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May 2007
ORSP Offers Fund Balance Reporting
Beginning May 1, 2007, all grant recipients began receiving emails twice a month regarding their fund balances in order to help researchers avoid over- or under-spending accounts. Please contact your grant manager in ORSP if you have any questions or suggestions.
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ORSP Time and Effort Reports Due
Requests for Time and Effort Reports were distributed to principal investigators in April, requesting information on any person whose salary is supported by grant funds. If you received a Time and Effort Report request, please return the information as soon as possible to ORSP. Deadline is May 15, 2007. For questions or more information, contact Louise Branscomb.
DTRA Funding Opportunities Available
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) issued a Broad Agency Announcement soliciting proposals for its Basic Research Program for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and basic research in the Chemical Biological Defense Program. The objective of the Basic Research Program is to successfully support the advancement of fundamental knowledge and understanding of the sciences with an emphasis on exploring new and innovative research for combating or countering WMD. This announcement specifically focuses on research areas that offer significant and comprehensive benefits to the DTRA mission in the following 14 topical areas:
Topic A: Advanced Energetic Materials for Agent Defeat
Topic B: Advanced Radiological-Nuclear Detection and Forensics
Topic C: An investigative Approach to Chemical Reactivity and Physiochemical Properties of
Interrelated Fiber Components
Topic D: Ab Initio Approach to Increasing Material Interactions with High Energy Photons
Topic E: Biomolecular Recognition and Catalysis
Topic F: Permeability of Protective Material or Living Tissue to Chemical or Biological Warfare
Agents
Topic G: Uncertainty Quantification, Interpretation, and Communication for Probabilistic Fluid
Transport and Dispersion
Topic H: Nanosciences, Biosciences, Information Sciences, and Cognitive Sciences (NBIC)
Convergence for Revolutionary CB Defense Applications
Topic I: Science for Survivable Sub-100nm Electronics
Topic J: Understanding Target Network Response to WMD Attack
Topic K: Biomimetic Living Systems
Topic L: New Molecular Recognition Signatures in the EM Spectrum
Topic M: Fundamental Physics of Rapid Earth Penetration
Topic N: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High Explosives (CBRNE) Sciences
White papers on research in these topical areas are due June 8, 2007. See
http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DTRA/DTRA01/HDTRA1-07-BRCWMD-BAA/Synopsis.html for full announcement and more
information.
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House Passes NSF Reauthorization
The House passed H.R. 1867, a bill to reauthorize the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Fiscal Year 2010, by a vote of 399-17. The legislation aims to increase American competitiveness through various research and educational
programs at NSF. It funds the agency at $21 billion over the next 3 fiscal years: $6.5 billion in FY 08, $7 billion in FY 09 and $7.5 bllion in FY 10, including a total of $16.4 billion for research
and related activities.
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DTRA, DHS, and NSF Seek Proposal Reviewers
If you would like to review proposals for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs, forward your resume with the topical area(s) that you are interested in to Vice-Provost for Research Dr. Abe Nisanci. ORGS will forward your resume to the agencies. The reviews are done on-line. Reviewers have at least two weeks to complete reviews and are assigned about three proposals. Reviewing
is beneficial to researchers who want to submit proposals in the future, as this is one of the best ways to learn. In the review process for DTRA and other DHS programs, ORGS encourages faculty members from all disciplines to participate, including those in art, humanities, sciences, engineering, education, business, and government. Also, email your two-page “biographical sketch” to Dr. Nisanci if you would like to review for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Biographical sketch should include: “Professional Preparation, Appointments, Publications, Synergistic Activities, Collaborators, and Other Affiliations.” See NSF’s Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/papp/gpg07140.pdf,
for further details.
Undergraduate Research Leads to Graduate STEM Degrees
A study published in Science magazine found that undergraduates’ participation in hands-on research opportunities (UROs) helps
encourage them to pursue PhDs and careers in STEM fields. UROs even inspire students who had not previously planned on going to graduate school. The study concludes that getting undergraduates and high school students excited about performing research is a key element in enlarging the domestic talent pool. www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/316/5824/548.
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Inventors Competition for Undergraduate Researchers Announced
The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation is accepting entries for its 2007 Collegiate Inventors Competition until June 15, 2007. The Competition is one of the foremost programs in the U.S. that recognizes and rewards invention, innovation, and discovery by college students. Students and their advisors can both earn cash prizes of $5,000 to $25,000 and all-expense paid trips to present their work. Past winners include the inventors of technologies such as a
tissue-engineered vascular graft, a new way of forecasting weather, and a novel hull design for catamarans. Sponsors for the competition also include Abbott Fund and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Entry form and more information are available at www.invent.org/collegiate.
Undergraduate Student Expo Showcases Winners
The 2nd Annual Undergraduate Student Expo was held April 16, 2007, with 55 students presenting posters of their undergraduate research studies. Students in the competition included 19 from the Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering; 16 from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; 12 from the College of Science and Mathematics; 4 from the College of Education; and 4 from the College of Professional Studies. Winners of the project competition, chosen by UALR's Undergraduate Research Committee, were nominated to present their research in Washington, D.C., in fall 2008, at the annual "Posters on the Hill" event organized by the Council on Undergraduate Research. The Council accepts no more than two projects from any university nationwide. From these projects, the Council will choose 60 for display in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to the following students whose projects were nominated for presentation and for an honorable mention:
Nominees
Sarah Burns
Beautiful Captivation, Character Defamation, and Orientalist Representation: A Contrapuntal Reading of Memoirs of a Geisha
Department: English, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Donaghey Scholars Program
Mentors: Drs. Zabelle Stodola, Angela Hunter, and Kinko Ito
Daniel Rucker
Al-Alawi Ameer
Wireless Communications with Biomedical Implantable Medical Devices
Department: Systems Engineering, Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Hussain Al-Rizzo
Honorable Mention
Drew Westerman
The Bathymetry and Sediment Accumulation History in Lake Maumelle, Central Arkansas
Department: Earth Science, College of Science and Mathematics and Donaghey Scholars Program
Mentors: Drs. Margaret McMillan and Forrest Payne
Next year’s 3rd Annual Undergraduate Student Research EXPO will be held on Monday, April 21, 2008, in the Donaghey Student Center.
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Researchers Focus on BioNanoTox Conference
The second annual "Biology, Nanotechnology, Toxicology, and Applications Research" BioNanoTox) Conference was held on April 26-27, 2007, on the UALR campus. The Conference attracted over 50 expert academicians, industrial scientists, and laboratory specialists who shared information through a combination of lectures, case studies, and poster abstracts in biology, chemistry nanotechnology,
bioinformatics, statistics, toxicology, medicine, and diagnostics. State, national, and international researchers gathered at UALR to share their knowledge and applications and how to optimize healthcare and control infections. In addition to expert presenters, more than 20 undergraduate and graduate students gave poster presentations and competed in four categories during poster session. Congratulations to the following students and their mentors for their winning projects in each category:
(I) Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Justin Yancey, Department of Bilogical Sciences, Arkansas State University
Dr. Malathi Srivatsan, Mentor
(II) Biological Sciences
Michelle Park, Department of Biology, UALR
Dr. Olga Tarasenko, Mentor and Dr. Lee Soderberg, UAMS Co-Mentor
Paul Bobryshev, Department of Biology, UALR
Dr. Olga Tarasenko, Mentor
(III) Medicine and Toxicology
Rakhee Agarwal, Graduate Institute of Technology, UALR
Dr. Nawab Ali, Mentor
(IV) Bioinformatics
Cynthia D. Jeffries, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Dr. Hari H.P. Cohly, Mentor and Dr. Raphael D. Isokpehi, Co-Mentor
Sushma Thotakura, Department of Chemistry, UALR
Dr. Jerry A. Darsey, Mentor and Dr. Cesar M. Compadre, UAMS Co-Mentor
This meeting continues to grow and has enjoyed great success as a forum for leaders in biology, chemistry, nanotechnology, and medicine. Congratulations to Dr. Olga Taransenko (Biology) and Dr. Alexi Basnakian (UAMS) for organizing and hosting this successful event. Next year's conference will also be sponsored at UALR on February 21-22, 2008.
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MBA Students Compete Internationally
Two teams of graduate students finished first and fourth "in the world" when they recently competed with over 500 teams in the 2007 International Spring Capstone and Foundation Challenge. The competition was an online business simulation in which students ran virtual companies over a simulated eight years and made decisions about advanced marketing, human resources, TQM, finance, research and development, labor negotiations, and production operations. Companies were then evaluated against each other, and six winning teams advanced to final rounds; however, only one team from each school was allowed to compete. Congratulations to Brent Corbitt who finished "First in the World" in the final competition! Also, congratulations to Chris Hill and Raymond Leung who finished "Fourth in the World" in the qualifying round but did not get to compete in the final round. And, congratulations to Dr. Nancy Landrum for mentoring these fine students. Results from the final competition can be found at www.capsim.com.
Graduate Research Forum Produces Winners
The 17th Annual Graduate Student Research Forum took place on Friday, April 20, 2007. Thirty-three students gave research presentations in the areas of administration, humanities, science (biological and physical), and social science. There were three presenters from the College of Education, nine presenters from the College of Professional Studies, two presenters from the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, three presenters from the College of Science and Mathematics, and fifteen presenters from the Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering. At the award luncheon students, faculty and staff congratulated the following winners:
Winner in Administration
Alicia Cotabish (Educational Administration & Supervision), The Effects of Peer Coaching on the Evaluation Knowledge, Skills, and Concerns of Gifted Program Administrators
Winner in Education
Amanda Camp Higher Education Administration), Differentiating between Women in Hard and Soft Science and Engineering Disciplines
Winner in Humanities
Heather Bettinardi (Public History), Bullet Probes - The Truth Revealed
Winner Social Science
Heather Best (Conflict Mediation), Communication Ambiguity and Cosmology Episodes: An Analysis of Crisis Communication Following the Sago Mine Disaster
Winner(s) in Science Room I (tie)
Susan DeVires (Biology), An Analysis of Communicative Methods Employed by Geomys breviceps
Tommy Finley (Applied Science), Energetics of Giant Pandas
Winner Science Room II
Asif Mughal (Applied Science), An Optimal Controller Design of Bipedal Model
The Graduate Student Association and ORGS would like to thank the following colleges and judges for contributing their time to support graduate student research at UALR:
College of Education- Drs. Ibrahim Duyar and Gregory Barrett
College of Professional Studies - Dr. Sharon Wrobel, Kim Evans, and Dr. Jeanne Rollberg
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences - Dr. Laura Amrhein
College of Science and Mathematics - Drs. Xiu Ye and Xiashen Wang
College of Information Science and Systems Engineering - Drs. Remzi Seker, Kenji Yoshigoe, Chia-Chu Chaing, and Peiyi Tang
Outside community - Dr. Ellen Plummer (Arkansas Arts Center), Ray Smenner (Arkansas Arts Center), Dr. Helen Deng (UAMS), and Dr. Tim Atkinson
Next year's 18th Annual Graduate Student Research Forum will be held on Friday, April 25, 2008, in the Donaghey Student Center.
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