Community Flood Risk Assessment from Rising/Surging Seas Project
Kevin Kupietz, Elizabeth City State University
Globally 634 million people, 10% of the world's population, live in coastal areas less than 10 meters above sea level. According to 2010 census data, 123 million people, 39% of the United States population, live in coastal counties with an estimated increase to this number by 8% in the 2020 census. As natural disasters have been seen to increase in frequency and severity in the past five years coupled with expected sea rises from climate change it is important that anyone involved with the safety and resiliency planning of their organization/community have an understanding of how to scientifically assess risk from flooding in order to mitigate and recover from the effects. This project allows students the ability to develop skills to utilize computer modeling systems and to apply the data to real world communities in examining risk to structures as well as different groups in the community.

Fall 2020 HLTH 369 Principles of Nutrition CURE
Jennifer Brown, Elizabeth City State University
Prediabetes is a common health problem, afflicting an estimated 88 million (34.5%) of US populations (CDC, 2020). Many individuals experience disease progression, and are diagnosed with diabetes (34.2 million, 10.5% of US, CDC, 2020). In total, an estimated 45% percent of US populations is affected, making complications management, lifestyle interventions, and prevention of this disease pathway a major point of concern. Neuropathy is an associated, but often silent complication that comes in many forms, potentially affecting multiple systems in the body. Eyes, kidneys, touch perception, balance and gut metabolism are a few common, and serious issues that frequently arise simultaneously with disease onset. Because of the serious and silent nature of the onset of these disease pathways, early detection is key in order to allow the opportunity for lifestyle intervention practices. Previous research indicates higher incidence rates of prediabetes, diabetes and neuropathy in rural areas, with socioeconomic factors playing a role in the development of the disease. The purpose of this research is to determine the prevalence of prediabetes/diabetes and neurpathic symptoms in healthy weight and obese individuals, active and inactive individuals at ECSU, in Elizabeth City and in the Southeast/MidAtlantic region.

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience for Aviation students
Chandra Asthana, Elizabeth City State University
In many situations, big jet airplanes encounter runway excursions upon landing that lead to accidents. These accidents have been fetal at times. This research is aimed at identifying the causes for runway excursions and making a research proposal towards finding a solution. The solution may be in terms of pilot training, refined regulations, establishing need for improved weather monitoring system, improved level of communication between control tower and pilot, development of advanced system for the aircraft etc.

Soil health analysis at the NC A&T Student farm
Arnab Bhowmik, North Carolina A & T State University
Soil health is the capacity of soil to not only be productive but maintain ecological services. The NC A&T student farm is an excellent opportunity for students to have hands-on experience for soil science related experiential learning. This project will allow the students to develop skills to sample, test, analyse and interpret soil properties as a function of different soil mangement strategies

Soil microbiome - Nematode - Plant interactions.
FESEHA ABEBE-AKELE, Elizabeth City State University
Nematodes graze/forage on bacteria, fungi, and plant tissue. Determining the species abundance of nematodes in soil and mapping their interactions with microorganisms and plants is important to diagnose soil fertility and potential of crop damage from plant parasitic nematodes. Sampling different types of soil and characterizing the microbial and nematode species will allow students to learn the ecological as well as molecular aspects of research in soil-bacteria-nematode and plant interactions.

Secondary Data Analysis to Explore Health Equity in a Psychological Framework
Anna Lee, North Carolina A & T State University
This class will provide students with the opportunity to conduct a research project to examine psycho-social factors related to health equity in North Carolina communities. Students will work in small groups to pose a novel question, analyze data using a publicly available dataset. and report findings. Over arching course goals are to write a complete APA formatted research report, to conduct a secondary data analysis, and to present findings.

Understanding Noncovalent Interactions and Binding through PRRSM
Amanda Hargrove, Duke University
This CURE was designed to increase instruction on noncovalent interactions and intermolecular forces, provide laboratory experiences in biochemistry and chemical biology, and deliver a more consistent chemistry research experience to undergraduates at Duke University while staying within the existing curriculum. First, the concept of noncovalent interactions is visualized in an applied setting by examining 3D structures of small molecule:RNA interactions through a portable virtual reality (VR) environment. Next, using knowledge gained in the Hargrove lab regarding small molecule:RNA interactions along with the literature examples, teams of students evaluate known small molecule:RNA interactions, pose original scientific questions, and design a hypothesis-driven experiment that can be readily tested with commercially available materials using a standard fluorimeter or plate reader. These experiments directly contribute to research that examines patterns in the recognition of RNA structure by small molecules, and the students are able to assess their contribution to this ongoing interdisciplinary project.

A CURE Project for STEM Education at HBCU - Surface Pattern Design for Chemical Mechanical Polishing Pad
ZHICHAO LI, North Carolina A & T State University
Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is widespread employed in many manufacturing industries such as semiconductor and aerospace. The objective of the present CURE project is to introduce the specific advanced manufacturing process to sophomore and junior students at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. The CURE course will be combined and implemented through the course of ISEN324 (Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture). Students in this CURE course will experience a basic training on how to conduct engineering research and development activities in manufacturing industry, develop skills in engineering design and precision manufacturing, and obtain capabilities in applying STEM knowledge to analyze and resolve engineering problems in real industry through modeling, simulation and optimization research steps.

Support for medically vulnerable rural communities amidst COVID-19
Andre Stevenson, Elizabeth City State University
Individuals living with preexisting conditions often depend on community-based, supportive services to maintain their quality of life. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, access to these services has been disrupted or discontinued for many clients, due to mitigation efforts that aim to stem the spread of the virus. Agency closures and reduced service capacity, have an especially detrimental impact on rural communities, where fewer alternative mechanisms of institutional support and care exist. Students will assist with administering surveys to clients in order to better understand their experiences in areas including mental health, household needs, exposure to COVID-19, working conditions, and health management.

Introducing hands on concepts of Mammalian Cell Culture and in vitro drug studies in Undergraduate course shells.
HIRENDRA BANERJEE, Elizabeth City State University
The process of learning is both visual and auditory and in the STEM fields, hands on and practicums enhances student learning, retention and understanding of the complex scientific concepts than just memorizing facts from class room lectures. Thus we plan to implement short hands on research modules in our Cell Biology and Human Physiology courses involving projects teaching students with mammalian cell culture techniques and in vitro drug testing skills. Students will learn to culture mammalian cancer cell lines with culture mediums and maintain the cultures in carbon dioxide incubators at ideal temperature, they will then treat them with novel anti cancer compounds to test the efficacy of these drugs and the IC50 doses(dose at which 50% cells dies).The data obtained will be statistically analyzed and results reviewed to study whether it aligns with the hypothesis and specific aims; students will then present their findings in a small research paper and short seminars in class along with their peers, they will be graded according to a rubric that will be provided to them in the beginning of the research experience process. Thus this process will align with CURE objectives of REU incorporation in undergraduate courses.