Research

• Astrid Bharath (Biology Major)

• Nikia Brown (B.S. Biology)

• Tashawn Colbert (B.S. Chemistry)

• Christodia Forsen (Political Science)

• Jasmynn George (Graduating senior – Biology)

• Ayanna Harrison

• Aaliyah McCullough (B.S. Biology & B.S. Chemistry)

• Janette North-Kabore (M.S. Public Health & B.S. Biology)

• Miracle Okoro (Graduating senior)

• Samuel Perry (B.S. Biology)

• Dr. Tatiana Roth (Urban Ecologist)

• Da’Rae Solomon (B.S. Biology)

• Deanah Thomas (B.S. Biology & B.S. Chemistry)

• Malia Vester (B.S Biology & B.S. Chemistry)

• Aisha Ward (B.S. Biology & B.S. Chemistry)

• Tamera Warrington (B.S. Biology)

Our environment has become very delicate such that we cannot continue to ignore the minor environmental changes being observed and how they affect our precious planet and its inhabitants. A good fraction of the changes observed in our environment is due to the continual increase in the types and quantity of diverse contaminants which can be termed as Emerging Contaminants (ECs) or contaminants of emerging concern. ECs can be defined as chemical or biological materials (including heavy metals, organic molecules, bacteria, microplastics). The uses for microplastics span from microbeads in personal care products such as exfoliants in facial scrubs to drug delivery and in fibers that shed from synthetic clothing and rope. Some microplastics are small enough to pass through wastewater treatment plants and enter a watershed. In this project we study various water sources to identify microplastics, characterize them using advanced analytics methods and attempt to understand their impact on select aquatic species. We also seek to develop novel remediation technologies to sequester microplastics in closed water systems.

Baltimore draws drinking water from the Liberty, Loch Raven, and Prettyboy Reservoir watersheds. The purpose of this study is to monitor the concentrations of select heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and arsenic) and determine if the levels are above/below the allowable EPA levels. Seasonal samples are taken from 12 test points and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.

This research aims at detecting and quantifying estrogen levels in water to fully understand the impacts of estrogen on aquatic species. Estrogens at polluting levels have been detected at sites close to wastewater treatment facilities and in groundwater at various sites globally. Previous studies have shown that estrogen perturbs fish physiology and can affect reproductive development in both domestic and wild animals.

Student Airborne Science Activation for Minority Serving Institutions (SaSa) is a NASA-funded 5 year project that involves Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Coppin State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morgan State University, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Langley Research Center. The SaSa program draws on NASA SMD’s (Science Mission Directorate’s) unique assets (aircraft, aircraft sensors and experts) to create an effective learning environment, where students will take part in a paid summer internship for eight weeks. They will receive experiential learning delivered by NASA subject matter experts and guest lecturers. Students will also receive professional development training including scientific abstract writing, comprehensive literature review, networking, and professional presentations. More importantly, students will be connected to bridge programs (e.g., NASA internships, NASA Pathways, and NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), and receive guidance and science counseling to keep them motivated and engaged in the Earth Science field through graduation, and ready to take the next step, including proceeding to a graduate school or taking up a STEM career.

Student Airborne Science Activation MSI Partners

The project at Coppin State University seeks to establish the Integrative Center for Emerging Contaminants (ICEC). The goal of the planning grant is to build the foundation for a center, envisioned to be funded by the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program, to perform cutting-edge research in emerging contaminants (EC), which are derived from industry, agriculture, and biotechnological and pharmaceutical sectors. Undergraduate students are actively involved in this project by participating in research. This project supports the goal of the CREST program to provide support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research.

Through this planning grant, the project will form at least three convergent research collaborations to strategically strengthen research capacity and articulate shared areas of excellence. The three interrelated subprojects are: identifying, characterizing and quantifying ECs; studying impacts of ECs on biological systems; and remediation of ECs. Specific planning activities include conducting a writing workshop, conceptualizing and planning for development of a center, piloting research projects to assess student learning during undergraduate research experiences, and faculty development. The project will be guided by formative and summative evaluation. This project is jointly funded by the HBCU-UP and CREST programs.

NASA awards Texas State University’s STEM Teacher Excellence Project (STEP). Coppin is a sub-awardee in the grant. “STEP is one part of a focused effort to provide high-quality STEM professional development for educators who serve student populations that have typically been under-represented in STEM fields,” said Leslie Huling, principal investigator for STEP.

NASA MUREP awards promote STEM literacy and enhance and sustain the capability of institutions to perform NASA-related research and education. The goals of the program are to expand the nation’s base for aerospace research and development, increase participation by faculty and students at minority serving institutions, and increase the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees in NASA-related fields awarded to students from minority serving institutions. https://www.education.txstate.edu/newsroom/lbj1.html

This is a collaboration between Savannah State University, Tennessee State University, Florida A&M University, Coppin State University and Clark Atlanta University that seeks to increase the diversity of the geo-sciences workforce through a data- and theory-driven process of intervention design and evaluation specifically targeting HBCU teacher preparation programs.

This multi-institution  five year NSF grant is a collaboration between University of Maryland College Park, University of Michigan, University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Coppin State University, Gallaudet University, Michigan State University, Washington State University-Vancouver, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ in Leipzig, Germany and Environment for Development Initiative (EfD) at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden).  The Coppin project aims at understanding the socio-environmental factors that affect and water quality. Focus is given to heavy metals and pharmaceuticals (mainly estrogen) in watersheds that provide drinking water supply for the city of Baltimore.