The academics section of the Drexel Engineering website has received a major update, including the creation of separate sections for undergraduate and graduate programs and revised department academic sections. Launched just before the new year, the new architecture aims to improve the user experience for prospective students through a reduction of clicks required to find important program information and increase ways for them interact with the college and apply. Additionally, content structure and consistent value proposition aims to improve the site's visibility through search engine optimization.

We are seeking feedback on a new internal budget template for NSF proposals. This budget template is intended to assist faculty and staff in the budget creation process with a format that follows NSF guidelines and is easy to navigate. You can download the budget template here. Please remember that budgets developed in this template are not final or official. This template is intended for planning purposes only. COEUS is still the university's official system of record for proposal budgets and must be used to finalize proposal budgets in accordance with university requirements. Please send all feedback to Chad Morris (cam83@drexel.edu) and Andy Sabol (aws63@drexel.edu).

Faculty are encouraged to apply for any of the Provost's Awards, in particular the Faculty Summer Research Award (by 2/28), Faculty Bridge Funding Awards (by 2/25), and Scholarly Materials and Research Equipment Awards (by 2/25). Please notify Dorilona Rose (dr62@drexel.edu) if you will be applying for any awards.

Joshua Lequieu, PhD, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering, received a grant from the Charles E. Kauffman Foundation, which supports innovative and interdisciplinary scientific research at Pennsylvania universities. Lequieu explores a newer class of intracellular compartments called biomolecular condensates. Better understanding of these compartments could lead to innovations in treating disease.

Grace Hsuan, PhD, professor of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering, has received funds as part of an NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 award to collaborate on a project with SusMax LLC. SusMax works to significantly reduce coal ash’s negative impact on the environment and human safety by utilizing patent-pending technology to cost-effectively convert coal ash to valuable lightweight aggregate (LWA) that is widely used in the construction industry. This project, entitled “Sustainable Engineering of Lightweight Aggregate for Concrete Use from Waste Coal Combustion Ash,” aims to convert waste coal combustion ash into value added products and to increase the accessibility of construction LWA for use in the concrete industry.

The I-Corps Northeast Hub, of which Drexel is an affiliate member, runs training programs to help faculty and student researchers explore how their discovery can meet the needs of people and industries. Researchers work as teams alongside an experienced mentor as they evaluate market opportunities and gather input from potential customers. Teams are eligible for grants of up to $3,000 for program-related expenses.

The first four-session program kicks off on Feb. 28 and continues March 2, 9, and 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET online. Applications are due Jan. 31. Researchers are invited to attend an info session Friday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. ET online. Learn more and apply for the program at icorpsnortheasthub.org.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center for a panel discussion featuring past recipients of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching on January 20 at 12:30 p.m. Panelists will reflect on their development as instructors, share a few of their most rewarding classroom experiences, and answer a few general questions about teaching. The panel discussion will be followed by a brief presentation about this year’s Lindback Award application process and timeline. Due to current COVID-19 requirements, this year’s event will be hosted through Zoom, but please feel free to bring lunch with you. Registration is required.

Research by Michael Waring, PhD, a professor in the College of Engineering, debunking the myth that plants can contribute to improving indoor air quality, was cited in a Dec. 22 PolitiFact post looking into claims that snake plants can produce enough oxygen for humans to live in a sealed room.

Abieyuwa Aghayere, PhD, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, was quoted in a Dec. 30 Miami Herald column about the decades of problems that led to the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo complex in Surfside, Florida. He was also featured in a story for the paper on how inspection procedures for high-rise buildings should be changed in light of the tragedy. The second piece was distributed via the McClatchy News Service and picked up by a number of affiliates.

Full Proposal Deadline: February 1, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 2, 2022

Letter of Intent (required) Deadline: February 8, 2022

Track 1 (Methodologies and Methods) Full Proposal Deadline: February 15, 2022

Letter of Intent (required for Phase 1 full proposals only) Deadline: February 16, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 17, 2022

Preliminary Proposal (required) Deadline: March 2, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: March 2, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: March 7, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: March 8, 2022

Preliminary Proposal (required) Deadline: March 9, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: March 29, 2022

Full Proposal Due April 4, 2022

Rolling Deadline

See DCL for more details regarding submission

See DCL for more details regarding submission

See DCL for more details regarding submission

See DCL for more details regarding deadlines

See DCL for more details regarding submission

See DCL for more details regarding submission

Full Proposal Deadline: February 2, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 4, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 4, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 4, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 9, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 1, 2022

Letter of Intent (required) Deadline: February 4, 2022

Letter of Intent (required) Deadline: February 4, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: February 10, 2022

Drexel University shared preliminary 2023 fringe benefit rates for sponsored projects. These rates are not final until we receive the official rate letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); however, significant changes are not expected when they are finalized. Current and prior year rates and rate agreements can be found here on the fringe benefit rates page of the Research Accounting website.