Office of Research

Announcements in Tech Times

Historic Announcements Through March 5, 2019

Office of Research implements specialized email inboxes for more efficient communications
Mary Kathryn Karafonda (mkarafonda@tntech.edu) | 372-3758

The Office of Research has new email inboxes to enhance its efficiency. Please direct pre-award issues to preaward@tntech.edu, managed by Joe Driver who prepares budgets and proposals, and fields pre-award policy questions. Amy Hill remains our pre-award coordinator/submitter, editor, and communications manager. Please send agreements for review and official signature to agreements@tntech.edu, managed by Catherine Wallace, specialist for award negotiations, subawards, and non-monetary agreements. Please direct non-bookkeeping award issues to awards@tntech.edu, managed by Mark Lynam, contact on award report submission and compliance review for budget adjustments. Mark also provides support for revisions, extensions, and policy/regulatory issues along with CITI training, Visual Compliance checks, and tech transfers. The research@tntech.edu inbox will receive sponsor- and general submission portal-related correspondence. Thank you for your support during this transition!

Post Date: 3/2/2022
Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstract submission deadline March 9

amyhill@tntech.edu

(931) 372-3464

All students planning to participate in Research and Creative Inquiry Day must complete the online abstract submission form at by 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 9, 2022. After that time, no additional abstracts will be accepted. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary author upon abstract submission. If that email is not received, the abstract has not been successfully submitted. If this occurs, the student should resubmit or contact Amy Hill (amyhill@tntech.edu) before the abstract submission deadline.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Amy Hill at 372-3464 or amyhill@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 3/3/2022.
Submit your Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstracts by March 9

amyhill@tntech.edu

(931) 372-3464

If you are planning to participate in Research and Creative Inquiry Day, you must complete an online abstract submission form by 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 9, 2022. After that time, no additional abstracts will be accepted. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary author upon abstract submission. If that email is not received, the abstract has not been successfully submitted. If this occurs, resubmit or contact Amy Hill (amyhill@tntech.edu) before the abstract submission deadline.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Amy Hill at 372-3464 or amyhill@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 3/3/2022.
Consider participating in the 17th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day

amyhill@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3464

The 17th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day event is planned to be in person at the Hooper Eblen on Wed. and Thurs., April 20 and 21 (if the event needs to be virtual, participants will be informed by the end of February). The event is designed to promote and provide a venue for presenting student research and creative inquiry and is open to undergraduate/graduate students from all departments.

Students must submit an abstract (1500 characters) via the abstract submission link (students may have to log into Tech Express with their TTU credentials) by 11:59 p.m., Wed. March 9. No abstracts will be accepted after this date. Each submitted abstract must be developed into a poster (or paper for those in the English Department) to be displayed during the event. Poster files will need to be printed and mounted to a trifold poster board.

Please contact Amy Hill at amyhill@tntech.edu or 372-3464 for more information. The schedule can be found on the Office of Research website.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 1/31/2022.
Consider serving as a judge for 17th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day

amyhill@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3464

The 17th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day is planned for in person at the Hooper Eblen on Wed. and Thurs., April 20 and 21 (if the event needs to be virtual, participants will be informed by the end of February). The event, which is designed to promote and provide a venue for presenting student research and creative inquiry, is open to undergraduate/graduate students from all departments. We need judges from across campus to evaluate the students’ work.

Poster judging will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 20. Students are invited to be available to discuss posters, and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Judges should register at the judge registration link (you may have to log into Tech Express with your TTU credentials). Visit the Office of Research website for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Amy Hill at 372-3464 or amyhill@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 1/31/2022.
Applications for Scholastic Research Award due to Office of Research by February 28
sstorie@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6756

The Scholastic Research Award, presented by the University Research Advisory Committee, is a university-wide award for a single, significant and innovative work produced, published, performed or exhibited from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2021. Two awards, of $1,500 each, are available each year, with one reserved for tenure-track faculty and the other reserved for tenured faculty. Applications must be submitted electronically in a single PDF to sstorie@tntech.edu on or before Feb. 28, 2022. For complete application requirements, please visit the Office of Research website, and select the section for the Scholastic Research Award.

Post Date: Weekly in February. (starting with Jan. 31, 2022, Feb. 1, Feb. 9)
Student Research and Creative Inquiry Day set for April 20-21, 2022
amyhill@tntech.edu | 372-3464

Research and Creative Inquiry Day is an annual event designed to promote undergraduate and graduate student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. The 17th annual event will be held in person from April 20 to 21, 2022, in the Hooper Eblen Center.

The abstract submission portal will be open from Wed., Feb. 2, through Wed., March 9. Abstract guidelines can be found on the Office of Research website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php.

Additional event information will be sent out in the spring, but we wanted to give you an opportunity to start thinking about your submission early.

New for this event, we will be collaborating with the Center for Career Development to offer students a resumé-critiquing opportunity from 9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, April 21, and several potential employers will be invited to the general poster viewing session that day to provide students valuable networking opportunities.
Posted in Student Version: 11/18/2021
Research and Creative Inquiry Day set for April 20-21, 2022
amyhill@tntech.edu | 372-3464

Research and Creative Inquiry Day is an annual event designed to promote undergraduate and graduate student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. The 17th annual event will be held in person from April 20 to 21, 2022, in the Hooper Eblen Center.

The abstract submission portal will be open from Wed., Feb. 2, through Wed., March 9. Abstract guidelines can be found on the Office of Research website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php.

Please share this information with your students and consider including information related to Research and Creative Inquiry Day, as appropriate, in your spring course syllabi. Faculty will receive an email at the beginning of the spring semester providing additional event information and inviting you to participate as a Research and Creative Inquiry Day judge.

New for this event, we will be collaborating with the Center for Career Development to offer students a resumé-critiquing opportunity from 9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, April 21, and several potential employers will be invited to the general poster viewing session that day to provide students valuable networking opportunities.

Posted in Faculty Version: 11/18/2021
Office of Research Congratulates External Funding Winners from September
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

- Allcott (PI) & Hagarty (Co-PI): Private
- Cohen (PI): USFWS
- Gentry (PI) & Blair (Co-PI): TN Arts Comm. via the UUCDD
- Ghafoor (PI) & Siraj (Co-PI): NSA
- Gupta (PI) & Ghafoor (Co-PI): NSF
- Kim (PI): Private (2 projects)
- Krosnick (PI): Institute of Museum & Library Services
- Liska (PI), Brewer (Co-PI), & Powell (Co-PI): National Safety Council
- Mattingly (PI) & Hurt (Co-PI): USFWS
- Murdock (PI) & Kalyanapu (Co-PI): USDA NRCS via The Nature Conservancy
- Rogers (PI): USFWS via TWRA (2 projects)
- Rogers (PI): USGS (2 projects)
- Rogers (PI) & Rosenberger (Co-PI): TWRA
- Rogers (PI), Renfro (Co-PI), Ghafoor (Co-PI), Kalyanapu (Co-PI), Hasan (Co-PI):
NSF
- Rosenberger (PI): USGS
- Shannigrahi (PI) & Rogers (Co-PI): NSF
- Siraj (PI) & Brown (Co-PI): NSA
- Siraj (PI) & Brown (Co-PI): U.S. DoD via Fordham Univ
- Stretz (PI) & Ghorashi (Co-PI): Private
For more information, visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.
Post Date 10/27/2021.
Pre-proposals for NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) funding due Nov. 12 to Office of Research
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation funding is a limited submission program that increases access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

Tennessee Tech may submit or be included as a significantly funded subawardee in no more than three MRI proposals. Therefore, a pre‐proposal is required to be submitted by all interested faculty and an internal review conducted to determine which proposals will be submitted to NSF. The pre‐proposal must be submitted to the Office of Research on or before noon, Friday, November 12, as a single PDF document via the research@tntech.edu email account. For more information, visit our website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/pdf/aboutus/NSF_MRI_2021.pdf.

Post Date 10/20/2021
Office of Research Congratulates External Funding Winners from August
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587
Externally sponsored award winners from August:
· Julie Baker, Lisa Zagumny (Co-PI), Jeremy Wendt (Co-PI): U.S. Dept. of Education via TN
Dept. of Education
· Alice Camuti, Alfred Kalyanapu (Co-PI), John Brackins (Co-PI): NSF (Graduate Research
Fellowship Program)
· Steve Click and Shirin Noei (Co-PI): U.S. Dept. of Transportation via University of
Florida
· Brad Cohen: USFWS via TWRA
· Ismail Fidan: NSF via Sommerset Community College
· Terry Guo and Allen MacKenzie (Co-PI): NSF
· Carla Hurt: NSF
· Kevin Liska: U.S. Small Business Administration Center via TN Small Business
Development Centers via MTSU
· Jennifer Meadows: Battelle Memorial Institute
· Shirin Noei: U.S. Dept. of Transportation via University of Florida
· Amanda Rosenberger: National Park Service
· Ambareen Siraj, Eric Brown (Co-PI), Akond Rahman (Co-PI), Denis Ulybyshev (Co-PI),
Maanak Gupta (Co-PI): NSF
· Tom Timmerman: CARES Act Funding via TN Small Business Development Center

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in July
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587
· Aikens: U.S. Dept. Ag. (2); U.S. Dep. Commerce (2); U.S. Small Bus. Admin. Center/TN
SBDC (MTSU)
· Cohen, Kissell: U.S. Dep. Inter./TWRA
· Cohen, Combs: U.S. Dep. Inter./TWRA
· Gentry: TN Arts Comm.
· Ghafoor: NSF via UT Chatt.
· Gotcher; TBR
· Howard: Putnam Co. School System; Private (2); TN Dept. Ed. (2); TN Dept. Intell. &
Develop. Dis. (2)
· Howard, Callender: TN Dep. Ed. (2)
· Hurley, Hellman: TN Dep. Health
· Ismail: Qatar Nat. Res. Fund/TX A&M Univ.
· Kim: NSF (2); Priv. (3)
· Liska: TN Dept. Health
· Potter, Anthony, Moore: TBR
· Roberts: U.S. Dept. Energy
· Rogers, Ghafoor: Priv.
· Shannigrahi: NSF/Color. St. Univ.
· VandenBerge: TBR
· Wheeler, Hurt: U.S. Dep. Inter./TWRA
· Y. Zhang: ORNL
Congratulations to sponsored award winners in June
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587
Externally sponsored award winners from June:
· Mohammad Albakri: NSF via Virginia Tech
· Mary Fornehed: National Institutes of Health via University of TN
· Barbara Jared, Jason Hurley (Co-PI), and Kimberly Hanna (Co-PI): Appalachian Regional
Commission
· DuckBong Kim: Managing Institute and Joint Research Institute-Hanyang
· Amanda Powell and Kevin Liska (Co-PI): TN Dept. of Health
· Ambareen Siraj and Eric Brown (Co-PI): NSF via Whatcom Community College

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php
Posted: 7/14/2021
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in May
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Externally sponsored award winners from May:

· Sakir Ayik: U.S. Department of Energy

· Julie Baker: U.S. Department of Education via Tennessee Department of
Education

· Maanak Gupta and Sheikh Ghafoor (Co-PI): National Science
Foundation

· Mary Kidd, Kaitlyn Kidwell (Co-PI), Emma Mitchell (Co-PI), and Halle
Ford (Co-PI): Private Funder

· Mustafa Rajabali: U.S. Department of Energy

· Rory Roberts: U.S. Department of Energy via HyperTech

· Daniel VandenBerge: Private Funder

· Fred Vondra and Ismail Fidan (Co-PI): Private Funder

· Liqun Zhang: National Science Foundation via LiBama

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in April

research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Externally sponsored award winners from April:

· Jesse Carrick: U.S. Department of Energy

· Steven Click and Shirin Noei (Co-PI): U.S. Dept. of Transportation via
University of Florida

· Dennis Duncan and Michael Nattrass (Co-PI): U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
via Middle TN State University

· Gail Gentry: Private Funder

· Kevin Liska: TN Dept. of Safety and Homeland Security

· Satish Mahajan: UCDD via Appalachian Regional Commission

· Jennifer Meadows: Battelle Memorial Institute

· Joseph Ojo: Office of Naval Research

· Mustafa Rajabali: NSF via University of Tennessee Knoxville

· Amanda Rosenberger: two grants, one with the U.S. Geological Survey
and TN Wildlife Resources Agency

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.

Post Date 5/6/2021.
Meet and Greet to follow alum David Nicholas’s presentation Thurs, Apr. 29

sstorie@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6756

A meet-and-greet session for faculty will follow Tech alum David Nicholas’s presentation this Thursday, April 29. The presentation will be at 11 a.m. in Room 113 of the Stonecipher Lecture Hall (SLH), and the meet-and-greet will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Laboratory Science Commons Building, Room 3331. The Office of Research and Economic Development and the Chemical Engineering Department are hosting the event. Nicholas, CEO of Earth Science Laboratories in Rogers, Arkansas, will be discussing ESL’s research and development ventures. ESL has found that a unique chemical composition accounted for many distinctive features of its products and is now the basis of the company’s rapidly growing technology platform. ESL is exploring opportunities for collaborative research as the company sees many opportunities for the chemistry that are outside its founding expertise in water treatment. For more information, contact Sandy Storie (sstorie@tntech.edu or 931-372-6756).

Post Date 4/27/2021 (Ran in faculty edition only because the meet and greet was just for faculty; that date was a Tuesday, so it probably won’t go out until Wednesday, which is the next email edition)
Research and Creative Inquiry Day winners announced

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The 2021 Research and Creative Inquiry event has concluded, with 222 abstracts and 205 posters/papers submitted, representing more than 300 current students from 22 schools and departments. We appreciate the patience of the students, research advisors, and judges as we used a digital format again this year.

Links to the winners, the Proceedings with all submitted abstracts, recording of the award ceremony, and two creative media inquiry video projects developed in the Social Problems (SOC 1650) class taught by Ada Haynes, sociology professor, can all be found on the event website (https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day).

Many of the posters from the event are available for viewing by the campus community for the remainder of the spring semester.

The Proceedings of Student Research and Creative Inquiry Day, an online journal for those who agreed to their abstract and poster/paper being published, will be compiled in the coming weeks. When it is ready, the link to the journal will be available on the event website.

Submitted to Faculty and Student Tech Times to post 4/26/2021.
David Nicholas, CEO of Earth Science Laboratories, to speak Thursday, Apr. 29

sstorie@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6756

The Office of Research and Economic Development and the Chemical Engineering Department are hosting Tech alum David Nicholas, CEO of Earth Science Laboratories in Rogers, Arkansas, at 11 a.m., Thurs., Apr. 29, in Room 113 of the Stonecipher Lecture Hall (SLH). Nicholas will be discussing ESL’s research and development ventures. ESL has found that a unique chemical composition accounted for many distinctive features of its products and is now the basis of the company’s rapidly growing technology platform. The primary acid comprising the company’s chemical composition is a polymeric arrangement of ammonium bisulfate, or PABS. The PABS has multiple unique characteristics that provide for specific benefits in water treatment, agriculture, metal plating, battery electrolytes, pharmaceuticals, and more. ESL is exploring opportunities for collaborative research as the company sees many opportunities for the chemistry that are outside its founding expertise in water treatment.

Post Date 4/21/2021 (Ran in student and faculty editions)
Research and Creative Inquiry Day virtual award ceremony to be Tuesday, Apr. 20

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Please plan to join us from 11 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, April 20, for the virtual Awards Ceremony of the 16th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day. The attendee link is provided here and on our website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/.
Posted in Faculty and Student Editions Date 4/16/2021.
Congratulations to those who earned Faculty Research Awards

jdicey@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3897

The Office of Research recently announced the winners of its latest Faculty Research awards. To see the complete list of awardees, please select the 2020-2021 drop-down at https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/fra-i.php. Congratulations to those winners.

Post Date 4/16/2021.
Research and Creative Inquiry Day virtual poster judging taking place this week

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The 16th annual Research and Creative Inquiry event is currently taking place at Tennessee Tech! This event is designed to promote student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. There were 222 abstracts submitted representing 330+ current students from 22 schools and departments across campus. This week, participants submitted 204 posters and papers for judging, many of which will be available at this link for viewing by the campus community for the remainder of the Spring semester. Please take some time and check out the exciting research and creative inquiry activities being performed by students at Tennessee Tech!

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 4/14/2021.
Research and Creative Inquiry Day virtual poster judging taking place this week

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The 16th annual Research and Creative Inquiry event is currently taking place at Tennessee Tech! This event is designed to promote student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. There were 222 abstracts submitted representing 330+ current students from 22 schools and departments across campus. This week, participants submitted 204 posters and papers for judging, many of which will be available at this link for viewing by the campus community for the remainder of the Spring semester. Please take some time and check out the exciting research and creative inquiry activities being performed by students at Tennessee Tech!

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 4/14/2021.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in March

research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Externally sponsored award winners from March:

· Indranil Bhattacharya: ORNL

· Joe Biernacki and Barry Stein, George Chitiyo, Elizabeth Lisic, Indranil
Bhattacharya (Co-PIs): NSF

· Jeff Boles, Jeremy Wendt (Co-PI): NSF

· Pingen Chen and Stephen Canfield, Joseph Ojo, Indranil Bhattacharya,
Vahid Motevalli (Co-PIs): USDOE

· Brad Cohen: TWRA

· Lewis Crouch: Private Funder

· Glenn Cunningham and Ethan Languri (Co-PI): USDOE

· Tania Datta: U.S. Department of State via IREX

· Dennis Fennewald: Private Funder

· Mike Gotcher and Ferdinand DiFurio, Yolunda Nabors (Co-PIs): TBR

· Stephen Idem: USDOE via ASME via McHale and Associates

· Mary Kidd: NSF via University of South Dakota

· Mohamed Mahmoud: Private Funder

· Jennifer Meadows: Battelle Memorial Institute

· Susan Piras: Cookeville Regional Medical Center

· Mark Rogers: TWRA

· Mark Rogers: USGS

· Daniel VandenBerge: U.S. Navy via National Institute of Building
Sciences
Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.

Post Date 4/8/2021.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in Feb.

research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Externally sponsored award winners from February:

· Pingen Chen (PI): U.S. Department of Energy via University of Texas, Austin

· Muhammad Ismail (PI): International Funder

· Mary Kidd (PI): National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) via
Vanderbilt University

· Jessica Oswalt (PI): National Science Foundation via Tennessee State
University

· Amanda Powell (PI) and Kevin Liska (Co-PI): Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation

· Steven Seiler (PI), Mark Loftis (Co-PI), Lachelle Norris (Co-PI), and Paula
Hinton (Co-PI): Private Funder

· Steven Seiler (PI), Mark Loftis (Co-PI), and Lachelle Norris (Co-PI):
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) via
Power of Putnam

· Joseph Slater (PI): Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering
Examiners

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.

Post Date 3/8/2021.
Submit your Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstracts by March 10

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

If you are planning to participate in Research and Creative Inquiry Day, you must complete an online abstract submission form by 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 10, 2021. After that time, no additional abstracts will be accepted. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary author upon abstract submission. If that email is not received, the abstract has not been successfully submitted. If this occurs, resubmit or contact the Office of Research before the abstract submission deadline.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 3/5/2021.
Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstract submission deadline approaching

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

All students planning to participate in Research and Creative Inquiry Day must complete the online abstract submission form at by 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 10, 2021. After that time, no additional abstracts will be accepted. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary author upon abstract submission. If that email is not received, the abstract has not been successfully submitted. If this occurs, the student should resubmit or contact the Office of Research before the abstract submission deadline.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 3/5/2021.
NSF hosts S-STEM webinar and issues new Future Manufacturing solicitation
research@tntech.edu | 372-6587

The NSF is hosting a narrated webinar on its Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STM) new solicitation on Feb. 25 and March 3. It also announced a new Future Manufacturing program solicitation for 2021. For more information on these programs, visit the Office of Research announcements page at https://www.tntech.edu/research/aboutus/announcements.php.

Post Date: 2/24/2021
Consider participating in the 16th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 16th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day will be in a digital/virtual format again this year, with event activities culminating in a virtual award ceremony at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 20. The event, which is designed to promote and provide a venue for presenting student research and creative inquiry, is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all departments.

To participate in the event, students must submit an abstract (limited to 250 words) of their project via the abstract submission link (https://tf.tntech.edu/machform/view.php?id=1056649) by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, March 10. No abstracts will be accepted after this date. It is expected that each submitted abstract will be developed into a poster (or paper for those in the English Department) to be submitted during the April event. Poster files do not need to be printed but must be completed by Monday, April 12.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 2/8/2021.
Consider serving as a judge for 16th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 16th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day will be in a digital/virtual format again this year, with event activities culminating in a virtual award ceremony at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 20. The event, which is designed to promote and provide a venue for presenting student research and creative inquiry, is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all departments. Therefore, we need judges from across campus to evaluate the students’ work. Please consider serving as a judge, and please also encourage your students to participate.

Poster judging will take place from April 13 through 16. Judges will be provided with the poster files on Tuesday, April 13, and will have until Friday, April 16, to enter scores via an online form. If you are willing to serve as a poster judge, please register at the judge registration link. Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 2/8/2021.
2022 TBR Student Engagement, Retention, and Success Call for Proposals

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

TBR recently released a call for proposals for the FY 2022 TBR Student Engagement, Retention, and Success (SERS) initiative. All applications are due on March 25, 2021. The grant period will be from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and the maximum funding is $50,000.

Anyone planning to submit a TBR SERS proposal should submit the internal online Notice of Intent to Submit Proposal form as soon as possible. The Office of Research will coordinate obtaining legal counsel’s review and all required signatures (including Tech’s Diversity/Equity Officer, authorized representative for grants and sponsored programs, and business officer) but we must have advance notice of your planned submission via the internal Notice of Intent to Submit Proposal form.

For more information visit our website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/resources/findfunding/index.php or, contact Jamie Murdock at jlmurdock@tntech.edu.

Post date: 2/4/2021
Apply for Scholastic Research Award by Feb. 28
sstorie@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6756

The Scholastic Research Award, presented by the University Research Advisory Committee, is a university-wide award for a single, significant and innovative work produced, published, performed or exhibited from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020. Two awards, of $1,500 each, are available each year, with one reserved for tenure-track faculty and the other reserved for tenured faculty. Applications must be submitted electronically in a single PDF to sstorie@tntech.edu on or before Feb. 28, 2021. For complete application requirements, please visit the Office of Research website, and select the section for the Scholastic Research Award.

Post Date: Weekly in February. Feb. 1, 2021; Feb. 8, 2021; Feb. 15, 2021; Feb. 26, 2021
Virtual Research and Creative Inquiry Day set for April 2021
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | 372-6587

Research and Creative Inquiry Day is an annual event designed to promote undergraduate and graduate student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. The 16th annual event will be held in April 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we are moving forward with a digital/virtual format.

The abstract submission portal will be open from Monday, Feb. 1, through Wednesday, March 10. Abstract guidelines can be found on the Office of research https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php.

Please share this information with your students and consider including information related to Research and Creative Inquiry Day, as appropriate, in your spring course syllabi. Faculty will receive an email at the beginning of the spring semester providing additional event information and inviting you to participate as a Research and Creative Inquiry Day judge.

Posted in Faculty Version: 11/30/2020
Students invited to participate in virtual Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | 372-6587

Research and Creative Inquiry Day is an annual event designed to promote undergraduate and graduate student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work. The 16th annual event will be held in April 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we are moving forward with a digital/virtual format. We hope you will consider participating.

The abstract submission portal will be open from Monday, Feb. 1, through Wednesday, March 10. Abstract guidelines can be found on the Office of research https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php. It is expected that each submitted abstract will be developed into a poster file to be submitted April 12.

Additional event information will be sent out in the spring, but we wanted to give you an opportunity to start thinking about your submission early.
Posted in Student Version: 11/30/2020
Submission deadline for ORAU Ralph E. Powe awards is Friday, Dec. 4
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The deadline for submission of ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards application materials for internal review is noon, Friday, December 4. Full-time assistant professors within two years of their initial tenure track appointment (01/06/2019 – 01/06/2021) are eligible for these $5,000, one year, grants. Research projects must fall within one of the following five disciplines: Engineering and Applied Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics/Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences , and Policy, Management, or Education. Full details about the requirements can be found on the funding program website.

The application package should contain a one-page abbreviated resume, one-page listing of publications and/or presentations, and two-page research proposal and must be submitted to the Office of Research via research@tntech.edu. An internal review will be conducted and two submissions will be selected for submission.

Selected faculty will be notified on December 14 and the final deadline for application to ORAU is January 6, 2021.

Post date: 11/16/2020
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in October
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Oct. externally sponsored award winners:

- Ali Alouani (PI): TVA

- Melinda Anderson (PI): TN Dept. of Human Services via TN State Univ.

- Julie Baker (PI): TN Dept. of Ed.

- Dennis Duncan (PI): TN Dept. of Ed.

- Ismail Fidan (PI): NSF via Somerset Community College

- Sheikh Ghafoor (PI): (three awards) ORNL, NSF, NASA via The Univ. of North
Carolina Chapel Hill

- Martha Howard (PI), Amy Callender, Kim Correll: TN Dept. of Ed.

- Carla Hurt (PI), Steve Hayslette, Shawn Krosnick, Christopher Wheeler:
Private Funder

- Kevin Liska (PI): National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via TN
Highway Safety Office

- Kevin Liska (PI), Julie Brewer, Joe Powell: National Safety Council

- Jennifer Meadows (PI): Battelle Memorial Institute

- Andy Pardue (PI): U.S. Air Force Research Lab via DZYNE Technologies Inc.

- Akond Rahman (PI): NSF

- Jeff Schaeffer (PI): USFWS

- Susmit Shannigrahi (PI): NSF via Colorado State Univ.

- Ambareen Siraj (PI), Eric Brown: (two awards) Dept. of TN via Fordham Univ.,
Dept. of Defense/National Security Agency

- Daniel VandenBerge (PI): United States Navy via Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State Univ.

- Chris Wilson (PI): TN Dept. of Ed.

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.
Office of Research’s latest e-newsletter provides information useful in grant processes
research@tntech.edu | 372-3464

The Office of Research produces an e-newsletter twice a semester to ensure that those involved in the proposal development and grant management process are aware of the latest best management practices and internal and external compliance guidelines. The current issue contains a significant amount of information. To view this and other issues, or to subscribe, visit our website’s news and announcements page.

Post Date: 10/7/2020
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in September
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Sept. externally sponsored award winners:

- Albakri (PI): NSF via Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ.

- Allcott (PI), Haggarty: Private

- Arce (PI), Sanders, Jorgensen, Arce-Trigatti: Private

- Boles, T. (PI): Private

- Cohen (PI): USFWS

- Cunningham (PI), Languri: U.S. Dept. of Energy

- Duncan (PI): Private

- Ghafoor (PI), Haynes: NSF

- Ghafoor (PI), Siraj: National Security Agency

- Hurley (PI), Hellman: Tennessee Dept. of Health

- Hurt (PI): NSF in collaboration with Seattle Univ.

- Krosnick (PI): Institute of Museum and Library Services

- Krosnick (PI), Paine: USGS

- Mattingly (PI): USGS

- Murdock, J. (PI), Kalyanapu: The Nature Conservancy

- Roberts, R. (PI): U.S. Dept. of Defense via Ohio Council for Higher Education
(SOCHE)

- Robinson (PI), Engelhardt: NSF via Cal State Univ.

- Rogers, M. (PI): USGS

- Rosenberger (PI): grants from Missouri Department of Conservation, USGS,
and TWRA

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.

Post Date 10/7/2020.
Nominate a Faculty Member for Scholar-Mentor Award
The University established the Scholar-Mentor Award to honor Tennessee Tech's long history of close relationships between faculty and their students. The award honors a faculty member who displays outstanding mentorship, integrating scholarship, research and teaching excellence. The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2020-21 Scholar Mentor Award is Friday, November 13, 2020. Complete guidelines and the nomination form are contained on the Office of Research’s website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/committees/scholar-mentor-award.php.
Please send the forms to Amanda Gallop at agallop@tntech.edu.

Ran in student and faculty editions, 10/5/2020, 10/20/2020, 10/30/2020; 11/9/2020
Nominations sought for Caplenor Faculty Research Award

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2020-2021 Caplenor Faculty Research Award is Friday, November 13, 2020. No individual may nominate more than one person. Complete guidelines and the nomination form are contained on the Office of Research’s website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/committees/caplenor.php. Please send the forms to Amanda Gallop at agallop@tntech.edu.

Post Date: 10/5/2020, 10/19/2020, 10/30/2020, 11/9/2020
NSF issues updates to the Research Performance Progress Report effective Oct. 5
research@tntech.edu | 372-3464

Effective October 5, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will enhance the Project Reporting System in Research.gov to implement the revised Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). The RPPR is a uniform format for reporting performance progress on Federally funded research projects and research-related activities. NSF awardees use the RPPR to prepare and submit annual and final project reports to NSF. Further details about the RPPR can be found on the Research.gov About Project Reports website. Visit our News and Announcements page for more details.

Post Date: 9/30/2020
TBR announces new funding opportunity for low-cost or free educational materials
Jamie Murdock (jlmurdock@tntech.edu) | 372-6587

The TBR announced its “Open Educational Resources and Low Costs/No Costs Educational Support Materials” funding opportunity with a Nov. 1 deadline and funds available for Spring 2021. These grants target digital education initiatives and creation of educational support materials that are low, or no, cost to undergraduate and/or graduate students in new or existing campus services or programs to increase equity in access among historically underserved student populations, including, but not limited to, students of color, low income students, adults, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and traditionally underrepresented genders. Projects should involve collaborations across departments to ensure an institutional approach. Please complete the internal Notice of Intent to Submit Proposal form if you are planning to apply. Visit https://tbrgrants.webgrantscloud.com/ or our Find Funding page for more information, or email the Office of Research at research@tntech.edu.

Post Date: 9/10/2020, 10/15/2020
NSF announces fall deadlines for Graduate Research Fellowship Program applications
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The National Science Foundation announced the fall deadlines for students to apply to the Graduate Research Fellowship program. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of eligible individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. Applications for this program are submitted directly by the student in the research.gov GRFP Application Module (https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do); however, we ask that all students planning to apply contact Jamie Murdock at (jlmurdock@tntech.edu) so we can ensure that all applicable internal paperwork is prepared prior to submission. For eligibility and other program information, visit the program page at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201.

Post Date 9/5/2020; 9/25/2020 (ran in student one also)
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in August
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

August externally sponsored award winners:

- Arce-Trigatti (PI), Arce, Sanders, Aikens, Jorgensen: TBR
- Baker (PI), Zagumny, Wendt, Brown: TN Dept. of Ed.
- Campbell (PI), Powell: TBR
- Camuti (PI), Kalyanapu, Brackins (Student): NSF – Grad. Res. Fellowship Prog.
- Cohen (PI), Kissell: TWRA
- Cui (PI), Idem: Priv. Funder
- Datta (PI): U.S. EPA
- Galindo (PI), Jorgensen, Arce-Trigatti: TBR
- Gannod (PI): TBR
- Ghafoor (PI): NSF via UT Chatt.
- Gupta (PI), Ghafoor: NSF
- Howard (PI): Private Funder
- Kalyanapu (PI), Ghafoor: ORNL
- Kim (PI): Priv. Funder
- Luke (PI), Kozak: TBR
- Miller (PI): Priv. Funder
- Potter (PI), Baker: TBR
- Rajabali (PI): NSF via UT Knox.
- Rogers (PI), Rosenberger: TWRA
- Rosenberger (PI): Nat. Park Service and Missouri Dept. of Conserv.
- Shannigrahi (PI): NSF via Colorado State Univ.
- Siraj (PI): NSF and Nat. Sec. Agency
- Siraj (PI), Talbert: NSF
- Stinson (PI), Wheeler: THEC

Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php.

Post Date 9/4/2020.
Office of Research annual report for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 is now available
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The Office of Research’s annual report for the 2019-2020 fiscal year is now available online at https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/annual-reports.php. For more information, contact the Office of Research at research@tntech.edu.

Post Date 8/26/2020.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in July
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

- Michael Aikens (PI): U.S. Economic Development Administration (multiple
activations)
- Pingen Chen (PI), Steve Canfield (Co-PI), Syed Hasan (Co-PI), Steve Anton
(Co-PI), Mohan Rao (Co-PI), Vahid Motevalli (Co-PI), Muhammad Ismail
(Co-PI), and Denis Ulybyshev (Co-PI): Private Funder
- Brad Cohen (PI) and Dan Combs (Co-PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency
- Tania Datta (PI): Private Funder
- Ismail Fidan (PI): National Science Foundation via Motlow State
Community College
- Sheikh Ghafoor (PI): Oak Ridge National Lab
- Steve Hayslette (PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Martha Howard (PI): Putnam County Board of Education
- Martha Howard (PI): Private Funder
- Martha Howard (PI): Tennessee Department of Education (multiple
activations)
- Carla Hurt (PI): Tennessee Valley Authority
- DuckBong Kim (PI): National Science Foundation
- Robert Kissell (PI): National Park Service
- Kevin Liska (PI): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Hayden Mattingly (PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Hayden Mattingly (PI) and Kit Wheeler (Co-PI): Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency
- Jennifer Meadows (PI): Battelle Memorial Institute
- Mark Rogers (PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (multiple
activations)
- Amanda Rosenberger (PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Susmit Shannigrahi (PI) and Michael Rogers (Co-PI): National Science
Foundation
- Ambareen Siraj (PI) and Doug Talbert (Co-PI): National Science Foundation
- Charles VanNeste (PI), Satish Mahajan (Co-PI), Denis Ulybyshev (Co-PI), and
Maanak Gupta (Co-PI): National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Kit Wheeler (PI) and Carla Hurt (Co-PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php for more information.

Post Date 8/7/2020.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in June
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

- Jeff Boles (PI) and Jeremy Wendt (Co-PI): National Science Foundation
- Adam Holley (PI): National Science Foundation
- Martha Kosa (PI): Private Agency
- Satish Mahajan (PI): Oak Ridge National Lab
- Ambareen Siraj (PI): Private Agency
- Daniel VandenBerge (PI): Private Agency
- Liqun Zhang (PI): Private Agency

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php for more information.

Post Date 7/17/2020.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in May
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

- Ali Alouani (PI): Tennessee Valley Authority
- Sakir Ayik (PI): U.S. Dept. of Energy
- Sheikh Ghafoor (PI): Oak Ridge National Lab
- John Gunderson (PI): U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (via Middle Tennessee State
University)
- Martha Howard (PI): Private Funder
- Muhammad Ismail (PI): Private Funder
- Alfred Kalyanapu (PI) and Tania Datta (Co-PI): U.S. Geological Survey (via
University of Tennessee – Tennessee Water Resource Research Center
Program)
- Alfred Kalyanapu (PI) and Sheikh Ghafoor (Co-PI): Oak Ridge National Lab
- Duckbong Kim (PI): Private Funder
- Mohamed Mahmoud (PI): Private Funder (two awards)
- Mohamed Mahmoud (PI) and Muhammad Ismail (Co-PI): Private Funder
- Justin Murdock (PI) and Robert Brown (Co-PI): U.S. Geological Survey (via
University of Tennessee – Tennessee Water Resource Research Center
Program)
- Mustafa Rajabali (PI): U.S. Dept. of Energy
- Tom Timmerman (PI): Tennessee Small Business Development Center (two
awards)
- Ahmad Vaselbehagh (PI): Private Funder
- Chris Wilson (PI): Tennessee Department of Education

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php for more information.
Office of Research requests feedback on its resources and services
Jamie Murdock (jlmurdock@tntech.edu) | 372-6587

The Office of Research provides resources and offers services, guidance, and training in an effort to promote, support, and facilitate research and creative activities at Tennessee Tech. We would like your feedback via an online survey to determine how we can better serve the needs of faculty and staff on campus. Efforts have been made to ensure anonymity of respondents, and responses are completely anonymous unless you chose to add personally identifiable information to a comment. Please go to the link below to complete the short survey by May 27. Your feedback is appreciated!

https://tntech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8wc132BA4FCLn7f

If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the survey, please contact Jamie Murdock (jlmurdock@tntech.edu).

Post Date: 5/14/2020
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in April
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

- Carla Hurt (PI) and Robert Paine (Co-PI): Virginia Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries
- Karen Lykins (PI): Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration
- Kevin Liska (PI): Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
(Tennessee Highway Safety Office)
- Kevin Liska (PI) and Edwin Baidoo (Co-PI): Tennessee Department of
Health
- Jennifer Meadows (PI): Battelle Memorial Institute
- Mark Rogers (PI): United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php
for more information.

Post Date 5/10/2020.
This year’s Research and Creative Inquiry Day winners announced
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The winners and proceedings from this year’s Research and Creative Inquiry Day are now available online at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php. Just as the entire campus was adapting to conditions surrounding COVID-19, the 2020 Research and Creative Inquiry Day event was modified from its usual in-person format to a digital one this year. The digital format allowed students to still be able to showcase their research by submitting a digital poster or paper that was judged online. Of the 222 abstracts originally received, 184 digital posters/papers were submitted for judging. Also special this year were three creative media inquiry projects developed in the Social Problems (SOC 1650) class taught by Dr. Ada Haynes, Professor of Sociology, during the Fall 2019 semester. The videos from those projects can be found on the event web page. The Office of Research congratulates the winners and sincerely thanks everyone who contributed to making this event so successful despite the unusual circumstances.

Post Date 5/1/2020 (student and faculty Tech Times editions)
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in March

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

- Indranil Bhattacharya (PI) and Joseph Biernacki (Co-PI): National Science Foundation

- Glenn Cunningham (PI) and Ethan Languri (Co-PI): U.S. Department of Energy

- Dennis Fennewald (PI): Private Funder

- Gail Gentry (PI): Tennessee Arts Commission

- Sheikh Ghafoor (PI): Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Alfred Kalyanapu (PI) and Sheikh Ghafoor (Co-PI): U.S. Department of Defense (via ORNL)

- Kevin Liska (PI) and Julie Brewer (Co-PI): ALMMII LIFT

- Vahid Motevalli (PI) and Darek Potter (Co-PI): U.S. Department of Transportation (via University of Florida Transportation Institute)

- Anthony Paradis (PI) and Samantha Hutson (Co-PI): Private Funder

- Andy Pardue (PI): Private Funder

- Amanda Powell (PI) and Kevin Liska (Co-PI): Tennessee Department of Health

- Ying Zhang (PI): Private Funder

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php for more information.

Post Date 4/3/2020.
NSF announces deadline and webinars for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

NSF recently announced Aug. 25 as the deadline for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program proposals. NSF’s Division of Undergraduate Education and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will offer two 90-minute webinars on preparing the proposals. The webinar for Tracks 1-3 (capacity building) will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (ET), Tuesday, April 28, and the webinar for Track 4 (research) will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. (ET), Thursday, April 30.

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented STEM majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science (including engineering and computer science) teachers. The program encourages creative and innovative proposals that address the critical need for recruiting and preparing highly effective elementary and secondary science and math teachers in high-need local educational agencies.

For more information, contact Jamie Murdock at jlmurdock@tntech.edu and visit our website link.

Post date: 4/1/2020
Student Research and Creative Inquiry Day to be held in digital format

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Due to the continuing developments regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Research and Creative Inquiry Day event will be moving forward in a digital format. Participating students who have submitted an abstract should create a PDF version of their posters and send them via email to jlmurdock@tntech.edu by Monday, April 20. The subject line of the email should read "Poster Submission."

Revised Event Timeline:

April 21-24: Judges will evaluate posters based on the evaluation forms on the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website.
Week of April 27: Winners will be announced and winning certificates mailed.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 3/27/2020.
Research and Creative Inquiry Day event to be held in digital format

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

Due to the continuing developments regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Research and Creative Inquiry Day event will be moving forward in a digital format.

Participating students who have submitted an abstract should create a PDF version of their posters and send them via email to jlmurdock@tntech.edu by Monday, April 20. The subject line of the email should read "Poster Submission." Judges will be provided their posters to evaluate via email on April 21.

Revised Event Timeline:
April 21-24: Judges will evaluate posters based on the evaluation forms on the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website.
Week of April 27: Winners will be announced and winning certificates mailed.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 3/27/2020.
National Science Foundation issues update regarding COVID-19

research@tntech.edu | 931-372-3673

The National Science Foundation has issued Important Notice No 146 to the Community Regarding COVID-19. NSF has also issued additional guidance on NSF’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum (M-20-17). Questions about the policies described in the NSF Guidance should be directed to policy@nsf.gov. Questions specific to a particular award should be directed to the cognizant NSF Program Officer. NSF is working to update existing FAQs and other resources to reflect NSF’s new guidance and will keep you informed on its website at: nsf.gov/coronavirus. Visit the Office of Research home page (www.tntech.edu/research) for more details.

Post Date: 3/26/2020
TBR Student Engagement, Retention, and Success (SERS) Call for Proposals
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The TBR recently released a Call for Proposals for the 2020-2021 TBR Student Engagement, Retention, and Success (SERS) initiative. Anyone planning to apply should complete a Notice of Intent to Submit Proposal (found on the Office of Research website Forms page) ASAP. All proposal narratives must be submitted to research@tntech.edu by noon, Monday, May 11, to ensure there is time for the required Counsel review.

SERS grants are available for new or existing campus services or programs that target underserved student populations, including, but not limited to, students of color, low-income students, adults, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and traditionally underrepresented genders by discipline/CTE program. Maximum funding levels for both pilot programs and program enhancements is $50,000.

For more information, contact Jamie Murdock at jlmurdock@tntech.edu.

Post date: 3/25/2020
Submit your Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstracts by March 11
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

If you are planning to participate in Research and Creative Inquiry Day, you must complete an online abstract submission form by 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 11, 2020. After that time, no additional abstracts will be accepted. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary author upon abstract submission. If that email is not received, the abstract has not been successfully submitted. If this occurs, resubmit or contact the Office of Research before the abstract submission deadline.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 3/3/2020.
Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstract submission deadline quickly approaching

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

All students planning to participate in Research and Creative Inquiry Day must complete an online abstract submission form by 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 11, 2020. After that time, no additional abstracts will be accepted. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary author upon abstract submission. If that email is not received, the abstract has not been successfully submitted. If this occurs, the student should resubmit or contact the Office of Research before the abstract submission deadline.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 3/3/2020.
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in January
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

- Brad Cohen (PI) and Robert Kissell (Co-PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency
- Mary Kidd (PI): National Science Foundation (via USD)

- Satish Mahajan (PI): Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Jennifer Meadows (PI): US Battelle

- Jessica Oswalt (PI): National Science Foundation (via TSU)

- Mustafa Rajabali (PI): National Science Foundation (via UTK)

- Mark Rogers (PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

- Steven Seiler (PI), Lachelle Norris (Co-PI), and Mark Loftis (Co-PI): Private
Funder
- Susan Wells (PI): Tennessee Department of Education

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php
for more information.

Post Date 2/10/2020.
Consider Serving as a Judge for 15th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The 15th annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day will be Monday and Tuesday, Apr. 13 and 14. The event, which is designed to promote and provide a venue for presenting student research and creative inquiry, is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all departments. Therefore, we need judges from across campus to evaluate the students’ work. Please consider serving as a judge, and please also encourage your students to participate.

Poster judging will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday, Apr. 13, in the Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. Paper presentations will occur in the Tech Pride Room, and judging will be coordinated by the English department. If you are willing to serve as a poster judge, please register at the judge registration link. Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty Tech Times to post 2/5/2020.
Consider participating in the 15th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The 15th annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day will be Monday and Tuesday, Apr. 13 and 14, 2020, in the Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. The event, which is designed to promote student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work, is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all departments. To participate in the event, students must submit an abstract (limited to 250 words) of their project via the abstract submission link by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. No abstracts will be accepted after this date. It is expected that each submitted abstract will be developed into a poster (or paper for those in the English Department) to be presented during the event.

Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Student Tech Times to post 2/5/2020.
Applications for Scholastic Research Award due to Office of Research by February 28
sstorie@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3901

The Scholastic Research Award, presented by the University Research Advisory Committee, is a university-wide award for a single, significant and innovative work produced, published, performed or exhibited from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019. Two awards—of $1,500 each—are available each year, with one reserved for tenure-track faculty and the other reserved for tenured faculty. Applications must be submitted electronically in a single PDF to sstorie@tntech.edu on or before Feb. 28, 2020. For complete application requirements, please visit the Office of Research website at (http://www.tntech.edu/research/committees/urac.php), and select the section for the Scholastic Research Award.

Post Date 1/22/2020 and then three times again in February (2/4/2020, 2/11/2020, 2/19/2020).
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in December
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

Bradley Cohen (PI) and Robert Kissell (Co-PI): Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Angela Denson (PI): TSBDC Lead Center

Ferdinand DiFurio (PI) and Yolunda Nabors (Co-PI): Private Funder

Gerald Gannod (PI): Tennessee Department of Health via Miami University

Gail Gentry (PI) and Jeremy Blair (Co-PI): Private Funder

Sheikh Ghafoor (PI): Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Ahmed Vaselbehagh (PI): U.S. Department of the Interior (via the University of Delaware)

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php for more information.

Post Date 1/8/2020.
Funding opportunity for NSF I-Corps winter cohort
maikens@tntech.edu | 372-3810

The TTU I-Corps team is planning a winter cohort for interested TTU faculty and students. I-Corps provides early training, mentoring and money to pursue the first steps of commercialization for your technical idea. The training program is based on lean startup methods from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) I-Corps model. Cohort members can receive $3,000 to $15,000 in funding for their idea, and may be eligible for many other opportunities including industry connect programs, the national I-Corps team program with $50,000 in funding, or SBIR/STTR programs. The program can also help you write better proposals by helping you clarify the broader impact of your research efforts.

This cohort will be from 12 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 17, at the Biz Foundry (114 N. Cedar Ave.). Lunch will be provided if you register by December 13.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Stephen Canfield at scanfield@tntech.edu or Michael Aikens at maikens@tntech.edu.

Post Date: 12/9/2019 (Dewayne said it would run in Wednesday’s email, 12/11/2019)
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards in November
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The following individuals earned externally funded awards last month:

Mohammad Albakri (PI): Railroad Administration Funds (via Virginia Tech University)

Melinda Anderson (PI): Tennessee Department of Human Services (via Tennessee State University)

Glenn Cunningham (PI) and Ethan Languri (Co-PI): U.S. Department of Energy

Tania Datta (PI) and Alfred Kalyanapu (Co-PI): Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (via Upper Cumberland Development District)

Ethan Languri (PI) and Glenn Cunningham (Co-PI): U.S. Department of Energy (via North Carolina State University)

Sally Pardue (PI): Battelle

Charles VanNeste (PI) and Satish Mahajan (Co-PI): U.S. Department of Defense (via Mississippi State University)

Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php for more information.

Post Date 12/09/2019.
Save the date: Research & Creative Inquiry Day to be held April 13 and 14, 2020

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The 15th annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day has been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 13 and 14, 2020. The event, which is designed to promote student research and creative inquiry and provide a venue for presenting that work, is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all departments. Research projects and literature-based reviews will follow the standard poster format while the English department has elected to utilize a paper presentation format. The abstract submission portal will open Monday, Feb. 3, and close Wednesday, Mar. 11. Visit the Research and Creative Inquiry Day website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/index.php for a complete schedule and updates as they become available. Call or email Jamie Murdock at 372-6587 or jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Submitted to Faculty and Student Tech Times to post 12/4/2019.
Faculty research grant proposal workshop rescheduled for Nov. 19
nclark@tntech.edu | 372-3202

The Faculty Research Grant Proposal Workshop has been rescheduled to 11:05 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Volpe Library 112. Faculty members interested in applying for an internal faculty research grant are encouraged to attend. Advance registration is requested as lunch will be provided.

https://www.tntech.edu/calendar/index.php?eID=2274
Post date: 11/15/2019
Congratulations to those who earned externally funded awards so far this fiscal year
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | (931) 372-6587

The Office of Research recently released its lists of those who have received externally funded awards since July of this fiscal year. Please visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/grants-awarded.php and select the 2019-2020 menu to see those names and projects.

Post Date 11/11/2019.
Request for Faculty Research Grant proposals
nclark@tntech.edu | 3202

The Faculty Research Committee invites faculty to submit proposals for FY21 funding. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2020. Submission guidelines and eligibility requirements are described in the handbook, and all materials are posted on the committee website https://www.tntech.edu/research/committees/faculty-research-committee.php

Questions may be posted on the “Faculty Research Grants” group in the Yammer app, or sent via email to facultyresearchgrants+tntech.edu@yammer.com. The Q&A forum on Yammer is accessible to any Tech employee, so please use this platform for general questions regarding the faculty research grant program, application process, proposal requirements, etc. Project-specific questions may be sent to nclark@tntech.edu.
Post date: 11/6/2019
Faculty Research Grant proposal workshop: Tips & pitfalls, Nov. 12
nclark@tntech.edu | 3202

The Faculty Research Committee will hold a workshop at 11:05 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Volpe Library 112. Faculty members interested in applying for an internal faculty research grant are encouraged to attend. Lunch will be provided so registration is required. To sign up for the workshop, visit https://tntech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IbkBxk7EKUwkWV.
Post date: 11/6/2019
Pre-Proposals for NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Funding Due November 15 to Office of Research
jlmurdock@tntech.edu
(931) 372-6587

Pre-proposals for NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) funding program must be submitted as a single PDF document via the Office of Research email (research@tntech.edu) by noon, Fri., Nov. 15. The MRI program provides organizations with opportunities to acquire major instrumentation that supports research and research training goals and may be used by other researchers regionally or nationally.

Tennessee Tech may submit or be included as a significantly funded subawardee in no more than two (2) Track 1 MRI proposals (requesting more than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1 million in funding) and no more than one (1) Track 2 MRI proposal (requesting more than or equal to $1 million and up to and including $4 million in funding). Note that inclusion as a significantly funded subawardee on another institution’s MRI submission will count against these limits, so contact the Office of Research if you plan to be a subawardee.

Faculty selected to prepare full proposals will be notified on Mon., Nov. 25. The Research Office must receive those chosen final and complete proposals by Tues., Jan. 14, 2020. Visit https://www.tntech.edu/research/resources/findfunding/limited-submissions.php for more information and guidelines.

Post date: Nov. 5, 2019
Office of Research presents information on finding funding opportunities
mdlynam@tntech.edu | 372-3673

From 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, in Volpe Library, Room 112, the Office of Research will present information on finding funding opportunities using SPIN and grants.gov resources.

Submitted to post on 10/30/2019 (per Dr. Otuonye’s request on 10/29/2019 over the phone)
Nominations sought for Caplenor Faculty Research Award

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2019-20 Caplenor Faculty Research Award is Friday, November 15, 2019. No individual may nominate more than one person. Complete guidelines and the nomination form are contained on the Office of Research’s website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/committees/caplenor.php. Please send the forms to Amanda Gallop either by email to agallop@tntech.edu; delivery to Derryberry, Room 155; or campus mail to Box 5164. Post Date: 10/10/2019, 10/25/2019, 11/6/2019, 11/15/2019
Nominate a faculty member for Scholar-Mentor Award

The University established the Scholar-Mentor Award to honor TTU's long history of close relationships between faculty and their students. The award honors a faculty member who displays outstanding mentorship, integrating scholarship, research and teaching excellence. The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2019-20 Scholar Mentor Award is Friday, November 15, 2019. Complete guidelines and the nomination form are contained on the Office of Research’s website at https://www.tntech.edu/research/committees/scholar-mentor-award.php.

Please send the forms to Amanda Gallop either by email to agallop@tntech.edu; delivery to Derryberry, Room 155; or campus mail to Box 5164. Post Date: 10/10/2019, 10/25/2019, 11/6/2019, 11/15/2019
Office of Research annual report for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 is now available
research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3464

The Office of Research’s annual report for the 2018-2019 fiscal year is now available online at https://www.tntech.edu/research/reports/annual-reports.php. For more information, contact the Office of Research at research@tntech.edu.

Post Date 9/3/2019.
Office of Research updating Proposal Endorsement Form effective
September 3

research@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3464

The Office of Research is updating the Proposal Endorsement Form (PEF) to make the routing process more efficient and to ensure compliance of all personnel involved in the project. Changes, which will take effect September 3, will include a shorter required routing list to include only the PI and his/her respective chair, Center director (if applicable) and dean; a table on release; and a new way for the co-PIs and senior personnel to complete their compliance. Please note that a final copy of the completed and signed PEF will be emailed to the PI and all involved co-PI(s), senior personnel, chairs, Center directors, deans, and bookkeepers after the proposal is submitted. Please contact the Office of Research if you have any questions. The PEF can still be accessed through DocuSign.
Congratulations to those who earned awards in June
nclark@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3202

Congratulations to those who earned awards in June:

Melinda Anderson (PI) | Tennessee State University

Indranil Bhattacharya (PI) | Tennessee Valley Authority

Indranil Bhattacharya (PI), Joseph Biernacki (Co-PI) | National Science Foundation

Steven Click (PI), Vahid Motevalli (PI), Darek Potter (Co-PI) | Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development, and Education (STRIDE) Center

Tania Datta (PI) | City of Cookeville

John Gunderson (PI) | U.S. Department of Agriculture (via MTSU)

Alfred Kalyanapu (PI) | University of Tennessee

Kevin Liska (PI) | Tennessee Department of Health

Mark Rogers (PI) | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Ambareen Siraj (PI) | Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS)

Charles VanNeste (PI), Satish Mahajan (Co-PI), Vahid Motevalli (Co-PI) | Tennessee Valley Authority

Post Date 7/21/2019.
Congratulations to recent grant winners
nclark@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3202

Congratulations to those who earned grants this spring:

Glenn Cunningham (PI), Ethan Languri (Co-PI) | U.S. Department of Energy

Sheikh Ghafoor (PI) | Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Syed Hasan (PI) | ICT Fund, United Arab Emirates University (UAE)

Steve Hayslette (PI) | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Adam Holley (PI) | National Science Foundation

Stephen Idem (PI) | Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association (SPIDA)

Duckbong Kim (PI) | KITECH (Korea Institute of Industrial Technology)

Kevin Liska (PI) | Tennessee Banking Association, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Jane Liu (PI) | Ductmate Industries

Mohamed Mahmoud (PI) | Qatar National Research Fund (via TAMU)

Hayden Mattingly (PI) | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (via Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Sally Pardue (PI) | Battelle Memorial Institute

Amanda Rosenberger (PI) | Missouri Department of Conservation

Ambareen Siraj (PI), Doug Talbert (Co-PI) | National Science Foundation Supplement

Susan Wells (PI) | Tennessee Department of Education

Chris Wilson (PI), Doug Talbert (Co-PI) | Tennessee Department of Education

Ying Zhang (PI) | Sentient Science Corporation

Post Date 7/2/2019.
National Science Foundation Approves National Institutes of Health’s SciENcv Format for Biosketches
mdlynam@tntech.edu | (931) 372-3673

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has designated the National Institutes of Health’s SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae) as an NSF-approved format for submission of biographical sketch(es) and is encouraging its use to prepare a biographical sketch for inclusion in proposals to NSF. For the full announcement, please visit the Office of Research website’s Announcements page or Research Toolkit page.

Post Date 6/21/2019.
Office of Research Process for Routing Proposal Endorsement Forms Changing
amyhill@tntech.edu | x 3464

Please note that, effective June 1, the Office of Research Proposal Endorsement Form (PEF) routing and initiation process will be handled through the following DocuSign portal link:

https://na3.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=009b1b54-e19d-46ef-b9d4-2c57c3f0edbf&env=na3-eu1

This will replace the current process of printing hard copies of the PEF and proposal and manually routing them through campus for signatures. Please attach supporting proposal documents via the attachment clip at the bottom of the PEF. Please also note that only certain sections of the PEF are available for editing by certain users. For example, the fiscal clerks may edit Page 1 and the top of Page 2. Only the PI can mark the compliance sections on Pages 2 and 3. The appropriate required signature sections are noted at the bottom. Please contact Amy Hill at amyhill@tntech.edu if you have any trouble with the procedure.

Posted 5/21/2019 in faculty Tech Times.
English paper presentations to be part of Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | x 6587

Kristen Deiter, associate professor of English, is coordinating the paper-presentation portion of this year’s Research and Creative Inquiry Day. This part of the event will be held from 12:20 to 1:15 p.m., Monday, April 8, in the Volpe Library Instruction Room 248. General poster viewing for the poster portion of the Research and Creative Inquiry Day will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, at the Hooper Eblen Center. Visit our web page at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/ for more information and a complete schedule of events.

Posted 4/3/2019 in student Tech Times.
Don’t Forget to Attend Student Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | x 6587

Please join us for the 14th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day to be held Monday, April 8, and Tuesday April 9. The English Department will host its paper presentations from 12:20 to 1:15 p.m., Monday, April 8, in the Volpe Library Instruction Room 248. General poster viewing will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, at the Hooper Eblen Center. Visit our web page at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/ for more information and a complete schedule of events. We hope you can attend to support your fellow students and see a representation of the exciting research and creative inquiry going on across campus.

Posted 4/3/2019 student Tech Times.
Paper presentations scheduled as part of Research and Creative Inquiry Day

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | x 6587

Kristen Deiter, associate professor of English, is coordinating the paper presentations for this year’s Research and Creative Inquiry Day. This part of the event will be held from 12:20 to 1:15 p.m., Monday, April 8, in the Volpe Library Instruction Room 248. General poster viewing for the poster portion of the Research and Creative Inquiry Day will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, at the Hooper Eblen Center. Visit our web page at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/ for more information and a complete schedule of events.

Posted 4/3/2019 in faculty Tech Times.
Join the Office of Research in Celebrating Student Research and Creative Inquiry

jlmurdock@tntech.edu | x 6587

Please join us for the 14th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day to be held Monday, April 8, and Tuesday April 9. The English Department will host its paper presentations from 12:20 to 1:15 p.m., Monday, April 8, in the Volpe Library Instruction Room 248. General poster viewing will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, at the Hooper Eblen Center. Visit our web page at https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day/ for more information and a complete schedule of events. We hope you can attend to support your students and see a representation of the exciting research and creative inquiry going on across campus.

Posted 4/3/2019 in faculty Tech Times. (Actually submitted for 4/2/2019, but it was after noon, so it probably wouldn’t run until the next day.)
Abstracts for Research and Creative Inquiry Day due by March 13
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | x 6587
All students participating in Research and Creative Inquiry Day (April 8 and 9) must complete an online abstract submission form by Wed., Mar. 13. The abstract portal will close at 11:59 p.m. that night. No abstracts will be accepted after that time. A schedule of events can be found on the Office of Research website. Contact Jamie Murdock at jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Post Date 3/11/2019 Tech Times (Under Events in Student Edition)
Research and Creative Inquiry Day abstract submission deadline is March 13
jlmurdock@tntech.edu | x 6587
All students participating in Research and Creative Inquiry Day (April 8 and 9) must complete an online abstract submission form by Wed., Mar. 13. The abstract portal will close at 11:59 p.m. that night. No abstracts will be accepted after that time. A schedule of events can be found on the Office of Research website. Also, please register at our judge link if you are interested in being a judge. Contact Jamie Murdock at jlmurdock@tntech.edu for more information.

Post Date: 3/11/2019 Tech Times (Faculty Edition)

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