Division of Research and Economic Development Annual Report

ZHANGXIAN “DAN” DENG, PH.D.

MEGAN CATTAU, PH.D.

Across the nation, stem cell research is transforming what’s possible in regenerative medicine.

At Boise State University, Zhangxian “Dan” Deng is leading a new chapter in that story. His research in magnetoelectric biomaterials is paving the way for advances in bone tissue engineering — progress that recently earned him a National Science Foundation CAREER award.

Deng leads the Smart Materials and Systems Lab, where his team creates 3D porous scaffolds that respond to magnetic fields, encouraging stem cells to grow and form bone in ways that mirror natural processes. The work builds on his background in smart materials and additive manufacturing, bridging engineering and biology to develop materials that can interact with the human body in functional, healing ways.

Over the next five years, Deng aims to expand this research into scalable applications that improve recovery and healing for patients while mentoring students at the intersection of materials science and advanced manufacturing.

“What excites me most is creating materials that can truly help people heal.” 

— Zhangxian “Dan” Deng 
on bone tissue engineering

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award No 244015.

Wildfire is reshaping landscapes across the globe, but at Boise State University, Megan Cattau is helping us understand it in a new light: one that connects people, policy and place.

Cattau studies wildfire as a social-ecological system (SES), exploring how climate, land management and community dynamics intertwine to influence both fire behavior and recovery.

“The CAREER Award provides the long-term support needed to develop a cohesive research and education program around wildfire as an SES. The work will advance understanding of social vulnerability to natural hazards and decision theory, and will contribute to both the risk assessment and the disaster and hazards literature.” — Megan Cattau

In her Mapping and Remote Sensing for Social-Ecological Disturbance Lab, she mentors students to merge technical precision with an understanding of communities at risk.

Collaborations with the National Interagency Fire Center, local partners and the Boise State ArtSci community reflect her belief that science and art together can highlight the complications of wildfire to inspire change. 

Cattau’s work advances wildfire research toward a more connected and resilient future.

“Working in fire-prone landscapes has shown me that resilience isn’t just ecological — it’s human.”

— Megan Cattau on wildfire as social-ecological systems

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award No 2439458.

Maddie Grier

Ph.D Student, Biomolecular Sciences

Ph.D. Student and her team patent a treatment for aggressive cancers

Boise native Maddie Grier, a Ph.D. student in Boise State’s Biomolecular Sciences program, along with her team members Daniel Fologea and Aviana Smith, has already helped move one innovation from theory to the real world: a liposome-based cancer treatment now advancing toward clinical trials. 

Through this research and her work in the laboratory-equipment industry, Grier has gained a rare perspective on the full arc of science — from molecule to market. What excites her most, however, is the opportunity to teach. She hopes to one day stand at the front of a classroom, translating complex mechanisms into moments of understanding. 

Outside the lab, her creativity takes shape in cooking, jewelry making, and leatherwork — small testaments to a mind that delights in how things come together.

“It feels awesome to contribute to something tangible, because so often when you enter graduate studies, you have this idea of what you’ll study, but getting to work on something that really means something is incredible.”

—Maddie Grier on liposome cancer research

*This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award No 39410207

HASSAN MOHAMED

Bachelor of Science Student, Chemistry

Undergraduate Innovator Tackles Safer Food, 
Earns Honors

When you meet Hassan Mohamed, you can tell he’s not your average undergraduate student — he’s on a mission. Hassan spent ten weeks in Professor Ken Cornell’s lab diving into a project with real-world impact and presented an award-winning research poster titled, Efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma in Inactivating Pathogens on Plant Seeds. 

At the 2024 Idaho INBRE Statewide Research Conference, Hassan presented his work … and walked away with 2nd place Undergraduate Fellows Student Choice. It wasn’t just the award that mattered — it was the validation that his idea, which steers away from harsh chemicals and leans into sustainability, has a future. 

Mohamed’s research explores using plasma devices for virus and bacteria inactivation, and reducing contamination on plant seeds and surfaces. The goal of his research is to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens in agriculture, protecting both crops and consumers.

“The fact that the cold atmospheric pressure plasma we use only requires air and water as inputs makes it an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution,” said Mohamed. The goal? Cleaner seeds, safer food and fewer nasty pathogens messing with crops and consumers alike. 

Hassan often says, “I want to save lives.” Whether that’s through safer food or smarter farming, he’s already making traction — and turning research into real-world results.

*The project described was supported by an Institutional Development Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Grant #P20GM103408. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIH.

ANTONE CHACARTEGUI

NSF Graduate Research Fellow;
Ph.D. Student, Computing

Antone Chacartegui’s work lives at the place where mathematics, machine learning and the natural world meet. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and Ph.D. student in Computing at Boise State, he develops reinforcement-learning tools that help large-scale ocean models decide where to focus
detail, making simulations faster, more accurate and more responsive to the needs of scientists and communities. His mentor, Dr. Michal Kopera, notes that Antone’s research “has the potential to reshape how we model ocean dynamics,” with implications for forecasting and coastal resilience. ¹

Yet what stands out just as much as his technical talent is his sense of service. In addition to his research, Antone volunteers at the Idaho Department of Corrections, where he teaches math to residents studying for their GED. He shows up with patience, clarity, and compassion — traits that guide both his science and his collaborations. His work reflects a belief that knowledge, used well, can strengthen lives both near and far.

MORGAN CALAHAN

NSF Graduate Research Fellow; Ph.D Student, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

Morgan Calahan is a second-year Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Ph.D. student whose promising research garnered a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program award beginning in Fall 2025. Calahan studies Columbian sharp-tailed grouse with guidance from
her advisor, assistant professor Stephanie Galla. Calahan’s work explores sharp-tailed grouse genomics, shedding light on genetic diversity and adaptive capacity in the species.

The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse were once abundant through the Intermountain West, spanning from Colorado through British Columbia. However, their numbers fell throughout the 20^th century and today the species occupies a fraction of it s former territory. Conservation efforts are underway across the American west.

Calahan’s research into grouse genetics has implications for regional conservation efforts and the understanding it brings to further efforts in conservation studies. ¹

“Genetic diversity is important for adapting to change,” Calahan said. “So understanding declining species from a genetic and genomic perspective is really important for conservation and managing with that in mind.”

— Morgan Calahan

¹This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award No 2439554.

Boise State patent opens new doors to animal conservation science

Telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, shorten under stress. While scientists have studied telomere length as a biomarker for years, traditional methods were species-specific, limiting both their use across the animal kingdom and the opportunity for broader ecological insights. 

For Stephanie Hudon, a clinical program director in Boise State’s Sequencing Core and an alum of the university’s Biomolecular Sciences doctoral program (MBOL), being stopped in research by ‘traditional’ methods was unacceptable. 

Her refusal to settle for incomplete science led to an invention with far-reaching implications: a universal telomere assay that will transform how researchers measure stress over animal lifespans. With support from Boise State Office of Tech Transfer, Hudon’s newly patented invention simplifies comparisons across species and ecosystems, enabling researchers to pinpoint populations at risk and guide conservation efforts more effectively.

Patented Boise State cancer discovery targets tumors, spares healthy cells

A Boise State research team is advancing a promising new approach to treating aggressive cancers. Led by biophysics professor Daniel Fologea and his team, graduate researcher Maddie Grierand student scientist Aviana Smith, the group developed a patented liposome-based delivery method designed to make chemotherapy far more precise. 

Like tiny Trojan horses, these microscopic, fat-based spheres slip naturally into tumors, carrying chemotherapy quietly inside. When radiation is applied, the liposomes burst, releasing the drug exactly where it’s needed and sparing the rest of the body. By allowing radiation and chemotherapy to work together safely, the method could one day reduce treatment gaps and ease the toxic side effects patients often endure. 

Supported by two National Science Foundation grants and an international partnership that has licensed the patent, the project is now moving toward clinical trials. What began as a hopeful idea in a Boise State lab is becoming a potential breakthrough for cancer care.

*This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award No 3941020.

Resilience in Idaho’s Refugee Farming Communities

RESOURCE NEXUS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

This year, Boise State researchers deepened understanding of the environmental, social and economic pressures facing Global Gardens farmers, many of whom arrived in Idaho as refugees. Through interviews, surveys, extensive observation and an innovative photovoice process, the team documented how farmers adapt to changing conditions, drawing on both traditional knowledge and new techniques learned in the U.S. 

Findings highlight the essential role farming plays in well-being, the persistent challenge of securing land, and the blend of skills farmers use to sustain their operations. Students contributed substantially to this work, presenting at national conferences and supporting community-engaged research with Global Gardens, the Idaho Office for Refugees and the City of Boise. Applied reports now in development will help guide future program design and community support.


Understanding Climate and Health in a Changing Idaho

HEALTHY IDAHO

The Healthy Idaho initiative continued to expand its reach in FY2025, advancing research at the intersection of extreme heat, wildfire smoke and public health. Faculty secured new federal grants, published high-impact studies, and deepened collaborations with St. Luke’s, the Boise School District, Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health, and national partners. 

Students played a key role through hands-on climate–health research, advanced data analysis, and coursework designed to translate scientific insight into community-centered solutions. Their work contributes to statewide preparedness and informs strategies that help Idaho communities stay healthier in the face of increasing climate pressures.


Supporting Tribal Energy Sovereignty

RESOURCE NEXUS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Boise State’s partnership with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes strengthened this year through co-designed surveys, governance mapping and expanded community engagement. The project supported the Tribes’ long-term energy goals and elevated Tribal leadership through shared authorship and collaborative events. 

Students gained valuable experience applying policy, engineering and geoscience knowledge within a culturally respectful framework, learning firsthand the importance of sovereignty and relationship-driven research. New funding and continued collaboration position this work to contribute to broader conversations about Indigenous energy futures.