A NEW PANTHER RISE (PRISE PROGRAM

EXPANDING RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS AND NETWORK

Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) partnered together in a new way to help solve some of our society’s complex challenges. The two institutions set aside $300,000 to support 30 faculty members to collaborate, to try and solve identified problems in the world.

Division of Research and Innovation initiated the Panther Research and Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (Panther RISE) grant program that supported 30 faculty researchers from the two institutions +++++++++++++++++++++ inter-institutional research projects. The Division of Research & Innovation (R&I) partnered with the Office +++++++++++++++++++++ of Academic Affairs and launched the initiative in Fall 2020.+++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ Vice President Rajan’s intent for the new Panther RISE initiative is rooted in the fact that federal funding +++++++++++++++++++++ agencies are increasingly supporting large-scale, multidisciplinary research projects. These projects aim to solve national and global problems that require a convergence of diverse resources and expertise. Through Panther RISE, faculty from the collaborating institutions—such as PVAMU and TAMU—can become more competitive when seeking external funding opportunities for research and innovation. +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ Panther RISE is a $30,000 award for a three-member research team. The selected PVAMU faculty receives +++++++++++++++++++++ a $10,000 grant and two TAMU faculty members receive $10,000 each. The triad investigation team works +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ to execute the proposed scholarly, creative, or research +++++++++++++++++++++ project. The Office of Research Advancement at PVAMU +++++++++++++++++++++ coordinated the execution of the Panther-RISE program. +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++

The following triads and projects were selected for the Panther-RISE Grant Awards:

“Analyzing Impact of COVID-19 on Student Learning and Persistence: A Multi-Dimensional Study.” Camille Burnett, PVAMU College of Education, with Texas A&M colleagues Bimal Nepal, College of Engineering, and Karen RamboHernandez, College of Education & Human Development.

“Multi-modal Knowledge-Graph Construction for Combating Global Pandemics.” Xishuang Dong, PVAMU College of Engineering, with Texas A&M colleagues Ruihong Huang and Anxiao “Andrew” Jiang, both in the College of Engineering.

“Understanding the Response to USDA Food Aid among Minority Residents and Farmers in COVID-19.” Noel M. Estwick, PVAMU College of Agriculture & Human Sciences, with Texas A&M colleagues Michelle Annette Meyer, College of Architecture, and Rebekka Dudensing, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences.

“Diversity of Grass Shrimp (Palaemon Sp.) and Their Parasites (Microphallus Spp.) in Gulf of Mexico Wetlands.” Noushin Ghaffari, PVAMU College of Engineering, with Texas A&M colleagues, Anja Schulze, Department of Marine Biology, Mary Wicksten, Department of Biology. “An Interdisciplinary Team for Investigating a Machine Learning Framework for Predicting Outdoor Thermal Comfort to Reduce Energy Needs of Future Urban Development.” Rania Labib, PVAMU School of Architecture, with Texas A&M colleagues Mark J. Clayton and Robert Brown, both in the College of Architecture.

“Nanoengineered Materials to Modulate Mitochondrial Function.” Xiangfang “Lindsey” Li, PVAMU College of Engineering, with Texas A&M colleagues Annie NewellFugate, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and Akhilesh Gaharwar, College of Engineering.

“Preclinical Development and Emerging Strategies for Design of Selective Kinase Inhibitors Targeting Brain Metastasis of Resistant HER2+ Breast Cancer.” Victoria Mgbemena, PVAMU College of Arts & Sciences, with Texas A&M colleagues Hamed Ismail and Mahua Choudhury, both in the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.

“Resilience in Black College Students: Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Student Success.” Oluwagbemiga Ojumu, PVAMU College of Business, with Texas A&M colleagues Kalena Cortes, Bush School of Government & Public Service, and Catherine Eckel, College of Liberal Arts.

“Nursing in the Puerperium: A Virtual Home Visiting Intervention for Women at Risk for Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality.” Gloria Rose, PVAMU College of Nursing, with Texas A&M colleagues Robin L. Page and Cynthia Weston, both in the College of Nursing.

“Examining the Mental Health Impacts and Coping Strategies of the COVID-19 on Aging Racial/Ethnic Minorities in Texas: A Pilot Study.” Yuki Shigemoto, PVAMU College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology, with Ping Ma, Texas A&M School of Public Health, and Lei-Shih Chen, Texas A&M College of Education & Human Development.