Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences awarded $333,162 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) effective September 15, 2026, with completion targeted for August 31, 2029. This collaborative research project delivers experimental research characterizing avian flight behavior under turbulent atmospheric conditions—a significant gap in current ornithological knowledge. Using the specialized animal flight wind tunnel at Brown University, the project produces quantified data on changes in bird kinematics, energetics, and group flight behavior across varying turbulence levels. The research outputs will advance understanding of small bird ecology and evolution while generating aerodynamic insights with applications to biotechnology and bio-inspired aerial vehicle design.

In addition to primary research deliverables, the project includes an integrated interdisciplinary workforce development component across three collaborating universities. The award supports training for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in participating research laboratories, combined with a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program offering annual summer research fellowships to undergraduate participants selected from across the nation. Each year, one undergraduate with a biology background and one with engineering or physical sciences coursework are selected to foster interdisciplinary training in the intersection of biological and engineering sciences.