Faculty and Staff Grants from March 2020

Congratulations to the following faculty and staff members who received grants and awards in March 2020:

Monika Bleszynski, postdoc research scientist, and Maciej Kumosa, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science.

• Grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for "New Materials for Icing Prevention"
• Project abstract: Snow and ice accumulation are major wintertime issues in Colorado, and excessive accumulation often necessitates their removal, often at great expense. Many structures, such as Colorado's high voltage power lines are susceptible to icing and failure and cannot be easily treated with deicing agents. Research has shown that deicing salts are damaging to both the environment and infrastructure, and currently, no product is available which can be applied to mitigate icing long term in difficult to access areas or structures. We have therefore sought to create a new, oxic anti-freeze agent that can be used long term on Colorado's roadways, sidewalks, power lines or any other infrastructure without any negative environmental effects. 

Gwen Chanzit, professor of the practice and director of museum studies at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Grant from the Denver Botanic Gardens for "Collections Assistant Internship"
• Project abstract: This opportunity provides hands-on experience for a graduate student to assist in the care of a collection, by inventorying and cataloging works. Collection management skills and registration methods are valuable for almost all positions in art museums.

Elysia Clemens, deputy director of the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise

• Grant for "Family First: Evaluation Support for Colorado's Prevention Services Plan"

David Coppini and Kareem El Damanhoury, assistant professors in the Department of Media, Film and Journalism Studies at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Grant from the Colorado Trust for "Media Landscape Study"
• Project abstract: The University of Denver/Hearken project team will deploy three design components to meet the Trust's outlined outcomes for the Media Landscape Study. A statewide quantitative survey will be conducted and compiled using existing data from prior studies. Local news and information content analysis of 3-4 Colorado communities in any of the following areas will be conducted: Grand Junction, Greeley, Longmont, Pueblo and Durango.

Kevin Morris, research associate professor at the Graduate School of Social Work, affiliated with the Institute for Human-Animal Connection

• Grant from Foundation A et P Sommer for "Measuring the Efficacy of Animal Assisted Interventions at Green Chinmneys"
• Project abstract: This grant will allow for the purchase and install of a four-video camera and audio recording system in the wildlife classroom at Green Chimneys for the purpose of the University of Denver IHAC-Green Chimneys research, "Measuring the Impacts of Animal-Assisted Interventions on Children with Severe Psychosocial Challenges in Residential Treatment and Special Education Settings."

Jonathan Moyer, assistant professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures

• Grant for "The Impact of Conflict on Development in North-East Nigeria"

• Grant from Training Resources Group Inc., subaward from the U.S. Agency for International Development, for "Communications, Evidence, and Learning (CEL)"
• Project abstract: This activity is intended to further discussions with Landesa regarding a project to extend the International Futures-integrated assessment modeling platform to better treat issues related to property rights and land tenure around the world, but with particular emphasis in Africa. The final outcome of this project would be (1) a freely available public tool that represents land tenure and governance, its drivers, and possible impacts on development; (2) a series of interim policy briefs; and (3) a comprehensive report assessing the future of land tenure across multiple policy-relevant scenarios and their impacts on broader developmental trends.

Siavash Rezazadeh, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Grant from the University of Michigan, subaward from the National Science Foundation, for "NRI: FND: COLLAB: Optimal Design of Robust Compliant Actuators for Ubiquitous Co-Robots"
• Project abstract: The project seeks to establish a robust convex optimization framework for the design of series elastic actuators (SEAs) that are energy-efficient and safe across a variety of tasks. Unlike rigid actuators, SEAs can store and release mechanical energy for greater efficiency and absorb shocks for greater safety during human interaction. A convex formulation of SEA design problem is developed in this project, which guarantees finding the global optimum performance point. The global optimality then is used in this sub-project to understand when and for what types of tasks an SEA can increase efficiency and robustness.