Class of 2022 PI Millionaires

This year’s PI millionaires join their UofM colleagues in achieving this prestigious designation. More details can be found in the Research Celebration program.

Duane McKenna, Department of Biological Sciences

Duane McKenna is the William D. Hill Professor of Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Memphis. He studies insect systematics (diversification and relationships among species and higher taxa through time), genomics, and the ecology, evolution and genomic basis of insect-plant interactions. Other interests include chemical communication in insects and geographic patterns of insect diversity and endemism. Most of his research is focused on the order Coleoptera (beetles). Dr. McKenna's research program involves a combination of field, collections, and laboratory work, and has been supported by grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other organizations. He is the founding Director of the University of Memphis Center for Biodiversity Research (CBio; www.umbiodiversity.org) and Director of the University of Memphis Agriculture and Food Technologies Research Cluster.

Funded Grants (Current/Active)

2021-2026
Total costs: $1,296,531 (including $24,999 ROA supplement awarded in 2022) 
United States National Science Foundation; Division of Environmental Biology: Phylogenetic Systematics Program & Division of Integrative Organismal Systems: Integrative Ecological Physiology Program.
D. McKenna (PI), S. Haddad Co-PI (University of Memphis), R. Mitchell Co-PI (University of WI-Oshkosh)
Title: Investigating chemosensory evolution in longhorned beetles using a comparative phylogenomic framework that integrates genomic, morphological, and biochemical data.

2020-2025
Total costs: $884,474
United States National Science Foundation; Division of Environmental Biology: Phylogenetic Systematics Program.
D. McKenna Other Senior Personnel (subaward PI), H. Song PI (Texas A&M University), S. Shin Co-PI (Postdoc in the McKenna Lab until 2020, now an assistant professor at Seoul National University)
Title: NSF-DEB-NRC: Multidisciplinary approach to bioacoustics: Integrating phylogenomics, biophysics, and functional genomics to unravel the evolution of hearing and singing in katydids.

Helen Sable, Department of Psychology 

Helen Sable, PhD is a professor and associate chair in the Department of Psychology at the University of Memphis (UofM). Dr. Sable’s research program spans the fields of behavioral neuroscience and neurotoxicology, with a central focus on examining neurobiological and environmental factors that contribute to externalizing behavior. There is inherent complexity in this approach because these factors often interact (e.g, gene-environment interactions). The results of her research inform government regulatory practices, aid in pharmacotherapy development, and contribute to the scientific literature on the etiology of externalizing disorders, particularly Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Additionally, Dr. Sable serves as an associate editor for the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology, is a past president of the Developmental Neurotoxicology Society, and a previous recipient of the Patricia Rodier Mid-Career Award in Research and Mentoring.

Active

NSF 2051105

REU Site: Memphis Neuroscience Techniques and Research Training Program (NeuroSTART)

H Sable and D Lester (co-PIs)

5/15/2021 – 5/14/2023; Total costs: $285,908

The goal of this project is to provide research experience and professional development skills to first-gen and underrepresented minority undergraduates to ensure they are more successful at securing admission to graduate neuroscience programs.

Role: Principal Investigator

NIH R15DA04679701

Identifying the neurophysiological basis of risky decision-making

N Simon (PI)

7/1/2019-6/30/2023; Total costs: $395,791

The goal of this project is to determine the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie pathological risky decision-making by using behavioral paradigms designed to evaluate the different stages decision-making, including evaluating pre-decision deliberation, the encoding process of consequences associated with a risky choice, and abnormal processing of rewarding and aversive events.

Role: Co-Investigator

Completed

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)

Critical Review and Analysis of Barriers to Entry for Post-Secondary Women in Physical Sciences and the Impact of the Pandemic on an Already Imperfect Culture

F Sabri (PI)

4/1/2021 – 3/31/2022; Total costs: $68,105

This project examined systemic barriers and acute pandemic-related obstacles to gender diversity in laboratory-based science.

Role: Co-Investigator

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Enzymotec

Enteral nutrition with InCog enhances brain development after preterm birth

R Buddington (PI)

07/11/2014 – 04/30/2015; Total costs: $128,703

This project demonstrated significant improvements in structural and functional indicators of neurodevelopment in preterm pigs fed formula supplemented with docosahexanoic acid (DHA) attached to phosphatidylserine.

Role: Co-Investigator

NIH/NIEHS R00ES015428

Assessment of Psychostimulant Addiction Risk Following Developmental PCB Exposure

H Sable (PI)

03/01/2009 – 11/30/2012; Total costs: $722,099

The goal of this project is to determine if developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) enhances the predisposition to develop an addiction to psychostimulants using a rodent model.

Role: Principal Investigator