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CAFNR Research Digest
CAFNR Office of Research Newsletter // June 16, 2022 // 4(12)
Feature Story
Zinc is a Key Regulator of Sperm Functions During Sperm Capacitation Process »

Findings by CAFNR researcher Michal Zigo have implications for improving fertility outcomes in animals and humans

Research Highlights
Coronavirus Sewershed Surveillance Project Earns Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity (click to read)
Coronavirus Sewershed Surveillance Project Earns Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity »

The Coronavirus Sewershed Surveillance Project, which includes the University of Missouri and the Departments of Natural Resources, Health and Senior Services, Corrections, Mental Health, and Public Safety, was honored with a 2021 Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity in the Pinnacle Award category. Two Mizzou professors, and their teams, have helped lead the project, Marc Johnson (pictured right) and Chung-Ho Lin (pictured middle). Lin is a research associate professor and lead scientist in the bioremediation program at the MU Center for Agroforestry, and Johnson is a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the School of Medicine. Also pictured is Hsinyeh Hsieh, a research scientist in the School of Natural Resources.

Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Systems (click to read)
Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Systems »

Researchers and farmers need nanotechnology, such as nanoscale biosensors and nanoparticles, to get an inside look at and manipulate processes like the spread of pathogens

Grant Writing Tip: Know your audience 

To create a proposal that sponsors and reviewers want to fund requires more than just following the guidelines. That said, read the guidelines first! After reading the guidelines, dive a little deeper.

Read the website and social media of the sponsor

  • Does the sponsor provide a list of projects that have been funded in your research area?
  • What is the sponsor’s mission, priority areas and goals?
  • What language and vocabulary does the sponsor use to present itself?

 Pay attention to the news

  • Often sponsors will have a “news” section on their website. What kind of projects are they excited to tell the world about?
  • What research have they funded recently that has hit headlines?
  • Is there a new and interesting problem getting a lot of news coverage that your research could address?
Research Roars

Jared Decker Awarded Continuing Service Award

Jared Decker, associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, was presented the Continuing Service Award from the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF). Continuing Service Award winners have made major contributions to the BIF organization. This includes serving on the board of directors, speaking at BIF conventions, working on BIF guidelines and other behind-the-scenes activities. Decker was presented the award on June 2 at the group’s annual research symposium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Lauren Hamilton and Edgar Diaz Miranda Earn SSR Travel Award

Lauren Hamilton, a postdoc, and Edgar Diaz Miranda, a visiting scholar/graduate student in the Division of Animal Sciences, will be presented the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) Travel Award. They will be presented the award at the 55th Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting in Spokane, Washington, in July.

Alan Spell and Mark White Receive the Community, Economic and Workforce Research Award

Alan Spell, assistant Extension professor, agricultural and applied economics, and Mark White, associate Extension professor, received the Community, Economic and Workforce Research Award from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), which was presented at the C2ER Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The winning project (in the Best Project Impact, Program Evaluation, or Assessment category) is the St. Louis Bioscience Labor Market Analysis, completed for BioSTL earlier this year. C2ER is a national membership organization for applied researchers in the field of economic and workforce development.

In the News

Q&A: The evolution of rural economies

Columbia Missourian 

Rural explosion in four-day school week aimed at recruiting teachers

Missouri Business Alert 

A ‘wicked problem’: Policies, technology change the agriculture industry, rural life

Missouri Business Alert