Progress 05/01/24 to 04/30/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is undergraduate students in FANH disciplines. Students majoring in animal science and pre-vet, plant science and crop production, food science, and human nutrition, and natural resources have been getting training in this program. We have provided 8 undergraduate and 1 graduate student a robust and well-planned student experiential learning, professional development, and leadership development opportunities that have engaged our students on emerging issues we are facing today (i.e. extreme weather events, technological advancement, flooding, drought, insect invasion, animal health, avian influenza). Through extension and outreach activities and opportunities available to our students in this program, our undergraduates have been trained and prepared to communicate and advocate their scientific research to the public. Changes/Problems:Only major setback happened during the first year of the project timeline because of the delay with the funding. Most of our activities have been coordinated and executed as planned by Delaware State University. Due to lack of recruitment, no activities were reported last two years of the project timeline by the collaborating partner institution. We will be requesting majority of the funding not used by the collaborating institution to be used by the primary institution, Delaware State University. We will recruit more students and provide them support to have the experiential learning training they need to be prepared as next generation workforce and leaders in agriculture, food, nutrition, and natural resources. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?-. Technical and Digital Skills Development Training in using various software and technological tools for program updates (e.g., Gammalearndash and intuit, Canva for designing educational materials). Data analysis and preparation of various data in graphical format such as figures, diagrams Flyer preparations on various agricultural, nutritional and environmental topics and preparation of posters Exposure to new digital platforms for developing educational content. Hands-on experience with survey tools (Google Forms, Qualtrics, REDCap) for data collection and analysis. 2. Professional Communication and Education Developing skills in public speaking and health communication through organizing and leading workshops. Learning how to do elevator speech on the projects they received training Creating clear and engaging educational materials on healthy eating, strengthening content creation skills, animal health, and aquaculture. Conducting health and nutrition education sessions, enhancing the ability to convey scientific information in an accessible manner. Practice how to communicate with younger college students regarding their course activities such as TAing during the field trip for the Environmental Science Class students. 3. Research and Analytical Skills Experience in conducting community dietary habit surveys and assessments, improving research methodology knowledge. Reviewing scientific literature on nutrition topics, strengthening critical thinking and evidence-based practice skills. Analyzing nutrition data and preparing reports, gaining data interpretation and reporting experience. Analyzing environmental and fish growth data. Ananlyzing visual data using drones to understand the animal health. Collecting and processing animal health data focusing on parasite prevalence and detection. 4. Community Engagement and Public Health Experience Working with community programs and organizations, fostering skills in outreach and program implementation. Supporting local food programs and partnerships, developing networking and collaboration abilities. Promoting wellness initiatives and awareness campaigns, gaining experience in advocacy and health promotion. Participating and leading various community outreach and educational activities. As MANNRS Members, majority of the students involved in this project conduct various educational activities highlighted in previous sections. All agricultural, animal sciences and pre-vet and environmental science students participated in this project presented their research projects during the local, regional, and national conferences 5. Leadership and Event Management Organizing and executing nutrition education workshops and community events, improving project management skills. Leading cooking demonstrations or nutrition-focused events, enhancing leadership and teamwork abilities. Coordinating program activities, learning logistical planning and organizational skills. Leading MANNRS coordinated Farm Tour at the DSU CAST Hickory Hill Animal Farm Taking responsibilities to maintain animal health at the Hickory Hill Animal Farm Conducting fund-raising for the Environmental Club and also MANNRS Student Organization activities How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All eight undergraduate and one graduate students involved in this program has developed various presentations both as posters and oral presentations. At least half of these students participated in development of educational materials and flyers to be used during the community outreach events and at the educational booths they assisted. 1. Community Workshops and Presentations Organized in-person or virtual workshops to share findings with community members. Hosted informational sessions at community centers, schools, and health clinics. Hosted youth at the Animal Farm during the MANNRS Lead Farm Tour and Youth Training activities Mentor young college students and assisted with the field trips 2. Digital and Social Media Outreach Sharing key insights through social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, managed by Extension or partner organizations. Creating infographics, and blog posts summarizing findings in an accessible and engaging manner. Creating posters and flyers and also participating in oral presentations of various training they received on drone application, water quality testing, microbiological testing etc. 3. Printed and Online Educational Materials Developing brochures, flyers, and newsletters with key takeaways from the project. Publishing reports or summaries on official websites and community portals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This program has yield many successful outcomes and opportunities for the students to learn and advance themselves, most of all, it distilled the importance of becoming part of community member who serves, cares, and educate people. We will continue our student training with the similar educational and community engaged activities where our youth will thrive and become the next leaders in our communities. Although not limited to, the following are some of the major goals we have for the next experiential learning timeline we are requesting No-cost Extension. 1. Strengthen Community Engagement Organize additional workshops and outreach events to enhance awareness and participation. Foster partnerships with local organizations to expand program reach and sustainability. 2. Enhance Educational Content and Resources Update and refine educational materials based on feedback from previous sessions. Develop new digital and print resources to improve accessibility and engagement. 3. Increase Data Collection and Analysis Conduct follow-up surveys and assessments to measure community impact. Analyze data to identify trends, successes, and areas for improvement. 4. Expand Digital and Social Media Outreach Increase social media engagement by sharing success stories, testimonials, and key findings. Develop a structured content calendar to maintain consistent outreach and awareness campaigns. 5. Conference Attendance and Participation Identify and register for relevant local, national conferences focused on public health, nutrition, agriculture, ecological, animal health, and community engagement. Present research findings, program outcomes, and best practices through oral presentations, posters, or panel discussions. Network with professionals, researchers, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and explore potential collaborations. Attend workshops and training sessions to stay updated on best practices and innovative strategies. 6. Promote and encourage student lead agricultural and environmental organizations Provide support for the newly formed DSU FFA Chapter to conduct educational activities in the communities we serve. Strenghten and support MANNRS Student Organization to become actively engaged and promote agriculture in the region and nation. Provide support for the Environmental Club to be more actively engaged in community educational activities and participate various open houses and meetings concerning environmental issues in our local communities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
There were total of nine students benefited from this program. Three Nutrition Students have been trained under the grant during the first No-cost extension timeline. These students accomplished the following: Nutrition Students #1 - Full Internship-March 2024 - December 2024-Activities Completed Engaged with program management activities for the Community Nutrition Club. The student gained management, organization, and project management skills. Participate in training workshops and professional development activities Student gained hands-on experience in community nutrition education Formulate nutrition serveys Design and develop handouts and program materials Assisting in nutrition-related research projects Collecting and analyzing dietary data Nutrition student #2- Part-time Internship- August 2024- December 2024 -Activities Completed Complete program material updates, including using various software and technological tools. Participate in several training sessions to learn new technology techniques and skills. Participate in community program activities that include providing health and nutrition education. Assist with online program developmentfor online program management Organizing and participating in nutrition education workshops Developing educational materials on healthy eating Conducting surveys or assessments on community dietary habits Promoting wellness initiatives and nutrition awareness campaigns Supporting local food programs and partners with community organizations Organizing cooking demonstrations and nutrition-focused events Conducting surveys or interviews on dietary habits within community Analyzing nutrition data and preparing reports Reviewing scientific literature on relevant nutrition topics Nutrition Student# 3 -Full Internship - October 2024- December 2024 -Activities Completed Participate in Nutrition program planning activities. Create PowerPoint and program material. Manage Nutrition program and communication with community partners Assist with implementing EFNEP classes Conduct food demonstration activities at community activities and workshop Environmental Science Student# 4 -Full Internship - May- December 2024 -Activities Completed Assist with Coast Day activities in October of 2024 Presenting his research during the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference in November 2024 Presenting his research during the AFS MAC Conference in New Brunswick, NJ in October 2024 Assisting ONE Health Lab with water quality monitoring Participating in AI and Precision Agricultural Training Participated in various community services conducted as part of MANNRS Student Member Involved in planning of DSU MANNRS Farm Tour for youth Assisted with the Downtown Spring Festival regarding Earth and Arbor Day Celebration Present his research virtually during DSU Research Day in April 2024 Completed 2 months internship program at Kansas State University focusing on aquaculture production Participating in MANNRS Conference in April 2024 Assisted Dr. Ozbay with the field trips for the Environmental Science Class Students in April 2024 Lead several fund-raising activities to support Environmental Club Received training on how to use drones - certification Animal Sciences Students# 5,6,7, and 8 -Full Internship - May- December 2024 -Activities Completed Presenting his research during the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference in November 2024 Involved in two graduate students' research project focusing on using drone to monitor animal health, primarily goats and sheepand microbiological detection of parasite prevalence and detectionof goats and sheepand treatment strategies. Participating in AI and Precision Agricultural Training Participated in various community services conducted as part of MANNRS Student Member Involved in planning of DSU MANNRS Farm Tour for youth Present his research virtually during DSU Research Day in April 2024 Participating in MANNRS Conference in April 2024 Received training on how to use drones - certification One graduate student part-time funded participated in this program primarily served as a mentor to many of the participating undergraduate interns intheir research projects and development of their presentations and educational materials. One professional staff as a research technician benefited for the paid outreach and scientific events from this program. Although not directly paid by this program, the professional staff assisted the students with their research activities and outreach events and were able to participate in the events and professional training covered via this program. Due to lack of student recruitment, no activities were reported last two years of the project timeline by the collaborating partner institution.
Publications
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Progress 05/01/21 to 04/02/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audiences are the students enrolled in the Department of Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, Animal Sciences, and Natural Resources. A total of 17undergraduate students in Animal Science/Pre-veterinary, Plant Sciences, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Sciences have been supported by the program. Additionally three graduate students and two post-docs have been also actively involved in mentoring and assisting the program team with various program activities, research, and outreach.Graduate students attended MANNRS Conference along with undergraduate students as part of the program activities. Through this project, we have been very successful in recruiting, retaining and graduating the students. Mentorship was provided to all students involved in this program including two students in natural resource-based research experiences which have helped them develop a deeper understanding in environmental sciences taught by PI. Co-PI Dr. Matthews is the primary animal science faculty who has been teaching various courses in this discipline and reaching out near 100 students in the program. Dr. Matthews also serves as a faculty advisor to the MANNRS Program. Co-PI Dr. Mulgrave handles the nutritional classes and through this funded program, she reaches out to over 50 students in the program via this program activities. Dr. Mulgrave also is the program lead for the Food and Consumer Sciences Unit in Cooperative Extension. Co-PI Dr. Todd handles the University Seminar and has had opportunities to interact with freshmen the first time they got started in the University and had opportunities to introduce majors and programs in plant sciences and other areas integrated genetics and genomics successfully. Her Genomics and Epigenetics lab has provided a perfect setting for students who have an interest in learning about these fields and using them for his/her research. PI, Ozbay provides Student Experiential Learning and research-based classes to students focusing on climate change, one health, water quality, aquatic sciences, environmental monitoring, environmental toxicology, aquaculture, and fisheries. Her lab allows students to engage in hands-on activities and learn about research and outreach education. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Eleven AGNR and Food Science students received some level of funding to attend the regional MANRRS conference to participate in professional and soft skill development workshops. Additionally, several students and a staff member received funding to attend the national MANRRS conference where they had to interact with companies, did on spot interviews, present research, and attend professional development session in order to gain knowledge on how to improve their soft skills. Several of the students learned how to build their resume to earn jobs in the USDA and other agriculture and natural resources field. Four Pre-Veterinary Science students were funded to attend the in-person pre-veterinary day and veterinary symposium at Tuskegee university where they interacted with veterinarians and other students that aspire to be veterinarians. During this time, students gained hands-on experience in working on animal models and learning how to complete their applications to veterinary school in the best way possible. Lastly, all students participated in the second DSU MANRRS chapter High School and Middle School on farm workshop. Each student had to teach the High School and Middle School students about animal science research that they are learning and participating in. They had to take over the leadership of giving students and teachers an experience of working with sheep, cattle, and conducting fecal egg counting for sheep and goats. One Environmental Science student received the similar training highlighted above for MANNRS-related activities and alsobecame a member of the American Fisheries Society - Mid-Atlantic Chapter and attended their Annual Chapter Meeting on November 16-17, Riverfront Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware. He attended the Delaware Wetlands Conference on February 6-7, 2024, atRiverfront Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware, and co-presented a poster during this event. His most recent participation was at the Association of Research Directors' Conference in Nashville, TN on April 6-9, 2024, and presented a poster during this conference. He was invited to present several campuswide student forums and activities and will be participating and assisting with outreach educational activities planned during Earth Day, April 22, 2024, at MLK Student Center, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware.This student also had an opportunity to attend the 2023 SACNAC NDiSTEM Conference in the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon to network with other minority students and peers in October 26-28, 2024. These three Nutrition students have participated in several nutrition training sessions, including program planning, development, and implementation training. Skills and technique building for nutrition education and counseling. Students take part in webinar program management and leadership. The student has also gotten the opportunity to train other students and play a practical role in leading and mentoring high school students, as well as participate in professional development activities such as conference attendance and educational sessions. One student also becomes a part of a professional organization. Kenisha Sutherland attended the National Food and Nutrition Conference, Denver, Colorado, Oct 6-9, 2023. MANRRS Travel (Professional Development) Regional Conference National Conference Summer Moals Ina Walker Terrence Wright Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Kelvin Ofori Abigail Armah Elijah Atley Kelvin Ofori Zuri Hobson-Gladney Lizette Garcia Amber Fitch Elijah Atley Olivia Matthews Zuri Hobson-Gladney Dylan Molineaux Monalisa Seaton Amari West Amber Fitch Olivia Matthews Dylan Molineaux Kayla McKinley Veterinary School Development Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Amari West Amber Fitch Lizette Garcia How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The primary dissemination successfully achieved by the students is to present their research experiences as posters or oral presentations at various conferences and meetings. Those students have also been involved in various outreach education events conducted by the Delaware State University Cooperative Extension Unit. Additionally, some of the students along with this student assisted with field trip or lab hands-on training activities for the Environmental Science class or other classes their mentors have been teaching. Particularly students in Environmental Science class learned about the importance of wetlands and their benefits as well as the important contributions oysters provide to the ecosystems and overall Delaware economy and people. The students taught nutrition education classes utilizing the skills learned from training sessions. Students also created pamphlets and educational materials through our community nutrition education program. Students also distributed health and nutrition education information through participation in SNAP-ED and EFNEP activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The animal science and pre-vet science students who gained research experience with the small ruminant lab in spring 2024 will be leading their own research projects for the next year and will be gaining professional development experience through several workshops and participation in the Pre-Vet and MANRRS organization chapters at DSU. Additionally, students will be required to complete a survey in order to see how this experience has helped them grow in their profession and/or improved their soft skills. Environmental Science student getting research and professional development training will continue his training one more semester and additional Environmental Science student will be recruited and will be trained for research and other soft skills in the program. Students will participate in more training workshops and become a part of a nutrition professional organization. Students will also participate in collaborative activities with various Agricultural programs. The student will be given more opportunities to present their work at professional conferences and workshops as well as opportunities for publication in scientific writing and journals. This program has provided opportunities for research, professional development, and soft skills development directly to 18 students and indirectly to 12 other students. Our goal is to increase the number of students participating in research and professional development opportunities we provide with the funding we have from this project and a few others aligned with our goals for this program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Four Animal Sciences/Pre-Veterinary students were trained via experiential learning in the animal science lab throughout the 2023 - 2024 year. All students gained experience in how to read and plan a research project that will be carried out. One of the students used some of the summer to write up a project and figure out how to work on it in the coming year. One student received a stipend and worked on developing his communication skills by serving as a student leader in the department and organizing programs with other students while understanding how to utilize his soft skills to communicate with local high schools and parents. The other two students started their research development in the Spring of 2024 and already presented their proposal at the University's research day. Three of the students, will be using techniques they learned to go do a summer internship oversees with veterinarians in Costa Rica and Greece. Each student has selected their topic for research and will be working on it after coming back from their internship and they will be presenting the result and the next university research day or at Tuskegee University Professional Agriculture Workers Conference. Three Nutrition Students have been trained under the grant in the last year. The students accomplished the following. Only two students were paid. One Environmental Science Student has been involved and received research training on the application of algal turf systems to remove excess nutrients from aquaculture ponds and use algal biomass as a feed ingredient for fish and other animals. This student also has had an opportunity to be involved in various training and soft skill development opportunities as part of being MANNRS student member and Environmental Chapter Vice-President. He is currently receiving training in leadership development and outreach education. While one Ph.D. student was involved in this program as an unpaid mentor, she provided training and prepared a technical paper on the algal turf system that undergraduate students received training on. Three undergraduate students from the Food and Consumer Sciences Program have been involved in this program and received financial assistance to conduct various activities and training highlighted for each student below: Nutrition Student #1 -May 2023 - August 2023 -Full-Time Employment - Worked full-time from May 2023 to August 2023 Activities Completed: Engaged with program management activities for the Community Nutrition Club. Thus, I gained management, organization, and project management skills. Contribute to participants' engagement while learning customer care skills, people skills, and human engagement management. Students developed a nutrition program through different stages, starting from conception to planning. The student served as a peer mentor for high school students serving as a summer student intern in the communication nutrition program. Teach nutrition summer camp. Participate in training Workshops and professional development activities, including webinars serious on professionalism. This student has gained hands-on experience in community nutrition education, taking part in community research (conducting surveys on community partners and completing data collection), and submitted an abstract for the food and nutrition conference and expo. Nutrition Student #2-Internship- September 2023- December 2023 -Part-time Activities Completed: Complete program material updates, including using various software and technological tools. Participate in several training sessions to learn new technology techniques and skills. Participate in community program activities that include providing health and nutrition education. Participation in community study data collection Students participated in leadership workshops to help develop leadership skills. Nutrition Student 3 -May 2023- June 2023 and September 2023- December 2024 -Unpaid training Internship Activities Completed : Participation in conference activities network - by attending the 2024 Food and Nutrition Conference and participating in the nutrition student network. Member of a professional organization Preparation of scientific journal writing This student participated in professional and leadership workshops that helped this student engage in learning interview skills. Dissemination of nutrition information at fairs and workshops Participate in Nutrition program planning activities. Create PowerPoint and program material. Participate in several training sessions, including program planning and implementation, and provide nutrition education in a community setting.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roberts L, McKinley K, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A & Ozbay G. 2024. Algal Turf System to Evaluate Biomass Potential. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roberts L, McKinley K, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A & Ozbay G. 2024. Algal Turf System to Evaluate Biomass Potential. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amari West* and Kwame Matthews. Isolation of Small Ruminant Eimeria for In vitro Testing of Compounds. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amber Fitch* and Kwame Matthews. Efficacy of Novel Compounds on Third-stage Parasite Larval Motility Using In vitro Techniques. Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. (ARD). Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Cayla Mrani-Alaoui* and Kwame Matthews. Efficacy of Novel Compounds on Adult Haemonchus contortus Motility Using In vitro Techniques. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Parsaeimehr, A., Miller, C.M. and Ozbay, G., 2023. Microplastics and their interactions with microbiota. Heliyon. Doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15104.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Parsaeimehr A and Ozbay G. 2024. Enzymatic processing of algae for food applications. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Volume 56, February 2024, 103042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103042
- Type:
Other
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
McKinley KN, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A and Ozbay G. 2024. Investigating Capability of Nutrient Removal and Biomass Production in Algal Turf System: Design and Implementation. Delaware State University, Cooperative Extension, Dover, DE. Technical Paper, 6p.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
S. Harmer1 and V, Mulgrave, and V. Zoumenou -Promotion of Immunization Among BIPOC Population Through Community Engagement in Rural Delaware. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
J. Brooks, S. Harmer and V. Mulgrave. Using Social Marketing Strategies to Promote Self-Management for Chronic Diseases within Rural Communities Among Low-Income Families. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
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Progress 05/01/23 to 04/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audiences are the students enrolled in the Department of Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, Animal Sciences, and Natural Resources. A total of 17 undergraduate students in Animal Science/Pre-veterinary, Plant Sciences, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Sciences have been supported by the program. Additionally three graduate students and two post-docs have been also actively involved in mentoring and assisting the program team with various program activities, research, and outreach.Graduate students attended MANNRS Conference along with undergraduate students as part of the program activities. Through this project, we have been very successful in recruiting, retaining and graduating the students. Mentorship was provided to all students involved in this program including two students in natural resource-based research experiences which have helped them develop a deeper understanding in environmental sciences taught by PI. Co-PI Dr. Matthews is the primary animal science faculty who has been teaching various courses in this discipline and reaching out near 100 students in the program. Dr. Matthews also serves as a faculty advisor to the MANNRS Program. Co-PI Dr. Mulgrave handles the nutritional classes and through this funded program, she reaches out to over 50 students in the program via this program activities. Dr. Mulgrave also is the program lead for the Food and Consumer Sciences Unit in Cooperative Extension. Co-PI Dr. Todd handles the University Seminar and has had opportunities to interact with freshmen the first time they got started in the University and had opportunities to introduce majors and programs in plant sciences and other areas integrated genetics and genomics successfully. Her Genomics and Epigenetics lab has provided a perfect setting for students who have an interest in learning about these fields and using them for his/her research. PI, Ozbay provides Student Experiential Learning and research-based classes to students focusing on extreme weather related issues, one health, water quality, aquatic sciences, environmental monitoring, environmental toxicology, aquaculture, and fisheries. Her lab allows students to engage in hands-on activities and learn about research and outreach education. Changes/Problems:Only major change in this project included the change in leadership role for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Primary PI from UMES is retired and another faculty member in the same department serves as the intitutional PI at UMES. Due to this change, student recruitment and associated activities have been delayed at UMES.Everything is moving forward as planned in Delaware State University (DSU) for this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Eleven AGNR and Food Science students received some level of funding to attend the regional MANRRS conference to participate in professional and soft skill development workshops. Additionally, several students and a staff member received funding to attend the national MANRRS conference where they had to interact with companies, did on spot interviews, present research, and attend professional development session in order to gain knowledge on how to improve their soft skills. Several of the students learned how to build their resume to earn jobs in the USDA and other agriculture and natural resources field. Four Pre-Veterinary Science students were funded to attend the in-person pre-veterinary day and veterinary symposium at Tuskegee university where they interacted with veterinarians and other students that aspire to be veterinarians. During this time, students gained hands-on experience in working on animal models and learning how to complete their applications to veterinary school in the best way possible. Lastly, all students participated in the second DSU MANRRS chapter High School and Middle School on farm workshop. Each student had to teach the High School and Middle School students about animal science research that they are learning and participating in. They had to take over the leadership of giving students and teachers an experience of working with sheep, cattle, and conducting fecal egg counting for sheep and goats. One Environmental Science student received the similar training highlighted above for MANNRS-related activities and alsobecame a member of the American Fisheries Society - Mid-Atlantic Chapter and attended their Annual Chapter Meeting on November 16-17, Riverfront Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware. He attended the Delaware Wetlands Conference on February 6-7, 2024, atRiverfront Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware, and co-presented a poster during this event. His most recent participation was at the Association of Research Directors' Conference in Nashville, TN on April 6-9, 2024, and presented a poster during this conference. He was invited to present several campuswide student forums and activities and will be participating and assisting with outreach educational activities planned during Earth Day, April 22, 2024, at MLK Student Center, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware.This student also had an opportunity to attend the 2023 SACNAC NDiSTEM Conference in the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon to network with other minority students and peers in October 26-28, 2024. These three Nutrition students have participated in several nutrition training sessions, including program planning, development, and implementation training. Skills and technique building for nutrition education and counseling. Students take part in webinar program management and leadership. The student has also gotten the opportunity to train other students and play a practical role in leading and mentoring high school students, as well as participate in professional development activities such as conference attendance and educational sessions. One student also becomes a part of a professional organization. Kenisha Sutherland attended the National Food and Nutrition Conference, Denver, Colorado, Oct 6-9, 2023. MANRRS Travel (Professional Development) Regional Conference National Conference Summer Moals Ina Walker Terrence Wright Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Kelvin Ofori Abigail Armah Elijah Atley Kelvin Ofori Zuri Hobson-Gladney Lizette Garcia Amber Fitch Elijah Atley Olivia Matthews Zuri Hobson-Gladney Dylan Molineaux Monalisa Seaton Amari West Amber Fitch Olivia Matthews Dylan Molineaux Kayla McKinley Veterinary School Development Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Amari West Amber Fitch Lizette Garcia How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The primary dissemination successfully achieved by the students is to present their research experiences as posters or oral presentations at various conferences and meetings. Those students have also been involved in various outreach education events conducted by the Delaware State University Cooperative Extension Unit. Additionally, some of the students along with this student assisted with field trip or lab hands-on training activities for the Environmental Science class or other classes their mentors have been teaching. Particularly students in Environmental Science class learned about the importance of wetlands and their benefits as well as the important contributions oysters provide to the ecosystems and overall Delaware economy and people. The students taught nutrition education classes utilizing the skills learned from training sessions. Students also created pamphlets and educational materials through our community nutrition education program. Students also distributed health and nutrition education information through participation in SNAP-ED and EFNEP activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The animal science and pre-vet science students who gained research experience with the small ruminant lab in spring 2024 will be leading their own research projects for the next year and will be gaining professional development experience through several workshops and participation in the Pre-Vet and MANRRS organization chapters at DSU. Additionally, students will be required to complete a survey in order to see how this experience has helped them grow in their profession and/or improved their soft skills. Environmental Science student getting research and professional development training will continue his training one more semester and additional Environmental Science student will be recruited and will be trained for research and other soft skills in the program. Students will participate in more training workshops and become a part of a nutrition professional organization. Students will also participate in collaborative activities with various Agricultural programs. The student will be given more opportunities to present their work at professional conferences and workshops as well as opportunities for publication in scientific writing and journals. This program has provided opportunities for research, professional development, and soft skills development directly to 18 students and indirectly to 12 other students. Our goal is to increase the number of students participating in research and professional development opportunities we provide with the funding we have from this project and a few others aligned with our goals for this program.?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Four Animal Sciences/Pre-Veterinary students were trained via experiential learning in the animal science lab throughout the 2023 - 2024 year. All students gained experience in how to read and plan a research project that will be carried out. One of the students used some of the summer to write up a project and figure out how to work on it in the coming year. One student received a stipend and worked on developing his communication skills by serving as a student leader in the department and organizing programs with other students while understanding how to utilize his soft skills to communicate with local high schools and parents. The other two students started their research development in the Spring of 2024 and already presented their proposal at the University's research day. Three of the students, will be using techniques they learned to go do a summer internship oversees with veterinarians in Costa Rica and Greece. Each student has selected their topic for research and will be working on it after coming back from their internship and they will be presenting the result and the next university research day or at Tuskegee University Professional Agriculture Workers Conference. Three Nutrition Students have been trained under the grant in the last year. The students accomplished the following. Only two students were paid. One Environmental Science Student has been involved and received research training on the application of algal turf systems to remove excess nutrients from aquaculture ponds and use algal biomass as a feed ingredient for fish and other animals. This student also has had an opportunity to be involved in various training and soft skill development opportunities as part of being MANNRS student member and Environmental Chapter Vice-President. He is currently receiving training in leadership development and outreach education. While one Ph.D. student was involved in this program as an unpaid mentor, she provided training and prepared a technical paper on the algal turf system that undergraduate students received training on. Three undergraduate students from the Food and Consumer Sciences Program have been involved in this program and received financial assistance to conduct various activities and training highlighted for each student below: Nutrition Student #1 -May 2023 - August 2023 -Full-Time Employment- Worked full-time from May 2023 to August 2023 Activities Completed: Engaged with program management activities for the Community Nutrition Club. Thus, I gained management, organization, and project management skills. Contribute to participants' engagement while learning customer care skills, people skills, and human engagement management. Students developed a nutrition program through different stages, starting from conception to planning. The student served as a peer mentor for high school students serving as a summer student intern in the communication nutrition program. Teach nutrition summer camp. Participate in training Workshops and professional development activities, including webinars serious on professionalism. This student has gained hands-on experience in community nutrition education, taking part in community research (conducting surveys on community partners and completing data collection), and submitted an abstract for the food and nutrition conference and expo. Nutrition Student #2-Internship- September 2023- December 2023 -Part-time Activities Completed: Complete program material updates, including using various software and technological tools. Participate in several training sessions to learn new technology techniques and skills. Participate in community program activities that include providing health and nutrition education. Participation in community study data collection Students participated in leadership workshops to help develop leadership skills. Nutrition Student 3 -May 2023- June 2023 and September 2023- December 2024 -Unpaid training Internship Activities Completed: Participation in conference activities network - by attending the 2024 Food and Nutrition Conference and participating in the nutrition student network. Member of a professional organization Preparation of scientific journal writing This student participated in professional and leadership workshops that helped this student engage in learning interview skills. Dissemination of nutrition information at fairs and workshops Participate in Nutrition program planning activities. Create PowerPoint and program material. Participate in several training sessions, including program planning and implementation, and provide nutrition education in a community setting.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roberts L, McKinley K, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A & Ozbay G. 2024. Algal Turf System to Evaluate Biomass Potential. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
McKinley KN, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A and Ozbay G. 2024. Investigating Capability of Nutrient Removal and Biomass Production in Algal Turf System: Design and Implementation. Delaware State University, Cooperative Extension, Dover, DE. Technical Paper, 6p.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
S. Harmer and V, Mulgrave, and V. Zoumenou -Promotion of Immunization Among BIPOC Population Through Community Engagement in Rural Delaware. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
J. Brooks, S. Harmer and V. Mulgrave. 2024 Using Social Marketing Strategies to Promote Self-Management for Chronic Diseases within Rural Communities Among Low-Income Families. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roberts L, McKinley K, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A & Ozbay G. 2024. Algal Turf System to Evaluate Biomass Potential. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amari West* and Kwame Matthews. Isolation of Small Ruminant Eimeria for In vitro Testing of Compounds. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amber Fitch* and Kwame Matthews. Efficacy of Novel Compounds on Third-stage Parasite Larval Motility Using In vitro Techniques. Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. (ARD). Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Cayla Mrani-Alaoui* and Kwame Matthews. Efficacy of Novel Compounds on Adult Haemonchus contortus Motility Using In vitro Techniques. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Parsaeimehr, A., Miller, C.M. and Ozbay, G., 2023. Microplastics and their interactions with microbiota. Heliyon. Doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15104.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Parsaeimehr A and Ozbay G. 2024. Enzymatic processing of algae for food applications. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Volume 56, February 2024, 103042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103042
|
Progress 05/01/21 to 04/17/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audiences are the students enrolled in the Department of Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, Animal Sciences, and Natural Resources. A total of 17undergraduate students in Animal Science/Pre-veterinary, Plant Sciences, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Sciences have been supported by the program. Additionally three graduate students and two post-docs have been also actively involved in mentoring and assisting the program team with various program activities, research, and outreach.Graduate students attended MANNRS Conference along with undergraduate students as part of the program activities. Through this project, we have been very successful in recruiting, retaining and graduating the students. Mentorship was provided to all students involved in this program including two students in natural resource-based research experiences which have helped them develop a deeper understanding in environmental sciences taught by PI. Co-PI Dr. Matthews is the primary animal science faculty who has been teaching various courses in this discipline and reaching out near 100 students in the program. Dr. Matthews also serves as a faculty advisor to the MANNRS Program. Co-PI Dr. Mulgrave handles the nutritional classes and through this funded program, she reaches out to over 50 students in the program via this program activities. Dr. Mulgrave also is the program lead for the Food and Consumer Sciences Unit in Cooperative Extension. Co-PI Dr. Todd handles the University Seminar and has had opportunities to interact with freshmen the first time they got started in the University and had opportunities to introduce majors and programs in plant sciences and other areas integrated genetics and genomics successfully. Her Genomics and Epigenetics lab has provided a perfect setting for students who have an interest in learning about these fields and using them for his/her research. PI, Ozbay provides Student Experiential Learning and research-based classes to students focusing on climate change, one health, water quality, aquatic sciences, environmental monitoring, environmental toxicology, aquaculture, and fisheries. Her lab allows students to engage in hands-on activities and learn about research and outreach education. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Eleven AGNR and Food Science students received some level of funding to attend the regional MANRRS conference to participate in professional and soft skill development workshops. Additionally, several students and a staff member received funding to attend the national MANRRS conference where they had to interact with companies, did on spot interviews, present research, and attend professional development session in order to gain knowledge on how to improve their soft skills. Several of the students learned how to build their resume to earn jobs in the USDA and other agriculture and natural resources field. Four Pre-Veterinary Science students were funded to attend the in-person pre-veterinary day and veterinary symposium at Tuskegee university where they interacted with veterinarians and other students that aspire to be veterinarians. During this time, students gained hands-on experience in working on animal models and learning how to complete their applications to veterinary school in the best way possible. Lastly, all students participated in the second DSU MANRRS chapter High School and Middle School on farm workshop. Each student had to teach the High School and Middle School students about animal science research that they are learning and participating in. They had to take over the leadership of giving students and teachers an experience of working with sheep, cattle, and conducting fecal egg counting for sheep and goats. One Environmental Science student received the similar training highlighted above for MANNRS-related activities and alsobecame a member of the American Fisheries Society - Mid-Atlantic Chapter and attended their Annual Chapter Meeting on November 16-17, Riverfront Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware. He attended the Delaware Wetlands Conference on February 6-7, 2024, atRiverfront Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware, and co-presented a poster during this event. His most recent participation was at the Association of Research Directors' Conference in Nashville, TN on April 6-9, 2024, and presented a poster during this conference. He was invited to present several campuswide student forums and activities and will be participating and assisting with outreach educational activities planned during Earth Day, April 22, 2024, at MLK Student Center, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware.This student also had an opportunity to attend the 2023 SACNAC NDiSTEM Conference in the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon to network with other minority students and peers in October 26-28, 2024. These three Nutrition students have participated in several nutrition training sessions, including program planning, development, and implementation training. Skills and technique building for nutrition education and counseling. Students take part in webinar program management and leadership. The student has also gotten the opportunity to train other students and play a practical role in leading and mentoring high school students, as well as participate in professional development activities such as conference attendance and educational sessions. One student also becomes a part of a professional organization. Kenisha Sutherland attended the National Food and Nutrition Conference, Denver, Colorado, Oct 6-9, 2023. MANRRS Travel (Professional Development) Regional Conference National Conference Summer Moals Ina Walker Terrence Wright Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Kelvin Ofori Abigail Armah Elijah Atley Kelvin Ofori Zuri Hobson-Gladney Lizette Garcia Amber Fitch Elijah Atley Olivia Matthews Zuri Hobson-Gladney Dylan Molineaux Monalisa Seaton Amari West Amber Fitch Olivia Matthews Dylan Molineaux Kayla McKinley Veterinary School Development Cayla Mrani-Alaoui Amari West Amber Fitch Lizette Garcia How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The primary dissemination successfully achieved by the students is to present their research experiences as posters or oral presentations at various conferences and meetings. Those students have also been involved in various outreach education events conducted by the Delaware State University Cooperative Extension Unit. Additionally, some of the students along with this student assisted with field trip or lab hands-on training activities for the Environmental Science class or other classes their mentors have been teaching. Particularly students in Environmental Science class learned about the importance of wetlands and their benefits as well as the important contributions oysters provide to the ecosystems and overall Delaware economy and people. The students taught nutrition education classes utilizing the skills learned from training sessions. Students also created pamphlets and educational materials through our community nutrition education program. Students also distributed health and nutrition education information through participation in SNAP-ED and EFNEP activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The animal science and pre-vet science students who gained research experience with the small ruminant lab in spring 2024 will be leading their own research projects for the next year and will be gaining professional development experience through several workshops and participation in the Pre-Vet and MANRRS organization chapters at DSU. Additionally, students will be required to complete a survey in order to see how this experience has helped them grow in their profession and/or improved their soft skills. Environmental Science student getting research and professional development training will continue his training one more semester and additional Environmental Science student will be recruited and will be trained for research and other soft skills in the program. Students will participate in more training workshops and become a part of a nutrition professional organization. Students will also participate in collaborative activities with various Agricultural programs. The student will be given more opportunities to present their work at professional conferences and workshops as well as opportunities for publication in scientific writing and journals. This program has provided opportunities for research, professional development, and soft skills development directly to 18 students and indirectly to 12 other students. Our goal is to increase the number of students participating in research and professional development opportunities we provide with the funding we have from this project and a few others aligned with our goals for this program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Four Animal Sciences/Pre-Veterinary students were trained via experiential learning in the animal science lab throughout the 2023 - 2024 year. All students gained experience in how to read and plan a research project that will be carried out. One of the students used some of the summer to write up a project and figure out how to work on it in the coming year. One student received a stipend and worked on developing his communication skills by serving as a student leader in the department and organizing programs with other students while understanding how to utilize his soft skills to communicate with local high schools and parents. The other two students started their research development in the Spring of 2024 and already presented their proposal at the University's research day. Three of the students, will be using techniques they learned to go do a summer internship oversees with veterinarians in Costa Rica and Greece. Each student has selected their topic for research and will be working on it after coming back from their internship and they will be presenting the result and the next university research day or at Tuskegee University Professional Agriculture Workers Conference. Three Nutrition Students have been trained under the grant in the last year. The students accomplished the following. Only two students were paid. One Environmental Science Student has been involved and received research training on the application of algal turf systems to remove excess nutrients from aquaculture ponds and use algal biomass as a feed ingredient for fish and other animals. This student also has had an opportunity to be involved in various training and soft skill development opportunities as part of being MANNRS student member and Environmental Chapter Vice-President. He is currently receiving training in leadership development and outreach education. While one Ph.D. student was involved in this program as an unpaid mentor, she provided training and prepared a technical paper on the algal turf system that undergraduate students received training on. Three undergraduate students from the Food and Consumer Sciences Program have been involved in this program and received financial assistance to conduct various activities and training highlighted for each student below: Nutrition Student #1 -May 2023 - August 2023 -Full-Time Employment - Worked full-time from May 2023 to August 2023 Activities Completed: Engaged with program management activities for the Community Nutrition Club. Thus, I gained management, organization, and project management skills. Contribute to participants' engagement while learning customer care skills, people skills, and human engagement management. Students developed a nutrition program through different stages, starting from conception to planning. The student served as a peer mentor for high school students serving as a summer student intern in the communication nutrition program. Teach nutrition summer camp. Participate in training Workshops and professional development activities, including webinars serious on professionalism. This student has gained hands-on experience in community nutrition education, taking part in community research (conducting surveys on community partners and completing data collection), and submitted an abstract for the food and nutrition conference and expo. Nutrition Student #2-Internship- September 2023- December 2023 -Part-time Activities Completed: Complete program material updates, including using various software and technological tools. Participate in several training sessions to learn new technology techniques and skills. Participate in community program activities that include providing health and nutrition education. Participation in community study data collection Students participated in leadership workshops to help develop leadership skills. Nutrition Student 3 -May 2023- June 2023 and September 2023- December 2024 -Unpaid training Internship Activities Completed : Participation in conference activities network - by attending the 2024 Food and Nutrition Conference and participating in the nutrition student network. Member of a professional organization Preparation of scientific journal writing This student participated in professional and leadership workshops that helped this student engage in learning interview skills. Dissemination of nutrition information at fairs and workshops Participate in Nutrition program planning activities. Create PowerPoint and program material. Participate in several training sessions, including program planning and implementation, and provide nutrition education in a community setting.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roberts L, McKinley K, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A & Ozbay G. 2024. Algal Turf System to Evaluate Biomass Potential. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
McKinley KN, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A and Ozbay G. 2024. Investigating Capability of Nutrient Removal and Biomass Production in Algal Turf System: Design and Implementation. Delaware State University, Cooperative Extension, Dover, DE. Technical Paper, 6p.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
S. Harmer1 and V, Mulgrave, and V. Zoumenou -Promotion of Immunization Among BIPOC Population Through Community Engagement in Rural Delaware. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
J. Brooks, S. Harmer and V. Mulgrave. Using Social Marketing Strategies to Promote Self-Management for Chronic Diseases within Rural Communities Among Low-Income Families. Association of Research Directors' Conference. Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Roberts L, McKinley K, Blank G, Parsaeimehr A & Ozbay G. 2024. Algal Turf System to Evaluate Biomass Potential. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amari West* and Kwame Matthews. Isolation of Small Ruminant Eimeria for In vitro Testing of Compounds. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amber Fitch* and Kwame Matthews. Efficacy of Novel Compounds on Third-stage Parasite Larval Motility Using In vitro Techniques. Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. (ARD). Nashville, TN. April 6-9, 2024. Poster Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Cayla Mrani-Alaoui* and Kwame Matthews. Efficacy of Novel Compounds on Adult Haemonchus contortus Motility Using In vitro Techniques. Delaware State University 2024 Research Day Symposium. April 10, 2024. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Parsaeimehr, A., Miller, C.M. and Ozbay, G., 2023. Microplastics and their interactions with microbiota. Heliyon. Doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15104.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Parsaeimehr A and Ozbay G. 2024. Enzymatic processing of algae for food applications. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology Volume 56, February 2024, 103042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103042
|
Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audiences are the students enrolled in the Department of Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, and Natural Resources. A total of tenundergraduate students in Animal Science/Pre-veterinary, Plant Sciences, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Sciences have been supported by the program. Additional two graduate students and two post-docs have been also actively involved in mentoring and assisting the program team with various program activities, research, and outreach. Through this project, we have been successful in mentoring several students in natural resource-based research experiences which have helped them develop deeper understandings in environmental sciences taught by PI. Co-PI Dr. Matthews is the primary animal science faculty who have been teaching various courses in this discipline and reaching out near 100 students in the program. Co-PI Dr. Mulgrave who handles the nutritional classes and through this funded program, she reaches out to over 50 students in the program via this program activities. Co-PI Dr. Todd handles the University Seminar and has had opportunities to interact with freshmen first time they got started in the University and had opportunities to introduce majors and programs in plant sciences and other areas integrated genetics and genomics successfully. Changes/Problems:We did not encounter any major obstacles or changes. We had an initial delay getting the funding set up for this funded project. But all student hiring and training have been underway. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Seven students were funded for the regional MANRRS conference to help with their professional and soft skill development. Throughout the spring semester, the two students who were funded in this program in Spring 2023 had to attend professional development workshops that were hosted by the DSU MANRRS chapter. Lastly, all students participated in the first DSU MANRRS chapter High School and Middle School on-farm workshop. Each student had to teach the High School and Middle School students about animal science research that they are learning and participating in. Students have had the opportunity to train with PIs, post-docs, staff scientists, and graduate-level researchers in order to learn scientific techniques that are used in small projects. Students receive professional development training for creating posters and oral presentations that explain the breadth of their research. Students have participated in several nutrition training sessions, taught nutrition classes, and participated in professional development activities such as conference attendance and educational sessions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The students present the research in symposia that is open to peer scientists as well as interested communities. There have also been successful cases where students have published their research along with mentors. The student that was working in the fall of 2022 acquired a lot of data that was presented at the Delaware Ag Week program and the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasitology. Students taught nutrition education classes from skills learned from training sessions. Students also created pamphlets and educational materials. Students also distributed health and nutrition education information through participation in SNAP-ED and EFNEP activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The students that gained research experience with the small ruminant lab in spring 2023 will be leading their own research projects for the next year and will be gaining professional development experience through several workshops and participation in the Pre-Vet and MANRRS organization chapters at DSU. Students will participate in more training workshops and become a part of a nutrition professional organization. Students can also participate in collaborative activities with various Ag programs. Prior to the reporting period, we will actively recruit students that have an interest in environmental science so that they can develop a deeper understanding of research and their potential success.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Three Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary students were trained via experiential learning throughout the 2022 - 2023 year. One student graduated in December 2022 and gained experience in animal science research while the other two students started in Spring 2023. The spring 2023 students spent the semester learning all the projects going on in the small ruminant lab and start working on their literature review for their project. They also spend time working on getting certified in the research code of conduct in order to work on research animals. At the end of the spring semester of 2022, undergraduate student, Juliaana Fittz, received experience working with a plant scientist on grapes and hemp. Another student, Natalie Grant, gained experience in the care of farm animals while working with the university veterinarian. Each student did a self-evaluation of her skills and this was followed by an evaluation by the faculty mentor to promote soft and technical skill development. The UMES Co-PI attended the June 2022 virtual meeting of North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA). Three Nutrition Students have been trained under the grant in the last year. Two of them were paid, and one was unpaid due to taking part in the training as a course requirement. The students accomplished the following. Nutrition student 1- Employment - Worked full-time from May 2022 to August 2023 and part-time from September to December 2022. Activities Completed - Attended National Nutrition Conference - October 2022, Orlando Poster presentational nutrition conference Compile Nutrition Database Involved in the creation of program promotional material. Teach Nutrition summer camp. Recruit new program participants. Participate in several nutrition training Workshops. Recipe book development Joined professional organization. Nutrition student 2- Internship- January 2023- March 2023 Activities Completed - Complete program material updates Participate in several training sessions. Conduct nutrition education sessions. Participate in community program activities. ?Nutrition Student 3 Employed- Parttime January 2023- May 2023 Activities Completed - Complete program material updates Participate in several training sessions. Participate in Nutrition program planning activities. Create PowerPoint and program material. Completed Nutrition Database. Through this project, we have been successful in mentoring several students in natural resource-based research experiences which have helped them develop deeper understandings in environmental sciences.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Atley E, Knight K, Moore M, Parsaeimehr A, and Ozbay G. 2023. Microplastic Isolation: A comparative analysis on the available methods. Delaware State University, Research Day, Dover DE, April 12, 2023. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
McKinley K, Knight K, Attarwala T, Andrade E, Ramos J, and Ozbay. 2023. Water Quality Assessment in Rehoboth Bay Delaware for Healthy Oyster Growth. Delaware State University, Research Day, Dover DE, April 12, 2023. Oral Presentation.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Parsaeimehr A, Miller C, and Ozbay G. 2022. Microplastics and their interactions with microbiota. Heliyon J: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15104
|
Progress 05/01/21 to 04/30/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target group is undergraduate students majoring in Agriculture (Plants & Animals), Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, Food Sciences, NutritionSciences, and Familly Consumer Sciences. As part of our objective 1 "To provide students with experiential learning opportunities through supervised research and/or extension projects in animal, plants, natural resources, and nutritional sciences", the following students have been identified and involved in the program: One student was selected to participate in animal science in the spring and summer of the project. In the Spring semester, this student worked in the lab to gain experience in all areas of research prior to selecting an area that she would like to participate in for the current summer. The student learned how to isolate parasites, identify parasites, conduct larval assays, feed sheep and goats, and regular animal husbandrywith sheep, goats, and cattle. Currently, the student is working this summer on testing a novel product to reduce parasite loads in goats and has participated in extension workshops to train farmers and high school teachers on how to use an integrative approach to control parasites in Delaware. One student was selected to work this summer in the area of nutritional science. This student is gaining hands-on experience in community nutrition education, taking part in community research (conducting surveys on community partners and completing a literature review), and submitting an abstract for the food and nutrition conference and expo. Currently UMES PI is recruiting students to involve in the research activities and soft skills relatedto professional development activities. Changes/Problems:The project was approved by the USDA on April 25, 2021, and was sent to the office of sponsored programs for the setup of the budget and post-award meeting. Unfortunately, the accounts for this project were not set up until fall 2021. The sub-award for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was set up in September 2021 to have the project started but since the semester already started recruiting efforts were not readily available. Student recruitment was challenging during the 2021-2022 academic year because students were not fully back on campus. Most students lost interest in doing virtual internships. With the recent updates and changes in policies and procedures on our campus, students can participate in hands-on activities, and resources and facilities are open to the students to stay and do their research and professional development activities. We are very hopeful that we will have a full house of students recruited to this program from various disciplines PI and Co-PIs have the expertises. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The student in animal science has been participating in the Delaware State University chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science (MANRRS) which is a leadership organization that will assist her in developing her skills. She is currently the secretary of the organization. She currently works in the lab to develop her soft skills by participating in the animal science lab journal club and presents weekly updates on her progress in the literature review. The student in nutritional science is participating in community nutrition program training and nutrition program administrative skill-building - plan and manage community nutrition programs with program design, enrichment, and improvement. This student is also giving weekly updates to her advisor who is helping with her soft-skills building. Thestudent majoring in Nutrition Program has the following experiences in the program: Hands-on Community Nutrition Education Community Nutrition Program Leadership Training Nutrition program administrative skill-building - plan and manage community nutrition programs, with program design, enrichment, and improvement. Conference Abstract Submission Take part in community research Currently, the program team is meeting to discuss collaborative professional development opportunities for the students in addition to the skillsets they are developing in their majors such as resume writing, preparing abstracts, preparing a poster or oral presentations, preparing for interviews, being familiar with grants.gov website for job applications, outreach and extension, and many other skillsets. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our primary community of interest group isour students in Agriculture (Plants & Animals), Natural Resources, Food, Nutrition, Environmental Sciences, and Food and Consumer Sciences. This program is designed in such a way to prepare the next-generation workforce with skillsets in their majors and soft skills to be more competitive in the potential job markets, especially for government jobs. As an HBCU and 1890 land grant institution, the majority of our students targeted for this program is African American students and also Hispanic students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Aligned with our two major objectives, the following activities are planned for the students in the program: Students will participate in a number of experiential learning opportunities working directly with ongoing and/or novel research projects established in the animal, plant, natural resources, and nutritional sciences. Students participating must enter freshmen, sophomore, or junior year at DSU. The student will develop a one-year proposal to be presented to faculty and their peers in the area they are interested in. Once the proposal has been approved, students will start working on their research projects in late spring/summer of 2022-2023. Students will present their final data during the Undergraduate Research Symposium and at a national or local research/extension conference in the following year. Students will participate in undergraduate organization involved with leadership such as Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science (MANRRS), Pre-Veterinary Science, and other organizations that strengthen student leadership. Students will participate in leadership workshops and develop PowerPoint and poster presentations to present at scientific and/or extension conferences/workshops which will both help with the development of soft and leadership skills. The program PI and Co-PIs will provide professional and leadership development opportunities for the students in this program such as scientific writing, science journal reading, discussion, experimental design, data collection, data analysis, dissemination of information, literature review, poster presentation, oral presentation, resume writing, ethics training, CITI certification, professional attire selection for interviews, interview skills, and many others. Most of the program PI and Co-PIs have the extension appointments and students participating in this program will have the training and gainexperience in conducting community activities and outreach.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Although the budget set-up was significantly delayed for this project we are able to do the following during a relatively short timeline we had the budget available for our use: One student was selected to participate in animal science in the spring and summer of the project. In the Spring semester, this student worked in the lab to gain experience in all areas of research prior to selecting an area that she would like to participate in for the current summer. The student learned how to isolate parasites, identify parasites, conduct larval assays, feed sheep and goats, and regular animal husbandry with sheep, goats, and cattle. Currently, the student is working this summer on testing a novel product to reduce parasite loads in goats and has participated in extension workshops to train farmers and high school teachers on how to use an integrative approach to control parasites in Delaware. One student was selected to work this summer in the area of nutritional science. This student is gaining hands-on experience in community nutrition education, taking part in community research (conducting surveys on community partners and completing a literature review), and submitted an abstract for the food and nutrition conference and expo. Further recruitment efforts are taking place at UMES and DSU for students in Plant Sciences and Environmental Sciences discplines.
Publications
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