Awards beginning July 1, 2009 to Current Month

Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) |$393,369 |October 26, 2009 |New
The primary goals of this study are threefold: 1) to evaluate the degree of control that primary depositional facies has on current reservoir variability; 2) to determine how reservoir quality units that developed laterally away from the major fault zones are controlled by these primary facies and their position within a sequence stratigraphic framework; 3) to correlate laboratory measured sonic velocity data from various reservoir and non-reservoir facies to sonic logs and 3-D seismic. Director:  Michael Grammer, Geosciences Codirector: William Harrison

Wege Foundation |$10,360 |October 21, 2009 |New
Review and Assessment of Best Practice in GHG Reporting and Climate Action Plans for ACUPCC Signatories Director:  Harold Glasser, Environmental Institute

National Science Foundation |$96,333 |October 19, 2009 |New
Perturbation theory for almost periodic Jacobi matrices with applications to orthogonal polynomials Director:  Maxim Zinchenko, Mathematics

Kalamazoo College |$20,000 |October 28, 2009 |New
Approximately eighty (80) Kalamazoo College yearbooks will be digitally imaged, formatted, subjected to OCR structuring, and published digitally in portable document file (PDF) format. Archival and reader access scans as well as PDF documents are provided to sponsor. Expected maximum of $20,000. Contract may be lower depending on number of documents to be imaged. Director:  David Dickason, W.E. Upjohn Center for Geography Change

Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Service |$5,000 |October 21, 2009 |New
Funding will support expansion of the www.wichealth.org Healthy Child Education project . Director:  Robert Bensley, Health, Physical Education and Recreation

University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $296,709  |October 2009 |New
In collaboration with UNC-Charlotte and Appalachian State University, establish a national Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center to provide knowledge generation, capacity building, and wide scale dissemination and outreach to states and local schools regarding effective transition education and services for youths with disabilities. Director:  Paula Kohler, Special Education and Literacy Studies  

State of Utah |$8,000 |October 2009 |New
Funding will support expansion of the www.wichhealth.org Health Child Education project. Director:  Robert Bensley, Health, Physical Education and Reaction

Michigan Department of Labor and
Economic Growth | $81,880  |October 2009 |Continuing
Gear up college day participation Director:  Erika Carr, Division of Multicultural Affairs  

National Science Foundation | $357,073  |October 2009 | New
This is a study of the cognitive and decision-making processes that characterize efforts to understand, analyze, and plot a course of action with regard to research ethics problems. Many commonalities exist in the types of ethical problems encountered across the social and behavioral science disciplines. This allows for the study of the cognitive and decision-making processes that characterize exemplary practices in coping with ethical challenges in the conduct of social and behavioral science. Director:  Wayne Fuqua, Psychology; Codirectors: David Hartmann and Thomas VanValey

University of Michigan | $21,680  |September 2009 | New
University of Michigan and WMU challenge fund application for printable silicon. Director:  Marian Rebros, Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Imaging  

National Science Foundation | $120,271  |September 2009 | New
This proposal is for a collaborative project at the PROPHET site at the University of Michigan Biological Station to investigate the impact of forest succession/disturbance on the distribution of atmospheric reactive compounds and the subsequent changes in atmospheric chemistry. Director:  Steven B. Bertman, Chemistry  

University of Colorado, Boulder | $68,382  |September 2009 | New
This project will employ case study methodology to identify the undocumented and, perhaps, unanticipated impacts (both positive and negative) of mature national NSF-ATE Centers on their home institutions. Director:  Charles Henderson, Mallison Institute for Science Studies Codirectors:  Herb Fynewever and Heather Petcovic

National Science Foundation | $294,044  |September 2009 | New
A major research facility of the Physics department is the high voltage engineering corporation 6-MV model en tandem van degraaff accelerator, which has been in continuous use for more than 30 years. Accelerator laboratory has established itself as an important research and research training facility. The two ion sources, duoplasmatron and snics, needs desperate upgrade. Director:  Asghar Kayani, Physics; Codirectors: John Tanix, Emanuel Kamber, Alan Wuosmaa, and Michael Famiano

U.S. Department of Education | $129,304  |September 2009 | New
The purpose of the young adult integrated sport activity program is to develop an integrated sport activity program for young adults with disabilities such as mental retardation aged 18-26. In integrated settings with peers without disabilities. These young adults will freely-choose self-initiated sport activities for facilitating their motor skills, fitness performances, health conditions, independent livings, and potential enjoyments. Director:  Jiabei Zhang, Health, Physical Education and Recreation  

U.S. Department of Energy |$3,000,000  |September 2009 | New
We propose to build an instrumental capability at the Linac coherent light source at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in Stanford, CA. We will need to hire 2 post-docs as well as material and supplies to build the instrumentation. Director:  Nora Berrah, Physics  

Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Services | $55,371  |September 2009 | New
The purpose of this project is to provide behavioral assessment and treatment services to consumers of Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The services will be delivered by advanced graduate student of the behavior analysis and clinical psychology programs in the WMU Department of Psychology. The services delivered will be based on current best-practice recommendations and will be overseen by a psychology professor Director:  Wayne Fuqua, Psychology; Codirector: Stephanie Peterson

U.S. Department of Energy |$601,158  |September 2009 | New
The primary objective is to establish MichCarb, a geological carbon sequestration resources Center for Michigan at which 1) basis and applied research will be conducted, 2, partnerships with industry governmental agencies and education institutions will be established and, 3 outreach programs for all stakeholders and the general public will be implemented to establish a better understanding of GCS. Director:  David Barnes, Geosciences; Codirector:  William Harrison

University at Buffalo | $5,500  |September 2009 | New
Collaboration with University at Buffalo in the implementation and execution of a distributed hybrid simulation planned for late July 2009. Dr. Shao will take the lead role in programming and developing a module to accept data from an existing hybrid simulation program and link to the hybrid simulation controller at the University of Buffalo. Director:  Xiaoyun Shao, Civil and Construction Engineering  

URS Corporation |$28,000  |September 2009 | New
Four chemical oxidant mixtures will be tested in the labor for their ability to oxidize petroleum contaminants in soil samples from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) in Streator, Illinois which have been sent to WMU Department of Geosciences. The four oxidants will be tested in closed glass reactors slurry reactors (i.e. soil mixed with water), and a control reactor with no oxidants added will also be maintained. Director:  Daniel Cassidy, Geosciences  

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts | $7,200  |September 2009 |
  Director:  Paul Howell, University Libraries  

National Science Foundation | $105,000  |September 2009 | New
New catalysts will be synthesized to enable solar energy conversion and hydrogen production. Director:  Sherine Obare, Chemistry  

URS Corporation | $3,000  |September 2009 | New
Four chemical oxidant mixtures will be tested in the labor for their ability to oxidize petroleum contaminants in soil samples from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) in Streator, Illinois which have been sent to WMU Department of Geosciences. The four oxidants will be tested in closed glass reactors slurry reactors (i.e. soil mixed with water), and a control reactor with no oxidants added will also be maintained. Director:  Daniel Cassidy, Geosciences  

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research |$6,000  |September 2009 | New
 The Upjohn Institute for employment research continues its support of a speakers’ series to the department of Economics at WMU. Director:  William Kern, Economics  

Confucius Institute Headquarters | $150,000  |September 2009 | New
To strengthen educational cooperation between China and The United States, support and promote the development of Chinese language education, and increase mutual understanding among people in China and The United States, in order to establish the Confucius Institute at WMU. Director:  Xiaojun Wang;, Foreign Languages Codirector: Donald McCloud

Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society | $15,000  |September 2009 | New
Analyze the history and outcomes of the judicial election system in place at the Michigan Supreme Court. Director:  Mark Hurwitz, Political Science  

University of Louisville | $99,871  |September 2009 | 
  Director:  Daniela Schroeter, The Evaluation Center  

National Center for Food Protection | $120,710  |September 2009 | New
Dr. Kaml will serve the national center for food protection by determining and establishing curriculum and technical infrastructure for content delivery and record keeping for career-spanning food protection professional development. Director:  Craig Kaml, Extended University Programs  

U.S. Department of Education |$2,749,600  |August 2009 | Continuing
The MERC Gear Up Learning Centers are a collaborative partnership involving universities, school districts, communities, businesses, cultural centers, and social services agencies from three mid-western states. The mission of the GEAR Up Learning Centers is to restructure public schools, provide extensive professional development, and support students and families with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of students who matriculate and complete post-secondary education. Director:  Joseph Kretovics;, College of Education and Human Development; Codirector: Nancy Mansberger, Becky Kirschner, Patricia Reeves, and Walter Burt

National Aeronautics and Space Administration |$126,800 |August 2009 | Continuing
We propose to develop and apply an interdisciplinary system approach (involving analyses of GRACE gravity, remote sensing, and geochemical data, along with hydrologic modeling) to assess and calibrate GRACE data for monitoring groundwater recharge, discharge, and flow in large-scale aquifers. The Nubian Aquifer (NA) of North Africa was chosen as a test site, because its extensive areal distribution allows temporal gravity variations to be detected with accuracy; its hyperarid conditions facilitate calibration of GRACE gravity data; and its potential for demonstrating the utility of GRACE data to resolve issues pertaining to recharge and discharge rates, the magnitude and direction of groundwater flow, and the connectivity of subbasins. Director:  Mohamed Sultan, Geosciences  

U.S. Department of Energy | $168,000  |August 2009 | Continuing
This work involves research on the structure of, and reactions involving exotic light nucle in the mass A-7-13 Regiona. The results will be used to test the precitions of fundamental models of nuclear structure and provide information about the formation of elements in the cosmos. We will als participate in the construction of a novel new type of particle spectrometer for the study of nuclear reactions in inverse kinematics. Director:  Alan Wuosmaa, Physics  

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research | $5,000  |August 2009 | New
Evaluation of Project SCOPE, a community-driven program associated with the Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative. Director:  Robert Bensley, Health, Physical Education and Recreation

Michigan Department of Energy | $349,873  |August 2009 | New
Through academic year and summer institute programs, and professional learning communities, the Michigan Mathematics Rural Initiative 2 will continue to build the mathematics content knowledge and knowledge for teaching of 80 grades 6-12 rural area teachers from northern lower Michigan. Director:  Ruth Ann Meyer, Mathematics  

U.S. Department of Education | $153,831  |August 2009 | 
  Director:  Jessaca Spybrook, Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology  

National Science Foundation | $57,610  |August 2009 | New
Funds are requested to enhance an existing U.S.-led experimental program and international collaboration in nuclear astrophysics at the RIKEN Radioactive Ion Beam Factory and the WMU physics department. An initial experiment has been approved during the first RIBF PAC to do a direct mass measurement of proton drip-line nuclei relevant to the astrophysical rp-process. This experiment will be the first of many at the RIBF. Director:  Michael Famiano, Physics  

Integrated Health Partners | $9,800  |August 2009 | 
 Director:  Chris Coryn, The Evaluation Center  

National Science Foundation | $24,420  |August 2009 | New
The overall theme of the projects is to determine how particles interact with each other and how the interactions are modified by the environment Director:  Dean Halderson, Physics  

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |$259,000 |August, 2009 | New
The overall objective of the study is to conduct a secondary analysis of AA participation and drinking behavior in the project match alcoholism treatment database using three statistical techniques which are designed to control for potential endogeneity biases. Director:  Stephen Magura, The Evaluation Center  

Santoro Wind Harvester, Inc. | $29,650  |August 2009 | 
Develop system for harvesting and wind energy. Director:  John Patten, Manufacturing Engineering  

University of Wyoming | $20,273  |August 2009 | 
Research checking concurrency-related problems using static and dynamic program analysis. Director:  Zijang Yang, Computer Science  

U.S. Department of Education | $99,941  |August 2009 | New
The goal of this project is to increase the number of highly qualified Orientation and Mobility specialist trained in providing rehabilitation services to individuals with visual impairments by graduating 55 students during the next 5-year grant cycle.4 Director:  Robert Shawn Wall Emerson, Blindness and Low Vision Studies  

International Labor Organization | $2,500  |August 2009 | New
This project entails revising ILO’s evaluation appraisal tool, specifically reflecting the ILO declaration on social justice for a fair globalization; appraising ILO’s 2008 evaluation reports; surveying evaluators’ regarding compliance with evaluation processes and results; and reporting findings back to ILO. The final report will include both findings from each evaluation and synthesized finding across the evaluations. Director:  Daniela Schroeter, The Evaluation Center  

ReVision LLC | $3,600  |August 2009 | New
The purpose of this study is to provide an objective overview of the current state of sergeant’s Memphis production operations, as well as to identify how to improve throughput and plant efficiencies. Director:  David Meade, Manufacturing Engineering  

U.S. Dept of Education | $84,456  |August 2009 | New
Project Edge (Enhancing and Developing Global Expertise); Asian Focus Director:  Zahir Quraeshi, Marketing; Codirector: Roger Tang and Mushtaq Luqmani

National Science Foundation | $199,856  |August 2009 | New
This project will develop and pilot test laboratory modules for use in introductory chemistry and molecular/cellular biology courses. The modules will highlight the interdependence of biology and chemistry. The project includes professional development for TAS and faculty Director:  Renee Schwartz, Biological Sciences; Codirector: John Geiser, Don Schreiber, and Len Ginsberg

U.S. Department of Education | $123,177  |August 2009 | 
 Director:  Kathryn Marie Gilbert, Auxiliary Enterprises  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | $184,940  |August 2009 | New
The reliability of hearing thresholds at 8 kHz will be compared with those at lower frequencies. Director:  Gregory Flamme, Speech Pathology and Audiology  

Washington State Department of Health | $24,900  |August 2009 | Continuing
Continuation funding will support expansion of the wichealth.org Healthy Child Education Project. Director:  Robert Bensley, Health, Physical Education and Recreation  

Mississippi State University | $697,841  |August 2009 |New
This effort is to develop state-of- -the-art modeling and simulation tools to advance the prediction of ground vehicle reliability and safety in extreme operating environments. The specific areas of interest for this effort are new models and test methods for understanding and predicting the durability of rubber track pads, improved modeling of fluid-structure interaction for blast wave simulations, advanced sensor data analysis methods and novel data acquisition systems for condition based.  Director:  William Liou, CAViDS Center  

City of Portage | $9,746  |August 2009 | New
Assist the city of Portage in a mail survey of current residents. Director:  Thomas VanValey, Sociology  

URS Corporation |$28,000  |August 2009 | 
Four chemical oxidant mixtures will be tested in the labor for their ability to oxidize petroleum contaminants in soil samples from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) in Streator, Illinois which have been sent to WMU Department of Geosciences. The four oxidants will be tested in closed glass reactors slurry reactors (i.e. soil mixed with water), and a control reactor with no oxidants added will also be maintained. Director:  Daniel Cassidy, Geosciences  

URS Corporation | $3,000  |August 2009 | 
Four chemical oxidant mixtures will be tested in the labor for their ability to oxidize petroleum contaminants in soil samples from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) in Streator, Illinois which have been sent to WMU Department of Geosciences. The four oxidants will be tested in closed glass reactors slurry reactors (i.e. soil mixed with water), and a control reactor with no oxidants added will also be maintained. Director:  Daniel Cassidy, Geosciences  

URS Corporation | $24,000  |August 2009 | New
Four chemical oxidant mixtures will be tested in the labor for their ability to oxidize petroleum contaminants in soil samples from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) in Streator, Illinois which have been sent to WMU Department of Geosciences. The four oxidants will be tested in closed glass reactors slurry reactors (i.e. soil mixed with water), and a control reactor with no oxidants added will also be maintained. Director:  Daniel Cassidy, Geosciences  

Oklahoma State Department of Education | $9,600  |August 2009 | New
Reimbursement of travel expenses for staff members of the WMU NSTTAC Project to provide technical assistance to local school teams in Oklahoma. All other related activities funded through NSTAC Award. Director:  Paula Kohler, Special Education and Literacy Studies  

U.S. Department of Transportation | $300,000  |August 2009 | 
  Director:  Ron VanHouten, Psychology  

Sintokogio, LTD | $50,000  |August 2009 | New
Third phase of research to evaluation various American greensand systems using a new aeration sand filling/molding system that improves molding capacity and quality while saving significant energy. Director:  Sam N Ramrattan, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering  

National Aeronautical and Space Administration | $125,000  |July 2009 | Continuing
We propose to continue our existing research program which is designed to improve the current understanding of the ionization balance and line emission of cosmic plasmas. With the support of NASA’s SARA program for first two years and then NASA’s APRA program for the past three years, we have made substantial progress in this work. Our work has focused on 1) dielectronic recombination,2) fluorenscience and Auger yields and 3) inner-shell photoabsorption. Over the next three years we propose to continue along these lines and address new, more fundamentally-challenging systems farther down in the periodic table. We also propose to develop new analytic and computational methods for treating these more difficult problems. Director:  Thomas Gorczyca, Physics; Codirector: Kirk  Korista

U.S. Department of Education | $197,636  |July 2009 | Continuing
Western Michigan University Special Education Intensive Recruitment, Preparation and Retention program is designed to fully credential special educators currently working on emergency or temporary certificates and practicing general educators pursuing endorsements in special education. This project is an intensive competency and field based preparation program designed to prepare support two cohorts of 15 professionals for a total of 30 professionals within the project duration. Director:  Sarah Summy, Special Education and Literacy Studies; Codirector: Elizabeth Whitten

U.S. Department of Commerce |$22,387  |July 2009 | Continuing
This project will focus on Saginaw Bay, a system with a history of multiple stressor impacts and existing management policies to mitigate their consequences. We propose a five-year project using coupled modeling, observational, and experimental studies that focuses on the development of approaches that can be widely applied across coastal and estuarine settings. Director:  Chansheng He, Geography; Codirector: Thomas Croley-NOAA GLER

National Highway Traffic Safety | $69,697  |July 2009 | Continuing
This grant is to support organizing a panel to recommend how to design a study to evaluate the efficacy of motorcycle rider education programs. Director:  Ron Van Houten, Psychology  

September 2009 | Renewal
We propose in this three years renewal application, forefront science which will further basic understanding of fundamental interactions between photons and complex systems and knowledge of the properties of these systems. We intend to study the physics of correlated systems and in particular, the relaxation mechanism when inner-shell electrons in few and many electrons systems; atoms, molecules, clusters and their ions interact with photons from two light sources. Director:  Nora Berrah, Physics  

National Science Foundation | $545,425  |July 2009 | New
To establish and operate an advanced technological education (ATE) evaluation resource Center (ERC) to assist ATE grantees to produce high quality evaluations that ultimately advance the goals of ATE projects and centers and the overall ATE program. Director:  Arlen Gullickson, The Evaluation Center  

National Science Foundation |$46,934  |July 2009 | New
This project will establish a problem-based, service-learning course at WMU in environmental geochemistry. The course will engage undergraduate geosciene and environmental studies majors in an investigation of an environmental issue in the local community. Education research will establish course efficacy and track development of students’ conceptual knowledge of complex environmental problems as well as their skill     s in conducting field based research. Director:  Heather Petocovic, Geosciences; Codirector: Carla Koretsky

National Science Foundation | $ 104,739  |July 2009 | New
Applying a comparative regional approach to intercommunity violence, poverty, and health in three communities in Kenya, an international team of highly qualified researchers will investigate the social and health related dimensions of violence through quantitative and qualitative methods that elucidate the consequences and the lived experiences of endemic warfare. Director:  Blinda Straight, Anthropology  

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |$300,723 |July 2009 | New
The overall goal of this project is to reform child welfare services delivery in the state of Michigan by infusing trauma informed child welfare practice that is culturally competent, evidence based and responsive to children’s needs, particularly needs related to traumatic stress. The project will target change at three levels – system change, service delivery and child experience. Director:  James Henry, School of Social Work  

National Science Foundation |$149,951  |July 2009 |
WMU’s science and engineering faculty propose to collaborate with First Year Seminar personnel on a specialized program focusing on the timely topic of global climate change. The goal is to provide an extremely positive first college experience to students while introducing them to the process of scientific thinking in a community based, hands on learning paradigin. Director:  Charles Ide, Environmental Institute; Codirectors: David Karowe and Toni Woolfork-Barnes

Michigan Department of Community Health | $5,400  |July 2009 | Continuing
Continuation funding will support expansion of the www.wichhealth.org Health Child Education project. Director:  Robert Bensley, Health, Physical Education and Recreation  

National Science Foundation | $369,799  |July 2009 | New
This project will research to examine and identify teacher capacities for effective curriculum use and develop tools to assess them. Director:  Ok-Kyeong Kim, Mathematics  

National Science Foundation | $173,442  |July 2009 | New
The proposed research compares the constitutional structures of countries that emphasize women’s different needs and provide gender-bsed protections with the constitutional structures of countries that emphasize gener neutrality. Director:  Priscilla Lambert, Political Science  

County of Kalamazoo | $11,378  |July 2009 | New
Independent evaluation of the Women’s Drug Treatment Court in Kalamazoo, Michigan 2009 will be provided. Director:  David Hartmann, Sociology  

County of Kalamazoo | $12,258  |July 2009 | Continuing
Continuation of twelfth year Juvenile Drug Court Program in Kalamazoo County, 2008-2009. Director:  David Hartmann, Sociology  

County of Kalamazoo | $11,378  |July 2009 | Continuing
Continuation of the evaluation of the Men’s Drug Treatment Court in Kalamazoo will be provided into a fourth year. Director:  David Hartmann, Sociology  

U.S. Department of Education | $130,656  |July 2009 | New
We request funds to provide fellowships to four new domestic students to be trained and educated in research related to energy and environmental chemistry. Each Fellow will be mentored by one of the department’s experienced professors. The mentor will be selected to coincide with the
Fellow's research interests. Director:  Susan R. Stapleton, Chemistry; Codirectors: Donald Schreiber, Steve Bertman, John Miller, David Huffman, and Sherine Obare

Hillsdale County Community Foundation |$10,500 |July 2009 | New
This project will provide funds to the Hillsdale County assessment Team to build infrastructure, an assessment protocol, and conduct assessments. CTAC will supervise and conduct with the Hillsdale Team.  Director: James Henry, School of Social Work  

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency | $33,795  |July 2009 | New
The purpose of this project is to provide consultation and professional development services to professionals working with students who are significantly affected by autism spectrum discorders. The services will be delivered by a team of advanced graduate students of the behavior anlysis and clinical psychology programs in the WMU Department of Psychology. The services delivered will be based on current best-practice recommendations and will be overseen by a doctoral-level psychology professor. Director:  Wayne Fuqua, Psychology; Codirector: Linda LeBlanc

National Science Foundation | $6,200  |July 2009 | 
 Director: Mohamed Sultan, Geosciences  

Argonne National Library | $4,123  |July 2009 | New
 Inelastic X-ray scattering studies of condensed matter systems at Argonne Beamline. Director: Clement Burns, Physics