Seed Fund Program

With generous contributions from the Office of the Vice President for Research, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of Medicine, the nanoSTAR Institute has established a seed projects fund.  The nanoSTAR Seed Fund program is designed to support promising new interdisciplinary research collaborations in the Institute’s three thrust areas: nanoelectronics, medicine, and energy and the environment. These grants assist researchers in developing preliminary data to help them to attract external funding. 

With a total investment of $162,300 in the six projects, the following outcomes were achieved as of 8/1/10:

            10 proposals were submitted with a total UVa funding level of:      $4,818,654

            3 proposals were awarded totaling:                                                $625,293

            3 proposals are still pending with total UVa funding level of:           $1,272,827

            10 papers were submitted, 2 more are in preparation

            2 patents were filed, 1 patent disclosure was made

            5 undergraduates, 4 graduate students, and 3 research associates were supported

            These projects enabled much great science! Details on individual projects are available below.

Announcements:

• 2010 SEED FUND RFP - PDF (4/05/10)

• 2008 SEED FUND RFP - PDF (6/18/08)

Current nanoSTAR 2010 Seed Projects:

• Design of Functionalized Targeted Liposomes for Therapeutic Delivery and Imaging
  L. Columbus, Chemistry; A. Criss, Microbiology; CLAS, SOM


• Manipulating Superconductivity in Ultra-Doped Si and Ge
  J. Floro, Materials Science & Engineering; J. Yoon, Physics; SEAS, CLAS


• Pulse Shaping for Low Power Communications in Nano-micro Networks
  A. Ghosh, Electrical and Computer Engineering; W. Levy, Neurosurgery; J. Lach, Electrical and Computer Engineering; SEAS, SOM


• A Voltage Controlled Ion Gate for Inclusion in a Biomimetic Excitable Cell
  P. Norris, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; R. Moorman, Cardiovascular Medicine; SEAS, SOM


• Lab-on-a-chip Technologies for Monitoring the Effects of Silver Nanotechnologies on Cryptosporidia Oocysts in Drinking Water
  J. Smith, Civil and Environmental Engineering; R. Dillingham, Infectious Diseases; N. Swami, Electrical and Computer Engineering; SEAS, SOM



nanoSTAR Seed Projects Archives:

2008/2009

• Multi-emissive Boron PLA Nanoparticles for Vascular Optical Hypoxia Imaging
  Cassandra Fraser, Chemistry & Richard Price, BME


• A Novel Active Passivation Film for Silicon Photovoltaic Cells
  Mool Gupta, ECE & John Yates, Chemistry


• Low Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM) Studies of Nanoscale Resolved Reaction Kinetics on Catalytic Surfaces
  Ian Harrison, Chemistry & Jack Hudson, Chem. E


• The Adaptosome, a Nanoscale Delivery System for Specific Cell Targeting
  Roy Ogle, Medicine & BME and Anthony Spano, Biology


• TINNE- Techniques for Innovative Nanoscale Neuromorphic Electronics
  Mircea Stan, ECE & William Levy, Neurological Surgery


• Artificial Cilia for the Investigation of Cell Cooperativity in Wound Healing
  Keith Williams, Physics & Brian Helmke, BME & Mool Gupta, ECE
  Kurt Kolasinski (unfunded collaborator)

 

Please contact our Managing Director, Lisa Friedersdorf, for more information about Seed Fund Projects.

 

Undergraduate Summer Research Fund

Our first Undergraduate Student Research Mixer promoted engaging student discussions and interactions.

The application process for the Summer 2011 Undergraduate Student Research Program is complete. The current round of students are being supported in projects where funds were not available to support the student. Joint proposals by faculty and students were accepted for funding consideration where the faculty members were responsible for laboratory expenses and only required hourly wage support. The current round had so many exceptional applications that we supported eight students for the summer of 2011.

 

2011 Fund Results

2010 Fund Results

 

Eminent Speaker Series

At the request of our members, we have initiated an Eminent Speakers Series.  We will host distinguished researchers in each of our three theme areas to speak at evening receptions in the Rotunda. Please complete this form and send your suggestions for prominent speakers to nanostar@virginia.edu

 

Graduate Student Travel Fund

Students presenting their nanotechnology related research at a technical conference may apply for grants to help cover travel related expense reimbursements up to $500.00.  Awards will be need-based and a letter of recommendation from the student’s faculty advisor is required with the application materials. All students of nanoSTAR faculty in good standing are eligible to apply. Rolling application materials for the fund can be found here and are being accepted and reviewed on an on-going basis.

Please send the required application materilas to nanostar@virginia.edu