School of Science & Technology

Transformative Inclusion in Postsecondary STEM: Towards Justice (TIPS Towards Justice) aims to increase the participation and success of Latinx students in STEM by transforming STEM department cultures to become truly “Hispanic-Serving.” Starting in the Math and Stats Department followed by other STEM departments, faculty will develop, test, and publish a two-year departmental pathway that will address persistent marginalization and underrepresentation of Latinx students in STEM—a necessary step if the talents of a growing Latinx population are to benefit the country.

The goal of this project is to uncover how human cells regulate their chromosome organization during cell division throughout normal, and disease states. Chromosomes are packaged DNA structures that consist of an individual’s genetic information. During cell division, chromosomes will duplicate, and divide equally among two daughter cells. Abnormalities that occur during cell division in humans can lead to detrimental consequences, and disease.

Working with the University of New Hampshire (UNH, PI institution) and Howard University, SSU faculty, staff, and students plan, design, build, and test a CubeSat with faculty, staff, and students at UNH and Howard. One CubeSat is built at each institution. By participating in this CubeSat project, SSU students will support scientists' research of electron heating in the ionosphere and ion outflow from Earth's magnetic boundary between open and closed magnetic fields. Dr. Peticolas, PI of the SSU effort, provides scientific expertise, mentors students, and manages the overall SSU effort.

An integrated Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with multiple sensor capability and a carbon coater for sample preparation will be acquired at Sonoma State University (SSU).

The NASA Heliophysics' DRIVE Center, MACH (Magnetic fields, Atmospheres, and the Connection to Habitability) brings together a scientifically diverse team to tackle this question. This Phase I effort is focused on constructing tools using observations, computer simulations, and theory to evaluate the influence of a global magnetic field on the escape of charged particles, with emphasis on Venus, Earth and Mars.