From shoulder muscle tears to pitcher plants, researchers who won this year’s President’s Research Investment Fund spring competition span a wide variety of expertise.

The six individuals were given a total of more than $67,000 to study their particular fields of interest – most notably Parkinson’s Disease, local water systems and biological environments.

Joseph Langenderfer won a $15,000 grant to study rotator cuff muscle tears, which he hopes gives a better understanding to doctors and patients about the injuries.

It’s important to get funding for programs to get off the ground, Langenderfer said.

“It’s like seed money,” he said. “Funds that are meant to start things.”

Biology professors Scott McNaught and Elizabeth Alm were awarded $15,000 to examine the kinds of bacteria and other materials present in water near livestock farms.

Gregory Colores, also from the biology deparment, received $14,960 to study Drummond Island in Lake Huron, which consists of limestone bedrock.

Designed by University President Michael Rao in 2001, PRIF is an internal funding opportunity to help full-time staff and faculty of Central Michigan University with their first phases of research.

There are two categories within PRIF, Research Awards and Proposal Writing Awards. Justin Oh-Lee, an assistant psychology professor, won $7,500 to submit a grant to study the effects of levodopa, which is used to treat Parkinson’s Disease.

Because research requires vast financial funding, it’s inevitable to apply for external grants from outside agencies.

In order to obtain this support, researchers must present preliminary data and predictions, but without some kind of monetary assistance to start the researching process, it’s virtually impossible to receive those larger amounts provided from agencies.

“It’s sometimes hard to get that first little bit,” said assistant biology professor Peter Kourtev, who was awarded $14,868 to study an endangered species of pitcher plant in North America.

PRIF award money is intended to help researchers with that initial boost to pay for hiring and training of research assistants, conducting pilot studies and any travel crucial to completing the project proposal, according to the PRIF 2007-2008 guidelines

“This program is very well advertised among faculty,” Kourtev said. “It’s used as a bonus for working at CMU.”

Kourtev also won the PRIF in May 2007 for studying long-term effects of the invasive species autumn olive (elaeagnus umbellata) on soil processes and microorganisms.

Upon successfully receiving external funding because of the PRIF, researchers are able to take a portion of that financial support as indirect cost and give it back to the university, where it can be then put back into the investment program.

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