RAPID: CAHSI INCLUDES VIRTUAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this project supports virtual research experiences for summer 2020 with faculty and students from across the network of NSF-funded Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) INCLUDES.

CONFERENCE: BUILDING HSI RESEARCH CAPACITY IN NSF CISE CORE RESEARCH AREAS

This convening brings together researchers, in particular Hispanic researchers, from HSIs and Predominantly White Institutions whose research aligns with the NSF Computer and Information Science & Engineering directorate’s portfolio in order to propose interdisciplinary research projects.

MRI: ACQUISITION OF HIGH-RESOLUTION VISUALIZATION INSTRUMENTATION TO SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

This acquisition is a high-performance and fully immersive visualization instrument that will advance UTEP's expanding research agenda through data and knowledge visualization, and improving analysis, understanding, discovery, and decision making. The instrument has wide interdisciplinary application and, therefore, will be housed in the IDRB.

MRI: ACQUISITION OF AN ADVANCED MAGNETIC PROPERTY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE PASO DEL NORTE REGION

The requested Magnetic Property Measurement System (MPMS) is a modern multi-purpose Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with closed cycle cryogen-free operation with unprecedented sensitivity (10-9 emu). To further the innovation of our research programs and maintain a competitive edge while affording our students with advanced training opportunities, we propose the acquisition of a state-of-the-art SQUID magnetometer. This instrument is intended to replace an insensitive magnetometer, namely, an inefficient and outmoded, 15 year old PPMS system that requires cost prohibitive liquid He cryogenic refills each time it is operated. Importantly, the new instrument will become the core of a multi-user, multi-institutional shared facility that services the needs of research institutions and undergraduate programs throughout the region, specifically servicing the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), New Mexico State University (NMSU), and New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU).

SC2 SUPPLEMENT: DR. FELIX MATOS: ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF ADOLESCENT NICOTINE VAPOR EXPOSURE ON MOTIVATION AND DECISION FOR REWARDS

This letter serves to confirm the eligibility of Dr. Felix Matos for a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research from the National Institute on General Medical Sciences. Dr. Matos is a United States citizen of Puerto Rican descent. We are eligible for this award because Dr. Matos has not been funded through a diversity supplement in the past. Given that Dr. Matos is preparing to go on the job market for a tenure-track faculty position, we are requesting 1 year of funding for him to complete his current studies and obtain a faculty position.

SCC-IRG TRACK 2: SMART SOCIAL CONNECTOR: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS IN UNDERSERVED SENIOR POPULATIONS

This project improves seniors' quality of life by developing and sustaining their connectedness through community-based participatory research, integrating engineering and social sciences dimensions to examine the role of mobile technologies and social connectivity in face-to-face and virtual interactions.

GREEN ENERGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE

In this project, students will participate in a 3-day virtual Bootcamp as part of their classroom curriculum to create, build, or modify services, products, or processes in clean-tech sectors.

MRI: ACQUISITION OF INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA OPTICAL EMISSION SPECTROMETER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION USES IN WATER, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE

Our ability to understand the geological and biological samples typically involves understanding their chemical composition. Funds from this grant will provide The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) with an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer, an instrument capable of producing data on the relative abundance of chemical elements in many types of samples. The instrument and the data produced will support a range of on-going and planned projects at UTEP, ranging from study of the nature and origin of saline groundwater, the origin and sourcing of dust, the cycling of nutrients in soils, and the quality of water treated through desalination and other methods to improve water quality. The instrument will also be used as a training tool for students from a broad range of backgrounds to investigate research questions in the Paso del Norte region and surrounding areas.

NIST COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING

This grant supports the work of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) for enhancing the competitive position of the state's manufacturing sector. TMAC's manufacturing professionals work with a wide range of industrial firms, delivering training, providing technical assistance and implementing best business practices.

TMAC GY06 - FEDERAL ONLY

This grant supports the work of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) for enhancing the competitive position of the state's manufacturing sector. TMAC's manufacturing professionals work with a wide range of industrial firms, delivering training, providing technical assistance and implementing best business practices.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND ADVANCING LATINX IN THE ACTUARY PROFESSION

This funding supports the continuation of the Risk Management program in order to advance actuarial science in the El Paso region.

PREM SUPPLEMENT: INTEGRATE COMPUTATIONAL EXPERTISE INTO CENTER FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS RESEARCH (CMR) TO ADDRESS COVID-19

This supplementary funding supports the integration of Dr. Suman Sirimulla into the existing PREM project in order to train students in cutting-edge research, including work on novel chemical molecules that serve in the treatment of dangerous infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.

FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL: STARTALK 2020

From Local to Global is a three-week summer language program designed to introduce 45 high school/early college students to Arabic, Korean, and Russian language. Summer language acquisition will be maintained and expanded during the subsequent school year through the online portion of the program.

NEW TEACHER MENTORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM

This grant provides three years of high-quality support and coaching for 60 new teachers in Canutillo, Fabens, and Tornillo Independent School Districts, using multiple data points to assess teacher practice and student learning.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR DEPLOYMENT OF VIRTUAL I-CORPS TRAINING

This supplemental funding supports the development of a series of virtual training programs for three different customer segments: junior faculty, first and second year Ph.D. candidates, and community partners in order to broaden the pipeline of teams moving into regional and national programs.

NSF NANOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER FOR OFF-GRID NANOTECHNOLOGY ENABLED WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS (NEWT)

The Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) will facilitate access to clean water and enable wastewater reuse almost anywhere in the world through minimizing energy requirements and chemical consumption while decreasing waste residuals and environmental impact.

TMAC ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

This grant supports the work of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) in enhancing the competitive position of the state’s manufacturing sector, in particular meeting the needs of small- to mid-sized manufacturers.

CITY OF EL PASO BUSINESSES SURVEY

This grant gathers information from El Paso businesses to develop a profile database and assess the certification needs of business owners/managers.

A NOVEL MICROBIAL NATIVE SULFUR FORMATION PATHWAY

The research investigation of doctoral student Amanda L. Labrado aims to test the feasibility of native sulfur deposit formation in the absence of light and oxidants to understand if a yet undiscovered microbial pathway might be active in Earth's biogeochemical sulfur cycle, which has implications for the detection of life in Earth's geologic past and elsewhere.

IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY EXPOSURES TO TRAFFIC-RELATED AIR POLLUTION IN THE PASO DEL NORTE

This project reduces exposure of children to traffic-related air pollutants, in particular children who attend schools near heavily-traveled roadways. This will be accomplished by transforming children into citizen scientists who engage in data collection and analysis with scientists.

SUPPLEMENT FOR ELEMENTS: DATA: HDR: SWIM TO A SUSTAINABLE WATER FUTURE

This grant funds two undergraduate researchers who will contribute to the existing project of harnessing data in the area of water sustainability and working in new ways at the human-technology frontier.

EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND PATHWAYS OF EMBODIED MATERNAL HEALTH VULNERABILITY AMONG IMMIGRANT WOMEN ON THE US-MEXICO BORDER

This research grant explores the emotional experience of pregnancy among first and second-generation Mexican-origin immigrants in the El Paso, TX border region using a mixed-methods, multi-phased research design that will utilize survey data, health records, cortisol levels (a stress biomarker), and ethnographic methods.

DESERT SEISMOLOGY: LINKING AEOLIAN SALTATION WITH THE AMBIENT SEISMIC SPECTRUM

This project collects continuous seismic data on a multi-instrument array deployed in the vicinity of the Meteorological Sensor Array (MSA) in the Jornada Experimental Range in order to understand the link between aeolian saltation processes and solid earth.

IAC FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT BRANCH, MATERIALS AND TESTS DIVISION

This project provides technical guidance, support and recommendations regarding highway material inspection, material characterization and material testing expertise for construction and design activities.

INTERVIEWEE DECISION-MAKING ABOUT SHARING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO UNCERTAINTY ABOUT INTERVIEWER KNOWLEDGE

This project investigates two interview methods: Strategic Use of Evidence-Confrontation and We Know All in order to examine the effectiveness of these investigative tactics both individually and in combination.

PNNL MOU JOINT APPOINTMENT

This project seeks to enhance the quality of science, technology, education, and industrial development in the regional, state, and national economies.

SUPPLEMENT: ISS/COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF MICROGRAVITY ON 3D CARDIAC ORGANOID CULTURES

This supplement supports research investigating 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.

R01: UNRAVELING CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS MECHANISMS OF BRAIN INVASION AND COLONIZATION

Almeida will collaborate on the biomolecular analyses to include experimental design, technical troubleshooting, interpretation of data, and writing of manuscripts.

NEW PARADIGMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW ALLOCATION IN THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE BASIN UNDER A CHANGING CLIMATE

In addition to coordinating stakeholder relationships in the Middle Rio Grande Basin, the project team will participate in hydrologic modeling, analyses, and interpretation of modeling results.

BRIDGES TO THE BACCALAUREATE RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM AT EPCC-UTEP

The Bridges to the Baccalaureate will allow The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and El Paso Community College (EPCC) to continue their longstanding collaborative efforts to effectively train research-oriented minority (primarily Mexican-American) undergraduate students who bridge from the community college into the university and on to complete baccaulaureate degrees in biomedical fields. Through mentored research experiences, supplemental coursework, professional development opportunities, the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at UTEP/EPCC aims to develop well-trained biomedical scientists prepared with the technical, operational, and professional skills necessary to significantly contribute to the biomedical research workforce.

COGNITIVE FACTORS OF BILINGUAL LEXICAL ALIGNMENT

This research project investigates the cognitive mechanisms of lexical alignment and the tendency of bilingual speakers in dialogue to reuse their interlocutors′ words, across a range of bilingual language proficiency.

EARTHQUAKE GATES: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF SEISMIC WAVES IN MULTI-FAULT RUPTURING

This project investigates the potential weakening that seismic waves from a rupture in the San Jacinto Fault (SJF) will cause along the San Andreas Fault (SAF), and its role in facilitating the propagations of the SJF′s rupture front onto the SAF.

SOURCES AND CONSEQUENCES OF PRISON VIOLENCE

This study is the most comprehensive examination of prison violence to date. It is a three-year investigation that involves internationally recognized correctional experts from five universities in collaboration with seven state prison systems. The research methods include 1) an analysis of administrative records, 2) a review of incident reports, 3) interviews with incarcerated men, women, and staff, 4) interviews with key correctional administrators and behavioral health professionals, as well as 5) a systematic evaluation of policies, procedures, and staff trainings. Dr. Tasca is primarily responsible for planning, conducting, and overseeing interviews in 23 prisons across the seven states and will work with the research team to develop a range of deliverables to advance science and enhance institutional culture and safety in correctional systems.

MEXICO AS IMMIGRATION ENFORCER: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO MIGRANT FAMILY LIFE AND NEW DIASPORAS IN MEXICO

This research project will address the impacts and processes shaping Mexico as a key part of the United States′ immigration enforcement policies and how this has led to new populations living along the Texas Mexico border and the interior of Mexico.

TEXAS CARES ACT

This project, granted as part of the CARES act, collaborates with local artists who will work with the Rubin Center to provide online outreach for K-12 educators and students in the area of contemporary art and studio art learning.

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE EL PASO COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

This project supports the El Paso Collaboratives’ four strategic priority areas: academic preparedness, college and career readiness, quality of life and economic prosperity, and lifelong success and wellbeing.

GENOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF LANDSCAPE-LEVEL HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN WILD AND DOMESTICATED CONGENERS

This project investigates the outcome(s) of excessive gene flow between populations with varying levels of natural (wild) and artificial (game-farm) selection in order to understand negative anthropogenic effects (e.g., landscape changes, rates of invasive species colonization, and climate change).

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: RESEARCH NETWORKING ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINED COORDINATED OBSERVATIONS OF ARCTIC CHANGE

This project serves to advance the vision of Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) by developing content through a series of support actions and networking activities with international teams under the SAON umbrella in order to link societal benefits to specific essential variables and observing system technical design requirements.

SUPPLEMENT: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: THE MAGMATIC AND ERUPTIVE SYSTEM OF MOUNT EREBUS VOLCANO, ANTARCTICA

This supplemental funding supports a graduate student who will be involved in the development of methodologies aiming to detect, locate, and assemble databases of icequake events, which will then be used to push the boundaries of next generation scattering imaging efforts.

CARESACT: UTEP DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY - PROYECTO BRACERO

This project supports the Border Farmworkers Center in preserving the largest collection of original documents from the Bracero Program (1942-1964) by scanning and coding of metadata for each document in order to make the collection searchable.

ARTERY SOCIETY′S CARTESIAN STUDY (COVID-19 ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND VASCULAR AGING)

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the presence of Early Vascular Aging (EVA) 3-6 months and 12-15 months after COVID-19 infection. The primary endpoint will be carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), an established biomarker of EVA .

A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH FOR IMAGE CLASSIFICATION FOR MAPPING AND MONITORING LAND-COVER AND LAND-USE IN THE USA/MEXICO BORDER

This project proposes a new method for urban land use mapping, which integrates machine learning, GIS, spatial metrics, and texture analysis in an object-based image analysis classification.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: SCALE-FREE CONTINUUM PERCOLATION OF BUBBLES AS A UNIVERSAL MECHANISM OF THE BOILING CRISIS

This project will (i) fabricate Light Water Reactor heat transfer components; (ii) characterize the surface morphology and mechanical strength; and (iii) demonstrate improved heat transfer performance using engineered micro-scale features integrated in a single-step, 3D printing process.

NATIONAL TEACHING TEAM ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR

This grant supports Mr. Cervantes as an adjunct faculty member of the national teaching team, instructing participants on how to achieve commercial impact with their innovation.

AI4ALL CAMP

This grant supports curriculum building and program structure for a hands-on summer camp for pre-college students focused on artificial intelligence (AI).

DEVELOP NOVEL 3D ANTENNAS AND DEVICES FOR ARMY APPLICATIONS

Working closely with the Army Research Lab, this project adapts hybrid direct write 3D printing for Army applications to include design, simulation, manufacturing, and testing of antennas and other radio frequency devices.

TRAUMA IN HISPANIC NURSING STUDENTS: IS RESILIENCE AND LEARNING IMPEDED?

This research grant investigates trauma experiences of Hispanic nursing students in order to mitigate the harmful effects of trauma, producing a nurse better equipped to meet the needs of patients.

SUPPLEMENT: BPC-A: COMPUTING ALLIANCE OF HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS-BUILDING A RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE, AND ADAPTABLE CAHSI ECOSYSTEM

This supplemental funding supports a pilot project built on the successful NSF-funded grant, Cal-Bridge, that mentors and places California State University Physics and Astronomy majors into PhD programs at University of California institutions. Specifically, this project targets computer science students.

BIGGS ARMY AIRFIELD RUNWAY ANALYSIS

This research project develops field-testing plans and finite element analysis of the concrete slabs to characterize the thermal cracking potential of the Biggs Army Airfield' s runway.

LABORATORY TESTING OF ACE XP POLYMER FIBER REINFORCED ASPHALT

This project conducts mix design and mechanical test per TxDOT or ASTM specifications.

LABORATORY TESTING OF BITUMEN EXTENDER/MODIFIER

This project conducts mix design and mechanical tests performed per TxDOT or ASTM specifications.

EVALUATION OF PROGRAM IMPACT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUNG STARS STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM IN EL PASO, TEXAS

This research project studies high school strength and conditioning (S&P) programs to determine the athletic, academic, and psychological performance and injury rates of high school varsity sport athletes, particularly those from minority and low-income families who lack access to after-school and private S&C programs.

THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR-ASSOCIATED COCHAPERONES FOR THE TREATMENT OF BREAST AND PROSTATE CANCER

This grant supports continuation of cancer research in developing drug technologies toward commercialization using genomic and proteomic studies.

DEVELOPMENT OF IMAGING NANOPROBE FOR REAL-TIME NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSIS OF CARDIOTOXICITY INDUCED BY CANCER CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS

This project develops an injectable imaging nanoprobe that can be monitored externally, in real-time, to quantify toxicity in cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) in order for patients receiving cancer chemotherapy to avoid chronic cardiac dysfunction.

SC1: NOVEL GLYCINERGIC CIRCUITRY IN THE BASAL GANGLIA

This research grant investigates the presence of glycinergic neurons within the basal ganglia, a brain area regulating initiation of motor movements and responses that involves cognitive functions such as emotion, vision, some forms of memory, which are heavily affected in drug addiction.

COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL: RAPID RESPONSE TO UNDERSTANDING AT-RISK ADOLESCENTS' AND PARENTS' DAILY EXPERIENCES DURING COVID19

Due to the rapidly-changing nature of the worldwide COVID19 pandemic and policy responses to it, this project addresses how at-risk (i.e., justice-involved, low-SES) adolescent-parent dyads from El Paso, Texas respond to and are affected by the COVID19 outbreak, both immediately and in the short-term (i.e., over six months).

SC1: THE ROLE OF BREAST CANCER ORGAN SPECIFIC METASTASIS ON THE THERAPEUTIC IMPACT OF ANTI-CANCER DRUGS

This research project focuses on late-stage breast cancer to explore the extent to which the location of a breast cancer spread (metastasis) can determine its sensitivity to available drugs.

UNDERSTANDING AND CONTROL OF REACTIVE SEPARATIONS

This research project aims to understand how complex structures (ionic and non-ionic micro-domains) in carbon capture solvents (CCS) form, and how these structures govern physical and thermodynamic properties. In support of this goal, the molecular-level structure of CCS will be obtained using advanced x-ray and neutron scattering and diffraction techniques.

ADVANCING PERVAPORATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CONCENTRATES IN INLAND DESALINATION

This project analyzes the efficiency of the pervaporation process and characterizes the tradeoff between water flux and specific energy consumption.

EVIDENCE-BASED SCREENING FOR OBESITY, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND DIABETES MELLITUS IN LOW-INCOME EL PASO HOUSEHOLDS

This project compiles and analyzes data collected from Medicaid eligible/indigent in El Paso County to assess the health status of level of El Paso residents who do not have health insurance.

URANIUM ARENIDES AS NEW ACTINIDE PLATFORMS

This research project investigates the fundamental chemistry of the f-element series with a primary focus on uranium to better understand the chemistry and bonding of its unusual molecular structures.

DESIGN OF A INTAKE PARTICLE SEPARATOR FOR UAV APPLICATIONS

This grant supports research and specifically travel to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to engage AFRL mentors with the student/faculty team.

CONFERENCE: US-NORTH AFRICA CONFERENCE: NANOTECHNOLOGY CONVERGENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

The 1st US-North Africa conference on nanotechnology convergence for sustainable energy, environment, and health brings scientists (including undergraduate, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty) together from the United States and North African countries to provide a platform for future collaborations.

USING DATA COLLECTED FROM A “TRAUMA INFORMED CARE” TRAINING TO EVALUATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ATTITUDES REGARDING COMMUNICATION FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS

This pilot study evaluates the effects of an educational training on the knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals, law enforcement professionals, and nursing and paramedic students in order to identify best practices in trauma-informed care in El Paso.

IDRE Community of Practice online meeting

Thu, 08/13/2020 - 01:00, Virtual meeting.

Expertise CoP: Interdisciplinary Research and Education (IDRE)