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Enclosed is the tenth issue of the UTEP Research Newsletter. In this issue we feature new research awards, stories, and profiles published in UTEP’s Expertise Connector, updates on research administration, as well as patents received by UTEP researchers in the last four months. Also included in this issue is an article on the September Virtual Research Forum. Stay connected and be well!
Fall 2020 Research Forum Recap
The Fall 2020 Research Forum hosted online Sept. 23 by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects began with an aspirational tone.
“I would like this to not just be the third, but to be the last fully-online research presentation event,” said Stephen Aley, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research at The University of Texas at El Paso, and the event’s master of ceremonies. “By the next Research Forum, likely in mid-January, I believe we should target a hybrid format for this event — yes, streaming for those who have to be at home, but with some key activities on campus with real scenes, and not just photo backdrops.”
While it is still too early to tell what that next event will look like, the Fall 2020 Research Forum, which recognized 78 new awards and four patents obtained by UTEP faculty and staff members between May 25 and Sept. 30, 2020, showed that UTEP researchers will persevere in their mission to advance discovery of public value.
UTEP President Heather Wilson made this point clear in her customary opening remarks. UTEP researchers, President Wilson told the virtual audience on Microsoft Teams, set a new record in fiscal year 2020 for the number of grant proposals submitted within a single fiscal year. Remarkably, President Wilson added, there was an uptick in submission activity in the weeks immediately after remote work and remote instruction began at UTEP in late March.
In his remarks, Roberto Osegueda, Ph.D., Vice President for Research, expanded on what President Wilson alluded to, and explained that in FY 2020 UTEP researchers submitted 663 grant proposals. This burst of activity, Osegueda said, resulted in 210 awards received at the close of the year, with more than $75 million in anticipated award amounts.
Lourdes Echegoyen, Ph.D., Director of the Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives (COURI), then took her turn at the virtual podium. She began by offering a few words about the immeasurable value and critical need for outstanding mentors at UTEP who can inspire and train a new generation of researchers that is both diverse and able to perform at the highest levels. Echegoyen subsequently presented this year’s awards for excellence in student research mentoring to following faculty members:
- Kyung-An Han, Biological Sciences, College of Science
- Binata Joddar, Materials, Metallurgical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
- Yok-Fong Paat, Social Work, College of Health Sciences
- Katherine Serafine, Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
The program then turned to the traditional recognition of patents and awards. The four patents that were recognized in this event included one for the invention of a drug molecule that has shown promise in the fight against several types of cancer. The molecule was developed by Marc Cox, Ph.D., professor and chair of Pharmaceutical Science, who also served as the event’s keynote speaker.
As for the grants that were recognized that evening, the list of sponsored projects ranged in scope and subject area, as it always does, and demonstrated the breadth of expertise that exists among faculty and staff at UTEP — from the continuation of a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that supports the success of hundreds of low-income, first-generation college students, to a partnership with the City of El Paso designed to fight the spread of COVID-19 by identifying clusters of people at high risk of infection and prioritizing resources to those groups.
Marc Cox, Ph.D., professor and chair of Pharmaceutical Science, was the keynote speaker of the event.
The final part of the evening was reserved for Cox’s keynote presentation. In addition to his role in the Pharmaceutical Science department, Cox is also a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and deputy director of the BUILDing SCHOLARS Center. He is trained as a molecular endocrinologist with ample expertise in intracellular receptor signaling pathways with applications in therapies for a number of conditions including prostate cancer.
Commercialization is one of the principal ways through which scientific breakthroughs are translated into real world applications. As a result of his work, and as a way to advance his research, Cox has also gained extensive knowledge of this process, and he chose this topic as the focus of his presentation. He told the audience that he understands that many faculty members new to patents may find the process intimidating, but he reminded viewers that the Office of Technology Commercialization at UTEP is available to help them through every step of the process.
Cox also addressed some of the myths surrounding the patent process, such as the common belief that it slows down research. As a rebuttal, he explained that a researcher can obtain a provisional patent in as little as one month, after which time the individual is free to publish and share their findings.
Ultimately, Cox stated, it is incumbent upon individual researchers to become familiarized with the commercialization process so that their work is not derailed or shelved. “Patents are useless if one is not making efforts to move those technologies forward,” he said.
Commercialization is one of the principal ways through which scientific breakthroughs are translated into real world applications. As a result of his work, and as a way to advance his research, Cox has also gained extensive knowledge of this process, and he chose this topic as the focus of his presentation. He told the audience that he understands that many faculty members new to patents may find the process intimidating, but he reminded viewers that the Office of Technology Commercialization at UTEP is available to help them through every step of the process.
Cox also addressed some of the myths surrounding the patent process, such as the common belief that it slows down research. As a rebuttal, he explained that a researcher can obtain a provisional patent in as little as one month, after which time the individual is free to publish and share their findings.
Ultimately, Cox stated, it is incumbent upon individual researchers to become familiarized with the commercialization process so that their work is not derailed or shelved. “Patents are useless if one is not making efforts to move those technologies forward,” he said.
That message of tenacity was a fitting way to close out an event that recognized work that was carried out under very difficult circumstances. And as the record number of proposal submissions in FY2020 shows, it is a message that is already deeply ingrained in the ethos of the UTEP research community.
GO MINERS! To access the May 2020 Research Forum, please follow this link.
New Sponsored Awards
We are pleased to announce all sponsored projects officially received by ORSP between the period of August 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020. Please click on the “Read Full Announcement” link to learn more about each award below.
ULTRA-LOW DISORDER GRAPHENE QUANTUM DOT-BASED SPIN QUBITS FOR CYBER SECURE FOSSIL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
Sreeprasad Sreenivasan, Chintalapalle Ramana, and Venkata Chava
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2023
$499,546
Read Full Announcement
CONSORTIUM FOR HYBRID AND RESILIENT ENERGY SYSTEMS (CHRES)
Norman Love, Lourdes Echegoyen, and Karina Canaba
NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION THROUGH UNIVERSIDAD DEL TURABO
NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION THROUGH UNIVERSIDAD DEL TURABO
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2025
$1,000,000
Read Full Announcement
NETWORK CLUSTER: PATTERNS AND CONTROLS OF CO2 FLUXES, ECOHYDROLOGY, AND NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY ON PEDOGENIC CARBONATE-DOMINATED DRYLAND CRITICAL ZONE
Lixin Jin, Lin Ma, Anthony Darrouzet-Nardi, Vanessa Lougheed, and Jennie McLaren
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2025
$5,269,319
Read Full Announcement
NSF ERC FOR ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH POWERED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ROADWAY ELECTRIFICATION (ASPIRE)
Soheil Nazarian, Imad Abdallah, Ivonne Santiago, Paras Mandal, and Tzu-Liang Tseng
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2025
$3,801,730
Read Full Announcement
SMART SOCIAL CONNECTOR: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS IN UNDERSERVED SENIOR POPULATIONS
Natalia Villanueva Rosales, Oscar Mondragon Campos, Guillermina Nunez-Mchiri, Kelvin Cheu, and Ashley Bangert
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2023
$1,499,132
Read Full Announcement
NANO-ENHANCED ELECTRODIALYSIS MEMBRANES FOR SELECTIVE NITRATE REMOVAL
William Walker and Malynda Cappelle
RICE UNIVERSITY
RICE UNIVERSITY
Nov 06, 2020 through May 06, 2021
$2,750
Read Full Announcement
SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMOPLASTICS AND THERMSETS
Yirong Lin, David Espalin, and Ryan Wicker
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Dec 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$82,400
Read Full Announcement
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF SELF-SENSING POLYMER COMPOSITES
Yirong Lin, David Espalin, and Ryan Wicker
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Oct 28, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$50,000
Read Full Announcement
MATERIALS FOR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS: FIBER CONTAINING COMPOSITES
Yirong Lin, David Espalin, and Tzu-Liang Tseng
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES LLC.
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES LLC.
Oct 28, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$95,000
Read Full Announcement
THERMAL AGING STUDY FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED F357 ALUMINUM
Francisco Medina, David Espalin, and Ryan Wicker
AIRFORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH THE NATIONAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING INNOVATION INSTITUTE
AIRFORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH THE NATIONAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING INNOVATION INSTITUTE
Oct 01, 2020 through Mar 31, 2022
$276,260
Read Full Announcement
TEN TARGETS FOR TEXAS: PROSPECTIVE STRATEGIC MINERAL WEALTH ON STATE LANDS
Nicholas Pingitore and Philip Goodell
THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE
THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE
Nov 16, 2020 through Oct 31, 2022
$225,000
Read Full Announcement
DEVELOPMENT OF THE EL PASO MPO TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN WEB APPLICATION
Danniel Rodriguez and Imad Abdallah
EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Nov 16, 2020 through Oct 31, 2022
$196,587
Read Full Announcement
SECURITY AND STRATEGIC TRADE MANAGEMENT
Vic Manjarrez and Mario Cano
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Sep 30, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$34,114
Read Full Announcement
HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS DUE TO COVID19
Mayra Maldonado and Rafael Perez Pena
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Oct 15, 2020 through Dec 15, 2020
$25,000
Read Full Announcement
RUBIN CENTER COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTER FOR SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
Melissa Barba and Kerry Doyle
TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS
TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS
Sep 01, 2020 through Mar 31, 2021
$2,500
Read Full Announcement
SUPPORTING CLINICAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO MITIGATE IMPEDIMENTS DUE TO COVID-19
Leslie Robbins and Laura Rodriguez
TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD
TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD
Oct 27, 2020 through Nov 30, 2022
$90,000
Read Full Announcement
STEMGROW PLUS, A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING COMPONENT
Peter Golding, Diane Golding, Hector Lugo Nevarez, and Michael Pitcher
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$104,931
Read Full Announcement
CAMPUS ADVOCACY, RESOURCES AND EDUCATION
Arely Hernandez and Charles Gibbens
US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THROUGH TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THROUGH TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Nov 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$372,707
Read Full Announcement
INCREASING STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY CAPACITY TO PLACE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS
Emre Umucu, Veronica Estala-Gutierrez, and Beatrice Lee
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2025
$833,337
Read Full Announcement
USE OF PHOTOVOICE TO MAKE VISIBLE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MIGRANT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN JUAREZ AND EL PASO
Eva Moya and Silvia Chavez Baray
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$5,695
Read Full Announcement
TARGETING EARLY INTERVENTION PERSONNEL TURNOVER THROUGH PROVEN RETENTION STRATEGIES
Beverley Argus-Calvo, Kristopher Yeager, Thenral Mangadu, Amina Turton, and Patricia Ainsa
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Jan 01, 2021 through Dec 31, 2025
$707,372
Read Full Announcement
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE IN EL PASO COUNTY
Gregory Schober, Amy Wagler, and Jayajit Chakraborty
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH EL PASO COUNTY
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH EL PASO COUNTY
Sep 28, 2020 through Dec 30, 2020
$46,475
Read Full Announcement
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION HAZARD TRAINING FOR HISPANIC WORKERS IN EL PASO AND NEIGHBORING AREAS
Adeeba Raheem and Austin Marshall
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Sep 30, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$160,000
Read Full Announcement
BROADBAND LIMITATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IMPACT OF EXPANDING BROADBAND SERVICES IN EL PASO COUNTY
Mayra Maldonado and Michael Garcia
EL PASO COUNTY THROUGH EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
EL PASO COUNTY THROUGH EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Dec 30, 2020
$260,964
Read Full Announcement
GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP) - HECTOR ITURRIAGA
Hector Iturriaga and Rao Singamaneni
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2023
$138,000
Read Full Announcement
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PARSING OUT THE CONTROLS OF CLIMATE, GEOLOGY, AND LAND USE ON RIVERINE (234U/238U) RATIOS IN TEXAS RIVER BASINS
Lin Ma and Jason Ricketts
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sep 15, 2020 through Aug 31, 2023
$500,952
Read Full Announcement
DASHBOARDS FOR MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES DURING PANDEMIC
Sreenath Chalil Madathil, Tzu-liang Tseng, and Amit Lopes
US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THROUGH THE CITY OF EL PASO
US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THROUGH THE CITY OF EL PASO
Jul 01, 2020 through Nov 30, 2020
$55,000
Read Full Announcement
MIRO CENTER FOR SPACE EXPLORATION AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
Ahsan Choudhuri, Md Mahamudur Rahman, Angel Flores-Abad, Amelia Greig, John Chessa, and Joel Quintana
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$1,402,287
Read Full Announcement
PROJECT ACE: ACTION FOR EQUITY - A BUILDING SCHOLARS PIPELINE
Osvaldo Morera, Thomas Boland, and Josie Tinajero
NIH - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
NIH - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
Sep 10, 2020 through Jul 31, 2025
$1,350,000
Read Full Announcement
TECHNICAL SUPPORT IN CYBERSECURITY AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE OBJECTIVES
Ben Flores, Michael McGarry, Virgilio Gonzalez, and Rodrigo Romero
US ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND
US ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND
Sep 10, 2020 through Sep 09, 2023
$1,487,125
Read Full Announcement
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH INTELLIGENCE INDEX: A BASELINE FOR DEPLOYING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO CONTROL THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN EL PASO
Rigoberto Delgado and Leo Gemoets
CITY OF EL PASO
CITY OF EL PASO
Aug 19, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$77,290
Read Full Announcement
FORECASTING THE DEMAND FOR INFLUENZA VACCINES AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE VACCINATION RATES IN EL PASO
Rigoberto Delgado and Leo Gemoets
CITY OF EL PASO
CITY OF EL PASO
Aug 19, 2020 through Aug 15, 2021
$93,749
Read Full Announcement
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: SITS: DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE-SCALE SENSOR AND REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY TO QUANTIFY ABIOTIC CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION IN IRRIGATED SOILS OF ARID LANDS
Lixin Jin and Marguerite Mauritz
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Jan 01, 2021 through Dec 31, 2024
$586,392
Read Full Announcement
THE NATIONAL COVID-19 RESILIENCY NETWORK - IMPACTING EL PASO AND MOORE COUNTIES
Nora Hernandez, Josiah Heyman, Guillermina Nunez-Mchiri, and Patricia Juarez-Carrillo
DHHS - HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION THROUGH MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DHHS - HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION THROUGH MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Sep 01, 2020 through Jun 30, 2021
$100,000
Read Full Announcement
GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP) - JAIME EDUARDO REGIS
Jaime Eduardo Regis and Yirong Lin
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Aug 01, 2020 through Jul 31, 2023
$138,000
Read Full Announcement
DRIVE AM: DRIVING RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND VALUE THROUGH EDUCATION IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Ryan Wicker, David Espalin, Ahsan Choudhuri, and Francisco Medina
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH NATIONAL CENTER FOR DEFENSE MANUFACTURING AND MACHINING
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH NATIONAL CENTER FOR DEFENSE MANUFACTURING AND MACHINING
Aug 31, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$4,834,612
Read Full Announcement
COALITION FOR INSPIRATION, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING AT HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS
Miguel Velez-Reyes and Robert Roberts
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Aug 25, 2020 through Dec 24, 2020
$49,830
Read Full Announcement
TX PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 10 U.S.-MX BORDER COUNTIES RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM-IMPLEMENTATION (RCORP-I) CONSORTIUM.
Thenral Mangadu and Emre Umucu
DHHS - HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION THROUGH ALIVIANE
DHHS - HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION THROUGH ALIVIANE
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2023
$462,926
Read Full Announcement
A SPECIMEN PROCESSING LABORATORY AT INDIO MOUNTAINS RESEARCH STATION HEADQUARTERS
Vicente Mata-Silva and Jerry Johnson
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$165,332
Read Full Announcement
DIGITIZING TRANS-BORDER COLLECTIONS FROM A SMALL HERBARIUM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Michael Moody and Eli Greenbaum
INSTITUTE OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARY SERVICES
INSTITUTE OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARY SERVICES
Sep 01, 2020 through Feb 28, 2022
$44,039
Read Full Announcement
DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR 3D MAPPING AT MACROSCOPIC SCALES
Terry Pavlis, Jason Ricketts, and Laura Serpa
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Mar 01, 2021 through Feb 28, 2023
$62,789
Read Full Announcement
VERIFICATION OF TRAFFIC SPEED DEFLECTION DEVICES′ (TSDDS) MEASUREMENTS
Soheil Nazarian
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Dec 01, 2019 through Nov 30, 2022
$108,007
Read Full Announcement
FEMTOSECOND LASER MACHINING DEVELOPMENT
Calvin Stewart
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$220,000
Read Full Announcement
ACCELERATED CREEP TESTING TO SUPPORT MANTAS
Calvin Stewart
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH ARCTOS
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH ARCTOS
Aug 17, 2020 through Mar 26, 2021
$74,998
Read Full Announcement
FUEL CELL FEASIBILITY: POLYMER GASKETS FOR PEM FUEL CELLS
Calvin Stewart
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Mar 01, 2020 through Nov 30, 2020
$25,000
Read Full Announcement
FUEL CELL FEASIBILITY: ADDITIVE MANFACTURED HARDWARE
Calvin Stewart
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Oct 29, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$75,000
Read Full Announcement
CONTACT TRACER TRAINING AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM
Leticia Paez
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH THE CITY OF EL PASO
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH THE CITY OF EL PASO
Nov 01, 2020 through Dec 21, 2020
$102,307
Read Full Announcement
ETHNOHISTORIC AND ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF EL CAMINO REAL DE TIERRA ADENTRO NHT ALONG U.S.- MEXICAN BORDER
Jeffrey Shepherd
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Aug 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2022
$74,000
Read Full Announcement
FORENSIC, TESTING, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR GEOTECHNICAL, SOILS AND AGGREGATES BRANCH
Imad Abdallah
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Sep 01, 2019 through Aug 31, 2021
$350,000
Read Full Announcement
ASSISTANCE IN TRAVEL DEMAND MODELING, AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE EL PASO MPO'S UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
Imad Abdallah
EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$102,625
Read Full Announcement
DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (DDETFP) GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP - BENJAMIN ARRAS
Imad Abdallah
US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$35,500
Read Full Announcement
SUPPORT OF CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Imad Abdallah
EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Nov 16, 2020 through Aug 31, 2021
$6,443
Read Full Announcement
STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: CATALOGING ASTRONAUT PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Jose Hurtado
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH JACOBS TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH JACOBS TECHNOLOGY
Nov 27, 2019 through Apr 30, 2020
$10,000
Read Full Announcement
CENTER FOR MOLECULAR MAGNETIC QUANTUM MATERIALS
Mark Pederson
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Nov 01, 2020 through Jul 31, 2021
$50,000
Read Full Announcement
AM DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSES
Raymond Rumpf
ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY
ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY
Aug 21, 2020 through Aug 20, 2025
$165,000
Read Full Announcement
STTR: 3D PRINTED PHOTOMULTIPLIER CIRCUITS
Raymond Rumpf
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY THROUGH RADIATION DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY THROUGH RADIATION DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Sep 23, 2020 through Sep 22, 2022
$35,000
Read Full Announcement
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF DESIGN-TOOLS FOR META-OPTICS
Raymond Rumpf
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Sep 15, 2020 through Dec 31, 2021
$150,000
Read Full Announcement
IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES TO INCREASE SARS-COV-2 TESTING AMONG AN UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE HISPANIC POPULATION
Robert Kirken
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
Nov 13, 2020 through Nov 12, 2022
$1,036,464
Read Full Announcement
SENATE QUALITY CANDIDATES AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE: THE ROLE OF POLITICAL EXPERIENCE IN SHAPING SENATE ELECTION OUTCOMES BEFORE AND AFTER DIRECT-ELECTION
Carlos Algara
THE DIRKSEN CONGRESSIONAL CENTER
THE DIRKSEN CONGRESSIONAL CENTER
Oct 28, 2020 through Oct 27, 2021
$3,500
Read Full Announcement
EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION: THE ROLE OF ISSUE SALIENCE
Carlos Algara
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Oct 28, 2020 through Oct 27, 2021
$2,400
Read Full Announcement
TARGETING A STRESS-DERIVED IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ADENOSINE PATHWAY IN TUMORS RESISTANT TO CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS
Yong Qin
US ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND MATERIEL COMMAND
US ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND MATERIEL COMMAND
Nov 01, 2020 through Oct 31, 2022
$573,908
Read Full Announcement
STTR I: HOLISTIC ALLOY DEVELOPMENT FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, INITIALLY FOCUSED ON HIGH PERFORMANCE CU-ALLOY FOR INJECTION MOLD MAKING
Ryan Wicker
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH TAILORED ALLOYS LLC
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH TAILORED ALLOYS LLC
May 15, 2020 through Apr 30, 2021
$116,549
Read Full Announcement
COUNCIL OF GRADUATE SCHOOLS: PHD CAREER PATHWAYS DATA COLLECTION IN THE HUMANITIES GRANT PROPOSAL
Lucia Dura
COUNCIL OF GRADUATE SCHOOLS
COUNCIL OF GRADUATE SCHOOLS
Jul 01, 2020 through Jun 30, 2022
$15,000
Read Full Announcement
LIFE ALONG THE EL PASO-JUAREZ BORDER
Eraldo Chiecchi
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS
Nov 01, 2020 through Oct 31, 2022
$40,000
Read Full Announcement
RACIAL DIVIDED: EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Wei-Ling Sun
AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Oct 31, 2021
$5,000
Read Full Announcement
GEOGRAPHIES OF DISPLACEMENT: MEXICAN MIGRANT/REFUGEE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE MEXICO-UNITED STATES BORDERLANDS
Jeremy Slack
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Oct 15, 2020 through Dec 31, 2022
$79,286
Read Full Announcement
PRECONCENTRATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ECONOMIC TRACE ELEMENTS IN PERMIAN BASIN PRODUCED WATERS
Mark Engle
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES CO.
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES CO.
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$179,000
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EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE OF CHAGAS DISEASE FOR US MILITARY READINESS ALONG SOUTH WEST US MEXICO BORDER PORTS OF ENTRY
Rigoberto Delgado
DOD - ARMY ARMAMENT RESEARCH D AND EC THROUGH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS
DOD - ARMY ARMAMENT RESEARCH D AND EC THROUGH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$124,629
Read Full Announcement
PROMOTORA DE SALUD COVID-19 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
Bibiana Mancera
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH PASO DEL NORTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY THROUGH PASO DEL NORTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Dec 30, 2020
$90,000
Read Full Announcement
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY RECORDING OF NEURONAL NETWORKS DURING SUBORBITAL SPACEFLIGHT
Binata Joddar
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH IMEC
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH IMEC
Nov 02, 2020 through May 02, 2022
$140,000
Read Full Announcement
ARCTIC RESEARCH MAPPING APPLICATION MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT 2020
Craig Tweedie
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
Sep 28, 2020 through Jan 31, 2021
$88,891
Read Full Announcement
TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE AMONG MIGRANT CHILDREN FROM CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
Mark Lusk
RESEARCH PROGRAMS ON MIGRATION AND HEALTH - BERKELEY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS ON MIGRATION AND HEALTH - BERKELEY
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$5,000
Read Full Announcement
DEVELOPMENT OF BACTERIOPHAGES FOR WASTE-WATER TREATMENT IN THE SHALE ENERGY SECTOR
Zacariah Hildenbrand
BIOTA SOLUTIONS LLC.
BIOTA SOLUTIONS LLC.
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2021
$23,400
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BUILDING CAPACITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OF LONGITUDINAL DATA FOR EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH
Thomas Fullerton
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Sep 01, 2019 through Aug 31, 2021
$244,955
Read Full Announcement
UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NOTCHES, POVERTY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DYNAMIC DECISION MAKING
John Gibson
CHARLES G. KOCH FOUNDATION
CHARLES G. KOCH FOUNDATION
Apr 01, 2020 through Mar 31, 2021
$56,000
Read Full Announcement
Title IV-E TX Department of Family & Protective Services - Child Welfare Services Social Work Training Program
Friedman, Bruce David
TX DEPT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SRVCS
TX DEPT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SRVCS
Jul 01, 2020 through Jun 30, 2022
$484,077
Read Full Announcement
STTR I: RAPID AND REPROGRAMMABLE ASSAY DEVELOPMENT FOR MULTIPLEXED GENE DETECTION
Taslim Al-Hilal
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THROUGH GINER INC
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THROUGH GINER INC
Dec 01, 2020 through May 31, 2021
$49,949
Read Full Announcement
COLLABORATIVE CENTER FOR AEROSPACE SCIENCES - ELECTROSPRAY
Amelia Greig
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY
Dec 03, 2019 through Sep 30, 2020
$80,000
Read Full Announcement
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO MEET KOLOA RECOVERY GOALS: DEVELOPING MOLECULAR-BASED SIMULATIONS TO INFORM STOCKING AND REMOVAL PRACTICES
Philip Lavretsky
US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE THROUGH GOVERNMENT OF HAWAII
US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE THROUGH GOVERNMENT OF HAWAII
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$86,027
Read Full Announcement
GENOMIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF LANDSCAPE-LEVEL HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN WILD AND DOMESTICATED CONGENERS
Philip Lavretsky
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2024
$704,315
Read Full Announcement
SC1: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A NOVEL BIOPRINTED, HUMAN-DIABETIC CARDIAC ORGANOID MODEL
Binata Joddar
NIH - NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
NIH - NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
Sep 15, 2020 through Aug 31, 2024
$1,203,920
Read Full Announcement
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF POLYETHER ANTIBIOTIC BIOSYNTHESIS
Chu-Young Kim
NIH - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
NIH - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
Sep 15, 2020 through Aug 31, 2025
$1,208,000
Read Full Announcement
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR ACCELERATING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY (CAOE)
Olac Fuentes
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THROUGH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THROUGH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Aug 01, 2020 through Jun 30, 2022
$206,681
Read Full Announcement
MINERVA CUEVAS RETROSPECTIVE AND COMMUNITY-BASED COMMISSION
Kerry Doyle
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
Jan 01, 2021 through Dec 31, 2021
$20,000
Read Full Announcement
RAPID ACCELERATION ON METAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Francisco Medina
ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY
ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY
Aug 21, 2020 through Aug 20, 2025
$200,000
Read Full Announcement
ORNL NICKEL-BASE SUPERALLOYS CHARACTERIZATION EXPERIENCE
Francisco Medina
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
Aug 12, 2020 through Mar 21, 2021
$50,000
Read Full Announcement
TALES FROM THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT: BORDERLANDS NARRATIVES ABOUT IDENTITY AND BINATIONALISM
Ignacio Martinez
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$165,736
Read Full Announcement
IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING IN POWER ENGINEERING
Paras Mandal
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2023
$120,000
Read Full Announcement
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO – REGULAR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Luis J. Mendez
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Sep 01, 2020 through Aug 31, 2025
$1,730,494
Read Full Announcement
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EXAMINING THE NATURE AND IMPACTS OF INSTRUCTORS' COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
Jeffrey Olimpo
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Oct 01, 2020 through Sep 30, 2022
$74,856
Read Full Announcement
New Patents
UTEP is striving to increase its number of US patents issued each year. Two patents were issued in fiscal year 2015, six in 2016, five in 2017, nineteen in 2018, eighteen in 2019, and eighteen in 2020. This fiscal year, since September 1, 2020, two US patents have been issued. This impressive and consistent increase represents UTEP’s commitment to research, discovery and creativity, and innovation and invention.
Molecular Imprinted Colored Silica Beads
Swirl Torch Igniter
Ahsan Choudhuri, Norman Love, Scott Hill, Luis Sanchez
Patent No. 10,823,398
Issue Date: November 03, 2020
More
Patent No. 10,823,398
Issue Date: November 03, 2020
More
Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing System for 3D Structural Electronic, Electromagnetic and Electromechanical Components/Devices
Ryan Wicker, Eric MacDonald, David Espalin, Danny Muse, Francisco Medina
Patent No. 10,748,867
Issue Date: August 18, 2020
More
Patent No. 10,748,867
Issue Date: August 18, 2020
More
Research News from University Communications
Below you will find the collection of research-related articles written by University Communications since December. ORSP is very appreciative of our partnership with University Communications, working to promote the accomplishments of our faculty and staff. These research-related articles are also reflected in Expertise Connector, linked to the individuals and campus units featured in the written pieces.
Full Throttle: Faculty Poised to Lead Aerospace Efforts with Student Focus
A cadre of young, talented faculty members at The University of Texas at El Paso is poised to lead the next generation of aerospace research and education efforts at the University’s renowned Aerospace Center, also known as cSETR, through their wide spectrum of expertise, innovative research and ardent focus on student success.
UTEP Awarded Prestigious OSHA Grant to Help Keep Construction Workers Safe
The University of Texas at El Paso is one of 80 U.S. institutions awarded a prestigious Susan Harwood federal safety and health training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to train hard-to-reach Hispanic workers in El Paso and neighboring areas for the seventh consecutive year.
UTEP Researchers Join List of Top Researchers in the World
When The University of Texas at El Paso announced it was awarded an R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2019, the distinction signaled UTEP’s arrival on the national stage as one of the premier research institutions in the country. That reputation was cemented further thanks to a recently published study of the world’s top researchers.
UTEP Study to Examine Effects of Vaping on the Brain and Behavior
Vaping has been linked to lung disease and deaths, and scientists are racing to learn more about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes, particularly in teens whose brains are still developing and are more sensitive to the rewarding effects of nicotine products.
UTEP Geospatial Scholar Receives National Fellowship for COVID-19 Study
EL PASO, Texas – The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many people with disabilities throughout the United States. A researcher at The University of Texas at El Paso will use geospatial software and cutting-edge techniques to learn the extent of their exposure.
UTEP Awarded National Designation for Economic Impact on the Paso del Norte Region
The University of Texas at El Paso earned the Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University designation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and its Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) for the positive economic impact the University has had on the Paso del Norte region.
UTEP Faculty Member Honored as Educator of the Year by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Adeeba A. Raheem, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, was named the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award in Higher Education for 2020 by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
UTEP to Inform Earth Science Research as Member of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
The University of Texas at El Paso recently was selected as a member of the prestigious University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). UCAR is a nonprofit consortium of 120 North American colleges and universities focused on research and training in the atmospheric and related Earth system sciences.
NSF Awards UTEP Grant to Study Word Choice Phenomena
The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a three-year, $150,000 grant to The University of Texas at El Paso’s Iva Ivanova, Ph.D., to study the mental processes that bilingual speakers use to choose their words.
UTEP and Community Partners Awarded $1.5M NSF Grant to Improve Quality of Life for Senior Citizens through Technology
A team of interdisciplinary researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso in collaboration with the City of El Paso and El Paso Community College (EPCC) recently was awarded nearly $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and sustain the social connectedness of seniors to improve their quality of life through technology, community engagement and social sciences.
UTEP, High Schools Build Paths to Science Careers
Osvaldo Morera, Ph.D., understands what it is like to be judged by an accent and undervalued by a standardized test. The son of Cuban immigrants also knows the benefits and importance of academic rigor and treating students with respect.
UTEP Top Research Centers Announce Plans for Youngstown Expansion
EL PASO, Texas – Two renowned research centers at the The University of Texas at El Paso have announced plans to open a unit in Youngstown, Ohio, to create a joint presence for collaborative opportunities with Youngstown State University (YSU) and the region’s business community focused on advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense technologies.
UTEP Leads Collaborative Abiotic CO2 Project Through $1.18 Million NSF Grant
The University of Texas at El Paso received a $1.18 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to learn more about greenhouse gas abiotic carbon dioxide (CO2) dynamics in dryland systems through the study of irrigated pecan orchards throughout the El Paso region.
UTEP Tracks Traffic-Related Air Pollution Near Regional School Zones
The University of Texas at El Paso’s Department of Civil Engineering was awarded $30,000 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) through the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin to address community exposure to traffic related air pollution near school zones in the Paso del Norte region using low-cost air sensors.
Grant Funds UTEP Efforts to Prepare, Assist Teachers
The University of Texas at El Paso’s College of Education, in collaboration with several community partners, has launched the latest in a series of initiatives meant to recruit, train and retain teachers who will serve students in the Paso del Norte region.
FBI Awards UTEP Professor Grant to Study Interview Methods
EL PASO, Texas – The FBI recently awarded The University of Texas at El Paso’s Misty Duke, Ph.D., a grant to examine the effectiveness of two different methods to conduct investigative and intelligence interviews.
UTEP Engineering Students Awarded Scholarships
Six undergraduate engineering students from The University of Texas at El Paso claimed the majority of scholarships awarded by the Department of Energy’s Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) to take part in internships at the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), managed by Honeywell.
UTEP and TTUHSC El Paso Announce Seed Grants, New Initiatives for Collaborative Health Research
UTEP President Heather Wilson and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso President Richard Lange, M.D., announced new initiatives to strengthen collaboration and expand health research involving faculty at both universities.
UTEP's Rubin Center Receives Grant, Will Help Schools
The National Endowment for the Arts, through the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), awarded a grant to The University of Texas at El Paso’s Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts as part of the federal COVID-19 response.
UTEP Professor Earns International Book Award
Empowering Latino Futures (ELF) announced that The University of Texas at El Paso’s Andrea Cote Botero, Ph.D., was among the winners during the group’s 22nd annual International Latino Book Awards.
UTEP Social Work Faculty Member Awarded Top Mexican Government Honor
EL PASO, Texas — Eva Moya, Ph.D., associate professor of social work at The University of Texas at El Paso, has been recognized with the regional 2020 Ohtli Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican government to individuals who have aided, empowered or positively affected the lives of Mexican nationals in the United States and other countries.
UTEP-led Research Team Aiming to Understand Impacts of Hybridization Awarded $1 Million NSF Grant
EL PASO, Texas – A team of researchers from multiple institutions led by Philip Lavretsky, Ph.D., assistant professor in The University of Texas at El Paso’s Department of Biological Sciences, was awarded nearly $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance ongoing research to understand the adaptive impacts of hybridization between wild and domesticated animal populations.
NSF Awards UTEP $5 Million to Lead Study of Earth’s Surface in Drylands
A team of interdisciplinary researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso was awarded $5.27 million by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance critical zone (CZ) research in drylands. The University is one of nine funded CZ research projects in the nation.
UTEP’s Student Support Services Program Earns $1.7 Million Grant
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $1.7 million grant to The University of Texas at El Paso’s Student Support Services Program (SSSP). This award will fund five years of the program’s operations.
UTEP Partnership to Advance Electric Transportation and Sustainability on a Global Scale
The University of Texas at El Paso is partnering with Utah State University (USU) on an innovative collaboration involving a consortium of universities working to transform the automotive, transportation and electrical grid industries on an international scale.
UTEP Partnership Receives Federal Grant to Combat Opioid Abuse in West Texas Counties
EL PASO, Texas – The University of Texas at El Paso’s Minority AIDS Research Center (MARC) is the subrecipient of a $1 million implementation grant to target substance use disorders and opioid use disorders in five rural counties along the Texas-Mexico border.
UTEP Professor Among Finalists for Major Art Prize
An international organization has nominated Jess Tolbert, assistant professor of art at The University of Texas at El Paso, for a prestigious award that recognizes artists who achieve creative excellence by combining craft with contemporary culture.
UTEP to Host Major National Modeling and Simulations Virtual Town Hall Conference
The University of Texas at El Paso will host a virtual town hall conference on strengthening a national foundation for advanced modeling and simulations (M&S) at minority-serving institutions beginning at 8:30 a.m. MST Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, via Microsoft Teams. Various sessions are scheduled throughout the day until 1:50 p.m.
UTEP Welcomes 37 New Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty Members
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) welcomed 37 new tenured and tenure-track faculty members to start the 2020-21 academic year.
UTEP Expands Partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
EL PASO, Texas – The University of Texas at El Paso and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have signed an agreement to create new research and internship opportunities for University faculty members and students.
Miners on a Mission: UTEP’s cSETR Helps Launch Successful Aerospace Careers
Growing up, Rene Miranda dreamed of becoming a firefighter or a paramedic. Despite his early fascination with constructing objects out of Legos and a natural curiosity for mechanics, becoming an engineer was far from his mind. But during a visit to a college open house while a high school senior, Miranda discovered The University of Texas at El Paso’s College of Engineering and quickly altered his career aspirations.
UTEP Professor Part of Comprehensive Prison Study
EL PASO, Texas – The University of Texas at El Paso’s Melinda Tasca, Ph.D., is participating in the most comprehensive study ever into the causes and effects of prison violence. Researchers expect their findings to enhance institutional culture and safety within prisons.
For a complete list of research news, please visit the Expertise Connector Research Stories page
Expertise Connector (EC)
Below are brief summaries of the new research faculty and professional staff who have joined Expertise Connector.
If you have ideas or comments about EC, please email econnect@utep.edu.
ULTRA-LOW DISORDER GRAPHENE QUANTUM DOT-BASED SPIN QUBITS FOR CYBER SECURE FOSSIL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
In order to secure communication systems, this project generates neoteric graphene quantum dots as the basis for building quantum bits (qubits) using a novel fabrication technology termed Nanotomy and scanning probe-atomic oxidation lithography.
CONSORTIUM FOR HYBRID AND RESILIENT ENERGY SYSTEMS (CHRES)
This project supports educates and trains the next generation of engineers and scientists in energy systems integration.
NETWORK CLUSTER: PATTERNS AND CONTROLS OF CO2 FLUXES, ECOHYDROLOGY, AND NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY ON PEDOGENIC CARBONATE-DOMINATED DRYLAND CRITICAL ZONE
This project examines how rainfall pulses drive land-atmosphere exchanges, soil biogeochemistry, and ecohydrology in natural terrestrial and playa settings that are representative of global dryland landscapes.
NSF ERC FOR ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH POWERED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ROADWAY ELECTRIFICATION (ASPIRE)
This project aims to achieve a sustainable future for transportation through widespread electrification of roadway vehicles in the light duty sector, catalyzing exponential growth in electrification of larger vehicles, from SUVs to semi-trucks.
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.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF SELF-SENSING POLYMER COMPOSITES
The goal of this project is to explore the incorporation of smart materials in additively manufactured polymer structures for embedded sensing applications. Several smart materials such as piezoelectrics and thermochromics will be incorporated into polymer matrix including silicone or epoxy using additive manufacturing technology namely direct write.
SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMOPLASTICS AND THERMSETS
This project focuses on material design for selective laser sintering additive manufacturing.
NANO-ENHANCED ELECTRODIALYSIS MEMBRANES FOR SELECTIVE NITRATE REMOVAL
This project assesses NEWT-developed membranes for nitrate selectivity.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE EL PASO MPO TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN WEB APPLICATION
This project develops an interactive web application for encapsulating the core functions of the El Paso Metropolitan Organization’s databases and analytical tools to improve efficiency.
SECURITY AND STRATEGIC TRADE MANAGEMENT
This project supports evaluation of the Department of States’ Security and Strategic Trade Management Academy project that trains foreign government officials on policy, licensing, and enforcement.
TEN TARGETS FOR TEXAS: PROSPECTIVE STRATEGIC MINERAL WEALTH ON STATE LANDS
This project identifies locations in Texas abundant in rare earths and lithium that are raw materials for renewable energy, such as wind turbines.
MATERIALS FOR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS: FIBER CONTAINING COMPOSITES
This project investigates high performance thermoset resins to understand how their thermal and mechanical properties can be improved.
THERMAL AGING STUDY FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED F357 ALUMINUM
This project investigates the effects of thermal treatments and service temperatures upon long term performance of F357 aluminum as material for additive manufacturing.
HORIZON CITY ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS DUE TO COVID19
The Hunt Institute will estimate the potential savings in travel time, travel costs, and traffic congestion for teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects on employment by occupation in Horizon City.
RUBIN CENTER COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTER FOR SEXUAL AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
Rubin Center is partnering with the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) to provide visual arts programming in order to create emotional outlets from the effects of the pandemic.
SUPPORTING CLINICAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO MITIGATE IMPEDIMENTS DUE TO COVID-19
This project uses evidence-based practices to support virtual student clinical learning in meeting specific clinical objectives.
STEMGROW PLUS, A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING COMPONENT
This supplemental funding supports the ongoing work of STEMGROW to support students at EPCC and UTEP in completing STEM degrees.
CAMPUS ADVOCACY, RESOURCES AND EDUCATION
This program supports victims of crimes and their supporting networks by offering timely services, educating the public, and providing training of campus stakeholders in order to reduce barriers for survivors seeking assistance.
INCREASING STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY CAPACITY TO PLACE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS
This project upgrades and increases the competencies, skills, and knowledge of community and state vocational rehabilitation agencies in order to enable individuals with disabilities, including Veterans, to achieve quality employment and career advancement.
USE OF PHOTOVOICE TO MAKE VISIBLE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MIGRANT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN JUAREZ AND EL PASO
This project trains facilitators on the use of Photovoice in order to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on transgender migrants in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
TARGETING EARLY INTERVENTION PERSONNEL TURNOVER THROUGH PROVEN RETENTION STRATEGIES
This project addresses the ongoing challenges confronted by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) contractors experiencing low retention of early intervention personnel.
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE IN EL PASO COUNTY
In response to the current food insecurity crisis in our community, this interdisciplinary and community-engaged research project examines emergency food assistance in order to strengthen food assistance policies in El Paso.
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION HAZARD TRAINING FOR HISPANIC WORKERS IN EL PASO AND NEIGHBORING AREAS
This project provides hazards prevention training for non-English speaking and other vulnerable residential construction workers in the greater El Paso, Texas area.
BROADBAND LIMITATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IMPACT OF EXPANDING BROADBAND SERVICES IN EL PASO COUNTY
In response to COVID-19, this project conducts a comprehensive feasibility study and develops a business plan to understand El Paso's requirements, market needs, demographic and economic factors, and potential regional impacts of a municipal broadband service.
GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP) - HECTOR ITURRIAGA
Having demonstrated his potential for significant achievement in science, Hector Iturriaga receives this NSF Graduate Research Fellowship award to support his graduate work over three years.
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PARSING OUT THE CONTROLS OF CLIMATE, GEOLOGY, AND LAND USE ON RIVERINE (234U/238U) RATIOS IN TEXAS RIVER BASINS
The research investigates a uranium isotope to understand its variations in Texas rivers.
DASHBOARDS FOR MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES DURING PANDEMIC
This project creates a centralized information source for stakeholders, businesses, and communities to identify and locate local manufacturers who can adapt their facilities to produce personal protective equipment required for the community in light of the existing pandemic.
MIRO CENTER FOR SPACE EXPLORATION AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
This renewal grant supports the core technical program of cSETR and its continued focus on Lunar Exploration Technologies, which is highly integrated and leveraged with five other NASA-supported alliances/centers.
PROJECT ACE: ACTION FOR EQUITY - A BUILDING SCHOLARS PIPELINE
This project will increase the pipeline of Hispanic high school students prepared and motivated to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral sciences and engineering by recruiting and engaging students and teachers from underrepresented and underprivileged high schools in multi-tiered mentoring environment and research-focused curriculum.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT IN CYBERSECURITY AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE OBJECTIVES
The project provides technical support on assigned projects in the areas of Cybersecurity and Electronic Warfare.
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: SITS: DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE-SCALE SENSOR AND REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY TO QUANTIFY ABIOTIC CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION IN IRRIGATED SOILS OF ARID LANDS
This project will monitor the spatiotemporal variation of abiotic CO2 efflux from land to atmosphere created by intensive irrigation of marginal arid lands that have been converted to farmlands to support food production and population growth.
FORECASTING THE DEMAND FOR INFLUENZA VACCINES AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE VACCINATION RATES IN EL PASO
This project forecasts the demand for influenza vaccines in order to adequately prepare for the onset of influenza, especially among the most vulnerable populations, such as adults over 60 years of age.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH INTELLIGENCE INDEX: A BASELINE FOR DEPLOYING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO CONTROL THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN EL PASO
This project applies a regional population health index to identify clusters of people with similar risk conditions in order for public officials to prioritize where to invest resources to contain COVID-19.
THE NATIONAL COVID-19 RESILIENCY NETWORK - IMPACTING EL PASO AND MOORE COUNTIES
This project mitigates the impact of COVID-19 on Hispanic and migrant worker [meat packing and farm workers] populations in the El Paso and Moore counties.
GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP) - JAIME EDUARDO REGIS
Having demonstrated his potential for significant achievement in his research, James Eduardo Regis has been awarded the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to support him in his graduate work.
DRIVE AM: DRIVING RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND VALUE THROUGH EDUCATION IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
The mission of DRIVE AM is to produce a superior additive manufacturing-educated military, domestic manufacturing workforce, and defense supply chain as well as provide a K-PhD STEM education pipeline and business creation ecosystem - a holistic approach for developing proficiency in additive manufacturing while growing the local El Paso and national economies.
COALITION FOR INSPIRATION, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING AT HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS
The goal of this planning grant is to complete initiation and planning phases for the Coalition for Innovation, Education and Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Hispanic Serving Institutions (ECE@HSI) program. Its overarching goal is broadening participation of Hispanic students in electrical and computer engineering with the community of academic institutions and stakeholders through addressing issues, applying evidence-based strategies, and providing students with technical and professional skills.
TX PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 10 U.S.-MX BORDER COUNTIES RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM-IMPLEMENTATION (RCORP-I) CONSORTIUM.
This collaborative project supports the treatment for and prevention of substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders, in the low access and high risk rural counties of Hudspeth, Culberson, Presidio, Brewster and Jeff Davis located on the U.S.-Mexico border in the southwestern region of the State of Texas.
A SPECIMEN PROCESSING LABORATORY AT INDIO MOUNTAINS RESEARCH STATION HEADQUARTERS
This project builds a laboratory building dedicated to carrying out various scientific activities involving different species of vertebrates commonly found at the Indio Mountains Research Station, a 40,000-acre research and educational center located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of Trans-Pecos Texas, near the international U.S.-Mexico border.
DIGITIZING TRANS-BORDER COLLECTIONS FROM A SMALL HERBARIUM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
This project will digitally image, barcode and georeference 26,867 herbarium specimens from the southwest US and Mexico and create an exhibit and programming about the project, highlighting the historical Elsie Slater collection.
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO MEET KOLOA RECOVERY GOALS: DEVELOPING MOLECULAR-BASED SIMULATIONS TO INFORM STOCKING AND REMOVAL PRACTICES
This project creates a tool for the adaptive management of the pure endangered Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana) known locally as Koloa.
VERIFICATION OF TRAFFIC SPEED DEFLECTION DEVICES′ (TSDDS) MEASUREMENTS
This research project identifies the deflection measurements using Traffic Speed Deflection Devices (TSDDs) to assess management of the highway network; develops a procedure for verifying TSDD measurements; and develops a recommended standard practice for implementing this procedure.
ETHNOHISTORIC AND ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF EL CAMINO REAL DE TIERRA ADENTRO NHT ALONG U.S.- MEXICAN BORDER
The focus of the study will be to document the stories of knowledgeable people, particularly those of American Indians and potentially Mexican Indians, who still have historical ties to this portion of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (ELCA) and to the physical character and features of the landscape and buildings, as originally and subsequently developed. The project will involve a series of oral history interviews, as well as historical archival research, to assess the cultural history of the region associated with the Camino Real. Dr. Shepherd will collaborate with the National Park Service and Dr. Deni Seymour of Southwest Borderlands LLC, on this multi-year project.
ACCELERATED CREEP TESTING TO SUPPORT MANTAS
The primary objective of this proposal is to support the mechanical testing and analysis of conventional (CCT) and accelerated creep test (ACT) data for the foundry-less casting and laser powder bed fusion alloys developed under the MANTAS project.
FUEL CELL FEASIBILITY: POLYMER GASKETS FOR PEM FUEL CELLS
This project identifies and tests potential material for fuel cell gaskets.
FUEL CELL FEASIBILITY: ADDITIVE MANFACTURED HARDWARE
This project develops prototype fuel cell hardware (e.g., gaskets, bi-polar plates) using additive manufacturing technology.
CONTACT TRACER TRAINING AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM
This project identifies key personnel for the City of El Paso who will have expertise in epidemiology, case investigations, and contact tracing.
FEMTOSECOND LASER MACHINING DEVELOPMENT
This project investigates the effects of femto-second laser machining on ceramics, metals, and polymers in order to optimize equipment for the Kansas City National Security Campus.
CENTER FOR MOLECULAR MAGNETIC QUANTUM MATERIALS
This project performs quantum calculations on models for molecular Qubits in order to assess their viability for use in Quantum Systems and Quantum Computing.
ASSISTANCE IN TRAVEL DEMAND MODELING, AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE EL PASO MPO'S UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
The El Paso MPO develops the Unified Planning Work Plan (UPWP) that serves as the blueprint for all the activities to be performed on an annual basis as mandated by federal laws, regulations and procedures. The MPO requires the full-time assistance of UTEP qualified personnel, specifically Dr. Claudia Valles, in the performance of several of the UPWP subtasks in collaboration with senior MP staff.
DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (DDETFP) GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP - BENJAMIN ARRAS
This graduate fellowship supports Benjamin Arras.
SUPPORT OF CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS
This project provides continuous maintenance and updates of the Congestion Management Process.
STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: CATALOGING ASTRONAUT PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
This project analyzes uncatalogued astronaut photographs using data and software filters provided by the Subcontract Technical Monitor (STM), resulting in catalogued images
FORENSIC, TESTING, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR GEOTECHNICAL, SOILS AND AGGREGATES BRANCH
This project provides technical support, using specialized laboratory and field-testing equipment, to the Soils & Aggregates Section, Materials & Tests Division of the Texas Department of Transportation.
AM DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSES
In collaboration with ARL, the EM Lab will design, simulate, manufacture, and test 3D antennas and devices, such as transmission line components, filters, and splitters.
STTR: 3D PRINTED PHOTOMULTIPLIER CIRCUITS
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) will aid Radiation Detection Technologies (RDT) in the design and manufacturing of a 3D/volumetric electrical circuit for use in a photomultiplier.
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF DESIGN-TOOLS FOR META-OPTICS
This project designs a meta-surface lens that operates over a wide band of wavelengths.
IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES TO INCREASE SARS-COV-2 TESTING AMONG AN UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE HISPANIC POPULATION
This project identifies ways to increase SARS-CoV-2 testing for vulnerable Hispanic residents of El Paso County.
SENATE QUALITY CANDIDATES AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE: THE ROLE OF POLITICAL EXPERIENCE IN SHAPING SENATE ELECTION OUTCOMES BEFORE AND AFTER DIRECT-ELECTION
This project supplements an existing novel dataset of Senate candidates’ political experience during the entire direct-election era in order to build a comprehensive dataset of Senate candidate backgrounds and election outcomes from 1868-2020.
EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION: THE ROLE OF ISSUE SALIENCE
This project investigates elected officials’ issues salient to their constituents in order to determine legislative representation effectiveness.
TARGETING A STRESS-DERIVED IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ADENOSINE PATHWAY IN TUMORS RESISTANT TO CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS
This project investigates immunotherapies in resistant cancers, such as pancreatic cancer.
DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR 3D MAPPING AT MACROSCOPIC SCALES
This project aids in the transformation of the geosciences to a fully 3D or even 4D science by contributing to the infrastructure for basic geologic mapping in a fully 3D environment.
COUNCIL OF GRADUATE SCHOOLS: PHD CAREER PATHWAYS DATA COLLECTION IN THE HUMANITIES GRANT PROPOSAL
This grant collects and analyzes data to inform efforts to improve the preparation of PhD students for their careers.
LIFE ALONG THE EL PASO-JUAREZ BORDER
This grant supports Borderzine students who are bicultural journalists, understanding the nuances of the border community and its relation to national politics.
RACIAL DIVIDED: EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
This research aims to understand the impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) in a k-12, under-resourced, public school district in the El Paso area.
GEOGRAPHIES OF DISPLACEMENT: MEXICAN MIGRANT/REFUGEE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE MEXICO-UNITED STATES BORDERLANDS
This subcontract supports a post-doctoral scholar in acclimating to the region and facilitates the project team’s access to local resources and stakeholders.
PRECONCENTRATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ECONOMIC TRACE ELEMENTS IN PERMIAN BASIN PRODUCED WATERS
This project develops water-specific methods to quantify critical and valuable elements in produced water waste samples from oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin.
EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE OF CHAGAS DISEASE FOR US MILITARY READINESS ALONG SOUTH WEST US MEXICO BORDER PORTS OF ENTRY
This project analyzes the economic impact of strategies to contain Chaga’s disease on the U.S. border with Mexico.
PROMOTORA DE SALUD COVID-19 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
The goal of the project is to coordinate promotores de salud/community health workers (CHWs) to disseminate and engage community members with COVID-19 prevention, mitigation, testing information and navigation to inlcude influenza vaccine information with El Paso County.
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY RECORDING OF NEURONAL NETWORKS DURING SUBORBITAL SPACEFLIGHT
In collaboration with IMEC, this project will perform ground-based control experiments to obtain long-term cell culture measurements.
ARCTIC RESEARCH MAPPING APPLICATION MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT 2020
This award supports ongoing maintenance of the Arctic Research Mapping Application and the Arctic Observing Viewer, providing users access to historic, current, and future arctic research logistics operations.
TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE AMONG MIGRANT CHILDREN FROM CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
This study investigates trauma and resilience among Mexican and Central American migrant children who leave their communities to undertake the dangerous journey to the United States.
DEVELOPMENT OF BACTERIOPHAGES FOR WASTE-WATER TREATMENT IN THE SHALE ENERGY SECTOR
This project characterizes microbial species in produced waters and the subsequent treatment of the detected species with specific bacteriophages in order to develop cost-effective, chemical-free biocides that have direct applicability to various aspects of the energy sector.
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OF LONGITUDINAL DATA FOR EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH
This grant supports continuation of an existing research project analyzing longitudinal data to inform education policy.
UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NOTCHES, POVERTY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DYNAMIC DECISION MAKING
This project investigates the effect of the U.S. tax and benefits system on low-income individuals.
Title IV-E TX Department of Family & Protective Services - Child Welfare Services Social Work Training Program
This project provides staff development for TX Family and Protective Services, Region 10.
STTR I: RAPID AND REPROGRAMMABLE ASSAY DEVELOPMENT FOR MULTIPLEXED GENE DETECTION
This Phase I project provides intellectual support with bioinformatics, assay validation with biological samples, qPCR analysis and data evaluation, statistical analysis, and prototype design.
COLLABORATIVE CENTER FOR AEROSPACE SCIENCES - ELECTROSPRAY
This research award supports an investigation into the feasibility of machining electrospray thrusters directly into a satellite structure.
STTR I: HOLISTIC ALLOY DEVELOPMENT FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, INITIALLY FOCUSED ON HIGH PERFORMANCE CU-ALLOY FOR INJECTION MOLD MAKING
This project develops copper-based alloys for high-volume plastic injection molding operations, which enables fabrication of next-generation ultrafine-grained, high-strength, high-conductivity, thermally stable alloys
GENOMIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF LANDSCAPE-LEVEL HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN WILD AND DOMESTICATED CONGENERS
The overarching goal of this project is to understand the evolutionary outcomes of secondary contact between wild mallards and their domestic forms in order to assess any possible negative genetic effects.
SC1: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A NOVEL BIOPRINTED, HUMAN-DIABETIC CARDIAC ORGANOID MODEL
This research project develops a 'cardiac organoid' system derived from printed networks of human cardiac cells in order to understand and reveal mechanisms involved in diabetic heart disease and failure.
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF POLYETHER ANTIBIOTIC BIOSYNTHESIS
The overarching goal of our research program is to elucidate how nature synthesizes polyether natural products — an important source of human medicine that are highly challenging to synthesize in the laboratory due to their complex structure.
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR ACCELERATING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY (CAOE)
This multidisciplinary research team will develop a distributed decision-making system that interconnects the benefits of collective human intelligence and machine intelligence in order to improve the performance of conventional baggage screening.
MINERVA CUEVAS RETROSPECTIVE AND COMMUNITY-BASED COMMISSION
Mexican artist Minerva Cuevas (b. 1975, Mexico City) is a conceptual artist whose research-based creative practice spans film, performance, installation, mural painting, and technology. The Rubin Center will commission a new work based on her community-based practices to be created through a series of short-term residencies and exhibited as part of a retrospective exhibition of her social and political artwork.
RAPID ACCELERATION ON METAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
This project focuses on rapid additive manufacturing (AM) of alloys, low cost powders for AM applications, and AM process qualification for AM metal technology in order to enable the U.S. Army to modernize acquisition of long-range precision fires capability.
ORNL NICKEL-BASE SUPERALLOYS CHARACTERIZATION EXPERIENCE
This work advances additive manufacturing technology of electron beam melting and selective laser melting, focusing on new material parameter development for nickel-based alloys.
TALES FROM THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT: BORDERLANDS NARRATIVES ABOUT IDENTITY AND BINATIONALISM
This project supports a 2021 Summer Institute for middle and high school teachers to explore the Chihuahuan Desert.
IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING IN POWER ENGINEERING
The goal of this collaborative project is to carry out transformative educational research to train the next generation of diverse electric power engineers who possess strong analytical skills and increased interest in advanced studies, especially among women and Hispanics.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO – REGULAR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
This continuation grant supports the Student Support Services Program for 200 first-generation, low-income, and disabled students with academic need.
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EXAMINING THE NATURE AND IMPACTS OF INSTRUCTORS' COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
This project explores explore instructor talk in course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) vs. traditional lab courses and its relationship to students' motivation and psychosocial development.
Eric MacDonald
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Dr. MacDonald's research interests include 3D printed electronics and multi-functional structures and ultra-low power chip design and electronics for harsh environments. Recent projects include 3D printing of a CubeSat which was launched into Low Earth Orbit in late 2013 and a replica of which is...
Taeko Hiroi
Professor, Political Science
Dr. Hiroi’s research interests include political institutions, legislative politics, electoral politics, executive-legislative relations, political representation, political accountability, democratization and consolidation, regime change, coups, political instability, corruption, comparative and...
Fran Nunez
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Dr. Nunez’s research interests consists of examining the measurement invariance of globally used nursing instruments, learning outcomes from the use of neuroeducation, and prevention of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Her additional interests are improving the lives of those with Alzheimer’s...
Danniel Rodriguez
Research Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering
Dr. Rodriguez has extensive pavements engineering research experience within academia research and with the Army Corps of Engineers: ERDC Airfields and Pavements Branch. He is particularly an expert on data mining and analyzing pavement performance databases, and is a lead developer for TxDOT...
Alexander Friedman
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
On a circuit level, neurons code information based on their state and environmental context. Dr. Friedman’s lab goal is to develop an understanding of their governing principles, similar to the laws of other fields of science, such as physics and chemistry, in which distinct rules can be used to...
Michael Harvey
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Dr. Harvey studies the origins of the diversity of life on Earth. He leverages natural history collections, new technologies for high-throughput DNA sequencing, and computational methods for big data analysis to identify how and why new species form. Most of his work focuses on bird diversity,...
Sergio Luna
Assistant Professor, Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering (IMSE)
Dr. Luna returns to his alma mater after completing a doctoral degree in Systems Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. His research interests focus on the intersection between data science, systems engineering, and strategic decision-making. While at Stevens, Dr....
DeLisa Hawkes
Assistant Professor, English
DeLisa D. Hawkes's research focuses on representations of genealogical discovery, ancestry, and intraracial tensions in nineteenth and early twentieth-century African American literature. More specifically, her work questions how the racial and cultural identities of one's ancestors impact...
Andrew Fultz
Assistant Professor, Marketing and Management
Andrew Fultz, Ph.D, studies entrepreneurship and resourceful behaviors in the context of small, resource-constrained, stigmatized, and otherwise disadvantaged organizations. Dr. Fultz is interested in understanding how and why these organizations emerge, achieve sustainable operations, and increase...
Cole Joslyn
Assistant Professor of Practice, Engineering Education and Leadership
Dr. Cole Hatfield Joslyn’s areas of interest are the professional formation of engineering leaders (particularly how students reconcile the social and technical nature of engineering and how to humanize engineering education curricula to help students grow and develop in multiple dimensions);...
Beatrice Lee
Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Counseling
Dr. Lee's research focuses on malleable risk and protective factors that can help people with chronic health conditions and disabilities deal more effectively with stress. She is interested in exploring the extent protective psychosocial factors can reduce vulnerability to experience stress, and...
Carlos Algara
Assistant Professor, Political Science
Dr. Carlos Algara is an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science in June 2019 from the University of California, Davis. Prior to coming to the University of Texas at El Paso, Dr. Algara was 2019-2020 American Political Science Association...
Abhijit Mandal
Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences
Dr. Mandal develops robust statistical methods that focus on eliminating the effect of outliers in noisy data. His background involves robust inference, big data analysis, non-parametric statistics and biostatistics.
Melinda Tasca
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice
Dr. Melinda Tasca is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at The University of Texas at El Paso. Her research focuses on corrections, the collateral consequences of incarceration, and disparities in the criminal justice system. Dr. Tasca has extensive experience...
Justice Walker
Assistant Professor, Teacher Education
Dr. Walker is a learning scientist that researches emerging technologies in biology and computer sciences and their use in K-12 education. He does this by developing, deploying and researching curriculum activities and their impact on student learning. Dr. Walker studies such outcomes as knowledge...
Edna Martinez
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Foundations
Dr. Martinez ‘s research agenda engages questions of policy and practice that impact the ways historically underrepresented students experience and access higher education. Her most recent work focuses on the community college baccalaureate (CCB). One consistent and important theme surrounding...
Hannah Volpert-Esmond
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Dr. Volpert-Esmond comes to UTEP with a research background in psychological and physiological stressors caused by experiences of discrimination, and early perceptual processes that are involved in the judgement of race or gender when looking at a person’s face. Dr. Volpert-Esmond earned her...
Wei-Ling Sun
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Foundations
Dr. Sun comes to UTEP from the Texas Center for Educational Policy at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin). Her research focuses on the sociopolitical contexts of equity-based reforms including issues related to school-to-prison pipeline in K-12 public schools, social justice leadership,...
Saeid Tizpaz Niari
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Saeid's research is to automate the process of finding and localizing bugs and vulnerabilities in large-scale software and machine learning systems. In particular, he is interested in analyzing differential issues where the differences in systems' behaviors lead to information leaks,...
Laura Alvarez
Assistant Professor, Geological Sciences
Dr. Alvarez comes to UTEP from the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma (OU), where she served as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and a postdoctoral research associate at the Center of Autonomous Sensing and Sampling. She has a research...
Johana Rocha
Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology and Special Services
Dr. Rocha's research focuses on clinical supervision with a special focus on supervisee and supervisor preparation, and supervisees' best practices. Dr. Rocha has been working in this area for the last 3 years, and as a product of this work, she has been the recipient of several national and...
Joel Cramer
Professor, Health Sciences (College of)
Dr. Cramer’s lab studies the form and function of human skeletal muscle. As a result, his research program is aligned with the programmatic theme of Exercise Physiology & Nutrition. Specifically, his lab use in vivo human subject research models to study the applied physiology and...
Chu-Ling Lo
Clinical Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Counseling
Rehabilitation counseling (RC) is a profession that helps people with disabilities improve their well-being and achieve various life goals, mainly in employment and independent living. Dr. Chu-Ling Lo is passionate about preparing future rehabilitation counselors by improving the curriculum and...
Bruce Friedman
Professor, Social Work
Dr. Friedman is a mixed methods, community-based participatory researcher. His research topics include: health inequalities, substance abuse treatment, homelessness, non-profit management, family systems, obesity, mental health, child welfare, spirituality, educational methods, and batterer’s...
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Eppie Rael, Professor Emeritus Department of Biological Sciences
April 10, 2018
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tomás Rivera Conference Center, Union East Building
“How Technology Influenced my Research”
Dr. Eppie Rael is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at The University of Albuquerque, his Master’s Degree from New Mexico Highlands University, and his Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Arizona. He came to UTEP in 1975 as an Assistant Professor, where he progressed to the rank of Associate Professor and then to Professor. At UTEP he served as Director of the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Program from 1982 through 1990, served as Director of the MBRS – SCORE Program from 1998 to 2005, and served as Director of the Border Biomedical Research Center from 1999 to 2005. He was the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences from 1999 to 2005. He received numerous research grants while at UTEP from the NIH and NSF, and from other granting institutions. He is one of the Founding Fathers of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Fifteen of his master’s students went on to receive the Ph.D. degree from various universities in the U.S.; twenty of his master’s students received M.D. degrees; and thirty-five additional students completed the requirements for the M.S. degree at UTEP. He authored or co-authored sixty-two journal articles with topics ranging from drug-drug interaction, immune cell function, venom distribution in rattlesnake populations, development of immunotoxins, and molecular models of metalloproteinases and their potential drug use.
Research Forums provide an opportunity to recognize the recent achievement of researchers on campus as well as feature a distinguished UTEP researcher discussing his/her research experiences and findings with the university community. The Vice President for Research invites you to join the faculty, students, alumni, and staff in discussing important and timely research topics to stimulate further investigation in advancing our collective knowledge.
Please click here to RSVP.
News from UTEP Research Administration
The Research Administration office under the Vice President for Research is here to assist with both proposal submission and post award management. Our Research Administrators (RA) guide PIs throughout the submission process and assist both PIs and grant administrators with post award management. Our RAs are assigned by department as listed on our website.Agency Updates
NIH Updates
NIH requests the Other Support document before award (Just in Time) or at the time of the annual progress report. This includes all active and pending support and allows NIH to confirm that there is no scientific, budgetary or commitment overlap.
Due to recent updates in the Uniform Guidance, which sets the administrative terms and conditions for all federal awarding agencies, NIH will be updating the Other Support form in the near future for greater transparency and clarity.
As per NIH: “Other Support includes all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial or institutional, available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors, including but not limited to research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and/or institutional awards. Training awards, prizes, or gifts do not need to be included.
NIH reminds applicants and recipients that other support includes all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant. This includes resource and/or financial support from all foreign and domestic entities, including but not limited to, financial support for laboratory personnel, and provision of high-value materials that are not freely available (e.g., biologics, chemical, model systems, technology, etc.).”
More information on the requirements can be found here.
NSF Updates
NSF updated their Research Terms and Conditions in order to reflect the updated Uniform Guidance, which sets the administrative terms and conditions for all federal awarding agencies.
One of the items that NSF added was regarding the disclosure of current support, including in-kind support. If it is discovered that a PI or co-PI failed to disclose accurate information, ORSP must provide the missing information to NSF.
This change illustrates the growing importance of accurate other support information for all federal agencies. If you are unsure of what information to include in your other support document, please seek assistance from your Research Administrator. For more information on these updates click here.
If you have any questions you would like addressed in a future newsletter issue, please email sukumar@utep.edu.