The Marshall University NASA West Virginia Space Grant Advisory Consortium Committee (Chair) awards competitive Space Grant Scholarships to students interested in a career in science, mathematics, health care, engineering, science education, or working on a NASA-related science or teaching research project. The committee also funds proposals from science faculty for research related to science and engineering, and mini-grants up to $1,000 to promote research initiation and research capability enhancement in the areas of science and engineering. Funds may be used to partially support activities such as travel to NASA Space Center to establish research relationships with NASA scientists, to attend national conferences, or to visit a collaborating lab. (http://www.marshall.edu/sigmaxi/nasa.htm)

The Marshall University Chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (President, 2007-present) actively promotes scientific research and the promise of science and technology. Its goals are to foster interaction among science, technology, and society; to encourage appreciation and support of original work in science and technology; and to honor scientific research accomplishments. The Marshall University chapter is one of more than 500 chapters at academic institutions, government laboratories, and industry research centers that belong to the national Sigma Xi Society (http://www.sigmaxi.org/).

The Marshall University Greenhouse (Manager) houses the living plant collection for the Department of Biological Sciences, and research plants for faculty and students in the Biological Sciences and Integrated Science and Technology programs. It facility includes a NASA-supported study in hydroponics using strawberry because of its potential for cultivation in space.

CellCentral (Co-manager) is a shared Molecular/Cell Biology Teaching and Research facility in the College of Science. CellCentral is organized into dedicated rooms for microscopy, electrophoresis and gel analysis, tissue culture, general solution preparation, glassware cleaning, thermal cycling, centrifugation, and computer work in a manner that supports the adjacent teaching and research areas. The facility, which is heavily used by many faculty, research students, and for courses in the biotechnology and biology (Principles of Cell Biology, Plant Physiology, and Plant Growth and Development) programs. (http://www.marshall.edu/cellcentral)

Biological Science Teaching Support Committee (Member) is responsible for awarding funds for teaching resources to faculty and staff and arbitrates the relocation or reuse of existing teaching equipment via a competitive application procedure.

Biological Sciences Student Support Committee (Liaison) which is responsible for awarding funds for independent research projects, and tuition waivers for students in the Department of Biological Sciences. The application for independent research and/or capstone support may be found at http://www.marshall.edu/biology/Forms/URFundsApplication.pdf.