This Project Grant award, valued at $477,249.00, was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Biological Sciences (CFDA 47.074) program. The award will fund a research project titled "NERC/NSF MIND THE GAP: TACKLING THE MOLECULE - FOSSIL DIVIDE IN ANGIOSPERM EVOLUTION USING FOSSIL POLLEN, SUPERRESOLUTION MICROSCOPY, AND DEEP LEARNING". The primary objectives are to build a new phylogenomic tree for the Chloranthaceae plant family, use deep learning models to place Chloranthaceae fossils within this phylogeny, and establish the timing of diversification within this plant family. This research aims to bridge the divide between molecular studies and fossil evidence to better understand the evolution and diversification of flowering plants. The project will train two postdoctoral researchers in advanced biological and computer science methods, and develop free online educational materials about the evolution of flowering plants. The award period is from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028, and the work will be conducted at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $477.2k | 6/26/25 |