Faculty and Staff Grants from September 2018

Congratulations to the following faculty and staff members who received grants and awards in September 2018:

Anne Amati, registrar at the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology and coordinator of compliance activities for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

• Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for "Museum Professionals Implementing NAGPRA Community of Practice"
• Project abstract: To develop and implement a network of NAGPRA practitioners in museums across the U.S. in order to increase capacity for NAGPRA implementation.

Rebecca Arno, director of the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise

• Grant from the Colorado Health Foundation for "PFS Deal Structuring and Evaluation Support"
• Project abstract: Support for Governor's Office Pay for Success effort in regard to Multi-systemic Therapy (MST). This project will include deal structuring, financial modeling and coordination of legal documents for MST project launching next year in Weld and Pueblo counties, along with evaluation support.

Kimberly Bender, professor and associate dean for doctoral education at the Graduate School of Social Work

• Grant from the Corporation for National Service for "Mutual Aid Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness"
• Project abstract: This community-based participatory research builds on an established partnership with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Peer Support Program to understand the impact of the program from the perspective of the participants and service providers to identify ways to strengthen and expand the program.

Marie Berry, assistant professor of international comparative politics at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies

• Grant from the Compton Foundation for "The Role of Inclusion in Successful Nonviolent Protest Campaigns: Research and Implications for Practice"
• Project abstract: As pat of the Inclusive Global Leadership Initiative, the project will conduct research to operationalize and measure the participation of women in nonviolent protest campaigns. The goal is to evaluate how strategies that prioritize the inclusion of women are related to movement success.

Todd Blankenship, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics

• Grant from the National Institutes of Health for "Sliding Vertex Behaviors During Epithelial Morphogenesis and Tissue Elongation"
• Project abstract: A conserved convergent extension program that operates through oriented cell intercalation causes the tissue to narrow in one dimension and lengthen in a perpendicular dimension. This project seeks to elucidate the mechanisms that drive this rapid tissue reorganization.

Kimberly Chiew, assistant professor at the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, and director of the DU Motivation, Affect & Cognition (MAC) Lab

• Grant from the National Institutes of Health for "Beyond Reward: Approach & Avoidance Motivation Generate Functional Contexts for Cognitive Control & Adaptive Memory"
• Project abstract: Impairment in motivational and cognitive functioning characterizes a range of psychiatric disorders. This project will provide new insights into neurobehavioral mechanisms of motivated cognitive control and memory as a function of approach and avoidance goal states, as well as examining individual differences as potential modulators of these processes.

Chadd Clary, assistant professor in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development for "Improved Treatment of Joint Infection in Total Knee Arthroplasty"
• Project abstract: This research will build on the University of Denver's expertise in medical device development, performance simulation and mechanical testing.

Christopher Coleman, professor of emergent digital practices at the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

• Grant from the Knight Foundation for "The Clinic for Open-Sourced Arts"
• Project abstract: The purpose of this project is for the creation of the Clinic for Open-Source Arts (COSA) at DU. COSA will explore, support and celebrate local and global efforts to make free and open-source tools that allow artists and designers to create with computer code.

Judith Fox, associate professor at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology and director of the International Disaster Psychology Program

• Grant from the Colorado African Organization (CAO) for "Colorado African Organization: North Aurora Counseling Services"
• Project abstract: Deliver training about mental health and lay counseling skills in a workshop format to the CAO community, navigators and other staff. Develop a plan for mental health service systems and delivery to CAO clients and ongoing services to community navigators.

Kingshuk Ghosh, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics

• Grant from the National Institutes of Health for "Quantifying Fluctuations to Build Predictive Models and Guide Design of Gene Networks"
• Project abstract: The goal is to provide a novel computational framework to analyze single cell temporal data of gene expression and build predictive models of small synthetic gene circuits, and ultimately guide design principles in synthetic biology.

Leslie Hasche, associate professor and associate dean for academic affairs at the Graduate School of Social Work and advisory group member at the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging

• Grant from the Strear Family Foundation for "DU-Metro Denver Intergenerational Collaborative Partnership"
• Project abstract: The purpose of the project is to provide support for the creation of a culture or respect between older adults and younger generations through the formation of long-term relationships, essentially creating a movement or shift in culture and behavior. This will be done in partnership with the Metro Denver Intergenerational Collaborative.

Cullen Hendrix, associate professor in the Sie Cheou-Kang Center for International Security & Diplomacy at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies

• Grant from Oxfam for "Analysis of 2017 Country Reports of Human Rights Practices"
• Project abstract: The purpose of this project is to comprehensively document and analyze how violations of the women's and LGBTI population's rights are reported in the State Department's 2017 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Oliver Kaplan, associate professor of international relations and human rights at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies

• Grant from the Folke Bernadotte Academy for "Cross-national Data Collection and Analysis of DDR Programs"
• Project abstract: This project seeks to produce a country-level quantitative analysis of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs that are designed to transition ex-combatants from civil conflict back into mainstream society

Martin Margittai, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics

• Grant from the National Institutes of Health for "Defining the Conformations of Solution-Phase Tau Monomers and Small Aggregates Using Single-Molecule Spectroscopy"
• Project abstract: The work will involve the production of Tau DNA constructs that carry either single or double cysteine mutations. As a complementary approach to the single molecule experiments performed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we will examine Tau conformers by double electron-electron resonance spectroscopy.

Gary Sanford, senior research associate at the Burnes Center on Poverty and Homelessness

• Grant from the City of Loveland for "Strategic Plan on Homeless Solution"
• Project abstract: The Burnes Center on Poverty and Homelessness will develop a strategic plan to address homelessness in the city of Loveland, Colorado. The project will develop an action plan that is scalable and purposefully addresses the full range of homeless issues.

Kevin Shelburne, senior research scientist in the Department of mechanical and Materials Engineering at the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Grant from the National Institutes of Health for "A Lower Extremity Neuromusculoskeletal Human Simulator: Addressing Multiscale Challenges"
• Project abstract: The goal of this research is to create data and models of the human musculoskeletal system that can be used to simulate individuals to understand disease and improve treatment. This project is to create a comprehensive multiscale neuromusculoskeletal model of the human lower extremity including continuous interactions between tissue and whole-body functions during dynamic human activities.

Phillip Strain, James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Urban Education at the Morgridge College of Education and director of the Positive Early Learning Experiences Center

• Grant from the University of South Florida, subaward from the U.S. Department of Education for "Technical Assistance Center on Positive Social, Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for Young Children"
• Project abstract: Consultation and training to implement the Learning Experiences: An Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Parents (LEAP) Preschool Model, including content and coaching. In addition, the project will provide training and support to external AEA consultants/coaches.
   
• Grant from the Institute of Education Science for "Special Education Research Program"
• Project abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore factors (e.g., preschool center policies, staff buy-in, familial involvement) that are related to teachers' initial and long-term fidelity of implementation of the LEAP Preschool Model, and intensive, inclusive intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Natalia Sullivan, program manager supporting community partnerships at the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise

• Grant from the Denver Early Childhood Council for "Denver's LAUNCH Together in Southwest Denver Initiative"
• Project Abstract: The goals of this project are to (1) explore the community's perspective on early childhood development, (2) ask about the hopes and dreams of children in the community and what they need to support them, and (3) gather information on what we know about the challenges facing families in the LAUNCH neighborhood.

Sarah Enos Watamura, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and co-director of the Child Health & Development Lab

• Grant from Growing Home Inc. for "Collaborative for Healthy Adams County Families"
• Project abstract: The team will conduct evaluations for the Seedlings program (one class per year) as administered for this grant, inclusive of analysis.
   
• Grant from Growing Home Inc. for "Seedlings Curriculum for New and Expectant Parents"
• Project abstract: The team will prepare evaluation materials and conduct pre- and post-SEEDLINGS evaluation interviews with Seedlings participants who consent. The goal is to determine what type of modifications would improve family engagement and satisfaction.

Kathryn Wiley, a research associate at the Graduate School of Social Work and Yolanda Anyon, associate professor at the Graduate School of Social Work

• Grant from the Spencer Foundation for "Creating Schools within Schools? A Mixed-methods Study of in-school Discipline Strategies and Racial Stratification in Educational Opportunity"
• Project abstract: This mixed methods study examines the use, educational conditions and equity implications of in-school suspension models. The investigation will draw on school discipline records, interviews with school staff and classroom observations to provide a holistic picture of these practices.