Successful Proposals

The first annual UCRA funding cycle in spring 2015 provided support for 20 proposals with an average award of $860. A total of 13 proposals were awarded within the mathematics and natural sciences division and 7 proposals were awarded within the social sciences division. A total of ~$18,000 was dispersed to the funded projects for this first semester of activity.

Social Sciences

  • “Discriminating hacker techniques by personality profiles” – Gregory Bowen and Dr. Kathryn Seigfried-Speller
  • “Romancing your eyeballs: fireside relaxation and why we watch stuff” – Melinda Carr and Dr. Christopher Lynn
  • “Warm up, calm down: a study on the relaxing effects of a fireside” – Ashley Daugherty and Dr. Christopher Lynn
  • “Prevalence of feeding difficulty in children with suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder in Alabama” – Elizabeth Henderson and Dr. Memorie Gosa
  • “Web-based supreme court opinion analyzer” – Daniel Klein and Dr. Joseph Smith
  • “The link between food insecurity and chronic diseases” – Connor Fasel and Dr. Lesley Jo Weaver
  • “Brain activation and behavior” – Allison Bouslog and Dr. Phillip Gable

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

  • “Peptide supercharging using chromium ions in mass spectrometry” – Ryan Hacherl and Dr. Carolyn Cassady
  • “Fate of dietary copper – Is the form of copper in the diet key to prevent it from becoming toxic?” – Kaitlyn Kuykendall and Dr. John Vincent
  • “Genotype-by-environment interactions of chronic stress from sleep deprivation and metabolic syndrome in Drosophila melanogaster” – Rodger Moore and Dr. Laura Reed
  • “The role of neurotransmission in amyloidbeta neurotoxicity” – Samuel Scopel and Dr. Guy Caldwell
  • “Development of methodology and preliminary data collection for a statewide soundscape monitoring program of the seasonal dynamics of avian composition and abundance in Alabama” – Kathryn Shay and Dr. Eben Broadbent
  • “Investigation of dopamine neuron degeneration as a consequence of microbiome-derived bacteria” – Samuel Stanley and Dr. Kim Caldwell
  • “Automated tree crown delineation from visual 3D imagery acquired from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and photogrammetric analyses” – Austin Pinkerton and Dr. Eben Broadbent
  • “Development and implementation of a camera trap based biodiversity monitoring program at the University of Alabama’s Tanglewood Biological Station and Natural Area” – Clare Ols and Dr. Eben Broadbent
  • “Building and testing benthic chambers (seepage meters) for measuring groundwater discharge in fresh and marine environments” – Adam Forkner and Dr. Natasha Dimova
  • “A “Woof! Woof!” worldview: Creating comprehensive educational materials for the American dog owner” – Mackenzie Branco and Dr. Catherine Roach
  • “Imaging fractures in the Chattanooga Black Shale of the southern Appalachians with terrestrial LIDAR” – Lauren Hackworth and Dr. Ibrahim Çemen
  • “Synthesis of improved catalytic antibiotics with a metal binding domain attached to vancomycin” – John Lundeen and Dr. Elizabeth Papish
  • “Synthesis of improved metallo prodrugs that are pH and light sensitive” – Katlyn Hughes and Dr. Elizabeth Papish