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UT Tyler Faculty Awarded Summer Internal Research Grants

Five faculty members at The University of Texas at Tyler were awarded internal faculty research grants this summer, Dr. Arlene Horne, associate vice president for research and federal relations, announced.

UT Tyler faculty members listed amounts awarded and funded research topic are:

• Dr. Jennifer Kreft, associate professor of physics, $7,500 to study the migration of connexin in living cell membranes.

• Dr. Scott Spier, assistant professor of health and kinesiology, $6,872 to explore the effects of aging on vasodilatation in cerebral arteries.

• Dr. Jill Blondin, assistant professor of art history, $5,000 to study the history of three fifteenth-century Sistine churches in Rome.

• Drs. Michael McGinnis and Torey Nalbone, associate professors of civil engineering, $4,798 to investigate double-roof fires to improve firefighter safety.

These research awards are intended to provide faculty members with funds to complete the preliminary research needed to be able to compete for external funding, according to Horne.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. Nearly 90 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 6,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.