January 15, 2015 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Arnold School graduate students from environmental health sciences; health promotion, education, and behavior; exercise science; and epidemiology departments earned seven of the 2015 SPARC Graduate Research Grants from the USC Office of the VP for Research. These students have 15 months to complete SPARC-funded projects (up to $5,000 each) that support the completion or promotion of their research, creative or other meritorious scholarship. Previous SPARC awards have been used by Arnold School students to fund projects such as a pilot study that serves as a precursor to dissertation research, but these funds can be used for a variety of initiatives.
Upon completion, the students will present their findings at 2016 Graduate Student Day and are encouraged to develop articles and papers based on their projects for publication in scholarly journals. Before the actual projects even begin, however, the students have already learned about the competitive research proposal process that will continue throughout many of their careers. The Office of the VP for Research designs SPARC application materials to simulate the experience of applying for nationally competitive grants, helping applicants develop their skills in these areas. Students must supply the standard components of a comprehensive grant proposal package, such as a detailed research narrative, budget and other supporting documentation.
Congratulations to the following Arnold School graduate students who have earned a 2015 SPARC award.
| Recipient Name | Department or Program | Project Title |
| Jessica Baer | Exercise Science | Enhancing Brain Plasticity with Aerobic Exercise and Transcranial Direct Current Brain Stimulation |
| Jessica Chandler | Exercise Science | Maximization of Children's Physical Activity Opportunities in After School Programs |
| Suvarthi Das | Environmental Health Sciences | Mechanistic Study of Redox Signaling-induced Toll-like Receptor 4 Activation, Which is Crucial for Disinfection Byproduct (DBP)-mediated NASH Progression |
| Jennifer Ersek | Epidemiology | Molecular Diagnostic Testing in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer |
| Justin Hardee | Exercise Science | mTORC1 Regulation of Muscle Protein Synthesis in a Mouse Model of Cancer Cachexia |
| Morgan Hughey | Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior |
Innovative Spatial and Statistical Methods to Explore the Impact of Obesogenic Environments on Childhood Obesity in Greenville County, SC |
| Amy Mattison Faye | Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior |
Initial Evaluation of First-in-the-Nation Policy of Immediate Postpartum Insertions of Long Action Reversible Contraceptives in Young Women |