SCIENCE@PURDUE       VOL. II ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2003

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 .

CALLING ALL ALUMNI—WE NEED YOUR NEWS—FAMILY NEWS, CAREER NEWS, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WILL HELP THE SCIENCE FAMILY CONNECT WITH YOU!!! PLEASE SEND YOUR ITEMS OF INTEREST TO NEWS@SCIENCE.PURDUE.EDU . THESE ITEMS WILL BEGIN APPEARING IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE PRINT PUBLICATION, SEQUEL.

IN THIS ISSUE

1. STAY SOUTH OF THUNDERSTORM PATH
2. PROTEIN-HUNGRY CELLS 'GO FISHING'
3. PURDUE SCIENTISTS WIN YOUNG RESEARCHER AWARDS
4. WIRELESS CENTER TO WORK WITH INDUSTRY
5. INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT AT RECORD LEVEL
6. HOMELAND SECURITY INSTITUTE TO DEVELOP CRITICAL RESOURCES
7. TRUSTEES EXTEND PRESIDENT JISCHKE'S CONTRACT
8. FUCHS DELIVERS ANNUAL MCCOY LECTURE
9. SHERMAN APPOINTMENT WITH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS
10. SZPANKOWSKI NAMED FELLOW OF THE IEEE
11. OUTSTANDING MATH GRAD TA’S RECOGNIZED
12. SCHOOL OF SCIENCE COMMENCEMENT
13. DISCOVER PURDUE FUN-FEST AT THE BOILER BLOCKBUSTER
14. PURDUE PREPARES FOR 7TH STRAIGHT BOWL GAME
15. PHYSICS DEPARTMENT 100TH ANNIVERSARY
16. NEW UNIVERSITY CALENDAR WEBSITE
17. RESEARCH FUNDING REPORT FOR NOVEMBER

 

SCIENCE NEWS

1.   STAY SOUTH OF THUNDERSTORM PATH: Damaging winds can occur in previously overlooked places within a thunderstorm, according to Robert J. “Jeff” Trapp, who is an associate professor of earth science. The finding could help meteorologists save lives and reduce injuries by issuing more accurate storm warnings. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/031117.Trapp.vortex.html

2.   PROTEIN-HUNGRY CELLS ‘GO FISHING': When a cell needs a protein to function, it sometimes uses molecule-sized fishing poles to “catch” one and “cast” it across the cell membrane, reports a research team of Purdue biologists. Using high-resolution X-ray crystallography, a team including William A. Cramer has determined the structure and surprising behavior of a protein receptor complex, or “gate,” found in the outer membrane of an E. coli bacterium. The complex is one of thousands of such tiny gates that the cell uses to bring substances into its cytoplasm, or interior. The team also determined the structure of one such substance, a protein called colicin, which the gate admits into the E. coli, marking a first for the biological field. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/031125.Cramer.ecoli.html

3.   SCIENTISTS WIN YOUNG RESEARCHER AWARDS: Four researchers from the School of Science have won the National Science Foundation's most prestigious honor for outstanding young researchers. The Faculty Early Career Development Program recognizes and supports the early career development activities of teacher-scholars who are most likely to become future academic leaders. Awardees are selected on the basis of creative career development plans that effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their institution. Purdue's recipients for 2003 are Christopher Bailey-Kellogg, assistant professor of computer science; Donatella Danielli, assistant professor of mathematics; and Sonia Fahmy, assistant professor of computer science. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/031124.Career.awards.html Jorge Rodríguez, Assistant Professor of Physics, is a 2004 recipient. http://www.physics.purdue.edu/news/rodriguez.html
 

PURDUE NEWS

4.   WIRELESS CENTER TO WORK WITH INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP APPLICATIONS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Purdue University has created a center in which researchers work with industry to develop new ideas and applications in wireless technology while at the same time introducing innovative courses and educational programs for students. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/031112.Rosenberg.wireless.html

5.   INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT AT RECORD LEVEL: Despite increased security checks for international students, Purdue University has reached an all-time high in international student enrollment, maintaining its first-place ranking in international enrollment among the Big Ten universities and public institutions. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/031117.Brzezinski.report.html

6.   HOMELAND SECURITY INSTITUTE TO DEVELOP CRITICAL RESOURCES: The newly named director of Purdue University 's Homeland Security Institute aims to use the university's research and computing resources to develop responses to threats in Indiana , nationally and even internationally. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/hp/Chaturvedi.hsi.html

7.   TRUSTEES EXTEND PRESIDENT JISCHKE'S CONTRACT: The Purdue Board of Trustees extended the university's contract with President Martin C. Jischke until June 30, 2007 . “The board has been enormously appreciative and pleased with Dr. Jischke's leadership,” said board Chairman J. Timothy McGinley. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/031107.Jischke.contract.html

 

PEOPLE NEWS

8.   Philip L. Fuchs, chemistry, presented this year's McCoy Distinguished Lecture, “Chemistry, Computers and Cancer” on Tuesday, November 4. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/031103.Fuchs.McCoy.html

9.   Louis A. Sherman, biology, appointed chair of the board of trustees of the American Society of Plant Biologists. http://www.aspb.org/committees/trustees.cfm

10.   Wojciech Szpankowski, computer science, has been named a Fellow of the IEEE. He was cited for “contributions to information system performance evaluation.” http://www.cs.purdue.edu/feature/2003/11/25-spa.shtml http://www.ieee.org/portal/index.jsp?pageID=corp_level1&path=about/awards/fellows&file=new-fellows.xml&xsl=generic.xsl

11.   The Department of Mathematics annually recognizes outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants, chosen on the basis of student evaluations and the evaluation of their teaching mentor. Graduate students Luiza De Souza, Su-Jeong Kang, Raghubhushan Pasupathy, Mark Rogers, Anantha Sundararajan, and Mark Ward received “2003-04 Excellence in Teaching Awards” on November 24. The award includes a small cash prize and complimentary membership in the Mathematical Association of America.

 

CALENDAR

12.   SCHOOL OF SCIENCE COMMENCEMENT, SUNDAY DECEMBER 21 AT 2:30 P.M. RECEPTION AND SEND-OFF FOR GRADUATES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING IN THE MSEE ATRIUM. Contact David Lageveen for more information. (765) 494-4344 or lageveen@purdue.edu .

13.   BOILERMAKERS TO CELEBRATE BLOCKBUSTER BASKETBALL WITH FANFEST: Purdue Boilermaker fans are invited to Indianapolis on Saturday December 13 to share an afternoon of activities before the women's and men's basketball teams play in the annual Blockbuster basketball doubleheader. Prior to the games, Purdue will sponsor FanFest, a variety of activities and entertainment from 2-5 p.m. in Conseco Fieldhouse. FanFest is free and open to the public.

14.   PURDUE BOUND FOR ORLANDA: Purdue will face the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando , Fla. , on New Year's Day. More information about the bowl, including ticket ordering and bowl tours, is available by calling (765) 496-6300 or (800) 927-4177 or the Bowl Bound button at purduesports.com or purduebowltours.com/

15.   STAY TUNED: The Physics Department will be celebrating its 100 th anniversary during the 2004-2005 academic year. A variety of events are being planned, on and off campus, to be held throughout the year. Physics alumni will receive special notice of these events. If you are not an alumnus of Physics but interested in receiving more information on these special events, please send your name and address to news@science.purdue.edu , with “Physics 100th” in the subject line. Have you visited the Physics department web site? http://www.physics.purdue.edu/

16.   PURDUE LAUNCHES NEW CALENDAR WEB SITE: The University Calendars Web site, at http://calendar.purdue.edu/ , features a one-stop listing of activities at Purdue. http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/031125.Pagano.calendar.html

17.   NOVEMBER RESEARCH FUNDING

 

M. J. Atallah, Computer Science, from Syracuse University , $14,014, September 1, 2002 through August 31, 2003 , “Private Prediction Using Selective Models.”

M. J. Atallah, Computer Science, from Office of Naval Research, $100,000, March 1, 2002 through February 28, 2005, “General Paradigms for Watermaking and Tamperproofing Multi-Type/Media Documents.”

D. Elmore, Physics, from Amec, $11,225, April 2, 2003 through December 15, 2003 , “Subcontract Agreement: Amec Earth and Environmental Inc Under Prime Contract Electric Power Research Institute.”

L. J. Gutay, Physics, from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, $48,480, September 15, 2003 through October 31, 2004 , “Cost Estimate for Graduate Student, David Eric Miller.”

L. J. Gutay, Physics, from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, $22,119, October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2008 , “Statement of Work by the US CMS Group at Purdue University for Activities Related to the US CMS Endcap Muon Subsystem During Fiscal Year 2003.”

E. N. Houstis, Computer Science, from University of Maryland Baltimore County, $38,833, September 15, 2002 through August 31, 2004, “Agent Oriented Approaches to a Ubiquitous Grid.”

S. D. King, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, from National Science Foundation, $76,800, November 15, 2003 through October 31, 2005 , “Acquisition of a Cluster Computer for Geodynamics Research.”

A. E. Konopka and C. H. Nakatsu, Biological Sciences, Agronomy, from U.S. Department of Energy, $150,000, September 15, 2003 through March 14, 2004, “Ecological Interactions Between Metals and Microbes.”

A. P. Mathur and R. A. Decarlo, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, from Ball State University, $30,000, July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, “Modeling the Software System Test Phase as a Feedback Control System Under an Incremental Development Model.”

M. D. Raftery, Chemistry, from Pfizer Inc, $373,774, November 1, 2003 through October 31, 2005 , “High-Throughput LC-NMR.”

R. G. Reifenberger, Physics, from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, $5,000, April 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004 , “NASA Travel Grant Application: Trends in Nanotechnology Conference.”

M. G. Rossmann, Biological Sciences, from National Science Foundation, $165,000, February 1, 2000 through January 31, 2005 , “X-Ray Determination of Proteins and Viruses.”

C. L. Sahley, Biological Sciences, from University of Miami (Florida), $71,250, July 1, 2003 through April 30, 2004, “Loss and Restoration of Function After Neuronal Injury.”

P. B. Shepson, Chemistry, from Aerodyne Research Inc, $15,050, July 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003, “Innovative Aerosol Collector for On-Line Analysis of Organics.”

E. H. Spafford, Center:ED & Rsrch:Information Assurance & Security, from National Science Foundation, $63,222, September 22, 2003 through September 21, 2004 , “IPA Assignment.”

C. V. Stauffacher, Biological Sciences, from Florida State University , $79,258, September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004 , “Membrane Proteins Structural Genomics: M. Tuberculosis.”

J. Vitek, Computer Science, from Stevens Institute of Technology, $75,865, September 1, 2002 through August 31, 2004, “Collaborative Research on Secure Distributed Programming.”

T. S. Zwier, Chemistry, from National Science Foundation, $131,000, December 1, 2002 through November 30, 2004 , “Laser Probes of the Spectroscopy & Dynamics of Flexible, Gas-Phase Biomolecules.”

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