Building Innovative Research Capacity and Building STEM Infrastructure for Next Generation Scientists and a Vibrant Economy in Vermont RESEARCH Vermont EPSCoR was awarded a new Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1, $20M award on June 1, 2016 for research on Lake Champlain Basin Resilience to Extreme Events (BREE) The research will inform public policy and support economic and workforce development Research questions examine what makes some parts of the Lake Champlain Basin and its watersheds resilient in the face of extreme weather events, increasingly common in a warming Vermont, while other parts fail to recover and rebound The award from the National Science Foundation will help answer those questions, providing much needed information to decision-makers as they govern the basin and develop policies that reach far into the future The five-year project will support research teams from UVM and colleges across the state that will collect data from sensors in streams, soil, and the lake Research teams will also gather information on land use, economic impacts of poor water quality, and more Seven social and ecological computer models that are calibrated our collected data will be linked together The resulting integrated model can be used to test impacts of management scenarios on Lake Champlain water quality, and can identify strategies for preserving infrastructure, environmental health and drinking water quality as Vermont’s landscape continues to change and the climate continues to show a rise in extreme precipitation • The project will be undertaken by a diverse group of scientists and stakeholders working together with Vermont EPSCoR In addition to UVM, other partner institutions include Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, Castleton State College, Middlebury College, Saint Michael’s College, and Dartmouth College Also participating in the project will be key stakeholders, including the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and partners from Quebec and Lake George, NY Malayika Cinotta, MS student Geology Dept UVM, installs zero tension soil solution samples in soil pit during wetland site installation in the Wade Brook Watershed • NSF made the award to Vermont EPSCoR partly because both natural and social scientists work together across disciplines on the project in creating their predictive models • The BREE award was announced at the White House Water Summit on World Water Day, March 22, 2016 • A key element of the award will be the work performed by the Vermont EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity at Saint Michael’s College (CWDD), which will offer research opportunities to Vermont high schools, middle schools and undergraduates from across Vermont, including the Community College of Vermont and a new partnership with Landmark College • Scholarships will be available to Abenaki students and first-generation college students who are seeking science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) majors. • Girls will be supported through the Vermont Works for Women, Rosie’s Girls Program. • Small businesses will also be able to participate through pilot awards and funding from the Small Business Innovation Research Phase (0) program and support through Innovate HERS and Launch VT. A RII Track award funded the North East Water Resources (NEWRnet), a three state consortium with Delaware, Rhode Island and Vermont in 2013 With VT EPSCoR as the lead, the NEWRnet consortium has created an advanced sensor network in watersheds for gathering very high-frequency, spatially-extensive water quality and quantity data and a network of lab and field-based experiments Social systems models are used to align sensor data and their visualization with utilization by stakeholders Across the network, undergraduates carry out summer research teams with graduate students and faculty The University of Vermont (UVM) Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Laboratory (SEGS Lab), established with funding from NEWRnet, takes an experimental gaming approach for bringing the dynamics of human decisionmaking into models of ecosystem-level problems The SEGS lab allows the researchers to “place farmers and producers into virtual worlds to see how they react to different situations,” said Scott Merrill, a research assistant professor in UVM’s Department of Plant and Soil Science and one of the lab’s designers “Data collected using experimental gaming and simulation can be used to develop models that will help us understand decision-making, which will allow for improved communication with and education of policy makers.” Arkia Wynn (URI) and William Nupp (UVM) present their poster, “How Farmer’s Decisions Change in Response to Weather and Price Uncertainty,” at the University of Rhode Island The NEWRnet Education Outreach Diversity (EOD) team integrates students and teachers into NEWRnet research while increasing the diversity of participants • In 2016-2017, fifteen undergraduate students received summer research funding to work on NEWRnet research in Delaware, Rhode Island and Vermont • Interns visited Salve Regina University (RI) for a 2-day short course, which included presentations by NEWRnet faculty introducing students to climate change in the northeast, experimental economics, and regional water quality issues Interns spent the next 10 weeks studying topics related to water quality and agent based modeling • In August, interns returned to Rhode Island for the NEWRnet Undergraduate Research Symposium where they presented their summer research with a 5-minute talk and a research poster at the University of Rhode Island (URI) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The VT EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity (CWDD) located at Saint Michael’s College integrates students and teachers into BREE research while increasing the diversity of participants including students who are under-represented in STEM research: veterans, economically disadvantaged, first generation, minorities and disabled The CWDD continues to broaden participation in STEM through scholarships to Native American and first generation Vermont students pursuing a STEM major For more information, please contact: Judith Van Houten, Ph.D Vermont State EPSCoR Director, University of Vermont Judith.vanhouten@uvm.edu (802) 656-0452 Burlington High School special education class on a field outing to Potash Brook for macroinvertebrate identification BUIL NN GN O N TN’ T S ’S BUIL DI N G BUIL V E DI RDI MO GVTE V’RE SM R MO N VCES M NCTE ’S B I O M E D IBCB A I BUIL O LM E CDI D IEIA C NLG A CSL E IE N IO M ESD IC IR ECN COE INF R ASTINF RINF R TUR RA UC EC E BUC IROAST MAST ED IC L STUR CEI E N RE UC TUR INF R AST R UC TUR E VermontVermont Genetics Vermont Genetics Network Genetics Network (INBRE) Network (INBRE) (INBRE) VermontGenetics Genetics Network (INBRE) The Vermont Network (VGN) is in its third phase of The Vermont Genetics Network isisfrom inin its third phase The Vermont Genetics (VGN) ismillion in its (VGN) third phase of the funding aNetwork five‐year $17.8 award Thewith Vermont Genetics Network (VGN) its thirdIDeA phase of of with five‐year $17.8 million award the funding with afunding five‐year $17.8 million award from the IDeAfrom Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program funding with aa five‐year $17.8 million award from the IDeA IDeA Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Networksof the of Networks Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Networks ofofBiomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program program of the National Institute of General Medical program atofthethe National Institute of General Medical Institutes of Health (NIH).Medical The mission of VGN ofNational the National Institute of General Sciences (NIGMS) Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health Sciences is (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to build human and physical infrastructure in Vermont at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) The missionfor of(NIH) VGN The mission of VGN is to build human and physical The mission of VGN is to build human and physical biomedical research Atand the physical lead institution, the University of for is to build human infrastructure in Vermont infrastructure inhave Vermont biomedical At for the infrastructure in Vermont for biomedical research At research the Vermont (UVM), research we developed state‐of‐the‐art facilities biomedical At thefor lead institution, the University of Microarray and Proteomics to provide to lead institution, the University of Vermont (UVM), we have developed state‐of‐the‐art facilities Microarray lead institution, the University of Vermont (UVM), we have developed state‐of‐the‐art facilities Microarray researchers across Vermont the resources they need to carry out world class research and compete for to Vermont (UVM), we have developed state‐of‐the‐art facilities for Microarray andfor Proteomics toforprovide and Proteomics to provide to researchers across Vermont the resources they need to carry out world class and Proteomics to provide to researchers across Vermont the resources they need to carry out world class federal funding To address workforce development and its build cultures of research by for researchers across Vermont the resources they need to diversity, carry out we world class research and compete and compete for federal funding To address workforce development and its diversity, we build research supporting and research compete for federal funding To address workforce development and its diversity, we build and To student research at our development Baccalaureateand Partner Institutionswe (BPIs): federalfaculty funding address workforce its diversity, buildCastleton cultures University, of research by cultures of research by supporting faculty and student research at our Baccalaureate Partner Institutions: cultures of research by supporting faculty and student research at our Baccalaureate Partner Institutions: Johnson and Lyndon State Middlebury College, NorwichPartner University, Saint Michael's CollegeUniversity, and supporting faculty and Colleges, student research at our Baccalaureate Institutions (BPIs): Castleton Castleton University, Johnson and Lyndon State Colleges, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Saint CastletonGreen University, Johnson and Lyndon State Colleges, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Saint Mountain College We also work with students in college lab classes throughout Vermont in order to and Johnson and Lyndon State Colleges, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Saint Michael's College Michael's College and Green College We work with students in college lab classesinthroughout Michael'sbring College andMountain Green Mountain College work withalso students inlab college labthroughout classes throughout state‐of‐the‐art research resources intoalso their education Green College WeMountain alsoWe work with students in college classes Vermont order to Vermont in order to bring state‐of‐the‐art research resources into their education, including at the Community Vermont in order to bring state‐of‐the‐art research resources into their education, including at the Community bring state‐of‐the‐art research resources into their education College of Vermont and Landmark College College ofVGN Vermont and Landmark College impacts STEM employment in Vermont by supporting faculty and staff members at UVM and BPIs: full time faculty at UVM and Norwich University, partbytime faculty at UVMand andstaff 21 atmembers BPIs, andat4 UVM full time VGN impacts STEM employment in Vermont supporting faculty andstaff BPIs:at5 full VGN impacts STEM employment in Vermont by supporting faculty and staff members at UVM and BPIs: VGN impacts STEM employment in Vermont by supporting faculty and staff members at UVM and BPIs: full UVM time and Norwich Since 2005 VGN has funded graduate students, awards to BPI faculty atUniversity UVM and Norwich University, part time31faculty at UVM and 2198atproject BPIs, and full time staff4atfull time faculty at UVM and Norwich University, part time faculty at UVM and 28 at BPIs, and full time time faculty at UVM and Norwich University, part time faculty at UVM and 28 at BPIs, and full time staff at faculty members, 59 pilotUniversity project awards BPIVGN faculty studentstudents, summer 98 research UVM and Norwich Since to 2005 hasmembers, funded 31114 graduate projectawards awardstotostaff BPI at UVM and Norwich University Since 2005 VGN funded 31 graduate students, project, 69 awards pilot UVM andBPI Norwich University Since 2005 VGN funded 31has graduate students, 104student project, 69104 pilot awards undergraduate students andproject use ofhas facility awards to 12 UVM faculty members Our students’ careers in awards faculty members, 59 pilot awards to BPI faculty members, 114 summer research to and 15 small awards to BPI faculty members, 135 student summer research awards to BPI undergraduate and 15 small awards to BPI faculty members, 135 student summer research awards to BPI undergraduate medicine, biomedical research and STEM been influenced by opportunities made possible by in BPI undergraduate students and use teaching of facilityhave awards to 12 UVM faculty members Our students’ careers students and useinvestigator of facility awards to 12members UVM faculty members Our students’ careersbiomedical inTomedicine, biomedical students VGN and use of facility awards toresearch 12 UVM faculty Our students’ careers inbymedicine, The principal is Judith Van Houten, PhD (Judith.Vanhouten@uvm.edu) learn more, medicine, biomedical and STEM teaching have been influenced opportunities made possible by research andprincipal STEM haveis been by PhD opportunities possible VGN The more, principal research visit: and STEM teaching have teaching been influenced by influenced opportunities made(Judith.Vanhouten@uvm.edu) possiblemade by VGN Thebyprincipal http://vgn.uvm.edu/ VGN The investigator Judith Van Houten, To learn investigator is Judith PhD (Judith.Vanhouten@uvm.edu) To learn investigator is Van Houten,Van PhDHouten, (Judith.Vanhouten@uvm.edu) To learn more, visit: more, visit: visit:Judith http://vgn.uvm.edu/ http://vgn.uvm.edu/ http://vgn.uvm.edu/ Vermont Lung Center (COBRE) Lung Vermont disease is Lung a significant of mortality and especially morbidity in the U.S Center cause (COBRE) thefor other sixisleading causes of death have decreased over the last decade, all U.S VermontWhile Center Vermont Immunology Center Immunology and Infectious and Diseases Infectious (COBRE) (COBRE) Lung disease a for significant cause of mortality and Diseases especially morbidity in the formsWhile of lung disease continue to rise If we are to make significant progress in all the other six leading causes of death have decreased over the last decade, The Vermont Center The Vermont for Immunology Center for and Immunology Infectious and Diseases Infectious (VCIID) Diseases is designed (VCIID) to is designed to in combating this pressing health problem, we will need to have trained scientists and forms of lung disease continue to rise If we are to make significant progress integrate resources the integrate studies of the immunology studies of and immunology infectious and disease infectious since disease the primary since the primary to study causeshealth and cures of lung Lungscientists Center and combating thisthe pressing problem, we disease will needThe to Vermont have trained function (VLC), function of the immune of system the immune is a defense system against is a defense infection against Microorganisms infection Microorganisms a Program on Lung Biology and Disease, has been in existence at the UVM resources to study the causes and cures of lung disease The Vermont Lung Center interact College with interact with two fundamental two fundamental components of components the immune of the system, immune the system, of Medicine since 1972 It has had a rich and productive past that has a (VLC), a Program on Lung Biology and Disease, has been in existence atsignificant the the UVM impact nationally immune system immune using largely system invariant using largely nonpolymorphic invariant nonpolymorphic evolutionary older evolutionary innate older innate The keystone the VLCsince program research The goals thehas VLCa significant are to investigate the College oftoMedicine 1972.isIt translational has had a rich and productive pastofthat impact nationally receptors,mechanisms andreceptors, the newer and the newer adaptive immune adaptive system immune that uses system highly that polymorphic uses highly polymorphic of lung biology and disease, and to program and retain outstanding translational research at the The keystone to the VLC program is translational research The goals of the VLC are to investigate receptors.UVM Center receptors investigators Center investigators are examining are genes examining that regulate genes that the regulate the Our key product is excellence mechanisms of lung biology and disease, and to program and retain outstanding translational research at pathogenicity of pathogenicity infectious organisms of infectious well organisms well as howasthe immune as howsystem the immune responds system responds UVM Our key product isasexcellence to these agents toSome these of agents the findings Some of will the lead findings willvaccine lead to better development development The current program centers around anbetter award fromto the IDeAvaccine program of the National Institute of General th Medical the NIHcenters that hasaround just finished its 15 The VLC is a Center Biomedical Research TheScience currentofprogram an award fromyear the IDeA program of theofNational Institute of General The goalsExcellent of the TheVCIID goalsCOBRE of the are VCIID toof COBRE build a are robust to build andduring vibrant a robust center and vibrant thatare supports center that and mentors supports talented and mentors th years (COBRE) The goals the VLC‐ COBRE the last to: develop the careers of a group talented Medical Science of the NIH that has just finished its 15 year The VLC is a Center of Biomedical Research young faculty, young recruit faculty, additional recruit faculty, additional provide faculty, a dynamic provide seminar a dynamic series, seminar and expand series, core and facilities expand core in facilities in of talented MD(COBRE) and PhDThe biomedical provide mentoring on Excellent goals of investigators, the VLC‐ COBRE duringskilled the last years areand to:consultation develop the careers of a group proteomics andproteomics microarray and The microarray Center alsoThe provides Centerasupport also provides for students, support postdoctoral for students, and aretreats postdoctoral fellows,studies and retreats competitive scientific approaches, maintain “cutting edge” research andfellows, to develop clinical of talented MD and PhD biomedical investigators, provide skilledmilieu mentoring and consultation on A specialcore, Amaintain emphasis special is placed emphasis on promoting is placed on an atmosphere promoting an that atmosphere fosters stimulating that fosters discussions stimulating between discussions basic between basic transgenic/knockout animal and small animaledge” phenotyping There have been a44clinical new studies competitive scientific approaches, maintain a “cutting researchcore milieu and to develop and clinical and scientists clinical These scientists interactions These will interactions also include will the also state include health the department state health in department an effort to in directly an effort to directly hires core, since 2002 and transgenic/knockout there are currently 74animal peopleand employed at thephenotyping Vermont Lung Center Thehave principal maintain small animal core There been 44 new Vermonters The VCIID COBRE program centers around a 5‐year award from the IDeAfrom the IDeA improve the health improve of the health of Vermonters The VCIID COBRE program centers around a 5‐year award investigator is Charles Irvin,there PhD are (Charles.Irvin@uvm.edu) To learnat more, visit: hires since 2002 and currently 74 people employed the Vermont Lung Center The principal program of theprogram NationalofInstitute of General Medical Science of the Science NIH Theofprincipal is investigator Dr Ralph is Dr Ralph the National Institute of General Medical the NIH.investigator The principal www.uvm.edu/medicine/vermontlung/ investigator is Charles Irvin, PhD (Charles.Irvin@uvm.edu) To learn more, visit: Budd (Ralph.Budd@med.uvm.edu) To learn more,To visit: http://www.med.uvm.edu/vciid Budd (Ralph.Budd@med.uvm.edu) learn more, visit: http://www.med.uvm.edu/vciid www.uvm.edu/medicine/vermontlung/ Neuroscience (COBRE) The primary goal of the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Neuroscience, created in 2001 by a grant from the NIH National Center of Research Resources, is to enhance Neuroscience research and training infrastructure across multiple colleges at the University of Vermont Two sophisticated multi‐user research cores: an Imaging/Physiology Core, which provides access to sophisticated imaging equipment dedicated to live imaging and a Cell/Molecular Core, which provides personnel and access to sophisticated equipment required to complete cellular and molecular biology experiments, are supported by COBRE funding These multi‐ user facilities are a critical, unique resource for faculty, postdoctoral trainees, residents, and graduate, medical and undergraduate students Multiple multi‐year research projects and one‐year pilot projects for junior investigators were funded in the first 10 years of the award The current transitional COBRE grant, which was awarded for years in 2011, continues to support the shared research cores and funds one‐year pilot projects in the areas of stroke and neurovascular interactions or neural regulation of autonomic nervous system development, function and disorders A recent highlight for the Neuroscience COBRE was the award of a $600,000 NIH Shared Instrument grant to obtain a second Multiphoton Microscope to be housed in the Imaging Core In sum, the Neuroscience COBRE‐supports research cores that broaden faculty research capabilities and access to these core facilities has significantly increased the competitiveness of neuroscience faculty for extramural funding The Neuroscience COBRE program centers around a 5‐year award from the IDeA program of the National Institute of General Medical Science of the NIH The Principal Investigator is Rodney L Parsons, PhD (Rodney.Parsons@uvm.edu) To learn more, visit: http://www.uvm.edu/neuroscience Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (COBRE) An $11.5 million COBRE research grant from the National Institutes of Health supports the development of the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (VCBH) at the University of Vermont This center studies the relationships between personal behaviors and risk for chronic disease and premature death This grant supports research projects led by five outstanding UVM junior faculty that include studies of weight control in breast cancer patients and overweight pregnant women; an intervention to increase cardiac rehabilitation participation in Medicaid patients; a study of heart disease risk in women with breast cancer; and, a study of the origins of obesity and heart disease risk in childhood psychiatric syndromes The VCBH integrates an interdisciplinary group of accomplished senior scientists, promising junior investigators, and distinguished advisors and collaborators to establish a center of excellence in an area of clinical research that is vitally important to U.S public health The Center, led by UVM faculty members Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., and Philip Ades, M.D., is one of only three in the nation addressing the important challenge of behavioral health from a behavioral economics perspective COBRE PI and Director is Stephen Higgins (stephen.higgins@uvm.edu) To learn more, visit: http://www.med.uvm.edu/behaviorandhealth Vermont NASA EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development (RID) and NASA EPSCoR Research Group Awards for FY17 Vermont NASA EPSCoR fosters research collaborations among faculty and students at UVM, Vermont Technical College, Norwich University, Saint Michael’s College, Middlebury College, and Champlain College as well as local industry The Research Infrastructure Development (RID) Program provides Research Small-Scale Grants and Mini-Grants for faculty researchers that are awarded based on competitive, peer-reviewed proposals Since 2007 Vermont has received eight national NASA EPSCoR Research Group Awards, each of these being three-year grants valued at $750,000 The most recent project was awarded in Summer 2016 entitled “Characterization and modeling of biofilm development by a model multi-species ISS bacterial community” (see Fig 1); Fig - Fluorescent microscopy image of a biofilm community growing on the the multidisciplinary research team was comprised of medical, biological, International Space Station engineering and physics researchers at UVM and Johnson State College Two of these Research Group Awards since 2007 have led to three patents issued in 2013, 2014 and 2016; another patent application is under review At the local level, RID funding provides small-scale or “mini-grants” as seed funding to researchers to initiate projects relevant to NASA priorities One recent and high-profile example is “High Integrity Software for CubeSats and Other Space Missions” in which a team of researchers at Vermont Technical College is actively collaborating with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to provide high-fidelity flight software support for spacecraft in NASA’s Lunar IceCube Mission RID funding also supports travel by researchers to NASA centers and workshops for the purposes of initiating new research projects or fostering existing ones As an illustration, in the summer of 2016, RID funding supported four Vermont researchers to attend the NASA Biomimcry Summit Meeting (NASA Glenn Research Center) and five researchers to attend the NASA EPSCoR Technical Interchange Meeting (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center) Fig – GST founder and lead R&D engineer Ryan McDevitt with Finally, NASA EPSCoR also provides support for small business a miniaturized “cubesat” innovative research grants, including the SBIR Phase competition that is coordinated with the VT EPSCoR Program A notable success story is GreenScale Technologies (GST), a South Burlington technology startup, whose work on developing propulsion systems for miniaturized satellites (“cubesats”) resulted in their identification as a Top 35 University Startup for 2016 by the National Council of Entrepreneurial Technology Transfer USDA EPSCoR FUNDED RESEARCH TEAM APPLIES COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN TO STUDY BIOSECURITY PRACTICES IN U.S LIVESTOCK INDUSTRIES Mediated-modeling workshop with swine industry stakeholders in December 2016, Mankato, MN • A research team at the University of Vermont awarded the largest ever USDA Agriculture and Food Initiative (AFRI) award in the College of Agriculture and Life Science at the University of Vermont to study animal disease bio risk management continues to make progress The five-year, $7.4 million award started in 2015 and is made possible through USDA EPSCoR funding It is a multi-disciplinary effort, and brings together researchers and practitioners from several institutions to research safety practices for mitigating the risk of catastrophic disease outbreak in U.S livestock populations Dr Julie Smith, D.V.M, a research associate professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Vermont, serves as team lead Emerging diseases of socio-economic importance have food security, perceived food safety, and domestic and international trade implications for the marketing of animals or animal products Understanding the human behavioral dimensions of the introduction, spread, identification, reporting, and containment of diseases of livestock is critically important for developing effective strategies to sustain a productive and secure food animal sector • Experts in animal science and veterinary medicine, agricultural economics, public policy and decision science, anthropology, adult education, and risk communication come together to lead this USDA funded Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) • This inter-disciplinary applied research and outreach project focuses on enhancing biosecurity practices and strategies to reduce the impact of incursions of new, emerging, or foreign pests or diseases in our livestock industries, primarily dairy, beef, and swine • Through engagement with project activities, stakeholders in U.S livestock will be encouraged to implement practices and policies that collectively reduce the impact and threat of new, emerging, and foreign pests and diseases to the nation's meat and milk supply Educational resources, lab and field experimental games, simulations of livestock industries at the state and county levels, and messages developed and tested during the project will be made available beyond the end of the funding period • To achieve project objectives UVM researchers are integrating disease characteristics, human risk perception and socio-economic influences on behavior to collect data using an experimental serious game environment • The UVM Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation Laboratory (SEGS Lab: www.uvm.edu/~segs), established with funding from the National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), leads this dimension of the project under the leadership of project Co-PI’s Scott Merrill, Asim Zia and Christopher Koliba The SEGS lab combines experimental, “serious” gaming and computer simulation approaches for bringing the dynamics of human decision-making into models of ecosystem-level problems, enabling researchers to determine how farmers and producers would react to disease outbreaks without exposing animals to new infectious threats • The SEGS lab is placing “farmers and producers into simulated environments to see how they react to different situations,” said Scott Merrill, a research assistant professor in UVM’s Department of Plant and Soil Science and the lab’s managing director