Sponsored Projects Administration is pleased to introduce you to the 2016-17 Fellows (Cohort B). The SPA Fellows Program is an intensive educational experience designed to develop the knowledge base and grant-writing skills of faculty members who display superior potential regarding the ability to obtain external funding in support of research, scholarship, creative projects, and other fundable endeavors.
Sergiy Rosokha
My name is Sergiy Rosokha. I grew up in Carpathian region located in the western part of Ukraine and received my M. Sc. in Chemical Physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. After completion of Ph.D. at Institute of Physical Chemistry in Kiev, I spent several years as a research scientist at National Sciences of Ukraine studying kinetics and mechanisms of complex chemical processes and developing industrial technologies for the recovery of platinum metals from scraps and wastes. For this work, I was awarded State Prize in Science and Technology of Ukraine. From 2000, I was carrying out research in physical-organic chemistry at the University of Houston in Texas, and, subsequently, teaching and doing research at Roosevelt University, Chicago. I joined Ball State University as an Associate Professor of Chemistry in 2016.
My research is focused on the mechanisms of chemical reactions, as well as on the fascinating intermolecular interactions which are vital for the molecular recognition and reactivity, functioning of biomolecules, pharmaceutical substances, and molecular materials. I co-authored 84 articles and 2 book chapters, with more than 2000 citations and h-index of 26. My current work is supported by the $296,600 grant from the National Science Foundation “Supramolecular anion-pi and halogen-bonded complexes and their role in electron-transfer processes” and by the $70,000 grant from the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund “Characterization of ion-radical pi-bonding and electron transfer using cation-radical salts with weakly coordinating anions.”
Cori Jenkins
My name is Cori Jenkins. I completed my doctoral work in chemistry at Purdue University where I utilized polymers to mimic mussel proteins in order to develop new adhesives. After graduate school, I conducted research as a postdoctoral scholar at California Institute of Technology where my work focused on creating polymers displaying different sugar motifs to regulate neuronal growth.
This is both my first year at Ball State University and as a professor. My research here focuses on incorporating thiol groups into diverse polymer architectures. These polythiols can be easily modified to incorporate an array of functional groups via ‘click chemistry,’ form internal cross-links, and bind metals. Once developed, these materials will serve as scaffolds for a range of applications including environmental remediation via metal entrapment as well as drug delivery. The breadth of possibilities allows students to explore their own interests and will allow me to engage in collaborations to utilize polythiols in new and interesting ways.
Whether at work or at home, I try to get outside as much as possible. I firmly believe fresh air and sunshine make any task more manageable. When I’m not working, my fiancé and I love cooking, exercising, and traveling together. We often take our husky on long walks or hikes. I enjoy experiencing new places and one of my goals is to visit all 50 states during my life.
Xin Sun
My name is Xin Sun and I joined the Computer Science Department at Ball State University in fall 2016 as an assistant professor. From 2012 to 2016 I was an assistant professor at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. I received my Ph.D. from Purdue University, West Lafayette, in 2012. My general research interest lies in computer networking and networked systems, with a focus on network management and operations.
The current goal of my research is to develop rigorous scientific approaches and software-based automation tools for the operations and management of large and complex cyber-infrastructures, which are kept working today entirely by manual effort and human intelligence and are thus prone to human errors. I am also very passionate about Computer Science education. I love working with students, particularly with undergraduate students who are often able to “think different”, and I have been evolving undergraduate students in every stage of my research projects from the initial design to development to evaluation and deployment.
When I am not lecturing in class or writing a grant proposal in office, I am probably working out in the gym or checking out the latest gadgets on YouTube.
YoungAh Lee
My name is YoungAh Lee; I am an assistant professor teaching both undergraduate and graduate Public Relations courses in the Department of Journalism. I graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism with a Ph.D. degree and before coming back to academia, I have worked as a PR strategy consultant for more than 8 years.
With a scientist-practitioner perspective from my professional background, my research interests are focused on the role of strategic communication in the achievement of organizations’ goals, specifically in the context of social media and university reputation management. Especially, I have developed keen interests in social media analytics both for teaching and research in order to examine pervasive impact of media analytics in public relations planning, execution and evaluation. This effort has been recognized by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and I was chosen as one of nine nationally selected 2016 Plank Educator Fellow. I hope that my research will benefit my teaching and ultimately my public relations students, who will face fast and significant changes driven by new communication technology.
Bangshuai Han
Bangshuai Han is an Assistant Professor of Water Resources at the department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at Ball State University. He received his doctorate in Environmental Resources Engineering from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and his master in Physical Geography from Chinese Academy of Sciences. Right before coming to Ball State University, he worked as a postdoc researcher at Boise State University, leading a team of social and biophysical scientists on the projection of water availability in Southwest Idaho.
His research interests center at critical water resources issues, by integrating expertise from hydrology, climate change, land use and human influences. He tackles research questions using models, laboratory experiments, field experiments, and surveys. He also likes to incorporate up-to-date research into class experiences. He is currently teaching introductory level environmental and water courses.
He is a father of two kids, one is three years old and the other is one and a half. In his spare time, he likes playing badminton, table tennis, gardening and hiking.
Matt Moore
My name is Matt Moore. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Ball State University. My research centers on the integration of social work into the field of athletics. I have a passion for positioning social workers to offer advocacy, case coordination, counseling, and program and policy change to improve athlete well-being and functioning. I am currently working on a Sport Social Work Certificate Program and a Sport Social Work Model of Practice.
In addition to this line of research, I love nothing more than being present for my students in the classroom and beyond. I predominately teach in the areas of social welfare policy, research, and practice. I was a finalist for the Ball State Excellence in Teaching Award and recently received the Greek Life Award for Outstanding Teaching.
Outside of Ball State, my main priority will always be my family. My wife and I take great pride in raising our three children (Brooklyn, Bronson, and Maverick). In my spare time, I am the Varsity tennis coach at Zionsville High School. I also enjoy coaching hockey through the Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association. I hope you enjoyed learning more about my professional and personal life. Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance – I truly operate on an open-door policy!
Kim Zoder-Martell
My name is Kim Zoder-Martell. I am an assistant professor of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Special Education department. I am a licensed psychologist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral level. I am originally from NY, but I earned a Ph.D., in school psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. I completed my pre-doctoral internship in Louisiana, and moved to Indiana to obtain post-doctoral supervision at Riley Hospital for Children. Broadly, my research focuses on improving outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. I am particularly interested in evaluating strategies to train consultees (e.g., parents, teachers, direct care staff) how to implement behavior analytic interventions with treatment fidelity.
Currently, I am the elected Member at Large, Past Conference Chair, and the Interim Chair of the Communications Committee for the Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis. I am actively involved in pursuing licensure for behavior analysts in Indiana. I am also involved with the Indiana Association of Psychologists and serve on their Communications Committee.
I live in Carmel with my husband, Nick, and our daughter, Maibel. We have three dogs. I know, you’re thinking, “crazy dog lady!” I am the co-leader of a Girl Scout troop and I am avid crafter. Although I enjoy most crafts, crochet is my favorite.
Sanglim Yoo
My name is Sanglim Yoo, assistant professor of Urban Planning. I was appointed as a faculty member of the Department of Urban Planning at Ball State in 2014 and teach introductory and advanced level Geographic Information Systems (GIS), quantitative analysis and research methods, and regional planning studio to future urban planners. I come from various academic backgrounds including plant biology, environmental studies, city planning, and environment and natural resources policy.
I have deep rooted interest in the economic value of urban environmental amenities. For my dissertation research, I applied spatial statistical method, specifically Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), as well as machine learning techniques, such as random forest and Cubist, to investigate spatially heterogeneous benefits of various urban environmental amenities. My research interest lies in the sustainable environmental management and planning by focusing on the quantification of human – environmental interactions in urban area.
Together with economic valuation of urban environmental amenities, I am in the initial stage of expanding the realm my research into the investigation of the relationship between remotely sensed summertime land surface temperatures and biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of urban areas. In my research, I tried to address Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) phenomenon reflecting more realistic and tangible urban scales, such as by planning zone, by neighborhood, by city block, or by parcel.
