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Twelve projects led by UMass Amherst researchers have received Faculty Research Grants/Healey Endowment Grants (FRG) for 2024. Administered by the Office of Research Development (ORD), under the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, the FRG program supports projects with high potential for future publication, the development of creative work, additional funding from outside of the university or recognition of excellence.

The program encourages proposals for projects involving research, scholarship and creative works in all disciplines from early career faculty members initiating new projects and mid-career faculty members in pursuit of new directions or seeking to revitalize an ongoing program after a gap in productivity due to a period of exceptional commitment to departmental, university, and professional service, heavy teaching loads in the last three to six years or personal or family circumstances.

Full-time UMass Amherst faculty members whose appointments extend beyond the current academic year are eligible to apply for up to $20,000 in FRG grants, provided they have not received two previous FRG awards, have yet to submit a final report for a previous FRG award, or have more than $40,000 in unrestricted, uncommitted funds.

More information about the FRG program can be found at https://www.umass.edu/research/internal-funding/frg.

2024 Faculty Research Grants/Healey Endowment Grant Recipients

“Linguistic ideologies in the standardization of minority languages”

María Biezma, assistant professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (PI) with co-PIs Patricia Gubitosi, professor in the department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Ana Arregu, professor of linguistics, have received $19,937. With their FRG, they aim to make testable models to predict how social meaning comes out of minority languages. To achieve this, they will use standardized and vernacular Kichwa, part of the indigenous language family of Quechuan, spoken in Salasaka, Ecuador.

“New Songs from New England: A Debut Solo Recording Project for publication, featuring newly commissioned works for Jamie-Rose Guarrine, soprano”

Jamie-Rose Guarrine, associate professor of voice, has secured a national recording label (PARMA/Navona) to publish her new solo album on all streaming platforms, featuring new pieces by female composers and poets from New England. She will use her $19,997 award to support the recording, mastering and distribution of the work.

“Kea Archaeological Research Survey & Replication Studies”

Shannon LaFayette Hogue, assistant professor of Classics, will use the $19,952 award to conduct a surface survey in Northwest Kea, Greece, covering an area previously examined in 1983-1984. The goal is to test the reproducibility of results from pedestrian surface survey techniques that are commonly used but have not been validated.

“Running to Music: How Musical Meaning Shapes Marathoning”

Catrina Kim, assistant professor of music theory, has been awarded $20,000 to investigate how running playlists create a narrative of what an idealized runner looks like in terms of race, gender and class.

“The ‘You-Cube’ - a tiny, sustainable, temporary, outside performance space for our University and broader community”

With $20,000, Anya Klepikov (PI), associate professor of scenic design, and Harley Erdman, professor of theater, aim to create a tiny performing space that allows audiences to view short live shows by peeking through cracks in the walls.

“Commissioning and Recording New Music for Horn”

Joshua Michal, associate professor of horn, will use his $19,600 award to record two solo albums. The first is an anthology of works for horn by composer Daniel Baldwin, including a newly commissioned sonata. The second album will contain new music for horn, voice and piano in memory of all those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Bark-climbing continuum soft robot for ground-based forest surveying”

Gina Olson, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, will develop a continuum soft robot capable of surveying forests to provide up-to-date information on tree health in the face of issues such as drought, insect outbreaks, storm damage, invasive species and wildfire. Her $19,600 award will support her proof-of-concept design.

“Our Cause: A Climate Fiction”

Jeff Parker, associate professor of English, has been awarded $14,175 to research and draft a novel titled “Our Cause.” This novel will follow three characters, each representing a different approach to addressing climate change.

“Narrating Productive Jewish-Muslim Encounters in College Using Graphic Stories: A Pilot Study at UMass Amherst”

Musbah Shaheen, assistant professor of higher education, will use graphic stories of productive interactions between Jewish and Muslim college students to engage the UMass community in constructive dialogue. His work will be supported by a $14,000 FRG award.

“Developing Early Childhood and Elementary Pre-Service Teachers’ Vision of Equitable Science Education”

Enrique Suárez, assistant professor of science education, will use his $14,388 grant to investigate what professional support educators need to implement a newer learning theory called the “practice turn.” This theory pivots away from the traditional teacher-centered model and instead encourages students to be involved in the creative aspects of scientific practices.

“Expanding the bassoon repertoire through the lens of identity and connection”

Rémy Taghavi, assistant professor of bassoon, has received $17,725 to record newly transcribed and commissioned works for bassoon by composers from France and Iran. The album will also highlight underrepresented voices with two works by women and two by BIPOC composers.

“Household Provisioning in an Era of Disruptions: Rural Food Security & Community Resilience”

Eric Thomas (PI), lecturer of environmental conservation, and Achsah Dorsey, assistant professor of anthropology, aim to determine if locally available food improves food security, in southern Chile. With their $19,972 grant, they will quantify how much of the diet in this region comes from locally available food and determine how the proximity of globalized retail chains influences community resilience.