Research Awards and Grants (November 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 November 2024.

Long-Term Changes and Variability in Global Ecosystem Phenology From MODIS

• PI: Gray, Josh
• Direct Sponsor Name: Boston University – National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
• Awarded Amount: $28,575 
• Abstract:  We will be using the long-term land surface phenology products we’ve generated to explore the climatological drivers of phenological change, trends in land surface phenology, and carbon/water consequences of these changes

Quantifying and Partitioning Uncertainty in the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Models

• PI: Jones, Chris
• Direct Sponsor Name: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – US Dept. of Energy (DOE)
• Awarded Amount: $68,408 
• Abstract:  I will pursue research in uncertainty quantification and partitioning with application to machine learning and AI models, specifically zoonotic disease risk models, through the DGRP fellowship. The focus of this work will be on leveraging existing techniques and methods in uncertainty analysis to apply to models being developed at PNNL.

U-SAFEST: Utilization of Space-based Alternative Feedstock through Engineered Strains

• PI: Park, Sunkyu
• Direct Sponsor Name: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
• Awarded Amount: $12,549 
• Abstract: The ultimate goal of this project is to lay the groundwork for manufacturing beyond Earth using in situ resources. To this end, we plan to evaluate Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as a cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus 2973 (S2973) and a heterotrophic bacterium Rhodococcus sp. RPET as additional hosts for their abilities to use three alternative feedstocks (AFs): carbon dioxide/sunlight, plastic waste, and Martian regolith.

Effects of Repeated Prescribed Burning on Stream Water Quantity and Quality in Piedmont Watersheds in North Carolina

• PI: Roise, Joseph
• Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of the Interior (DOI)
• Awarded Amount: $373,619 

Abstract:   As a long-term project, two paired watersheds in northern Durham County of North Carolina are part of the municipal water supply for the City of Durham, NC. These watersheds have been monitored for both stream water quantity and quality since 2008.  Baseline hydrology and water quality data have been published in Boggs et al. (2013). In 2015 we applied a low intensity prescribed fire to one watershed and observed the changes in water quantity and quality. We seek funding to continue these efforts for three more years. This time we plan to have a more intense burn by waiting for weather and fuel conditions required for a more intense prescribed fire. Thus, we seek to continue our investigations into research needs 1: Watershed-Scale studies and 2: Studies the evaluate how variability in watershed characteristics Influences water quantity and quality. This is a long-term project.