Equipment: MRI: Acquisition of a MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer for Supporting Interdisciplinary Microbiological Research and Education at Eastern Kentucky University

Information

• NSF Award
• 2320366

Owner

• Eastern Kentucky University

• Award Id

  2320366

• Award Effective Date

  10/1/2023 - a year ago

• Award Expiration Date

  9/30/2026 - a year from now

• Award Amount

  $ 381,870.00

• Award Instrument

  Standard Grant

An award is made to Eastern Kentucky University to do hands-on educational outreach and research training in areas including, but not limited to, microbiology, ecology, and environmental biology. With this award of an automated mass spectrometry microbial identification system with MALDI-TOF technology, the research projects and state-of-the-art instrumentation will inspire undergraduate, masters-level, and high school students to participate in a variety of projects allowing these students to see and believe in themselves as STEM researchers. Beyond strengthening the research infrastructure at Eastern Kentucky University and within the immediate Appalachian region, the project will increase the diversity of the STEM workforce by providing high-impact research and outreach opportunities to many underrepresented populations in STEM who attend Eastern Kentucky University and university programs. Project participants will include many low-income and first-generation students, as well as future teachers, who represent a significant proportion of the student body and their collective participation will raise the scientific literacy in Kentucky.<br/><br/>The project will accelerate research at Eastern Kentucky University regarding microorganisms, and will lead to more research opportunities, discoveries, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Due to the simplicity of obtaining results from environments of societal and regional interest, the project will enable the rapid identification of microorganisms, including drug-resistant microorganisms, in understudied environments. The research will inform the broader scientific community in understanding how ecosystems neutralize, maintain, or enhance antimicrobial resistance in organisms and genes. Ultimately, the research will inform efforts aiming to understand how non-clinical environments, like streams, lakes, forests, wetlands, and livestock areas contribute to antimicrobial resistance in specific microorganisms and microbial communities. Findings could inform watershed management practices aimed at improving human, plant, and ecosystem health.<br/><br/>This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

• Program Officer

  Robert Fleischmannrfleisch@nsf.gov7032927191

• Min Amd Letter Date

  8/9/2023 - a year ago

• Max Amd Letter Date

  8/9/2023 - a year ago

• ARRA Amount

• Name

  Eastern Kentucky University

• City

  RICHMOND

• State

  KY

• Country

  United States

• Address

  521 LANCASTER AVE

• Postal Code

  404753102

• Phone Number

  8596223636

• First Name

  Rishi

• Last Name

  Drolia

• Email Address

  rishi.drolia@eku.edu

• Start Date

  8/9/2023 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Jason

• Last Name

  Marion

• Email Address

  jason.marion@eku.edu

• Start Date

  8/9/2023 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Marcia

• Last Name

  Pierce

• Email Address

  MARCIA.PIERCE@EKU.EDU

• Start Date

  8/9/2023 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Steven

• Last Name

  Altheide

• Email Address

  travis.altheide@eku.edu

• Start Date

  8/9/2023 12:00:00 AM

• Text

  Major Research Instrumentation

• Code

  1189

• Text

  MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION

• Code

  1189

• Text

  EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES

• Code

  9150