LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

GRANT PROGRAM

GRANT PROGRAM

GRANT PROGRAM

THE LONG ISLAND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EXPANSION PROJECT

CAMPUS BASED-FWS

THE POWER OF PATRIOTISM: EDUCATOR AND STUDENT SEMINARS IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS—HONORING THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL

CAMPUS BASED-FSEOG

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION; APPLICATION MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM

THE IMPACT ACADEMY: A HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES ACADEMY FOR STEM AND HEALTH CAREERS

CULTIVATING ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN COMPUTING -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 LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY (LIU) IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. OVER ITS SIX-YEAR DURATION, THIS PROJECT WILL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS TO 13 UNIQUE FULL-TIME STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING BACHELOR?S DEGREES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. THREE COHORTS OF STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE UP TO FOUR YEARS OF SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, ALONG WITH OTHER STUDENTS IN THEIR COHORT, WILL BE OFFERED COMPREHENSIVE MENTORING AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PLANS INVOLVING INDUSTRY PARTNERS, ALL WITH THE AIM OF HELPING STUDENTS BUILD A STEM IDENTITY AND IMPROVE THEIR COHESION TO THE DISCIPLINE AND WITHIN PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS. THE PROJECT WILL HELP LIU AND SIMILAR URBAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS BETTER UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE SUPPORT STRATEGIES FOR TALENTED, LOW-INCOME COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE STEM DEGREE COMPLETION OF LOW-INCOME, HIGH-ACHIEVING UNDERGRADUATES WITH DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED. IT AIMS TO BUILD AND IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF THE LIU BROOKLYN DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE TO SERVE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN ITS COMPUTING PROGRAMS, AND SPECIFICALLY TO INCREASE RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES AMONG STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR PELL GRANTS. CHALLENGES LEADING TO LOW COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATION RATES IN THIS POPULATION INCLUDE FINANCIAL STRAIN, BUT ALSO THE LACK OF COHESION THAT FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS OFTEN FEEL WITH THE INSTITUTION, THE DISCIPLINE, AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIDIMENSIONAL MENTORING INVOLVING TRADITIONAL CAMPUS ADVISING, COMPUTER SCIENCE FACULTY, INDUSTRY PARTNERS, AND NEAR-PEER MENTORS. IT AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR STEM IDENTITY, ACCESS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, AND ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL PLACEMENT IN THE COMPUTING INDUSTRY OR GRADUATE SCHOOL. THE PROJECT EXPECTS TO IMPROVE THE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE FOR ALL PELL-ELIGIBLE COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS (NOT JUST THOSE RECEIVING NSF SCHOLARSHIPS), AND TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN LIU?S CAPACITY TO SUPPORT FUTURE STUDENTS. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION PLAN THAT BUILDS ON LIU?S ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND EXPERTISE, AND WILL ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW LIU BROOKLYN AND SIMILAR URBAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT ACADEMICALLY TALENTED, LOW-INCOME STEM STUDENTS. THIS 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.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** METRITIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON DISEASES IN DAIRY COWS CAUSED BY INFECTION OF THE UTERUS WITH MULTIPLE BACTERIA AFTER GIVING BIRTH. AN AVERAGE INCIDENCE OF BOVINE METRITIS IS ABOUT 20% IN A HERD, AND IT CAN REACH UP TO 47%. TO TREAT METRITIS, ANTIBIOTICS HAVE LONG BEEN USED IN US DAIRY FARMS, DESPITE GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND THE FACT THAT THE SUCCESS RATE FOR ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY IS LESS THAN 75%. THEREFORE, DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR BOVINE METRITIS IS URGENTLY NEEDED. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS FOR THE TREATMENT OF BOVINE METRITIS. OUR HYPOTHESIS IS THAT CHITOSAN MICROPARTICLES ENGINEERED IN THIS WORK WILL EFFECTIVELY TARGET THE INFECTED UTERUS, LEADING TO RESOLUTION OF METRITIS. TO ATTAIN OUR GOAL, OUR SPECIFIC AIMS ARE TO (1) DEVELOP CHITOSAN MICROPARTICLES THAT SPECIFICALLY ELIMINATE UTERINE PATHOGENS AND REGULATE INFLAMMATION, AND (2) DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHITOSAN MICROPARTICLES FOR TREATMENT OF METRITIS IN THE LABORATORY AS WELL AS FIELD APPLICATION. UPON COMPLETION OF THESE AIMS, WE EXPECT OUR CONTRIBUTION TO BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR TREATMENT OF BOVINE METRITIS AND A PATENT APPLICATION. THESE RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS ON ANIMALS BY IMPROVING THEIR HEALTH AND WELFARE, ON STAKEHOLDERS BY INCREASING CURE RATE AND FARM PROFITABILITY, AND ON THE PUBLIC BY REDUCING USE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND IMPROVING FOOD SAFETY.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE (BRD) IS THE MOST COSTLY DISEASE AFFECTING NORTH AMERICAN BEEF CATTLE, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 40-50% OF THE MORTALITY AND 70-80% OF THE MORBIDITY IN THESE ANIMALS, RESULTING IN OVER $3 BILLION/YEAR IN LOSSES TO THE CATTLE INDUSTRY. DECREASED WEIGHT GAIN AND PERFORMANCE AFFECTS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OF THESE ANIMALS. BRD IN PRE-WEANED CALVES ALONE COSTS THE US BEEF COW-CALF INDUSTRY ~$165 MILLION ANNUALLY. BRD IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN U.S. FEEDLOT AND STOCKER CATTLE AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF LOSS IN DAIRY CALVES. THE PRIMARY BACTERIAL AGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRD ARE H. SOMNI, MANNHEIMIA HAEMOLYTICA, PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA, AND MYCOPLASMA BOVIS. HOWEVER, H. SOMNI CAN ALSO CAUSE A WIDE RANGE OF INFECTIONS OTHER THAN BRD, AND IS THEREFORE THE TARGET BACTERIUM FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. CURRENT COMMERICAL VACCINES CONSISTING OF KILLED BACTERIA THAT HAVE BEEN GROWN IN VITRO ARE NOT ADEQUATELY EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING BRD AND SOME OTHER SYSTEMIC INFECTIONS. WE AND OTHERS HAVE SHOWN THAT OPPORTUNISTIC BACTERIA EXPRESS NOVEL PROTEINS IN THEHOST IN ORDER TO SEQUESTER IRON THAT IS BOUND TO HOST PROTEINS, SUCH AS TRANSFERRIN AND HEMIN. THESE PROTEINS ARE NOT PRODUCED IN VITRO WHERE ADEQUTE IRON IS AVAILABLE. FURTHERMORE, DURING CHRONIC INFECTIONS BACTERIA PERSIST IN THE HOST IN THEFORM OF A BIOFILM. WE HAVE SHOWN THAT HALF OF THE BACTERIAL GENOME IS DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED WHEN THE BACTERIA ARE IN A BIOFILM, COMPARED TO WHEN GROWN SHAKING OR IN A FERMENTOR, AND THAT MANY NOVEL PROTEINS ARE PRESENT WHEN THE BACTERIA ARE IN A BIOFILM. IN ADDITIION, H. SOMNIAND OTHER BACTERIA MAY BE ABLE TO PRESIST IN PHAGOCYTIC OR OTHER CELLS AND AVOID RECOGNITION BY ANTIBODIES. THEREFORE, MANY POTENTIALLY PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES ARE NOT PRODUCEDOR ABLE TO REACH THE BACTERIA, AND AN IMPORTANT CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSE IS LACKING.H. SOMNIAND OTHER GRAM-NEGATIVE PATHOGENS ALSO PRODUCE ENDOTOXIN, WHICH RESULTS IN SERIOUS SIDE-EFFECTS IN SOME IMMUNIZED ANIMALS. AS A RESULT OF THE DEFICIENCIES IN CURRENT VACCINES, WE WILL PRODUCE A VACCINE THAT INCLUDES THE COMPONENTS OF THE BACTERIA THAT ARE EXPRESSED IN THE HOST (IRON BINDING PROTEINS AND BIOFILM MATRIX COMPONENTS) IN THE FORM OF OUTER MEMBRANE VESSICLES (OMV), WHICH ARE RELATIVELY SIMPLE TO PREPARE, COMBINED WITHTHE BIOFILM MATRIX ANDA NOVEL VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO GREATLY STIMULATE BOTH THE HUMORAL AND CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSES OF THE HOST TO DESIRED ANTIGENIC COMPONENTS. TO PRODUCE A SAFE VACCINE WE WILL GENERATE A MUTANT THAT LACKS ONLY ENDOTOXIC ACTIVITY THROUGH THE MUTATION OF ONE GENE BY AN ESTABLISHED ALLELIC EXCHANGE METHOD. OMV FROM THE MUTANT BACTERIA WILL BE GROWN TO PRODUCE IRON-BINDING PROTEINS AND OTHER OURTER MEMBRANE PROTEINS, WHICH ARE COMBINED WITH BIOFILM MATRIX AND THE ADJUVANT. THOROUGH GENETIC AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MUTANT WILL BE CARRIED OUT. THE OPTIMAL CONCENTRATIONOF ALL COMPONENTS WILL FIRST BE DETERMINED IN HOLSTEIN CALVES FOR IMMU,NE EFFICACY AND SAFETY, AND COMPARED TO COMMERCIAL BACTERINS. ONCE OPTIMIZED, ADDITIONAL SAFETY DATA WILL BE COLLECTED ON A LARGE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL BEEF CALVES IN COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL VACCINES. APPROVED STATISTICAL ANALYSES WILL BE USED FOR ALL DATA ANALYSIS.

RUI: CAS: NOVEL CARBON NANOSPHERE ENCAPSULATED BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS AND METAL-CEO2 INTERFACES FOR CO2 CONVERSION TO VALUE-ADDED CHEMICALS -WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHEMICAL CATALYSIS PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, CHENG ZHANG OF LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY (POST) IS DEVELOPING NEW CATALYSTS FOR CO2 CONVERSION TO USEFUL PRODUCTS. AS A GREENHOUSE GAS, CO2 AT ELEVATED LEVELS CAN GIVE RISE TO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO MITIGATE CO2 EMISSIONS TO ALLEVIATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF ELEVATED GREENHOUSE GAS LEVELS ON OUR PLANET. AS SUCH, EFFICIENT CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION OF CO2 TO PRODUCE VALUE-ADDED CHEMICALS IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO CONVERT CO2 BY CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION TO VALUABLE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR POLYMERS AND PLASTICS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PRODUCED PRIMARILY FROM FOSSIL CARBON SOURCES. A KEY SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY TRENDS AND DOMINANT FACTORS THAT CAN BE UTILIZED TO DESIGN EFFICIENT CATALYSTS FOR CO2 CONVERSION. NEW DISCOVERIES FROM THIS WORK MAY ENABLE THE TUNABLE CONTROL OF CATALYST PROPERTIES FOR THE SYSTEMS UNDER STUDY, AND FACILITATE THE DISCOVERY OF NEW CATALYSTS FOR CO2 CONVERSION. DR. ZHANG WILL INCORPORATE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF THIS NSF-FUNDED PROJECT. DR. ZHANG?S LAB INCLUDES STUDENTS OF VARIOUS ETHNICITY AND MAJORS. INVOLVING UNDERGRADUATES IN RESEARCH IS A CRUCIAL ELEMENT OF THEIR EDUCATION, NOT ONLY TO HONE THEIR QUANTITATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS BUT ALSO TO BUILD THEIR PRACTICAL APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED. THROUGH THEIR WORK ON THIS SCIENTIFIC PROJECT, STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, PROBLEM-SOLVING, PERSISTENCE, THOROUGHNESS, TEAMWORK, COMMITMENT AND PATIENCE, ALL USEFUL TRAITS FOR THE RESEARCH SCIENTIST. UNDER THIS PROJECT, THE GROUP OF CHENG ZHANG AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY IS WORKING TO UNDERSTAND THE REACTION MECHANISM AND DOMINANT FACTORS AFFECTING CO2 HYDROGENATION TO LIGHT OLEFINS AS CATALYZED BY ENCAPSULATED TRANSITION METALS AND METAL OXIDES WITHIN THE CONFINES OF CARBON NANOSPHERES (CNS). THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO USE THESE PARAMETERS TO TUNE CATALYST FUNCTIONALITY FOR EFFICIENT CO2 CONVERSION. SPECIFICALLY, THE ZHANG TEAM WILL PROBE THE EFFECTS OF METAL AND/OR METAL CARBIDE PARTICLE SIZE, METAL ALLOY FORMATION, METAL-METAL OXIDE INTERACTION AND CONFINEMENT EFFECTS ON THE CATALYST ACTIVITY, SELECTIVITY, AND STABILITY FOR CO2 CONVERSION TO VALUE-ADDED CHEMICALS. CATALYTIC PERFORMANCE WILL BE EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VIEW OF DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY (DFT) CALCULATIONS TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT. PARTICULAR GOALS OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE (I) TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONFINEMENT OF THE CNS TO PROTECT FE-M NANOPARTICLES FROM AGGLOMERATION AND RETAIN THEIR REDUCED STATE, (II) TO EXPLOIT THE ABUNDANT OXYGEN VACANCIES ON CEO2, (III) TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HYDROPHOBIC AND GRAPHITIC NATURE OF CNS WITH DEFECT SITES, AND (IV) TO USE THE SHORT DIFFUSION LENGTH INSIDE THE CNS PORES TO MINIMIZE UNDESIRED OLEFIN SECONDARY REACTIONS. THE INTEGRATION OF SYNTHESIS, EVALUATION, ADVANCED CHARACTERIZATION, AND DFT CALCULATIONS IS CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS SCIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE MULTI-FACETED NATURE OF THE STUDY. 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.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: WELL-DESIGNED NANOFIBER-ENCAPSULATED BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS FOR CO2 CONVERSION: ADDRESSING CATALYST DEACTIVATION CHALLENGES -WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHEMICAL CATALYSIS PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, PROFESSOR PING LU OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSOR CHENG ZHANG OF LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY ARE STUDYING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CREATE LONG-LASTING AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT CATALYSTS FOR CRITICAL INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL PROCESSES. CATALYSTS ARE ESSENTIAL MATERIALS THAT ACCELERATE CHEMICAL REACTIONS, ENABLING THE PRODUCTION OF FUELS, CHEMICALS, AND OTHER VITAL PRODUCTS. HOWEVER, UNDER THE HARSH CONDITIONS OF INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS, CATALYSTS OFTEN DEGRADE, LOSING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND REQUIRING FREQUENT REPLACEMENT, WHICH INCREASES COSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING ADVANCED CATALYSTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THESE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS WHILE MAINTAINING SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE. BY IMPROVING CATALYST DURABILITY AND EFFICIENCY, PARTICULARLY FOR PROCESSES THAT CONVERT CARBON DIOXIDE INTO VALUABLE PRODUCTS LIKE FUELS AND CHEMICALS, THIS RESEARCH WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR CLEANER ENERGY PRODUCTION AND MORE SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL PRACTICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON RESEARCH, PROVIDING THEM WITH VALUABLE TRAINING IN STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES. THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND PREPARE FOR CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS INITIATIVE WILL FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ROWAN UNIVERSITY AND LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, PROMOTING INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPACTFUL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHEMICAL CATALYSIS PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, PROFESSOR PING LU OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSOR CHENG ZHANG OF LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY ARE STUDYING THE DESIGN, FABRICATION, SYNTHESIS, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOFIBER-ENCAPSULATED BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS TO OVERCOME THE PERSISTENT CHALLENGE OF CATALYST DEACTIVATION IN GAS-PHASE REACTIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS CATALYST DEACTIVATION BY DEVELOPING CATALYSTS WITH ENHANCED STABILITY AND ACTIVITY THROUGH TWO INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES: FIRST, ENCAPSULATING ACTIVE METAL SITES WITHIN POROUS NANOFIBER MATRICES TO CREATE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT SINTERING, A PROCESS WHERE METAL PARTICLES AGGREGATE AND LOSE EFFECTIVENESS; AND SECOND, INTRODUCING SPATIALLY DEFINED GRADIENTS IN METAL COMPOSITION AND LOADING TO SUPPRESS COKE FORMATION, A CARBON BUILDUP THAT CLOGS CATALYTIC SITES. THE RESEARCH WILL LEVERAGE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS PROGRAMMABLE TRIAXIAL ELECTROSPINNING, TO PRECISELY CONTROL CATALYST STRUCTURE, ALONGSIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF CHARACTERIZATION METHODS, INCLUDING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, X-RAY DIFFRACTION, AND SPECTROSCOPY, TO PROBE ATOMIC INTERACTIONS AND ELECTRONIC STRUCTURES. THESE EFFORTS WILL PROVIDE MOLECULAR-LEVEL INSIGHTS INTO DEACTIVATION PATHWAYS AND CATALYST BEHAVIOR UNDER REACTION CONDITIONS. THE PROJECT WILL YIELD MORE ROBUST AND EFFICIENT CATALYSTS FOR CARBON DIOXIDE CONVERSION PROCESSES, SUCH AS HYDROGENATION AND DRY REFORMING OF METHANE, WHICH ARE CRITICAL FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL PRODUCTION. BY ADVANCING THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF CATALYST STABILIZATION, THE RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREENER CATALYTIC TECHNOLOGIES, WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS. THE OUTCOMES WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY?S KNOWLEDGE BASE, INFLUENCING FUTURE CATALYST DESIGNS AND FOSTERING INTERDISCIPLINARY ADVANCEMENTS IN CATALYSIS SCIENCE. 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.

DEVELOPING AN OPEN SOURCE, GPU-ENABLED CODE FOR MULTI-MESSENGER COMPACT MERGERS -GRAVITATIONAL WAVE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE LIGO-VIRGO-KAGRA (LVK) COLLABORATION ARE DRIVING A SURGE IN ASTRONOMICAL UNDERSTANDING AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. THIS PROGRESS RELIES ON CONTINUED THEORETICAL AND NUMERICAL WORK STUDYING THE MERGERS OF COMPACT OBJECTS (BLACK HOLES AND NEUTRON STARS) WHICH CONNECTS UNDERLYING PHYSICAL PROCESSES TO GRAVITATIONAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC, AND NEUTRINO OBSERVABLES. THIS AWARD SUPPORTS STUDIES OF THE HIGH ENERGY DISRUPTION OF NEUTRON STARS IN SUCH MERGERS WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART NEUTRINO TRANSPORT VIA THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPEN-SOURCE CODE THAT LEVERAGES THE TREMENDOUS COMPUTATIONAL POWER OF GPU COMPUTING. THIS EFFORT SEEKS TO ADVANCE MULTIMESSENGER SCIENCE BY DEVELOPING AN OPEN-SOURCE, GPU-ENABLED, GENERAL RELATIVISTIC, MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS CODE WITH NEUTRINO TRANSPORT AND USING IT TO STUDY BINARY NEUTRON STAR AND BLACK HOLE--NEUTRON STAR MERGERS. THE DEMANDS ON NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS INCREASE AS OBSERVATIONS PROGRESS: HIGHER PHASE ACCURACY, LONGER SIMULATIONS, MULTI-SCALE PHYSICS WITH MAGNETIC AND NEUTRINO EFFECTS, AND WIDER EXPLORATION OF THE LARGE PARAMETER SPACE. TO SATISFY SUCH DEMANDS, THIS AWARD WORKS TO DEVELOP AN OPEN-SOURCE, STATE-OF-THE-ART CODE TO MODEL COMPACT OBJECT MERGERS WITH THE FULL PANOPLY OF PHYSICS THAT RUNS ON THE POWER-EFFICIENT, LARGE GPU-ENABLED SUPERCOMPUTERS BEING BUILT TODAY AND DESIGNED FOR TOMORROW. STUDIES OF BNS AND BH-NS MERGERS WILL HELP BUILD WAVE TEMPLATES, STEER DESIGNS AND UPGRADES OF FUTURE GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTORS, AND EXTRACT SCIENCE FROM LVK OBSERVATIONS AND THOSE OF FUTURE DETECTORS. SUCH MODELS MAY HELP DIRECT THE BEST OBSERVATIONAL RESOURCES WITH CONCURRENT AND COORDINATED SEARCHES AMONG MULTI-MESSENGER DETECTORS. THE WORK WILL HELP: CONSTRAIN THE NUCLEAR EQUATION OF STATE, CONSTRAIN FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS, ELUCIDATE DETAILS ABOUT THE SOURCE OF R-PROCESS ELEMENTS AND THE CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR A KILONOVA, AND IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENGINE UNDERLYING SGRBS. THIS WORK WILL HELP TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE MOST ENERGETIC AND INTRIGUING PROCESSES IN THE UNIVERSE ATTRACTING INTEREST FROM THE WIDER PUBLIC. THIS WORK WILL PROMOTE THE TRAINING OF STUDENTS IN STEM, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL AND UNDERGRADUATE 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.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: RUI: WELL-DESIGNED NANOFIBER-ENCAPSULATED BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS FOR CO2 CONVERSION: ADDRESSING CATALYST DEACTIVATION CHALLENGES -WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHEMICAL CATALYSIS PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, PROFESSOR PING LU OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSOR CHENG ZHANG OF LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY ARE STUDYING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CREATE LONG-LASTING AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT CATALYSTS FOR CRITICAL INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL PROCESSES. CATALYSTS ARE ESSENTIAL MATERIALS THAT ACCELERATE CHEMICAL REACTIONS, ENABLING THE PRODUCTION OF FUELS, CHEMICALS, AND OTHER VITAL PRODUCTS. HOWEVER, UNDER THE HARSH CONDITIONS OF INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS, CATALYSTS OFTEN DEGRADE, LOSING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND REQUIRING FREQUENT REPLACEMENT, WHICH INCREASES COSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING ADVANCED CATALYSTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THESE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS WHILE MAINTAINING SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE. BY IMPROVING CATALYST DURABILITY AND EFFICIENCY, PARTICULARLY FOR PROCESSES THAT CONVERT CARBON DIOXIDE INTO VALUABLE PRODUCTS LIKE FUELS AND CHEMICALS, THIS RESEARCH WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR CLEANER ENERGY PRODUCTION AND MORE SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL PRACTICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON RESEARCH, PROVIDING THEM WITH VALUABLE TRAINING IN STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES. THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND PREPARE FOR CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS INITIATIVE WILL FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ROWAN UNIVERSITY AND LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, PROMOTING INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPACTFUL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHEMICAL CATALYSIS PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, PROFESSOR PING LU OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSOR CHENG ZHANG OF LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY ARE STUDYING THE DESIGN, FABRICATION, SYNTHESIS, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOFIBER-ENCAPSULATED BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS TO OVERCOME THE PERSISTENT CHALLENGE OF CATALYST DEACTIVATION IN GAS-PHASE REACTIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS CATALYST DEACTIVATION BY DEVELOPING CATALYSTS WITH ENHANCED STABILITY AND ACTIVITY THROUGH TWO INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES: FIRST, ENCAPSULATING ACTIVE METAL SITES WITHIN POROUS NANOFIBER MATRICES TO CREATE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT SINTERING, A PROCESS WHERE METAL PARTICLES AGGREGATE AND LOSE EFFECTIVENESS; AND SECOND, INTRODUCING SPATIALLY DEFINED GRADIENTS IN METAL COMPOSITION AND LOADING TO SUPPRESS COKE FORMATION, A CARBON BUILDUP THAT CLOGS CATALYTIC SITES. THE RESEARCH WILL LEVERAGE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS PROGRAMMABLE TRIAXIAL ELECTROSPINNING, TO PRECISELY CONTROL CATALYST STRUCTURE, ALONGSIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF CHARACTERIZATION METHODS, INCLUDING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, X-RAY DIFFRACTION, AND SPECTROSCOPY, TO PROBE ATOMIC INTERACTIONS AND ELECTRONIC STRUCTURES. THESE EFFORTS WILL PROVIDE MOLECULAR-LEVEL INSIGHTS INTO DEACTIVATION PATHWAYS AND CATALYST BEHAVIOR UNDER REACTION CONDITIONS. THE PROJECT WILL YIELD MORE ROBUST AND EFFICIENT CATALYSTS FOR CARBON DIOXIDE CONVERSION PROCESSES, SUCH AS HYDROGENATION AND DRY REFORMING OF METHANE, WHICH ARE CRITICAL FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL PRODUCTION. BY ADVANCING THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF CATALYST STABILIZATION, THE RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREENER CATALYTIC TECHNOLOGIES, WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS. THE OUTCOMES WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY?S KNOWLEDGE BASE, INFLUENCING FUTURE CATALYST DESIGNS AND FOSTERING INTERDISCIPLINARY ADVANCEMENTS IN CATALYSIS SCIENCE. 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.

URGENT RENTAL OF DORM ROOMS AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY'S C.W. POST CAMPUS. RENT FROM 7/26 TO 8/08. ROOMS ARE INTENDED FOR MEDICAL ISOLATION OF STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS ON SUNDAY (7/26). ACADEMY DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT DORM ROOMS FOR THIS

SUPPORT FOR EARLY-CAREER GEOSPATIAL SCIENTISTS IN RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE INTERNATIONAL CARTOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE 2025 -THIS AWARD SUPPORTS EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS IN THE FIELDS OF CARTOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE (GISCIENCE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 32ND INTERNATIONAL CARTOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE (ICC). THE AIM IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CARTOGRAPHY AND GISCIENCE ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY MATRICULATING OR WHO HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED A DEGREE AND ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER. THE ICC PROVIDES A SCIENTIFIC VENUE THAT COVERS THE BROAD SCOPE OF CARTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS IDEAL FOR EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS TO PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH AND TO CONNECT WITH A COMMUNITY OF COLLEAGUES IN ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. EARLY- AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS WHO HAVE ATTENDED PREVIOUS ICCS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT PARTICIPATION IN THESE CONFERENCES LEADS TO PRODUCTIVE RESEARCH IN CARTOGRAPHY AND GISCIENCE, AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS, SUCCESS IN SECURING RESEARCH FUNDING, LEADERSHIP IN CARTOGRAPHIC AND GISCIENCE ASSOCIATIONS, AND DIRECTION IN SETTING RESEARCH AGENDAS. THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THIS SUPPORT LEADS TO RESEARCH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION THAT PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE LEADERS IN CARTOGRAPHY AND GISCIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. BASED ON THE RECORDS OF PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE ICC LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBALLY RELEVANT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH IN WHICH U.S. SCHOLARS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD. AWARD RECIPIENTS BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT AND WELL POSITIONED TO DEVELOP NEW RESEARCH AGENDAS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING KEY SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL CHALLENGES. THE ICC ALSO ENABLES THEM TO DISSEMINATE THEIR TECHNICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN CARTOGRAPHY AND GISCIENCE THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS. EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS BENEFIT FROM THE EXPOSURE TO IDEAS FROM THE CARTOGRAPHIC COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO DISSEMINATING NEW METHODS AND PERSPECTIVES THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN TURN RESULT IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF A CREATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE AMERICAN WORKFORCE CONDUCTING INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN CARTOGRAPHY AND GISCIENCE THAT SERVES SOCIETAL INTERESTS WITH RESPECT TO SPATIAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE. THE ICC PROVIDES THE AWARD RECIPIENTS WITH NEW INSIGHTS AND APPROACHES TO CARTOGRAPHIC AND GISCIENCE RESEARCH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, ALLOWING THEM TO EXTEND THEIR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE WORK. 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.

IGF::OT::IGF CYBER TRAINING PROVIDED BY UNIVERSITY

COURSES FOR FEMA PERSONNEL AT UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZING HOMELAND SECURITY

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SINCE THE INAUGURAL MEETING IN 2010, THE MEDVETPATHOGENS CONFERENCES HAVE BEEN AN INVALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON ANIMAL, HUMAN AND ZOONOTIC INFECTIONS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, AND CONTROL. THE MEDVETPATHOGENS HOME IS THE BEAUTIFUL MONASH UNIVERSITY PRATO CENTRE WITHIN THE 18TH-CENTURY PALAZZO VAJ, LOCATED IN THE OLD TOWN REGION OF PRATO, ITALY. PRATO IS THE THIRD MAJOR CITY IN TUSCANY, LOCATED ONLY 20 KM/30-MINUTE TRAIN JOURNEY FROM FLORENCE. THE MEDVETPATHOGENS CONFERENCE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE ONE HEALTH ETHOS AND CONSIDERS ALL PATHOGENS ARE WITHIN AN EVOLUTIONARY CONTINUUM; ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HUMAN AND VETERINARY PATHOGENS ARE THE CONSEQUENCE OF NICHE AND HOST ADAPTIVE PROCESSES. RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO IMPROVED ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THIS ETHOS AND IN 2025 WE AGAIN WELCOME CONTRIBUTIONS THAT REPORT ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ANTIMICROBIALS. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS FOR MEDVETPATHOGENS 2025 ARE PROFESSOR GEORGINA COX FROM THE UNIVERSITY NOTTINGHAM, PROFESSOR JEAN-MARCO GHICO FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN, AND PROFESSOR MARK LAWRENCE FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY. THE 2025 MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE INCLUDES JOHN BOYCE (AUSTRALIA), MARINA HARPER (AUSTRALIA), KASPER RØMER VILLUMSEN (DENMARK), AND TOM INZANA (UNITED STATES). WE WARMLY WELCOME ALL INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES FROM RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUNDS TO JOIN THE MEDVETPATHOGENS CONFERENCE COMMUNITY IN PRATO IN MAY 2025. THE MEDVETPATHOGENS 2025 CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE MONASH UNIVERSITY PRATO CENTRE, SITUATED ON THE GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS OF THE ELEGANT 18TH CENTURY PALAZZO VAJ ON VIA PUGLIESI IN THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF PRATO, ITALY. THE MONASH UNIVERSITY PRATO CENTRE, HOUSED IN PALAZZO VAJ, IS IN THE CENTRE OF THE OLD TOWN OF PRATO, ONLY TWO MINUTES AWAY FROM THE CITY'S CATHEDRAL AND WALKING DISTANCE FROM BOTH TRAIN STATIONS (PRATO PORTA AL SERRAGLIO AND PRATO CENTRALE).

CARTOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE (GISCIENCE) CONFERENCE AND EARLY-CAREER SCHOLAR DEVELOPMENT -THIS AWARD SUPPORTS EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS IN DEVELOPING RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS IN CARTOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE (GISCIENCE) THROUGH PARTICIPATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CARTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION. THIS PROJECT TARGETS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS WHO ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETING A GRADUATE DEGREE OR ARE IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THEIR ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL CAREER. CARTOGRAPHY IS ADVANCING QUICKLY WITH NEW RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF CROWDSOURCED DATA. THERE ARE ALSO IMPORTANT RESEARCH CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE GENERAL TOPIC OF MAP DESIGN AND MAP QUALITY GIVEN THE PREVALENCE OF CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION IN DIFFERENT FORMS OF MEDIA. THERE IS A NEWFOUND ATTENTION ON GEOGRAPHIC ROUTING WITH THE WIDESPREAD USE OF MOBILE DEVICES FOR REAL-TIME NAVIGATION. THE INTERNATIONAL CARTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION ADVANCES THESE RESEARCH ARENAS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND DISSEMINATION OF CARTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH WHILE SUPPORTING OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF CARTOGRAPHERS AND SPATIAL SCIENTISTS. THE INTERNATIONAL CARTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION (ICA) ADVANCES RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP AT THE FOREFRONT OF CARTOGRAPHY, DATA SCIENCE AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE. IN PARTICULAR, THE ICA ADVANCES RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES THE ROLE OF CARTOGRAPHY IN DATA SCIENCE AND CITIZEN SCIENCE; THE ROLE OF MAP IN MOBILITY RESEARCH AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING; RESEARCH AT THE INTERSECTION OF CARTOGRAPHY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE; AND THE ROLE THAT MAPS PLAY IN PRESERVING THE WORLD?S CULTURAL HERITAGE. NEW RESEARCH AGENDAS ARE DEVELOPED TO SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES THAT TACKLE KEY SOCIETAL CHALLENGES; DISSEMINATE NEW RESEARCH IN CARTOGRAPHY AND GISCIENCE THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS. THE ICA ALSO DEVELOPS VALUABLE TRAINING THROUGH PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS, MENTORSHIP AND SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE. OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW COLLABORATION ARE CREATED FOR EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS WORKING ON CARTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DISPARATE DISCIPLINARY FOUNDATIONS FOSTERING NEW TRANSFORMATIVE AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN CARTOGRAPHY. 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.

I. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THIS WORK. BOVINE MASTITIS IS A WORLDWIDE DISEASE, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC LOSSES DUE TO DECREASED QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF MILK, COSTS FOR VETERINARY SERVICES, AND EARLY CULLING OF AFFECTED ANIMALS. STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IS ONE OF THE PREDOMINANT ETIOLOGICAL AGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLINICAL AND SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE. COAGULASE NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI (CNS) AND MAMMALIICOCCI (CNM) ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DIMINISHED BOVINE UDDER HEALTH AND MILK PRODUCTION. CNS AND CNM STRAINS INCLUDE S. EPIDERMIDIS, S. LUGDUNENSIS, MAMMALIICOCCIS (S) SCIURI, M. (S) LENTUS, AND OTHERS. MASTITIS PATHOGENS READILY DEVELOP RESISTANCE TO MULTIPLE CLASSES OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS, BUT DATA ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND ASSOCIATED GENES IS LIMITED OR UNAVAILABLE IN DAIRY COWS ON LONG ISLAND. THE LONG TERM GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO IMPROVE UDDER HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND MASTITIS CONTROL IN LONG ISLAND DAIRY HERDS. OUR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1. IDENTIFY INTRAMAMMARY PATHOGENS FROM COWS WITH SOMATIC CELL COUNTS >200 CELLS/ML USING CULTURE AND FLOW-GOLD IMMUNOBLOT ASSAY. 2. IDENTIFY ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE GENES IN MASTITIS PATHOGENS. 3. DETERMINE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH BOVINE MASTITIS IN LONG ISLAND DAIRY COWS. 4. COMPARE THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL CULTURE TO FLOW GOLD IMMUNOBLOT ASSAY USING BAYESIAN LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS. II. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED WITH THE FUNDS FROM THIS AWARD. LACTATING DAIRY COWS (150) FROM 4-6 DAIRY HERDS ON LONG ISLAND WITH A SQUAMOUS CELL COUNT OF >200 CELLS/ML WILL BE USED. MILK SAMPLES WILL BE ASEPTICALLY COLLECTED AND CULTURED AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. SIGNIFICANT ISOLATES WILL BE IDENTIFIED BY BACTERIOLOGICAL METHODS AND FLOW-GOLD IMMUNOBLOT ASSAY. ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING (MIC [SENSITITRE] AND DISK DIFFUSION) FOR COMMONLY USED MASTITIS ANTIMICROBIALS WILL BE CARRIED OUT USING CLINICAL LABORATORY STANDARDS INSTITUTE GUIDELINES. BIOFILM FORMATION WILL BE DETERMINED BY CRYSTAL VIOLET ASSAY IN 96-WELL PLATES. BACTERIAL DNA WILL BE EXTRACTED (QIAAMPDNA KIT) FOR PCR-BASED IDENTIFICATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE GENES. SPA GENE SEQUENCING WILL BE USED TO DIFFERENTIATE S. AUREUS STRAINS. COW AGE, BREED, LACTATION STAGE, MILK YIELD, AND FARM HYGIENE WILL BE RECORDED FOR CONSIDERING PREDISPOSITION OF THE COWS TO INFECTION, AND FOR THE TYPES OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE GENES DETECTED PER COW. THE FLOW-GOLD IMMUNOASSAY WILL BE A DUPLEX ASSAY USING ANTIBODIES TO STAPHYLOCOCCAL TYPE 336 ANTIGEN AND TO MYELOPEROXIDASE, WHICH IS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF ANTIBODIES TO DETECT MASTITIS AND THE PRESENCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCI. A MATHEMATICAL MODEL WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR COMPARISON OF BACTERIOLOGICAL CULTURE AND THE FLOW-GOLD IMMUNO-ASSAY. ANALYSIS OF THE TARGET STAPHYLOCOCCAL PATHOGENS WILL BE DONE USING A BAYESIAN LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK. DATA WILL BE ANALYZED USING UNIVARIATE AND MULTIVARIATE LOGISTIC REGRESSION WITH 95% CONFIDENCE INTERVAL AND 5% TYPE I ERROR FOR STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE. III. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THESE ACTIVITIES. THIS RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION REGARDING THE INCIDENCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL MASTITIS IN LONG ISLAND DAIRY HERDS, ALTHOUGH ALL AGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR MASTITIS WILL BE IDENTIFIED. ANY CORRELATION BETWEEN THE CAPABILITY AND AMOUNT OF BIOFILM FORMED BY THESE AGENTS, THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, AND THE SEVERITY OF MASTITIS WILL BE NOTED AND USED TO DEVELOP IMPROVED DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS. THESE RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE HIGHEST PROFILE JOURNALS RELEVANT TO THIS WORK, AND PRESENTED AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. IV. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE ACTIVITIES. BENEFICIARIES WILL INCLUDE VETERINARIANS, MASTITIS INVESTIGATORS, FARMERS, DIAGNOSTICIANS, AND DVM AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKING ON MASTITIS AND ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE. V. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES. NONE

PURPOSE OF THIS WORK. INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY ARE A PERSISTENT THREAT TO ANIMAL HEALTH, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AND FOOD SECURITY. LONG ISLAND IS HOME TO DIVERSE SMALLSCALE CATTLE FARMS AND POULTRY OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE VULNERABLE TO OUTBREAKS OF VIRAL AND PARASITIC DISEASES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE MOLECULAR AND SEROLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE OF MAJOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES AFFECTING CATTLE AND POULTRY ON LONG ISLAND. TARGETED CATTLE PATHOGENS WILL INCLUDE INFECTIOUS BOVINE RHINOTRACHEITIS VIRUS, BOVINE RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, BOVINE CORONAVIRUS, BOVINE ROTAVIRUS, AND SOME PARASITES SUCH AS THE GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITE HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS. FOR POULTRY, SURVEILLANCE WILL INCLUDE INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS VIRUS AND INFECTIOUS LARYNGOTRACHEITIS VIRUS, WHICH ARE HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT VIRAL RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS OF CHICKENS. THE PREVALENCE, GENETIC DIVERSITY, AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRENDS OF THESE PATHOGENS WILL BE DETERMINED USING MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS, SEROLOGICAL ASSAYS, AND SEQUENCING. THE DATA WILL STRENGTHEN PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES, IMPROVE HERD AND FLOCK HEALTH MANAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT LOCAL ONE HEALTH INITIATIVES. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE, GENOMICS-DRIVEN SURVEILLANCE PLATFORM FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY ON LONG ISLAND THAT CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER REGIONS. OUR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) ESTABLISH THE PREVALENCE AND SEROPOSITIVITY OF MAJOR CATTLE AND POULTRY VIRUSES USING MOLECULAR AND SEROLOGICAL ASSAYS; 2) EVALUATE GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITISM IN CATTLE, WITH EMPHASIS ON HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS; 3) EMPLOY NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING TO DECODE FULL-LENGTH GENOMES OF VIRAL AND PARASITIC PATHOGENS DETECTED IN LONG ISLAND HERDS AND FLOCKS; 4) PERFORM COMPREHENSIVE COMPARATIVE GENOMIC ANALYSIS AND GENOME MINING TO IDENTIFY MARKERS OF VIRULENCE, IMMUNE EVASION, AND VACCINE ESCAPE. II. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED WITH THE FUNDS FROM THIS AWARD. SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED FROM THE REGIONAL DAIRY HERDS AND POULTRY FARMS. BLOOD, NASAL SWABS, FECAL, AND MILK SAMPLES WIL BE COLLECTED FROM CATTLE, AND OROPHARYNGEAL/CLOACAL SWABS, AND BLOOD COLLECTED FROM POULTRY. PCR/RT-PCR WILL BE USED TO DETECT THE LISTED VIRUSES. ILLUMINA AND/OR OXFORD NANOPORE WILL BE USED FOR SEQUENCING TO OBTAIN COMPLETE GENOMES OF THE VIRAL AND PARASITIC PATHOGENS. BIOINFORM ATIC GENOME MINING WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS, VIRULENCE FACTORS, AND MARKERS RELEVANT TO VACCINE EFFICACY. ELISA AND NEUTRALIZATION ASSAYS WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY ANTIBODIES TO VIRUSES AND PARASITES. FECAL EGG COUNTS AND LARVAL CULTURE WILL BE USED TO IDENTIY PARASITES. III. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THESE ACTIVITIES. THE PREVALENCE AND SEROPOSITIVITY RATES FOR THE SELECTED VIRUSES AND PARASITES OF CATTLE AND BIRDS ACROSS SAMPLED LONG ISLAND FARMS WILL BE DETERMINED. HIGH-QUALITY, ANNOTATED GENOMES FOR REPRESENTATIVE ISOLATES OF VIRAL AND PARASITIC PATHOGENS WILL BE DEPOSITED IN GENBANK AND OTHER PUBLIC REPOSITORIES. GENES ENCODING VIRULENCE FACTORS, ANTIGENIC DRIFT MUTATIONS, AND NOVEL EPITOPES RELEVANT FOR VACCINE AND DIAGNOSTIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE IDENTIFIED. THE DISTRIBUTION OF PATHOGENS ACROSS LONG ISLAND FARMS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR VETERINARIANS AND POLICYMAKERS. AT LEAST 2-3 PEER-REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS IN INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED. THIS WORK WILL BE PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES, AND NECESSARY REPORTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR FARMERS, VETERINARIANS, AND LOCAL AGRICULTURAL AUTHORITIES. GRADUATE STUDENTS AND TECHNICIANS WILL BE TRAINED IN MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS, SEQUENCING, AND BIOINFORMATICS ANALYSIS. IV. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE LOCAL FARMERS AND LIVESTOCK/POULTRY PRODUCERS, VETERINARIANS, THE RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, POLICY MAKERS, AGRICULTURAL AUTHORITIES, AND THE WIDER PUBLIC. V. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES. NONE.

PELL GRANTS

PELL GRANTS

THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (CVM) AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY (LIU) IS A NEW SCHOOL THAT WILL BE GRADUATING ITS FIRST CLASS OF DVM STUDENTS IN SPRING OF 2024. NONETHELESS, THE COLLEGE HAS A STRONG RESEARCH PROGRAM WITH FACULTY ALREADY HAVING OBTAINED COMPETITIVE FUNDING FROM USDANIFA, NIH, NSF, AND INDUSTRY. THE FACULTY AT CVM LIU ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FOCUSING ON ANIMAL HEALTH, AND IN PARTICULAR THE HEALTH OF ANIMALS OF AGRICULTURAL IMPORTANCE. THE RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS OF THE COLLEGE ARE INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND COMPARATIVE MEDICINE AND THERAPEUTICS, THE LATTER OF WHICH INCLUDES PATHOLOGY AND MOLECULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY, AND VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE. AS A NEW COLLEGE, SOME ESSENTIAL CORE SERVICES ARE LACKING WITHIN THE COLLEGE, AND THEREFORE EXTERNAL, FEE-FOR SERVICE CORE LABORATORIES ARE NEEDED. THERE ARE EXCELLENT CORE FACILITIES NEARBY THAT CVM LIU FACULTY CAN USE, SUCH AS AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY, COLE SPRING HARBOR LABORATORIES, BROOKHAVEN LABS, AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, WHICH PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, FACS, DNA/RNA SEQUENCING, AND BIOINFORMATICS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL OUTSIDE SERVICES NEEDED UNTIL THE COLLEGE PURCHASES THIS EQUIPMENT. THE FACULTY HAVE ALSO USED THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE CENTER FOR GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS FOR COST-EFFECTIVE DNA/RNA SEQUENCING WITH BIOINFORMATIC SUPPORT. COMMERCIAL LABS SUCH AS PACBIO HAVE ALSO BEEN USED FOR DNA AND RNA SEQUENCING WITH OR WITHOUT BIOINFORMATIC SUPPORT. THE COLLEGE DOES HAVE NEW CONFOCAL LASER SCANNING (CLSM) AND LASER DISSECTION MICROSCOPES, AND GAS CHROMATOGRAPHYMASS SPECTROMETRY EQUIPMENT. IN THE AREA OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, FACULTY ARE STUDYING POLYMICROBIAL BIOFILMS ASSOCIATED WITH BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE, METRITIS, AND OTHER BACTERIAL INFECTIONS OF FOOD ANIMALS. DNA/RNA SEQUENCING, BIOINFORMATICS, AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY ARE CORE SERVICES OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS WORK. CLSM IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS WORK INTERNALLY, PARTICULARLY FOR STUDIES REQUIRING FLUORESCENT PROBES, BUT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS FOR THIS EQUIPMENT ARE REQUIRED. FACULTY WORKING ON MYCOBACTERIAL DISEASES OF CATTLE ARE ALSO IN NEED OF DNA/RNA SEQUENCING AND BIOINFORMATIC SERVICES. OUR VIROLOGISTS ARE STUDYING VIRUSES RESPONSIBLE FOR BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE, AND REQUIRE DNA/RNA SEQUENCING AND BIOINFORMATIC SERVICES TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK. CORE SERVICES ARE ALSO NEEDED FOR FACULTY WHO ARE WORKING ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCI AND ENTERIC BACTERIA THAT CAUSE INFECTIONS IN FOOD ANIMALS. FACULTY STUDYING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF ANIMAL DISEASES USE FLOW CYTOMETRY (FACS) TO ANALYZE CELL CYTOTOXICITY FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS, AND DIFFERENT CELL POPULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE STATES. OUR IMMUNOLOGISTS AIM TO UNDERSTAND THE BIOLOGY OF ANIMALS' IMMUNE AND STEM CELLS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR FOOD ANIMAL DISEASES. THESE STUDIES REQUIRE RNA SEQUENCING, FACS SORTING, AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. OUR PATHOLOGISTS OFTEN USE ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TO STUDY DETAILS OF DISEASED TISSUES THAT ARE NOT OBVIOUS EVEN BY CLSM. OUR CLINICAL SCIENTISTS WORKING WITH BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCHERS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF OUTSIDE CORE SERVICES TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATIONS OF FOOD ANIMAL DISEASES. OUR COLLEGE ALSO STRIVES TO PLACE AS MANY DVM STUDENTS INTO RESEARCH LABORATORIES AS POSSIBLE, AND DEMAND FOR SUCH EXPERIENCE EXCEEDS THE FUNDS SOME FACULTY HAVE AVAILABLE TO PAY STUDENT WAGES. THEREFORE, SOME FUNDS ARE REQUESTED TO ENHANCE DVM STUDENT TRAINING IN RESEARCH LABS. IN SUMMARY, THE CVM LIU FACULTY ARE IN NEED OF FUNDS FOR CORE SERVICES AND STUDENT SUPPORT TO AID IN MEETING EXPENSES TO CONDUCT ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH. SUCH FUNDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS AS APPROPRIATELY NEEDED TO ENHANCE THE RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY AND PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL ANIMAL HEALTH.

08.NPT.IDP.A - FUNDING APPROVED BY CFO 5/5/2008

08.NPT.IDP.A - FUNDING APPROVED BY CFO 1/16/08 "LI

2026-2027 DL BASE RECORD