Faculty and Staff Grants From June 2024

Identifying Determinants of HIV-1 Responsible for the Nanoscale Distribution and Dynamics of Virus Assembly

• Schuyler Van Engelenburg, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Grant from the National Institutes of Health
• Abstract: There is a significant gap in our understanding of the infection cycle of HIV-1. This proposal aims to delineate the underpinnings of HIV-1 assembly on a single molecule basis and in a native cellular context. These discoveries will provide new quantitative models to guide approaches aimed at thwarting HIV-1 assembly.

Advancing Innovation: A National Summit on Judicial Leadership

• Danielle Kalil, IAALS
• Grant from the State Justice Institute
• Abstract: In light of the pressing need for judicial leadership, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, in collaboration with the Berkeley Judicial Institute (BJI), seeks funding from the State Justice Institute to support Advancing Innovation: A National Summit on Judicial Leadership. This Summit will bring together judicial leaders for an in-person event in Denver in September 2024 and will be accompanied by publications on innovative approaches to the evolving role of the judiciary and the potential for judges to drive structural change.

Mindfulness and Help-Seeking in Social Networks to Understand Suicidal Ideation

• Anthony Fulginiti, Graduate School of Social Work
• Grant from the University of Southern California (subaward Army Research Office)
• Abstract: This project will leverage advances in artificial intelligence (AI) modeling to understand how mindfulness is related to community-level social network processes and how help-seeking is related to community-level social network processes. This will uncover how network ties facilitate transmission of prosocial skills and behaviors, specifically mindfulness, between dyads, triads and larger network patterns to impact suicidal ideation.

Leadership Development and Executive Coaching Consultant Services 

• Christa Doty, Graduate School of Social Work
• Grant from Westchester Department of Social Services
• Abstract: Butler Institute for Families proposes to partner with the Westchester County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) to adapt and deliver training in leadership development and provide executive coaching. The goal of project is to create a structured process to develop current and emerging leaders to strengthen the Department’s succession planning capacity through creating a leadership framework, provide training and coaching for senior leaders, directors, managers and supervisors.

University Transportation Centers NDSU Subaward

• Patrick Sherry, University College
• Grant from North Dakota State University (subaward U.S. Department of Transportation)
• Abstract: The objectives of each of these centers are to: advance transportation expertise and technology in the varied disciplines that comprise the field of transportation through education, research and technology transfer activities; provide for a critical multimodal transportation knowledge base outside of the US DOT; and address critical workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders with respect to the statutory research priorities.

Computational Assessment of Cervical Spine Kinematics as a Function of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

• Paul Rullkoetter, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
• Grant from ZimVie (subaward Highridge Medical)
• Abstract: This proposal aims to study Mobi-C implantation outside common C5-C6 and C6-C7 areas of the spine. It will expand to C7-T1. Range of motion, refinement of mechanical properties, and evaluation of facet joint mobility and contact pressure will be studied.

Restricted

• David Wenzhong Gao, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

Nuclear Weapons in International Politics

• Debak Das, Josef Korbel School of International Studies 
• Grant from The Stanton Foundation
• Abstract: This is a Course Development Grant offered by the Stanton Foundation to develop a course on nuclear politics at the University of Denver. The course will be developed and offered to master's students as a part of the INTS courses at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. The primary goal of the grant as well as the course is to get students to think about the politics of nuclear weapons and their role in international relations.

Stone Soup

• Meredith Silverstein, Graduate School of Social Work
• Grant from Larimer County
• Abstract: This initiative will combat Colorado’s opioid crisis through a holistic community care approach centralized around criminal justice-involved persons in the Larimer County Jail. The Butler Institute for Families will conduct a comprehensive program evaluation.

Early Life Caregiving and Health: Testing the Impact of Caregiving Experiences Across Two Generations

• Elysia Davis, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
• Grant from Mental Research Institute
• Abstract: The quality of early life caregiving experiences can impact both a mother’s health and the way they parent their offspring. The goal of this proposal is to identify a biological pathway by which maternal early life caregiving experiences become biologically embedded and subsequently influence mother-child relationships.

Maternal Predictability as a Protective Factor for Children's Stress Physiology and Emotional/Behavioral Problems

• Deborah Han, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
• Grant from the American Psychological Foundation
• Abstract: The proposed study aims to test whether maternal predictability is associated with better physiological infant stress regulation to a social stressor at six months and fewer child emotional/behavioral problems at three years of age. The proposed study will test whether maternal predictability can buffer the effects of poverty and maternal depression on child stress physiology and emotional/behavioral problems.

Group Theory and Its Neighboring Disciplines

• Mandi Schaeffer Fry and Peter Vojtechovsky, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

DCF Leadership Collaborative Training Program

• Shauna Rienks, Graduate School of Social Work
• Grant from Stockton University
• Abstract: The New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) has partnered with Stockton University to offer opportunities to build the leadership competencies of child welfare leaders. The Butler Institute at the University of Denver is proposing to support these efforts by conducting 360-degree assessments and providing individualized feedback reports that participants can use to enhance their leadership skills.

A Qualitative Inquiry of Research Administrator Perceptions of Job Satisfaction

• Noelle Strom, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
• Grant from the National Council of University Research Administrators
• Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of research administrators in the NCURA community and how those experiences affect their perceptions of job satisfaction. This study will expand on the limited existing literature that explores job satisfaction as experienced by research administrators.