Maverick Science mag 2013-14.compressed

MAVERICK SCIENCE

The College of Science Magazine The University of Texas at Arlington 2013-14

Sedimentary
Education

In the foothills of Wyoming, Majie Fan is
examining the geologic record to learn
what processes and climate changes
formed the Central Rocky Mountains

Lighting the way Learning the secrets of the sea Taking a wider view

Samarendra Mohanty uses innovative techniques Alumnus Robert Stewart reflects on a fascinating Sophia Passy applies concepts of macroecology
to create better ways to target and treat disease 50-year career in physical oceanography to find solutions to micro-level problems

Message from the Dean

Changing the status quo on women in science

Welcome to the 2013-14 edition of Maverick Science,
the magazine that puts a spotlight on what’s happening in
the UT Arlington College of Science.

We have a lot of exciting things going on in our College
and in the following pages, you’ll be able to read about
many of them. From the groundbreaking research being
done by our award-winning faculty and students, to the
top-notch teaching being done in our classrooms and labs,
to the positive impact being made by our alumni in a vari-
ety of fields, the College of Science is making a difference
and is leading the way in finding solutions through science.

I’d like to take a few moments to touch on a topic that is

very important to me and, I’m sure, to all of us: Why aren’t

there more women in STEM (science, technology, engi-

neering and math) fields?

Eileen Pollack makes many good points regarding this

question in an article she wrote for the New York Times

Magazine last October. She knows the subject matter all

too well: She graduated summa cum laude with a bache-

lor’s in physics from Yale in 1978 but said that not one of Kevin Gaddis Jr.
her professors encouraged her to go to graduate school. In-
stead, she went on to become an acclaimed novelist. In the Dean Jansma congratulates a member of the Class of 2013 during the Spring 2013 College of
article, Pollack cites a 2013 Yale study which found that Science commencement ceremony in May.

“only one-fifth of physics Ph.D.s in this country are awarded to women, and what they can accomplish only by their imagination.

only about half of those women are American; of all the physics professors in There were fun games, workshops and a Q&A forum with four women

the United States, only 14 percent are women.” Women are also underrepre- who have forged or are forging successful careers using math as their foun-

sented in chemistry, mathematics, geology and, to a lesser extent, biology. dation. The girls were able to ask questions and hear the truth straight from

The reasons for this are varied. Some are tied to cultural perceptions and women who have proved the point: Girls can succeed in science and math.

stereotypes, others to gender bias, and still others to marginalization of Much progress has been made in recent years, yet much remains to be

women in the workplace. It all starts, however, in primary and secondary done. Issues such as unequal pay, lab space and resources for female faculty

school. Although girls fare just as well as boys in math and science through persist nationwide. Worries about childcare options for female faculty who

fifth grade, by the time they reach high school, many girls are discouraged want to start families are always present, as women are still by and large seen

from pursuing more advanced science and math classes by the persistent but as the primary caregivers for their families. The percentage of women science

incorrect notion that girls aren’t able to comprehend these subjects as well as faculty members at most universities is still very small. To change that, we

boys. Their friends may tease them for wanting to be “nerds” or “geeks” and need more women master’s and Ph.D. graduates so that the job candidate

in some cases their own counselors and advisors may try to steer them into pool will include more women.

more socially oriented fields. In the next decade, the number of STEM graduates that will be needed

The single greatest reason most women who are interested in pursuing for the United States to retain its long-held status as the world leader in the

degrees in math and science give when asked why they abandon those pur- science and technology fields is expected to be one million more than the

suits is the same one Pollack said she experienced – a lack of encouragement number the nation is on target to produce. This could have dire effects on

along the way. They simply didn’t have anyone telling them they were just as our economy. A 2012 report commissioned by the White House said that

capable as boys and in fact, in many cases, people told them they couldn’t members of the “underrepresented majority” – women and minorities –

and wouldn’t succeed as scientists and mathematicians, simply because of now make up around 70 percent of college students while comprising

their gender. This is what we all as a society must find a way to change. around 45 percent of students who receive undergraduate degrees in STEM

fields. The report notes that this “underrepresented majority” is a tremen-

In the College of Science, we’re doing everything we can to overcome dous potential source of STEM professionals.

these long-standing obstacles. We have outstanding female faculty in each Women make up roughly half the population in the United States. Now

department, and through their hard work and dedication to their students in more than ever, we truly cannot afford to accept the status quo when it

the classroom and in the lab, they’re proving that the notion of women being comes to women’s participation in science and math.

less capable in math and science is a myth. You’ll read about four of them in

this magazine: Majie Fan in earth and environmental science; Nicolette I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read this magazine, and please feel free

Lopez in psychology; Sophia Passy in biology; and Michaela Vancliff in math. to let us know what you think. Alumni, we would love to hear from you and

They, along with their male colleagues, Subhrangsu Mandal in chemistry reconnect with you. If you’re in the neighborhood, please drop by campus

and Samarendra Mohanty in physics, are representative of the great, innova- and say hello. Thanks and best wishes to all of you.

tive work being done by our faculty and their students – male and female.

We also do a great deal of outreach in K-12 education, including a sub-

stantial amount with young girls, who disproportionately move away from

science and math as they get older. Last October, our Department of Mathe-

matics hosted over 100 girls in fifth and sixth grades from Arlington schools

for a day of Mavericks in Math. The event was intended as a way to encour-

age girls – particularly minorities and those from low-income households – Pamela Jansma,

to study math, and to show these bright young ladies that they are limited in Dean of the College of Science

MAVERICK SCIENCE

The College of Science Magazine The University of Texas at Arlington 2013-14

CONTENTS

Features

20 32

Crunching the strata Shining a light

Geologist Majie Fan and her students Samarendra Mohanty’s innovative ap-
study sedimentary rock to learn about proach to biophysics research utilizes
what the Earth was like millions of the latest technology as he and his
years ago and how geologic processes students work on more effective ways
and changes in climate shaped the to find and treat disease.
world we live in today.

24 38 36

Breaking it down A half century A win-win scenario

Biochemist Subhrangsu Mandal and of making waves e UT Arlington I/O Psychology
his students are examining genes and Center matches master’s students with
DNA to discover ways to fight the for- Robert Stewart didn’t know what oceanography area businesses, and Nicolette Lopez
mation and spread of diseases such as was when he was attending Arlington State has helped make the internship pro-
cancer. College in the early 1960s. It quickly became his gram a smashing success.
passion thereaer, and the physics training he
received while at ASC served him well over the
course of a fascinating 50-year career studying
the physical properties of the ocean.

28 Above, Robert 42
Stewart on campus
e big picture in November 2013, Abstract artist
and at right, in his
Sophia Passy and her students focus Army Corps uni- Michaela Vancliff is an expert in a
on ecology of a large scale to address form as a freshman branch of algebra that even many
more specific issues such as how wa- at Arlington State mathematicians find mystifying. Her
tershed wetlands can help remediate College in 1959. exacting standards help prepare her
the damage done by acidification to students for successful careers in math
streams in the Adirondacks. 6 Tributes research and teaching.
10 College News
Departments 44 Faculty News
45 Student and Alumni News
2 Dean’s Message

4 Science Scene

Science Scene

A unique opportunity

e Shimadzu Institute
for Research Technologies
allows students to utilize
cutting-edge equipment
to conduct research

Groundbreaking research in a host of fields

will be the hallmark of UT Arlington’s Shi-

madzu Institute for Research Technologies. Of-

fering students the chance to fully participate

in that research is something which will set the

University and the institute apart.

Students are already benefiting from access

to some of the most advanced scientific instru-

mentation in the world. Two new teaching lab-

oratories – one in chemistry and one in biology

– opened in the Fall 2013 semester, and four of

the institute’s new centers are scheduled to

open in 2014. They will join four centers al-

ready open or repurposed from earlier incar-

nations to give UT Arlington students and

faculty access to eight diverse centers of excel-

lence in which to share instrumentation and in-

novations across disciplines. The wealth of

technology also puts UT Arlington in a unique

position to support research and development

across the United States and attract outside in-

vestments.

“Our students will learn through experience

with instrumentation not available at universi-

ties elsewhere in the world,” said Carolyn

Cason, UT Arlington vice

president for research.

“The Shimadzu Institute

is not only a resource for

private business, but is

also an educational hub

that will prepare our next

generation of researchers,

Cason scientists and innova-
tors.”
Brandon Wade
The Shimadzu Institute for Research Tech-
Doctoral student and gradu-
nologies is the product of a $25.2 million in- ate research assistant Doug
Carlton Jr., above, queues
vestment in research. UT Arlington established samples with the autosampler
to separate and detect the
the Institute in October 2012 with the support volatile compounds using gas
chromatography - tandem
of a $7.5 million gift from Shimadzu Scientific mass spectrometry in the 
Shimadzu Center for Ad-
Instruments, Shimadzu’s Maryland-based U.S. vanced Analytical Chemistry.
At left, Li Li, left and Jana
subsidiary. UT Arlington is home to the widest Chalupova flush the inlet of a
mass spectrometer.
range of instruments from worldwide technol-

ogy leader Shimadzu Corp. in the United

States. Shimadzu Corp. has worldwide sales of

$3 billion annually.

Faculty members and research teams are

planning projects that will put Shimadzu in-

strumentation in the hands of a variety of un-

dergraduates – from nursing and biology

students studying basic chemistry to future en-

4 Maverick Science 2013-14

Science Scene

gineers and chemistry majors previously were operated by dif-

headed toward careers in drug de- ferent departments – have been

velopment, epidemiology or food or are being transitioned to the

science. In addition, a $50,000 Institute’s domain this spring.

portion of the Shimadzu gift was They will be joined this year by

designated to establish the Shi- the Shimadzu Center for Bio-

madzu Undergraduate Research Molecular Imaging, the Shi-

Excellence (SURE) Fund. That madzu Center for Environmental,

fund will be used to support inno- Forensics and Material Science,

vative models in undergraduate re- and the Shimadzu Center for

search. Brain Imaging.

“Our teaching labs are being The innovative research being

employed to involve students as done by UT Arlington faculty

early as their freshman year,” said members and their students,

Joe Barrera, director of the insti- combined with the technology

tute. “This assures that all stu- that the University’s partnership

dents, regardless of their chosen with Shimadzu makes possible,

major, will train and learn on the will give UT Arlington students a

same cutting-edge instruments distinct advantage in the job mar-

that are found in the facilities. I feel ket once they earn their degrees.

this quote by an outside observer “For students, being able to

puts it into perspective: ‘UTA un- “Our teaching labs are being employed to discuss this unique, hands-on ex-
perience is quite reassuring for
dergraduate students are training
on instrumentation (teaching labs) involve students as early as their freshman year. future employers,” Carlton said.
usually reserved for advanced “In many university research
graduate students, while graduate is assures that all students, regardless of their labs, a student is hampered by
students use instrumentation (fa- the question, ‘How can I make
my research work with the instru-
chosen major, will train and learn on the samecilities) usually reserved for expe-
rienced industry researchers.’ ” ment that I have?’ At UT Arling-
ton, we are now challenged with
cutting-edge instruments that are found in theFor students like Doug Carlton

Jr. – a doctoral student and grad- the question, ‘How can I make
the research phenomenal with all
facilities.”uate research assistant whose re-

search utilizes the Shimadzu – Joe Barrera, the instruments that I have?’ ”
Center for Advanced Analytical That’s just the kind of chal-
Shimadzu Institute for Research Technologies director lenge that scientists love, and be-
Chemistry (SCAAC) – the institute

presents a unique opportunity to cause of the Shimadzu Institute
work with instrumentation that places no limits “The variety of instruments housed in the for Research Technologies, it’s going to be a com-
SCAAC is unmatched by any other academic lab- mon one at UT Arlington.
on what can be achieved. oratory and nearly unmatched by any industrial

research laboratory,” Carlton said. “The same in-

struments that students are able to operate in the

SCAAC and teaching labs are being used in all

fields – environmental, energy, food and drug,

forensic, and others – around the globe.”

The SCAAC was the first component of the in-

stitute to open, in Spring 2012. Last summer, re-

search conducted at the center by Shimadzu

Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry

Kevin Schug and his lab group on potential con-

tamination at private water wells near natural gas

drilling sites made national and international

headlines.

“The partnership with Shimadzu brings the

most cutting-edge technologies to UT Arlington

in chemistry, biology, material science and many

more,” Barrera said. “In addition, beyond having

the instrumentation, we are maximizing its im-

pact by (1) having an open-access policy and being

available to all researchers not only here at UTA,

but all North Texas researchers as well, and (2)

hiring our own research staff in order to provide

sample analysis to researchers across the world.”

The University’s Animal Care Facility was ren-

ovated and upgraded in November 2013 and be-

A student conducts an experiment by infusing so- came part of the institute. The Nanotechnology A student uses a pipette, or chemical dropper, to
lutions containing analytes into a mass spectrom- Research Center, Center for Human Genomics transport liquid  from a vial into a microwell plate
eter inlet to observe the degree of ion formation. and the Center for Materials Genome – which for use in analytical research.

Maverick Science 2013-14 5

Tribute w Na’il Fazleev (1948-2013)

Scholar with a noble heart loved physics, the outdoors

Na’il Fazleev will be remembered as a brilliant physicist whose He was the driving force behind the department’s push to re-
research in condensed matter theory, surface physics, nanomag- ceive a Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN)
netism, and positron physics earned him international acclaim. grant from the Department of Education, heading the grant pro-
But to those close to him, he will also be remembered as a hard- posal committee. The department has received the research grant
working professor who cared for his colleagues and students, and twice, providing critical financial support for graduate students.
a gifted musician and athlete.
Suresh Sharma, a professor of physics who met Dr. Fazleev in
Dr. Fazleev, an associate professor in the Department of 1982 and wrote numerous papers with him, recalled his late friend
Physics, died October 9 at age 65 from complications of a stroke as an extremely hard worker who had a penchant for procrasti-
suffered two days earlier. A celebration of life service was held on nation.
October 11 at Moore Memorial Gardens followed by a reception
and memorial at UT Arlington in the University Club in Davis “We once had a grant proposal that was due at 5 p.m., and he
Hall. came in my office at 4:30 asking to read over the proposal again,”
Sharma said. “He had already read it a million times and made as
“Na’il was a key person in the history of our department,” said many changes, but he wanted to check everything one last time.
Alex Weiss, professor and chair of the UT Arlington physics de- Na’il Fazleev He took it in his office and came back 10 minutes later and said it
partment, and also a good friend and frequent collaborator of Dr. was OK. He cared about details.”
Fazleev. “He made tremendous contributions to our department in increasing the James Rejcek, a former Ph.D. student of Dr. Fazleev’s who earned B.S., M.S. and
number of graduate students. He was always upbeat, always enthusiastic and always doctoral degrees at UT Arlington, said his mentor was passionate about physics and
encouraging. I’ve heard from many faculty and staff telling me how much he had saw it as a noble profession.
touched their lives, how he was a true gentleman and of how he will be sorely missed.” “He always thought physicists should never stop looking for problems to solve. He
worked hard and studied hard, and he expected the same of his students,” Rejcek said.
John Fry, a professor emeritus in physics who retired in 2009 after 39 years at UT “He was a deep and caring man. He really helped me when I was having a hard time
Arlington, also collaborated with Dr. Fazleev and formed a close friendship with him. in my life.
Fry said that Dr. Fazleev and his wife, Rezeda, were like a brother and sister to him “He’s gone too soon.”
and his wife, Marilyn. Dr. Fazleev’s research interests included magnetic properties of solids, electron
paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, nonequilibrium statistical ther-
“He was a true scholar and lover of life, and he will be missed by UTA and all his modynamics, surface physics and positron physics, among others. He was a member
friends in Texas,” Fry said at the celebration of life service. “Na’il was an important of the department’s Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics Group.
part of the graduate program in physics in both teaching and research. He brought Dr. Fazleev was born on January 25, 1948 in Kazan, Russia to the late Gregor Fa-
millions of dollars of funding from the National Science Foundation and the Depart- zleev and Katherine Fazleev, who were well-known academicians themselves. As a
ment of Education to support graduate students and research at UTA.” student he focused on science, math and English and excelled, completing the Russian
standard 11 year curriculum as the top student in his class and receiving scholarships
Dr. Fazleev’s involvement with UT Arlington began in 1982, when he spent a year
studying physics with Fry on an International Research and Exchange Board schol- Fazleev continued on page 8
arship. He returned in 1992 on a Senior Fulbright Lectureship and never left, serving
as a visiting professor and associate professor. In 2004, he was hired as a full-time
assistant professor, and he was promoted to associate professor in 2009.

Tribute w Asok Kumar Ray (1948-2013)

Mentor demanded much but gave even more in return

Asok Ray was known as a strict, demanding professor, but he demanding of his students, but he was also very giving of his time
never expected any more from his students than he did from him- and knowledge.”
self.
Muhammad Huda, a UT Arlington assistant professor of
Dr. Ray, a longtime UT Arlington physics professor, took a per- physics, met Dr. Ray when he came to UT Arlington as a master’s
sonal interest in his students’ lives and wanted the best for them. student in 1999 and went on to earn his Ph.D. under Dr. Ray’s
For that to happen, he knew they had to give their best in the class- mentorship.
room and in the lab – and he would accept nothing less.
“As a mentor, he had a very caring personality,” Muhammad
“Asok was a rigorous teacher, demanding high levels of per- said. “He was very keen and strict on doing meaningful research
formance in all his classes,” said John Fry, professor emeritus in and getting it published. I learned so much from him.”
physics and a good friend of Dr. Ray. “Students complained about
the difficulty of his courses but continued to enroll in large num- Dr. Ray’s research interests included computational con-
bers at undergraduate and graduate levels because they knew that densed matter physics, electronic structures of the actinides, ma-
their training in his classes would be rigorous and complete.” terial sciences, nanoscience, nanotechnology, supercomputing
and parallel computing. He was an integral part of the depart-
Dr. Ray died on October 11 at age 65 of complications from Asok Ray ment’s Condensed Matter Theory group and he received numer-
cardiac issues he had been dealing with for months. A private bur- ous honors and awards during his career, including the UT
ial ceremony was held October 16 at Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. The loss Arlington College of Science Research Excellence Award in 2005 and the UT Arlington
was particularly difficult for the Department of Physics since it came just two days Award for Distinguished Record of Research or Creative Activity in 2011.
after the passing of another longtime faculty member, Na’il Fazleev. “Asok was a real scholar,” Fry said. “He wrote many papers and was able to get
funding for his research, a difficult task for many theoretical physicists. He performed
Dr. Ray came to UT Arlington in 1982 and spent the next 31 years making a huge fundamental research on clusters of molecules of all kinds, doing chemistry on a com-
impact on the department, the College and the University. He was instrumental in puter instead of in a test tube. He received recognition for his research at UT Arlington
developing the department’s doctoral program and served as the physics graduate ad- and also served as an editor on international journals. His style of writing papers was
visor for over 10 years. He also worked tirelessly on the graduate studies committee elegant and rigorous. He learned his trade well.”
and graduate admissions committee. He authored or co-authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications, presented 170
research papers at national and international conferences, and served as referee for
“He played a very important role in building our doctoral program,” said Alex 45 publications and departments. He received over $3 million in grants for his re-
Weiss, professor and chair of the physics department. “He helped get it off the ground, search which was continuously funded over the course of his career. He also had a
going literally from one student up to the 50 or more that we have now.” long record of service on dozens of department and University committees.
Dr. Ray was born in Kolkata, India, on Sept. 11, 1948. He earned a B.S. in Physics
He was mentor to 24 master’s and 11 doctoral students, as well as six master’s and from the University of Calcutta in 1967. He also earned a bachelor of technology degree
two doctoral students at the time of his death. He also directed 15 post-doctoral fel-
lows. Ray continued on page 9

“He really cared for his students,” Weiss said. “Many of them looked at him as a
kind of father figure, because many of them were here from India or elsewhere and
had no family here. He was very devoted to helping them however he could. He was

6 Maverick Science 2013-14

Tribute w Roy S. Rubins (1935-2013)

Physicist, gied athlete cared deeply for his students

Roy Rubins had a distinguished reputation as a superb re- nationally known for his work in electron paramagnetic resonance
searcher, aided greatly by his meticulous and analytical nature. (EPR) of organic and inorganic crystals and compounds. Many of
Research didn’t consume him though. He loved teaching every his publications in top journals would become recognized as clas-
bit as much as he did research, and it showed. sics in the field due to their fundamental nature.

Dr. Rubins, professor emeritus in physics who retired in 2011 “Roy was the first physics faculty member hired by the depart-
following a 42-year career at UT Arlington, won numerous ment who already had an international reputation in physics and
awards for his teaching. His mastery of the subject matter and a significant publication record,” Fry said.
thorough preparation for his classes certainly played a part in
earning those accolades. But the main reason he was such a fa- A big reason why Dr. Rubins decided to come to UT Arlington
vorite of physics students for decades was simple. He cared was Truman Black, who had joined the faculty four years earlier
deeply for them. and was the first department member to do experimental physics
research. He and Dr. Rubins became frequent collaborators and
Dr. Rubins died on November 19 in Arlington following a long great friends. (Dr. Black died in 2012).
illness. He was 78. A graveside service was held November 21 at
Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Friends and colleagues Roy Rubins “While I had planned to continue my career in the west, I was
noted his keen eye for observation, his intellect and his wisdom. won over by the warmth of my reception at UTA, especially by Dr.
He loved the outdoors and was an accomplished athlete, particu- Truman Black, in whom I had a genial colleague who worked in
larly in soccer. EPR, and whose special experimental and theoretical insights
dovetailed with my own strengths,” Dr. Rubins said in 2011. “Dr. Black would design
“He could explain complicated ideas in a way that students at all levels could un- and build specialized equipment for our proposed experiments, and as soon as the
derstand,” said John Fry, professor emeritus in physics and a longtime colleague of equipment was working, I would do the crucial experiments before letting him refine
Dr. Rubins. “He loved teaching and interacting with students. He just loved the col- his designs.”
legial atmosphere.” Fry said Dr. Rubins and Dr. Black were a perfect team, though in many respects
they were complete opposites.
Dr. Rubins came to UT Arlington in 1969, at a time when little research was being “Truman could build anything and loved making special spectrometers to probe
done in the department. He had spent the previous eight years working with highly
esteemed physicists, including future Nobel Prize winner K.A. Muller, in postdoctoral Rubins continued on page 8
research in Europe and the United States. He was well on the way to becoming inter-

Tribute w Derek J. Main (1971-2013) Tribute w Chad Ryan Watkins (1975-2013)

Dinosaur dig director’s passion Doctoral student was a ‘natural
for paleontology was inspiring
teacher’ and was always learning

Of all the things people will remem- Derek Main was a fixture at the Arling- Chad Ryan dent, capable,
ber about Derek Main, the one that will ton Archosaur Site, which he led from Watkins, a UT Ar- good-natured and
probably stand out above all others is his 2008 until his death. lington doctoral friendly,” and said
passion for science – paleontology in student and grad- Mr. Watkins was a
particular – and how he loved to share tied in a ponytail, was a fixture at the uate research as- “natural teacher.”
it with others. site. Digs began in early spring and ex- sistant in biology,
tended through late fall. The workers at died in a one-vehi- “He was pas-
That enthusiasm was contagious to the site were almost exclusively volun- cle accident on Oc- sionate about sci-
friends, colleagues, the students he teers, most with no background in pale- tober 7 in Arling- ence and truly
taught at UT Arlington and elsewhere, ontology. Many came to check the site ton. He was 38. loved teaching
and to the small army of volunteers who out after seeing one of the flyers Dr. and mentoring,”
carefully sifted the soil for traces of pre- Main often posted all over the Metro- Mr. Watkins, a Fondon said. “He
historic fossils at the Arlington Ar- plex asking for volunteers. They gladly Grapevine resi- was incredibly
chosaur Site (AAS), where Dr. Main led endured the extreme heat of summer dent, began work- technically skilled,
an ongoing excavation project. digs and the painstakingly slow work be- ing toward a Ph.D. Chad Watkins and very serious
cause they fed off of Dr. Main’s enthusi- in biology in 2011, about science but
All were shocked and saddened by asm. joining the lab of former assistant pro- was also the most light-hearted and
Dr. Main’s passing on June 4, 2013 at fessor André Pires da Silva. He taught fun-loving member of the lab.”
age 41. He had received his Ph.D. in En- Angela Osen, who earned a B.S. in several classes at UT Arlington while Mr. Watkins was born on April 25,
vironmental & Earth Sciences from UT Geology from UT Arlington in 2009 and conducting research in genomics, fo- 1975 in Aberdeen, S.D. His family
Arlington less than a month before. He is working on a Ph.D. in Earth and En- cusing on the anole, a small lizard moved to Texas in 1984 and he gradu-
was engaged to his longtime girlfriend found throughout the southeastern ated from Grapevine High School in
and was looking forward to starting the Main continued on page 9 United States. 1993. While there, he was instrumental
next chapter of his life. in the creation of an ecology and nature
“Chad was a ‘scientist’ from the center, which will be renamed in his
That chapter undoubtedly would time he was a small child,” said his honor.
have included more “dino digs” at the stepfather, Dan Driscoll. “He asked me He attended Texas A&M Univer-
AAS, the remote spot in far north Ar- for a copy of A Brief History of Time by sity, studying biochemistry and genet-
lington which has yielded 95 million Steven Hawking for his 13th Christ- ics. He later transferred to UT
year old fossils of plants, crocodiles, fish, mas. If there was a bug in the house Arlington, where he earned a B.S. in bi-
turtles, sharks, and a new species of and his mom asked him to ‘get it,’ he ology in 2002. He taught science
duck-billed, herbivorous dinosaur, Pro- would capture it and let it go outside, classes in the Grapevine-Colleyville
tohadras – a vital transitional species of taking care not to harm it. He always school district before beginning grad-
hadrosaur. Dr. Main called the site the had insects, snakes or mice in his uate studies at UT Arlington.
Lost World of the Metroplex, and he co- room. When I saw his lab at UTA, I re- In addition to being a big fan of
ordinated and led digs at the site since alized that was a dream come true for Texas A&M athletics, Mr. Watkins en-
being named AAS director in 2008. him.” joyed looking for fossils, hunting and

Dr. Main, in trademark t-shirt, cargo John Fondon, assistant professor of Watkins continued on page 9
shorts and sunglasses and his long hair biology and a co-advisor of Mr.
Watkins, described him as “indepen-

Maverick Science 2013-14 7

Fazleev continued from page 6 Fry recalled Dr. Fazleev’s love of the outdoors Tribute w Frank N. Huggins (1926-2013)
and of traveling. The Frys and Fazleevs spent many
for university studies. A gifted athlete, he enjoyed summer vacations together in the Rocky Moun- Math professor was proud
swimming, rowing and track, and also attended tains in Colorado.
music school where he learned to play piano and of his roots in West Texas
violin. He also enjoyed playing chess. “He loved trout fishing in the streams and back-
packing up high in the mountains,” Fry said. “He Frank Norris Huggins, a former UT Arlington professor of
His father convinced him to focus on academics was exceptionally strong at high altitude. He also mathematics, died on July 10, 2013 at Beacon Hill Care Fa-
over music in college, and he enrolled at Kazan loved eating freshly caught trout. Na’il also enjoyed cility in Denison. He was 86.
State University, a prestigious Russian college sitting around the campfire and absorbing our cul-
founded in 1804. He studied theoretical physics ture through the tall tales told there.” A funeral service was held July 15 in Zephyr, Texas.
and mathematics, earning B.S. and M.S. degrees Dr. Huggins was born on October 25, 1926 in Zephyr. He
and graduating summa cum laude. In 1978 he be- Weiss treasures the times he spent with Dr. Fa- served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following the
came an assistant professor at Kazan, and in 1981, zleev attending conferences in places like Japan war, he married Caroline Bradshaw on
he completed work on his Ph.D. in Theoretical and and England. At Dr. Fazleev’s encouragement, they December 16, 1946 in Brownwood. He
Mathematical Physics. took in the local sights on hikes when time allowed. earned a bachelor’s degree from
Howard Payne University, a master’s
After spending a year at UT Arlington he re- “I remember we were in Australia and went hik- from the University of North Texas
turned to Kazan, where he rose through the aca- ing, and we saw koala bears and wallabies and all and a Ph.D. from UT Austin in 1967.
demic ranks to the position of professor and kinds of things,” Weiss said. “It was a fantastic trip. He taught mathematics at Texas A&M,
associate dean of the physics department, which We often shared hotel rooms and we were a bit like UT Austin and UT Arlington. He pub-
consisted of 500 faculty members. He also became the characters in ‘The Odd Couple’ - Na’il was the lished numerous papers and a book,
a leading authority in the dynamics of magnetic neat one.” and was an expert in bounded slope Huggins
systems. In addition, it was at Kazan where he met variation.
his wife, Rezeda. They were married in 1988. Dr. Fazleev wrote over 120 peer-reviewed jour- “He was a West Texan through and through,” said Larry
nal articles and two books, and gave over 80 invited Heath, a professor emeritus in math who had an office next
Dr. Fazleev might have spent the rest of his ca- talks at international conferences, universities and to Dr. Huggins in Hammond Hall in the 1970s. “He wore his
reer at Kazan, but momentous events intervened national labs. He supervised six doctoral and 11 ten-gallon hat, cowboy boots, and a black suit with a tie
and changed the course of his future. In the mid- master’s students. (generally a string tie) every day. He had a big, booming
to-late 1980s, the Soviet Union’s economy was in West Texas voice and wanted to talk about Texas history and
bad shape, and many citizens of its member re- His wife, Rezeda Fazleeva, 54, died in a plane the UT Austin math department.”
publics began demanding greater freedom. Soviet crash on November 17 in Kazan, Russia, where she Dr. Huggins was of the Baptist faith and was an ordained
President Mikhail Gorbachev instituted a policy of had been traveling to visit with family following her deacon since 1963. He was an avid reader and had an ex-
glasnost, or political liberalization, emboldening husband’s death. She was born July 12, 1959, in tensive book collection among other valued collections.
many who sought change and helping pave the way Kazan and earned a B.S. from Kazan Trade and His wife of 66 years, Caroline Bradshaw Huggins, of Ar-
for the eventual dissolution of the U.S.S.R. in De- Economy College; a master’s in economics and lington, died Nov. 10, 2013 at age 86. He was preceded in
cember 1991. management from Moscow State University of death by his parents, Oscar and Ida Oma Huggins; and sib-
Trade and Economics; and an M.S. in education lings, Oscar James Flurnoy, Gwendola Pearl and Rector
At the time, Dr. Fazleev was in the United States from Kazan State University. Howard.
on a Senior Fulbright Lectureship studying theo- He is survived by his extended family: sister-in-law,
retical physics at UCLA. With his homeland in po- Dr. Fazleev and his wife are survived by a son, Dorothy Bradshaw of Edmond, Okla.; and sister-in-law, Mary
litical turmoil and economic crisis, he made the Kamil Fazleev, of Moscow, Russia. Dr. Fazleev is Loyce Bradshaw McWilliams and her husband, Willis, of
decision to move permanently to the United States. also survived by a sister, Raviya Denisov, of St. Pe- Kingston, Okla.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great
His wife joined him and in 1992 he returned to UT tersburg, Russia. Mrs. Fazleev is survived by her nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Arlington, where he became an internationally rec- mother, Risalia Kaiumova.
ognized expert in the theory of positrons at the sur-
faces of solids – knowledge important to A scholarship is being established in memory of
understanding electronic properties of metals and Dr. Fazleev. Donations may be sent to the UT Ar-
semiconductors. lington College of Science, c/o Na’il Fazleev Schol-
arship Fund, P.O. Box 19047, Arlington, TX
76019-0047.

Rubins continued from page 7 resonance and earning a master’s degree and a Ph.D. Poland to England, where their surname, Rubinski, was
in physics from St. Catherine’s College, Oxford, in 1961. anglicized to Rubins. He and his wife, Patricia, cele-
new realms of research,” Fry said. “Roy knew what pa- brated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 8,
rameters should be set, and how to analyze the obtained After finishing his doctoral studies, Dr. Rubins trav- 2013, and he was a doting grandfather. He had various
data. He was part experimentalist and part theoretician. eled and did postdoctoral research at Hebrew Univer- hobbies which he savored, including folk dancing and
Roy could also write very definitive papers in excellent sity in Jerusalem; the Battelle Institute in Geneva, making amateur films. He was very active and enjoyed
English, while Truman struggled to put down his Switzerland; Syracuse University in New York; and sports, including tennis, volleyball and his great pas-
thoughts in an orderly fashion.” UCLA. He interviewed for a faculty position at UT Ar- sion, soccer, which he played from an early age.
lington in 1969 and joined the physics department as
The pair collaborated on numerous electron mag- an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate “Roy was an excellent athlete. In his prime he would
netic resonance (EMR) papers on transition metal ions professor in 1971 and to professor in 1982. jog 10 miles in one day,” said Fry, who was his frequent
in both inorganic and organic crystals, and on linear- tennis partner. “I don’t think he ever ran a marathon,
chain magnetic compounds. Alex Weiss, professor and He put as much if not more effort into his teaching but he could have. He stayed in shape.”
department chair, said that the duo’s individual as he did research. He was named the 1998 College of
strengths combined to allow them to produce important Science Teacher of the Year and that same year was He coached the UT Arlington soccer team along with
and influential work. elected to UT Arlington’s Academy of Distinguished fellow Englishman Ed Bellion, now a professor emeritus
Teachers, where he served through 2003. in chemistry. Dr. Rubins also played on various club
“They had a long record of highly productive collab- and physics department teams and served as faculty
oration,” Weiss said. “Their characteristics and contri- Weiss said that Dr. Rubins constantly worked to up- sponsor of the university’s Soccer Club from 1970-78.
butions were truly unique and truly complementary — date and improve his courses and prepared material for His love of dancing led him to serve as faculty sponsor
making for perhaps the optimum in true collaboration them well in advance. “I remember Roy working on his of the UTA International Folkdance Club from 1971-76.
where the whole is much greater than just the sum of notes for a graduate thermodynamics course in the The club, composed of UTA faculty and students, gave
the parts.” physics library while we were waiting for a meeting to workshops and performed at events around the Metro-
start, and being amazed that he was working almost a plex.
Dr. Rubins was born in Manchester, England, on year ahead on his notes,” Weiss said. “I was usually
Nov. 11, 1935. During World War II, he and his family working on the next day’s lecture, and here he was “Roy had a mellow personality, was self-secure, and
often had to take refuge in air-raid shelters due to in- working a year ahead.” enjoyed people,” Fry said. “I never heard him say any-
tense bombing of industrial Manchester by the German thing bad about anybody, even when they deserved it.
Luftwaffe. He scored high enough on his college en- He served at different times both as graduate and He was a jewel in the department that was not admired
trance exams to be admitted to Oxford University, undergraduate advisor and was a longtime chair of the nearly often enough.”
where he received a scholarship to study physics and department’s undergraduate curriculum committee.
earned a B.A. in 1957. He remained at Oxford for grad- Survivors include his wife, Patricia; son, Daniel and
uate studies, doing research in electron paramagnetic Religion and family were also very important to Dr. daughter-in-law, Rita; and grandchildren, Rachel and
Rubins. He was a member of Congregation Beth Amy Rubins of Lansdale, Pa.
8 Maverick Science 2013-14 Shalom in Arlington – his parents emigrated from

Watkins continued from page 7 Tribute w Thomas R. Hellier Jr. (1928-2013)

fishing. He traveled as far as Florida in Biology professor was a true friend of UT Arlington
search of anole specimens for his research.
He loved animals and adopted several dogs Thomas R. Hellier, Jr., a longtime UT Arlington profes- wife endowed a scholarship for UT Arlington undergraduate
from area shelters over the years. sor of biology who retired in 2006, died on Dec. 1, 2013, after biology majors or graduate students.
a long illness. He was 84.
“He was possibly the gentlest soul I He was a lifelong member of Phi Sigma, the biological
have ever known,” Driscoll said. Dr. Hellier, who was an expert in ichthyology (the study honor society, and founded UTA’s chapter in 1976.
of fish), joined the faculty of what was then Arlington State
A funeral service was held October 12 at College in 1960. In his 46-year tenure, he developed and Dr. Hellier was born in Ft. Pierce, Fla., on Dec. 24, 1928,
Living Word Lutheran Church in taught various courses and was instrumental in the devel- to Tommy and Sybil Hellier and grew up in Jensen Beach,
Grapevine. Memorials may be made to the opment of the department’s master’s Fla. He served in the Air Force from 1948-52. While sta-
Humane Society of North Texas or The program and supervised the thesis of tioned in Kansas, he met and married Evelyn Farris; they
Perot Museum of Nature and Science in its first graduate. He served on numer- celebrated their 61st anniversary on June 8. As a couple, they
Dallas. ous committees and sponsored many enjoyed traveling and visited 85 countries and all seven con-
student organizations. tinents.
Mr. Watkins was preceded in death by
his father, Chester Watkins, in 2006. He received B.A. (1955) and M.S. He was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America,
(1957) degrees in Biology from the Uni- serving as a scoutmaster for many years. He, his son and
Survivors include his mother, Cheryl, versity of Florida and a Ph.D. from the grandson, all Eagle Scouts, were grand marshals of the Ar-
and stepfather, Dan Driscoll; sister, Eliza- UT Austin Marine Science Institute in lington Fourth of July Parade in 2010. He was a longtime
beth Driscoll; and uncles, aunts and Port Aransas in 1961. He was a found- Hellier member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Arlington and he
cousins. ing member of the TXU (now Luminant) Environmental Re- received the St. George Award for his service to the church’s
search Committee, through which many graduate students youth.
Mr. Watkins’ family has created a web- have received fellowship support for their research.
site where friends can post their thoughts Dr. Hellier was preceded in death by his parents and his
and memories of him. The site is http://re- He will be remembered by his students for the extraor- sister, Mary Ann.
memberingchad.com. dinary field trips he led to study the biology of North Texas
lakes and the Texas Gulf Coast. Among his published re- Survivors include his wife, Evelyn; children and their
Correction search was an environmental impact study of the Elm Fork spouses, Clark and Beth Hellier of Arlington; Lisa and
region of the Trinity River. Richard Lee of Brock; and Jana and Tom Dolbear of Austin;
In an obituary about Eddie Warren in the four grandchildren, and three nieces.
2011 edition of Maverick Science, his first He continued to be involved with UT Arlington long after
name was listed as Edward. He is survived his retirement. He was a member of the Nedderman Society Memorials may be made to the Dr. Thomas R. Jr. and
by a son, Brenton Warren, of Hurst, and and the Friends of the UT Arlington Libraries. He and his Mrs. Evelyn F. Hellier Biology Scholarship Fund at UT Ar-
daughters, Meredith Powell, of Sacra- lington, Box 19047, Arlington, Texas 76019. Donations may
mento, Calif., and Sara Johnson, of Grand also be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Prairie.

Main continued from page 7 Derek Main, right, received his Ph.D. from Merlynd Nestell Ray continued from page 6
during the Spring 2013 commencement ceremony in May.
vironmental Science, became involved with the AAS in 2008 in radio-physics and electronics from the
when she heard Dr. Main was looking for volunteers. She was and working at area museums, including the Dallas Museum of University of Calcutta in 1969. He re-
soon a regular at the site. Natural History and the Shuler Museum of Paleontology at ceived an M.S. in Physics from Okla-
SMU, gaining firsthand experience with fossil preparation and homa State University in 1973 and an
“I have to say, between Derek's enthusiasm and the thrill of preservation. M.S. in Mathematics from Texas Tech
possibly finding a 94 million year old dinosaur bone, I was University in 1975. In 1977, he earned his
hooked,” she said. “Derek was a motivator; how else could you He earned a B.S. in Geology from UT Dallas in 2001 and a Ph.D. in Physics from Texas Tech, where
talk people into spending their weekends digging in the dirt master’s degree in geology from UT Arlington in 2005. While he was also an instructor, research assis-
when it is over 100 degrees out in the summer and then, the fol- working on his Ph.D. he taught courses on earth history, di- tant and visiting assistant professor.
lowing weekend, come out and cheerfully do it again!” nosaurs and earth systems at UT Arlington. He also taught
classes at North Lake College in Irving and Tarrant County Col- He was a postdoctoral research asso-
Christopher Scotese, an earth and environmental science lege. ciate at the University of Florida from
professor who retired from UT Arlington in 2011, was Dr. 1979-81, then an assistant professor at
Main’s doctoral advisor. He remembers Dr. Main’s energy and The AAS became the focus of his dissertation, and he wrote Michigan Technological University from
how he could use it to energize others. several papers reporting on the fossil findings from the site. One 1981-82. In 1982, he interviewed for a
paper, co-written with Noto and Stephanie Drumheller, was the position at UT Arlington as a visiting as-
“Derek was passionate about science. He lived it every day,” cover story of the February 2012 edition of the geology journal sistant professor.
Scotese said. “He was a people person. He really got everyone Palaios.
interested in science. He got people out in the hot sun digging “He couldn’t stand the brutal winters
in the dirt, but he also made them feel important.” A funeral was held on June 9 at Our Redeemer Lutheran in Houghton, a college town on the
Church in Irving. Burial was at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens Northern Peninsula of Michigan,” Fry
The work started by Dr. Main at the AAS will continue, with in Irving. Dr. Main was preceded in death by his father, Norman said. “He said they had six feet or more
his friend and collaborator Christopher Noto, an assistant pro- Main Jr. of snow on the ground all winter.”
fessor at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, taking over as di-
rector. Specimens from the site had been stored temporarily at Survivors include his mother, Jannie Davis Main of Irving; Dr. Ray joined the faculty as an assis-
UT Arlington, but the university didn’t have the budget or the brother, Darren Main of Fort Worth; fiancée, Deborah Nixon tant professor in 1984. He was promoted
space necessary to house the fossils permanently. In October, of Dallas; and several cousins. to associate professor in 1988 and to
an agreement was reached with the Perot Museum of Nature professor in 1992.
and Science, which has assumed ownership of the fossils.
He enjoyed novels, poetry, music,
Dr. Main was born on August 8, 1971 in Irving. He graduated movies and nature – especially birds and
from MacArthur High School in Irving in 1989 and then decided bodies of water. Although his work was
to pursue the first great passion of his life – music. He had in highly complex areas, he enjoyed a
learned how to play guitar in high school, spending countless good laugh as much as anyone. One of
hours practicing. Over the next few years he formed several his favorite TV shows was Three's Com-
hard rock and metal bands with friends, playing area clubs and pany, a popular 1970s-era sitcom.
working a variety of other jobs by day to help make ends meet.
After several years of trying to make a go of it as a musician, he Dr. Ray was preceded in death by his
decided to enroll in college. parents, Chittaranjan and Anita Roy;
and by sisters, Tripti Sengupta and
In 1997, while studying geology at UT Dallas, he volunteered Bharati Gupta. Survivors include his
at a fossil excavation site in Big Bend National Park, helping to wife, Swati Ray; brother, Tapan and
unearth an Alamosaurus, a long-necked dinosaur. The dig wife; nephews and nieces and other rel-
sparked an interest in paleontology, and the study of prehistoric atives.
life was soon Dr. Main’s new passion. He began volunteering
Maverick Science 2013-14 9

COLLEGE NEWS | PHYSICS | BIOLOGY

New physics scholarship named in honor of Fry

The distinguished record of service to the “John set a very high standard for the de-

UT Arlington Department of Physics that John partment," said Alex Weiss, professor and de-

Fry compiled is unsurpassed. For 39 years, Fry partment chair. "More than anyone else, he

was a professor, researcher and department managed to help the department become a full

chair, and a leading proponent for the growth university department that does important re-

and improvement of the program. search and great teaching. He pioneered a lot

In addition, Fry is a beloved figure on cam- of things here and has had a huge impact on the

pus, popular with colleagues and students and department. He was an excellent mentor for

always ready with a joke. In 2013, with Fry’s young faculty, myself included."

75th birthday approaching, friends and former Fry retired as a faculty member in 2009 and

students decided to do something to honor him was named professor emeritus in 2010. Despite

in a lasting way. They raised funds and created his “retirement,” he remains very active in the

the John L. Fry Physics Scholarship which will department. He still has much he’d like to do.

help deserving students pay for their education. “Time gets away,” he said. “At 75, I don't

The scholarship was announced at a special have many years left to accomplish the discov-

birthday reception given in Fry’s honor on No- eries in physics which I set out to make with

vember 9. More than 100 attended the party, John Fry, left, with Margie Black and Dan Dahlberg at Fry’s 75th our research group when I stepped down as
and Fry was stunned by the news. birthday party on November 9. Black is the widow of late UT Ar- chair of physics years ago. My ideas are still
lington physics professor Truman Black, and Dahlberg is a professor flowing, but my short-term memory requires
“I felt honored and a little embarrassed that of physics at the University of Minnesota and a UT Arlington physics computers, note pads and colleagues to keep
it was done for me, but I was very pleased that alumnus who received the UT Arlington Distinguished Alumni Award things in order.”
it will benefit future students,” he said. “Be- in 1998.
sides, I always enjoy parties. The party was spe- Fry said the scholarship – the third for the
cial. Many people worked hard to achieve Department of Physics – is a sign that the Uni-

matching fund status and round up old friends and students for the party. I am versity “is growing up,” and he is hopeful that more endowments will follow.

glad that UT Arlington means as much to those who contributed to the fund as it "This scholarship is a wonderful tribute to Dr. Fry, who provided outstanding

has to me.” leadership for the Department of Physics during his almost four decades of service

Fry, who came to UT Arlington in 1971, was instrumental in the creation of the at UT Arlington,” said College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma. “His commitment

department’s doctoral program, and he was the department's first faculty member to excellence was critical for the growth and development that led to the strong de-

to direct a Ph.D. dissertation. He brought the first federal grant funds to the de- partment we have today. Many of the things happening in the department now in

partment, and his research was externally funded for most of his career. His own which we take such pride are a result of Dr. Fry's hard work, vision, and steward-

research group was active for over 30 years. He was relentless in his efforts to take ship. It’s very fitting that this scholarship was created to help students in physics,

the department from one focused almost exclusively on teaching to one with a ro- because Dr. Fry did so much for students throughout his career."

bust research profile, with millions in external funding and state-of-the-art tech- To contribute to the John L. Fry Physics Scholarship fund, please contact Shelly

nology which is utilized by faculty and students. Frank at 817-272-1497 or [email protected].

Liu named fellow by APS Hurdle named to serve on NIH

J. Ping Liu, a professor of physics who is working to develop stronger drug discovery study section
magnets for sustainable energy applications, was named a fellow of the
American Physical Society in December. The National Institutes of Health Cen- ternative Medicine to study new ways to
ter for Scientific Review selected UT Ar-
Liu joined the UT Arlington Department of Physics in 2002 and re- lington assistant professor of biology Julian treat an opportunistic and sometimes
searches the development of advanced nanocomposite magnets that Hurdle to serve on a prestigious study sec-
have high performance while containing fewer tion, one of the bodies that reviews grant deadly bacterium, Clostridium difficile.
expensive rare-earth materials. The advanced applications, makes recommendations and
magnets can be used in nearly every industry and surveys the status of research in a particu- “I am honored to be selected,” Hurdle
consumer device from computers to cars to med- lar field.
ical imaging systems and cell phones. said. “The study section where I will serve
Hurdle, a specialist in molecular micro-
In his tenure at UT Arlington, Liu has been a biology and bacterial infectious diseases, is made up of leading
leader in nanocomposite magnet research and, will serve on the Drug Discovery and Mech-
through his Nanostructured Magnetic Materials anisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Study experts from acade-
Group, has carried out world-class work that has Section through June 30, 2017.
led to recognition from the American Physical So- Liu mia and the pharma-
ciety. “Dr. Hurdle is an accomplished re-
searcher who is working hard to build a ceutical industry and
A citation accompanying the honor noted Liu’s “pioneering work in better understanding of the role bacteria
research on advanced permanent-magnet materials, including innova- play in disease,” said Pamela Jansma, dean I am looking forward
tive work on bottom-up approaches to fabrication of nanocomposite of the College of Science. “We are pleased
magnets with reduced rare-earth content via novel techniques." to see him recognized by his colleagues and to contributing to the
take on this active role in helping to deter-
Pamela Jansma, dean of the College of Science, said Liu’s latest mine where important research funding grant review pro-
honor is well deserved. flows.”
cess.”
“Dr. Liu has been producing outstanding research in his field while Hurdle joined the UT Arlington College
mentoring students for more than a decade at UT Arlington, and he has of Science in 2010. In 2011, he was awarded Study section
remained continuously funded by grants that are a testament to his a five-year, $1.9 million research grant
laboratory success,” Jansma said. from the National Institutes of Health Na- Hurdle members are chosen
tional Center for Complementary and Al-
Liu’s total research funds have exceeded $10 million, including those based on their de-
of nearly $1 million received last fall from the U.S. Department of En-
ergy, U.S. Department of Defense and an industrial sponsor. monstrated competence and achievements

10 Maverick Science 2013-14 in their study area, including activities such

as research activity and publication in sci-

entific journals.

Hurdle is using his grant funding to de-

velop a more effective treatment for C. dif-

ficile, one of the most widespread and

dangerous infections in the U.S. He and

students in his laboratory are working with

colleagues at St. Jude Children’s Hospital

in Memphis, Tenn.

COLLEGE NEWS | OFFICE OF THE DEAN

Cordero takes leadership role in academic affairs

For Minerva Cordero, taking charge of the College of Dean of Science Pamela Jansma said Cordero’s lead- Americans in Science (SACNAS).
Science’s academic affairs as associate dean has been a For several years, Cordero has co-directed a research
seamless transition. ership enables the college to put an increased emphasis
program for undergraduates, which allows students his-
Cordero, a professor of mathematics, has extensive on improving its academic structure and improving stu- torically underrepresented in mathematical sciences to
experience in academic and student affairs, and the conduct math research. As associate dean of the Honors
chance to help direct the college’s academic strategy ap- dents’ opportunities to succeed. College from 2005-08, she served as the college’s repre-
pealed to her. She has been associate dean for academic sentative on the Quality Enhancement Plan committee,
affairs since Spring 2013. “Dr. Cordero has served as associate dean of the Hon- which developed a plan to enhance teaching and learn-
ing, especially as it relates to higher-order thinking.
“I was intrigued by the idea of serving in a role to fa- ors College here at UT Arlington and has worked in a va-
cilitate matters pertaining to undergraduate science and Another area where Cordero wants to make a differ-
mathematics education across the college and offer lead- riety of other roles with students, and these experiences ence is in strengthening STEM (science, technology, en-
ership in bringing together efforts focused on enhancing gineering, and mathematics) education. Nationwide,
the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in make her an ideal fit for this role,” there is a shortage of undergraduates obtaining degrees
the college in a manner that capitalizes on the great work in STEM fields, and according to predictions, in 10 years
that is already taking place,” she said. “I love working Jansma said. the deficit could be as large as one million graduates.
with students and wanted to do my part to help increase
their chances of success in the College of Science.” Cordero has long been in- “While there are various reasons for this shortage,
one of the most significant causes is attrition during the
Cordero is responsible for the development and eval- volved in helping students. She first two years of college,” Cordero said. “One of the two
uation of undergraduate programs. Her goal, she said, is foci for my first few years is to evaluate our undergradu-
to ensure that the fundamental commitment to learning came to UT Arlington in 2001 and ate programs to ensure that the curriculum is designed
outcomes relies on best practices throughout all depart- to meet our students’ needs and that the teaching of the
ments and units of the College of Science. immediately began working to introductory courses is most effective. My other focus will
be to help provide our undergraduates with research ex-
“I’m looking into strategic initiatives to enhance create an organization for under- periences. While some of them are engaged in research,
teaching and collaborate with colleagues on establishing I would like to see the number double or triple and have
metrics for evaluating undergraduate programs and stu- graduate math students, because every science major participate in original research for
dent success,” she said. “I’m also providing assistance at least two semesters by the time they graduate.”
with faculty mentoring in the area of teaching.” she recognized the importance of

Cordero helping students feel connected to
the faculty, department, and each

other. That organization, the UTA Student Chapter of the

Mathematical Association of America (MAA), is now a

central force in the math undergraduate community.

While she was serving as its faculty advisor, it was named

Outstanding UTA Student Organization. The following

year, Cordero received the 2004-05 Outstanding Stu-

dent Organization Advisor award. She also collaborated

with students to found a UTA chapter of the Society for

the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native

Purgason giving major boost Jansma named ACE Fellow
to undergraduate research
for 2013-14 academic year
Ashley Purgason started her job as the ical Branch at Galveston. She also spent a
year immersing herself in issues important to Pamela Jansma, dean of the College of Science, and Victoria Farrar-
College’s assistant dean for undergraduate re- students as a student member of the UT Sys- Myers, a UT Arlington professor of political science, were named Amer-
tem Board of Regents, traveling across the ican Council on Education Fellows for the 2013-14 academic year.
search and student advancement in August state to listen to students’ concerns.
Former UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo nominated both
and has wasted no time making things hap- “Another goal I am working very hard on educators for the prestigious program, which selected a total of 50 college
is finding dedicated funding for undergradu- and university senior faculty and administrators
pen. ate researchers to travel to conferences and after a rigorous application process.
present their findings,” she said. “These ex-
She held workshops to show students how periences are invaluable for their professional Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program
development and to have conversations with is designed to strengthen institutions and leader-
they can become involved in research during other scientists to learn all the directions their ship in American higher education by identifying
work can go.” and preparing promising senior faculty and ad-
the College’s annual ministrators for senior positions in college and
Purgason is perfectly suited to her new university administration.
Science Week in No- role, Dean of Science Pamela Jansma says.
Dean Jansma joined the College of Science in
vember. She has plans “Ashley has already done so much to pro- 2009, having previously served as the dean of New Jansma
mote and advance undergraduate research in Mexico State University’s College of Arts and Sci-
for a website with ded- the College,” Jansma said. “Her enthusiasm ences. Jansma, a professor of earth and environmental sciences, is an
is infectious and she’s really excited by the expert in microplate tectonics, earthquakes and faults.
icated resources for chance to work with students and help pro-
vide them with every possible tool to suc- During her tenure at UT Arlington, enrollment of the College of Sci-
students and faculty, ceed.” ence has increased 24 percent and the College has launched the Shi-
madzu Institute for Research Technologies. The College also is home to
as well as a journal, to As a doctoral student, Purgason con- several grant-funded programs aimed at increasing participation in
ducted research at both UTMB and the NASA STEM fields by traditionally underrepresented groups.
be called Breakaway, Johnson Space Center in Houston. She wants
to give younger students the chance to get in “I am deeply honored and thankful for the selection as an ACE Fel-
for undergraduate re- the lab and gain experience which will put low,” Jansma said. “Students, faculty and the community-at-large should
them ahead of the game by the time they be proud that UT Arlington has gained a national reputation that allows
searchers to publish Purgason reach graduate school. its representatives to be welcomed into such an elite group.”
their findings through
“As a scientist, I want to learn for life, and Ronald Elsenbaumer, provost and vice president for academic affairs,
a peer review and faculty review process. UT Arlington is a place that I will always be said both Jansma and Farrar-Myers are representative of the best UT
able to do that,” Purgason said. “The unique Arlington faculty.
“Our biggest priority as we move forward capabilities here, such as the Shimadzu part-
nership, are thrilling. I am so pleased and “Dean Jansma and Dr. Farrar-Myers are distinguished by their com-
is finding ways to increase undergraduate re- honored to be in this role. We are laying a mitment to teaching and research excellence, and they each have had a
great foundation for undergraduate research significant impact on the colleges they represent,” Elsenbaumer said.
search participation as part of the curriculum in the College of Science.” “Both of these UT Arlington leaders have unlimited potential in their ca-
reers, and we are fortunate to count them as our colleagues.”
and not solely relying on the traditional ap-

prentice model,” she said. “I look forward to

working closely with faculty in the future on

this front, bringing ideas and proven initia-

tives to them to explore.”

It’s no surprise that Purgason is so fired

up about involving students in research. A UT

Arlington alumna, she earned a B.S. in Biol-

ogy with Honors in 2006 and an M.S. in Bi-

ology in 2007. She was also a member of the

Lady Mavericks basketball team, where she

was named an Academic All-American in

2004.

In May, she completed work on her Ph.D.

in Environmental Toxicology from UT Med-

Maverick Science 2013-14 11

COLLEGE NEWS | OFFICE OF THE DEAN | UNIVERSITY

Long, Stephens helping Science faculty, staff honored
guide students in COS with University, College awards
on the path to success
The College of

Science presented

annual awards to

faculty and staff

The College of Science welcomed two new members to and recognized fac-

its administrative staff in June, with the goal of better ulty members who

serving the needs of its students. received various

Following the retirement of Assistant Dean Ed Morton honors in the 2012-

in May 2013, Kent Long assumed the role of Health Profes- 13 academic year Mandal Abayan Ambartsoumian Twohey
during an end-of-
sions advisor and director of the College’s Joint Admission
year faculty and staff
Medical Program (JAMP). Long previously served as Mor-
meeting on May 2. Award recipients in-
ton’s assistant for two and a half years. Kathleen Stephens
cluded:
joined the College as Coordinator for Student Affairs, com-
■ Outstanding Research Award –
ing over from UT Arlington’s Univer-
Subhrangsu Mandal, associate professor
sity College, where she was an
of chemistry and biochemistry.
academic advisor.
■ Outstanding Faculty Teaching
“Kathleen and Kent both have a
Award – Gaik Ambartsoumian, associ-
long history of working with students
ate professor of mathematics.
and bring considerable knowledge to ■ Outstanding Graduate Teaching Dasgupta Campbell Pierce

their positions,” Dean of Science Award – Kenneth Abayan, Department

Pamela Jansma said. “They will help of Chemistry and Biochemistry. structors who have demonstrated excellence in

us enhance the student experience ■ Mary Jane Goad Staff Excellence Award – teaching, strong personal commitment to students

in the College of Science, particu- Long Karen Twohey, administrative assistant II in psy- and the ability to motivate, challenge and inspire.

larly in pre-professional advising, chology. ■ Bradley Pierce, assistant professor of chem-

transitioning from University College Faculty who received University awards in 2012- istry and biochemistry, received the President’s

to the College of Science, scholar- 13 were also recognized. They included: Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recog-

ships, and any other academic issues ■ Purnendu ‘Sandy’ Dasgupta, the Jenkins Gar- nizes teaching that is inspiring, effective and inno-

students may encounter. Together rett Professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was vative by professors.

with Minerva Cordero serving as as- named to the Academy of Distinguished Scholars, Those receiving promotions to associate profes-

sociate dean for academic affairs, which exemplifies the University’s commitment to sor were: Gaik Ambartsoumian, mathematics; Jef-

they form an outstanding team ded- quality research and creative activity. Members ad- frey Demuth, biology; Theresa Jorgensen, mathe-

icated to ensuring success for all of vocate the importance of research and creative ac- matics; Laura Mydlarz, biology, Arne Winguth,

our students.” Stephens tivity, promote a sense of community among earth and environmental science. Promoted to full

Long coordinates all activities re- scholars and advise the institution on research prac- professor were: Wei Chen, physics; Minerva

lated to pre-professional programs. He advises all pre-pro- tices and policies. Cordero, mathematics; Perry Fuchs, psychology;

fessional students (medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, ■ Darlene Campbell, lecturer in mathematics, Laura Gough, biology; David Jorgensen, mathemat-

veterinary, physical therapy and physician’s assistant), received the Provost’s Award for Excellence in ics. Promoted to senior lecturer was Nila Veer-

chairs the UT Arlington Health Professions Advisory Com- Teaching. The award honors non-tenure track in- abathina, physics.

mittee, coordinates activities for the College’s annual

Health Professions Day, assists with Health Professions

Freshmen Interest Groups, and coordinates all aspects of Price, Crandell honored as UT Arlington

student admission files to medical, dental, pharmacy, op-

tometry, and veterinary schools. Long also coordinates the distinguished alumni during annual gala

scholarship process for all of the health professions schol-

arships administered through the College of Science, and

he sponsors all of the pre-professional clubs on campus. Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Crandell is co-founder

“I'm enjoying working with our students in new and in- Price (B.S. in Biology ’72) and managing director of

novative ways,” he said. “In the past we have underuti- and Keith L. Crandell (M.S. ARCH Venture Partners, a

lized the resources available to us and that is something I in Chemistry ’87) were 27-year-old seed and early-

want to change.” among seven honorees dur- stage venture capital part-

Stephens oversees all issues relating to grade appeals ing the 48th UT Arlington nership.

and degree plans and is responsible for ensuring compli- Annual Distinguished Alum- The Distinguished Alum-

ance with academic standards for the College. She repre- ni Gala on October 19 in the ni Award, established in

sents the College to current and prospective E.H. Hereford University 1965, is the highest honor
Center Bluebonnet Ball- given by the University and
undergraduate students across the campus at Preview Price Crandell

Days, Welcome Days, and special events with other College room. the University of Texas at Arlington Alumni Asso-

of Science staff. She also serves as liaison to University Col- Price served as Tarrant County tax assessor for ciation. The awards honor individual achieve-

lege and the Honors College in matters of advising and ac- 11 years before being elected Fort Worth mayor in ments, contributions to industry or profession,

ademic policies. She coordinates activities with the 2011. She has been credited with promoting jobs, community service and demonstrated loyalty to UT

Science Advising Center and with the Office of Student Af- strengthening education, fighting crime and im- Arlington.

fairs on admissions and new student orientation programs. proving mobility during her tenure. Dr. Ignacio Nuñez (B.A. in Biology ’75), a 2010

“I really enjoy helping students,” Stephens said. “It is An avid bicyclist, Mayor Price helped organize Distinguished Alumnus, served as master of cere-

very rewarding to encourage and support them through FitWorth, a citywide initiative to encourage active monies. Nuñez is an obstetrician and gynecologist

the challenges of the undergraduate experience, and the lifestyles and healthy habits in children and adults. with Family Healthcare Associates in Arlington

College of Science is a great place for students to develop She also has championed responsible and sustain- and has worked in health care for 30 years. He is a

the skills and knowledge that will allow them to be leaders able cuts to balance the city’s $1.2 billion budget past president of the Fort Worth OB-GYN Society

and innovators in their chosen fields.” and advocated changes to the pension plan to pro- and a member of the Tarrant County Medical So-

tect taxpayers and stabilize the fund. ciety and numerous other health organizations.

12 Maverick Science 2013-14

COLLEGE  NEWS | CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY

Tanizaki honored for Armstrong receives ACS Award in

outstanding teaching Separations Science & Technology

by UT System regents Daniel Armstrong, professor of chem- strong, his innovations and his dedication

Seiichiro Tanizaki, lecturer in chemistry and biochem- istry, received his second national award to training and mentoring more than 170
istry, was one of nine UT Arlington faculty members to re-
ceive a prestigious award for teaching excellence from the from the American Chemical Society in students, post-doctoral researchers and
UT System Board of Regents in 2013.
2014, honoring his landmark contribu- visiting professors.
“I am very honored to be selected for this award and
appreciate the support of the Chem- tions to the field of analytical separations. The ACS also named Armstrong to its
istry Department and the College of
Science,” Tanizaki said. “I am also The ACS Award in Separations Sci- 2013 Class of Fellows, recognizing his in-
thankful for the wonderful students
here at UTA - they inspire me. This is ence and Technology, which is sponsored novative achievements in the lab as well
very rewarding. Though teaching is
hard work, it is also incredibly en- by Waters Corp., recognizes “the develop- as his effective, engaging outreach proj-
gaging and exciting. I learn some-
thing new about chemistry and ment of novel applications with major Armstrong ects.
about teaching every semester. Re- Tanizaki impacts and/or the practical implemen- “Dr. Armstrong’s incredible body of
ceiving this award encourages me to
continue developing my teaching skills.” tations of modern advancements in the field of sep- work represents the epitome of the research excel-

In all, 63 educators from across the UT System were aration science and technology.” It was presented at lence and trailblazing dedication we encourage our
recognized. The honors come with a $25,000 cash award
and recognize faculty members at UT System academic in- the ACS national conference in Dallas on March 17. students and professors to aspire to,” UT Arlington
stitutions who demonstrate extraordinary classroom per-
formance and innovation at the undergraduate level. The “Throughout his career, Dr. Armstrong has President Vistasp Karbhari said. “His recognition as
professors were recognized August 21 during a ceremony
in Austin. worked to increase our understanding of the world a fellow is exceedingly well-deserved.”

The honor is the second major award for Tanizaki in around us through development of new instruments Armstrong’s development of new methods for
two years for his work in the classroom. In 2012, he re-
ceived the UT Arlington Provost’s Award for Excellence in and analytical methods,” said Ronald L. Elsen- separating chemical mixtures in solution or as gas
Teaching.
baumer, UT Arlington provost and vice president for has led to advances in realms of science essential to
“We were absolutely thrilled to hear that Dr. Tanizaki
won the UT Board of Regents teaching excellence award. academic affairs. pharmaceutical drug development and disease iden-
He is an outstanding colleague and a superb teacher,” de-
partment chair Rasika Dias said. “He has taught multiple Armstrong, who holds the Robert A. Welch Chair tification and treatment. He is considered the “father
sections of very demanding introductory chemistry courses
since 2006 and has done an unquestionably high quality in Chemistry, joined UT Arlington in 2006. of pseudophase separations” – a type of liquid chro-
job. He also developed our first online chemistry course
for nursing-intended students at UTA. The Board of Re- Throughout his career, he has developed more than matography that provides higher selectivity for sub-
gents could not have picked a better person to honor with
this award.” 30 different types of columns used in chromatogra- stances with lower cost and less volatility and

Tanizaki came to UT Arlington in 2006 as a visiting in- phy, the science of separating molecules in gas or toxicity than previous analytical methods.
structor; he became a full-time lecturer in 2007.
liquid for analysis. In naming him a fellow, the Society also noted

The commercial applications of his inventions Armstrong's contribution to the community-at-

have been wide-ranging – including use by the drug large. Those include the founding of a syndicated

development, petrochemical and environmental National Public Radio show on science and his men-

monitoring community. In addition, Armstrong is toring of graduate students, many of whom were the

the author of more than 550 scientific publications, first in their families to pursue college degrees.

including 29 book chapters, and holds 23 U.S. and Also in 2013, Armstrong was named to a list of

international patents. the most influential people in analytical sciences by

“One of the strengths of our group is we come The Analytical Scientist, a U.K.-based magazine.

with new things to explore constantly, which is fun,” Armstrong was ranked No. 16 and is one of only

Armstrong said. He added that evidence his work is two Texans (and the only one in the Top 20) on the

influencing and helping other scientific endeavors – list. After an open nomination period, a panel of the

such as the 27,000 scientific citations his lab has editorial team and scientists voted on the top 20.

achieved – is a gratifying result. “Dr. Armstrong is without question one of the

“You want to do things that have an impact and most influential analytical scientists in the world, so

are useful, either adding knowledge, insight or this is a very fitting honor for him,” Dean of Science

something practical that people can actually use,” he Pamela Jansma said. “He has been doing ground-

said. breaking and innovative work in separations and

The 2014 ACS awards were announced in the chromatography for decades. His name certainly be-

January issue of Chemical & Engineering News in longs with the other illustrious names from around

an article where several colleagues praised Arm- the world on this list.”

Dasgupta, Schug team to Kevin Schug, left, and Sandy Dasgupta with a copy Schug wins ACS award for young
rewrite chemistry book of the textbook they helped to rewrite.
investigators in separation sciences
When he agreed to help a close friend rewrite an some subtle discouragement of how it’s going to be a
influential textbook on analytical chemistry, Pur- lot of work – he wanted to do it!” Kevin Schug, associate professor of chemistry & biochem-
nendu “Sandy” Dasgupta admits he had no idea what istry, received the 2013 American Chemical Society Division
he was in for. He’s just glad he asked Kevin Schug to While Schug said the undertaking wasn’t easy, of Analytical Chemistry Award for Young Investigators in
join him in the epic task. he’s glad he was given the opportunity. Separation Science for his outstanding contributions to ana-
lytical chemistry.
Dasgupta, the Jenkins Garrett Professor of Chem- “I decided to do it because I felt I could really con-
istry and Biochemistry, wasn’t feeling up to the mon- tribute something to it,” Schug said. “It’s a big honor He was presented with the award at the international lab-
umental job when his friend and colleague Gary this early in my career.” oratory science conference Pittcon 2013 in Philadelphia.
Christian, professor emeritus at the University of
Washington, asked him to help rewrite his book, An- “It is a great honor to be selected for this prestigious
alytical Chemistry, three years ago. But he didn’t award from the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry and to
want to turn Christian down, so he decided to ask join the ranks of great scientists who have won this award be-
Schug, Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analyt- fore me,” said Schug, who is also the Shimadzu Distinguished
ical Chemistry, to help. Professor of Analytical Chemistry. “My goal is to make this a
sign of the great things still to come from our group in the fu-
“I knew that this was going to take time, but I had ture.”
no idea how much time it would end up consuming,”
Dasgupta said. “I did not really expect Kevin to say Schug received a National Science Foundation Faculty
yes. To my surprise – and to be honest, even after Early Career Development Program award in 2009 and the
2010 Eli Lilly Young and Company Young Investigator Award
for Analytical Chemistry.

Maverick Science 2013-14 13

C O L L E G E   N E W S | STEM EDUCATION | SCIENCE WEEK

Ashanti Johnson, back row sixth from right, with President Barack Obama, center, and other College celebrates science
recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering
Mentoring Program at the White House in 2010. with talks, career panels

Johnson a leader in effort to boost during Science Week ’13

minority participation in STEM The College’s fourth annual Science Week put the spot-
light on science with a full slate of activities the week of No-
For years, Ashanti Johnson has been working ican to earn a doctoral degree in oceanography vember 4-9, with students, alumni and faculty coming
to find ways to help underrepresented minorities from Texas A&M University and one of the first fe- together for invited talks, panel discussions on careers in sci-
become more involved in STEM (science, technol- male African-American chemical oceanographers ence fields, and workshops aimed at helping students take
ogy, engineering and math) education. Her knowl- in the country – added to her plate in 2013. advantage of opportunities to become involved in research.
edge of the subject means she is in high demand
by a host of governmental agencies and educa- In June, she was appointed to a 24-member Among the highlights were talks by Harold McNair, pro-
tional entities trying to achieve the same goal – in- advisory panel to create a strategic vision for the fessor emeritus in chemistry at Virginia Tech University;
cluding the White House. National Academy of Sciences’ Gulf Research Pro- David R. Nygren, distinguished scientist at Lawrence Berke-
gram. The program is a $500 million, 30-year en- ley National Laboratory and inventor of the time projection
Johnson, UT Arlington Assistant Vice Provost deavor established as part of the settlements of chamber; and UT Arlington alumnus Robert Stewart, pro-
for Faculty Recruitment and associate professor of federal criminal complaints against BP and fessor emeritus in oceanography at Texas A&M University.
environmental science, was appointed to two na- Transocean Ltd. after the 2010 Deepwater Hori-
tional committees last year with that goal in mind. zon explosion and subsequent contamination of McNair, a pioneer in gas chro-
the Gulf Coast. matography, reflected on his career in
The first group is the his talk, “55 Years in Chromatography”.
Coalition of Hispanic, The program focuses on human health, envi- Nygren, inventor of the time projection
African and Native Ameri- ronmental protection and oil system safety and chamber, spoke about “Gas-Filled De-
cans for the Next Genera- will fund and carry out studies, projects, and ac- tectors: The Long-Distance Champions
tion of Engineers and tivities in research and development, education of Particle Physics”. Stewart surveyed
Scientists (CHANGES), and training, and environmental monitoring. The his career and gave advice to students
which she became involved advisory committee is articulating the program’s in his talk, “50 Years in Oceanography” McNair
in after a White House mission, goals, and objectives – including prelim- (see story on Stewart, page 38).
Forum on STEM Minority inary thinking about metrics to measure its im-
Inclusion, organized by the Johnson pacts – and outlining how the program will A panel discussion on environmental careers included UT
Office of Science and Tech- operate in the first three to five years. Arlington alumni David Brittain, Susan Doerfler, David Long
nology Policy in February 2013. Johnson is on the and Kenneth Tramm, who offered insights to students seek-
group’s executive board and is in charge of com- Johnson is also Executive Director of the Insti- ing jobs in the environmental science field. A health profes-
munications among the 16 STEM organizations tute for Broadening Participation, a non-profit or- sions panel featuring UT Arlington alumni Dr. Hank Jacobs,
that are a part of CHANGES. ganization which strives to increase diversity in the D.D.S., and Dr. Jocelyn Zee allowed students to glean wis-
STEM workforce by designing and implementing dom from medical professionals.
“The goal of CHANGES is to advance under- strategies to increase access to STEM education,
represented minorities in STEM education,” John- funding, and careers, with special emphasis on di- Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Recruitment Ashanti
son said. “We want to serve as a voice to local, state verse underrepresented groups. Johnson, Assistant Dean Ashley Purgason and Tom Wind-
and federal government agencies, educational in- ham, consultant for the Center for Multiscale Modeling of
stitutions, the business sector, and communities. Then there are Johnson’s UT Arlington roles Atmospheric Processes at Colorado State University, held a
It’s very broad in structure, focusing on different as vice provost and associate professor, which are series of workshops for students on how to get involved in
target areas. My focus is undergraduate and grad- more than enough to keep most people busy. research and how to find research and funding opportunities
uate education.” in Texas and around the nation.
Johnson’s tireless efforts to improve diversity
CHANGES member organizations will provide in STEM fields haven’t gone unnoticed. Among the Dean Pamela Jansma hosted a dinner for Freshman In-
feedback on ways to improve best practices, men- honors she has received is the Presidential Award terest Groups at the Planetarium, and a special 75th birthday
toring and training programs, and more. for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engi- party was held in honor of John Fry, professor emeritus in
neering Mentoring, presented at a White House physics. A new physics scholarship created in Fry’s honor by
In November 2013 Johnson was invited to par- ceremony in January 2010. friends and former students was announced at the party (see
ticipate in the White House Forum on Minorities story, page 10).
in Energy, organized by the Department of Energy. Because of her desire to make a positive con-
The forum gathered innovators from various en- tribution to the STEM community and maintain a Dr. Jocelyn Zee (B.S. Biology ’04) and Dr. Hank Jacobs, D.D.S.
ergy and STEM fields to discuss effective ways to balanced professional and family life, on perhaps (B.S. Biology ’82) flank Dean Pamela Jansma after a panel
advance the participation of underrepresented mi- far too many occasions, Johnson has found it nec- discussion on careers in health professions.
norities in energy-related enterprises in commu- essary to work late into the night on various pro-
nities across the country. Part of the mission of this fessional activities after putting her three young
forum and its participants is to highlight the na- children to sleep. “The idea of being able to help
tional imperative of a thriving, diverse energy shape national policy on minority involvement in
workforce to ensure a clean energy future for the STEM and energy is great, but I need to set bound-
United States. aries somewhere. I want to maximize the amount
of impact I can have, but I also want to sleep!” she
That’s not all Johnson – the first African-Amer- said with a smile.

14 Maverick Science 2013-14

C O L L E G E   N E W S | EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

EES receives record $300K pledge for master’s program

Master’s studies in the Department of when one of Basu’s students received her donation from Pioneer Natural Resources industry and higher education are essen-
Earth and Environmental Science are re- master’s degree and was hired by Pioneer and by what it will mean to our master’s tial to reach the goal of maintaining global
ceiving a significant boost with the dona- Natural Resources. Basu – who became students in earth and environmental sci- leadership in the geosciences that are key
tion of $300,000 by Pioneer Natural department chair in January 2013 – has ence,” Jansma said. “These funds will en- to both managing our energy resources
Resources Co., an Irving-based oil and been reaching out to area businesses able our students to spend less time on and preserving our environment.
gas firm. about the opportunity to become involved finding ways to finance their education
in geoscience education by funding schol- and more time on doing innovative re- “Pioneer’s contribution of $300,000
The donation is the largest cash gift in arships and research stipends. search and becoming leaders of the next to the UTA Department of Earth and En-
the history of the department and will be generation of geoscientists.” vironmental Science is intended to ad-
disbursed in three annual payments of “This is something which will benefit vance this partnership. We are committed
$100,000. The first payment was made everyone because the donation will en- Louis Goldstein, Pioneer Natural Re- to support Professor Basu’s vision of con-
in January. able us to train students who will be sources vice president of corporate geo- tinuing to build a program that provides
highly qualified when they receive their science, said the move benefits everyone Tier One-caliber graduates to the re-
“This is wonderful news for the de- degrees, and that will in turn provide by helping students pay for the instruc- source and environmental sectors.”
partment and for our master’s students in ready access to strong job candidates for tion they receive and the research they
particular,” said Asish Basu, professor businesses here in the Metroplex,” Basu conduct in order to earn their degrees, The January check signing was at-
and chair of the EES department. “This said. which in turn provides a pool of young, tended by Jansma, Basu and UT Arling-
generous donation will allow us to con- talented geoscientists who will make ideal ton President Vistasp Karbhari, along
tinue to improve our graduate program in Dean of Science Pamela Jansma, a job candidates for industries which are in with Goldstein and E.G. ‘Skip’ Rhodes, Pi-
the form of scholarships and research geoscientist whose research interests in- need of that talent. oneer Natural Resources director of new
funding for master’s students. I would clude microplate tectonics and strain par- plays and shale technology.
like to thank Pioneer Natural Resources titioning, hailed the contribution as “The universities of today provide the
for their generous donation and their exactly the kind of academic-corporate technical and scientific talent which are Pioneer Natural Resources is an inde-
commitment to science education in the partnership the College of Science and the essential to our resource and environ- pendent oil and natural gas company that
North Texas area.” University want to foster. mental industries of tomorrow,” Gold- was formed in 1997. It has 3,900 employ-
stein said. “Partnerships between ees and had total assets of $13.1 billion at
The partnership was formed in 2013, “We’re very excited by this generous the end of 2012.

EES chair Basu aiming to build on foundation, Hu named Fellow
help department reach new heights of success
by e Geological
After taking the reins of the Department of Earth and Asish Basu in his lab with a mass spectrometer ma-
Environmental Sciences as chair in January 2013, Asish chine he brought to UT Arlington from his previous Society of America
Basu has wasted no time formulating new goals aimed at lab at the University of Rochester.
moving the program forward. Qinhong “Max” Hu, an associate professor
make it a first-rate program, nationally and internation- of earth and environmental sciences, has
He has overseen major renovations and upgrades of ally.” been named a fellow by The Geological Soci-
the interior of the Geosciences Building which houses de- ety of America, an honor reserved for scien-
partment offices, labs and classrooms and which will soon Basu was selected as department chair from a field of tists making distinguished contributions to the
include the Center for Environmental, Forensic and Ma- four finalists. He replaced John Wickham, who stepped geosciences.
terial Science. The center will be part of UT Arlington’s down after having led the department since his arrival at
Shimadzu Institute for Research Technologies, a $25.2 UT Arlington in 1992. “Dr. Hu’s world-class
million endeavor that will transform research capabilities efforts to advance earth
and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathe- “We’re very pleased to have a geoscientist as distin- science are evidenced by
matics) education at UT Arlington and throughout the guished and experienced as Dr. Basu leading the Depart- an impressive history of
state. ment of Earth and Environmental Science,” Dean of publications, presenta-
Science Pamela Jansma said. “His knowledge and expert- tions, funding and pro-
With the amount of oil and gas drilling being done in ise will be invaluable in helping build a geochemistry pro- fessional honors,” Dean
Texas, Basu sees opportunities to create joint programs gram here and in attracting top faculty to do research and of Science Pamela
with the UT Arlington College of Engineering. He also teach in this area. Jansma said. “As a Hu
aims to launch a geochemistry program, utilizing the newly-named fellow, he
strong infrastructure already in place at UT Arlington in “We all thank John Wickham for his 20-plus years of will undoubtedly continue these contributions
the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry plus the new excellent leadership as chair. The department has made in the years to come.”
Shimadzu research facilities. The main reason he left his tremendous gains under his guidance, and his efforts to
previous job, at the University of Rochester in New York, ensure that our students receive all the teaching and Hu has been at UT Arlington since 2008.
was because of the potential he saw in the UT Arlington hands-on training they need to be successful have been Prior to that, he worked at the U.S Depart-
EES department and the opportunity to help build on the tireless. His leadership has ensured that the department ment of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore Na-
department’s successes. is in great position to continue to move forward under Dr. tional Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley
Basu.” National Laboratory. His research specialty is
“I wanted a new challenge,” Basu said. “Rochester is a in describing and exploring the processes by
very fine university, but I felt I had done everything I which fluids (air, water and hydrocarbon)
wanted to do there, and as chair had taken the department move through porous and fractured porous
as far as I could. Now I would like the challenge of helping media in the Earth such as tight rock forma-
to build – with support from the faculty and the adminis- tions.
tration – a distinguished Earth and Environmental Sci-
ences Department at UT Arlington.” Hu has published more than 80 peer-re-
viewed journal articles and numerous other
Basu notes the diversity of UT Arlington’s student works focused on resources management, en-
body, as well as of its faculty, as one of its greatest vironmental remediation and waste isolation.
strengths, and says he enjoys meeting as many of them as He is currently the principal investigator on
possible to share ideas and listen to different viewpoints. $625,000 in grants to study fracture-matrix in-
teraction in gas recovery in North Texas’ Bar-
“My mission in professional life has been teaching and nett Shale.
research, and it seems to me the students at UT Arlington
have a passion for learning,” he said. “My goal is to help Maverick Science 2013-14 15
make the department as successful as possible and to

C O L L E G E   N E W S | MATHEMATICS

Math department named best in nation by AMS

The American Mathematical Society has ademic affairs. “Our nation needs more leaders “Departmental faculty are truly dedicated to Department
named The University of Texas at Arlington the who have achieved the highest degrees in math, training a culturally and ethnically diverse group chair Jianzhong
winner of its 2013 AMS Award for an Exemplary science and engineering. We are pleased to see of students with the potential to thrive in our pro- Su: “The excep-
Program or Achievement in a Mathematics De- the tremendous work of our math faculty recog- fession, and they have had great success,” said tional contribu-
partment. The award honors the mathematics nized on the national stage.” Phil Kutzko, a University of Iowa math professor tions of our
department at UT Arlington as a model of excel- who served as chairman of the award selection faculty members
lence among the group’s 570 member institu- The UT Arlington mathematics department committee. “This commitment on the part of a and staff are the
tions. now joins ranks of elite math programs that are significant percentage of the faculty is what sets reason behind
former winners of the award, such as University departments like the one at UT Arlington apart the UT Arlington
The society recognized the UT Arlington of California at Los Angeles and University of from other departments with similar goals.” Mathematics 
mathematics department for doubling the size of Iowa. Department 
its doctoral program over five years and bolster- Pamela Jansma, College of Science dean, said receiving this
ing those ranks with historically underrepre- In their citation, the selection committee said math faculty members have actively pursued prestigious
sented student groups, including women and that UT Arlington’s math department stood out grants to improve their department and to pro- award.”
minorities. because of its focus on students. Over several vide students the support they need to finish their
years, faculty and staff created an environment doctoral degrees. She credited the leadership of
From 2005-10, the number of doctoral stu- where undergraduate and graduate students of former UT Arlington department chair Jianping
dents in the department grew from 23 to 52. all backgrounds could flourish, the judges said. Zhu and current chair Jianzhong Su.
Large gains were also made in the number of U.S. Mentoring programs, professional development,
citizens or permanent residents pursuing doc- active recruiting and study groups that build con- “Many of these students would not have been
toral degrees. nections among students were essential compo- able to attend graduate school without the finan-
nents, they said. cial help of these grants,” Jansma said. “By seek-
“This is an extraordinary honor and recogni- ing out these funds, our faculty has ensured that
tion of the achievements of the UT Arlington De- The department also significantly increased the University doesn’t miss out on the contribu-
partment of Mathematics,” said Ronald its number of undergraduate majors during the tions these talented individuals can make.”
Elsenbaumer, provost and vice president for ac- same period of time.

Outreach program allows Arlington

schoolgirls to get excited about math

New emporium director out The Department of Mathematics hosted a day women with varied backgrounds who use mathe-
of Mavericks in Math for over 100 fifth and sixth matics in their careers, including Minerva
to help students ‘do the math’ grade girls from Arlington schools on October 19 Cordero, College of Science associate dean and
at Pickard Hall. professor of mathematics; Melinda Au, system en-
Shanna Moody, above, taught her first math class at age 12 gineer for Lockheed Martin and a Ph.D. student
when her seventh-grade teacher was out sick. The substitute The event had three goals: encouraging the in mathematics; Wendy Okolo, a Ph.D. student in
teacher was unfamiliar with the material, so school administra- study of mathematics among young women, es- aerospace engineering; and Iris Alvarado, a Ph.D.
tors allowed Moody – the top math student in her class – to pecially minorities and those from low-income student in mathematics who has a master’s degree
teach for the day. She has gone on to make a career out of math families; providing an enriching and encouraging in mechanical engineering.
education. environment for promoting positive attitudes to-
ward mathematics; and continuing to develop a Over 70 mathematics undergraduate and
Moody’s mission, she says, is to disprove the notion that strong connection between UT Arlington and Ar- graduate student volunteers from UT Arlington
math is just too hard for some people to grasp. In June, she be- lington ISD students and math teachers. helped with the event. The girls who attended
came the new director of the department’s Math Learning Re- were a highly diverse group: approximately 50
source Center, or Math Emporium. She has made it her job to “The girls had a great day of engaging mathe- percent were Hispanic and 30 percent were
dispel the myth that math is something to be feared or simply matics activities and encouragement to continue African-American. The free event was held with
endured on the way to obtaining a college degree. studying mathematics, led by UT Arlington math funding support from the Mathematical Associa-
students,” said event organizer Theresa Jor- tion of America Tensor Program for Women and
“Everybody can do math. They may not think so, but they gensen, an associate professor of math. “Motivat- Mathematics, the National Science Foundation,
can do it,” Moody said. “They just need the right instruction. ing girls at this young age can bear long-lasting the Association for Women in Mathematics, and
Right now, our public K-12 education system often leaves gaps fruit as they select their academic paths through the UT Arlington College of Science.
in students’ mathematical education, and a lot of them come to middle school and high school.”
college with a fear of math. That’s part of the mindset I want to The event is one of a number of outreach pro-
change.” The day included workshops, games, and a grams the College of Science hosts each year to in-
visit to the Planetarium for a special panel discus- volve K-12 students in science and math.
The emporium, which opened in August 2012, is a tutorial sion where the girls asked questions of four
lab with computer software which supplements and reinforces Over 100
classroom instruction and allows students to receive help from girls from
instructors and graduate teaching assistants in areas where they fifth and
are having difficulty. It is based on a model provided by the Na- sixth
tional Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT), which has grade 
produced often dramatic results at other institutions that have Arlington
implemented it. schools 
attended
College algebra was selected as the initial course because it the Mav-
is one taken by a large number of college students from numer- ericks in
ous divisions and one which has high failure rates nationwide. Math day
in Octo-
ber.

16 Maverick Science 2013-14

C O L L E G E   N E W S | PHYSICS | MATHEMATICS

SAVANT Center using research to improve security

A new center at UT Arlington is fo- Excellence at universities nationwide.

cusing on using nanotechnology to They work with industry and first-re-

strengthen and enhance U.S. security sponders to develop new technologies to

through collaborative research across enhance homeland security.

disciplines. “Federal funding agencies have

The Security Advances Via Applied clearly indicated the need for increased

Nanotechnology (SAVANT) Center is innovation to address U.S. security is-

home to projects already under way, in- sues at home and abroad. Research uni-

cluding using nanoparticles to detect versities, especially like UT Arlington,

threats such as nuclear dirty bombs. It is have a significant and unique role to

also a place to explore new concepts, play,” said Ronald Elsenbaumer, provost

such as using luminescent nanoparticles and vice president for academic affairs.

to prevent “friendly-fire” incidents in Other ongoing or proposed projects

combat. include:

The center’s goals include (1) provid- n The use of near-field RFID, or

ing a platform for interdisciplinary col- radio-frequency identification, sensing

laboration among UTA faculty as well as nanotechnology to detect, track, trace

the UT Arlington Research Institute and locate threats, especially at the U.S.

(UTARI), augmenting the prospects of border.

obtaining federal funds to address criti- n Developing nanoscale probes and

cal security issues through technological sensors for use in water and food safety

advances; (2) assisting local agencies in SAVANT Center leaders, from left, Andrew Brandt, Erick Jones and Wei Chen testing.
acquiring funding to strengthen security; want the center to be a platform for multidisciplinary research. n Development of nanomedicine for
and (3) facilitating the education and
treatment and prevention of radiation

training of STEM (science, technology, portation hubs and other public gathering places, exposure or damage.

engineering and mathematics) students in research public infrastructure networks and the U.S. border.” UT Arlington’s North Texas location will be an

areas relevant to homeland security, thus providing a Brandt and Erick Jones, an associate professor in asset to researchers’ work, allowing them to team with

new work force that would be well-positioned to fill the College of Engineering, are deputy directors of the the ultimate users of threat-detection services, such

the critical shortage of trained professionals in this center. as entertainment venues, military contractors and air-

vital area. The collaboration will be primarily between the ports. Supporting and training young investigators

Wei Chen, a professor of physics, is director of the university’s College of Science and College of Engi- will also be a major task for the new center. Collabo-

center. Chen, along with physics professor Andrew neering. The Colleges of Liberal Arts, Business and rations with other universities also are planned.

Brandt, has received more than $1.9 million in federal Education and Health Professions are also involved “We will work to ensure that our students have

grants to develop radiation detection devices using lu- in planning future projects. valuable research opportunities at every level,” Dean

minescent nanoparticles embedded in a polymer thin Organizers hope the center will be recognized as a of Science Pamela Jansma said. “The wide array of

film. Department of Homeland Security Science & Tech- projects proposed as part of the SAVANT center will

“Our center will go beyond standard detection nology Directorate Center of Excellence by 2020 and, enhance student experiences and help fuel security-

techniques, using newly-advanced, science-based by that time, garner grants and private industry fund- based research in the future.”

breakthroughs,” Chen said. “We will be looking to ing of more than $10 million annually. Currently, the Learn more about the SAVANT Center at

identify threats in a variety of arenas, including trans- Department of Homeland Security has 12 Centers of http://www.uta.edu/savant/.

Math department receives $623K grant Magnet school wins Calculus Bowl

from NSF for STEM field scholarships The 2013 UT Arlington Calculus Bowl went down to the wire, but in
the end, the School of Science and Engineering Magnet (SEM), a
A new $623,608 National Science Founda- UT Arlington’s S-STEM program is called college preparatory public high school in Dallas was victorious. SEM
tion S-STEM grant to the UT Arlington Mathe- SURGE (Scholarships for Undergraduates to edged Flower Mound High School, which was trying for its fourth
matics Department will help undergraduates Reach Goals in Education). To be considered for consecutive title at the 13th annual event. SEM, competing in its first
with up to $10,000 in tuition and fees as they the SURGE scholarship, students must have Calculus Bowl, scored 24 points to Flower Mound’s 22. In all, teams
pursue their future in teaching, research or other demonstrated academic excellence and financial from 23 DFW area schools matched wits in the contest which tests
math-based professions. need and be pursuing a math degree in the Col- students’ knowledge through a series of multiple choice questions.
lege of Science. In addition to funding, recipients Pictured are SEM team members, from left, Quinn Torres, Murali
S-STEM stands for Scholarships in Science, also get access to a network of support in the Subramanian, team captain Andrew Merrill, Wesley Runnels, Sirjan
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The form of peer mentoring, tutoring, faculty men- Kafle and coach Joshua Newton.
funding – which will be spread over four years - toring and industry mentoring with graduates of
is the second S-STEM grant the department has the department who work in the Metroplex. Maverick Science 2013-14 17
received. The first, in 2008, helped 46 students
toward their degrees. A majority of those came Members of the SURGE team and co-inves-
to UT Arlington from community colleges, and tigators on the new grant funding are professors
some graduates have continued to pursue ad- Tuncay Aktosun, Hristo Kojouharov and Su, and
vanced degrees in STEM areas. associate professors Ruth Gornet and Barbara
Shipman.
“Mathematics is a key to real-life problems
everywhere, from science and engineering to “Experience shows that support outside the
business, sports or music. By supporting stu- classroom and involvement in challenging activ-
dents’ interest in a math major we are training ities such as research keeps students moving to-
graduates ready to lead tomorrow’s technologi- ward their goals,” Dean Pamela Jansma said.
cal advances,” said Jianzhong Su, professor and “The math department already is an example of
department chair. excellence in those areas of engagement.”

COLLEGE NEWS | PSYCHOLOGY

Center is focused on combating chronic illnesses

Chronic illnesses – such as heart disease, can- Members of the center include, from left, Robert Gatchel, Robbie Haggard, Kimberly Warren, Pedro Cortes,
cer, diabetes and arthritis – affect millions of people Sarah Eames, Megan Ingram, McKenna Bradford, Melissa Muenzler, Celeste  Sanders, Yun Hee Choi, Meredith
in the United States every year and are a major con- Hartzell and Sali Asih.
tributor to skyrocketing health care costs.
Gatchel and Celeste Sanders in one of the center’s Gatchel says, is UT Arlington’s push towards be-
More than 75 percent of U.S. health care costs research rooms in the Life Science Building. coming a Tier I research university. The amount of
come from treatment of chronic diseases. These research expenditures is an important criterion in
persistent conditions are the leading causes of body, and to an acceleration of the aging process. receiving Tier I status, and the center’s goal is to
death and disability in the United States. Most of these factors can be modified, and this add significantly to the University’s expenditure
numbers.
That’s why the Center of Excellence for the fact offers important new ways to reduce illness
Study of Health and Chronic Illnesses at UT Arling- risks, as well as the personal, financial, and medical A vital component of the center is the advisory
ton was created. The center’s purpose is to coordi- toll of many chronic illnesses. These changes in the committee, which will guide the research focus of
nate and stimulate biopsychosocial and medical nature of serious chronic illnesses pose a number the center and seek funding for projects from fed-
research, as well as community-based education of very important challenges for systematic study, eral, state and private sources. The committee is a
and prevention efforts pertaining to the causes and evaluation, and intervention. multidisciplinary team comprised of UT Arlington
management of chronic illnesses. faculty in psychology, chemistry, engineering, busi-
Another impetus for the center’s creation, ness and kinesiology; faculty from UT Southwest-
The center, which opened Jan. 1, 2013, also in- ern, UT Dallas and UNT Health Science Center;
cludes the Dr. Andy Baum Memorial Bioassay Clin- and medical professionals from around North
ical Research Laboratory, which was the brainchild Texas.
of UT Arlington psychology professor Andrew
Baum, a giant in the field of health psychology who The center will also give students the opportu-
died in 2010. The lab is named in his honor and can nity to participate in case studies conducted at the
perform a variety of assays. center as research assistants, allowing them to gain
valuable experience as they advance in their ca-
Robert Gatchel, distinguished professor and the reers.
Nancy P. & John G. Penson Endowed Professor of
Clinical Health Psychology, is director of the center “In terms of giving them an environment to be
and was the driving force behind its creation. The involved in practical clinical research, this is the
center’s formation took almost 10 years, starting perfect place for that,” Gatchel said.
when Gatchel came to UT Arlington from UT
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in 2004. To learn more about the center, visit
http://www.uta.edu/psychology/hci/index.php.
“This was something I worked toward since I
came to UT Arlington,” Gatchel said. “When I got
here, one of my areas of expertise was chronic pain,
which is associated with a large number of medical
conditions. I had a lot of grants in that area, and I
started thinking we could have a place here where
important collaborative research could be done.”

The center was established in response to the
changing health care landscape in the United
States, Gatchel notes. It reflects marked changes in
major health threats, from primarily infectious dis-
eases – such as polio and tuberculosis – to chronic
illnesses, which affect millions of people today.

Modern chronic illnesses are caused in part by
aging and lifestyle, and they present problems in
management, prevention and treatment, the cen-
ter’s website states. Stress, lack of exercise, diet,
drug and tobacco use, and other psychosocial fac-
tors appear to contribute to “wear and tear” on the

UTA team wins contest with brain power

UT Arlington team members, from left, faculty mentor Linda Perrotti, UT Arlington team members put their “We were thrilled to win,” said faculty men-
graduate student coach Amber Harris, Gaurang Gupte, John Perish, heads together and used their gray matter when tor Linda Perrotti, assistant professor of psy-
Matt Fisher, Eliza DeNobrega, Hannah Wriston and graduate student it mattered most to come home with the trophy chology. “Our win truly came down to the final
coach Samara Morris Bobzean. at the 14th annual Intercollegiate Brain Bowl. question. It was an incredibly suspenseful ex-
perience and the competition was very close.”
The 2013 competition, held April 16, pitted
teams from UT Arlington, defending champion The Brain Bowl tests the knowledge of un-
Trinity University and UT San Antonio. UT Ar- dergraduate neuroscience students. Questions
lington scored 236 points to top runner-up UT range from relatively easy to very difficult, cov-
San Antonio’s 219 points. ering fields of research including neurophysiol-
ogy, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, drugs and
The Brain Bowl, sponsored each spring by the brain, and the brain and behavior.
the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at the
University of Texas Health Science Center San Modeled after the 1960s TV quiz show Uni-
Antonio, is a neuroscience quiz show in which versity Challenge, the Brain Bowl includes
three teams of undergraduates from universi- three rounds of short answer questions and a
ties across Texas compete for prizes, bragging final round “challenge” where teams can wager
rights, and the Brain Bowl trophy. points accumulated in previous rounds.

18 Maverick Science 2013-14

C O L L E G E   N E W S | SCIENCE EDUCATION

Growth of UTeach surpassing all expectations

UT Arlington set out to address the shortage of Anne Marie Russell, left, and Stephanie Gutierrez was willing to go ahead and change to a math major in
highly trained secondary school science and math teach- will be among the first graduates of the UTeach Ar- order to continue with the program,” Russell said. “I
ers head-on when it started the UTeach Arlington pro- lington program in May. want to be a math teacher because I want make an im-
gram in 2010. UTeach’s aim is to recruit, train and pact on others’ lives and help make math not so difficult
inspire math and science majors who are interested in “Time sure flies when you’re having fun! None of it for students.”
earning teaching certifications. would be possible without our master teachers and the
way they prepare our students. Every report we get from Gutierrez and Russell are shining examples of the
The program provides early and intensive field ex- teachers in the field is great; these kids know their stuff.” kind of students UTeach produces, Hale said.
periences in K-12 schools for teacher candidates; utilizes
experienced master teachers as instructors, mentors Stephanie Gutierrez and Anne Marie Russell are two “Stephanie and Anne Marie have been incredible
and field experience coordinators; and offers a variety of the UTeach Arlington students who will graduate with ambassadors for UTeach Arlington when they’ve been
of scholarship and internship opportunities for stu- diplomas and teaching certificates in May. on their field placements, taken part in internships, and
dents. UTeach allows students to graduate with both a been asked to meet with our grantor and potential
degree and a teaching certificate. Gutierrez, from Dallas, already knew a lot about donors,” Hale said. “Their passion for teaching and their
UTeach when she enrolled at UT Arlington because her confidence in their preparation is immediately evident,
The original UTeach program, at UT Austin, started sister graduated from the UTeach program at UT Austin and our entire team of faculty, advisors, and staff mem-
in 1997 and was an immediate success. UTeach Arling- and had a “great experience,” Gutierrez said. She origi- bers is very proud of them.”
ton launched in Fall 2010 and is a collaboration between nally wanted to go into dentistry, but as she advanced
the College of Science and the College of Education. in the program, her career goals changed. A big part of the program’s success has been the fi-
UTeach Arlington was made possible by a $1.4 million nancial support many students receive from UTeach Ar-
grant from Texas Instruments, the Michael and Susan “As I became more involved in UTeach and started lington’s corporate partners. AT&T has provided broad
Dell Foundation, and the Texas Education Agency, via getting experience in the classroom, I decided that support and scholarships for UTeach students since
the National Math and Science Initiative. The success of teaching is what I want to do,” she said. “Seeing the im- 2011, relieving some of the financial burden that stu-
UTeach Arlington, which will have its first graduates this pact that teachers can have on a student’s future is re- dents face in college. Gutierrez and Russell are among
spring, has surpassed even the wildest expectations of markable and I want to be a part of that.” the 2013-14 AT&T UTeach Scholarship recipients.
its three co-directors – Greg Hale, assistant dean in the
College of Science; Ramon Lopez, professor of physics; Russell, also from Dallas, learned about UTeach dur- “This scholarship means a lot to me, as I am paying
and Ann Cavallo, professor in the College of Education. ing a freshman orientation activities fair. She already for most of my education,” Gutierrez said. “Scholarships
knew she wanted to be a teacher, but not necessarily in like this one reassure me that I will be able to continue
“When we were preparing to launch UTeach Arling- math. After STEP 1 – the first phase of her classroom to be in school full-time without the pressure of money
ton, we hoped that we would be able to recruit 90 stu- teaching – she changed her mind. added to my list of hurdles.”
dents into the program during a fall semester by our
fifth year,” Hale said. “Instead, we recruited 90 in our “After doing Step 1, I loved UTeach so much that I Lopez says UTeach Arlington will make a major dif-
very first semester. The first graduating class, in May ference in the DFW region by sending well-trained grad-
and December of 2014, will produce more than 50 sec- uates with a passion for teaching out into area K-12
ondary science and math teachers. This is approxi- classrooms.
mately 10 times the number of such teachers we had
been graduating per year prior to launching the pro- “All of our students are going to go on to really make
gram.” a difference for kids in science and math education,”
Lopez said. “It’s hard to underestimate the impact it will
Lopez, who has made a significant impact in space have on education in our community. Most students
research and in science education, says his involvement who become teachers stay within 50 miles of where they
with UTeach is easily the most important thing he has went to school, so we’re going to be putting a lot of sci-
done since coming to UT Arlington. ence and math teachers into the Metroplex, and they’re
going to have such an amazing and positive impact on
“It’s been a lot of work, but there has been amazing kids.”
growth in the program in just 3½ years,” Lopez said.
To learn more about UTeach Arlington, visit
http://www.uta.edu/cos/uteach/.

STEM teacher training program gets $150K boost from NSF

UT Arlington has received a signifi- chemistry and biochemistry and the Shi- opportunity for our graduate students. ON-TRAC will help train better in-
cant financial boost in its effort to prepare madzu Distinguished Professor of Analyt- Our University is invested in the pro- structors for higher education, but the
students to become university teachers in ical Chemistry, is principal investigator gram’s success, so we should all be look- overriding goal extends beyond the col-
science, technology, engineering and (PI) for ON-TRAC. He said the grant will ing for ways to benefit from the resources lege classroom. Ultimately, the center in-
mathematics (STEM) fields. fund half of the University’s ON-TRAC it offers.” tends to improve STEM education for
costs for the next three years. The other students nationwide, increase diversity in
The University’s Organizational Net- half will come from the Colleges of Sci- The program has three core ideals: 1) those fields and increase the nation’s
work for Teaching as Research Advance- ence, Engineering, Education and Health teaching as research, which involves the STEM literacy.
ment and Collaboration (ON-TRAC) Professions, and the Offices of the deliberate, systematic, and reflective use
program received a three-year, $150,000 Provost, Research, and Graduate Studies. of research methods to develop and im- The ON-TRAC leadership team also
grant from the National Science Founda- plement teaching practices that advance includes co-PI Raymond “Joe” Jackson,
tion in October to help in its mission of “This is a terrific resource for students the learning experiences and outcomes of associate dean in the Office of Graduate
building a national faculty in STEM com- who are thinking about going into STEM students and teachers; 2) learning Studies; Lisa Berry, coordinator of Reten-
mitted to enhancing undergraduate teaching,” Schug said. “We want to get through diversity – effective teaching re- tion and Completion in the Office of
STEM education. faculty more involved and make students quires commitment to creating equitable Graduate Studies; Ann Cavallo, professor
more aware of the program. It’s a very learning experiences and environments of Curriculum and Instruction in the Col-
ON-TRAC is a member of the Center forward-thinking program and a great that promote the success of diverse learn- lege of Education and Health Professions;
for the Integration of Research, Teaching ers; 3) learning community – develop- James Epperson, associate professor of
and Learning (CIRTL), a network of 22 ment of a learning community is fostered math; Lynn Peterson, senior associate
national research institutions committed by shared discovery and learning where dean for Academic Affairs in the College
to helping STEM graduate and postdoc- participants learn collaboratively and of Engineering; Pranesh Aswath, associ-
toral students develop effective teaching come together to achieve learning goals, ate dean for Graduate Affairs in the Col-
strategies for diverse learners. ON- rather than relying on traditional “expert lege of Engineering; Phil Cohen, vice
TRAC’s $150,000 grant came from a $5 centered” lecture formats. These commu- provost for Academic Affairs and profes-
million NSF grant to CIRTL, which the 22 nities support and validate growth in sor of English; and David Silva, vice
member institutions share. teaching and learning. provost for faculty affairs.

Kevin Schug, associate professor of

Maverick Science 2013-14 19

Early Eocene strata in the Wind River Basin of
central Wyoming show alternating ancient soil
(red) and fluvial channel sandstone (grey and
yellow). Photo courtesy of Majie Fan.

Crunching
the STRATA
Sedimentary rock contains information about what the Earth
was like long ago, as well as how and why it has changed. UT
Arlington geologist Majie Fan and her students are studying
these ancient archives to learn how mountain ranges formed,
what the climate was like, and more.

By Greg Pederson

20 Maverick Science 2013-14

S olving a childhood mystery gave Majie Fan the desire to study N ow in her third year at UT Arlington, Fan and her stu-
geology and make a career of examining sedimentary forma- dents are working on a variety of projects involving the
tions to unlock the clues they provide about tectonic processes use of sedimentary records to determine what caused
and climate changes that shaped the Earth millions of years geologic processes to happen millions of years ago. One
ago. project focuses on reconstructing the history of surface
Fan, a UT Arlington assistant professor of earth and envi- uplift and climate change in the central Rocky Moun-
ronmental science, was born and raised in the Gansu Province tains during the late Cenozoic Era, roughly 70 to 45 mil-

of rural northwestern China, a region located between two fa- lion years ago. The project, of which Fan is co-principal

mous geologic features: the Tibetan Plateau and the Chinese Loess Plateau. investigator along with Paul Heller of the University of Wyoming, is funded

Loess is silty sediment, usually yellowish or brown in color, which consists by a three-year, $304,179 grant from the National Science Foundation. UT

of tiny mineral particles deposited by the wind. For much of her childhood, Arlington has been subcontracted $223,530 of the funds.

she and her family lived in “My students and I are

cave houses, or yaodong – working on the sedimen-

structures typically carved tary record in the central

out of the side of a cliff or Rocky Mountains in

hill. Wyoming and the nearby

Fan remembers her cu- area in order to under-

riosity in the yellow and stand the tectonic

brown hues of the houses’ processes shaping the re-

earthen walls. gional landscape and the

“When I was a kid, I al- climate changes associated

ways wondered about the with these tectonic pro-

frequent color variations cesses during the last 35

from light yellow to light million years,” Fan said.

brown on the walls inside The project also ex-

the houses and on any tends to gaining a better

cliffs, and imagined an understanding of the sta-

artist riding a helicopter ble isotope composition in

and painting the cliffs,” modern soil and water in

she said. “Not until I en- the central Rockies, she

tered college did I learn said.

from an introductory geol- Fan says it still is not

ogy class that the color clear to what extent the

variations in loess are present-day high regional

common in the Chinese elevation of the central

Loess Plateau, and the lay- Rockies was generated

ers of different colors can during the last mountain

be traced for thousands of building event in western

kilometers.” North America – called

Fan also learned that the Laramide Orogeny –

the color variations are versus post-orogenic sur-

caused by climate face uplift. Orogeny refers

changes, with yellow lay- to the formation of moun-

ers representing periods tain ranges by intense up-

of wind-blown dust accu- ward displacement of the

mulation when the area Earth’s crust, usually asso-

was dry, and light brown ciated with folding, thrust

layers representing peri- faulting, and other com-

ods of soil development pressional processes. The

during relatively humid name Laramide comes

periods. Answering the from the Laramie Moun-

questions she had as a tains in eastern Wyoming.

child about the composi- Brandon Wade Contrasting data sets col-
tion of the walls of the cave Majie Fan, left, and doctoral student Min Gao, who is working with Fan on a project to study lected from middle and
houses where she had the history of surface uplift and climate change in the central Rockies of Wyoming. upper Cenozoic sedimen-

lived sparked a desire to tary basin fills in the region

learn more about geology. have led to different interpretations of uplift mechanism. Fan’s project aims

That desire propelled her to a career as a geologist at UT Arlington, where to constrain the post-Laramide depositional history in the central Rockies
she has an active research lab and enjoys helping students learn and gain coupled with paleo-elevation and paleoclimate reconstruction.

experience in the fields of earth and environmental sciences. Her research Fan and her students have spent the past three summers conducting field

focuses on sedimentary geology, basin analysis, and stable isotope geochem- work in the central Rockies of Wyoming with Heller and colleagues from the

istry. University of Wyoming. Fan’s UT Arlington students involved in the project

“Sedimentary rocks archive information regarding the tectonic processes over the past two years include Jillian Rowley, a former master’s student;

and climate changes that shaped the Earth’s surface,” she said. “My experi- Min Gao, a second-year doctoral student; Brian Hough, a former postdoc-

ence with yellow earth as a climate proxy and basin development in response toral student; current master’s student Alex Mankin; and former undergrad-

to tectonic processes led me to the field of sedimentary geology and basin uate students Sarah Allen and Daniel Kirkwood. They have collected

analysis. Stable isotope geochemistry is one of the common study ap- numerous rock samples in order to analyze the stable isotope compositions

proaches to unravel information from sedimentary rocks.” and the place of origin of the sediment. They have also collected many mod-

Maverick Science 2013-14 21

Photo credits: At top left, master’s student Sara Ayyash drills
Above and right, holes in a freshwater carbonate sample col-
Brandon Wade; top lected near Douglas, Wyoming, in order to col-
right, Majie Fan. lect the powder for stable isotope and element
concentration analysis. Above, doctoral stu-
dent Min Gao conducts primary field work last
summer at Firehole Canyon in southwestern
Wyoming, where the upper stream of the Col-
orado River cut the rocks formed in a lake en-
vironment about 52 million years ago. At left,
Fan in her lab with master’s student Ohood Al
salem, who is examining a thin section of sand-
stone collected in Wyoming. The thin section
of sandstone, which dates from the Miocene
epoch, can be seen on the computer monitor.

ern soil and water samples in order to understand eling in order to understand the influence of man- pen irregularly during hot summer weather.
the stable isotope signatures of modern climate tle upwelling on surface uplift when the subduct- “This particularly challenges the previous as-
and environment, “because the interpretation of ing flat oceanic slab was detached underneath the
geologic data derived from the rock record relies continental plate. sumption that soil carbonate is formed continu-
on the understanding of such data in modern ge- ously during the growth season,” Fan said.
ologic context,” Fan said. “In the next field trip, I will be working on
measuring stratigraphic sections and collecting They also found that the central Rockies and
The project has three goals, Fan said. The first rock samples,” said Gao, who wants to teach and adjacent Great Plains in western Nebraska expe-
is to investigate the occurrence and timing of a re- do research at a university in her native China rienced another stage of uplift after the end of the
gional transition of post-Laramide basin fill from after earning her Ph.D. “Specifically, after we find Laramide orogeny, which caused concomitant
fluvial to eolian deposition, by applying field ob- a good outcrop to work on, we will measure the drying in both areas. Lastly, they found that there
servations, sandstone petrography and detrital thickness of every stratigraphic layer and record was a regional transition from water-lain sedi-
zircon geochronology study, and grain-size analy- as many characteristics of the rock as possible, mentation to wind-lain sedimentation which oc-
sis. The second is to constrain the timing of sur- such as the lithology and the sedimentary struc- curred 32-35 million years ago, and the transition
face elevation changes by reconstructing the ture.” became younging eastward.
stable isotope compositions of middle and late
Cenozoic surface water and surface temperature The field work involves a great deal of hiking. “The transition represented a regional drying
from the combined analysis of hydrogen isotope Due to the remote location of the outcrops and in event caused by the initiation of a rain shadow
ratios of volcanic glass, oxygen and clumped iso- order to keep costs down, the team normally due to the uplift of the central Rocky Mountains.
tope ratios of pedogenic and lacustrine carbon- camps in tents. However, global cooling due to Antarctica glacia-
ates. The third is to evaluate and refine proposed tion at around 34 million years ago may be an-
competing mechanisms of formation of the high Fan and her students are in the final stages of other factor causing the drying events. Such
central Rockies. lab data collection and have recently published findings bring new research questions,” Fan said.
one paper and submitted two others based on
Gao spent three weeks last summer with Fan their research. They also have three papers in dif- In a separate project, Fan is teaming with Bar-
in Wyoming, locating areas with good outcrops ferent stages of preparation. Their research has bara Carrapa of the University of Arizona to re-
from which to collect samples. Gao is focusing on yielded the discovery that modern soil carbonate search the temporal and spatial patterns of
sediment constraint and basin subsidence mod- in the central Rocky Mountains is formed during Laramide uplift to evaluate and refine the pro-
the short periods of soil dewatering, which hap- posed competing geodynamic models of the tec-
tonic processes during the Laramide orogeny.

22 Maverick Science 2013-14

The Laramide Orogeny de- early spring, I said to myself this

formed the foreland basin of the is the place I would be very

Sevier fold-thrust belt into a happy to be.”

high orogenic plateau with high

relief during the Late Cretaceous F an’s students
through the Eocene epoch, Fan love working
said. The Sevier orogeny was a with her be-
mountain-building event that cause she is sup-
affected western North America portive and
from what is now Canada in the eager to help

north to what is now Mexico in them succeed.

the south, and was caused by Ohood Al salem, a second-year

tectonic plate activity between master’s student in Fan’s lab, is

140 and 50 million years ago. studying the history of subsi-

The current model is too simple dence (the sinking of the

to explain the great duration of Earth’s surface due to geologic

the Laramide Orogeny – around causes) of the Fort Worth

40 million years – and the inter- Basin, which was formed 280 to

nal connections among the re- 250 million years ago by the

gional tectonic units and collision between the supercon-

processes in the western United tinent Gondwana and Lauren-

States, Fan said. tia, a large, stable portion of

“We are combining multidis- continental craton (part of a

ciplinary basin analysis – sedi- continental lithosphere) which

mentology, stratigraphy, isotope Above, Fan uses a pen for scale next to a sandstone formation showing climbing rip- forms the ancient geological
paleoaltimetry, and detrital geo- ples, located in the Wind River Basin of Wyoming. Below, Fan shows Aragonitic fresh- core of the North American
chemistry – and basement ap- water bivalve fossils found in the early Eocene Wasatch Formation on the west side continent.
atite fission track thermo- of the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The oxygen isotope ratio of the fossil will be
chronology to reconstruct the used to collect information regarding the paleoelevation of the mountains bounding “The subsidence history of
temporal and spatial patterns of the basin. Photos courtesy of Majie Fan.
the Fort Worth Basin is not only
Laramide uplift,” Fan said. This important to the understanding

work has led to an accepted paper in the journal Tectonics. of tectonic processes during the

collision, but also to the maturation and migration of oil and gas in the basin,”

A fter earning a B.S. in Geology from Lanzhou University Fan said.
in China in 2000, Fan decided to begin graduate school.
The summer before starting work on her master’s degree Al salem plans to complete her master’s degree this spring and then hopes
at Lanzhou, she got the chance to participate in a collab- to begin work on a doctoral degree, with Fan as her mentor.
orative project between Lanzhou and the University of
Arizona. The study’s goal was to understand the tectonic “Dr. Fan is the best mentor. She always offers help and support to her stu-
dents,” Al salem said. “She is a very hard worker and very talented, which
gives me the motivation to do my best in my research. That’s why I really
want to do my Ph.D. with her. I believe our work together will lead to excel-

processes forming the high Tibetan Plateau by studying lent scientific research.”

the sedimentary rocks preserved in topographic lows, Sara Ayyash, a first-year master’s student, is studying rock samples col-

called sedimentary basins, in northwestern China. She worked as a field as- lected by Fan from the White River Formation near Douglas, Wyoming, to

sistant for two University of Arizona researchers over that summer and the learn more about the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the late

next. Eocene and early Oligocene epochs, approximately 34 million years ago.

“I learned from these two knowledgeable geologists way more than the “Dr. Fan is extremely dedicated to her work and teaching,” Ayyash said.

help I could provide at that time,” she said. “I was particularly impressed by “You can tell that she truly enjoys learning new things or subjects that she is

their broad ranges of interest in nature, their determination to pursue a mul- not familiar with. She puts a tremendous amount of effort into what she does,

tidisciplinary approach to solve problems, their diligent work habits, and whether it’s teaching or research and it shows during lectures or when you

their patience with students. They became my role models, and the experi- speak with her.”

ence shaped my professional track significantly.” Fan finds her work as a geoscientist fulfilling and enjoys taking the knowl-

After earning an M.S. from Lanzhou in 2003, she applied for and was ac- edge she has acquired and passing it on to her students and helping them as

cepted to the University of Arizona for further graduate work. She earned a they embark on their careers.

master’s in Geoscience in 2005 and then began work on her Ph.D. in Geo- “Because research is the only way to advance knowledge created in the

science. In the summer of 2009, she worked as an intern geologist with past, I feel excited about the role I am playing in advancing knowledge,” Fan

ExxonMobil in Houston. She completed her said. “I enjoy passing knowledge along in a va-

Ph.D. the following semester while also working riety of ways to students, and spending time

as a lecturer at Arizona, then spent the next 18 with students in the classroom, lab, and field in

months as a postdoctoral fellow at the Univer- order to help them gain the skills to make geo-

sity of Wyoming. In early 2011, she interviewed logic observations, interpretations, and discov-

for a faculty position at UT Arlington and was eries.Geology offers me the opportunity to

impressed with the diversity of the faculty and conduct fieldwork and examine the Earth with

students. She started in August 2011 as an as- colleagues and students in the wilderness. Such

sistant professor. experiences are very rewarding because we dis-

“Their diversity represents different per- cover the beauty of nature that most people do

spectives to shape our campus culture,” she not see and forge long-term relationships.

said. “When I was interviewed in the spring of “Doing geology research is sometimes chal-

2011, the minute I saw the diverse populations lenging. However, once in a while, I discover

walking around the green campus in the warm something that takes my breath away.” n

Maverick Science 2013-14 23

Subhra Mandal in his laboratory.

Photos by Brandon Wade

Breaking it down

Subhrangsu Mandal and his U nderstanding disease on a cellular level has been an
students use biochemistry to endeavor of scientists for decades and has led to a
study things like genes and myriad of advances in how disease can be treated.
DNA in order to find ways
to combat the formation To effectively combat diseases such as cancer, sci-
and spread of diseases such entists must understand how the diseased cells form
as cancer. By Greg Pederson and how they spread inside the body. Biologists and

biochemists do this by studying the molecular

processes which allow this to happen.

Subhrangsu Mandal, a UT Arlington associate professor of biochem-

istry, conducts research to discover ways to combat cancer cell growth

and to treat cardiovascular disease. Mandal’s educational background is

in chemistry, but as he progressed in graduate work he became increas-

ingly interested in how the chemical processes he studied related to living

organisms.

24 Maverick Science 2013-14

“As my primary education is in chemistry, I al- Mandal, shown with members of his lab, clockwise from top left: Arunoday Bhan, Mandal, Shyam
ways wanted to be a chemist,” he said. “However, Prakash, Paromita Deb and Aarti Bashyal.
as I studied more and more biology, I wondered
more and more how cells function, how life func- ogy, tumor microenvironment and targeted ther- vasculogenesis and angiogenesis (mechanisms
tions, and how genomes are organized and func- apy. In the past six months Mandal and his stu- which implement the formation of the vascular net-
tion.” dents had papers published in the journals work in the embryo). MLL is also a chromatin-
Oncogene and the British Journal of Cancer detail- modifying enzyme that controls gene expression
Mandal’s research focuses on histone modifica- ing their investigation of the epigenetics of tumor and chromatin dynamics in human cells. His group
tion, gene regulation and epigenetics in the human microenvironment in vivo using mice models of also found for the first time that MLL1 is critical for
system. Histones are groups of basic proteins pres- human cancer. hypoxia signaling and tumor growth, and that an-
ent in the nuclei of cells that form nucleosomes, tisense-mediated targeting of MLL1 results in
which are sections of DNA that are wrapped tightly “Understanding the tumor microenvironment tumor growth inhibition in a mice model. Hypoxia
around a core of histones, like spools of thread. and the signaling mechanism that controls tumor signaling and angiogenesis are major trademarks
growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis, is critical for that help tumors grow and metastasize. Molecules
Gene regulation is the process of turning genes developing novel and effective cancer therapy,” that inhibit angiogenesis are potential anti-cancer
on and off. Early in their development, cells begin Mandal said. drugs.
to take on specific functions, and gene regulation
ensures that the right genes are expressed at the In the Oncogene manuscript, which he co-au- “Because MLL1 is so crucial to angiogenesis and
right times. Gene regulation can also help an or- thored with former postdoctoral fellow Khairul tumor cell proliferation, gene targeting to MLL1 re-
ganism respond to its environment. It is accom- Ansari and postdoctoral researcher Sahba Kasiri, sulted in tumor suppression of tumor growth in
plished by a variety of mechanisms including Mandal demonstrated that mixed lineage leukemia pre-clinical models of human cancer,” Mandal said.
chemically modifying genes and using regulatory (MLL), a gene which is associated with blood cell “This is the first time in literature to show that an
proteins to turn genes on or off. differentiation and leukemia, is closely involved in

Epigenetics is the study of external modifica-
tions to DNA that turn genes on or off. These mod-
ifications do not change the DNA sequence, but
they do affect how cells read genes. Epigenetic
changes alter the physical structure of DNA. These
changes are not solely genetic, but are influenced
by environmental stimuli such as hormones and
nutrients.

“My primary research interest is to understand
the epigenetic mechanism of gene expression and
its regulation in humans,” Mandal said. “This area
of research has profound consequences in under-
standing the mechanism of gene regulation, chro-
matin (a complex of nucleic acids and proteins in
the cell nucleus that condenses to form chromo-
somes during cell division) dynamics and various
human diseases including cancer and cardiovascu-
lar diseases.”

Though not even a decade into his career, Man-
dal has established a reputation as a top-notch re-
searcher. He earned a Texas Advanced Research
Program grant in 2006 and since then he has
helped secure over $2 million in funding for proj-
ects with which he’s been involved. In May he was
chosen to receive the College of Science Outstand-
ing Research Award, given annually to a faculty
member who makes critical contributions to their
field in the area of research.

“Dr. Mandal is a quality teacher and a top-rate
biochemist,” said Rasika Dias, professor and chair
of the chemistry and biochemistry department. “He
is a good team player who collaborates closely with
a wide group of scientists at UT Arlington and
around the world. He has established a world-class
research laboratory to study gene regulation mech-
anisms and to develop treatments for diseases re-
sulting from out of control genes. He is also an
expert on hormone action, such as the effect of es-
trogen on breast cancer. We’re proud to have him
as a colleague in our department.”

M andal’s lab is a busy
place, as he has nu-
merous research proj-
ects going on at any
given time. One cur-
rent project involves
understanding the epi-
genetics of cancer biol-

Maverick Science 2013-14 25

Immuno-histochemical staining showing the distribution of MLL1 along the line of blood vessels which is located on chromosome 12. Studies from
(basement membrane) in the core of tumor tissue. CD31 is a well-known marker for angiogenesis. Mandal’s lab have shown that HOTAIR is a key reg-
DAPI staining shows the nucleus. Image courtesy of Subhrangsu Mandal. ulator in gene silencing, interacting with various
gene silencing machineries and recruiting them to
MLL family of chromatin-modifying enzymes is a “The human genome sequencing founded an the target gene.
major player in the proliferation of tumor cells, an- important milestone in today’s functional genomics
giogenesis and hypoxia signaling and antisense- world and fueled biomedical research by providing “HOTAIR is overexpressed in breast cancer and
mediated gene targeting to MLL led to a detailed nucleotide sequence information for pro- it is transcriptionally induced upon exposure estra-
suppression of tumor growth. This work revealed tein coding genes present in humans,” Mandal said. diol and expression is critical for cell viability and
a novel epigenetic mechanism of tumor cell signal- “This helped in understanding the function of var- growth, tumor invasiveness and metastasis,” Man-
ing. MLLs are novel targets for cancer therapy.” ious human genes, their transcriptional regulatory dal said. “Knockdown of HOTAIR expression re-
network and roles in human diseases.” sulted in breast cancer cell death, indicating its
Mandal hopes that this research will eventually potential application in novel cancer therapy.”
provide a new paradigm in antisense therapy and It was found that only a tiny percentage of the
the discovery of new epigenetic medicines. human genome encodes functional protein coding Arunoday Bhan, a fourth-year doctoral student
genes, with the rest considered to be mostly non- in Mandal’s lab, is among those working on the
I n 2001, after over a decade of work, functional, or “junk DNA”. Subsequent studies sug- project. He says he is excited to be taking part in re-
scientists successfully completed the gested that more than 80 percent of the genome search that could benefit millions of people.
first-ever “map” of the human contains functional DNA elements that do not code
genome, the complete set of genetic for proteins. These non-coding sequences include “The data generated from our research will not
information for humans. This has DNA elements and sequences which code for tran- only aid in the formulation of therapies for cancer
opened the door for scientific explo- scripts that are never translated into proteins. treatment but also could identify potential molec-
ration of subtle genetic influences on These transcripts that are coded by the genome, ular targets that can be further developed as targets
transcribed into RNA, but are not translated into for therapeutic drugs or as prognostic markers for
proteins are called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). the identification of cancer at an early stage,” Bhan
said. “It makes me proud that I am contributing to-
“Studies show that non-coding RNAs are critical wards the detailed understanding of the cancer
players in gene regulation, maintenance of genomic epigenome that in the future might save people’s
integrity, cell differentiation, and development and lives, or at least lengthen their life spans. I feel hum-
they are misregulated in various human diseases,” bled by the fact that the research carried out in our
Mandal said. lab would serve the community and society as a
whole.”
Mandal and his students are working with sev-
eral non-coding RNAs, studying their roles in chro- Paromita Deb, a second-year doctoral student,
matin organization, gene regulation and diseases is also part of the project, studying non-coding
while trying to identify novel ncRNAs. One is called RNAs and homeobox genes, which are a large fam-
HOTAIR (for HOX antisense intergenic RNA), ily of similar genes that direct the formation of
many body structures during early embryonic de-
velopment.

“Homeobox genes are involved in development-
related diseases and therefore, diagnosis of these
genes could be important to therapy,” Deb said.
“Dr. Mandal's innovative ideas have helped me sail
through a sea of experimental hardships. He has
always motivated me to work toward my goals.”

Mandal says it is an exciting time to be involved
in research which is showing how human genes
function and which could lead to breakthroughs in
methods of disease treatment and prevention.

“Biochemical and biomedical research has
reached a special stage, the ‘post genomic and
epigenomic era’,” he said. “The human genome has
been sequenced and now epigenomes are being
discovered. Recent projects discovered that ‘junk
DNA’ in the human genome is not really junk at all.
In fact, it is code for many non-coding RNA that
control the functionality of the whole genome.
These provide much deeper insight about how the
human genome is packaged, read and transcribed
into RNA and translated into protein.”

many common diseases. A nother of Mandal’s ongoing
projects involves assessing
Another of Mandal’s current projects involves how various chemicals
found in the environment
non-coding RNAs and their roles in epigenetics and can disrupt the ability of the
body’s endocrine system to
disease. RNA is ribonucleic acid, a family of large function properly. The en-

biological molecules that perform many important

roles in the coding, decoding, regulation, and ex- docrine system is a collec-

pression of genes. RNA joins with DNA to form nu- tion of glands that secrete

cleic acids, which are essential for all known forms chemical messages, called hormones, to organs

of life. An epigenome is a layer of biochemical re- throughout the body.

actions that turns genes on and off. It consists of “Almost everything in your body is controlled

chemical compounds that modify the genome and by hormones,” Mandal said. “Hormones control

tell it how to behave.

26 Maverick Science 2013-14

your development, your mood, your Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

blood cholesterol. If there is a mole- His postdoctoral studies also intro-

cule that interferes with normal hor- duced him to histone modification and

mone function, it could have a very epigenetic research.

disruptive effect.” Mandal says he knew he wanted to

Mandal and his lab have been fo- work in academia, where he could do

cusing on what happens when the sig- the kind of research that interested

nals sent to genes by the hormone him and help train the next generation

estrogen are disrupted by exposure to of scientists at the same time. He in-

a chemical compound like Bisphenol terviewed for a faculty position at UT

A – a known endocrine disruptor that Arlington and was hired in 2005. The

has generated concerns that its use in value of his research ideas were appar-

plastics like food storage containers ent early on when he received an Ap-

and baby bottles could harm humans. plied Research Program grant in

Mandal has also examined another 2006, and his work has been funded

known endocrine disruptor, Diethyl- continuously ever since.

stilbestrol, a synthetic form of the fe- His students admire his ardent

male hormone estrogen, which was focus on research and his genial na-

prescribed to pregnant women from ture. Kasiri earned his Ph.D. in 2012

1940-71 to prevent complications of with Mandal as his mentor. He now

pregnancy. It is now known to cause works part-time in Mandal’s lab and

cancer, birth defects, and other devel- also as an adjunct lecturer in the

opmental abnormalities. Mandal is chemistry and biochemistry depart-

also looking at growth hormones used ment. Kasiri says Mandal takes a per-

in milk and meat production. sonal interest in the lives of his lab

“Many of these hormones are used group members.

to produce meat and vegetables be- “Dr. Mandal was not only a good

cause they amplify growth,” Mandal mentor but also a kind and close

said. “People do not realize how it friend for me,” Kasiri said. “He is a

eventually can interfere with your nor- very hard worker and is very passion-

mal endocrine pathways.” ate about science and research. At the

same time, he tries to spend as much

M andal was time as possible with his family and
born and friends. I remember he always told us
raised in that his lab members are also a part of
rural West his family.”
Bengal,
India, and In keeping with his multi-discipli-
he took an nary approach to research, many of
Mandal’s projects involve colleagues

avid inter- from other UT Arlington departments.

est in the Mandal and Samar Mohanty, assistant

native wildlife as a boy. He spent professor of physics, are working to

countless hours catching fish and frogs develop a live cell imaging system and

and recalls close encounters with In- “Research is kind of like to study the chromatin dynamics.
dian cobras, the reptile often seen with Mandal, Mohanty and Yong-Tae Kim,

snake charmers and responsible for a an addiction; the longer associate professor of bioengineering,

large number of snakebites in India are developing biophotonic technol-
each year. ogy to study the neuronal network and

He developed an interest in science you spend doing it, the brain and to address neurological dis-
and scientists as a child, reading every- orders.
thing he could find about the lives of
In addition, Mandal and Mohanty

Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin and more addicted to it you are teaming with Alan Bowling, assis-
others who inspired him. When he got tant professor of mechanical and aero-

to high school, his teachers sparked in become.” space engineering, to study a new

him a fascination with chemistry, and model for how motor proteins behave
he had his sights set on becoming a in the body. Mandal also has several

chemist by the time he enrolled in col- — Subhrangsu Mandal collaborative projects with Linda Per-
lege at Vidyasagar University in his na- rotti, assistant professor of psychology,

tive West Bengal. He earned a B.S. related to hormone signaling en-

with Honors in Chemistry in 1989, docrine disruption and non-coding

and went on to graduate studies at the RNA.

University of Kalyani, also in West Bengal, where sights on postdoctoral work in the fields of genes “Research is kind of like an addiction; the

he earned an M.S. in Chemistry in 1992. and chromatin biology, and in understanding the longer you spend doing it, the more addicted to it

From there, Mandal went on to doctoral studies mechanism of human diseases. you become,” Mandal said. “I also enjoy teaching

at arguably the top research university in India, the His postdoctoral work took him first to Canada, and interacting with students. That’s why I like

Indian Institute of Science, in Bangalore. While where he studied the mechanism of DNA replica- being here at UT Arlington, which provides an at-

working on his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochem- tion at the University of Alberta, and then to New mosphere for both research and teaching and has

istry, Mandal started taking an interest in genes Jersey, where he worked on eukaryotic transcrip- lots of student diversity. It is exciting to be involved

and genomes, their molecular structures and func- tions and gene regulations in humans at the in work that could have such a positive impact on

tions. He received his Ph.D. in 1998 and set his Howard Hughes Medical Institute/University of people’s lives.” n

Maverick Science 2013-14 27

BIGThe Picture
Studying ecological issues with an eye toward larger spatial and
temporal patterns has benefited Sophia Passy and her students
in their research. One of their latest projects shows how wetlands
can help streams affected by acidification in the Adirondacks.
By Greg Pederson

Brandon Wade
Sophia Passy with some of the members of her lab, from left, master’s student Hongsheng Liu, biology instructor and recent Ph.D. graduate Katrina Pound,
Passy, doctoral student Melissa Walsh and doctoral student Ben Anders.

28 Maverick Science 2013-14

W hile small-scale experiments are important to science and often lead to major discoveries, when
it comes to ecology it’s often necessary to take a wide-ranging and all-inclusive look at things
to find solutions to complex problems.
Macroecology — the study of relationships between organisms and their environment at
large spatial scales to characterize and explain statistical patterns of species abundance, dis-
tribution and diversity — is what Sophia Passy uses to show how nature works. Passy, a UT Arlington associate pro-
fessor of biology, has used the “big picture” approach in her research and it has helped lead to a better understanding
of how one facet of a subject can affect many others.

Passy has led numerous “Wetlands are impor-

research projects utilizing a tant not only for well-

macro approach, including buffered stream eco-

many environmental ecol- systems as sources of iron,

ogy studies which explore but also for acid-impacted

the response of algal com- streams because they con-

munities to anthropogenic tribute to the neutraliza-

acidification, or acid depo- tion of aluminum, which

sition caused by human ac- reaches highly toxic con-

tivities. One such study is centrations in acid

an assessment of the effects streams,” Passy said. “This

of acidic deposition on research has far-reaching

streams in the eastern and consequences for biodiver-

central parts of the Adiron- sity conservation and

dack Park in upstate New stream management. It

York. Passy is co-principal suggests that wetlands can

investigator of a three-year, be used in acid stream

$187,224 grant by the New restoration and offers a vi-

York State Energy Re- able alternative to the cur-

search and Development rent approach for

Authority. acidification remediation

The project’s principal through liming, which is

investigator is Gregory ineffective and even harm-

Lawrence, a physical scien- ful.”

tist with the U.S. Geological For her dissertation re-

Survey’s New York Water search, Pound analyzed di-

Science Center with whom Passy and her students analyzed water samples from streams such as this one in atom communities from
Passy has worked for years the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Photo courtesy of Sophia Passy. around 200 Adirondack
on several acid-related streams that were sampled

projects in the Adiron- over four sampling peri-

dacks. ods. Diatoms are an envi-

One of Passy’s doctoral students, Katrina Pound, was lead author of a ronmentally sensitive group of algae and the most diverse microbial

paper the team wrote about the research which was published in the Sep- producers. Pound successfully defended her dissertation in August and re-

tember 2013 edition of the leading environmental and biodiversity con- ceived her Ph.D. in December 2013. She is working as a biology lecturer

servation journal Global Change Biology. The study set out to determine and continuing to do research in Passy’s lab during the Spring 2014 se-

if watershed wetlands can play a role in remediating the damage done to mester.

streams by acidification. “Studying this region is challenging because streams are acidified by

“For over 40 years, acid deposition has been recognized as a serious in- both inorganic acid deposition and natural organic acidity originating from

ternational environmental problem, but efforts to restore acidified streams soils and wetlands,” Pound said. “My job was to count and identify the di-

and biota have had limited success,” the researchers said in the Global atom species in each of the stream samples and examine the impact of

Change Biology article. “The need to better understand the effects of dif- these two sources of acidity on diatom diversity.”

ferent sources of acidity on streams has become more pressing with the The current study is an extension of the 2003-05 Western Adirondack

recent increases in surface water organic acids, or ‘brownification,’ asso- Stream Survey (WASS), a project for which Passy and her USGS collabo-

ciated with climate change and decreased inorganic acid deposition.” rators received $486,000 from the New York State Energy Research and

“Acidification of surface waters from acid deposition is one of the most Development Authority. According to the USGS, the study found that acid

serious environmental problems in the northeast United States and north- rain had acidified soils resulting in toxic aluminum levels in two-thirds of

ern Europe,” Passy said. “It is associated with biodiversity loss, elevated 565 assessed streams. It also found that diatoms were moderately to se-

mortality, and simplified food webs. Despite numerous state and federal verely affected by acid rain in 80 percent of assessed streams; aquatic in-

actions to reduce acid emissions, streams continue to experience acidifi- sects and related organisms referred to as macroinvertebrates were

cation and biological communities have not returned to their pre-acidifi- moderately to severely affected in over half of assessed streams; and re-

cation state.” covery from acidification had been minimal in 11 of 12 Adirondack streams

Passy, Pound and Lawrence, working with the USGS, carried out a sampled in the early 1980s.

large-scale study showing that wetlands are capable of improving stream “By teaming up, we are able to address the problem of acid rain from a

ecosystem health in the Adirondacks, which is one of the most acid-im- truly interdisciplinary perspective, myself being the soil and water chemist

pacted regions in the United States. and Sophia being the expert in aquatic ecology, and in particular, diatoms,”

Maverick Science 2013-14 29

Lawrence said. “Sophia's expertise is
well-recognized in her field, and her
interest in interdisciplinary science
makes her an excellent partner in
these studies.”

P assy also studies algal Passy and former postdoctoral fellow Chad Lar-
biofilms, which sup- son  built  an  artificial  stream  facility  (top  and
port the food chain in above  right)  in  Passy’s  lab  to  study  biofilm
stream ecosystems. growth. At left, a confocal microscope image of
The biofilms look like live  biofilm  material  grown  in  the  artificial
microscopic forests stream facility. Photos courtesy of Chad Larson.
with some algae that
are short forming the understory and of maintaining the natural flow regime, which is progressively modified
other algae that are tall, filamentous or by humans through damming and channelization, Passy said. Their work
branched, forming the overstory, she was featured on the March 2013 cover of the journal Applied and Envi-
explains. ronmental Microbiology.

“Ecological theory, which was Larson, who earned a Ph.D. with Passy as his faculty mentor, worked
based on research in communities, as a postdoctoral fellow in her lab, where he was funded through Passy’s
such as phytoplankton or grasslands, Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program grant for $194,780. In
with much simpler spatial organiza- May 2013, Larson took a job as a stream ecologist with the Washington
tion than biofilms, has predicted that State Department of Ecology. He credits Passy’s guidance with preparing
adding large quantities of various nu- him for a career in environmental ecology.
trients, such as nitrogen and phospho-
rus, leads to biodiversity loss,” Passy “I was really fortunate to have her as a mentor while I was at UT Ar-
said of a 2008 study which was pub- lington,” Larson said. “She’s very passionate about ecology, and she has a
lished in the journal Proceedings of very good view of the big picture when she’s studying something. She’s al-
the National Academy of Sciences ways thinking of how the work she’s doing fits into the bigger picture, and
(USA). “This thinking has dominated she has a very keen understanding of how something on a micro level has
ecological research for decades, but important implications for so many other things. She’s been very produc-
my lab showed that fertilization pro- tive in her research and has had her work featured in many of the top jour-
motes biodiversity in biofilms because nals. That shows the quality of work she’s doing.”
it stimulates the development of the
biofilm overstory without harming the A fter what she calls a “nomadic life” in science, Passy
understory. The research proposed a found her true calling as a biology professor and re-
novel mechanism for species coexis- searcher. Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, she had
tence, counteracting the natural ten- her sights set on medical school as she neared her high
dency of organisms that share the school graduation — in Bulgaria, students going into
same resources to drive each other to medical school, as well as those going into other science
extinction as a result of competition.” and engineering schools, do so immediately after high

The study’s findings have relevance
not only to freshwater but also to forests and marine ecosystems, where
encrusting and turf-forming macroalgae coexist as a two-story community,
Passy said.

A different study, which was featured on the September 2012 cover of
the top ecology journal Ecology Letters, focused on algal biofilms, inver-
tebrates, and fish in U.S. streams. It demonstrated that contrary to widely
held views of microbes and large organisms as having distinct large-scale
distributions (microbes being everywhere, while macroorganisms only
somewhere), these groups were actually quite similar. Both microbes and
macroorganisms have restricted distributions, especially group members
that are specialists (picky about their resources and environment). This
finding can help determine what species are most vulnerable to environ-
mental changes and, therefore, at a greater risk of extinction. The study
further showed that as the biodiversity increases, so does the abundance
of rare species.

“This discovery has important implications for conservation planning,
which is faced with the difficult challenges of identifying the appropriate
conservation targets and managing their landscape requirements,” Passy
said. “It suggests that broad community-based conservation efforts to pro-
mote biodiversity may be adequate for increasing the abundance, and with
this, the chance of survival of rare and potentially endangered species.”

Another recent algal community project, with former post-doctoral stu-
dent Chad Larson, involved a series of microcosm investigations on biofilm
growth in an artificial stream facility constructed in Passy’s lab. It showed
that temporal flow variability in streams leads to increased rates of species
accumulation and diversification. The study underscored the importance

30 Maverick Science 2013-14

school. While preparing for admission Jonathan Campbell, professor and chair

exams, Passy changed her mind and applied of the UT Arlington biology department, was

to the biology and chemistry departments at impressed by Passy when he interviewed her

Sofia University. This pleased her father, for the job and is even more impressed 13

who was a renowned professor of philoso- years later.

phy at the university, but chagrined her “Dr. Passy's dedication and passion for

mother, an endocrinologist who wanted her research is exceptional and her enthusiasm

to go into medicine. is revealed in any conversation with her

“In retrospect, this was the right decision about her work,” Campbell said. “She is able

— I do not handle suffering well, and open to inspire her students with the excitement

wounds are definitely out of the question,” and importance of conducting research. Her

Passy said. “I got accepted in both schools work on stream acidification is making a sig-

but biology was closer to my heart and I nificant impact in her field. We are lucky to

chose it over chemistry. This was fortunate have her in our department.”

because later on, I realized that mixing acrid

and caustic substances in the lab and ruining “is research T he use of macroecology in
my clothes wasn’t my thing either.” has far-reaching Passy’s research is maybe
best demonstrated in a
She earned an undergraduate degree in study that she says is “per-
1984, focusing on molecular biology. She haps my best piece of de-
stayed at Sofia University and began work tective work.” For decades,
on a master’s degree, switching to paleoecol- stream ecologists thought
ogy and studying diatom remains from an

ancient sea that covered parts of Europe and that major nutrients such as nitrogen and

Central Asia. After earning a master’s degree consequences phosphorus control algal communities,
in 1986, she worked as an assistant professor which are the primary food source for her-

of plant systematics at Sofia University be- bivorous bugs and fish in many streams,

fore deciding to begin doctoral studies. She Passy explained.
The paradigm was that these nutrients
for biodiversityfelt the best course was to conduct those
studies in the United States. stimulate growth and promote biodiversity

“I had the feeling that I had reached the of algae in freshwater. A similar emphasis on
macronutrients (nutrients required in large
conservationlimits of my environment,” Passy said of the
educational opportunities in her native Bul- quantities) was given in marine systems. In

garia. “People refer to the United States as and stream the late 1980s, however, the idea that iron re-
the land of opportunity, and although they stricted algal production in large areas of the

generally mean material prosperity, this open ocean revolutionized the field of

view cannot be truer anywhere else than in management.” oceanography.
science. We have witnessed an unprece- “This is where macroecology comes into
dented surge of wealth in the post-commu-
play. I was working on a very puzzling prob-

nist world, but the advancement of science — Sophia Passy lem — the biodiversity of algae did not show
has not kept pace. a decline with latitude as in nearly all other

“I came to the U.S. to learn, and what I organisms, but a very strange pattern,” she

have learned made so much that was out of said. “To understand what might have

reach for me before a reality.” caused it, I looked what stream and water-

She was accepted to the Ph.D. program at Bowling Green State Uni- shed properties across the U.S. exhibit corresponding latitudinal distribu-

versity in Ohio in 1992 and wrote her dissertation on water quality issues tions. I discovered that both stream iron concentration and wetland spread

— how algal communities respond to organic pollution in streams. conformed to the same latitudinal pattern as algal biodiversity.

“While working on my dissertation, I stumbled upon six algal species “Contrary to the common belief, it was not nitrogen and phosphorus

from Bulgaria and South Africa, which I described as new to science,” she that had the strongest positive impact on stream algae. It was iron, which

said. “South Africa is known for its enormous plant biodiversity — com- originated from the watershed wetlands. Simply put, the larger the wetland

parable, for example, to that of the tropical rainforest. So it was fascinating the higher the iron concentration, and the greater the algal biodiversity in

to me that in a small scoop of the stream biofilm — the stuff that grows on the stream. Therefore, wetland destruction or alteration will have negative

the bottom — from this region, there were so many algae never seen be- consequences not only for the wetland itself but for the associated stream

fore.” network.”

After earning her Ph.D. in 1997, she spent four years as a postdoctoral Passy’s macroecology approach challenged the macronutrient para-

researcher — first in protein structural biology at the University of Min- digm in streams. It also revealed that — similarly to the ocean — iron plays

nesota and then in bio-monitoring at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a pivotal role in structuring algal communities, and it showed that wetlands

a private research university in Troy, N.Y. where she began her collabora- and streams form an ecological continuum, whereby a disruption in one

tion with the USGS on acidification research. In 2000, she saw a posting system would propagate to the other. The work was published in the lead-

for a biology faculty position at UT Arlington. She had visited Texas once ing ecology journals Global Ecology and Biogeography in 2009 and Ecol-

before, and the thought of living in a warm climate enticed her. ogy in 2010.

“Having spent all my life in the northern latitudes, I was enchanted by The work demonstrated Passy’s ability to see patterns and understand

Texas when I visited for the first time in the spring of 1997,” she said. “It how processes viewed in the micro environment can significantly affect

was sunny, warm, and beautiful. There were flowers everywhere, and the things on a much larger scale.

air was filled with hope and happiness. I was even more excited when I “Any small scale experiment or observation captures just a facet of the

came to visit in 2000 during my UTA interview. I already knew many of complexity of life,” Passy said. “Macroecology puts these facets together,

the faculty from their works, but it was the possibility to interact with such allowing us to understand better how nature works. That’s why I love what

a diverse and fun group of scientists that sold the job for me.” I’m doing so much.” n

Maverick Science 2013-14 31

Shining a LIGHT

Samarendra Mohanty’s innovative biophysics research utilizes
tools such as optical tweezers and light therapy as he and his
students seek new and more effective ways to find and treat disease.

By Greg Pederson

Samar Mohanty, center, in his lab with doctoral students Bryan Black, left, and Kamal Dhakal. Brandon Wade

32 Maverick Science 2013-14

B reakthroughs in technol- This illustration
ogy are expanding the demonstrates the
limits of what’s possible non-invasiveness of
in biophysics research. two-photon optoge-
Samarendra Mohanty is netic stimulation. It
helping to push those shows brain tissue
boundaries by develop- damage by an inva-
sive fiber delivering
ing new tools to discover one-photon stimu-
lation (shown in
safer, more efficient ways blue) vs. non-inva-
sive, two-photon
to treat disease and study the human body. stimulation (shown
in red). Illustration
Mohanty, a UT Arlington assistant professor of courtesy of
Samarendra 
physics, is using the principles of biophysics – Mohanty.

studying biological processes and materials by

means of the theories as well as the tools of physics

– to find new and innovative ways to alter biolog-

ical systems down to the molecular level. He and

his students are improving cutting-edge tools such

as optical tweezers, specialized optical microscopes

and optogenetics (the science of controlling brain

activity with light) to understand and influence

processes in cells and cellular networks.

“We have taken an integrated approach of cel-

lular manipulation, activation and control by op- One of Mohanty’s current projects which could tion,” Mohanty said. “That's where two-photon op-

tical as well as hybrid approaches, combined with be useful in the BRAIN initiative is the develop- togenetics comes into play. This is a tool not only

a variety of imaging methods to visualize and ment of a tiny tool which could help scientists map to control the neuronal activity but to understand

quantify responses in in-vitro and in-vivo models,” and track interactions between neurons inside dif- how the brain works.”

Mohanty said. “In order to evaluate miniscule ferent areas of the brain. The fiber-optic, two-pho- The two-photon optogenetic stimulation in-

changes to cell membranes during optical manip- ton, optogenetic stimulator builds on a previous volves introducing the gene for ChR2, a protein

ulation, we developed a unique multimodal imag- Mohanty discovery that near-infrared (NIR) light that responds to light, into a sample of excitable

ing platform integrated with laser scissors, can be used to stimulate a light-sensitive protein tissue cells. A fiber-optic infrared beam of NIR

tweezers, spanners, transporters and stimulators introduced into living cells and neurons in the light can then be used to precisely excite the neu-

here at UT Arlington.” brain. This new method could show how different rons in a tissue circuit. In the brain, researchers

At the moment, Mohanty and the Biophysics parts of the brain react when a linked area is stim- could then observe responses in the excited area

and Physiology Laboratory group he leads are ulated. as well as other parts of the neural circuit. In living

working on projects in five major research areas, “Scientists have spent a lot of time looking at subjects, scientists could also observe the behav-

along with a number of smaller projects. He keeps the physical connections between different regions ioral outcome, Mohanty said.

up a relentless pace in preparing and submitting of the brain. But that information is not sufficient Optogenetic stimulation avoids damage to liv-

grant proposals which have brought millions of unless we examine how those connections func- ing tissue by stimulating neurons with light instead

dollars in research support from the National In- of electric pulses used in past research. Mo-

stitutes of Health, National Science Foundation hanty’s method of using low-energy NIR

and other sources. He authors and co-authors light also enables more precision and a

manuscripts which are regularly published in top deeper focus than the blue or green light

journals. beams often used in optogenetic stimula-

“His projects are highly imaginative. He’s doing tion.

an intriguing combination of physics, biology, Kamal Dhakal, a third-year doctoral

chemistry and biomechanics,” said Alex Weiss, student in Mohanty’s lab, works in optoge-

professor and chair of the Department of Physics. netics and optical manipulation of cells. He

“He’s doing very interesting research with nerve says the multidisciplinary approach of Mo-

cells and optical stimulation of the brain, among hanty’s research is preparing him well for

other things. The work his group is doing has a lot a career in optics and biophotonics. Dhakal

of potential to improve medical research and treat- was lead author of a paper on the brain

ment of disease down the road.” mapping research that was published in
A
the June 1, 2013 edition of the journal Op-

s excited as he is by his tics Letters; Mohanty, doctoral student
group’s current work,
Mohanty is even more Bryan Black and postdoctoral researcher
thrilled by the research
he envisions happening Ling Gu were co-authors.
in his lab in the years
“Dr. Mohanty is very good researcher

and has fancy ideas and visions,” Dhakal

said. “He is very frank, like a friend, and

ahead. He wants to shift helpful. Before joining his lab, I did not

his main focus from dif- have any technical knowledge such as

ferent aspects of neu- using computer software for data analysis,

ronal manipulation, imaging and control, to the interfacing instruments with computers,

Brain Research through Advancing Innovative imaging, programming, even how to make

Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative, an effort This image shows a highly-controlled laser transfection of a good graph. But today, I know all of them.
ChR2-YFP gene into a targeted area of retina (green is In addition, my projects require a wide va-
unveiled by President Barack Obama in April 2013 ChR2-YFP and blue is nuclei) by a near-infrared femtosec- riety of knowledge, from genetics to optics,

which is intended to revolutionize understanding

of the human brain through groundbreaking re- ond laser microbeam. Image courtesy of Samarendra Mo- mammalian cells to bacterial cells, electro-

search. hanty. physiology to digital holography. These

Maverick Science 2013-14 33

things would not be possible ods to achieve fully-controlled

without him.” axonal guidance have been in-

Another of Mohanty’s cur- troduced, they are ineffective or

rent projects, which the two- require introducing invasive

photon optogenetic stimulator external factors, Mohanty said.

builds upon, involves finding a “Recently, we discovered

better way to initiate certain that an important physical cue,

gene therapies that are more heat, can be highly efficient for

effective against retinitis pig- axonal guidance,” Mohanty

mentosa, an inherited eye dis- said. “Our non-contact ap-

ease that causes progressive proach shows remarkable ca-

vision loss and can cause blind- pability of non-invasively

ness. Mohanty will receive navigating axons with 100 per-

$384,269 over the next two cent efficiency and high spatio-

years from the National Insti- temporal resolution at large

tutes of Health for the project. working distance.”

The study involves using NIR Mohanty believes that this

ultrafast laser beams to deliver new, optically-controlled me-

genes that allow expression of thod will open new avenues for

light-sensitive proteins, called non-invasive guidance of re-

opsins, in specific cells. The generating axons at long work-

proteins’ expression allows re- ing distances for the res-

searchers to influence neural toration of impaired neural

activity through optogenetics. “It is becoming evident that physics and connections and functions. He
In the past, the genes have and his group, along with UT

been delivered to cells by a Arlington assistant professor of
virus, but that method has
new physical tools and materials are playing bioengineering Young-Tae
drawbacks, such as undesired Kim, are working with the Vet-
immune responses, in addition very important – almost inevitable – roles erans Administration Spinal

to the benefits. In Mohanty’s in answering key questions in biology and Cord Injury Center in Dallas to
method, a laser beam creates a evaluate the technology as a

transient sub-micrometer- medicine.” new option for the treatment of
sized hole, which allows for the spinal cord injuries.
gene encoding the proteins to – Samarendra Mohanty
permeate the cell membrane. It A paper on the findings co-
authored by Mohanty, Kim,

can limit the risk of immune visiting researcher Argha Mon-

response as well as deliver dal and lead author Bryan

larger genes than viral methods, he said. Black, was published in the July 1, 2013 edition of Optics Letters.

“Our minimally invasive near-infrared method can deliver DNA and other “The major goal of this project is to develop an effective, therapeutic ap-

impermeable molecules effectively where you want it and only where you want proach for robust guidance of regenerative axonal outgrowths past the glial

it,” Mohanty said. “For example, in retinitis pigmentosa, only the peripheral scar in the case of spinal cord injury,” Mohanty said.
M
retina begins to lose light sensitivity due to loss of photoreceptors. This is

where a laser can deliver the genes, making those neurons respond to light ohanty’s group is also developing hybrid optical
methods of phototherapy. While use of light
again. With a virus, the genes will be delivered everywhere, causing compli- alone has been beneficial in many applications,
there is a growing need to target light to dis-
cations in areas already working fine.” eased tissue so that healthy tissue is not dam-
aged. Also, certain diseases – especially those
Optogenetic stimulation also holds promise for influencing neurons in the

brain. Scientists, including Mohanty’s lab group, are studying ways it could

be used to understand how the brain works or to intervene in cases of neuro-

logical disorders or to affect behavior. Ultimately, Mohanty’s team has a goal affecting the nervous system – require cell-se-

of creating all-optical, or light-based, control and monitoring of cell activity. lective interaction with light. The recent devel-

So, in addition to the light-assisted delivery of genes, his lab also will work on opment of nanoparticles/genetic targeting in

refining methods for stimulating the neural activity using NIR and visible combination with light irradiation is emerging as a new modality for hybrid

light. phototherapy, Mohanty said.

“Dr. Mohanty's innovations continue to be recognized because of the great “We have developed new nanomaterials and employed existing light-acti-

potential they hold," College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma said. "Hopefully, vatable molecules for various therapeutic applications such as cancer therapy,

his work will one day provide researchers in other fields the tools they need restoration of vision and inhibition of pain,” he said.

to examine how the human body works and why normal processes sometimes Working with UT Arlington professor of physics Ali Koymen, Mohanty’s

fail.” lab developed a method using magnetic carbon nanoparticles to target and

A destroy cancer cells through laser therapy - a treatment they believe could be

nother major focus of Mohanty’s research is to un- effective in cases of skin and other cancers without damaging surrounding
derstand the mysterious ways by which different
types of neurons – nerve cells that are the basic healthy cells.
building block of the nervous system – and neuronal
circuits respond to physical cues such as force, flow Mohanty and Koymen co-authored a paper about the work along with Ling
and heat. Information is transmitted between neu-
Gu (lead author) and Vijayalakshmi Vardarajan, two postdoctoral researchers

in Mohanty’s lab, which was published in the January 2012 edition of the

Journal of Biomedical Optics.

rons via axons, or nerve fibers, which are long, slen- “Because these nanoparticles are magnetic, we can use an external mag-

der appendages. The process of sending messages netic field to focus them on the cancer cells. Then, we use a low-power laser

from one neuron to another depends on connection to heat them and destroy the cells beneath,” Koymen said. “Since only the car-

between neurons, which requires axonal guidance. Although numerous meth- bon nanoparticles are affected by the laser, the method leaves the healthy tis-

34 Maverick Science 2013-14

sue unharmed, and it is non-toxic.” the body.” fore, Mohanty began to see it in a new light,

Mohanty, Koymen and engineering student The fiber-optic spanner uses two laser beams through the prism of physics.

R.P. Chaudhary developed a way of creating emanating from optic fibers. The fibers are placed “I found that physics can play a unique role in

nanoparticles using an electric plasma discharge on opposite sides of the object with a transverse answering key questions in biology and medicine,”

inside a benzene solution. offset, or parallel, but not co-linear. he said.

Carbon nanoparticles produced for the cancer Through a process of counter propagation, the He began doctoral studies at the Indian Insti-

study varied from five to 10 nanometers wide. A beams use gradient and scattering forces to trap tute of Science in Bangalore, India, earning his

human hair is about 100,000 nanometers wide. and rotate an object. The axis on which the object Ph.D. in 2006. He left his senior scientist position

Mohanty said the carbon nanoparticles can be is rotated can be adjusted by changing the direc- and took a postdoctoral fellowship at the Beckman

coated to make them attach to cancer cells once tion of offset between the two fibers. This gives a Laser Institute and Medical Clinic (BLI) at the

they are positioned in an organ by the magnetic fuller, deeper view than what is available with University of California at Irvine to work with BLI

field. He said the new method has several advan- most existing microscope objective-based laser co-founder Michael Berns, a pioneer in laser mi-

tages over current technology and could be admin- tweezers systems, Mohanty said. By adjusting the crobeam technology.

istered using fiber optics inside the body. power of one beam, the object can also be moved “Michael provided me full freedom to venture

“By using the magnetic field, we can make sure from one place to another. An ultrafast laser beam into new projects and establish collaborations

the carbon nanoparticles are not excreted until the in one fiber optic arm can also be used to analyze with faculties across different departments,” Mo-

near-infrared laser irradiation is finished,” he said. fluorescence of trapped objects. hanty said. “I worked on laser nanosurgery to

“They are also crystalline and smaller than carbon “The attention that Dr. Mohanty and his team cause injury to DNA and neurons in order to find

nanotubes, which makes for less cell toxicity.” are receiving for their work in the lab is well-de- out the mechanism of damage and the repair

The magnetic carbon nanoparticles also processes. During this time, I developed

are fluorescent. Thus, they can be used to many new techniques including single fiber

enhance contrast of optical imaging of tu- optical tweezers and scissors, and digital

mors along with that of MRI, Mohanty said, holographic imaging of cellular nano-

adding that lab tests also showed that the surgery.”

carbon nanoparticles and a continuous Mohanty also spearheaded work on

wave (cw) NIR laser beam could be used to restoring vision in blind animal models by

put a hole in the cell, revealing another po- using optogenetics – the combination of ge-

tential medical use. netics and optics to control well-defined

“Without killing the cell we can heat it events within specific cells of living tissue.

up a little bit and deliver drugs and genes to Another of his projects focused on neu-

the cell using a low power cw near-infrared rophotonics – the imaging, manipulation

laser beam. This is an additional important and control of neural activities using light.

novelty of our photothermal approach with Mohanty was the first to demonstrate the

carbon nanoparticles,” he said. use of near-infrared light for stimulation of
A genetically-targeted cells and neurons at
n ongoing proj- This illustration shows a multifunctional fiber optical probe, larger depths with high spatial and tempo-
ect in Mohanty’s which can be used for (i) trapping, transport and delivery of ral precision. He also discovered that cen-
lab which has re- micro/nano objects, (ii) forcing measurements at single cell- tral nervous system neurons can sense fluid
ceived consider- particle level, (iii) two-photon excitation and imaging, (iv) flow generated by a micromotor controlled
able attention in cellular stretching, and (v) generation of localized fluid flow by optical tweezers.
science media is by fiber optics. Illustration courtesy of Samarendra Mohanty. 
the development In 2009, he interviewed for faculty po-
sitions at several universities, and accepted
of a fiber-optic an offer from UT Arlington, where he had
been won over by his colleagues’ hospitality
wrench that uses and by the fact that he would have ample
lab space for his many research interests –
two laser beams to stably rotate and move

microscopic objects, such as living cells – molecular biology, microbiology, cell cul-
ture, animal tissue processing, and optogenetics,
an innovation that will help scientists to served,” said Carolyn Cason, UT Arlington’s vice which requires a large space.
work more efficiently at the microscopic level.
president for research. “His enhancement of cur- Mohanty was excited about the opportunity to
The new technology surpasses current meth- establish a major biophysics lab in the Metroplex,
ods of fiber-optic rotation because it allows the ob- rent technology could yield results for a number as well as the chance to collaborate with other de-
ject to be rotated at any axis, giving a fuller view. partments at UT Arlington and UT Southwestern
Through this method, cancer cells could be imaged of fields and it is a demonstration of the strides Medical Center in Dallas.
during rotation or oocyte cells could be moved
during in vitro fertilization, Mohanty said. The that come from determined exploration.” Over four years later, he’s glad to have the op-
spanner also can use a “rotating bead handle” to portunity and is eagerly looking forward to doing
twist and untwist DNA molecules to allow it to be B orn in eastern India in the more.
sequenced more rapidly than current methods. small coastal town of Bala-
sore, Mohanty had what he “It is becoming evident that physics and new
The innovation was detailed in a paper co-au- says is an inherent interest physical tools and materials are playing very im-
thored by Black and Mohanty in the Dec. 15, 2012 in physics and math from a portant – almost inevitable – roles in answering
edition of Optics Letters. young age. His family mem-
bers were mostly in engi-

“This technique overcomes many of the chal- neering and the medical key questions in biology and medicine,” Mohanty

lenges to working with optically trapped micro- field. He studied physics in said. “I also realized that biology and medicine

scopic objects and has numerous possibilities for college, focusing on optics (the study of light) at need formulations and definitive, well-predictable

nanotechnology and biotechnology,” Mohanty the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, where theories similar to what Newton and Einstein cre-

said. “It is widely applicable because it is not lim- he earned a master of technology degree in 1998. ated in physics. There lies a huge challenge, but I

ited by the sample’s shape and does not require That same year he began working as a scientist at see a big scope as well. Having a background in

any mechanical motion of the fiber. Also, because the Centre for Advanced Technology in Indore, physics definitely helps in raising new questions

the tools are fiber-optic, they can be used at a India, where he was soon leading a laser microma- and providing new dimensions to the understand-

larger depth inside a closed environment such as nipulation lab. Never very interested in biology be- ing of the underlying biological processes.” n

Maverick Science 2012-13 35

AWin-scWenairnio
Led by Nicolette Lopez, UT
Arlington’s Industrial and
Organizational Psychology
Center pairs master’s students
with area businesses in an
internship program that has
been a resounding success.

By Greg Pederson

F or many college students, finding
the right job, one where they be-
lieve they are making a differ-
ence, can prove challenging.
Some might think there must be
a science to finding the ideal employer.

As a matter of fact, there is.

The field of industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology Brandon Wade
focuses on the study of workplaces, and in finding ways to Nicolette Lopez, right, with I/O students Kim Perry and Aaron Friedman in the offices of Leadership
improve business productivity and workers’ overall well-
being. The main goal of I/O psychologists is to better un- Worth Following, one of the companies which partners with the UT Arlington I/O Center.
derstand human behavior in the workplace.

Some of the things I/O psychologists do include: help-
ing to ensure the right people are selected for the right
jobs; developing employee training; identifying factors
that contribute to employee stress and devising solutions;
and assessing employees’ attitudes to help increase job
satisfaction.

In North Texas, UT Arlington is leading the way in I/O
psychology through a pioneering program aimed at pro-
viding training for students and practical solutions to
workplace challenges for area companies. The Industrial
and Organizational Psychology Center was created in Jan-
uary 2012 with those goals in mind, and it is already an
unqualified success. Nicolette Lopez, a UT Arlington pro-
fessor in practice in psychology, helped formulate the idea
for the center and serves as its manager.

“The center has two specific, interrelated purposes: to
provide businesses with useful solutions that are based on
science, and to provide students the opportunity to trans-
fer classroom learning into practical experiences to enrich
their professional development,” Lopez said.

UT Arlington’s two-year master’s program in I/O psy-
chology – the only one in the Dallas-Fort Worth area – in-
cludes a mandatory 400-hour internship requirement,
which provides students with opportunities to gain real-
world experience. The center places I/O students into in-
ternships with companies and organizations around the
Metroplex. The students gain practical experience in I/O
psychology, while the participating businesses benefit
from students’ training and technical skills.

The internships often lead to students being offered
full-time positions, Lopez said. It has happened well over
a dozen times in the past three years alone.

36 Maverick Science 2013-14

“This is a clear indication that organizations not associate consultant.
“The center has been a huge help not only for me
only recognize and appreciate the value of our stu-
personally but for those in the I/O program as a
dents but also are benefiting from the knowledge and whole,” Perry said. “It has provided us with various
networking opportunities in which we are able to in-
skills that the students possess,” she said. “I believe teract with and learn from important I/O profes-
sionals in the field or more applied settings.”
this also is an indication of the quality of the training
L opez was born in Pasadena, Calif., and
the students are receiving from our program. grew up in nearby Thousand Oaks. After
graduating from Thousand Oaks High
“In my six-plus years here, the program has School, she started college but soon put
her studies on hold to get married and
evolved and changed quite dramatically. Keeping have kids. She spent a few years as a
stay-at-home mom and during that time, she and her
true to I/O’s scientist-practitioner model, we now Hollweg Roark Thompson family moved to Texas. In 1999, she enrolled at the Uni-
have a fairly balanced curriculum so that teaching is versity of North Texas to resume undergraduate stud-
ies. She took an interest in criminal justice and credits
approached in a way that blends scientific rigor with tions, BHI provided internships to a number of UT Ar- a fascination with psychopathy for steering her in the
direction of psychology. In her last semester as an un-
real-world application. Our program is unique in that lington I/O students, with outstanding results, Hollweg dergraduate, she discovered I/O psychology.

it offers numerous opportunities for students to prac- said. “Like most people, until then I had never heard of
I/O and had no idea what I/O psychologists did,” she
tice the profession in a ‘safe’ place, while being closely “Several of these students went on to be full-time said. “It was definitely a turning point for me. I loved
my undergraduate I/O psychology class. It’s such an in-
supervised.” consultants with us and are now very successful pro- teresting, important and applicable discipline. We
spend a good deal of time at our jobs, and the idea of
fessionals,” he said. “We saw the I/O program as a tal- potentially helping to make someone’s job more enjoy-
able appealed to me.”
T he idea for the center took shape in ent pipeline for our firm. Nicolette is committed to
2009, when Lopez and Shannon Sci- expanding the horizons and knowledge of her students She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from UNT
elzo, an assistant professor of psychol- and readily reaches out to knowledgeable professionals in 2001, and entered graduate school to focus on I/O,
ogy, began looking for ways to create a to further stimulate student learning.” staying at UNT and earning an M.S. in 2005 and a
link between their graduate students Ph.D. in 2007. Her husband believed she would make
and area businesses. They drafted a Roark got involved when his company, Insala – a good teacher and encouraged her to apply for a part-
proposal which began winding its way through the ad- which provides talent development solutions to organ- time lecturer position at UT Arlington. She did so and
ministrative process and received valuable feedback izations around the world – moved to Arlington in 2012 started in January 2007. At the time, she was also doing
from Paul Paulus, distinguished professor of psychol- and began looking at internship programs. part-time consulting work but gradually began moving
ogy and director of UT Arlington’s I/O program. Paulus away from that and closer to academia. In 2008, she
helped shepherd the proposal through the process of “To achieve the center’s vision, it was clear we became a visiting assistant professor, and in 2010 she
gaining university approval. needed more professors with diverse skills,” Roark said. was named professor in practice.
“The more comprehensive professorial staff would lead
“Dr. Paulus is a well-respected leader within and to greater outcomes for the students and ultimately the Her students admire her for her mentoring and for
outside of our University,” Lopez said. “He makes business community. The [endowed professorship] was being a steady support system to them through all the
things happen and we are fortunate to have his support a logical decision as part of achieving those goals. Being stresses of graduate school.
and to be able to draw upon his wisdom.” part of this project is exciting, challenging and reward-
ing for me personally. It is fantastic to know our con- “I credit Dr. Lopez's networking ability, and of
Lopez also credits Robert Gatchel, distinguished tributions will enhance the future of the I/O psychology course her hard work, in making the connections nec-
professor and former Department of Psychology chair, field, and the success of many students and companies essary that allowed nearly every member (if not every
with “believing in our vision for the program and sup- that will hire those students.” member) of my master's cohort to find employment
porting the idea for the center from the beginning,” she immediately upon graduation – in some cases, having
said. “I truly am thankful for his advice and encourage- The professorships will serve to ensure that stu- to choose between multiple competitive offers,” Fried-
ment and the belief he has in me and my ideas.” dents are well-prepared I/O professionals when they man said. “Her role within both the program and the
leave the program and enter the workforce. center transcends far beyond just teaching. She has
In 2013, an advisory council was established to de- had, and continues to have, a tremendous impact on
velop the future vision of the center. The council is com- “These professorships will help bring additional top students as well as the organizations in the Metroplex
prised of Dale Thompson, founder and CEO of scholars to the department who will be valuable re- that are working with the center.”
Leadership Worth Following (LWF); Lewis Hollweg, sources for the activities of the center,” Paulus said. “We
president of HH Investments; Phillip Roark, CEO of In- hope that the many useful connections of the center Lopez wants to see the center continue to
sala; College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma; and with various companies and organizations in this re- strengthen the relationships it has with area businesses,
Shelly Frank, College of Science director of develop- gion and beyond will enhance the profile of the Univer- while also reaching out to establish new ones as the I/O
sity and gain it additional charitable support.” program continues to grow.

ment. F or UT Arlington I/O students, the center is “I would like the center to keep evolving and ex-
a valuable resource that can pair them panding its capabilities so that we can continue to be a
“Our advisory council members are charged with with area businesses in a mutually benefi- valuable resource to the business community,” she said.
helping us keep the center current and tapped into the cial relationship. Aaron Friedman, who “This model has been very successful as evidenced by
needs of practitioners,” Lopez said. “This is an exciting grew up in Richardson, earned a master’s the continual increase of collaborations between the
time for us, and we are so fortunate to have a group of degree in the program in May 2013 and is center and the field. These partnerships allow the field
distinguished experts to help guide our vision.” to learn from us as well as allow us the opportunity to
learn from the business community – a truly beneficial
Thompson’s company, LWF – which provides tal- exchange which probably is my favorite aspect of these
ent and organizational development services and uses now in his first year as a Ph.D. student in the Psycho- projects.
scientifically based leadership training – has been in- logical Sciences (Experimental) program. He served his
volved with the I/O program since its founding in master’s internship with LWF, which hired him on as “Keeping the communication open between acade-
2004. Thompson is perhaps the center’s biggest sup- an associate consultant and has since promoted him to mia and practice really highlights what our program
porter. In the past decade, LWF has provided numer- senior associate consultant. represents. I really believe in this program and in its
potential to become one of the country’s best.” n
ous internships and subsequently brought many of “I really see the center and the I/O program almost
Learn more about the UT Arlington I/O Center at
those students on board full-time. Last year, the com- like a Venn diagram,” Friedman said. “One circle is the http://www.thei-ocenter.com/.

pany helped facilitate the creation of three endowed I/O coursework and academic side, and the other circle Maverick Science 2013-14 37

professorships for the I/O program. Thompson, Holl- is the applied experience obtained through the center

weg and Roark provided funds for the professorships, and other internship experiences. The overlap between

which were established in their names. those two circles is really the sweet spot. What differ-

“Over the years, Nicolette’s partnership has been es- entiates UTA’s I/O program is that students who grad-
sential to the continued and growing success of LWF,” uate are not coming out strong in one of those two
Thompson said. “As time goes forward, we hope to in- areas; they’re coming out strong in both of them. The
crease the strength and impact of our partnership interaction between the coursework and the applied ex-
through providing more internships, hiring more staff, perience is really where the magic happens.”

and expanding our use of the center to help LWF rede- The center was a major reason why master’s student

velop critical intellectual property.” Kim Perry chose UT Arlington’s I/O program. Perry,

Hollweg became involved with the program when who grew up in the Boston suburb of Natick, Mass., and

he was president and CEO of Batrus Hollweg Interna- earned a B.S. in Psychology at Union College in Sch-

tional, a human resources software and consulting firm enectady, N.Y., is in her second year of the program and

that he sold in 2011. Based on Lopez’s recommenda- also worked as an intern at LWF, where she’s now an

Mwaavkeisng

38 Maverick Science 2013-14 Robert Stewart didn’t
know a thing about
oceanography when
he graduated from
Arlington State
College with a
physics degree in
1963. Fiy years
later, he can reflect
on an illustrious
career during which
he has helped us all
better understand
the ocean and why
it’s so important.

By Greg Pederson

During a visit to campus in November,
Robert Stewart was greatly impressed
with the growth and progress his alma
mater has made.

Brandon Wade

Above, Stewart aboard a research vessel in Chesapeake Bay off the
coast of Virginia in 1988. Top right, Stewart, right, talks with renowned
oceanographer Klaus Hasselmann at a colloquium on radio oceanography
in Hamburg, Germany in 1976. Bottom right, Stewart, left, hands a
Nansen bottle to Simon Ferreira aboard a research ship in the Indian
Ocean in 1964. The bottle collects samples of seawater from a specific
depth. Stewart was working with other oceanographers as part of the 
International Indian Ocean Expedition, the first cooperative scientific in-
vestigation of the Indian Ocean. Photos courtesy of Robert Stewart.

T here’s a bit of irony to be found in the thing in his power to improve the way oceanography is taught in schools
fact that Robert Stewart was unim- and to stress the importance of the ocean.
pressed by the ocean as a child. But then
again, how could he have known at such Now a professor emeritus and largely retired, Stewart returned to UT
a young age that studying the sea and its Arlington in early November, marking just the second time since he grad-
mysteries would become his passion? uated in 1963 that he had been back on campus. He was a special guest
speaker during the College of Science’s annual Science Week, and he talked
Stewart first saw the ocean as a boy in Atlantic with students about his career and urged them to find good mentors who
City, N.J. He didn’t think it was anything special and can point them in the right direction. He also stressed to them the impor-
certainly didn’t hear anything calling to him as he lis- tance of studying the ocean.
tened to the sound of waves washing ashore. His next
experience with the ocean, some years later in Galve- “Robert Stewart is a pioneer in satellite oceanography,” said Lee-Lueng
ston, left him even less enthusiastic. Fu, a project scientist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who met
Stewart in 1980, when Fu had just finished his Ph.D. in oceanography. “He
“I remember hot, dirty beaches with brown water,” was among the first few who recognized the potential of observing the global
he says in summarizing his reaction. oceans from the vantage point of an orbiting satellite. He convinced me of
the great opportunity in making a career in satellite oceanography. It has
In high school, he became interested in physics. He had never even been a privilege to know him and benefit from his visionary work.”
heard the term “oceanography” until he was nearing the end of his senior
year at Arlington State College (now UT Arlington) in 1963 and began look- S tewart was born in York, Pennsylvania, one of five siblings.
ing at graduate school work. By chance he read an article in The Saturday Growing up, his favorite hobby was catching butterflies, a pur-
Evening Post about the need for physicists in the field of oceanography, suit which he continued to enjoy through college. When he was
and Stewart’s interest was piqued. That led to graduate studies at the 11, Stewart, his parents and three of his siblings moved to Fort
Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Worth so his dad could start an air conditioning repair service
Diego, and a long and distinguished career in oceanography. for York Air Conditioners. In addition to physics, Stewart de-
veloped interests in religion and science fiction during high
During that career, which spans half a century, Stewart has used his school. In 1959 he graduated as class valedictorian from Laneri High
knowledge of physics to help solve some of the ocean’s great mysteries, but School, an all-boys Catholic school in Fort Worth.
he’s quick to say he has been lucky to have good mentors and work with At the time, the state of Texas offered valedictorians four years of free
the right people. Among his achievements are pioneering work using high tuition to a state university. Stewart took advantage of the offer and chose
frequency radar to study ocean waves; his involvement with the Seasat Arlington State College, which was close to home and became a four-year
satellite project, which laid the foundation for radio oceanography; and his college for the first time in the fall of 1959, when Stewart enrolled as a fresh-
role in the TOPEX/Poseidon project, a satellite mission that helped revo- man.
lutionize oceanography as well as our understanding of ocean currents and
tides, and produced the first highly accurate global maps of the tides, among
other things.

Stewart also had a highly productive tenure as a professor of oceanog-
raphy at Texas A&M University, where he wrote a widely used textbook in
physical oceanography. He spent considerable time providing teaching ma-
terials for K-12 instructors and students explaining oceanic processes and
the usefulness of satellite data for observing the ocean. He also did every-

Maverick Science 2013-14 39

At left, Stewart in his
Army Corps uniform
during his freshman
year at Arlington State
College in 1959. At
right, Stewart, far
right, was treasurer of
the ASC Physics Club
in 1963 and is seen
here in an ASC year-
book photo with other
club officers. Below,
Stewart stands near a
monumental bronze
statue of Amitabha 
Buddha outside of the
Kōtoku-in temple in
Kamakura, Japan, in
1987. Photos courtesy
of Robert Stewart.

“By working in the summers for the highway de- “We finished the construction, and the first high frequency (HF) radar scatter from the ocean.
partment and living at home, I could afford ASC,” beam of particles was accelerated that summer,” “The results of our work showed that we could
he said. “I decided to major in physics, because it Stewart said. “Next, I loaded my car and headed to
was the most fundamental science. I enrolled in the Scripps. My goal was to study physics of the ocean, measure surface currents and ocean wave heights
Corps my first year, but only stayed in it for that one whatever that was. It sounded exciting.” and directions out to more than a hundred miles
year. I remember there were very few female stu- from shore,” Stewart said. “The work led to the de-
dents at that time, and my social life was almost W hen he got to San Diego, velopment of commercial HF radars now used to
nonexistent because I lived at home and rode city Stewart immediately re- map local currents along the U.S. coast and many
buses to get to campus. Because I used public trans- thought his earlier indif- other coasts.”
portation, I couldn’t attend on-campus functions ference to and disdain for
like dances or basketball and football games at the ocean. His knowledge of radio scatter from the sea led
night. There was no way to get home afterward. I “I was delighted with to Stewart being appointed as the Scripps represen-
was fortunate to be able to afford an old 1949 Ford the ocean when I reached tative to NASA committees for the development of
my senior year, and I could drive to campus and Scripps,” he said. “The lab was on the shore, on the Seasat, the first orbiting satellite designed for re-
park for free.” Pacific, with crystal clear water and beautiful waves. mote sensing of the ocean. Seasat, which was
We ate our lunches on the beach and I was soon get- launched in June 1978, used mostly radio-frequency
Stewart entered college at an exciting time for ting good at body surfing, beach volleyball and instruments to measure processes, winds, waves,
science. The Space Race between the United States oceanography.” currents, and temperature at the sea surface. A mas-
and the Soviet Union had started just two years be- sive short-circuit ended the mission in October
fore when the U.S.S.R. launched Sputnik, the first It definitely wasn’t all fun in the sun, though. 1978, but its importance far outweighed its short-
artificial satellite. He remembers watching along Stewart says he studied day and night, six and a half lived duration.
with hundreds of other students on a TV set up in days a week, for the first year. At Scripps, doctoral
the E.H. Hereford Center when the first American students worked independently on their own proj- Interpreting the signals measured by Seasat’s in-
astronauts were launched into space in 1961. ects. struments led Stewart to write a textbook, Methods
of Satellite Oceanography, one of the first on the
During his senior year, Stewart applied for grad- “My work was to test the theory of how wind subject, which was published in 1985.
uate school in meteorology and had been accepted generated ocean waves, which was first proposed by
at the University of Colorado and the University of a UCSD professor of applied math in 1959,” he said. In 1979, Stewart’s efforts with Seasat led to a
Washington. Then in February 1963, he happened “My measurements, and theoretical work by a joint appointment at Scripps and NASA’s Jet
to read the article on oceanography in the Post, writ- Scripps postdoc, showed that momentum is not Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
ten by a noted fisheries expert from the Scripps In- transmitted to ocean waves, and the theory needed There, he became a project scientist for a new NASA
stitution of Oceanography — unbeknownst to to be modified. The real benefit of being at Scripps satellite named TOPEX (for Topography of the
Stewart, the best oceanography school in the world. was working with the best oceanographers in the Ocean Experiment). TOPEX joined with Poseidon,
Stewart wrote to him saying he had never heard of world.” a French effort to make similar measurements, giv-
oceanography and had applied to graduate school ing birth to TOPEX/Poseidon, a satellite mission
in other fields. He received a return post with an ap- After he completed his thesis work and received that revolutionized scientists’ understanding of
plication to Scripps and a note urging him to apply, his Ph.D. in 1969, Stewart was asked by esteemed ocean currents and tides.
which he did. oceanographer Walter Munk and William Nieren-
berg, director of Scripps, to lead a project with a re- “TOPEX/Poseidon carried measurement accu-
“They were looking for physicists who wanted to cent Stanford graduate, G. Leonard Tyler, to study racy to an unprecedented new level,” Stewart said.
study the ocean, because there weren’t many at the “It measured the height of the sea surface around
time who did,” he said. the world with an accuracy of 3 centimeters relative
to the center of the earth, every 10 days. This is an
Stewart graduated from ASC magna cum laude accuracy of about one part in 10 to the tenth – diffi-
in May 1963, with the highest GPA in his class, and cult to achieve even in a laboratory.”
he also scored highly on the Graduate Record Ex-
amination. These factors worked strongly in his The measurements required knowing the exact
favor and he was accepted to Scripps, despite the center of mass of a satellite the size of a school bus,
fact that he had missed the official application dead- tracking this center with an accuracy of 2 centime-
line. He spent the summer on a fellowship at Ar- ters as the spacecraft circled the earth at a speed of
gonne National Lab outside Chicago, helping to 6 kilometers/second, while measuring the height of
construct the Zero-Gradient Synchrotron, which at the satellite above the sea with an accuracy of 2 cen-
the time was the world's most powerful atom timeters, Stewart explained. The mission combined
smasher. highly precise geodetic techniques, radar technol-
ogy, ocean-wave theory, and orbital dynamics in
new and productive ways.

40 Maverick Science 2013-14

TOPEX/Poseidon launched Stewart told UT Arlington students in Novem- Without the ocean there would
in August 1992, 13 years after ber to find something they have a passion for be very little oxygen in the at-
work on the project began. The and learn it thoroughly, because “luck comes mosphere, because free oxygen
satellite collected data until a to those who are prepared.” is the result of the burial of re-
malfunction ended operations duced carbon in sediments in
in January 2006. “e ocean exists, the ocean. These sediments
and it strongly contain reduced carbon in the
“From that mission came influences life form of coal, oil, and natural
the first global maps of the tides on this planet. gas that are used as energy
with accuracies of a centimeter, Without the sources. Water vapor from the
global maps of ocean surface ocean, the entire ocean heats the atmosphere
currents and their variability, planet would be when it condenses as rain and
maps of heat storage in the vastly different. drives the planet's winds. The
ocean, and the widely used plot We wouldn’t be ocean is inextricably tied to the
showing the change in global here without problem of global warming and
sea level due to global warming the ocean.” the amount of carbon dioxide
and the melting of polar ice,” in the atmosphere.
Stewart said. — Robert Stewart
In short, to Stewart the im-
Added Fu, “The mission portance of the ocean to life on
turned out to be revolutionary Earth can’t possibly be overem-
in the ways we study the ocean. phasized, and he would like to
It has shifted the paradigm of see oceanography’s promi-
studying ocean circulation nence in K-12 science educa-
from slow and painstaking tion greatly enhanced.
shipboard measurement to rapid global observation “We wouldn’t be here without the ocean,” he says.
from space.”
L ooking back on his career, Stewart
I n 1989, Stewart returned to Texas to take a humbly says he was in the right place
faculty position at Texas A&M University as at the right time. He feels his success
professor of oceanography. He wrote a is attributable to the fact that he took
widely used textbook on physical oceanog- advantage of being around brilliant
raphy, and in 1996 he hired two graduate minds and soaking up as much
students to help him create a website to knowledge as he could from them.
teach students about the ocean. The site, He’s also grateful for having a career which gave him
OceanWorld, quickly became very a popular one, the chance to travel around the world, to experience
with numerous resources for educators and students a variety of other cultures and to meet and form re-
– including Stewart’s textbook, which he made avail- lationships with fascinating people.
able for free. The site won awards for its contribu-
tions to ocean and environmental science education. “First, I feel I am incredibly lucky. I was born at a
time that allowed me to enter science just as interest
“Bob is a true intellectual with a broad and deep and jobs in science exploded after the launch of Sput-
knowledge of not only oceanography, but also many nik in 1957,” he said. “Then, I started work in an ex-
other subjects,” said Ping Chang, Texas A&M profes- citing field at a great lab just by the chance reading
sor of atmospheric sciences and the Louis and Eliza- of a magazine article. Finally, I was invited to work
beth Scherck Chair in Oceanography who met on interesting and important projects by mentors at
Stewart when Chang joined the A&M faculty in 1990. Scripps that I met mostly by chance. And those proj-
“He is straightforward and yet caring. Some of Bob’s ects turned out to be much more successful than we
strong points as a professor and researcher include expected, mostly because I was able to work with col-
his abundant knowledge, wisdom and understand- leagues who were much better than me.”
ing; his extensive research experience; and his dedi-
cation to ocean science education. Bob has made a During his visit to UT Arlington in November,
profound contribution to propagate and promote the Stewart advised a room full of science students to
subject of physical oceanography.” take the equation of “preparation plus luck equals op-
portunity” to heart.
Educating K-12 students about the ocean is some-
thing Stewart is passionate about. He doesn’t think “Luck is important. Some people are lucky, but
nearly enough emphasis is placed on how vital a role luck comes to those who are prepared,” he told the
the ocean plays in a host of Earth’s processes, and students. “So do the work. Find something that you’re
how critical the ocean’s well-being is to the future of passionate about and learn it very well. I was willing
life on Earth. He notes that what is taught in schools to take a chance on what I worked on. I was mostly
about oceanography at the pre-college level is deter- out of the mainstream of physical oceanography, and
mined by the National Science Education Standards, this helped greatly. Don't be afraid to take risks.
first published in 1996 by the National Research
Council. “A few years ago, I attended a meeting at Rice
University where a colleague and math professor,
“Those standards mention the ocean in only three David Sanchez, reflected on his career in mathemat-
places,” Stewart said. “The ocean exists, and it ics. He concluded by saying that when you are invited
strongly influences life on this planet. Without the up on the porch by the big dogs, and when you start
ocean, the entire planet would be vastly different.” barking with the big dogs, soon people begin to think
you are a big dog. He and I were both fortunate to be
Stewart can talk at length about why the ocean is invited up to that porch.”
so critical. Ocean studies led to the development of
plate tectonics, which would be far different without On the porch reserved for the big dogs of
the ocean because water-saturated sediments move oceanography, Robert Stewart has definitely earned
much more easily than dry sediments, he explains. his place. n

Maverick Science 2013-14 41

Michaela Vancliff thrives
while focusing her research
and teaching on a branch
of algebra that even many
other mathematicians find
to be mystifying. By Greg Pederson

Vancliff discusses a problem with students in her
Graduate Algebraic Geometry class last fall.

Brandon Wade

Abstract artist

T he subject of non-commutative algebraic geometry is likely to be baffling or even slightly intimidating to those
unfamiliar with advanced concepts in algebra. For Michaela Vancliff, it’s the subject she has devoted her career
to studying. Vancliff has been at the forefront of research in non-commutative algebraic geometry since it first
came on the scene in the late 1980s.

So, what is it, exactly?

First, a bit of a primer on some mathematical terms that find all solutions to a system of polynomial-style ciated ring. In many of the applications, the rings tend
might be in order. Addition is an example of a “commu- equations in non-commuting variables is non-commu- to share certain properties satisfied by commuting poly-
tative” operation, because a + b equals b + a. Subtraction tative algebra. nomials. Such rings are called AS-regular algebras and
is an example of a “non-commutative” operation, be- are the main focus of Vancliff’s research.
cause generally, a – b does not equal b – a. “The problem of solving a system of equations in
non-commutative algebra may be translated to one in- “One of the goals of the study of AS-regular algebras
Mathematics, in general, is the study of patterns and, volving an algebra over a field, and the representation and their modules is to use geometric techniques to find
frequently, such patterns are described via systems of theory (or module theory) of that algebra. My research certain modules of the AS-regular algebra, and then to
equations, Vancliff explains. For instance, systems of is in the subarea of non-commutative algebraic geome- use those modules to find the modules that give the so-
polynomial-style equations and their solutions play a try, which is about using geometric methods to under- lutions to the original system of equations,” she said.
critical role in almost every scientific field, including el- stand the algebra and its representation theory that “My underlying goal throughout my research career has
ementary-particle physics, quantum mechanics, robot- arise in this way.” been to improve on these geometric techniques. Being
ics, crystallography and more. an algebraist, I don’t work on the physics that generates
The main idea to finding solutions to a system of the equations that need to be solved; nor do I work on
“Often, the solutions cannot be found by experimen- polynomial-style equations is to associate an algebraic the equations themselves.
tation, and often they are not numbers but are functions object, called a ring, which encodes all the properties of
and so, in general, they do not commute,” said Vancliff, the original equations, Vancliff said. Associated to this “Typically, mathematical physicists translate the
a UT Arlington professor of mathematics. “Non-com- ring are modules, which encode all the properties of the quantum physics into algebraic problems, and then an
mutative algebra has application to fields such as solutions to the equations. So, in order to find all of the algebraist picks up the problem at that stage. In my case,
physics and chemistry. The science of seeking methods solutions, one should find all the modules for the asso- I work on techniques that solve types of equations, in

42 Maverick Science 2013-14

the hopes that such techniques might not only solve She taught high school math in London for a year colleague had family living in Fort Worth and was fa-
equations of current interest, but also any equations of after graduating from Warwick, then moved to Seattle miliar with the North Texas region.
the same type that might arise in physics in the future.” and began work on a Ph.D. in mathematics with the in-
tention to focus on applied math. During her first year, “He felt very strongly that I would be happy working
Among Vancliff’s projects which could benefit re- while taking a mandatory graduate algebra class, she at UT Arlington and living in the DFW area, so he en-
search in physics is one with Thomas Cassidy, professor was introduced to the notion of a module over a ring. couraged me to apply to UT Arlington,” Vancliff said. “I
and math department chair at Bucknell University, investigated UT Arlington online and found a vibrant,
which focuses on generalizing the notion of Clifford al- “I immediately recognized it as a generalization of growing university.”
gebra and using geometry to motivate their proposed the idea of matrices acting on a vector space, which is a
generalization. Clifford algebras, which offer a direct pervasive topic throughout all of the applied sciences,” When she interviewed in 1998, she found that the
way to model geometric objects and their transforma- Vancliff said. “So a light bulb lit up in my brain, and I department was strong in applied mathematics and less
tions, have numerous applications in physics. fell in love with algebra.” so in algebra, which Vancliff took as a “positive chal-
lenge”. She joined the faculty as an assistant professor
“Our work together involves a variation on classical Her interests were mainly in physics applications, so starting that fall.
Clifford algebras. Clifford algebras have many applica- Vancliff was drawn to study modules over non-commu-
tions in theoretical physics, and we have been stretching tative rings. At that time, the study of modules over “The department has changed much in the past 15
these ideas to encompass a broader family of algebraic commutative rings had been ongoing for decades due years, and its research has grown in strength, with many
structures, with the hope of finding applications in to the use of geometric techniques. In a bit of perfect of the current faculty earning research grants,” she said.
quantum physics,” Cassidy said. “Michaela is a remark- timing, Vancliff began her graduate studies just as a new Her own research has been continuously funded since
ably tenacious researcher. Mathematical research is movement had started in the world of algebra that her arrival.
often characterized by sudden realizations or insights, pushed the study of non-commutative rings and their
but those insights can only come after prolonged and modules via geometric techniques. This new subject be- V ancliff is working with her grad-
intense study. Michaela has the mathematical drive and came known as non-commutative algebraic geometry. uate students on several projects.
vision to delve into very abstract concepts and find hid- She and third-year doctoral stu-
den connections.” “This was an entirely new subject, and I was fortu- dent Richard Chandler are look-
ing at the point schemes and line
Vancliff is also working with UT Arlington associate “Michaela is a remarkably schemes of a family of algebras
professor of math Dimitar Grantcharov, an expert in tenacious researcher. [She]
representation theory, on a long-term project aimed at has the mathematical drive and trying to understand the al-
describing a recently defined ring, called a graded skew and vision to delve into very
Clifford algebra, in terms of a Lie bracket and Poisson abstract concepts and find gebras' underlying structure.
geometry, and using that information to classify certain
modules of the ring. Vancliff and Cassidy were the first hidden connections.” Chandler first met Vancliff when he was an undergrad-
ones to propose the idea of the graded skew Clifford al-
gebra, in 2010. – omas Cassidy uate in her Abstract Algebra class in 2010. He earned a

“Dr. Vancliff is a very talented mathematician and Bucknell University professor of mathematics B.A. in Mathematics with teaching certification in May
she is highly dedicated to research, teaching and serv-
ice,” said Jianzhong Su, professor and chair of the math nate to enter it at its inception,” she said. “There were 2011 and entered the Ph.D. program that fall. He wants
department. “The field she works in is quite abstract, many open problems ripe for the picking and many that
even for other mathematicians, but this kind of mathe- were accessible to junior researchers such as myself. to go into academia after earning his doctoral degree.
matics is reflective to some of the deeper insights in This meant that I was able to make groundbreaking
modern physics. Dr. Vancliff is one of the leaders in this contributions to the subject while I was still a student, “Dr. Vancliff is an amazing mentor,” Chandler said.
research field, and the importance of her work is widely simply because the subject was so new. I found it to be
recognized by the scientific community.” very exciting.” “She has very high standards for all of her students, but

Vancliff says that she was fortunate that her Ph.D. they are always reasonable. She doesn’t expect perfec-
advisor at the University of Washington, S.P. Smith,
took his responsibilities very seriously. tion, but she does expect that you put 100 percent into

“Not only does he have a rare gift for being able to all aspects of your work.”
explain mathematics and its intricate beauty, but he also
devoted time to teaching me how to write research pub- Padmini Veerapen studied under Vancliff and
lications and funded my participation at conferences
and workshops,” Vancliff said. “He actively encouraged earned a Ph.D. in May 2013. She’s now an assistant pro-
me to network and interact with famous mathemati-
cians, and those opportunities proved to be invaluable fessor of math at Tennessee Technological University in
to me throughout my career.”
Cookeville, Tenn.
Vancliff earned her Ph.D. in 1993, and then worked
for two years as a visiting assistant professor at the Uni- “Dr. Vancliff emphasized a level of detail and thor-
versity of Southern California in Los Angeles. From
there, she moved to Belgium and worked for a year as a oughness during my years under her supervision that is
researcher at the University of Antwerp, before spend-
A n analytical mind was seemingly ing two years at the University of Oregon in Eugene. In allowing me now to successfully handle all my respon-
hard-wired into Vancliff’s DNA. 1997, Vancliff had a conversation with a colleague in
She was born in England, north- Oregon which led to a significant career decision. The sibilities as a faculty member,” Veerapen said.
east of London in Essex County,
and her father was an electrical In addition to her research and teaching, Vancliff is
engineer. He instilled in her a de-
the organizer of the long-running DFW Algebraic

Geometry, Algebra and Number Theory (AGANT) sem-

inar series, which brings together researchers and stu-

sire to understand how things dents from academia and industry in the Metroplex and

work. Initially, she was interested beyond and features national and international speak-

in physics, but in high school she was inspired by one of ers. She also created the department’s Graduate Forum,

her math teachers, who felt strongly that Vancliff should which helps junior Ph.D. students by letting them talk

pursue a mathematics degree. The teacher remained a with faculty mentors and senior doctoral students.

friend and mentor until his passing a few years ago. “It is very fulfilling and satisfying to share my knowl-

“In hindsight, I believe I was interested in structural edge with my students and see them enjoy the material

patterns that make stuff work, more than in the physical as much as I do,” Vancliff said. “When they see the con-

inner workings, and that interest translated into a de- nections that I see and share with me their delight in

sire to understand the mathematics that explains how finding new connections, I can see how much they have

stuff works,” she said. “From the entire cosmos down grown mathematically, and that is a joy to witness. It is

to the tiniest flower petal, mathematics is behind the particularly exciting to see them continue a research

scenes making it all work, and I wanted to understand path after graduation, especially in academia where they

it all.” can continue this sharing of knowledge with the next

After finishing secondary school, Vancliff enrolled at generation of students.”

the University of Warwick, in Coventry, England where Vancliff says that helping and sharing her knowledge

she earned a B.S. in Mathematics in 1986. Her degree with others, working as part of a team, and using the

was in pure mathematics, but she also took courses in technical expertise she has acquired to solve problems

quantum physics, special relativity and general relativ- are all rewarding aspects of her job as a researcher and

ity. While at Warwick, one of the math faculty members educator.

suggested that she pursue a graduate degree in the “I very much enjoy that my work at UTA entails all

United States, at the University of Washington. these components, both individually and in combina-

“He was very familiar with the university and the city tion,” she said. “I also find that my success at earning

of Seattle, and he felt that I would excel in that environ- research grants renews my energy, not only in the re-

ment,” Vancliff said. “Since I very much enjoyed living search arena, but in all aspects of my job. I consider my-

in Seattle and being a student at the University of Wash- self very fortunate to be able to work in my chosen

ington, I guess he was right.” career, and in the supportive environment of UTA.” n

Maverick Science 2013-14 43

Faculty News

Todd Castoe, assistant professor of biology, was John ‘Trey’ Fondon, assistant professor of biology, membership in a group, like being an American.
lead author of a paper published in December by co-authored a study on gene mutation in pigeons
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sci- which was published in the Feb. 17 edition of the Peter Kroll, associate professor of chemistry and
ences which said the Burmese python’s ability to journal Current Biology. The study explored pi- biochemistry, is part of a multidisciplinary team
ramp up its metabolism and enlarge its organs to geons as a model for vertebrate evolution and which received a $640,000 National Science Foun-
swallow and digest prey whole can be traced to un- found that mutations and interactions among just dation grant to assemble a computer-based
usually rapid evolution and specialized adaptations three genes create a wide range of color variations. “genome” that will aid in the design and develop-
of its genes and the way they work. Castoe was One of those genes may be an example of a “slip- ment of advanced new materials that are super
part of an international team which sequenced and pery gene” more prone to evolutionary changes. hard, can resist extreme heat, are highly durable
analyzed the genome of the Burmese python The genes in the study have previously been linked and are less expensive. The work is funded through
(Python molurus bivittatus). Because snakes con- to skin and hair color variation among people, as a 2011 White House “Materials Genome Initiative”
tain many of the same genes as other vertebrates, well as the development of melanoma. intended to cut in half the time it takes to develop
studying how these genes have evolved to produce novel materials that can fuel advanced manufac-
such extreme and unique characteristics in snakes Matthew Fujita and Todd Castoe, assistant profes- turing. The effort has been compared with the na-
can eventually help explain how these genes func- sors of biology, were among 30 co-authors on a tional Human Genome Project launched in the
tion, including how they enable extreme feats of 2013 Genome Biology publication that described 1980s.
organ remodeling. Such knowledge may eventually their work on an international effort to sequence
be used to treat human diseases. the genome of a western painted turtle, only the Daniel Levine, professor of psychology, was co-
second reptile species to have its genetic informa- chair of the International Joint Conference on Neu-
Woo-Suk Chang, assistant professor in biology, re- tion fully mapped. Researchers found that some of ral Networks (IJCNN 2013), held August 4-9 at the
ceived $100,000 from Novozymes Biologicals, Inc., the turtle’s extraordinary abilities – like being able Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. The IJCNN is the premier
a biotechnology company, to study symbiotic nitro- to withstand oxygen deprivation and near total international conference in the area of neural net-
gen fixation and discover a way to deliver nitrogen freezing of its tissue – may be linked to sets of works. IJCNN 2013 was organized by the Interna-
through a better inoculant in crops (i.e., soybeans) genes that are common to all vertebrates, but used tional Neural Network Society (INNS), and
which is more efficient and better for the environ- uniquely in the turtle. It also showed that the turtle sponsored jointly by INNS and the IEEE Computa-
ment. Inoculants are microorganisms which are genome has evolved extremely slowly. tional Intelligence Society – the two leading profes-
added to crops to promote plant health. sional organizations for researchers working in
Robert Gatchel, the Nancy P. & John G. Penson En- neural networks.
Manfred  Cuntz, professor of physics, secured a dowed Professor of Clinical Health Psychology and
$15,000 grant from the NASA Education & Public director of the Center of Excellence for the Study J. Ping Liu, professor of physics, received three re-
Outreach program to fund an updated version of a of Health & Chronic Illnesses, received the 2013 search grants: (1) a $490,000, two-year grant from
show about the Stratospheric Observatory for In- Dallas Psychological Association's Distinguished Psy- the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research
frared Astronomy (SOFIA) for the Planetarium at UT chologist Award. Gatchel was nominated based on Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop rare-
Arlington. SOFIA is an airborne observatory that will his years of contributions to the psychological com- earth-free nano-composite magnets (manganese
complement the Hubble, Spitzer and other space munity as well as his mentorship of graduate stu- and bismuth-based) which will not be dependent
telescopes as well as major Earth-based tele- dents. on the expensive rare-earth elements currently
scopes. Since the debut of the Planetarium’s orig- used in most magnets; (2) a $300,000, two-year
inal show, SOFIA has obtained many additional Laura Gough, associate professor of biology, co-au- grant from the Department of Defense Army Re-
findings, which the new show will include. thored a paper in the May 15 edition of the journal search Office for research on magnetic thin films;
Nature which challenges long-held ideas about the (3) a $100,000 industrial sponsor grant for research
Yue Deng, assistant professor of physics, received effects of temperature increases in the Alaskan on bulk magnetic materials.
a $408,000, three-year award from NASA’s helio- tundra. Gough and other researchers working at
physics division in January 2013 to develop a 3-D the U.S. Arctic Long Term Ecological Research Site Fred MacDonnell, professor of chemistry, and re-
look at how electrodynamic energy from solar in northern Alaska found that carbon stocks in soils cently retired UT Arlington research associate pro-
winds enters and moves throughout the Earth’s subjected to 20 years of experimental warming did fessor Norma Tacconi were awarded a three year,
upper atmosphere. Deng aims to help scientists and not differ from soils that experienced ambient air $430,346 National Science Foundation grant to
engineers protect satellites, power distribution sys- temperatures. They believe a complicated inter- study a new method for converting carbon dioxide
tems and other vital infrastructure from the poten- play between increased woody-shrub growth and to methanol. The grant is part of the Sustainable
tially harmful effects of these inevitable bursts of the soil could be counteracting the warming ef- Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (SusChEM)
energy. She is co-developer of a new 3-D Global fects, but they say more study is needed in the program, which aims to promote environmental
Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model, or GITM. form of continued monitoring as the Arctic contin- sustainability. It was part of $49 million in inaugural
ues warming and additional experiments that alter grant awards given to 101 scientists and engineers.
Rasika Dias, distinguished professor and chair of temperatures over the long-term. The NSF started SusChEM in 2012 to support the dis-
chemistry and biochemistry, received a $450,000, covery of new science and engineering that will
three-year grant from the National Science Foun- Jared Kenworthy, associate professor of psychol- provide a safe, stable and sustainable supply of
dation to develop new chemical processes and ogy, co-authored a study by a UT Arlington research chemicals and materials sufficient to meet future
technologies based on a better understanding of team published in the August issue of the Hispanic global demand.
the way that metals such as gold, silver, mercury Journal of Behavioral Science that found feelings
and zinc bind with organic compounds for chemical of entitlement and superiority that go beyond pa- Fred MacDonnell, professor of chemistry and bio-
reactions. The project involves reactions used triotism and love of country may be a key predictor chemistry, led a team which co-authored a paper
widely in industry and research laboratories. Dias’ for Americans who will feel or behave negatively published in the May edition of Molecular Cancer
work will explore the interaction between six met- toward undocumented Latino immigrants. The Therapeutics that identified two ruthenium-based
als found in the right section of the Periodic Table study looked at those enhanced feelings of superi- complexes the team believes could pave the way
of Elements’ d-block and what are called pi-acid for treatments that control cancer cell growth
ligands, which include familiar organic compounds ority – referred to as group-level narcissism – along more effectively and are less toxic for patients than
like carbon monoxide, ethylene, acetylene and the current chemotherapies. The team describes two
related olefins and alkynes. with a factor called national in-group identifica-
tion, which happens when a person’s individual Faculty continued on page 46
44 Maverick Science 2013-14 identity is strongly tied to and dependent on their

Student and Alumni News

Ali Alam, a second-year medical student at Texas Alicia Machuca, a Ph.D. student in mathematics, anyone who makes a significant contribution to
A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine received a Student Presentation Award at the the field of physics. The UT Arlington chapter se-
who earned a B.S. in Biology from UT Arlington in 2013 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and lects new members based on a vote by active
2012, received two fellowship awards over the Native Americans (SACNAS) National Conference members from the eligible pool of candidates, in-
summer for his research into the most common in early October in San Antonio. Her presentation cluding undergraduate students who are in the
and malignant form of brain tumor, glioblastoma. was titled “An Exact Solution Formula for the top third of their class. Fall 2013 inductees in-
The first is the American Association of Neurolog- Kadomtsev-Petvishvili Equation”. Machuca, in her cluded: (undergraduates) Aaron Benjamin Baca,
ical Surgeons Medical Student Summer Research fifth year of doctoral studies, conducts research Jeremiah D. Browne, Matthew Chrysler, Ricky
Fellowship, which is for $2,500. The second is the in partial differential equations. Her advisor is Hensley, Codie Mishler, Ying Wun Yvonne Ng,
Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Tuncay Aktosun, professor of mathematics. Timothy Blake Watson; (faculty) Nilakshi Veer-
Research Fellowship, given by Alpha Omega Alpha, abathina, senior lecturer in physics.
the medical honor society, which is for $5,000. Aaron Myers, a master’s student in Earth and En-
vironmental Science and an environmental analyst College of Science students earned numerous
Jayant Bhalerao, a Ph.D. student in physics, was with Associated Air Center in Dallas, helped Asso- awards at the 2013 Annual Celebration of Excel-
selected as a NASA/Texas Space Grant Consortium ciated Air win a 2013 Texas Environmental Excel- lence by Students (ACES) symposium, held March
Fellow for the 2013-14 academic year. The fellow- lence Award from the Texas Commission on 27 in the E.H. Hereford University Center. They
ship consists of a $5,000 supplemental stipend. Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The award, for include:
Over the last eight years, the Texas Space Grant Pollution Prevention, was given to Associated Air Ashley Asmus, biology, Graduate Sustainability
Consortium (TSGC) has awarded over $1.25 mil- for creating a safe alternative to hexavalent Award ($200) for the project, “Living fast above
lion in fellowships and scholarships. Bhalerao’s chromium, which is used to meet requirements the Arctic Circle: tundra arthropod assemblages
faculty mentor is Sangwook Park, assistant pro- for corrosion protection but is highly toxic. The under severe seasonal constraints”.
fessor of physics. facility team of which Myers is a part came up Undergraduate Poster Presentation
with a way to use an alkaline detergent wash and Sabra  Ramirez, chemistry, President’s Poster
Emmanuel Fordjour, a junior in the Honors Biol- solgel conversion coating instead of the “alodine” Award ($200) for the project, “Synthesis and
ogy program with a minor in chemistry, earned (chromate conversion) coating. Myers also helped Characterization of Sulfur-Containing Aliphatic
the Joan Abramowitz Award for Outstanding Sci- Associated Air win the Most Valuable Pollution Pre- Photoluminescent Polymers”.
entific Achievement for his poster presentation at vention (MVP2) award from the National Pollution Hasan Sumdani, biology, Provost’s Poster Award
the Joint American Society of Microbiology Branch Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) for efforts in re- ($100) for the project, “Protists and Bacteria in
conference in November in New Orleans. He is in- ducing and, in some cases, eliminating hexavalent an Aquatic Environment”.
volved in molecular microbiology and bacterial in- chromium from its processes. Aliza Denobrega, psychology, Honorable Mention
fectious disease research in the lab of Julian ($25) for the project, “Estrogen Modulates Con-
Hurdle, assistant professor of biology. Fordjour’s Donivan Porterfield, an analytical chemistry and ditioned Cocaine Reward”.
project was titled “Analysis of Anti-Clostridium radiochemical measurements scientist at Los Undergraduate Morning Oral Presentation
difficile Activity of Paired Antibiotic Combina- Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., Catherine  Greene, biology, Provost’s Award
tions”. Clostridium difficile is an intestinal bac- received the 2013 Award of Merit from the Amer- ($100) for the project, “Population Seasonal
terium that causes severe to fatal diarrhea, killing ican Society for Testing and Materials in Novem- Growth Dynamics of the Invasive Zebra Mussel
over 15,000 people annually in the United States. ber. Porterfield earned a B.S. in Chemistry from (Dreissena polymorpha) in Lake Texoma, Texas”.
UT Arlington. The award recognizes Porterfield for Jessica  Azzinnari, biology, Graduate Dean’s
John Gurak, a junior in chemistry/biochemistry, his extensive knowledge and commitment to ex- Award ($50) for the project, “Life History Trade-
was one of fewer than 40 scholars nationwide to cellence in standards development. offs of Vaejovis Scorpions in Response to Environ-
be awarded the EPA National Center for Environ- ment Disturbances”.
mental Research’s two-year fellowship for under- The UT Arlington physics team educated and en- Undergraduate Afternoon Oral Presentation
graduate study for 2013. It provides $50,000 over tertained area students at the 10th annual Avia- Keith Gray, physics, Provost’s Award ($100 ) for
two years to cover costs of tuition, books, travel tion & Transportation Career Expo on October 4. the project, “Examination of the outgassing spec-
to conferences and other expenses. The event, sponsored by DFW International Air- trum on several generations of micro-channel
port, the Federal Aviation Administration, Ameri- plate photomultiplier tubes”.
Trevor Henry, a senior in interdisciplinary studies can Airlines and Tarrant County College, was held William Rush Scaggs, biology, Graduate Dean’s
(biology, geology and teaching) and a student pre- at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth and the Award ($50) for the project, “Rhodium Catalyzed
senter/educator at The Planetarium at UT Arling- American Airlines hangar at DFW Airport. More Regio- and Stereocontrol of Homoallylic Silyl
ton, received a Hamilton Planetarium Scholarship, than 3,000 students and about 1,000 teachers and Ethers”.
which includes a cash award which is renewable administrators from 60 North Texas schools Graduate Poster Presentation
on an annual basis and entitles Henry to member- learned about aviation, transportation and sci- Nagham Alatrash, chemistry, President’s Poster
ships in the international and regional planetar- ence in general at the Expo. UT Arlington team Award ($200) for the project, “Chemotherapy
ium associations. members included Nilakshi Veerabathina, senior with Metals: Biological Activity of Lipophilic
lecturer in physics, Robert Bruntz, physics staff, Ruthenium (II) Polypyridyl Complexes”.
Yayu ‘Monica’ Hew, a 2013 UT Arlington aero- and physics students Andrea Marlar, Elijah Mur- Angela Osen, geology, Honorable Mention ($25)
space engineering and physics graduate, was one phy, Timothy  Hoffman, Ashley  Herbst, Sarah for the project, “Late Permian climate sensitivity
of Aviation Week’s “Twenty20s” honorees. The Moorman, Monica  Hernandez, Jeremiah to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concen-
Twenty20s recognize top science, technology, en- Browne, Kyle  van  Zuiden and Benjamin  Ro- trations and precession cycles: implications for
gineering and math (STEM) students. The program driguez. the mass extinction”.
connects the next generation of aerospace and Graduate Morning Oral Presentation
defense talent with established leaders who have The UT Arlington chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, the Ashley Asmus, biology, President’s Award ($300)
created many of the “firsts” driving innovation in physics honor society, inducted eight new mem- for the project, “Living fast above the Arctic Cir-
the 21st century. Hew is pursuing her master’s de- bers in a ceremony November 19 in the Chemistry cle: tundra arthropod assemblages under severe
gree in aerospace engineering at Stanford Univer- & Physics Building. Sigma Pi Sigma is a national seasonal constraints”.
sity. organization open to students and faculty, or to
Students/Alumni continued on page 46

Maverick Science 2013-14 45

Faculty continued from page 44 has about 100 corporate members, including many traction activities could cause them to occur at el-
laboratories. Rajeshwar has been a faculty member evated levels. Brian Fontenot, a UT Arlington grad-
newly developed ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, in the College of Science since 1983 and was a char- uate with a Ph.D. in quantitative biology and the
or RPCs, that yielded results comparable to cis- ter member of the UT Arlington Academy of Distin- paper’s lead author, said more studies are needed
platin – one of the most widely used anti-cancer guished Professors. to conclusively identify the exact causes of ele-
drugs – against human non-small cell lung cancer vated levels of contaminants in areas near natural
cells in pre-clinical lab tests. Jorge Rodrigues, assistant professor of biology, co- gas drilling.
authored a paper published in the journal Proceed-
Maeli Melotto, assistant professor of biology, co- ings of the National Academy of Sciences which Kevin Schug, associate professor of chemistry &
authored a paper published in the Nov. 19, 2012 on- revealed a new concern about deforestation in the biochemistry, was named Outstanding ACES Faculty
line edition of the journal Proceedings of the Amazon rainforest – a troubling net loss in the di- Mentor during the 2013 Annual Celebration of Ex-
National Academy of Sciences in which researchers versity among the microbial organisms responsible cellence by Students symposium on March 27.
examining how the hormone jasmonate works to for a functioning ecosystem. An international team
protect plants and promote their growth revealed of microbiologists sampled a 38 square mile area in Jianzhong Su, chair and professor of mathematics,
how a transcriptional repressor of the jasmonate the Fazenda Nova Vida site in Rondônia, Brazil, co-authored a paper published in the November
signaling pathway makes its way into the nucleus where the rainforest has been converted to agri- edition of the Journal of Immunological Methods
of the plant cell. They hope the discovery will cultural use. Their findings in part validated previ- detailing a study using mathematical modeling to
eventually help farmers experience better crop ous research showing that bacteria in the soil develop a computer simulation which could one
yields with less use of potentially harmful chemi- became more diverse over the years, as it was con- day improve the treatment of dangerous reactions
cals. verted to pasture. But their findings contradicted to medical implants such as stents, catheters and
prior thinking by showing that the loss of restricted artificial joints. The work resulted from a National
Zdzislaw Musielak, professor of physics, received ranges for different kinds of bacteria communities Institutes of Health-funded collaboration by re-
a three-year, $301,339 National Science Foundation resulted in a biotic homogenization and net loss of search groups headed by Su and Liping Tang, pro-
grant to investigate Alfvén waves in the Sun, a phe- diversity overall. fessor of bioengineering.
nomenon vital to understanding Earth’s nearest
star. Musielak hopes to explore one of the Sun’s Kevin Schug, associate professor of chemistry and Muhammed  Yousufuddin, research scientist in
great mysteries – what forces fuel the heat of its biochemistry, co-authored a study of 100 private chemistry and manager of the Center for Nanos-
outer atmosphere and the basic physical processes water wells in and near the Barnett Shale that tructured Materials, co-authored a study which was
for creating its magnetic influence on Earth and showed elevated levels of potential contaminants published in the May 15 edition of the Journal of
other planets. such as arsenic and selenium closest to natural gas the American Chemical Society about collaborative
extraction sites. The study’s results were published research in biaryls. Biaryls, where two aromatic
Krishnan  Rajeshwar, distinguished professor of online by the journal Environmental Science & rings are connected by a covalent bond, are a com-
chemistry and biochemistry, was elected in June as Technology on July 25. The paper focused on the mon structure in pharmaceuticals, organic materi-
a vice president of The Electrochemical Society, an presence of metals such as arsenic, barium, sele- als, and ligands for catalysts. Such molecules are
educational nonprofit with more than 8,000 mem- nium and strontium in water samples. Many of typically made by connecting functionalized, and
bers in more than 70 countries around the world. these heavy metals occur naturally at low levels in often activated, aromatic rings using a transition
The organization is based in New Jersey and also groundwater, but disturbances from natural gas ex- metal catalyst.

Students/Alumni continued from page 45 Excellence in Teaching; Paul  Pasichnyk, The Graduate Teaching Award; Shuai Chen, President
William F. Pyburn Fellowship; Claudia Marquez, James Spaniolo Graduate Research Award; C.
Shweta  Panchal, biology, Honorable Mention Jessica Stevens, The Dr. Thomas R. Hellier, Jr. & Phillip Shelor, Charles K. Baker Fellowship Award.
($50) for the project, “Regulation of plant immu- Mrs. Evelyn F. Hellier Biology Scholarship; Yomna (Mathematics) Kevin Mark Roche, Lingjia Zhang,
nity by air humidity”. Farooqi, Dianna Nguyen, Emmanuel Fordjour, Norma  Ghanem, John A. Gardner Scholarship;
Colin  Jenney, psychology, Honorable Mention Nathan Nguyen, Whitney  Hall, Toan  Nguyen, Prajay Patel, Erick Villarreal, H.A.D. Dunsworth
($50) for the project, “The Influence of Previous Thao  Hoang, Andrew  Schroeder, Sungryeong Scholarship; Andrew McGinnis, Eric Moraw, Tim-
Experience on Exergame Use in College Under- Kim, Martin  Tran, The William L. & Martha othy Hoffman, R. Kannan Memorial Scholarship;
graduates”. Hughes Award for the Study of Biology. Omomayowa Olawoyin, Denise Rangel, Benny M.
Graduate Afternoon Oral Presentation (Chemistry and Biochemistry) Alexa Dean, CRC McCarley Scholarship; Richard  Chandler,
Hui Fan, chemistry, President’s Award ($300) for Handbook Award for Outstanding Freshman; Pengcheng Xiao, Stephen R. Bernfeld Memorial
the project, “Outlook on Treatment of Traumatic Ruona Ebiai, Robert F. Francis Award for Out- Scholarship; Andrew McGinnis, Outstanding Jun-
Brian Injury - Ultra-trace Estrogen Detection in standing Sophomore; Hiep  Nguyen, R.L. Hoyle ior; Josh Hodges, Outstanding Senior; Mark Jack-
Cerebrospinal Fluid to facilitate Neuroprotection Award for Outstanding Junior; Akinde  Kadjo, son, Outstanding Math Clinic Tutor; Thomas
Studies”. John T. Murchison Award for Outstanding Senior; Seaquist, Padmini Veerapen, Outstanding Grad-
Eldon Prince, biology, Honorable Mention ($50) Khoa Nguyen, American Chemical Society Award uate Teaching; Aubrey Rhoden, Weichao Wang,
for the project, “The genetic basis of convergent for Outstanding Chemistry & Biochemistry Major; Outstanding Graduate Research; Julie  Sutton,
evolution in humans and dogs”. Hassan  Kanani, Outstanding Chemistry Clinic Outstanding Graduate Student.
Last  Feremenga, physics, Honorable Mention Tutor Award; Clifford  ‘CJ’  Bautista, Chemistry (Physics) Shree  Bhattarai, Timothy  Hoffman,
($50) for the project, “Electron Identification and Biochemistry Society Outstanding Member Outstanding Physics Major; Bryan Black, Cezanne
Studies for the Level 1 Trigger Upgrade”. Award; John  Gurak, Undergraduate Research Narcisse, R. Jack Marquis Award; Aaron  Baca,
Award; Amanda Dark, Undergraduate Teaching Hector Tejeda, Keith W. Tompkins Award; Last
The College of Science honored outstanding stu- Award; Prajay Patel, John Gurak, Daniel & Linda Feremenga, Sarah Hernandez, John D. McNutt
dents with departmental scholarships for the Armstrong Scholarship; Jonathan Thacker, Has- Award; Harsha  Perera, Christy  Boone, Kinjal
2012-13 academic year. Recipients included: san Kanani, Sharon & Donald L. Jernigan Chem- Gandha, Scharff Award; Lee Baker, Jordan Ben-
(Biology) Darrelle Colinot, Anh Le, Jose Maldon- istry Scholarship; Khoa Nguyen, Dennis S. son, Bonnie Cecil and Jo Thompson Award; Timo-
ado, Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award; Marynick Scholarship; Junhee  Park, Mayokun thy Blake, Brian Bui, James L Horwitz Award.
Nisita  Obulareddy, Outstanding Graduate Re- Olanipekun, Ash Grove Cement Excellence Schol- (Psychology) Priya Iyer, Verne Cox Outstanding
search Award; Samantha  Trinh, Allied Health arship; Lauren  Apgar, Tony  ‘Danny’  Nguyen, Graduate Research Award; Ailing Li, Anna Park,
Award; Heath Blackmon, T. E. Kennerly Award for John T. Murchison Scholarship; Nicole  Khatibi, Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award.

46 Maverick Science 2013-14

CHANGE A LIFE

YOUR ANNUAL GIFTS SHAPE THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE OF SCIENCE STUDENTS

Your support makes an immediate and lasting impact

Your annual gifts prepare our dedicated and talented students to become tomorrow’s leaders and make a
lasting impact on society.

Decreases in state assistance to public universities make gifts from alumni and other supporters even more
important. They help fund critical areas like student scholarships and efforts to recruit and retain world-class
faculty, propelling the College of Science ahead as we strive to train and equip the next generation of leaders
in science and conduct groundbreaking research which will benefit society.

UT Arlington works to keep tuition affordable so that students can fulfill their dreams of earning a college
degree. As a result, tuition revenue covers less than 50 percent of the University’s operating budget. Beyond
basic expenses, funding is necessary for innovative research programs, student enrichment, financial aid for
talented scholars, and countless other initiatives.

Your gift doesn’t have to be large to make a difference. Any amount — $10, $25, $50, or more on a regular
basis — adds up to significant dollars. Regardless of the size of your gift, your decision to give is priceless.
Also, your gift has an immediate impact. By contributing each year, you provide a consistent funding stream
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For more information about giving to the College of Science, please contact Shelly Frank, College of Science
director of development, at [email protected] or 817-272-1497.

College of Science Non-Profit Org.
Box 19047 U.S. Postage
Arlington, TX 76019-0047
http://www.uta.edu/cos PAID

Look out world, here we come Arlington, TX
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Commencement is a special time in students’ lives, marking the successful make a difference. As a College of Science graduate, you will be well-equipped
culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. When your name is read and with the knowledge and the training to take your place among the leaders of the
you cross the stage, listen to the cheers of family and friends, and grasp that next generation of scientists and make a lasting impact on the world. Here, new
diploma, the feelings of pride and accomplishment will be priceless. Whatever College of Science graduates are ready to celebrate during the Spring 2013 Com-
lies ahead aer graduation, never forget that you’re a Maverick, and Mavericks mencement ceremony at College Park Center. Photo by Kevin Gaddis Jr.