Welcome to the Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) electronic newsletter, e-Journey.
COSAM has lots of news to share with you. Enjoy!
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Dean's Research Awards announced
Acevedo awarded NSF grant
Gorden awarded intramural grant from AU's Office of the VP for Research
Kyle Owens named SEC Co-Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Auburn researchers play role in antimatter breakthrough featured in journal Nature
Physics professors attend Fusion Day 2012
Mathematics & Statistics News: Former Mathematics professor passes
Sixth Annual Women's Leadership Symposium
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Contact Us!
F. Ivy Carroll to receive the Burger Award
Kirby I. Bland receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Libby Lukens elected Miss Auburn
COSAM junior is "Ballin' for Books"
Congratulations to the 2012-2013 COSAM Peer Advisors! Kyle Adams Summer Bridge program applications due March 15
COSAM hosts GEARSEF
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April 14, 2012 |
April 21, 2012 |
April 21, 2012 |
April 26, 2012 |
The recipients for the 2011 - 2012 COSAM Dean's Research Awards have been announced and will be recognized at the awards ceremony on March 21. The ceremony will recognize a faculty member, three graduate students and one undergraduate student. Scott Santos is this year’s faculty recipient and he will give the annual Dean's Faculty Research Award Lecture, "The Santos Lab: Eight years of research at Auburn University" at the award ceremony. The graduate student awardees, Amin Bahmanian, doctoral candidate in Mathematics; Kevin Kocot, doctoral candidate in Biological Sciences; and Mike Natter, current graduate student working toward his master’s degree in Geology, will also give a brief presentation, as well undergraduate awardee, Kristen McCall, senior in Geology. 
Orlando Acevedo, assistant professor in chemistry and biochemistry, has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation, or NSF. Acevedo received the three year, $275,061 grant, for his proposal "Development of an Ionic Liquid Force Field for Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanics Simulations." "What I feel earned this grant is the vast potential of ionic liquids, a liquid salt at room temperature, to the chemical industry," Acevedo said. "These solvents have the ability to enhance rates for important chemical reactions, but often are as toxic as conventional solvents. Our proposed contribution is to design new ionic liquids that are also easily biodegradable, recyclable and environmentally friendly."
Anne Gorden, associate professor of chemistry, received an intramural grant from Auburn University's Office of the Vice President for Research for $160,000. The grant was awarded based on her proposal, "Ultraviolet-visible/ Fluorescence Microspectrophotometer." Collaborators on the grant include assistant professor Christian R. Goldsmith and associate professor German Mills, both of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as Virginia A. Davis, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Funding from the grant will be used to purchase an ultraviolet-visible/ fluorescence microspectrophotometer for the University to be housed in Chemistry. Gorden notes that not only will this machine be available for use by other departments, many of which have already shown interest, but it will also help attract additional funding to the University.
Kyle Owens, junior in biomedical sciences and member of the Auburn Men's Swimming and Diving team, was named SEC Co-Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Owens has also served as an integral undergraduate student member of James Barbaree's lab group, conducting research on the transmission of diseases in airplane cabins. "Kyle is a role model for other students. Despite his rigorous training schedule, he devotes himself to his studies and maintains outside interests," Barbaree said. "His work ethic and attitude are exemplary. He has developed skills using microbiologic laboratory techniques, and plans to continue his work in the laboratory. Even without acknowledging his accomplishments as an athlete, I would rate him as one of the top students whom I have known at Auburn University. He is very deserving of his award."
A recent scientific breakthrough could lead to changes in the world of antimatter physics, according to Francis Robicheaux, an Auburn University physics professor and member of ALPHA, the international team of scientists conducing the antimatter research. Last year the ALPHA (Anit-Hydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus) team was able to trap and hold the antimatter version of the hydrogen atom. They have now accomplished the goal they set at that time of being able to measure the fundamental properties of antihydrogen. An article in this week's edition of the journal Nature, titled "Resonant quantum transitions in trapped antihydrogen atoms," describes the progress made in that research. 
Two of Auburn University's physics professors attended the annual Fusion Day 2012 in Washington D.C. and also visited with Alabama congress delegates while there. James D. Hanson, professor, and David A. Maurer, associate professor, were two of more than 60 participants at this year's Fusion Day. While in Washington D.C., Hanson and Maurer attended a breakfast and heard speeches from Rep. Rush Hold, D-NJ, and Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-NJ, who are each strong advocates for the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) at the U.S. Department of Energy. Hanson and Maurer also met with Rep. Robert Aderhold, R-AL, and staff members from Sen. Jeff Sessions' office as well as the office of many other representatives. During these meetings, the professors were able to discuss topics concerning the FES budget.
Dr. John P. Holmes, professor of mathematics and statistics, passed away on February 11. Holmes was a faculty member at Auburn University from 1972 until his retirement in 2010, at which point he became a professor Emeritus. During that period he also served as visiting professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo on three occasions. During his early years in Auburn, Dr. Holmes and two of his faculty colleagues opened and operated the Freewheeler Bicycle Shop on North College Street. Biking was a passion he enjoyed for many years. Holmes leaves behind his wife Pamela of more than 45 years, two sons and three grandsons.
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F. Ivy Carroll, chemistry '57, will receive the Burger Award this month from the American Chemical Society (ACS). The award is the highest recognition given to a medicinal chemist that the ACS grants. This will be one of many awards Carroll has received over his career, including being inducted into the American Chemical Society Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame in 2007. Carroll has made several major scientific contributions in drug discovery and development. Among his most touted accomplishments are the development of a diagnostic agent for Parkinson's disease, and compounds as potential treatments for cocaine and nicotine addictions and other central nervous system disorders. Recently Carroll spoke with Stew Schneller during a visit to Auburn. To hear Carroll's remarks on his career and studies, 
Kirby Isaac Bland, chemistry and biochemistry, '64, recently received the Auburn Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony on March 3 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. The award honors professional accomplishments, personal integrity and stature, and service to Auburn University by members of the Auburn family. Recipients are selected by a committee of administrators, trustees, faculty and alumni. Following his studies at Auburn University, Bland graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in 1968. After a tour of duty in the U.S. Army, he served as a research associate and surgical oncology fellow at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and an associate professor of surgery at the Univeristy of Louisville. Bland joined the University of Florida faculty as professor, associate chair and program director of surgery in 1983 and went on to successfully complete various trials in the therapy of breast and colorectal carcinoma. He served as principal investigator for the National Cancer Institue research training program for surgical oncology and subsequently accepted a professorship and chairmanship at Brown University in 1993. Bland returned to UAB in 1999 and was appointed Fay Fletcher Kerner professor and chair of the Department of Surgery as well as surgeon-in-chief at University Hospital and The Kirklin Clinic. He serves as division director of general surgery and, until 2009, was deputy director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, followed by an appointment as senior advisor to the center's director. Bland is the immediate past president of the American Surgical Assosication.
Libby Lukens, junior in biomedical sciences, was elected Miss Auburn on Tuesday, February 14. Libby says she is honored and humbled to be chosen for this unique opportunity. "This has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life," Lukens said. "I am really looking forward to serving this campus in the capacity of Miss Auburn and also implementing my platform. The City of Auburn is ready for us to help and I think the student body is too." Lukens ran with the campaign slogan, "Lend a hand." Her platform encourages students to get out and engage in the Auburn community, especially the areas that stand in stark contrast to the affluent campus of Auburn University.
Blanche Alverson, junior in biomedical sciences and guard on Auburn's Women's Basketball team, has been named to the 2012 Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Community Service Team. This is the second consecutive year Alverson has earned the honor. Alverson founded her own community service project this year, "Ballin' for Books." Fans donated more than 500 books to the cause in Auburn's final two home games that will be donated to the Loachapoka Library and the Pine Hills Literacy Project. She has also participated in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program and collected food as part of the Auburn United Methodist Church Food Pantry.
The COSAM Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs is gearing up for the 2012 Summer Bridge program. Founded in 1997, the program is an intensive four-week academic-enrichment experience for incoming minority freshmen planning to major in physical sciences, life sciences and mathematics, or enroll in pre-professional programs in dentistry, engineering, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy or veterinary medicine. The program is designed to bridge the gap between high school and college by providing participants with the tools needed to succeed and graduate. Summer Bridge students consistently perform better than other minority students that do not attend. The Summer Bridge program is scheduled for June 3 - 28. The application deadline is March 15. For more information, visit the
COSAM, in partnership with Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, hosted the Greater East Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (GEARSEF) at the AU Student Center on March 7. GEARSEF is an Intel ISEF affiliated regional fair. Over 100 students in sixth through twelfth grades from 12 schools in the southeast region of Alabama participated in the fair. A panel of 35 judges, compromised of Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery faculty as well as science, engineering and mathematics graduate students, determined winners in each of the nine categories. "Best of Fair" honors went to Megan Moody from Wetumpka High Schol with her project, "A study of the effectiveness of antimicrobial scrubs when used as an aid in the prevention of nosocomial infections." Moody won an all-expense paid trip to the Intel International Fair in Pittsburgh, Pa., in May. Rohan Gupta, "Best of Fair" alternate from Auburn High School, will also be invited to participate in the international fair. Gupta's project is titled, "Lithium ion batteries for electric cars: a study of solid electrolyte interface using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy."
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Last updated: 03/12/2012