Featured Awards – April 2013

Stefanie Brachfeld (Earth & Environmental Studies, CSAM) received $123,265 from NASA for the third year of “Static and shock pressure treatment of synthetic Mars basalts: Implications for understanding the evolution of crustal magnetic anomalies.” MSU is collaborating with the University of Hawaii, University of Minnesota, and Harvard University to synthesize basalts of Martian composition and subject them to static and shock pressure experiments. The goal is to simulate impact cratering and understand the effects of high pressure on crustal magnetization.

Yang Deng (Earth & Environmental Studies, CSAM) received a $5,000 subaward from Rutgers University/US Geological Survey for the project entitled “Developing an Environmentally Friendly Water Reuse Technology Using Ferrate (VI).” The primary purpose of this project is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of ferrate as an emerging green agent for simultaneous removal of various pollutants from secondary effluent to achieve water reclamation. The long-term goal is to develop new, environmentally friendly and sustainable treatment technologies for water reuse.

Yvonne Gindt (Chemistry & Biochemistry, CSAM) received a $25,200 subaward from Temple University/NASA for the first year of “DNA Repair Under Extreme Conditions,” which will study DNA repair by characterizing and comparing photolyases cloned from a hyperthermophile and a psychrophile to investigate the development of key biological processes relevant to the origin of life on Earth and the search for life elsewhere.

Eden Kyse and Rebecca Swann-Jackson (Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services, CEHS) received a $257,848 contract from the NJ Department of Education for “Evaluation of the New Jersey Department of Education’s Charter School Grant program.” Under Governor Christie, the State of New Jersey is excited to have a new charter school approach focused on growth, quality, and accountability. The State is focusing on ensuring that new schools have well developed academic programs, as well as the ability and capacity to make high-quality seats available. The funds will be used to support the development of charter schools that offer innovative educational programs in data-driven environments using strategies based on best practices and proven success. The goal of the Charter School Grant Program is to improve student achievement through effective planning and implementation of innovative and highly effective charter school programs that increase the number of high-quality charter school seats in New Jersey.

The American Association of University Women awarded Lisa Weinberg (Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Development and Campus Life) a $7,000 grant for “Increasing Women’s Self-Efficacy through Self-Defense Training and Counseling.” The proposed project will bring a personal safety/self-defense course to women at Montclair State University who have experienced trauma such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, assault, rape, or relationship violence. The goal of the project is to pilot an innovative training format integrating group counseling and self-defense training. This format is designed to empower women to defend themselves with verbal and physical techniques, while simultaneously supporting their trauma healing process. An important feature of this model is that it provides female students who have experienced trauma with an opportunity to take a trauma-informed personal safety/self-defense class in a safe and supportive environment.

Meiyin Wu (Biology & Molecular Biology, CSAM) received a $5,000 subaward from Rutgers University/U.S. Geological Society for “Bioaccumulation of Mercury in NJ Aquatic Ecosystems.”  Mercury contamination in aquatic food webs poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystem health. Mercury’s capability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in aquatic ecosystems is of special concern. This study will examine the mercury concentration in fish and turtles at several distinct habitats throughout New Jersey that vary in the levels of mercury contamination. The analysis of mercury concentration among the different trophic levels will allow for further understanding of the health of the aquatic food web leading to consumption by humans.