On December 5, 2011, Profs. Tewodros Asefa and Laura Fabris received Faculty Research Grant awards for one year from the Office of the Vice President of Research and Economic Development for $19,500 and $20,000, respectively. The office received 170 proposals of which 79 received funding.

Prof. Asefa's project focuses on the development of novel and efficient nanostructured catalytic systems potentially capable of generating hydrogen from water and reducing the greenhouse gas CO2 into liquid synthetic fuels. There is a growing demand for energy in the US coupled with worldwide and rapid depletion of fossil fuels. In light of these environmental challenges, Prof. Asefa’s project will make contributions to the solutions of these burgeoning problems our world faces. To learn more, please visit Prof. Asefa’s group page.

 In 2006, cancer was responsible for nearly 25% of total deaths in the United States, second only to heart disease. Early but promising results have demonstrated that  nanotechnology tools have the potential to provide effective targeted cancer therapies and efficient methods for early detection.  In order to create the most effective nanoparticle based therapeutics, Prof. Fabris’ project focuses on understanding the phenomenon of nanoparticle uptake by the targeted cells . Prof. Fabris' project on Optical Study of Nanorod Uptake by Cancer Cells will begin a two-pronged approach toward the understanding and the improvement of the NP uptake mechanisms to boost the efficiency of nanoparticle-based therapeutics. Visit Prof. Fabris’ research page to read more. 

Please join us in congratulating Laura and Teddy on their success!