From the Dean

Forget the old stereotype of the ivory tower scientist toiling away in a lab isolated from the real world. This issue of Science@Purdue is filled with news about Science entrepreneurs: faculty and students whose innovations are having a major impact upon society.

Many Science faculty have used their research to spawn products or processes for the marketplace. Fred Regnier, John H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, is the latest to be honored for translating his ideas into commercial products. Fred received Purdue’s 2006 Outstanding Commercialization Award to recognize his 40 patents, many now licensed by Indiana biotech companies. Fred follows Graham Cooks, Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, who won the award last year. In the three-year history of these awards, Science researchers have already won twice! Science innovation is at the core of several successful companies headquartered in the Purdue Research Park, including Endocyte, Quadraspec, Arxan Technologies; Bioanalytical Systems; Griffin Analytical Technologies; and SpectraCode.

Our Science students are entrepreneurs too, and you’ll read about some of them in this issue. A chemistry doctoral student working under Professor Phil Low, the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry—himself a prolific innovator and founder of Endocyte—was a member of the winning team in the graduate division of Purdue’s Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition. Our undergrads also did well, placing third and fourth in their division. The competition is a great way for students from science, management, engineering, technology, and liberal arts to work in teams and apply what they learn in class to the real world. They get a taste of what it takes to grow an idea into a business, and the experience of being part of a diverse team is an education someone just can’t get in the classroom.

We’re also growing entrepreneurs at the high school level by helping sponsor and mentor teams of local high school students in the “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” (FIRST) competition.

Entrepreneurs work hard, but they have fun too! Read about the Society of Physics Students members who equipped an old couch with a motor and drove it into the national spotlight!

Science is about asking questions in the search for new insights and understanding. Here in the College of Science, we’re not just discovering new knowledge—we’re weaving it into the fabric of our lives and those of generations to come.

Best regards,
Jeff Vitter

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FACULTY

Lynn Bryan, associate professor, physics and education. The Women In Science Program proudly claims Lynn as an alumna. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and started work in industry, but later discovered her true passion in science education. She was on the WISP graduate leadership team for two years, which she credits for providing her the support she needed to achieve her goal of becoming a science educator.

Minhyong Kim, professor, mathematics. Minhyong is an internationally known expert in arithmetic algebraic geometry who came to Purdue from the University of Arizona. Minhyong is a co-organizer for the Asian-French summer school on algebraic geometry and number theory to be held in July. He received his doctorate from Yale.

Monica Torres, assistant professor, mathematics. Monica studies computational methods for solving partial differential equations. She received a bachelor's degree in computer science from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and worked in software development before going on to earn her doctorate in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. Monica came to Purdue from Northwestern University, where she had been on the faculty since 2002.

SCIENCE PEOPLE

NSF sees computer science professors as future leaders

Computer science professors Cristina Nita-Rotaru and Dongyan Xu received National Science Foundation CAREER awards. CAREER awards recognize and support the early career development activities of scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century. Full story.

Fred Regnier honored for improving lives, creating jobs

Diabetics, patients with blood clots, and people who need human growth hormone can now better meet their medical needs, thanks to Fred Regnier, John H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and this year’s recipient of Purdue’s Outstanding Commercialization Award. Full story.

College mourns passing of Gordon Prescott

Gordon Prescott, emeritus professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and former chief geologist of the US Army Corps of Engineers, passed away on February 21 at the age of 93. He was an outstanding teacher, mentor, and role model for both students and faculty. EAS department head Jon Harbor says Gordon was known in the department for his “dam stories,” each one of which had a deeper message about the role of geoscience in society and the importance of honesty, ethics, integrity, pragmatism, and good science. At the request of his family, a Gordon W. Prescott Memorial Fund is being established in the department. Contact Suzy Garner, director of development, for more information.

David Koltick heads south to recruit students

Physics professor David Koltick traveled to the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaquez to talk with students about opportunities for graduate study in physics at Purdue. He gave scientific seminars for faculty and general physics seminars for undergraduate students. Koltick says a secondary goal of the visit was to form long-term relationships between those schools and Purdue.

Marc Caffee spotlights PRIME Lab in international magazine

Marc Caffee, professor of physics and director of the Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement (PRIME) Lab, highlighted the PRIME Lab in the February 2006 issue of “Elements,” the international geochemistry magazine sponsored by the Geochemical Society and several other organizations. Marc is a member of the Cosmic-Ray Produced Nuclide Systematics on Earth Project (CRONUS-Earth Project).

Science alum wins Japanese high honor

Dr. Rita Colwell was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the government of Japan in recognition of her contributions to the advancement of science and technology cooperation between the United States and Japan. Dr. Colwell, who received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological sciences at Purdue, holds an honorary doctorate from Purdue, is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council, and was formerly director of the National Science Foundation. More on the award.

Have MoJo couch, will travel

A group of Society of Physics Students members used an old couch, miles of duct tape, a lawn mower engine, and lots of ingenuity to create a vehicle that drew stares, laughs, and national attention. More on the MoJo couch.

Science faculty help high schoolers come in FIRST

Biological sciences professors Chris Sahley and Don Ready helped sponsor a team in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics competition for high school students. Local high school teams have been hard at work designing and building robots, and Purdue will host the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition later this month. Full story.

SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH

STATCOM makes national cover story

STATCOM, the graduate student organization that offers free statistical consulting to local governments and nonprofit organizations, is the cover story in the February issue of Amstat News, the publication of the American Statistical Association. Full story.

Biologists use computer science to make new viral research tool

With a few deft lines of computer code, biological sciences assistant professor Wen Jiang and his research group have created a powerful new tool for lab research that should allow scientists to obtain high-resolution images of some of the world’s smallest biological entities: the viruses. Full story.

Study says computing job outsourcing fears outweigh reality

A study from the Computing Research Association says that offshoring represents an economic and scientific challenge, but that computing jobs are more plentiful than ever. The report is the result of a yearlong project to assess the impact and implications of the outsourcing of software development and research. Dean Jeff Vitter, Prof. Eugene Spafford, and College of Engineering Interim Dean Leah Jamieson are members of the CRA Board of Directors. Full story.

Virus "snapshot" is worth a thousand words

Structural biologists led by Michael Rossmann and Richard Kuhn have taken a “snapshot” of a Velcro-like protein on a cell’s surface that could lead to new understanding of a virus that infects 50 million people worldwide. Full story.

CERIAS to host information security symposium

The Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) will host its 7th annual information security symposium on March 21 and 22. Research scientists, faculty, academic and industrial partners, and expert speakers will consider the issues of security, privacy, and risk in emergency management, public safety, and healthcare. More information.

Science students team up and get down to business

A test that will aid in cancer management therapy, a game to help improve language skills, and a new tool for medical assessment all won prizes in Purdue’s 19th annual Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition. Full story.

And the ADDY goes to…

Insights, the College of Science magazine, won a silver “ADDY” award from the North Central Advertising Federation, an organization of local advertising and marketing professionals. Read Insights online.

Research Funding Report

Science researchers received funding totaling nearly $2.5 million in January 2006. Complete list of funded proposals.

PURDUE NEWS

Purdue president named to White House advisory committee

The White House announced on February 27 that Purdue president Martin Jischke will be appointed to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The committee advises the president on technology, scientific research priorities, and math and science education. Full story.

Purdue provost appointed to White House committee

President George W. Bush has appointed Purdue University provost Sally Mason to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. The committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the president. Full story.

Purdue opens center to analyze homeland security data

On March 7, Purdue will officially open a research center to develop tools for analyzing information that could warn officials of a terrorist attack and assist emergency responders. Full story.

It’s a beautiful day in the nanoneighborhood

Something really small has gotten really big in science and Purdue is working to help people understand it. Nanotechnology uses particles as small as atoms and molecules to create new materials, structures, devices, and systems. “Nano In Your Neighborhood” is an interactive exhibit created at Purdue that relates this emerging science to everyday life. Full story.

SCIENCE ALUMNI NEWS

Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Update your information and share your professional news as well as your personal and family milestones with your classmates and the Science community. Click here.

Click here for this month’s Alumni News.

Science Kids Club blasts off

The Science Kids Club is off and running! Since we launched the club in October, nearly 100 kids have joined! Enroll the special kids in your life in the Science Kids Club for Science fun for kids of all ages. More information.

Stay connected!

Join the Purdue Web Community and stay connected to your alma mater. This interactive site will help you keep in touch with your Purdue family—your friends, faculty and staff, and fellow alumni. Click here to sign up and get started.

Join the President's Council and contribute to Purdue's future!

The President's Council is a unique group of alumni and friends who contribute generously to the future of Purdue University. Working closely with the president, these leaders volunteer to support the University in ways that are very personal and meaningful to them. Through special events and programs, members build strong and lasting relationships with one another—relationships that enhance their experiences and change their lives. Click here to join online!

SCIENCE EVENTS AND CALENDAR

FIRST Robotics Boilermaker Regional Competition, Mar. 16-18

The Tecumseh Project Seminar Series: "The Purdue-Northern Arizona Partnership for Native American Graduate Education" by Dr. Thom Alcoze, professor of forestry, Northern Arizona University. Rawls Hall room 3082, 3:00 p.m., Mar. 20

Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Annual Awards Program, Mar. 23

Physics Department Open House, Mar. 25

Computer Science Awards Banquet, Apr. 3

Computer Science Corporate Partners Meeting, Apr. 3-4

Purdue Energy Center Hydrogen Initiative Symposium, Apr. 5-6

College of Science Distinguished Alumni Awards, Apr. 7

Spring Fest, Apr. 8-9

2006 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium, Apr. 11

Spring meeting of the Indiana Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), Apr. 28-29

Science Events

Science Seminars

Purdue Events


March 2006
From the Dean Forget the old stereotype of the ivory tower scientist toiling away in a lab isolated from the real world. This issue of Science@Purdue is filled with news about Science entrepreneurs: faculty and students whose innovations are having a major impact upon society. Many Science faculty have used their research to spawn products or processes for the marketplace. Fred Regnier, John H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, is the latest to be honored for translating his ideas into commercial products. Fred received Purdue’s 2006 Outstanding Commercialization Award to recognize his 40 patents, many now licensed by Indiana biotech companies. Fred follows Graham Cooks, Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, who won the award last year. In the three-year history of these awards, Science researchers have already won twice! Science innovation is at the core of several successful companies headquartered in the Purdue Research Park, including Endocyte, Quadraspec, Arxan Technologies; Bioanalytical Systems; Griffin Analytical Technologies; and SpectraCode. Our Science students are entrepreneurs too, and you’ll read about some of them in this issue. A chemistry doctoral student working under Professor Phil Low, the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry—himself a prolific innovator and founder of Endocyte—was a member of the winning team in the graduate division of Purdue’s Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition. Our undergrads also did well, placing third and fourth in their division. The competition is a great way for students from science, management, engineering, technology, and liberal arts to work in teams and apply what they learn in class to the real world. They get a taste of what it takes to grow an idea into a business, and the experience of being part of a diverse team is an education someone just can’t get in the classroom. We’re also growing entrepreneurs at the high school level by helping sponsor and mentor teams of local high school students in the “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” (FIRST) competition. Entrepreneurs work hard, but they have fun too! Read about the Society of Physics Students members who equipped an old couch with a motor and drove it into the national spotlight! Science is about asking questions in the search for new insights and understanding. Here in the College of Science, we’re not just discovering new knowledge—we’re weaving it into the fabric of our lives and those of generations to come. Best regards, Jeff Vitter *SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FACULTY* Lynn Bryan, associate professor, physics and education. The Women In Science Program proudly claims Lynn as an alumna. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and started work in industry, but later discovered her true passion in science education. She was on the WISP graduate leadership team for two years, which she credits for providing her the support she needed to achieve her goal of becoming a science educator. Minhyong Kim, professor, mathematics. Minhyong is an internationally known expert in arithmetic algebraic geometry who came to Purdue from the University of Arizona. Minhyong is a co-organizer for the Asian-French summer school on algebraic geometry and number theory to be held in July. He received his doctorate from Yale. Monica Torres, assistant professor, mathematics. Monica studies computational methods for solving partial differential equations. She received a bachelor's degree in computer science from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and worked in software development before going on to earn her doctorate in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. Monica came to Purdue from Northwestern University, where she had been on the faculty since 2002. *SCIENCE PEOPLE* NSF sees computer science professors as future leaders Computer science professors Cristina Nita-Rotaru and Dongyan Xu received National Science Foundation CAREER awards. CAREER awards recognize and support the early career development activities of scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century. Full story. Fred Regnier honored for improving lives, creating jobs Diabetics, patients with blood clots, and people who need human growth hormone can now better meet their medical needs, thanks to Fred Regnier, John H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and this year’s recipient of Purdue’s Outstanding Commercialization Award. Full story. College mourns passing of Gordon Prescott Gordon Prescott, emeritus professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and former chief geologist of the US Army Corps of Engineers, passed away on February 21 at the age of 93. He was an outstanding teacher, mentor, and role model for both students and faculty. EAS department head Jon Harbor says Gordon was known in the department for his “dam stories,” each one of which had a deeper message about the role of geoscience in society and the importance of honesty, ethics, integrity, pragmatism, and good science. At the request of his family, a Gordon W. Prescott Memorial Fund is being established in the department. Contact Suzy Garner, director of development, for more information. David Koltick heads south to recruit students Physics professor David Koltick traveled to the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaquez to talk with students about opportunities for graduate study in physics at Purdue. He gave scientific seminars for faculty and general physics seminars for undergraduate students. Koltick says a secondary goal of the visit was to form long-term relationships between those schools and Purdue. Marc Caffee spotlights PRIME Lab in international magazine Marc Caffee, professor of physics and director of the Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement (PRIME) Lab, highlighted the PRIME Lab in the February 2006 issue of “Elements,” the international geochemistry magazine sponsored by the Geochemical Society and several other organizations. Marc is a member of the Cosmic-Ray Produced Nuclide Systematics on Earth Project (CRONUS-Earth Project). Science alum wins Japanese high honor Dr. Rita Colwell was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the government of Japan in recognition of her contributions to the advancement of science and technology cooperation between the United States and Japan. Dr. Colwell, who received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological sciences at Purdue, holds an honorary doctorate from Purdue, is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council, and was formerly director of the National Science Foundation. More on the award. Have MoJo couch, will travel A group of Society of Physics Students members used an old couch, miles of duct tape, a lawn mower engine, and lots of ingenuity to create a vehicle that drew stares, laughs, and national attention. More on the MoJo couch. Science faculty help high schoolers come in FIRST Biological sciences professors Chris Sahley and Don Ready helped sponsor a team in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics competition for high school students. Local high school teams have been hard at work designing and building robots, and Purdue will host the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition later this month. Full story. *SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH* STATCOM makes national cover story STATCOM, the graduate student organization that offers free statistical consulting to local governments and nonprofit organizations, is the cover story in the February issue of Amstat News, the publication of the American Statistical Association. Full story. Biologists use computer science to make new viral research tool With a few deft lines of computer code, biological sciences assistant professor Wen Jiang and his research group have created a powerful new tool for lab research that should allow scientists to obtain high-resolution images of some of the world’s smallest biological entities: the viruses. Full story. Study says computing job outsourcing fears outweigh reality A study from the Computing Research Association says that offshoring represents an economic and scientific challenge, but that computing jobs are more plentiful than ever. The report is the result of a yearlong project to assess the impact and implications of the outsourcing of software development and research. Dean Jeff Vitter, Prof. Eugene Spafford, and College of Engineering Interim Dean Leah Jamieson are members of the CRA Board of Directors. Full story. Virus "snapshot" is worth a thousand words Structural biologists led by Michael Rossmann and Richard Kuhn have taken a “snapshot” of a Velcro-like protein on a cell’s surface that could lead to new understanding of a virus that infects 50 million people worldwide. Full story. CERIAS to host information security symposium The Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) will host its 7th annual information security symposium on March 21 and 22. Research scientists, faculty, academic and industrial partners, and expert speakers will consider the issues of security, privacy, and risk in emergency management, public safety, and healthcare. More information. Science students team up and get down to business A test that will aid in cancer management therapy, a game to help improve language skills, and a new tool for medical assessment all won prizes in Purdue’s 19th annual Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition. Full story. And the ADDY goes to… Insights, the College of Science magazine, won a silver “ADDY” award from the North Central Advertising Federation, an organization of local advertising and marketing professionals. Read Insights online. Research Funding Report Science researchers received funding totaling nearly $2.5 million in January 2006. Complete list of funded proposals. PURDUE NEWS Purdue president named to White House advisory committee The White House announced on February 27 that Purdue president Martin Jischke will be appointed to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The committee advises the president on technology, scientific research priorities, and math and science education. Full story. Purdue provost appointed to White House committee President George W. Bush has appointed Purdue University provost Sally Mason to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. The committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the president. Full story. Purdue opens center to analyze homeland security data On March 7, Purdue will officially open a research center to develop tools for analyzing information that could warn officials of a terrorist attack and assist emergency responders. Full story. It’s a beautiful day in the nanoneighborhood Something really small has gotten really big in science and Purdue is working to help people understand it. Nanotechnology uses particles as small as atoms and molecules to create new materials, structures, devices, and systems. “Nano In Your Neighborhood” is an interactive exhibit created at Purdue that relates this emerging science to everyday life. Full story. SCIENCE ALUMNI NEWS Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Update your information and share your professional news as well as your personal and family milestones with your classmates and the Science community. Click here. Click here for this month’s Alumni News. Science Kids Club blasts off The Science Kids Club is off and running! Since we launched the club in October, nearly 100 kids have joined! Enroll the special kids in your life in the Science Kids Club for Science fun for kids of all ages. More information. Stay connected! Join the Purdue Web Community and stay connected to your alma mater. This interactive site will help you keep in touch with your Purdue family—your friends, faculty and staff, and fellow alumni. Click here to sign up and get started. Join the President's Council and contribute to Purdue's future! The President's Council is a unique group of alumni and friends who contribute generously to the future of Purdue University. Working closely with the president, these leaders volunteer to support the University in ways that are very personal and meaningful to them. Through special events and programs, members build strong and lasting relationships with one another—relationships that enhance their experiences and change their lives. Click here to join online! *SCIENCE EVENTS AND CALENDAR* FIRST Robotics Boilermaker Regional Competition, Mar. 16-18 The Tecumseh Project Seminar Series: "The Purdue-Northern Arizona Partnership for Native American Graduate Education" by Dr. Thom Alcoze, professor of forestry, Northern Arizona University. Rawls Hall room 3082, 3:00 p.m., Mar. 20 Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Annual Awards Program, Mar. 23 Physics Department Open House, Mar. 25 Computer Science Awards Banquet, Apr. 3 Computer Science Corporate Partners Meeting, Apr. 3-4 Purdue Energy Center Hydrogen Initiative Symposium, Apr. 5-6 College of Science Distinguished Alumni Awards, Apr. 7 Spring Fest, Apr. 8-9 2006 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium, Apr. 11 Spring meeting of the Indiana Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), Apr. 28-29 Science Events Science Seminars Purdue Events .	In this Issue: Spotlight on New Faculty Science People NSF sees computer science professors as future leaders Fred Regnier honored for improving lives, creating jobs College mourns passing of Gordon Prescott David Koltick heads south to recruit students Marc Caffee spotlights PRIME Lab in international magazine Science alum wins Japanese high honor Have MoJo couch, will travel Science faculty help high schoolers come in FIRST Science News and Research STATCOM makes national cover story Biologists use computer science to make new viral research tool Study says computing job outsourcing fears outweigh reality Virus "snapshot" is worth a thousand words CERIAS to host information security symposium Science students team up and get down to business And the ADDY goes to… Research Funding Report Purdue News Purdue president named to White House advisory committee Purdue provost appointed to White House committee Purdue opens center to analyze homeland security data It’s a beautiful day in the nanoneighborhood Science Alumni News Science Events and Calendar Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones by clicking here. Contact us Past issues of Science @ Purdue College of Science Purdue News Purdue University