Research Grants | Case School of Engineering | Case Western Reserve University

Recent Funded Research Grants

Jul. 1, 2019

$149.69K | NSF | Soumyajit Mandal | "Distributed Electro-Mechnical Transmitters for Adaptive and Power-Efficient Wireless Communications in RF-Denied Environments"

This proposal will explore a fundamentally new all-mechanical approach to extremely low frequency transmitter design with the potential to enable efficient use of this region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Jun. 1, 2019

$175K | NSF | Kathryn Daltorio | "CRII: RI: Responsive Movement Primitives for Soft Robot Control"

We propose to combine the learnability and stability of dynamic movement primitives (DMPs) with the analyzable sequencing of stable heteroclinic channels (SHCs) in soft robotics applications.

Apr. 1, 2019

$600K | Air Force Office of Scientific Research | | ""

This proposed research will study plasma-liquid water interactions for liquid water jets and droplets.

Apr. 1, 2019

$75K | EPA | Daniel Lacks | "Ultra-Low-Cost Reusable Solar Disinfection Sensor"

This project is developing a low-cost, reusable sensor that changes color to notify the user that the water is safe to drink.

Mar. 4, 2019

$748.83K | Office of Naval Research | Kathryn Daltorio | "Control of Crab-like robots for amphibious terrain"

develop Compliant-legged Robots for Amphibious Behaviors in Surf Zones (CRABS) to expand the reachable map for terrestrial and marine robots.

Jan. 2, 2019

$2.2M | Cleveland Foundation | Kenneth Loparo | "IOT Collaborative II"

Continues funding to the IoT Collaborative, a joint effort between Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State and the city of Cleveland, to catalyze efforts in the region to bring national research prominence to our region, strengthen our community and neighborhoods, and seize the $6.2 trillion economic opportunity of the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT).

Jan. 1, 2019

$1.35M | DOE | Roger French | "Towards 50 Year Lifetime PV Modules: Glass/Backsheet vs. Glass/Glass"

This project will determine the relative value of two different kinds of module construction for encapsulating photovoltaic cells: one of double-glass construction and the other known as glass/backsheet, where the backsheet is instead a multilayer polymer laminate.

Jan. 1, 2019

$155K | DOD Office of Naval Research | | ""

The main goal of this proposal is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of electronic and thermal breakdowns in multilayer films (MLFs) and develop viable approaches to further enhance their breakdown strength and lifetime.

Jan. 1, 2019

$210K | NSF | Fumi Takahashi | "Structure of Chemically inhibited Diffusion Flames"

The objective of the present project is to study the interactions of a gas-phase chemical inhibitor and the structure of coflow (cup-burner) diffusion flames, which bear some resemblance to real fires, and thereby gain better understanding of flame extinguishment and retardation mechanisms.

Dec. 14, 2018

$250K | DOE ARPA-E | Marija Prica | "Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow"

This project seeks to determine a minimum cost generation schedule to meet the demand for power at each node in a network while ensuring the integrity of the transmission network and all assets.

Oct. 1, 2018

$600K | NASA | Burcu Gurkan | "NASA-Early Career Poly(ionic liquid)-ionic liquid membranes reinforced by graphene sheets for CO2 capture and conversion in microgravity"

Focuses on air-ionic liquid, solid-ionic liquid and vacuum-ionic liquid interfaces in microgravity environment for on-board CO2 removal from air, taking advantage of the high absorption capacity and selectivity of ionic liquids (ILs) towards CO2.

Sep. 30, 2018

$542.29K | DOD U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Acvity | Rakesh Shiradkar | "Noninvasive Risk Stratification of Prostate Cancer Patients Using Radiomic Features Derived from Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) and MRI"

Develop robust, non-invasive methods to accurately stratify prostate cancer patients into various risk categories and allow for low-risk patients to get on to active surveillance and high-risk patients to receive radical therapies.

Sep. 15, 2018

$100K | NSF | Dustin Tyler | "Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center for Human, Machine, and Network Functional, Symbiotic Integration on Neural Systems (Human Fusions)"

We are proposing an Engineering Research Center for Functional, Symbiotic Integration on Neural Systems (FUSIONS). The purpose of our research is to understand the science and technology that are now possible to connect human with machine.

Sep. 15, 2018

$453K | NSF | Robert Gao | "Intelligent human-robot collaboration for smart factory"

Design, develop and systematically evaluate in a realistic manufacturing setting an intelligent human-robot collaboration system enabled by ubiquitous sensing, customized cognition, realtime prediction, and intelligent control methods, which ensure operation safety and production efficiency, for deployment on the factory floor.

Sep. 13, 2018

$200K | NIH | Ozan Akkus | "Immunoregenerative treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence by Autologous Macrophage Therapy"

Enhance the immunoregenerative capacity of M2 macrophages by modulating genipin crosslinking dose and via IL-4 delivery in vitro; and, determine an effective cell seeding density that will enhance connective tissue formation and neovascularization in vivo.

Sep. 1, 2018

$299.97K | NSF | Ya-Ting Liao | "Ignition Propensity of Structural Materials Exposed to Firebrand in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires"

The goal of this research is to improve the understanding of firebrand ignition mechanisms.

Sep. 1, 2018

$110K | American Chemical Society | Mark De Guire | "Chemical Expansivity in Ceramic Oxygen Transport Materials"

Developing modular, portable, reliable methane reformers to convert natural gas syngas at wellheads, with the potential for subsequent conversion to (for example) higher- value hydrocarbons or hydrogen for carbon-free electricity.

Sep. 1, 2018

$403.39K | NSF | Huichun (Judy) Zhang | " Synthetic Manganese Oxides for Oxidative and Catalytic Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern"

The proposed research aims to examine the oxidative and catalytic reactivity of a variety of synthetic Mn oxides (MnOx) in removing emerging contaminants (ECs) from water, wastewater and contaminated sites.

Sep. 1, 2018

$358.46K | NSF | Huichun (Judy) Zhang | "Predictive Modeling of Multi-Solute Adsorption Equilibrium based on adsorbed Solution Theories"

The proposed research aims to develop predictive models for multisolute adsorption equilibria of a number of organic contaminants (OCs) by two common adsorbents, in both the absence and presence of natural organic matter (NOM).

Sep. 1, 2018

$100K | NSF | Gary Wnek | "Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center for Advanced Films & Packaging"

The vision of the proposed ERC is to establish a team of academic and industrial researchers to define, develop and deploy solutions to the most urgent problems associated with the global polymeric materials packaging industry.

Aug. 10, 2018

$10.75M | DOE | Robert Savinell | "Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage (BEES)"

Establish a new EFRC to identify new battery chemistries with the potential to provide large, long-lasting energy storage solutions for buildings or the power grid.

Jul. 1, 2018

$1.97M | NIH | Andrew Rollins | "Noninvasive Assessment of the Cornea by Diffusion OCT"

We have developed a new optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based method to detect and map corneal mechanical properties that has advantages that may make it readily translatable to clinical use. The objective of this proposal is to determine whether this technique is clinically feasible and useful by refining the technology, testing it in animal and human donor corneas, and performing studies in patients with corneal conditions of interest.

Jul. 1, 2018

$50K | Reinberger Foundation | | ""

Support for students to create and innovate using resources at Sears think[box]. All Case Western Reserve students can apply to receive up to $2,500 in project funding through this unique program.

Jul. 1, 2018

$426.54K | DOD Office of Naval Research | John Lewandowski | "Process-Structure-Property Study of CP-Ti Produced via High Deposition AM Laser-Hot Wire"

This project seeks to improve the understanding of high-deposition LHW processing of Grade 2 CP-Ti and the variables that affect structure/chemistry/properties; and determine the effects of processing conditions and build/volume thickness on the strength, ductility and fracture toughness of LHW-processed Grade 2 CP-Ti for different thickness and orientations.

Jul. 1, 2018

$500K | NSF | Alp Sehirlioglu | "CAREER Award: Controlled Processing of Self-Assembly in Single Crystal Oxide Films"

This work seeks to build self-assembled, higher-dimensional superstructures and to form those structures for the first time as single-crystal thin film.

Jul. 1, 2018

$450K | DOD Office of Naval Research | John Lewandowski | "Investigating the Mechanical Behavior of 5XXX Aluminum Alloy Structures on HMCS Iroquois/Athabaskan"

This work will investigate the microstructure-property relationships in 5XXX Aluminum Alloy(s) samples from the decommissioned HMCS Iroquois and HMCS Athabaskan to evaluate the effects of more than 40 years of service-related exposures to environmental/thermal excursions on the current microstructure and current mechanical properties of pedigree material.

Jun. 1, 2018

$300K | Vodafone Americas Foundation | Umut Gurkan | "SMART-Sickle and Malaria Accurate Remote Testing"

Infrastructure to diagnose, track, and monitor individuals with malaria and/or sickle cell disease is not developed in Africa, which directly contributes to high mortality rates. With eHealth Africa, we plan to establish the first electronic health record system to diagnose, track, and monitor sickle cell and malaria patients in Nigeria.

Jun. 1, 2018

$375K | DOD Office of Naval Research | Arthur Heuer | "Fundamental Studies on the Formation of Protective Oxide Scales on Structural Metals and Alloys"

This project seeks to understand the reactive element effect that is so effective in enhancing the oxidation resistance of Fe-based and Ni-based high temperature structural alloys.

Apr. 15, 2018

$1.7M | NIH | Musa Audu | "Enhancing Seated Stability and Reaching After Spinal Cord Injury"

This project will determine the feasibility of a new comprehensive trunk postural control system for implanted neuroprostheses that restores functional seated balance to individuals with various levels of spinal cord injury.

Mar. 8, 2018

$3.15M | NIH | Anant Madabhushi | "Quantitative Histomorphometric Risk Classifier (QuHbIC) in HPV + Oropharyngeal Carcinoma"

This project seeks to optimize and validate a quantitative histomorphometric-based image classifier (QuHbIC) to better risk stratify survival among p16+ (Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related) OPSCC patients.

Mar. 1, 2018

$1.5M | NIH | Hunter Peckham | "Restoration of Grasp and Reach in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury"

This work is focused on restoration of hand and reaching functions for people with cervical level spinal cord injury.

Jan. 1, 2018

$3.15M | NIH | Anant Madabhushi | "Computerized Histologic Risk Predictor (CHiRP) for Early Stage Lung Cancers"

Aims to establish the computerized histologic risk predictor (CHiRP)—an approach that relies solely on computer extracted morphologic measurements from standard H&E tissue slide images to predict early recurrence in early stage non-small-cell lung cancer—as a predictive Affordable Precision Medicine solution.

Jan. 1, 2018

$150K | NephCure Kidney International | Anant Madabhushi | "Foundational tool-box for the NEPTUNE platform"

Efficient computational annotation of histologic primitives in the NEPTUNE dataset will enable discovery of structures that reveal molecular mechanisms or are prognostic biomarkers in future studies by consortium investigators. Project will develop and test foundational Apps (tool-box) of the NEPTUNE Digital Pathology-based Analytic hiSto-omicS intErrogation plaTform (NDP- ASSET) for segmentation of normal and pathologic classes of structural primitives

Jan. 1, 2018

$1.75M | Cleveland Foundation | Kenneth Loparo | "IoT Collaborative"

Establishes the IoT Collaborative, a joint effort between Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State and the city of Cleveland, to catalyze efforts in the region to bring national research prominence to our region, strengthen our community and neighborhoods, and seize the $6.2 trillion economic opportunity of the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT).

Dec. 1, 2017

$1.2M | US Air Force Office of Scientific Research | Alp Sehirlioglu | "Controlled nanostructures of atomically thin 2D oxides for next generation functional materials"

Aims to clarify and establish processing requirements for 2-D metal oxides to access these materials down to the smallest level—mono- and nano-layers—and control their lateral size, crystallographic structure and electrical properties.

Nov. 1, 2017

$80K | Council to Advance Human Health | Anirban Sen Gupta | "SynthoPlate: Synthetic Platelet for Hemorrhage Control"

Study toxicity of SynthoPlate in biologic model to determine maximum tolerated dose, and study single-dose pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study in biologic model

Nov. 1, 2017

$300K | NSF | Ya-Ting Liao | "Flame Spread in Confined Space"

This proposal will study fire behaviors and flame spread in confined spaces, specifically, the interactions between spreading flames and the surrounding walls. The goal of this project is to provide fundamental understanding of this interaction that will lead to better designs and development of new fire safety codes.

Oct. 1, 2017

$108.3K | China High-speed Railway Holding Co, Ltd | Xiangwu Zeng | "Exploratory research on inspection of bridges for high-speed railways"

Review current technologies in using drones and robotics for inspection of bridge pier, look into the combination of the advanced technologies in image analysis and develop a systematic way of coordinating the advantages of drones, robotics, image analysis and human inspection for the efficient and effective inspection of bridge piers for high-speed railways

Oct. 1, 2017

$300K | U.S. Department of Energy | Mark De Guire | "Operating Stresses and their Effects on Degradation of LSM-Based SOFC Cathodes"

Seeks to understand the impact of operating conditions and stages of performance loss on specific microstructural changes in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes based on lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM).

Oct. 1, 2017

$745.04K | NSF | Roger Quinn | "A Structure-Math-Function Approach For Designing Robustly Intelligent Synthetic Nervous Systems"

Looks to expand the scale and sophistication of synthetic nervous systems (SNS), a continuous time dynamical model of the insect nervous system, which will be implemented to control our six-legged MantisBot, endowing it with online learning and intelligent autonomy. Also will investigate its distributed intelligence.

Oct. 1, 2017

$1.64M | U.S. Department of Energy | Roger French | "Reliability and Power Degradation Rates of PERC Modules"

Explores the reliability and power degradation rates of PERC modules using differentiated packaging strategies and characterization tools

Sep. 30, 2017

$969.21K | Department of Defense | Anirban Sen Gupta | "SynthoPlate Nanotechnology for Intravenous Hemostasis and Wound Healing in Prolonged Field Care"

Evaluate the point-of-care hemostatic efficacy and spatio-temporally targeted wound healing treatment applicability of the SynthoPlate nanotechnology in appropriate biologic models, with a vision to translate this technology for prolonged combat casualty care in a far forward setting.

Sep. 15, 2017

$1.77M | NIH | Xin Yu | "Phosphorus-31 MR Spectroscopic Imaging and Fingerprinting"

Seeks to translate 1H MRS/I (magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging) approaches to develop clinically feasible 31P MRS/I methods for in vivo assessment of mitochondrial function in diabetic muscle.

Sep. 15, 2017

$999.4K | NSF | Roger Quinn | "CPS:Medium: Integrated Control Of Biological And Mechanical Power For Standing And Gait Stability After Paralysis"

Engineering of CPS System Design and Verification will be addressed—How can cyber physical walking systems (CPWS) be designed to be safe, secure, and resilient in a variety of unanticipated disturbances? How can this mixed autonomous system with a human in the loop be verified? CPS Real-time Control and Adaptation will also be targeted—How can real-time dynamic control and behavior adaptation be achieved in a diversity of environments?

Sep. 1, 2017

$678.34K | Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA | Musa Audu | "Enhancing seated stability and reaching after spinal cord injury"

Seeks to develop new control systems to restore seated function and enhance the postural stability of the trunk for individuals paralyzed by spinal cord injury (SCI). Systems that provide persons with the ability to sit erect, alter their seated posture, and maintain balance by automatically adjusting stimulation to the paralyzed muscles will be designed, optimized in simulation, and evaluated experimentally in five volunteers with SCI. The project will result in a unique, comprehensive trunk balance control system that extends the capabilities and improves the safety of all currently available trunk neuroprostheses.

Sep. 1, 2017

$50K | Electrochemical Society | Julie Renner | "ECS Toyota Young Investigator"

Studying self-assembled templates for ultra-high utilization of noble metals in electrolysis membrane electrode assemblies

Sep. 1, 2017

$399.92K | NSF | | ""

Sep. 1, 2017

$76K | National Academy of Sciences | | ""

Seeks to understand hazards associated with coastal community risks and to examine the safety of critical oil and gas infrastructural systems exposed to such hazards. Three main tasks to accomplish the research objectives are to assess coastal- flooding hazards, to evaluate the fragility of oil and gas systems, and to assess hydrocarbon release-induced hazards.

Sep. 1, 2017

$446.69K | NSF | | ""

Seeks to synthesize and characterize heavily doped nanodiamonds for plasmonic applications.

Sep. 1, 2017

$354.23K | NSF | Joao Maia | "NANO-BLOOD: Modeling of BLOOD Flow and Vascular Wall Adhesion of Functionalized Non-Axisymmetric NANOcarriers"

There is a critical need to integrate computation modeling into nanomedical engineering approaches to provide a platform for the rational design of clinically effective nanomedicines. To address this need, the team will use computational modeling at the mesoscale to model and optimize blood floor and vascular wall adhesion of functionalized non-axisymmetric nanocarriers as a function of their size, shape, surface chemicstry and particle modulus.

Sep. 1, 2017

$500K | NSF | Michael Hore | "CAREER: Strong Responses in Weak Systems – the Physics of Soft Particle Translocation"

Seeks to uncover and understand fundamental principles in polymer physics that will lead to simple materials that do not require strong external stimuli to elicit a strong response. Aims to investigate the impact of cononsolvency and n-clustering on the transport of polymeric nanoparticles through a single, strongly confining nanopore.

Sep. 1, 2017

$110K | American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund | | ""

Aims to achieve fundamental understanding of the effect of induced dipolar interactions on electrostriction in elastomer/high k particle nanocomposites via an integrated theoretical simulation and experimental study. In theoretical simulation, our preliminary results indicate that the enhanced local field in the elastomer matrix, especially that between neighboring chained particles along the applied field direction, is responsible for the large electrostrictive effect.

Aug. 1, 2017

$1.92M | NIH | Eben Alsberg | "Engineering a self-assembled, multi-tissue tracheal replacement"

Seeks to develop a tracheal replacement with the proper radial rigidity, vascularization and respiratory epithelium. Will fuse tissue rings into a composite tissue tube comprised of multiple cell types with controlled, localized growth factor presentation, and evaluate its ability to serve as a tracheal replacement in a biologic model in vivo.

Aug. 1, 2017

$200K | DOE | Ramanathan Sankaran | "Collaborative Research: Understanding Nanoparticle-Plasma Interactions in Dusty Non-Thermal Plasmas by Nanoparticle Probes and Online Aerosol Characterization"

This study combines aerosol and plasma science to yield new insights into the unique interactions of nanoparticles and plasma species which can impact dust mitigation in semiconductor device fabrication and nanoparticle synthesis for emerging applications in catalysis, nanoelectronics, photonics, and medicine

Jul. 1, 2017

$320K | NSF | Rohan Akolkar | "A Scalable Electrochemical Approach for the Atomic Layer Etching of Metals"

In the proposed project, the team will demonstrate the feasibility of a novel electrochemical concept with potential to enable the atomic layer etching of metals.

Jun. 1, 2017

$369.8K | NSF | Uzi Landau | "REU Site: Electrochemical Engineering - Harnessing Electrons to Run Processes: From Batteries and Fuel-Cells to Microelectronics and Sensors"

The objective of this project is to establish a new REU site to introduce undergraduate students to electrochemical engineering research, acquaint them with the discipline and attract them to continue their graduate studies and professional work in this area.