NSF

Tiny tweezer developed at Vanderbilt can trap molecules on a nanoscale, creating powerful research capabilities into cancer metastasis, neurodegenerative diseases

Aug. 31, 2020—Working on a minuscule scale, a new nanotweezer successfully captures and sorts individual proteins and DNA without harming their function, for myriad applications in life science research.

Software suite expedites reproducible computer simulations

Jul. 8, 2020—Science moves forward when researchers verify their and others' results.

Twelve engineering students awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Apr. 14, 2020—Nine engineering doctoral students have been awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Three engineering undergraduate students also have received NSF fellowships.

How to fake a medical record in order to mitigate privacy risks

Nov. 4, 2019—In machine learning, generative adversarial networks (GANs) involve two artificial neural networks squaring off, one, the generator, trying to delude the other, the discriminator, into accepting synthetic data as real. Beyond their science and engineering applications, GANs can generate utterly convincing “photographs” of people who do not exist. Unrestricted use on a wide scale of...

Electronic medical record on tablet in a person's hand

How to fake a medical record

Nov. 4, 2019—Simulated electronic health records could avoid patient privacy risks and help speed discovery.

Microscopic spines connect worm neurons

Oct. 17, 2019—Worm neurons have microscopic “spines” — where nerve-to-nerve communication happens — that share features with mammalian neurons, supporting the use of worms to study spine genetics and biology.

Left, Nilanjan Sarkar, professor of mechanical engineering, is the lead investigator on a significant new NSF convergence grant. He, Joshua Wade, a senior staff research scientist, Michael Breen, an intern on the project, and Claire Barnett, communications coordinator at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, work an interactive prototype, developed with Microsoft support, that prepares applicants with ASD for job interviews. (Vanderbilt/Joe Howell)

VU engineers lead $1M NSF pilot to develop tech for workforce inclusion of people with autism

Oct. 16, 2019—A Vanderbilt mechanical engineering professor is leading an ambitious pilot project that will develop prototypes of new AI-based technology and tools to train, connect and support people with autism spectrum disorders in finding jobs and succeeding in the workforce.

Vanderbilt joins research alliance to bring STEM training to prisoners

Sep. 30, 2019—Rich Milner is among an alliance of researchers who have been awarded a five-year, $5.2M NSF grant.

Vanderbilt’s Ebony McGee receives federal funding to study racial disparities in STEM

Sep. 30, 2019—The project is supported by a three-year grant of $593,957 by the National Science Foundation.

Why are STEM students abandoning academic career paths?

Jun. 18, 2019—Vanderbilt researchers have found that many Ph.D. STEM students today do not pursue an academic career track because of the pressure-filled norms and culture of the tenure process.

Frog fungus fights back

May. 15, 2019—Louise Rollins-Smith and colleagues have discovered a new way that a deadly fungus evades frogs' immune systems.

Gifted kids turn 50: Most successful followed heart, not just head

Apr. 23, 2019—New findings from an ongoing 45-year Vanderbilt study reveal that patterns found in test scores and a psychological assessment measuring the personal values of nearly 700 intellectually gifted adolescents were highly predictive of the distinct fields of eminence they would occupy by age 50.