Sample Past Faculty Projects
Lars Junghans
Assistant Professor of Architecture
Project Title
Sustainable Building Renovation by Innovative Ventilation Strategies and Wireless Sensor Technology
Objective
The research topic will target the improvement of the ventilation system in residential buildings by introducing a new approach in connecting wireless decentralized sensor technology with new diffuser geometries.
Craig Wilkins
Lecturer in Architecture
Project Title
A WHISPER THAT WANTS TO BE A SHOUT: The Autobiography of the National African-American Museum of History and Culture
Objective
A Whisper That Wants To Be A Shout: The African-American History and Culture Museum, extends the work begun in The Aesthetics of Equity: Notes on Race, Space, Architecture and Music into here-to-fore uncharted territory for architectural narration: an archeology of the century-long struggle of African-Americans to establish a specific cultural presence on the National Mall and concomitantly, in America’s image of self.
Donald Lopez
A.E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist Studies
Peggy McCracken
Professor of Comparative Literature, Professor of French, and Professor of Women’s Studies
Project Title
The Christian Buddha: Buddhism and Christianity in a Medieval Tale
Objective
The tale Barlaam and Josaphat was one of the most popular saint’s stories of the Middle Ages, translated into more than a dozen European languages, from Icelandic to Yiddish. This story of a Christian saint is based on the life of the Buddha. This book project situates the medieval Christian narrative in relation to the life of the Buddha, but also in relation to other medieval narratives about sanctity, war, and love.
Kenichi Kuroda
Assistant Professor of Dentistry, Biologic & Materials Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry
Project Title
The Development of Non-Toxic Antimicrobial Polymers
Objective
To develop synthetic polymers that can kill bacteria by disrupting cell membranes without any toxicity to human cells.
Tom Kerppola
Professor of Biological Chemistry
Project Title
Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Disease
Objective
To investigate the molecular mechanism of heart development. This project examines how the alteration of gene expression contributes to heart diseases, in particular how protein complex formation between different transcription factors and their roles in the regulation of genes are critical for abnormal heart growth and heart failure.
Mark Banaszak
Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Project Title
Nanoparticle Interactions with Biological Membranes
Objective
Characterization of nanoparticle interactions with cell membranes and simple models such as supported lipid bilayers and vesicles. The role of endocytosis and permeation mechanisms for transport of materials into the cell will be explored.
Phillip Savage
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Chemical Engineering
Project Title
Converting Biomass to Renewable Fuels
Objective
Reacting biomass (energy crops, algae, used cooking oil) in water at elevated temperatures and pressures breaks down the biomacromolecules and converts them to smaller molecules that are in the range of liquid and gaseous fuels. We are using this hydrothermal processing approach to convert lignocellulosic biomass into H2 or CH4 and to convert algae into liquid transportation fuels.
Arthur Verhoogt
Associate Professor of Papyrology and Greek
Project Title
The Wastepaper World of Ancient Egypt
Objective
To compile a representative collection of translated texts on papyrus to be used in undergraduate teaching of papyrology (the study of ancient texts on papyrus).
Jan Stegemann
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Project Title
BME Project 4: Bone Tissue Engineering using Cell-based Therapies
Objective
To develop cell-based therapies to accelerate and improve bone healing. The main approach we use is to embed adult mesenchymal stem cells in defined microenvironments designed to direct their differentiation into bone cells.
Victor C. Li
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Project Title
CEE Project 5: Novel LEGO-like Construction and DeConstruction
Objective
This project involves the exploration of a new construction method for buildings and civil infrastructure based on the concepts of LEGO. LEGO blocks will be built out of bendable concrete, allowing rapid joining during construction using laser-guided robots. A specific objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of this new construction method with a bendable concrete LEGO set.
Gina Brandolino
Lecturer in English
Project Title
Literature, Church Critique, and Heresy in Medieval England
Objective
Many Middle English texts demonstrate the lively and insightful critique of the church and its officials which occurred in late medieval England; more than a few of these texts bear connections to the heresy known as Lollardy. Studying several of these texts, we will attempt to illuminate the issues and stakes of these critiques, as well as explore how and why writers deployed literary tactics and elements to convey these views.
Anne Gere
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of English and Education
Project Title
Research English Teachers Can Use
Objective
To prepare three research briefs that will be distributed to over 50,000 English teachers across the nation. This project is in response to the National Council of Teachers focus on the continuing gap between research and practice in English education.
Acrisio Pires
Associate Professor of Linguistics
Project Title
Linguistic Theory, Comparative Linguistics and the Acquisition of Syntax and Semantics
Objective
This project focuses on two independent research topics: (i) comparative linguistics - how current models of generative syntax theory can explain both common and varying properties of different human languages (ii) language acquisition – how the investigation of first and second language in bilingual settings can contribute to the understanding of the development of linguistic competence, considering conditions of exposure to different languages and the potential effect of processes of language change.
Phillip J. Bowman
Director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity
Professor of Higher and Postsecondary Education
Project Title
A Mixed Method Study of Exemplary Research Opportunity Interventions
Objective
To understand the use of non-cognitive variables (such as leadership skills, emotional intelligence) as indicators of merit. More specifically, we are interested in including non-cognitive factors in a test of a “role-strain and adaptation model” that explains the processes through which students cope with barriers to academic performance in post-secondary educational institutions.
Maria Muzik
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Project Title
The Mom Power Group and the Circle of Security
Objective
To determine if an early intervention program for parents and their children is an effective strategy for helping to deal with the new stresses of being a parent.
Stephanie Rowley
Professor of Psychology and Education
Project Title
African American and Latino Parents’ Understanding of the Achievement Gap
Objective
This study assesses African American and Latino parents’ understanding of the Black-White and Latino-White achievement gaps.
Alford A. Young Jr.
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Sociology
Project 1 Title
African American Scholars and the Politics of Racial Scholarship
Objective
Coding and analysis of qualitative interview data, preparation of analytical memos.
Project 2 Title
Poverty in a Forgotten City: The Views on Work and Opportunity of African Americans in Camden, New Jersey
Objective
Coding and analysis of qualitative interview data, preparation of analytical memos.