Noteworthy Achievements

PROFessionals of the Month -

The PROFessionals of the Month program celebrates exemplary Rowan University employees, as nominated each month by their colleagues across the University community. To read honorees’ profiles, visit PROFessionals of the Month.

Noteworthy Accomplishments

Danielle Arigo, Psychology, received $271,250 (total potential funding: $697,500) from National Institutes of Health to support the study “Pilot trial of physical activity partnerships for women in midlife with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease” and $929,997 from National Institutes of Health to support the study “A paradigm shift in health behavior change: Understanding when and how social comparison supports healthy behavior.” 

Amy Barraclough, Planetarium, received $75,000 from Institute of Museum and Library Services to support Ready to Launch: Supporting prototype to installation of planetarium exhibits.

Steven Brunwasser, Psychology, received $54,883 (total funding to date: $158,643) from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (prime sponsor: National Institutes of Health) to support the study “Establishing critical time windows of infant RSV infection in the causal relationship of RSV and childhood asthma.” 

Amanda Fakira, CMSRU Biomedical Science, received $461,455 (total funded to date: $1,399,617) from National Institutes of Health to support the study “Targeting PEN-GPR83 as a strategy to reduce opioid abuse liability.”

Peter Galie, Biomedical Engineering received $571,730 from National Institutes of Health to support the study “Multifunctional injectable hydrogel for spinal cord injury repair.”

James Grinias, Chemistry & Biochemistry, received $10,767 from Axcend Corporation (prime sponsor: National Institutes of Health) to support the study “Miniature ion mobility detector for compact liquid chromatographic analysis of novel psychoactive substances.” 

Erick Guerra, Earth & Environment, received $165,000 (funding for one undergrad and two grad students) from NJ Economic Development Authority to support New Jersey Clean Energy Fellowships Program for University Participants, 2026-2028. 

Zeynep Isik-Ercan, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and Critical Foundations, received $2,486,000 from Department of Human Services (prime sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families under the CCDBG - Child Care & Development Block Grant) to support Early Childhood Leadership Institute - Professional Development, Training, Coaching and Evaluation Services and $500,715 from New Jersey Department of Families (prime sponsor: US Department of Health and Human Services) to support Preschool Development Birth Through Five System Building Grant Activities. 

Cassandra Jamison, ExEEd, received $398,883 from National Science Foundation to support the study “Understanding how a choice-based model of capstone experiences influences undergraduate engineering professional preparation” and $362,899 from National Science Foundation to support Collaborative research: Advancing pathways through a multi-institutional consortium for engineering education and workforce development (AMP-ENGINE).

Richard Jermyn, Rehabilitation Medicine, received $200,000 (total funded to date: $800,000) from US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support Northeast Collaborative to Improve Access to Overdose Treatment and $750,000 (total potential funding over period of performance: $3,750,000) from US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support Mobile MAT Prescribing Unit for Veterans of Southern New Jersey with Substance Use Disorders.

Thomas Keck, Chemistry & Biochemistry, received $141,509 from Virginia Tech (prime sponsor: National Institutes of Health) to support the study “Discovery and development of millipede alkaloids as a new generation of painkillers.”

 Zachary Klase, Cell & Molecular Biology, received $271,958 from Drexel University (prime sponsor: National Institutes of Health) to support the study “Benzodiazepine mediated mechanisms of transcriptional semi-quiescence in discrete myeloid populations.” 

Yu-Chun Kuo, Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education, received $42,643 from National Science Foundation to support the study “Collaborative research: Integrating responsible generative AI applications and role-playing simulations to improve undergraduate education and practice in technology-based design.”

Yupeng Li and Kul Kapri, Economics, received $75,000 from the South Jersey Institute for Population Health to support the study “Empowering communities through self-monitoring of blood pressure: A scalable model for hypertension management.” 

Yingxiao Liu, Civil/Env Engineering, received $199,999 from National Science Foundation to support the study “ERI: Predicting freeze-thaw soil behavior for more resilient cold-region infrastructure.” 

Antonios Kontsos, DEHub, received $15,000 from National Aerospace Research & Technology Park to support the study “AI advisor system for aviation autonomy assurance.”

Ian Maitin, Rehabilitation Medicine, received $300,000 (total funded to date: $900,000) from US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support Rowan SOM: Provider's Clinical Support System - Universities.

Brie Morettini, Wellness and Inclusive Services in Education, received $1,250,000 from NJ Department of Education (prime sponsor: US DOE) to support the Learning Resource Center – SOUTH (LRC-S).

Elisabeth Pollio, Child Abuse Research Education & Service Institute (CARES) DYFS, received $599,935 (total potential funding: $2,997,231) from US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support the Project TF-CBT National Adaptation and Support Center.  

Brett Pulliam, CHAMP/GEAR UP, received  $300,094 from The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to support the NJ College Bound Grant.

Mary Salvante, Museum of Contemporary Art, received $15,000 from the Edna Andrade Foundation and $33,040 from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to support museum programming.

Ben Sorum, CMSRU Biomedical Science, received $241,530 (total funding to date: $724,590) from National Institutes of Health to support the study “Ultrasonic modulation of cellular electrical signaling.”

Jagadish Torlapati, Civil/Env Engineering, received $183,000 (amount funded to date: $557,281) from University of Alaska (prime sponsor: Department of Homeland Security) to support DHS, S&T, Office of University Programs (OUP), University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC)-ARCTIC: A COE for Homeland Security in the Arctic. 

Huaxia Wang, Electrical Engineering, received $105,000 from AeroDefense to support the study “RAPTOR 2.0: AI-Powered UAS Recognition and Threat Optimization Response.”

Sarah Wilson, ExEEd, received $542,805 from National Science Foundation to support the study “Collaborative research: Mental health care pathways: Examining help seeking behaviors in engineering graduate students.” 

Timothy Wong, Psychiatry, received $200,000 (total potential over period of performance: $600,000) from US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support the Rowan-Virtua SOM SPOT the Signs of Mental Health Crisis Training Program.