COSAM News:

COSAM celebrates 25 years
In celebration of 25 years, COSAM will host an event on Friday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. COSAM faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited to stop by the COSAM Quad and enjoy a piece of birthday cake. This is the first of several commemorative events COSAM will sponsor in 2011-2012 to celebrate 25 years.
The idea of creating a college dedicated to the sciences and mathematics emerged in the 1980s when the Auburn University president at the time, James Martin, declared in AU Report that it was time to “make Auburn University a major national research university…beyond the agricultural production areas that had once been the university’s mainstay.” One way to achieve this goal was to concentrate on the need to bring the physical, biological and mathematical sciences together into one new college, putting sciences and mathematics at the forefront and becoming the foundation for instructional, research and outreach success. It was believed that the organization of these disciplines would follow the growing trend toward interaction between the various branches of sciences and mathematics, and would be a positive move, not only for these disciplines, but for the university as a whole. 
On March 6, 1985, the Board of Trustees approved reorganization, authorizing a new college. It included the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Geology and Mathematics from the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Departments of Botany/Microbiology and Zoology/Wildlife Science from the School of Agriculture. With the decision, the College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, officially came into existence in 1986.
Today, COSAM is comprised of five departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Geology/Geography, Mathematics/Statistics and Physics, and is one of the largest colleges at Auburn. COSAM looks forward to continuing excellence in its students and faculty, as well as its programs, research and facilities as it strives to be the leading center for university science and mathematics teaching, research and outreach in the state of Alabama and beyond.

Glass shop manager ties the knot on Samford lawn
The COSAM glass shop manager, Matt Montgomery, married his bride Melissa on the Samford Hall lawn on Saturday, Aug. 27, making them the first couple to get married in the iconic Auburn setting. Melissa wore a white dress with navy blue shoes and carried an orange bouquet. The Auburn Fight Song was the recessional for the couple. To read the full story that appeared in the Opelika-Auburn News, click HERE. For more information on having a wedding on Samford lawn, click HERE.

Biological Sciences News:

Ph.D. candidate published in the journal Nature
Representing an international team of scientists, COSAM Department of Biological Sciences Ph.D. candidate Kevin M. Kocot from the Molette Biology Laboratory for Environmental and Climate Change Studies has published a study in the leading international scientific journal Nature. The study examines relationships among major groups of molluscs. Although Mollusca is the second most diverse group of animals and includes many economically, ecologically and biomedically important species, evolutionary relationships within the group have been enigmatic and debated for nearly 200 years. Using cutting-edge genomic techniques, the study provides strong evidence for a hitherto unsuspected relationship between gastropods (snails and slugs) and bivalves (clams, mussels and oysters) and identifies worm-like mollusks groups as being more derived than traditionally suspected. Because some mollusks have been used extensively as laboratory models for research in learning and memory, the study’s results have important implications for the field of neurobiology. Additionally, the findings help reshape our understanding of the fossil record and understanding of early animal evolution. The Molette Biology Laboratory for Environmental and Climate Change Studies is directed by Biological Sciences Professors Kenneth M. Halanych and Scott R. Santos. To read the full article, click HERE.

Professor receives USDA grant
When it comes to globe fruits such as tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons, Salmonella contamination can occur from a variety of sources like run-off from heavy rains, compost piles, contaminated pond water or even applications such as organic fertilizers. In an effort to detect Salmonella contamination of fresh globe fruits, Biological Sciences Professor and Associate Director of the Auburn University Detection and Food Safety Center, or AUDFS, James Barbaree, is collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of scientists headed up by Bryan Chin, director of AUDFS and McWane Professor of Materials Engineering, to develop, demonstrate and field test an inexpensive, accurate, easy-to-use biosensor. The biosensor, which is smaller than a dust particle and cost less than 1/1000 of a cent per sensor, will be placed directly on the surface of the globe fruit and spatially and temporally monitor for Salmonella contamination. Critical hazard sources can then be identified and best farming, harvesting and transportation practices can be developed to improve the food safety of fresh fruit and vegetable crops. This research is funded by a four-year, USDA grant in the amount of $1,656,405. The title of the grant is "Magnetoelastic Biosensors for Detection of Pathogens in Globe Fruits." For more information on Barbaree, click HERE.

Professor secures grant to study tarantulas
Biological Sciences Professor and Director of the Auburn University Natural History Museum, Jason Bond, had a National Science Foundation award transferred to Auburn when he accepted a position with the university in August. The award allows Bond to research and classify one of the world’s most diverse lineage groups of spiders, Theraphosidae, commonly referred to as “tarantulas.” Despite their notoriety and life span of more than 30 years, tarantulas are relatively understudied with close to 937 species in the family Theraphosidae. The grant is titled “REVSYS: Systematics and taxonomy of the tarantula spider genus Aphonopelma (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae).” For more information on Bond, click HERE.

Student organization to offer hands-on learning
The Society for Conservation Biology, or SCB, a student organization in Biological Sciences, had record attendance at the first meeting of the 2011-2012 school year. Ninety students attended the meeting that was held on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
The second meeting of the year was held on Sept. 20 and featured guest speaker, Biological Sciences Professor Geoff Hill (pictured). Hill recounted his work in New Zealand during the spring of 2011 as he assisted in the conservation of songbirds. SCB will offer a follow-up field trip to Hill’s talk on Saturday, Oct. 1, as participants will use mist nets to capture local wild birds. Hill and his lab will direct this bird ecology research workshop. For more information on SCB, visit the following link: www.auburn.edu/scb. 

Microbiology Club News
The Auburn University Microbiology Club is a student organization in COSAM. The club recently hosted the fourth annual Career Forum.  A panel of experts discussed different options for careers, especially with a degree in Microbiology. Participants learned job-seeking methods, explored career options and salaries in the field of microbiology, and learned about jobs that require advanced degrees. Students were also instructed on how to best prepare for a future in graduate school or the job market.
Future Microbiology Club events include a trivia contest from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10, and Monday, Oct. 17.
The Microbiology Club also recently awarded about $3,000 for the purchase of a microscope and laptop for use in COSAM educational outreach activities.
For more information on the Microbiology Club, visit this link: http://gump.auburn.edu/AUMicroClub/ 

Chemistry News:

Professor receives Defense Threat Reduction Agency grant
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has awarded a three-year grant to Associate Professor Anne Gorden for her proposal titled “Molecular Recognition and Selective Sequestration for Detection of Uranium, Neptunium or Plutonium.” For more information on Gorden, click HERE.

Geology & Geography News: 

Professor featured in the Auburn Plainsman
Geography Professor James Norwood is a military veteran who was recently featured in the Auburn Plainsman for his caring approach to teaching.
“The students have always expressed positive opinions of him,” said Sonny Dawsey, professor emeritus of geography. “He’s a good teacher and spends a lot of time with them. He has life history experiences that relate to the subject matter, a very positive teacher.”
To read the full story, click HERE.

Geology professor receives grant to study volcano and is named a fellow to GSA
Huge explosive volcanic eruptions represent rare but potentially calamitous hazards to mankind, yet our understanding of such phenomena is relatively incomplete. Some of the youngest large-scale eruptions occurred at the Changbaishan volcano (also named Baitoushan, Tianchi volcano) that straddles the border of China and North Korea. Assistant Professor of Geology, Haibo Zou, received a two-year National Science Foundation grant in the amount of $88,768 to study Changbaishan. His grant, titled “Histories of Large Silicic Magma Evolution at Changbaishan Volcano: Insights From Accessory Minerals,” will allow Zou to explore the generation and evolution of large volume silicic magmatism at Changbaishan.
Zou was also elected a fellow of Geological Society of America, or GSA, an honor reserved for less than three percent of the national society’s members. GSA members are nominated by existing GSA fellows in recognition of their distinguished contributions to the geosciences. Established in 1888, GSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences with more than 24,000 members worldwide. Sixty-three new fellows were elected in 2011. Zou will be recognized as a GSA fellow at the national meeting of the association in Minneapolis, Minn., in Oct. 2011. For more information on Zou, visit this link: http://www.auburn.edu/~hzz0006/

King to direct study abroad opportunity
For the first time, students planning to take Concepts of Science have an opportunity to combine the class with a study-abroad experience. Students interested in taking the class in the summer of 2012 will have an option to take classes in Auburn from June 25 through July 3 in preparation for studying in Italy for the remainder of the course, July 7 through 21. The Italian portion of the class will be held at the Coldigioco Geological Observatory, or CGO, which is an independent center for research and education in science, art and cuisine. Located in the tiny hilltop village of Coldigioco in the Apennine Mountains of central Italy, CGO consists of sleeping, eating and living facilities, science labs, art studios, kitchens, and a small fleet of vehicles. The application deadline is Mar. 30, 2012. For more information, contact Program Director David King at kingdat@auburn.edu or click HERE.

Mathematics News:

In Memoriam
Robert Kent Butz, age 87, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011 at his home in Auburn, Ala. Butz is survived by: his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth Hodges Butz; his brother, Homer Butz, of Longmont, Colo.; his six children, Floyd (Sandy) Williams of Gulf Shores, Ala., Bob Butz, Kwajalein Atoll, Martha (Bob) Dumas, and Don (Beth) Butz, all of Auburn, Ala., Mary Wilson of Williston, Fla., and Margaret (Jim) Kuhn of Columbus, Ohio; and 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Butz, a native of LaJunta, Colo., earned his bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Colorado State University. He subsequently earned his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Butz taught at the University of Georgia and Colorado State University and in 1958, joined the faculty at Auburn University where he taught mathematics courses until his retirement in 1988.

Physics News:

Student-built satellite featured on APT
On Oct. 25, the phrase “War Eagle” will be heard from space. Auburn’s famous battle cry will be sent to earth via a student-built satellite called “AubieSat-1.” The construction of the satellite was part of the Auburn University Student Space Program, and AubieSat-1 is the first student-built satellite in the state to be accepted by NASA for launch. The satellite will launch aboard a NASA-sponsored Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Once in space, the satellite will communicate with Auburn students in Morse Code, and the phrase “War Eagle” is the signal that the launch was successful and the satellite is in orbit and operating correctly. Alabama Public Television, or APT, recently featured the AubieSat-1 project. To read the APT story, click HERE.

Physics professor given the John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research
Last year, an international team of scientists, including Auburn University Physics Professor Francis Robicheaux, made a scientific breakthrough by trapping and holding the anti-matter version of the hydrogen atom. The international team, known as ALPHA, was recently awarded the John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research for the introduction and use of innovative plasma techniques which produced the first demonstration of trapping antihydrogren. This annual award will be presented at an award ceremony at the Division of Plasma Physics Annual Meeting Banquet.  To learn more about the ALPHA collaboration, visit this link: http://alpha.web.cern.ch/alpha/.

COSAM to host international physics workshop
From Oct. 6 through 8, COSAM will host the 2011 Atomic Data and Analysis Structure, or ADAS, workshop. This year marks the first time the ADAS workshop has been held outside of Europe. The primary focus of the workshop will be on using a process called nuclear fusion to make electricity. This process has no greenhouse gases, and does not carry with it the problems that exist for nuclear fission power when storing nuclear waste. There are several large experiments currently underway worldwide, and some of the presenters at the conference will discuss these experiments. The workshop will also discuss some recent astrophysics research. Presenters will represent a wide range of countries including United Kingdom, Romania, France, Russia, Italy and the U.S. The conference is open to the public. For more information, visit the following link: http://www.adas.ac.uk/workshop2011.php

Alumni Highlights:

COSAM Alumna named president of AAFP
The Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, named Dr. Tonya Elrod Bradley ’93 its 2011-2012 president. Dr. Bradley graduated Cum Laude with a degree in biomedical science from COSAM. She is the 63rd president of the AAFP. Her term began in June 2011. She has been an active member of the Alabama Academy since 1999 and has served on numerous committees and board offices including: president elect 2010, at large representative to Board of Directors 2008 – 2010, and congressional district representative to the Board of Directors 2005-2008.
Dr. Bradley has held national positions with the American Academy of Family Physicians including: Committee on Membership and Member Services 2011, National Conference of Special Constituencies, Co-Convener – Women 2010, Delegate to Congress of Delegates 2010 and Alternate Delegate to Congress of Delegates 2009.
Dr. Bradley is a 1999 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine. She concluded her residency training at the Montgomery Family Residency Program in Montgomery, Ala., where Dr. Tom Kincer is the program director. When asked about her presidency, he replied, “Dr. Bradley is a highly motivated intelligent physician. She could be described as a trailblazer with the ability to take risks while knowing her limits. I look forward to her leadership.” During her residency training she received the 2002 Montgomery County Medical Society Resident of the Year award.
Dr. Bradley began her private practice at Tallassee Family Care in Tallassee, Ala. In 2008, she moved her practice to Auburn, Ala. In September of 2011, Dr. Bradley joined Drs. Scott Greer and Bret Cuthbertson at Auburn Pediatric and Adult Medicine.
When asked what this new role in her medical career means to her, she replied, “I am very honored to have been chosen as president of our academy. I look forward to working closely with my fellow family physicians as we continue to face a changing health-care environment. I will work hard to represent our specialty on a state and national level. I will also continue to be an advocate for our patients. I am looking forward to a wonderful year.”
Dr. Bradley and her husband, Royce, currently reside with their two children, Chase and Cort, in Auburn, Ala.
The 1,300-member Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., represents the interests of the state’s family physicians and their patients. It is the state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, which is headquartered in Leawood, Kan. Photo and story courtesy of Tallassee Times. 

Birth announcement
Russell E. "Russ" Allman, Jr., M.D., graduated from Auburn in 2003 with a degree in biomedical sciences and then attended UAB School of Medicine. He is currently a senior resident at Washington University in St. Louis and will complete his radiology fellowship there. He and his wife, Joanna, recently had a son, Russell E. Allman, III, born June 25, 2011 in St. Louis.

Granddaughter of alumna is making an impact
Olivia Bouler wept when she heard about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, a place where she spent many vacations with her cousins and grandparents who live in Louisiana and Alabama. Knowing birds were going to suffer during migration and nesting season, she decided to take action. Olivia gave bird drawings to those who donated to wildlife recovery efforts, thus raising $200,000 to date. Her story has appeared on the Today Show, CBS Evening News, Mobile Press Register, The Guardian (UK), BBC, AOL News, Newsday, USA Today and Larry King Live. Her children’s book, Olivia’s Birds, was released for the one-year anniversary of the oil spill.
Olivia has won several awards for her efforts including: Audubon Artist Inspiring Conservation, Disney Friend for a Change, Dale Earnhardt Legend of Leadership, and White House Champion of Change. Recently Olivia visited Costa Rica where she met with school children, shared her love of birds and gave out copies of her book. In 2012, she will have a traveling exhibition of her art work.
Olivia’s grandmother, Jane Lewis Bouler ’58, is a COSAM graduate with a degree in biological sciences. Recently, Olivia visited Auburn University where she helped Biological Sciences Professor Geoff Hill with bird banding (pictured). She also toured Hill’s lab, released a bird back into the wild and took two visits to the Southeastern Raptor Center.
Olivia has also been named the winner of the International Quality of Life Award. In 1994, the College of Human Sciences, or CHS, at Auburn University launched the International Quality of Life Awards in conjunction with the United Nations' International Year of the Family. Through these awards, CHS honors people and partnerships who have made significant and lasting contributions to individual, family and community well-being locally and around the world.
All laureates, regardless of background, demonstrate a strong commitment to empowerment through public policy and educational initiatives to enhance quality of life. They are powerful role models who exemplify the belief system of CHS. At the heart of their professional success lies a true concern for the human condition — an inspiration to all, but particularly to our young people throughout the world.
Olivia Bouler will be recognized with a special Youth in Action Humanitarian Award on Monday, Dec. 5, in New York City.

Contact us!
We want to hear from you! Please email news on promotions, research, graduations, honors and awards, new jobs, marriage, children, and anything else that's new in your life to ceh0012@auburn.edu. Please include a photo.

Arboretum News:

Go Native! Support the locals!
This fall, the Donald E. Davis Arboretum will host two native plant workshops:  “Introduction to Native Plants” on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and “Selecting Native Plants for Your Property” on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Both workshops will begin at 5 p.m. in 112 Rouse Life Sciences Building.
At the first workshop, “Introduction to Native Plants,” participants will discuss the advantages of incorporating natives into the landscape, what a native landscape looks like, and how to get started by analyzing your site and determining the number of plants you will need. Other topics include specific suggestions for native plants that grow well in the Auburn area and problems caused by non-native invasive plants. Instructors will provide detailed information on plants you may want to eliminate from your landscape.
At the second workshop, “Selecting Native Plants for Your Property,” participants will have design experts, along with plant experts, on hand to help finalize a landscape plan and put together a desired plant list.
Attendance at the workshops will help participants connect with native Alabama plants and assist in incorporating some of these plants into the landscape, even if it’s a small area. Additionally, participants will have an opportunity to order native plants through the upcoming Arboretum fall plant sale. There isn’t a better way to ensure receiving the right plant for the the right location in your landscape.
Cost for both workshops is $25, or $12.50 per workshop. Registrants will receive multiple handouts, a copy of Alabama Smart Yards, and A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, including registration information, call 334.844.5770 or send an email to drs0001@auburn.edu.

Fun with fall foliage at Arboretum Days
On Oct. 8, the Donald E. Davis Arboretum will host “Arboretum Days.” Arboretum Days is an approximately one-hour educational program designed for children age pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The program begins at 9 a.m. at the Donald E. Davis Arboretum and features a nature-themed learning activity. The October event will educate participants on leaves, such as leaf function and anatomy, and why they change color in the fall. A leaf-themed art project will also be part of the program as participants will create leaf castings. There is no fee for Arboretum Days but pre-registration is required. For more information on Arboretum Days or to register call 334-844-5770 or visit the website at the following link: www.auburn.edu/arboretum

Dee Smith recognized at Auburn vs. Florida Atlantic football game
The Donald E. Davis Arboretum curator, Dee Smith (pictured right, white shirt), was named the 2010-2011 Administrative Professional Employee of the Year at the Employee Recognition Program held on May 26, 2011. Smith was selected from a group of 12 administrative professionals, all of whom were Spirit of Excellence award winners in 2010-2011. Smith was recognized for the award on Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium during the pre-game festivities at the Auburn vs. Florida Atlantic football game on Sept. 24. COSAM congratulates Dee Smith! Photo courtesy of Todd Van Emst.

 Development News:

Marie W. Wooten Memorial Scholarship winners announced
The COSAM Office of Development awarded three students with the Marie W. Wooten Memorial Scholarship for this academic year. Funded by alumni, friends and co-workers, additional funds were raised through a 5K run/walk held last April, which will become an annual event.
This year’s winners are: Alayna Mead, Britney Oliver and Rebecca Wood.
Mead (pictured top left) is a freshman majoring in Zoology from Eaton Rapids, Mich. “Winning the Marie Wooten Scholarship means a lot because it's helping me get a degree in something I love, in a place I love, and is helping me work towards my future,” Mead said.
Oliver (pictured middle left) is a freshman in COSAM who has not yet declared a major. A native of Vestavia Hills, Ala., Oliver said, “It is such an honor to receive the Marie Wooten scholarship. She was such an inspirational woman and scientist here at Auburn, and I hope to achieve the same great success!"
Wood (pictured bottom left) is from Marietta, Ga., and is a freshman majoring in zoology. “Winning this scholarship was such a big surprise, and it is an amazing honor,” Wood said. “I can't express how much it means to me!”

Dean’s Scholarship Golf Classic a success
On Sept. 23, COSAM’s Office of Development hosted the 17th annual Dean’s Scholarship Golf Classic at Moores Mill Club. The annual golf tournament raises funds for scholarships for deserving COSAM students. More than 40 scholarships over the last 17 years have been provided, including five in 2011. Winners of this year’s scholarships are (pictured top, from left): Justin Smith, biomedical sciences; Katherine Bell, biomedical sciences; Haden Bunn, biochemistry; Leah Vining, mathematics; and Cory Luckie, biomedical sciences.
Twenty-nine teams registered for this year’s tournament. Winners were:
First Place Team, Low Net: (pictured bottom) Chris Stevens, Tony McLeod, Frank Burns, and Shane Ward
Second Place Team, Low Net: Steven Disch, Ben Freeman, Steve Brown and Terry Breitung
Third Place Team, Low Net: Dan Mazzaferro, Rob Roberts, Philip Hake and Vinny Guerrasio
First Place Team, Low Gross: Buddy Gardner, Taylor Blackwell, John Blackwell and Ben Patrick
Second Place Tean, Low Gross: Brandon Johnson, Wade Little, Brady Dubberly and Steve Graham
Third Place Team, Low Gross: Bill Ward, David Roy, Mike Herron and Seth Ruff
Closest to the Pin: Brandon Johnson
Long Drive: Chris Stevens
Putting Contest: Jackson Weeks

Dean’s Leadership Council held
COSAM hosted the Dean’s Leadership Council in Auburn on Sept. 23 and 24. Many council members participated in the Dean’s Scholarship Golf Classic on Friday, and all were invited to the dinner at Moores Mill Club following the golf tournament. Saturday morning kicked off with a Leadership Council breakfast followed by a presentation by Dean Savrda on the state of the college. Prior to the Auburn vs. Florida Atlantic football game, Leadership Council members and friends and alumni of COSAM were welcomed at a COSAM-sponsored tailgate. To learn more about the Dean’s Leadership Council, click HERE.

Diversity News:

PASS Progran training day held
The PASS Mentoring Program training was held on Sept. 13. The mission of PASS is to Promote Academic Success for Students by providing a healthy learning and social environment. Minority freshmen are paired with upperclassmen in their major areas for a smooth transition from high school to college. The program seeks to create a “family away from home” environment to help freshmen reach their academic and social potential at Auburn University. To ensure that all mentors are prepared for the upcoming year, PASS training played a crucial role to foster a positive group dynamic and to help prepare mentors to rise to the challenges of peer mentoring. The training sessions are organized to create an open dialogue between mentors concerning expectations, planning group events, meeting with Diversity staff, mentoring rules and guidelines, and strategies. Mentee training included addressing concerns related to the role of a mentor and how to use mentors as a resource to help navigate COSAM. Each mentor/mentee pair was matched, completed a “Getting to Know You” activity and exchanged contact information during the training. The PASS Mentoring Program will conclude with an awards luncheon at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year. For more information on the PASS Mentoring Program or upcoming events like Minority High School Visitation Day on Oct. 20, visit the Diversity website at this link: www.auburn.edu/cosam/diversity. 

Outreach News:

Outreach October dates to remember
In October, the COSAM Department of Outreach will host events that are open to the public. On Oct. 21, take advantage of Parent’s Night Out. Parent’s Night Out is an opportunity for parents to have an evening to themselves and peace of mind knowing their children are in a safe, secure and fun environment. Children ages 6 to 12 are eligible to participate in the program and will engage in a variety of science-based activities.
On Oct. 27, first- through sixth-grade students and their parents or grandparents can participate in the Getting Under the Surface, or GUTS, program. GUTS is an evening event that begins with dessert and is followed by a one-and-a-half-hour science activity. The activities feature a “Getting Under The Surface” theme utilizing common objects (such as radios or batteries) or techniques (such as DNA fingerprinting) that will interest all ages and can be demystified using simple scientific concepts. The October GUTS event will feature special Halloween-themed projects.
Both Parent’s Night Out and GUTS require preregistration and a small fee to participate. For details, including time and location, stay tuned to the Outreach website at www.auburn.edu/cosam/outreach.

Research News: 

Research brings in more than $3.4 million in July and August
During the months of July and August, professors in COSAM have been active in securing more than $3.4 million in research grant funding. Projects include the following:
Physics Professor and Director of the Plasma Sciences Laboratory, Edward Thomas, received a National Science Foundation award through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. The total amount awarded to Thomas is $2.1 million, which includes a 30 percent cost-sharing by Auburn University.
Alumni Professor Kenneth M. Halanych and Associate Professor Scott R. Santos, both from the Department of Biological Sciences, were awarded a four-year National Science Foundation grant in the amount of $489,305 for a project titled, “Collaborative Research: Genetic connectivity and biogeographic patterns of Antarctic benthic invertebrates."
Christopher J. Easley, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was awarded a three-year grant totaling $383,786 from the National Science Foundation for his research project titled, “Cooperative Approaches for Aptamer Selection and Protein Detection.”
A multidisciplinary team of scientists from across the Auburn campus will work on Alabama wetland studies through a $363,800 grant from National Institutes for Water Resources/U.S. Geological Survey National Competitive Grant Program. The three-year project, titled "Inventory, Classification, and Assessment of Alabama's Geographically Isolated Wetlands," includes Luke Marzen, associate professor of Geography.
Biological Sciences Assistant Professor Aaron Rashotte, was awarded a two-year, $50,000 competitive USDA-Hatch grant to research the genetic make-up and function of tomato plants during leaf development. The project is titled "An examination of SlCRFs in vasculature and leaf development in tomato."
Associate Professor of Physics Minseo Park received research funding from the Korea institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH). The title of the research project is "Development of Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Solar Cells based on ZnO Nanostructures and Polymers." The amount of funding is approximately $32,000.