October 5, 2011

RECORD NEW GRANTS TO MSU COLLEAGUES

I am very pleased to announce that since my last Update on MSU grant awards, in May, a record number of "hits" have been achieved by our proposals.  Twenty-eight individuals have been awarded a total of $3,674,688, and if we include the total of Dr. Goeke's 5-year, $1.4 million dollar grant the sum is $4,807,008 of new funding won in this 5-month period alone.

Congratulations to all these successful projects, and thanks to the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and University Advancement for their able assistance in the preparation and submission of these proposals.

In alphabetical order the winners are

Katrina Bulkley and Suzanne McCotter, Counseling and Educational Leadership, CEHS, received an award for $40,000 from the Spencer Foundation for the project entitled: “Data Use and Leadership Preparation: Multiple Pathways to the Data-driven Principalship.”   The project will involve an in-depth qualitative study of the development of prospective leaders’ thinking around the role and use of data in supporting student learning and school improvement as they travel through several of these preparation programs based in one urban district, New York City.   This study promises to develop theoretical insights as well as concrete strategies related to working with prospective school leaders around data and data use.

Paul M. Cell, Chief of University Police and Lieutenant Kiernan Barrett, MSU University Police Department and were awarded $4,000 from the NJ Division of Highway Safety Traffic Headquarters for the project entitled: “2011 Click it or Ticket (CIOT) Mobilization.”  This project’s was to implement a targeted seat belt enforcement campaign as part of the statewide “Click it or Ticket” seat belt mobilization from May 23 – June 5, 2011.   The objective was to increase seat belt usage statewide by 1.27% through a targeted two week seat belt enforcement campaign.

Mark Chopping, Earth & Environmental Studies, CSAM, received an additional $19,975 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.

Yang Deng, Earth & Environmental Studies, CSAM, received a $14,966 subaward from NJ Water Resources Research Institute at Rutgers University for the project entitled: “Scrap Tire and Water Treatment Residuals as Novel “Green” Sorbents for Removal of Common Metals from polluted Urban Storm Water Runoff.”  The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of two recycled wastes in the absorption of 3 major runoff metals, (Cu,ZN, and Pb), and to assess potential leaching of metals from spent sorbents.
Yang Deng also received an award in the amount of $5,000 from NJ Water Environment Association for the project entitled: “Formation of Disinfection By-Products During Co-Treatment of Sewage and Landfill Leachate:  Integrated Research and Education at Montclair State University.”   The main objective of this proposal is to preliminarily evaluate formation potentials of various disinfection by-products contributed from landfill leachate organics through a series of research and education activities planned at MSU.

Jason Dickinson, Psychology, CHSS, received a grant in the amount of $127,116 from NSF for the project entitled: “Collaborative Research: The Impact of Disclosure History and Interviewing Protocol on Children’s Eyewitness Testimony.”   The project’s objective is to determine the impact of childrens’ prior disclosure patterns and type of interview protocol on children’s reports of inappropriate touching.  The project will assess how the risks and benefits of interviewing techniques regarding inappropriate touching of children as a function of a child’s history of disclosure.

Raul Galoppe, Spanish & Italian, CHSS, received an award in the amount of $2,000 for the project entitled: “Adaptation, Performance, and Dissemination of Tirso de Molina’s Don Gil” from the American Society for Theater Research.  This project will facilitate the dissemination of underrepresented Spanish theater while bridging cultural gaps and promoting full participation and feedback from those involved in the creative process.

Jennifer Goeke, Curriculum & Teaching, CEHS, was awarded $272,594 in year one of a five year, $1.4 million grant from the US Department of Education, for a project entitled: “Restructuring Preservice Preparation for Innovative Special Education.”  The project will restructure MSU’s existing post-baccalaureate MAT Dual Certification program to prepare middle and secondary educators through three interdisciplinary strands of teacher preparation: inclusive pedagogy, intensive content area preparation in mathematics or science, and integrative STEM education.  Innovative features of the program will include coursework that integrates high-incidence disability-specific content, a combination of on-campus and carefully designed hybrid/online coursework, field experiences with mentor teachers, a summer Design Research Intensive, and on-going high quality mentoring , induction, and professional development. Partners include five urban school districts, MSU CEHS and CSAM faculty, the NJ Department of Education, the National Network for Education Renewal, and the NJ Technology Education Association.

Lisa Hazard and Kirsten Monsen, Biology & Molecular Biology, CSAM, received an award in the amount of $3,500 from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for: “Prevalence of Batrachochytrium and Ranavirus Pathogens among New Jersey Amphibian Populations.”  The project’s objective is to use a non-invasive molecular approach to screen amphibians and their habitat throughout NJ for the presence of the pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Ranavirus to better understand the causes of global amphibian declines and extinctions.

Erik Jacobson, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, & Literacy Education, CEHS, was awarded a grant in the amount of $20,000 from the NJ State Employment and Training Commission (NJSETC) for the project entitled “Literacy System Analysis Project.”  Dr. Jacobson will collect and analyze adult literacy system data, review relevant models from other state literacy systems, and will submit a report and recommendations to the NJSETC.

Mark Kaelin, Health & Nutrition Sciences, CEHS, was awarded a second supplemental grant in the amount of $125,967 from NIH for his on-going project “Epidemiology and the Energy Balance Equation.” The teacher-friendly curriculum and its accompanying professional development experiences offer teachers who have little knowledge of epidemiology, the foundation required to teach the “science of public health.” 

Jennifer Krumins, Biology & Molecular Biology, CSAM, received a $25,156 subaward from the Ocean County Soil Conservation District for the project entitled: “Barnegat Bay Partnership-Soil Health Improvement Program.”  The main goal is to evaluate the biological aspects of soil restoration.  The research will inform practices to restore biodiverse and healthy soil communities that can provide valuable ecosystems services.  The studies will occur in the existing communities in the Barnegat Bay watershed.

Eden Kyse, Center for Research and Evaluation in Education and Human Services, CEHS, received a $130,000 contract from the Paterson Public School District.  The project: “Special Education Program & Services Evaluation,” includes an evaluation of the Paterson Public Schools Special Education Program and Services.  The work includes a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of all facets of special education. Methods will include interviews, analysis of documents and report s, review of policies and procedures, and analysis of student outcome data.

Robert McCormick, Center for Child Advocacy, CHSS, received a $1,234,419 subaward from Rutgers University for the “New Jersey Child Welfare Training Program.” This subaward for 2011-2012, will fund training for NJ Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) area directors, assistant directors, local office managers and case work supervisors. The objective is to manage and coordinate a competency-based, family-centered, culturally relevant statewide workforce development program for the child welfare/child protection agency. 
Robert McCormick also received a contract in the amount of $233,248 for 2011-2012 from the NJ Department of Children and Families (NJDCF) for the project entitled: “Post BA Certificate in Child Advocacy.”   This certificate program provides Division of Youth and Family Services employees with a multidisciplinary understanding of the role of the child advocate as seen through the disciplines of law, psychology, and social work. Employees participate in “outside the classroom” learning experiences through conferences, lectures, and site visitations.

Kirsten Monsen, Biology & Molecular Biology, CSAM is serving as the faculty sponsor on student Paola Dolcemascolo’s NJ Water Resources Research Institute at Rutgers University $5,000 award.  The project is entitled: “Assessment of the water-borne pathogen, batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in NJ amphibians and their habitat.”  The project plans on using a molecular approach to begin systematically sampling sites throughout New Jersey in order to gain information on the prevalence of Bd fungus and its relationship to water and air temperature.

Tanya Moorehead, Curriculum & Teaching, CEHS, received a subaward from The United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, in the amount of $32,275 for: “Inclusion Professional Development with the Boston Public Schools.”  The project objective is to evaluate, design and implement professional development on inclusion and other practices with the Boston Public Schools.

Jing Peng, Computer Science, CSAM, received $10,000 from the Air Force Research Lab for the project entitled: “ShareBoost:  Boosting for Robust Data Fusion with Applications to Wide Area Image Exploitation.”  The research involves the development of a novel algorithm, called ShareBoost, for robust data fusion with performance guarantees.  The goal of the project is to further validate the algorithm using wide area motion image data for persistent target tracking.

Teresa Rodriguez, University Art Galleries, CART, received $12,828 for General Program Support from the NJ State Council on the Arts for fiscal year 2012 to fund gallery activities.

Dorothy Rogers, Philosophy & Religion, CHSS, received a $3,000 award from the NJ Council on the Humanities for the program: “Women in the Tradition: Philosophers Then and Now.”  The program will include six lectures on women’s philosophy which will facilitate community-campus discussion of human experience and human values. It will heighten awareness of women philosophers throughout history.  In doing so, it will enrich understanding of philosophy as a discipline, with a diversity of contributors and a number of real-world applications.

Anthony Spanakos, Political Science & Law, CHSS, received a grant in the amount of $2,500 from the NJ Council on Humanities for: “How Does Politics Account for and Address Issues of Injustices in Latin America and the Caribbean?”   The program includes a series of conversations with experts in Latin American politics over issues of justice and inequality in the region. The program includes high level scholars and politicians on the subject of how politics accounts for and can address issues of injustice in Latin America.

Diana Thomas, Mathematical Sciences, CSAM, received a multi-year award in the amount of $302,860 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an agency within the NIH, entitled: “A Computational Model to Determine Energy Intake During Weight Loss.”  The project’s objective is to meet the critical need for an affordable, non-evasive, accurate method to monitor subject intake during weight loss. This need will be met through application of a validated energy balance model.  Dr. Andrew McDougal, Director of the Statistical Consulting Program at MSU will be working on the grant as well.

Michael Weinstein, Institute for Sustainability Studies, CSAM received a $24,819 subaward from the University of Rhode Island for the project entitled: “The Availability of Bioaccumulation of Sedimentary 2,3,7,8-TCDD and other persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic Compounds in the Lower Passaic River.”  The project objective is to measure chemicals in sediment pore water and fish tissue.  This project will produce valuable results related to ecological impacts of these contaminants.

Jedediah Wheeler, Arts & Cultural Programming, CART, received $49,513 for General Program Support from the NJ State Council on the Arts for fiscal year 2012 to fund public performing arts programs at MSU.
Jedediah Wheeler also received $60,000 for an Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will fund innovative works that open audiences to new artistic experiences.

Linda Wise and Margaret Freedson, Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Literacy Education, CEHS, received a $723,900 contract from Paterson Public Schools for: “Paterson Public Schools:  Reading Specialist, Bilingual & Specialist Education Endorsement/Certificates,”  The program will prepare educators to meet present and future demands as literacy leaders in the Paterson Public School district.
Linda Wise also received an additional $129,052 contract from Paterson Public Schools for: “Reading Specialist Endorsement Program.” The supplemental contract will prepare an additional 19 Paterson teachers in becoming reading specialists through participation in a MSU’s Masters of Arts in Reading program.

Kenneth Wolff, Mathematical Sciences, CSAM, was awarded a contract from Newark Public School in the amount of $54,000 for the project entitled: “Professional Development Services for Middle School Mathematics Teachers.”  Newark middle school teachers (grades 6, 7, 8) enroll in a three-credit graduate mathematics course.  Proportional reasoning topics from the secondary algebra and geometry curricula will be investigated, and teachers will gain a deep understanding of these topics and an enriched appreciation of their responsibility to prepare their students for secondary mathematics coursework.

MeiYin Wu, Biology & Molecular Biology, CSAM, received two $3,500 awards, for a total of $7,000, from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for a two-part project.  The first funded project: “Status of the Common Snapping Turtles in New Jersey: Sustainability Assessment,” will access the sustainability of the current NJ snapping turtle harvesting program.  The second project : “Status of the Common Snapping Turtles in New Jersey: Assessment of Human Consumption Safety,” will assess the risk of NJ snapping turtles for human consumption, as the turtles are harvested for meat in NJ due to their large body size.