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Experimental Biology 2008 |
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Undergraduate Summer Research
Fellows Attend EB Undergraduate Research Highlighted at Special EB Session Undergraduate Students Receive David S. Bruce Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows Receive tum Suden/Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Awards 2008 APS/NIDDK Minority Travel Fellows Attend EB Physiology Understanding Week Launched 2007 Frontiers in Physiology Research Teachers and Hosts Honored at EB 2008 High School Students and Science Teachers Explore Physiology at EB 2008 Granger Receives Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist Award |
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The 2007 Undergraduate Summer Research Fellows
(UGSRFs) came to the Experimental Biology meeting to report on their
research findings from last summer. Eighteen of the 24 UGSRFs attended the meeting. Nineteen of the UGSRFs were authors on abstracts submitted to the meeting. Of those, 17 were first authors on their abstracts and two were authors on more than one abstract. For the first time, all undergraduates who had first-author posters were invited to a special Undergraduate Orientation Session. The UGSRFs were joined by the 20 finalists for the David S. Bruce Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, in addition to approximately 30 other undergraduates for the session. Nansie McHugh, Chair of the Career Opportunities in Physiology Committee welcomed the undergraduates and introduced the UGSRFs. Thomas Pressley, Chair of the Education Committee, introduced the Bruce finalists and reminded the undergraduates about the special Undergraduate Poster Session on Sunday. Angela Grippo, Chair of the Trainee Advisory Committee, gave a presentation on attending a scientific meeting and how to get the most out of being there, both in terms of science and career talks as well as social activities. Zach Sellers, trainee member of the Career Committee, gave a talk on poster presentations and hints for making that a positive experience. Members of the Trainee Advisory Committee attended the session and sat among the undergraduates to offer their own advice. On Sunday, the UGSRFs participated in the APS Undergraduate Poster Session and presented their posters to APS members, in addition to their regularly scheduled scientific session. Overall, the UGSRFs saw the EB meeting as being a very positive learning experience and appreciated the opportunity to come and present their research. |
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EB 2008 provided the setting for the fifth
annual APS Undergraduate Poster Session. This special session highlights the
contributions of undergraduate students to physiology research. Students
present their posters at both their regularly scheduled poster session and
the special Undergraduate Poster Session. This year it was held on Sunday
afternoon and culminated with the presentation of the David S. Bruce Awards.
Of the 137 undergraduate first authors invited to present at the APS Undergraduate Poster Session, 122 accepted the invitation and took advantage of the opportunity to display their poster and present it to interested scientists and guests. The session not only provided undergraduate students with an opportunity to highlight their research but also to meet faculty from many graduate schools and medical schools to discuss their future plans. Approximately 200 APS members and guests were in attendance at the session, with many comments heard as to the high quality of research being presented by the students. The students and their research were highlighted again this year in a special printed program distributed during the session. This is the third year that graduate departments were invited to sponsor the session and display promotional materials for their departments to those undergraduates considering graduate school. The following schools participated:
The departments also received a list of undergraduate presenters who indicated they were interested in being contacted about attending graduate school. APS looks forward to hosting APS
Undergraduate Poster Sessions at future Experimental Biology meetings and
encourages undergraduate students doing research in physiology to submit
abstracts for EB, apply for the David Bruce award, and attend the poster
session in 2009.
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Undergraduate Students Receive David
S. Bruce Awards |
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Undergraduate students who were first authors
on an abstract submitted to Experimental Biology 2008 in San Diego, CA were
eligible to apply for the David S. Bruce Awards for Excellence in
Undergraduate Research. The award is named in honor of APS member David S. Bruce (1939 – 2000), who served as Chair of the APS Teaching Section and was a professor of physiology at Wheaton College from 1978-2000. Bruce was a dedicated physiology educator who had a particular interest in engaging undergraduate students in scientific research. Bruce not only encouraged and supported his students in participating in research, but he also regularly brought undergraduate students to the Experimental Biology meeting, often to present their research findings. The APS Education Committee, chaired by Thomas Pressley, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, initially selected 20 finalists from a pool of 67 applicants. Finalists were chosen based on the quality and novelty of their abstracts and letters written by the candidates describing their career goals, research, and why they were particularly deserving of the award. The 20 finalists were: Blair S. Ashley, College of William & Mary; Rachael C. Crnich, Colorado State Univ.; Matthew P. Dukes, Univ. of Mississippi Med. Center; Sara M. Freiberg, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison; James Godfrey, Chapman Univ.; Marisa Goo, Univ. of California, Davis; Kristy M. Heppner, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Sarah J. Jefferson, Pennsylvania State Univ.; Sumit Kar, Creighton Univ.; Lindsay M. Koepper, Villa Julie Coll.; Sarah K. Nelson, Univ. of Arizona; Thais G.C. Oliveira, Federal Univ. of São Paulo; Jessica R. Priestley, Michigan State Univ.; Kent A. Riemondy, Univ. of Utah; Mark T. Sausen, Univ. of Delaware; Richa Sharma, Indiana Univ.; Ali Shawki, Univ. of Cincinnati; A. Caitlynn Taylor, Asbury College; Jennifer von der Heiden, Med. Univ. of South Carolina; and Victoria M. Youngblood, Univ. of New Mexico. These students then made oral presentations of their posters to a subcommittee of Education Committee members and other APS members. Seven awardees were selected based on their knowledge of their research project. Each awardee received $500 and a certificate of recognition. Awards were presented by Dr. Pressley and President Hannah V. Carey during a special APS Undergraduate Poster Session at EB 2008. The awardees were: Matthew P. Dukes, Sara M. Freiberg, James Godfrey, Marisa Goo, Kent A. Riemondy, A. Caitlynn Taylor, and Victoria M. Youngblood. APS congratulates all these students on the quality of their research and presentations. For information on applying for the 2009 David Bruce Awards, please see http://www.the-aps.org/awards/student/bruce.htm.
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Graduate Students and
Postdoctoral Fellows Receive |
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Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who
were first authors on an abstract submitted to Experimental Biology 2008 in
San Diego, CA were eligible to apply for the Caroline tum Suden/Frances A.
Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award. The APS Women in Physiology
Committee chaired by Jane F. Reckelhoff, at the Univ. of Mississippi Medical
Center, selected 36 awardees from a pool of 110 applicants. For the first
time, applicants were required to be APS members (either student or
regular). Applicants were chosen based on the quality and novelty of their
abstracts, and letters written by the candidates describing their career
goals, research, and why they were particularly deserving of the award. Each
awardee received $500, a certificate of recognition, and complimentary
registration for the EB 2008 meeting. Awards were presented during the APS
Business Meeting. Awardees were: James R. Austgen, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia Sunanda Baliga, Rutgers Univ. Andrea G. Bechtold, Univ. of California, Davis Paulo S. Caceres, Henry Ford Hospital Jessica Ann Clark, Washington Univ. School of Medicine Sergio de Frutos García, Univ. of New Mexico Jan Foster, Medical College of Georgia Kim Parker Gannon, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Jeffrey Stephen Gilbert, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Romer Andres Gonzalez-Villalobos, Tulane Univ.Health Sciences Center W. Vallen Graham, Univ. of Chicago Justin L. Grobe, Univ. of Iowa Benjamin Lucas Hodnett, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center David W. Infanger, Cornell Univ. Hana A. Itani, Univ. of Iowa Allison Kleiber, Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center Erich Kushner, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder Robert Lee-Young, Vanderbilt Univ. Sarah Hoffmann Lindsey, Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine David Andrew Low, Brunel Univ. Paul J. Marvar, Emory Univ. Eric E. Morgan, Univ. of Toledo College of Medicine Nicole Louise Nichols, Wright State Univ. Norma B. Ojeda, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Jeffrey Peterson, Weill Cornell Medical College Aaron James Polichnowski, Medical College of Wisconsin Jennifer Leigh Rogers, Georgetown Univ. Damian Gaston Romero, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Adeel Safdar, McMaster Univ. Julio Sartori-Valinotti, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Jennifer Mayberry Sasser, Univ. of Florida Ana Quenia Gomes da Silva, Univ. Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil Alexis Netis Simpkins, Medical College of Georgia Marcia Rossana Venegas-Pont, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Helen Elizabeth Wood, Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Huijing Xia, Louisiana State Univ. Health Sciences Center For information about applying for the 2009 tum Suden/Hellebrandt Awards, see http://www.the-aps.org/awards/student/TumSuden.htm.
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The APS regularly awards Travel Fellowships
for underrepresented minority scientists and students to attend APS
scientific meetings with funds provided by the National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). These Fellowships
provide funds for registration, transportation, meals, and lodging for
travel to a meeting location, as well as complimentary meeting registration.
Fifty-one Fellows attended the APS annual meeting, Experimental Biology (EB)
in San Diego, California from April 5-9, 2008.
Fellows in the NIDDK Minority Travel
program not only received financial support to attend these meetings, but
were also provided professional guidance through pairings with APS members
who served as mentors to the Fellows for the duration of the conference.
Thanks to the time and expertise offered by mentor volunteers, Fellows were
able to maximize their time and more fully experience the many aspects of
each conference.
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“We have an obligation to transmit the
excitement about science and physiology to students at all levels of
education. PhUn Week is a great opportunity to become involved.” - Irving
Zucker, Presidential Address (1). Plans and preparations for celebrating Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week during the week of November 3 were launched at the PhUn Week Training Session at EB 2008, co-sponsored by the APS and ADInstruments. PhUn Week is the APS’ annual, member-based outreach program to K-12 classrooms in local communities across the nation. In partnership with a teacher, APS members volunteer their time and expertise to engage students in hands-on interactive classroom activities. Members also share their life, career, and research experiences as physiologists. Typically, APS members and/or members of their laboratory or department visit a classroom anywhere from one hour to a full day, or even multiple days, during PhUn Week. The theme for 2008 again focuses on the physiology of exercise and fitness, but APS members are welcome to focus on other areas of physiology. Downloadable resources and program information are available at http://www.phunweek.org. Several participants in last year’s PhUn Week events briefly presented their collaborations and visits to classrooms during the EB 2008 PhUn Week Training Session. Presenters on PhUn Week models and/or innovative activities developed from their local event included: David Holtzclaw of the Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center; Lisa Harrison-Bernard and Keisa Mathis of the Louisiana State Univ. Health Sciences Center; Catherine Uyehara of the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii; Ana Rodriguez and Nildris Cruz of the Univ. of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus; Clintoria Richards-Williams of the Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham; Diane Munzenmaier of the Medical College of Wisconsin; Frontiers Research Teacher Lorraine O’Shea and Van Doze of the Univ. of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Jessica Clark of the Washington Univ. in Saint Louis School of Medicine; and Barbara Goodman of the Univ. of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. A synopsis of feedback from the PhUn Week 2007 survey is summarized in Table 1. Join your fellow APS members and reach out to a precollege classroom this fall to “transmit the excitement of science and physiology.” Begin by finding and partnering with a teacher in your local community, and schedule a visit sometime during the week of November 3. Use the resources available at the APS’ PhUn Week website (http://www.phunweek.org), and submit your PhUn Week Event Planners no later than October 1 to request free promotional, give-away items. Quantities of the promotional freebies are limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For other information, contact Mel Limson in the APS Education Office at mlimson@the-aps.org. References 1. Zucker, I.H. “Through the Looking Glass: The Future of Physiology. Passion, Responsibility and Morality in Science.” The Physiologist. 51:49-56, 2008.
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2007 Frontiers in Physiology Research Teachers and Hosts Honored at EB 2008 |
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Fifteen Research Teacher (RT) Fellows and
their APS member Research Hosts in the year-long 2007 Frontiers in
Physiology Professional Development Fellowship were honored at a luncheon at
EB 2008. Also honored were the Physiologists-in-Residence: Joey Benoit
(University of North Dakota), and Clintoria Richards-Williams and Jessica
Clark (2007 K-12 Minority Outreach Fellows); and the Mentor/Instructors who
were past RTs: Charles Geach (Texas), Margaret Shain (Indiana), and Tonya
Smith (South Carolina). The RTs concluded their fellowship year by experiencing this scientific meeting, participating in the Physiology for Life Science Teachers and Students Workshop, and attending the Physiology Understanding Week Training Session (see related stories in this issue). Two RTs, Erin Odya (Indiana, with C. Subah Packer, Indiana Univ. School of Medicine) and Lorraine O’Shea (North Dakota, with Van Doze, Univ. of North Dakota School of Medicine), presented their summer research project during poster sessions. In addition to the RTs’ 7-8 week research experience with their Research Host last summer to learn first-hand how the research process works, they attended the “APS Science Teaching Forum,” an intensive workshop week focused on student-centered teaching methods at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA. The Mentor/Instructors and the PIRs facilitated sessions using APS curriculum units and explored inquiry- and equity-based teaching strategies, while integrating technology into their classroom, and addressing equity and diversity in science education. Last fall, the RTs developed and enhanced their own inquiry-based lab activity for the science classroom, as well as completed online assignments for this fellowship. The Frontiers in Physiology program is designed to create ongoing working relationships between research scientists and middle/high school teachers via research and inservice experiences. Additionally, the program promotes the adoption of national standards for K-12 content and pedagogical techniques among middle and high school science teachers through ongoing inservice activities developed collaboratively by teachers and physiology researchers. Frontiers in Physiology is a program of APS, and is sponsored by the APS, the National Center for Research Resources and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. A newly launched website for the Frontiers in Physiology program is available at http://www.frontiersinphys.org. For additional program information, or if you are interested in hosting a teacher next summer, email Mel Limson in the APS Education Office (mlimson@the-aps.org).
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High School Students and Science Teachers Explore Physiology at EB 2008 |
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More than 90 San Diego area teachers, their
students, and the 15 2007 Frontiers in Physiology Fellowship Research
Teachers (RTs) actively participated in the Physiology for Life Science
Teachers and Students Workshop at EB 2008. The day-long workshop included a
keynote presentation, a careers panel discussion, a tour of posters and
exhibits, and hands-on physiology workshops for students and teachers. Education Committee Chair Thomas Pressley, Texas Tech Univ. Health Sciences Center, and committee member Robin Looft-Wilson, College of William and Mary, coordinated the day’s events. During the registration period in the morning, past and current APS K-12 Minority Outreach Fellows welcomed the groups of students and teachers. Mesia Steed (2006), Univ. of Kentucky, Clintoria Richards-Williams (2007), Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, Keisa Mathis (2008), Louisiana State Univ. Health Sciences Center, and TanYa Gwathmey (2008), Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine, each briefly introduced themselves, described their academic careers and interest in research, and provided words of mentoring for the high school students. In the background, the “Physiology: The Science of Life” slideshow presentation for high school students was automatically running as a preview to the field of physiology and careers in physiology. The presentation was developed and produced by the Careers Committee and is available for download at: http://www.phunweek.org/pages/phun06a.shtml. The keynote presentation, “Human Physiological Limits to Exploring Mars,” was given by APS member, James Pawelczyk of Penn State University. He concluded his presentation by challenging the students that they could be the scientists involved in preparing for the mission to Mars over the next 25 years. Pawelczyk was then joined by a Careers Panel that included APS members Rudy Ortiz of the Univ. of California, Merced, and Catherine Uyehara of the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The panel was moderated by Yolanda George, Deputy Director and Program Director of Education and Human Resources Programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The panelists shared their earliest experiences of doing science and continuing on as researchers through mentorship and opportunities presented to them. Sixteen APS members served as tour guides during lunch where they took teachers and students through the exhibits and posters at the San Diego Convention Center, and shared a box lunch while discussing physiology careers. The afternoon student session was led by Looft-Wilson with assistance from Councillor Barbara Goodman of the Univ. of South Dakota, Dexter Speck and Jeffrey Osborn of the Univ. of Kentucky, Susan Barman of Michigan State Univ., Tom Ecay of East Tennessee State Univ., Keith Jackson of the Univ. of Louisiana at Monroe, Diane Munzenmaier of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Sandrine Pierre of the Univ. of Toledo, Jennifer Uno of Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and K-12 Outreach Fellows Jessica Clark, Washington Univ., Clintoria Richards, and Keisa Mathis. Students used the “Elvis Experiments” from the APS “Physiology of Fitness” unit to learn about factors affecting flow of liquids through tubing (radius, length, viscosity). While students were conducting their experiments, their teachers and the 2007 RTs participated in a workshop activity on modeling the digestive system with common household items. Frontiers Mentor/Instructor Tonya Smith (South Carolina) led the teacher workshop. As in the past, feedback from both teachers and students was very positive and students were especially excited to meet physiologists one-on-one. The Education Committee is planning to continue the program in 2009 in New Orleans. APS members continue to judge and present Science Fair Awards for the best physiology project at local or regional science fairs for precollege students. Each student receives an APS “Physiology: Life, Logic Study” t-shirt, an APS researcher pin, and a certificate for the best physiology project. The student’s teacher receives the “Women Life Scientists” book and a K-12 resource packet. Ann Cooper, a junior at Lafayette High School who previously received an award for the best physiology project at Intel affiliated Regional Science and Engineering fair in Lexington, KY also won a second place award at the 59TH Annual Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, GA. Animal Sciences presented her with a $1,500 award for her project titled, “The Effects of Serotonin on Circadian Patterns and Behaviors in Drosophila.” As of April 2008, the following elementary, middle and high school students have received the APS Science Fair Award as judged by an APS member in their local community: Morgan Dieckmann, a sixth grade student at Prince of Peace Lutheran School in Cedar Crest, NM received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Annual Central NM Science & Engineering Research Challenge. Morgan is the first elementary student to receive a science fair award packet from the APS. APS member Jay Naik of New Mexico Tech was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Morgan with an award. The title of Morgan’s project is “Changes in CO2 Output.” Thomas Myslinski, a seventh/eighth grade student at St. Bernadette Elementary received an APS award for the best physiology project at the North Ohio Science and Engineering Fair. The title of his project is “Body Levers.” APS member Cassandra Talerico of Cleveland Clinic was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Thomas with his award. Emily Singer, a fifth grader at Sparks Elementary School received an APS award for the best physiology project at her school’s science fair in Sparks, MD. The title of her project is “Let’s Give the Earth a Faucet to Drink From!” Emily will now go on to the Baltimore County STEM Fair Competition against students from all the other Baltimore County Public Schools. Emily’s teacher is Elizabeth Fair. APS member Bradley McConnell of the University of Maryland, Baltimore was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Emily with her award. Darius Rahmlow, an eighth grader at Mission Middle School in Bellevue, NE received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Eighth Grade Health Science Meet conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The title of his project is “Music and Effects on the Human Body.” His teacher and sponsor is Susan Hester. APS President Irving H. Zucker and Viswanathan Rajagopalan of The University of Nebraska Medical Center were judges on behalf of the APS and presented Darius with his award. Tyler Kirsch, a freshman at City Honors School, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Western New York Science Congress. The title of Tyler’s project is “Alignment and Analysis of the CAG Subset in SCOR Enzymes.” His teacher and sponsor is Dean Johnson. APS member Mary Ann Rokitka from the University of Buffalo was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Tyler with his award. Ashlei Peterson, a senior at Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton, MO received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Honor’s Fair. The title of Ashlei’s project is “The Effects of Breast Cancer on Women and Their Children.” Her teacher and sponsor is Cheryl Apperson. APS member Jessica Clark of Washington University School of Medicine was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Ashei with her award. Any APS member who participates as a judge in a local or regional science fair at an elementary, middle, or high school is eligible to apply and receive an APS award packet. For more information, visit http://www.the-aps.org/education/sciencefair or contact Scarletta Whitsett (swhitsett@the-aps.org) in the APS Education Department.
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Granger Receives Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist Award |
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More than 100 trainees, EB awardees, and colleagues gathered to celebrate the award and hear Granger’s award lecture entitled, “Mentoring: A Lifelong Process.” The talk will be published in a future issue of The Physiologist and posted on the APS Mentoring web site (http://www.the-aps.org/career). B. Babbette D. LaMarca (University of Mississippi Medical Center), who coordinated the nomination of Granger for the award, was present to introduce him. The award was presented to Granger by Siribhinya Benyajati, Past Chair of the Women in Physiology Committee; Hannah V. Carey, President of the APS; and Irving Zucker, President-elect of the APS. Granger received his PhD at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He did his postdoctoral training at the Mayo Clinic and Foundation before being hired as an Instructor and then Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. He then moved to Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA where he served as an assistant professor and then was promoted to associate professor. In 1990 he moved to his current institution, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, where he was named Professor of Physiology and Biophysics. In 1996, he became the Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Cardiovascular-Renal Research. He was named the Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics in 2004. In 2006, he was named Interim Dean of the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences and was appointed Dean in 2007. Granger has successfully mentored five visiting scientists, 13 postdoctoral fellows, and 10 predoctoral students, many of whom are from outside the US. His mentees have gone on to successful and prominent positions (one departmental chair, one associate professor, and four assistant professors, among others) with national funding and numerous awards among themselves. In addition, Granger has had 16 medical and undergraduate student research fellows in his lab, which included two APS Undergraduate Summer Research Fellows. He is also active in K-12 education, sponsoring high school teachers from the APS Frontiers in Physiology Program in his lab, as well as high school students. It is noteworthy that Granger extends his mentoring far beyond his laboratory: he started a mentoring group for junior faculty in his department to help them obtain funding. To foster early interest in scientific research, Granger established a summer research internship program for undergraduate students in his department and served as an active judge for local science fairs as well as a frequent speaker at local high schools. As a recent dean of Graduate Studies, Granger improved graduate education by providing better stipend and health insurance support for all graduate students at his institution. APS congratulates Dr. Granger on this well-deserved honor. APS members are encouraged to nominate members for the 2009 Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen Award. For more information, see the APS website (http://www.the-aps.org/awards/society/schmidt-nielsen.htm). |
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