Research Awards and Grants (September 2024)

Each month College of Natural Resources faculty receive awards and grants from various federal, state, and nongovernmental agencies in support of their research. This report recognizes the faculty who received funding in September 2024.

Spatial Decision Support for Implementation of the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)

• PI: Cutts, Bethany
• Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
• Awarded Amount: $317,382 
• Abstract:  The project will support efforts by the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program to implement their Coastal Conservation and Management Plan.  Currently, two needs have been identified where spatial information can guide both near-term and long-term decisions to support CCMP implementation. To addresses their immediate need to strategically initiate Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) project and Justice40 planning, we will perform spatial analysis to guide the strategic siting of projects. To address their longer-term need to incorporate impacts from human activities on the regional ecosystem in resource conservation and management practices, we will construct a structured inventory of data, partnerships, and decision tools to assess the existing data infrastructure for spatial planning in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary System.

Research Support for the 10-Minute Walk? Park Equity Accelerator

• PI: Hipp, Aaron
• Direct Sponsor Name: Trust for Public Land
• Awarded Amount: $30,400 
• Abstract:  This scope of work will support Trust for Public Land 10-Minute Walk Park Equity Accelerator by leading research on public accessibility of privately managed parks in Raleigh, NC. The goal of this project is for the Contractor to develop and execute a research methodology for assessing the public accessibility of privately-owned and managed parks. The research methodology has potential to be applied nationally, with a test case applied in Raleigh.

Collaborative Proposal for Student Experiential Learning via Internships and Faculty Development Skills in Animal and Environmental Sciences, and Climate Change

• PI: Nelson, Stacy
• Direct Sponsor Name: USDA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
• Amount Awarded: $30,982 
• Abstract: Virginia State University (VSU Lead), Delaware State University (DSU), and North Carolina State University (NCSU-1890 University) prepared this teaching proposal to provide 1) student experiential learning by paid internships in animal/Pre-Vet, environmental science, and climate change, 2) professional development skills by structured workshops offered by the participating faculty team, and 3) faculty development workshops.

Bradford Pear Bounty Support

• PI: Oten, Kelly
• Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
• Awarded Amount: $39,925 
• Abstract:   We will host two Bradford Pear Bounty tree replacement events per year in N.C. Department of Commerce Tier 1 Distressed Counties. These may include but are not limited to: Jacksonville (Onslow County), Goldsboro (Wayne County), Morganton (Burke County), Wilkesboro (Wilkes County), and Asheboro (Randolph County).

Redesigning Communication Strategies To Enhance NPS Fire Ecology Public Engagement

• PI: Vukomanovic, Jelena
• Direct Sponsor Name: US National Park Service
• Amount Awarded: $80,000 
• Abstract: Fire Ecology is tasked with collecting, synthesizing, reporting, and disseminating data about the effects of fuels treatments conducted on NPS lands.  Fire Ecology has developed robust databases to facilitate the collection and analysis of data and requires the creation of an annual report.  Beyond that, it is up to the Regions and Parks to determine which media is best for disseminating their scientific findings to public and internal audiences alike.  There is a need to create a visually engaging platform available to the public, whereby an end user can interact with data, photos, and text, and begin to understand the role of Fire Ecology within the Wildland Fire and Aviation Management Program. This Project has one main goal to create visually engaging platforms that synthesize the fire ecology program.  The platform will specifically focus on illustrating the ecological role of fire, highlighting the different ecosystems and biomes where prescribed fire occurs (along the east coast), illustrating common… 

Recruiting, Developing, and Empowering a Diverse Workforce in Wildland Fire Sciences

• PI: Richmond-Bryant, Jennifer
• Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
• Awarded Amount: $400,000 
• Abstract: We propose a scalable program to provide specialized training and development in fire sciences closely related to forest management among current undergraduate students, selected directly from partner-Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and participating HBCU students interested in graduate studies in fire-related disciplines. We propose a Summer Research and Training Fellowship (SRTF) at the undergraduate level that is tied directly to USFS Research and Development (R&D) Southern Research Station (SRS) work units. The program will be designed and implemented through a partnership among the USFS SRS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), Southern University (SU), and North Carolina State University (NCSU).