Newsletter (Aug 2025): Announcing the 2025 SSMN Grantees!

Discovering Aromatic Trees in the Caribbean Using High Throughput Sequencing Data

“Canellaceae is a small family of aromatic trees and shrubs distributed in tropical America and Africa comprising about 23 species in six genera. In the Caribbean Islands, members of Canellaceae represent one of the most ancient lineages of flowering plants in the region, where all known species are endemic to islands. The goal of this proposal is to clarify the generic placement of Caribbean Canellaceae. A taxonomic revision of the group is needed to confirm if they represent an insular endemic lineage. Putative new species have been observed but need to be validated. I propose to perform two short field expeditions in Jamaica and Hispaniola to collect samples of key taxa. Over 15 samples will be sequenced using Genome Skimming techniques to build a highly resolved phylogenetic tree to guide our efforts on choosing a genus for the over 10 Caribbean taxa."

 

A Novel Natural Products Discovery Approach to Harness Duckweed for Antimicrobial Innovation

“The rise of multi-drug resistant pathogens underscores the urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds. Plants produce diverse secondary metabolites, yet their potential remains largely untapped. My current efforts have been dedicated to characterizing the antimicrobial properties of five duckweed strains, and developing a duckweed metabolite reference library through novel NMR metabolomic techniques that leverage 13C isotopic labeling. Building upon this foundation, I hypothesize that duckweed-bacteria co-culturing will induce the biosynthesis of more potent, or entirely novel secondary metabolites. To test this, I will conduct a time-series 13C labeling experiment to track infection-induced metabolic flux, and identify newly produced compounds that can be tested for bioactivity. This innovative approach not only advances our understanding of how duckweed responds to microbial stress, but also has the potential to source new, targeted natural product leads against multi-drug resistant pathogens."

 

Reciprocal Influences of Discrimination and Loneliness on Cognitive Trajectories in Older Black Americans

“Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affects Black Americans. Discrimination is a stressor hypothesized to drive risk for AD and is linked to poor cognition, though the mechanisms are unclear. My work shows that discrimination increases loneliness in older persons. Loneliness also heightens the likelihood of interpreting social signals negatively to remain vigilant against rejection, and in doing so, lonely people may be more aware of discrimination in social interactions than non-lonely people. Thus, discrimination and loneliness may feed off one another, creating a negative feedback loop, carrying implications for cognition and risk for AD. Yet, no studies have examined loneliness as a mediator linking discrimination to cognition nor whether discrimination and loneliness reciprocally influence one another to impact cognition. The overarching goal of this work is to assess how discrimination, loneliness, and their interplay shape cognition in older Black Americans."

 

Developing an In-Class Newtonian Mechanics Activity Module using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory

“This project will apply Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory to an in-class activity in a first semester algebra-based collegiate physics class. The activity will focus on concepts around forces and acceleration and will be a multi-staged activity allowing students to engage with all four stages of Kolb’s learning cycle. There will be a hands-on component as well as components that create space for students to reflect on what they learned through the hands-on component and engage with the topic conceptually. It will also be flexible so that the activity can be performed by an individual student, a pair of students, or a group of four students. Their understanding will be assessed through traditional written assessments. Additionally, a side study will explore any correlation between a student’s Kolb learning style and the stage of the activity that the student had the greatest affinity towards."

Web-Based Application to Promote Data Discovery and Exploration of Earth Science Data

“This project aims to change the way scientific data, specifically Earth science data, is discovered and used. A recent push by funding agencies to make research data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable has resulted in a large volume of datasets published to online data repositories. However, there does not yet exist a way for researchers to quickly visualize and interact with datasets held in these repositories. Our project will begin to build a web-based application to facilitate interactive data exploration and discovery. This will allow users to graph data and compare datasets before downloading data and spending valuable time reformatting and coding to explore a dataset. As the volume of Earth science data continues to grow a framework is needed to easily explore previously collected data and integrate data across disciplines."

 

Quantifying the Impacts of Chloride During Bismuth Mediated Lead Detection

“Metal contamination of drinking water, specifically lead, continues to be a problem 2000 years after Vitruvius warned us and despite efforts like those in the Infrastructure Act. Point-of-use, or at-home, tests like those using electrochemistry could help highlight hotspots before children are harmed. My long-term goal is to develop inexpensive, low energy, point-of-use water quality monitors. This project’s goal is to understand the impact of bismuth hypochlorite on lead detection using electrochemistry over long times. During lead detection, we have observed distinct electrochemical changes when using water containing chloride ions. Based on theory, we believe this is due to bismuth hypochlorite forming on bismuth coated glassy carbon electrodes in the presence of chloride ions. We will characterize bismuth hypochlorite in simulated drinking water. Characterization will be done using imaging, high energy electron surface profiling techniques, and electrochemical techniques."

Assessment of Roosevelt Elk Diversity and Diet in Northwestern California

“Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti; "elk") experienced historical declines in California due to market hunting and habitat loss. Several herds occur in Redwood National Park (RNP), the largest in a prairie that contains Yurok ancestral lands and is adjacent to the Yurok Reservation. Yurok have a relationship with elk as a subsistence food and materials for ceremony, and through maintenance of prairies for elk habitat. However, access to elk is limited because no herds have re-established within Yurok jurisdiction, which is a fraction of ancestral territory. we aim to document the genetic diversity and diet of elk in RNP, via fecal DNA metabarcoding, for future comparison of vegetation within Yurok jurisdiction. We previously collected samples and extracted DNA; our next step is to index and sequence the samples. This study will provide a first step toward understanding whether Yurok prairies are suitable for elk based on forage plant species."

Developing a Biogeography Research and Mentoring Skill Set

“The proposed plan is to join The International Biogeography Society (TIBS), the largest society in my field. As a member I will network with and learn from researchers from various backgrounds and specialties in the field. I will attend four virtual workshops led by leaders in the field that will help me to develop my skills in handling biogeographic data and conduct analyses using species distribution models. Additionally, I will take what I learn and lead skills-building workshops for my colleagues at Texas Tech University. This will include leading projects where I will further develop my analytical skills as well as mentoring abilities."

 

 

 

Developing Skills to Enhance Student Interactions

"The proposed career development is an academic life coaching certificate. Having had the experience of being a first-generation graduate student, initially, I was unaware of how to navigate the academic setting, and I did not understand how to transform the available resources to fit my needs. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Program Director for the Pennsylvania State University Millennium Scholars Program (MSP) where I mentor/academically advise a select number of undergraduate students. Earning the academic coaching certificate will provide me with the formal training and credentials necessary to advance my engagement and effectiveness in supporting undergrad and graduate students."

 

 

 

Forensic Anthropology Mentoring and Certification

“This proposal is seeking support to access forensic anthropology casework and mentoring by Board Certified Forensic Anthropologists (D-ABFA) at the Tarrant County and the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Offices. In order to gain ABFA certification one must complete a set of competencies observed and signed off by D-ABFA's. This is not possible in Idaho as there are no D-ABFA's in Idaho or the surrounding states. This experience will allow me to conduct casework under the supervision of D-ABFA’s (Dr.’s Christian Crowder and Deb Pinto), and apply these experiences to the competencies required for board certification at the Analyst level."

 

 

Advancing Modeling of Particle Transport and Filtration in Groundwater

“The proposed project will provide advanced training in groundwater and hydrogeochemistry, focusing on how suspended particles (e.g., bacteria, nanoparticles, microplastics) move and filter through porous materials like soil and aquifers. The goal is to develop a mathematical model that predicts how the intricate pore network influences large-scale particle transport—key for groundwater protection and soil remediation. Dr. Morales will train with Prof. Marco Dentz, a leading expert in random walk theory and transport modeling, to gain direct experience in (i) analyzing particle transport using statistical methods and (ii) developing predictive models that incorporate stochastic dynamics. During the visit, Dr. Morales will formalize the collaboration by preparing a research grant proposal for the U.S. National Science Foundation. The proposal will support a Ph.D. student to expand the work, ensuring long-term impact in modeling contaminant transport and filtration processes.

Expanding Science Communication Through Children's Book Writing and Illustration

“My background in science journalism has fueled my passion for making science accessible to Black and Brown communities. Through my work with Capital B News, The Washington Post, and the American Geophysical Union, I have written investigative articles that translate complex environmental and climate science topics for diverse audiences. Receiving this grant would significantly impact my career by enabling me to bridge my expertise in science writing and environmental justice with children's book storytelling—a dream I've always had. This funding will provide access to writing and illustration courses that will enhance my ability to create visually engaging, science-focused narratives for young audiences. This project will strengthen my storytelling and outreach portfolio, positioning me for future funding opportunities in science communication, media, and children's literature. The development of a compelling, research-informed children’s book will allow me to take a crucial step toward making climate preparedness more inclusive and engaging for young readers."

Presenting "Advancing PFAS Treatment Research and Student Mentorship" at the 2025 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting in Boston, MA.

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting "Towards Designing Sustainable Interdisciplinary Creative Ecosystems" at the 2025 a2ru Conference: Creative Futures: Driving Interdisciplinary Innovation Through the Arts in Madison, WI.

 

 

 

 

Presenting "Single-cell genomic profiling of alpelisib response in patient-derived lymphatic malformation tissues: insights from ex vivo and in vitro models" at the Lymphatic Forum 2025 in Chicago, IL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting "A Framework for Reviewing and Evaluating Programmable Learning Technologies for K-12 Teachers" at the SIGCSE 2026 Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education in St. Louis, MO

 

 

 

Presenting "Climate, elevation, and land cover drive patterns in plant-pollinator networks in the Madrean sky islands" at the Bee Course at Southwestern Research Station in Portal, AZ.

The 74th Highway Geology Symposium in Morgantown, WV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting "Design Space Exploration of Spanning Structures with Embedded Periodic Anticlastic Surfaces" at the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) 2025 Symposium in Mexico City, Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting "Synthesis and characterization of alginate-chitosan films as antimicrobials for food package applications" at the 76th Southeastern and 81st Southwest Joint Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Orlando, FL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting "TGF-β1-induced Venous Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Reveals Unique Mechanophenotype" at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans, LA.

 

 

 

Presenting "Investigation of Metal-Oxide Nanosensors for Early Detection of Electric Vehicle Battery Failure" at IEEE SENSORS 2025 in Vancouver, Canada.

Presenting "Impossible Futures and the Ethics of Hopelessness" at the Annual Systemic Design Symposium of the Systemic Design Association in Toronto, Canada.