Name: Sara A. Myers Degrees Obtained (Dates not necessary):

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1 Name: Sara A. Myers Degrees Obtained (Dates not necessary): BS in Exercise Science, MS in Exercise Science, PhD in Biomechanics Research (or Other Professional) Interests (limit 200 words): My research interests include lower extremity gait in pathological populations with emphasis on peripheral arterial disease, human movement variability, and physical function in older individuals. My overall career goal is to become an independent researcher of gait function in clinical and aging populations. Specifically, I want to work with clinicians to conduct clinically relevant, interdisciplinary research with human subjects to understand and objectively define gait deficits. Determining the mechanisms contributing to movement related problems in patient populations will provide the knowledge to contribute to prevention strategies and rehabilitation of mobility problems in those populations. My research interests originate from my Exercise Science and Biomechanics background and the belief that maintaining the ability to be physically active is vital for health and clinical outcomes. During my graduate career I have cultivated a project investigating gait in patients with peripheral arterial disease. My research has recently focused on evaluating available treatments and developing new rehabilitation protocols for these patients. Future research will occur within these areas of interests. Teaching Interests (limit 200 words): My teaching interests include courses providing fundamental knowledge for biomechanics: biology and mechanics. Courses I have taught in the past that are included in these areas include Human Anatomy & Physiology I, Human Anatomy & Physiology II, Biomechanics, and Exercise for Special Populations. In addition I am interested in course development that furthers application of these basic principles and teaches knowledge necessary to perform research in Biomechanics. Examples of courses I have recently been involved in developing are Advanced Biomechanics II, Matlab for Movement Sciences, Nonlinear Analysis for Movement Sciences, and Classical Mechanics. A number of these courses have been developed recently to fulfill the needs of our new PhD in Exercise Science program. My colleagues and I continually evaluate the courses offered and strive to teach courses needed and desired by the students. Grants and/or Program Experience (limit 200 words): For a junior faculty member in my third year, I feel that I have higher than average experience with the grant writing process. As a doctoral student I submitted and received many grants- in- aid to foundations and societies, internal student grants and external fellowships, including the prestigious NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship. In addition to student grants, I also worked with my mentors to write several large grants to agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, NIH, and the NSF. This experience as a student has enable me to be successful in obtaining internal and external research funds early in my faculty career. To date I have received funding from UNO University Committee on Research and Creative Activity and the

2 Fund to Invest in the Research Enterprise. I am also a co- PI on a NASA EPSCoR grant and NIH R01 award and serve as the PI for a grant from the Nebraska Research Initiative and the UNO portion of a Merit Award from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Thus, I have experience in writing and obtaining funding, and overseeing research projects once the grant has become funded. Relevant Publications and Conference Presentations (limit 3) Highlight undergraduate co- authors with an asterisk (*) 1. *Huben, NB, Yentes, JM, Lyden, E, Pipinos, II, Johanning, JM, Myers, SA. (submitted). Functional loss in peripheral arterial disease is not improved post intervention based on spatio- temporal gait parameters. Submitted to J Surg Res. 2. *Korgan, W, Wurdeman, SR, Yentes, JM, Rand, T, Myers, SA, Stergiou, N. (2013). Reduced vertical displacement reverses effect of sped on energy expenditure. Proceedings of the 37 th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Omaha, NE, USA. 3. *Davidson, AJ, Vallabhajosula, S, Tan, C, Mukherjee, M, Siu, KC, Yentes, JM, McGrath, D, Myers, SA. (2012) Impact of dual-tasking on lower joint dynamics during stair ascension. Proceedings of the 36 th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Gainesville, FL, USA. Activities Related to Undergraduate Research (limit 250 words): As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate to be involved in research and it changed to trajectory of my future career. So I strongly believe in encouraging and supporting undergraduates to perform research. I have promoted involvement of undergraduates in research in the Biomechanics Research Building and the Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility. I have mentored several undergraduate students including volunteers and paid student workers, served on undergraduate honors thesis committees, and served as the faculty sponsor for several undergraduate research grants and projects. The University of Nebraska at Omaha has a program called Fund for Undergraduate Student Experiences that provides $2500 to students who apply and are awarded the grant for their research project. In the past two years I have had one student receive this award and another apply, with her application currently pending. In addition, I am a reviewer for this program. I have also had many undergraduate students present their research in UNO s Research and Creative Activity Fair and at national conferences in the field of Biomechanics. To foster development of these projects, I meet weekly with each of my undergraduate students and as a research team.

3 Campus responsibilities, activities, and accomplishments (limit 250 words): My primary campus responsibility is as Assistant Professor in the School of HPER and as Assistant Director of the Biomechanics Research Building (BRB). In these roles I assist the Director in overseeing research and all activities in the laboratories of the BRB, perform my own research, mentor and advise undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students, and participate in faculty program meetings and committees. I also interact with donors and community interested in the research performed in BRB. In addition to this I serve on the University Committee for the Advancement of Teaching. Currently, my activities are 100% dedicated to research. These activities including completing work on grants funded from the Nebraska Research Initiative, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the NIH. This work includes device development, supervision of students and technicians who recruit subjects, collect and process data, interpreting and publishing results and writing new grants. In addition, I provide feedback to students developing research ideas and submitting their own grants or writing their own manuscripts, theses, and dissertations. I am proud to have received funding from multiple on- campus grant mechanisms, as both a faculty member and a faculty sponsor of students. This past year, I also received an award from the College of Education for the second highest dollar amount of external funding obtained by a faculty member. In these roles and activities I have been able to publish 16 peer- reviewed papers, participated in eight externally funded grants, served as the mentor for more than 10 funded student projects (undergraduate and graduate) and numerous volunteers and interns, and co- authored more than 70 published refereed abstracts. Other Relevant Professional Service / CUR Service (limit 250 words): In addition to my on- campus activities, I have been active in serving the profession. I review manuscripts for more than 15 academic journals in the field of Biomechanics. I also served on the conference planning committees for two national conferences and reviewed abstracts for several others. This January, I was fortunate enough to be selected to attend the Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research workshop at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where I received feedback on my new research grant proposals. While I just recently learned of the Council for Undergraduate Research, I look forward to opportunities to serve this organization as well. Statement explain how your experience would be of value to the CUR Council (limit 250 words): I believe that I am in a unique situation as a young female faculty member from a small rural farming town in Nebraska and being a wife and mother of three young children. I have also been very successful in science with my primary present activity being research, while my institution has traditionally been teaching- centered. Thus, I feel that my experiences can tremendously assist young undergraduate students. I believe I can provide great mentoring and guidance in recruiting students to get involved in research when they are unaware of potential research experience would be of value to the CUR Council. I derive a lot from my personal experience starting research as an undergraduate student, thus being able

4 to provide insights into types of training environments that are effective for students at all levels. In addition, my research training included students and faculty at many different levels. These experiences have provided me with examples and ideas for promoting research projects that are collaborative across all levels of study, including undergraduates.

5 Name NIHARIKA NATH Degrees Obtained PhD (Biotechnology) (Dates not necessary): MS (Biotechnology) B. Pharmacy Research (or Other Professional) Interests (limit 200 words): Mechanisms of Cancer Chemoprevention by Novel compounds that release Gaseous mediators My research examines the signaling pathways that play roles in carcinogenesis and progression of cancers of colorectal, breast, pancreas including T-cell leukemia. The goal is regulating these pathways by novel compounds that release gasotransmitters, such as nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide. The novel agents are derivatives of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and are examined in appropriate cell culture and animal models. In depth focus of study are mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention through modulation of the Wnt/ beta-catenin signaling pathway which is a dysregulated early event in colorectal cancer, as well as the interplay of transcription factor NF-kappaB, the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase enzyme, MAP kinases and apoptotic pathway proteins on cell growth, apoptosis and inflammation. The questions posed at the molecular level are possibility of signaling through protein nitrosylation or protein sulfhydration. Other interests include investigating these and other novel agents for anticancer effects by 3-dimensional arrays that simulate the tumor environment. Teaching Interests (limit 200 words): Cell Biology, Microbiology, General Biology I, General Biology II, Biomedical Research on cancer prevention, Phylogenetics Grants and/or Program Experience (limit 200 words): NYIT Research seed grants 2008 to 2013 ($48,000). Latest grant also provides for undergraduate research stipend for one student. Teaching and Learning Grant, NYIT, 2010, $5,500 PSC CUNY Award, 2003, 2004 Relevant Publications and Conference Presentations (limit 3) * undergraduate co-author corresponding author 1. Nath, N, Vassel R, Chattopadhyay M, Kogan M* and Kashfi, K. Nitro-aspirin inhibits MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth: Effects on COX-2 expression and Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF-4 signaling. BIOCHEM PHARMACOL. 2009, 78: Also Appeared in 2009 Web CUR Quarterly Highlight

6 2. Nath N, Chattopadhyay M, Kodela R, Vlismas P *, Boring D, Crowell JA and Kashfi, K. Modulation of stress genes expression profile by nitric oxide-releasing aspirin in Jurkat T leukemia cells. BIOCHEM PHARMACOL. 2010, 79: Thuy T* and Nath N. Hydrogen sulfide-releasing aspirin inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells and induces the phase II enzyme NQ01. Undergraduate Poster. Annual Meeting of Biomedical Engg Society (BMES), Stamford CT, Oct 15, 2011 (9 more conference presentations with undergraduate coauthors ----not listed here) Activities Related to Undergraduate Research (limit 250 words): Director of Center of Undergraduate Research and Creative expression at NYIT (COURCE) ( ): a campus wide initiative from College of Arts and Sciences Developed web site content for COURCE : provided access to research opportunities through the site, showcased student researchers, 2009 (currently being transferred to department web site) Judge and Abstract Reviewer, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) poster and oral presentations, 2009, 2010 Abstract Reviewer, ABRCMS, 2009 cont Committee member of Symposium of Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) at NYIT, 2005-cont. Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression of NYIT. Three volumes published, 2008-cont. Note: This Journal is an undergraduate journal listed by CUR CUR Quarterly Highlights June 2009 Web issue. Publication on molecular targets and cancer chemoprevention, with NYIT student Marsel Kogan Posters on the Hill abstracts submitted 2008, 2009 (not selected) Campus responsibilities, activities, and accomplishments (limit 250 words): cont: Outstanding Service Award, 2008 School of Health Professions and Life Sciences, NYIT, received in recognition of promotion of undergraduate research. Standard of Excellence awarded by NYCollege of Osteopathic Medicine, 2008

7 Biomedical Research course Instructor and mentor, senior year course Engaged volunteers (sophomores) in research in phylogenetics computation project / cancer biology bench projects, or collaboration projects with other universities, no school credits Mentored volunteer researchers for oral or poster presentations at annual SOURCE undergraduate symposium at NYIT, no school credits SOURCE Instructor for symposium, 1 school credit Organized discussion for Life Science undergraduates Is PhD for me--- A discussion with a researcher Invited NYIT alumnus & PhD student Miss Jacquelyn Freeman from area of Plant Biology research, 2011 What is a PhD career path in Biosciences? an informational presentation by N. Nath to all Life Sci undergrads, 2011 Life as a Biomedical Engg PhD student - Invited NYIT alumnus & PhD student Mr Waleed Abdel-Naby, 2012 Organized student research conference trips from Life Sci department. Organized funds for student registration, travel and poster. Conferences named below. a. ABRCMS ( , 1to 3 presenters and self) b. BMES conference (2011 Oct- 5 students, 3 student presenters and self) c. ACS Undergraduate Symposium (2008 April- 6 students, 4 presenters, faculty colleague and self) d. ACS Undergraduate Symposium (Boston) April (2 presenters) e. City College Science in Motion Conference, NY, 2007 April (1presenter and self) Abbrev: ABRCMS- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students BMES- Biomedical Engg Society ACS- American Chemical Society SOURCE-Symposium of Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression Other Relevant Professional Service / CUR Service (limit 250 words): Served as Panel Moderator, STEM Meet the Interns Panel by Career Services NYIT, 2012 CUR Meeting Participation with undergraduates at CUR Meeting, Albany, 2007, and poster presentation (P Vlismas and N Nath- poster) together with Dr Roger Yu, a CUR member, NYIT Dean, College of Arts and Sci) Mentor, Project Seed, American Chemical Society. Lab research exposure and mentoring a high school student. Summers 2003 and 2004 Statement explain how your experience would be of value to the CUR Council (limit 250 words: In my current position as Associate Professor of Life Sciences, and as a scientist engaging students in research in a primarily undergraduate institution, I am a firm believer that undergraduate research constitutes experiential education. All my university-wide and professional experiences in

8 the promotion of undergraduate research will assist CUR in its regular activities and to create new programs for involving more institutions. As I have served as abstract reviewer and judge at undergraduate conferences, my experience will assist CUR in reviewing and evaluating submissions for CUR Quarterly and Posters on the Hill, including assisting editorial decisions for publications. I will be happy to represent CUR at various institutions and solicit membership. I have experience in moderating panel sessions which bring together enthusiastic undergraduate researchers with freshmen. Further, having been through the experience of departmental and institutional activity of organizing symposiums, conference trips with students, I am well aware of the various issues of undergraduate colleges, faculty and students experience. I believe various workshops efforts may be placed towards undergraduate including gifted high school students, as well as faculty. I would like to suggest various new workshops that CUR may consider to benefit more institutions.

9 Name Jo Nell Wells Degrees Obtained (Dates not necessary): PhD, MSN, BSN, ADN Research (or Other Professional) Interests (limit 200 words): My research focus is Mexican American family cancer caregivers and addressing their unmet learning needs to provide care for an ill family member at home. Our research team includes undergraduate nursing students, community lay persons and inter professional colleagues. My research team and I received National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institutes of Nursing (NINR) funding in to study the caregiver s experience of family caregiving, identify their role challenges and develop a grounded theory of the Mexican American Family Caregiver experience. This research study included undergraduate students as team members. The project was an invaluable experience for all team members and serves as a foundation for all projects that follow. Our research team has a 12 year trajectory in implementing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to address needs in the Mexican American underserved ethnic minority population. Our team is committed to providing undergraduate students opportunities in research implementing bilingual and multidisciplinary approaches. We address a gap in the literature and support the inclusion of a low literacy ethnic minority population participation in timely research. Teaching Interests (limit 200 words): I have 20 plus years of teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate nursing student level. As a nursing faculty member, I am required to maintain licensure as a Registered Nurse and stay current with new practices by obtaining ongoing discipline related continuing education. I have an advanced practice degree as a nursing educator and rich experience in teaching undergraduate research courses. My teaching areas are in medical surgical adult health nursing, pharmacotherapeutics for nurses, and research. I have certifications in medicalsurgical nursing (RN-BC) and oncology nursing (OCN). My research interests have stemmed from clinical problems identified while teaching student practicum courses. In both didactic and clinical practice courses I strive to focus on evidence based practice to guide new teaching and patient care strategies. Additionally, I emphasize the research, theory and practice connection to

10 promote quality patient care outcomes. Grants and/or Program Experience (limit 200 words): I review grant applications and abstracts for two professional organizations to determine quality research studies for presentation at national and international nursing conferences. I am a Reviewer for Oncology Nursing Society and Sigma Theta Tau International. Additionally, I work part-time as a Nurse Scientist with Texas Health Resources (THR) in Arlington, TX. In this role, I support hospital nurses to develop research projects, write abstracts, manuscript, and prepare for local and national presentations. As a part of the Nurse Scientist core group at THR I assist with grant writing and implementation. In 2000, I was honored to receive an Oncology Nursing Society Foundation/Ortho-Biotech Research Fellowship. My fellowship Project title was Development of a Nurse Researcher in Cancer Symptom Management. As noted above, in , I received NIH funding and served as Principal Investigator (PI) to lead other nursing faculty, students and community clinical collaborators to study Mexican Americans: Family Caregiver Experience. (NIH/NINR, AREA R15). In the PI role I provided project oversight and implementation, coordinated community collaboration, and data analysis. In the years that followed the NIH project, I received funding from the following organizations and served as PI to maintain a consistent research trajectory : Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses (STTI) Beta ; : Alma and Robert D. Moreton Award. Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences , : Texas Christian University (TCU) Research and Creative Activities Fund (RCAF). 2006: TCU Vision in Action grant Relevant Publications and Conference Presentations (limit 3) Highlight undergraduate co-authors with an asterisk (*) 1. Wells, J. N. & Dietz, T. (2013). Adapting the distress thermometer for cross-cultural research: A method enhanced by Mexican American undergraduate research assistants. Hispanic Health Care International, 2. Wells, J. N. & Cagle, C. S. (2008). Preparation and participation of undergraduate students to inform culturally sensitive research. Nurse Education Today. doi: /j.nedt Podium presentations Cagle, C. S., Wells, J. N. & *Butler, K. Promotoras: An Innovative Model for Mexican

11 American Family Caregiver needs. 27 th Annual Southern Nursing Research Society Conference. February 28-March 2, 2013, Little Rock, AR. Activities Related to Undergraduate Research (limit 250 words): : I am the Co-Principal Investigator on a project involving three undergraduate bilingual student researchers (RAs). The project title is Assessing the Feasibility of Measurement Instruments and Data Collection Methods for Use in Evaluating a Multi- Disciplinary Intervention for Mexican American Family Cancer Caregivers. The students helped develop English-Spanish language learning materials for low literacy caregivers. Next the materials will be assessed for feasibility in a role-play scenario with caregivers and promotoras de salud (community health workers). The students will make field notes about the role-play scenario and recommendations to improve the materials and implementation processes based on study findings. Student poster and podium presentations are expected as a follow-up to this research experience, as well as a publication guided by the faculty advisors : Mentor, Research Assistant (RA), undergraduate nursing student, Kate Butler. Scope: Focus Group methodology, transcription, data analysis, community service learning, poster preparation, panel session discussion and CUR Poster-on-the- Hill abstract submission. Student was a co-presenter (podium) at the Southern Nursing Research Conference in Little Rock, AR, February Mentor assistant, undergraduate nursing student, Camille Haddad, co-presenter for a podium research presentation at a national conference : Mentor, Four undergraduate RAs. Scope-implement funded research to conduct interviews with low-literacy, limited English proficiency Mexican American females and prepare Spanish language survey tools. 2006: Mentor, Two undergraduate student RAs in an abstract submission to a national research conference; one RA co-presented the findings at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 134 th Annual Meeting & Exposition, Boston, MA, November 6. Campus responsibilities, activities, and accomplishments (limit 250 words): Committees Nursing Faculty Senate Representative, ; member Subcommittee Academic Excellence Committee, ; Nursing Review Board: Chair ( ), Co-Chair and Secretary ( ), Member (2004-present). Fall this board revised student capstone project review processes to assure safety of human subjects participating in student research. Member, Nursing Program Advisory Council (NAC) Elected , Member, Tenured Faculty Committee (TF), 2005-present. Member, Graduate Faculty Committee, 2002-present. Member, Harris College-Nursing Faculty Assembly, 1998-present. Member, Planning Committee and Program Emcee/Announcer, Cowtown Oncology Symposium. Sponsor: TCU-Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences-Center for

12 Oncology Education & Research and Texas Oncology agencies. Spring 2011, 2012, Fort Worth, TX. Activities/Accomplishments:CUR 2013: Promotion to Full Professor-Nursing Nominated/Selected Participant: End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium for Veterans (ELNEC-VA). November San Antonio, TX. Nominee, Chancellor s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Teacher-Scholar, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Fall Fort Worth, TX. Research Institute Fellow, Oncology Nursing Society Foundation. October 19-22, Washington, DC. Merited Leave of Absence Fall (Sabbatical) Nominee, Harris College of Health and Human Sciences Dean s Research Award. November Fort Worth, TX. Recipient, Great 100 Nurse. Sponsor: Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council-Nurse Executive Forum and Texas Nurses Association Districts Three & Four. May 27, Dallas, TX. Nominee, Dean s Excellence in Teaching Award by Harris School of Nursing, spring Fort Worth, TX. Participant, Research Training, Developing Nurse Scientists, National Institutes of Health. July, Bethesda, MD. Other Relevant Professional Service / CUR Service (limit 250 words): I became familiar with CUR in fall 2011 and in June 2012 and presented a poster at the annual conference. I learned from this experience that the focus of CUR matches my work setting, (small, undergraduate, private university.) I determined that I wanted to become further involved to support the work of CUR. My poster presentation is described below. Wells, J. N. (2012). The undergraduate Researcher: Developing a Culturally Sensitive Measurement Tool. Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) conference. June 24-26, Newark, NJ. Additionally, I mentored student work for the CUR Poster- on- the Hill abstract submission in the Health Sciences category for See above for details. In October 24, 2013, I facilitated the participation of a long-term CUR executive member and Councilor, Linda Freed, to speak at our Nursing Faculty Assembly. She presented to approximately 35 people about the scope/aims of CUR and benefits from participation. Our institution now holds CUR Enhanced Member status and I am encouraging nursing faculty to enroll in the (free) membership opportunity. I anticipate submitting student

13 research abstracts to CUR for poster and podium presentations in future semesters. Statement explain how your experience would be of value to the CUR Council (limit 250 words) I am committed to communicating the benefits of my teaching, clinical and research experience to other CUR members to encourage their continued focus on supporting undergraduate research. My multi-disciplinary research projects support my credibility in classroom instruction and attract students to participate in learning research methodologies and gain public presentation experience. I can encourage other CUR members by sharing my successful experiences, along with lessons learned, to refine student engagement approaches. I have a nursing care perspective on practice issues that will strengthen the Health Sciences division within the CUR. My 16 plus years career as a nursing faculty member has focused on addressing clinically relevant issues suitable for research projects with undergraduate students. I am committed to identify health care related practice problems that support priority research questions best addressed by multi-disciplinary collaboration. CUR participation will allow me to network with other faculty disciplines to share ideas for multi-disciplinary projects that address health care issues in the changing health care environment. This approach is particularly timely and therefore likely to attract funding opportunities. My grant writing experience, both for successful funding and unfunded proposals, prepares me to appreciate the competitiveness for funding dollars and motivates me to interact with funders to learn targeted approaches to seek funding to support the undergraduate researcher. I will seek to promote and identify successful funding approaches through CUR interactions with funding organization leaders.