April 27, 2021

Manchin, Capito Announce $1 Million From National Science Foundation For Research Projects In West Virginia

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,049,182 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for three research projects in West Virginia.

“West Virginia continues to be a leader in many research fields, including biology and technology. The National Science Foundation is a great partner for the Mountain State, and I am pleased by the continued investment in our state,” said Senator Manchin. “I look forward to seeing the impacts of these three important projects for geography and technology, agriculture, and development of batteries for electric vehicles. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to push for funding that helps research projects across West Virginia succeed.”

“The National Science foundation plays such an important role in increasing STEM and research opportunities for students in West Virginia. Supporting STEM initiatives for students of all ages is a top priority, and projects like this help support that goal. I commend NSF for their continued investments into our state, and I look forward to the progress that will continue to be made through our partnership,” Senator Capito said.

Individual Awards Listed Below

  • $636,785 – West Virginia University Research Corporation, “CAREER: Mapping Anthropocene Geomorphology with Deep Learning, Big Data Spatial Analytics, and LiDAR"
    • This research project will create “deep-learning”-based techniques to derive information on human modifications to natural landscapes using geospatial data (aerial and satellite imagery, digital elevation data, and weather observations) to advance geomorphic mapping science. This project will also work with future high school STEM teachers, in-service teachers and high school students to create instructional materials and engage students with the STEM field.
  • $255,642 – Aeon Sciences, "SBIR Phase I: An Ultra-Fast Battery Charger for Electric Vehicles"
    • This research project will develop a safe power conversion and transmission equipment that will be applied to power-matched fast-charge batteries for electric vehicles and demonstrate the feasibility of a battery-charging system that can fully re-energize a light-duty electric vehicle in as little as six minutes.
  • $156,755 – West Virginia University Research Corporation, "Collaborative Research: CSBR: Ownership Transfer: Living Stocks: International Culture Collection of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM)"
    • This award will help West Virginia University collaborate with the University of Kansas to duplicate the world’s largest collection of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) – soil fungi that associates with plant roots and improves resource uptake of the majority of plant species, including most crop plants, to ensure the important research will continue.