U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan announced last week that the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Catawba College, Appalachian State University and Davidson College received 14 awards worth more than $5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct research in a variety of academic areas.

“North Carolina is a leader in conducting groundbreaking research, and I’m pleased that UNC-Charlotte, Catawba, ASU and Davidson are being recognized with these significant funding awards,” Hagan said in a statement. “Investments in research and STEM education are key to ensuring our state and nation remain competitive in the 21st century global economy.”

The NSF funds research and education in science and engineering through grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. The foundation accounts for about 20 percent of federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

ASU received two grant awards for a total of $679,128.

A $405,628 award will go to a study on “Sleep Restriction and Circadian Mismatch Effects on Differential Decision Processes.”

The other $273,500 award will be used for acquisition of a 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer for the Department of Chemistry.