HBCU-RISE: Enhancing research and education infrastructure of the Bioenvironmental Science PhD program at Morgan State University: Microplastics in estuarine ecosystem

历史上的黑人学院和大学科学与工程研究基础设施（HBCU-RISE）计划支持HBCUs的STEM研究能力的发展，提供科学和工程学科的博士学位。在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，摩根州立大学将组建一支跨学科的教师团队，以：（1）建立海洋微塑料的核心研究实验室，并升级教师研究和学生培训的基础设施;（2）开发和提供生物环境科学的新课程和课程模块;和（3）招收学生，并为他们提供有效的计划活动，以完成博士学位。本项目以切萨皮克湾为模型河口系统，探讨了来源，运输，命运，以及微塑料对水生环境的影响。研究目标是：（1）确定河口生态系统中微塑料的组成、粒径和丰度;（2）探索和表征驱动微塑料在海洋环境中传输/降解的过程和机制;（3）选用东方牡蛎（Crassostrea virginica）作为研究微塑料对海洋生态系统潜在影响的模式物种。微塑料被认为是一种普遍存在的环境污染物。由于其体积小，微塑料通过无意中摄入和通过海洋食物网的生物积累等过程对整个海洋生态系统构成威胁。这项研究将制定防止微塑料进入海洋并减轻其对海洋环境的负面影响的战略。这个项目利用现有资源，为摩根州立大学的学生参与高影响研究提供新的途径。该项目将扩大现有博士课程的范围，使其可供来自更广泛学科的学生使用，并将该课程转变为一个更全面的多学科研究课程，为学生准备竞争日益激烈的研究环境。该项目将通过支持教师和学生研究人员以及广泛的课程开发，对摩根州立大学的研究和教育基础设施产生重大影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Infrastructure in Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) program supports the development of STEM research capability at HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines. With National Science Foundation support, Morgan State University will form an interdisciplinary faculty team to: (1) establish a core research laboratory of marine microplastics and upgrade infrastructure for faculty research and student training; (2) develop and offer new courses and curriculum modules in bioenvironmental science; and (3) recruit students and provide them with effective program activities to complete doctoral degrees.Using the Chesapeake Bay as a model estuarine system, this project explores the source, transport, fate, and impact of microplastics in the aquatic environment. Research objectives are to (1) identify the composition, size fraction, and abundance of microplastics in the estuarine ecosystem; (2) explore and characterize the processes and mechanisms driving the transport/degradation of microplastics in the marine environment; and (3) use Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) as a model species to examine the potential impact of microplastics on the marine ecosystem.Microplastics are recognized as a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Given their small size, microplastics pose a threat to the entire marine ecosystem via processes such as inadvertent ingestion and bioaccumulation through the marine food web. This study will develop strategies to prevent the entry of microplastics into the oceans and mitigate their negative impacts on the marine environment.This project leverages existing resources to provide new pathways for Morgan State University students to participate in high impact research. The project will broaden the scope of the existing doctoral program, making it accessible to students from a wider range of disciplines, and transform the program into a more comprehensive multidisciplinary research program that prepares students for an increasingly competitive research environment. This project will have significant impact on the research and education infrastructure at Morgan State University through support for faculty and student researchers and extensive curriculum development.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.