Dr. Sanjaya, West Virginia State University

e e h h t t the west virginia journal of science and research Spring 2017

Dr. Sanjaya West Virginia State University 2 Photos by Todd Griffth, West Virginia State Univiersity the neuron W D P e r o s . t

w S

V a i h m T S “ a w r D o I “ v t S t t c o L w F u A s o a r n e e h h I W u o o a a

n h o a f t u s e

l e r l a h g

w l c e

s h a e o . e r l s n n h u y e u D

n o

t u e s o h h S e f n t t m - e

i t t j a

d n i a n c t t

e e o r , a a n a s

o h n t s

h f e r h n o a c i i S d d o

n t f u g t r W p i i t w t a p e e j t e f t - , a n q i a a

r o r h j m i e

h w

o d v e a n

a p

n t t a g u

a V m C a t a

a , e s n t o s n

i r g r y

s h o o j t m a . o e

t S a t a

t a

e e m d

a s t H i r

e r n t k s

n U i m n p M c y I h o . c

k y e e d

h S

( e f e d

a i o

a e s a

T a w $

r r p n ( n . P a l a i W e

t , n

o “ N

a f c l h t

t t 3 w r t l r d l a t l S h R

W a

a a h l

e e b m t o i o i e h i S 5 b a e t a a s c

e s h l e k

n c d i t e

n d s o F 0 i i e n

n g l ? e a

r e e

s e t e r d t

W ’

c t )

, u u s

t f t h C g

j a

m s 0 c a g P

i g o r V

a s a

t w e v r c i

e s t n

h e e e R 0 e o r

t s t n y

r r i h e e i e o t o c h r s s s o

h o

I 0 n r

a W S a

S g d d a e r o e t h

u d u a r ) w e i i

o e n t

U l P W r q n

l V n a n e t e o W p a t

g n i d c e s m r n R

n r u o

p n i o t s t p

W e h s e i r i . c c r t

a e g e

n t

e a

s t F g m e t a e t s l h e h

d i

i e s a

i n e . h h V h n

n o t

t n t r U s i s i t a

e B t n n

d v y h c s w s a i t s o

t i V r

o t c C n v r V u t .

e h s

v e i ,

i t

g e i a a

H o i u n e w e

s c c

i h V i r d t n l

f a g v r x

s i l g

a l u n l s g r e e s S i i n

i g S

o t i e n e e a i o b n n r a

p t t i l s i v

t t a i g i n c p t r S a e h d m

m a e a d a e i n r b a e c s i n d t l i i a d p v

e t

r s s i l n b i a r o s p t e h a p t j e

t y e a n r a

s i

h e

t a h

i s y l m f

c a n h h a i l

–

r i h t a p e j u t y a U e R e t g e

e a i t e v d o i

, g p , o n

a a n

p o , r m

e p

y n

d t n

e b j y t

s a t a p o

’ r r , h o t y s n g e a

U o e s h

p i a u t i

v u c

w v l w b n e l t

i p s o a g e . b a a p s t o e o u h i e e s S

s t

e n o p l h r r b r e s

r e l w f

n t r e a i .

n h i

a k

A o

r o v t t t s i

a l e g D

d t n

a c l

e h i

s n i t i i i a e h g u p s i n n t r n m t h t

h o l

l e t

a h e t

t b

h i

y h g i e p

t T g $ n t w s h e m p s b C t . a

n e o h

a a

(

g l t

t e a a a i n t h e t i h i a W c o i p e o m l d t t 0 t h

r n c a n d e i i t

h h i t y e r o o t t n w g 0 v s

e c V d t a w e g o e m

s a

n a

l i , u t a i n l h c l s t

c 0 S i

c c o r r o e t a o r m t i

i n h

i e e i g e i n

U i 0 h e h o h a

w t b a

c n p l b a d n n n

e o a s 0

n i a n n

n h a ) W

d c a h

l u e t ’

s t s n i g

s n t d t o b i

a q g r h t

p s i r a e

o e i a a o y e u m u c l l

o e s u

r a s t r o l r r o h s

n f

s u a a e m t s c g h

b u o t P t e

t g g

n a E r l e d n

n r h t t

a e i t c r

w g i V y s r o y o e o s n h e

a t

e r

a e b b

r i n

i n n n k t e a n t a

r f r s e t

l n i e i e o i h r m e l g , g e t h r t l t .

s i d o

o r r t

l S

i g

o r s . s w i h f l e n

e i r l e

i T o n

m c

a o c e y n

y o e n a s g

t a i g n o i h e s n u i

n a

r s

m e

n t e s a e d (

s c t

m e

i m i h r t g j $

a w u i

a o d u s

n p a r y c h r d n w o

2 h

e i t g e n h y p

c h

e e r

l e t

a e v e p e 5 a a e

h a h r a a y

r e

p j

y e v

t g c

c n r 0 t o N a s n . t

b o c a i

o o o

i e e

o o h

e g r t , f t s b t o

H n a

l 0

e l e

e v n r s f o e u a

n r r h a o

t a u e t g 0

a i , e e e f r

x r w i l o

, ” s t u f u t l e

e o s d f 0 c t e

n e v

w e i o

o s u m m

i c o r t l n h h ) n

i o

n a

r i a p r

y v

n t e f b s g d a

i c t a a p i y o g o i e c g c e e r

h d

g n o n j r e l i c t

o o p h r d

e e

n i o

o b a

W u e S c a m d r n o S v u r

c n i

w e r

n e c s n s n d

g a e n i t e l W s r D t p - n i

d u i

g r

t a . e e

i r v

s d v

m t a l o r o c e u S e

t e t g l . n j n i o t e e a o n

r r a a

u p a u s n o s e V u o c e e

i l

y b i d d i t s n t n a g t i n

s e s l i c - a

t a o h a r a l V

o r o e j t d

h i a

h e o s g a t . a t e i

f i d

i n e o h b s m t

s m

t y t j r i n s i o

n e h . i

g a n

a l a f , ” y t t e f ” e r e s r i l e v i i

i a o

n n s t d e n a e r a . m g i l

a d i d . . t h e

n e u

He has the support in place to make it happen. In addition to NSF funding r and other federally funded grants, the WVSU administration recruited him o n specifically to originate and direct the university’s Energy and Environmental Science Institute. Support for the creation of the institute and Sanjaya’s position came from corporate partners such as AEP and the West Virginia Higher 3 Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science and Research in the Right now I’m building form of a Research Trust Fund grant. “ a team and creating “When I left Michigan State, my friends asked me why I would choose to go to such a small school in West Virginia, but I love it here,” Sanjaya said. “Everyone is very friendly and extremely supportive. Right now I’m building a team and collaborations among creating collaborations among colleagues both at WVSU and in other states because I believe so much in what we are doing here.” colleagues both at Another avenue of Sanjaya’s research is driven by the Appalachian Freshwater WVSU and in other Initiative (AFI), part of West Virginia’s current five-year NSF EPSCoR grant. AFI consists of a statewide research team of biologists, ecologists, environmental engineers and scientists, chemists and geologists who are all focused on states because I believe understanding and detecting the ecological and biological effects of contaminants in water under varying climate change scenarios. As part so much in what we of the team, Sanjaya is working to create a biosensor that can rapidly sense chemical change in water, and he’s using green algae to do it. are doing here. He explained, “Chloroplasts are very sensitive to chemicals in water, so a ” Dr. Sanjaya photosynthetic plant like green algae can easily sense something like selenium, a common left-over chemical from the coal mining process, and sequester it out.” Sanjaya hopes the research will ultimately attract industry and academic partners to the region, enhancing economic development and workforce opportunities. In addition to his ambitious research, Sanjaya is a leader in the classroom at WVSU who enjoys interacting with and motivating his students. He said, “I often bring my students to the lab to do the real work they’re learning about in the classroom. It’s a different opportunity for learning because my research is very hands on.” Ever the visionary, Sanjaya not only hopes his research will motivate West Virginians to stay in the state, but he looks forward to the day that young people will flock to West Virginia to work in science and research.

He said, “If my research is even a small piece of the Dr. Sanjaya demonstrates a gene transfer technique using a gene gun to graduate puzzle that helps West Virginia, then I am happy.” student Tawna Heath. Their research goal is to generate a more nutrient-rich crop.

about West Virginia science and research This material is based upon work supported The Neuron is produced by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission's Division of Science by the National Science Foundation under and Research. The Division coordinates federal and state scientific research grants, including Award No. OIA-1458952. WVEPSCoR, to academic institutions in West Virginia and conducts outreach activities to broaden Any opinions, findings and conclusions the public's understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). or recommendations expressed in this Visit www.wvresearch.org for more information. material are those of the author(s) and Editor, Amanda Ramey ([email protected]). do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. 4 the neuron b s w r T j U w e p w “ u s i S e e g T o s f a F N W b r a “ a A s a L t c t m r T r a r t “ f h d o T n u o r e e e e e h h h O I T t c y i o e i t t s p n h h h h i n s n v y p s a e e r u n c o t t m r m i i i t n

s s a l d r o h s s h a e e o p e e r t t l i W u d e b d n s e e e e a c p e e a s e e t i

m l l e o t o n S h h c i l a t p d u

- o , v

i i s i e o r i t a p

r r V u

r n o e t o e c

g r h o s z m a g

a N n i p g t u w e s c ,

d a i

e g g o a i

c o o u o c

r o a c

m n o

a l l

r f t d r r c r o f t t a n F i r s o o r h n r s a e d d e r d S i r y y g

h w a a l l

a h U u i c t v

o h t n e a r c

o a f t i e t n e a o f z p s t d t f

r t d d

F i s i

n s a

h t i c t e e

i h i r p e c e s e a n l t c

o i n p a h j V t

t r l t v d m c i e

e t t l o ’ r

y f h l e o c

o e g n e s , f s h o i

h h

e n y C n a r c t a

h o n r g e

e e h r s o i t N o d f

e e e u t

n c o c e i

a r

n a p o

e n u o e

a F r y v d L n d o g i -

e r g

a s

t n g s r x

a h l t t l c g g a a s r t

c h n y s

a w a s c i

h s t d T o l

i t

n e A t n a t e c e o c g o m r r

p i e o l m c e t w s e e t

s e t y e a t c e a

s t w

r h n y

o r o c

W h d e s i n i d n e i

h r n t f o

h a n r s c t

t o u a e

c a s t w s a L a

i e i i i

w s a h i n a f l o

f m

h e t m s e

c h e o r a l i n e

e s

n R

i r t l w e n a t

i l n l e n b f l n t s d

c d e g , e

e m a l e t m o

c e d e o r

m o

t i m h

n r s a e h n

- p s

d a u U c a d o y e o m s a i s p s n e y i c t e u g t h l s x d y s m

r n t t m l o o l E e h s d

e o e

a r e c e

t n t n

o t

o l v n

s i e i t t

t i a a E s

y l c i m a e s

f V a i o i g t c n i e S

m y a , m r

s a

s e p e z l t o

t o n e p v d

t o

i a b a e m o i e

i c t i s a t m E

a c c i v d e

l r

a s r n e e x o z t l b a i x i o a i r h n o r r e o r h o d u m

x e o e f i c l e o e n e i t n p t e

m i g e u

l c n e p s i e

e t e d f n y t

a s p e a t r .

e m y h t e l i r u t d l r n n s R p a r u i e t i . p

a v s

i d l h

w p e

m o e i s n h g m

. n c n d n t

r m s e e

s t

n a o H

W c t - n s

i t o e n r

l a h e

i n o e e E h i u s h c

A i e n i o

x t g i d

r a a u

i e

i s t e t o p d a n o R

i c a w n f s e o e

b a

e e r

n t o

V a t t p i y z e g a t f t s p s s r

a r n m

y g

a n

i r w l g

e a h e u

e ,

d n i

e c e a t l e

l y

a c i U

o r s e h

p e F o a r p w ( i s l m o t s g t f o h t

t s q d

e e i n t r e r

d a , t o s o r l w e i a W i y c t o h r t e s n i

i e e ” ’ r n e

e e s

f u o g i s

s t

o n e u e

e k

l n t d o o n m

v f

t n a a s

s r f u e L a d s

t e

a e h

t c d r

o s e d n y e V g f c o l n C m t

a i c r e g e i e k c f i c d h i e i c m l D o c n p m r t u n c o r o o , e s l a

p m h d

s e h

n U a r c a v e r e e r c t b I

l e h a e a a

e w

s r d m m s v c n

. s

e n n g e h r n n l e

e l o h

d n e s b s s m c s l s ) T r o e l i

t e

a r t e

a e i a f i v s e n r n , s h o

s r g l e i

t o o

r e x

o o , z t

e h e e o

i t x r e n i

o n a d t a h g t i o t a t s e

e o u , t u e s o s e g

i r p e e h

s l

i ”

i l

t n h

i S e f r c

o d w . g l p a o l o a a c e i

a o n s r d t i r c h r

e d o a

c t s L o a t e o g h t u m

t e t s e

o g t l s f s

i u e

x r g n n h a h h n m t f i h i

t a e A

a t i h d t m

u n p k

t t f t o c m l u p c d

y e o a e w

i d e i . c a a

t s

a n u o f e

h e V h . e h i s e n r s o o m v (

h t f L e r

l i

“ d t l l n

a e o a t t a

n N c i m t . e c

l c e l a i o a a

E a s a e n i o t T f i n

” v t

a n e a t s r I n h r t e v d o l l t m t u , a e

n s

a r e t S v r h

s h

n r e i o e r a t h o m s h t e o L

l i g n d

e f

t e t s g n l m , y e C e a T o e r n r c F a a a e o r

n r i e t n ”

a i i m e r e t r i o p e t a d

s i A

o c m o

r t

a v

i ) l o r r

i o g c g

. g s r L t

s h p e t l

c y l

, a d ,

s s ” s

p i h

s n i e

o i o r n o m f R

o i

e a d l v i t i p w u “ o a t r n a k m

u o r t t a o c e l . y m n m c h a l o e s l

h g

o w . e t , m a e

“ i o e n l a

i i r

s e b

m l b s s o r a t h o

M C

g l

d D a r a a

a t

t p g W e l y v , a p v

l n

a r t l e a i

C a e - - e s t

j u i n h s e m i w n i z v d

e e a e

e i

c s u o n o e e e a i c

n t c

r o a s r W t n

A r a s z s V t i e

i n l c d n n e e o e m d n

e c h

l c o l i e n d i s r i e o d b i a

t a o t t

o t d n l n

R h n U w n a c c s t d e

m t

s c o V t e l m

o o

i f

s i t w

t u i e o s t

f i . p o e t i b

h h t E

d s o o e

h e n

a e d ’ n e . i u U S p n

o e

A i s i

r o l E i a f h a d E s n m a t a g o i f s n

. l p d n n c a d e l ,

T c

i i o

a “ e

h a d A y n t a n t

n G R r t x p s o

i s s h i r o r l e d t a f o E . W

t h n t h r u e o h e m e t

” s k o d t .

i g i d

, s h e t

$ a a s n l d l s

u M m a c

m l T u e

c f d e T n c u y p e o

r c d t o r i e

a i s v y l l o s t 5 e o e b o

r a t t h n l

m a i

d h s

z i s t y s m o t g r

e u

a s i t n p e i h i r i 0 r d f n R n p o

w l u o z e o t t z i o e

c h r e e t a

i v n i

C s . d i e o i r r a 0 s W e p

i e e i e v e e ” a

l n e

l e g o n

n d e n m

o o c i e c c s a g e i c g s A t e i , c p d l

e l s l m s r z s r d 0 s r n a a u

o a l l t i d e n l d c u

t e V

o i k

i e e

o c a

t , e r R o

p p

s c m f

a u n 0 l l n t a e

e v c m t d t s o

g s t

s U o l a c

a , o a m , e s h u E a r

f h r

n r e s y h 0 , n c s s e g i f d , t

e o

l e r t o n o r e o s g

l t f E , e r s p w e s h n

e e h d

l s u c f e c

i m s h i l i o r s

m o v c c e d f n

s o i R r c x i g

t y n e o

u e g h e e s

d s n s a t p r h s a u e e h s e p u u . p i t

i a d

n o

s t

u y t i

e r e c t b a t

a f t m p v r c i r

o f s r

a p n a d g u r t a m e e o o h t c e m a

u a

o u

d e n t w v l s a h o o r a i h o n i f l t p e i a h e h

s s n

r t n i a s u c l e e

b n c l g e e c r i r d a

g e e s e

i t e f a d o t e l n t o o t

i t n t s e e

c s n l y

v l d y a n t y a h l a n i a n h u h a r -

a E h s r d

i l t n c r

h , t

s e e

o t d n

r e b i i t e

t s t r n g e t c h h e a n n s u y c h e a e e n o c . s f n d

d l l i s

e e l l e

e -

g e g l l n r

h e

t r e a g

i r r s s

. s n s

g a a g r

i n g n i y n g , “ F e e x r a I U I W R c T F c n p n n e a o r s l u h e n n s t o s n V e

s d a i r s i t t

t o l s n a s s o r U t i h e

i d L t u e z

t e e i o d v m r - a e u ’

a o e n L e l s a a n f i r y m

- t

t s t s t c E s t C h a i e

t e o i e i a h o n d e o - . e

l e a h n ”

r f e i m i n n t a s g f r

e N r o c n a

n r n t g S g i g e h F n r i s y e i n d - n t f g r

d s w

i e t G n e f s r

i c o b n e w h e a g d n r

y s t r o l o e

i l l o s o t

e g l h s a i . e r c s

h a

n w d i l

l the neuron 5 n u a i H

n g h n i o j J n a

H t p s o

m n

h a o n

d i i

t e t a d C o k c

e s d t e

t o e f a

n r t s n r t e

i u r e

e e f r t n d e o

p p

s e e

s F t r i t

o h l i

d a e e

f e n r a

e h g p

i t b e e s l

m c

l i j c c o e u e

i a ” s e f n e . m o b r

n c t h o g p

r v t e s a t a h r w m a i

, r n t a p u e m l v C e e m s c . h

t e i l

e i d o u h

t e

s l

s a S r d t i h

h i d g t o

n t o n y n c l c u e n s c e o

d A

a i

u o - C t a o r

y a r

e a

l s

i y t s

o b t e , .

e h l s z i r n

a W ’ r s m n s r ” e n S o i t y s 2 e

. l a r l “

h e y h o e

E l o

m e u e r o i . l o t n

y t C 1 t i e r s i b

t d t g

f b e v o

- e o a l d t O c r t h r n

v r e a i a

o i d o U c 9 d o l a r h . c r a i n a l t e

a D a

n c s

n v n h e o e s p e

r S s c a a o h N E e a G o g f w

u a c s o

e r g o

n m l g - a , y t e e s e n r f e s m l o

p s n

i d

t p b e A s h e o c u k h s h a e r s

a h d y

a r t n h i o n t c , h e n t a m I m a o r f A y r l

e e r r h

a l s t

s i . y t g r y f e u t e

a r s i t e e e g n i o t r d o r e m a p n P h

i h r

o c s r i

t d v r v

o h g m n

t r i B n i - C

t o f a i

n r e s

e e u l e o i

i a

p a i i r e n ” a a y p R s l

e t r g r , g c

v s

e v l l h

d a s M o o h s s o i i

t e s n h e y a i e n f , g d e t y t t d

t r h

l t t t

o e t n e c l A S

e h e o c u n g m i M n e

w t

a n C n y n -

t c r s a i

l e a h

n a F i

e n n t n o n

t e r o p c .

g 5 o g a i p d e

h i i r e s n t

r s d e a u t e o d C i p i u 2 s I

n n e c c l g d

. t g

E t e d i r i n i G u s . s i n

t s n i r - s

n o o d m t t t 1 ’ e d A s

m a n e i a o t y a

t u a x r r u s e o i e . A t m t

$ a

s a t

e , U f

t n

a g u o l

, i k P H M , e p a o h i s u c e i t S 7 n p r l

a r

l g c

d i e t p o c , - n R l t p

s p r a l

i s b N e d r ’ o l r a a a e n i

c 1 l t a o

a u u i p f W l A o e d b a

i y n u

e o v

l m s e h n e s h

h i t f l f i m s c p o H a c e T E n i

e a c

0 v n

r h e c o c r u k e c a m o I o s e s a

t c i i v w

s r e w e n e g

u c

i u b l

n t t l s S a s p o n y s v t r

e y o 2 s

d h e n e

e o d t a h i t l h l

i b n h e r e a n g r s t

n j r v

d o c h n a p w o n y e g i a p r e ) i c g

t i J d e e i o o e y t o n

e r i a

n U i p g e E f r . n p r

f h y l o r w

h p v

a t

l e f o l o n t

o V g r a o n A u i n r f i O s e i e o

l r a e l e

w t g m

- p H l r

f d

E t i

m l i e

o a r c

n o e u ) o d w a W D r n i d e s

a b

r u a t n i ( t o h r e , i d t

n e E

a r

h . o n U . t r t c a h c o - i e N t d a g g s a n R y e o

t - d

n t h c i d V e m

n w t

i i g m m

e A a w n o d l y g c a c e f s d s i

n n i s n h ’ e r l o

a P r i

e r i e n t W u n c s e e o t a

o h n

o d m E

s f

p h

f a e t R r

e d t

t h n

n e -

u m

s i e

, f u t - o 5 t n d n g t

0 n e c s e b e s A o u

r u o e i y A L d h c i r o r ( r r g

i e e

3 E o

y v a

t n n F P o s o

E H c

i h i t b r - a 2

r u i u

c i f g ) y

. c s e R ”

a p e a m 5 e

U p d o o o , m

o e o o d n o l g

p l U n e c l h

e c s a s A 2 F s e r l r y

r n d a o

e a 1 t t u r

a s e V h r g E n n t e a t r e a t d d g m o t d r e

t n

g e

p f r

c e m R R o y u a f n a

$ y e n n i W n

i e g n g x o r y o e o e l n s o r ( h

E t

s o c h C a r l i b b t

e r o

n -

a r n t e p

i a o i m i J f S n l

e r y p i r r o

a s

y e i l y t t ,

r e c p i t t U l s s p

d m d d . i r

e i e r i i

s l c s e k a d g e s s o a t s n e V o e o u s s ’ r a b c l n a t e n z t c n

w d n l a t e r

i i e

i n n e o u a a y r y a f l e p c e n u e n u u r W

l n e

e i r d a

p f u o n t t i s l o C e t e M

e a t i n w t g w i a a m v v , p e r

d i o i i q t a e t n

g s n

r c s a d n d i , m D s U t A i y

o d d r c

n n e e h m n

e n e s i t L s a u u u s e t

s i d t y n t p n s r k d a d o t K t

e s N o c U

t G

o a s

t s e

e a a a h l s

n s a g p l e c a n r r

l t c

c r e t

c t r t e w a t m o i , g

h a r

r a

o t a i e o a

e s g v d a l

e e c n y

o h n j e i s

c t n

l r l d

u v y w w n

t i t m i i e n t g i h e a

n s i a

h t S o i – h e e o f o t i o i

i r n d

a d l c r

r t e m n n o

f g w v D a r

s r i n p f

v i d e m k r e u g n g e P - e l a i d e t h

o i

U a u n r e r

r e p

e e o a y o h e e z n g m g a s l

c n V i t h i e c m r t o B a c e w l g r

r e i n g a

n u

f t l e s i s c e c , d e t m i

o r r f t e t a U e r r o a r n n i

w s y e s e w p r a s V e e a n t s r i c e g

h r e t

a t - t a u

d b l e c U h R t

s b o a s

p V i l

n n

v e o m i e e

n t a U

n g h s h r s a l l s a h p c E E e e i s d s u n W t a b s l h h a

u n V

e a

n i r a o r a f f r e n x h h h n t q y o y T T o o o A i m o s e B g T “ t l e w t W “ J c W T M a i R t c W o o “ l a s i T G h 6 the neuron b o S o C b o R M a T c “ d o D T t B t t f i e M D o T m n s f a “ a n t N i a n n o l o h h O S t e e p n p h h o m u x e l f p n p a o i e i e a r r r n o o t c s o a r e

e e c . . r i n d u s e e m p p a r n

i i e n o h e n

e d r t r i E N n d n u e d e m p t h

i e u a c

e i r a o n r

n l l e u -

t o a r r t r e b l o r n i i a

f g e i

e s n a a m t h e o m a g e r c c r i f m c p e e g s s m e s

i i a c

f a

e e e r i r s n h o n a a a s s a n v

e s a s n e y c e c d a e c u

e e c t

s a s i

e e d t

t B t t

e l l l a

i o s s g t

g d i n h r h s n o i m o a

d u t a u t i p a f i i t s i t a c t n a i t i l n n o o a a x e h

s m g e e x n c n n o

h r l g e s i d i a

s a r

i a

e i c o i i c n

g c c n n r e d i n r c

e c l d h d - m u o i d c o s o y l i d w i

y a e l e

i h s a

p e e

s i a a

h f

. D ,

e l

. a e f g

s o d e

o t

l “ T e l i n f , d e t “ f , w s

s w a l o b

a e

a t e e s e p O l p

. w t

h h f C n

f s n a r

r i t f n P s r t s

r n

i e t r

a e h r p a e c a h a

p i , t a p e s m e

, l t . . u t n

h i l s l d

h o a M K ” r n i h n r s t o d a s i a i i s

r i i t

s l

o r f e w d e e c o s n c o e i e u i i h

i i . w v d u

e s n i e ’ r

r n c a c s e a s . p g l s l s M h x

w s

o e f o s e a e i m i s , t l

h e a

e r

f t r n e e h d c i

l i t r

m a

w h n e v e p

l r a s d e a s n c c c t s a n o i

o f a r a a t i n s e a a d i e h

e o n t h

n o c a a a

s a s

n a h o m a t o f r t m

t O r

l r j d

t r

h e a

o d c r n u t i d a h y n m c o d e b j n e d i a n r o f u o e r t o c

h l f s a e

m t m

a t s r a d

d e l i e e t e u s f l

l a

g n i s a h n p

c r s t

e . t e e o i n h t d d U

a a , w e ” r p e o u

a c e s ,

r l o s

a l o

l h n r a a e u r l

e e n s t d e l e d

i n e q

n r e r t t y s t e t e f c u i w m d

e u s g s y r i

h h r a i a d

s . v h

r i

u n i a a a s a o t c s s a t s l

a e

e o t n a c e o

( a h

t a p i i i t e l e a a d t e

d a w n a

C l s e n o s s o a d g

n s i

o c t r t e y n t s t a - v a e o t s i e

r e

h e n h

n c

. e k a i n p h e t s ,

r a p

o s c

s a t

s t u s n t a n O r a a O p i e

d i l a r i e s

n g s e e o i h

n a n i p e n y l s s r t c d t s

l t e l i s e u

c p

r c 2 o t

a o . t r s i y v

v a n c r t e s g

s d r e i s i s e s W

n r t a h u o r i

s b

u o m o

e p e o s c r

a a u l . N i e h t d r

o u a

l c i e e m b T h i s l l l m h l a a e u a t n

i n v p s s ’ y a e i v

P o p i l n t s e r

e h a s l o n f t n n e a

l e d s o h g

v e e

p e e t s t d

b h t h a

t g

f e t o o s d v n

r h e U e a . p l s o

m a

t d i o r r

)

o i t i y a t

a i

t i h c x l b

r a l n

c m c e b e r a h r r . t

o m r e s d e

l t g M

S e g b o i s

a o w h n o

h e

t s t g r i

d l e o

l t e , a i o a . r e r

, t e i n f y a

e o d n e h

a c a n

c a p e i i u

f i v w

g a n l i

t t u p c c t r

m e m

r f o n e n t u a

b d e t h a n

s f g a r s e k a n s s l h l m h h e n o h r s g e c d e e m i t

l e u , o a h

, e n e a

v t a o

e e e a i o r s r e c d m d s m i

o n j c

s u n a t n e c e n o c

i p i o d a r n . u f

t e b i t

h n o

p o l m y a t

r t v a t t s o e t r , s i u r x l e

t n r

s n o o

g o . e ’ h o s l p y u s e

a K s f r n i i i p l d

e a o n d e a e v e a

e a t d

n w e

r r d n o b a u a d C t t a i

c c d l v e r n t c p

e a r - y h

o r y r s

d i l p

r o

h e t i e y o t

e l n i s e

g t

n p

’ i t

r h

u h c t o s n m , d i f s i n n p u e

t i

U r r i o r

n h c l t f n g s

l a i c e s a d e g

a s a o r r e i t f s r o g t l a u

e e i c t l e c

e l

n e

e e

n e o e s

r a t r v e s i s a i b t i a r a g t

r e n s y

o s

r . d a s t e

e n m y o a u e s p m c h e t t

u t s i

h a

c t n f

p a m

n e m t b h r b e

f i p r a

r o m t o m f r o t e o e l m

m o s

h t s l a u i e t s n e d a

t d r l , o p i . t n s i

r h i l

e s a p h i r e e

g a i r d h b s h s a a

a l

u D n t t r s

a t e y f t

l e e a e y p n e i i o o f o u p t o u o

n i

s g n n c

o u c c r o

r n t - n h a l M a y e m r d t p s r r s o

e m

t y

o g l f e s r

r m

d m i

g e i e i

o a t

s t o

s v u n e

s o n , y a n

a c l a s

r h r r s

n a i p

- i

e s t e

n e j e , r n o e f e g e a n n e n c

d d i e e l e t

o i s m f i

l x f c d r m f a t e a s g b d f n

a d s a h c

i n r c f m s i e f s e o b t e s n t r i u i i i

a a e e y

a t

u e t a a c t g r c i l d e o n a r d h s i e t n

i l l

y i c e e a o r t l n n i t c i c

l t s a e i r

n e l d e o i i t i

o b f f g s t

d s

u n m a t u f c b s l r i o r i U

a h n p

e h e o a

v o i

a c o e p e i j m a e s o t r o c t c n u

o e e s n e r t c x

m h r e f a d e

a t

e i

y o d i d s r i l i n i

d l

o a p i b d , v y a d d i n . y e

c ”

t r v i s r u

, n e t s s l e . c

e s r n ” d e e e e o e i s e r

, a a s s

r s i d s l , l n , i s t g y “ t n o O a c

N n t a s N u e a r h n a n o e f r d n E f i o

n r p a e i m b i i c n

w t B a i c .

e l

P D o e . s r K t u . s P

. t g

e i . M u t K

h v i t h . a c

p M s n e h l n o a e s e e l n a y i d d n s s t e .

”

u r

WVU Tech student lands o n more than $10,000 in assistance for 7 ‘Future Fungi’ WVU Tech student Nima ShahabShahmir has big plans for a small business. In fact, the computer science major hopes he will change the way consumers think about eco-friendly products. His project is called Future Fungi, and it aims to disrupt the plastic and Styrofoam industry by turning mycelium – the basic structure and WVU Tech student Nima ShahabShahmir (center) celebrates his win with roots of a common mushroom – into Joseph Carlucci (l) from WV Hive and Bill Woodrum (r) from RCBI. Nima was the first eco-friendly consumer items likes plates, student to work with WV Hive and the LaunchLab on WVU Tech’s Beckley campus. cups and blocks. The process works by forming the mycelium into various products that are baked, glazed and sold in bulk to environmentally-conscious purchasers. The fungi-based product is waterproof, lightweight and boasts an indefinite shelf life. It’s also a biodegradable alternative to long-lasting plastics, which ShahabShahmir says can sit for 400 years before being degraded. By comparison, a Future Fungi cup will return to nature in as little as two weeks. Mycelium is also rich in nutrients, which gives a Future Fungi product a usable life well after it is discarded. “It will have great positive impacts for the state of West Virginia,” said ShahabShahmir. “ We are planning on using the agricultural waste materials from the farms within the state and also the process of natural decomposition of these materials can bring lots of nutrients to the soil, which will ultimately help out the agricultural businesses.” In recent weeks, he has secured the support of multiple organizations that will help him bring Future Fungi to fruition. ShahabShahmir won the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s Common Grounds competition sponsored by TechConnect. The $500 competition award allowed him to conduct additional research and experimentation. After his research showed the vast potential for the product, he participated in the Robert C. Byrd Institute’s Vanguard Agricultural Competition, where he received an award of $10,000 and a year of business assistance. That assistance will help him put together everything from patent applications to Future Fungi logos. ShahabShahmir said that it’s still too early to know the exact timeline of Future Fungi’s rollout because he’s still experimenting with the mycelium-based products, but that he hopes to share more news in the coming months. “There are lots of applications for utilizing these eco-friendly products and by the assistance of the Robert C. Byrd Institute I will be able to bring these innovative ideas into reality,” he said. n o r u e n Shepherd student e h t communicates tree research 8 Shepherd University student Sierra Hoffman recently had the opportunity to present the results of her research at the annual meeting of the U.S. Regional Association of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (US-IALE). Hoffman, a senior biology major, is working with Dr. Mark Lesser, assistant professor of biology, and Amaris Jalil, a sophomore biology major, on a study Sierra Hoffman and Amaris Jalil collect core samples from to determine how climate change affects trees in the Shenandoah trees in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. National Park in Virginia. “I feel it’s a great honor and it’s prestigious because I know a lot of people don’t have this opportunity to present their findings to such a large conference,” Hoffman said. Lesser’s research looks at why plants, particularly trees, grow where they do. “One of the things that I’m just generally interested in is how trees respond to fine-scale differences in climate and topography,” Lesser said. “I am interested in how those trees are going to grow in that location in the future based on climate change, or how they’re going to have to move on the landscape in the future to stay within their climatic niche space.” Lesser, Hoffman and Jalil collected core samples from 120 red oak trees at 24 different locations that spanned the full elevational range of the park. Hoffman and Jalil sanded and cataloged the samples, and measured the tree rings back to 1965. Hoffman received an undergraduate research fellowship from the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, which allowed her to work with Lesser last summer and attend the US-IALE meeting. Jalil received a Shepherd Opportunities to Attract Research Students (SOARS) grant, which is funded by the West Virginia Research Challenge Fund, to help with the research.

WVU Tech students and faculty cele National Engineers Week with STE National Engineers Week was in February, and dozens of WVU Tech students celebra students throughout the state. On Saturday, February 25, more than 40 students and faculty attended Discover Eng Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia. The annual event draws in young set an attendance record of more than 1,100 this year. Volunteers from the Association for Women Engineers, Scientists, Or Mathematician showed kids how to create bracelets and keychains with their names spelled out in code. The group also used marshmallow Peeps to demonstrate what happens in the vacuum of space without a spacesuit. The biology program brought their famous hissing cockroaches plus an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine to show how the electrical impulses of the heart are monitored. The WVU Tech Association for Computing Machinery brought along arcade games and a robot that visitors could pilot with a balance board. Chemical engineering students worked on chromatography while students from electrical engineering shocked visitors with their electromagnetism and static demonstrations. The student chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers displayed their Baja racing vehicle and the Aero Design team students helped attendees create paper airplanes. An hour east in Beckley, seven WVU Tech faculty members served as guest judges for a science fair hosted at Woodrow Wilson High School. They also connected with local teachers about potential for in-class demonstrations during the school year. Earlier in the week, WVU Tech representatives also visited Holz Elementary School in Charleston for a day of coding. Stephany Coffman-Wolph, assistant professor of computer science and information systems at WVU Tech, said the events are all part of the university’s efforts to spread learning beyond campus. "I think it's very important that we reach out to the community to expose them to the STEM fields. I think it's great to let kids know that these fields are out there and that they can do it – and that this is the kind of fun stuff we get to do every day at our jobs,” she said. Photos: WVU Tech students inspire children in engineering concepts. t

Marshall’s Brain Expo gives children glimpse into the o nervous system n

More than 700 elementary school children from West Virginia 9 and Kentucky visited Marshall University’s Memorial Student Center on March 31 to learn about the brain and nervous system through activities and games. It is supported by the National Science Foundation, Marshall’s College of Science and the Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Nadja Spitzer, assistant professor of biology and an organizer for the event, said this is the ninth annual Brain Expo to be held at Marshall. “The event features 27 interactive stations where children explore various parts of their nervous system. They also learn how the brain controls their body and why healthy lifestyle choices lead to better brain health. Activities at the stations include learning to juggle, playing a memory game, coloring their own ‘brain hat,’ testing their reflexes and building brain cell-shaped key chains,” Spitzer said. Approximately 200 Marshall students and faculty from the College of Science, ebrate the Department of Psychology and the schools of medicine and pharmacy M outreach managed the activities. St. Mary’s ated by engaging K-12 Medical Center presented a station about brain and spinal cord safety, Marshall Health Neuroscience discussed gineering Day at the Clay nervous system injuries and disease students and families and and the West Virginia Alzheimer’s

Photos: Children learn more about how their Association organized a trivia game. ns Empowerment (AWESOME) brains work and how neuroscience is part of binary and hexadecimal everyday life. Spitzer said the event was part of Brain Awareness Week, an annual global effort founded in 1996 by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. The Brain Expo at Marshall was founded by Spitzer and Dr. Brian Antonsen,

both of whom are neuroscientists and faculty in Marshall’s

Department of Biological Sciences. “Events like the Brain Expo are an excellent way of increasing public awareness of brain research at Marshall and in gaining

the interest of students who may choose a career path in science, technology, engineering or mathematics,” Spitzer said. “Through the many fun hands-on activities, attendees get to better understand the brain. Our goal for the Brain Expo is to interest children in science and research at a young age through games and activities that demonstrate the relevance of neuroscience in everyday life.” For more information about the Brain Expo and Marshall’s Brain Awareness Program, visit www.marshall.edu/baw.

1 0 the neuron “ T T e e h h a n s a n s u u e n e n v v r

i d i d r r r r g g o o o o

i i e e c c l n l n e a e d a d n M T S p a l “ t s a a D s t “ t h H l D c a t “ c t t a m m t a a o o h r r r B I l T a a l r a

n n n n n h u

e a r u t u u a a u r e b b i

i i h e o o o o r

. t d

d s d

c r e

l o e d d i i t n n e r e o e

F r e i g n n

e t a h w t a

, c m

u b c .

c - e

n a e n e t e M h

e p t c a o D i e i e i

f k f

t a n i w “ h d r n n r r e a r o i v r n

o p

r r r e e

o W

n i a o r a

o a o n n e e s g

s e n p

s s i y d i m . g - s s t d o s s c

r l n r g f

u l

s n

e u

a e d o

a s o

a a B i t t i r t i r i i

o a M

, i h p f i r s c t

h r e t H r

s t s d n e b r d g s h e R a m o o m

i i s

t n u a e l u r s t c n t a

o d

u o o n e i o e O r f u e e i o b p l , , a n e e i r t l

s e z

e t i s p n u e s g l s w a H t g s c N

m o n s a e t e i

e h e s i h i U c t n r u l g t m t n u h

a i m d t o n d a t i f t t a s C y n c i

n n a h l l i c s r f l t n

n h a

e l r e s l t

a I

a d a H e

f a s

u i l a o t l l a l . d . e . n

g p i e e

m o n n i o l

o t u u r S

t S v t

d a u t a n u

f - d h

n i e t r i a a r M c t w T t T f e t h

u r , c t

a s o e u i n

l p

o t f e n a i t h y c r c a t

t c e t r s a l

n t

u o f

s i E n e v l h e r t s

h a

f h l d a

a o e o a e r m m p p t i i i a , g o

l t e N

s i

h r d t e l t t m h n s D

d t t r

o n i a r

i i f r f p i i

r n t o s s e y i

d T r o e o o o f e l e o a c e n

r o e t e o i

i f i i r s

s r O o n

e i e t t c e m r v s 1 J g r d n 5 o n p s

i n s u d i . , u

t o

t n c e s

d m p

u D 9 m R

d r

q c r a

o o y i o a e m a y e r a o r a t a c

8 c g p a ™ e i

e e r

r e u s e e

h t f t t m

. y i s t t t 2 i d

a i i f p i a u a n h n

c a a D h c m x e n o i ,

e x

t s

s l

. t a i e

n i l p u

C r o o e

s l r e

h a i l e r

n a i

t e c g c p s

p r y n O i e

t r w r

g r r . l h h e m

o n

a D .

s n

e o y e

y t E s v t v n r i n h

o , e l s

, f s

m k

n e e o g d r n ” r s r u t s f a t

l e e i

i . s

a t f e r i

o i

s a i

i s i z a o D n

r w

u o n J o l w l C h t m e o n p t i a u t a a l

i r a

f o a

r s m r n d m e s e o h e S s m g w a b M o m t r o r a a

u s t e . g e i n n g g b i

g t t r f

a ,

r s s e

a i

l a e d y

V e n w

H t i n k t

l s i h e e l a t h r a c r v d p o n p k r e t a

h h s u t i e l l i h t f i o f e e

a e e e h r i e h s s g n r n a n

D o n e i

y r e d y r g S o r n o o a

e t r g

r o g

t t U r t o i i

r c I

s d o i

s h o e s n o s t

y e o . s w c . n s

i c a f

c f h n

i c D p s S n c e

o s

u u s

t i

o i s m s i o m p l

p e i a o a i o m a o i h m o

a p

l t b s a e a v e f t l m t u t o x a i c a i l h i

o e r

p b g a f o d v o p e

U t s t , p v t v t s

r g

l o p m r n l o i p s e

r . d

i r c a p o

u i

n e d o o e e a y o d s

a t m p m m i p d “ n o i r e m e u e u e i r u i i z r i

n e

a i f r T e t t v t D n a o c i m i d l n

e r o e f c n d o f y e t t h M e o r e s i

o y i e

o o e

d . h a a s .

n n

r i i

b i

s e ” e u r s t u t t u t

c w n h n r e r l l s

s s

o H h g c c s i

o t t

n t o

i e y e r g e r t t i d i n n h

y e e e h s e t

p e u d l e t r f u l

w t o s t o p ( t y i

i o n a l

h e e

t c c r

n c s m

c l i c b p a

, a f

i i a a m . r

a a t

i e S i

a r i t n o o e i r g “ i a t m

n t

l e p m c r p a p u r p h r c h h T

n r g i m , g p i o n e e M

g n t t o n l h

l a w h e

i p i d p s t l ’ o s f i p a i o f s r g t p o a s l n

i e l n u

a i i r c

h o G t c p t

i t r n t . d c a n I b e

D e o e o l s r u ” h r t ’ i a e o r l m a

I r s

g e

e . a ) n e l v o h a o

n t a c e e n ” t x h

, t

M i i

n a n

i o h i

n t i a p i p

n i n c d , s d a s s s v o s s t l n ” l t c a f a e E

l a i l

r a i i

l s i t

t M

n e s e c e m o l M s n T o i r N o i l o r

s r s u

, e c .

S d t t

t t h

g r g m s y i m o o C T a

u e

m a e r n

T u u u e w u u e r o u g

g g O z t l a d n g l t s h e

r r i c a

a f s t e h b i i i o i s g i

v i R r s

e c h d t a t u i u i a f c s a a n e i a e e e e e s n h e e i f ™ m a s t t t a e i r o

s t a i t m n l i s d e r s

l g

v t e t e e l t

o n e

s n r d s y

d i

e m i i i f

n t i i

u f

, a i

i a

l a ” s s

c l c n n l c l c a a l l e o e o s s l l

n n w w t t i i n n r r a a a a

f r f r a a i i o n o i n i o o n n r i r i n n s s

. . g g ” t

WVU’s Fragoso to study computer vision-related o

n image recognition Self-driving cars use images from on-board cameras to navigate through cities. But what 11 happens when the car’s computer can’t recognize the same image in two different pictures? Victor Fragoso, an assistant professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at West Virginia University, said a computer’s inability to identify the same object in two different pictures is a fundamental problem in the field of computer vision. Victor Fragoso “Humans have the ability to recognize the same object in different images, which allows them to understand and navigate through the three-dimensional structure of the world. This same task, however, does not come so easily to computers,” Fragoso said. “Computers need to understand a scene through an image, which is represented as a squared grid of numbers.” Fragoso’s research, which is being funded by a two-year grant from the National Science Foundation, will measure the confidence the computer has when it determines that two objects with different viewpoints are present in one same scene. “A self-driving car uses images from its cameras, among other data from various sensors, to localize where it is in a city. These cars recognize objects in the street and associate them with their respective 3D models,” Fragoso explained. “When this recognition process goes wrong, the car will estimate a wrong location and could even cause an accident.” Fragoso will investigate ways in which the computer can reason about the different objects it detects and its confidence in accurately recognizing those objects. The proposed confidence measures can alert about wrong identifications and can help the car trigger other mechanisms to avoid localization errors on-the-fly. “Many systems perform slowly when the computer produces wrong object identifications in a pair of images,” Fragoso said. “The applications have to identify the incorrect object identification somehow, remove them and then use the correct identifications to operate.” Fragoso will investigate different ways to speed up computations in several applications in image stitching, panorama creation, augmented reality and self-driving cars, among others. Additionally, the project will investigate ways to compress 3D models while still ensuring a good functionality in many vision-based, navigation autonomous systems. n o r u e n

e h t

Joyce Morris-Wiman WVSOM associate professor uses n euroscience research to determine treatments for p ain management

Dr. Joyce Morris-Wiman has a talent for research. She was involved in neuroscience research at the University of Florida for 23 years, but she missed teaching. Her desire to interact with students both in the classroom and in the laboratory was an important factor in coming to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) in the summer of 2012. The most significant focus of Morris-Wiman’s research since working at WVSOM has been the study of muscle repair and changes in the central nervous system as they correlate to pain management, specifically in the jaw muscle. “The jaw muscle doesn’t heal well and many people suffer from chronic jaw pain,” Morris-Wiman explained. “Of course, there is good pain. Good pain causes us to react and change patterns that are causing the pain to then support the healing process. When the muscle is healed or repaired, then the pain goes away.” Chronic pain, however, continues after the muscle is no longer damaged. While studying the central nervous system, Morris-Wiman and her students can monitor how the system reacts to pain points and damaged muscles. One indicator, as a result of the findings conducted by her students, is that females have a different pain pathway than males. Ultimately this different pathway translates to the theory that opioids are not as effective as a pain management option in females. Morris-Wiman said, “The more we know about pain pathways the better we can treat chronic pain.” The researchers have also determined that females have a higher tolerance to prolonged pain than males, but males most often tolerate acute pain at a higher level than females. This information can be helpful to medical students when they enter their practices so they may determine the best and most direct pain management protocol to follow, Morris-Wiman added. This research has been partially funded by a National Institutes of Health grant of $275,000. 3

the neuron 1

, f y f

d t

i ,

o r e e ,

s s l

k s e r t n e h s p c 7 r

u e n i v a a

t n i 1 e o a c

v a k e x

t e i i

d t l e 0 . e p o e e a h ” h f e c l n a

n 2 . v x o p

C t T t

e h a l d i e U

n a T r d

s o

w e r

y r l n s

n e F e

i t e n y a b o a h g e

r e o t

n a d r t t r k i A a l f

s t

D d . u d h n e o o a s

t u a l f i e s t s t N y t

i e

t t d c l

s i c

n h t l t s w g u e n e h t t n r e p t n r u a o I e u s w e o

i r d v c o

i a

h e o i F s i

t o . e

p a h

s t V n l t d t

l o

y e

i i s s n a E o b

t p a a n s n

a t y f m d t e p e o i o s a z

l a V a

n a

d i f n b ) o c h e r r n O c y

c x F s

i i c e n n T V e a

f g e n

d r , n o A s g m e

W a a t h

. F i

T t

s l d e o e e

o f

l e d , g

t i e g d . e y r a l A n C y

s r s

i r v o o ( s y r n a s ” m e r

T n h p a o .

e a o s i r d g

o a e t i b s

n t y o A F

c M f

x e i l

y c t

D u

u v i , n n m t d t e , e n

i r d f i n

A e t t l d e c d d y

a e i a a e a n i t n v a n d n h

n r T o e c s a r s v

i e F t

r n N g h t i i r n

o e s

r o r e a l t t r

a n o

i e l s r g n l y e t

a e T d o o h d o f v n a c d

e o i u o t l e

. o a s o a d f a l n o o j m p p c e i r i e

e r a s i

v o r w n a c h r

c b o e 8 f

t d c r i

i i o

r o

D v

, t

n n , - a , s a o n h . i s f o d t

m p r 1 i a e e n

i e n

s t f l e

s t

s y y t c i e n

. i a

i o r s o t e n h e n l

o h p a d r h e i a i a s l d e e

e f

t i e m e r d b t

e e a d h c p r C e d , c a l r

r m s

m a u

h a b t

c e t l 0 ) n n s o e u o n t h t i e f n t e l i e w t i t t i a n s

r a n e

t 2 h r F d C

r e o s T s

a m

A y h

u n n e a n r n a E

e i e t w

w p t

M T . o m

f f o i r , i x e u b

e e e u t d n o e v u p o o f

v r o r s a a r d F r i i f n

f e s h

o o e o

p e h F l e b g e

e o

e p m

c v m e g A o

t g t d p h a s o b k i i

e s a e d e i a r a O i e e C i

a r l

n t t

i y e t A n t r e t n n , w N a y u

r s r

h u n i n , s r

i E c . a a ( d i p n ’ a

a e r n y a d o o u u i d t

r S i i t e i u w

s n r o y

r t v r R v t t

w e a m n e t i h t t s d i a

i i D w e m i h

l h s r s i e i e i , o u s

a l t w l t m u c t s i h o

r u v e e a s n o e l s c A e i f x p n r e n e t t h m o s s f r e

i n r

t y u c

i l i w t

e v u n n c i h a t

t u i

e t

g s e

r i i

p g

n n t e

e u o t C c v a t l

e o m S d e

y I f t t

i t a e y i o f i

v r s e

d “ a

e ” r t

l t n i h i s t e e t . n e s n

d F r a o n i o o s l e h t

e y t Y g i u c

t r o t c d a n b e x

m c t n s u j s r n r o i ) e - i s i i i u

n e b p e

d s v D r f e d

f h n N a e t e n

l e a s y

u o U a s

C u

V o u g e o c s , w o n n l

o i u

r e g r s r o

t e h s h l m t U f p l r i o c E t s i s

J n R h n n

t u o

, m a w s i s r l o e

e v

o i a e r S b

o e t e e p R r i , m t

a l a e J

e t o e

e C n A o n n e h

( t l h

c e t p X d e i t o s t

t u

a h “ e

c l

t d r n t h o g e r p c , o a h g a p g t u E a f g i F M u a h R w E g v

n t i t w r

f i

t u

a e o t c o

a t

o g d

o n p v b V

o s l

h o . t f n o a e o

h t e

n t i s v n c r d X i u U l c r

t i e f p d n a i s

o T o a r r r d

m d s v c

t t t I o o o e e f E N r S e t R m n i B m i e F i e i o

o e e o -

t r n i

n o

l r t w

e , t n n . Y t m A

n t i n F l V f a p

m r e )

g i h a t b

a h l . a f e e a a o

w n e h e e

) a s o

e r n t A t

a w r c N t

y y

r i T

t I a i l e m

o r

t t s n h h e v s n i ,

I o

a i p s

e T

e a m U . a o v t y t i

s b l r m h a s

e n s

e T E t v o

h s

i c n i s Y w e d t

t S s p

i d a u i

r n . s a

e t e a

, v l s m n f r

n e c m e t g ’

d e a o i h t F a m o k

N e f n l d n i c n i i a y t d

l 2 e d (

r o

t e o o e m e ( - t e p n n d c h t

c o

a i

a a o h l n i

l e l R i p 0 o i

e a u A s n l d

C h s a o e p

p t a c o t

r ’ t

y r n

s t v k t x

p a

- a

g F 0 t l

i a s h i r f h e l m z

p h n

C e a y

c l o e o s g F i

n , t

r & s d a l n 2 t o i l r n e f i e i

t e

o s

o e o m

o g l s e i

p k e o e r a n e

c a n r n t v w e n e o v v K u

o l d v d l n a s m t

c n n l

i a f t o

v i d o g a i e p o i a

i s l a i r e S o d t t T m a r o .

y a s t n o e h s e r

l d - t o i i

n e s o n n g i

r a g

e n

n - t e n i D y c a o e c s a l n s p

t g d r h n t e e n Y e o

e n

r v u t n e e o l t n a c a v c e e a a t e c

i t t n e h a o h o o

l o

s d l i b n N t o y r u

c l r t i g r o i t h e a g m i e t c c i c s e l n N n c n n t t

h i

l t c h U r p t i o ,

t a P h s e l o

U B

u r . t e

k t e s u n a u a ,

e a

e n r i

s s l e l s s u t t U i i a t

r R h a r i S a l a l n T s

r X s s l u F f n

v e d e

d r o e o t e e

p o , a a o m f y m M d l f a a e E o n

t w h v i o o o b A w s N c d E v s a

U y

d g

l b t

i s

a a c x x ,

a s c o

e t t n l e V a

w d a s m l D

l n f u e i

s g a y

c a

d t s i e e c n s n e X n n a m p

t o n r a e

t e o e e c s o y p e h n F t s s e t r e s

e T T r d u

i i E a

a n o

n t

o c t n e l e u e S e s i ’ r s

h e l t

J p i e e n

e i u m r i , t r m k n f a g e

y y s e l V v t “ u d s v t o s n ,

b t h o

r a

e r o : t u m i i l n o t a d o a o i

t a a o s E e l

o n D y y h e s

n e i s t t e n h f t

i e t e l e

a s o i b U t

s o

t y h i n c s f s o e l t h

d e e t D D v

a e n r o v g v i f C

r l s i d a t i o n r o e s g T d r d s n

n p d r

e r U U p g s e i k c O N T M u s o V a n a e h h n

o h R e

h n

i e a a m e u n I s h

s h i u l t O t t

l F y t k b w o

w a r

a n p r s t l X e e e v t e d t

n . m r r h S s c i c r e e o

u e i e i c r e r e d e A Y o a e e y r E a o i e h h a a h d s i n r i e l o a e t u u h h h o u o W F E a a T O n s K j T a v N s g c a E v E f s B T n p s t t r c N H M b d w t V a F C n o r u e n

e h t WVU announces Faculty Fellows in Engineering 14 Two assistant professors at West Virginia University (WVU) have been named the inaugural J. Wayne and Kathy Richards Faculty Fellows in Engineering. Thorsten Wuest, from the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, and Saiph Savage, from the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, were appointed to the three-year positions, which provides funds to support and grow their respective research programs. Thorsten Wuest The fellowships are the result of a $1 million gift made in 2014 by alumnus J. Wayne Richards and his wife, Kathy. The first-of-its-kind endowment at WVU provides flexible funds to allow WVU to hire, retain, reward and recognize faculty members who have not yet achieved tenure.

“In a short period of time, Thorsten and Saiph have made significant contributions to the future of the Statler College and West Virginia University,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. “Thorsten has advanced the College’s research work in smart manufacturing, while Saiph has achieved international notoriety in the field of social engineering. I believe they epitomize the types of leaders Wayne and Kathy envisioned as being Richards Faculty Fellows in Engineering.”

Saiph Savage

Shepherd to offer new Bachelor of Science Degree in engineering science

Starting in the fall of 2017, Shepherd University will begin offering a Bachelor of Science in engineering science with concentrations in environmental engineering and systems engineering. Reza Mirdamadi, chair of the Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, said typically degrees in engineering focus on specific topics, like mechanical, chemical and nuclear. “Today, the differences between various fields in engineering are blurred, with all these topics coming together,” Mirdamadi said. “You might graduate as a mechanical engineer and you may end up doing other things that are not in the field of mechanical engineering because employers are looking for graduates who have the ability to learn and enough technical background that they can learn on their own.” Mirdamadi said Shepherd’s engineering students will be exposed to applied mathematics, applied science, computer science and engineering courses in an effort to make them well-rounded and able to tackle whatever problems arise in industry.” t h e

n e u r o n

A path in STEM Marshall University President Jerome A. Gilbert Dr. Jerome A. Gilbert’s path to becoming President of Marshall University commenced in a STEM field – biological engineering to be exact. In March, he was named a 2017 Distinguished Fellow in the Bagley College of Engineering at his alma mater of Mississippi State University. The prestigious Distinguished Fellows program celebrates the accomplishments of Bagley College alumni and reconnects the honorees with the school and its engineering heritage. Gilbert, who graduated from Mississippi State in 1977 with a Bachelor’s Degree in biological engineering, said he was humbled by the recognition. “To be acknowledged among respected colleagues by my alma mater is special,” said Gilbert. “My experiences in undergraduate research at Mississippi State were instrumental in my going on to graduate school and an eventual career in higher education. A number of my mentors, as well as colleagues I have long admired, are Distinguished Fellows, so this was a true honor.” After graduating from Mississippi State, Gilbert went on to earn a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Duke University. His research has been in orthopedic biomechanics, cellular mechanics, biomaterials, bone remodeling and osteoporosis, and was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and various other public and private sources. Gilbert began his academic career in 1982 at North Carolina State University where he served as a visiting assistant professor of mechanical engineering. In 1983, he accepted a position as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). While at UNC, he established the biomechanics research laboratory and also was a member of the faculty of biomedical engineering. In 1988, he accepted a faculty position at Mississippi State and attained the rank of professor five years later. For 10 years, he was a research affiliate with the Institute of Neurocognitive Science and Technology at Mississippi State, and was among the first class of Mississippi State’s honors faculty in the Shackouls Honors College. From 1989-2005, he also served as clinical assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery (research) for the University of Mississippi Medical Center. At Mississippi State, he served as head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and coordinator for the biomedical engineering graduate program in the Bagley College. While he was the department head, he helped establish the school’s undergraduate concentration and the master’s and doctoral programs in biomedical engineering. Gilbert went on to be Mississippi State’s associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs, before being promoted to provost and executive vice president in 2010. He was named president of Marshall University in October 2015 and assumed the office in January 2016. He is a former national president of the Institute of Biological Engineering and is a member of numerous other professional societies. He is a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the Institute of Biological Engineering. 1 6 F S f c s o C s r h M s W o o c l s I a t a r E d o e S h o n o e e h u t t t e a

t the r h a

v neuron f n t f e e i h R u u u v

s e

a s s r

i h i s l m c t i a W a e a r l t

n a

e p d e e e d d d p r

t e t

h h e O d

p f l s u h g b h n a a

n n o e m

e e e e l

i r t

h m d r e h r s y r r e s r e

a n o e

s s n n n e s M i t c c a D C 1 W w 3 a p n e i . e e

s a t d t

c t h t a d t t t h T S h h 0 0 s t l

h i

r i g r a r

i b w

s V e e l o a v y i o i o h l f e 1 4

u T o i d ’

, a

r s c s

e s e n r e i b l

n i

w r e n w 8 . T p r e s E

n i o e c r t b

r o

a e n w a

s l x i c g s i

u i

g F . a e . M e V o s 5 K

p , f

a z m w e m

h r a

t H p t a

O y

n s u t s s l h i 8 o i n

a n u o a a s n o ,

r c n t i t m h

i e u e c . n c g n

p w

t o e n f f h n l b 4 i d n h o n E r r a i s e i

r u n a o e h a i e n t a n d 1 t N

e e p e e f n l i . e

i o e u o

w r r u

d e : g s

e n s n

l S .

i s e

u s n h c a

D e a

t a d W s w m n a w i w n 8 n O h h e

f c c g s s

a a a t p s

t a e l c

s a i

W H

a o n c

i V a W

a r

r a t n a b I e n t s r . o o r o h t

r c s , e h i m n

t B s

p s y e R i r

l o e g

v o h i V o n u u n a c s 2 l V F L F s

e t c t l a

e f a h

v e p .

t e u l 5 e

t e U s

e o o a i E l t o t g u l

g U t c i e o d k d

c o i e n

w 3 m

e s m t

a l r l l n t p a

n i e x e r c

C l l ’ g

T a

r 0

n t E s o E

n o o

b r n f b b d o c o o r E u t a d

. e

a 1

r o

u u

w n

e d S t c w w y e n d e T e n r o

n u c i l u - l t c e i r s l u s l d a 2

a s

g e u

n p t

R n s h h e

u s s d

d l t i

a O i e i a 8 u u i m n d o n

n t o t e t g t t i n

e b r c a

n n

0 e n l l a u r s s s i d u d b n s

r d

h o r s r r g 0 p a

l y e W t R t

e o t 1 i d a o o d e i a

o u

e y i i u r e

n a F n s o a

u e c 1 u l n n a i e b e

n n v e : e u n c a s a r d n d n c o

. 0 e r s

t n n s o n o d

s o c A s n d b m h

T 1 . e g I s u

o w h P

c t h n a

W e t l f u v p

w d e W

n w u

e r i f

f f l V n i

b e e g t e f l

t d r o

, e d e o l t

e t l R

r h i o t i h

e g d i r i n s w o r t

c i o t w a c r r m r p d

i v

e o

t a

, e i h y s e r

g c o a m i g f e m c a e a e d l p a s r f t n

k e n e e p

C k i e o i h r e r e

n e

n o n o d n o c

s e i s a :

i : o

l x

a n e z v i

a a

s r d f t @ u e

i e i u i r w w n n m m t a l c n

e n a s c e

r n t b o w

e o r m t a t

a r c m a h u

g e r v d a m i h y : t g i e o r

h t

w o

w s c o h n

a m

e l e s i a e p d g i t p o c h

o o n s i o e e i h

v l t n i t l

r s a b e v e w n l

e a e

t l i r e i e l s

a r e e o i r e e r n r s s n a a t .

i c n s , s g n

t y g h r e e e k s w a r d e r v c s W D J T s W W S C d r t s o h c h e o o a t o o t h f o e o i a u e o e L . n

o r

l e s f l p u s L r e - l d s s e e r

k t e c R

u R o t c n e l t g u a e a h i d c :

c t e V u

V t M r r t d n T y o t

c y n o

e i C i i a i o F R t e r r s a . v e r

d u i g s y

h T I g i

n u n d e o s l i R

p e i h n a b s i d o ’ a t

g n f r S n y f

s f

m e

i e l e r u S o i

A u e T l

i , S a a

a l

a c

t P f o

a l o p p M p

b r ’ u

s i

H r h h b e s a a d o w i r

o e o r o I

i . i r n t i e b d

e i D g l

h u g k

a n n a

c i t c

t o s s h l s . t m h i h

e e s o a , s

t e a I p r r h f

u a

i , s a . r o b

r r r n c

C i i

T n c o a s

e n r F p b s r E d a e e h h

n m p i

J I d . d o g d

t R

d a o e I d w r t e

e t h

R S c e h w y

o M

a i

b c k e n M T c t e s

e l m g o s a . y n

s e

e o

s y o c R t i

u e n t w n M t a v

i n o t

s o a h l t t n e r

h d i u a b o r n o e m

d c a

n n m o

w s e h P t

i d p e m t g e o a

l S a c f y

l g a a h e i l s

, c d

e r p

w M o T y a r e u p e

C t

e t c i e

r h M t

o x g h t

a t a h h m a c

h t C m C n a e

a m t h l

p i H u h r t p a p

i r o e m o s l e l e e l l s y . z u e s i i n

m o n r a n

n r d a g I e n s e

T E A D J W D M S D W P a C D W V C V D D S H o S V W G P D E D S W D V D E C D C M G W E D r s a e n d d d h x u c e r u f i i i i a a h h u n e e . a r r r r r r r r r r e c c c c a a e e e e e e e

c c e i n ...... d W p e u u u M b b b a a a a e s y

n e e e e r r s s s s s s s h k C U S O E L F J C P c p i

c c c e i n s s i i l n n n t t t t t t l i

s o i R A e o r n n e i u o r a

C a t D P P P d a o e h h h

a a a m c r h , r C c

V V V V V V c

e e r e .

d h e e s o a t i u D o r r r r

u o l t t t e

B a a l a e e e

e e n D a M S i i i i i i i a e e e t d v l l i i i A n t t i a f n v r r r r r r n r d l l n l o o o l r e

a e r a c r s t

e l l s s s n E g g g g g g l

e o n a

S S d o t e

s d l

L e

o t a n i K n p p n n n

e a S r i i i U U r e M R h T n . s n i i i i i i d , u d d d

e e

n . t n v r n n n n n n G e

n D ,

a u e P i

S K U o s e

h e n n f , e a P H c c h g

e e e o n c

J o i d a o c L r i i i i i i r c W

r n

c n i i s c c i

, n r r n o o a a a a a a i i r S J n n n

l t c o C

r g b m t i h h v v e . r e e e M i a i e M a t

m . d c

e l d e l a i o k a m e

t t t

P U D D D U U f e e o n l s i v e a t t i s e R N s

e c c y n i t a

n s a a a m f f f a c o s r r e l r e n t t r n n n h r e e e e e h o o o t e y s t l o s s

r r c

r r h M i e r o n n C I

g p p p s s

i i i s e i i

y y a

r r r e V n a h n V s l v v v C t t e g e o

h r t . a a a a r i m

e y y r R R R

i e e e e

s S i

t E o a e r a r c o a A n r r r v t c a n y e e e r r r t g

d C r t t t m

n e i o l P f s s s o i P r o n c t s s s l m m m i

l w

i i i

d t u f h n P o e e e n l h P U t t t f R e m s d s

y y y B e e e t h a a a i a e r S

a G U n r a S e a e n n n i r r r i r y s c u m r s o

i n c c c r

d T s H

. s v t t t i s l a C S h h h e l i

d e i s

e i o d o o o i d c i S o o n n

g .

t r s S

a g s e f f f G u P n n t s c

t c n N n y C E a i a e r s o o c t e h d a d t o t u y n o r

o e n s d

u f m

l i P d o . t t

o u

c , E i l

a 2 A r m n W l a a a d

g H 7 t g t I r u e i D e d V , 1 e e o

c r I a c n n a e l t c t i h . o n