Associate Professor of Geology & Geophysics Suniti Karunatillake (LSU College of Science) will lead a team to develop a mission ("GANGOTRI") to Mars to investigate the geology and habitability of Martian glaciers. Alignment with NASA objectives places a Mars mission within LSU’s reach, following Assistant Professor of Physics Jeff Chancellor’s Tiger Eye 1 lunar payload. LSU’s 17-member team spans four NASA centers, a national lab, a European space center and two space technology companies. Collaborators on the project include Juan Lorenzo, associate professor of geology & geophysics (LSU College of Science), Peter Doran, professor of geology & geophysics (LSU College of Science), Maheshi Dassanayake, associate professor of biological sciences (LSU College of Science), Kory Konsoer, associate professor of geography & anthropology (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), and Ali Kazemian, associate professor of construction management (LSU College of Engineering). Agriculture, Bio, Defense

 
Professor of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Dimitris Nikitopoulos (LSU College of Engineering) will lead a team to establish an engineering or science and technology research center focused on the structural integrity of industrial hardware and materials (metals, alloys and fiber-reinforced polymer composites) to monitor, assess, predict and prevent their degradation or failure. The work has clear and critical applications in the ongoing energy transition. Collaborators on the project include John Pojman, professor of chemistry (LSU College of Science), Joytsna Sharma, assistant professor of petroleum engineering (LSU College of Engineering), Michael Khonsari, professor of mechanical engineering (LSU College of Engineering), Phil Sprunger, professor of physics & astronomy (LSU College of Science), and Robert Lipton, professor of mathematics (LSU College of Science). Agriculture, Defense, Energy

Associate Professor of Petroleum Engineering Ipsita Gupta (LSU College of Engineering) will lead a team to investigate biogeochemical interactions to identify where and how hydrogen, a low-carbon alternative to oil and gas, may be stored securely in Louisiana’s subsurface formations. Collaborator on the project is Crystal Johnson, associate professor of environmental sciences (LSU College of Coast & Environment). Coast, Energy 
 
Associate Professor of Pathobiological Sciences Weishan Huang (LSU School of Veterinary Medicine) will lead a team to streamline the development of synthetic, high-affinity molecular binders for rapid diagnosis and therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases. Collaborators on the project include Jian Xu, associate professor of electrical engineering & computer science (LSU College of Engineering) and Gianluca Veggiani, assistant professor of biotechnology & molecular medicine (LSU School of Veterinary Medicine). Bio, Defense 
 
Professor of Environmental Sciences Supratik Mukhopadhyay (LSU College of Coast & Environment) will lead a team to create an AI-guided framework for decoding the chemical and microbial indicators of permafrost degradation due to climate change. Collaborators on this project include Aixin Hou, professor of environmental science (LSU College of Coast & Environment), Manas Gartia, associate professor of environmental science (LSU College of Coast & Environment), Kevin Armbrust, professor of environmental science (LSU College of Coast & Environment), and Jacob Berkowitz, adjunct professor oceanographer (LSU College of Coast & Environment, US Army Corps of Engineers). Bio, Coast, Defense, Energy
 
Professor of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Marcio de Queiroz (LSU College of Engineering) will lead a team to investigate if a non-invasive, feedback-modulated brain stimulation system can enhance human attention to critical tasks. The effort will serve as a catalyst for developing a neuromodulation research initiative to enhance human functioning in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake. Collaborators on the project include Susan Duncan, associate professor of communication sciences & disorders (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), Heather Lucas, assistant professor of psychology (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), Karim Johari, assistant professor of communication sciences & disorders (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), and Arend Van Gemmert, professor of kinesiology (LSU College of Human Sciences & Education. Bio, Defense 
 
Professor of Construction Management Yimin Zhu (LSU College of Engineering) will lead a team to decode the causal relationship between human health and well-being on one side and stressors and relaxers in built environments on the other to improve planning, design, construction and operation of engineered space. Collaborators on the project include Jafari Amirhosein, assistant professor of construction management (LSU College of Engineering), Melissa Beck, professor of psychology (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), Supratik Mukhopadhyay, professor of environmental sciences (LSU College of Coast & Environment), and Adrienne Katner, associate professor of environmental & occupational health (LSU Health School of Public Health). Bio, Coast, Energy

Assistant Professor of Architecture Fabio Capra-Ribeiro (LSU College of Art + Design) will lead a team to create a transdisciplinary collaborative center for research and design, the Caribbean Spatial Justice Lab, to connect scholars and communities working to advance coastal protection and restoration as well as sustainable energy and food production. Collaborators on the project include Irene Brisson, assistant professor of architecture (LSU College of Art + Design), Annica Streete, assistant professor of architecture (LSU College of Art + Design), Traci Birch, assistant professor of architecture (LSU College of Art + Design), Amirhosein Jafari, assistant professor of construction management (LSU College of Engineering), and Helen Regis, associate professor of geography & anthropology (LSU College of Humanities & Social Science).  Agriculture, Coast, Energy
 
Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders Eileen Haebig (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will lead a team to elucidate the relationship between motor and language abilities by examining verb processing—a category of words that is both highly associated with motor actions and highly predictive of broader language development—in autistic children. Collaborators on the project include Christopher Cox, assistant professor of psychology (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences) and Nicholas Fears, assistant professor of kinesiology (LSU College of Human Sciences & Education). Bio
 
Professor of English Benjamin Kahan (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will lead a team to establish the SEC’s first Second Book Institute to facilitate the advancement and promotion of associate professors in book-centered disciplines, where delayed promotion to full professor disproportionately affects women and racial minorities. Collaborators on this project include James Spencer, vice provost and dean and professor of architecture (LSU College of Art + Design), Jas Sullivan, professor of political science (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), Robert Mann, professor of journalism (LSU Manship School of Mass Communication), Suzanne Marchand, professor of history (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), and Pallavi Rastogi, professor of English (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences).
 
Professor of Chemistry Mario Rivera (LSU College of Science) will lead a team to establish a platform for antibiotic discovery at LSU that takes advantage of core research facilities on campus and springboards from Rivera’s previous discovery of inhibitors that kill biofilm bacteria tolerant to commercial antibiotics. Collaborator on this project is Chen Chen, assistant professor of biological sciences (LSU College of Science). Bio
 
Professor of Renewable Natural Resources Terrence Tiersch (LSU College of Agriculture) will lead a team to optimize high-throughput, concentrated algae cryopreservation as algae increasingly are used as feedstocks for bioproducts, such as bioactive molecules, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, bioplastics, food, feed, fuels and more. Collaborators of this project include Maria Teresa Gutierrez-Wing, assistant research professor of renewable natural resources (LSU College of Agriculture) and Yue Liu, assistant professor of renewable natural resources (LSU College of Agriculture). Agriculture, Bio, Energy
 
Professor of English Michelle Zerba (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will lead a team to investigate the distinctive allure of mystery, and why people are so attracted to it. The Mystery Project Collaborative seeks to explore the meaning of mystery, how it has driven the human quest for knowledge and why it both enables and encumbers our curiosity about the world. Collaborator on this project is Chris Barrett, associate professor of English (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences). Bio, Defense

Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Kunlun Ding (LSU College of Engineering) will develop intermetallic catalysts for tandem conversion of natural gas and carbon dioxide. Energy
 
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Noemie Elgrishi (LSU College of Science) will develop molecular sponges that can remove so-called “forever chemicals” from drinking water and the environment. Bio, Coast
 
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Nicholas Fears (LSU College of Human Sciences & Education) will improve the identification of motor skill delays in autistic children; there are 25,000 autistic children in Louisiana. Bio 
 
Professor of Kinesiology Alex Garn (LSU College of Human Sciences & Education) will help childbearing women use three-dimensional optical scanning technology to reduce postpartum weight retention as part of an eight-week pilot program. Bio
 
Professor of Biological Sciences Craig Hart (LSU College of Science) will characterize direct promoter activation by the chromatin domain insulator protein BEAF in fruit flies. Bio
 
Associate Professor of Geology & Geophysics Achim Herrmann (LSU College of Science) will learn from leading European experts on selenium isotope geochemistry how to measure selenium at low concentrations in the environment in Louisiana. Selenium is an essential trace element for all living organisms, but quickly becomes toxic at higher concentrations. Agriculture, Coast, Energy
 
Assistant Professor of Biological & Agricultural Engineering Kevin Hoffseth  (LSU College of Engineering) will move beyond quantitative measurements of limb regeneration to predict the structural quality and function of regenerated bone using new computational tools. Bio 
 
Assistant Professor of Geography & Anthropology Huanping Huang (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will characterize how the wind speed decays of landfalling hurricanes have evolved over time to help with disaster preparedness and planning. Coast 
 
Professor of Art Kelli Kelley (LSU College of Art + Design) will pursue a visual art project on emptiness, or nothingness, as a contemplation on the connections and interdependence of all beings and things during a time of isolation, divisiveness and impending demise of the natural world. Coast
 
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Yong Lee (LSU College of Science) will test if Salmonella-delivered fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase or expressed PFKFB3-shRNA can decrease fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels, and thus rapid cell cycle progression, in two human cancer cell lines. Bio
 
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Karen Maruska (LSU College of Science) will study the neural and molecular mechanisms of social defeat, or bullying, in cichlid fish to learn how thyrotropin-releasing hormone signaling can help determine whether individuals respond with resilience or susceptibility. The work could lead to new, targeted therapeutics for stress-related disorders, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, in humans. Bio
 
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Xiangyu Meng (LSU College of Engineering) will optimize electric vehicle platooning (driving a group of vehicles together at the same velocity) by changing fleet formations (traditionally in fixed positions) to maximize battery health, save energy and reduce congestion and accidents. Energy
 
Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Yen-Fang Su (LSU College of Engineering) will develop a remote sensing system for roads to assess the real-time condition (strain, stiffness, temperature and moisture) of concrete pavement to proactively provide maintenance plans. Coast, Defense
 
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Gregory Thom (LSU College of Science) will study how birds that parasitize army-ants can help us understand the evolutionary and genomic mechanisms behind species interactions. Bio, Coast
 
Associate Professor of Geography & Anthropology Jill Trepanier (LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will establish 10 weather stations and organize a workshop with K-12 environmental science students and teachers to identify best practices for learning about extreme weather and climate science. Coast, Defense 
 
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Anastasios Vourekas (LSU College of Science) will discover new ways to target mRNA through tRNA-derived small RNAs, or tRNA fragments, which play important regulatory roles in gene expression in human cells. The work could help advance our understanding of basic mechanisms of cellular response to stress and the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Bio
 
Associate Professor of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Ying Wang (LSU College of Engineering) will develop greener energy storage technologies in the form of biodegradable hydrogel electrolytes for metal-free ammonium-ion batteries with high performance and reduced cost compared to lithium-ion batteries. Energy
 
Associate Professor of Geology & Geophysics Carol Wilson (LSU College of Science) will receive funds to service and maintain an existing array of Rod Surface Elevation Tables with Marker Horizons (RSET-MH) that measure relative sea-level rise in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta, one of the most vulnerable and densely populated deltas in the world, to develop stronger resilience strategies for deltas worldwide. Coast
 
Assistant Professor of Textiles, Apparel Design & Merchandising Sibei Xia (LSU College of Agriculture) will develop body-tracking wearable technology for babies. Smart clothing, such as knitted hats made with thermochromic yarns that change color based on temperature, can help monitor babies’ health without a need for electricity. Bio 
 
Professor of Renewable Natural Resources Yi-jun Xu (College of Agriculture) will study the direct human input of carbon to the Mississippi River from wastewater treatment plants. Coast