Rep. Sykes Announces More than $1.15 Million in Federal Funding for the University of Akron

Rep. Sykes Announces More than $1.15 Million in Federal Funding for the University of Akron

AKRON, OH - Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced that the University of Akron received five federal research grants totaling $1,152,293 from the National Science Foundation.

"Ohio's 13th Congressional District has long been known for its scientific innovation and creativity - and the University of Akron plays a huge role in that. These grants will support projects to help ensure the University of Akron continues to lead the way to a future in technology that creates jobs and opportunities for our region," said Rep. Sykes.

The grants recently awarded include:

• $358,040 for a project titled, "Decoding Macroion Self-Assembly and Solvation: A Multi-Scale Computational Approach to Self-Recognition." This project will research how large, charged molecules called macroions interact and self-organize in liquid environments. These molecules are important in nature and in materials science, and they sometimes show unusual behaviors such as recognizing similar molecules or forming stable, hollow, shell-like structures resembling blackberries. These behaviors are not well explained by existing scientific models.

• $363,657 for a project titled, "Advancing Sustainable Technology And Recycling for Composite Materials." This grant provides University of Akron students with first-rated research experience in composite materials through combined training and mentorship in world-renowned laboratories at several partner universities in Japan. The funds allow 18 undergraduate and graduate students to spend eight weeks each summer for 3 years at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Agricultural and Technology, and Nagoya University. This international research opportunity exposes U.S. students to global mindsets and learning ecosystems to pick up knowledge and skills from the best in the field of composite materials. The students conduct research on recycling of composite materials with focus on long term use, lower costs, and energy efficient processes.

• $199,999 for a project titled, "A Noble Approach to Design Polymer Nanocomposites for Partial Discharge Free Electric Machine Winding Insulation." This project aims to address the accelerated aging of motor winding insulation by developing a partial discharge-resistant insulation material for electric machines powered by fast-switching pulse width modulated inverters. The broader impacts of the project include enhancing dielectric reliability across power and energy sectors; training the next generation of electrical insulation engineers; and engaging K?12 students through hands-on STEM activities to foster interest in dielectric and insulation materials.

• $128,479 for a project titled, "Collaborative Research: Practical Coded Matrix Computation." This project will investigate ways to make large data sets, such as large language models, more efficient by mitigating the effect of stragglers in the specific context of distributed matrix computations. This project will also provide training for students in the usage of cloud platforms. In addition, the project also involves outreach activities to local schools for mathematics tutoring and the creation of K-12 computer science modules.

• $102,118 for a project titled, "Innovating Studies of Agricultural Economies." This project will involve studying agrarian economies and land-use impacts, focusing on how people bring new areas under cultivation, how agriculture shapes economic supply chains, and the impact of new settlements, population growth, and agricultural extensification on regional land-use. The results of this study will provide a technologically informed model for the study of agrarian economies.