ABQ Times

Fourteen faculty members at the University of New Mexico have been selected for the 2024 Women in STEM Awards. The 11 funded projects include a study of carbon storage in soils along the middle Rio Grande floodplain, an investigation into rural New Mexico healthcare workforce challenges and opportunities, and the development of new software for large-scale 3-D printing with adobe.

Selected award recipients will also consider water treatment processes for atmospheric water harvesting, look for ways to improve local food system cohesion, and study the role of social interaction in stress and depression, among other topics. Now in their ninth year, the awards have allocated $585,660 to 80 women at UNM. Several of the 11 projects selected this year are collaborative or interdisciplinary efforts.

The 2024 winners are:

Leah Buechley, an associate professor in Computer Science; Maryam Hojati, an assistant professor in Civil Engineering; Kate Cartwright, an associate professor in Public Administration; Chanee Choi, an assistant professor in Film and Digital Arts; Deena Gould, an assistant professor in Teacher Education, Educational Leadership and Policy; Natasha Howard, an assistant professor in Geography and Environmental Sciences; Elspeth Iralu, an assistant professor in Community and Regional Planning; Allyson McGaughey and Anjali Mulchandani, assistant professors in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; Elif Tunc-Ozcan, an assistant professor in Neurosciences; Marisa Repasch, an assistant professor in Earth and Planetary Sciences; Alex Webster, an assistant professor in Biology; Eva Stricker, a research assistant professor in Biology; Kamilla Venner, an associate professor in Psychology.

The awards are hosted by Advance at UNM in collaboration with the UNM Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Research. Advance is a National Science Foundation-initiated program at UNM to promote women faculty, particularly faculty of color in STEM fields.

Advance Director Julia Fulghum noted that this year's proposals differed from those received during the past few years. "The pandemic had a big impact on the type of proposals we received during the past couple of years. This year marked a shift," she said. "It was exciting to see this level of enthusiasm and planning from applicants."

UNM Provost James Holloway expressed anticipation regarding the outcomes from these projects. "We at UNM are grateful to the anonymous donation that has made it possible for us to support our incredible faculty," he said.

Funding for these awards comes from an anonymous gift made to support research by women faculty in science, technology, engineering, and math. Additional support is provided by the UNM Office of the Vice President for Research.

Among this year's awarded projects:

Buechley and Hojati’s project focuses on developing new software and materials for very-large-scale adobe 3D printing. Buechley stated: “I am really excited about the work this award will enable us to do.” Hojati added: “This project aspires to revolutionize adobe construction.”

Cartwright’s project aims to address rural healthcare worker shortages through qualitative examination. She emphasized its significance: “This project not only advances my research agenda but also strengthens relationships with rural healthcare partners.”

Choi’s Remembrance Project explores early-onset Alzheimer’s disease using advanced technology like machine learning and EEG sensors. Choi remarked: “By exploring disease from a feminist perspective...this award strengthens my belief.”

Gould’s project aims to publish science education materials relevant to Native American students' cultural identities. Howard's research will fund archival work on Detroit River's history.

Iralu’s project involves collaboration with Dolly Kikon on Indigenous methodologies related to environmental justice. McGaughey and Mulchandani aim to develop water treatment processes enabling atmospheric water harvesting.

Tunc-Ozcan’s study will investigate how stress effects can be transferred socially between individuals through adult neurogenesis processes.

Repasch and Webster will analyze carbon storage along middle Rio Grande floodplain soils while Stricker's project examines strengthening food systems within New Mexico.

Venner's travel funding supports collaboration with Māori researchers on addiction treatment programs tailored for Indigenous populations.

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