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FEATURES
Middle Georgia State Receives The NSF award will build on the ongoing work of
$480,000 Federal Grant For Wang and Kwak. They are working with students to
Metabolomics Research enhance metabolite identification accuracy by de-
veloping reliable computational identification tools.
News Bureau Their focus is on improving the current tool for more
effective and efficient metabolite identification by in-
Faculty and undergraduate research into me- corporating new rules into the algorithm. Their team
tabolomics - an emerging technology with signifi- will use computational and statistical methods to
cant implications for medical science--earned Middle identify new rules and update the algorithm. With
Georgia State University a National Science Founda- $93,000 of the grant funding earmarked for students
tion grant of nearly $480,000 in February, the largest each year, the research team will include several un-
of its kind in the institution’s history. dergraduates studying information technology and
biology. Conducting this project will not only advance
Two information technology professors, Dr. Ying- cutting-edge research in metabolite identification but
feng Wang and Dr. Myungjae Kwak, are directing the also promote interdisciplinary education at MGA.
research funded through the award, which began in
February and will last until January 2022. The research The grant will also provide funding for two
is crucial because metabolomics, a technology for high-performance computers to handle the increased
detecting, identifying, and quantifying metabolites in capacity of the research requirements. MGA president
biological samples, is used extensively in microbiolo- Dr. Christopher Blake said the NSF award recognizes
gy, pharmacy, and medical science. Among its many the University’s achievement in metabolite identifica-
uses, metabolomics technology can help with med- tion and will enhance the school’s advantage in relat-
ical diagnoses including detection of some specific ed areas: “Carrying out this funded project will help
types of cancers. build Middle Georgia State’s reputation in research,
especially undergraduate research, and expand op-
“This is a great honor for MGA and a tremendous portunities for exponential learning for our students.
achievement for Dr. Wang, Dr. Kwak, and everyone I am excited for what this award means for Middle
who had a hand in doing the hard work it takes to Georgia State University going forward.”
apply for such a grant,” said Dr. Alex Koohang, dean
of the School of Computing. Barbara Ratzlaff, MGA’s The grant totals $479,584. The research project
contracts and grants director, said the amount of is titled “III: Small: RUI: Investigating Fragmentation
funding is important “not just because of the dollar Rules and Improving Metabolite Identification Using
amount but for what is says about Middle Georgia Graph Grammar and Statistical Methods.” More details
State. We are a relatively new university and this is a of the NSF award are available at https://www.nsf.gov/
start of reflecting a university posture.” awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1813252&Histori-
calAwards=false.
6 mga.edu | finding greatness
