Alabama State University News August 27, 2015 ASU Receives Major Grant from Department of Energy by Timothy C. Ervin Scientists at ASU have received a major grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to bolster environmental research. The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a grant totaling more than $370,000 to help Alabama State University expand its work in environmental research and establish a center for environmental excellence at ASU. The grant was awarded through Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. Dr. B.K. Robertson, professor and executive director of graduate programs in biology and microbiology, applied for the grant and will oversee the activities being funded. A major part of the research will involve the study of a toxin found in the aquatic food chain. "The new grant supports scientific research to determine the long-term stability of methylmercury undergoing remediation using various sorption materials," Robertson said. "It will help us understand the microbial processes controlling the release and effectiveness of the sorption materials. Methylmercury is highly toxic and able to accumulate to a high degree in the aquatic food chain and believed responsible for brain damage." ASU's Ph.D. program in microbiology and Master of Science programs in biology will use the grant to support their research for one year and will have an option to apply for renewal of the grant for another four to five years. For more information, contact B.K. Robertson, Ph.D. at 334-229-4423 or email brobertson@alasu.edu<mailto:brobertson@alasu.edu>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.