SCIENCE@PURDUE VOL III ISSUE 4 APRIL 2004
A monthly E-newsletter from the Dean's office in the School of Science at Purdue University, Mathematical Sciences Building, 150 North University Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2067. To contact us send email to news@science.purdue.edu.
ALUMNI NEWS CALLOUT--SEND YOUR NEWS TO SHARE WITH OTHER SCIENCE ALUMNI! WE ARE ESPECIALLY SEEKING PROFESSIONAL NEWS, PERSONAL MILESTONES, AND FAMILY NEWS. SEND ITEMS TO NEWS@SCIENCE.PURDUE.EDU. THESE ITEMS WILL APPEAR IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE MAGAZINE, THE SEQUEL.
IN THIS ISSUE
SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH
1. CHANGE IS IN THE AIR: SCHOOL OF SCIENCE STUDIES NAME CHANGE TO COLLEGE OF SCIENCE: The term "school" often implies specialized instruction in a particular academic subject (e.g., medicine), while a "college" is thought of as an institution of higher learning that provides a broad education to its students. The term "School" in the sciences is restricted to smaller and non-research-intensive universities. This change of name from the School of Science to the College of Science would more accurately reflect our strength and standing among with peer institutions. http://www.science.purdue.edu/ENews/college.html
2. 2004 SCHOOL OF SCIENCE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI: Nine leading scientists and educators have been selected to receive 2004 Distinguished Alumni Awards from the School of Science. The awards were established in 1990 to recognized outstanding achievement in professional and related fields of endeavor. The awards will be presented at a banquet on April 16. http://www.science.purdue.edu/Alumni/Distinguished/index.asp
3. FOUR DISTINGUISHED CHEMISTS TO LECTURE ON ANTICANCER SCIENCE: The program, which will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 214, will share the theme of "Organometallics for Organic Synthesis." The program is part of the 21st annual Herbert C. Brown Lectures in Chemistry. Herbert C. Brown, the 1979 Nobel laureate for whom the series was named, will offer closing remarks. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/2004/040310.Brown.2004.html
4. SCIENCE STUDENT COUNCIL SPONSORS RACE: Purdue Science Student Council will hold its first annual Spring Science Scramble 5K Race. The race will be held on Saturday, April 17th, on the Purdue campus. The proceeds of the race will benefit the Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County and a scholarship for a worthy student in the School of Science. For more information, and to register, log on to http://pssc.science.purdue.edu.
5. PURDUE CHEMISTS PUT THE TWIST ON PROTEIN BUILDING BLOCK: Purdue scientists have made an important biological molecule "swing," in work that might clarify the process by which proteins fold. New approaches to drug development and computer memory are also possible as a result of this discovery. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2004/040224.Zwier.tryptamine.html
6. GENETICALLY MODIFIED FISH COULD DAMAGE ECOLOGY: A team of Purdue scientists has determined that genetic modifications that improve animals for human consumption also could doom populations if released into the wild. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2004/040223.Howard.transgenic.html
PURDUE NEWS
7. PURDUE SPONSORS K-12 ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS: 30,000 Indiana K-12 students can learn while they compete, thanks to a $300,000 commitment from Purdue University to sponsor academic competitions administered by the Indiana Association of School Principals. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/2004/040225.Gentry.compete.html
8. VICE PROVOST FOR ENGAGEMENT TO STEP DOWN IN JUNE: Don K. Gentry, Purdue University's Vice Provost for Engagement, announced that he will retire from the office June 30. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/2004/040323.Gentry.retire.html
9. PURDUE TEAM GOES FOR RUBE GOLDBERG TITLE: A group of School of Technology students will try to earn the university's second consecutive national title on April 3 during the 17th annual national Theta Tau Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2004/040322.Rube.national.html
SCIENCE PEOPLE NEWS
10. PURDUE AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DATAENGINEERING: http://www.cs.purdue.edu/news/03-01-2004_2004ICDE.shtml
11. SCHOOL OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SCHOLARS: Walid G. Aref, Associate Professor of Computer Sciences; Sabre Kais, Professor of Chemistry; Scott D. King, Professor of EAS; Richard J. Kuhn, Professor of Biological Sciences; Igal Szleifer, Professor of Chemmistry; Jaroslaw Wlodarczyk, Professor of Mathematics.
12. Garth Simpson, Assistant Professor Chemistry, has been selected as a Beckman Young Investigator. The Beckman Young Investigators (BYI) Program is intended to provide research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of academic careers in the chemical and life sciences. Garth joins Jon Wilker as a BYI in Chemistry
13. PLANTING THE SEED FOR EXCELLENCE: SCIENCE BRASS ACORN RECIPIENTS: Beginning in 2003 the Vice Provost for Research has given the Brass Acorn Award to researchers with $1 million or more in sponsored research. A number of science faculty have been honored with this award. http://www.science.purdue.edu/ENews/seedforsuccess.html
14. SCIENCE TOP TEN TEACHERS: The following have been selected by the juniors and seniors in the School of Science as the Top Ten Teachers for 2003-2004: Mikhail Atallah, Computer Sciences; Greg Frederickson, Computer Sciences; Reto Giere, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; James McClure, Mathematics; John Nash, Chemistry; Sanford Ostroy, Biological Sciences; Gustavo Rodriguez-Rivera, Computer Sciences; Philip Smith, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Tom Walter, Biological Sciences; Jonathan Wilker, Chemistry. Of this group, Mikail Attalah was selected as the Outstanding Teacher.
15. SCHOOL OF SCIENCE OUTSTANDING SENIORS: The following students have been selected as Outstanding Seniors for the School of Science for 2004: Loran E. Carleton, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Jennifer S. Kowall, Mathematics/Statistics; Paul M. Kuliniewicz, Computer Sciences/Mathematics; Jill E. Leas, Chemistry/Physics; Hans C. Lee, Biological Sciences; Stephen R. Lindemann, Biological Sciences; Douglas Brent McRoberts, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Katherine L. Pegors, Physics; Kristopher-Roy G. Reyes, Computer Sciences/Mathematics; Jeanette E. Roell, Actuarial Science/Statistics; Jennifer L. Schuster, Biological Sciences/Creative Writing; Benjamin M. Zwickl, Mathematics/Physics. They will be honored Sunday afternoon, April 4th, at the School of Science reception following the University Honors Convocation.
16. The following students have been selected as recipients of the School of Science Alumni Outstanding Achievement Awards for 2004. Students were nominated by the faculty of each department, and their credentials were reviewed by a School-level committee: Juniors: Tracy Chow, Biological Sciences; Deborah Groth, Biological Sciences; Michelle Houck, Chemistry; Paris Miles Brenden, Mathematics/Physics. Sophomores: Scott Burdick, Mathematics/Physics; Hayley Knollman, Chemistry; Laralynne Przybyla, Biological Sciences; Megan Utley, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Bess Walker, Computer Sciences/Mathematics. Freshmen: Steven Hood, Computer Sciences/Mathematics; Matthew McDermott, Chemistry; Amber Meyerratken, Mathematics/Physics
17. Laralynne M. Przybyla, from the Department of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a 2004 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. She will use this scholarship to complete her junior and seniors years at Purdue. Her interests are in biochemistry and molecular biology and her research has focused on enzyme structure determination in the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. Laralynne's career goal is to become a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and ultimately conduct research and teach at the university level.
18. CALENDAR
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE HONORS RECEPTION: 1:30 pm, April 4, 2004, Stewart Center 218 ABC
MYRA SAMUELS LECTURE, APRIL 15, 4:30-5:45 PM, MATH 175, WITH RECEPTION FOLLOWING IN MATH LIBRARY LOUNGE. NAN LAIRD, Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, will be the speaker.
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI BANQUET: April 16, 2004 at 6:30 P.M., University Inn, West Lafayette, IN. For more information contact Dinah McClure, Director of Special Events, (765) 494-1764 or dmcclure@purdue.edu
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE ALUMNI BOARD MEETING: April 16, 2004. http://www.science.purdue.edu/Alumni/AlumniBoard/
SPRING SCIENCE SCRAMBLE 5K RACE, Saturday, April 17, http://pssc.science.purdue.edu
GALA WEEKEND AND SPRING FEST: APRIL 17-18, 2004 http://www.ces.purdue.edu/sfest/
LIPMAN-FEST, A CONFERENCE IN HONOR OF THE 65TH BIRTHDAY OF JOSEPH LIPMAN (MIDWEST COMMUTATIVE ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY MEETING) MAY 17-21, 2004 http://www.math.purdue.edu/lipman-fest
THE 2ND SYMPOSIUM ON ANALYSIS AND PDEs: June 7-10, 2004 http://www.math.purdue.edu/~danielli/symposium.html
COMPUTER SCIENCE SUMMER CAMPS IN JUNE: http://www2.cs.purdue.edu/outreach/camp2004.htm
SCIENCESCAPE 2004: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, JULY 25--JULY 31, 2004: http://www.science.purdue.edu/WISP/ScienceScape/
PURDUE DAY AT THE INDIANA STATE FAIR: AUGUST 18, 2004
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE ALUMNI BOARD MEETING: OCTOBER 15, 2004
HOMECOMING: OCTOBER 16, 2004
PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL ANNUAL WEEKEND: OCTOBER 22-23, 2004
19. MARCH RESEARCH FUNDING REPORT
C. W. Bingham, A. Ghafoor, A. K. Elmagarmid and S. K. Prabhakar, Chemistry, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Computer Science, from Navsea/Nswc Crane, $500,000, December 19, 2003 through September 30, 2004, "Knowledge Projection for Telemaintenance."
D. Bortoletto, Physics, from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, $7,905, October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004, "Statement of Work by the CDF Run IIB Group at Purdue University for Activities Related to the Run IIB CDF Detector Project Silicon Detector Subsystem During Fiscal Year 2003."
R. G. Cooks, Chemistry, from U.S. Department of Energy, $120,000, March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2005, "Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry: Diagnostics and Applications of Controlled Ion Motion."
W. A. Cramer, Biological Sciences, from National Institutes of Health, $35,700, February 1, 2004 through January 31, 2005, "Voltage-Gated Insertion of Colicin into Planar Bilayers."
D. M. Fekete, Biological Sciences, from National Organization Hearing Research Foundation, $15,000, January 16, 2004 through January 15, 2005, "Optimizing Gene Transfer into the Developing Inner Ear."
D. E. Granger, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, from National Science Foundation, $114,616, October 15, 2002 through September 30, 2004, "Collaborative Research: Retreating-Trench, Extension and Accretion Tectonics (Retreat): a Multidisciplinary Study of the Northern Apennines."
Harshvardhan, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, $91,816, March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2007, "Assessing the Potential of Aerosol Indirect Radiative Forcing Using Model Simulations and Satellite Retrievals."
S. D. King, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, from Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., $10,350, March 1, 2000 through December 31, 2004, "Elsevier Editorship (for 2004)."
A. E. Konopka, C. H. Nakatsu and D. G. Schulze, Biological Sciences, Agronomy, from U.S. Department of Energy, $300,000, March 15, 2004 through March 14, 2005, "Ecological Interactions Between Metals and Microbes."
R. J. Kuhn, J. Chen, J. L. Smith, M. G. Rossmann and T. S. Baker, Biological Sciences, from PHS-NIH National Institute Allergy Infectious Disease, $2,994,435, March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2005, "Structure-Function Studies of Alpha-and Flaviviruses."
S. G. Lasher-Trapp, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, from National Science Foundation, $104,336, September 1, 2004 through August 31, 2005, "Entrainment, Ultragiant Particles, and Warm Rain Formation in Trade Wind Cumulus."
S. A. McLuckey, Chemistry, from PHS-NIH National Institute of General Medical Science, $221,567, March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2005, "Instrumentation for Analysis of High Mass Biomolecules."
P. V. Ramachandran, Chemistry, from Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, $139,240, December 1, 2001 through January 31, 2006, "Functionalization of Trifluoropropene."
L. P. Rokhinson, Physics, from National Science Foundation, $400,000, July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2009, "CAREER: Spin Degree of Freedom in Hole Semiconductor Nanostructures."
R. P. Scharenberg, A. S. Hirsch, F. Wang and N. T. Porile, Physics, Chemistry, from U.S. Department of Energy, $628,000, January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004, "The Experimental Study of the Phase Structure of Hadronic Matter."
F. Shahidi, Mathematics, from National Science Foundation, $15,000, August 1, 2004 through July 31, 2005, "Conference on Atuomorphic Forms and the Trace Formula."
N. R. Skrynnikov, Chemistry, from Max Kade Foundation Inc, $51,300, April 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005, "Structure Determination of Excited States in Proteins. Characterizing Conformational Ensembles in Proteins Using Lanthanide-Shifting Reagents."
J. L. Smith, Biological Sciences, from National Institutes of Health, $364,800, February 1, 2004 through January 31, 2005, "Glutamine Amidotransferases and Partner Enzymes."
E. J. Taparowsky and A. J. Zullo, Biological Sciences, from Sigma XI, $975, January 31, 2004 through January 31, 2005, "BATF Transgenic Mice: Investigating the Role of Ap-1 in NKT Cell Development."
D. H. Thompson, K. Park and R. Bashir, Chemistry, Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Electrical & Computer Engineering, from PHS-NIH National Center for Research Resource, $500,000, March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2005, "Acquisition of a Cryogenic Field Emission EM."
J. Vitek, Computer Science, from IBM, $309,218, September 1, 2003 through July 7, 2006, "PERCS."
B. L. Wanner, Biological Sciences, from University of Notre Dame, $133,104, February 1, 2003 through January 31, 2005, "Topologic Properties of Metabolic Networks (Subcontract)."
D. Zhou, Biological Sciences, from PHS-NIH National Institute Allergy Infectious Disease, $262,500, April 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005, "Actin-Cytoskeleton Rearrangements by Salmonella."