The Science of Tomorrow
Society significantly benefits from scientific research, but it wouldn’t be possible without generous contributions from public and private sources.
This page is a testament to that support. With it, Northeastern’s College of Science has cultivated a dynamic landscape of research activity. Through a culture that emphasizes entrepreneurship, our exceptional faculty, staff, and student researchers are able to maximize the impact of their work.
The grants listed below are a preview of the science and scientists of tomorrow, who probe single cells, the outer limit of particle physics, and everything in between.
Laurel Gabard-Durnam
The goals of this award are first to design and validate a scalable, affordable hardware-software package that reliably measures brain function via EEG in babies over the first two years of life. Second, in multi-country studies using this EEG system, we will establish which measures of early brain function track healthy developmental changes associated with early cognitive and language development across contexts and are sensitive to pre- and postnatal risk factors for brain development. Finally, we will establish which EEG measures of brain function are robust enough to serve as biomarkers to evaluate clinical intervention trial efficacy in early life.
Sam Munoz
Riverine flooding is a perennial hazard in the heavily populated Northeastern United States, and improving near- and long-term forecasts of flooding in this region is of critical importance for regional water resource management, infrastructure planning, and fisheries. In this project, we will harness advances in climate reanalysis and modeling to (i) identify the ocean-atmosphere patterns that generate flooding in New England and (ii) evaluate the contribution of greenhouse forcing on flood-generating mechanisms in this region.
Gabor Lippner
Graph theory - the mathematical study of networks has originally developed as a part of discrete mathematics and combinatorics. This has changed significantly in the past 20 years following discoveries of connections to Linear Algebra and later to Geometry and even to Real Analysis. The goal of this project is to find new applications to, as well as expand the scope of, these connections.
Michele Di Pierro
The aim of the project is to gain mechanistic understanding of the relationships among non-coding genomic variation, phenotype, and disease. To achieve this aim, researchers will combine data from DNA-DNA proximity ligation assays and multiple genome alignments to extract coevolutionary information about DNA elements and to infer the network of functional interactions among them.
Fabian Ruehle
String theory has evolved into one of the most complex theories devised by mankind to date. Its goal is to describe our Universe from the smallest to the largest scales. In my research proposal, I suggest to use latest advances in mathematics and artificial intelligence to uncover answers to fundamental questions hidden within this theory.
Pran Nath
This research will investigate the laws of physics at short length and time scales not yet understood using symmetry principles and mathematical and machine learning tools. Analyses of data expected from the Large Hadron Collider, in Geneva, Switzerland to detect possible evidence of strings and new physics will be undertaken.
Clemens Bauer Hoss
Auditory hallucinations are one of the five cardinal symptoms of schizophrenia and one of the most distressing. Almost a third of patients experiencing auditory hallucinations are not responsive to gold-standard pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment. We have pioneered a new non-invasive treatment candidate, computational neuroscience-based approach, also known as network-based real-time functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Neurofeedback that is a well-tolerated and effective approach for reducing the severity and frequency of auditory hallucinations. However, because this technique currently requires fMRI to deliver neurofeedback, which unfortunately is an expensive procedure involving a complex setup and participant burden, this NIH award will help develop novel, non-invasive, personalized, and scalable treatments that will improve outcomes and reduce relapse rates among schizophrenia patients with treatment resistant auditory hallucinations.
Jennifer Bowen
Salt marshes provide an important line of defense against nutrient pollution by intercepting watershed nitrogen before it enters estuaries. This nitrogen can enhance the growth of marsh plants, however some forms of nitrogen can also be used by microbes, who use it to decompose organic matter in low-oxygen sediments. Understanding which of these two outcomes is most likely to occur is important because, if marsh plants take up that nitrogen and grow more robustly, this will increase salt marsh resilience to sea-level rise. On the other hand, if microbes use that nitrogen for respiration, it could accelerate loss of organic matter, thereby decreasing resilience. This project combines field and greenhouse experiments to tease apart the relative importance of different N forms on the plant and microbial communities that ultimately dictate salt marsh resilience.
Max Bi
To answer this question, Dapeng “Max” Bi (COS-Physics) has been awarded a collaborative HFSP grant with Friedhelm Serwane (LMU Munich, Germany) and Tamal Das (Tata Institute for Fundamental Research Hyderabad, India). Together, the team will develop a biomechanical understanding of the epidermis, which is critical for preventing and curing numerous skin defects, painful blistering, and skin cancers.
The International Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) organization supports novel, innovative and interdisciplinary basic research focused on the complex mechanisms of living organisms. The award is highly competitive, and this year only four percent of the applicants were selected for funding.
Sara Constantino
Addressing collective action problems such as climate change requires individuals to engage in a host of coordinated behaviors to effect widespread systemic changes. Yet, while most people are concerned about climate change, they systematically underestimate others’ concern, which can inhibit action toward addressing collective challenges. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, this project uses mixed methods to develop and test an integrative framework illuminating drivers of pervasive social misperceptions and pathways for correcting these biases.
Albert-László Barabási
Healthy debate is a cornerstone of scientific progress, but no one really knows when, how, and why these debates in science happen. In our funded research, we will use new computational techniques to automatically identify debates across the entire published scientific literature. We will study these debates to understand the role of disagreement in science and find policies that harness the power of debate to increase the pace of scientific discovery.
Sam Munoz
The degradation and transport of plastics has led to its accumulation across a range of environments, but a key component of the plastic-carbon cycle — namely the transport and storage of microplastics through rivers and floodplains — remains poorly constrained. Understanding where and why plastics accumulate along rivers and floodplains is critical for mitigating and managing plastic pollution because rivers connect plastics production and use upstream to coasts and the open ocean. This project will analyze soil samples to quantify the amount and types microplastics found in different floodplain environments, and relate patterns of plastic accumulation to environmental parameters.
Aron Stubbins
To slow climate change we need to stop burning fossil fuels and to find ways to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When kelp and other macroalgae grow, they store carbon in their biomass, but they also continuously release organic carbon into ocean waters. The current project aims to understand whether this released organic carbon is also stored, not in the seaweeds themselves, but in the deep sea. Understanding what happens to all the carbon seaweeds capture is critical to Running Tide technologies that seek to use macroalgae to remove sufficient carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to help slow or reduce climate change.
David DeSteno
The John Templeton Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to Professor David DeSteno to support his PRX Podcast “How God Works.” The podcast, which brings a scientific eye to examining how and why spiritual practices foster human flourishing, has appeared on Apple’s Top Ten List for science podcasts, and was recognized with honoree status by the Webby Awards in the Science Education category during its first year. The new grant will fund it for 4 more 8-episode seasons and provide funds for several live events to be held in cities across the US.
Mary Jo Ondrechen
This project’s overall goal is to build a knowledge base that will enable the design of enzymes that can catalyze industrial chemical reactions with less energy consumption and fewer unwanted by-products than many of the current conventional processes. Several dozen students, in both the research laboratories and the classroom, will be trained in computational and experimental techniques.
Dacheng Lin
Mark Williams
HIV-1 integrates its genome into infected host cells. Due to the permanence of the integrated genome, it is advantageous to target HIV-1 replication in early stages, before integration. To rationally design new inhibitors of these early replication steps, a detailed molecular understanding is required. This work proposes integrated biochemical, biophysical, and cellular approaches to probe critical steps in early viral replication.
Milen Yakimov
Noncommutative Algebras and Monoidal Triangulated Categories
Jason Guo
This award is to acquire a 600MHz NMR spectrometer primarily for medicinal chemistry applications
Steven Lopez
NSF Early Investigator (CAREER) Workshop Award
Alain Karma
Using Space to Improve Solidification Processes on Earth
Charles Hillman
Enhancing Children’s Cognitive Function and Achievement through Carotenoid Consumption
Reese Bauer
| This money will go towards funding studies that look to improve jury instructions and aim to reform the justice system in the United States. |
Sanjeev Mukerjee
Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Enhanced Cycle Life and Energy Density Performance.
Dagmar Sternad
Predictability in complex object control.
Pete Bex
Assessment and Rehabilitation of Binocular Sensorimotor Disorders.
Samuel Munoz, in collaboration with Sylvia Dee and James Doss-Gollin at Rice
Collaborative Research: Evaluating the Past and Future of Mississippi River Hydroclimatology to Constrain Risk via Integrated Climate Modeling, Observations, and Reconstructions
Meni Manunu
Developing an integrated platform for high accuracy measurements of viral particle count and infectious titer.
Jonathan Khan
The Uses of Diversity: Managing Race and Representation in Law, Politics, and the Biosciences.
Leila Deravi
A Portable, Bio-inspired Platform for Photo-Responsive Sensing and Display
Steven Lopez
CAREER: Multiscale photodynamics simulations in solvated and crystalline environments
Tovah Day
CAREER: Mechanisms of G4 DNA induced genome instability
Tsuguo Aramaki
The GAPS Experiment: A Search for Dark Matter Using Low-Energy Antiparticles
Laurel Gabard-Durnam
KHULA LEAP: a multiscale approach to characterizing developing executive functions
Steven Lopez
Institute for Data Driven Dynamical Design
Gregory Fiete
Designing Strong stability in non-critical and rare-earth-lean-magnetic materials
Bryan Spring
Movement as a vital sign in preterm infants
Heather Brenhouse
Mechanisms driving development of threat sensitivity following early life adversity
Gregory Fiete
Nonequilibrium Control of Magnetism and Topology Through Selective Phonon Excitation
Bryan Spring
Ten multidisciplinary research teams will receive a combined $1,150,000 in funding as part of the inaugural year of Scialog: Advancing BioImaging, a three-year initiative, supported by Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA), the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation (FGCF), that aims to accelerate the development of the next generation of imaging technologies. Bryan Spring, Physics, Northeastern University, has teamed up with Barbara Smith, Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University to develop a unique combination of fiber-optic photoacoustic and multiphoton microscopy in a miniaturized device that facilitates comprehensive, high-resolution volumetric renders of the fallopian tube to precisely locate and to ablate premalignant tumors.
David DeSteno and Lisa Feldman-Barrett
Academic Ideas in the Public Sphere: Teaching Scientists and Philosophers How to Communicate with the Public
Heather Brenhouse
Mechanisms driving the development of threat sensitivity following early life adversity
Dagmar Sternad
Movement as a Vital Sign in Preterm Infants
Steven Lopez
Harnessing the Data Revolution program
Aron Stubbins
EAGER: Collaborative Research: Assessing the contribution of plastics to marine particulate organic carbon
George O’Doherty
De Novo Asymmetric Synthesis of Natural and Unnatural Oligosaccharide Motifs
Carla Mattos
Allosteric effects in the complexes between Ras proteins and Raf
Andrew Feiguin
The many-body problem in the age of quantum machine learning
Eddie Geisinger
Global Circuitry that Conotrols Acinetobacter Resistance and Virulence
Sanjeev Mukerjee
Noble Metal Free Low Temperature Electrolyzer for Hydrogen Generation
Sanjeev Mukerjee
Durable MEA’s for Heavy Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks
Sam Scarpino
COVID-19 Global health
Carolyn Lee Parsons and Erin Cram
A Novel CRISPR SynBio Tool for Investigating and Reprogramming the Regulation of Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus
Randall Erb and Alain Karma
Structure property processing correlations in freeze-cast biomimetic materials
Dagmar Sternad
Emergent motor timing influences perpetual timing
Kim Lewis
Evaluating darobactins as antimicrobial agents
Mike Pollastri
In partnership with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (R21AI141227), and with collaborators at CSIC (Granada, Spain; R01AI114685) and Kennesaw State University (R01AI124046), we will repurpose human kinase inhibitors as treatments for the parasitic diseases leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and human African trypanosomiasis.
Geoffrey Trussell
Collaborative Research: Adaptation and the resiliency of food web structure and functioning to climate change
Geoffrey Trussell
Local adaptation and the evolution of plasticity under predator invasion and warming seas: consequences for individuals, populations, and communities.
Laurel Gabard-Durnam
The goal of this award is to test the efficacy of early brain imaging measures in predicting subsequent childhood cognitive outcomes across global contexts of adversity.
Oleg Batichev
Instrumentation for High Energy-Density Plasma Facility
Derek Isaacowitz
Emotion Regulation in Adulthood and Aging: Preference and Effectiveness
Alexander Ivanov
Robust ultra-high sensitivity proteomic technologies for limited samples
Roman Manetsch
Use of De Novo Synthesis Approaches and Structure-guided Design to Optimize Therapeutic Properties of Streptothricin Class Antimicrobials
Alexandros Makriyannis
CB1 Neutral Antagonists for Alcohol Use Disorder
Mary Jo Ondrechen
Undergraduate Research in Modeling and Computation for Discovery of Molecular Probes for SARS-CoV-2 Proteins
Sanjeev Mukerjee
Tip-Enhanced and Co-Localized AFM-Raman Spectroscopy to Unveil Localized-Plasmon Promoted Direct-Charge Transfers across Nano-electrochemical Interfaces
John Coley
Collaborative Research: Designing an Educational Intervention to Address Intuitive Misconceptions about COVID-19
Sheeba Anteraper
Intrinsic Functional Architecture of Detate Muclei in Autism Spectrum
Meni Wanunu
Single-cell direct RNA sequencing using electrical zero-mode waveguides and engineered reverse transcriptases
Mary Jo Ondrechen
Identification of Chemical Probes and Inhibitors Targeting Novel Sites on SARS-CoV-2 Proteins for COVID-19 Intervention.
Art Kramer
Effects of Tai Chi Mind-Body Exercise on the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome
Rebecca Shansky
TRPV1 signaling as a sex-specific mechanism of contextual fear generalization
John Engen
ATPases Newco, Inc.
Albert-Laszlo Barabasi
Fundamental Dynamics, Predictability and Uncertainty of Scientific Discovery & Advancement
Rebecca Shansky
Supplement: Mapping mesocortical contributions to estrous-dependent learning processes
Karen Quigley
Ovarian Effects on Intrinsic Connectivity and the Affective Enhancement Memory
James Monaghan
Analysis of Notch signaling-mediated cell fate determination during regeneration of the neural retina
Jeff Galkowski
Collaborative Research: Microlocal Concentration and Propagation in Spectral Theory
Derek Isaacowitz
The Role of Emotional and Motivational Attention in Healthy Aging
Leila Deravi
CAREER: Protein-integrated materials: From molecules to machines
Srinivas Sridhar
The Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute - Pilot - Objective Portable Diagnostics of Neurological Disorders
Kim Lewis
Antibiotic discovery from environmental microorganisms of Brazil
Sergey Kravchenko
Band flattening at the Fermi level as a precursor of quantum electron crystallization
Albert-Laszlo Barabasi
Scoping Out the Periodic Table of Food
John Coley
Longitudinal Investigation of the Decision Process in Adoption of Course-based Research
Peter Bex
Assessing Spatial Processing Deficits in Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Using Virtual Reality
John Engen
Conformational Regulation and Therapeutic Targeting of Oncogenic KRAS
Katie Lotterhos
Antibiotic Tolerance of Bacterial Pathogens in Cystic Fibrosis
James Monaghan
Oculomotor Deficits and Plasticity Across Gaze Posture in Strabismus
Maiya Geddes
Boston Roybal Center Pilot: Changing and understanding motivation to increase physical activity among sedentary older adults
Leila Deravi
A Scalable Platform for Electroresponsive Optical Displays Inspired by Cephalopods
Brian Helmuth
Developing a Climate Roadmap for Sustainable Fisheries in China
Jared Auclair
Amgen Donation Agreement for the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Laboratory (BATL)
Lisa Barrett
Book Grant: Seven Insights about the Brain.
John Engen
Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Acid Sphingomyelinase
Alina Marian
THE CHOW RINGS OF MODULI SPACES OF STABLE SHEAVES
Steven Lopez
In Silico Design of an Array of Multicolor, Hybrid Fluorescent and Photodynamic Chromophores for Cancer Surgery and LightActivated Therapy
Gregory Fiete
DMREF: Collaborative Research: Design and synthesis of novel materials for spin caloritronic devices
Steven Lopez
Collaborative Resarch: Accelerating the Discovery of Electronic materials through Human-Computer Active Search
Dan Distel
Bioprospecting for industrial enzymes and drug lead compounds in an ancient submarine forest.
Jonathan Grabowski
Alessandro Vespignani
Collaborative Research: AccelNet: Accelerating Discovery in Multilevel Network Science
Craig Gruber
Congested and Contested RF Emulations with Colosseum
Rhea Eskew
Higher-Order Color: From Cones to Postreceptoral Mechanisms
Aron Stubbins
Collaborative Research: CBET: The role of sunlight in determining the fate and microbial impact of microplastics in surface waters
Alessandro Vespignani
Multiscale modeling of layered pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical intervention during an emerging influenza pandemic
Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli
A Psychobiological Follow-up Study of Transition from Prodrome to Early Psychosis
Craig Ferris
A New Drug for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury
Alina Marian
Universal Series, Chow Rings, and Dualities in the Moduli Theory of Sheaves
Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli
Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback as a Tool to Mitigate Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Schizophrenia
David DeSteno
Nudging Empathy: Harnessing Motivation to Create Sustainable Empathic Choices
Jonathan Grabowski
Lenfest Ocean Grant
Meni Wanunu
Uncovering genome variation in long DNA and repeat-disease biomarkers using nucleic acid-based reporters and nanopore readout
Mark Williams
11th International Retroviral Nucleocapsid and Assembly Symposium
Mary Ondrechen
D3SC: Mining for mechanistic information to predict protein function
Leila Deravi
Soft, reconfigurable photonic systems inspired by cephalopod chromatophores: A platform to study dispersed light sensing in squid
Steven Lopez
In Silico Design of an Array of Multicolor Chromophores for Cancer Surgery and Light-Activated Therapy
Albert-Laszlo Barabasi
SRA - Scipher
Rebecca Shansky
Mapping mesocortical contributions to estrous-dependent learning processes
George O'Doherty
Targeted modification of the apramycin 2-deoxystreptamine ring to block aminoglycoside modifying enzyme-based inactivation and enhance potency against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens
Steven Lopez
Burroughs Research Travel Grant
Charles Hillman
Antioxidant Imaging Marker of Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (AIM-IGNITE)
Herbert Levine
Spatial Patterning in the Progressing Tumor - The Role of Notch
Alina Karma
Structure-property-processing correlations in freeze-cast Biomimetic Materials
Paul Whitford
Quantifying the effects of ions and collective rearrangements during ribosome function
Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli
Sponsored Research Agreement with Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Eugene Smotkin
Quantum Theory and Measured Turnover Rates: Perovskite Chemical Transistors for Non-Faradaic Alkane Isomerization
James Halverson
CAREER: Physics Implications of the String Landscape
via Formal Theory and Data Science
Alexander Ivanov
Collaborative Agreement with AB Sciex
Jennifer Bowen
Collaborative Research: TIDE: Legacy effects of long-term nutrient enrichment on recovery of saltmarsh ecosystems
Scyphers, S
Northeastern University’s Coastal Sustainability Institute and The Nature Conservancy Joint Coastal Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellows Program
Charles Hillman
Antioxidant Imaging Marker of Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (AIM-IGNITE)
Slava Epstein and Meni Wanunu
INSPECT: In situ Phenotype Evaluation using CMOS Technology
George O’Doherty
Targeted modification of the apramycin 2-deoxystreptamine ring to block aminoglycoside modifying enzyme-based inactivation and enhance potency against multidrug-resistant Gram- negative pathogens
Alain Karma
NSF-BSF: DYNAMICS OF MATERIALS FAILURE
Leila Deravi
A Scalable Platform for Electroresponsive Optical Displays Inspired by Cephalopods
Paul Hand
CAREER: Signal Recovery from Generative Priors
Sanjeev Mukerjee
Harvesting Localized Plasmons on Noble Metal Nanostructures for Efficient Electrochemical and Photochemical Reactions
Qingying Jia
The development of efficient platinum-group metal free catalysts to generate high purity hydrogen gas from water
John Engen
SRA – Exploration of biophysical methods to study the importance of KRAS protein flexibility in solution
Roman Manetsch
Development of Streptothricin Class Antimicrobials as Novel Therapeutics
Randall Hughes
Collaborative Research: Trait differentiation and local adaptation to depth within meadows of the foundation seagrass Zostera marina
Michael Pollastri
Lead optimization of hits identified from virtual and experimental screens of multiple industrial libraries DNDi
Arun Bansil
A Center for Complex Materials from First Principles
David Kimbro
Collaborative Research: RAPID: Quantifying mechanisms by which Hurricane Michael facilitates a stable-state reversal on oyster reefs
Mark Patterson
MantaRay Commercialization Strategy
Kim Lewis
Identifying pathogenic bacteria by phenotyping individual cells
David Kimbro
A Collaborative Science Program for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System: Connecting End Users Throughout the Applied Research Process Primary Sponsor: Department of Commerce
Steven Scyphers
Northeastern University’s Coastal Sustainability Institute and The Nature Conservancy Joint Coastal Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellows Program
Roman Manetsch
Plasmid Eviction as a Novel Adjunctive Antimicrobial Target
David DeSteno
Academic Ideas in the Public Sphere: Teaching Scientists and Philosophers How to Communicate with the “General Reader”
Samuel Scarpino
Development and Maintenance of a Suite of Application Programmer Interfaces (API) and Data Standards
Jonathan Grabowski
Feasibility Study for An Essec Bay Living Shoreline Primary Sponsor: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Peter Bex
Eye Movement Rehabilitation in Low Vision Patients
Jonathan Grabowski
Addressing Constraints to Shellfish Aquaculture Through Quantifying Ecosystem Services and Public Perceptions in the Northeast
Kim Lewis
Development of Disulfiram to Treat Lyme Disease
Kim Lewis
Development of Hygromycin A to Treat Lyme Disease
I Kovacs
Physics Uncovering the Organizing Principles of Genetic Interaction Networks
Lisa Barrett
Building Online Resources for Scientists and Philosophers Communicating with the “General Reader”
Alessandro Vespignani
Development of an Open-Source and Data-Driven Modeling Platform to Monitor and Forecast Disease Activity
Alexander Ivanov
SRA – Medimmune
Rebecca Shansky
Endocannabinoid Modulation of Stress Coping
Dagmar Sternad
Characterization of predictive abilities in individuals with ASD using web-based interception
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