Faculty MEIF Research Awards Announced

The University of Maine Office of the Vice President for Research has announced recipients of faculty research awards by the Maine Economic Improvement Fund to support the use of high-end instrumentation.

Six proposals were selected for full or partial funding, and span a wide range of MEIF priorities. Funds awarded total $25,000. Recipients include:

Andre Khalil, professor of mathematics, and colleagues, $5,000 for use of the UMaine Supercomputer to model the 3D chromosomal decondensation growth in normal and cancerous cells.

Sarah Nelson, research scientist at the George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, and Ecology and Environmental Sciences colleagues, $4,680 for the use of sample preparation and analysis equipment for the study of dragonfly larvae from national Parks and Wildlife Areas.

Stephen Shaler, associate director, Advanced Structures and Composites Center AEWC, and colleagues, $4,770 for the use of FIB-SEM to study the 3D architecture and topochemistry of wood cells.

Sam Hess, professor of physics, $5,000 for the use of the advanced optical microscopy to study of the hemaggluttin cell membrane interaction and the effect of viral entry.

Rosemary Smith, professor of electrical and computer engineering, $2,610 for the use of the TEM (transmission electron microscope) to determine the shape and size of nanopore/nanoelectrode structures for use in gene sequencing.

Michael Kinnison and Matt Altenritter of the School of Biology and Ecology, $2,640 for the use of the Cameca electron microprobe in the Bryand Global Science Center to study the efficacy of scutes as indicators of sturgeon marine migration.

The objective of the fund is to create a program that facilitates collection of preliminary data and proof of concept for pilot projects in emerging areas of science and engineering by providing access to high performance instrumentation available at the University of Maine. Preliminary findings will support preparation of competitive and relevant external funding applications to NSF, NIH, EPA, DOD and other agencies.