Need Help with Your Dissertation

Purdue University Graduate School Newsletter Spring 2002, Vol. 3, No. 1 A research support group for doctoral students who are in the Mara Wasburn process of writing a dissertation meets at noon every other Tuesday in the Purdue Memorial Union for a brown bag lunch. It is facilitated by Professor Mara Wasburn, assistant professor of organizational leadership and supervision in the School of Technology. The group provides advice and moral support for students working on dissertations as part of their doctoral requirement. Guest speakers are also invited to address areas of interest the group would like to explore. Both the School of Education and the School of Technology endorse the Research Support Group. There is no formal agenda, however, members often present particular problems and then brainstorm solutions. Other types of issues the group addresses involve committee members Need Help with Your Dissertation? or University regulations. They frequently have guest speakers on topics of particular interest to the group. When past participants were asked to “describe the role that the Research Support Group played in the pursuit of a Ph.D.,” one of the responses was, “It was a lifeline for me. I don’t know any other way to put it. I was ignoring my dissertation and finding reasons not to work on it, why I didn’t need a Ph.D. Now, I really believe I’m going to finish. I realize I need to for myself, even if I never use it.” Another participant had the following response to the same question, “[the Research Support Group] . . . increased clarity about process, support in terms of stages of dissertation, grounding, shared humor, networking, identification of ways to deal successfully with committees.” Professor Wasburn’s efforts have been recognized by Women in Higher Education. They featured a story on her Research Support Group in their January 2001 newsletter. The story focused on the group’s development and selected comments from a survey of participants. Bridge to the Professorate, IMSD Program at Purdue __________ 4 Incentives for Starting a New Business ___________________ 5 Graduate Student Association has Active Semester _______________________ 6 The Black Graduate Association: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow ____ 7 Professor Wasburn realized the personal value of the support and encouragement she received while working on her doctorate and wanted to repay her student colleagues. Consequently, she started the group in 1999 with a humble beginning of three people, but within six months, it had grown to 13 students. According to Professor Wasburn, “Helping doctoral students who are struggling to graduate is my passion. Absolutely everyone is welcome.” So what does the future hold? Professor Wasburn anticipates the group becoming large enough to split. As she puts it, “I’d like to find a graduate of the group to facilitate.” Furthermore, she hopes “it will be become a ‘strong recommendation’ of faculty who see its merits.” If you would like to participate in the group or would like more information, please contact Professor Wasburn at mwasburn@tech.purdue.edu.v Contents Need Help with Your Dissertation? __ Message from the Dean ___________ Excerpt from Purdue’s Strategic Plan _ Graduate School Banner Debuts ____ Directory of Services ______________ Thesis Format Approval Office Relocating ______________________ 1 2 2 3 3 3 Increased Travel Grant Opportunities 8 23 Travel Grants Awarded in Fall 2001 ____________________ 9 Sabbatical at the National Cancer Institute _______________________ 10 Graduate Council _______________ 11 Spotlight on Staff _______________ 11 International Update ____________ 12 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter Message from the Dean The terrorist attacks on September 11 changed us forever. Our perspective and our priorities shifted. We remember where we were and what we were doing when Dean Gary E.Isom we first heard the news. I was in Washington, D.C. for a monthly meeting of the Association of American Universities. I was staying at a hotel just two blocks from the Pentagon at the time it was hit by the commercial aircraft. When I returned home, I found that the Campus community had rallied together to try to understand the events that had taken place and to show their support for the country. Since that time, the role and value of our international students has become even more apparent to the University community. Purdue University is an international university—educating students from over 132 countries with a total international enrollment of nearly 4,700 students. We are privileged to host one of the largest international student populations in the United States. Our diverse population of students, faculty and staff strengthens our institution and promotes the exchange of ideas. International students at Purdue are among the world’s best and brightest students and many return to their homes as ambassadors for freedom and democracy. As a result of the tragedies of September 11, President Bush issued a directive to improve immigration policies and practices and make it more difficult for terrorists to enter or remain in the United States. This includes a review and implementation of student visa policies to monitor new student’s status. We recognize that the international exchange of students and scholars enhances global understanding and is in America’s long-term strategic and economic interest. While we support the President’s call for a top-to-bottom review of visa policies in general and in enhancing international student visa policies, we will continue to work with our elected officials to emphasize the important role that international students play in the University’s scholarly activities. The Office of the Vice President for Research recently created a brochure depicting some of Purdue’s research activities related to terrorism and homeland security, as well as our effort in rebuilding higher education in Afghanistan. To view an online version of the brochure, visit: http:/www.purdue.edu/ Research/VPROffice/publications.htm. Also, this past fall, the University completed a strategic plan entitled, The Next Level: Preeminence. Within the plan, the University recognizes the role of graduate education as the foundation of research and discovery. The plan calls for superior graduate programs, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research and graduate education. One goal is for Purdue University to be a world leader in science and engineering, and other technology intensive areas. This will be accomplished by investing in key initiative areas of research. Purdue’s graduate education program will be elevated to preeminence. To achieve this goal, we will set high expectations of our graduate students and our graduate school programs to provide the opportunities for achieving excellence in education. Quality graduate education is essential for a preeminent world-class university and graduate education is a major driver of research. Graduate student colleagues are collaborators in our research projects and have made significant contributions to the knowledge base in their disciplines. The Graduate School is also developing a five-year strategic plan with a focus on quality graduate education and the role of the Graduate School in obtaining additional resources for the University to achieve preeminence in graduate education. During the coming months, we will keep you informed on the progress of the Graduate School strategic plan, and hope you will help us achieve our goal. We will publish the Graduate School strategic plan on our web site this summer and invite your comments. http://www.purdue.edu/ GradSchool/gradhome.htm Excerpt from Purdue University’s Strategic Plan for 2001-2006 Characteristics GOAL 1—DISCOVERY: Achieve and sustain preeminence in discovery • A faculty and staff of the highest academic and professional stature and achievement • Significance and impact of research and scholarship in all disciplines, heightened awareness of issues of citizenship and acculturation, and enhanced historic, literary, social, economic, and global perspectives • A stimulating and supportive stateof-the-art infrastructure that includes informational, technical, facility and human resources • Model interdisciplinary and collaborative endeavors grounded in the strengths of academic disciplines • Superior graduate programs and active involvement of undergraduate students in research • A diverse yet cohesive academic environment where faculty, students and professional staff engage in a rich mix of human and intellectual activities • Discovery in the forms of research, scholarship, and creative endeavor of the finest quality and greatest scope and depth—with excellence in all disciplines constituting an outstanding comprehensive university • An agenda for discovery that is aligned with state, national, and global needs and interests • World leadership in the basic and applied sciences, engineering, and other technological endeavors A complete copy of the University Strategic Plan can be viewed on the web: http://www.purdue.edu/oop/strategic_plan/. 2 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter Directory of Services Vice President and Dean Gary E. Isom, Ph.D. Associate Deans Phillip E. Pope, Ph.D. Jon A. Story, Ph.D. Assistant Dean Thomas W. Atkinson, Ph.D. Coordinators, Administrators, and Directors Marcia Fritzlen, Admissions Coordinator Marilyn Geist, Graduate Council Dwight E. Lewis, Director of Minority Programs Cyndi Lynch, Fellowship Officer Pat Springer, Records Coordinator Computer Staff Nathan Bohlmann Coleen Karle Receptionist Debbie Fellure How to Contact Us Graduate School Purdue University 170 Young Graduate House West Lafayette, IN 47906-6208 Phone: (765) 494-2600 Fax: (765) 494-0136 Email: gradinfo@purdue.edu The Graduate is published fall and spring by the Purdue University Graduate School. We welcome your suggestions and comments. Please send any correspondence to: hanks@purdue.edu. Thomas W. Atkinson, executive editor Judith Hanks, assistant editor Pamela Burroff-Murr, editor, designer, and production manager Graduate School Banner Debuts at Winter Commencement by Phillip E. Pope The Graduate School banner made its debut at the winter commencement ceremonies in December 2001. The idea of a Graduate School banner was approved by Gary E. Isom, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School, in the summer of 1999. Staff from the Graduate School and the Office of Research Communications set about to capture an image that is reflective of graduate education at Purdue—vision, discovery, and knowledge. The University’s mace served as the inspiration for the logo that was finally selected by Dean Isom. The sweeping curves of the mace were used to create the three contemporary shields representing the charges for graduate education— vision, discovery, and knowledge. These interlocking shields form the outline of a central shield which represents the University with its mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. Following the selection of the Graduate School logo, the design of the banner, which included the logo, was approved by the Commencement Committee and with its favorable recommendation was approved by President Steven Beering. Thomas W. Atkinson, assistant dean of the Graduate School, was the banner bearer for both graduation exercises at the winter commencement. The Graduate School, which comprises graduate stu- Pictured left to right are Associate Dean, Phillip E. Pope, and Assistant Dean, Thomas W. Atkinson with the new Graduate School banner. Thesis Format Approval Office Relocating dents from all academic departments in the Purdue University system, leads the procession of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy candidates at each commencement. The banner clearly identifies those students who are about to receive graduate degrees and is an appropriate addition to the other school banners displayed on the commencement platform.v Phillip E. Pope is an associate dean in the Graduate School and professor of forestry and natural resources. The Thesis and Dissertation Deposit and Approval Office, which checks for proper formatting and approves completed theses and dissertations, will become the responsibility of the Graduate School rather than the Libraries effective July 1. Over the summer months, it will relocate to Young Graduate House, room 177. The shift in responsibilities from the Libraries to the Graduate School is appropriate because the completed theses and dissertations are requirements of the Graduate School for advanced degrees. The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter 3 Ethnic Diversity Bridge to the Professorate, IMSD Program at Purdue by Dwight E. Lewis Last spring, the Office of Minority Programs in the Graduate School at Purdue was the recipient of a $2 million grant from Dwight E. Lewis the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Division of the National Institutes of Health. This was the second grant we received which brings our total amount of funds from Purdue’s Initiatives for Minority Student Development (IMSD) to nearly $4 million over the last five years. The Initiative for Minority Student Development (IMSD) encourages domestic private and public educational institutions with fully developed research programs to initiate and/or expand innovative programs to improve the academic and research capabilities of under-represented students, and to facilitate their progress toward careers in biomedical research. The project’s goals are to: (1) increase the number of under-represented students entering careers in biomedical research, and (2) encourage the development and expansion of programs to improve the academic and research competitiveness of students at the undergraduate and graduate level. The core of our proposal is to train ten doctoral students per year in four areas: biochemistry, biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and chemistry. This program has had a major impact on Purdue University. The project was ranked first and third in the two funding cycles, and its components have been modeled by other programs around the country. Since the program started, we have increased minority Ph.D. enrollment by 90 percent in the biomedical sciences at Purdue. In 1995-96, there were 36 students in the four areas, and by the fall of 2001, the enrollment had increased to 69 students. Since May 1996, 42 students have graduated from these programs, and 11 students each in biology and chemistry have completed the Ph.D. degree, making Purdue a national leader in the production of minority Ph.D.s in the biomedical sciences. According to the American Chemical Society (ACS) Purdue is ranked second in the U.S. in the production of minority Ph.D. graduates in chemistry. We are building bridges to the professorate by working with former Purdue graduates on this project. Greta Bryson is an assistant professor of chemistry at Wheaton College, and adjunct assistant professor at Purdue. Carla Little is a science consultant for the Educational Services Division, Lake County Regional Office of Education, Illinois. Sheri Hamilton Anderson is an assistant professor in the School of Education at Indiana University, and Detris Honora is an assistant profes- sor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education at North Carolina State University. They all have worked on different aspects of the project, such as mentoring and evaluation, and have contributed to its success. One of our recent graduates, James Perez, designed and built a novel laser-desorption probe for low-energy neutral molecules. His discovery led to a new way to study involatile compounds by mass spectrometry, and may eventually challenge matrixassisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. While in Professor Hilkka Kenttämaa’s laboratory, Perez wrote a grant proposal based on his research—the first student in her group to ever accomplish that—and was funded soon after he graduated. His proposal, “Gas-Phase Reactions of Neutral Organic Molecules Desorbed by Laser-Induced Optoacoustic Waves” (a collaborative project with Lubrizol, part of the NSF GOAL1 Program, Government Opportunities for Academic Liaisons’ with Industry), was funded at the level of $310,500 for three years. Perez currently works for Pharmacia Corporation as a research scientist. Other students who were supported by the grant and have completed Ph.D. degrees are: Zenephia Evans, Carla Little, and Anissa Buckner in biological sciences; Jeffrey Merida in medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology; and Elsie Pares-Matos in chemistry.v Dwight E. Lewis is director of Minority Programs for the Graduate School. 4 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition INCENTIVES by Tim Newton for Starting a New Business Got an entrepreneurial itch? The Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition allows Purdue graduate and undergraduate students to submit business plans and create start-up companies, and there’s a major cash incentive involved. The competition completed its 15th year in 2002 with a record 147 contestants submitting 54 business plans. Teams were vying for $85,000 in prize money, up from $54,000 in 2001. In addition, the top three business plans receive reduced-price office space in the Purdue Technology Park, and access to consultants and other resources to get their fledgling enterprises off the ground. Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan sponsored this year’s competition, providing $10,000 in prize money and $10,000 in legal fees. “The Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition offers the serious startup the funding it takes to turn ideas into products or services,” says Shailendra Mehta, director of the Krannert School Entrepreneurship Initiative. “You might have the greatest gadget in the world, but if no one will buy it, you are out of luck.” Monocle Technologies, a team of Purdue chemistry students and two Krannert School MBA students, won the 2002 top prize of $30,000. The team (George Laurence, Larry Riggs, Mark Sepeta, and Dan Carney) developed a laser-based spectroscopy technology that will test every pill doctors prescribe to their patients. The team presented its plan to a group of nine venture capitalists during the competition finals in the Krannert Auditorium on February 28. In addition to the five finalists who presented full business plans, 10 other teams made “elevator pitches” of a minute apiece to the judges, followed by a minute of questions. The Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition is a yearlong process. Students sign up at a series of callouts, and for those without partners, an electronic matchmaking service encourages students from technical fields to pair up with business students. Each of the ensuing teams submits a five-page marketing plan. Internal judges narrow the field to 20-25 semifinalists, who then prepare 30-40 page business plans. A panel of external judges chooses the five finalists. The competition is named after Purdue alumnus and entrepreneur Burton D. Morgan, founder of six corporations and past president of Basic Service Co., an idea development company; the Krannert School of Management; the Purdue Schools of Engineering, and the Purdue School of Science. Students have found the competition to be a worthwhile venture. “The Burton Morgan competition gave me a hands-on experience and knowledge of indispensable topics such as marketing, businessplan presentation, and finance,” says Kintan Brahmblatt, a School of Science student and second-place finisher in the 2001 contest. “Workshops and one-onone meetings with the experts were more helpful than the prize money when we actually went out in the market.” Brahmblatt’s team developed software that provides online medical records and billing services to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The winning team in 2001, Griffin Analytical Technologies, has raised more than a million dollars in funding and is rapidly moving toward commercialization. The company produces a miniaturized mass spectrometer for chemical detection. The Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition is one of the components of the new Center for Entrepreneurship, which will be located at Purdue’s Discovery Park. In addition to the competition, the center will house a New Ventures Laboratory, the Engineering Projects in Community Science Program, and the Technology Transfer Initiative. Richard Cosier, Krannert School Dean and Leeds Professor of Management, is director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “With the Burton Morgan competition and other initiatives at the Center for Entrepreneurship, we are nurturing an entrepreneurial culture at Purdue, not only for our students but also for our professors,” Cosier says. All Purdue students can participate in the Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition. Non-students, such as students from other colleges, Purdue alumni, faculty, and local residents, also can be team members, but Purdue students must make the final presentations to the judges. For more information about the competition, visit http://www.mgmt. purdue.edu/events/entrepreneurship/ programs.htm#bdm. More information about the Center for Entrepreneurship is available at http://www.mgmt.purdue. edu/centers/ce/.v Tim Newton is director of External Relations and Communication for the School of Management and the Krannert Graduate School of Management The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter 5 Purdue Graduate Student Associations Graduate Student Association has Active Semester by Roland Thorpe The activities of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) for the fall semester were kicked off with orientation programs for incoming graduate students. Officers of GSA visited nearly 40 departments and made presentations in the departmental orientation programs for the purpose of both giving new students an overview of GSA and its activities, and distributing the TIPS for Graduate Student Living booklet compiled by GSA. GSA received an overwhelming response to this new initiative and nearly 600 copies of the TIPS Manual were distributed. An electronic version of the TIPS manual is available at http:// expert.cc.purdue.edu/~gsa/Tips2001.pdf. The fall GSA picnic was held on the 25th of August at Pickett Park and had an attendance of over 500 individuals including graduate students and their families. GSA has been working to get departmental representation by forming a Graduate Student Senate. The Senate will serve the purpose of opening channels of communication across departments and between graduate students. GSA conducted three workshops in the fall 2001 semester. Last October, a workshop, “Learn to Write Research Proposals,” was conducted by Peter E. Dunn, professor of entomology. A joint workshop with the Black Graduate Associa- tion was conducted on “How to Write and Present a Resume” in November. Also in November, Brent Bowditch, assistant director of human resource services addressed graduate student health insurance issues by discussing the different plans and providers with graduate students. And finally, Cyndi Lynch joined the E-board to discuss how graduate students could use the internet for submitting fellowship applications. GSA has been actively filling up graduate student openings on the Purdue University Senate Committees. GSA currently has openings on the Convocations Committee, Commencement Committee and Purdue Student Government Senate. Students interested in the above committees are requested to send an e-mail to gsa@expert.cc.purdue.edu. GSA has been proactive in identifying issues that concern graduate students. Mentoring of graduate students and graduate student teaching assistant concerns are representative of issues that we plan to address in the future. We encourage graduate students to raise issues pertaining to the betterment of the graduate student community on campus and to involve themselves in the activities of GSA. Further information on GSA activities is available on our webpage at http://www. purdue.edu/ gsa.v Graduate students filled PMU’s bowling alley for an evening of recreation, pizza, and fellowship on January 25. Contact Roland Thorpe for more information on the Graduate Student Association, rthorpe@purdue.edu. Roland Thorpe, a doctoral candidate in veterinary pathobiology, is GSA president. 6 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter The Black Graduate Association: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Naressa Cofield Members of the Black Graduate Association gathered for “Soul Food Sunday” on November 11. The Black Graduate Association is a constituent of the National Black Graduate Student Association (NBGSA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the status of African Americans in higher education. The NBGSA focuses on identifying and addressing needs and concerns of African American students participating in graduate programs at non-historically black institutions. Purdue’s BGA was resurrected in 1999 with a commitment to facilitate programs that will strengthen the community of African American students in various disciplines. It upholds its mission, which is “to encourage scholarly and professional attitudes, promote participation in advanced studies, promote activity interchange, and provide an opportunity for networking amongst members.” When I arrived in the fall of 2000, I was very excited about coming to Purdue to further my education. I knew that the decision I had made would inevitably strengthen my knowledge and professional expertise. I was very eager to work with some of the nation’s most renowned researchers and contribute to the rapid and innovating changes in technology. I also knew that I was coming from an Historically Black Institution, in the South, and leaving home. Coming to West Lafayette would definitely be a change. However, I was not aware of the Black Graduate Association and its commitment to students like me. As a first year student, it was very fulfilling to me, personally, professionally, and culturally to interact with individuals at the various BGA activities. I was given the opportunity to meet African American faculty members and other students. These activities provided me the opportunity to participate in an information exchange that may have otherwise not been preNaressa Cofield is a doctoral student in civil engineering. sented to me. The events had a very positive impact on my first year’s transition and, thus, encouraged me to seek the position of president of the association. This year, as President of the BGA, has not only allowed me to implement programs that I feel are beneficial for graduate students, but has also allowed me to sharpen my networking and leadership skills. I have also been given the opportunity to work closely with other undergraduate and graduate organizations on campus. Some of this year’s activities have included: Navigating Graduate School Workshop, Resume/CV Workshop (joint program with GSA), African American Health Forum (March 5, 2002), and various social activities including Soul Food Sunday. “A Continuing Legacy of African Americans in Academic Excellence,” was the theme for an evening of elegance hosted by the Black Graduate Association on Saturday, April 13. Where do I see the Black Graduate Association tomorrow? The Black Graduate Association will have an enormous impact on recruitment and retention of minority students. Programs such as these, without a doubt, affect the decisions that students will make in their future. A strong BGA can be very instrumental in providing students with their individual needs that will greatly increase their likelihood of academic and career success. With continued support of the Black Graduate Association, I firmly believe that it will be paramount in making Purdue a “preeminent” university through assisting with recruitment of highly qualified minority students as well as maintaining a culturally and socially accepting environment for personal and educational growth. For more information, please contact us at purdue_bga@hotmail.com or cofield@purdue.edu.v The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter 7 Funding Opportunity Increased Travel Grant Opportunities by Shannon M. Knapp 2001-2002 Travel Grant Committee members Fall 2001 Reviewers Carrie Lapaire Juline Mills Wayne Hilson Ebru Oral Nicole Converse Srinivasaraghava Sriram Aarti Sriram Roland Thorpe Fall 2001 Organizational Committee Min He Mark Dewall Nicole Converse Tanuja Sheth Spring 2002 Reviewers Mark Dewall Peishan Liu Vishal Nashine Fareed Audi Amrita Rameshlal Wadha Jackie Lloyd Tanuja Sheth Carrie Lapaire Jeevan Jaisingh Nicole Converse Spring 2002 Organizational Committee Min He Jennifer Spoor Ting Yi Kristen Naschansky Girish Kamthe Twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) coordinates a competition for travel grants. All Purdue graduate students who are first author on a presentation are eligible. This semester we are increasing the amount of each award from $200 to $250. Although the amount of the award is small, it serves to defray some of the many costs of attending a presentation such as registration, travel, housing, and food. Since fall 2000, we have been able to award grants to 33-48 percent of applicants, a total of 180 grants over 3 semesters. This semester, for the first time we are also opening the competition to graduate students at Purdue’s regional campuses. Awards are granted primarily on meritbased rather than need-based criteria (there are few graduate students who are financially well-to-do!). Applications are judged on a set of established criteria: organization and clarity; merit, including the importance of the research to the applicant’s field and department and prior record of the applicant; professional development, including the importance of the conference to the applicant’s career and their potential for future research; and other special circumstances. A panel of graduate students, one from each of the ten academic schools, reads and scores all applications. Traditionally, funding for the Travel Grant Program came exclusively from the Graduate School and was fixed at $5,000 annually. However, our funding base has since expanded, by requesting funding from each of the academic schools and the generous offer of a dollar-for-dollar match of these funds from Dean Isom of the Graduate School, the 2000-2001 budget was $13,000 and the 2001-2002 budget is approximately $16,000! We look forward to increasing the amount of individual grants and increasing the participation among graduate students in the coming years. Are you a graduate student who wants to get involved? The travel grant committee is composed of a chair, the review committee, and the organizational committee. The chair essentially orchestrates the program and is elected annually in the spring along with the GSA officers. Reviewers are selected by the chair from a list of volunteers (usually first-come-first-recruited!) until all slots are filled. The organizational committee is open to any graduate student. If you are interested in either of these committees, be sure to contact the 20022003 Travel Grant chair. Applications and more information about the Travel Grant Program are available on the GSA web site http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~gsa. Shannon M. Knapp is the 2001-2002 chair of the GSA Travel Grant Committee, and a doctoral student specializing in forestry and natural resources. 8 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter 23 Travel Grants Awarded in Fall 2001 Travel Grant Recipients Loree Johnston, Botany and Plant Pathology Detecting weed infestations in soybeans using remote sensing technologies. Pablo Benavides, Entomology Classical biological control of the coffee berry borer in Columbia with African parasitoids. Emily Latch, Forestry and Natural Resources Genetic variability within and among translocated eastern wild turkey and domestic turkey populations. Robin Russell, Forestry and Natural Resources Incorporating uncertainty into a conservation ranking system for mammals. Alfred Dodini, Child Development and Family Studies An integrative approach to the treatment of dissociative identity disorder. Jodie Hertzog, Child Development and Family Studies Exploring aspects of young women’s sexuality: a pilot study. Rajeswari Natrajan, Child Development and Family Studies Barriers to accessing MFT in Asian Societies: ClientTherapist factors. Kenneth Hance, Foods and Nutrition Calcitriol-induced 24-hydroxylase and hCAT1 gene expression is dependent upon cross talk between genomic and membrane-initiated events in Caco-2 cells. Allison Machtan, Foods and Nutrition Stages of change among GED enrollees and high school seniors. Kerry Ann Hoffman, Curriculum and Instruction The factors that impact adolescents’ perpetuation in remedial reading programs. Ling Wang, Curriculum and Instruction 1. Using mnemonics to facilitate learning Chinese characters. 2. Building a community of inquiry to enhance teaching and learning. Kimberly Hayden, Chemical Engineering Effect of particle size on pickup velocity of cohesive particles. Heather Balog, Audiology and Speech Sciences Nonverbal indicators of communication intention in infants. Katerina Tsetsura, Communication How the study of the American corporate campaign phenomenon can help corporate PR in other countries to move toward more ethical practice. Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Communication Corporate legitimacy on the World Wide Web: a case study. Wind Goodfriend, Psychological Sciences 1. Tangible and intangible investments: a longitudinal study of their association with relationship longevity. 2. The good and bad of social change: ambivalence related to dynamic groups. Justin MacDonald, Psychological Sciences Intelligibility of speech in a 3D environment: implications for the design of auditory displays. James Chambers, Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology De novo design of a novel 5-HT2A receptor agonist based on homology model docking studies. Aroonrut Lucksiri, Pharmacy Practice 1. Solute removal characteristics of the CAHP-210 hemodialyzer: in vitro and in vivo comparison. 2. Levofloxacin pharmacokinetics in patients with endstage renal disease. Sunkyung Lee, Biological Sciences mRNA localization and protein synthesis in axons of chick sympathetic neurons. Brian Burke, Chemistry Executing chemical reactions on microchips. Mark Lesh, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Neotectonics of the Alaska Range Foreland Basin, Southcentral Alaska. Timothy Secott, Veterinary Pathobiology Fibronectin-attachment protein is necessary for efficient attachment and ingestion of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis by epithelial cells. The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter 9 Sabbatical Report Sabbatical at the National Cancer Institute by Jon A. Story With a touch of déjà vu for is to use the outcomes events which happened 30 from this workshop to deyears ago, we loaded our Uvelop an announcement soHaul and headed east last liciting proposals to further June. But this time it was investigate these relationfor a six-month sabbatical ships. leave at the National CanI also spent a great deal cer Institute (NCI) to work of time learning more about training grants and felwith the Nutritional Sciences lowships available through Research Group (NSRG) of NCI’s Cancer Training the Division of Cancer PreBranch as well as the datavention (DCP) of NCI lobases which contain data cated in Rockville, MD. The NSRG deals with ex- Associate Dean Jon Story shakes hands with President George W. on NIH supported nutrition research. We prepared sevtramural research, that is, Bush while his wife, Margie; daughter, Julie; and son, Will look on. eral short notes that were published in ASNS Nutrition Notes, they help manage a portfolio of grants and contracts for a newsletter published by the nutrition society. Our goal research conducted outside NIH. The NSRG is a small group, was to make researchers in the nutrition community aware headed by John Milner, that focuses on the development of the opportunities available and increase the number of of issues involving nutrition in cancer prevention, especially applications for support of training. In addition, in my role nutrient-gene interactions, http://www3.cancer.gov/prevenin the graduate school here at Purdue, I hope to find ways tion/nutrition/. Examples of these efforts include two reof increasing training support for our graduate students. cently published RFAs (Molecular Targets for Nutrients in The group has also been working to develop a mechaProstate Cancer Prevention and Cooperative Grants for Nunism for supplemental funding to collect tissues for tritional Modulation of Genetic Pathways Leading to Cancer, microarray analysis to begin to create a database of inforhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/index.html. mation on nutrient-gene interactions. This concept is curA majority of my time was spent planning and conducting a workshop titled “Diet-Induced Changes in the Corently moving through the system. We had a great time in the Washington area. We had lonic Environment and Colorectal Cancer Prevention.” The always loved visiting D.C. and had always thought of it as the environment in the colon is very complex with inputs from classic “great place to visit…” But, in fact, it’s also a great the small intestine and from the colonic mucosa that interplace to live! September 11 was a little more than we had act with a microflora that is modified by these inputs as bargained for in going to Washington. I left work that mornwell as other factors. Recent use of 16S rRNA as a genetic ing, when the government was virtually shut down after the marker to identify populations of bacteria has overcome plane hit the Pentagon. Cars were backed up, the Metro was this historic problem in understanding the relationship becrowded, and everyone seemed to be in a daze. The comtween bacterial populations and colorectal cancer risk. Howbination of continual news about the attacks and fighter jets ever identifying the bacteria in the colon is only a small part flying over our apartment made life very stressful those next of understanding interactions between the colonic contents and the mucosa. Metabolites of the actions of the bacteria few days. However, looking back, the memories of spendon diet components that enter the colon would seem likely ing July 4th on the Mall (in a rain storm), the museums, Mt. candidates for regulating molecular events that would modify Vernon at Christmas (again in the rain), the National Christrisk for tumor development. For example, butyrate, a short mas tree, and many other memories overshadow that stress. chain fatty acid produced in the colon from some dietary The Washington area is an exciting place to be and my expefiber sources, is known to regulate a number of genes inrience at NIH was valuable and educational.v volved in controlling cell proliferation/apoptosis. Our goal Jon A. Story is professor of nutritional physiology and associate dean of the Graduate School 10 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter Graduate Council by Marilyn D. Geist Spotlight on Staff New Staff Join the Graduate School by Judith R. Hanks Two graduate-level, academic credit certificate programs were approved by the Graduate Council in the fall of 2001. Both of these programs, one in digital signal processing, and the second in computer-aided mechanical engineering, will be offered at the Indianapolis Campus. A list of approved graduate certificate programs and guidelines for submitting proposals for new programs can be found on the Graduate School’s web site at http://www.purdue.edu/GradSchool/Programs/ certificateprograms. Presentations to the Graduate Council during the fall semester included: “The Changing Face of Graduate Education,” by Provost Sally Frost Mason; “Taking the Purdue Graduate Experience to the Next Level,” by Charles J. Stewart, chair of the Committee for the Education of Teaching Assistants, and Marne G. Helgesen, director of the Center for Instructional Excellence, followed by a review of “The GRAD 590 Experience: An Intercampus Partnership” by Daniel M. Dunn, executive dean at the Calumet Campus. In addition, Council members from each of the four non-West Lafayette campuses discussed “Current Graduate Programs and Strategic Plans for Graduate Education at the Non-West Lafayette Campuses.” The feature of the January meeting of the Graduate Council was a presentation on “Electronic Submission of Theses,” by John L. Eaton, former senior associate dean of the Graduate School at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Eaton discussed the concept and successful implementation of submitting digital theses and dissertations at Virginia Tech and described the assistance that is available to institutions that want to move toward digital theses and dissertations. Since this topic has been discussed by the Graduate Council as a potential option for theses and dissertations at Purdue, Eaton’s visit provided an opportunity to hear first hand the benefits and limitations of establishing electronic capabilities for graduate students at Purdue.v Since the September issue, the Graduate School has added several new faces. Amber Sletten is a clerk with the admissions team. She inputs new records and uploads applications from the “Apply Yourself” system. Sletten joined the staff on December 3, 2001. Other new faces are Elisheba Van Winkle and Cindy Taylor who work on the records team. After a student is admitted to the Graduate School, the records team processes the paperwork until graduation, which includes both paper and electronic copies of plans of study, exam requests, candidate certifications, and updating the student information system. Van Winkle joined the staff on January 3, 2002, and Taylor joined on October 31, 2001. Finally, Judy Hanks accepted the position of office manager on January 14, 2002. She is a Purdue University alumna and has served in several departments on campus. Hanks is responsible for special projects and, among her duties, serves as assistant editor of The Graduate. Pictured from left to right are Elisheba VanWinkel, Amber Sletten, Cindy Taylor, and Judy Hanks. Marilyn Geist is administrative assistant for the Graduate School and secretary for the Graduate Council. The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter 11 The Graduate 160 Young Graduate House Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47906 For Campus Delivery Only International Update by Michael Brzezinski INS Regulations Changing As many of you know, since September 11 the U.S. government has expedited the development of the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), formerly known as CIPRIS. Once this system is implemented, all U.S. universities will be required to report data on enrolled international students to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Documents such as the INS Form I-20 for F-1 students and the Department of State (DOS) Form IAP66 for J-1 students, faculty and staff, will be produced by this system as well. Purdue’s Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) is diligently keeping abreast of SEVIS developments and earnestly preparing for its implementation. To the best of our knowledge the system will “go live” sometime later this year or early next. The International Students and Scholars (ISS) office will keep you posted on the developments.v Cultural Events This academic year I am pleased to report that ISS developed and offered more student programming options, including cultural trips and an increased number of speaking opportunities in local public schools. For example, Dilbar Khasanova talked to students at Burnett Creek Elementary School about her native country, Uzbekstan, attired in her traditional clothing. I trust you have enjoyed these co-curricular learning opportunities if you have been able to participate. If you have not yet been able to take advantage of them, I hope that you will be able to do so in the future. Have a great finish to this semester.v Michael Brzezinski is director of the Office of International Students and Scholars Let Us Hear from You! We’re proud of Purdue graduate students and their accomplishments and want to share their success stories in this newsletter. Please inform us of graduate student workshops or activities, recent awards or any special recognitions, promotions, and/or professional achievements. Feel free to nominate a colleague or student who is outstanding in leadership, teaching, or research to be featured in The Graduate. E-mail: hanks@purdue.edu Send correspondence to: Judith R. Hanks Purdue University 160 Young Graduate House West Lafayette, IN 47906 Purdue is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. 12 The Graduate Spring 2002 v Purdue University’s Graduate School Newsletter