Grant Announcements

Dr. Sarah Carmichael describes her job as similar to that of a crime scene investigator — and the evidence she examines is more than 350 million years old. Through her research, Carmichael and her team seek insight on the causes and outcomes of mass extinctions during the Devonian period.

App State assistant professor Dr. Sarah Evans and App State undergraduate students will spend the next three summers studying water saturation patterns in Alaska’s thawing permafrost — research aimed at providing new insights on the advancement of climate change. Their research is supported by a nearly $690,000 National Science Foundation grant.

Help is on the way for the 50%–70% of people who suffer from recurrent ankle injuries. App State’s Dr. Alan Needle has received $57,349 in grant funding from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation for research that might prevent recurrent ankle sprains.

Dr. Patricia Johann was awarded a $510,823 research grant from the National Science Foundation. Her work will enhance verification of computer software — ensuring the programs are correct, secure and reliable.

Dr. Abdelbaset Hamza is leading a team in studying ways to make the transfer of information in internet data centers more efficient — with the goal of speeding up the internet and reducing the environmental impact.

Women faculty in the field of information technology are set to benefit from ImPACT IT — a three-year research project aimed at removing barriers to women’s advancement to full professor. App State professor Dr. Lakshmi Iyer is partnering with four other women IT faculty on the project, which is supported by a nearly $1 million National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant.

During App State’s spring 2021 Appalachian Youth Chorale (AYC), young voices across the High Country — and as far away as Georgia — joined in harmony, virtually, amid the pandemic. Through the program, supported by Watauga Arts Council grant funding, students practiced healthy vocal technique, music reading and notation, and performance skills.

CS4ALL — a professional development program offered by App State — is designed to expand access to and diversify computer science education for students at rural high schools in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The two-year program is supported by a National Science Foundation grant awarded to App State’s Drs. Rahman Tashakkori, Cindy Norris and Jay Fenwick.

Cathia Silver, director of App State’s Student Support Services (SSS) program, has received continued funding from the U.S. Department of Education in support of the SSS program’s provision of holistic services to first-generation and/or low-income students.