The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program — NSF’s “CAREER Award” — is the NSF’s flagship honor for rising faculty stars. Fewer than 500 of these awards are made nationwide each year, and each recipient secures up to five years of funding to pursue bold, high‑impact ideas. What sets the CAREER Award apart is its dual mandate: every proposal must blend frontier research with an equally rigorous plan for education and community outreach. Winning projects are therefore judged not only on scientific merit but also on their power to inspire students, broaden participation in STEM, and translate discoveries into real‑world benefit. Earning a CAREER Award signals that an early‑career scholar is already leading their field and is poised to shape the next generation of scientists and innovators.
Shakirov’s research explores telomeres, structures found at the ends of chromosomes, much like the protective caps at the end of shoelaces. Telomeres protect genetic information during cell division, playing a crucial role in aging and resilience to stress. Shakirov’s project examines how telomere length might influence plant growth and reproduction, potentially leading to improved agricultural productivity in changing environmental conditions.
“Telomeres could hold the key to making crops more resilient and productive,” Shakirov said. “Our research could help farmers optimize flowering and seed production, ensuring better yields even under stressful conditions.”
More broadly, understanding telomeres may help us develop therapies that slow telomere shortening or safely boost telomerase activity, possibly preventing age‑related disorders and extending healthy human lifespan.
Palmquist’s work addresses urgent environmental challenges facing big sagebrush ecosystems in the western United States. Her research aims to comprehend the interactions between invasive species, wildfires and environmental changes, and how these factors endanger big sagebrush habitats. These habitats are vital for wildlife and the ranching industry and have significant economic implications.
“Wildfire is a significant driver of big sagebrush habitat loss in the western United States. Our goal is to find strategies to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and invasive species in these critical habitats,” Palmquist said. “By identifying effective grazing practices and management approaches, we aim to protect big sagebrush ecosystems that wildlife and communities depend on.”
Just the costs of fighting wildfire total over $3 billion every year to the federal government alone. Once state and local firefighting efforts and broader economic consequences are counted, wildfires impose in tens of billions in costs on the nation each year.
Both projects will engage Marshall University students in impactful hands-on research and education, through new courses, immersive field experiences, and outreach activities designed to inspire future scientists.
Shakirov joined Marshall University in 2019 after completing his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Texas A&M University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on telomere biology and stress responses. Palmquist, who specializes in plant and fire ecology, also joined the university in 2019 following her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wyoming.
“These NSF CAREER awards reflect the caliber of research and educational innovation happening at Marshall University,” said Dean Wesley Stites of Marshall’s College of Science. “We are incredibly proud of Dr. Shakirov and Dr. Palmquist for receiving these prestigious honors, which underscore the university’s growing reputation for scientific excellence. These awards will benefit not just these two faculty members, but also our students, for many years to come.”