The Institute of Technology will welcome an estimated 830 new freshmen to campus this fall. Overall, the college experienced a 31 percent increase in freshman applications over last year, with a surge in applications from women (up 54 percent) and students of color (up 95 percent).
Eleven new faculty will join IT during the 2006–07 academic year. They are: professors Ellad Tadmore (aerospace engineering and mechanics), Roberto Ballarini (civil engineering), and Tom Misa (history of science and technology/electrical and computer engineering); assistant professors Theoden Nethoff, Jonathan Sachs, Wei Shen (biomedical engineering); Matteo Coccoccioni, Russell Holmes (chemical engineering and materials science); Aaron Massari (chemistry); Julian Marshall (civil engineering); Rui Kang (computer science and engineering); and Joshua Feinberg (geology and geophysics).
Related content
ITems
An e-newsletter for faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of
the Institute of
Technology
James, Schuler receive nation’s highest
honor for early-career scientists and engineers
Institute of Technology assistant professors Ashley
James (aerospace engineering and mechanics) and William
Schuler (computer science and engineering) have received the
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE),
the nation’s highest honor for professionals beginning their
independent research and education careers.
They are among 20 young scientists and engineers who received the
award this year from the National Science Foundation, one of nine
federal departments and agencies that annually nominate individuals
for the award.
More than just a prestigious honor, PECASE boosts careers in areas
of research deemed of critical importance for the future of the
United States. More…
U team to compete in World Solar Rally
Ten members of the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project team will head to Taiwan in September to participate in the 2006 World Solar Rally. Borealis III, the University's seventh-generation solar car, has been rebuilt and modified to accommodate the new rules of the World Solar Rally, which begins Sept. 17.
The international event will include teams from Japan, Australia, Iran, Canada, and the United States. The rally’s combination of track and highway roads provides a unique environment for solar vehicle racing.
U receives $500,000 gift from Medtronic for biomedical engineering fellowships
The University has received a $500,000 gift from Medtronic, Inc. and the Medtronic Foundation for the creation of the Medtronic Fellows in Biomedical Engineering Fund. The fund will help support new full-time biomedical engineering graduate students during their first semester.
The gift from Medtronic, which will be spread over five years, is the second major gift to support the entire class of first-year biomedical engineering graduate students each fall. About a third of the contribution will be used immediately for graduate fellowships, while the remainder will be placed in an endowment to earn interest and fund fellowships over time. More..
U to share $100 million NASA “space weather”
grant
Four university teams, including one led by the University of Minnesota,
will share $100 million to provide experiments and supporting hardware
for the Radiation Belt
Storm Probes, a future NASA mission to study near-Earth space
radiation. This radiation is hazardous to astronauts, orbiting satellites,
and aircraft flying high-altitude polar routes. Initially the teams
will perform a one-year cost, management, and technical study prior
to assembling and testing their scientific payload for the mission.
Associate Professor John Wygant (physics) is principal investigator
of the University of Minnesota-led team, which will study electric
fields in space that energize radiation particles and modify the
structure of the Van Allen Belts. More…
Truhlar appointed Regents Professor
Professor Donald Truhlar (chemistry) has been named a Regents Professor, the University’s highest faculty honor, in recognition of his contributions to theoretical and computational chemistry and his exemplary service to the University. He is one of five Institute of Technology faculty currently holding the title of Regents Professor.
Truhlar, who has served the University with distinction for more than 35 years, is considered to be among the top physical chemists in the world. His work has enhanced the basic understanding of the mechanisms of chemical reaction and has developed new and powerful tools for using state-of-the-art supercomputers. Because of his contributions in this area, the computer industry is able to bring ever more computational power to the desks of working scientists. More...
U student receives Mercury
7 Astronaut Scholarship
Mechanical engineering student Alex Kossett is one of 18 undergraduates
nationwide to receive a $10,000 scholarship through the Astronaut
Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization established
in 1984 by the six surviving astronauts of the famed Project Mercury missions.
The foundation’s goal is to aid the United States in retaining
world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships
for college students who exhibit motivation, imagination, and exceptional
performance in the science or engineering field of their major.
A native of Vadnais Heights, Minn., Kossett is an honors student
in the Institute of Technology and a robotics devotee who has designed
and successfully tested a robot that can follow a path on the ground.
More...
U research results in new start-up company
Professor Art Erdman (mechanical engineering,) Professor Timothy Olsen (ophthalmology), and mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidate Paul Loftness have developed a surgical procedure and corresponding technology for treating macular degeneration, a serious disease of the human eye that affects more than 10 million Americans.
At its July 12 meeting the University of Minnesota Board of Regents authorized a technology licensing agreement in which the University will acquire controlling interest in a start-up licensee, Macular Regeneration, Inc., which will market the invention. Investing in a controlling interest in a company is a strategy that's being used by more universities, but it will be a new endeavor for the University of Minnesota.
Preliminary studies of the use of the "Olsen/Loftness/Erdman Device" have shown great promise. However, no clinical trial currently is available because the technology is in its early stages. The University also is in the process of securing a patent. More…
Chemistry department to honor Noland
The Department of Chemistry is hosting a special 80th birthday
tribute to Professor Wayland
Noland, on Sat., Oct. 14. The daylong celebration includes a
continental breakfast, a scientific program, birthday cake, and
an afternoon cruise and buffet lunch aboard the Anson Northrup paddleboat.
Cost of the cruise and lunch is $10. Register online by Sept. 25 or call Nancy Hagberg at 612-625-2503.
The University’s second longest-serving faculty member, Noland
is renowned throughout the chemistry department for his extraordinary
dedication to students. During Noland's 54 years at the University,
an estimated 12,000 students have passed through his classes. His
long memory and continuing engagement with people have helped build
and maintain a sense of history, continuity, and community in the
department. More…
Moore named APEXES director
Dr. Samuel Moore has returned to the Institute of Technology as director of Academic Programs for Excellence in Engineering and Science (APEXES), a post he held from 1996 to 1999.
As director of APEXES, Moore will work to increase the number of underrepresented minority students pursuing Institute of Technology degree programs and provide the resources that help students build on their academic strengths. He has more than 15 years of experience in higher education as a teacher and administrator, most recently as associate dean for undergraduate studies in Northwestern University’s School of Communication Studies and as senior lecturer in Northwestern’s Department of Communication Studies.
IT Mentor Program needs you
Share your knowledge and expertise with Institute of Technology students who are looking for mentors. The IT Mentor Program matches students with professionals in science, math, and engineering fields. Students meet with their mentors to prepare for the transition from the academic environment to the professional world. Activities include networking, sharing ideas, touring companies, attending professional meetings, discussing career strategies, and reviewing resumes. Time commitment is two hours per month from October through April. Training and guidance is provided.
Mentor Program registration will open in September, and the orientation meeting is scheduled for Oct. 25. For more information call 612-626-8282 or e-mail sbeyer@umn.edu.
U delegation to Norway advances research teamwork on renewable energy and food safety
Peter Hudleston, Institute of Technology associate dean for student affairs, and Regents Professor Lanny Schmidt, (chemical engineering and materials science) were among the members of a Minnesota delegation that visited Norway between May 25 and June 2. The trip advanced the exchange of graduate students from Norway and the U.S. who are working on six transatlantic research groups—three teams on biofuels and three on food safety and bovine genomics. The delegation, led by University president Robert Bruininks, also focused on technology and medicine. They visited government officials and partner universities in Aas, Bergen, and Oslo. More…
IT Alumni Society wins UMAA honor for Tech Fest 2006
Tech Fest 2006 was a big hit with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) as well as the kids and their parents who attended the event, held earlier this year at The Works, a hands-on science and technology museum in Edina, Minn. The Institute of Technology Alumni Society (ITAS) received the UMAA's Program Extraordinaire Award for the creativity, innovation, and effectiveness of this year's Tech Fest, which featured chemistry-themed activities for the entire family. Since 2000, ITAS, its programs, and volunteers have won honors in seven UMAA award categories.
Johannes C.C Nitsche, of Minneapolis, Minn., retired professor
of mathematics and former head of the School of Mathematics, died
Aug. 9. He was 81.
A distinguished scholar, researcher, and educator, Nitsche made
outstanding contributions to the theory of minimal surfaces and
obtained an important uniqueness theorem for such surfaces. More…
Honors
Professor Peter
Herczfeld (EE Ph.D. ’67), director of Drexel University’s
Center for Microwave/Lightwave Engineering, was awarded the Pioneer
Award at the 2006 International Microwave Symposium by the IEEE
Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents announced that Professor Ken
Keller (chemical engineering and materials science)
has been designated president emeritus of the University. Keller
served as the University’s president from 1984 to 1988. He
currently is the Charles M. Denny Jr. Professor of Science, Technology
and Public Policy at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public
Affairs.
In August, Keller began a three-year leave of absence to become
director of the Bologna Center of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced
International Studies.
Assistant Professor Chris
Kim (electrical and computer engineering) received an IBM
Faculty Partnership Award to support his work on "Analysis,
Measurement, and Design Techniques for NBTI Tolerance." Negative
Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) is one of the major aging mechanisms
of nanoscale transistors that can eventually lead to chip failure.
The IBM Faculty Awards program is a competitive worldwide program
that enhances collaboration between faculty at leading universities
and IBM researchers.
Jay
Knutson (Physics ’73, M.S.’75, Ph.D. ’78),
chief of the Optical Spectroscopy Section of the Laboratory of Biophysical
Chemistry of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the
National Institutes of Health, has been elected to The Johns Hopkins
University Society of Scholars. Knutson is a leader in the development
of laser-driven high-speed optical instruments and techniques used
in the life sciences. His technical innovations have allowed researchers
to make advances in the fields of biology and medicine.
Distinguished McKnight University Professor Tim
Lodge (chemistry) will begin a five-year term as the Reyerson
Professor of Chemistry, effective January 1, 2007.
Professor Emeritus Thomas
Lundgren (aerospace engineering and mechanics) received the
2006 Fluid Dynamics Prize from the American Physical Society (APS).
The award recognizes outstanding achievement in fluid dynamics research.
Professor Kent
Mann (chemistry) began a five-year term as Merck Professor of
Chemistry July 1, 2006.
Associate professors Ezra
Miller (mathematics) and Beth Stadler (electrical and computer engineering) received the McKnight Presidential Fellow Award, which
singles out the most promising faculty who have just been granted
tenure and promoted to the rank of associate professor. The award
include three years of financial support.
Jing Wang (Aero Ph.D. ’05) received the 2006 Best
Dissertation Award (physical sciences and engineering) from
the University of Minnesota Graduate School. His adviser was Professor
Daniel Joseph. Wang is currently a postdoctoral research associate
in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics.
Professor Randy Victora and Associate Professor Jianping
Wang (electrical and computer engineering), together with
their graduate students Xiao Shen and Weikang Shen, won the 2006
Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC) Technical Achievement
Award for "pioneering work in the conception and experimental
confirmation of exchange-coupled composite recording media."
The University of Minnesota is the only university to receive this
award three times; Professor Jae Moon received it in 1997 and professors
Victora and Jack Judy received it in 2001. Victora now becomes only
the second professor in the history of the award to receive it twice.
Media watch
U of M to house new $21 million fluid-power research center
Discovering ways to reduce fuel consumption, developing devices
for people with mobility impairments, and designing state-of-the-art
rescue robots are just three of the goals of a new $21 million fluid-power
engineering research center that will be based at the University
of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. May 26: Georgia
Tech.edu; June 2: Miami
Herald Tribune; June 5: Minneapolis-St
Paul Business Journal; June 5: The AutoChannel.com; June 23:
Star Tribune.
Evacuation help
A new tool being developed by Distinguished McKnight University Professor Shashi Shekhar (computer science and engineering) will hopefully reduce evacuation times during disasters by using math to choose the most efficient evacuation routes.
May 25: FOX-TV (Minneapolis-St. Paul).
Andromeda adrift in sea of dust in new Spitzer image
Assistant Professor Baoquan Chen (computer science and engineering),
a researcher with the University’s Digital Design Consortium, is leading a project that uses a state-of-the-art 3-D laser
to scan sections of downtown Minneapolis, including such landmarks
as Walker Art Center. June 12: WCCO-TV
(Minneapolis–St. Paul).
Acoustic sensors made from magnetic nanowires
Associate Professor Beth Stadler (electrical and computer engineering) and members of her research group, together
with scientists from aerospace engineering at the University of
Maryland, are the first to use nanowires
for acoustic sensors. They also pioneered making nanowires out of
Galfenol, the latest magnetostrictive material to be invented. June
13: Nanowerk.
More powerful fuel cells get closer to market
Regents Professor Lanny Schmidt (chemical engineering and materials
science) says many operational issues
have kept more powerful fuel cells off the market, including long
startup times and parts wearing out under high heat. June 14: Fuel
Cell Today.
High school teachers from across the state gathered at the University
of Minnesota to learn new and better techniques for teaching engineering
to high school students as part of Project Lead the Way, an innovative
approach to bring engineering curriculum into the nation’s
high schools. June 19: University of Minnesota
Moment.
Physics: Electron rebellion
Assistant Professor Michael Zudov (physics) and
his colleagues looked for the effect of negative electrical resistance
using two beams of microwaves to vary the resistance felt by electrons
in a semiconductor. June 27: Nature.
The science of Superman
With this past summer's release of a new Superman movie, Professor James Kakalios (physics) shares highlights from his book The Physics of Superheroes.
June 20: MSNBC;
June 26: National
Geographic; June 27: Pioneer
Press; August 18: The
Oregonian.
Mimicking enzyme oxidation
Postdoctoral researcher Rubén Mas-Ballesté
and Professor Lawrence Que, Jr., (chemistry) note in a commentary that accompanies the report
that the ligand's simple design "allows us to envisage a new
horizon of modified ligands." July 5: Chemical
and Engineering News
U seeking place in the sun
Last summer, Borealis III and the University of Minnesota Solar
Vehicle Project team placed second at the North American Solar Challenge,
and this September they will be competing in the World Solar Rally in Taiwan. July 6: Star
Tribune; WCCO-TV (Minneapolis-St.Paul); July 7: ESPN2-ESPN National.
Chemical engineering and materials science alumni
The inventor of the Post-it Note and the "father of
modern chemical engineering" are just two of the many accomplished
U of M chemical engineering and materials science alumni. Distinguished McKnight University Professor Frank
Bates, the department's head, says the chemical engineering program
has a long-standing culture of excellence, underscored by its current
ranking as the top program of its kind in the nation. July 7: University
of Minnesota Moment.
U research yields treatment for vision loss
Professor Art Erdman (mechanical engineering), Professor Timothy Olsen (ophthalmology), and mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidate Paul Loftness came
up with a surgical procedure and an accompanying device to treat
macular degeneration. July 13: Star
Tribune; July 13: WCCO Radio (Minneapolis-St. Paul); July
13: Pioneer
Press.
Black female engineer a rare asset for U of M
Associate Professor Rhonda Drayton (electrical and computer
engineering) became the first and only African-American tenured professor
in her department.
July 21: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
U data-storage prototype could reshape high tech
Several corporations will begin testing a University of Minnesota
prototype of information software that they hope will turn the area
into a hub for the next big thing in data storage. July 23: Pioneer
Press.
U student wins Astronaut Foundation Scholarship
University of Minnesota student Alex Kossett was one of 18 students to receive
a $10,000 scholarship for his creation of a robot.
July 24: WCCO-TV (Minneapolis-St.Paul).
High school women explore technology and engineering
The University gave more than three dozen high school women a
sneak peek into the high-tech world of science and engineering by allowing
the girls to build their own radio-controlled airplanes. July 27:
WCCO-TV (Minneapolis-St. Paul).
New planets on the horizon
Professor Terry Jones (astronomy) was interviewed
to discuss the astronomers' conference in Europe where a universally
accepted definition of what constitutes a planet will be decided.
Aug. 18: KTLK-FM.
Events
Minnesota State Fair
Aug. 24–Sept. 4: Minnesota’s annual
get-together offers many science-related events,
demonstrations, and exhibits. The Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment
(IREE) is one of the participants in “Minnesota
Biofuels,” an interactive display highlighting environmentally
friendly, sustainable products and services. Discounted admission
tickets to the fair are available on campus. For more details, visit
Maroon
and Gold at the State Fair.
New Student Convocation
Sept. 5: Join President Robert Bruininks, members
of the Board of Regents, faculty, staff, and current students in
welcoming our first-year students to campus. The New
Student Convocation will be held in Northrop Auditorium, followed
by a celebration of pride and spirit in Coffman Memorial Union.
This lively event will include a welcome, free dinner, music, and
an introduction to University history and tradition. 4:30–7:30
p.m., Northrop
Auditorium and Coffman
Memorial Union.
Public Forums: A Blueprint for Creating the Institute on the Environment
Sept. 6–8: The University's strategic positioning plan includes the creation of a University-wide, interdisciplinary Institute on the Environment. A series of public forums offers the opportunity to learn about and discuss a blueprint for establishing the institute, which would foster interdisciplinary work on environmental issues and assist the public in accessing the University's considerable expertise on the environment. Free. The forums are also available online via Breeze. Sept. 6, 1:00–2:30 p.m., Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics; Sept. 7, 10:00–11:30 a.m., 402 Walter Library; Sept. 8, 130 School of Medicine, Duluth campus.
Bioenergy and Biofuels Research at the University of Minnesota
Ethanol and Biodiesel Expo: Takin’ It to the Streets
Sept. 7: The public is invited to learn about
and discuss biofuels at the Ethanol
and Biodiesel Expo, which features exhibits, vehicles, a legislative
panel, information sessions, and bus tour to Northstar Ethanol Plant.
For more information call 507-345-4626 or e-mail snessler@snellmotors.com.
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Snell Motors, 1900 Madison Avenue,
Mankato.
DTC Seminar: Challenges, Opportunities, and Implications for the Future Internet
Sept. 8: Kevin Almeroth, professor of computer science, University of California at Santa Barbara, will discuss the impact of wireless communications on the evolution of the Internet as well as new applications and modes of interaction. For more information call 612-624-9510 or e-mail info@dtc.umn.edu. Free. 11:00 a.m., 402 Walter Library.
Distinguished Women Scientists and Engineers Speakers Program: Dusa McDuff
Sept. 14: Dusa McDuff, Distinguish Professor of Mathematics, State University of New York at Stonybrook, is the featured speaker at a math department colloquium entitled "What Is symplectic geometry?" McDuff, an expert in the field of sympletic geometry, will also be a presenter at the Yamabe Memorial Symposium (Sept. 15–17). For more information e-mail taipale@math.umn.edu. Free. 3:35 p.m., 16 Vincent Hall.
Third Yamabe Memorial Symposium
Sept. 15–17: Held every two years, the Yamabe Memorial Symposium features talks by distinguished speakers on various aspects of mathematics related to geometry. Theme of the third Yamabe Symposium is "Geometry and Symplectic Topology." The schedule includes talks, and social events. Free and open to the public. For more information call 612-625-5591 or e-mail yamabe@math.umn.edu. 16 Vincent Hall.
American Association for Aerosol Research: 7th International Aerosol
Conference (IAC)
Sept. 10–15: The IAC brings together much
of the worldwide aerosol research community to share the results
of recent research. The conference
agenda includes plenary lectures, tutorials, exhibits, tours,
and special events. Pre-conference events, including a special symposium
on the history of aerosol research, begins Sept. 8. Fee (student
discount available). Register online, by fax, or by mail. For more
information call 856-439-0525 or e-mail info@aaar.org. Sponsored
by the American Association for Aerosol Research. Crowne
Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel, St. Paul.
University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center
Open House
Sept. 14: The center’s fifth annual open
house, “Agriculture for the 21st Century,” features
displays and information, family entertainment, farm equipment,
birds from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, door prizes,
and food. For more information call 507-837-5612 or 507-536-6310.
4:00–8:00 p.m., U
of M Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca.
University of Minnesota Alumni Association Volunteer Awards and
Recognition
Sept. 15: The University of Minnesota Alumni Association
(UMAA) will honor outstanding volunteer contributions to the association
and the University. Register
online or contact Jocelyn Brekken at 612-625-9174 or brek0045@umn.edu.
6:30–8:30 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman
Memorial Union.
Cray Lecture Series: Tilak Agerwala
Sept. 25: Dr. Tilak Agerwala, vice president, systems, IBM Research, will deliver a lecture entitled "Future Systems: Challenges and Opportunities." Free. 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Room 3-180, EE/CSci.
Scholars Walk Dedication
Sept. 29: Join in celebrating the completion
of the Scholars Walk, a wide pathway lined with 40 trees
and lighted glass-and-limestone monuments, which honors the research and academic accomplishments of the
University’s award-winning faculty and students. The dedication also includes the unveiling of the Wall
of Discovery, a series of laser-etched glass panels on the north
side of the EE/CSci Building, along a segment of the Scholars Walk.
Free. Noon to 2:00 p.m., Scholars Walk, between McNamara
Alumni Center and Church Street.
Cray Lecture Series: Larry Peterson
Oct 2: Larry Peterson, professor of computer science, Princeton University, and director of the PlanetLab Consortium, will deliver a lecture entitled "PlanetLab: Evolution vs. Intelligent Design in Planetary-scale Infrastructure." Free. 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Room 3-125, EE/CSci.
Irving and Edythe Misel Family Lecture Series: Frank Wilczek
Oct 9: Margaret Wright, professor of computer science and department chair, New York University, will deliver a lecture entitled "Solving Nasty Optimization Problems in Science and Engineering. " Free. 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Room 3-180, EE/CSci.
Looking ahead
A Tribute to Wayland Noland
Oct. 14: Join the chemistry department in celebrating Professor Noland's 80th birthday and honoring his service to his students, the department, and the University. The schedule includes a continental breakfast, scientific program, and birthday cake in the morning, and an afternoon boat cruise/buffet lunch on the Mississippi River. Cost for cruise/lunch is $10. Register online by Sept. 25 to attend either or both programs, or contact Nancy Hagberg at 612-625-2503 or hagberg@chem.umn.edu.
ECE Open House
Oct. 20: The Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering is hosting “Experience
ECE: Building Partnerships in Research and Education,”
an open house for faculty, alumni, students, company representatives, researchers,
and others. The schedule includes department exhibits and laboratory
tours, presentations by company representatives, a keynote address,
and panel discussions. Register
online or call 612-625-2855. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.,
EE/CSci
Building, McNamara
Alumni Center.
Moving Toward Sustainable Energy Systems: Exploring Global Pathways
Oct. 24–25: This workshop
will compare the constraints on and opportunities for sustainable
energy systems around the globe and in particular, in the Upper
Midwest and India. Seating is limited, so early registration
is encouraged. For more information call 612-626-1593 or e-mail
albot002@umn.edu. Co-hosted
by the Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Initiative
for Renewable Energy and the Environment, and the Energy and Resources
Institute, New Delhi, India. 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.,
Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey
Center for Public Affairs.
