{"id":1898,"date":"2016-07-06T19:43:08","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T19:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/funding\/?page_id=1898"},"modified":"2018-09-18T18:19:56","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T18:19:56","slug":"faculty-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/funding\/faculty-research\/","title":{"rendered":"News and Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h2>\n

Do you have news to share? Let us know<\/a>!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Associate Professor of Music Education, Dr. Lisa Koops, awarded Grammy Foundation Grant<\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

From May 8, 2017 The Daily Article<\/em><\/p>\n

Singing together in the car or a lullaby before bed, discussing issues of power and privilege raised in the musical Hamilton<\/em>, or improvising lyrics to a catchy melody\u2014these are among the many ways music can be its own instrument in interactions between parents and children.<\/p>\n

These parent-child activities are at the heart of a new grant from the Grammy Foundation to support the research of Lisa Koops, an associate professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University.<\/p>\n

\"LisaThe Recording Academy, which presents the Grammy Awards\u2014among the music industry\u2019s highest recognitions\u2014also supports the Grammy Foundation.<\/p>\n

Documenting how parents\u2019 musical practices, beliefs and perceptions influence the early development of their children, Koops will spend time over the next year with eight extended families of diverse cultural, ethnic and familial backgrounds and neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to reach a better and broader understanding of how families deploy music in different situations\u2014be it using calming songs to quiet an argument among siblings or holding a dance party when feeling cooped up during the winter,\u201d said Koops, who also teaches classes at The Music Settlement in Cleveland.<\/p>\n

The project will yield a book on \u201cmusical parenting and parenting musically\u201d that shares the stories of the eight families, woven together with data Koops has collected with Cleveland-area families during research studies over the last nine years, in ways that illustrate the range, depth and dynamic force of music.<\/p>\n

Koops will also document the reasoning or pressures behind musical parenting choices, such as beliefs that learning to play an instrument gives students an advantage academically or will help them gain entrance to college.<\/p>\n

The findings will complement a growing body of scientific studies, including brain scans, showing how musical interactions are associated with linguistic, motor, cognitive and empathetic improvements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile ongoing research will help paint a fuller picture of how music can be used to aid development and personal success,\u201d Koops said, \u201cit\u2019s also important to not lose sight of making music for music\u2019s sake, such as learning the skills to play an instrument or sing in tune.\u201d<\/p>\n

In early March, Koops\u2019s research also received support from the university\u2019s ACES+ Program, in the form of an Advance Opportunity Grant. All faculty are eligible for these awards that supply supplemental support.<\/p>\n

Each year, the Grammy Foundation funds academic research to learn more about the \u201cimpact of music on the human condition\u201d and to advance \u201cunderstanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture\u2014from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

<\/h2>\n

Seven out of Nine CAS Faculty Win ACES+ 2017 Opportunity Awards<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

ACES+, the continuation of the Academic Careers in Engineering & Science (ACES) program, announced the recipients of the 2017 ADVANCE Opportunity Grant Awards.<\/p>\n

Nine proposals representing academic disciplines\u2013ranging from nursing to engineering to psychological sciences\u2013have been awarded a total of $31,510.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to have the support of President Barbara R. Snyder and Provost Bud Baeslack to continue these awards,\u201d said Lynn Singer, deputy provost and vice president for academic affairs.<\/p>\n

ADVANCE Opportunity Grants are competitive annual awards selected by the Opportunity Grant Oversight Committee, who reviewed a total of 18 proposals in 2017.\u00a0 Opportunity grants, first launched in 2004 under the NSF-ADVANCE grant ACES, provide small amounts of supplemental support to current or proposed projects and activities where funding is difficult to obtain through other sources.\u00a0 All Case Western Reserve University faculty members are eligible to apply.<\/p>\n

According to the Office of the Provost, the following is a list of 2017 ADVANCE Opportunity Grant Award winners and information about their projects:<\/p>\n

Jean Burns, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong>
\nAward: $3,200 to conduct research on isolating mechanisms in the soil that influence plant performance.<\/p>\n

Lauren Calandruccio, Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong>
\nAward: $2,500 to investigate the relationship between reading ability and speech perception in noise.<\/p>\n

Haomin Gong, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong>
\nAward: $1,800 to publish books on internet culture and ecocinema.<\/p>\n

Lisa Huisman Koops, Department of Music, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong>
\nAward: $2,680 to conduct research for musical parenting\u2013musical practices, beliefs and perceptions of parents of children ages birth to 10.<\/p>\n

Amy Przeworski, Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong>
\nAward: $5,600 to examine the phenomenology of child hoarding.<\/p>\n

Cheryl Toman, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, College of Arts and Science<\/strong>
\nAward: $3,200 to research women\u2019s writings in literature and music in Mali.<\/p>\n

Susanne Vees-Gulani<\/strong>, Department of Modern Languages and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong>
\nAward: $2,200 to continue the research on the myth of Dresden: origins and manifestations of the Dresden bombing narrative and the PEGIDA movement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Professor John Protasiewicz Receives Mandel Award for Outstanding Chemistry Faculty<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For John Protasiewicz, going green is about more than sustainability. It signals a supportive, more collaborative approach\u2014something altogether different from the high-stress, pressure-cooker environment evoked by bright red. It represents one of many reasons why Protasiewicz won the Mandel Award for Outstanding Chemistry Faculty this year.\u00a0Endowed by accomplished business leader and philanthropist Mort Mandel, the honor reflects his long-held belief in the importance of exceptional individuals to organizations\u2019 success.<\/p>\n

With accomplishments extensive enough to become a fellow of the leading academic chemistry organizations in both the United States and Europe, Protasiewicz\u2019s scientific acumen is obvious, but his commitment to other faculty truly distinguishes him as a colleague.<\/p>\n

A professor and associate department chair, Protasiewicz launched an initiative six years ago where younger faculty come together to assist one another on grant applications well in advance of any looming due dates. The goal is to create a welcoming environment of peers and ultimately enhance funding success rates. He dubbed the effort the \u201cGreen Team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The name was designed to draw a contrast to the far more common \u201cred teams,\u201d where academic departments form teams of distinguished senior faculty to deliver critiques often only a week or days prior to submission deadlines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the Green Team, I wanted to create a less stressful environment to encourage peer review of proposals,\u201d Protasiewicz said. \u201cOne where we met more frequently\u00a0and learned from each other as a team.\u201d A number of the Green Team members have successfully earned prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Awards.<\/p>\n

Through his research laboratory, Protasiewicz also mentors students ranging from high school to the post-doctorate level, some going on to research and faculty positions at highly ranked colleges and universities.<\/p>\n

While he helps colleagues and students advance their own work, Protasiewicz has built an impressive research portfolio of his own.<\/p>\n

His studies look for new luminescent molecules and materials based on novel combinations of organic and inorganic elements\u2014materials that could yield new insights and properties that might be useful in electronic devices like lightweight, flexible digital displays and solar cells.<\/p>\n

Another area of emphasis involves the field of chemical catalysis\u2014converting cheap chemicals into more useful materials, for example, into valuable plastics or drugs.<\/p>\n

In addition, a partnership with chemistry Professor Daniel Scherson led to the discovery of new Flame Retardant Ions (FRIONs) for potential use in lithium ion batteries to prevent them from catching fire without losing battery capacity\u2014a problem recently seen with the recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones.<\/p>\n

The award\u2014made possible by Mort Mandel\u2019s gift through the Morton and Barbara Mandel Family Foundation\u2014reflects the gratitude of a graduate who received his bachelor\u2019s degree in chemistry in 2013. It also exemplifies the spirit of his 2012 book It\u2019s All About Who\u2026 You Hire, How They Lead\u2026and Other Essential Advice from a Self-Made Leader.<\/p>\n

Protasiewicz agrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored and extremely grateful for this recognition,\u201d he said. \u201cIt rewards individuals beyond scientific achievement, which you don\u2019t see often enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Cassi Pittman awarded Career Enhancement Fellow<\/h2>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Cassi Pittman, associate professor of sociology, has been awarded a Career Enhancement Fellow by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, which administers funds for the program provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Pittman is one of 20 junior faculty from around the country receiving six-month fellowships, which seek to create career development opportunities by supporting promising research projects. The program provides each fellow with a sabbatical stipend of up to $30,000; a research, travel or publication stipend of up to $1,500; as well as mentoring and participation in a professional development retreat.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Other fellows work in a variety of fields, including English, critical dance studies, history, Mexican American and Latino\/a studies, sociology, music, American studies and philosophy\u2014and represent some of the\u00a0nation\u2019s top institutions.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Michael Hinczewski, Assistant Professor in Physics, One of Three NSF CAREER Award Winners<\/h2>\n

Three Case Western Reserve University junior faculty members have received National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grants, totaling nearly $1.7 million.<\/p>\n

The five-year grants support research into:<\/p>\n