{"id":33412,"date":"2023-12-14T16:37:19","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T22:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/?p=33412"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:52:36","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T21:52:36","slug":"early-career-awards-highlight-research-of-budding-scholars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2023\/12\/early-career-awards-highlight-research-of-budding-scholars\/","title":{"rendered":"Early Career Awards highlight research of budding scholars"},"content":{"rendered":"

At inaugural event, Early Career Scholars unveil especially promising research<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The first cohort of the Early Career Scholars Program. (Clockwise from back left) Bo Liang, Kumi Nagamoto-Combs, Jared Marquis, Hallie Chelmo, Marwa Majdi, Kimberly Schweitzer and Dan Lewerenz. Photo by Walter Criswell\/UND Today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong>\u00a0In\u00a0the UND LEADS Strategic Plan<\/a><\/strong>, the Discovery core value calls on the University to \u201cfurther empower departments and units to establish appropriate and measurable outcomes for creative activity and research.<\/em><\/p>\n

“These outcomes should be specific to each department’s professional discipline and incorporated into the evaluation process and faculty tenure and promotion standards,” the declaration continues.<\/em><\/p>\n

The story below, which UND Today first printed on Dec. 14, spotlights one of the University\u2019s latest efforts to recognize faculty who are conducting especially significant research<\/em><\/p>\n

****.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Last spring, UND’s Office of Research and Economic Development<\/a><\/strong> established the Early Career Scholars Program (ECSP), a project designed to kick-start the careers of researchers transitioning from Ph.D. and postdoc programs to full-time faculty.<\/p>\n

Four interdisciplinary teams, chosen from the 12 proposals submitted to the ECSP last spring, made up the first cohort of the program. A total of seven researchers were involved; each team was made up of two researchers, while one of the researchers served on two teams.<\/p>\n

The teams also were connected with seasoned mentors in related fields and provided with $30,000 to further develop and research their proposals for external funding and publication.<\/p>\n

On Dec. 6, the scholars gathered at the Gorecki Alumni Center for the Early Career Awards. In front of an audience of their peers, the teams presented their findings and updates on future funding opportunities.<\/p>\n

Interim Vice President of Research and Economic Development John Mihelich<\/a><\/strong>, Professor of Sociology<\/a><\/strong> Justin Berg<\/a><\/strong> and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Randi Tanglen<\/a><\/strong> delivered remarks at the start of the program, recognizing the achievements the teams made in their research.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank you, as the participants of this program, for sharing your expertise, talents and research passions,\u201d Tanglen said. \u201cYou are what UND needs and what the world needs right now to solve these big problems through collaboration and working together.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Randi Tanglen delivered opening remarks at Early Career Awards. Photo by Walter Criswell\/UND Today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early Career Scholars share their work<\/h2>\n

Shortly after the opening comments, each team took the stage to deliver their presentations. A collaboration between faculty in the School of Law<\/a><\/strong> and Department of Psychology<\/a><\/strong> was the first to speak.<\/p>\n

Co-principal investigators Dan Lewerenz<\/a><\/strong>, assistant professor at the School of Law, and Kimberly Schweitzer<\/a><\/strong>, assistant professor of Psychology, said they’ve received the interest of a judge on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to present their research at a judicial conference.<\/p>\n

Their project focused on \u201cIndian status\u201d \u2014 whether an individual is considered an \u201cIndian\u201d in criminal justice proceedings \u2014 which Lewerenz said has a long and complicated history in the United States.<\/p>\n

In the study, more than 700 participants were asked to identify a defendant\u2019s \u201cIndian status\u201d based on the presence or absence of stereotypical attributes. Then the participants were asked to determine guilt based on a mock trial audio and text samples.<\/p>\n

Their study found that \u201cIndian status\u201d could have an influence on guilt determinations made by jurors.<\/p>\n

The duo, under the mentorship of Professor of Sociology Daphne Pederson<\/a><\/strong>, plans to publish their research in addition to pursuing funding from the National Science Foundation Law and Science Grant.<\/p>\n

The next two research topics featured an emphasis on atmospheric sciences. David Delene<\/a><\/strong>, research professor of Atmospheric Sciences, served as senior mentor for both groups.<\/p>\n

Principal Investigator Marwa Majdi<\/a><\/strong> and Co-Principal Investigator Jared Marquis<\/a><\/strong>, postdoctoral research fellow and assistant professor of Atmospheric Sciences (respectively), researched the development of a machine learning technology that automatically detects the height of the cloud ceiling.<\/p>\n

The \u201ccloud ceiling\u201d refers to the height from the ground to the base of the lowest layer of cloud. It’s important for the safety and efficiency of unmanned aircraft system operations, particularly given the growth of UAS use in the past decade.<\/p>\n

The team is working to submit their proposal to the NASA Advanced Information System Technology and the Federal Aviation Administration Research Grant programs, in addition to looking at other sources of funding.<\/p>\n

In the second atmospheric science-related presentation, Co-Principal Investigator Majdi and Principal Investigator Hallie Chelmo<\/a><\/strong>, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering<\/a><\/strong>, presented their findings on the effect of exhaust from rockets on atmospheric composition.<\/p>\n

Chelmo noted that soot from exhaust contains materials that absorb light and increase energy flux to Earth, which contributes to global warming. (Energy flux is the balance between incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere.)<\/p>\n

She also mentioned the potential for particles from exhaust to contribute to the formation of polar stratospheric clouds, which deplete Antarctic ozone.<\/p>\n

They have submitted a proposal to the Air Force Office of Science and Research and may also submit to grant programs from the National Science Foundation and NASA.<\/p>\n

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Marwa Majdi and Hallie Chelmo were joined on stage by their senior mentor, David Delene, following their presentation. Photo by Walter Criswell\/UND Today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last presentation came from principal investigator Kumi Nagamoto-Combs<\/a><\/strong>, assistant professor of Biomedical Sciences<\/strong><\/a>, and Co-Principal Investigator Bo Liang<\/a><\/strong>, assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering. <\/strong><\/a>They were mentored by Department Chair and Professor of Biomedical Engineering Colin Combs<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Their research tested the effects of low-grade inflammation from food allergies on the brain. Through transparent windows in the skulls of mice, they used microscopes to observe brains injected with fluorescently labeled immune cells. They are interested in learning about inflammation’s effects on memory and on behavioral changes.<\/p>\n

Nagamoto-Combs said the process of refining the experiment has been valuable, especially in finding improvements to the methodology and technology used. They plan to complete imaging for data collection and publish their research. They will also apply for a grant to use the process to look at the differences between allergic mice and a control group.<\/p>\n

New scholars, new research<\/h2>\n

Following the first cohort\u2019s presentations, the next cohort of the ECSP was introduced. The new projects and research teams are:<\/p>\n