FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND-HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

GRANT PROGRAM

GRANT PROGRAM

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM (FUTURE ACT)

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (GRADUATE)

STUDENT-CENTERED STRATEGIES, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS IN SCIENCES -THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL NEED FOR WELL-EDUCATED SCIENTISTS, MATHEMATICIANS, ENGINEERS, AND TECHNICIANS BY SUPPORTING THE RETENTION AND GRADUATION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH DOCUMENTED FINANCIAL NEED. FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (FSU), A HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY, PARTNERS WITH FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (FTCC) TO FOSTER UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SUCCESS AND RESPOND TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE IN THE REGION. OVER ITS SIX-YEAR DURATION, THIS TRACK 2 PROJECT WILL AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO 40 UNIQUE FULL-TIME STUDENTS, WHO ARE PURSUING ASSOCIATE AND/OR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THESE FIELDS. FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS OF UP TO $15,000 PER YEAR FOR FOUR TO SIX YEARS. IN ADDITION TO SCHOLARSHIPS, THE PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING STUDENT SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE THIS COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC AND CO-CURRICULAR ECOSYSTEM. THE FOCUS ON CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE GROWING NEED FOR PROFESSIONALS WITH CREDENTIALS IN THESE DISCIPLINES AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES TO IMPACT THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DIVERSITY OF THIS REGION OF THE COUNTRY. THE OVERARCHING PROJECT GOAL IS TO INCREASE (A) THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE AND WHO GRADUATE FROM FSU AND (B) THE NUMBER OF FTCC STUDENTS EARNING ASSOCIATE DEGREES AND TRANSFERRING TO FSU IN THOSE FIELDS. FOSTERING CLEAR PATHWAYS FROM HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITMENT TO DEGREE ATTAINMENT IN CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, THE SPECIFIC GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO (1) IDENTIFY, RETAIN, AND GRADUATE STUDENTS PURSUING DEGREES IN CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE; (2) PROVIDE SCHOLARS WITH ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS; AND (3) PREPARE SCHOLARS FOR THE WORKFORCE AND/OR POST-BACCALAUREATE STUDIES. BUILDING UPON LESSONS LEARNED FROM PRIOR NSF SUPPORT AND THE LITERATURE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EVIDENCE-BASED INSTRUCTION AND CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THE EFFORT WILL INSTITUTE A SET OF INTEGRATED INTERVENTIONS THAT INCLUDE FACULTY AND PEER MENTORING; A SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM; FOSTERING COMPUTATIONAL THINKING, TECHNICAL SKILLS-BUILDING, AND STUDENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; COHORT COURSE SCHEDULING; ACTIVE LEARNING, INQUIRY-BASED LABS AND TUTORING; ON AND OFF CAMPUS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS; FIELD TRIPS TO GRADUATE SCHOOLS AND CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES; PARTICIPATION IN STUDENT CLUBS; AND ATTENDANCE AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES. IN CONCERT WITH THE EVALUATION THAT IS DESIGNED TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES, THE PROJECT WILL ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN TWO SPECIFIC AREAS. THE PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE TECHNICAL SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING ACTIVITIES ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, RETENTION, AND GRADUATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM). THE MIXED METHODS RESEARCH INVESTIGATION AIMS TO EXAMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE TWO SPECIFIC STRATEGIES CAN BENEFIT STUDENTS AND CAN BE EFFICIENTLY IMPLEMENTED IN STEM PROGRAMS AT OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, ESPECIALLY MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS. RESULTS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL AUDIENCES THROUGH INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS. THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY NSF'S SCHOLARSHIPS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME ACADEMICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED WHO EARN DEGREES IN STEM FIELDS. IT ALSO AIMS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE STEM WORKERS, AND TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, RETENTION, TRANSFER, GRADUATION, AND ACADEMIC/CAREER PATHWAYS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS PROGRAM

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES WILL SERVE 200 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR COLLEGE RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY.

SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATE SUCCESS IN BIOLOGY, FORENSIC SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, AND CYBERSECURITY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS AND MENTORING -THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL NEED FOR WELL-EDUCATED SCIENTISTS, MATHEMATICIANS, ENGINEERS, AND TECHNICIANS BY SUPPORTING THE RETENTION AND GRADUATION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. A TOTAL OF 30 SCHOLARS PURSUING BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN BIOLOGY, FORENSIC SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, OR CYBERSECURITY WILL RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS AVERAGING $10,123 PER YEAR FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS. SCHOLARS WILL RECEIVE FACULTY AND PEER MENTORING, AND THE PROJECT WILL BUILD STRONG SCHOLAR COHORTS THROUGH CO-ENROLLED COURSEWORK, STEM OUTREACH, SEMINAR PARTICIPATION, AND RESIDENTIAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOLARS WILL INCLUDE COURSE-BASED RESEARCH EXPERIENCES, INTRAMURAL AND EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS TRACK 2 SCHOLARSHIPS IN STEM PROJECT IS TO INCREASE STEM DEGREE COMPLETION OF ACADEMICALLY TALENTED, LOW-INCOME UNDERGRADUATES WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL NEED TO GROW THE STEM WORKFORCE AND NURTURE KEY TALENT THAT WILL ENSURE ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND PROVIDE DOMESTIC LEADERSHIP ACROSS CRITICAL SECTORS. THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SPEAKS TO THIS NEED BY SUPPORTING STEM STUDENT SUCCESS, WHICH WILL STRENGTHEN THE WORKFORCE IN BIOLOGY, FORENSIC SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CYBERSECURITY, AND OTHER KEY AREAS OF NEED. THE PROJECT WILL BE ASSESSED BY AN EXPERIENCED EVALUATOR THAT WILL EMPLOY A MIXED-METHODS APPROACH GUIDED BY THE PROJECT'S THEORY OF CHANGE AND SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY TO PROVIDE ONGOING FORMATIVE FEEDBACK AND CONDUCT SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS OF SCHOLAR OUTCOMES, INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT, AND STEM CAREER TRAJECTORIES. THE DATA GENERATED WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE KNOWLEDGE BASE REGARDING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT TALENTED, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN STEM. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY NSF'S SCHOLARSHIPS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ACADEMICALLY TALENTED, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED WHO EARN DEGREES IN STEM FIELDS. IT ALSO AIMS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE STEM WORKERS, AND TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, RETENTION, TRANSFER, GRADUATION, AND ACADEMIC/CAREER PATHWAYS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

GEAR UP WILL SERVE A COHORT OR 2,386 6TH AND 7TH GRADE STUDENTS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA.

STRUCTURE PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN TWO DIMENSIONAL MXENES

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY TALENT SEARCH I

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION - SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS PROGRAM - SCHOOL OF NURSING (SON) AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (FSU) IS REQUESTING A TOTAL OF $1.5 MILLION OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD THROUGH HRSA’S ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION-SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS (ANE-SANE) PROGRAM, HRSA 24-017, TO EXPAND SANE TRAINING OFFERED THROUGH THE CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM AND ESTABLISH A SANE FELLOWSHIP AND PRECEPTOR NETWORK. THE UNIVERSITY, FOUNDED IN 1867, IS A MINORITY-SERVING, PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, AND CONSTITUENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF FSU IS PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO PRODUCE GLOBAL CITIZENS AND LEADERS AS CHANGE AGENTS FOR SHAPING THE STATE'S FUTURE. THE SON IS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED PROGRAM OFFERING THREE TRACKS AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL AND ONE TRACK AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL. A FUNDING PREFERENCE IS REQUESTED BASED ON MUA STATUS (ID 02531) WITH HPSA SCORE OF 19.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY TALENT SEARCH II

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY UPWARD BOUND

22-MUREPDEAP-0018 INSTITUTE FOR MULTI-AGENT PERCEPTION THROUGH ADVANCED CYBERPHYSICAL TECHNOLOGIES (IMPACT)

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY - TITLE III FUTURE ACT

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES-STEM WILL SERVE 120 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MAJORING IN STEM TO INCREASE THEIR COLLEGE RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY UPWARD BOUND MATH AND SCIENCE

THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GROWTH IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS IN THE ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED SOUTHEASTERN SEGMENT OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES: OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES • TRAINING: OVER THE 3-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF THE GRANT, FSU AND PARTNERS WILL TRAIN 70-100 INDIVIDUALS IN THE GREATER FAYETTEVILLE REGION IN SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMIZING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS. THIS TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED THROUGH THREE PATHWAYS: • (A) TRADES/TECHNICIAN-FOCUSED PATHWAY PROVIDING ENERGY MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION SKILLS FOR 30-40 INCUMBENT WORKERS WHO DESIRE TO ENHANCE CAPABILITIES IN CARPENTRY, HVAC, ELECTRICAL, AND SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION AND REPAIR, THROUGH TRAINING TO BE OFFERED BY FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WITH PREPARATION LEADING TO INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) CERTIFICATION; (B) MANAGEMENT-FOCUSED PATHWAY, THROUGH ENERGY MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM TO BE INCORPORATED IN A NEW BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAM IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO BE LAUNCHED BY FSU, ANTICIPATED TO ENROLL 20-30 FSU STUDENTS; AND (C) INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS PATHWAY, PROVIDING PREPARATION FOR THOSE ALREADY ENGAGED IN JOBS RELATED TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT WITH TRAINING LEADING TO THE INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED DESIGNATION OF CERTIFIED PRACTITIONER IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, ANTICIPATED TO ENROLL 20-30 ADVANCED INCUMBENT WORKERS. ACROSS ALL TRAINING INITIATIVES IT IS PROJECTED THAT AT LEAST 30 WILL EARN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS. • BUILDING ASSESSMENTS: COMPLETE 50-70 BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENTS BY THE END OF THE 3-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF THE GRANT. THE ASSESSMENTS WILL BE COMPLETED BY FACULTY-LED STUDENT TEAMS, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOCAL PUBLIC UTILITY—FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS. ASSESSMENTS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULUM AT BOTH FTCC (FOR TECHNICIAN FOCUSED TRAINING PARTICIPANTS) AND FSU (FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM). ALL TRAINEES WILL PERFORM AT LEAST ONE ENERGY AUDIT AS PART OF THEIR TRAINING. • SUSTAINABILITY: TO HELP SUSTAIN BUILDING ENERGY ASSESSMENT SERVICES AFTER COMPLETION OF THE GRANT, THE TEAM WILL WORK WITH APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST AT LEAST ONE ORGANIZATION TO BECOME A CERTIFIED ENERGY STAR SERVICE PROVIDER. JUSTICE 40 INITIATIVE

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY MCNAIR PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR 2022

CAMPUS BASED-FSEOG

CAMPUS BASED-FSEOG

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ON NANOSENSORS TO DEVELOP RESEARCH CAPACITIES AT INTERDISCIPLINARY MATERIALS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LABORATORY (IMREL)

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: PHYTOHORMONES AND HEAT-INDUCED LOSS OF WHEAT RESISTANCE TO HESSIAN FLY

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: IDEAS LAB: PARTNERSHIP FOR ADVANCING RESEARCH CAPACITY IN SEMICONDUCTORS AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES -THIS IDEAS LAB PROJECT REPRESENTS A PIVOTAL STRIDE TOWARDS INCLUSIVITY AND ADVANCEMENT IN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY, LEVERAGING A CONSORTIUM OF SEVEN HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS). THIS PARTNERSHIP, LED BY CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY, WITH ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY, COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY, FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY, HAMPTON UNIVERSITY, MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE, AND NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY, IS STRATEGICALLY DESIGNED TO TACKLE PERSISTENT NATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT LIMIT ACCESS TO ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. BY ENHANCING THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATIONAL CAPABILITIES ACROSS THESE INSTITUTIONS, THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE U.S. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION'S MISSION TO PROMOTE THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL PROSPERITY AND WELFARE FOR ALL. THE PROJECT WILL FOSTER EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY, SUPPORT INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS, AND DEVELOP A TECHNICAL WORKFORCE READY TO ADDRESS FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF NATIONAL CONCERN AS ADDRESSED BY THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT IN 2022, THEREBY ENSURING BROAD SOCIETAL BENEFITS AND EXTENDING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY TO A MORE DIVERSE POPULATION. TECHNICALLY, THE PROJECT IS STRUCTURED AROUND FOUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH THRUSTS: I) FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN QUANTUM MATERIALS TO AUTOMATION IN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING, II) BIOMIMETIC WASTE REMEDIATION IN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING, III) WIDE-BANDGAP INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTORS, AND IV) ORGANIC/INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATION AND PACKAGING. THESE AREAS REPRESENT THE FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION IN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY AND PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL MODEL. BY LEVERAGING THE COMBINED STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES OF THE SEVEN PARTICIPATING HBCUS, THE PROJECT AIMS TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK THAT ENHANCES THE COLLECTIVE RESEARCH CAPACITY AND EDUCATIONAL PROWESS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. FURTHERMORE, THE INITIATIVE WILL ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE ONLINE PLATFORM AND REPOSITORY TO SHARE RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE WIDELY, ENSURING THE LONGEVITY AND IMPACT OF THE PROJECT EXTEND WELL BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. THIS EFFORT WILL FURTHER ELEVATE THE PARTICIPATING HBCUS AND CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT IN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES. THIS PROJECT IS CO-FUNDED BY THE NSF CISE RESEARCH EXPANSION PROGRAMS (CISE MSI), WHICH PROVIDES RESEARCH FUNDING FOR INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS FOR MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE NATION. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

CAMPUS BASED-FWS

TARGETED INFUSION PROJECT: EXPOSING STUDENTS TO THE SOCIAL RELEVANCE AND TRUSTWORTHINESS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE -THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (HBCU-UP) THROUGH TARGETED INFUSION PROJECTS SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND STUDY OF EVIDENCE-BASED INNOVATIVE MODELS AND APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING THE PREPARATION AND SUCCESS OF HBCU UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS SO THAT THEY MAY PURSUE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATHEMATICS (STEM) GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND/OR CAREERS. THE PROJECT AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) APPROACHES ON SOCIETY AND ITS POTENTIAL BENEFITS. ALMOST EVERY AREA OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE FROM THE SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS, CAN BE POTENTIALLY ENHANCED BY AI. COMPUTING APPLICATIONS ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED TO PROVIDE AI SUPPORT FOR DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS THAT HAVE REAL EFFECTS ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. AI ALGORITHMS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED TO SOLVE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS IN HEALTHCARE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY, AND GOVERNMENT, TO NAME ONLY A FEW MAJOR AREAS. WHILE IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME AND EFFORT TO REALIZE ITS FULL POTENTIAL IN THESE AREAS, THE RISKS OF ADOPTING AI IS AN URGENT AND IMPORTANT PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM WHEN IT IS PREMATURELY DEPLOYED BEFORE BEING TESTED FOR TRUSTWORTHINESS. THIS PROJECT IS BASED ON AI RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH THAT SUGGEST COMPUTING AND NON-COMPUTING CURRICULA CAN BENEFIT FROM CUSTOMIZED MODULES THAT EXPOSE STUDENTS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF AI AND THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF AI MODELS. THE TRUSTWORTHINESS AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF AI IS A PROFOUNDLY MULTI-DISCIPLINARY EFFORT, AND THE PROJECT IS LEVERAGING THE KNOWLEDGE OF RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS FROM VARIOUS DISCIPLINES. THE PROCESS ORIENTED GUIDED INQUIRY LEARNING (POGIL) WILL BE USED FOR CREATING INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS IN TEAMS. MOST ACTIVITIES INVOLVE HANDS-ON, EXPERIMENTAL WORK WITH AI MODELS THAT ARE EXECUTED WITHIN A SANDBOX SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH IMMERSION IN THIS PROCESS STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND HOW AI MODELS WORK AND HOW TO ASSESS TRUST, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL WHEN TAKING ACTIONS BASED ON THE PREDICTIONS OF MODELS, OR WHEN DEPLOYING A NEW MODEL. THIS GUIDED PROCESS ALSO PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO THE INNER WORKING OF AI MODELS, WHICH STUDENTS CAN USE TO TRANSFORM AN UNTRUSTWORTHY MODEL OR PREDICTION INTO A TRUSTWORTHY ONE. A NOVEL REPOSITORY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS WILL BE CREATED TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF AI IN NON-COMPUTING DISCIPLINES AND TO STRENGTHEN THE COMPUTING CURRICULA WITH CONTENT THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY NOT RECEIVED ADEQUATE COVERAGE. THIS PROJECT ADDS TO THE GROWING BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO MOTIVATE THE STUDY OF AI, HOW TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE MODERN-DAY WORKPLACE WHERE BOTH AI SKILLS AND DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE ARE IMPORTANT, AND HOW TO TRAIN INFORMED AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CREATORS AND USERS OF AI. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

CAMPUS BASED-FWS

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES REGULAR PROGRAM AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY- THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE 200 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR COLLEGE RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES.

A DATA ANALYTICS CERTIFICATE FOR NON-COMPUTING MAJORS. -THIS PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST BY CREATING AND TESTING AN INNOVATIVE PATHWAY FOR NON-COMPUTING MAJORS TO STACK MICRO CREDENTIALS IN TECHNICAL SKILLS, TOWARDS AN ACADEMIC CERTIFICATE ALIGNED TO REAL-WORLD CAREER APPLICATIONS AND PROVIDING STUDENTS THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR DATA-DRIVEN INVESTIGATIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISCIPLINES. THE RESULTING CURRICULUM WILL FEATURE A GENTLE INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING USING A NO-CODE TO LOW-CODE TO HIGH-CODE APPROACH, TO MAKE IT APPEALING TO STUDENTS FROM A BROAD-CROSS SECTION OF DISCIPLINES. THE CURRICULUM WILL BE SITUATED WITHIN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CONTEXT, MAKING IT APPEALING TO HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN COMPUTING. THIS PROJECT WILL MAKE DATA SCIENCE MORE WIDELY ACCESSIBLE, MORE RELEVANT, AND OF GREATER INTEREST TO STUDENTS IN FIELDS OUTSIDE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE. THE CURRICULUM WILL BE DEVELOPED AND TESTED WITHIN A RIGOROUS RESEARCH DESIGN WHICH INCLUDES ASSESSING THE EFFICACY OF THE APPROACH AT RAISING AWARENESS, ACCESS, AND INTEREST IN DATA SCIENCE. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WILL INFORM THE EMERGING DATA SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE CERTIFICATE PATHWAY WITHIN COURSES FOR NON-COMPUTING MAJORS, MEASURE THE EFFICACY OF THE CERTIFICATION INNOVATION AND ITS IMPACTS ON PARTICIPANTS, AND PROVIDE A MEANS TO PRODUCE FUNDAMENTAL, STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE COMPUTER SCIENCE TRAINING LANDSCAPE. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL ASSESS (I) THE UTILITY AND BENEFIT OF SUCH A CERTIFICATION FROM PRACTITIONERS? PERSPECTIVES USING THE DESIGN BASED RESEARCH APPROACH (DBR), (II) THE EFFICACY OF THE APPROACH IN INCREASING THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF DATA SCIENCE, SHAPING IDENTITIES, PERCEPTIONS, SENSE OF ABILITIES, AND CAREER CHOICES OF STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES USING THE SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY (SCCT) FRAMEWORK, AND (III) THE ABILITY OF THE PROPOSED INNOVATION TO TRANSFORM UNDERGRADUATE COMPUTING EDUCATION BY IDENTIFYING FACTORS AND SUPPORTS THAT ENABLE REPLICATION AND SUSTAINABILITY USING SYSTEM MAPPING TO STUDY SYSTEM-LEVEL CHANGE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

CAMPUS BASED-FWS

TARGETED INFUSION PROJECT: DEVELOPING COURSE-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE STUDENTS CAPACITY THROUGH GENETIC ENGINEERING AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY (GECOB) -THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (HBCU-UP) THROUGH TARGETED INFUSION PROJECTS SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND STUDY OF EVIDENCE-BASED INNOVATIVE MODELS AND APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING THE PREPARATION AND SUCCESS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ENROLLED AT HBCUS SO THAT THEY MAY PURSUE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATHEMATICS (STEM) GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND/OR CAREERS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS? CAPACITY TO ENGAGE IN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY TOOLS, REDUCE THE ATTRITION RATE OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AND IMPROVE FACULTY MENTORS? TEACHING AND RESEARCH PERFORMANCE THROUGH COURSE-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES (CURES) AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE PROJECT AIMS TO: 1) IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS TO SYSTEMATICALLY CONDUCT BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH BY USING SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO DEVELOP RESEARCH QUESTIONS, DEFINE PROBLEMS, FORMULATE AND TEST HYPOTHESES, GATHER DATA THROUGH EXPERIMENTS, AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS, 2) EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH THE SKILLS TO USE CUTTING-EDGE, INNOVATIVE GENETIC ENGINEERING AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY TOOLS TO CONDUCT BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 3) ACHIEVE PERSISTENCE IN ALL THE SIX FACTORS OF PERSISTENCE IN THE SCIENCES (PITS) SURVEY AMONG STUDENT PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROJECT, AND 4) ENHANCE FACULTY TEACHING AND RESEARCH OUTPUTS THROUGH PRODUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY BY ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS. THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE WILL MODERNIZE AT LEAST FOUR COURSES AND CAPSTONE RESEARCH COURSES TO INCORPORATE INQUIRY-BASED RESEARCH PROJECTS TO BETTER PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN BIOLOGY AND RESEARCH, WITH SPECIFIC TARGETS IN GENETIC ENGINEERING AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT A SUMMER CAMP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS? EARLY EXPOSURE TO RESEARCH. THE EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE NEW PEDAGOGICAL KNOWLEDGE ON HANDS-ON TRAINING AND INNOVATIVE LEARNING PRACTICES THAT RESULT IN STUDENTS? BUILDING PRACTICAL SKILLS, CAPACITY IN RESEARCH, AND ACADEMIC MOMENTUM, WHILE SUPPORTING PATHWAYS TO GRADUATE STUDY AND CAREERS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. THE PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS A SCALABLE MODEL FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS SEEKING TO EXPAND STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE STEM EDUCATION THROUGH CURES IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

VBOC 2025-2026 FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: THE ROLE OF BOVINE SPERM ACROSOME IN FERTILIZATION -THIS PROJECT WILL ELUCIDATE THE ROLE OF CERTAIN PROTEINS IN THE ACTIVATION OF THE ACROSOME IN COWS. THE ACROSOME IS A SMALL COMPARTMENT IN SPERM CELLS THAT RELEASES ENZYMES TO ALLOW THE SPERM TO PENETRATE THE PROTECTIVE LAYER SURROUNDING THE EGG. THE PI HAS CHARACTERIZED TWO NOVEL PROTEINS IN THE ACROSOME, AND WILL CHARACTERIZE THE FUNCTION AND ABILITY OF THESE PROTEINS TO BIND TO CALCIUM AND TO BIND TO OTHER ACROSOMAL PROTEINS TO FORM A COMPLEX THAT ACTIVATE THE ACROSOME JUST PRIOR TO FERTILIZATION. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF MAMMALIAN FERTILIZATION, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROVED STRATEGIES FOR MAINTAINING AND ACTIVATING STORED SPERMATOZOA AND IMPROVING FERTILIZING CAPACITY OF STORED SPERM FOR NEEDS OF AGRICULTURE, ZOOLOGICAL PRESERVATION, AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. THE PROJECTS WILL ALSO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THIS HBCU TO LEARN THE ETHICS OF SCIENCE AND RECEIVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE/SKILLS WITH MODERN BIOCHEMICAL AND CELL BIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES. MOST OF THE PI'S PREVIOUS LAB STUDENTS HAVE SINCE MATRICULATED INTO VARIOUS GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL THEREBY INCREASE THE POOL OF FUTURE PH.D. SCIENTISTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, AS WELL AS FACILITATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' ADMISSION INTO RESEARCH-INTENSIVE SCHOOLS FOR BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS. THE CALCIUM-DEPENDENT ACROSOME REACTION IS A KEY CONTROL POINT IN MAMMALIAN FERTILIZATION, BUT NUMEROUS UNRESOLVED SIGNALING EVENTS AND BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS THAT PROMOTE MEMBRANE FUSION OF THE ACROSOME TO THE SPERM PLASMA MEMBRANE REMAIN POORLY UNDERSTAND. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY THE BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS THAT REGULATE THE ROLE OF ACROSOMAL PROTEINS IN MEMBRANE FUSION AND THE RELEASE OF HYDROLASES DURING THE ACROSOME REACTION OF BOVINE SPERM. THE PI?S WORK HAS CHARACTERIZED A 32KDA ACROSOMAL POLYPEPTIDE (OMC32) ESSENTIAL FOR MEMBRANE FUSION THAT IS PRESENT IN THE BOVINE SPERM ACROSOME. THE PROJECT HERE WILL EXAMINE THE HYPOTHESIS THAT OMC32 INTERACTS WITH OTHER ACROSOMAL PROTEINS TO REGULATE RELEASE OF HYDROLASES AND OTHER ACROSOMAL PROTEINS ESSENTIAL TO COMPLETING THE ACROSOME REGULATION, AND WHETHER OMC32 IS AN ESSENTIAL TARGET OF SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION ELEMENTS AND REGULATORY PROTEINS THAT MEDIATE THE ACROSOME REACTION. IN A SECOND AIM, THE PI AND STUDENTS WILL EXAMINE A NOVEL 64KDA CALCIUM-BINDING PROTEIN IN THE OUTER ACROSOMAL MEMBRANE. HERE, THE PROJECT WILL TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THIS CALCIUM-BINDING PROTEIN REGULATES FUSION BETWEEN THE ACROSOMAL MEMBRANE AND THE SPERM PLASMA MEMBRANE. BESIDES EXTENSIVE TRAINING OF HIGH SCHOOL AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN RESEARCH AS A CAREER, THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF SPERM MEMBRANE FUSION, ACROSOME INTEGRITY AND FUNCTION, AND MAMMALIAN FERTILIZATION. THE RESULTS MAY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED STRATEGIES FOR MAINTAINING ACROSOMAL INTEGRITY IN STORED SPERMATOZOA, AND IMPROVING THE FERTILIZING CAPACITY OF MAMMALIAN SPERMATOZOA, WITH POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF MAINTAINING STOCK FOR THE CATTLE INDUSTRY, FOR ENDANGERED MAMMAL SPECIES, AS WELL AS FOR HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (FSU) IS PROPOSING TO ESTABLISH TWO-WEEK LONG RESIDENTIAL STEM PRECOLLEGE SUMMER INSTITUTE (FSU PSI) SUMMER CAMPS OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF THE PROJECT FOR TWENTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECRUITED EACH YEAR FROM HIGH SCHOOLS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY AND ITS SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE PROJECT IS TITLED FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY S NASA MUREP PRECOLLEGE SUMMER INSTITUTE: CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EXAMINING CLIMATE CHANGE (FSU-CTECC) WITH THE OVERARCHING GOAL BEING INCREASING INTEREST IN STEM OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ESPECIALLY UNDERREPRESENTED/UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND EQUIP THEM WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE STEM DEGREE PROGRAMS LEADING TO STEM CAREERS THROUGH THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND INTERACTION WITH NASA S EARTH SCIENCE. TO PROVIDE THE BEST HANDS-ON AND AUTHENTIC STEM EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS THE PROGRAM HAS PARTNERED WITH NASA S JPL AND GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER EARTH SCIENCE EDUCATION/OUTREACH AND MULTIPLE ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONS AND INDUSTRIES TO PROVIDE STEM WORKSHOPS TO THE STUDENTS. STUDENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO USING CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING REMOTE SENSING GIS DRONE AND 3D PRINTING TO TACKLE VARIOUS CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES THROUGH HANDS-ON AND AUTHENTIC SOLUTION DESIGN DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS AND DRONE ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES.

SOCOM GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

THIS EDA INVESTMENT FUNDS THE FIRST YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR UNIVERSITY CENTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT THE FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, SPUR INNOVATION, AND PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO HELP INCREASE LONG-TERM REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION.

RESEARCH INITIATION AWARD: MULTI-LOCUS GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDY AND GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS OF ANTICANCER PEPTIDE LUNASIN IN SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX L. MERR.) SEEDS

RESEARCH INITIATION AWARDS: TAILORED CARBON NANOTUBES-SUPPORTED NICKEL NANOPARTICLES FOR CARBON-CARBON BOND FORMING REACTIONS IN BATCH AND CONTINUOUS FLOW

RESEARCH INITIATION AWARD: TARGETING PYOCYANIN PRODUCTION TO STUDY VIRULENCE GENE REGULATION IN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA -THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (HBCU-UP) THROUGH RESEARCH INITIATION AWARDS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR JUNIOR AND MID-CAREER FACULTY AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHO ARE BUILDING NEW RESEARCH PROGRAMS OR REDIRECTING AND REBUILDING EXISTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE AWARD HELPS TO FURTHER THE FACULTY MEMBER'S RESEARCH CAPABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPROVE RESEARCH AND TEACHING AT THE HOME INSTITUTION. THIS AWARD TO FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SUPPORTS FACULTY AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES INVESTIGATING THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF GENE EXPRESSION. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT SEEKS TO EXAMINE THE REGULATORY PATHWAYS OF PYOCYANIN (VIRULENCE FACTOR) PRODUCTION IN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA. PYOCYANIN IS HIGHLY REGULATED, EXTRACELLULARLY SECRETED, AND EASILY QUANTIFIABLE, MAKING IT AN IDEAL TARGET FOR STUDYING GENE REGULATION. P. AERUGINOSA IS A GRAM-NEGATIVE OPPORTUNISTIC BACTERIUM THAT IS UBIQUITOUS IN NATURE, RANGING FROM SOIL TO JET FUEL. DUE TO THE VAST RANGE OF MECHANISMS NECESSARY FOR P. AERUGINOSA SURVIVAL, ADAPTION, AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, THERE IS A NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND EXPLORE THESE REGULATORY PATHWAYS AND ELUCIDATE THE MOLECULAR UNDERPINNINGS. THIS PROJECT TARGETS PYOCYANIN PRODUCTION TO STUDY VIRULENCE GENE REGULATION AND DISCOVER NOVEL REGULATORY PATHWAYS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO: 1) CHARACTERIZE THE ROLE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS PLAY IN PYOCYANIN REGULATION, 2) DETERMINE HOW VARIOUS TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND SMALL MOLECULES AFFECT PYOCYANIN REGULATION, AND 3) EXPLORE IF THE REGULATORY PATHWAYS OF PYOCYANIN CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER VIRULENCE FACTORS IN P. AERUGINOSA. THIS STUDY WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF PYOCYANIN REGULATION AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS A ROADMAP FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW OTHER VIRULENCE FACTORS ARE REGULATED. THE DATA GENERATED FROM THIS WORK WILL AID FUTURE EXPERIMENTAL EXPLORATION OF PYOCYANIN AND THE REGULATION OF OTHER VIRULENCE GENES IN P. AERUGINOSA. ULTIMATELY, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL BE CENTERED AROUND TEACHING AND TRAINING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN RESEARCH EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP SKILLS IN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, CRITICAL READING, AND UNDERSTANDING PRIMARY LITERATURE, ENHANCING THEIR PREPARATION FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL AND/OR THE STEM WORKFORCE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES VETERANS PROGRAM AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. THIS PROGRAM WILL SERVE 120 ELIGIBLE MILITARY VETERAN STUDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES.

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES STEM (FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY)

NIH SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (SIP)

BUILDING AN FSU-JPL PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE SCIENCE PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH APPLICATIONS OF DEEP LEARNING

HIV/AIDS VIRTUAL SUMMER RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR HELPING PROFESSIONALS - THE PREVALENCE OF HIV REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE, AND DISPARITIES ARE PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED AMONG LGBTQI+ INDIVIDUALS, BLACK, AND NATIVE AMERICAN RURAL COMMUNITIES. EDUCATING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ABOUT HIV IN THESE CONTEXTS IS CRUCIAL FOR EFFECTIVE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT. EDUCATING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THESE DISPARITIES IS ESSENTIAL FOR IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCING INEQUITIES. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS THE HIV/AIDS HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG LGBTQI+, BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. THE PROPOSAL SEEKS FUNDING TO DEVELOP A NEW INNOVATIVE “HIV/AIDS VIRTUAL SUMMER RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR HELPING PROFESSIONALS.” THE PROPOSED TWO-WEEK, VIRTUAL INSTITUTE AND CURRICULUM WILL BE HOSTED AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY IN FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA FROM JUNE 2, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2025. THE SUMMER INSTITUTE WILL PROVIDE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO INCREASE AWARENESS, AND EDUCATION RELATING TO KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTIONS, PREVENTION, AND SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH HIV/AIDS AMONG THE LGBTQI+, BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES THE NEED TO IMPROVE HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND PREVENTION AMONG HELPING PROFESSIONALS SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA. TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY, WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING MEASURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE AIMS: 1. EXPAND CURRICULUM AND TRAINING THAT FOCUSES ON HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND PREVENTION AMONG HELPING PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS; 2. DEVELOP AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TWO-WEEK VIRTUAL SUMMER INSTITUTE AND CURRICULUM; AND 3. PROVIDE STUDENTS’ AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN REFLECTIVE LEARNING TO IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND PERCEPTION ABOUT HIV/AIDS AND PREVENTION. THE INNOVATIVE NATURE OF THIS PROJECT LIES IN ITS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE HEALTH DISPARITIES FACED BY MARGINALIZED COMMUNIT IES IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NC, PARTICULARLY THE LGBTQI+, BIPOC, AND RURAL POPULATIONS. UNLIKE EXISTING INITIATIVES THAT PRIMARILY FOCUS ON PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH HIV/AIDS, OUR PROJECT WILL FILL A CRUCIAL GAP BY IMPLEMENTING A TARGETED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TAILORED FOR COLLEGE-ENROLLED STUDENTS AT A HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY (HBCU). BY TARGETING STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE SOCIAL SCIENCE BACKGROUNDS, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN ADDRESSING COMPLEX HEALTH ISSUES. THE TOTAL BUDGET AMOUNT FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS $252,576.

MSW AFFILIATION OPTION YEAR 4

MSW AFFILIATION OPTION YEAR 3

MSW AFFILIATION BASE PERIOD