Research

Let Knowledge Serve

Research & Graduate Studies (RGS) is dedicated to supporting PSU's faculty and student success as they engage our local, regional, and global communities through research, scholarship, and creative activities. As Oregon's only urban, public research university, we believe in involving everyone—from freshmen to faculty and beyond—in solving the problems facing our region and world, because the only way to bridge the gap between what is and what could be is together.

2020 University Research and Mentoring Awards

2020 College/School Researchers of the Year

College of the Arts: Assistant Professor Lisa Jarrett, Art + Design

College of Education: Professor Ann Fullerton, Special Education

School of Social Work: Assistant Professor Susanne Klawetter

Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science: Assistant Professor Arash Khosravifar, Civil & Environmental Engineering

School of Business: Professor Carlos Mena, Business Administration

College of Urban & Public Affairs: Professor G.L.A. Harris, School of Government

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health: Assistant Professor Julia Goodman

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Assistant Professor Laura Robson, History

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FY20 Awards Total & Top Agencies

$14.4M

National Science Foundation

$7.6M

Oregon Dept. of Education

$62M

Awards in FY20

$5.8M

US Dept. of Transportation

$5.4M

National Institutes of Health

FY20 Awards Highlights

Structure, Function and Aggregation of Lens A-Crystallins By CryoEM

Steve Reichow - Chemistry

National Institutes of Health - $450,268

The goal of this project is to develop our mechanistic understanding of the structure and function of the lens alpha-crystallins, and the aggregation pathways associated with age-related cataract formation. The research team is applying technologies in single-particle CryoEM to illuminate these mechanisms with atomistic-levels of detail. This study will provide critical knowledge required for the development of rational drug-design strategies, targeted at controlling cataracts and a range of other crystallin-opathies.

CAREER: Design, Analysis, and Applications of mmWave Full-Duplex Wireless

Ehsan Aryafar - Computer Science

National Science Foundation - $502,186

The objective of this project is to design full-duplex mmWave radios and develop new communication algorithms and network architectures to address mmWave's mobility, blockages, and cost challenges. The findings from this project will be integrated into an education plan that emphasizes the role of wireless communication and networking in emerging Internet-based technologies. The project will result in developing and prototyping new radios, communication algorithms, and network architectures that enable and support full-duplex in mmWave bands.

RAPID: Election Result Anomaly Detection for 2020

Stephanie Singer - Center for Public Service

National Science Foundation - $199.827

This project builds a system to efficiently assemble election result data sets from several states into a single format. Additionally, it implements a variety of algorithms for fast, broad detection and visualization of anomalies in election results. The system will flag significant anomalies in preliminary election result data from the November 2020 election. This analysis will be made available publicly and to candidates, parties, and election administrators. Candidates, parties, and election administrators have the detailed local knowledge required to assess whether any particular anomaly in their district has a legitimate explanation or whether further investigation is appropriate.

Convergence Accelerator Phase I: Open Knowledge Network for Spatial Decision Making

Sean Gordon - Institute for Sustainable Solutions

National Science Foundation - $999,739

This multidisciplinary, collaborative project brings together investigators from academia, industry, and government to increase access to and improve the utility of spatial data and related software tools. Project outcomes could support the decision-making and public participation that are needed to address a wide range of complex problems, including public health, emergency management, city planning, education, natural resources management, public safety, transportation, utilities, and the delivery of public and private service more generally.

SBP: CAREER: Organizational Diversity Management through Supportive, Skills-Focused Allyship Training

Larry Ross Martinez - Psychology

National Science Foundation - $497,769

This project will design and validate a theoretically-developed and empirically supported diversity intervention focused on training employees to be allies for one another and for marginalized others. The project extends knowledge and implementation by assessing the effectiveness of this type of training longitudinally to assess the long-term impact and developing online training for broad dissemination. Also included is the development of a diversity research group, a summer diversity research institute for undergraduate scholars, and a workshop designed to educate organizational scientists about allyship and diversity research.

SCC RAPID: Consumer Responses to Household Provisioning During COVID_19 Crisis and Recovery

Kelly Clifton - Civil & Environmental Engineering

National Science Foundation - $168,914

This study will collect critical and time-sensitive information to evaluate the extent to which people modify their shopping behavior during the pandemic and the lasting effects of technological adoption during recovery and beyond. It will reveal important trends in consumer behaviors and gaps in access that can aid planners in preparation for ongoing recovery and future emergencies. Findings will promote the health and well-being of the community by identifying opportunities to meet household needs while minimizing risk.

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