPS TARGETING ACADEMICALLY RISING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS STUDENTS -THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL NEED FOR WELL-EDUCATED SCIENTISTS, MATHEMATICIANS, AND ENGINEERS, BY SUPPORTING THE RETENTION AND GRADUATION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (SOUTHERN MISS). OVER ITS 6-YEAR DURATION, THIS TRACK 2 PROJECT WILL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS TO 60 UNIQUE FULL-TIME STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN CHEMISTRY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, COMPUTER ENGINEERING, FORENSICS, GEOLOGY, MARINE SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, OCEAN ENGINEERING, PHYSICS, AND POLYMER ENGINEERING. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ELIGIBLE FIRST YEAR, FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, THE PROJECT WILL UTILIZE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR ENHANCING THE SUCCESS OF LOW-INCOME STEM STUDENTS, THEREBY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STEM GRADUATES. BY EMPLOYING A MIXED-METHODS APPROACH, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INVESTIGATE BOTH IMPORTANT ACADEMIC AND EMOTIONAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT STEM STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THIS RESEARCH WILL PRODUCE VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SELF-EFFICACY, SCIENCE MOTIVATION, AND SCIENCE IDENTITY. ULTIMATELY, THE FINDINGS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO SUPPORT AND RETAIN LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN STEM FIELDS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE STEM DEGREE COMPLETION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME UNDERGRADUATES WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED. THE PROJECT HAS SIX KEY OBJECTIVES: PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS IN STEM PROGRAMS REQUIRING CALCULUS I; ESTABLISH FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER COHORTS; LEVERAGE EXISTING ACADEMIC SUPPORT; DEVELOP INTEGRATED STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON MATH APPLICATION; BUILD SCIENCE IDENTITY AMONG COHORTS; AND ESTABLISH DISCIPLINARY COMMUNITY THROUGH FACULTY MENTORING AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT. AT SOUTHERN MISS, 47% OF STUDENTS IN STEM PROGRAMS MUST TAKE PREREQUISITE COURSES BEFORE CALCULUS I, CREATING BOTH ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO DEGREE COMPLETION. THE PROJECT AIMS TO PRODUCE MORE STEM GRADUATES WHO WILL HELP FULFILL WORKFORCE DEMANDS AND ACHIEVE SOCIAL MOBILITY, AND THE PROJECT LEADERS WILL ASSESS THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS, TRACKING QUANTITATIVE METRICS LIKE RETENTION RATES, CALCULUS I SUCCESS RATES, CUMULATIVE GPA, AND TIME-TO-DEGREE. ADDITIONALLY, QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENTS WILL EXAMINE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES, SELF-EFFICACY, AND MOTIVATION FOR STEM AMONG PARTICIPANTS. FINDINGS, BEST PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES LEARNED WILL BE SHARED INTERNALLY THROUGH BIANNUAL PROJECT LEADERSHIP MEETINGS AND INTERNALLY THROUGH THE CENTER FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT. EXTERNALLY, RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED AT REGIONAL STEM EDUCATION CONFERENCES AND PUBLISHED IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS FOCUSING ON DISCIPLINE-BASED EDUCATION RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHING PRACTICES. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY NSF'S SCHOLARSHIPS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME ACADEMICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED WHO EARN DEGREES IN STEM FIELDS. IT ALSO AIMS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE STEM WORKERS, AND TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, RETENTION, TRANSFER, GRADUATION, AND ACADEMIC/CAREER PATHWAYS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. 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.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI/GULF COAST RESEARCH LABORATORY/NOAA FISHERIES - SOUTHEAST AREA MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (SEAMAP)

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMMATIC FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

USM/GCRL SOUTHEAST AREA MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (SEAMAP)

STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS

"ALTERNATE FUEL CELL MEMBRANES FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE"

PURPOSE: THE GULF-COAST - CENTER FOR ADDRESSING MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION (GC-CAMP) IS ESTABLISHED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA TO SERVE AS A LEADER, ADVANCING THE STATE-OF-THE-ART IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTE PLASTIC MARINE DEBRIS IN THE GULF COAST. GC-CAMP AIMS TO FOSTER A SHIFT IN RESEARCH TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS TO HELP MITIGATE AND PREVENT THE PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: GC-CAMP WILL LEVERAGE AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THREE STATES ALONG THE GULF COAST, INCLUDING 10 WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES IN MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA. THE SPECIFIC RESEARCH TO APPLICATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE (1) BUILDING A MICROPLASTICS DATA LIBRARY IN THE GULF COAST TO CONTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE OF MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION IN THE REGIONAL WATER BODY, SUCH AS MICROPLASTICS CONCENTRATION, SOURCE, AND TYPE; (2) DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING COST-EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE MICROPLASTICS IN WASTE WATER

SOARING IN MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI DEFENSE INITIATIVE PHASE III

MS DEFENSE DIVERSIFICATION INITIATIVE-PHASE II

LINKING HABITAT TO RECRUITMENT: EVALUATING THE IMPORTANCE OF PELAGIC SARGASSUM TO FISHERIES MANAGMENT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

NEW INHIBITORS TARGETING HIV-1 INTEGRASE DURING VIRAL MATURATION

AWARD HEREIN INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE THE PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS DATED 2 AUGUST 2013 AND THE RECIPIENT'S PROPOSAL DATED 30 JULY 2013. IN ACCORDANCE

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS

SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES REEF FISHERIES ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMERCIALLY VALUABLE AND RECREATIONALLY POPULAR IN THE COUNTRY. ACROSS THESE FISHERIES, A SPECIOSE ASSEMBLAGE IS TARGETED BY A DIVERSE AND GEOGRAPHICALLY VARIABLE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO COLLECTIVELY POSSESS A WEALTH OF LOCAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM YEARS ON THE WATER. RECENTLY, THE RESULTS OF FEDERAL STOCK ASSESSMENTS FOR MANY REEF FISHES HAVE BEEN AT ODDS WITH THE ON-THE-WATER OBSERVATIONS OF COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN, CREATING A DISCONNECT THAT ERODES STAKEHOLDER FAITH IN THE CREDIBILITY OF SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS. BROADLY SPEAKING, THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE IS TO BUILD UPON THE CONVENTIONAL UNIDIRECTIONAL FLOW OF INFORMATION (I.E., FROM RESEARCH TO MANAGEMENT TO STAKEHOLDER) BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS TO IDENTIFY PRESSING RESEARCH NEEDS AND COMMUNICATE THOSE NEEDS TO THE SCIENTIFIC AND MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY (I.E., FROM STAKEHOLDER TO RESEARC

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI MAPPING CENTER

TRIO-STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION WORKFORCE

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D - STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT

GROWING A STEM ECOSYSTEM: MISSISSIPPI'S CENTER FOR STEM EDUCATION

AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR RESTORATION TO ADDRESS INJURIES CAUSED BY THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, PLANNING IS UNDERWAY TO RESTORE THE CHANDELEUR ISLANDS, LA. FOR THIS EFFORT, THE COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, AND LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES ARE CHARGED WITH USING BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE TO OPTIMALLY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT RESTORATION AND DEVELOP A LONG-TERM MONITORING AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO MAXIMIZE BENEFITS FOR KEY NATURAL RESOURCES, IN PARTICULAR SEAGRASS. TO OPTIMALLY DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN THE RESTORATION, SEVERAL UNCERTAINTIES IN UNDERSTANDING FOR NATURAL RESOURCES WERE IDENTIFIED, THEN PRIORITIZED BY SUBJECT EXPERTS AND DECISION-MAKERS DURING THE SCOPING AND DESIGN PHASES OF THIS PROJECT. THESE PRIORITIZED UNCERTAINTIES ARE: (1) IDENTIFY SEAGRASS SPECIES-SPECIFIC RESTORATION CRITERIA, (2) UNDERSTAND IMPACTS OF STORMS AND OTHER DISTURBANCES ON SEAGRASS DISTRIBUTION, SPECIES COMPOSITION,

HOMELAND SECURITY NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM (HSNTP) CONTINUING TRAINING GRANTS (CTG)

SUPPORTING POST-SECONDARY GRADUATION AND RETENTION RATES FOR SINGLE AND LOW-INCOME PARENTS THROUGH CHILDCARE AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES

NURSE EDUCATION, PRACTICE, QUALITY AND RETENTION - VETERANS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE THE FIDELITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF A UNIVERSAL PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION IN REAL-WORLD EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS FOR COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST TO BE MORE RISK AWARE AND CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS THROUGH ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND CO-CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE THAT IS BASED ON VORTEX-SE RESEARCH (BOTH PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE). THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD PARTNERS IN THE REGION AND IDENTIFY THEIR PRIORITIES RELATED TO SUPPORTING A TORNADO-RELATED EXTENSION PROGRAM; TO UNDERSTAND A SUBSET OF TARGET AUDIENCE NEEDS AND RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS THAT CAN CONTINUE TO INFORM A TORNADO-RELATED EXTENSION PROGRAM; AND TO IMPLEMENT THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND MODEL FRAMEWORK FOUND IN THE EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND ENGAGEMENT (EOE) PLAN DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE PILOT PHASE TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCE OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO SEVERE WEATHER.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY AND MONITOR LONG-TERM TRENDS AND VARIABILITY IN SEAGRASS-DOMINATED ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE AND IDENTIFY DRIVERS OF CHANGE IN BIODIVERSITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THESE SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND UNCERTAINTIES PRIORITIZED BY RESOURCE MANAGERS. BY TAKING AN INTEGRATIVE, ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH AND USING A CO-PRODUCTION OF SCIENCE FRAMEWORK, THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE RESTORE SCIENCE PROGRAMS THREE EMPHASIS AREAS AND WILL PROVIDE ACTIONABLE DATA FOR MANAGERS TO INCORPORATE INTO REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST MARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR GUIS. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, IDENTIFIED AND PRIORITIZED THROUGH DISCUSSIONS AMONG PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS, ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1): EXPAND AN EXISTING ARRAY OF HYDROGRAPHIC MONITORING STATIONS TO MONITOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE STUDY AREA; (2) MAP SEAGRASS EXTENT AND LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING HUMAN IMPACTS, AND QUANTIFY CHANGE OVER TIME; (3) MAP, MONITOR, AND IDENTIFY DRIVERS OF SEAGRASS SPECIES DISTRIBUTION, PRODUCTION, REPRODUCTION, AND CONDITION; (4) MAP, MONITOR, AND IDENTIFY DRIVERS OF SEAGRASS-ASSOCIATED NEKTON COMMUNITY COMPOSITION, ABUNDANCE, AND POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS; (5) CHARACTERIZE SOUNDSCAPES AND ASSESS NEKTON BEHAVIOR USING PASSIVE AND ACTIVE ACOUSTICS; (6) DEVELOP ECOSYSTEM MODELS TO EXAMINE LINKAGES BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES, HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS, AND NEKTON DIVERSITY, COMPOSITION, AND ABUNDANCE, AND (7) IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE TRANSFER AND APPLICATION OF PROJECT FINDINGS AND PRODUCTS TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS..

D18AC00018

HEALTH CARE AND OTHER FACILITIES

MISSISSIPPI AUTOMATED SYSTEM PROJECT (MASP)

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

PHASE II IUCRC AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR SCIENCE CENTER FOR MARINE FISHERIES (SCEMFIS)

FLEXIBLE SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES FOR IN- SITU OCEAN MONITORING

DIAGNOSIS AND VALIDATION OF THE TIME AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF REMOTELY GENERATED INTERNAL WAVES IN GLOBAL OCEAN SIMULATIONS

UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLE FOR AUTONOMOUS HYPOXIA MONITORING

CAREER: THE SMALL RNA BIOLOGY OF LOPHOTROCHOZOA

MISSISSIPPI'S THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI/GULF COAST RESEARCH LABORATORY/NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICES COOPERATIVE SOUTHEAST AREA MON

GULF-WIDE ASSESSMENT OF HABITAT USE AND HABITAT-SPECIFIC PRODUCTION ESTIMATES OF NEKTON IN TURTLEGRASS (THALASSIA TESTUDINUM)

DREAM: DATA-DRIVEN REINVIGORATED ADVANCED MEMBRANE DISCOVERY PLATFORM

CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM

USM MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM

COMBINED PRIORITY FOR PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT

EQUIPMENT: MRI: TRACK 1 ACQUISITION OF A TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE WITH CRYOGENIC IMAGING CAPABILITIES FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION -NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION THIS MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION (MRI) GRANT SUPPORTS THE ACQUISITION OF A TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM) WITH ADVANCED FUNCTIONALITIES, SUCH AS HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGING, CRYOGENIC OPERATION AND ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY. THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE IS HOUSED WITHIN THE IMAGING INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER, IN THE SCHOOL OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. THE SYSTEM FILLS A SIGNIFICANT VOID IN THE MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, AND ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI - WHERE PREVIOUSLY NO IN-STATE CRYOGENIC TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY CAPABILITIES EXISTED. THE INSTRUMENT IS INTEGRATED INTO GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE COURSES AND ALSO USED FOR DEMONSTRATIONS AIMED AT K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO ENHANCE THEIR INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. THIS TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE IS AN INTEGRAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOWS THE SCHOOL TO REMAIN AS A LEADER IN SOFT MATTER CHARACTERIZATION AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION, ACROSS MULTIPLE INSTITUTIONS (DOCTORAL RESEARCH, PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES), IN BOTH MISSISSIPPI AND THE GREATER GULF COAST REGION. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION THE ACQUIRED TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM) IS CONFIGURATED WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CRYO-TEM SUITABLE FOR THE 3D CHARACTERIZATION OF SOFT MATTER, BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES, POLYMERS, AND NANOMATERIALS, AS WELL AS ITS SPEED AND EASE OF OPERATION. THE MULTIPLE ADVANCED FUNCTIONALITIES OF THE MICROSCOPE ACCOMMODATE THE LARGE AND DIVERSE USER BASE PRESENT INTERNALLY, STATE-WIDE, AND REGIONALLY. THE INSTRUMENTATION SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH PROJECTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IN FIELDS AS DIVERSE AS MATERIALS SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY, OCEAN SCIENCE, AND BIOLOGY. SOME EXAMPLES OF THE RESEARCH THAT THIS INSTRUMENTATION FACILITATES INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING THE ASSEMBLY AND INTERACTIONS OF MACROMOLECULES, PROBING THE MORPHOLOGY OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS, DECIPHERING MARINE VIRAL ECOLOGY, AND CHARACTERIZING THE INTERACTION OF MATERIALS AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. THIS MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION (MRI) PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE DIVISION OF MATERIALS RESEARCH (DMR) AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR). 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.

COMBINED PRIORITY FOR PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT

RONALD E. MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT

CENTER FOR OCEAN SCIENCES EDUCATION EXCELLENCE: CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO (COSEE:CGOM)

RONALD E. MCNAIR POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

COASTAL STORMS PROGRAM GULF OF MEXICO PILOT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

REMOTE CHEMICAL DETECTION FOR CWAS AND EXPLOSIVES

RONALD E. MCNAIR POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT NAVIGATORS IN FEDERALLY-FACILITATED AND STATE PARTNERSHIP MARKETPLACES

THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL EMPLOY REMOTELY-SENSED AND IN SITU OBSERVATIONS TO BOTH INITIATE AND VALIDATE MODELS AND PROVIDE SUPPORTING OBSERVATIONS F

FAMILY PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP/CSHCN

A MULTISCALE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING MIGRATORY LAND BIRD HABITAT USE OF FUNCTIONAL STOPOVER HABITAT TYPES AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS

TRIO - STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES - STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

INCREASING RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF CHILDCARE SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

FORENSIC SCIENCE AND EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT

MISSISSIPPI AUTOMATED SYSTEMS PROJECT

ECONOMIC STATUS AND CONTRIBUTION OF U.S. AQUACULTURE: ANALYZING VIABILITY, ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR FUTURE SUCCESS

ENGINEERING STABLE ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIALS AND DEVICES

THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT THE PLANNING EXECUTION AND MANAGEMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES

THIS SUBMISSION IS IN RESPONSE TO NASA'S REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR FY 2010 NASA EARMARK AWARD USM S NATIONAL FORMULATION SCIENCE LABORATORY EQUIPMEN

COMMERCIALIZING INTENSIVE COPEPOD CULTURE: A TRANSFORMATIONAL FOUNDATION ESSENTIAL FOR INCREASING DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF HIGH-VALUE MARINE FINFISH

PRECISE CHAIN CONFORMATION CONTROL FOR CONJUGATED POLYMERS IN ORGANIC ELECTRONIC THIN FILM DEVICES

DESIGN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOFILM-INSPIRED AMYLOID BIOMATERIALS. -THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE BIOMATERIALS PROGRAM AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR) BMAT: DESIGN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOFILM-INSPIRED AMYLOID BIOMATERIALS. NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACT NATURE PRODUCES MATERIALS WITH EXTRAORDINARY PROPERTIES, BE IT HIGH STRENGTH SPIDERWEB MADE OF THE PROTEIN SILK FIBROIN OR ROBUST PROTECTIVE COAT OF A BIOFILM BY FIBERS OF THE BACTERIAL PROTEIN CURLI. ONE OF THE STRONGEST AND MOST STABLE BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS IS THE ?AMYLOID?, WHICH IS FORMED FROM THE SELF-ASSOCIATION OF PROTEINS THAT PRODUCES DENSELY PACKED, ORDERLY PROTEIN MOLECULES WITH HIGH STABILITY AND ROBUST MATERIAL PROPERTIES. THE UNIQUE SELF-ASSEMBLY PROCESSES, MECHANICAL ROBUSTNESS, THERMAL AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF AMYLOID PROTEINS PROVIDE A RICH PLATFORM FOR POTENTIAL EXPLOITATION OF BIO-INSPIRED SYNTHETIC AMYLOID MATERIALS FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS. HOWEVER, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROTEIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE AND MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF AMYLOID FIBERS IS LACKING. THIS PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM WITH EXPERTISE IN MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS, SYNTHETIC CHEMISTRY, AND MATERIALS SCIENCE TO ESTABLISH THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, PROCESSING, AND PROPERTIES IN A SERIES OF DE NOVO PEPTIDES DESIGNED TO MIMIC SPECIFIC SEQUENCES OF CURLI AMYLOIDS. THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN THE NOVEL AMYLOID MATERIALS GENERATED WILL SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS. AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ENGAGED IN THE RESEARCH AND CROSS-TRAINED IN FACULTY LABORATORIES. OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL BE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE THE FULL DIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI?S POPULATION, WHICH IS AMONG THE POOREST IN THE NATION AND REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT ALTHOUGH AMYLOIDS ARE LINKED TO MANY PATHOLOGIES, IT IS BECOMING ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THEY ALSO PLAY FUNCTIONAL ROLES REQUIRED FOR CELLULAR PROCESSES IN BACTERIA, FUNGI, INSECTS, INVERTEBRATES, AND HUMANS. IN BACTERIA, THE PROTEIN CSGA CURLI FORMS AMYLOID FIBERS THAT ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF EXTRACELLULAR BIOFILMS, COATINGS UNDER WHICH BACTERIAL COLONIES THRIVE EVADING VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL INSULTS. CURLI AMYLOIDS ARE STRUCTURALLY CONSERVED CROSS-?-SHEET STRUCTURES THAT ACCOMMODATE TIGHTLY PACKED INTERACTIONS TO PROVIDE ROBUST MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR BIOFILMS. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT BASED ON THE CSGA SEQUENCE AS A TEMPLATE, ??EFFECTIVE VARIANT AMYLOID ANTIMICROBIAL MATERIALS CAN BE DESIGNED THROUGH SEQUENCE-MORPHOLOGY-BIOACTIVITY CORRELATIONS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL TEST THIS HYPOTHESIS AND WILL ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HOW TYPE AND POSITIONAL BIASES OF AMINO ACID IN THE SEQUENCE CORRELATE TO BIOCHEMICAL, MORPHOLOGY, AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE AGGREGATES. THESE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH TWO SPECIFIC AIMS: THE FIRST AIM WILL FOCUS ON THE RATIONAL DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PEPTIDES AND PEPTIDE MIMICS ALONG WITH THEIR CELLULAR AND ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES FROM CUES DERIVED FROM CURLI. THE SECOND AIM WILL FOCUS ON MATERIAL PROPERTIES SUCH AS MORPHOLOGY AND NANOMECHANICAL STABILITY, POROSITY, AND ABILITY TO FORM HYDROGELS. TOGETHER, THE PROPOSED ITERATIVE APPROACH WILL LAY A FOUNDATION FOR DESIGNING AMYLOID MATERIALS INSPIRED BY CURLI, BASED ON SEQUENCE, STRUCTURE, MORPHOLOGY, AND MICROBIAL ACTIVITY. THIS WILL ENHANCE OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF DE NOVO AMYLOIDS IN FUNDAMENTAL CELLULAR PROCESSES AND FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMATERIALS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS. 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.

THIOESTERS PLAY ESSENTIAL ROLES IN METABOLISM OF MODERN ORGANISMS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIOESTERS COULD HAVE BEEN TRACED BAC

GEOPHYSICAL SENSING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MINE-HUNTING ENVIRONMENT

ENHANCING COMMUNITY-BASED HABITAT RESTORATION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THROUGH SCIENCE AND ASSESSMENT

MEDICAL ACCESS AND CHIP REAUTHORIZATION ACT (MACRA) FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CONNECTING KIDS TO COVERAGE: OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

MONITORING & HABITAT ASSESSMENT FOR GULF STURGEON FOLLOWING RESTORATION OF SHIP RESTORATION OF SHIP ISLAND

MISSISSIPPI DEFENSE DIVERSIFICATION INITIATIVE

DESPITE THE FACT THAT NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED WATER CHEMISTRY IN OFFSHORE AREAS WHERE HYPOXIA IS FREQUENT, TEMPORAL AND GEOGRAPHIC TRENDS IN SALINITY, CARBONATE CHEMISTRY, AND OTHER WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO (GOM) COASTAL AREAS WHERE OYSTER HATCHERIES WOULD DRAW WATER ARE UNKNOWN. MOREOVER, THE MANNER IN WHICH SALINITY, CARBONATE CHEMISTRY, AND OTHER WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS INTERACT AND HOW THAT INTERACTION MAY CORRELATE WITH HATCHERY PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHERN GOM IS UNKNOWN. BECAUSE THE GOM REGION REQUIRES AN INCREASE IN HATCHERY CAPACITY AND TECHNOLOGIES TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THE OYSTER INDUSTRY, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INCREASING DEMAND FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED SEAFOOD, AND EXPAND ECONOMIC BENEFITS IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES, THERE IS A STRONG NEED TO CHARACTERIZE THE DYNAMICS OF BRACKISH WATER CARBONATE CHEMISTRY ALONG NORTHERN GOM COAST INCLUDING BOTH MISSISSIPPI RIVER INFLUENCED COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS AND OTHER ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS ESPECIALLY DURING THE SEAS

I/UCRC: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PHASE I I/UCRC FOR SCIENCE CENTER FOR MARINE FISHERIES (SCEMFIS)

STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS FOR IMPROVING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH ASD

STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS FOR INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SYSTEMS FOR CSHCN

CAREER: BIOORGANIC RESEARCH AT USM. DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL SOMATOSTATIN AND NEUROTENSIN ANALOGUES

DIRECTED GRANTS

AUTONOMOUS RADIOMETRIC VALIDATION OF PACES OCI IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

DELTA OBESITY PREVENTION RESEARCH UNIT - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM

EAGLE EYES: PHYSICS BASED MODEL DEVELOPMENT

ESTABLISH, QUANTIFY, AND UNDERSTAND THE ORIGINS AND PATHWAYS FOR PERFORMANCE ATTAINMENT, RETENTION, AND LOSS IN POLYMER- BASED CORROSION CONTROL COAT

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PROJECT WETKIDS - IMMERSION ALONG THE GULF COAST

PART 1: CALCULATIONS ON AND SYNTHESIS OF NEW ENERGETIC MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR USE WITH A TRIAZOLE CURED BINDER SYSTEM PART 2: ENERGETIC

ELUCIDATING THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYPHOSPHATE IN MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS ANTIBIOTIC TOLERANCE. - PROJECT SUMMARY INFECTION WITH THE INTRACELLULAR PATHOGEN MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS (MTB) CAUSES ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING INFECTIOUS DISEASES GLOBALLY: TUBERCULOSIS (TB). MTB EXHIBITS A REMARKABLE CAPACITY TO PERSIST WITHIN THE HOST FOR EXTENDED PERIODS BY ADAPTING TO THE HOSTILE INTRACELLULAR ENVIRONMENT AND EVADING IMMUNE RESPONSES. FURTHERMORE, THE RISE OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT MTB STRAINS HAS FURTHER COMPLICATED TREATMENT EFFORTS. A KEY FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRUG RESISTANCE IS MTB'S ABILITY TO TOLERATE A RANGE OF STRESSES. THIS TOLERANCE IS VITAL FOR ITS SURVIVAL UNDER CONDITIONS OF STRESS, WHETHER FROM HOST CELL DEFENSES OR ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT. THE BACTERIUM'S METABOLIC FLEXIBILITY ENABLES IT TO REPROGRAM ITS METABOLIC PATHWAYS IN RESPONSE TO STRESSES, ENHANCING ITS RESILIENCE. POLYPHOSPHATE (POLYP), A POLYMER OF PHOSPHATE, IS ESSENTIAL FOR MTB'S RESPONSE TO STRESSES, HELPING TO ADJUST ITS METABOLISM FOR ENHANCED SURVIVAL IN HOST CELLS. THIS ADAPTATION IS LINKED TO THE BACTERIUM'S VIRULENCE, PERSISTENCE, LATENCY, AND ANTIBIOTIC TOLERANCE. WHILE MUCH RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON THE ROLES OF INTRACELLULAR POLYP IN THESE PROCESSES, THE SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF CELL SURFACE AND EXTRACELLULAR POLYPHOSPHATE (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS EXTRACELLULAR POLYP) REMAIN POORLY UNDERSTOOD. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MTB INCREASES THE ACCUMULATION OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYP, IN ADDITION TO INTRACELLULAR POLYP, IN RESPONSE TO ISONIAZID (INH), A FIRST-LINE TB ANTIBIOTIC. GALLEIN, A SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITOR OF BACTERIAL POLYPHOSPHATE KINASES (PPKS), THE ENZYMES THAT SYNTHESIZE POLYP, PREVENTS THE ACCUMULATION OF BOTH INTRACELLULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR POLYP, REDUCES CELL ENVELOPE THICKENING, DECREASES KEY METABOLITES INVOLVED IN ENVELOPE BIOSYNTHESIS, AND INCREASES MTB'S SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INH. HERE, WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE METABOLIC PATHWAYS IN MTB THAT REGULATE EXTRACELLULAR POLYP DURING ANTIBIOTIC TOLERANCE, WHICH WILL US TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF TARGETING THE EXTRACELLULAR POLYP PATHWAY AS A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY FOR TREATING DRUG-TOLERANT MTB. IN AIM 1, WE WILL FOCUS ON SELECTIVELY KNOCKING DOWN GENES THAT ENCODE POLYP-REGULATING ENZYMES AND THOSE ENCODING METABOLITES ALTERED BY THE INH AND GALLEIN. WE WILL EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF REDUCED EXPRESSION OF THESE GENES ON MTB'S UTILIZATION OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYP, CELL ENVELOPE FORMATION, METABOLISM, AND GROWTH IN BOTH IN VITRO CULTURE AND HUMAN MACROPHAGES IN THE PRESENCE OF ANTIBIOTICS. FROM THIS AIM, WE WILL IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS OF METABOLIC PATHWAYS ALTERED BY REDUCED EXPRESSION OF GENES THAT ENCODE POLYP-REGULATING ENZYMES AND THOSE ENCODING METABOLITES ALTERED BY THE ANTIBIOTIC INH AND GALLEIN, AND HOW THAT IMPACT UTILIZATION OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYP DURING ANTIBIOTIC TOLERANCE. IN ADDITION, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO EXPLOIT THESE METABOLIC VULNERABILITIES FOR THERAPEUTIC TARGETING. IN AIM 2, WE WILL INVESTIGATE WHETHER THE UTILIZATION OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYP TO PROTECT MTB DURING ANTIBIOTIC-INDUCED STRESS IS A CONSERVED MECHANISM ACROSS DIFFERENT ANTIBIOTICS OR SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN ONES. WE WILL TREAT MTB STRAINS GENERATED IN AIM 1 WITH GALLEIN, EITHER ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER FRONTLINE TB ANTIBIOTICS RIFAMPIN, ETHAMBUTOL, AND PYRAZINAMIDE, AND EXAMINE EXTRACELLULAR POLYP LEVELS, CELL ENVELOPE INTEGRITY, METABOLISM, AND BACTERIAL GROWTH IN BOTH IN VITRO CULTURE AND MACROPHAGES AS IN AIM 1. THIS AIM WILL CLARIFY WHETHER DISRUPTING EXTRACELLULAR POLYP PATHWAYS ENHANCES THE EFFICACY OF ALL OR SOME TB ANTIBIOTICS AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL DRUG COMBINATIONS THAT COULD OVERCOME MTB'S TOLERANCE MECHANISMS.

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D - STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT

NURSE EDUCATION PRACTICE AND RETENTION

EXPANDING AQUACULTURE OF SOFT BLUE CRABS: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COST ANALYSIS OF POND PRODUCTION AND SHEDDING PHASES

MISSISSIPPI OFFSHORE SEDIMENT RESOURCES INVENTORY: LATE QUATERNARY STRATIGRAPHIC EVOLUTION OF THE INNER SHELF

GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM- AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

ADVANCED EDUCATION NURSING TRAINEESHIP

NOVEL APPROACHES FOR THE DISCOVERY OF DEPHOSPHORYLATION CONTROL IN OOCYTE MEIOSIS - PROJECT SUMMARY PRECISE REGULATION OF M-PHASE IN OOCYTE MEIOSIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT AND FEMALE FERTILITY. HIGHLIGHTING THIS, ~1% OF WOMEN ARE SUBFERTILE/INFERTILE DUE TO MEIOTIC FAILURE. DESPITE THIS, THE PRECISE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS GOVERNING M-PHASE IS ONLY PARTLY UNDERSTOOD IN OOCYTES. THIS RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON THE PHOSPHATASE PP1 (PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 1). PP1 IS AN IMPORTANT REGULATOR OF MITOTIC M-PHASE AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ~50% OF ALL DEPHOSPHORYLATIONS. HOWEVER, THE SPECIFIC ROLES OF PP1 IN MAMMALIAN OOCYTES IS UNCLEAR. PP1 IS A HOLOENZYME CONSISTING OF A CATALYTIC SUBUNIT (PP1C) AND ONE TO TWO PP1-INTERACTING PROTEINS (PIPS). IN MAMMALIAN CELLS, THERE ARE THREE PP1CS (A, SS, AND ) AND >180 PIPS. HISTORICALLY, PP1 RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON PP1C IN ISOLATION, LEADING TO THE MISCONCEPTION THAT PP1C IS PROMISCUOUS. HOWEVER, PIPS CONTROL LOCALIZATION, ENZYME ACTIVITY, AND SUBSTRATES OF PP1C. ADDITIONALLY, DISEASE STATES MEDIATED BY ABERRANT PP1 FUNCTION (E.G., HEART DISEASE) RESULT FROM CHANGES IN THE PP1C INTERACTOME, AND NOT PP1C. FURTHERMORE, STUDIES OF PP1C IN OOCYTES, USING DUAL PP1/PP2A INHIBITORS, OVEREXPRESSION, AND ANTI-PP1C ANTIBODY INJECTIONS, HAVE YIELDED CONFLICTING OUTCOMES. IMPORTANTLY, MY PRELIMINARY DATA USING A SPECIFIC AND NOVEL PIP-BASED APPROACH TO INHIBIT PP1C HAS FOUND PP1 ACTIVITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR MEIOSIS I COMPLETION. TO GAIN FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO OOCYTE MEIOSIS, THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL: (1) DETERMINE THE ESSENTIAL ROLES OF PP1 IN OOCYTE MEIOSIS AND; (2) DEVELOP NOVEL TOOLS FOR THE SPECIFIC AND TEMPORAL CONTROL OF PP1C THROUGHOUT M-PHASE TO RESOLVE CONTROVERSIES AND UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE ROLES OF PP1 IN OOCYTES. AIM 1 WILL DETERMINE THE FUNCTION OF PP1C IN OOCYTE MEIOSIS WITH A NEW PIP-BASED MANIPULATION APPROACH COMBINED WITH INDUCIBLE PROTEIN DEGRADATION. IN AIM 2, A NOVEL METHOD FOR REVERSIBLE SMALL MOLECULE-MEDIATED CAGING WILL BE DEVELOPED -- AUXIN-CONTROLLABLE CAGING (ACC). ACC WILL BE USED TO SPECIFICALLY AND TEMPORALLY REGULATE PP1C, FURTHER DEFINING THE ROLES OF PP1C IN OOCYTE MEIOSIS. OF NOTE, THIS NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART TOOL CAN BE USED TO STUDY ANY PROTEIN-OF-INTEREST. FINALLY, AIM 3 WILL USE BOTH HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN AND DISCOVERY-DRIVEN APPROACHES TO DETERMINE PP1 HOLOENZYME FUNCTION AND FORMATION DURING MEIOSIS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS AIM WILL ESTABLISH THE FUNCTION OF TWO PP1 HOLOENZYMES (PP1C:PNUTS AND PP1C:NIPP1) DURING OOCYTE MEIOSIS, AND MAP THE PP1C:PIP INTERACTOME THROUGHOUT OOCYTE MEIOSIS. OVERALL, THIS PROJECT WILL SHED LIGHT ON A POORLY UNDERSTOOD, BUT HEALTH-RELEVANT PHOSPHATASE, PP1, ELUCIDATING ITS FUNCTIONS IN OOCYTES AND MORE BROADLY M-PHASE REGULATION. ULTIMATELY, THIS WORK WILL DEVELOP A HIGHLY VALUABLE TOOL FOR THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY, AND INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL TREATMENTS FOR M-PHASE BASED DISEASES INCLUDING INFERTILITY.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: TROPICAL CYCLONE VARIABILITY IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC OVER THE COMMON ERA -TROPICAL CYCLONES, ALSO CALLED TYPHOONS OR HURRICANES, ARE INTENSE STORMS THAT FORM OVER WARM TROPICAL OCEANS. THEY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND EVEN LOSS OF LIFE. THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC IS THE LOCATION OF THE MOST TROPICAL CYCLONES WITH AN AVERAGE OF 40 STORMS PER YEAR. HOWEVER, INSTRUMENTS THAT RECORD TROPICAL CYCLONES HAVE ONLY EXISTED FOR ABOUT 75 YEARS. THIS PROJECT WILL ACQUIRE SEDIMENTARY RECORDS ACROSS MULTIPLE SITES THAT WILL BE USED TO DOCUMENT TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC. RESULTS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE FACTORS THAT CONTROL TROPICAL CYCLONE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY. BROADER IMPACTS INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE U.S. AND PHILIPPINES. COARSE-GRAINED STORM-INDUCED DEPOSITS, PRESERVED IN COASTAL SEDIMENTARY BASINS, ARE PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE PROXIES FOR INTENSE TROPICAL CYCLONE IMPACTS AT A SITE. PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORK AND PRELIMINARY DATA SHOW THAT DEEP COASTAL DEPRESSIONS WITH RAPIDLY ACCUMULATING SEDIMENTS CONTAIN HIGH-RESOLUTION RECORDS OF THE PASSAGE OF INTENSE TROPICAL CYCLONES. HOWEVER, FEW SUCH LONG-TERM SEDIMENTARY RECORDS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THUS FAR IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC. THIS PROJECT WILL COLLECT SEISMIC, MULTIBEAM, AND SEDIMENT CORE DATA FOR SITES ACROSS THE PHILIPPINES, PALAU, GUAM, CHUUK, POHNPEI, AND KOSRAE IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC. COLLECTED SEDIMENT CORES WILL BE ANALYZED USING A MULTI-PROXY APPROACH CONSISTING OF COARSE FRACTION AND GRAIN-SIZE DISTRIBUTION MEASUREMENTS, LOSS ON IGNITION ANALYSIS, RADIOGRAPHY AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS VIA X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SCANNING, SEDIMENT PETROGRAPHY, MICROFOSSIL AND MACROFOSSIL ANALYSIS, AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY. MODERN SEDIMENTARY ANALOGS WILL ALSO BE ANALYZED. CORES WILL BE DATED USING A MULTI-PROXY APPROACH BASED ON SHORT-LIVED ISOTOPES AND RADIOCARBON AGES USING A BAYESIAN STATISTICAL FRAMEWORK. THESE MILLENNIAL-SCALE RECONSTRUCTIONS WILL PROVIDE A MEANS OF EXTENDING DOCUMENTARY RECORDS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE STRIKES BACK MILLENNIA AND ALLOW FOR I) THE EXAMINATION OF CLIMATE/TROPICAL CYCLONE INTERACTIONS THAT LACK MODERN ANALOGS, II) THE GENERATION OF MORE ACCURATE REOCCURRENCE RATE ESTIMATES, AND III) ASSESSMENT OF VARIATIONS IN STORM ACTIVITY ON SUB-MILLENNIAL TIME SCALES. THE RESULTS OF THIS WORK WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL DATA ON PAST PATTERNS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND OFFER BROADER INSIGHT INTO CLIMATE FACTORS THAT MODULATE TROPICAL CYCLONE FREQUENCY, INTENSITY, TRACK, AND AREA OF 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.

UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF CONJUGATED POLYMERS BY ADVANCING DEUTERATION CHEMISTRY AND NEUTRON SCATTERING

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE DEAF BLIND PROJECTS

SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND INFLAMMATION AS DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR: AN INTENSIVE LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF ADULTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA-SPECTRUM DISORDERS - ABSTRACT PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA-SPECTRUM DISORDERS (SSDS) EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS IN SOCIAL COGNITION. SOCIAL COGNITION INDEPENDENTLY CONTRIBUTES TO REAL-WORLD OUTCOMES, INCLUDING SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING. AS SUCH, SOCIAL COGNITION IS AN IMPORTANT TREATMENT TARGET IN SSDS. YET, CURRENT RESEARCH HAS NOT ADEQUATELY FOCUSED ON DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL COGNITION, AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS DO NOT RELIABLY IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OR PRODUCE DURABLE GAINS. THIS STUDY ADDRESSES THAT GAP BY EXAMINING SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND INFLAMMATION AS NOVEL DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL COGNITION IN PEOPLE WITH SSDS. UP TO 80% OF PEOPLE WITH SSDS EXPERIENCE SLEEP DISTURBANCE, WHICH IS LINKED TO INCREASED SYMPTOMATOLOGY, RISK FOR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, AND REDUCED FUNCTIONAL CAPACITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SLEEP DISTURBANCE IS ALSO LINKED TO HEIGHTENED INFLAMMATION IN THOSE WITH SSDS AND OTHER SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESSES, LIKE BIPOLAR DISORDERS (BDS), INCLUDING INCREASED C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) AND INTERLEUKIN (IL)-6. INFLAMMATION IS ELEVATED IN PEOPLE WITH SSDS AND BDS, AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES IN HEALTHY GROUPS SHOW THAT INCREASED INFLAMMATION CAUSES REDUCED SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL COGNITION. WHILE A SMALL BODY OF LITERATURE LINKS SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND INFLAMMATION TO NEUROCOGNITIVE DOMAINS IN SSDS, THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SLEEP DISTURBANCE, INFLAMMATION, AND SOCIAL COGNITION ARE UNEXPLORED. THIS STUDY WILL USE AN INTENSIVE LONGITUDINAL APPROACH TO 1) TEST THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SLEEP DISTURBANCE, INFLAMMATION, AND SOCIAL COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR IN THOSE WITH SSDS, BDS, AND HEALTHY CONTROL (HC) PARTICIPANTS; 2) COMPARE SSD, BD, AND HC PARTICIPANTS ON SOCIAL COGNITION, INFLAMMATION, AND ECOLOGICALLY ASSESSED SLEEP AND SOCIAL PARAMETERS; AND 3) DEVELOP METHODS TO ECOLOGICALLY ASSESS SOCIAL COGNITION AND USE THOSE METHODS TO EXPLORE STABILITY OF SOCIAL COGNITION AS A DAY-TO-DAY PROCESS. TWENTY-FIVE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE RECRUITED PER GROUP (N=75) AND ASKED TO WEAR ACTIGRAPHS AND COMPLETE DAILY SURVEYS (7 PER DAY) OVER A PERIOD OF 14 DAYS, FOLLOWED BY A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT. DRIED BLOOD SPOTS WILL BE COLLECTED PRE- AND POST-INTENSIVE LONGITUDINAL DATA COLLECTION TO PROVIDE INFLAMMATION DATA. RESULTS WILL INFORM SOCIAL COGNITIVE INTERVENTION TARGETS FOR SSDS AND BDS (CONSISTENT WITH THE NIMH 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN) AND SUPPORT A LARGER, DEFINITIVE R01 APPLICATION. ADDITIONALLY, CONSISTENT WITH THE AIMS OF THE RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT AWARD PROGRAM (REAP), THIS STUDY WILL PROVIDE AMPLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, TAILORED TO PROVIDE EXPOSURE TO GROUPS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESSES AND TRAINING IN SOCIAL COGNITIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, INTENSIVE LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT OF BIOBEHAVIORAL PROCESSES, AND COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF INFLAMMATION DATA. THIS PROJECT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ESTABLISH INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT FUTURE PROJECTS, LEADING TO A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE USM CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PHD PROGRAM.

GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP) -THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP) IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, FEDERAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. GRFP HELPS ENSURE THE VITALITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING WORKFORCE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES AND SUPPORTS OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING RESEARCH-BASED MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) AND IN STEM EDUCATION. THE GRFP PROVIDES THREE YEARS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE GRADUATE EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS IN STEM AND STEM EDUCATION. THIS AWARD SUPPORTS THE NSF GRADUATE FELLOWS PURSUING GRADUATE EDUCATION AT THIS GRFP INSTITUTION. 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.

CAREER: BIOSENSORS BASED ON ELECTROGENERATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE

GAANN

ROLE OF LIPID-DERIVED OLIGOMER STRAINS IN AD PHENOTYPES

U.S. SHRIMP FARMING PROGRAM - GCRL

CAREER: MANUFACTURING OF MESOPOROUS CARBONS BY DIRECT PYROLYSIS OF PLASTIC WASTE FOR WATER REMEDIATION -THIS FACULTY EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT (CAREER) GRANT FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING A DIRECT PYROLYSIS APPROACH FOR SCALABLE MANUFACTURING OF ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS AND UNLOCKING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR WATER REMEDIATION. ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS ARE A RESULT OF ADVANCEMENTS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY AND NANOMANUFACTURING. HOWEVER, THEIR CONVENTIONAL MANUFACTURING INVOLVES SEVERAL BOTTLENECKS TOWARD SCALE-UP, SUCH AS, SOLVENT CONSUMPTION, LIMITED ATTAINABLE PORE SIZES AND HIGH COST. THIS RESEARCH EMPLOYS LOW-COST AND WIDELY AVAILABLE THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS AS THE STARTING MATERIALS AND DEVELOPS AN EFFICIENT CROSSLINKING METHOD, ALLOWING THEIR DIRECT CONVERSION THROUGH PYROLYSIS TO ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS. WITH LARGE CONSUMPTION AND BROAD USE OF THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS IN VARIOUS APPLICATIONS, THEIR END-OF-LIFE REPRESENTS A GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER WASTES PROBLEM BY UPCYCLING THEM TO FUNCTIONAL ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS. MOREOVER, THE ABILITY OF THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER-DERIVED ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS FOR WATER REMEDIATION IS DEVELOPED, PARTICULARLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMOVAL OF AGGREGATED MICROPOLLUTANTS, A PRESSING NEED FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY. THIS RESEARCH IS SUPPORTED AND COMPLEMENTED BY A COHESIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, INCLUDING CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, SCIENCE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED AREAS, AND ANNUAL REGIONAL SOFT MATTER SYMPOSIA. THE SPECIFIC GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO PIONEER AND ESTABLISH THE USE OF THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER-BASED BLOCK COPOLYMERS FOR FABRICATING ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS THROUGH A SIMPLE AND SCALABLE SULFONATION-ENABLED CROSSLINKING METHOD, FOLLOWED BY DIRECT PYROLYSIS. THE FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONS OF PRECURSOR CHEMISTRY, MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AND FINAL MATERIAL MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES ARE ELUCIDATED, INFORMING RATIONAL SYSTEM DESIGN TO ATTAIN TAILORED PORE STRUCTURES, TEXTURES, DOPED CARBON FRAMEWORK, AND MATERIAL FUNCTIONALITIES. A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION PATHWAY TOWARDS THE PRODUCTION OF ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS IS DEVELOPED AND INFORMED BY TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT. THIS RESEARCH ALSO AIMS TO ENABLE THE APPLICATION OF THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER-DERIVED ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS FOR REMOVING MICROPOLLUTANT AGGREGATES FROM POLLUTED WATER, PARTICULARLY CONCERNING PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS). THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERSTANDING THE SORPTION MECHANISMS OF ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS AGAINST MODEL CONTAMINANTS, PAIRED WITH ELUCIDATING SORBATE NANOSTRUCTURES VIA ADVANCED NEUTRON SCATTERING MEASUREMENTS. THIS RESEARCH DETERMINES HOW PORE STRUCTURE, TEXTURE AND FRAMEWORK CHEMISTRY OF ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS DICTATE THEIR WATER REMEDIATION PERFORMANCE. COLLECTIVELY, THIS PROJECT ESTABLISHES AN INDUSTRIALLY FEASIBLE ROUTE TOWARD SCALABLE MANUFACTURING OF FUNCTIONAL ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS THROUGH DIRECT PYROLYSIS OF CROSSLINKED SULPHONATED THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEMONSTRATING AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROBUST USE FOR WATER REMEDIATION. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING (AM) PROGRAM, THE CMMI DIVISION, AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR). 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.

MICROBIAL STOWAWAYS: EXPLORING SHIPWRECK MICROBIOMES IN THE DEEP GULF OF MEXICO

EQUIPMENT: MRI: TRACK 1 ACQUISITION OF AN ORBITRAP EXPLORIS 240 HIGH-RESOLUTION LC-MS FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (USM) -AN AWARD IS MADE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI TO ACQUIRE A STATE-OF-THE-ART HIGH-RESOLUTION LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETER SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT WILL ALLOW GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO GAIN MARKETABLE SKILLS IN HIGH-RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY. ACQUISITION OF THE INSTRUMENT WILL ADVANCE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS BY ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN A BROAD RANGE OF PROJECTS OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI WILL USE THE INSTRUMENT FOR OUTREACH TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO THE VARIOUS STEM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERACY IN SOCIETY. THE RESEARCH THIS INSTRUMENT WILL SUPPORT HELPS ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE IN VARIOUS BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES. THE INSTRUMENT WILL ALLOW THE STUDY OF THESE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND THE PROPOSING OF NEW HYPOTHESES THAT CAN PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-INSPIRED MATERIALS, PARASITE-DRIVEN FOOD ALLERGIES, AND THE ROLE OF PEPTIDES IN OSTEOPOROSIS. OTHER USES OF THE INSTRUMENT WILL INCLUDE THE STUDY OF REACTION MECHANISMS IN NEW CATALYTIC PROCESSES TO AID IN THE SYNTHESIS OF IMPORTANT MOLECULES AND TO DEVELOP NEW MOLECULAR SENSORS TO IDENTIFY CHEMICALS THAT ARE TOXIC TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY MRI, THE MAJOR INSTRUMENTATION RESEARCH PROGRAM, AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR). 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.

EPSCOR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (EGFP): POLYMER RESEARCH -THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) EPSCOR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (EGFP) SUPPORTS EGFP-DESIGNATED INSTITUTIONS/PROGRAMS IN EPSCOR JURISDICTIONS BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS FOR NEW OR CONTINUING EGFP-ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. EGFP AWARDS SUPPORT A TOTAL OF THREE YEARS OF STIPEND AND AN ASSOCIATED COST-OF-EDUCATION (COE) ALLOWANCE FOR EACH NSF EPSCOR GRADUATE FELLOW. THIS AWARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (USM) WILL SUPPORT FOUR EPSCOR GRADUATE FELLOWS WHOSE RESEARCH WILL ALIGN WITH THE UNIQUE GOALS AND PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE DIRECTORATE FOR MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES (MPS) AND NSF OFFICE OF INTEGRATIVE ACTIVITIES (OIA). THE PROJECT WILL ATTRACT TOP TALENT TO THE SCHOOL OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (SPSE) AT USM BY LEVERAGING ITS STRENGTHS AND PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH CAPABILITIES, AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECTS WILL DRIVE INNOVATION IN KEY AREAS OF POLYMER RESEARCH, INCLUDING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS WITH CONTROLLED THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, NEXT-GENERATION SOFT ELECTRONICS, BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS, AND ADVANCED BIO-DERIVED HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPOSITES. AIMED TO DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERS IN POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CAPACITY OF USM BUT ALSO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MISSISSIPPI AND BEYOND. THIS PROGRAM WILL RECRUIT FOUR EPSCOR GRADUATE FELLOWS FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING CARBON DIOXIDE-DERIVED PLASTICS, UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS OF MODULAR CONJUGATED POLYMERS, DESIGNING POLYMERIC CARRIERS FOR ENHANCED NUCLEIC ACID DELIVERY, AND FABRICATING POLYMER COMPOSITES USING BIO-BASED BENZOXAZINE MONOMERS AS RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCKS. THESE PROJECTS ARE STRATEGICALLY DESIGNED TO LEVERAGE AND SUPPORT KEY EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS OF SPSE AT USM, WITH THE GOAL OF ADVANCING POLYMER SUSTAINABILITY. THROUGH THESE PROJECTS, GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWS WILL GAIN EXPERTISE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, CHEMISTRY, AND ADVANCED CHARACTERIZATION TECHNIQUES. THE RESEARCH OUTCOMES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ELEVATE THE ROLE OF POLYMERS IN HEALTHCARE, PACKAGING, ENERGY, AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, WHILE ALSO DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY. 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.

CAREER: BRIDGING SYNTHESIS AND COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY TO PARAMETERIZE NONCOVALENT INTERACTIONS IN ASYMMETRIC CATALYSIS

CHILD CARE

MRI: ACQUISITION OF A SHARED HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTATIONAL (HPC) CLUSTER FOR RESEARCH, TRAINING AND INSTITUTIONAL USE

THE OKLA ACHUKMA PROJECT - PROJECT SUMMARY DEEP SOUTH NATIVE AMERICANS (DSNA) HAVE HIGH RATES OF DIABETES, OBESITY, AND HYPERTENSION, AND CONSEQUENTLY, ARE DYING PREMATURELY. STANDARD LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS THAT ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER EATING AND ACTIVITY BEHAVIORS MITIGATE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK BY IMPROVING CARDIOMETABOLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE STANDARD LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION APPROACH PREDOMINANTLY TARGETS THE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DOMAINS OF HEALTH AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MAJOR LIMITATIONS OF STANDARD LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS TARGETING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. THESE INCLUDE LARGE DROPOUT RATES AND POOR SESSION ATTENDANCE, LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO LACK OF FAMILY SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DISINTEREST IN THE PROGRAM. OUR RESEARCH HAS SHOWN DSNAS FEEL HELPLESS ABOUT PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASE AND EAT BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE FAMILY SOCIAL SUPPORT. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENHANCEMENT OF STANDARD INTERVENTIONS SHOULD ADDRESS SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL DOMAINS OF HEALTH, RESPECTIVELY, BY BOLSTERING FAMILY SUPPORT OF DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIORS AND REFRAMING FATALISTIC THINKING WITH POSITIVE VIEWS THAT LEVERAGE TRADITIONAL CULTURAL VALUES AND HIGHLIGHT STRENGTHS FROM TRADITIONAL PRACTICES. THUS, THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE OKLA ACHUKMA PROJECT IS TO PRODUCE A CULTURALLY AND SOCIALLY ENHANCED INTERVENTION THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED WITHIN DEEP SOUTH TRIBES TO REDUCE CHRONIC DISEASE DISPARITIES AND PREMATURE MORTALITY. OUR CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THE INTEGRATION OF SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL DOMAINS OF HEALTH INTO THE STANDARD LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION APPROACH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE ATTENDANCE, RETENTION, AND CARDIOMETABOLIC PROFILES OF DSNA. WE WILL USE A COMMUNITY BASED PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO BUILD ON PAST RESEARCH, EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COLLABORATIONS WITH TRIBAL LEADERS TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROPOSED AIMS. OUR AIM IS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL DOMAINS OF HEALTH AS MULTI-LEVEL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ENHANCEMENTS OF A STANDARD LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION ON HEALTH OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT AMONG DSNA. A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENHANCEMENTS ON A STANDARD LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION. THE NDPP-BASED MOVE & EAT 2 LIVE (ME2L) PROGRAM WILL BE THE STANDARD APPROACH THAT TARGETS TWO DOMAINS AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. A SOCIAL ENHANCED INTERVENTION (YES, NO) X CULTURAL ENHANCED INTERVENTION (YES, NO) X 5 TIME PERIODS (PRE-INTERVENTION, POST- INTERVENTION, 6-MONTH, 9-MONTH, 12-MONTH) MIXED MODEL MANOVA WITH BETWEEN SUBJECTS (SOCIAL ENHANCEMENT, CULTURAL ENHANCEMENT) AND WITHIN SUBJECTS (TIME PERIOD) FACTORS WILL BE USED TO ANALYZE THESE DATA. THE PROPOSED WORK WILL DETERMINE WHAT SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENHANCEMENTS CONTRIBUTE BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY TO HEALTH OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT OF DSNA. OVERALL, THE INTERVENTION WILL PROVIDE NEW ADVANCEMENTS IN LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT APPROACHES THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE WITHIN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE MORBIDITY AND PREMATURE MORTALITY AMONG DSNA.

IMPROVING STUDENT DEGREE ATTAINMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH

ADVANCING U.S. MARINE SHRIMP FARMING THROUGH PATHOLOGY, DISEASE CONTROL, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND NEW SYSTEMS RESEARCH

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF A US MARINE SHRIMP FARMING INDUSTRY THROUGH RESEARCH OF SHRIMP PATHOLOGY SHRIMP DISEASE CONTROL PATHOGEN EPIDEMIOLO

MISSISSIPPI HEARING-VISION PROJECT (MH-VP)

TOWARDS AN ASSEMBLY PATHWAY FOR THE CARBOXYSOME, THE PROTOTYPE BACTERIAL ORGANELLE.

NARROW BANDGAP CONJUGATED POLYMERS WITH STRONG CORRELATIONS AND OPEN-SHELL ELECTRONIC STRUCTURES

INTEGRATED WATER EXTENSION LIAISON AT NOAA'S NATIONAL WATER CENTER

SPECIAL EDUCATION-PERSONNEL PREPARATION TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES - COMBINED PRIORITY FOR PERSONNEL PREPARATION

FAMILY ACCESS TO A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR SUPPORT SERVICES (FACESS)

FIRST STOP FAMILY SUPPORT AND RESOURCE CENTER

RET SITE: FOR SUSTAINABLE POLYMER ENGINEERING RESEARCH -THIS THREE-YEAR RENEWAL RET SITE FOR SUSTAINABLE POLYMER ENGINEERING RESEARCH IS HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. THIS RESEARCH HAS DIRECT IMPACTS ON KEY ECONOMIC DRIVERS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, NOTABLY AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING, AND MARINE/COASTAL ACTIVITIES, AND HIGH RELEVANCE TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. TEN LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WILL ENGAGE IN STATE-OF-THE-ART POLYMER ENGINEERING RESEARCH FOR A 6-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE. WORKING IN PAIRS WITH POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FACULTY, PARTICIPANTS WILL FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES OF MEETING GLOBAL SOCIETAL NEEDS WHILE ALSO SUSTAINING NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. TEACHERS WILL DEVELOP RESEARCH-BASED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THEIR SCHOOLS. TEACHERS WILL BE RECRUITED FROM SCHOOLS WITH POPULATIONS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE, TO ENHANCE IMPACT ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. PARTICIPANTS WILL SHARE THE RESULTS OF THEIR RESEARCH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATION CONFERENCES, AN ANNUAL WORKSHOP AT THE MISSISSIPPI SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, PUBLICATION IN TEACHENGINEERING, AND THE RET WEBSITE. A WEEK-LONG WORKSHOP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO BROADEN THE REACH OF THE PROGRAM TO YOUNGER STUDENTS. THIS THREE-YEAR RENEWAL RET SITE FOR SUSTAINABLE POLYMER ENGINEERING RESEARCH IS HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. THE RET SITE WILL IMMERSE HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHERS IN SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS ENGINEERING RESEARCH IN STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES. THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT TO MEET CRITICAL SOCIETAL NEEDS. TEN TEACHERS EACH YEAR WILL BE ENGAGED IN FUNDAMENTAL MATERIALS RESEARCH EFFORTS THAT SPAN THE COMPLEX, INTERDISCIPLINARY FACETS OF MATERIALS SUSTAINABILITY. PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH USING TOOLS TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF NEW MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT. RESEARCH THEMES ADDRESS IMPORTANT CHALLENGES IN THE STATE AND REGION, INCLUDING UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS FROM RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCKS, DESIGN OF MATERIALS FOR RECYCLABILITY AND DEGRADABILITY, AND PREPARATION OF MEMBRANES FOR CARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION. RET PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN EXPERIMENTS, DATA COLLECTION, AND ANALYSIS, AND WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESENT AND PUBLISH THEIR FINDINGS. RESEARCH BASED CURRICULAR MODULES AND ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH STATE AND NATIONAL STANDARDS WILL BE DEVELOPED, IMPLEMENTED IN THE CLASSROOM, AND PUBLISHED FOR BROAD ACCESS. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE EEC REU AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR). 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 ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MARINE MINERALS ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

PFI: A MULTINATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO INCITE INNOVATION VIA NEW GENERATION TAILORED POLYMERS FOR INTERFACES

ENHANCING THE STEM WORKFORCE THROUGH HYDROGRAPHIC SCIENCE EDUCATION

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: STRUCTURAL, FUNCTIONAL, AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PROCHLOROCOCCUS CARBOXYSOME, THE OCEAN'S PRIMARY MOLECULAR M

CAREER: THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTY CONTROL OF CONFINED CONJUGATED POLYMERIC THIN FILMS

BIOLOGY THE INITIATOR: HARNESSING REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES FOR BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMERIZATION - PROJECT TITLE: BIOLOGY THE INITIATOR: HARNESSING REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES FOR BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMERIZATION PROJECT SUMMARY VISION: DISEASE OR SIGNIFICANT INJURY OFTEN RESULTS IN RAPID BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE CELLULAR ENVIRONMENT. REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS) ARE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED EXTRACELLULARLY FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK, BURN INJURY OR STROKE, RESULTING IN FURTHER CELL DEATH AND TISSUE LOSS. WHAT IF THESE HIGHLY DAMAGING RADICALS COULD BE HARNESSED FOR GOOD? THIS PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE THE OPPORTUNITY OF BIOCOMPATIBLE, ROS-INITIATED, POLYMERIZATION TO HARNESS DAMAGING EXTRACELLULAR RADICALS PRODUCED DURING SIGNIFICANT DISEASE OR INJURY. ROS- INITIATED POLYMERIZATION COULD POTENTIALLY PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS FOLLOWING INJURY RESULTING FROM AN ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT, COUPLED WITH A SYNERGISTIC BENEFIT THROUGH THE IN-SITU SYNTHESIS OF A SCAFFOLD SUITABLE FOR TISSUE REGENERATION. THIS APPROACH OF THERAPEUTIC POLYMERIZATION COULD PROVIDE A PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE WAY WE TREAT DISEASES AND INJURIES AFFECTED BY OXIDANT DAMAGE WHERE REGENERATION IS REQUIRED DIRECTLY AT THE SITE OF INJURY. THIS PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMERIZATION FOR THERAPY AND HOW BIOLOGICALLY DERIVED EXTRACELLULAR ROS CAN BE USED TO DIRECTLY INITIATE COVALENT POLYMERIZATION. ADVANCES IN SYNTHETIC MATERIALS, THAT CAN ALTER FUNCTION BASED ON BIOLOGICAL CHANGES, ARE OF GREAT INTEREST TO GENERATE MATERIALS WHICH SENSE AND ADAPT TO DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS. THESE ‘SMART’ MATERIALS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FACILITATE CONTROLLED DRUG RELEASE FOR DISEASE AND INJURY OR MODIFY THE MECHANICAL OR CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT TO ALTER CELL SIGNALING AND IMPROVE REGENERATIVE CAPABILITIES. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT ROS UPREGULATION FOLLOWING DISEASE OR INJURY CAN BE UTILIZED TO INITIATE POLYMERIZATION FOR THERAPY AND REGENERATION. THIS NOVEL HYPOTHESIS WILL BE TESTED BY ADDRESSING THREE SPECIFIC AIMS: (1) TO SYNTHESIZE BIOCOMPATIBLE PEPTIDE-BASED MONOMERS SUITABLE FOR TARGETING ISCHEMIC TISSUE AND UNDERGOING ROS INITIATED POLYMERIZATION, (2) TO INVESTIGATE THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT AND REGENERATIVE SUPPORT OF EXTRACELLULAR ROS-INITIATED POLYMERIZABLE SCAFFOLDS AND (3) TO DEMONSTRATE EFFICACY AS A THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY IN A RAT MODEL OF CARDIAC ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION (I/R) INJURY. SUCCESS IN THIS EXPLORATORY STUDY BODES BROAD APPLICATION WHERE ROS IS PREVALENT INCLUDING HEART DISEASE, CANCER, BURN INJURIES AND STROKE AMONG OTHERS.

GULF STURGEON MONITORING AND HABITAT ASSESSMENT IN RESPONSE TO SHIP ISLAND RESTORATION EFFORTS BY THE MISSISSIPPI COASTAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM.

RET SITE FOR SUSTAINABLE POLYMER ENGINEERING RESEARCH

CHILDCARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL - CHILD CARE

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: DEVELOPMENT OF A NEXT GENERATION SENSOR FOR MEASURING BIOLOGICALLY AVAILABLE IRON IN SEAWATER

ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT BY SCIENTISTS FOR BROADER SOCIETAL IMPACTS

NURSE EDUCATION PRACTICE AND RETENTION

GOALI: DEVELOPMENT OF INORGANIC PHOSPHATE GLASS MATRIX NANOCOMPOSITES INCORPORATING NANOSCALE POLYHEDRAL OLIGOMERIC SILSESQUIOXANES WITH IMPROVED PRO

TOWARDS A STRUCTURE BASED MECHANISM FOR THE FUNCTION OF THE CARBOXYSOME, THE PROTOTYPE BACTERIAL ORGANELLE

WATER LEAVING REFLECTANCE THAT AN OCEAN COLOR MISSION (SUCH AS PACE) MEASURES IS INHERENTLY BIDIRECTIONAL I.E. IT VARIES WITH THE POSITION OF SUN AND THE VIEWING DIRECTION. THIS VARIATION EXPRESSED AS BIDIRECTIONAL REFLECTANCE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION (BRDF) IS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED BY THE VOLUME SCATTERING FUNCTION (VSF) AND IN PARTICULAR ITS BACKWARD SHAPE (CALLED CH FACTOR). PREVIOUS STUDES INVESTIGATING BRDF HAVE USED THE VSFS THAT EVIDENTLY UNDERESTIMATE THE NATURAL VARIABILITY OF CH FACTOR AND COULD LEAD TO ERRORSHAT ARE GREATER THAN THE 30% TARGET OF RETRIEVING REMOTE SENSING REFLECTANCE FROM THE PACE MISSION. ON THE OTHER HAND THE TWO MULTIANGLE POLARIMETERS (HARP2 AND SPEXONE) THAT THE PACE WILL DEPLOY ALONG WITH THE HYPERSPECTRAL OCI SENSOR OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEASURE CH FACTOR. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A METHOD USING MULTI-ANGLE POLARIMETRY DATA TO DERIVE CHACTOR AND IMPROVE THE BRDF CORRECTION FOR PACE S OCI REMOTE SENSING REFLECTANCE (RRS). THE PROPOSED WORK IS BASED ON INSIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE GAINED DURING PAST DECADE IN STUDYING THE NATURAL VARIABILITY OF THE VOLUME SCATTERING FUNCTION AND ITS IMPACT ON OCEAN COLOR. SPECIFICALLY WE PROPOSE TO ACHIEVE THREE OBJECTIVES. (1) IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL VARIABILITY OF THE CHACTOR AND ITS IMPACT ON BIDIRECTIONAL REMOTE SENSING REFLECTANCE. BECAUSE OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE PLAYED BY THE CH FACTOR IN DETERMINIG THE BRDF EFFECT ADDRESSING THIS OBJECTIVE WILL ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP A MECHANISTIC UNDERSTANDING ON THE SOURCE OF VARIABILITY IN BRDF. (2) UTILIZE ZANEVELD S THEORETICAL DERIVATION THAT EXPLICITLY INCLUDES VSF IN RRS FORMULA TO RETRIEVE CH FACTOR FROM THE MULTI-NGLE RRS OBSERVATION. (3) EXPLORE A MULTI-SENSOR CAPABILITY TO CONSTRAIN THE BRDF CORRECTION FOR THE HYPERSPECTRAL OCI USING CH FACTR RETRIEVED FROM THE MULTI-ANGLE HARP2 AND/OR SPEXONE. IN ADDITIONAL TO IMPROVING BRDF CORRECTION OUR METHOD WILL ALSO RETRIEVE CHACTOR WHICH AS AN IMPORTANT INHERENT OPTICAL PROPERTY CONTAINS CRITICAL INFORMATION ON THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE PARTICLE ASSEMBLAGES IN THE OCEANS. THEREFORE IT ALSO HAS POTENTIAL TO DERIVE ADDITIONAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL PRODUCTS FROM THE PACE MISSION.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM