FRA Awardees

McNichols UDMPU Faculty Research Awardees

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FRA Awardees

Congratulations to the awardees and thank you to the UDMPU Faculty Research Awards Committee for its dedicated service throughout the review process. The committee devotes considerable time and expertise to evaluating proposals and ensuring a fair, thoughtful, and rigorous selection process. Their commitment helps support and advance faculty scholarship across the University.
YearFaculty MemberCollegeProposal TitleAward
2026Aarons, KieranCHASSPolitical Myth and the Phenomenology of Violence$3,450.00
2026Ahlquist, JenniferCHPMindfulness Curriculum for Pre-Licensure Nursing Students$10,370.00
2026Alsmadi, MohammadE&SLaunching the Detroit Mercy Power and Energy Lab (DM-PEL): Advancing Innovation in Battery Management Systems through Health-Based Control$37,910.00
2026Anderson, KelliCHASSPerceived Family Conflict and Its Impact on Academic Performance Among College Students$5,800.00
2026Baker, StokesE&SAssessing Northern Scarlet Macaw Diversity in Belize$9,985.00
2026Belanger, RachelleE&SMicro- and Nanoplastics as Hepatotoxic Stressors in Freshwater Fish and Crayfish$13,837.00
2026Borsellino, JessicaCHASSTo Take Care of My People”: Kiowas and Their Health Care System, 1860-1940$5,256.00
2026Finkel, JonathanE&SHow Candida Albicans and Streptococcus Mutans form a Mutualistic Relationship to Cause Increased Caries in Humans$7,834.00
2026Foerder, PrestonCHASSLearning in Harvesters$7,466.00
2026Hill, HeatherCHASSMoving Beyond the Bridge Narrative: First-Gen Students and First-Gen Professors$3,450.00
2026Kosi-Kupe, Anne-MarieE&SHydroponic Cultivation of Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)$9,839.00
2026Lanigan, KatherineE&SSpectroscopic Investigation of Complexation and Photo-reactivity of Metal-aminopolycarboxylate Ligands in the Presence of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Ultraviolet Light$8,855.00
2026Lee, RachelCHASSMastery Criteria and Maintenance of Skills in Children with
Developmental Disabilities
$2,500.00
2026Livezey, MaraE&SA Systematic Study of Minoxidil Structure and Mechanism-of-Action$3,780.00
2026Mukherjee, AvishekE&SContextualized virtual reality learning in stem education using artificial intelligence$16,600.00
2026Najor, NicoleE&SA broad, multi-approach characterization of the yeast gene, PDH1$3,631.00
2026Nyutu, EvaE&SDiversity of Coleoptera (aquatic beetles) in an Urban Vernal Pool$4,191.00
2026Provost, ThomasSACDMapping Pollution Exposure Along Detroit’s Cycling Network (part ii)$5,058.00
2026Qian, MiaoCHASSReducing Children’s Racial and Gender Biases: Evidence from An Online Platform$7,320.00
2026Robinson-Dunn, DianeCHASSThe disappeared Latvian culture of northeastern Vidzeme, 1870-1950$3,999.00
2026Rowe, SarahCHASSExploring Job Satisfaction Among Highly Satisfied School Psychologists: A Qualitative Study$2,378.00
2026Santora, MichaelE&SAdvancing All-Weather Autonomous Driving Through Thermal Lane Detection$15,858.00
2026Storks, LeviE&SThe impacts of microplastic exposure on olfactory neurophysiology$10,633.00
2025Arias, DiegoCBAPromotion of Human Flourishing through Corporate Purpose$7,650.00
2025Assi, HibaCESExploring the Science Identity Formation of American Students of MENA Descent through Narrative Inquiry$3,187.00
2025Baker, Stokes SCESDetermining the mitochondrial genome sequences of Belizean sea cucumbers$10,095.00
2025Barnes, Ashlee VCHPExploring Stress Management and Coping Strategies Among African American Women$3,250.00
2025Brisson, Irene ElsaSACDArchipelagic Atlas for Caribbean Futures$2,700.00
2025Budiongan, Joshua RyanSACDEnvironmental Noise Impacts and Acoustic Solutions in Academic Spaces$5,860.00
2025Dalka, Robert PaulCESExploring the Learning Assistant model at Detroit Mercy$4,381.00
2025Finkel, Jonathan SCESIn Search for the Unifying Link that Allows Candida albicans to Bind to Streptococcus mutans that Cause a Devastating Increase in the Number of Cavities in Human Teeth$6,246.00
2025Gifford, Sara FrancisCHPCan Immersive Virtual Reality Simulations Utilizing AI-Powered Patients Improve Prelicensure Nursing Students’ Communication, Empathy and Emotional Intelligence Skills?$15,000.00
2025Hill, Heather LeeCHASSBook Project – Resurrecting the Feminine Monstrous: A Late Medieval Expose on Sexist Rhetoric in Trump’s America$3,450.00
2025Kaur, VarinderCHASSChallenges of Older Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Accessing and Receiving Addiction Treatment$7,530.00
2025Latif, Marwa K AbdelCESSystematic Studies on Minoxidil Hybrids for Potential Structural Effects on Anti-cancer Efficacy$8,230.00
2025Livezey, Mara RoseCESUncovering the Link Between the Anticipatory UPR, Autophagy, and Necrotic Cell Death$5,175.00
2025Maxwell-Curtis, Danielle NicoleCESExploring Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of and Engagement with Alternative Grading Strategies in Chemistry$7,238.00
2025Mukherjee, AvishekCESSmartwatch based Gesture Authentication Using Bluetooth$12,620.00
2025Ndiogou, Baye AliouneCESEstablishing Detroit Mercy’s 1st Solar Energy Research Center: A High-Flux Solar Simulator Project to Drive Innovation$22,714.00
2025O’Leary, Ceara MelinSACDPeople, Place and Policy: Historic Development and Current Typology of Community Space in Detroit$3,522.00
2025Pasqualina, Stephen GabrielCHASSZora Neale Hurston: Beyond the Horizon$3,450.00
2025Provost, ThomasSACDMapping Pollution Exposure Along Detroit’s Cycling Network$8,515.00
2025Robinson-Dunn, Diane LCHASS“The disappeared Latvian families of rural Vidzeme, 1870-1941”$4,375.00
2025Rombes, Nicholas DCHASSThe Auteur Theory: Towards a New Poetics of Film Theory$3,500.00
2025Storks, LeviCESInvestigating the Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Olfactory-Driven Behavior$12,320.00
2025Talton, Omonseigho OwomareCESDetecting Placental Markers in Gestational Diabetes Pregnancies using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Approaches$13,992.00
2024Robinson-Dunn, Diane LCLAEThe disappeared Latvian culture of the Smiltene region, 1870-1941$4,153.00
2024Dowgwillo, Emily ACLAETowards understanding and inclusivity in treatment: Examining similarities and differences between post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and complex post-traumatic stress
disorder
$9,000.00
2024Hibbard, James ToddCLAEA Contextual and Critical Commentary on the Book of Isaiah$3,450.00
2024Finkel, Jonathan SCESHow the Fungus Candida albicans and the bacteria Streptococcus mutans Interactions Results in Increased Caries in Children$6,985.00
2024Lanigan, Katherine CCESSpectroscopic Investigation of Complexation and Reactivity of Metal-EDDS in the Presence of TiO2 Nanoparticles$13,933.00
2024Qian, Miao QianCLAEChildren’s Implicit Gender Stereotypes: Evidence from An Online
Platform
$17,482.00
2024Maleki, MinaCESReal-Time Location System (RTLS) for Precise Indoor Positioning and Tracking Using WiFi Data and Machine Learning Approaches$16,120.00
2024Nafea, Mohamed Saeed KhalifaCESFedHealth: Towards Personalized and Fair Federated Learning in
Healthcare
$21,291.00
2024Najor, Nicole ACESIdentifying a novel desmosome-COP9 signalosome-Cullin protein
complex
$5,577.00
2024Olla, PhillipCHPEnhancing Healthcare Education: Integrating Generative AI Training
and Ethical Considerations
$6,539.00
2024Foerder, Preston GlenCLAEFRA-24_Foerder$9,241.00
2024Belanger, RachelleCESUsing Flow Cytometry to Understand Cellular Changes Following Exposures to Environmentally Relevant Toxins$7,092.00
2024Rowe, Sarah SCLAEMulti-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Implementation in Education: A Leadership Perspective$6,464.00
2024Chapman, Sharde’ NicoleCLAEBlack Nerd Conventions as Religious Space$7,883.00
2024Pasqualina, Stephen GabrielCLAEZora Neale Hurston: Beyond the Horizon$3,450.00
2024Baker, Stokes SCESEvaluating Native Bee Habitat in an Urban Park$9,624.00
2024Dari, Tahani HishamCLAEDeterminants Impacting Crisis Counseling Self-Efficacy Among
Trainees: A Mixed Methods Study
$7,200.00
2024Provost, Thomas EdwardSACDModalities of Timber Housing in Detroit$6,615.00
2024Kaur, VarinderCLAEThe Impact of Yoga Intervention on the Overall Well-being of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder – Pilot Study$9,998.00
2024Gofan, Yaukpala InitCHPFRA-24_Gofan$2,903.00
2023Ahlquist, JenniferCHPThe Effects of Self-Compassion Training for Pre-Licensure and Graduate Nursing Students$13,500.00
2023Arias, DiegoCABThe Spread of Corruption Narratives: The Case of the Peruvian House of Cards$5,100.00
2023Baker, StokesENG & SCIEcological Studies Using Next-Generation Sequencing$5,511.00
2023Bauer, AmieENG & SCIChanges in Agricultural Animal Ownership in Urban Counties in Michigan$2,800.00
2023Belanger, RachelleENG & SCIInvestigating the combined effects of atrazine and microcystin on gill and hepatopancreas tissue of crayfish$9,328.00
2023Conant, StephanieENG & SCINo title$8,095.00
2023Dari , TahaniCLAEThe Influence of Cultural Humility on the Supervisory Working Alliance: A Mediation Model$4,650.00
2023Evans, KendraENG & SCIToxicological Analyses of Biological Samples Using Liquid
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
$11,000.00
2023Frost, KelliCHPUsing an educational electronic health record to facilitate
interprofessional shared learning among health care students
$5,560.00
2023Gifford, SaraCHPPerhaps we have been convergent all along: Can expanded convergence education improve collaborative competencies?$1,949.00
2023Ige, AbiCABUnderstanding Market Exchange in the Nigerian Parallel Market for
Foreign Currency
$5,690.00
2023Kaur, VarinderCLAERole of emotional dysregulation in influencing the relationship between trauma and substance use$6,735.00
2023Latif, MawraENG & SCIQuantifying Electrochemical Parameters for Anti-Cancer Ferrocene
Hybrids and their Interactions with DNA Assisted by Machine Learning
$17,189.00
2023Livezey , MaraENG & SCIUnderstanding Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Death$9,653.00
2023Mihelich, KstenCHPAssessing the Impact of Two Food Delivery Modalities in a Fruit and Vegetable Food Insecurity Program on Healthy Eating Self-efficacy within a Vulnerable Population.$11,280.00
2023Pasqualina, StephenCLAEMechanical Failure: Modernism, Technology, and the Mediation of History$3,450.00
2023Provost , ThomasSCADAtlas: Energy, Environment, Ecology$5,640.00
2023Qian, MiaoCLAEChildren’s Implicit Racial Attitudes: Evidence from An Online
Platform
$11,700.00
2023Razmus, IvyCHPTaking itto the streets IRB-#22-23-29 Feet: Taking it to the
Streets
$4,350.00
2023Robinson-Dunn, DianeCLAEThe disappeared Latvian culture of the Smiltene region, 1870-1941$3,320.00
2023Scott, SaridaSCADCommunity Development Research Studio$3,500.00
2022Baker, StokesENG & SCIConservation Studies in Belize$5,919.31
2022Belager, RachelleENG & SCIInvestigating Apoptosis and Cell Regeneration in the Hepatopancreas Post-Atrazine Exposure$16,208.72
2022Dukhan, NihadENG & SCIDeploying High-Conductivity Nanofluids for Cooling Car Radiators$16,023.17
2022Dutta, UtpalENG & SCITraffic Death Experiences During COVID-19 (2020): Cause and Effect$8,886.00
2022Eshelman, LeeCLAEPosttraumatic Stress Disorder and Nonverbal Behaviors$9,538.00
2022Finkel, JonathanENG & SCIIdentifying the Function of Unknown Genes in Bacterial Viruses$6,911.00
2022Finkenbine, RoyCLAEThe Reparationists: Advocates of Atonement for Slavery in Early America, A Documentary History$6,000.00
2022Greene, HaroldCLAEEye Movement and Electrophysiology Measures of Visual Information Processing: Saccad-Programming Study$800.00
2022Kagey, JacobENG & SCIWhole-genome sequencing of Drosophila mutants$7,093.00
2022Lanigan, KatherineENG & SCIHeavy Metals Extraction from Water by Nanoparticles Adsorption$4,709.09
2022Latif, MarwaENG & SCIEmploying the Use of Electrochemical Tools in Support of Curriculum-Based Research Approach to Teaching for Ferrocenes Anti-Cancer Drug Design$11,220.00
2022Livezey, MaraENG & SCIUncovering the Link Between the Anticipatory UPR, Autophagy, and Necrotic Cell Death$3,760.00
2022Nafea, MohamedENG & SCIImproving Privacy Guarantees in Federated Learning Systems via Exploiting the Characteristics of the Wireless Channels Along with User Sampling and Data Shuffling$11,100.00
2022Najor, NicoleENG & SCIUncovering Genes of Unknown Function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae$14,534.19
2022Qian, MiaoCLAEDeveloping an Online Platform to Uncover Children’s Hidden Minds$11,600.00
2022Rihana, AlexARCHCharacterization of Construction Materials for Ghadames City$6,600.00
2022Roche, JasonCLAEDocumentary Film: Hamtramck Stadium and the Detroit Stars$7,050.00
2022Torres, PatriciaCBAPleasure and Plain: The Role of Anticipatory Pleasure on Time of Consumption and Pain of Payment$8,958.00
2021Akhoirshida, MohammedENG & SCIPerformance Analysis of G5 Wireless Requency Signals in Autonomous Vehicles and V2X Networks$13,189.00
2021DeVoy, PatCHPCollege of Health Professions Diversity, Inclusion and Community Innovation An Exploration of the Current Diversity and Inclusion Awareness of CHP Faculty, Staff and Students$6,430.00
2021Dowgwillo, EmilyCLAEPersonality, Mental Health, and Relationships Study$7,830.00
2021Dukhan, NihadENG & SCIBringing Nano Technology to UDM via Investigating Nanofluids Heat Transfer$4,606.00
2021Dutta, UtpalENG & SCIAnalysis of Traffic crash data using clustering approach$9,900.00
2021Freeman-Hildreth, YolondaCHPSingled Out: Influence of Implicit Bias on Underrepresented Minority Retention$13,000.00
2021Fuchs, WladekARCHGeometric Framework and Design Methodology in Rome Architecture$7,850.00
2021Heidgerken, TaddARCHPublic-Private Development Practices of Public Space$15,074.00
2021Hibbard, ToddCLAETheology of the Book of Isaiah$3,000.00
2021Hill, HeatherCLAEA Medieval Paradigm for Deconstructing Today’s “Nasty” Women$3,000.00
2021Ige, AbiodunCBAHow do Foreign Currency Inflows Impact Entrepreneurial Activities: A Configuration Approach$2,250.00
2021Lanigan-Rihana, KatherineENG & SCIHeavy Metals Extraction from Water by Nanoparticles Adsorption$13,105.00
2021Leach, JamesENG & SCIWhere Do We Stand? A Status Report on Climate Change Education in Architectural Curricula inthe United States$4,861.00
2021Livezey, MaraENG & SCIUsing Computational Tools to Identify Putative Binding Sites of a Small-molecule Anti-cancer Drug$4,049.00
2021Maleki, MinaENG & SCIReal-time Anomaly Detection in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs)
Using Machine Learning Approaches
$12,600.00
2021Robinson-Dunn, DianeCLAEThe Working Muslim Mission’s Effort to Define Muslim Womanhood and Femininity During WWI Periods$3,000.00
2021Roche, JasonCLAEDocumentary Film: Hamtramck Stadium and the Detroit Stars$17,429.00
2021VanderSloot, BenjaminENG & SCISingled Out: Influence of Implicit Bias on Underrepresented Minority Retention$7,480.00
2021Vaughn-Deneen, TanyaCHPExplore the Role of Art as a Method of Enhancing Spiritual Development
of Undergraduate Nursing Students in the Mercy & Jesuit Traditions
$1,343.00
2020Baker, StokesENG & SCIAssembling and Annotating Two Rhizobium Genomes that Inhabit Giant Duckweed$2,600.00
2020Belanger, RachelleENG & SCIAn investigation of neuron regeneration in the lateral antennules of crayfish (Faxonius virilis) post atrazine exposure.$10,528.00
2020Bennett-Garraway, JocelynCLAEASCA National Model Student Training Manua$4,800.00
2020Boats, JefferyENG & SCIPansophy Computation for Graph Classes Used In Parallel Processing and Interconnection Networks$4,620.00
2020Dukhan, NihadENG & SCIBringing Nano Technology to UDM via Investigating Nanofluids Heat Transfer$5,415.00
2020Eshelman, LeeCLAEIntersections of Sexual Victimization and Racism-Related Stress on Mental Health and Resilience Among Black Women$5,250.00
2020Fanaei, MohammadENG & SCIReal-Time Object Classification and Localization for Automated Driving Systems Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks$14,272.00
2020Finkel, JonathanENG & SCINo Title$7,503.00
2020Finkenbine, RoyCLAEFugitive Slaves in Indian County: What It All Means$2,800.00
2020Friedrich & Livezey, Klaus & MaraENG & SCIAmino acid-derived ligands for platinum drugs$7,349.00
2020Heidgerken, TaddARCHEmerging Public Infrastructure Survey$2,230.00
2020Kenno-Pinkerton , StaciCBAShow me the money! Funding at Post-Secondary Institutions$6,830.00
2020Kondili, ElvitaCLAECulture and Social Capital as Protective Factors of Refugee Mental Health$6,195.00
2020Lanigan, KatherineENG & SCIPhotocatalytic Oxidation of Metal-EDTA Complexes Adsorbed onto Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene Oxide$4,389.00
2020Livezey, MaraENG & SCIUncovering the Link Between the$8,995.00
2020Najor, NicoleENG & SCIDetermining the role of Cullin3 in skin differentiation and homeostasis$13,127.00
2020Neslon, KristinARCHPrecedent and Performance (Exhibition + Research Project)$7,080.00
2020O’Leary, CearaARCHDistrict 2 GIS Development Project$5,950.00
2020Rayess, NassifENG & SCICharacterization of Construction Materials for Ghadames City$10,650.00
2020Razmus, IvyCHPPediatric Pressure Points$6,900.00
2020Rihana-Abdallah, AlexaENG & SCICharacterization of Construction Materials for Ghadames City$3,600.00
2020Robinson-Dunn , DianeCLAENavigating the network of the British Empire during WW1$2,800.00
2020Stevens, JonathanENG & SCIQuantum computational chemistry investigation of mechanisms of sulfonated PEEK membranes with OH radicals in fuel cells$2,400.00
2020Weatherston, RosemaryCLAEDeveloping Narrative Medicine Programming in Clinical Practices and Institutional Curriculums: A Preliminary Study$1,200.00
2020Wodwaski, NadineCHPKnowledge and Perceptions of Practicing Nurses Regarding Intact Care: A Quantitative Study$1,425.00