The Office of the Provost has launched a $3.2 million program to encourage scholars across Illinois State University to collaborate to solve some of the world’s most complicated problems.
The Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship (ARCS) program originated from a 2021 retreat held by the Division of Academic Affairs, which was then led by current Interim President Dr. Aondover Tarhule. Modeled after similar programs around the country, ARCS seeks to encourage interdisciplinary research teams to address “big, bold scholarly themes.”
Appears InLast year, faculty-led teams submitted 23 proposals for ARCS grants through a competitive application process. In the summer, ARCS announced its inaugural awards. Three projects received Track I grants of up to $200,000 over two years for fully developed plans involving a robust project. Six other teams received Track II awards of $5,000 for one year to support capacity building for nascent teams. These grants serve as internal seed funding with the expectation that the recipients will eventually transition to external support.
The spring 2024 Redbird Scholar highlighted one research project from each track and provided summaries of the other grant-winning projects. Here are the highlighted projects:
Here are the summaries of the other ARCS’s projects:
Track I winners
The Utilizing Number to Initiate Fraction Inquiry (UNIFI) for Students with Learning Disabilities Pilot Project
Team: Dr. Beth MacDonald, project leader (Teaching and Learning); Dr. Allison Kroesch (Special Education); and Dr. Jessica Hunt (North Carolina State University)
Project summary: The construction of part-whole operations is one pervasive mathematical impediment for students with learning disabilities. This proposal uses an asset-based lens to examine the conceptual understanding students with learning disabilities possess, as a basis, before understanding how these concepts develop toward more sophisticated part-whole understandings. Instead of only focusing on aspects of students’ working memory or processing, researchers can intervene with a focus on improving malleable cognitive factors through students’ mathematics concept development, revolutionizing access for these students.
Development of an apical TIRF-illumination super-resolution microscope for cell
Team: Dr. Uttam Manna, project leader (Physics); Dr. Martin Engelke (Biological Sciences); and Dr. Jun-Hyun Kim (Chemistry)
Project summary: Knowledge regarding biological processes at the cellular and subcellular level has largely come from
the ability to directly visualize them. The research team proposes to develop two innovative total internal reflection fluorescence illumination super-resolution microscopes that would provide unprecedented capabilities in performing super-resolution imaging of cells.
Track II winners
Center for Inclusive Intergenerational Environments
Team: Dr. Elke Altenburger, project leader; Dr. Gabriela Fonseca Pereira; Dr. Luke T. Russell; and Dr. Chang Su-Russell (Family and Consumer Sciences)
Project summary: The research team seeks draw on expertise related to the development of inclusive intergenerational spaces and programs for new fundable advancements in programming, design, and policy to better serve age-diverse populations. First, the team plans to collaborate with local community groups with a focus on identifying opportunities to create a truly inclusive intergenerational college campus and later to expand the scope of the center’s work deeper into McLean County community environments.
SafeNAV–A Technology-Enable Navigation Solution for Visually Impaired Pedestrians
Team: Dr. Isaac Chang, project leader (Technology); Dr. Elahe Javadi (Information Technology); Dr. Jianwei Lai (Information Technology); Matthew Tunberg (Technology Solutions); Jen Bethmann (Technology Solutions); and Tammie Keney (Student Access and Accommodation Services)
Project summary: Navigation in an unfamiliar environment, both indoors and outdoors, is a significant challenge for visually impaired pedestrians, who must heavily rely on their nonvisual senses and cultivate specialized skills to successfully navigate their surroundings. The research team seeks to create an alternative.
Experiences and Agency of Historically Underrepresented STEM-intending Students in Calculus Courses: Phase I of the Envisioning a More Equitable System of Calculus Project
Team: Dr. Julien Corven, project leader (Mathematics); Dr. Rebekka Darner (Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology and Biological Sciences); Emily Deal (Mathematics); and Alicia Erwin (Mathematics)
Project summary: There are inequities in degree attainment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields related to gender and race. Calculus courses have been specifically identified as an inequitable gatekeeper for students who are female or from historically underrepresented minority groups. This project responds to calls for more research to in the field of mathematics education understand how to effectively support students from historically underrepresented populations to succeed in the calculus sequence.
Potential value of brazzein-yeast as a livestock feed additive: assessment of efficacy and safety
Team: Dr. Jennifer Earing, project leader (Agriculture), and Dr. Marjorie A. Jones (Chemistry)
Project summary: There has been an ongoing interest in developing alternative sweeteners. Brazzein is a small protein found in the West African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana, which has been used for centuries as a sweetener by Indigenous people. Molecular biologists have been able to incorporate the brazzein gene into a rapidly reproducing yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The research team seeks to assess the efficacy and safety of both the yeast and the yeast with the brazzein clone in animal model systems.
Methamphetamine, Opioids & Fentanyl in Rural Illinois: An Ethnographic Exploration of Current and Emerging Issues
Team: Dr. Kate Sheridan, project leader (Social Work), and Dr. Ralph Weisheit (Criminal Justice)
Project summary: A wave of drug overdoes that involves psychostimulants, primarily methamphetamine, along with prescription opioids, street heroin, and fentanyl. Extant research and program funding in Illinois is concentrated in the Chicago area. Research is needed to understand patterns of overlapping opioid and stimulant polysubstance use and resulting overdoses in rural Illinois.
