BORDER BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

This program addresses cancer health disparities by developing, growing and sustaining the infrastructure and programs of the Border Biomedical Research Center in promoting high-quality cancer research and translating meaningful findings back to the local community.

PHASE II OF BUILDING SCHOLARS - INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORE

Phase II of the BUILDing SCHOLARS Center aims at developing the next generation of biomedical and socio-behavioral scientists and engineers in the Southwest Region in order to contribute to the future diversification of the NIH funded workforce. The overall goal is to enhance institutional and faculty capacities to support, sustain, and disseminate innovative undergraduate research training and mentoring activities.

RCN UBE: ETHICS NETWORK FOR COURSE-BASED OPPORTUNITIES IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH: PHASE II

This research project develops, implements, and evaluates Phase II of the Ethics Network for Course-based Opportunities in Undergraduate Research (ENCOUR) fellowship program to understand the role and influence of ethics/responsible conduct of research education in CUREs (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences).

ALL OF THE ABOVE AND THE KITCHEN SINK: ZLD DESALINATION FOR DIRECT POTABLE REUSE

This wastewater reuse project with NMSU, Garver, and El Paso Water evaluates a process to produce water quality suitable for drinking.

COMBINE SENSORS, GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AND GEOCHEMICAL TOOLS TO INVESTIGATE PEDOGENIC CARBONATE PRECIPITATION AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION IN IRRIGATED SOIL OF ARIDLANDS

This project combines geophysical, geochemical, isotopic tools, and cutting-edge sensors to test the amount of carbon dioxide produced by irrigation of farmlands that were once marginal aridlands, such as those in the Rio Grande valley of southwestern United States.

PHASE II OF BUILDING SCHOLARS - RESEARCH ENRICHMENT CORE

Phase II of the BUILDing SCHOLARS Center aims at developing the next generation of biomedical and socio-behavioral scientists and engineers in the Southwest Region in order to contribute to the future diversification of the NIH funded workforce. The overall goal is to enhance institutional and faculty capacities to support, sustain, and disseminate innovative undergraduate research training and mentoring activities.

PHASE II OF BUILDING SCHOLARS - TRAINING CORE

Phase II of the BUILDing SCHOLARS Center aims at developing the next generation of biomedical and socio-behavioral scientists and engineers in the Southwest Region in order to contribute to the future diversification of the NIH funded workforce. The overall goal is to enhance institutional and faculty capacities to support, sustain, and disseminate innovative undergraduate research training and mentoring activities.

LITHOSPHERIC SEISMICITY AND TECTONICS IN THE HIMALAYA

This project establishes a task force to study seismicity and tectonics in the Himalaya by partnering with researchers at the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) in Nepal and the Department of Geology and Mines (DGM) in Bhutan.

THE EL PASO PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PREPARATION OF STEM TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

In partnership with the El Paso Independent School District [EPISD], this project supports undergraduate STEM majors who will become certified to teach in middle and high schools. These future teachers will learn theory-informed practice at specific EPISD professional development school sites.

RO1: INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF THIRD-HAND SMOKE ON PLATELET FUNCTION AND THROMBOGENESIS

This project investigates fundamental, mechanistic and clinically-relevant translational aspects of the adverse health effects of the newly "realized" form of third-hand smoke [THS] in the context of thrombotic disease and platelet biology. Studies will also investigate the toxicants that underlie THS effects on platelets and associated diseases.

2019 HEAL: DIABETES ASSESSMENT IN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, TX

This project assesses diabetes in El Paso County through analysis of data collected from interviews.

REU SUPPLEMENT: INVESTIGATING FAULT GEOMETRIES AND RUPTURE PROCESSES IN THE NEPAL HIMALAYA FOLLOWING THE APRIL 25, 2015 GORKHA EARTHQUAKE

This supplemental grant supports two undergraduate students who will work with the PIs and Nepalese doctoral student, Mohan Pant, in investigating fault geometries and rupture processes in the Nepal Himalaya following the April 25, 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

UNHEARD VOICES: BUILDING EL PASO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOR ALL

To inform the design of the El Paso Children’s Museum for All, this project will conduct focus groups with parents living in five under-resourced communities in the El Paso Region to identify the constraints that limit their participation and access to cultural events and spaces in the El Paso region.

AFRI: EQUIPMENT REQUEST: UAS HYPERSPECTRAL SENSORS

This grant supports the acquisition of hyperspectral imagers integrated with unmanned aircraft system UAS for sustainable agroecosystems research in the arid regions. This enables foundational research for understanding processes and interactions in agroecosystems at a field scale. Indicators developed for local agriculture may aid local growers to sustain production while reducing the ecological footprint.

EAGER: CAHSI INCLUDES COMMUNITY WORKSHOP ON BUILDING CISE RESEARCH CAPACITY AT HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS

This grant supports a two-day Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) INCLUDES Community workshop to convene researchers from HSIs in co-developing an action plan to increase HSI representation in the NSF Computer and Information Science & Engineering (CISE) directorate's portfolio.

INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL OF US

This project enables interprofessional collaborative practice throughout the Paso del Norte community in order to promote health and wellness.

SUPPLEMENT: SUMMER PROGRAM IN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT BIODIVERSITY

This supplemental grant supports the Research Experience for Undergraduates program with projects collecting data at the Indio Mountains Research Station, the Jornada Experimental Range, and national and state park grounds. Analyses will take place at UTEP in state-of-the-art laboratories.

LSAMP: HETEROGENEOUS NUCLEATION IN POROUS MEDIA

This grant supports the “Competitive Heterogeneous Nucleation in Porous Media” project to understand the impact of changes in concentration, for example, due to evaporation or displacement of the aqueous solvent, on the mineral crystallization properties of a model subsurface reservoir system.

LEAN – A NOVEL APPROACH TO FACILITATE GRADUATE STUDENT SUCCESS IN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

This grant creates Nuclear Regulatory Commission fellowships for graduate students in order to address future workforce development needs in the nuclear industry.

NUCLEAR ENGINEER WORKFORCE PROGRAM (NEWP) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

This grant supports the development of a nuclear engineering workforce program, integrating the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials.

IMPLEMENTATION OF A CULTURALY TAILORED, EVIDENCE-BASED DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR MALES.

This project implements and evaluates a self-management education/support program for male El Pasoans with Type 2 diabetes, who are typically underrepresented in clinical and community diabetes management programs.

TRANSFORMING FLEXIBLE HYBRID ELECTRONICS THROUGH 3D PRINTING

This collaborative project evolves 3D printing for flexible hybrid electronics (FHEs) with an aim to surpass the performance of conventional technology by exploiting the new design freedom offered by 3D printing (3DP).

COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL: ISS: STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF MICROGRAVITY ON 3D CARDIAC ORGANOID CULTURES

Exposure to microgravity during spaceflight is known to lead to cardiac atrophy, which is reduction in tissue mass of the heart resulting in debilitating cardiac health. At the same time, it is known that cardiac atrophy occurs in patients suffering from cancer and several other diseases, including myopathies, muscular dystrophies, and other systemic disorders such as diabetes, sepsis and heart failure. Therefore, establishment of a cell model system under a simulated environment known to induce atrophy, for studying the resulting effects on cardiac tissue units is of prime importance. The results will inform how the scientific community studying this condition can better understand existing disease pathologies leading to cardiac atrophy on earth. Microgravity induces a vast range of changes in individual cells and organisms, including global alterations in gene expression and alteration of tissue structure and function. It is for this reason that exposure to microgravity during spaceflight may be an ideal environment for learning how it may lead to the development of atrophy in cardiac tissue. The goal of the proposed research is to understand how real microgravity in space affects cardiac physiology, which will improve our fundamental understanding of cardiac cell and tissue function in pathological conditions that are known to lead to cardiac atrophy on earth. We propose to utilize this model as a basis for engineering a 'cardiac organoid' consisting of heterocellular, 3D clusters of cardiac myocytes-fibroblasts-endothelial cells for studying the resultant effects of microgravity. Our proposed objectives are to: 1) Compare and contrast morphology, viability and altered energy metabolism in 3D bioprinted- versus 2D heterocellular-clusters, under microgravity and earth's gravity. 2) Study epigenetic changes in 3D bioprinted heterocellular-clusters under microgravity, and assess how these changes may affect the development of cardiac atrophy, when compared with earth's gravity.

FABRICATION OF TUNGSTEN HEAVY ALLOY TEST ARTICLES

This project uses additive manufacturing processes to fabricate test articles on appropriate Arcam Electron Beam Melting and Binder Jetting systems with increasing complexity to account for shrinkage and machining. The printed parts must have adequate strength to survive the powder removal and sintering.

THE PROMISE OF INCREASED ACCESS: HOW DOES ONLINE STEM COURSE AVAILABILITY RELATE TO STEM COURSE ENROLLMENT AND DEGREE PROGRESS?

In collaboration with City University of New York and University of Connecticut, this research project investigates the extent to which the availability of online STEM courses and other STEM major requirements correspond to improved access to, and momentum through, college and STEM degrees.

SC1: DEVELOPING AND APPLYING MULTI-SCALE SIMULATION APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISMS OF KINESINS' DIRECTIONAL MOTIONS ALONG MICROTUBULES

Based on recent improvements in computation, this project develops a large-scale simulation package capable of simulating large kinesin-microtubule complexes accurately. Kinesins are ideal alternative drug targets for overactive cancer cells.

SC1: NKT CELL SUBSETS MODULATE SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION

This research project stimulates activity of regulatory immune cells to restrict an uncontrolled inflammatory response in immune system diseases.

FREEPORT-MCMORAN ACADEMIC-INDUSTRY MINING (AIM) FELLOWSHIP FOR GUIKUAN YUE

This fellowship grant seeks to improve current efficiency in electro-refining by working with the Senior Process Engineer to provide deeper understanding of this process.

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM

This grant project supports upper division undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering to conduct water engineering research projects. Dr. Walker will serve as the faculty sponsor and official liaison with El Paso Water.

TRANSITIONAL POINTS IN CONSTRACTING LINEAR ALGEBRA CONCEPT

To support student learning, the goal of this project is to create a resource for mathematics instructors and mathematics education researchers in the form of a compendium of specially designed linear algebra problems, instructional strategies, and activities.

CLARIFYING LINKAGES BETWEEN CANOPY SIF AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTION FOR HIGH LATITUDE VEGETATION

In order to evaluate and monitor ecosystem function and change in the Arctic, this research project examines the relationship between Solar-Induced Fluorescence (SIF) and vegetation photosynthetic capacity.

SYNCHROTRON AND OPTICAL PROBING OF HYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC PEROVSKITE HALIDES

This research plan investigates synchrotron and optical probing of hybrid organic/inorganic perovskite halides for the development and advancement of a solar cell enabling high power conversion efficiencies reaching 30% and beyond, and leading to transformative results and significant advances in the field with potential applications including flexible, printable and wearable electronics.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT

This project develops two numerical techniques that will be incorporated into a high performance computing (HPC) platform suitable for simulating and optimizing nano-optical components.

REU SUPPLEMENT: IMPROVING WORD PRODUCTION THROUGH COMPREHENSION EXPOSURE

This REU supplement supports students conducting research; contributing to conference presentations and manuscripts; and completing an honors thesis.

BORDER CROSSERS BY CHICO MACMURTRIE

"Border Crossers" is a performance series of a peaceful, symbolic, "crossing" of the U.S.-Mexico border -- from both sides at once, repeatedly -- using the combined power of art, technology and community to create a radically positive and inclusive view of border culture.

SURVEILLANCE FOR TICK-AND FLEA-BORNE RICKETTSIACEAE ALONG THE TEXAS- MEXICO BORDER

This project investigates Rocky Mountain spotted fever, one of the most severe of all infectious diseases, in the Southwestern region of the US-Mexico border, to determine if humans are being infected by tick- and flea-infested dogs and cats.

GOOGLE TECH EXCHANGE PROGRAM

This travel grant supports Jacob Espinoza for his participation in the Google Tech Exchange program.

SUPPLEMENT ACADEMIC YEAR PATHWAYS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (AY-PREP)

This supplement supports doctoral student David Guenaga in Geological Sciences to intern at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under a leading expert in joint inversion in seismology, which is classified as forensic seismology with national security implications.

SELECTIVE AND HIGH-CAPACITY PLATFORMS FOR CONTAMINANT REMOVAL USING COVALENT ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS (COFS)

With covalent organic frameworks providing selective and high-capacity uptake of contaminants, this project investigates these chemically versatile frameworks and its development for applications in water treatment, energy storage, and high-strength films.

EASTERN MALLARD GENETICS

This project measures genetic variation and morphological traits of museum and contemporary specimens to determine spatial and temporal changes in Mallards genetics in eastern North America and determine relationships of these metrics with eastern Mallards population trends.

SUMMER 2019 STUDENT INTERNS

This grant supports a 12-week summer internship for engineering undergraduate and graduate students who will measure the gain performance of a high power amplifier to determine its effectiveness and limitations.

GENETIC STRUCTURE OF SOUTH CAROLINA MOTTLED DUCKS AND RATE OF HYBRIDIZATION WITH RELEASED MALLARDS

The purpose of the project is to survey the population structure of South Carolina's mottled ducks and estimate the purity of these populations by assessing the level of hybridization with wild and domesticated (i.e., released game-farm) mallards.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, EL PASO (UTEP) SUMMER 2019 SUPPORT OF WHITE SANDS COMPLEX (WSC)

This project provides funding for five undergraduate students who will intern at the NASA White Sands Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, under the direction of Harris Corporation.

R01: UNRAVELING CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS MECHANISMS OF BRAIN INVASION AND COLONIZATION

In order to expand our knowledge of microglial function, this project investigates the basis for the Cryptococcus neoformans [Cn] paracellular invasion of the central nervous system. Cn is the most common cause of fungal meningitis, which is the highest rate of disease in AIDS patients.

ELECTROCATALYTIC GENERATION OF OXYGEN THROUGH METAL-FREE ORGANIC MACROCYCLES

This project aims to explore the basic science behind oxygen evolution in oceanic waters in order to improve the inhospitable conditions of the oceans for human activities.

RO1: DECIPHERING THE MOLECULAR ASSEMBLY MECHANISM OF GIANT DNA VIRUSES

This project will decipher the assembly mechanism of one of the giant DNA viruses called Cafeteria roenbergensis virus in order to improve the development of therapeutics agents to inhibit virus assembly.

EN LA FRONTERA: A LATINX NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

In partnership with the Chamizal National Memorial, this project will present En la Frontera: a Latinx New Works Festival in spring 2020 to celebrate both local and national Latinx voices and stories.

A NEW VISION FOR OPEN MUSIC THEORY

This grant aims to expand the only existing open music theory textbook, entitled “Open Music Theory,” by creating a digital workbook, expanding existing chapters, and adding more chapters in the areas of form and popular music analysis.

SUPPLEMENT: NSF INTERN

This grant supports a graduate student who will work at Sandia National Laboratory to gain broader exposure to utilizing advanced capabilities and deeper understanding of the emerging thrust areas of national/international importance.

DATA SCIENCE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE LANDSCAPE DATA COMMONS

This grant develops a web application for the Landscape Data Commons to enable users to visualize, analyze, and download core monitoring method data.

ENGINEERING ROUTE 66: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENGINEERING HISTORY COURSE FOCUSED ON ROUTE 66

This grant supports the development of a 3-credit hour course entitled “Engineering Route 66” to disseminate information about and stimulate interest in this historic road.

TX PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 10 US-MX BORDER COUNTIES RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM- PLANNING (RCORP-P) CONSORTIUM

Aliviane, Inc. and a multisector consortium of community partners will develop a plan to support the treatment for and prevention of substance use disorder to include opioid use disorder in the low access and high risk rural counties of Hudspeth, Culberson, Presidio, Brewster and Jeff Davies located along the southwestern US-Mexico border region of Texas.

THE NEED FOR CFD MODELING OF WATER BRAKING PHENOMENA AT THE HOLLOMAN HIGH SPEED TEST TRACK

This project develops high-fidelity advanced modeling and simulations capabilities to accurately predict the test profiles of various high-speed test missions at the rocket test and aerospace test facility, Holloman High Speed Track Test.

NEA BIG READ ON THE BORDER: EXPLORING INTERNAL DIVISIONS CREATED BY AN EXTERNAL BORDERLINE VIA LUIS URREA'S INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH

This grant supports the 2019 NEA Big Read celebration of Luis Urrea’s novel, Into the Beautiful North, an entertaining tale of a young woman's odyssey across the U.S.-Mexico border.

PLANT COMMUNITY RECOVER AFTER CESSATION OF LONG-TERM FERTILIZATION TREATMENTS IN THE BOREAL FOREST OF NORTHERN CANADA

This project investigates the role of nutrients and herbivores in regulating communities in the boreal forest understory in northwestern Canada.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF POROUS ZIRCONIUM-CARBIDE FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION

This project supports the additive manufacturing of high temperature insulators that may eventually mature to more complex features, such as fluid passages and variable wall thickness.

CONCUBINAGE AND ILLEGITIMACY IN THE LATE MEDIEVAL MEDITERRANEAN (FACULTY FELLOWSHIP)

This project is a study of informal domestic unions, clandestine marriage, and illegitimate children through exploration of late medieval Mediterranean marriages among the peasantry and the patrician class.

NETWORK MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS FOR FABRIC - SUPPLEMENT

This grant supports the discovery of network data analytics (including machine learning) and effective abstractions of them for software control.

ADAPTIVE COURSEWARE REDESIGN

This pilot study integrates adaptive courseware technology tools, open education resources, and active learning strategies within a course redesign for Biology 1305 and Biology 1306.

DOW JONES NEWS FUND MULTIMEDIA TRAINING ACADEMY

This grant supports a hands-on, one-week summer workshop for 12 college and university journalism professors at Hispanic Serving Institutions. The aim is to provide new media skills training in industry trends in order for journalism students of color to gain a competitive edge in their careers.

UAV ENGINE AIR PARTICLE SEPARATOR

The project objective is to design, build and test an Engine Air Particle Separator that can be retrofitted to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to protect critical components of the internal combustion engine against sand, dust and fine particulate.

ACCELERATING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES THROUGH THE EL PASO COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

This grant supports hiring a data analyst and program manager, who will support the director in solidifying the foundational collective impact principles and accelerate action networks based on data-driven decisions.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECOSYSTEM FOR QUALIFICATION OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTUIRNG PROCESSES AND MATERIALS IN AVIATION

This project addresses three challenges in additive manufacturing: the ability to (1) predict defect content in terms of number density, size, and shape; (2) develop post-processing design guidelines; and (3) scale production lines.

CAMP CODE FOR GIRLS

The ExciTES Code for Girls camp will recruit middle school girls from young women’s academies in Ysleta and El Paso ISDs to attend a one-week session during summer 2019. The aim of the program is to develop coding skills through an exploration of water sustainability and the needs of regional flora.

EXAMINING THE AFTERMATH OF MASS PUBLIC SCHOOL CLOSURES THROUGH VISUAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS

This project employs both visual and ethnographic methods to understand how school closure and reuse is impacting communities long-term and to identify patterns around school reuse that can offer a deeper understanding of the relationship between place, education, and community.

HIGH RESOLUTION CRYO-EM RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THE HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 60 AND ITS CONFORMATIONAL INTERMEDIATES

This study aims to characterize the structure and activity of wild type Hsp27, a small heat shock protein that works in response to cellular stress. Findings will generate possible implications of the progression of Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the motor and ensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system.

DEAN-IN-RESIDENCE

Starting August 1, 2019, Dr. Charles Ambler will serve as the Dean-in-Residence for the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) to engage with funders and participate in CGS programs on topics and issues affecting graduate education with an aim of strengthening the relationship between CGS and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Dr. Ambler will serve in this capacity for one year.

IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL ANTIAPOPTOTIC PROTEIN SIGNALING COMPLEXES AS NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGETS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

This research project identifies novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer in order to understand how protein signaling promotes cell survival of hematological cancers. The research also investigates gene mutations that cause high-risk cancers, specifically with residents of the El Paso del Norte region.

PROOF-OF-CONCEPT STUDY OF SURFACE-DIRECTED AR INHIBITORS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER

This project supports ongoing research in prostate cancer disease progression, specifically the development of novel drugs for treating late stage, castration resistant prostate cancer.

Texas Interprofessional Education Consortium Bi-Annual Meeting

Thu, 09/26/2019 - 08:30, The University of Texas at El Paso University Library - Auditorium 1900 Wiggins Way El Paso, Texas 79968-0582

Expertise CoP: Health-Focused Interprofessional Education

TeamSTEPPS Master Training Course

Fri, 09/27/2019 - 08:30, The University of Texas at El Paso University Library - Auditorium 1900 Wiggins Way El Paso, Texas 79968-0582

Expertise CoP: Health-Focused Interprofessional Education

Interprofessional Education Event

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 12:45, Tomas Rivera - Union East

Expertise CoP: Health-Focused Interprofessional Education