Seven New EVEREST Pilot Project Awards

Seven new Enhanced Virtual Education, RESearch, and Training (EVEREST) Pilot Projects were granted to eight investigators at three institutions for the 2021-2022 grant fiscal year. The primary goal of the EVERST funding mechanism is to identify and develop novel virtual/remote education methods, laboratory and research pedagogy, and hybrid training that lessens the need for in-person interactions with students. 

At the PUIs, Dr. Thomas Malloy’s (Rhode Island College) work includes “Development of an Online Platform for Dyadic Interaction Research” and seeks to approximate face-to-face interactions in a virtual environment by integrating existing software for virtual interactions (Zoom) with software currently used for online data collection (Qualtrics). 
The training focus of Dr. Seann Mulcahy (Providence College) is on “An Interactive Online Organic Chemistry Textbook with Biomedical Applications.” Dr. Todd Olszewski (Providence College) is directing “Translating Research into Public Health Policy.”
“A computational approach to the study of malate dehydrogenase” is a joint effort by Dr. Kathleen Cornely and Dr. Tyler Stack (Providence College) and focuses on studying mutations of human malate dehydrogenase, an essential enzyme in central metabolism, and how changes in the enzyme relate to adaptations in the metabolism of cancer.

At the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Matthew Bertin will expose students to cutting-edge metabolomics technique in for students to gain proficiency in LC-MS/MS analysis with “Integrating LC-MS/MS based molecular networking and analysis of medicinal plants.” Dr. Jyothi Menon’s “A Simulated Cell Culture Laboratory for Student Training on Aseptic Techniques” will provide exposure to aseptic cell culture to large numbers of students, to give them a competitive advantage in biomedical industries upon graduation. “2D Game-Based Nanotechnology Lab as an Enhanced Education/Training Pedagogy” led by Dr. Jie Shen, will develop a novel virtual education pedagogy to support experiential/hands-on education in the fields of biomedical and health sciences in the subject of nanotechnology-based drug products, which in turn will help improve public health.

Pilot Proposal Development Award

A Pilot Proposal Development Award was conferred to Dr. Steven Weicksel entitled “Chromosome Organization and Dynamics: Mechanisms of Cancer.” The one-year award focuses on gaining a better understanding of how HOX genes are regulated, to then determine if they are involved with cancer and carcinogens. These findings have the potential to provide researchers with more tools and a better understanding of how to fight cancer. Dr. Weicksel is an Assistant Professor of Science and Technology at Bryant University and received his first SURF Training award in 2019.