Scientists get $369,092 in UAH internal research funds

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 30, 2014) – Thirteen University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) researchers have been awarded a portion of $369,092 in Individual Investigator Distinguished Research (IIDR) funds for their proposals, according to Dr. Ray Vaughn, vice president for research.

The university received 72 proposals from across the campus' academic disciplines seeking funds from the program for research endeavors. IIDR is a UAH internal grant program administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research.

"I want to offer my congratulations to these 13 principle investigators and my appreciation to all who applied," said Dr. Vaughn. "I would have liked to have funded more. We had many very good proposals.

"I am proud to report that we invested nearly $370,000 in this program and when combined with all internal grant programs, more than $1 million has been invested by UAH in research," Dr. Vaughn said.

Researchers, their departments and the titles of their proposals receiving awards are:

• Dr. Max Bonamente, Physics: "A three-dimensional view of Galaxy Clusters - Accurate Measurement of Cluster Masses for Cosmological Applications"
• Dr. Themistoklis Chronis, Earth System Science Center/National Space Science Technology Center: "Exploiting Lightning-weather radar Information Towards improved sEevere weather warnings (ELITE)"
• Dr. Lingze Duan, Physics: "Sol-Gel Fabrication of II-VI Quantum Dot Sensors for Ultrafast Photonics Research"

• Dr. Chang-kwon Kang, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering: "Time-accurate, Analytic Model of Lift on Flexible Flapping Wings in Forward Flight"
• Dr. Kyle Knight, Sociology: "Climate Change Public Opinion and Perception: A Comparative International Investigation"
• Dr. Kevin Knupp, Atmospheric Science: "Preliminary investigations of topographic influences on boundary layer airflow and tornadoes"
• Dr. Hana McFeeters, Chemistry: "Reactivation of HIV-1 Latent Reservoirs by Scytovirin: Overcoming the Barrier to Cure"
• Dr. S.S. Ravindran, Propulsion Research Center: "POD Closure Models for Prediction and Control of Turbulent Flows"
• Dr. Carmen Scholz, Chemistry: "Expanding the poly(amino acid) polymer platform: Bioadhesives"
• Dr. Christine Sears, History: "Citizens of the Seas: Sailors and the Maritime World in the Early Republic"
• Dr. Xuejing Xing, Finance: "Equity-based compensation and firm disclosures"
• Dr. Hongyu Zhou, Civil & Environmental Engineering: "Development of a New Generation Bioinspired Multifunctional Composites - From Microstructures to Structural Application"
• Dr. Feng Zhu, Computer Science: "Cybersecurity and Privacy: Attacks and Mitigations below Conscious Awareness"

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