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Big Idea Challenge Oral Presentations 2024

OU Vice President for Research and Partnerships, The University of Oklahoma website wordmark

Big Idea Challenge 2.0 Oral Presentations

February 15, 2024, 9:30-11:15 a.m. & 2:00-3:45 p.m.

Ten semifinalist teams have been invited to give short presentations on their proposals for the second phase of review of OU’s Big Idea Challenge 2.0. On behalf of their collaborative team, the lead principal investigator or co-lead PIs listed below will describe their BIC 2.0 proposal and projected outcomes. Each talk will be 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes Q&A.

The Big Idea Challenge 2.0 program will position OU as a leader in generating new insights and game-changing contributions to solving regional, national, and global challenges in climate, health, AI/ML, materials, technology, and communities.

Thematic Focus Areas

Theme 1: Climate change and its regional, national, and global impacts on human well-being and security

Theme 2: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) applications for scientific discovery and social well-being

Theme 3: Materials science and engineering as an enabler of future technological advances across verticals

Theme 4: Enhancing knowledge at the intersection of technology and society to promote human flourishing

JOIN ZOOM EVENT 
(updated link, no registration required)

Schedule of Presentations
9:30-11:15 a.m.

9:35-9:50 am

BENEFIT: Building Energy Efficient Frontier and Insulation Technology

Mike Banad (view team)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
9:50-10:05 am

Legacy Building Toolset

Deborah Richards (view team)
Architecture
10:05-10:20 am

Developing Adaptive CoManagement of Land and Water Governance Using a Participatory and Big Data Approach: An Example from the High Plains Aquifer (HPA) Region

Jacqueline Vadjunec (view team)
Geosciences
10:20-10:25 am

BREAK
10:25-10:40 am

Climate Information on Actionable Timescales for Climate Security in Latin America

Kathy Pegion (view team)
Meteorology
10:40-10:55 am

Revolutionizing Early-Stage Cancer Detection Utilizing AI-Enhanced Breathomics and Sensors for Non-Invasive Diagnostics (RESCUAiD)

Talayeh Razzaghi (view team)
Industrial and Systems Engineering

2:00-3:45 p.m.

2:05-2:20 pm

Neo-SCAI: Cancer Neoepitope Identification from Single Cell Genomics Data Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms

Marmar Moussa (view team)
Computer Science
2:20-2:35 pm

Policy, Platform, and Public Implications of Deepfake Proliferation in A Fractured World

Matthew Jensen (view team)
Management Information Systems
2:35-2:50 pm

Forging Global Alliances for Climate, Weather, and Water: The Example of India

Pierre Kirstetter (view team)
Meteorology; Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
2:50-2:55 pm

BREAK
2:55-3:10 pm

Developing error-proof CRISPR-Cas9 for treating genetic disorders

Rakhi Rajan (view team)
Chemistry/Biochemistry
3:10-3:25 pm

Mitigating Climate Change Maladaptation in Vulnerable Communities and Ecosystems from Oklahoma to the Global South

Caitlin Hodges (view team)
Geosciences

Teams - Lead PI(s), Co-PIs

BENEFIT: Building Energy Efficient Frontier and Insulation Technology

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Mike Banad
  • Kun Lu, Library and Information Studies
  • Sarah Sharif, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Shakil A. Shimul, Architecture
  • Myongjin Kim, Economics

Senior Personnel

  • Iman Ghamarian, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Shuozhi Xu, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Amy McGovern, Meteorology; Computer Science
  • Thirumalai Venkatesan, Physics and Astronomy; Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Reza Foudazi, Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
  • Yijie Jiang, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Yingtao Liu, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Hanjong Paik, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Bayram Saparov, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Chenghao Wang, Physics and Astronomy; Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Li Song, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Negar Heidari Matin, Interior Design
  • Dingjing Shi, Psychology
  • Joe Ripberger, Political Science

Advisory Board Members

  • Horst Hahn, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
  • John Klier, Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
  • Binbin Weng, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Steven Crossley, Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
  • Bin Wang, Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering

Legacy Building Toolset

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Deborah Richards
  • Chris Weaver, Computer Science
  • Vanessa Morrison, Institute for Quality Communities
  • John Harris, Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design
  • Jennifer Koch, Geography and Environmental Sustainability

Partner Personnel

  • Denyvetta Davis, Northeast Oklahoma City Neighborhood Coalition, Inc.
  • Lisa Chronister, The City of Oklahoma City Planning Department

Developing Adaptive CoManagement of Land and Water Governance Using a Participatory and Big Data Approach: An Example from the High Plains Aquifer (HPA) Region

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Jacqueline Vadjunec
  • Todd Fagin, Center for Spatial Analysis
  • Jennifer Koch, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Kathleen Brosnan, History
  • Jason Vogel, Civil Engineering and Environmental Science

Personnel

  • Caitlin Miller, Oklahoma Water Survey

External Partner

  • Peter Kedron, Geography, UC-Santa Barbara 

Advisory

  • Tim Filley, Geography and Environmental Sustainability; Geosciences

Climate Information on Actionable Timescales for Climate Security in Latin America

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Kathy Pegion
  • Nishan Bhattarai, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Fabio de Sa e Silva, International Studies
  • Jason Furtado, Meteorology
  • Charles Kenney, Political Science
  • Pierre Kirstetter, Meteorology; Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  • Erin Kökdil, Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Qihong Liu, Economics
  • Victor Maqque, Latin America Sustainability Initiative
  • Elinor Martin, Meteorology
  • Rachel Schwartz, International and Area Studies
  • Jackie Vadjunec, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Cliff Wojtalewicz, Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute
  • Venera Bekteshi, Social Work

Revolutionizing Early-Stage Cancer Detection Utilizing AI-Enhanced Breathomics and Sensors for Non-Invasive Diagnostics (RESCUAiD)

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Talayeh Razzaghi
  • Thirumalai Venkatesan, Physics and Astronomy; Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Velmurugan Thavasi, Center for Quantum Research and Technology
  • Pankaj K. Singh, Oncology Science, OUHSC
  • Dean F. Hougen, Computer Science
  • Marmar Moussa, Computer Science
  • Donna L. Tyungu, Pediatrics, OUHSC
  • Jordan P. Metcalf, Internal Medicine, OUHSC
  • Rachel L. Staats, Pediatrics, OUHSC
  • Binbin Weng, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Patrick J. McCann, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Rui Q. Yang, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Mike Santos, Physics and Astronomy
  • Zhisheng Shi, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Hanjong Paik, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Aaron Wendelboe, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, OUHSC
  • Myongjin Kim, Economics
  • Ibrahim Kekec, Economics
  • Jordan Neil, Stephenson Cancer Center
  • Rafeh Naqash, Hematology-Oncology, OUHSC

Neo-SCAI: Cancer Neoepitope Identification from Single Cell Genomics Data Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Marmar Moussa
  • Dean Hougen, Computer Science
  • Jacob E. (Jed) Friedman, Physiology, OUHSC
  • James Papin, Pathology, OUHSC
  • Courtney Montgomery, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
  • Tae Gyu Oh, Oncology Science, OUHSC
  • Farid Talebnia Rowshan, Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
  • Moses O. Olayemi, Engineering Pathways

Policy, Platform, and Public Implications of Deepfake Proliferation in A Fractured World

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Matthew Jensen
  • Alex Harris-Watson, Psychology
  • Yifu Li, Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Mark Raymond, International and Area Studies
  • Lacey Schley, Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Innovation Institute
  • Katerina Tsetsura, Public Relations and Strategic Communication
  • Rui Zhu, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Forging Global Alliances for Climate, Weather, and Water: The Example of India

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Pierre Kirstetter
  • Race Clark III, NOAA/NSSL
  • Jason Furtado, Meteorology
  • Jonathan Gourley, NOAA/NSSL
  • Katerina Kyprioti, Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  • Berrien Moore III, National Weather Center
  • Kathy Pegion, Meteorology
  • Joseph Ripberger, Institute for Public Policy Research & Analysis
  • Kuhika Gupta, Institute for Public Policy Research & Analysis
  • Chenghao Wang, Meteorology; Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Thirumalai Venkatesan, Physics; Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Myongjin Kim, Economics

Developing error-proof CRISPR-Cas9 for treating genetic disorders

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Rakhi Rajan
  • Martin-Paul Agbaga, Cell Biology, OUHSC
  • Chongle Pan, Computer Science
  • Yihan Shao, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Stefan Wilhelm, Biomedical Engineering
  • Heyjie Jung, Political Science

Mitigating Climate Change Maladaptation in Vulnerable Communities and Ecosystems from Oklahoma to the Global South

Lead PI(s)Co-PIs
  • Caitlin Hodges
  • Fabio de Sa e Silva, International Studies
  • Royce Floyd, Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  • Sharon Hausam, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Katrin Gaarbdo Kuhn, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, OUHSC
  • Qihong Liu, Economics
  • Victor Maqque, Latin America Sustainability Initiative
  • Lauren Mullenbach, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Thomas Neeson, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • Jayash Paudel, Economics
  • Jason Vogel, Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  • Rich Zamor, Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
Vice President for Research and Partnerships
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Updated 2/7/2024 by Vice President for Research and Partnerships: researchnews@ou.edu