Faculty Senate Announces the 2025–26 Coffin Grant Recipients' Projects

Recipients + Projects

Andrew Jung, Department Chair, Associate Professor, Department of Computing Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences 

Identifying Changes in Students' Emotions: Use of Different Modes of Activities During STEM-Related General Education Classes  

This innovative study, supported by the 2025-26 Coffin Grant, investigates how students' emotions fluctuate during different classroom activities (active, interactive, constructive, and passive) in STEM-related general education courses. Using Empatica E4 wristbands to capture physiological data (e.g., heart rate variability) and machine learning techniques, the research aims to correlate emotional responses with instructional modes, validated by real-time surveys. The goal is to enhance learning effectiveness by designing instructional materials that foster positive emotional engagement. Findings will provide educators with evidence-based strategies to improve student confidence, interaction, and performance in STEM courses. 

Lillian Kamal, Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Business Insights, Barney School of Business 

This project focuses on the study of gender gaps and their impact on economic outcomes.  The first phase of the study will include a meta-analysis of the literature on this topic.  In the second step, I plan to measure the comparative time-series patterns of gender differences in wages and overall earnings in various parts of the world, and further extend that analysis to the impact on economic growth rates in these areas.  This part of the study requires the establishment of the dominant transmission channel for assessing the growth impacts, while controlling for macroeconomic control variables.  The last phase of the study will be the development of a comprehensive set of policy recommendations based on the lessons from the data analysis.  Ultimately, it is of interest to see which specific policy changes had the greatest impact on closing gender gaps, and impacting growth, and how those policies can be replicated elsewhere.  The research project is therefore interdisciplinary in nature as it is a socio-economic study. 

Shivangi Nangia, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences 

Computational study of Hydropathy of Viral Membrane Protein and its Mutants 

The menace of viral diseases affecting human lives is growing considerably yearly and globally; SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, Hepatitis, Dengue, and Ebola are prominent examples. Understanding the mechanisms via which viral proteins operate to cause infection is inherently complex. The hydropathy scale is critical to studying a protein and its mutants. This scale effectively captures subtle changes in a protein's primary amino acid sequence—the fundamental building blocks of a virus. These changes can significantly influence the protein's three-dimensional structural topography, chemical properties, and biochemical activity within a specific biological environment. The overarching goal of this project is to study the atomistic-level structural details of viral proteins using hydropathy analysis, aided by computational techniques, to inform the development of therapeutic agents. 

Jinghui Yang, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions 

The Coffin Grant will support Dr. Yang's project on the discovery of health benefits of blood flow restriction exercise in individuals with Alzheimer's Disease. Specifically, different exercise protocols with blood flow restriction will be tested to assess their effects on cognitive improvement and vascular health. The mechanistic roles of cerebral blood flow volume and lactate accumulation will be investigated. As a novel exercise modality in clinical rehabilitation, blood flow restriction exercise provides remarkable benefits for muscle strength and mass at low resistance loads. This study will shed light on the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of this technique in cognitively impaired individuals and extend its application in clinical settings. 

Vicky Luo, Associate Dean of Academic Strategy, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management, Barney School of Business  

Beyond Compliance: Exploring the Impact of ESG-Driven Supply Chain Excellence on Firm Performance:  

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a framework used to evaluate the sustainability and ethical impact of an organization's operations. Originally rooted in socially responsible investing, ESG has gained significant attention as companies and investors increasingly recognize the importance of integrating these factors into decision-making processes. Companies not only strive to achieve cost efficiency and improve financial performance, but also recognize the need to incorporate ESG principles to build resilient, transparent, and responsible supply chains. The objective of this study is to explore both operational and financial performance of a firm, based on its supply chain’s practices on ESG.

Daphne Berry, Associate Professor of Managment, Barney School of Business 

The grant is providing support to attend a research conference at Oxford University focused on various aspects of employee-owned businesses throughout the world. My research is toward understanding the social and environmental sustainability-related activities of established employee-owned businesses in the United States—Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) companies. This initial grant will also serve as support for external grant applications and at least one publishable paper. 

Gengyun Le, Assistant Professor of Biology, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences 

We investigate how hyaluronic acid (HA), a key molecule in the body’s connective tissues, affects musculoskeletal function. Using genetically modified mice lacking the HA-producing enzyme Has2, our study explores how HA influences muscle strength and contractility. While HA is well-known for its roles in cartilage, skin, and joint health, its impact on muscle physiology remains largely unknown. By targeting this gap, we aim to uncover how HA deficiency alters muscle performance and whether it plays a role in HA-related musculoskeletal diseases. Our findings could inform future therapies for conditions like osteoarthritis and HA-induced muscle loss. 

Jianbing Liu, Associate Professor of Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences  

My project aims to optimize network efficiency by studying two fundamental graph-theoretic metrics: radius and diameter. These metrics critically influence how quickly and reliably data or resources are transmitted across networks such as communication systems, power grids, and transportation infrastructures. By developing new algorithms and analytical techniques to minimize the radius and diameter of various network structures, this research seeks to enhance network resilience, reduce latency, and improve fault tolerance. The outcomes will provide insights and practical methods to design more efficient and robust large-scale networks that underpin critical modern systems. 

Xinying Qu, Assistant Professor of Business/Data Analytics, Barney School of Business  

A Study of the Impact of AI Investment on Firm Operating Performance 

This study examines the impact of AI investment on firm operating performance, with a focus on how financial constraints moderate this relationship. While AI adoption can enhance efficiency and profitability over time, initial implementation may be costly and disruptive, particularly for financially constrained firms. Building on prior research on automation and AI’s "J-curve" effect on productivity, this project integrates game theory and financial constraints perspectives to analyze how competitive pressures influence AI adoption decisions. The findings will provide valuable insights for managers assessing AI investment returns and policymakers seeking to support effective AI integration across firms of varying resource capacities, ultimately helping firms optimize investments and mitigate short-term inefficiencies. 

Hailey Harris, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Barney School of Business 

In the United States, women’s sports have become increasingly popular (Adgate, 2022). Athletes Unlimited (AU) is a new endeavor in the women’s professional sport ecosystem, offering an innovative approach by centering the focus of the organization on the athletes. The league has grown significantly since its launch in 2020, achieving multiple milestones of success, namely the garnering and renewal of multiple media rights deals, in addition to their rapid growth on social media. AU’s marketing and branding approach contrasts with the way women have traditionally been marketed in mainstream media (Fink et al., 2015) and the way female athletes have historically branded themselves on social media (Geurin-Eagleman & Burch, 2016). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to inquire how the softball branch of Athletes Unlimited, one of the most popular professional women’s sports leagues based in the United States, approaches their branding and communications of their athletes and league. 

Jill Bambury, Associate Professor Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, Technology and Architecture (CETA)  

Telling the Lion’s Tale: The Architecture of African American Churches in New Orleans, Louisiana (working title) Until the lion tells his tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. African Proverb  

My project for the Coffin Grant for 2025-2026 is to assist with the completion of a manuscript for a book, which examines the manner in which architecture can empower communities, through analysis of an African-American neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. Although specific to a single neighborhood in New Orleans, the study is relevant to many challenged neighborhoods in American cities for which a community had to develop resilience in the face of oppression. The research for the manuscript began with my PhD dissertation at the University of Cambridge which included intensive onsite field work and full-time studies at Cambridge. In July 2025, I was offered a contract with an academic publisher to complete the book, based on my proposal. As this does not include funds for working on the manuscript, the Coffin Grant is much appreciated. I will also be using it as seed funds to apply for further funding. 

Sarah Ketay, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Arts & Sciences

Aims to expand her research on physiological stress responses and subjective feelings of closeness in ingroup versus intergroup social interactions. This study uses a guided conversation in which participants take turns answering 36 questions that increase in self-disclosure. Participants’ levels of the stress hormone cortisol, along with their reported closeness and desired closeness to their conversation partner, will be analyzed using multilevel modeling. This work contributes to our understanding of how physiological stress responses and feelings of connection are shaped by ingroup versus intergroup contact and social context. 

Gilda Lyons, Assistant Professor of Composition, Chair of Composition, The Hartt School 

Corazón de Esperanza is an evening-length contemporary concert work composed, sung, and conducted by Gilda Lyons for premiere in Philadelphia’s Teatro Esperanza in May 2024 with percussionist Benjamin Toth, Chair of Hartt Percussion, and the Dalí Quartet, champions of Latin American quartet repertoire and recent recipients of Chamber Music America’s Ensemble of the Year award. Commissioned by Esperanza Arts Center, the work is a series of musical portraits shining a light on the current humanitarian crisis and interweaving universal, humane reflections on Nicaraguan culture told in the words of those who have lived them. With 2025-26 Coffin Grant support, the ensemble of performers will return to rehearsal of Corazón de Esperanza in preparation for a filmed production of the work and its subsequent release. 

Carolyn Pe Rosiene, Professor of Computing Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences

Addressing Bias in AI Tools Across Diverse Programming Languages

Computer science is undergoing rapid transformation with the rise of generative AI, which automates key aspects of software development. To prepare students, it's essential they learn to work with tools like Large Language Models (LLMs), which generate text based on extensive training data. This work will explore applying Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to code generation, enhancing output relevance through real-time information retrieval. It aims to reduce bias toward imperative languages by incorporating domain-specific knowledge and expanding support for diverse programming paradigms. 

Michael Robinson, Professor of History, Humanities, Hillyer College  

Out There: Scientists, Exoplanets, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life is a book project that takes an inside look at the scientists researching planets outside our solar system and their attempts to find life there. Since 1992, thousands of planets orbiting suns in other solar systems have been identified by astronomers. Dozens of these extrasolar planets (“exoplanets”) are within a so-called habitable zone around their stars, suggesting that they might support life. As the promise of discovering extraterrestrial life has captured the public imagination, it has also boosted the status of exoplanet research. Yet this heightened attention comes with risks and challenges. As more and more scientists stream into the field, it has increased the pressure to publish findings prematurely, raising the risk of “false-positive” discoveries that could damage the reputation of exoplanet research. It has also created an interdisciplinary Tower of Babel, as researchers from many different disciplines—physics, astrobiology, climatology, and the social sciences—struggle to find a common language and approach for the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Out There will offer a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important interdisciplinary projects of our age. It will also offer a critical analysis of interdisciplinary science itself: how it functions, where it fails, and why it may bring revolutionary change to a scientific field. 

Dr. Anastasiia Minenkova, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences  

Dr. Minenkova will be working on a project related to the frontiers of quantum computing through linear algebra. Her endeavor focuses on the powerful intersection of linear algebra and quantum computing. Over the past decade, the field of quantum information theory has experienced unprecedented growth, bringing with it a vast number of new mathematical challenges. 

Driven by initiatives like the National Quantum Initiative Act in the United States, which aims to ensure continued leadership in quantum information science and its technological applications, the momentum in quantum research is stronger than ever. As quantum technologies evolve, so does the need for rigorous mathematical formalization and optimization of emerging concepts. 

This exciting journey promises not only to deepen our understanding of quantum systems but also to contribute to the development of more efficient and scalable quantum algorithms—grounded in the language of linear algebra.