Melanie Martin - US grants

International health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life to promote optimal infant growth and reduce risk of infectious illness. Globally, however, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is relatively rare - including in many less developed populations with high rates of infectious disease. For many mothers, the risks associated with complementary feeding before 6 months of age may not be apparent, or may be outweighed by competing time and energy demands. This study will examine differences in infant feeding patterns and associated outcomes in an economically marginalized population, the Tsimane of Bolivia.

This research by doctoral student Melanie Martin (University of California, Santa Barbara), under the supervision of Dr. Michael Gurven, tests the hypothesis that maternal work and childcare demands reduce the length of exclusive breastfeeding. Furthermore, because nursing mothers rapidly lose weight and do not menstruate, Tsimane mothers may introduce complementary foods before 6 months of age to minimize the caloric losses of nursing. This offset may enable postpartum weight maintenance and earlier resumption of menstruation. Tsimane women do not have access to contraceptives; early complementary feeding may therefore contribute to Tsimane mothers' high fertility rates (average 9 children).

The researchers will survey Tsimane mothers to determine if the length of exclusive breastfeeding varies with infant condition, maternal age and condition, and maternal work and childcare demands. Researchers will also prospectively collect dietary, behavioral and biological data from Tsimane mothers and infants to examine how complementary feeding patterns affect maternal energy, menstrual status, infant growth and incidence of illness. The study will examine how local beliefs and Tsimane mothers' perceptions of infant health, growth, and development further influence feeding decisions. Results will aid in devising strategies to promote culturally acceptable infant feeding practices that optimally benefit maternal and infant health.

This project will establish a scholarship program through a consortium of two four-year institutions in Texas and California and two partner two-year colleges: the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), California State University-Stanislaus (CSU-S), El Paso Community College (EPCC), and Merced College (MC). The project will prepare low-income, academically talented students to enter the workforce in the high demand areas of computer science and cyber-security. S-STEM scholars will participate in co-curricular activities that actively engage them in professional development activities that support their trajectories through undergraduate studies, in particular from two-year colleges to four-year institutions, and onto advanced degrees. The project will build on the effective practices and strategies of the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI), funded by NSF (CNS-1042341). As the lead institution of CAHSI, UTEP will coordinate the implementation in this project of activities based on CAHSI's proven practices that support student success. Such activities include: the Affinity Research model that focuses on student professional, communication, and research/workplace skills development; mentoring that provides access to resources, information, and guidance; and the CAHSI Summit that provides opportunities for students to network with industry representatives, participate in technical workshops, and prepare for interviews and internships. The project will have a dedicated website hosted by each participating four-year institution, and it will use social media to reach potential applicants. In addition, each four year institution will employ face-to-face recruitment activities that include an annual two-day event for a pool of potential applicants from area high schools, the university, and partnering two-year colleges. The event will include highly interactive activities to build interest in computing degrees and discuss career pathways, including jobs in industry, government, non-governmental organizations, and entrepreneurial opportunities. The activities will also stress the importance of advanced education.

The project will investigate the effectiveness of integrated evidence-based practices with the targeted student population and will contribute to the existing knowledge base with new understandings regarding factors that lead to the recruitment, retention, and degree attainment of the target population of students in computing. In particular, it will identify to what extent students pursue cyber-security as an area of expertise and which activities are particularly compelling for students. The research will utilize a sociocultural, situated learning lens to examine how S-STEM scholars develop and expand communities of computing practice. Research methods include the following: participant observation, semi-structured individual and group interviews, document analysis (including institutional research data analysis), and survey methods. Analysis will involve inductive and deductive coding practices, constant comparative analysis, and statistical analysis of differences in student outcomes (e.g., transfer rate, GPA, intentions for graduate school). The research study will inform the education research and CS communities about the specific elements that are needed to create inclusive learning environments in computing, while also building a much-needed foundation of knowledge on factors that facilitate the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based reforms that serve low income, highly qualified students in computing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in untold challenges to personal and public health, largely because scientists and clinicians know very little about the virus that causes it and how transmission occurs. Whereas respiratory droplets are known to be a major mode of transmission, it is very likely that there are other sources. One understudied possibility is transmission from mother to infant via breastfeeding. Although researchers know that some viruses can be passed from mother to infant in this fashion, almost nothing is known about SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). For this reason, there is substantial confusion as to whether breastfeeding is safe and/or beneficial when a mother is known to be infected. This study will provide fundamental information about this basic biological property of SARS-CoV-2, information that will be immediately usable by women, healthcare providers, and public policy makers. This study will investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can be detected in breast milk produced by infected women. Results will provide needed information about potential spread of the disease between breastfeeding mothers and infants as compared to formula-feeding mothers and infants. This topic is urgent because women continue to give birth and breastfeed during the pandemic, and guidance is critically needed. The Broader Impacts of this project include both outreach to the public to inform breastfeeding mothers about breast-feeding choices, and education of an undergraduate and graduate student.

Although respiratory droplets are a known source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, other modes likely exist. One such possibility is SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission during breastfeeding, but little is known about this type of transfer for any coronaviruses. For SARS-CoV-2, there are only a handful of studies that report analysis of milk produced by COVID-19+ women; all but three report no evidence of virus in milk. There is similarly limited research on the effects of maternal milk antibodies on infant immune responses and severity of symptoms. As a result, there is substantial confusion as to the risks and benefits of breastfeeding for SARS-CoV-2+ mothers. This proposed research is a longitudinal, repeated-measures study of 25 breastfeeding mothers and infants and 25 formula-feeding mothers and infants. Dyads will be recruited within 7 days of maternal COVID-19 diagnosis and followed for 2 months during which time milk and breast swabs will be repeatedly collected (from breastfeeding mothers) and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using an RT-qPCR; milk will also be analyzed for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Stool samples will also be collected and analyzed to assess viral exposure/shedding; and dried blood spots collected and analyzed to assess viremia and antibody (IgG and IgA) titers. Results will immediately inform women, healthcare providers, and public policy makers regarding infant feeding choices during the postpartum period. This RAPID award is made by the Physiological and Structural Systems Cluster in the BIO Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, using funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by leveraging an established consortium of four institutions of higher education across California and Texas. Over its 6-year duration, the project will provide 85 scholarships to high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need, of which 24 will earn an associate degree in Computer Science <br/>(CS) at a feeder college, then transfer to a partnering consortium 4-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree in CS. Scholars will be funded for up to four years, with the possibility for an additional year to complete a graduate degree. Scholars will actively engage in co-curricular activities focused on cybersecurity, data science, and professional development to support their trajectories through undergraduate and graduate studies. The goal of the program is to help position scholars for full-time career opportunities that meet the needs of the industry. Graduating scholars will be equipped to contribute to industry demands and grand challenges of the 21st century in cybersecurity and data science.<br/><br/>The research component of this project will inform the education research and computing communities about the specific elements that are needed to create inclusive learning environments in computing, while also building a foundation of knowledge on factors that facilitate the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based reforms that serve low income, academically talented students in computing. This study will utilize a sociocultural lens to examine how S-STEM scholars develop and expand communities of computing practice. Research methods will include participant observation, semi structured individual and group interviews, document analysis, and survey methods. Analysis will involve inductive and deductive coding practices, constant comparative analysis, and statistical analysis of differences in student outcomes. This project is funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields. It also aims to improve the education of future STEM workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students.<br/><br/>This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.