91�Թ� | 91�Թ� | News

Water on the Moon: It’s been there all along

2013-02-18T15:00:00-05:00

Looking at pictures of the Moon, even from the historic “giant leap” photograph, it is easy to understand why scientists used to think of it as a big dust ball. However, “conventional wisdom” has been changing over the years. This is largely due to the information garnered from missions such as NASA’s 2009 Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (L-CROSS) lunar-impact probe, as well as new scanning technologies and more precise measurements, which have been facilitated by enhanced instrumentation and improved analytical detection limits, on samples returned to Earth following the Apollo missions.

In a paper published in the Feb. 17 issue of , researchers , postdoctoral research associate of civil and environmental engineering and earth sciences at the University of 91�Թ�; Anne H. Peslier, scientist at Jacobs Technology and manager of the electron microprobe at the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at Johnson Space Center; Youxue Zhang, the James R. O’Neil Collegiate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan; and , professor of civil and environmental engineering and earth sciences at 91�Թ�, show that they have detected significant amounts of water in the samples of the lunar highland upper crust obtained during the Apollo missions. The lunar highlands are thought to represent the original crust, crystallized from a mostly molten early Moon that is called the lunar magma ocean.

Their findings indicate that the early Moon was not only wet, but also the water that was there was not substantially lost during the Moon’s formation. This new evidence seems to contradict the predominant lunar formation theory — that the Moon was formed from debris generated during a giant impact between Earth and another planetary body, approximately the size of Mars. According to Hui, “the presence of water in the early Moon needs to be reconciled with the favored formation scenario that had been supported by the volatile elements and isotopes in the samples, such as zinc.”

As little as five years ago, no one had detected water in the samples returned from the Moon. The advancement of instrumentation, such as secondary ion mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, has made it possible to detect tiny, but measureable, amounts of water in the mineral grains from Apollo samples. “It’s not ‘liquid’ water that was measured during these studies but hydroxyl groups (developed from water that did exist in the lunar magma ocean) that was distributed within mineral grain,” says Hui. “We are able to detect those hydroxyl groups in the crystalline structure of the Apollo samples.”

The hydroxyl groups the team detected are evidence that the lunar interior contained significant water during the Moon’s early molten state, before the crust solidified, and that they may have played a key role in the development of lunar basalts. “The presence of water,” says Hui, “could imply a more prolonged solidification of the lunar magma ocean than the once popular anhydrous moon scenario suggests.”

Contact: Clive R. Neal, 574-631-8328, Clive.R.Neal.1@nd.edu

Three College of Engineering faculty receive CAREER awards

2013-02-12T13:00:00-05:00

Three faculty members in the University of 91�Թ�’s — , assistant professor of ; , assistant professor of ; and , the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of — have been named recipients of the 2013 National Science Foundation (NSF) . The award is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to young faculty in engineering and science.

David Go

Go, who was also selected by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for the , joined the University in 2008. His CAREER project, titled “Low Temperature Microplasmas for Thermal Energy Conversion, Education, and Outreach,” aims to establish a new technique to directly convert heat — whether it be from the sun, a nuclear reaction or the waste heat from an industrial process — to electricity. Go is investigating thermionic energy conversion, where electrons are ejected from a hot metal and collected by a cool metal to form current, and how to enhance it with a microplasma to make the technique more suitable for terrestrial applications. An ionized gas between the hot and cold surfaces, the microplasma will increase the number of electrons emitted from the hot surface, as well as improve the transport of electrons from the hot to cold surface.

In addition to the fundamental studies conducted as part of this project, Go will develop a plasma science booth for the local festival hosted by the St. Joseph County Public Library. He will also continue a water discovery and analysis program that he initiated with local middle schools.

The co-owner of several patents, Go is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Engineering Education, American Society for Mass Spectrometry and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

A graduate of 91�Թ�, earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2001, Go also earned a master’s degree in 2004 in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 2008 from Purdue University.

Hai Lin

Lin is a “Double Domer” and received his master’s degree and doctorate from 91�Թ�, both in electrical engineering, in 2002 and 2005, respectively. Before returning to his alma mater in 2012, he served as an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore.

Lin’s teaching and research interests focus on the multidisciplinary study of the problems at the intersections of control, networks, computation and life sciences. He is the director of the Distributed Cooperative System Research Lab (DISCOVER). The main goal of DISCOVER is to understand how existing natural or man-made complex systems work and, more importantly, how to build more reliable and efficient engineered complex systems, such as next-generation power grids and transportation systems.

Titled “Multi-robot Cooperative Tasking through Local Coordination Design,” Lin’s CAREER project will use multi-robot cooperative tasking as a particular design example to explore the design principles for engineered complex systems. The proposed cooperative robotics developed could be extended to the design of more general cyber-physical systems and finally evolve into a scalable, correct-by-design formal approach to engineering complex systems. He hopes to provide a more insightful understanding of the design principles and practical studies involving the performance of swarming robotics for more reliable and efficient systems, whether it be for environmental monitoring, emergency response or law enforcement.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are expected to work throughout the project as part of algorithm development teams and in the project’s multi-robot test bed.

A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Lin has been very active in the research community, having served as the program chair for the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Control and Automation, as well as for the 2010 and 2011 IEEE Conference on Cybernetics and Intelligent Systems among several editorial boards. He also served as the chair of the Singapore Chapter of the IEEE on Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society for 2009 and 2010.

Laurel D. Riek

Riek’s expertise is in robotics, health informatics and social signal processing. She directs the , where she and her team explore fundamental research questions surrounding the creation of machines that are socially agile, able to sense, respond and adapt to human social behavior. This work has many applications, particularly in health care, where lab members are developing new health information technology tools to improve health care delivery and safety, and novel robotic training aides to facilitate patient-centered communication.

It is estimated that in the United States more than 150,000 people die each year, and billions of dollars are lost, as a result of communication-related medical errors. Through her CAREER project, titled “Next Generation Patient Simulators,” Riek hopes to reduce the incidence of these errors by creating high-fidelity robotic human patient simulators (HPS) that have the ability to exhibit realistic, clinically relevant facial expressions, critical cues providers need to assess and treat patients. Although HPS systems are the most commonly used android robots in America, they currently do not exhibit realistic facial expressions, gaze or mouth movements. Riek’s goal in this project is to address this shortcoming by developing novel expression synthesis algorithms modeling the facial characteristics of people who have had strokes or have cerebral palsy or dystonia, as well as the states of pain and drowsiness. When modeled on a novel HPS system, these expressive robots will enable educators to run simulations currently impossible with commercially available technology, thereby leading to more realistic training experiences for doctors, nurses and combat medics. This, in addition to improving the quality of health care, could enhance the understanding of these disorders and provide a means for educating society how to better interact with those suffering from these disabilities and to quickly recognize signs of stroke.

The educational plan that accompanies this project includes mentoring undergraduate students, continuing to coordinate the annual event and partnering with South Bend New Tech High School, which is part of the South Bend Community School Corp., to initiate a robotics education module.

In addition to the CAREER Award, Riek has received a Qualcomm Research Scholar Award, a Cambridge Overseas Trust Scholar Award and numerous awards during her tenure as a senior artificial intelligence engineer and roboticist at MITRE, a not-for-profit research institute.

A 91�Թ� faculty member since 2011, Riek earned her bachelor’s degree in logic and computation from Carnegie Mellon University in 2000 and her doctorate in computer science in 2011 from the University of Cambridge.

The CAREER program, which was established by the NSF in 1995, recognizes and supports junior faculty who exhibit a commitment to stimulating research while also providing educational opportunities for students.

91�Թ� expands focus in environmental fluid mechanics

2010-01-25T11:12:00-05:00

Harindra Joseph S. Fernando has been appointed the Wayne and Diana Murdy Professor of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of 91�Թ�.

Fernando is an expert in fluid mechanics, specifically in atmospheric and oceanic flows as well as industrial flows involving density variations. His current projects include laboratory experiments and field observations in conjunction with theoretical and computer modeling of urban flows, highlighting the effects of climate change; air flow in mountainous terrain; underwater waves in shelf seas; dynamics and remote sensing of ship and submarine wakes; storage problems in National Petroleum Reserves; flow through nuclear reactors; modeling and measurements of air pollution, including health effects; turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer; and freeway acoustics. In addition to national agencies, several international sponsors support his work.

At 91�Թ�, Fernando plans to focus on environment, energy and sustainability issues and collaborate with a cadre of researchers already on campus working on similar challenges.

He joins the 91�Թ� faculty from Arizona State University (ASU), where he most recently served as the director of the Center for Environmental Fluid Dynamics and professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with an appointment in the School of Sustainability. Prior to joining ASU, Fernando was a research fellow at the California Institute of Technology. He also worked as a research assistant at The Johns Hopkins University and as an assistant lecturer at the University of Sri Lanka.

Fernando is the co-editor of the American Geophysical Union Monograph on “Double-Diffusive Convection” and currently is editing the “Handbook of Environmental Fluid Mechanics.” He has published more than 200 papers in international peer reviewed journals and more than 150 papers in refereed conference proceedings. Among the honors he received are the Presidential Young Investigator Award, Rieger Foundation Award for Environmental Sciences and William Mong Lectureship. At the end of 2008, The Arizona Republic named him among the “Tempe Five Who Matter” — which honored five residents who made a notable difference in the life of the city. Fernando was elected to the Academy of Europe in 2009.

Fernando is a fellow of the American Physical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Meteorological Society. He also is a member of the American Geophysical Union, American Society for Engineering Education and European Mechanics Society (EUROMECH).
In addition to his teaching and research activities, Fernando currently serves on the editorial boards of several international journals, including Applied Mechanics Reviews, Journal of Environmental Fluid Dynamics, Journal of Hydro-environmental Research, Journal of Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics and Advances, and Applications of Fluid Mechanics. He also serves in numerous national and international committees dealing with natural disasters, environmental pollution and sustainability.

Fernando earned his doctorate in 1983 and his master’s in 1982 in fluid mechanics from The Johns Hopkins University and his bachelor’s degree, in mechanical engineering, from the University of Sri Lanka in 1979.

Department of Energy honors 91�Թ� professor

2009-12-22T11:25:00-05:00

Joan F. Brennecke, the Keating-Crawford Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and director of the University of 91�Թ� Energy Center, has been chosen to receive the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award from the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

Presented by the secretary of energy, the Lawrence Award honors scientists and engineers at mid-career for their exceptional contributions in research and development supporting the DOE and its mission to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States. The award is given in each of the following categories: chemistry, materials research, environmental science and technology, life sciences (including medicine), nuclear technologies (fission and fusion), national security and non-proliferation and high-energy and nuclear physics.

Brennecke, who is being recognized for her work in environmental science and technology, and the other honorees each will receive a citation signed by the secretary, a gold medal bearing the likeness of Lawrence, and a $50,000 honorarium during a ceremony this spring.

Internationally known for her research in the development of solvents, specifically supercritical fluids and ionic liquids, Brennecke’s research interests also include thermodynamics, environmentally benign chemical processing, and carbon dioxide separation, storage and usage.

Throughout her career, Brennecke has received numerous awards for her research, as well as for her contributions in the classroom. Most recently, she was selected as the 2008 Julius Stieglitz Lecturer Award by the American Chemical Society (ACS). She also has received the 2007 John M. Prausnitz Award for outstanding achievement in applied chemical thermodynamics from the Conference on Properties and Phase Equilibria for Product and Process Design, the Professional Progress Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the 2001 Ipatieff Prize from the ACS in recognition of her high-pressure studies of the local structure of supercritical fluid solutions and the effect of this local structure on the rates of homogeneous reactions. In 1991, the National Science Foundation honored her with the Presidential Young Investigator Award.

A member of AIChE, the ACS and the American Society for Engineering Education, Brennecke is past chair of the Council for Chemical Research and currently serves on the editorial board of the journal Green Chemistry.

A graduate of the University of Texas, Brennecke earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois. She has served as a 91�Թ� faculty member since 1989.

Contact: Joan Brennecke, jfb@nd.edu

Kareem named to Indian Academy of Engineering

2009-12-11T08:38:00-05:00

Ahsan Kareem, Robert Moran Professor of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of 91�Թ�, has been elected a foreign fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. With this election, he joins an elite group of engineers from India who are also leaders in the United States. Earlier this year Kareem was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer who has made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education. Kareem, who is director of 91�Թ�’s NatHaz Modeling Laboratory, has long been involved in active research and education initiatives in India, including his work at the Structural Engineering Research Center in Chennai (Madras) as a United Nations Development Program consultant. In collaboration with researchers in Chennai, he has been developing a major cyclone resistant design initiative using the large-scale facilities in the center. He also is the lead U.S. collaborator for a project titled “New Frontiers of Education and Research in Wind Engineering” at Tokyo Polytechnic University’s Global Center for Excellence, which is funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. A 91�Թ� faculty member since 1990, Kareem specializes in probabilistic structural dynamics, fluid-structure interactions, structural safety, the mitigation of natural hazards and applications of cyberinfrastructure for the analysis and design of civil infrastructure. To better understand and predict the impact of natural hazards on the constructed environment, he uses computer models and laboratory and full-scale experiments to study the dynamic effects of environmental loads under winds, waves and earthquakes on structures and to develop mitigative strategies/devices to enhance the performance and safety of structures. Kareem has served in the administration, management and organization of numerous professional societies including the American Society of Civil Engineers, as well as committees of the National Research Council, NAS/NAE, the International Association for Wind Engineering and the American Association for Wind Engineering. He serves on the editorial boards of several technical journals and has been associate editor, editor, editor-in-chief and guest editor of international journals. He also has served as a senior consultant to several major oil, insurance and consulting engineering companies. A graduate from the West Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology, through a joint program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he earned his master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Hawaii. Kareem earned his doctorate in civil engineering, with a focus on structural and fluid dynamics, from Colorado State University.

Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics announces staff additions

2009-10-27T14:52:00-04:00

Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics (AD&T) at the University of 91�Թ�, an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on developing diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for commercialization, has hired five research assistant professors who will pursue projects emphasizing significant concerns in society and the medical community.

Joining AD&T are: Tanyel Kiziltepe, Bei Nie, Carlos Gartner, Lei Liu and Li Jing Cheng.

“These outstanding researchers bring cutting-edge expertise in cell biology, proteomics, lab-on-a-chip instrumentation, nanoparticle science and Terahertz device structures,” said Paul W. Bohn, the Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and director of AD&T. “They will help drive AD&T forward, immediately impacting both basic science and innovative technologies.”

With the assistance of the Mendoza College of Business, Innovation Park and the IrishAngels network, the researchers will develop and evaluate a project’s market and financial potential and overall business model. Technologies that demonstrate commercialization potential will advance to the development of strategies most appropriate for private investment, venture formation or licensing to established life science companies.

A biological scientist with experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Kiziltepe will focus her activities on targeted nanoparticle drug delivery, specifically designing nanoparticles encapsulating combinations of drugs that not only selectively target particular diseased cells but also release their drug content only after coming into contact with the target cell. In the last decade, single-drug delivery by nanoparticles has proven effective, with commercial products sales in the United States exceeding $5 billion. By using selective targeting strategies in conjunction with a drug “cocktail,” these nanoparticles will now be able to selectively bind with the different cells within the target area, aiding the therapeutic benefit. Precise timing of the drug content (and release) will greatly reduce systemic toxicity and accompanying side effects.

Kiziltepe earned her bachelor’s degree at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey in 1998, and her doctorate in biochemistry/bioengineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2004. She pursued her postdoctoral degree in the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard University Medical School and worked as a research scientist in the oncology division of Cerulean Pharma prior to joining the University.

Nie earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Science and Technology of China in 1995, his master’s degree from the Chinese Academy of Science in 2001 and his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 2006, all in analytical chemistry. Prior to joining the AD&T team, he served as a senior scientist at Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Nie is working to develop a more effective system to detect and interpret biomarkers: the biomolecular endoscope. He is designing a multiple functionalized biochip that incorporates a biofluid transport, separation and molecular analysis system utilizing microfluidics and miniaturized mass spectrometry. In clinical use this type of integrated system could rapidly profile proteomic and matabolomic data from individuals and greatly benefit the emerging field of personalized medicine.

Using chemical tools to solve biological questions is Gartner’s focus. In AD&T he will be working to develop early assessment biomarkers for ovarian cancer. For many types of cancer — such as breast, cervical, colon and prostate — there are standardized screening tests that are sensitive enough to detect the disease in its early stages. To date, there is no such test for ovarian cancer. Gartner will be studying the proteins (biomarkers) released from ovarian cancer cells from women in stages I-IV of the disease in order to better understand the mechanism of disease progression. The goal of this project is to develop a biochip that can detect micro amounts of these proteins at an early stage to allow for more effective therapeutic interventions.

Gartner earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Houston in 1984 and his doctorate in medicinal chemistry from the University of Washington in 2001. Prior to joining the 91�Թ� faculty, he served as a research fellow in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School.

Most recently a research associate from the University of Virginia, Liu will be developing high sensitivity, cost-effective terahertz (THz) detectors for medical imaging and spectroscopy. Although similar to X-rays and other waves in the electromagnetic spectrum, THz “radiation” offers benefits for medical imaging beyond those in current screening methods. For example, patients receiving an X-ray mammogram are exposed to radioactive waves. Breast magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography do not use ionizing radiation, but the machines are bulkier and do not always provide the most accurate images. Liu will be working to develop better THz detectors, circuits and systems that can readily be used in devices for detection, imaging and diagnostics of biomolecules, DNAs and tumors.

Liu earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at Nanjing University in China in 1998 and 2001, respectively, and his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Virginia in 2007.

A postdoctoral research fellow at the Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Cheng is scheduled to join AD&T in January. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electronics engineering at the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan in 1998 and 2000, respectively, and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 2008.

Working with biologists and medical researchers at 91�Թ�, Cheng will be developing a nanocolloid platform for massively parallel molecular detection of invasive species, agricultural pests, lymphatic filariasis, malaria control and drug screening. In short, he will be designing a molecular-level test, similar to a DNA probe that can target specific biomarkers, peptides, proteins or metabolites with a picomolar (10-12) sensitivity that can be used in developing nations for infectious disease control, as well as in the field for environmental monitoring and personalized health care.

Other areas being explored in AD&T include microcybernetics (human cells arranged in structures that allow for simulation with drugs, toxins or other factors and the immediate monitoring of the cellular response), advanced genomics (diagnostic sensing modalities to identify disease agents, invasive species or harmful pathogens) and engineered cartilage lubrication (the development of nanomaterials for artificial joint lubrication or tissue replacement).

“Each of these projects reflect the University’s focus on research and support its mission to serve the common good,” said Kirk Reinbold, managing director of AD&T.

Contact: Kirk Reinbold, managing director of the Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics initiative, 574-631-1470, kreinbol@nd.edu

91�Թ� joins Indiana energy consortium

2009-09-25T15:15:00-04:00

The University of 91�Թ� Energy Center has joined the Indiana Consortium for Research in Energy Systems and Policy (CRESP). The center joins founding partners Indiana University, Purdue University and Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis in this multidisciplinary organization designed to promote energy focused collaborative investigations and educational opportunities among faculty and researchers at the partner universities.

“We are pleased to commit to membership in CRESP and serve as the coordinator for the efforts of faculty and researchers from across the University and with partner institutions as we tackle the technical, economic and ethical issues related to energy production and its use in the 21st century,” said Joan F. Brennecke, Keating-Crawford Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and director of the 91�Թ� Energy Center.

CRESP’s goals include facilitating the formation of multi-institution research teams, securing funding for those teams and conducting research that targets solutions to energy issues. The consortium’s scope encompasses both renewable and fossil energy, specifically focusing on issues relevant to the economies of Midwestern states, particularly Indiana, where about 96 percent of the state’s electricity is generated in facilities fueled by coal. The state also is a large producer of renewable energy resources, such as ethanol and biodiesel from corn and soybeans.

Each university partner offers a different strength for CRESP, from electric vehicles and battery technology to global warming. The 91�Թ� Energy Center provides expertise in the development of CO2 separation for cleaner fossil fuel utilization, the safe storage and use of nuclear fuel by-products, and the creation of new solar energy technologies.

Blake named associate dean for strategic initiatives in College of Engineering

2009-08-21T14:36:00-04:00

M. Brian Blake, most recently department chair and director of graduate studies in computer science at Georgetown University, has joined the University of 91�Թ�’s College of Engineering as associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of computer science and engineering.

An expert in the areas of software engineering, Web services, e-commerce and related services, Blake will continue his research in service-oriented computing, agents and workflow technologies; enterprise integration and electronic commerce; software process and life cycles; and software engineering education at 91�Թ�. In addition, he has responsibility for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in software design and engineering, as well as in Internet computing.

Blake’s administrative responsibilities in the Office of the Dean include the development of faculty and graduate student recruitment and diversity strategies, as well as interaction with corporate and foundation partners on external initiatives. In this capacity he will work closely with Peter Kilpatrick, the McCloskey Dean of Engineering and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Patricia A. Maurice, associate dean of engineering research and professor of civil engineering and geological sciences.

Blake has served as an adjunct professor at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and as consulting director of services computing and research for Cleared Solutions LLC supporting the Department of Defense. Prior to that, he worked as an expert-level system architect and software engineering consultant for organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Justice and various legal firms.

He also worked for several years as a software architect and expert developer at companies such as General Dynamics, General Electric, Lockheed Martin and The MITRE Corporation.

A strong advocate of engineering and science education, Blake created innovative approaches to leverage the strengths of his department at Georgetown in the development of a world-class graduate program, increasing both quality and enrollment over his tenure. One program that he initiated specifically targeted computer science students from the Washington, D.C., area. He also initiated a series of computer science courses, called Computing Perspectives, to attract students from other disciplines into computing careers. He is a highly sought after speaker for the recruitment of underrepresented minorities in computer science and information technology research careers.

Blake is the primary inventor (with co-inventors at The MITRE Corporation) of “System for and Method of Using Component-based Development and Web Tools to Support a Distributed Data Management System.” The patent application for this system is pending.

As the youngest African-American to be granted tenure in a computer science department and the first African-American department chair at Georgetown University, Blake has received many honors and awards, including induction as a distinguished lecturer in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Distinguished Visitor Program; IEEE best paper nominee at the International Conference on Services Computing (2008); one of 10 Emerging Scholars for 2007 by “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education;” top 5 most viewed articles, Information Systems and E-Business Management (February 2005); nominee and participant in the National Academy of Science’s “Frontiers in Science” (2005); best transaction paper of 2003 in IEEE Transactions on Education (October 2004); nominee and participant in the National Academy of Engineering’s “Frontiers in Engineering” (2004); most promising engineer/scientist in industry by U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine and Lockheed Martin Corp. (2003); MITRE Corporation Annual Diversity Award (2002) and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Fellow Award (1999).

Blake is a senior member of the IEEE Computer Society and a member of the Association of Computer Machinery and the NSBE.
He currently serves as associate editor of several journals, including IEEE Internet Computing, IEEE Transactions on Services Computing, and the International Journal of Information Systems for the Service Sector.

Blake earned his doctorate in information and software engineering from George Mason University in 2000, his master’s degree in electrical engineering — with a minor in software engineering — from Mercer University in 1997, and his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1994.

Reinbold named managing director of Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Initiative at 91�Թ�

2009-07-21T15:25:01-04:00

Kirk A. Reinbold has been named managing director of the Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics (AD&T) Initiative at the University of 91�Թ�.

Created last year, the AD&T designs micro-sensing devices for personalized health care and environmental monitoring. Working on the nanoscale, researchers from chemical and biomolecular engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, biological sciences, and chemistry and biochemistry are developing miniaturized systems that can capture and detect a few distinct molecules in order to provide physicians and scientists with more accurate information for medical diagnoses or environmental assessments.

In this newly created position, Reinbold serves as the chief operating officer of the AD&T and is responsible for managing the activities of the initiative, including the development of relationships with foundations, government agencies and university and commercial partners, including large companies and start-up ventures. He oversees complex multi-investigator proposals from development through funding dispersal, as well as the activities of 24 principal investigators and numerous other researchers and support staff.

The addition of a managing director was critical to the initiative, according to Paul W. Bohn, Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and director of the AD&T.

“In filling this pivotal position we are very pleased to have found Kirk Reinbold,” Bohn said. “He brings just the right experience and skills to help the AD&T forge crucial connections to partners in Indiana and the rest of the U.S.”

“Kirk Reinbold is a key piece of the exciting AD&T initiative,” said Robert J. Bernhard, vice president for research. “He will help us translate 91�Թ� discoveries to practice, as well as play a role in helping interested external parties connect to the correct places within AD&T.”

Reinbold previously served on the Scientific Advisory Board of a telehealth company that develops at-home monitoring systems and on the board of directors for a land conservation trust. He also served as senior consultant and medical science liaison for MedTech Solutions, where his duties included developing and managing intellectual property and providing technology assessment and early-stage business development strategies to both investors and entrepreneurs.

Reinbold holds several patents for inventions related to neurological impairment rehabilitation, osteoarthritis management and sports performance monitoring. He is a senior scholar at Thomas Jefferson University School of Population Health, a member of the Aerospace Medical Association and serves on the Physical Sciences Technology Advisory Committee of Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

A graduate of the University of Rochester, Reinbold earned his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina and his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Bensman named director of engineering and science computing

2009-07-02T13:29:01-04:00

Edward L. Bensman has been named the director of engineering and science computing at the University of 91�Թ�.

In this newly created position, Bensman will serve as manager of a team supporting technology systems and services for the Colleges of Engineering and Science, outlining an operational strategy for the responsible design, development and maintenance of the technology systems in the multi-tiered environments within the colleges.

As computing and communications are becoming increasingly diverse and mobile with an expectation of rapid access, minimal interruptions to service and increased computing power are particularly important, according to Bensman, who says the key issue will be “to support the academic and research computing agendas of the Colleges of Engineering and Science — so that we are agile and able to adapt to changing environments and needs of faculty and students.”

In addition to his management responsibilities, Bensman will oversee the installation configuration, modification and maintenance of operating system software on desktop, bench top and cluster computing systems in the colleges to ensure optimum performance and data integrity. The establishment of policies on system use and services, as well as the development of a comprehensive library of all supporting documentation, also fall under his purview.

Bensman will act as a liaison with other University technology groups such as the Office of Information Technologies and the 91�Թ� Center for Research Computing, where he previously served as a high-performance computing engineer.

Prior to joining the University, Bensman served as program manager at Raytheon Company, as assistant director of the Computer Systems Division at the Air Force Climatology Center, and as chief of the Applied Technology Division at the Air Force Weather Agency.

Bensman is a member of the American Meteorological Society, Air Weather Association, National Weather Association and serves on the executive committee of the Weather Coalition.

A graduate of Purdue University in atmospheric science, Bensman received his master’s degree in climatology and doctorate in physical meteorology from Florida State University.

Porod named senior fellow of Institute for Advanced Study

2009-06-05T13:27:01-04:00

Wolfgang Porod, Frank M. Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering and director of the at the University of 91�Թ�, has been named a Han Fischer Senior Fellow by the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) at the Technische Universität München (TUM).

Researchers in the IAS-TUM oversee projects from engineering, science and the humanities. Fellowships are awarded based on the academic record of the honorees with regard to innovation and the promise of major academic or technological breakthrough. The Hans Fischer Senior Fellowship is named in honor of the TUM professor, who was awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his pioneering efforts in hemoglobin.

Porod, like other senior fellows, is expected to pursue research activities consistent with the institution’s motto “High Risk, High Reward,” as the IAS is concerned with impact on advanced research fields in the long run, supporting top-level research without the burden of bureaucratic requirements. An expert in the area of nanoelectronics and quantum devices, he will continue to exploit new physical phenomena at the nanoscale for novel information processing devices and systems during his tenure at IAS.

A faculty member since 1986, Porod is the co-inventor of the Quantum-dot-Cellular Automata (QCA), a transistorless approach to computing. His research focuses on solid-state physics and its application to electronics; device reliability, degradation and breakdown; quantum devices and architectures for nanoelectronics; and the limits imposed by the laws of physics on computation.

Porod is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has authored more than 300 publications and presentations. He serves on the advisory and program committees of several international conferences and is a reviewer of proposals to the National Science Foundation, NASA and several technical journals. In addition, he is active in several professional societies and serves as a speaker in IEEE Distinguished Lecturer programs.

Porod earned master’s and doctoral degrees in theoretical physics from the Universität Graz (Austria). Prior to joining the 91�Թ� faculty, he served as senior research analyst for the Center for Solid State Electronics Research at Arizona State University.

The IAS program promotes top-level research in the Excellence Initiative by the German federal and state governments. Fellows receive a stipend, an additional budget for research expenses and support for two doctoral students for three years.

New director appointed for Minority Engineering Program

2009-04-17T14:15:01-04:00

The University of 91�Թ�’s College of Engineering has appointed Leo H. McWilliams director of the Minority Engineering Program (MEP).

McWilliams served most recently as co-course coordinator and an instructor for a first-year engineering course sequence. In addition to his work as an instructor for these courses, he also will now also be responsible for achieving the vision of MEP, which encompasses involving students in all aspects of academic life at 91�Թ�, advocating for the needs of under-represented students and creating opportunities to bring together engineering faculty, alumni and students to work together to achieve success in their academic and professional endeavors.

Prior to joining the University in 2002, McWilliams served as a principal engineer at Honeywell International in South Bend, where his duties included the investigation of advanced control concepts for gas turbine engines, the modeling and analysis of hydromechanical and electronic controls for gas turbine engines, and the design, analysis and integration of landing systems for aircraft.

McWilliams holds four degrees from 91�Թ�: bachelor’s degrees in economics and electrical engineering, which he earned in 1981 and 1982, respectively; and master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering, earned in 1985 and 1993.

The MEP was established in 1987 to encourage minority students in their pursuit of undergraduate degrees in engineering. Although the primary activities in the program are aimed at recruitment, retention and engagement of students, leadership skills also are cultivated throughout the MEP via lectures, workshops, student competitions, scholarships, internships and career placement activities.

Upon graduation, students become part of the MEP Alumni Network, a group of engineering graduates who make themselves available to answer the questions and concerns of current engineering students. The network also serves as a resource for University students whose internships require them to live away from family and friends.

More information on the MEP can be found on the Web at .

Electrical Engineering's Merz elected fellow of Materials Research Society

2009-03-11T11:08:00-04:00

James L. Merz, the University of 91�Թ�’s Frank M. Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering, has been named a fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS). He was cited for his “outstanding achievements in electronic materials, particularly compound semiconductors… and for intellectual leadership in advancing materials research in the U.S. and internationally.”

The Materials Research Society is a nonprofit association of more than 14,000 scientists, researchers and engineers engaged in interdisciplinary research on materials of technological importance. A lifetime appointment, election as a fellow in the MRS is limited to less than .2 percent of the membership of the society each year (approximately 30 researchers).

Merz, an internationally recognized scholar in the field of optoelectronic materials and devices, previously served the University as interim dean of the College of Engineering and vice president for graduate studies and research. A 91�Թ� alumnus, he returned to the University in 1994 to direct a team of researchers investigating Quantum Cellular Automata, a transistorless approach to computing sometimes called 91�Թ� logic.

Prior to his return, Merz served as professor of electrical engineering, professor of materials and director of the Center for Quantized Electronic Structures (QUEST) at the University of California at Santa Barbara. In addition to directing QUEST, a National Science Foundation (NSF) science and technology center, he also chaired the national council of directors of the NSF science and technology centers. He has published more than 400 papers and holds five patents.

Merz is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; and he is a member of the Society for Values in Higher Education. He also is the recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Research Award in recognition of lifetime achievements in science and engineering and an honorary doctorate from Linköping University if Sweden.

Merz was graduated from 91�Թ� with a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1959 and attended the University of Göttingen in Germany as a Fulbright Fellow immediately thereafter. He attended Harvard University as both a Woodrow Wilson and Danforth Fellow, earning his master’s degree in 1961 and doctorate in 1967.

New researcher enhances 91�Թ�’s energy research efforts

2009-03-05T16:36:01-05:00

The University of 91�Թ�’s Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, which already is nationally respected for its work in energy and environmental issues, has strengthened those efforts with the addition of Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt, a renowned expert in the materials and solid-state chemistry of heavy elements, especially uranium, neptunium and plutonium.

Previously a professor of chemistry at Auburn University, Albrecht-Schmitt has created several new materials with these elements that offer unique properties necessary for the advancement of clean, and green, energy.

This is important because research in heavy elements yields fundamental insights that can be used to develop new technologies and processes for the safe handling and disposition of radioactive materials. Studies of these elements and their by-products help address the environmental consequences of weapons programs, as well as the release of nuclear materials into the environment from nuclear energy production.

For example, novel materials that can work in extremely high radiation fields could lead to the development of advanced waste forms for safely storing the unwanted by-products of nuclear power. Likewise, the same material could offer properties that would deter these same by-products from leaching into the environment.

Albrecht-Schmitt’s research interests include solid-state chemistry (focusing on actinides), nuclear waste disposal, structure-property relationships in novel crystalline solids, environmental chemistry and crystal structure analysis.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1993 and his master’s (1994) and doctoral (1997) degrees in chemistry from Northwestern University.

More information about research initiatives in energy and the environment in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at 91�Թ� is available at .

Electrical Engineering faculty receive CAREER awards

2009-02-22T19:00:00-05:00

Vijay Gupta and Huili (Grace) Xing, assistant professors in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of 91�Թ�, have been named 2009 National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career Development (CAREER) Award recipients. The award is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to young faculty in engineering and science.

A faculty member since 2008, Gupta’s research focuses on the systematic and verifiably correct design of cyber-physical systems, such as cooperative multi-agent systems, networked control systems and sensor networks.

His CAREER project, titled"Scalable and Optimal Co-design of Control and Communication Protocols in Cyber-physical Systems,"explores the next generation of engineering systems composed of multiple complex dynamical systems interacting across communication networks. The project proposes a scalable and efficient approach for designing the communication and control algorithms for such systems. Applications for the algorithms and protocols that will be developed during the course of the project include advanced automotive systems, tele-medicine, energy conservation, environmental monitoring, traffic control and distributed robotics.

Gupta’s project also includes the development of a new interdisciplinarygraduate course, new projects for the department’s senior thesis project course and a high school outreach program to motivate students, particularly minorities and women, to pursue engineering as a career.

Gupta earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and master’s and doctoral degrees, also in electrical engineering, from the California Institute of Technology.

�ݾ��Բ�’s expertise is in the design, fabrication and characterization of semiconductors, nanostructures and devices for applications, including high-speed high-power electronics, energy-efficient electronics and IR/THz photodetectors.

Her CAREER project, titled"Graphene and Graphene Nanoribbon Optoelectronic Properties and Devices,"focuses on developing and demonstrating a series of optoelectronic device concepts (primarily photodetectors) based on graphene and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and then using those devices as vehicles to extract the optoelectronic properties of graphene and GNRs.Still in its infancy, the research will deepen the understanding of electron excitation-relaxation dynamics, minority carrier lifetime, external electrostatic gating and wave guiding, and dielectric effects, all of which are important for graphene-enabled applications, such as tunable photodetectors, THz emitters, biosensors and other devices yet to be invented.

The educational component of �ݾ��Բ�’s project involves undergraduate students and middle school teachers and studentsespecially young girlsvia 91�Թ�’s"Expanding Your Horizons"workshops, the participation of female students from Saint Mary’s College in the dual-degree program in engineering, and a summer research opportunities program for women faculty from the college.

A member of the Materials Research Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Electrochemical Society and American Society for Engineering Education, Xing joined the 91�Թ� faculty in 2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Peking University, a master’s degree in material science from Lehigh University and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

TopicID: 31568

Drilling for answers: Clive Neal and the JOIDES Resolution

2009-02-17T19:00:01-05:00

Clive Neal, professor of civil engineering and geological sciences at the University of 91�Թ�, is sailing the deep blue sea from Feb. 4 through March 5. His trip is not a pleasure cruise, but a unique journey that is part of a significant moment for the world of ocean research.

Neal is sailing aboard the JOIDES Resolution, a riserless drilling vessel operated by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program for scientific exploration of the ocean floor. The Resolution left a Singapore shipyard in January for initial sea trials after being completely refurbished and modernized.

In his role as a member of the redesign task force and now chair of the readiness assessment team, Neal leads the group of scientists responsible for determining if the Resolution is ready to resume international operations.

The team is putting the ship’s drilling, coring, logging and science systems through vigorous testing during additional sea trials on the Ontong Java Peninsula, a huge undersea plateau located in the Pacific Ocean, lying north of the Solomon Islands.

Once the Resolution is certified, it will travel to Honolulu for its first expedition: the Pacific Equatorial Age Transect. During this first project, in which they will target eight different sites within a 3-degree latitudinal window, the researchers hope toobtain a sedimentary archive for time periods immediately after the Paleocene/Eocene boundary event through the Miocene period (from 34 million to 5 million years ago).

The JOIDES Resolution began operations in 1978 as an oil exploration vessel. After being converted for scientific research in 1985, it became part of the Ocean Drilling Program (now the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program), where it continued its efforts through 2005. In addition to a crew of 65, a typical ship’s compliment consists of up to 50 scientists and technicians.

The ship was named for the HMS Resolution, which sailed under the command of Capt. James Cook more than 200 years ago, exploring the Pacific Ocean and the Antarctic region.

In addition to Neal, the team includes R. Mark Leckie, University of Massachusetts; Kathleen Marsaglia, California State University at Northridge; Kitty L. Milliken, University of Texas; Kristen St. John, James Madison University; and Roy Wilkes, University of Hawaii.

A faculty member since 1990, Neal is a member of the Mineralogical Society of America, Geological Society of America, Geochemical Society, American Geophysical Union, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and National Association of Geoscience Teachers. He also recently was appointed by NASA to the agency’s Lunar Science Institute.

Prior to joining the 91�Թ� faculty, Neal served as a visiting scientist at the Johnson Space Center, a Fulbright and research associate at the University of Tennessee, and as a lecturer at the University of East Anglia.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Leicester in 1982 and a doctorate in geology and geochemistry from the University of Leeds in 1986.

_ Contact: Clive Neal, professor of civil engineering and geological sciences,_ " jrs_neal@ship.iop.tamu.edu ":mailto:jrs_neal@ship.iop.tamu.edu

TopicID: 31527

Homeland Security official named Energy Center managing director

2009-02-03T19:00:00-05:00

Patrick M. Murphy, most recently program manager in charge of electric power systems research for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been named managing director of the 91�Թ� Energy Center. He will assume his new position April 6.

“With his experience in operations and research supporting energy technologies, Patrick Murphy is an exciting addition to our team,”said center director and Keating-Crawford Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Joan F. Brennecke.

Murphy’s main responsibilities will be to coordinate efforts in energy related research at 91�Թ�, to develop a University-wide vision and plan relating to energy research, to organize and support competitive proposals from faculty within the center, and to serve as a liaison with government officials on energy policies and issues.

Murphy has more than 15 years of experience as a research and development manager. Most recently, he directed efforts in the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency to provide more resilient electric power systems, including new grid architectures, backup distributed systems, demand management and alternative energy sources.

Prior to his work with the DHS, Murphy was an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he was responsible for coordinating research efforts with national and federal laboratories for various government clients, specifically regarding projects to prevent chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats; assessing risks and vulnerabilities; and determining the potential impacts of possible attacks. He served also as the lead business developer for the company’s modeling, simulation, war gaming and analysis team as it worked to identify and exploit systems engineering and modeling and simulation opportunities.

Before launching his civilian career, Murphy served in multiple positions as U.S. army intelligence officer, responsible for intelligence databases on Bosnian factions, for the impact of threat capabilities and for information on the effects of weather and terrain on operations.

Murphy was graduated from 91�Թ� with a dual degree in electrical engineering and government in 1992. He earned a master’s degree in international affairsfrom George Washington University in 2000 and is currently pursuing a doctorate in operations research there.

Since its establishment in 2005, the 91�Թ� Energy Center has been working to develop new technologies to meet the global energy challenge. Housed in the College of Engineering, the center focuses on five areas of expertise: energy efficiency, safe nuclear waste storage, clean coal utilization, renewable resources, and carbon dioxide separation and storage. The center also is committed to playing key roles in energy education and literacy, the development of energy policy, and the exploration of the ethical implications associated with energy.

More information regarding energy research at 91�Թ� can be found at: .

TopicID: 31347

Engineering's Jumper named to National Research Council committee

2008-12-10T19:00:00-05:00

Eric J. Jumper, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of 91�Թ�, has been appointed to a new National Research Council (of the National Academies) study committee. His term on the Materials Needs and R&D Strategy for Future Military Aerospace Propulsion Systems committee begins in January.

National security demands that the United States continue to improve its surveillance and interception capabilities, which requires aerospace propulsion to move toward the development of high Mach manned and unmanned vehicles. In light of this, the goals of the committee are to address the challenge of developing new materials for these vehicles and to determine appropriate directions that will allow the United States to maintain a leading edge in propulsion technology.

Among the propulsion systems to be reviewed by the committee are air breathing and self-contained fuel/oxidizer systems. (Air breathing systems take the oxygen needed for engine combustion from the atmosphere through which the vehicle is traveling instead of from an onboard tank).

In addition, the committee will investigate opportunities to advance corrosion research, including materials degradation and mitigation. It will address fuel efficiency challenges at subsonic and supersonic levels and is charged with identifying the impact of current non-U.S. investments and reviewing timetables for the evolution of new materials.

The committee includes researchers from the Air Force Systems for Integrated Defense Systems; California Institute of Technology; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Mississippi State University; Missouri University of Science and Technology; NASA Ames Research Center; Rolls-Royce, North America; Science Applications International Corp.; Worcester Polytechnic Institute; the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the University of Dayton.

Jumper previously served on an NRC committee for hypersonics and access to space. His research encompasses aero-optics, aircraft turbine (jet) engines and aircraft wake dynamics. His work at 91�Թ� has led to a number of breakthrough advances in knowledge and technology. Using a new wavefront sensing instrument developed at 91�Թ�, he made the first time-resolved wavefront measurements for laser propagation through a Mach 0.8 free shear layer. His expertise in military acquisition and procurement, government technical program management, aerospace engineering and space science, physics, thermodynamics, propulsion and combustion, orbital mechanics, aerodynamics, reentry heating and thermal protection materials, surface chemistry, and aero-optics adds to the scope of the committee.

A member of the 91�Թ� faculty since 1989, Jumper previously served as chief of the Laser Devices Division at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory and professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, and was named outstanding alumnus of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of New Mexico in 1997. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from New Mexico, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming and a doctorate in fluid dynamics and laser physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

TopicID: 30766

IEEE awards annual prize paper award to engineering's Costello

2008-11-30T19:00:00-05:00

Daniel J. Costello Jr., Leonard Bettex Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of 91�Թ�, has been named the winner of the 2009 Donald G. Fink Prize Paper Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

IEEE, the leading professional association for the advancement of technology, with a membership of more than 375,000, publishes 144 transactions, journals and magazines. The Fink Prize is presented for the most outstanding survey, review or tutorial paper published among all of these materials.

Costello’s prize-winning paper, titled"Channel Coding: The Road to Channel Capacity,"appeared in the June 2007 issue of the Proceedings of IEEE. Co-authored by G. David Forney of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the paper describes the 60-year trajectory of research into making digital communications more robust and efficient through the controlled introduction of redundancy. Channel coding is used in every existing digital communication system, including cell phones, cable modems, DSL lines and satellite systems.

Throughout his career, Costello has made sustained and profound contributions to the research described in the article. His research, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Motorola Communications, focuses on digital communications, with special emphasis on coding theory, information theory, communications networks and bandwidth efficient communication.

Costello was graduated from Seattle University and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from 91�Թ� in 1966 and 1969, respectively. After several years as a faculty member at the Illinois Institute of Technology, he returned to the University as a member of the electrical engineering faculty in 1985. He served as department chair from 1989 to 1998.

Costello is a fellow of the IEEE and has served as a member of the Information Theory Society board of governors. He also has served as associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Communications and IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Among the many honors in his career, he has received the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Prize, the Third Millennium Medal and the Seattle University Centennial Alumni Award.

TopicID: 30607

Air Force research office honors two young engineering faculty

2008-11-25T19:00:00-05:00

The University of 91�Թ�’s Vikas Tomar, assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, and Huili (Grace) Xing, assistant professor of electrical engineering, are two of the 39 engineers and scientists selected by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFSOR) as part of the 2008 Young Investigator Program (YIP).

The program, which is only open to engineers and scientists at U.S. research institutions who have received a doctoral degree within the last five years, recognizes those who"show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research."This year’s YIP honorees will share approximately $12.1 million for research efforts over the next three years as outlined in their winning proposals.

As in previous years, competition for the award was very competitive. The ASFOR received 210 proposals encompassing a broad range of areas, including aerospace, chemical and materials sciences, physics and electronics, mathematics, information technologies, and life sciences.

Tomar, who joined the University in 2006, is investigating nanoscale thermal conduction and mechanical strength correlation in high-temperature ceramics as part of his efforts in the YIP. It coincides well with his work in the department’s Multiphysics Laboratory, where he is studying advanced ceramic matrix composites for use in energy plants. High-temperature ceramics that can work in extreme environmentsradiation or corrosionwould significantly benefit the coal industry and the development of nuclear power. For example, a simple increase in operating temperature (made possible through new high-temperature ceramics) can result in increased energy efficiency.

Although not part of his YIP research, Tomar also is studying biomaterials such as bone issue and biosensors. In one project, he is analyzing the structure-property relationships for bone tissue in different chemical environments to determine how different drugs affect the properties (including strength) of bone tissue.

In another research effort using molecular analyses, he is focusing on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that control biofunctional materials in extreme environments, such as a highly radioactive environment or sensitive physiological environment (a diseased part of the human body).

�ݾ��Բ�’s YIP focuses on the quantum limits of nitride RF high-electron mobility transistors. Through experimental and theoretical approaches, she is investigating the physical origins of the upper limit of speed and power-handling capabilities in gallium-nitride based semiconductor transistors in order to advance the development of the next generation radio frequency applications.

Similar electronic devices, featuring reduced size and lower energy consumption, have already been employed in cell phone base stations. Xing envisions that high-electron mobility transistors could replace bulky power adapters with millimeter size chips, deployed in hybrid engines in automobiles, efficient terahertz (Thz) emitters and a host of other applications.

�ݾ��Բ�’s project aligns with her interests in nitride semiconductors and electronic and optoelectronic devices. Her current research activities in this area include the integration of heterogeneous materials using direct wafer bonding, development of high energy efficiency green light emitting diodes for solid state lighting, as well as ultraviolet and infrared emitters, and Thz detection technologies for medical applications.

In addition to the nitride semiconductor family, Xing is working with a variety of electronic materials including III-V, II-VI compound semiconductors and graphene. Together with her colleagues in the newly established Midwest Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery (MIND), she is searching for the next switch to replace current silicon transistors (silicon metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors) in future computer chips. She has explored photo detectors amenable to inexpensive and large-scale fabrication using chemically synthesized CdSe (cadmium selenide) nanowires, especially their polarization sensitivity.

Xing has served as a faulty member since 2004.

TopicID: 30588