The National Science Foundation (NSF) has granted Missouri State University another transformative research grant.  

Dr. Tuhina Banerjee, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry,  received full approval for a two-year, $250,000 grant to establish competitive research. 

Making leaps  

The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) award will help Banerjee reach many of her goals as a professor at MSU. 

The grant’s call is to achieve excellence through diversity. Institutions that receive this award will broaden participation to include minorities who are historically excluded and currently underrepresented in the mathematical and physical sciences. 

In addition, the funding will be used to support her project titled, “LEAPS-MPS: Light Tunable Redox-Active Hybrid Nanomaterial with Ultrahigh Catalytic Activity for Colorimetric Applications.” 

“I’m very excited as this funding will help my lab develop a light tunable colorimetric sensor for the detection of foodborne pathogens,” Banerjee said. “I’d be able to diversify my lab workforce, recruit underrepresented minorities and give them the opportunities they deserve.” 

The grant will begin in January 2024. 

It takes a village 

Banerjee notes she could not have gotten here without the support from others. 

“From NSF, I would like to thank Dr. Ann-Marie Schmoltner and Dr. Colby Foss,” she said. “Their advice has been extremely helpful in navigating this funding. 

“I’d also like to thank my collaborators Dr. Santimukul Santra, Dr. Fei Wang, the amazing students in my lab, Dr. Adam Wanekaya, Dr. Tamera Jahnke, Janene Proctor and Jackie Douglas for their constant support and encouragement. 

“But most importantly, thank you to the NSF for funding my lab research.” 

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