Jim Wicksted, Associate Director Oklahoma EPSCoR

1. OK EPSCoR’s New RII Award Jim Wicksted, Associate Director Oklahoma EPSCoR Presented at the Oklahoma Grant Administrators Meeting Northeastern Oklahoma State University - Broken Arrow November 14, 2008

2. WHAT IS EPSCoR? Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research” EPSCoR is a merit based science and technology (S&T) initiative to improve the research capacity capability and competitiveness in states that historically have not received significant federal research and development (R&D) funding.

3. National Science Foundation Research Infrastructure Improvement Grants: 60-month grants of up to $15 million to support infrastructure improvements in S&T areas selected by the state’s EPSCoR governing committee as being critical to its future R&D competitiveness. Current Project: $9 million – Frank Waxman, PI - 2005-2008 Current Project: $20.5 million – Jim Wicksted, PI - 2008-2013

4. BUILDING OKLAHOMA’S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN CELLULOSIC BIOENERGY Objective 1. Discover molecular mechanisms and tools for biomass development Objective 2. Effective conversion of biomass to liquid fuels Instead of looking solely at corn, researchers at OSU, OU and Noble Foundation will study all types of perennial grasses, including switchgrass.

5. Why Switchgrass? • Indigenous to Oklahoma • Non-food feedstock requiring lower amounts of fertilizer and water • Good yield, strong seed production • Lower costs required • Grows in poor soils • More tolerant to flooding and droughts • Large potential for underutilized acres (marginal lands)

6. Potential for Oklahoma • Governor’s Biofuels Coalition • 25% of energy needs through biofuels by 2025 {25x’25 Alliance} • In Oklahoma by 2025* • 2.4 billion gallons of biofuels per year • 43.3 billion KWh of electricity • 134,000 new jobs • $13 billion in economic activity * Dr. Ernie Shea, 25x25’ Project Coordinator

7. Research Needs • Still need higher biomass yields: Current potential: 4.5 to 7.5 tons/acre Want to go as high as 11 tons/acre {doubling as has been done with corn} • Improve stress tolerance to: • Drought • Herbicide (weed elimination) • Improve nutrient requirements: • Less fertilizer required • Less nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions • Reduction in Greenhouse Gases and improved carbon sequestration

8. BUILDING OKLAHOMA’S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN CELLULOSIC BIOENERGY • Utilizing molecular-genetic, genomic and transgenic approaches to improve biomass accumulation and stress tolerance, and decrease lignin content in switchgrass • Functional genomic and molecular mapping approaches to identify expressed unigenes and major genes for improved biomass production and reduced cell wall in switchgrass • Microbial conversion (Enzymatic) • Catalytic/chemical conversion

9. EHR Outreach Initiatives • K-12 Student Development • Bioenergy Summer Technology Academies • Educational Robotics Teams (BOTBALL) • OKMN Mobile Science Vehicle • Faculty Development • Research Opportunity Awards - ROAs • Annual State Conference • NSF Grants Workshop • OU Supercomputing Symposium • NSF ADVANCE • NEW PROJECTS • Postsecondary Outreach • Comanche Nation College (Information Tech.) • Supplemental Instruction Program at Langston University • GRE Preparation at Langston University • Research Experiences for Undergraduates • Oklahoma Research Day for Regional Universities • Women in Science Conference • Travel for Students to Professional Meetings • NSF SURE-STEP at UCO • Entrepreneurship • Entrepreneurial Workshops • Industry Internships • Business Plan Competitions • i2E Commercialization Vouchers • Public Outreach • Research Day at the State Capitol • Partnerships Science Museums • Sci Tech Student Reporting Awards

10. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT COMANCHE NATION COLLEGE Postsecondary Student Development • Salary support for IT Technician • Provide support for enhancing both needed laboratory capabilities and cyberinfrastructure in order to promote a cultural-based approach for students pursuing programs in the STEM disciplines.

11. SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM Postsecondary Student Development • Supplemental Instruction (SI) program for gatekeeper courses (i.e., algebra, biology & chemistry) • NO STIGMA - targets the class rather than the individualto promote success • Participation is strictly voluntary • Peer mentors lead study session • Offered to increase retention rates • Students who participated showed gains at nearly a full grade letter better than non-participants

12. OK RESEARCH DAY FOR REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES Postsecondary Student Development • Showcase contributions of undergraduate students to statewide research efforts (regional & community colleges) • ~750-800 attendees annually • Allows students to share results from research in poster and oral presentations

13. WOMEN IN SCIENCE CONFERENCES Postsecondary Student Development • Successfully draws between 500-600 participants • Conferences provide keynote address, interactive panel discussions, recruitment fair and career planning sessions & teacher’s lounge with resources/info on summer research opportunities • Includes entrance into Science Museum Oklahoma (hands-on science exhibits)

14. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY AWARDS (ROA) Faculty Development • Summer research opportunities for regional university faculty • Paired with mentors at research-intensive campuses (OU, OUHSC, OSU, TU, OMRF, SNRF, etc.) • Selected on a competitive basis • Expands Oklahoma’s research efforts across the state  • Aides in development of ongoing collaborations between junior and senior level faculty

15. Faculty Development GOAL 1: Increase the number and quality of proposals submitted to NSF and other funding agencies GOAL 2: Encourage collaboration Annual State Conferences – ~200 faculty & students • Gather to share research results & future trends • Scientific poster session for RII theme area NSF Grants Workshops – ~150 faculty & students • Nuts & bolts of grant writing • NSF Program Officers share info on directorates & funding opportunities

16. NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS EPSCoR Directors Funding Additional Research Projects • Faculty Development • “Corrosion Monitoring Equipment”PI: Joseph Suflita, OU, Dept. of Botany & Microbiology & Sarkey’s Energy CtrEquipment & graduate student support • “Geographical Signatures of Bacterial Nanowires”*Estella Atekwana, OSU, School of GeologyPreliminary data to be used for future NSF proposal • New/Additional Projects Funds • “Stillwater Children’s Museum – Museum Without Walls” • “Physics Masters Program at University of Tulsa with Emphasis on Nanoscience” PI: Dr. Parameswar Hari

17. Entrepreneurship GOAL: In collaboration with i2E, Inc., provide resources for students and faculty in pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities and support development of high tech business in the state • OK Governor’s Cup Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition • Competition sponsored by Donald W. Reynolds Foundation with partners including EPSCoR & i2E to encourage students to develop and implement businesses • Competition kick-off: “Who Wants to Be an Entrepreneur?” • 8 businesses launched by winners • One winner received $80K SBIR grant (USDA) • I2E Commercialization Vouchers • $1K vouchers to researchers for commercialization assessment of inventions • 30 technologies assessed • 7 resulted in new start-up companies • 25 resulted in commercial development • ~10 potential licensing opportunities

18. Entrepreneurship GOAL: In collaboration with i2E, Inc., provide resources for students and faculty in pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities and support development of high tech business in the state Who wants to be an Entrepreneur? EPSCoR teams up with the i2E to sponsor this interactive workshop which is designed to assist Oklahoma’s entrepreneurial-minded college students by addressing topics in the workshop ranging from business plans to venture capital financing. This workshop attracts 100-150 students and faculty. Barry Moltz, author of “You Need to be a Little Crazy” signed copies of his book at the 2006 Who Wants to be an Entrepreneur Workshop.

19. OCAST Industry Partnerships GOAL: In collaboration with OCAST, Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR provides support ($10,000/per internship) for two research internships each year to engage students in industrial settings. Industry internships are offered to encourage undergraduate students to prepare for careers in scientific and technical fields including areas that support high-tech companies in Oklahoma.  OCAST assists the EPSCoR program by matching students to industrial partners desiring student interns.   Kyle Hatcher, left and Jamie Meade, right, both from Redlands Community College, received internships for Martin Biochem.

20. Oklahoma EPSCoR Stillwater Jim Wicksted, Assoc. Dir. Valerie Pogue, Program Manager Pat Greer, Administrative Asst. Oklahoma City Frank Waxman, State Director Dawn Scott, Administrative Coordinator Shelley Wear, Programs Coordinator 415 WhitehurstStillwater, OK 74078-1038 405.744.9964 Fax 405.744.7688 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405.225.9459 Fax 405.225.9230 Oklahoma EPSCoR Website http://okepscor.org/

21. Bioenergy Summer Technology Academies INTEGRATING GPS & GIS INTO K-12 CLASSROOMS • Use GPS & GIS mapping to increase positive attitudes of students & teachers toward STEM • Participants learn topics on biofuels and bioenergy • Offered student mentoring opportunities • Broadened participation of women & minorities 9 Summer Academies/2 Mini-Academies 411 students & 37 teachers 44 students served as mentors Half of all participants were female Minority Participation: Yr. 1 - 50% (25% American Indian)Yr. 2 - 69% (62% African American) Yr. 3 - 60% (50% African American) "I really thank the staff and teachers for a good time and helping me when I was struggling, and I really appreciate it. I would hope to be back as a mentor next year.“ ~Student Participant “I have used my summer academy model to help write four subsequent grants, two of which have been funded and the other two are still waiting for a decision.” ~Dr. David Brown, Project Coordinator

22. Research Opportunity Awards (ROAs) GOAL 1: Provide funds ($10 K) and opportunities for faculty at Regional Colleges to conduct Research at Oklahoma’s Comprehensive Universities (OSU, OU, TU) GOAL 2: Encourage collaboration Previous Awardees • Mauricio A. Sanchez of UCO worked with Dr. Feng C. Lai at OU on a project titled “Discrete Ordinate Simulation of the Propagation of Incident Flux In Aoritc Tissue”. • Dr. Xiaomin Ma of ORU worked with Dr. Hazem H. Refai at OU on a project titled "Summer Research on Vehicular Ad Hoc Wireless Communication System”. • Dr. Evan Lemley of UCO worked with Dr. Dimitrios V. Papavassiliou at OU on a project titled “Microfluidic Pressure Losses in T and Y Junctions”. • Dr. Mohamed Bingabr of UCO worked with Dr. Robert Rennaker at OU on a project titled “Auditory Nervous System Coding of Sound”.

23. OU Supercomputing Symposia Faculty Development • Event Organized by Dr. Henry Neeman, Director, OU Supercomputing Center for Education & Research • Bring Oklahoma researchers together to discuss the use of supercomputing in science and engineering research • Hosts >250 faculty, staff and student participants annually

24. RESEARCH DAY AT THE CAPITOL Public Outreach • College & university presidents nominate research projects • Students receive training on poster preparation • $250 stipend to develop poster/display • Legislators and public invited to attend • Students compete in poster competition • Year 3 - 2 categories research-intensiveregional & community colleges(1st - $500, 2nd - $250, 3rd - $100) • One overall grand prize winner received summer research internship at Oklahoma college or university of choice plus $500 cash prize (REU) Photo courtesy State Capitol Photographer