College of Science Accolades Summer 2021

Karen Akerlof, Environmental Science and Policy, was awarded $206,765 for “[EAGER] Equity in Scientific Co-production Processes: Creation of a Framework” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Farhang Alem, School of Systems Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR), was awarded $75,600 for “Mosquito Pool Testing for viruses through qRT-PCR - 2021-2022” by the Prince William County Government.

Taylor Anderson, Geography and Geoinformation Science, along with Co-PIs Amira Roess, Global Health and Epidemiology, Sean Luke, Computer Science, Dieter Pfoserand Andreas Zuefle, Geography and Geoinformation Science, was awarded $2,293,819 for “Data-Driven Modeling to Improve Understanding of Human Behavior, Mobility, and Disease Spread” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Bok Haeng Baek, Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems (CSISS), along with Co-PI Daniel Tong, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, was awarded $349,883 for “Developing an enhanced bottom-up and top-down emissions inventories over the U.S. during the pandemic outbreaks by satellite data and chemical transport model” by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Estela Blaisten-Barojas, Computational and Data Sciences, is participating as a co-editor for a research topic on “Computational Advances in Nanostructured Thermoelectrics,” which is a component of Frontiers in Nanotechnology.

Rocio Caballero-Gill, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, was awarded $30,060 for “Leveraging the Geologic Record to Constrain Solar System Evolution, Earth-Moon Dynamics, Paleoclimate Change, and Geological Time Project 1b: Earth-Moon parameters and Solar System fundamental frequencies, Precambrian to present” by the Heising-Simons Foundation.

Benjamin Cash, Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, co-chaired the Weather and Climate session of the 2nd Workshop on Knowledge Guided Machine Learning (KGML 2021).

Ylenia Chiari, Biology, along with Co-PI Scott Glaberman, Environmental Science and Policy, was awarded $26,094 for “Protecting the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle from extinction using genetic analysis” by the Eppley Foundation of Research, Inc. Chiari, along with Scott Glaberman, Environmental Science and Policy, co-authored a paper entitled “Genetic diversity of immature Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles from the northern Gulf of Mexico” in Wiley. Chiari, along with graduate student Nickolas Moreno, also co-authored a paper entitled “Elevated metallothionein expression in long-lived species mediates the influence of cadmium accumulation on aging” in GeroScience. Chiari had two students, graduate student Brandon Hastings and undergraduate student Anastasiya Melnyk, co-author and present a poster entitled “Measuring color change in response to temperature variation in geckos” at the annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Behavior.

Andre Clayborne, Chemistry and Biochemistry, accepted an invitation to become a Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology (CSN) Affiliate.

Megan DeCesar, Physics and Astronomy, was awarded $441,718 for “The NANOGrav Physics Frontiers Center” by Oregon State University. Prime Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF).

Paul Dirmeyer, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, was awarded $12,170 for “Scoping of a new network of bedrock to boundary layer observational facilities to advance Earth system monitoring, understanding, and ecohydrological prediction capabilities” by the SUNY Research Foundation. Prime Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Amy Fowler, Environmental Science and Policy, was awarded $1,248 for “Marine Bioinvasions of the Mid-Atlantic Coast: Rapid Assessment Survey for Introduced Marine Organisms from New Jersey to Virginia” by the Virginia Academy of Science.

Donna Fox, College of Science, was awarded $2,058,153 for “USUHS Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2) UG Year” by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

Travis Gallo, Environmental Science and Policy, co-authored a paper entitled “Wealth and urbanization shape medium and large mammalian communities across North America” in Global Change Biology.  Gallo, along with doctoral student Merri Collins, Environmental Science and Policy, also published a paper entitled “Global trends in urban wildlife ecology and conservation” in Biological Conservation. 

Hao Jing, along with graduate student Mariia Ivanchenko, Chemistry and Biochemistry, published a research paper entitled “Enhanced Dual Plasmonic Photocatalysis through Plasmonic Coupling in Eccentric Noble Metal-Nonstoichiometric Copper Chalcogenide Hetero-Nanostructures” in Nano Research. 

Linda Hinnov, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, was awarded $457,180 for “Leveraging the Geologic Record to Constrain Solar System Evolution, Earth-Moon Dynamics, Paleoclimate Change, and Geological Time Project 1b: Earth-Moon parameters and Solar System fundamental frequencies, Precambrian to present” by the Heising-Simons Foundation.

Kathleen Hunt, Biology, was awarded $599,634 for “Collaborative research: Modeling organismal responses to changing ecological regimes via investigation of stress, growth and reproduction in the longest-lived mammal” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Chris Jones, Environmental Science and Policy, along with Co-PI Benoit Van Aken, Chemistry and Biochemistry, was awarded $5,032 for “City of Fairfax Stream Monitoring Program: 2021-22” by the City of Fairfax. Jones, along with Co-PI Amy Fowler, Environmental Science and Policy, was also awarded $92,638 for “An Ecological Study of Gunston Cove: 2021-2022” by the County of Fairfax. Prime Sponsor: County of Fairfax.

Nadine Kabbani, along with Co-PIs Alessandra Luchini, School of Systems Biology, and Amarda Shehu, Volgenau School of Engineering, was awarded $45,000 for “Mechanisms of Amyloid Interaction and Signaling through the Nicotinic Receptor” by the Virginia Center on Aging.

Cing-Dao (Steve) Kan, Physics and Astronomy, Center for Collision Safety and Analysis (CCSA), was awarded $500,000 for “Provide Analysis & Evaluation Research Support for Roadside Safety Team” by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). Kan, along with Co-PIs Rudolf Reichert and Dhafer Marzougui, Center for Collision Safety and Analysis, was awarded $121,792 for “THOR-05F Finite Element Model Development - Task 4” by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). Kan, along with Co-PIs Dhafer Marzougui and Rudolf Reichert, was also awarded $97,904 for “THOR-05F Finite Element Model Development - Task 5” by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT).

Fatah Kashanchi, School of Systems Biology, was awarded $19,975 for “Efficacy Assessment of Aptamer-Engineered Extracellular Vesicles against SRAR-CoV-2” by Enso Bio.

Hamdi Kavak, Computational and Data Sciences, was awarded $64,996 for “Artificial Intelligence Based Analysis of Misinformation and Disinformation Efforts from Mass Media and Social Media in Creating Anti-U.S. Perceptions” by the Virginia Research Investment Fund. Kavak was also awarded the Young Simulation Award by the Society for Modeling and Simulation International (SCS) for demonstrating excellence and showing potential for leadership at the frontiers of modeling and simulation.

Jim Kinter, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, gave a public lecture, co-sponsored by the department and the institute for a Sustainable Earth, entitled, “The New IPCC Report: The Reality, the Inevitable, and Hope for the Future.”

Haw Chuan Lim, Biology, was awarded $3,000 for “Systematics and conservation of the chevrotains (Cetartiodactyla: Tragulidae)” by the Society of Systematic Biologists.

Lance Liotta, along with Co-PI Alessandra Luchini, School of Systems Biology, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), was awarded $50,000 for “Eye-readable Solution-based Dye Displacement Probe for Large-area Detection of Opioids” by Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. Prime Sponsor: U.S. Department of the Army (DOA).

David Luther, Biology, co-authored an article entitled “Editorial: Behavioral adaptations to life in the city, fitness consequences and evolutionary changes” in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. Luther co-authored a paper entitled “Dissimilarities in species assemblages among Amazonian mineral licks” in BioTropica. Luther also co-authored a paper entitled “Conservation actions benefit the most threatened species: A 13-year assessment of Alliance for Zero Extinction species” in Conservation Science and Practice.  Luther was awarded $35,119 for “GMU SI BIOL MOU Student Support” by the Smithsonian Institute.

Igor Mazin, Physics and Astronomy, co-authored a paper entitled “Quantitative assessment of the role of spin fluctuations in 2D Ising superconductor NbSe2” in Computational Materials Science200. Mazin also co-authored a paper entitled “Mn(Bi1-xSbx)4Te7: tuning the magnetism and non-trivial band topology through antisite disorders” in Physical Review B 104. Mazin co-authored a paper entitled “Magnetism-driven unconventional effects in Ising superconductors: Role of proximity, tunneling, and nematicity” in Physical Review B 104. In addition, Mazin also co-authored a paper entitled “Magnetic and electronic ordering phenomena in the [Ru2O6] honeycomb lattice compound AgRuO3” in Physical Review B 103. Mazin was awarded $73,053 for “EAGER: SUPER: Collaborative Research: Ab initio engineering of doped-covalent-bond superconductors” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, College of Science, was awarded $267,762 for “New IPA Package for Dr. Miralles-Wilhelm office of OSTEM” by the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center.

Julia Nord, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, along with Co-PIs Padhu Seshaiyer, Mathematical Sciences, Andrew Gilbert, Elementary Education, Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon, College of Science, and Tina Bell, Biology, was awarded $433,000 for “Supporting, Mentoring and Retaining New STEM Secondary Educators Through Major Transitions from Recruitment to Highly Effective Teacher” by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Nord, along with Co-PIs Tina Bell, Andrew Gilbert, Padhu Seshaiyer and Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon, was also awarded $1,199,552 for “Supporting, Mentoring and Retaining New STEM Secondary Educators Through Major Transitions from Recruitment to Highly Effective Teacher” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).[CEF1] 

Dusan Odstrcil, Physics and Astronomy, was awarded $249,977 for “ENLIL Modeling Support and Transitioning to the AWS Computing Instance” by the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center.

Emanuel “Chip” Petricoin, School of Systems Biology, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), was awarded $80,000 for “Development of a Novel Folic Acid Wound Dressing to Enhance Nitric Oxide Bioactivity Required for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Wound Healing” by the McGuire Research Institute, Inc. Petricoin was also awarded $5,470 for “Proteomic Characterization of Human Amnion Membrane Preparations” by Peytant Solutions, Inc.

Dieter Pfoser, Geography and Geoinformation Science, along with Co-PI Antonios Anastasopoulos, School of Computing, was awarded $489,141 for “III: Small: From Spatial Language to Spatial Data - a simulation-based approach” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Jessica Rosenberg, along with Co-PIs Benjamin Dreyfus, Physics and Astronomy, and Nancy Holincheck, College of Education and Human Development, was awarded $299,001 for “Cultivating Physics Identity and Belonging for Women in Physics” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Jennifer Salerno, Environmental Science and Policy, was awarded $9,853 for “Genomic Testing & Analysis – Mazur” by the Smithsonian Institution.

Shobita Satyapal, Physics and Astronomy, was awarded $439,494 for “Academic Fellowship Program for the US Naval Observatory - TO 420” by the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Cynthia Smith, along with undergraduate student Mackenzie Earl, Environmental Science and Policy, worked with architectural firm LandDesign to quantify the environmental, social, and economic benefits of the Potomac Science Center’s landscape and outdoor learning stations.Smith was also awarded $58,500 for “FCPS Watershed Education” by Fairfax County Public Schools. Smith was also awarded $53,194 for “Stream RFP #05 – Invasive Species Management” by the College of William and Mary.

Andrew Solomon, Chemistry and Biochemistry, was awarded $200,000 for “An environmentally responsive peptide material capable of oxygen delivery” by the Commonwealth Health Research Board (CHRB).

Kenneth Stewart, Physics and Astronomy, was awarded $37,476 for “Single Photon Generation by Functionalized Quantum Dots on Carbon Nanotube Arrays for Single Photon Detector Calibration and Quantum Entanglement Applications” by Lambda Consulting, LLC. Prime Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Amanda Still, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), along with Co-PI Remi Veneziano, Bioengineering, was awarded $528,033 for “New Hybrid Molecular Modalities Comprised of DNA-Origami and Interfering Peptides as Inhibitors of Protein-Protein Interactions” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Michael Summers, Physics and Astronomy, co-authored a paper entitled “High-resolution radiometry of Pluto at 4.2 cm with New Horizons” in Icarus. Summers co-authored a chapter entitled “Composition and structure of Pluto’s Atmosphere” in The Pluto System After New Horizons. Summers co-authored a conference talk entitled “The Great Depression of Planetary Science (1910 to 1955) and Astronomy’s Loss of the Copernican Planet Concept” for the American Astronomcal Society Meeting. Summers co-authored a conference talk entitled “Reductionist vs. Folk Taxonomies in Planetary Science” for the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Summers gave a local talk at the Earth Systems Observations and Modeling Graduate Sumposium entitled “The Amazing Diversity of Planetary Climates.” Summers also gave a local talk for the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club entitled “‘Oumuamua – Our Solar System’s First Known Interstellar Visitor.”

Monique Van Hoek, School of Systems Biology, was awarded $9,901 for “Evaluating the ability of ZV nanozeolite antimicrobial to inhibit/disrupt biofilm formation” by ZeoVation, Inc. A graduate student from Van Hoek’s lab, Alexandra Ii, Biology, published a paper entitled “Use of magnetic nanotrap particles in capturing Yersinia pestis virulence factors, nucleic acids and bacteria” in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. A doctoral student from Van Hoek’s lab, Stephen Kassinger, Biology, also published a paper entitled “Genetic Determinants of Antibiotic Resistance in Francisella” in Frontiers in Microbiology.

Chaowei Yang, Geography and Geoinformation Science, Center for Intelligent Spatial Computing for Water/Energy Science (CISC), along with Co-PI Hai Lan, Center for Intelligent Spatial Computing for Water/Energy Science was awarded $50,000 for “I-Corps: A spatiotemporal simulation system to predict COVID-19 case trajectories in schools” by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Erdal Yiğit, Physics and Astronomy, was awarded $81,152 for “Next generation modeling of E-region electron production” by Computational Physics, Inc. Prime Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF).

Jie Zhang, Physics and Astronomy, was awarded $3,925,118 for “Partnership for Heliophysics and Space Environment Research – PHaSER” by the Catholic University of America. Prime Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).