MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Office of Research and Outreach at Penn State Harrisburg has announced six inaugural research seed grant proposals to be funded through the college’s new Exploration and Analysis Grants for Expanded Research [EAGER] program. The goal of the program is to provide support for full-time Penn State Harrisburg faculty members to pursue external research funding opportunities. A successful EAGER project is one that results in submission of a competitive research proposal to a federal science agency or other external research sponsor.
Paul Hallacher, special assistant to the chancellor for research and economic development, said, “Our academic programs are strengthened by faculty research -- students have opportunities to participate in research projects, and research discoveries are directly incorporated into curriculum. These six competitively awarded EAGER projects are receiving funding support from the college’s Office of Research and Outreach; School of Science, Engineering and Technology; School of Behavioral Science and Education; and School of Public Affairs. We are delighted to be able to make these funds available and we look forward to exciting results from this work.”
Faculty proposals awarded include:
- Candace Hogue, assistant professor of kinesiology, School of Behavioral Sciences and Education – Hogue will explore the impact of the perceived motivational climate on adolescent athletes’ health, well-being, and continued interest to participate in sport.
- Sung W. Choi, assistant professor of health administration, School of Public Affairs – Choi’s research aims to understand the disparities in exposure, susceptibility, and treatment of COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minorities in Pennsylvania.
- Esfakur Rahman, assistant teaching professor of mechanical engineering, School of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SSET) – Rahman’s project is aimed at addressing challenges to new, lighter, and stronger structural materials applicable in automotive, aerospace, and defense industries by improving the manufacturability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
- Abu Asaduzzaman, assistant professor of chemistry, SSET – Asaduzzaman’s project studies the deposition of mercury on the Arctic’s surface and the implication for the global mercury cycle.
- Fariborz Tavangarian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, SSET – Tavangarian’s project explores the prevention of catastrophic failure in brittle materials through a novel architecture inspired by spicule structure.
- Eileen Ahlin, associate professor of criminal justice, SPA – Ahlin’s project ‘Inner-city (im)mobility’ examines how residents cope with community violence when moving is not an option.