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.

Effects of Antimalarial Drugs (Artemisinin class) on Prostate Cancer Cells.
Dolapo Adedeji, Elizabeth City State University
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men and the most non-skin cancer. It is a low-growing tumor occurring in older men and the most common type of non-skin cancer. Students will gain understanding in mammalian cell culturing, cell growth maintenance, cell seeding and be able to determine the concentration at which each drug concentration inhibit cell proliferation.

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.

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.

Research in Agriculture
Chantel Simpson, North Carolina A & T State University; Chastity Warren English, North Carolina A & T State University
Explores research methods in agriculture including observational, correlational, survey and experimental methods. Uses the scientific method in the design, execution, analysis, and communication of agricultural investigations. Discusses the ethics of research, and evaluation methods. Students will be offered the opportunity to conduct agricultural studies using a variety of methods.

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.

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.

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.

CURE: Overcoming seed dormancy in Cleome, a potential C4 model plant
Margaret Young, Elizabeth City State University

Integration of a nanoparticles-based biosensing assay into a capillary column
Swarnapali Indrasekara, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
In this CURE project, junior and senior level chemistry students will be introduced to nanochemistry and its application in interdisciplinary research. Students will learn the use of chemistry concepts they have already learnt and also new spectroscopy and physical chemistry concepts. They will use that knowledge to develop an optical biosensor using nanoparticles in a capillary column as a potential point-of-care assay format.