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A vaccine that prevents Salmonella, coatings that protect fabrics from ultraviolet (UV) rays, bandages that release medication to improve wound healing, and better bed bug bait – these four technological breakthroughs are one step closer to becoming reality. The North Carolina State University researchers behind these inventions are the first recipients of NC State’s Chancellor’s Innovation Fund awards, and their recognition means that you may soon see these products in use.

This year’s recipients are: Dr. Hosni Hassan, professor of microbiology and Dr. Matt Koci, assistant professor of poultry science, for their work on creating a potential Salmonella vaccine; Dr. Elizabeth Loboa, associate professor of biomedical engineering and Dr. Benham Pourdeyhimi, distinguished professor of textiles, for their work on nonwoven textiles that can be used to release medications; Dr. Gregory Parsons, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, Dr. Jesse Jur, assistant professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science, and post-doctoral researcher Christopher Oldham, for their creation of nanoscale finishes that protect fabrics from UV radiation; and Dr. Coby Schal, professor of entomology, for his development of a new bed bug baiting system.

Each project will receive up to $75,000 in seed money that will be used to make the technology more marketable, such as gathering additional data, conducting market research and building prototypes.

The Innovation Fund was established in 2010 by Chancellor Randy Woodson as a means to provide additional support to faculty, staff and students who develop technologies or ideas with commercial potential. Fifty-six applicants applied for funding this year, from which 12 finalists were selected. A selection committee composed of NC State personnel with technological and entrepreneurial expertise, as well as external partners, chose the four winning projects.

“We want to bridge the gap between the lab and the marketplace,” says Terri Lomax, vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development. “The fund provides these researchers the ability to make their technology more marketable, which in turn provides North Carolinians with jobs.”

Lomax sees the innovation fund as an important part of NC State’s strategy to double the number of startups it launches by 2012. It is a key component of the Springboard Innovation Partnership Portal.  Created in  2010, the portal  speeds the pipeline through which research becomes reality by facilitating business partnerships and helping fledgling companies succeed.

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Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a memory device that is soft and functions well in wet environments – opening the door to a new generation of biocompatible electronic devices. Continue Reading »

The Board of Trustees of North Carolina State University today elected Barbara Mulkey as chair, Norris Tolson as first vice chair, Ben Jenkins as second vice chair and Gayle Lanier as secretary.

The NC State Board of Trustees comprises 13 members – eight are elected by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors; four are appointed by the governor; and one, an ex officio voting member, is the president of NC State’s student body, a post now held by Chandler Thompson, an economics major.

The new slate of officers includes:

• Barbara Mulkey of Raleigh, chairman and founder of Mulkey Engineers & Consultants.  She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in civil engineering from NC State.

• Norris Tolson of Pinetops, president and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. He graduated from NC State with a bachelor’s degree in crop science and agribusiness.

• Ben Jenkins of Charlotte, retired former managing director and vice chairman for retail banking at the Morgan Stanley & Co. New York firm.  He received his Bachelor of Science in textile chemistry from NC State.

• Gayle Lanier of Raleigh, vice president of corporate services for Progress Energy.  She received her Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from NC State.

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North Carolina State University researchers have found that a subset of fungus-farming ambrosia beetles may be in the early stages of a global epidemic threatening a number of economically important trees, including avocados, poplars and oaks. Continue Reading »

North Carolina State University has been awarded a $1.3 million grant to guide the continuing participation of the Raleigh postsecondary partnership in a three-year demonstration funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Partners for Postsecondary Success initiative is part of the Gates Foundation’s postsecondary strategy to double the number of young adults (aged 16-26) who earn a postsecondary credential with labor market value by 2025.

The Raleigh Colleges and Community Collaborative will use the grant over the next two years in targeted efforts to increase the number of low-income youth who complete degrees, specialized training and credentials that enable them to succeed in the workforce. NC State is the lead agency for the partnership, which includes Meredith College, Peace College, Shaw University, St. Augustine College, Wake Technical Community College, the Wake County Public School System, the City of Raleigh, Wake County Human Services, United Way of the Greater Triangle and the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, along with other local partners.

The Raleigh Collaborative will reach out to students through three specific programs. This summer, students at two Wake County high schools are taking part in a Raleigh Future Scholars pilot project to learn about educational options after graduation. All six colleges in the partnership will reach out to low-income students with campus Raleigh Fellows programs that provide mentoring, work-based learning opportunities such as internships, and assistance with resume and job interview preparation. The third project is opening Raleigh College Centers in partnership with the city to offer walk-in advice on completing a GED, applying to college, securing financial aid and finding opportunities for on-the-job training.

“Through the Raleigh Collaborative, we want to make a long-term change in the way we come together to support young people as they move from high school through college or specialized training and into jobs with a living wage,” said NC State’s Dr. Jose Picart, who will lead the project as executive director. “To build an even stronger partnership, we will work closely with the Collaborative Partnership for Excellence in Youth Development, a John Rex Endowment initiative to advance positive youth development in Wake County for underserved school-age youth 5 to 18 years old.” The Gates Foundation grant requires the Raleigh Collaborative to raise $240,000 in matching funds.

The Raleigh Collaborative’s goal is to reach 750 young adults from low-income families during the 21-month grant implementation period and 4,000 students over the next decade. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 young people in the area would qualify for the programs.

MDC, a Chapel Hill-based nonprofit dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities in communities across the nation, received a grant from the Gates Foundation to lead the initiative and will continue to provide coaching and technical support during the implementation phase of the project. Partners for Postsecondary Success is expected to help communities improve the performance of their postsecondary institutions, deepen collaboration between education and industry to forge student pathways to good jobs, and align and leverage resources to sustain the partnership effort beyond the demonstration period.

“This is not about trying to get everyone a four-year degree but rather to acknowledge that a high school diploma is no longer sufficient to earn access to jobs in many of the fastest growing occupations,” said Bonnie Gordon, MDC senior program director and project director of Partners for Postsecondary Success. “These partnerships will serve as credible, enduring communitywide sources of information, inspiration, and action to help students earn an array of postsecondary credentials required for the workforce of the future.”

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Research from North Carolina State University shows that organized sports can be a powerful tool for helping to rebuild communities in the wake of disasters. The research focused specifically on the role of professional football in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Continue Reading »

North Carolina State University has landed a grant to boost science literacy by developing a narrative video game that uses adventure to help middle school students develop their literacy skills – particularly their ability to read and understand scientific and technical language. Continue Reading »