Grant List
Represents Grant table in the DB
GET /v1/grants?page%5Bnumber%5D=1424&sort=-funder
{ "links": { "first": "https://cic-apps.datascience.columbia.edu/v1/grants?page%5Bnumber%5D=1&sort=-funder", "last": "https://cic-apps.datascience.columbia.edu/v1/grants?page%5Bnumber%5D=1442&sort=-funder", "next": "https://cic-apps.datascience.columbia.edu/v1/grants?page%5Bnumber%5D=1425&sort=-funder", "prev": "https://cic-apps.datascience.columbia.edu/v1/grants?page%5Bnumber%5D=1423&sort=-funder" }, "data": [ { "type": "Grant", "id": "14652", "attributes": { "award_id": "2321666", "title": "PDB Management by The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Biological Sciences (BIO)", "SABI: Sustained Availability o" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 3188, "first_name": "Steven", "last_name": "Ellis", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-03-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 25000000, "principal_investigator": { "id": 7752, "first_name": "Stephen", "last_name": "Burley", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [ { "id": 218, "ror": "", "name": "Rutgers University New Brunswick", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "NJ", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true } ] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 218, "ror": "", "name": "Rutgers University New Brunswick", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "NJ", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "Support from this award will provide ongoing support for the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB) Protein Data Bank (PDB). The RCSB PDB works with community stakeholders to preserve and deliver rigorously validated, expertly biocurated three-dimensional (3D) biostructure information archived in the Protein Data Bank (hereafter PDB or the archive) to millions of PDB Data Consumers worldwide at no charge and with no limitations on usage. Exploration of these experimentally-determined structures of proteins and nucleic acids via RCSB PDB web portals is enabled by state-of-the-art data analysis, visualization, and download tools. RCSB PDB ensures that structural biology data are Findable-Accessible-Interoperable-Reusable (FAIR). Access to PDB data and RCSB PDB Services will continue to drive patent applications, drug discovery and development, publication of innovative research in scientific disciplines ranging from Agriculture to Zoology, and innovations leading to discovery and development of life-changing biopharmaceutical products and formation of new US companies. Open access to PDB data and RCSB.org tools will help researchers in the fight against pandemics such as COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases. RCSB PDB training, outreach, and education efforts leverage PDB data and RCSB PDB staff expertise to develop materials that help students and researchers learn how to connect 3D biostructures to knowledge. Online Training resources and in-person events will enable education of senior undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and researchers in academe, government laboratories, and industry, and help to build a robust STEM workforce.<br/><br/>The RCSB PDB research-focused web portal will provide open access to >200,000 experimentally-determined PDB structures, >1,000,000 Computed Structure Models, and a growing number of Integrative/Hybrid structures, making it the only one-stop shop that delivers public domain 3D structure information traversing length scales ranging from small-molecule ligands to small proteins and nucleic acids to enormous macromolecular machines. The intellectual merit of the RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB) proposal is reflected in the organization’s long history of scientific and technical leadership in sustaining an open-access global data resource that is central to research and education in biology and medicine, by curating, integrating, and disseminating 3D biostructure information in the context of biological function, biochemical pathways cellular processes, disease states, and molecular evolution. RCSB PDB websites supporting research (RCSB.org) and training (PDB-101 website) foster understanding of fundamental biology, biomedicine, and energy in three-dimensions at the atomic level. Efficient, ongoing fulfillment of the RCSB PDB mission has depended critically on extensive collaborations and partnerships with PDB Depositors and Data Consumers, chemical and biological data resources, international leaders in biomolecular data curation, scientific and professional societies, and stakeholder groups with interests in the life sciences, chemistry, computational sciences, medical sciences, drug discovery, biotechnology, and education. Together with this dynamic and evolving network of collaborators, RCSB PDB is committed to delivering data and related cyberinfrastructure services, and providing significant value to diverse user communities in the US and around the globe.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14653", "attributes": { "award_id": "2344525", "title": "Next Generation Plasmon Coupling Nanosensors", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Engineering (ENG)", "BIOSENS-Biosensing" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 961, "first_name": "Aleksandr", "last_name": "Simonian", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-03-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 447747, "principal_investigator": { "id": 31352, "first_name": "Bjoern", "last_name": "Reinhard", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 168, "ror": "", "name": "Trustees of Boston University", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "MA", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules have diverse functions in controlling gene expression and controlling cellular behavior. RNA is also used by some viruses to store genetic information. These diverse and important functions motivate the development of sensors that allow for a sensitive detection and identification of RNA molecules. This project will develop RNA sensors for two specific classes of RNA molecules: i.) microRNA (miRNA), a regulatory class of RNA that has potential as biomarkers for diseases such as cancer, and ii.) viral RNA to enable a rapid detection of RNA viruses, such as the corona virus (Covid-19). The proposed sensor platform contains a DNA strand connected at its ends to two metal nanoparticles whose optical signal depend on their separation. The DNA sensor strand is designed to change its structure when it binds to a specific RNA target. This structural modification changes the separation between the nanoparticle probes and alters their signal, which is sensitively detected even for small nanoparticles via interference of the scattered signal with a reference light beam. The sensor will be designed to detect miRNA directly, but for viral RNA the coupled nanoparticle sensor will be combined with an enzymatic signal amplification step to obtain a sensitive and rapidly reconfigurable detection platform. The research will be integrated into education and outreach activities that include development of course work to support the research, organization of a summer workshop on the fundamentals of plasmonics and nanoscience for inner city high school students in the Boston area and their teachers that is designed to excite them about a career in science and technology, and development of an Instagram channel that will provide an excellent platform for educating a lay audience about plasmonic nanosensors.<br/><br/>The project will combine molecular beacon like DNA structures whose ends are functionalized with noble metal nanoparticle (NP) probes with two-color interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT) detection to generate a plasmon coupling based sensor for two important classes of RNA: i.) regulatory miRNA and ii.) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA. Target RNA binding to the sensor induces a conformational change from a “closed” to an “open” conformation and alters the plasmon coupling between the NP labels bound to the DNA strand. Two-color iSCAT microscopy will be applied to enhance the sensitivity for detecting changes in the interferometric scattering signal associated with the opening of the sensor upon binding to its target. The DNA recognition element of the sensor will be designed to bind to miRNA directly, while for the viral RNA the plasmonic transducer will be combined with CRISPR-CAS13 detection and subsequent sample amplification to obtain a sensitive and reconfigurable viral RNA detection platform. Instead of directly binding to viral RNA, the molecular beacon will recognize RNA fragments generated through CAS13 trans-cleavage of a substrate.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14654", "attributes": { "award_id": "2401176", "title": "Polar Early Career Chief Scientist Training Program", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Geosciences (GEO)", "Polar Special Initiatives" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 590, "first_name": "Elizabeth", "last_name": "Rom", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-03-15", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 337916, "principal_investigator": { "id": 26979, "first_name": "Emily", "last_name": "Eidam", "orcid": null, "emails": "[email protected]", "private_emails": null, "keywords": "[]", "approved": true, "websites": "[]", "desired_collaboration": "", "comments": "", "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [ { "id": 31353, "first_name": "Laurie W", "last_name": "Juranek", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "awardee_organization": { "id": 154, "ror": "https://ror.org/00ysfqy60", "name": "Oregon State University", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "OR", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "Non-technical:<br/>The National Science Foundation supports ships dedicated to oceanographic research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Conducting successful research cruises on these ships requires that scientists (particularly those in supervisory roles on the survey trips – or “chief scientists”) understand the logistics of how to request time on ships, how to coordinate personnel and equipment, how to plan for operations and survey tasks at sea, and how to work with vessel crew and staff – as well as how to deal with unexpected issues which may arise. To maintain a robust scientific workforce that can effectively request, plan, and lead this type of work, early career scientists need to gain training and experience, with consideration for some of the unique challenges faced at both poles such as planning routes through sea ice. There is a particular need for this training and capacity-building at the present time, given increasing arctic research interests and a lag in research cruises (and thus junior scientist training) during the COVID-19 pandemic. To equip and motivate a new generation of seagoing polar oceanographers to use these assets, the project team will host a training cruise on USCGC Healy for approximately twenty early career participants with support from four science mentors and one or more community observers. Participants will participate in virtual pre-cruise meetings, a one-day pre-cruise workshop, and a variety of training modules on the cruise to develop proficiency, build confidence, and become part of an early career polar oceanographer cohort. <br/><br/>Technical:<br/>The Arctic and Antarctic are hotspots for environmental change and cutting-edge research on oceanographic processes spanning an array of disciplines. Presently the U.S. science community uses a limited suite of vessels for polar oceanographic research, including USCG icebreakers as well as some foreign and private contract research vessels. The barriers to entry for using these platforms are relatively high for junior scientists. Investigators must be familiar with protocols and procedures for requesting these specialized vessels, must have knowledge of how to effectively plan and lead cruises (which sometimes involve multiple and multi-national project teams), and must effectively interface with polar community needs and sensitive ecosystems. As a result, new investigators may be hesitant to propose and lead such cruises, which in turn may limit the amount of novel research being proposed for the U.S. fleet. To equip and motivate a new generation of seagoing polar oceanographers to use these assets, the project team will host a training cruise on USCGC Healy for approximately twenty early career participants with support from four science mentors and one or more community observers. The proposed early career “Chief Scientist” training program will be conducted on an opportunistic transit of Healy through the Northwest Passage, to train participants about the complexities of planning international research cruises and working with multiple specialists including officers, community observers, crew, and technicians as well as interdisciplinary colleagues. Participants will collect measurements and data along the route to use for educational purposes and/or provide pilot data for new proposals. The program will emphasize training in seagoing logistics, cohort building, a positive and supportive at-sea culture, communication with other leaders and specialists, problem-solving skills, and operational awareness and planning.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14655", "attributes": { "award_id": "2420094", "title": "Travel Grant: 2024 Image Science Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Engineering (ENG)", "EPMD-ElectrnPhoton&MagnDevices" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 1461, "first_name": "Dominique", "last_name": "Dagenais", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-03-15", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 10000, "principal_investigator": { "id": 31354, "first_name": "Jannick", "last_name": "Rolland", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 226, "ror": "https://ror.org/05rad4t93", "name": "Gordon Research Conferences", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "RI", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "The proposal requests support for early-career investigators across all possible diversity to participate in the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Image Science following a four-year gap imposed by the pandemic from 2018-2022. The support to a diverse pool of early-career investigators will ensure long-term sustainability towards building a strong image science community. <br/> The June 9-14, 2024, GRC conference theme is “Advances in Imaging and Visualization at the Junction of Physics, Engineering, and Data Science.” which is focused on the appropriate acquisition and efficient uses of the massive volume of imaging information now collected in many fields of imaging. We aim to build Image Science as an independent field of study via detailed interdisciplinary discussions and by fostering the success of a new generation of image scientists. <br/> The unique feature of this conference compared with more conventional imaging venues is the bringing together of renowned speakers from disparate application areas, including astronomy, biology, medicine, remote sensing, quantum imaging, optics and photonics displays, and security and defense industries, in a forum that encourages each to describe their most significant challenges and most promising solutions, to foster cross-fertilization between these fields. <br/> We value and strive to increase the percentage of women and other underrepresented minorities in the sciences, including LBGTQ+ people, in building a strong, diverse, equitable and inclusive image science community. <br/><br/>A technical description of the project:<br/>The proposal requests support for early-career investigators across all possible diversity to participate in the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Image Science following a four-year gap imposed by the pandemic from 2018-2022. The support to a diverse pool of early-career investigators will ensure long-term sustainability towards building a strong image science community. <br/> Intellectual Merit: Imaging systems will usher in the next generation of innovations across a wide range of applications from nanoscale to macro scale. The June 9-14, 2024, GRC conference theme is “Advances in Imaging and Visualization at the Junction of Physics, Engineering, and Data Science.” which is focused on the appropriate acquisition and efficient uses of the massive volume of imaging information now collected in many fields of imaging. Speakers give ~40-minute presentations in a single-track format with ~20 minutes of discussions following each presentation that experts lead in the field. At the center of each presentation is a discussion of the core challenges shared by image scientists and novel techniques for acquiring and displaying information to maximize decision performance. We aim to build Image Science as an independent field of study via detailed interdisciplinary discussions and by fostering the success of a new generation of image scientists. The unique feature of this conference compared with more conventional imaging venues is the bringing together of renowned speakers from disparate application areas, including astronomy, biology, medicine, remote sensing, quantum imaging, optics and photonics displays, and security and defense industries, in a forum that encourages each to describe their most significant challenges and most promising solutions, to foster cross-fertilization between these fields. All speakers are invited based on their field leadership and willingness to debate fundamental issues shared by everyone developing, evaluating, and applying imaging across disciplines.<br/> Broader Impact: The GRC format in a small remote venue promotes innovative interdisciplinary thinking that leads to breakthroughs. An environment where leading senior scientists debate core issues is valuable to young investigators trying to build prosperous independent careers in imaging in industry and academia. All attendees are invited to present a poster describing their research in poster sessions, a key element of the Gordon Conference format. Dedicated two-hour time slots are planned daily for all participants and presenter to gather around the posters and discuss the work presented. The 2024 Image Science GRC is committed to developing a diverse program and inclusive conference atmosphere through a discussion-focused program, fundraising efforts focused on supporting historically underrepresented participants, and a concerted effort to attract and accept a variety of applicants from diverse backgrounds and institutions. We strive to increase the percentage of women and other underrepresented minorities in STEM. We will host a GRC Power Hour designed to address diversity and inclusion in the scientific workplace by providing a safe environment for informal and meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages. The program supports the professional growth of all members of our communities by providing an open forum for discussion and mentoring. We have two co-hosts for our Power Hour, an African-American woman and another mid-career scientist woman - both were speakers at our 2022 GRC image science. The plan for the Power Hour is for the hosts to share statistics on diversity (women and minorities) progress in STEM and share remaining challenges. We will form small groups to discuss different issues and share back with the group. Based on the 2022 survey, we plan to acknowledge the underrepresentation of LBGTQ+ people in the sciences and open discussion on how we may evolve as a community to make everyone feel included and supported. The Image Science GRC is complemented by the student-run Image Science Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on June 7-8, 2024.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14656", "attributes": { "award_id": "2313338", "title": "SBIR Phase II: Design and production of a next generation vaccine to prevent COVID", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)", "SBIR Phase II" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 773, "first_name": "Erik", "last_name": "Pierstorff", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-03-15", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 997689, "principal_investigator": { "id": 31355, "first_name": "Peter", "last_name": "Leonardi", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 346, "ror": "", "name": "OMNICYTE, LLC", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "CT", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine that addresses the weaknesses of the current vaccines. While the current COVID-19 vaccines have saved countless lives and have allowed our society to get back to normal, they have their weaknesses. The boosters are sometimes not effective, and when they are, they have short-lived efficacy and they can have mild to severe side effects. These weaknesses not only put individuals at risk of getting sick with COVID or the side effects, but those weaknesses also compromise confidence in the vaccine, which affects compliance. The proposed project promises to produce a next-generation vaccine that has better efficacy and significantly reduced side effects, as well as increased duration of effectiveness. This could pave the way for an effective annual administration schedule of the vaccine booster that addresses new strains, much like the seasonal influenza vaccine. <br/><br/>The proposed project intends to produce a next-generation vaccine that can renew confidence in vaccinating to prevent COVID-19. The project's objectives are to show that the vaccine candidate can not only create an immune response that can stop the spread of the virus but also kill the virus. Additionally, it is hoped that the project will show that the vaccine is safer than the current vaccines and that it promotes an immune response that lasts significantly longer than current vaccines. This will be accomplished by testing the vaccine in a Hamster model that simulates the human respiratory system well. Not only will efficacy be tested, but the longevity of the immune response will also be tested. As an additional objective of the study, the route of administration will be examined. The vaccine's effectiveness will be compared by administering it either through injection, nasal administration, or a microneedle patch.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14658", "attributes": { "award_id": "2422394", "title": "Collaborative Research: U.S. institutions after COVID-19: Trust, accountability, and public perceptions", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE)", "AIB-Acctble Institutions&Behav" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 27139, "first_name": "Brian", "last_name": "Crisp", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-01-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 81923, "principal_investigator": { "id": 31356, "first_name": "James", "last_name": "Druckman", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 464, "ror": "https://ror.org/022kthw22", "name": "University of Rochester", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "NY", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "COVID-19 upended social, economic, and political systems throughout the world. The United States has faced particular challenges due to its heterogeneity and federal nature. The COVID States project is a large-scale data collection that includes over-time data from diverse state-level samples. The project tracks state-level post-pandemic recovery, studying topics such as trust in institutions, information acquisition and impact, accountability, and economic inequality. It also documents how federal and state policies affect the populace when it comes to these topics. Further, the COVID States project provides access to researchers from all backgrounds, types of academic institutions, and career stages through a competition for survey module time and provides a user-friendly website with data trackers for use by researchers, students, journalists, policymakers, and the public.<br/><br/>The COVID States project conducts over-time state-level surveys from all 50 states and D.C. Each survey includes up to 30,000 total respondents, using quota sampling by state. This allows for generalizable inferences at the state and national levels. Post-pandemic data provide an unprecedented opportunity for novel over-time and across-space research designs. The project over-samples demographic minority respondents to facilitate study of heterogeneous social groups. This includes data on trust in political figures and institutions, knowledge and information, political evaluations, behavioral adaptation, physical health, economic well-being, mental health, and more. It also contains detailed social network batteries that allow for the study of inter-household and inter-group transmission of health and information. This is complemented by Twitter data from survey respondents who allow it. This enables the project to identify information sharing and study political discourse.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14659", "attributes": { "award_id": "2427553", "title": "SCC-PG: Understanding the Technical and Social Challenges and Opportunities of Physically and Digitally Augmented Community Gardens", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)", "S&CC: Smart & Connected Commun" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 1663, "first_name": "David", "last_name": "Corman", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2024-01-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 150000, "principal_investigator": { "id": 27707, "first_name": "Lining", "last_name": "Yao", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 176, "ror": "", "name": "University of California-Berkeley", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "CA", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "This NSF Smart and Connected Community (S&CC) planning grant will explore the concept of the \"meta-garden\", which is a physically and digitally augmented community garden aimed at addressing challenges associated with traditional community gardens. Community gardens have the potential to provide numerous benefits, but often face limitations such as scarce resources, limited access, lack of persistent engagement, and other challenges. The significance of this research lies in its potential to seamlessly connect physical and virtual community gardens, and enhance their experiences and values by overcoming spatial and resource limitations. Extending a physical garden into a virtual one could potentially overcome space and resource limitations. Virtual gardens may also provide new and engaging platforms to enable people to connect, share, learn, and even generate revenue. Being able to remotely monitor and manage physical gardens via a virtual platform may also provide more scheduling flexibility for residents who are pressured to fulfill other time-demanding duties, or during extreme events such as lockdowns due to pandemics. This innovative approach benefits society by addressing challenges facing traditional community gardens and expanding their potential in terms of community learning, engagement, and well-being.<br/><br/>The research endeavors to identify design opportunities and potential social benefits of the meta-garden through participatory design workshops, develop a technical strategy, and create functional prototypes for physical and virtual augmentations of a community garden. Moreover, it aims to conduct pilot tests with community partners and summarize design guidelines for future implementation. On the technical front, the research involves mapping out relevant functional features, formulating technical development strategies, developing preliminary functional prototypes, and evaluating system performance. These processes are informed by specific research questions targeting technical aspects such as key technical features, approaches for augmentation, technical gaps, challenges, and potential solutions. From a social perspective, the research employs a research-through-design approach involving participatory design workshops, semi-structured interviews, and reflective thematic analysis. These methods are guided by questions that explore the social benefits and challenges of the meta-garden concept and how it can enhance community experiences. Collectively, these endeavors serve to explore how meta-gardens, facilitated by this planning grant, could redefine community gardens to be more inclusive, accessible, and impactful. The potential for these mixed-reality gardens may even stretch beyond the community garden context, with possibilities for enhancing agricultural management, environmental quality monitoring, urban and rural planning, and more.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14661", "attributes": { "award_id": "2428149", "title": "CAREER: Resolving Uncertainty Visualization Reasoning Errors with Mental Model Design and Training", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)", "HCC-Human-Centered Computing" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 849, "first_name": "Dan", "last_name": "Cosley", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2023-12-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 499952, "principal_investigator": { "id": 27029, "first_name": "Lace", "last_name": "Padilla", "orcid": null, "emails": "[email protected]", "private_emails": null, "keywords": "[]", "approved": true, "websites": "[]", "desired_collaboration": "", "comments": "", "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 184, "ror": "https://ror.org/04t5xt781", "name": "Northeastern University", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "MA", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "People worldwide use data visualizations that show forecasts of future events to decide how to respond to impending hazards. For example, television news meteorologists often use visualizations of a hurricane's forecasted path to inform the public about an approaching storm. Unfortunately, a large body of research demonstrates that people misinterpret the most common methods for visualizing uncertainty in forecasts such as these. This project’s goal is to learn more about why people have difficulty using forecast visualizations and how to create more effective ones. One key outcome of the project will be a theory of uncertainty visualization literacy that will identify the skills needed to effectively use visualized uncertainty and provide cognitively informed rules for new visualization designs. This work will develop more effective methods to convey forecast uncertainty, along with uncertainty literacy training that will support the public in making informed decisions in response to natural disasters and public health crises.<br/><br/>The research plan includes a series of empirical studies to test competing hypotheses, including a novel theory centered around integrating users' mental models into visualization design and training. The new hypothesis predicts that uncertainty visualization reasoning errors result from discrepancies between how people conceptualize a forecast (a priori schemas) and how the visualization presents the data (visualization-driven schemas). The first phase of this work will create tools to reveal a priori schemas and visualization-driven schemas using previously established cognitive methods for evaluating schemas. These methods include analysis of participants' drawings, eye tracking, and memory tests. In the second phase, the team will develop a measurement tool to determine the relative distance between the two schemas, using a mapping agreement unit based on methods developed in human factors, then use that tool to empirically test the schema-based theory compared to alternative explanations for reasoning errors when using uncertainty visualizations. In the third phase, the team will use the winning approaches to develop visualization training and new visualization designs of hurricane path forecasts and COVID-19 morbidity projections as testbeds.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14664", "attributes": { "award_id": "2418212", "title": "CAREER: Spectroscopic Exploration of Microscopic Superfluidity", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)", "OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 28918, "first_name": "Samy", "last_name": "El-Shall", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2023-10-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 530000, "principal_investigator": { "id": 939, "first_name": "Paul", "last_name": "Raston", "orcid": null, "emails": "[email protected]", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [ { "id": 255, "ror": "https://ror.org/028pmsz77", "name": "James Madison University", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "VA", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true } ] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 684, "ror": "", "name": "University of Hawaii", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "HI", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).<br/><br/>With support from the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms-A (CSDM-A) Program in the Division of Chemistry, Paul Raston and his research team at James Madison University will investigate the quantum solvation of small molecules with helium or hydrogen using sophisticated microwave and laser spectroscopy techniques. When liquid helium is cooled to ultra-low temperatures it becomes superfluid, which is a state of matter that is characterized by a variety of peculiar properties. One of these properties is the ability to flow without friction, which implies that if an isolated superfluid is set into rotation, it will continue to rotate indefinitely. This type of frictionless flow was discovered in bulk superfluid helium about 80 years ago, and in tiny droplets (consisting of about 10 helium atoms) about 20 years ago. Surprisingly, the evolution of superfluidity in the realm between tiny droplets and the bulk remains largely unexplored. This CAREER award supports curiosity-driven exploration in this uncharted territory using state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. By exploring new manifestations of finite-sized superfluidity, the work aims to provide fresh challenges for theory and seeks to provide for a deeper understanding of quantum chemistry at a fundamental level. The research program also will provide an enriching educational experience for undergraduate student researchers and seeks to attract a diverse body of students into science. Inspired by difficulties associated with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project also includes an educational component that focuses on developing virtual instrumentation and experiments for teaching modern techniques and approaches in spectroscopy to undergraduate students when in-person classes are not possible, or when the instrumentation is not available.<br/><br/>A key intellectual contribution of this work lies in determining the minimum number of helium atoms that are required for superfluidity according to the Landau criterion, which is the traditional criterion for bulk superfluidity. This number is especially important since it corresponds to the transition from the cluster having discrete energy levels to one that has a (quasi) continuum of energy levels, implying that the gap between the energetic properties of small clusters and the bulk has (finally) been bridged. Along the way, it is expected that broad oscillations in the rotational inertia will occur, which are thought to be related to the opening and closing of solvation shells, thus providing detailed structural information regarding microscopic solvation. Another significant contribution involves exploring how nanoscopic surfaces are wetted by investigating the quantum solvation of small aromatics with helium. The spectra of these systems provide information about how the helium fluid coats the surfaces, and about how the superfluid behavior evolves with cluster size. Finally, Dr. Raston and his research team are investigating quantum solvation by fermions (deuterium hydride) in order to experimentally test whether the previously reported decoupling of boson (helium or hydrogen) density from molecular rotation is indeed an indicator of microscopic superfluidity. The educational dimension of this project is inspired by the difficulties associated with delivering upper-division laboratory courses online. To help alleviate these challenges and to make experiments possible for those who do not have access to the required scientific instrumentation, a suite of modern virtual instruments is being developed. The user-friendly interface is designed to engage and guide students through a variety of experiments that will be made freely available on the web so that users can easily access them. The virtual instruments will provide a platform for learning about data acquisition in an autonomous environment, while also fostering an improved understanding of instrument control and developing student intuition about instrument operation.<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } }, { "type": "Grant", "id": "14666", "attributes": { "award_id": "2423166", "title": "FMSG: Eco: Off-Grid Construction via Sustainable Compression Curing of Vegetable Oil-Impregnated Sediments", "funder": { "id": 3, "ror": "https://ror.org/021nxhr62", "name": "National Science Foundation", "approved": true }, "funder_divisions": [ "Engineering (ENG)", "FM-Future Manufacturing" ], "program_reference_codes": [], "program_officials": [ { "id": 1065, "first_name": "Joy", "last_name": "Pauschke", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] } ], "start_date": "2023-10-01", "end_date": null, "award_amount": 494685, "principal_investigator": { "id": 26400, "first_name": "Scott", "last_name": "Thompson", "orcid": null, "emails": "", "private_emails": "", "keywords": null, "approved": true, "websites": null, "desired_collaboration": null, "comments": null, "affiliations": [] }, "other_investigators": [], "awardee_organization": { "id": 292, "ror": "", "name": "University of Missouri-Columbia", "address": "", "city": "", "state": "MO", "zip": "", "country": "United States", "approved": true }, "abstract": "Additive manufacturing (AM) has effectively revolutionized how engineers and architects design and fabricate products due to its layer-by-layer building approach. New levels of product complexity/customization not offered by traditional manufacturing processes are now achievable, resulting in weight reduction, enhanced conformability, joint consolidation, and higher efficiencies through design. This project combines faculty in engineering, chemistry, architecture, and geology to innovate a solar-powered compression/curing technique that additively fabricates building materials made of tung oil and local sands for sustainable, raw-earth construction. This manufacturing method can leverage available natural resources within the U.S., therefore reducing any reliance on international raw materials. It also responds to a growing need to innovate and overcome remote construction constraints exacerbated by urban-to-rural migration driven by the COVID pandemic and climate change. The remote AM of raw earth materials will help reduce the large carbon footprint associated with concrete-based AM construction which relies on heavy gantry-based material extrusion systems that must be transported to worksites. Architecture students will be trained on a commercial binder-jet AM system for integrating new knowledge in sustainable AM processes into their designs. Guest lectures will be provided to engineering and architecture undergraduate students to broaden their perspectives and creativity to ensure future innovation in the U.S. advanced manufacturing industries.<br/><br/>The goal of this fundamental manufacturing research project is to design and test a new binder/powder-based AM process for the fabrication of earth-sourced composites for structural applications. Through modeling and experimentation, the AM process will be designed for off-grid use while remaining completely sustainable. Tung oil will be employed for binding sands of highly variable sizes, shapes, and chemistry. Employed sands will be characterized using microscopy and flowability measurements. These measurements will be correlated with the sediment’s ability to spread into a thin layer with minimal voids when acted upon by a custom-designed roller. Binder rheological properties will be varied until effective jetting and sediment infiltration are realized. The binder will be cured via free radical polymerization triggered by a combination of heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The latent heat required for uniform binder curing in the presence of unrefined sediments will be related with concentrated solar energy/spectra for aiding the design of a solar power/heating unit. First order energy balances and entropy minimization will guide power/heating unit design. A proof-of-concept manufacturing system will be constructed and instrumented for conducting “brick” building experiments. Thermomechanical tests will be performed to determine the strength of these manufactured composite bricks.<br/><br/>This project is jointly funded by the Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).<br/><br/>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.", "keywords": [], "approved": true } } ], "meta": { "pagination": { "page": 1424, "pages": 1442, "count": 14420 } } }