NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium (CTSGC) announced recipients of one of its Fall 2016 call for proposals during its annual Grants Expo. The funding programs that were part of this award cycle included: Faculty Research, Faculty STEM Education Research, Faculty STEM Education Programming, Faculty Travel, Undergraduate Scholarship, Community College Transfer Scholarship, and Community College Scholarship. Award recipients span 13 NASA CTSGC academic affiliate member institutions. Below are the names of recipients and description of projects. Congratulations to all the awardees!

Faculty Research

Brendan Cunningham, Assistant Professor
Eastern Connecticut State University
“The Efficient Use of Space Orbit”
This project looks at the inefficiencies with the use of earth orbit and how launch satellites are decided by satellite operators. There will be an analysis of the strategies satellite operators use in response to allocation mechanisms that may allow the satellite services to improve.

Andrea Kwaczala, Assistant Professor
University of Hartford
“Using Acoustic Waves as a Therapeutic Tool to Mitigate Bone Loss During Spaceflight”
A device will be developed that can eliminate microgravity-induced bone loss effects. It will be applying acoustic waves to the growth of stem cells in vitrowith the use of biosensors, automation and telemedicine.

Jillian Smith-Carpenter, Assistant Professor
Fairfield University
“Characterization of Dithiolane-Modified Self-Assembly Structures”
Dithiolane-modified peptides will be synthesized, purified, and characterized. This will allow the relationship between pH and the supramolecular peptide self-assembly structures to be investigated.

Bryan Weber, Assistant Professor
University of Connecticut
“Measurement of Chemical Pathways During Autoignition at High Pressure”
A system with the ability to measure species fractions during autoignition will be developed. Gas samples will be collected by the system from a rapid compression machine at a high pressure. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry will allow a species will be identified and quantified.

 

Faculty STEM Education Research

Nancy DeJarnette, Assistant Professor
University of Bridgeport
“Children’s Engineering K-5 Initiative”
While working with an urban high-needs K-8 school, professional development and in-class support for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) will be provided. Whether the rate of STEAM implementation increases and becomes more permanent will be looked at as well.

 

Faculty STEM Education Programming

Alison Draper, Director (Science Center)
Trinity College
“Tech Savvy 2017 Conference for Girls”
The Center for Interdisciplinary Science at Trinity College will work to have a collaborative day to encourage Connecticut middle school girls to become involved in STEM fields.

 

Faculty Travel

Amanda Harper-Leatherman, Assistant Professor
Fairfield University

 

Undergraduate Scholarship

Dylan Bernard
Central Connecticut State University 

Jalal-ud-din Butt
Central Connecticut State University

Daniel Cataldo
University of Connecticut

Kevin Connolly
Eastern Connecticut State University 

Meagan Ferreira
University of Connecticut

Rami Hamati
Wesleyan University

Ravina Hingorani
Fairfield University 

Christopher Hollaway
Central Connecticut State University

 Alicia Lynn
Central Connecticut State University

David Machado
Wesleyan University

Anthony Mastromarino
University of Hartford

Samuel Nguyen
Fairfield University

Tristan Peirce
Trinity College

Kailey Pisko
Eastern Connecticut State University

Austin Thomas
New Haven University

Christina Welch
Eastern Connecticut State University

Michael Wright
Fairfield University

 

Community College Transfer Scholarship

Andrew St. Amand
Central Connecticut State University

Emina Hodzic
University of Hartford 

Sarah Kurtz
Fairfield University

 

Community College Scholarship

Josiel Batista
Naugatuck Valley Community College

 Elaina Becher
Quinebaug Valley Community College

Lydia Gjuraj
Naugatuck Valley Community College

Lindsey Japa
Naugatuck Valley Community College

Jody Jarvella
Naugatuck Valley Community College

Donato Piroscafo
Gateway Community College

Levi Reynolds
Naugatuck Valley Community College

Andre Roscoe
Naugatuck Valley Community College

Lanaya Shuler
Naugatuck Valley Community College

William Perry Weingart
Northwestern Connecticut Community College