Recent Grants and Contracts

Renu Balyan, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Computer & Information Sciences
Tin Chi Solomon Chak, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences 
Mohamed Khalefa, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Computer & Information Sciences
Kinning Poon, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Shebuti Rayana, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Computer & Information Sciences
Christos Noutsos, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

• $299,498 from the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering to expand the availability of research opportunities and experience for students at Old Westbury to train next-generation professionals in the fields of computer science and bioinformatics and serve the large population of underrepresented minority students who attend the College.  

Erik Benau, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Lorenz Neuwirth, Assistant Professor of Psychology

• $70,000 for a Major Research Instrumentation program grant from the National Science Foundation to acquire instrumentation to support researchers in the Psychology Department, including the Mental Health Counseling program, and the Neuroscience Research Institute to advance research both individually and collaboratively and to integrate new instrumentation into undergraduate and graduate applied learning opportunities for teaching brain assessment and imaging techniques.  

Ashok Basawapatna, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Computer & Information Sciences
Laura Chipley, Assistant Professor of American Studies/Media & Communications
Samara Smith, Associate Professor of American Studies/Media & Communications

• $30,000 from the National Endowment of the Humanities to develop a design plan for "Virtual Aquapolis," an interactive virtual reality documentary about the history of New York Harbor and the interrelationship between the harbor’s ecosystem and the city above.

Michael Kavic, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics Department

• $189,233 from the National Science Foundation for "Using a Long Wavelength Telescope to research burst of radio waves produced by the merger of two neutron stars."

Cris Notaro, Assistant Dean, School of Arts and Sciences

• $1,300,000 from the U.S. Department of Education through the TRIO Student Support Services program for personalized support and intervention for participants selected for the program, Supports will include academic, financial, personal and career counseling.

Llana Barber, Associate Professor of American Studies/Media & Communications 

• A $6,000 Franklin Research Grant from the American Philosophical Society for “No Refuge from Empire: Haitian Migration, Militarized Exclusion, and the Formation of the Nativist State,”  research into the militarized exclusion of Haitian migrants from the United States, Bahamas, and Dominican Republic during the time period between 1970 to 1995.

Bright Emenike, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Physics Department

• $70,000 from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for "Experimental Studies of the Interactions Between Anions and Aromatic Hydrocarbons as a Function of the Local Environment."

Barbara Hillery, Associate Provost
Cris Notaro, Assistant Dean, School of Arts and Sciences

• $2,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Education through the Title III: Strengthening Institutions grant program for peer tutoring, proactive advising, support for the faculty-focused Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and an expansion of initiatives developed at the College to improve sophomore retention. 

Dr. Lorenz S. Neuwirth, Assistant Professor of Psychology  

• $437,061 from the National Institute of Mental Health for "Neurobiological mechanisms of Major Depression Disorders (MDD)," a three-year study of an Effort-Based Reward animal model of MDD. This work is being done via the SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute at SUNY Old Westbury.

Denton Watson, Associate Professor of American Studies/Media & Communications 

• $100,000  from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for “Project Modern African American Freedom Struggle Digital Publishing Cooperative,” which is improving the online presentation and storage of Dr. Watson's Clarence Mitchell, Jr. Papers Project. 

School of Education
$500,000 over five years as a partner to grantee Western Suffolk BOCES for the Teacher Diversity Pipeline Program, to address the growing needs of economically disadvantaged students, English language learners and minority populations served by creating pathways for Teacher Assistants and Teacher Aides in the Wyandanch, Amityville, Copiague, Baldwin, Three Village  Huntington, and South Huntington school districts to achieve teacher certification.

Stephanie Schneider, Assistant Professor
Jeanne Shimizu, Assistant Professor
Blidi Stemn, Assistant Professor

In excess of $1.6 million over five years to the School of Education via a Teacher Opportunity Corps II grant to increase the participation and retention of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers.