In This Issue

Meet CSU's New Faculty

Sasidhar Gumma, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Sasidhar Gumma is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (ChBME). He joined CSU in January 2017 after teaching at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati for 12 years.

Dr. Gumma’s research interests include development of nanoporous materials for hydrocarbon separation processes, absorption processes for carbon dioxide capture, catalysts for coal liquefaction, and models of hollow fiber membrane contactors for gas absorption. His interest in pedagogical methods for teaching engineering led to the development of an “openware” course module for chemical reaction engineering.

Dr. Gumma has established the Nanoporous Materials Research Laboratory at CSU, with a focus on the development of “tunable” porous materials such as metal organic frameworks (MOFs). In particular, efforts are being made to develop polymer-composite membrane systems, stable MOFs for hydrocarbon separations, and drug delivery vehicles using magnetic nanoparticles.

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Featured Researcher Video Series

Aaron Severson, BGES

Research by Dr. Aaron Severson, an associate professor in the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BGES) and a member of CSU’s Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease (GRHD), is the focus of this month’s Featured Researcher Video. Dr. Severson’s research focuses on the transmission of genetic information during cell division processes. Click here to watch.

Research News

NSF's 2018-2022 Strategic Plan

The National Science Foundation (NSF), in conjunction with the National Science Board, has released a new strategic plan for Fiscal Years 2018-2022 titled Building the Future: Investing in Discovery and Innovation. The new document updates and replaces the previous strategic plan, Investing in Science, Engineering, and Education for the Nation’s Future.

NSF will continue to prioritize world-class basic research, a competitive STEM workforce, and improving the public’s understanding of research. Research translation and commercialization will receive special emphasis. The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) offers its thoughts on the new strategic plan here.

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CSU Scholar News

Daniel Munther, Mathematics

Dr. Daniel Munther is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics. He joined Cleveland State in 2013 after earning his Ph.D. at the Ohio State University and a two year post-doctoral appointment at the Centre for Disease Modelling at York University in Toronto. His research focuses on the effects of dispersal on biological invasions and permanence.

Dr. Munther is collaborating with Dr. Partha Srinivasan and Dr. Chandra Kothapalli on a project funded by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS), titled Mathematical modeling tools for practical chlorine control in produce wash process. He is also working with researchers from Cornell University, the University of California at Davis, and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), on a two-year grant from the CPS, titled FSMA agricultural-water die-off compliance provisions benefit from condition-specific modifiers. These projects involve developing mathematical models and predictive tools to enhance pathogen control during fresh cut produce washing. The CDC estimates that one in six Americans get sick each year from consuming contaminated food, and these tools can play a vital role in alleviating this public health burden.

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Inspired Creativity

Andrew Rindfleisch: Three Lyric Songs

Dr. Andrew Rindfleisch’s new work, Three Lyric Songs for solo clarinet and wind ensemble, will be performed by the Cleveland Winds during their concert on April 22 at 7:00 pm. Dr. Rindfleisch is a professor of music composition in the Department of Music.

Composed for Shenandoah University faculty clarinetist Garrick Zoeter and the Shenandoah Wind Ensemble, Three Lyric Songs is a set of expressive yet contrasting ballads. Resisting the common approach of a technical tour de force concerto, Three Lyric Songs presents the soloist as an expressive, sometimes lonely lyricist, often winding in and out of the overall instrumental colors and timbres. The concert will take place in Waetjen Auditorium in CSU’s Music and Communication Building. A schedule of the Music Department’s upcoming performances can be found here.

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News from the Technology Transfer Office

Technology Commercialization

The CSU Technology Transfer Office (TTO) has entered into an option agreement with YST Diagnostics, Inc., a startup company formed by Dr. Siu-Tung Yau, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). The option agreement provides YST Diagnostics with a six-month period to exclusively negotiate with the TTO to in-license the intellectual property portfolio for Dr. Yau’s electrochemical biosensor technology. A specific application of the technology for food was previously licensed to ProteoSense, Inc., an early stage diagnostic company.

Contact Jack Kraszewski for assistance with a disclosure to begin the process of protecting your invention or intellectual property.

Startup Funding

Join Health-Tech Corridor (HTC) and Jumpstart for an informational breakfast about the Health-Tech Corridor Attraction Fund. Attendees will learn about Fund specifics, how to apply, and other resources available to startup companies in the Health-Tech Corridor. The Fund is looking for investment opportunities with a low barrier to entry, a large addressable market, and strong exit potential.

The event will be held on March 22, 2018 at Midtown Cleveland, Inc.’s offices. Registration information can be found here.

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Internal Funding News

2018-2019 Faculty Scholarship Initiative (FSI) Awards Announced

The Office of Research is pleased to announce the funding of an exciting portfolio of Faculty Scholarship Initiative (FSI) projects for the 2018-2019 academic year. Twenty-six proposals were submitted, and sixteen proposals were funded across four colleges (CLASS, Urban Affairs, Education and Human Services, and Business). The FSI awards demonstrate the breadth of scholarship at CSU, with projects being funded in literature, art, health, government, psychology, theater, religion, immigration, human sexuality, and more. The Office of Research thanks the reviewers for their hard work and congratulates the FSI recipients!

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Research Seminars

The Origin of Whales: Multidisciplinary Research Seminar

Dr. J. G. M. ‘Hans’ Thewissen, the Ingalls-Brown Professor of Anatomy and Embryology at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), will be featured at the next Multidisciplinary Research Seminar, hosted by the Office of Research on Friday, April 6, 2018. Dr. Thewissen will discuss the remarkable recent discovery of fossil evidence that documents the evolution of whales from land mammals to aquatic mammals, and the synergistic roles played by researchers in geochemistry and sensory biology, in his presentation Interdisciplinary approach to evolution:  the case of the origin of whales. The seminar will take place from 12:00-1:15 pm in PH-104. Lunch will be provided.

Upcoming Research Seminars Across Campus

The Cleveland Alliance For Education Research (CAER): Collaborative research between school districts and research institutions to improve student outcomes
Dr. Matthew Linick, CMSD and Dr. Adam Voight, Cleveland State University
March 27, 4:00-5:00 pm in Center for Innovation in Medical Professions Room 225

Effect of hydration on mechanical properties of anion exchange membranes for fuel cells
Dr. Matthew Liberatore, University of Toledo
March 29, 3:00-4:00 pm in Washkewicz Hall 405

Modeling liquid crystal elastomers: shape morphing, auto-origami, and a light-driven wave machine
Dr. Robin Selinger, Kent State University
April 5, 3:00-4:00 pm in Washkewicz Hall 405

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Digital Research

Digital CSU: A Research and Teaching Community

Digitization has dramatically altered academic research and teaching. Digital archiving provides the promise of interaction with materials that would otherwise be difficult to access and preservation of collections that might be lost in the event of a flood, fire, or other catastrophic event. Textbooks and journal articles are increasingly paperless, while course materials have also seen significant shifts toward digital and virtual content. At Cleveland State, Digital CSU offers opportunities to learn about digital methods in research and teaching across disciplines and colleges. Digital CSU is organized by faculty members Dr. Shelly Rose (Department of History) and Emily Zickel (Department of English), and staff member Christopher Rennison from the Center for Instructional Technology and Distance Learning (CIT&DL).

You can learn more about Digital CSU at these upcoming events:

Digital Resources for Research & Pedagogy: A "3 minutes/3 slides" Lightning Session
March 27, 11:00-1:00 pm in the Michael Schwartz Library, RT 502

Digital Project Idea Workshop
April 10, 11:00-1:00 pm in the Michael Schwartz Library, RT 502

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