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Two Prestigious Faculty Hires for the UK Center for Advanced Materials (CAM)
March 2, 2009
The University of Kentucky has made two outstanding faculty hires relating to the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) initiative supported by the KY NSF EPSCoR program. CAM is supported by the National Science Foundation and the Commonwealth of Kentucky via the KY NSF EPSCoR program to develop a nationally-recognized center in materials science research over the next five years. Drs. Ribhu Kaul and Beth Guiton will join the University of Kentucky faculty in the Physics and Chemistry departments respectively.
Dr. Kaul will join the faculty as a Condensed Matter/Materials Theorist in the fall of this year. He is currently completing his research as part of his work at Microsoft Station-Q on the University of California, Santa Barbara campus (http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/~rkk/). His understanding of contemporary developments in theoretical physics and skills in algorithm development will make him an integral part of the CAM center activities.
Dr. Guiton is currently a Wigner Fellow at ORNL. Her research interests are in the field of solid-state chemistry, with a focus on the structure and properties of metal oxide nanostructures, an area which complements nicely with the goals and direction of the CAM center. She will join the UK Chemistry Department in August, 2010. More information about Dr. Guiton’s research is available on the ONRL website: http://www.ornl.gov/info/reporter/no105/nov08_dw.htm#Guiton.
Environmental Science in Kentucky
February 23, 2009
The Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute (EK-ERI) was established in 2005 with funding from the Kentucky National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (KY NSF EPSCoR). The EK-ERI is headquartered on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and has strong collaborative ties with several other Kentucky colleges and universities. The EK-ERI is committed to developing an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional approach to understanding Kentucky’s ecosystems, with an emphasis on the Appalachian region. The Institute’s collaborating faculty represent a wide variety of scientific disciplines, and focus on environmental research projects that link directly to the needs of the region’s students, citizens, and communities.
Just a few examples of research topics explored by the EK-ERI faculty include: the impact of animal waste on Kentucky’s watersheds; the impacts of coal mining on the region’s water quality (a prevalent industry in eastern Kentucky); and the environmental and economic potential of the honeybee industry. It’s not uncommon to find that EK-ERI faculty members involve students as well as the community at large in their research projects. Having private citizens test their well water for toxic concentrations of arsenic, for example, requires a collaborative effort from the community, but also helps to answer important research questions and educates students and citizens about public health issues. Low cost remediation methods and an involved and educated community are potential long term outcomes to this and other important research projects.
EK-ERI has continued to expand and gain momentum in the months following the conclusion of the KY NSF EPSCoR’s start-up support for the Institute. The EK-ERI has received research support from a variety of state and federal sponsors, and is well on the way to financial self sufficiency via research support—a primary goal of KY NSF EPSCoR supported projects. In a relatively short period of time, EK-ERI has established a track record of outstanding research and education. Most recently, the Institute Director, Dr. Alice Jones, and Dr. James Fox at the University of Kentucky, received a three-year $537,521 NSF award to support a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) award to study coal mining’s impacts on soil carbon storage in Kentucky watersheds beginning in the summer of 2009. Notably, the REU also includes a Research Experience for Teachers component—the only RET funded by the NSF Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) in the 2008 funding cycle.
Governor Beshear Announces $17.5 Million KY NSF EPSCoR Award
October 29, 2008
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear formally announced the $17.5M award from the National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) this week. The program focuses on improving research infrastructure at Kentucky's colleges and universities in three theme areas—bio-, nano- and cyber-technologies. A $12.5M award from the National Science Foundation will be matched with $5M of support from the state. The KY NSF EPSCoR Program makes investments in emerging areas of scientific research to increase the state’s research funding from federal agencies. More information about the current award's projects and participants is available on our website’s awards and investments section.
The press conference took place on the University of Kentucky (UK) Campus. Governor Beshear was introduced by UK President, Dr. Lee Todd. Also speaking at the event was KY NSF EPSCoR Director, Dr. John Connolly and Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) President, Kris Kimel. All of the presenters had interesting historical ties to the start of the KY NSF EPSCoR program, which came into existence in the mid 1980s. Governor Beshear was the Lieutenant Governor at the time under Gov. Martha Layne Collins. The two understood the value of prioritizing education in the sciences, which would bring jobs and economic development to the state. Dr. Todd helped develop the first KY NSF EPSCoR application as a faculty member in the UK College of Engineering. Dr. Connolly was recruited to the University of Kentucky to be the Director of the UK Center for Computational Science (CCS), a then newly established “Center of Excellence”—a program created by Gov. Collins and Lt. Gov. Beshear. In addition to leading the KY NSF EPSCoR, Dr. Connolly directs the CCS—a Center that is bringing in millions in research funding annually to the university and state. Finally, Kris Kimel was Lt. Governor Beshear’s Chief-of-Staff at the time and has spent the last several years growing and expanding the KSTC—an umbrella organization that oversees KY NSF EPSCoR as well as many other state programs that build science and technology capacity in Kentucky.
The atmosphere at the press announcement was that of a homecoming as the speakers reflected on the tremendous growth and success of the KY NSF EPSCoR program over the years. Announcement of the award represented a celebratory culmination of several years of hard work required to develop the successful proposal but also an important first step in continuing to build research capacity in the state. The press release was covered extensively by numerous media outlets across the state including both major newspapers and all the major news networks. A few of the newscast videos are available for viewing below.
| Courtesy WTVQ36 | Courtesy WLEX18 |
Former KY NSF EPSCoR Director Heads New State Government Cabinet
July 8, 2008
Governor Steve Beshear recently appointed Dr. Leonard Peters, the first Director of the Kentucky NSF EPSCoR program, as secretary of Kentucky’s new state Energy and Environment Cabinet. The Governor called Peters “a perfect selection in helping balance energy needs with environmental concerns,” according to an article originally published in the Lexington-Herald Leader. The new Cabinet is being established by splitting the state’s current Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet. According to Peters, the Energy and Environment Cabinet will combine the former Department for Environmental Protection, Department for Natural Resource and Governor’s Office of Energy Policy. It will both regulate policy in these areas and guide new endeavors in energy development.
Dr. Peters began advancing the scientific interests of the Commonwealth in 1985 by helping develop, with support from then Lt. Governor Steve Beshear, a grant proposal for nearly $16.5 million for the National Science Foundation. That grant award resulted in the creation of both the Kentucky NSF EPSCoR program and UK’s Center for Computational Sciences. Dr. Peters further served as the first Director of the EPSCoR program and recruited Dr. John Connolly (the current EPSCoR Director) to the University’s new Center for Computational Sciences. In 1990, Dr. Peters turned over the responsibilities of the EPSCoR program to Dr. Connolly.
In total, Dr. Peters completed nearly 20 years of service at the University of Kentucky. His duties included Professor of Engineering, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies and Acting President for Research and Graduate Studies. He also chaired the chemical engineering department and oversaw the Kentucky Geological Survey and the Center for Applied Energy Research and other research centers.
Dr. Peters’ latest assignment, prior to his government appointment, was as Vice President of Global Laboratory Operations for Battelle Memorial Institute, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. While at Batelle, Peters headed the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. His responsibilities included overseeing a budget of nearly $750 million and 4,200 scientists and support staff.
Now Dr. Peters has returned to Kentucky to help guide the Commonwealth forward in championing critical issues regarding energy and the environment. “[The Cabinet’s] goal is to develop an environmentally sound, comprehensive energy plan that contributes to our state’s economic development,” exclaimed Peters. He credits the Kentucky NSF EPSCoR program with paving the way for the progress that continues today. Peters stated, “The EPSCoR program provided a sense of importance for science and technology in Kentucky and technology-based economic development. It helped galvanize what we need to do in moving the Commonwealth forward and creating a culture change.”
EPSCoR Scientists Receive National Research Initiative Grant
May 19, 2008
EPSCoR researchers at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) have just been awarded a National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Award for over $323,000. The project, titled Watershed scale assessment of a karst drainage basin using microbial, geospatial, and geochemical approaches, will address the sources, fate and transport of pathogens (such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses) in soil, surface and ground water, and irrigation systems of agricultural and rural watersheds to reduce zoonotic pathogens in the environment. These findings are critical in addressing the relevance of karst topography and its relative influence on the hydrogeology and water quality of the Brushy Creek watershed located in rural southeastern Kentucky.
Once a karst area becomes polluted, it is generally very difficult to remediate due to unusual surface and subsurface features, such as underground drainage systems that may flow very rapidly over long distances. The originality of the proposed research lies in combining the knowledge of the karst environment through dye traces, implementation and effects of best management practices, and application of microbial source tracking techniques. These techniques utilize Bacteroides for the determination of potential pathogenic organisms, such as Escherichia coli, to develop a management concept of approaching water quality issues in such unique and complex environmental systems. The combination of these aforementioned factors with nutrient analyses, fecal pathogen analysis, and GIS-generated maps will provide a detailed description of how and where pathogens move through a karst system and aid in the subsequent development of an effective management plan to address the water quality of such watersheds.
Dr. Sloane Ritchey, Environmental Scientist at the Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at EKU, will function as the Principle Investigator for this 3 year award; beginning in July 2008. Dr. Ritchey’s service to the scientific community through the ERI was made possible by a 2005 Research Infrastructure Initiative (RII) award from the Kentucky NSF EPSCoR. That award funded her position and covered start-up costs for the ERI.
Watch a video about water quality in the Brushy Creek Watershed here.
EPSCoR Research Improves Kentucky Water Quality
May 19, 2008
KY NSF EPSCoR researchers at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) have secured a grant awarding nearly $250,000 for a project to assess water quality in eastern Kentucky communities. The Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute (ERI), which was created with financial support from the KY NSF EPSCoR from 2005-2008, is conducting a year-long assessment of the Left Fork of Beaver Creek in Floyd and Knott Counties under contract with the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW). The year-long study is under the direction of EKU faculty member and ERI Director, Dr. Alice Jones. The project began in April 2007 and consists of one to two days of monthly water sampling at 24 sites throughout the watershed.
Data from this study will help the DOW develop a "total maximum daily load" or TMDL report for the watershed that will incorporate details of the impairment(s), watershed characteristics and a general implementation plan to address the impairments and improve conditions in the watershed. All impaired water bodies under this project are listed on the 2006 303(d) List of Waters for Kentucky for not meeting the designated-use standard for primary contact recreation (swimming) and/or warm water aquatic habitat.
This is the second of two TMDL studies the ERI has conducted under contract with DOW. The first, the Right Fork of Beaver Creek, began in March 2007, and final data collection will conclude in June of 2008. Total award funding for the Right Fork project was $246,927.
Although numerous TMDL studies have been conducted statewide, these two studies conducted by the ERI are the only two currently planned for the “coal country” region of Appalachian Kentucky, where suspected pollution sources include raw sewage from straight-pipes, failing septic systems and runoff from active and abandoned mines. Sewage impacts include nutrients and biological pathogens; mine impacts include extreme pH, excessive conductivity, sedimentation and siltation, and heavy metals.
Important ERI objectives for these projects are to provide a diverse group of undergraduate students with real-world experience in proper scientific practices and methods in watershed assessment and evaluation. The ERI also tries to help students develop a genuine understanding of the changing ecosystems in the Appalachian area. To date, the two projects have employed more than 25 undergraduate students as field research assistants from a variety of disciplines including environmental health sciences, agriculture, geography, mathematics, anthropology, sociology and biology. Recently, Dr. John Connolly, Director of the KY NSF EPSCoR, accompanied Dr. Jones and her students for a field sampling exercise at Beaver Creek. “I really enjoyed talking to the students and the experience of trying different sampling techniques,” he remarked. Dr. Jones envisions involving even more students, staff and researchers in her activities prior to the end of the grant.
Watch a video about the Beaver Creek Watershed Assessment here.
STEM Rankings Reflect Kentucky's STEM Success in Education
April 15, 2008
Kentucky is among the top states in the nation in technology leadership according to a 2008 Technology Counts report. The report examines states' efforts at improving science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM). The rankings, which were reported in the March 2008 edition of Education Week, assess states' STEM progress in three areas: providing students access to technology, use of technology in students' education, and institutional and teacher capacity to use technology. The access metric is based on the percentage of students with computer access and the ratio of students to computers. The capacity metric reflects states' efforts to ensure the technology competence of their educators. Finally, the use metric reflects the technology standards set by states and their expectations and implementation of technology in academic processes.
According to Education Week, the nationwide average for the data is C+, with a majority of states falling into the C- to C+ range. Kentucky received a B+ average and is ranked 5th overall among all states. Other EPSCoR states, West Virginia and South Dakota, are also ranked in the top 5. Additionally, 10 of the top 16 states receiving a B average or better nationwide are EPSCoR states. The complete Technology Counts 2008 rankings can be found at http://www.edweek.org/we/toc/2008/03/27/index.html.
Kentucky is poised to put even more emphasis on STEM education through a proposal from Lexington Mayor, Jim Newberry. Newberry announced a college scholarship plan in March that would provide tuition to every Fayette County high school graduate pursing a degree in a STEM field. The only other qualification is that they must attend an institution of higher education within an hour's drive of Lexington. The award amounts will vary and are renewable for up to four years. Students who have attended school in the county from kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible for 100 percent of tuition. Students who have attended at least four years of high school in Fayette County are eligible for up to 40 percent of tuition. Recipients would also be required to seek available financial aid to reduce the scholarship amount from the city. The plan, which would be funded by taxpayers and calls for support by public and private contributions, has not yet been approved by the Urban County Council.
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Kentucky State University Excels at National NSBE Conference
April 23, 2008
From March 19-22, 2008, 28 members of Kentucky State University's (KSU) chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) participated in the organization's annual conference in Orlando, FL. The goal of the NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. KSU was one of over 700 schools in attendance bringing over 13,000 students to the event. The theme of this year's conference was "Igniting the Torch - Engineering in Action." Throughout the week, the students were able to participate in workshops, job interviews with over 350 companies and competitions of various sorts. Several KSU students received multiple interview opportunities resulting in job offers.
During the national convention, Kentucky State University students were nationally recognized for their outstanding achievements. Junior technology major, Mackendy Alcinvil, was named the 2008 GE African American Forum Scholar. This scholarship is available to rising juniors and seniors majoring in specified technical disciplines who are attending an accredited university in regions I-IV. Alcinvil received a $3,500 scholarship and an internship opportunity or job offer from GE.
Sabrina Anderson, president of KSU's NSBE chapter, was also recognized during the proceedings. She received third place in the Mike Shinn NSBE Distinguished Member of the Year award competition. The award is given to students who demonstrate high scholastic performance, dedicate service to the Society and other organizations, and possess significant professional promise. Anderson received a $2,500 scholarship and will represent Kentucky State University as a member on the NSBE's Regional Executive Board. Further, Ms. Anderson received the Chapter Presidents’ Visionary Award for her outstanding contributions and dedication to KSU's chapter.
Kentucky NSF EPSCoR supported the travel of the KSU NSBE students so they could attend this conference and is proud of their accomplishments. For additional information about related KY NSF EPSCoR programs at Kentucky colleges and universities, please reference our website: http://www.kynsfepscor.org/outreach.html.
Back to TopKentucky Gains Ground in Business Churning Metrics
April 7, 2008
In a recent survey by the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI)*, Kentucky showed significant improvement when compared to other states concerning business churning. Business churning is a yearly measure combining the creation of new companies and the death of existing companies as a share of a state's total firms. Since 2000, Kentucky has moved up 15 spots from 48th to 33rd nationally. This places it among the top 5 most improved states as reported by SSTI. The full text for this article can be found by clicking here.
Former participants in the Kentucky NSF EPSCoR program have played an integral part in Kentucky's business churning success through securing federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards. EPSCoR funded PIs and co-PIs have secured nearly $2.4 million in SBIR funding since 1997. These monies have provided for the creation and sustainability of 9 business ventures within Kentucky.
Kentucky companies recently formed through EPSCoR participants' SBIR support include Mersive Technologies and Lumenware, LLC. Mersive Technologies is a spin-off of a 2005 Kentucky NSF EPSCoR award in visualization technology. In March 2008, it was awarded an SBIR Phase II award for an additional $500,000 to continue its work and growth. Mersive’s software enables new displays at much higher resolution for a fraction of the cost, aimed at revolutionizing the way we work, play, and interact. Lumenware, LLC is currently developing, branding and marketing Axis Technology, used in information-sensitive industries such as healthcare and banking. Lumenware, LLC is currently seeking investors to launch a worldwide distribution of their secure, mobile technology.
*SSTI's current rankings are found at http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/013008t.htm.
Student Symposium Creates Opportunities for Underrepresented STEM Students
March 16, 2008
On Friday, February 29th and Saturday, March 1st, 70 students converged upon downtown Lexington at the Radisson hotel for a two-day symposium sponsored by the Kentucky-West Virginia Alliance for Minority Participation. The event was organized by Dr. Ingrid St. Omer, University of Kentucky engineering professor and co-principal investigator of the Kentucky-West Virginia Alliance for Minority Participation, and Mr. Michael Lee, Executive Director of the Alliance. Throughout the symposium, students had opportunities to present their original research and meet students and administrators from several schools, colleges and universities throughout Kentucky and West Virginia. Among the activities available at the symposium, entitled Challenging, Leading and Providing Opportunities for Success in STEM were sessions on graduate school opportunities, interviewing techniques and networking.
Students were offered an in-depth look into graduate school selection, preparation and financing opportunities by Dr. Marcus Huggans, senior recruiter and programs specialist for the National Graduate Education for Minorities (GEM) Consortium. The Consortium's mission is to increase the number of minority students earning graduate degrees in science and engineering. To help accomplish this goal, it offers fellowships that provide financial support to students in emerging/burgeoning populations who wish to pursue graduate study in engineering and natural and physical sciences at the nation's top universities and research institutions.
Special guests Dr. Joe Martin, founder of RealWorld University, and Dr. Aprille Ericsson, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, MD, gave keynote addresses at the Saturday afternoon luncheon and Friday night banquet, respectively. Both speakers offered motivational presentations, encouraging students to reach their maximum potential personally and professionally. Dr. Ericsson commented, "I feel it is important to create an early mathematical and/or scientific interest in young people and maintain it throughout their later years; therefore, I work with all age groups: elementary, junior high school, high school and college."
For additional information about the Kentucky-West Virginia LSAMP program, visit http://www.kynsfepscor.org/outreach.html. Kentucky NSF EPSCoR is a proud financial partner supporting KY-WV LSAMP programming and its students. Alliance members in the state of Kentucky are the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Centre College, Kentucky State University, Western Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
Kentucky among Top States Receiving Science and Engineering Dollars, Research and Development Funds
March 16, 2008
Kentucky continues to show marked improvement in attracting federal science and engineering (S&E) dollars to its colleges and universities. Recent data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) documents Kentucky's rise in overall state national rankings, by 5 positions, from 33rd in 1998 to 28th in 2005. (For complete NSF data from which these rankings were derived, click here.) Kentucky was the only state ranked in the top 30 in 2005 to have advanced as many positions. A retrospective look from 1998 to 2005 shows that Kentucky’s growth is all the more exceptional considering only two other states in the top 30 advanced more than one position during this time. (Tennessee advanced 3 positions and Ohio advanced 2 positions.)
A similar NSF data source detailing federally financed academic research and development (R&D) expenditures at universities and colleges also demonstrates Kentucky's progress. In 1985, Kentucky received .35% of all available federal academic R&D monies according to webcaspar.nsf.gov. That percentage had grown to .79% in 2006; the most current year for which data is available. The chart below illustrates its growth in relation to other EPSCoR states from 1985-2006. The average percentage of R&D monies received by EPSCoR states during that time, excluding Kentucky, grew from .384% to .47%. In comparison, Kentucky's share grew from .35% to .79%. In terms of overall percentage increase, the EPSCoR states' average (excluding Kentucky) grew by 22.4% while Kentucky saw phenomenal growth of 125.7%.
Click here to download the PDF file.
KY NSF EPSCoR Initiative Provides Large Return on Investment
February 12, 2008
In 2002, Kentucky NSF EPSCoR invested nearly 2.4 million dollars through its Research Infrastructure Initiative program in developing an Environmental Research and Training Laboratory (ERTL) at the University of Kentucky. The mission of the lab is to provide high quality data to support research, education and industry. This mission is accomplished by educating users in advanced analytical techniques with an emphasis on quality assurance and control, resulting in academic products that support not only their research, but future career efforts as well. Since its inception, the facility has had a great impact; proving its value at both the university and state level.
At the university level, this investment is helping produce scholars with significant theoretical and practical knowledge. Departmental figures show that the ERTL facility has provided in-depth, hands-on training to an average of 95 participants per year over the last two and a half years. Tricia Coakley, one of the lab managers, says "ERTL is the place where students come first," and student users echo those sentiments as well. A substantial part of ERTL's mission is to make its users proficient in producing their own quality controlled data so they can use those skills later in their careers or in their education. Data from 2005 states that of the 35 accepted peer-review research publications associated with the ERTL, 21 were first-authored by students.
Statewide, this investment is also helping on multiple levels including supporting research and generating revenue for operating expenses. 2005 figures show that ERTL is supporting funded research totaling $8 million per year and is generating an estimated $2.4 million in indirect costs. Currently, ERTL has the only functioning isotope-ratio mass spectrometer in the state and researchers have open access to a wealth of other cutting-edge instrumentation in one facility. These capabilities entice top-quality faculty, staff and students to the institution, where their research contributes to the state's pursuit of national recognition on an educational and industrial level. The ERTL's reach across Kentucky is broad. Currently, it serves 6 colleges on UK's campus along with other regional institutions, state and local governments, K-12 schools and industrial users. The ERTL facility at the University of Kentucky has built considerable scientific infrastructure that will prove long-lasting in the state's continued pursuit of national competitiveness and educational prominence.
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Kentucky NSF EPSCoR Broadens Students' Horizons
February 1, 2008
When Vivian Ojogun, doctoral candidate in the University of Kentucky's Chemical & Materials Engineering program, began investigating professional job opportunities, she didn't expect EPSCoR to play a part in her success. However, when she met with a representative from a prominent laboratory, she found out that company was particularly interested in her experience provided through the UK Environmental Research and Training Lab (ERTL). The ERTL was founded through a Kentucky NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Initiative grant in 2002. Vivian's role in the lab is as a Graduate Assistant to the Organics Scientist, John May, overseeing quality control, setting up experiments for other lab users and maintaining equipment. "As an engineer [there], I would be working with the same equipment contained in the ERTL lab. Most other candidates wouldn't have this sort of experience," she says.
Vivian's research outside the ERTL investigates the thermodynamic properties of fluorinated systems. She determines the capabilities of fluorinated surface active agents (sufactants), found commonly in lotions and soap, related to their function as drug delivery vehicles and in material synthesis. While working in the ERTL, she is required to teach other students principles and practices that relate to achieving top quality research, providing another avenue to refine her skills. She also credits the ERTL staff for providing help to students, including her, solve problems and expand their aptitude for "lateral" thinking across their disciplines.
Ms. Ojogun encourages other students to get involved in EPSCoR projects as well. "Go for it…..150%!" she says. Undergraduate and graduate students who take advantage of EPSCoR programming have the opportunity to network with professionals in their fields and receive an added research dimension to their educational experience. Interested students may contact Jessica Creech, Diversity and Evaluation Coordinator, at jessica.creech@uky.edu for more information about how to become involved at their institution.
Kentucky EPSCoR Funded Facilities Rank among Top Ten Nationwide, Attract Millions in Follow-On Funding
September 14, 2007
Abbie Gregg, Inc., a cleanroom consultant firm, has listed the University of Louisville (UofL) as one of the top 10 university cleanroom facilities in the country. Further, Small Times Magazine listed the UofL Micro/NanoTechnology Center, which houses the cleanroom, as a top 10 university facility in the May/June 2007 Issue. Kentucky NSF EPSCoR has enabled UofL to purchase state-of-the-art instrumentation, attract outstanding new faculty, hire excellent staff and support top quality graduate students. The new faculty recruits have received National Science Foundation (NSF) funding in their 1st or 2nd year, including NSF Career Awards, and the prestigious Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Early Career Awards. Among those receiving NSF support is Dr. Cindy Harnett, UofL's the first female professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her current $400,000 NSF Career Award, which began in summer 2007, is a five year project establishing a wireless sensor network for monitoring conditions in lakes, streams and other underwater environments. Students from both UofL and Eastern Kentucky University are active in this research project.
The origins of UofL's achievements are found in EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Initiative (RII) awards. University of Louisville professors Rob Keynton and Bruce Alphenaar, together with Kevin Walsh (Director, UofL Cleanroom), Bob Cohn (Director, UofL Nanotechnology Core Facility) and other colleagues at UofL, received complementary NSF EPSCoR Infrastructure awards in March of 2002 and May of 2005 to build and strengthen UofL's Bio, Nano, and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Core Facility and to create a nationally competitive nanotechnology research and education center. Collectively, these two awards offered a $6 million budget over six years. Faculty associated with the UofL Micro/NanoTechnology Center have been successful in securing over $33.6 million ($11.3 M due to the first Research Infrastructure Initiative award and $22.3 M to date due to the second RII award) in additional external/federal funding since the NSF EPSCoR program began supporting the Center. In addition, six technical start-up companies have formed as a result of the resource growth in this new facility. They are: Assenti, LLC, OrthoData Technologies, LLC, Sentinel, LLC, UltraTrace Detection, LLC, NaugaNeedles, LLC, and Cardiovascular Sensing Technologies, LLC.
EPSCoR Helps Boost Federal R&D Obligations and Expenditures for Kentucky Universities and Colleges
July 17, 2007
Kentucky is showing verifiable progress in its pursuit of competitiveness on a national scale. Two recent reports from independent sources confirm Kentucky's progress in attracting federal Research and Development (R&D) dollars.
A 1999-2003 report from the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) details federal obligations to colleges and universities nationwide. This report confirms that federal obligations for Kentucky have increased in that time by 84.72%. This nearly doubles the national growth average of 47.61% in that same period. The most recent rankings show Kentucky ranking 29th nationally. The state has climbed four spots in the rankings since 2002--making it the only state in the country to do so.
EPSCoR states are collectively gaining ground in competitiveness for federal obligations. According to the same SSTI information, the top five performers are exclusively NSF EPSCoR states. Further, fourteen of the top fifteen (in terms of percentage growth) are EPSCoR jurisdictions. For states' performance details nationwide, click here to view the full SSTI listing.
Also, a 2005 NSF survey of R&D expenditures at colleges and universities shows Kentucky's percentage of the national total to be about .76% -- more than double the percentage received 20 years ago when Kentucky first joined EPSCoR. The figure below shows Kentucky's progress over that time and compares the state's growth with other groupings of EPSCoR states based on 1985 allocation averages. While all the EPSCoR groupings have shown growth and improvement during that time, Kentucky's growth has been exceptional and is quickly approaching the average percentage distribution of the top EPSCoR jurisdictions as measured by this metric.
Click here to download the full page .pdf file.
University of Kentucky Supercomputer Ranks First Among EPSCoR States, Eighth Nationally
July 14, 2007
A 2007 ranking of Supercomputers from top500.org places the University of Kentucky first among public universities in EPSCoR states and eighth among public universities nationwide. UK has surpassed the likes of other well equipped public and private universities such as Brigham Young University, Virginia Tech, and Harvard University. The list, released at the June 2007 International Supercomputing Conference in Dresden, Germany, ranks UK's supercomputer 66th in the world among all competitors from both public and private institutions and research centers. Top500's rankings are based on the machines' performance using Linpack benchmark computer code.
UK's state-of-the-art IBM System Cluster 1350 offers a peak performance of 16 teraflops of calculation capacity, handling up to 16.3 trillion calculations per second. The Center for Computational Sciences currently houses and maintains the system. It was formed in 1987 from EPSCoR funds, requested by a Computational Sciences focus group at the University. The high-powered machine has been utilized among its faculty in many noteworthy research projects. Three of them are detailed below:
Peter Spielmann, associate professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry, is investigating how DNA repair systems recognize damage within cells. He is currently completing a project titled Synthetic Probes of Protein Prenylation with a $1.2 million multi-year grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Madhu Menon, associate director of the Center for Computational Sciences, conducts computational simulations that allow him to identify and predict the optimal atomic structures of nanowires. In 2007, Dr. Menon received an award for $119,000 from the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program to purchase a SGI Altix computational device to aid in his research.
Christopher Jaynes, former professor of computer science, is investigating wide-area video surveillance. In 2005, Jaynes received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant for $100,000 to form Mersive Technologies and continue his research in the private sector. To read more about Dr. Jaynes’ SBIR award, click here.
Zoologist Builds Genomics Program at UK
July 1, 2007
Focused EPSCoR investments continue to develop infrastructure in Kentucky and throughout the nation by supporting high caliber research activities. These initial investments are paying off in the form of additional follow-on funding grants that EPSCoR scientists bring to their state and institution. Dr. S. Randal Voss, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center at the University of Kentucky (UK), is a brilliant example of EPSCoR's impact and potential for success.
Beginning with his pursuit of a Ph.D. in Zoology at Clemson University, he has benefited from numerous EPSCoR funds. As a graduate student, Dr. Voss received a research assistantship that was created through an award from South Carolina EPSCoR. This opportunity allowed him to conduct research using state-of-the-art equipment in the area of biotechnology. This opportunity further led to his receiving a NSF Dissertation Improvement Grant and Clemson's prestigious R.C. Edwards Award that recognizes outstanding graduate student research. Since receiving his first EPSCoR award, Voss has received over 5 million dollars in follow-on funding. Voss, himself, is surprised by that total. "Until now, I'd never really done the math," he said.
Dr. Voss was recruited to UK through a Kentucky NSF EPSCoR start-up package and has been at the institution since 2002. According to Voss, the opportunity to build a program in Genomics at UK enticed him to make the move from Colorado State University. The Genetic Stock Center (which serves national and international interests) and its participation in the Salamander Genome Project put Voss on the cutting edge of biomedical research on: regeneration, vision, neural transmission, renal function, embryogenesis, heart development and olfaction.
Upon his arrival at UK, Dr. Voss brought with him a NSF Career Development Award to integrate genomics in research and teaching. He has already formed collaborations with researchers at UK and across the state, including Dr. Steven Richter who recently accepted a position at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Voss is collaborating with researchers from high-profile places like the Salk Institute, UC-Irvine, UC-Davis, and U. Washington. He is also in collaboration with researchers from smaller institutions like Mount Union College in Ohio and Minot State U. in North Dakota; another EPSCoR state. He is currently funded by the NSF, NIH, and the Kentucky Spinal Cord and Injury Research Trust.
EPSCoR Helps Catapult UK in National Ranking
March 1, 2007
The University of Kentucky's (UK) Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry is currently 12th in a nationwide ranking of public medical schools by department. It has vaulted to this position from 20th in only 2003. This information is provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has more than doubled its funding to UK over the last four years.
Financial support from KY NSF EPSCoR, from 2002-2005 via an RII Infrastructure Initiative in biochemistry/proteomics, was instrumental in helping to bring about this success. Two UK researchers, Drs. Zhu and Chi, were recruited to the university with KY NSF EPSCoR start-up packages as part of the EPSCoR initiative to develop a nationally recognized center-of-excellence in proteomics research. The NIH rankings reveal outstanding progress toward this goal. Their participation was also essential in securing an additional $10 million in funding via a NIH COBRE (Center Of Biomedical Research Excellence) grant. Successfully attracting competitive research funding from the National Science Foundation has also provided substantial momentum and support to the researchers.
Prior to EPSCoR funding, the Biochemistry department ranked nearly 30th among public colleges and universities nationwide. However, after receiving the award, it's moved into the top twelve. This example of EPSCoR as a catalyst for ensuring long-term competitiveness is the model for effectiveness in all EPSCoR endeavors.
New Research Scholars Program Aimed at Increasing Student Participation
February 16, 2007
A new program launched by Kentucky NSF EPSCoR is designed to increase undergraduate and graduate participation in science, technology, engineering and math majors at institutions throughout the state. Students from any post-secondary school in the state are eligible to participate. The Kentucky NSF EPSCoR Research Scholars Program provides financial support for primarily underrepresented students conducting research in areas congruent with RII initiatives. Currently, these areas change on a rotating, three year basis. Through May 2008, EPSCoR is funding research in nanotechnology, visualization and virtual environments, metabolomics and environmental science. Researchers in these projects are based at Kentucky State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University.
Current RSP awardees are active at the local, state, national and international level in their fields. They have made presentations at national and international conferences, contributed to published articles and were able to devote additional time to research through RSP grant money. For more information on how you can apply to this program, visit the funding link on this website.
Environmental Research Institute (ERI) Impacts the Region
January 30, 2007
Undergraduates, graduate students and community members received a hands-on education in environmental studies through the research activities taking place at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at Eastern Kentucky University. Project leaders Dr. Alice Jones and Dr. Danita LaSage have been instrumental in providing practical and pertinent research opportunities for EKU students that impact their communities. From June through September 2006, more than 30 volunteers and researchers performed "The Big Dip" - logging over 7,000 miles and collecting 900 water samples in southeast Kentucky to assess the health of local rivers and streams. Results showed that two-thirds of the samples possessed extreme values of pH, conductivity or iron.
"The Big Dip" project kicked off in June with a four day environmental field camp at Lilly Cornett Woods forest preserve in Letcher County. Researchers from three Kentucky universities were joined by nine eastern Kentucky high school teachers enrolled in a summer "Ecology for Teachers" class. Also joining them were twelve area high school students from Appalshop's Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) who produced a short documentary film and joined in the research. Plans are already being made to hold another field camp in June 2007 and to expand the "Big Dip" project into adjacent watersheds.
To learn more about EKU's Environmental Research Institute, go to EKUcast 04: EKU Environmental Research Institute
Follow-on Funding Success Through SBIR
January 28, 2007Kentucky researchers funded by NSF EPSCoR have achieved considerable success in securing follow-on funding for economic development. Among the notables are four projects receiving over $1 million from the NSF and NIH Phase I and II SBIR grant programs. Researchers are working in the areas of visual imaging, biometric authentication, and disease prevention.
Along with developing technologies that are cutting edge for industries such as health care, law enforcement, and electronics, these projects are also creating jobs to keep highly educated, well trained professionals in Kentucky. Chris Jaynes, Principal Investigator for NSF SBIR initiative Mersive Technologies, is actively recruiting and training Ph.D. recipients from Kentucky. Mersive's goal is to develop digital capabilities that will merge functionality, accessibility and affordability in creating large, high resolution visual displays. Mersive was created using a $100,000 SBIR Phase I grant.
Other follow-on funding includes $100,000 awards to Mostert Research Group (Paul Mostert - PI) for 3-D visualization research and Lumenware LLC (Charles Martin - PI) for biometric authentication processes research. An NIH SBIR Phase II award for $750,000 was awarded to Assenti, LLC (Doug Jackson - PI) for intraocular pressure sensor development for glaucoma prevention.
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EPSCoR Scientist Featured in Semiconductor International
December 15, 2006
Zhi Chen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Kentucky (UK), was recently published in the leading trade journal, Semiconductor International. The March 2006 issue of the journal features Chen's research on conventional gate dielectrics. According to the article, Chen's research found that "RTP anneals in nitrogen and deuterium (D) can improve the insulating qualities of gate insulators so that their direct tunneling current is reduced by 10,000 - 100,000x. The RTP steps enhance a previously unknown phonon-energy-coupling effect (PECE), discovered by the researchers."
Dr. Chen, along with researchers at the University of Louisville and Kentucky State University, are currently funded for a $5.7 million project through Kentucky NSF EPSCoR. Their research focus for this award centers on nanotechnology in four main areas: electronics, sensors, materials and bio-technology