Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mehdi Farasat (College of Engineering) will lead a team to enhance the security and reliability of the power grid by using battery systems and intelligent controllers to protect against cyberattacks. Collaborators on the project include Shuangqing Wei, professor of electrical and computer engineering (College of Engineering), and Xugui Zhou, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science and engineering (College of Engineering). Defense, Energy

Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Wan-Chun Su (College of Human Sciences & Education) will lead a team to better understand how people move through social environments and how our gait pattern and brain activity change as we navigate around people and obstacles. The researchers will build and use a virtual reality classroom for the study, which will help guide the development of training programs for individuals with social motor difficulties. Collaborators on the project include Nicholas Fears, assistant professor of kinesiology (College of Human Sciences & Education); Jason Jamerson, assistant professor of virtual production and immersive media (College of Art & Design, College of Music & Dramatic Arts); and Hyun Kim, assistant professor of kinesiology (College of Human Sciences & Education). Biomedicine

Professor of Construction Management Yimin Zhu (College of Engineering) will lead a team to study how building and energy systems can more effectively moderate the impact of extreme heat on local communities and vulnerable populations, such as children in schools and those who reside in senior living facilities. Collaborators on the project include Stephanie Broyles, associate professor of research at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and Shahab Mehraeen, professor of electrical and computer engineering (College of Engineering). Biotechnology, Coast, Energy

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Fabio Antonio Borges Vigil (LSU School of Veterinary Medicine) will lead a team to develop a new treatment for traumatic brain injury, which affects about 2.5 million people in the U.S. each year. The treatment could prevent the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier by reducing K+ current through Kv7.4 channels in star-shaped astrocytes, which are the dominant cells in the human central nervous system. Collaborators on the project include Oleg Klykov, assistant professor of biochemistry and structural biology, and Mark Shapiro, professor of cellular and integrative physiology, both at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. Biomedicine

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Víctor García-López (College of Science) will lead a team to demonstrate how to use light-activated, non-genetic molecular switches to control mechanosensitive channels in neurons. The technology could be used to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders, cancer, heart disease, and bacterial infections, as well as to develop more resilient crops. Collaborators on the project include Ryoichi Teruyama, professor of biological sciences (College of Science), and researchers at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Agriculture, Biomedicine

Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Robert Herbert (College of Engineering) will lead a team to use vascular electronics to improve outcomes for people with end-stage renal disease who are on hemodialysis, which requires vascular grafts that often fail. By embedding soft sensors, the team will enable wireless monitoring of the grafts. Collaborators on the project include Bruno Rego, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering (College of Engineering), and Dr. Hector Ferral, professor of clinical radiology (LSU Health New Orleans). Biomedicine

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Naohiro Kato (College of Science) will lead a team to help establish a microalgae industry in Louisiana by converting abandoned rice fields—lost to saltwater intrusion—into microalgae cultivation ponds. Microalgae absorb carbon dioxide from the air and can be used as biomass for energy production and to create medicines for conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Collaborators on the project include Sibel Bargu Ates, professor of oceanography and coastal sciences (College of Coast & Environment); John Flake, professor of chemical engineering (College of Engineering); Víctor García-López, assistant professor of chemistry (College of Science); Dr. Frank Greenway (Pennington Biomedical Research Center); Anurag Mandalika, assistant professor of research (Center for Energy Studies); Samuel Snow, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering (College of Engineering); and David Vinyard, associate professor of biological sciences (College of Science). Agriculture, Biomedicine, Coast, Energy

Assistant Professor of Construction Management Zhihong Pang (College of Engineering) will lead a team to develop a new, sustainable, and energy-efficient approach to building design, construction, and operation in coastal communities that are vulnerable to climate change and high energy costs. Collaborators on the project include Yaxin An, assistant professor of chemical engineering (College of Engineering); Huanping Huang, assistant professor of geography and anthropology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences); Rubayet Mostafiz, assistant professor and assistant director of research at LaHouse Research and Education Center (AgCenter); Anmol Soni, assistant professor of public administration (College of Business); and Yen-Fang Su, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering (College of Engineering). Coast, Defense, Energy

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ying Wang (College of Engineering) will lead a team to investigate the use of zinc-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for energy storage for buildings and power grids. The technology will enable more efficient use of renewable yet intermittent energy sources, such as solar. Collaborators on the project include Zhihong Pang, assistant professor of construction management (College of Engineering). Coast, Energy

Associate Professor of Experimental Music & Digital Media Jesse Allison (College of Music & Dramatic Arts, Center for Computation & Technology) will lead a team to integrate microspeakers into large LED panels and walls to create truly immersive experiences, including for crowds. Collaborators on the project include Stephen Beck, professor of music (College of Music & Dramatic Arts, Center for Computation & Technology), and Derick Ostrenko, associate professor of digital art (College of Art & Design, Center for Computation & Technology).

Assistant Professor of Film and Television Rachel Bardin (College of Music & Dramatic Arts) will hire a full-time editor to create a rough cut of her documentary film Coquina about the clashes in St. Augustine, Florida, over Castillo de San Marcos, a fort where Seminole, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, Caddo, and Apache people were held captive throughout the 1800s. The film follows people who work to tear the fort down, those who diligently repair it, and those who wish to transform it from the inside out.

Assistant Professor of English Saumya Lal (College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will complete her book, The Ambiguities of Empathy: Violence, Trauma, and Reconciliation in Postcolonial Conflict Fiction (2001-2020). Demonstrating how empathy can both perpetuate and mitigate conflict, Lal’s inquiry locates the ethical promise of postcolonial fiction in enabling critical evaluations of our empathic interactions.

Professor of Art and Sculpture Malcolm McClay (College of Art & Design) will lead a team to create a performance, Unwinding the Universe, that will present—on a visceral level—the lived experience of someone with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, using objects, movements, sounds, text, and research. Collaborators on the project include Stephen Beck, professor of music (College of Music & Dramatic Arts, Center for Computation & Technology); Elia Soto, assistant professor of psychology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences); and Travis Brisini, assistant professor of communication studies (College of Humanities & Social Sciences).

LSU Assistant Professor of Film and Television Vanessa Uhlig (College of Music & Dramatic Arts) will lead a team to create a 22-minute documentary pilot, A Paradise of Small Houses. Based on a book by Max Podemski, Uhlig’s documentary will tell the story of the archetypical New Orleans home, the shotgun, through personal stories and showcase how something as simple as the design of the buildings we live in can foster, or threaten, community and social wellbeing.

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and History Lauren Horn Griffin (College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will lead a team to organize a collaborative to shed light on the role of artificial intelligence in the shaping of religious, social, and political identities. Collaborators on the project include Lauren Coats, associate professor of English (College of Humanities & Social Sciences).

Assistant Professor of English Alexandra Meany (College of Humanities & Social Sciences) will complete a book, Urban Removal: Post-war U.S. Multi-Ethnic Literatures and Geographies of Struggle, about novels that engage urban renewal in the U.S. from the 1940s to the 1980s when both race and housing were “renewed” and contested. Meany’s work addresses questions such as what counts as proper housing and who belongs in a city—central in today’s expanding housing crisis.

Associate Professor of Architecture Kristopher Palagi (College of Art & Design) will lead a team to explore the structural, thermal, and economic efficacy of new building components for low-cost resilient housing. The researchers will construct and test a new type of vaulted, insulated metal roof panel and use it in a full-scale mockup, a pavilion, while weighing the material costs against the benefits of increased construction speed, safety, durability, and integration of electrical systems. Collaborators on the project include Kirby Hebert, professional in residence in construction management (College of Engineering); Soo Jeong Jo, assistant professor of architecture (College of Art & Design); Sabarethinam Kameshwar, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering (College of Engineering); and Yimin Zhu, professor of construction management (College of Engineering).

Assistant Professor of Sport Management Yizhou Qian (College of Human Sciences & Education) will use natural language processing to analyze news and social media narratives about female athletes to examine how perceived warmth and competence intersect with gender, race, and sports. (Think Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two standout figures in women’s basketball, and their ongoing struggle for equitable recognition.)

Assistant Professor of Experimental Music & Digital Media Christopher Trapani (College of Music & Dramatic Arts) will organize a Summit for Adventurous Electric Guitar in the Gulf South, where he aims to gather academics, researchers, manufacturers, and performers all working on creative approaches to electric guitar performance, effects, composition, and interactive electronics.

Assistant Professor of Economics Paola Ugalde (LSU College of Business) will lead a project to examine how political polarization has impacted college enrollment choices over the past five decades. Using historical data and surveys, Ugalde aims to understand how political sorting—students choosing colleges based on political leanings—has contributed to changes in the political composition of college campuses, educational inequality, and the growing partisan divide in views on higher education in the U.S.

Assistant Professor of Interior Design Huili Wang (College of Art & Design) will lead a team to investigate how the physical environments of public libraries can better accommodate neurodivergent users. Through stakeholder interviews and environmental assessments, the researchers will identify physical barriers and develop adaptable, sensory-friendly design guidelines for Louisiana libraries and beyond. Collaborators on the project include Nicholas Fears, assistant professor of kinesiology (Collage of Human Sciences & Education); Helena Fietz, assistant professor of geography and anthropology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences); and Michael Holt, head of research and instruction services at LSU Libraries.

Assistant Professor of Horn Johanna Yarbrough (College of Music & Dramatic Arts) will commission music that celebrates minority composers and minority performers. Her goal is to record an album of the commissioned works, including a 15-minute, multi-movement sonata for French horn and trombone by LSU Professor of Composition Brian Nabors performed by Yarbrough and Kenneth Thompkins, an African American professor of trombone at Michigan State University.

Professor of Biological Sciences Steven Hand (College of Science) will organize an international training conference entitled MiPschool 2025, the fourteenth installment of the Mitochondrial Physiology Society’s flagship training school focused on cellular bioenergetics. Keynote speakers include Professors George Brooks (University of California, Berkeley), Alexander Galkin (Weill Cornell Medical College), Chuck Hoppel (Case Western Reserve University), Martin Jastrock (Stockholm University, Sweden), and Darryl Neufer (Bowman Gray School of Medicine). Participants will include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professor-level scientists wishing to extend their understanding of fundamental concepts in mitochondrial physiology from basic research to environmental adaptation and health and disease.

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Information Systems Andrew Schwarz (College of Business) will organize a Digital Twin Symposium Series.

Professor of Kinesiology Chad Seifried (College of Human Sciences & Education) will organize a colloquium on sports management research to establish awareness, common ground, collegial space, networking opportunities, and set expectations for research production and impact.

Professor of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Mark Benfield (College of the Coast & Environment) organized a reception to introduce the new LSU Litter Institute and engage stakeholders from over one hundred cities and industry on plastic pollution in the Mississippi River as part of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) meeting in Baton Rouge on September 17-19, 2024.

Associate Professor English Michael Bibler (College of Humanities & Social Sciences) is organizing Futures of the Southern Gothic, which will bring two high-profile scholars to speak at LSU and host two public webinars between September and November 2025 to bring together national and international scholars who are contributing essays to the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of the Southern Gothic. While the speakers will be grounded in the humanities, they will demonstrate how the southern gothic is crucial to understanding the South as whole, including the natural environment, political landscapes, business and industry, architecture, agriculture, social demographics, and more. Generally, southern gothic dwells in the darker aspects of southern culture and features recurring themes and tropes such as grotesque characters; decaying settings; supernatural elements; violence, madness, and moral decay; and oppressive or uninhabitable geographies.

Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Eric Burns (LSU College of Science) organized a workshop in Baton Rouge on September 23-26, 2024, to foster multidisciplinary research on explosive transients, such as supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. By bringing together astrophysics, gravitational physics, nuclear science, plasma physics, fluid dynamics, computational physics, particle physics, and atomic, molecular, and optical science, the workshop encouraged the use of information from diverse fields to interpret astrophysical observations. The workshop included more than 100 researchers, including a dozen representatives of the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and NASA.

Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Eileen Haebig (College of Humanities & Social Sciences) is organizing two two-day seminars at LSU in 2025 with two visiting clinical researchers with a long history of National Institutes of Health funding who will help LSU faculty from multiple colleges refine their research and grant writing strategies: Lisa Goffman and Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer. Haebig’s team includes LSU researchers in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Psychology, Education, Mechanical Engineering, Kinesiology, and Music.

Professor of Environmental Sciences Supratik Mukhopadhyay (College of the Coast & Environment) organized the Fourth International Conference on Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning Systems at LSU on October 8-11, 2024. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are anticipated to revolutionize every aspect of human life. The goal of the conference was to build new bridges between AI scientists, computer systems developers and engineers, and domain experts. Attendees included AI experts from UC Berkeley, Cornell, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, and Microsoft.

Associate Professor of Architecture Kristopher Palagi (College of Art & Design) is organizing a workshop at LSU in Spring 2025 that will bring together architecture students with local and regional practicing architects and public officials. The goal of the workshop is to identify a pedagogical framework for developing professional architects who have the skills to tackle the unique housing demands of the South. The workshop will be followed by an advanced architectural course in Fall 2025 and a book proposal.

Director of the LSU School of Theatre Kristin Sosnowsky (College of Music & Dramatic Arts) and Professor of Biological Sciences Vince LiCata are organizing a SciArt Play Festival at LSU in April 2025. Three playwrights will be invited to staged readings of their plays selected from a national solicitation with over 170 submissions on topics ranging from genetic engineering to neuroscience, anthropology, AI, climatology, chemistry, oceanography, microbiology, astronomy and astrophysics, virology, math, and paleontology. The staged readings will be open to the public and a prominent research scientist will be invited to speak on the topic of one of the selected plays.

Associate Professor Chun Yang (Manship School of Mass Communication) is organizing a Psychophysiological Research Symposium at LSU in March 2025. Renowned scholars with expertise in psychophysiological methods will be invited as speakers to foster psychophysiological research and facilitate interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations. Psychophysiological research is widely used in social and behavioral sciences and in the study of how people respond to messages. LSU is poised to lead in this research area since the Manship School Media Effects Lab is one of few facilities in the United States with psychophysiological research capabilities.

Professor of Environmental Sciences Supratik Mukhoppadhyay (College of Coast  This proposal seeks support for the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning Systems (AIMLSystems 2024) to be held at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Baton Rouge, LA between 8th-11th October, 2024.

Eric Burns -  The workshop goals are to identify opportunities in multidisciplinary studies, both in using information from other fields to interpret astrophysical observations, but also to use astrophysical observations to probe outstanding questions.

Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences Thomas Douthat (College of the Coast & Environment) will lead a team to establish the Louisiana Social, Environmental and Economic Resilience (LA-SEER) Center to advance science-driven risk and resilience management and planning. Louisiana's per-capita natural hazard losses continue to rise because of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and more. LA-SEER will build and engage the public in using integrative models and decision tools, leading to the creation of an LSU Risk Engine. Collaborators on the project include Carol Friedland, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering and director of LaHouse Research & Education Center (LSU AgCenter); Robert Rohli, professor of oceanic and atmospheric sciences (College of the Coast & Environment); Rubayet Mostafiz, assistant professor of research at LaHouse Research & Education Center (LSU AgCenter); Md Adil Rahim, assistant professor of research at LaHouse Research & Education Center (LSU AgCenter); Ayat Al Assi, post-doctoral associate at LaHouse Research & Education Center (LSU AgCenter). Agriculture, Coast, Defense, Energy

Associate Professor of Kinesiology Guillaume Spielmann (College of Human Sciences & Education) will lead a team to establish the first center for athletic research in Louisiana, the Center for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, to support the health and performance of student athletes as well as warfighters, astronauts and first responders. The effort expands on growing collaborations between the flagship, LSU Health New Orleans and LSU Athletics, and the historic partnership signed by LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Health in 2022. Collaborators on the project include Neil Johannsen, professor of kinesiology (College of Human Sciences & Education); Shelly Mullenix, senior associate athletic trainer (LSU Athletics); Dr. Hollis O'Neal, associate professor of medicine (LSU Health New Orleans); Dr. Robert Zura, professor of orthopedic surgery (LSU Health New Orleans); Tiffany Stewart, professor and director of the Behavior Technology Laboratory (Pennington Biomedical Research Center). Biomedicine, Defense

Assistant Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Qi Cai (College of Engineering) will lead a research team to develop an eyedrop delivery system for retinoblastoma treatment. Retinoblastoma is the most frequent intraocular tumor in children, while existing treatments can be difficult to access. In low- and medium-income countries, the mortality from retinoblastoma is therefore as high as 70 percent. The outcome of this project will be an effective and less invasive approach to treat retinoblastoma, including at home. Collaborators on the project include Cristina Sabliov, professor of biological and agricultural engineering (College of Engineering); Carlos Astete, research professor of biological and agricultural engineering (College of Engineering); Renee Carter, professor of veterinary clinical sciences (School of Veterinary Medicine). Biomedicine

Professor of Kinesiology Senlin Chen (College of Human Sciences & Education) will lead a team to map disparities of childhood health and health predictors in Louisiana communities. Louisiana is consistently ranked as one of the least healthy states in the United States. A major reason is significant health disparities across geographic areas (where we are) and socio-demographic groups (who we are). This project will conduct a statewide analysis of childhood obesity, asthma, diabetes and social and behavioral determinants of health in ages 5-11 to find elevated risk hotspots. It will also strengthen existing collaborations with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Louisiana Healthcare Connections. Collaborators on the project include Fahui Wang, professor of geography and anthropology (College of Humanities and Social Sciences). Biomedicine

Assistant Professor of Construction Management Amirhosein Jafari (College of Engineering) will lead a research team to develop a center of human-robot collaboration for workforce development, focused on terrestrial and extraterrestrial construction. In the construction industry, there has been significant interest in automation and robotics as potential solutions to transform future construction frontiers. NASA’s Moon to Mars program, meanwhile, spurs global interest in sustained human missions. By building an immersive training environment for human-robot collaboration, the team will help create a future-ready interplanetary workforce. Collaborators on the project include Yimin Zhu, professor of construction management (College of Engineering); Andrew Webb, assistant professor of computer science (College of Engineering); Jennifer Qian, professor of education (College of Human Sciences & Education); Suniti Karunatillake, associate professor of geology and geophysics (College of Science); Jason Jamerson, assistant professor of virtual production and immersive media (College of Music & Dramatic Arts).

Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Amin Kargarian (College of Engineering) will lead a research team to develop an interconnected system-of-systems view of vital infrastructure in normal and adverse weather conditions, such as the power grid, water-sewer-stormwater systems, transportation networks and communication infrastructure—especially where low-income communities are disproportionately burdened by high energy costs. The goal of the research is to highlight hardships and develop cooperative strategies between communities and utilities to foster equitable resilience. Collaborators on the project include Celalettin Ozdemir, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering (College of Engineering); Sabarethinam Kameshwar, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering (College of Engineering); Paul Miller, assistant professor of oceanography and coastal science (College of the Coast & Environment); Frederick Weil, professor of sociology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences); Tim Slack, professor of sociology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences). Coast, Energy

Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Michael Khonsari (College of Engineering) will lead a team to establish a national center of excellence concentrated on the prediction, detection, mitigation and remediation of the degradation of materials critical to the energy transition, such as for pipes, valves and compressors used for hydrogen transport and storage. The proposed center will leverage LSU’s existing Center for Innovations in Structural Integrity Assurance, or CISIA, funded by the National Science Foundation. The project adds to recent LSU energy wins: H2TheFuture and Engines/FUEL. Collaborators on the project include Wenjin Meng, professor of mechanical and industrial engineering (College of Engineering); Les Butler, professor of chemistry (College of Science); Jyotsna Sharma, assistant professor of petroleum engineering (College of Engineering). Defense, Energy

Assistant Professor of Architecture Annicia Streete (College of Art & Design) will lead a research team to scan cultural landscapes, built environments and festivals on the Gulf Coast and in the Caribbean using drones, lidar and radiance fields. The goal of the project is to compile a rich dataset and create an immersive, high-fidelity record of coastal cultural heritage sites at risk because of natural disasters, land loss and sea level rise. Collaborators on the project include Brendan Harmon, assistant professor of landscape architecture (College of Art & Design); Brent Fortenberry, associate professor of landscape architecture (College of Art & Design); Hye Yeon Nam, associate professor of art (College of Art & Design); Farzaneh Oghazian, assistant professor of architecture (College of Art & Design). Coast

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Chao Sun (College of Engineering) will lead a team to advance resilient, cost-competitive and environmentally sustainable offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico where hurricanes are a major challenge. The work will improve the design, installation, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms while determining their effects on nearby ecosystems. Collaborators on the project include Paul Miller, assistant professor of oceanography and coastal sciences (College of the Coast & Environment); Celalettin Ozdemir, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering (College of Engineering); Junhong Liang, associate professor of oceanography and coastal sciences (College of the Coast & Environment). Coast, Energy

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Rui Zhang (College of Science) will lead a research team to establish a research center for personalized radiotherapy to treat and cure cancer. About two-thirds of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy, while survivors sometimes develop acute and chronic problems based on these broadly prescribed treatments. The goal of this project is to combine radiological physics, oncology, imaging, radiomics, artificial intelligence, health economics, statistical modeling and clinical trial design to improve the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of personalized radiotherapy. Collaborators on the project include Beibei Guo, associate professor of experimental statistics (College of Agriculture). Biomedicine

Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Aaron Bivins (College of Engineering) will lead a research team to establish a wetland observatory for the Mississippi River Delta Plain and the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, now under construction. The goal is to develop predictive models for high-precision and transformative restoration of global river deltas, which are endangered by the combined effects of sea-level rise, subsidence (sinking) and human efforts to control where rivers go and don’t go, often starving surrounding wetlands of land-building river sediment. The researchers aim to look beyond the potential of river diversions and dredging to soil-microbe-plant ecosystems, which can be leveraged to enhance land building and carbon sequestration via geomorphologic and geochemical mechanisms. Collaborators on the project include Matthew Hiatt, associate professor of oceanography and coastal sciences (College of the Coast & Environment); Giulio Mariotti, associate professor of oceanography and coastal sciences (College of the Coast & Environment); Tracy Quirk, associate professor of oceanography and coastal sciences (College of the Coast & Environment). Coast, Defense, Energy

Associate Professor of Music Kamile Geist (College of Music & Dramatic Arts) will lead a research team to launch the LSU Geaux-to Center for Music Research for Children Ages 0-4. The center will enable evidence-based music intervention in early childhood education classrooms to promote social, emotional, language, motor and cognitive development. Music can change brain structures, promote neural plasticity and counteract the release of harmful stress hormones. Collaborators on the project include Cynthia DiCarlo, professor of education (College of Human Sciences & Education); Eugene Geist, associate professor of education (College of Human Sciences & Education).

Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Todd Monroe will lead a research team to develop a prototype of a platform, Smartective, that seamlessly integrates wearable devices, custom phone apps and a web-based dashboard to improve human performance and safety in the workplace, military and athletics. Initial testing is planned in partnership with Louisiana petrochemical plants. The effort combines LSU expertise in bioengineering (wearable and environmental sensors), computer science (artificial intelligence) and psychology (cognitive assessment) to prevent injury and accidents. Collaborators on the project include Melissa Beck, professor of psychology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences); Alex Cohen, professor of psychology (College of Humanities & Social Sciences); Hao Wang, assistant professor of computer science (College of Engineering); Nicholas Totaro, senior instructor of biological and agricultural engineering (College of Engineering). Agriculture, Biomedicine, Coast, Defense, Energy

Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Efthymios Papadopoulos (College of Human Sciences & Education) will lead a research team to conduct a 12-week research trial on how taurine and resistance training can combat frailty, or cumulative decline, in older African American adults. While the proportion of older adults in Louisiana has increased by 36 percent over the last decade, older African Americans—underrepresented in the biomedical literature—are four times more likely to be frail than their Caucasian counterparts. Collaborators on the project include Brian Irving, associate professor of kinesiology (College of Human Sciences & Education); Guillaume Spielmann, associate professor of kinesiology (College of Human Sciences & Education); Neil Johannsen, professor of kinesiology (College of Human Sciences & Education); Denise Holston, associate professor of nutrition and food sciences (LSU AgCenter); Matt Greene, assistant professor of nutrition and food sciences (LSU AgCenter). Biomedicine

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Fatima Rivas (College of Science) will lead a research team to naturally target and inhibit TRAP-1, a mitochondrial chaperone that is upregulated in various drug-resistant human cancer types, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with poor response to treatment. Collaborators on the project include Marcia Newcomer, professor of biological sciences (College of Science). Biomedicine