Faculty and Staff Grants from September 2023

Congratulations to the following faculty and staff members who received grants and awards in September 2023:

Michelle Knowles and Dinah Loerke, faculty at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Grant from the National Science Foundation
• Abstract: Cells communicate with one another through exosomes. Thus far, the study of exosomes has been useful for early disease detection and in the design of drug delivery vehicles. However, little is known about how cells regulate the process of forming and secreting exosomes. The outcome of this work has the potential to transform our fundamental understanding of how cells secrete exosomes and will likely identify new regulators of the process.

Jonathan Velotta, faculty at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Grant from the National Science Foundation
• Abstract: This project will study how populations living in extreme, high-altitude environments respond to novel selective pressures and serve as a model for similar investigations in other systems that may be of urgent conservation concern.

Shauna Rienks and Charmaine Brittain, faculty and staff at the Butler Institute for Families

• Grant from the State of Georgia
• Abstract: Butler proposes to conduct a statewide assessment of Georgia's foster families who are affiliated with either public or private agencies. The Butler team will work closely with DFCS to design a rigorous mixed-methods assessment that will help DFCS identify current strengths and challenges in foster family recruitment and retention.

Kevin Morris and Erin Flynn, faculty and staff at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection

• Grant from Green Chimneys
• Abstract: Since 2017, the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) has been conducting research aimed at assessing if the Green Chimneys Farm programs positively affect clinical outcomes for its students. The broad goals are to provide supporting evidence for the efficacy of the animal-assisted and nature-based interventions as part of the unique Green Chimneys approach to supporting youth experiencing psychosocial challenges and to maintain the profiles of Green Chimneys and IHAC as leaders in the field of human-animal interactions.

Nat Truszczynski, staff at the Butler Institute for Families

• Grant from the Mile High Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
• Abstract: The Butler Institute for Families at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (Butler) will conduct a program evaluation of MHBHC’s ketamine clinic. An innovative treatment modality that MHBHC will offer with BHA Community Investment funding is the use of the fast-acting antidepressant ketamine to reduce treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) and trauma in appropriately screened adult clients receiving treatment across MHBHC’s continuum of care.

Michael Gibson-Light, faculty at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Grant from the Russell Sage Foundation
• Abstract: To better understand the numerous labor inequities encountered by today's imprisoned workers, as well as the constrained labor market prospects they face upon release, this study investigates the socio-legal roots and historical tensions underlying the legalized class inequality and immobility perpetuated through retributive, labor-centric approaches to corrections.

Laura Ramzy, faculty at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology

• Grant from the Denver Health and Hospital Authority (subaward Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Abstract: This project will assist Denver Health by conducting qualitative evaluation of BPA Intervention.

Shannon Murphy, faculty at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Grant from the Bureau of Land Management
• Abstract: Bees are an important insect pollinator that are impacted by wildfire burn severity. This project will investigate bee abundance and diversity in comparison to nesting habitat between unburned, low-burn and high-burn severity sites across two Colorado fires. We predict that bee diversity and abundance will increase with increased nesting resources.

Eric Holt, faculty at the Daniels College of Business

• Grant from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership
• Abstract: The grant will support business consulting services specific to the use of GIS mapping for the purpose of regional ecosystem development.

Jonathan Moyer, faculty at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies

• Grant from the United Nations Development Programme
• Abstract: Restricted