Research Alert

Research Prizes and Honors

[Have you or a colleague won a research-related prize or honor? Let the Research Alert know.]

2007 NATIONAL MEDAL OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
EARNED BY TWO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROFESSORS

Two chemical engineering professors from UT-Austin have been recognized by President George W. Bush as 2007 National Medal of Technology and Innovation laureates, the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement.

In a rare, if unprecedented, recognition of two honorees from the same institution and the same department for separate discoveries, Professors Adam Heller and C. Grant Willson were among eight national recipients announced this week.

“It’s sort of the American Nobel Prize,” says Richard Maulsby, spokesman for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which administers the Medal program.

Heller, Research Professor and Professor Emeritus, was cited “for his contributions to electrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry which led to the development of products that have improved the quality of life of millions, particularly in the area of human health and well-being.” Heller’s work enabled the creation of the painless glucose monitor for diabetics.

Willson, who holds the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair at the Cockrell School of Engineering, was cited “for creating lithographic imaging materials and techniques that have enabled the manufacturing of smaller, faster and more efficient micro-electronic components.”

“With unprecedented consistency and creativity, these two engineers have spent careers continually besting their own breakthroughs,” said Ben Streetman, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering. “Their pioneering ability to link disciplines taught a new generation of researchers the value of reaching outside of their knowledge base to solve problems. It has been a great privilege of my career to witness their simultaneous contribution to research, education and society.”

UNIVERSITY FACULTY WIN CDC AWARD FOR RESEARCH ARTICLE

A research paper co-authored by two faculty members in the School of Social Work won the Charles C. Shepard Science Award, presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. Mary Velasquez, director of the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute and director of the Center for Social Work Research, was principal investigator for the Texas site of the study. Dr. Kirk von Sternberg, associate director of the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute and assistant professor of social work, was co-investigator.

The paper, “Preventing Alcohol-exposed Pregnancies: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” was co-authored by a research team working with study participants in three states–Texas, Florida and Virginia.

The Shepard Science Awards recognize excellence in scientific achievement by identifying the most outstanding publications of CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry scientists in peer-reviewed journals during the previous year. The paper was published in the January 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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The university has recently negotiated a new Facilities and Administrative Costs rate agreement resulting in a 2 percent increase from 50 percent to 52 percent for research in The University of Texas at Austin’s facilities effective Sept. 1, 2008. The Applied Research Laboratories rate increased from 12 percent to 13 percent. All other rates (Off-campus, Instruction and Other Sponsored Programs) remain the same.

The new rates should be used for proposals with a start date of Sept. 1, 2008 or later.

Questions should be addressed to Jason Richter at oa.jrichter@austin.utexas.edu or 471-6231.

The Office of Sponsored Projects will sponsor a seminar for junior faculty, professional research staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and research administrators interested in improving submissions to the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other funding agencies. Anyone interested in learning about the grant process in general are also welcome.

The seminar will be conducted by grant-writing consultant David C. Morrison. He is co-founder and a member of Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops LLC.

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
ACE 2.302 (Avaya Auditorium)
Sept. 10, 2008

The fee is $35 for faculty members and $25 for postdoctoral professional research staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and research administrators. The fee covers registration, an extensive handout and a workbook.

For more information, contact Elena Mota at evmota@austin.utexas.edu or 232-1419.

Kay Ellis, associate director and export control officer in the Office of Sponsored Projects, will conduct a seminar that will provide an understanding of rules and regulations associated with export controls and their application at the university. Participants will gain an understanding of the federal environment that is driving the need for more stringent protection of information.

Sept. 25, 2008
9 – 11 a.m.
ACE 2.402

The seminar is free, but seating is limited. Please send an e-mail to evmota@austin.utexas.edu to reserve a place. Learn more about the seminar on export controls.

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Austin American-Statesman

Aug. 29, 2008
HEADLINE: UT’s new boast: world’s most powerful laser
$15 million device that can approximate conditions at center of star to be used in astrophysics, nuclear energy research

Arctic Natural Sciences; Arctic Social Sciences; Arctic System Science; and Arctic Observing Networks
Deadline: Nov. 18, 2008CHE-DMR-DMS Solar Energy Initiative
Deadlines: Preliminary proposal, Dec. 16, 2008; Full proposal, March 9, 2009

Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Cluster
Deadline: Jan. 9, 2009

Ecosystem Science Cluster
Deadline: Jan. 9, 2009

Linguistics
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2009

FACULTY: Dean Neikirk, professor Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, principal investigator, and Sharon Wood, professor Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, co-principal investigator
AGENCY: National Science Foundation
AMOUNT: $340,000

The primary objective of this proposal is the development of a new low-cost, wireless, unpowered resonant sensor net that can be used to monitor large areas in civil infrastructure systems.

A critical new area of research relates to the coupling of individual elements in the net to produce collective, crystal-like behavior, allowing large area coverage with high sensitivity to damage. The buildings, bridges, dams and lifelines that comprise the civil infrastructure present unique challenges for sensor development due to their large size, unique designs, continuous exposure to the environment, infrequent inspections and long design life.For most real-time health monitoring systems that attempt to address all these concerns, the costs associated with the installation, maintenance and interpretation of the data are prohibitive for the overwhelming majority of infrastructure systems in the United States. In contrast, the proposed wireless sensor net should provide a cost-effective alternative to real-time health monitoring systems.The proposed sensor net will greatly enhance the type and quality of information that may be obtained about the condition of large areas of an infrastructure system during a routine inspection. Here particular emphasis on collective sensor nets suitable for diagnosis of problems encountered is placed in reinforced concrete structures.