Montclair State University has been selected to participate in a National Genomics Research Initiative funded through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and its Science Education Alliance.  Sandra Adams and Kirsten Monsen, Biology and Molecular Biology, CSAM submitted the winning application to the Institute and will be spearheading the program.  This project fosters collaborations between scientists and educators to transform science education nationally.  The purpose of this project is for students to participate in a course to identify and characterize previously unknown bacteriophages.  Approximately 24 incoming freshmen will be selected to participate in the program.

Mark Chopping, Earth and Environmental Studies, CSAM, received $20,000 of an anticipated total $39,975 supplemental request for the project entitled “Forest and Shrub Mapping with MISR”.  This project involves work being performed on mapping of forest and shrub canopy structure (height, crown shape and fractional cover) and aboveground woody biomass for diverse environments, over limited sites and larger areas and for multiple orbits and years, using data from MISR.

Amy Ferdinand, Environmental Health and Safety, Division of University Facilities, received an award from The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of $23,125 for the project entitled “Montclair State University Waste Management Program: Food Waste Recycling Demonstration Project”.   The grant provides for the purchase of an in-vessel composter for on-site treatment of organic wastes.  It is estimated that with this grant, MSU will be able to expand the food waste recycle program from one, to four food areas serviced.

Robert McCormick, Center for Child Advocacy, CHSS, received a $131,702 subcontract from Rutgers University for “SHIP: Summer Housing and Internship Program at MSU”. SHIP is a twelve-week program from May to August that offers an alternative to recipients of the New Jersey Foster Care scholarship who lack the financial, family and social connections to secure safe and stable housing in the summer months.  Ten students between the ages of 18 and 21 are given the opportunity to receive quality housing and paid internship positions throughout the summer months.  The program provides for weekly workshops and recreational activities for the participants.  Five MSU students will either work as Program Assistants or Resident Assistants on this project.  

Sandra Passchier, Earth and Environmental Studies, CSAM, was awarded a three year grant for her research titled, “Expedition Objective Research: Early Pliocene Record of Antarctic Ice Rafting and Paleoenvironmental Conditions, Wilkes Land Margin, Antarctica,” for $183,565.  Dr. Passchier along with a Graduate Assistant will analyze core samples from Antarctica to reconstruct Antarctica’s climate and icesheet history in a time of global warming in the past. 

Elena Petroff, Biology and Molecular Biology, CSAM, was awarded $320,657 for a three year grant from the National Institutes of Health for the project “Interaction of ASIC and BK Channels and Its Role in Glial Proliferation”. This study will determine the role of acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) as endogenous inhibitors of cell growth through inhibition of voltage activated K+ channels (BK).  A Graduate Assistant and three undergraduate research assistants will be assisting Dr. Petroff in her research.

Brian Smith, Political Science and Law, CHSS, has received an award from National Endowment for the Humanities in the amount of $19,505.  This funding will be used to prepare a course titled "What Sustains Liberty?"  The course will be an entirely new course at MSU and will lead students to analyze and discuss a wide range of texts on the subject of maintaining liberty.