SPONSORED PROGRAMS BY THE NUMBERS
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Human Subjects Research Protocols
Chemistry Professor Contributes to Statewide Advanced Manufacturing Research Passionate about finding new solutions to power the world, Dr. Judy Jenkins, associate professor of chemistry at EKU, applies her chemistry and solar energy expertise to a collaborative statewide research project, the Kentucky Advanced Partnership for Enhanced Robotics and Structures (or KAMPERS).
manufacturing technologies, flexible electronics and robotics. The $24 million, five-year project relies on the expertise of 40 multidisciplinary researchers from eight Kentucky universities and colleges, including Jenkins at Eastern Kentucky University. The researchers are working together to develop 3D printable smart devices, Jenkins explained. While technology to 3D print objects is well-developed, this project focuses on embedding electronics into structural components, like a prosthetic hand, for example. In order for a prosthetic hand to function like a human hand, it needs electronics that sense and respond to touched objects and interface with nerves to allow human-driven movement.
Funded by the Kentucky National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and institutional matching funds provided by participating schools, the KAMPERS project supports the fundamental science needed to advance next-generation
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