Grants Make Research a Reality
By: Marga H. Row
In the last few decades, research grants at Penn State Berks have increased exponentially. Sixty percent of the 115 full-time faculty members conduct research in addition to their teaching duties, and much of this research is funded through grants from external agencies. In the 2011/12 academic year, Penn State Berks had twenty-two active grants that totaled $1,222,001 in funding over the period of three years, from July 2009–June 2012.
A total of sixteen proposals were submitted between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, requesting a total of $3,290,267. Of the sixteen proposals submitted, eleven are pending. Seven new grants were awarded in the fiscal year 2011/2012. These grants include:
Dr. Jennifer Arnold, The National Geographic Society awarded Dr. Jennifer Arnold, Assistant Professor of Biology, $13,935 for her project titled “A Common Species in Peril: Evaluating the Status of Boreal Common Terns and the Severity of Decline for Inland Nesting Tern Population in North America.” Arnold and Dr. Stephen Oswald, Instructor in Biology at Penn State Berks, served as Co-Primary Investigators on the grant. They worked with their team to conduct research that will determine population trends, genetic isolation, and reproductive output for common terns breeding at previously unexplored colonies in Manitoba, Canada. They searched for current breeding sites of common terns, collected DNA to quantify isolation, and studied reproductive success and causes of nesting failure. This data will direct management activities for boreal populations and conservation priorities for declining inland common tern populations across North America. This grant was effective from September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012.
Dr. Abdullah Konak, The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Abdullah Konak, Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology, a $154,151 grant for his project titled “Exploration of a Collaborative Virtual Computer Laboratory (CVCLAB) to Enhance Distance Learning in Information Security.” This project proposes several experimental studies to explore the best ways to enhance student learning outcomes through collaborative hands-on learning in a virtual computer lab (VCL). During the course of the project, five Penn State campuses will partner to explore a VCL that has been specifically designed to provide students with collaborative hands-on learning experiences in information security. The overall goal of the project is to enhance information security education by enabling students to practice important skills and to learn together both inside and outside the classroom using a VCL, with a particular focus on distance learning. This grant is effective from October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2013.
Dr. Abdullah Konak, The National Collegiate Inventors Alliance awarded Dr. Abdullah Konak $17,372 for his project titled “A Virtual Incubator (VIB) at Penn State Berks to Foster Student Innovations.” Grant funds will be used to support the development of a VIB at Penn State Berks to facilitate entrepreneurship student teams to develop their information technology (IT) based ideas. The VIB is conceptualized as a virtual environment that will provide entrepreneurship teams with high-end IT resources, which are difficult for students to acquire, as well as technical and business support through partnerships with academic and industry experts. This grant is effective from September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2014.
Dr. Alikhani-Koopaei, The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Alikhani-Koopaie, Associate Professor of Mathematics, $24,984 for the Summer Symposium in Real Analysis XXXVI. Penn State Berks hosted the 36th Summer Symposium in Real Analysis. This conference has been held annually since 1978, and it is considered to be the premier conference of its type by members of the real analysis community. The Symposium offers researchers the opportunity to hear and share the newest findings in the field of real analysis. The goal of the Symposium is to provide a forum for researchers to present their newest results. This award was effective from January 1, 2012 through December 30, 2012.
Dr. Sadan Kulturel-Konak, The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Sadan Kulturel-Konak, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems, $199,566 for the project titled “A Modular Assessment Framework for Professional Skills Using a Model of Domain Learning Approach.” Kulturel-Konak will serve as Primary Investigator (PI) and will work with co-PIs Dr. Gul Kremer, Associate Professor of Engineering Design and Industrial Engineering, Penn State University Park, and Dr. Ivan Esparragoza, Associate Professor of Engineering, Penn State Brandywine. The overall goal is to improve the assessment of students’ developmental progress in various professional skills across multiple disciplines through a uniform assessment framework based on a pedagogical theory, the Model of Domain Learning (the MDL). Through the design of a uniform assessment framework for all professional skills and the development of a set of coherent assessment instruments that can be modified according to the learning objectives and student level, this project strives to facilitate the integration of professional skills assessment into an overall program assessment plan. The proposed framework will be tested in various course levels and will include the Information Sciences and Technology, Business, Entrepreneurship, and Engineering programs at various institutions. This grant is effective from May 1, 2011 through April 30, 2015.
Dr. Rungun Nathan, The Utah State University awarded Dr. Rungun Nathan, Associate Professor of Engineering, $21,529 as part of an NSF TUES project titled “Improving Students’ Problem-Solving in Engineering Dynamics through Interactive Web-Based Simulation and Animation Modules.” Nathan will work with Dr. Ning Fang, Associate Professor at Utah State University, and his team in developing and evaluating tools for use in assessing student learning outcomes. These outcomes will verify whether student learning has improved when compared to learning without the use of the computer simulation models. Once the software and assessment tools are ready, Nathan will use the modules as part of the curriculum for EMCH 212 Dynamics. This grant is effective from August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2015.
Dr. Jessica Schocker, The Wyomissing Foundation awarded Dr. Jessica Schocker, Assistant Professor of Social Studies, $20,900 for her project titled “Toothpick City II.” “Toothpick City II” is a model city built out of toothpicks and Elmer’s glue, set to a scale of 1:164, standing nineteen feet tall and covering an area of 672 feet. It showcases some of the tallest and most dramatic skyscrapers from around the world including the Sears Tower and the Burj Khalifa, and famous temples ranging from the Vatican in Rome to the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The “Toothpick City II” project brought this exhibit to the Reading Public Museum where students in the Reading School District were able to see and work with the exhibit and its creator, Stan Munro. Combining research-based practical classroom strategies with an interdisciplinary, standards-based approach, Schocker developed teaching and educational ideas revolving around “Toothpick City II” that allowed for student inquiry, academic agency, and performance-based achievement. Penn State Berks student teachers majoring in education took their elementary classes to the museum to implement these activities. Students learned about engineering, construction, architecture, history, culture, economics, civics, and vocation throughout the various types of learning experiences. This award was effective from February 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.