Savannah State University (SSU) has been approved for three new grants that total $1,041,153 in funding. All three will include student researchers and focus on STEM-related fields.

A grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will allow SSU to develop and implement an undergraduate certificate program in the technical, logistical, policy, research and commerce-related issues of the transportation industry. According to the grant description written by Jonathan Lambright, Ph.D., dean of the College of Sciences and Technology (COST), “The project will prepare students to think beyond current models and existing transportation infrastructure, to develop new paradigms and to conduct meaningful research to help meet the changing transportation needs of the 21^st century.” The three-year grant totals $399,548.

Two grants awards have been recommended under the FY2015 Department of Defense Research and Education Program for Historically Black College and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI).  The grants are in support of research programs conducted at SSU.

Kai Shen, Ph.D, assistant professor in chemistry and forensic science, was awarded a grant of $326,633 from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The three-year funding will allow Shen and students to research polymer chemistry. Specifically, they want to develop a new biodegradable polyester that doesn’t require reinforcement. Such a product could be used to make boat hulls, pipes and other hard plastic items. The polyester would have practical applications for both military and civilian life.

Pascal Binda, Ph.D., assistant professor in chemistry and forensic science, was also awarded a grant by the DoD. The $314,972 three-year grant will fund research on metavinculin, a chemical that appears in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Very little is known about this essential protein except that it is used in muscle reactions to mechanical changes. In addition to having military applications, it has recently been discovered that medical patients with certain heart issues have a lack of metavinculin, which may mean the cardiac muscle is not being regulated properly.

All three grants will include hands-on laboratory research, project management, scientific writing and presentation aspects for students to engage in. Additionally, students will be prepared to engage in post-doctorate research and have published work.