Press Releases

Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced $924,091 in federal funding from the National Science Foundation to support scientific research and educational initiatives at two area universities.

·       The University of Scranton will receive $174,257 from the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences to support Dr. Nathaniel Frissell’s project titled “Collaborative Research: CEDAR: Measuring Daily Ionospheric Variability and the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts Using HamSCI HF Doppler Shift Receivers.”

·       Marywood University will receive $749,834 from the Division of Undergraduate Education for Dr. Lisa Antoniacci’s project “Developing STEM Professionals through Peer Mentoring/Tutoring and Career Coaching.”

“The bright and talented STEM students trained by Marywood today become the Dr. Frissells of tomorrow, conducting cutting edge scientific research, but whether in the classroom or in the field, scientists and professors need funding to do their important work,” said Rep. Cartwright. “As the chair of the Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee that funds the National Science Foundation, I am proud to support this essential investment in education and research. I look forward to seeing the great successes of Drs. Frissell and Antoniacci as they develop their projects and put this funding to use.”

"We are very excited to have received this award from NSF.  The S-STEM award provides scholarships to high achieving, low income students that are pursuing degrees in the STEM field. The grant will provide four years of scholarships to 12 Marywood students studying Biology, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Math, Computer Science, or Information Security. This type of grant that helps to provide new educational opportunities for students who may need additional support is totally aligned with our mission. We are very grateful that Marywood was selected to receive this important grant,” said Sister Mary Persico, Marywood University President.

“We are grateful for the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that will support a collaborative research project led by University of Scranton faculty member Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., that will study how dawn, dusk, and solar eclipses affect the ionosphere, and also supports master’s and Ph.D. level student participation in the research data collection and analysis at Scranton and with collaborators at Case Western University,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, Assistant Vice President for Community Engagement and Government Affairs, University of Scranton.

The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences of the National Science Foundation supports essential research, technology development and education regarding the processes that impact the composition and physical phenomenon and behavior of matter between the sun and the earth. The AGS enables discoveries, nurtures a vibrant, diverse scientific workforce and helps attain a prosperous and sustainable future.

The Division of Undergraduate Education of the National Science Foundation provides leadership, supports curriculum development, prepares the workforce and fosters connections to promote and improve STEM education for future generations.