Featured Awards – January 2013

Mark Chopping (Earth and Environmental Studies, CSAM) received years two and three of a grant from NASA in the amount of $44,712 for “A Decade of Changes in Above-Ground Live Standing Dry Biomass, Canopy Cover, Height, and Understory Density in the Southwestern U.S. from EOS MISR and MODIS.”  The goal of this project is to leverage previous successful research supported by the NASA Earth Observing System program to develop novel and innovative methods for mapping woody plant canopies (forests and shrubs) in the southwestern United States.

The National Science Foundation awarded $166,475 to Nina Goodey, James Dyer, and John Siekierka (Chemistry & Biochemistry, CSAM) and Cigdem Talgar (Research Academy for University Learning) for “TUES Type-1: Incorporation of Research Skills into the Undergraduate Biochemistry Curriculum to Create Extraordinary Scientists for the Modern Research Environment,” which aims to create and implement inquiry-based learning modules in Experimental Biochemistry I and research experiences with a project-based goal in Experimental Biochemistry II, and to prepare students for the modern research environment.

Elaine Hitchcock (Communication Sciences and Disorders, CHSS) received a $6,075 contract from New York University for “Visual Biofeedback Intervention for /r/ Misarticulation.” The aim of this project is to investigate speech therapy for “r” errors. Many children have difficulty producing the “r” sound, and some of these children are not able to eliminate their errors even after receiving years of speech therapy. The project is testing an approach to “r” therapy that uses visual biofeedback. Preliminary studies have shown that some children can use this visual information to achieve a more accurate “r” sound. The hope is that this research will make a contribution to the treatment of “r” misarticulation and related speech problems.

Jennifer Krumins (Biology & Molecular Biology, CSAM) received a $65,014 sub-award from the Barnegat Bay Partnership/US Environmental Protection Agency for “Role of Plant and Soil Community Structure in Riparian Soil Nutrient Retention,” which will assess the feedback among non-point source pollution, plant communities, and soil community structure in riparian habitats by examining soil and plant community composition along the Toms River from an urban to rural gradient in the Barnegat Bay Watershed. Ultimately, understanding the interactions between the plant and soil communities will lead to making recommendations of restoration targets that will improve water quality in the Barnegat Bay Watershed.

Lisa Lieberman (Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, CEHS) received a $17,209 subaward for the first year of a five-year project from Inwood House/Conrad Hilton Foundation for “Adolescent Family Life Program.” Montclair State University is engaging in a sub-award contract with Inwood House to provide evaluation services for the funded project. MSU will continue to be a five-year partner in the study of Inwood House’s Adolescent Family Life program, in order to evaluate the efficacy of Inwood House’s continuum of care for pregnant and parenting teens, when enhanced by specific additional services.
 

Mary Mallery (Library Administration) received the “Muslim Journeys Bookshelf Award” from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Culture Initiative. This grant will give the Harry A. Sprague Library twenty-five books and three films. The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf is intended to address the American public’s need and desire for trustworthy and accessible resources about Muslim beliefs and practices and the cultural heritage associated with Islamic civilizations. The books were chosen with a view to familiarizing the American public with Islam and the cultural heritage of Islamic civilizations around the world.

Jennifer Robinson (Center of Pedagogy, CEHS) and Helen Roberts (Mathematical Sciences, CSAM) received a $78,854 contract with the New Jersey Department of Education for “New Jersey Mathematics Model Curriculum Assessment Development.” In this assessment, MSU will develop a systematic approach to assessment for kindergarten and first grade that will align with the new Common Core State Standards. MSU will develop assessments in five units each for kindergarten and first grade in the area of Mathematics. New Jersey kindergarten and first grade teachers will be recruited to pilot the developed assessments in their classrooms.
 

Diana Thomas (Mathematical Sciences, CSAM) received a $12,000 supplemental sub-award from Pennington Biomedical Research Center/ NIH for “Expecting Success: Personalized Management of Body Weight During Pregnancy” which will utilize models to provide the estimated amount of energy intake required to achieve appropriate gestational weight gain. Dr. Thomas will monitor and facilitate the application of the model based on patient feedback and data.