ME Researchers Receive Recovery & Reinvestment Funds
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), four Mechanical Engineering faculty have received funding to answer the challenge to help advance and accelerate research in this country. The $2.1 million in grants will help build the foundation for long-term economic growth in the United States through technology advancements and scientific training for the future workforce.
- Prof. Eric Seibel’s grant entitled “Pixel-Accurate Oncologic Therapy using a Scanning Fiber Endoscope” will be funded by the NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The project will develop a minimally-invasive laser therapy endoscope for the detection and treatment of cancer. The total two-year package is $922,497, and will fund 1 graduate researcher and partially fund 3 ME faculty.
- Prof. Nathan Sniadecki’s grant entitled “Sub-cellular Platelet Forces and Adhesions” will be funded by the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, Lung and Blood Institute. The project will examine the role that nanoscale biomechanics play in the formation of blood clots that cause heart disease and stroke. The two-year package is $393,640 and will fund 2 graduate researchers and partially fund 2 ME faculty.
- Prof. Jae Chung’s grant entitled “CAREER: Nano-Tip Sensor for Rapid Detection of Dissolved DNA for Environmental Monitoring” will be funded by the NSF’s Division of Electrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems. The support will be used to investigate the use of a nanoscale tip for disease diagnostics and environmental monitoring through the detection of circulating DNA without amplification and labeling. The five-year package is $400,000 and will fund 1 graduate researcher and partially fund 1 ME faculty.
- Prof. Joyce Cooper’s grant entitled “Alternative/Synthetic Fuel Life Cycle Assessment Research and Case Studies” will be funded by the United States Air Force. The support will be used to ensure that the US Air Force is on the correct path to less energy dependence on basic petroleum products and more energy diversity for future operations, both domestically and while in an expeditionary role. The three-year package is $149,895 and will fund 1 graduate researcher. A partner project funded separately by the US Air Force for $199,628 will fund 4 graduate researchers over a one-year period for the investigation of coal-derived Fischer-Tropsch jet and soy, algae, and jatropha oil-derived hydrotreated renewable jet fuels.
