Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
Brian Nelms - Fisk University
Co-Author(s): Arnold Burger, Steven Damo, Steven Morgan, and Qingxia Li, Fisk University
Fisk University has established the multidisciplinary CREST Center for Biological Signatures and Sensing (BioSS). The CREST BioSS Center brings together research teams on three different projects around the overarching theme of novel biosensors to address biological testing needs. All three projects, although approached from the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics, include expertise from multiple disciplines and incorporate personnel also from mathematics and computer science. Subprojects include in vivo sensing by dopamine neurons (and other neurons) in C. elegans, development of a manganese sensor and characterization of the role of manganese in cellular processes, and development of novel radiation sensors for biological applications.
In addition to our research impact, Integral aspects of this Center include training and professional skills development activities for graduate student trainees in the Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program, postdocs, and undergraduate students at Fisk and a partnering community college, with a goal of engaging students from groups that are underrepresented in research careers, and developing and preparing a diverse workforce and the next generation of scientific leaders.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HRD-1547757
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,