Proposals Funded 2006
2006 Full Proposals
Center for Air Transportation Systems Research
Principal Investigator: Michael Bragg, Aerospace EngineeringCo-Investigators: Kieran Donaghy, Urban & Regional Planning
P.R. Kumar, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Natasha Neogi, Aerospace Engineering
Esa Rantanen, Institute of Aviation
The air transportation system is a complex, life-critical system that includes autonomous and human operators in an uncertain environment. The current centrally-controlled, voice-communication-based system is approaching its maximum capacity, resulting in increasing flight delays and safety and security breakdowns. Projections are for a three-fold increase in demand over the next 20 years. We will conduct research aimed at developing a revolutionary, highly efficient, adaptable and scalable system based on a distributed information-rich infrastructure. For example, we will focus on solutions to maintain air transportation system capacity and minimize delays of en route aircraft disrupted by severe weather.
Astrochemistry with CARMA: Understanding Complex Interstellar Chemistry Using Molecular Ions
Principal Investigator: Benjamin McCall, ChemistryCo-Investigators: Leslie Looney, Astronomy
Lewis Snyder, Astronomy
This interdisciplinary project brings together members of the chemistry and astronomy departments to study the chemistry in interstellar clouds using the spectra of positively charged molecules, which serve as key intermediates. This project leverages two recent developments at UIUC: the development of a new technique for the laboratory study of molecular ions, and the commissioning of the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA). Our aim is to detect molecular ions in interstellar clouds, in order to better understand the chemical processes in these environments that lead to the production of complex molecules, which may seed the formation of life on young planets.
Discovery, Design and Development of Phosphonic Acid Antibiotics
Principal Investigator: Wilfred van der Donk, ChemistryCo-Investigator: William Metcalf, Microbiology
Discovery of new bioactive phosphonates from natural and synthetic sources is a CRI project that takes full advantage of the research expertise of both the van der Donk and Metcalf research groups. It will serve as a springboard for the establishment of a unique, multidisciplinary program to investigate the biosynthesis of a commercially important class of natural products containing carbon-phosphorus bonds (phosphonates). The project involves studies to find new genes for the biosynthesis of phosphonate natural products, molecular biology to obtain the corresponding enzymes, organic synthesis to determine the structure of newly discovered phosphonates, and combinatorial chemistry to provide analogs of natural phosphonates.
The Role of Small RNAs in Shaping Diversity and Evolution of Crop Plants
Principal Investigator: Lila Vodkin, Crop SciencesCo-Investigators: Gustavo Caetano-Anolles, Crop Sciences
Matthew Hudson, Crop Sciences
Stephen Moose, Crop Sciences
Our aim is to determine the extent to which non-coding, small RNAs provide unique regulatory functions that shape diversity and evolution in crop plants. Our premise is that the most recently evolved regulatory systems in crop plants, acquired either by natural selection or domestication, are not likely to have straightforward functional equivalents in the existing plant model organisms. Thus, we will initially focus on maize and soybean, two crops that are slated for complete genome sequencing in the next few years. They are also the most economically valuable crops in Illinois and the U.S., valued at over 40 billion in unprocessed crop value annually.
2006 Planning Proposals
Pattern Recognition and Mind Reading: An Emerging Field
Principal Investigator: Diane Beck, PsychologyCo-Investigator: Fei-Fei Li, Electrical & Computer Engineering
This project brings together techniques from the computer vision, statistical pattern recognition, and neuroimaging fields to overcome a limitation in traditional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis. Specifically, traditional analyses do not take advantage of the fact that most complex brain processes involve highly distributed and interconnected brain regions rather than small, independent units. We will apply these more sophisticated statistical techniques to imaging data in order to better understand how it is that humans perceive natural scenes.
Ninthletter.com: Creating Original Literary Content for Mobile Technologies
Principal Investigator: Joseph Squier, Art & DesignCo-Investigators: Jodee Stanley, English
Nan Goggin, Art & Design
Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud, Art & Design
Daniel Goscha, Art & Design
Steve Davenport, English
Ninth Letter, UIUC’s literary arts journal and web site, is committed to exploring the artistic and creative possibilities in new media and technology. Our current project focuses on the development of literary content conceived specifically for mobile devices such as the Apple video iPod and similar technologies. We will bring to campus two writers and two artists of national stature to collaborate on original projects, which will then be implemented by the Ninth Letter team and made available for download through iTunes U, in partnership with Apple Computer. During the funding year we will also develop long-term strategies for sustainability and exploration of the opportunities for partnerships among technologists, authors, artists to create new literary art forms. This project, we expect, will reaffirm the University’s role as pioneer in technology research, while at the same time linking that tradition with new and increasingly significant areas of inquiry, namely the arts and humanities.