Research

Professsor Gary Evans, Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center (BLCC)

“Conference Grant: Chaos and Children’s Development Levels of Analysis and Mechanisms” funded by the American Psychological Association

This award will support a conference and resulting edited book on how chaotic environmental settings influence human development from infancy through adolescence.

Chaotic settings are characterized by high levels of noise, crowding, instability, and a lack of structure and predictability. Professor Evans will draw upon the late Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of human development to provide a theoretical and organizational framework to address the objectives.

Professor Patrick Stover, Nutritional Sciences (NS)

“Folate Nutrition for Healthy Aging and the Prevention of Cognitive Decline and Dementia” funded by USDA Hatch

Prevention of age-related cognitive decline and neurocognitive diseases is of critical importance as the population rapidly ages. Impairments in folate metabolism have been identified as significant risk factors for age-related cognitive decline, and represent a target for nutritional intervention and prevention. However, neither the mechanism of disease pathogenesis or potential protection by folate is known.

This project will determine if dietary folate supplementation will ameliorate age-related cognitive decline, as well as elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying disease and prevention.

Professor Richard Burkhauser, Policy Analysis and Management (PAM)

“Welfare Reform Expertise” funded by NYS OTDA

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will use this comprehensive analysis of the likely effects on families and children of raising the state’s earned income tax credit, including the effects on employment of parents and the income of children and families in New York State.

It is important to continue--and update--a number of time series analyses that use data from the Current Population Survey. These include: analysis of employment and income of less educated young men in New York State, the effects of child support payments on family income in the state, and the employment and income of New York State families.

Assistant Professor Juan Hinestroza, Fiber Science and Apparel Design (FSAD)

“Exploring the Use of Induced Negative Viscosities as a New Degree of Freedom in Polymer Nanomanufacturing” funded by a Career Grant from the National Science Foundation

This research represents a significant departure from most current work on polymer nanomanufacturing processes and it can open an avenue for the manufacturing of novel composite structures not possible to achieve by any other method.

These novel structures and materials can be produced at higher throughputs, lower costs, and higher levels of control—providing a competitive advantage to the American manufacturing and polymer processing industry.

The education and outreach components of the plan aim at increasing the participation and enhancing the quality of education of underrepresented groups as well as to leverage prior investments of NSF in education and outreach programs.

Professor Rebecca Stoltzfus, Nutritional Sciences (NS)

“Conference Grant: Heavy Metal Exposures in Women and Children, the Role of Nutrients” funded by NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

The active growth over the past few years in research crossing the disciplines of toxicology and nutrition has been striking, although not many nutritionists are currently involved. Nutrition researchers have growing interest in heavy metal exposures--in how they affect the populations of interest to nutritionists, the mechanisms of toxicity, and the use of nutrients in reducing exposure or alleviating toxicity.

The symposium will address a range of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) in children as well as women. It will be the first symposium of this kind to be directed specifically to the nutrition audience, to provide information on the current state of research, and to stimulate further investigations.

Senior Research Associate Janis Whitlock, Family Life Development Center (FLDC)

“Adapting the USAF Suicide Prevention Program to College Campuses” funded by NIH's National Institute of Mental Health

This project is part of a larger suicide prevention study directed by the Division of Community and Preventive Medicine in the School of Medicine at the University of Rochester. The component for which Whitlock is responsible involves administration of the Survey of College Mental Health and Well-Being to five universities: University of Rochester, Harvard, Cornell, MIT, and Princeton.