Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC)
第一吃瓜网 is a partner institution for a National Science Foundation EPIIC grant, covering the three academic years from 2025-2028. EPIIC stands for Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity.
During the grant term, a 第一吃瓜网 EPIIC project team will establish faculty fellowships, improve infrastructure to support external partnerships, and develop industry partnerships that offer opportunities for collaboration.
Project Team:
PI � Jeff Peterson, Chemistry
Co-PI � Mark Rider, Entrepreneurship
Co-PI � Amy Sheldon, Geological Sciences (former interim Dean of Arts and Sciences)
Co-PI � Melanie Blood, Dean for Workforce Development and Associate Provost for Assessment
EPIIC Team member � Joanna Santos-Smith, Asst Dean for Strategic Initiatives
Faculty Fellows:
Tara Sweet, Biology and Neuroscience, will serve as a 2026-27 Fellow, working on the new Kodak lab and partnership.
2nd Fellow will be determined through a fellowship application process in Spring 2026
第一吃瓜网’s Grant Partner Institutions:
Estrella Mountain Community College, AZ
Houston Community College, TX
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica, NY
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, WI
