KY NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Initiatives (2008-2013)
Applications in Epitaxial Thin Films and Device Structures
Primary Locations and Project Leaders:
- University of Kentucky (UK)
- Gang Cao, Physics
- Joseph Brill, Physics
- Lance DeLong, Physics
- Bruce Hinds, Chemical & Materials Eng.
- Kwok-Wai Ng, Physics
- Sean Parkin, Chemistry
- Berea College
- Amer Lahamer, Physics
- Centre College
- William Crummett, Physics
- Morehead State University
- William Grise, Engineering Technology
KY NSF EPSCoR is providing support to develop a Center for Advanced Materials in the state as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary research program to synthesize and characterize novel materials. Funding will support four new faculty positions at UK in the physics and chemistry departments and provide advanced instrumentation to all of the involved institutions. Significant support is also available to involve Kentucky students in materials research. The Center will promote materials research across the state and allow UK to be one of the few universities in the nation to develop an integrated program that promotes both education and research in materials science. Other activities include summer research programs and a seminar series that will host the best and brightest minds in materials research.
Engineering Platforms for Exploring Cellular and Molecular Signaling Processes
Primary Locations and Project Leaders:
- University of Louisville (UofL)
- Andrea Gobin, Bioengineering
- Cindy Harnett, Electrical & Comp. Eng.
- Menq-Jer Lee, Microbiology & Immunology
- Shamus McNamara, Elec. & Comp. Eng.
- Sergio Mendes, Physics
- Palaniappan Sethu, Bioengineering
- University of Kentucky (UK)
- Marnie Saunders, Biomedical Eng.
- Abhijit Patwardhan, Biomedical Eng.
With KY NSF EPSCoR support, faculty members from UofL and UK are collaborating to develop a nationally recognized center focused on research to understand cellular and molecular signaling processes with real-time spatial and temporal resolution. The developed technologies will enhance knowledge in the biological sciences and help develop novel new tools. The faculty members involved with this initiative have broad expertise in vascular and orthopedic research and their future research will involve microelectronics, photonics, microfluidics, biomaterials, biology and nanotechnology. In addition to providing state-of-the-art instrumentation, this funding will also support important outreach and education activities. A summer high school teacher training program that gives Kentucky science teachers hands-on research experiences to share in their classrooms is just one example of the progressive education opportunities that will be supported by the award.
KY Micro/Nano Network for Collaborative Research, Education and Outreach
http://kynanonet.org/
Primary Locations and Project Leaders:
- University of Louisville (UofL)
- Kevin Walsh, Electrical & Comp. Eng.
- Shamus McNamara, Elec. & Comp. Eng.
- Rob Keynton, Bioengineering
- Mark Crain, Speed Engineering
- Joseph Lake, Speed Engineering
- Thomas Roussel, Bioengineering
UofL boasts one of the nation's top-10 cleanrooms for nano/micro research. With support from KY NSF EPSCoR, researchers there are now looking to synergize the other cleanrooms and talented researchers in the state by developing a statewide network to share knowledge and make Kentucky faculty aware of available instrumentation. Improved infrastructure, communication, and instrumentation will further develop Kentucky's research in this important area. In much the same way that Kentucky's intrastate parkway provided transportation, trade and economic development for the Commonwealth, a virtual “eParkway” is needed to interconnect nano/micro research in the state. The creation of a new Internet portal and a shared software program will revolutionize university collaborations. The UofL research team also has plans to promote diversity and community outreach as part of this initiative. Via the developed Internet portal, virtual micro/nano courses will be offered to Kentucky students for the first time. The research team also plans to expand and continue a popular NSF High School Nanotech Fellows Program and a high school (summer) outreach program.
Watch a video about the research supported by the KY NSF EPSCoR RII award taking place at the UofL cleanroom.
Kentucky Infrastructure in Ecological Genomics
Primary Locations and Project Leaders:
- University of Kentucky (UK)
- Chris Schardl, Plant Pathology
- Jerzy Jaromczyk, Computer Science
- Randall Voss, Biology
- Bruce Webb, Entomology
- Arny Stromberg, Statistics
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Pat Calie, Biological Sciences
- Northern Kentucky University
- Hazel Barton, Biological Sciences
With support from KY NSF EPSCoR, a diverse group of researchers from institutions across the Commonwealth will develop a nationally competitive ecological genomics program in the state. Genetic study is absolutely vital for an increasing number of scientific areas-from studying microbial communities and insects to plants, animals and people, there is an increasing need to analyze and understands genetic sequences. This initiative will provide support for next-generation sequencing instrumentation and support diverse research and students at the involved institutions. High performance computing and bioinformatic softwares for analyzing the sequences will also be acquired with support from this award. UK has plans to hire more faculty members in the genomic sciences to grow their national standing in this research area.