Faculty Pilot Projects
Faculty Pilot Project Awards of up to $30,000 for a maximum of 2 years were available for faculty at UAS, UAF and our partner campuses: Ilisaġvik College, Alaska Pacific University, Salish Kootenai College, Dine College and Fort Lewis College. Eligible faculty must have had a desire to conduct biomedically relevant research designed to provide undergraduate research and mentored opportunities for undergraduate students. Mentoring assistance and resources were provided. There are no current awards after June 30, 2024. Read more about the FPPs who were awarded in BLaST.
Fort Lewis College
Principal Investigator: Collins, William
Title: Natural Products as Antivirals
Abstract: North American honey bee populations are in a state of instability, and the corresponding
beekeeping profession is in economic distress. While this is believed to be a multifaceted
problem, the pest-pathogen-host relationship among Varroa destructor (an ectoparsitic
mite), their accompanying viruses, and the honey bees they infect is understood to
be a major cause of the decline of honey bee health globally.
Dates of Award: 07/01/2022-06/30/2024
Institution: Fort Lewis College
Email: collins_w@fortlewis.edu
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks
Principal Investigator: Clinton, Morag
Title: Clinical Health Indicators in Fish
Abstract: Ichthyophonus infection is an important cause of disease in Yukon Chinook, but current
methodologies in screening require killing fish. Fisheries managers perform this sampling
to understand the health status of fish and monitor infectious challenges within the
river system. However, Yukon Chinook are a valuable subsistence stock and important
to the cultural identity of native Alaskans, making studies that require their removal
from an already reduced population undesirable. This research seeks to explore non-destructive
indicators of Ichthyophonus infection in salmon towards the goal of non-lethal disease
surveillance approaches on the Yukon river.
Dates of Award: 07/01/2022-06/30/2024
Institution: Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks
Email: mclinton2@alaska.edu
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks
Principal Investigator: Schuette, Ursel
Title: Characterization of jost immunity response in trembling aspen to a fungal pathogen
causing widespred mortality across the boreal forest
Abstract: Alaskans are experiencing changes in their environment due to climate change including
disease spread and virulence of plant pathogens. A fungal pathogen develops an aggressive
running canker causing widespread mortality in aspen in the boreal forest. The continued
loss of aspen will have wide ranging implications for ecosystem health and social-ecological
dynamiccs essential to the Alaskan subsistence lifestyle. We characterize host immune
defense mechanisms in trembling aspen to N. populina.. Using transcriptomics we determine
differences in gene expression among infected tissue and healthy tissue in trembling
aspen with focus on genes involved in immune response and environmental stress response.
Dates of Award: 07/01/2022-06/30/2024
Institution: Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks
Email:uschuette@alaska.edu
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast
Principal Investigator: Harley, John
Title: Drivers of variation in paralytic shellfish toxins in butter clams
Abstract: John's current research interests include environmental drivers of paralytic shellfish
poisoning in Southeast Alaska. In addition to his research John spends a lot of time
in the outdoors paddling, climbing, and forgetting maps. He recently was appointed
to Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast and looks forward to being lost in new places.
Dates of Award: 07/01/2022-06/30/2024
Institution: Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast-Juneau Campus
Email: john.harley@alaska.edu
​
| Principal Investigator | Title | Dates of Award | Institution | |
|
2021-2023 GY8-9 |
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|
Drew, Elaine |
Developing an integrative explanatory model of prenatal care in Interior Alaska |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
emdrew@alaska.edu |
|
Harms, Tamara |
Geohealth: rock-derived nitrogen as a potential contaminant in drinking water |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
tkharms@alaska.edu |
|
Jessing, Jeff |
Optimization and Validation of a Novel Lung-on-a-chip (LOAC) microfluidicdevice |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Fort Lewis College |
jrjessing@fortlewis.edu |
|
Kulesza, Caroline |
Transcriptional Regulation in HCMV Models of Latency |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Fort Lewis College |
cakulesza@fortlewis.edu |
|
Muscarella, Mario |
The Alaska Wild Berry Microbiome Project |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
memuscarella@alaska.edu |
|
Philip, Jacques |
Getting through a Pandemic: The Role of Culture and Traditions in a Rural Alaska Native Community |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
|
|
Thompson, Melissa (Missy) |
The Role of Plantar Sensory Feedback in Plantar Pressure and Plantar Pressure Variability |
07/01/2021-06/30/2023 |
Fort Lewis College |
mathompson@fortlewis.edu |
|
2020-2022 GY7-8 |
||||
|
Badiei, Alireza |
Cross talk between hydrogen sulfide and Vitamin D in diabetes |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
abadiei@alaska.edu |
|
Blake, David |
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Drug Candidates to treat Leishmaniasis |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Fort Lewis College |
blake_d@fortlewis.edu |
|
Drown, Devin |
Mentored Undergraduates Decoding Pathogens In Permafrost |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
dmdrown@alaska.edu |
|
Leahy, Patrick |
Development of a Quality of Motion-Optimized Cerviccal Intervertrbral Replacement Disc |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Fort Lewis College |
pdleahy@fortlewis.edu |
|
Lowell, Jennifer |
Characterizing antimicrobial resistance in the Animas River Watershed using a meagenomic approach |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Fort Lewis College |
jllowell@fortlewis.edu |
|
McFarlane, Jeffrey |
Characterization of polyamine biosynthetic enzymes from human gut microbes associated with colon and pancreatic cancer |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Fort Lewis College |
jsmcfarlane@fortlewis.edu |
|
Meister, Konrad |
High-Yield Purification of Antifreeze Glycoproteins For Red Blood Cell Cryopreservation |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau |
kkmeister@alaska.edu |
|
Morris, Aimee |
Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt(IIi) Complexes with Monodentate N-Heterocyclic Ligands as Potential Anti-Cancer Prodrugs |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Fort Lewis College |
ammorris@fortlewis.edu |
|
Skaltsas, Demetra |
Developing Diné student Biomedical Â鶹¹ÙÍø Literacy through Bioprospecting of Endophytic Fungal for Potential Bioactive Metabolites on the Navajo Nation. |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Dine College |
demetraskaltsas@gmail.com |
|
Westbroek, Wendy |
Gut Microbiome Analysis of Participants in a Healthy Diets Community Engagement Intervention on the Flathead Reservation |
07/01/2020-6/30/2022 |
Salish Kootenai College |
n/a |
|
2018-2020 GY5-6 |
||||
|
Bergstrom, Carolyn |
Bioelectrical impedance analysis and the development of a predictive model of the health and energetic status of estuarine fishes |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau |
cabergstrom@alaska.edu |
|
Bersamin, Andrea |
Tundra to table: Instruments and education pilot testing |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
abersamin@alaska.edu |
|
Leigh, Mary Beth |
Phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soil in rural Alaska |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
mbleigh@alaska.edu |
|
Mao, Jingqiu |
Characterizing transition metals in ambient PM2.5: A link to air pollution and human health |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
jmao2@alaska.edu |
|
Pearson, Heidi |
Innovations in biologger technology to assess ocean health |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau |
hcpearson@alaska.edu |
|
Tallmon, David |
Rural Undergraduate Â鶹¹ÙÍø and Learning using Salmon Adaptation Genomics and Experiments (RURALSAGE) |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau |
datallmon@alaska.edu |
|
Weltzin, Maegan |
Rabies glycoprotein interacts with neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in a subtype-selective manner |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
mmweltzin@alaska.edu |
|
Zhang, Lei |
Porous metal–organic-framework carrier as a potential platform for drug |
07/01/2018-06/30/2020 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
lzhang14@alaska.edu |
|
2017-2019 GY4-5 |
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|
Bowers, Angela |
Nutritional quality of Macrocystis pyrifera at the northern end of its range |
07/27/2017– 06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Sitka |
fisheggenator@gmail.com |
|
Coker, Robert |
Influence of SkiKu on Resilience in Alaska Native Youth |
08/04/2017-06/30/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Biology |
rcoker@alaska.edu |
|
Drown, Devin |
Mobilizing Alaskan Genomics with Nanopore Sequencing |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Institute of Arctic Biology |
dmdrown@alaska.edu |
|
Green, Carie |
Measuring emotions in children's environmental identity development |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - School of Education |
cjgreen2@alaska.edu |
|
Hansen, Cristina |
Surveillance for and characterization of Leptospirosis in Alaskan caribou and reindeer |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Dept of Veterinary Medicine |
cmhansen@alaska.edu |
|
Kuhn, Thomas |
HIV-1 gp120-induced actin rod formation: a novel mechanism for HIV associated neurodegeneration |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Chemistry |
tbkuhn@alaska.edu |
|
Lopez, Andres |
Investigating the roles of Arctic lamprey populations in Alaskan aquatic ecosystems |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences |
jalopez2@alaska.edu |
|
Lupinek, Joshua |
Virtual reality fitness: A rural Alaskan health examination |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Business |
lupinekj@montclair.edu |
|
O'Hara, Todd |
Assessment of diets and Hg exposure in Alaskans |
07/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Dept of Veterinary Medicine |
tmohara@alaska.edu |
|
Oxtoby, Laura |
Unalakleet River salmon: Investigating linkages between nutrient and life cycles |
08/04/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Space Physics |
leoxtoby@alaska.edu |
|
Philip, Jacques |
Stories and images of community strength from a youth dog mushing program in rural Alaska |
08/01/2017-06/30/2019 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Institute of Arctic Biology |
|
|
2016-2018 GY3-4 |
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|
Bult-Ito, Abel |
CREB-mediated modulation of compulsive behaviors in spontaneous OCD mouse model |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Biology |
abultito@alaska.edu |
|
Dunlap, Kriya |
Exploring traditional ecological knowledge on the Yukon River |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
kldunlap@alaska.edu |
|
Eckert, Ginny |
Clams as subsistence foods in rural communities in Southeast Alaska |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Fisheries & Ocean Sciences |
gleckert@alaska.edu |
|
Guerard, Jennifer |
Health impact of toxic metal(loid)s from coal fly ash leaching into boreal waters |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Chemistry |
jguerard@alaska.edu |
|
Hoferkamp, Lisa |
In situ studies of halogenated contaminant biotransformation in forage fish |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau Campus |
lahoferkamp@alaska.edu |
|
Podlutsky, Andrej |
DNA repair and virus infection |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Biology |
|
|
Tamone, Sherry |
An insulin-like peptide that functions in sexual differentiation |
05/06/2016-05/06/2018 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau |
sltamone@alaska.edu |
|
2015-2016 GY2 |
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|
Edmonds, Brian |
Functional properties of novel modulators of human nicotinic receptors |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
bwedmonds@alaska.edu |
|
Ihl, Claudia |
Mentoring rural students to investigate common concerns regarding subsistence species |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Northwest |
cihl@alaska.edu |
|
Nicholas-Figueroa, Linda |
Arctic microbes: Population abundance and the effects of a warming environment |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Illisagvik Tribal College |
linda.nicholas-figueroa@ilisagvik.edu |
|
Seitz, Andy |
Alaskan subsistence food: Characterizing runs of salmon in the Yukon River |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks |
acseitz@alaska.edu |
|
Pearson, Heidi |
Subsistence health and kelp forest dynamics in Southeast Alaska |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Southeast - Juneau |
hcpearson@alaska.edu |
|
Pandya, Anshul |
Neonicotinoid-induced toxicity and risk of Autism-like symptoms in mice |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Chukchi/IAC |
aapandya@alaska.edu |
|
Douglas, Hector |
Measuring unique pigments to assess animal health |
04/27/2015-06/30/2016 |
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks - Kuskokwim |
hddouglas@gmail.com |