Honoring Top Researchers, Teachers

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

VOLUME 31 / NUMBER 20 www.uicnews.uic.edu

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“I am still as excited by new results as I have always been.”

Photo: Joshua Clark Janet Richmond, one of seven UIC researchers honored as University Scholars this year, has received international attention for her work exploring the key mechanisms in learning and memory functions. Her work studying the role of a specific protein in the learning behavior of fruit flies could lead to new treatments for human memory loss. Richmond found her passion for neuroscience as an undergraduate. “I realized I loved recording neuronal activity in real-time, a form of instant gratification that set me on the career path that I have followed ever since,” she says. Read more about the winners on pages 5-7. Honoring top researchers, teachers

Scientist Venkat Venkatakrishnan University of Illinois president UIC production of ‘The Vagina UIC alumnus Curtis Granderson puts up fight against cyber crime visits UIC College Prep Monologues’ hits stage this week pledges funding for stadium More on page 2 More on page 3 More on page 9 More on page 12 2 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I FEBRUARY 13, 2013

profile Send profile ideas to Gary Wisby, [email protected] Scientist Venkat Venkatakrishnan fights cyber crime By Gary Wisby

He is a cybercrook’s worst nightmare. Venkat Venkatakrishnan, associate professor of computer science, traces how hackers infiltrate computer systems, then plugs the holes. He’s repaired company websites where hackers could “basically shop for free,” he said. Or for only $1, as with one computer parts store where an unscrupulous online shopper could enter a negative price. “They could compute a [product] cost of minus $400, then add another product for $401, and get both items for $1,” Venkatakrishnan said. For banks, he identified a glitch in their software. “This flaw would enable a malicious hacker to transfer -ar bitrary amounts between unrelated accounts,” he said. After he reported this to the banks, he said, “they disabled this transfer feature for 24 hours, worked on this fix and changed the software on the 350 banks that were running this s oft w are .” Venkatakrishnan impressed colleagues in 2010 by securing a $3.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to set up an Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship. “We got excellent reviews from NSF,” he said. “Only 18 proposals were funded out of 450.” Most of the money goes to fellowships for 10 Ph.D. students involved in the first year of the program. “It includes a visit to a foreign country, to collaborate with researchers there,” Venkatakrishnan said. Photo: Joshua Clark “The cyberworld has no borders. An attacker might be Venkat Venkatakrishnan, associate professor of computer science, follows the trail hackers leave when they infiltrate computer systems, then pushing keys somewhere in China or Eastern Europe.” fixes the holes. “The cyberworld has no borders. An attacker might be pushing keys somewhere in China or Eastern Europe,” he says. For another facet of the traineeship, he put together a team of faculty experts: Ranga Chandrasekaran, business, who blue-ribbon panel to put things right. Stony Brook University in New York. He stayed on for his examined economic factors in security; Steve Jones, com- The researchers and professors worked on the problem for Ph.D., maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout. munication, who looks at the human factor; Annette Valenta, a few months, then delivered a report with recommendations In 2004, Venkatakrishnan was offered a teaching job at biomedical and health information sciences, who considers that were later implemented. UIC. “I had always wanted to be a teacher,” he said. medical privacy; Robert Sloan, computer science, who studies He continues to serve on the Cook County Election Re- He has won several campus honors, including the Teach- security and public policy; and Richard Warner of the Kent view Panel for addressing technical problems related to elec- ing Recognition Program Award, the College of Engineering’s College of Law, IIT, who focuses on legal issues. tronic voting equipment. Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Research Excellence “We’ve also made a lot of progress in other research areas,” Venkatakrishnan is from a small town in India, where his Award. he said. “It’s all synergistic. Last year alone we got more than family still lives, in the Pondicherry territory. Venkatakrishnan lives in Lincoln Park with his wife, Ka- $8 million in grants.” “Pondicherry was famous when the rest of India was vitha, a biomedical researcher and science writer, and their Venkatakrishnan, director of the Center for Research and under Britain — it was a French colony,” he said. 2-year-old son, Siddharth. Instruction in Technologies for Electronic Security, welcomes “Another claim to fame is that in the [novel and movie] “I like to watch a lot of independent films,” he said. He the chance to match wits with bad-guy hackers. Life of Pi, the main character is from there.” founded the Stony Brook Film Society while in grad school, “It’s very challenging — there are many different avenues Venkatakrishnan earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is now a member of the Gene Siskel Film Center. an attacker can take on the system,” he said. “It has the flavor with honors in mathematics from India’s Birla Institute of His family lives right across from Lincoln Park Zoo, a favor- of a puzzle, it takes adversarial thinking. I find it really enjoy- Technology and Science. ite destination along with the Museum of Science and Industry. a b l e .” He came to the United States in 1998. Like many toddlers, Siddharth likes trucks and trains. Hackers aren’t always the problem. “This country has got the best universities,” he said. “I “On a weekend if I’m not busy, you will spot me on one of When Cook County voting machines suffered a large-scale wanted to do my Ph.D. in this country.” the CTA trains with my son,” Venkatakrishnan said. failure in November 2006, Venkatakrishnan was named to a He received another master’s, in computer science, from [email protected]

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“When you ban smoking in public places, you’re protecting “Race is not the sole reason, but it is part of “If I had to give a number, I’d say zero.” everyone’s health, including and especially the nonsmoker.” the reason.” Joseph Persky, professor of economics, about the S. Jay Olshansky, professor of epidemiology, on how large-scale Dick Simpson, professor of political science, on impact on fast-food jobs after Illinois raised its minimum smoking bans benefit cities, Feb. 7 Omaha Daily Record. whether blacks support Obama because of his wage above the federal minimum, Feb. 6 Crain’s race, Feb. 7 Medill News Service. Chicago Business. FEBRUARY 13, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 3

Lessons learned from visit to UIC College Prep

By Gary Wisby sciences,” McDonough said. With the aim of pursuing careers in After he graduated from high school the field, they take rotations on UIC’s in a small Texas border town, University campus in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, of Illinois President Robert Easter said, “I public health, nursing and applied health was in no way prepared to go to a four-year sciences. institution.” Easter was accompanied by UIC vice The contrast was striking Feb. 6 as Eas- chancellor for academic affairs and pro- ter toured UIC College Prep, where 100 vost Lon Kaufman, and McDonough by percent of graduates are accepted into four- her dean of operations, Maritza Torres. year schools. Also present were Caryn Bills, associ- His visit started in a conference room ate chancellor, and James Lynn, deputy where he asked the principal, Tressie Mc- director of high school development. Donough, “Tell me about your students and The group next dropped in on a chem- their backgrounds.” istry lab taught by Travis Grubbs. In this and other classes, nearly all students wore a dark blue or maroon UIC College Prep sweatshirt or polo shirt. UIC College Prep “has a In Matt Karlan’s algebra class, the better culture, with very group was met by student Luis Diaz, a junior. By comparison to other high little favoritism, and the schools, he said, UIC College Prep “has a teachers are very engaged.” better culture, with very little favoritism, and the teachers are very engaged.” UIC College Prep, which opened in The group also looked in on Kate 2008, is one of the Noble network of charter Meixner’s health science class and lis- schools, begun by two high school teachers tened a few minutes as Steve Sanders in 1999 and now numbering 15 campuses, conducted members of honors band in she said. practice. Her students’ ACT scores rank first Easter wrapped up his visit with a few among non-selective high schools in Chi- more questions, such as, “Do you have a cago, McDonough said. sports field?” UIC College Prep’s mainly low-income “No,” Torres replied, “but we use the student body is 67 percent Hispanic, 23 per- PEB and have the gym.” cent African American, 4 percent Asian, 3 He also asked about drama. percent white and 3 percent multicultural. “We have an acting club, and the “Are there any particular career paths music teacher puts on a full-blown musi- Photo: Joshua Clark that you encourage?” Easter asked. cal every year,” Torres said. University of Illinois President Robert Easter (back, right), visits a UIC College Prep classroom Feb. 6 with “All students take four years of health [email protected] Lon Kaufman, UIC vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost.

UIC puts its spirit on display By Gina Russell Show your spirit

Get fired up for UIC Spirit Week, Feb. 18 UIC Spirit Week kicks off through 23. Monday with the “Paint the The week, hosted by the Student Ambas- Windows” event from 2-6 p.m. sador Association, is a campus celebration in Student Center East. View that aims to increase school pride and offers fun activities for students. a complete list of Spirit Week Student organizations can show off their events at http://bit.ly/xaFj0p creativity and spirit during a “Paint the Win- dows” event from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday in the and alumni raise money for charity while Student Center East cafeteria. “hustling” up 28 flights of stairs at University “My favorite event definitely has to be Hall. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 25 the Paint the Windows,” said Anthony Spa- at University Hall. tafora, Student Ambassador Association The annual Lighting of the Flame cere- executive board member. mony takes place Feb. 25 at the men’s basket- “Seeing my hand on a window will al- ball game. Stop at the Student Ambassador ways be cool.” Association table to create a poster to show Other events include a T-shirt sale, toy your pride and support for the Flames. drive, high-energy improvisation show For a full schedule of all the activities, called Comedy Sportz, and more. visit http://bit.ly/xaFj0p The main event of Spirit Week, “Hustle For more information, call 312-413-0419 Up UH,” is similar to Chicago’s Hustle Up or email [email protected] Members of Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement decorate a window during last year’s Spirit Week. the Hancock event. Students, employees [email protected] 4 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I FEBRUARY 13, 2013

campus news Send campus news to Sonya Booth, [email protected]

Travel to cyberspace The Women’s Reading and Discussion Check out the Electronic Visualization Club was created by members of the Chancel- Laboratory’s new virtual reality environment, Political strategist visits campus lor’s Committee on the Status of Women. called CAVE2, at an open house Feb. 20. For more information, visit http://yhoo.it/ Donna Brazile, Democratic political Visitors can immerse themselves in cyber- VGL62F space — flying over Mars, entering molecular strategist and a regular contributor to CNN and ABC, will speak Tuesday at structures, standing inside train tracks to Green honors Student Center East. observe distortion as high-speed trains roar For the second year in a row, UIC has been Brazile’s lecture begins at 4 p.m. in the past, exploring the brain’s vasculature or honored as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Illinois Room. walking through architectural spaces. Day Foundation. An adjunct professor at Georgetown The open house takes place from 3 to 6 The program recognizes colleges and uni- University, she was the first African p.m. in the Engineering Research Facility. versities for effective campus forest manage- American to manage a presidential cam- More open houses are scheduled for April 3 ment and strong conservation goals. paign — Al Gore’s 2000 bid. and 24. UIC was awarded the title by meeting five Brazile is a columnist for Ms. Maga- Space is limited; register at http://tinyurl. standards: maintaining a tree advisory com- zine and O, the Oprah Magazine, and au- com/c3jutwe mittee and a campus tree-care plan, dedicat- thor of the best-selling memoir Cooking ing money toward trees, hosting an Arbor with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Go bald for a good cause Donna Brazile Day observance and encouraging student Politics. UIC students and employees can still sign service-learning projects. She is vice chair of voter registration interim national chair. up to shave their heads during the annual St. and participation at the Democratic Na- Since 2000 she has lectured at more than Baldrick’s event to supporting pediatric can- Soup and stories tional Committee, and the DNC’s former 125 colleges and universities. cer research. Hear stories about African American chef The event takes place from 8 to 10 a.m. and author Edna Lewis while enjoying her Feb. 21 on the fifth floor of the hospital. soup recipe Tuesday at Re-Thinking Soup. Register or donate at http://bit.ly/YUtVrs His talk, at noon in 1-470 Daley Library, Read together Chef Kocoa Scott-Winbush will read ex- is part of the Global Learning Community UIC’s WoRD Book Club will host its next cerpts from two of Lewis’s cookbooks, The Jazzy music Green Matter Series. RSVP to [email protected] meeting March 19. Taste of Country Cooking and In Pursuit of Jazz composer and saxophonist Miguel The group will discuss its latest book, Eric Flavor. Jazz violinist Samuel “Savoirfaire” Wil- Zenón will bring his Latin-influenced style to Library resource Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of liams will perform. UIC to highlight the third annual UIC High UIC Library users now can search 148 aca- the All-American Meal, noon to 1 p.m. in 507 The event takes place from noon to 1 p.m. School Jazz Festival Feb. 25. demic and research libraries in Illinois with Disability, Health and Social Policy Building. at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Zenón will perform with UIC’s Jazz En- Summon, a one-stop search engine. semble at 7 p.m. in the Illinois Room of Stu- With Summon, users can find books, dent Center East. journal articles, archival materials, data and From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., high school jazz more from the Consortium of Academic and bands will compete in performances judged Research Libraries in Illinois, as well as from by UIC ensemble members and other noted websites. musicians who teach in UIC’s jazz program. Users can access the materials through The judges will lead clinics and workshops in interlibrary loan. Real-time availability of brass, woodwinds, bass, guitar, drums, vocals each item is displayed so users can easily place and piano. holds and requests. Admission to student performances are Click on the “Summon” tab on the UIC Li- free; tickets to Zenón’s concert are $7 for stu- brary website (http://library.uic.edu) to search. dents with i-card and $10 for others. Buy tickets at the door with cash or online Online learning at www.vendini.com A University of Illinois certificate program that prepares faculty and education profes- Riding for a cause sionals to provide administrative support for Sign up to ride with the Chicago Campus online courses has graduated its first class, all Cyclers in the MS “Tour de Farms” charity from Illinois community colleges. bike ride at a recruiting event Thursday. The Certified Online Learning Adminis- Riders can register from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. trators (COLA) certificate program offered by Thursday and March 21 in the hospital lobby. the Illinois Online Network certifies faculty, The ride, sponsored by the Illinois Chapter staff and administrators after they success- of the National Multiple Sclerosis society, fully complete a series of five classes and a takes place June 22 and 23, on the country practicum. roads around DeKalb. COLA courses include online program ad- For more information, email cmcshane@ ministration, course/program quality, student uic.edu or visit the team website at http://bit. support and faculty training issues. ly/Xs7LvC Electives include globalization, blended/ hybrid models, and copyright and intellectual Warming in cold regions property issues. Scientist Peter Doran explores “Global Core and elective courses are free for Warming and Antarctica,” at a forum Thurs- university faculty members; advanced online day. seminars cost $150. U of I staff pay a reduced Doran, professor of earth and environ- cost of $60 for each core and elective course, mental sciences, is a specialist on polar re- $72 for the practicum and $150 for advanced gions, particularly the Antarctic climate and online seminars. ecosystems, and has made significant contri- For more information, visit www.ion. butions to questions of global climate change. uillinois.edu FEBRUARY 13, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 5

The University Scholars Program, now in its 28th year, honors faculty members for superior research and University Scholars teaching, along with great promise for future achievements. The award provides $10,000 a year for three years.

integral part of medicine in the near future, he said. Tinkering with biology “The notion of intervening with stem cells and Michael Cho regenerate tissues and organs is simply fascinating. Ways in which the average citizen can benefit from stem Professor of bioengineering cell research are limited only by our understanding of this complex biological system.” By Jeffron Boynés Bioengineering is the only UIC department based in two colleges, and Cho sees his field as the bridge be- It may sound a bit odd, but Michael Cho’s career was tween medicine and engineering. inspired by tinkering with vacuum tubes in old TV sets. “Connection with clinicians is key to success in bio- “It was beyond fascination to learn how images were engineering,” he said. created, transmitted and displayed through vacuum tubes,” “Engineering biomedical devices with clinical signifi- said Cho, professor of bioengineering. cance and usefulness is the goal of any bioengineering “From my graduate school days, I was pretty sure I research.” wanted to be a professor and continue to tinker with, not Since 2003, Cho has led the Laboratory of Biomo- vacuum tubes any longer, but with biological systems.” lecular Imaging, one of the most successful and active Cho’s research is in the area of stem cell-based tissue labs in the College of Engineering, with eight student engineering. His accomplishments “have brought national researchers and more than $6.5 million in external and international visibility to UIC and the department,” funding. wrote Peter Nelson, dean, College of Engineering, in nomi- He is also a professor of ophthalmology and visual nating Cho as University Scholar. sciences, where he was an adviser to MD/Ph.D. students Often referred to as regenerative tissue engineering, whose work led to patent application for artificial cor- stem cell-based tissue engineering exploits the regenerative neas. potential of stem cells. His University Scholar recognition, he said, “will “The idea is to engineer tissue-like constructs outside allow me to tinker with highly risky but highly reward- the body and implant them to repair damaged or lost tis- ing ideas which, I hope, will advance my research pro- sue,” Cho said. grams to the next level.” Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin While progress has been slow, stem cells will become an [email protected] Michael Cho: “Connection with clinicians is key to success.”

Simplifying complexities Vladimir Gevorgyan Professor of chemistry

By Jeanne Galatzer-Levy

One word that stands out in conversation with Vladi- mir Gevorgyan is “new.” “Our research goal is developing new concepts, new understanding of reactivities,” said Gevorgyan, professor of chemistry. “The major direction of our group is the development of new disconnections, new reactions.” When Gevorgyan came to UIC in 1999, he was already a scholar of international reputation, said Astrida Orle Tantillo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, in nomi- nating him as University Scholar. Gevorgyan’s lab focuses on developing and understanding new chemical processes from which tools that are more powerful, more selective and more environmentally be- Photo: Joshua Clark nign can be created, then used in a variety of new fields. Vladimir Gevorgyan: “We work very hard — 10 to 12 hour days, six days a week, but it pays off.” Gevorgyan’s approach to chemical synthesis includes an understanding of the issues of efficiency and environmen- ate degree at Kuban State University and his Ph.D. from the versities like Yale, Harvard, Scripps, Caltech and MIT. tal impact. Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis before doing post- “We work very hard — 10 to 12 hour days, six days a He is interested in simplifying the synthesis of com- doctoral research at Tohoku University in Japan. week, but it pays off, we publish in very good journals and pounds by understanding exactly how to bring their Before joining UIC he was a faculty member at Tohoku students go on to good positions in academia and industry,” components together. By ensuring that all the atoms that and the Italian Academy of Sciences in Italy. said Gevorgyan. go into making a compound end up in the final product, There are about 20 people working in Gevorgyan’s lab, If results aren’t important enough for a major publica- the reaction is environmentally benign — no waste by- including graduate students, post-docs, undergrads and tion, they aren’t published, he said. product. visiting research scientists. “We don’t just publish because we have results.” Born in Russia, Gevorgyan completed his undergradu- His students go on to post-doctoral positions at top uni- [email protected] 6 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I FEBRUARY 13, 2013 University Scholars

Lewandowski completed a Ph.D. in radiological sciences from Focusing on the heart the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He joined the cardiology faculty at the Baylor College of E. Douglas Lewandowski Medicine at age 28, avoiding a postdoc. Professor of physiology and biophysics “It really helped me maintain an edge among basic scientists because I cut my teeth in a clinical department,” he said. and medicine and adjunct professor of “One of the things that I really appreciated was how the bioengineering clinical faculty respected the Ph.Ds for their expertise, and we respected them for their clinical insights.” By Sherri McGinnis González Lewandowski pioneered the use of a stable isotope, car- bon-13, as a tracer that can be seen with nuclear magnetic By seventh grade, E. Douglas Lewandowski knew he want- resonance to examine metabolic rates in a beating heart. ed to be either a scientist, a point guard or a center fielder. As a result, he received the first Young Investigator Award Science won. Lewandowski, professor of physiology and from the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in biophysics and medicine and adjunct professor of bioengi- Medicine. He was recruited to Harvard, where he used NMR neering, is director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research to study the enzymes that regulate metabolic pathways by in the College of Medicine. delivering genes to the heart. He oversees a research program that focuses on the meta- “If you really want to understand the fundamental process bolic basis of heart disease. of disease, you have to crawl inside the cell,” he said. “In the past five to seven years, what we’ve found with our Researchers from all over the world are interested in his focus in heart failure is that there’s a tremendous importance work, because some of the methods his lab developed to study now in how the heart both uses and stores fat inside the actual biochemical reactions inside a beating, functioning heart can heart muscle cells,” he said. only be done here. When he joined UIC in 2000, Lewandowski was “already Lewandowski said he’ll use his University Scholar prize to well recognized as a leader in the fields of cardiac metabolism support his students’ travel for professional development. and physiology and in cardiovascular magnetic resonance,” One of his sons is a UIC medical student, the other a mu- Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin said R. John Solaro, head of physiology and biophysics. sician. He himself has several guitars, “each of which I play E. Douglas Lewandowski: “If you really want to understand the After a B.A. in biology at the University of Chicago and equally poorly.” fundamental process of disease, you have to crawl inside the cell.” an M.S. in physiology and biophysics at Urbana-Champaign, [email protected]

Changing interactions Constantine Megaridis Professor of mechanical and industrial engineering

By Anne Brooks Ranallo

Constantine Megaridis describes his work in simple yet impressive terms. “We work to change the interaction between solids and liquids,” said Megaridis, professor of mechanical and industrial engineering. “Repellency and wettability. The applications range from ice and condensation to electromagnetic interference shielding that cuts down cross-talk from one device to another.” His work makes a difference to anyone who wants to fly in a safely de-iced plane or cook on a non-stick surface. He works with industry giants such as Kimberly-Clark and has filed many patents. Megaridis first made his mark as a graduate student at Photo: Joshua Clark Brown University, where he developed a particle sampling Constantine Megaridis: Mentoring high school students in a research setting helps them “see what’s down the road for them.” technique now used by laboratories around the world to study the behavior of nanoparticles in flames. More recently, he has examined the deformation of fluid researcher, said Farzad Mashayek, head of mechanical and The mentoring helps the Juarez students compete with those droplets as they collide with flat surfaces and the behavior industrial engineering. from more privileged schools, Megaridis said. of fluids constrained in nanotubes. He is “a true citizen of our department,” Mashayek said. “It exposes them to a research-oriented lab so they can see Megaridis, who has received more than $7.5 million Megaridis is a true citizen of Chicago as well. Every what’s down the road for them,” Megaridis explained. in research funding over his career at UIC, was recently other week, he and his graduate students welcome stu- “It works because the interaction of liquids and solids is named a fellow of the American Physical Society. dents from Benito Juarez High School to their UIC lab, very visible, so they get excited. Last year, we worked with three This exclusive honor, given for outstanding contribu- helping them with projects for the Chicago Public Schools seniors. They all enrolled at IIT.” tions to physics, is seldom bestowed on an engineering science fair. [email protected] FEBRUARY 13, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 7

“I know the University Scholar award is an individual honor, but I’m just one part of a great research team that performs excellent research at UIC.”

learning and memory functions has received international attention, with articles published in prestigious journals and Breaking ground continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health. Janet Richmond She’s now studying the learning behavior of fruit flies and the role of the protein tomosyn in nerve-signal regulation. Professor of biological sciences Her findings, that the protein can affect learning and memory, could lead to new treatments for human memory loss. By Brian Flood As an undergraduate student at the University of Sussex, she chose an emerging program in neuroscience. This brought In the field of cell biology, Janet Richmond is a ground- her valuable research opportunities, since there were few stu- breaker. dents majoring in the subject. She studies the molecular mechanisms that control “I realized I loved recording neuronal activity in real-time, chemical signaling from neurons, a process known as syn- a form of instant gratification that set me on the career path aptic transmission. that I have followed ever since,” she said. “These chemical signals relay information from our That path includes a doctorate in neurophysiology from environment via sensory neuron inputs to our brains, the University of Calgary and a career with stops in Honolulu, where they are integrated to provide output commands that Salt Lake City and UIC, where she has been based since 2002. produce appropriate behavioral responses,” said Richmond, While the balance between teaching, advising and research professor of biological sciences. “Changes in these circuits, can be a challenge; she remains actively engaged in lab work. based on experience, are thought to be the basis for learn- “I am still as excited by new results as I have always been,” Photo: Joshua Clark i n g .” she said. Janet Richmond: Research examines “the basis for learning.” Richmond’s work exploring the key mechanisms in [email protected]

between our fingers and toes. In the immune system, for example, “cells that respond to a Tales of dead cells specific antigen expand in number, then die,” he said. David Ucker Ucker and his colleagues found that the dead cells themselves help regulate the immune system. Professor of microbiology and immunology “Cells that die turn out to be immunosuppressive,” Ucker said. “They carry and display molecules from the tissues from By Bill Burton which they came, which confers tolerance to those tissues and protects the self.” Dead men tell no tales, the saying goes. He earned his bachelor’s degree in life sciences at MIT and But David Ucker has found that dead cells tell many tales received his Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics from the — even play an important role in regulating the immune sys- University of California, San Francisco. tem, so that it can recognize and attack foreign invaders while His advice to young scientists is to be curious and not take tolerating all the normal components of the body. anything for granted “just because somebody told you so.” Ucker, professor of microbiology and immunology in the Rather, he advises, “aim to really understand things.” College of Medicine, studies directed cell death, a process “For some people, it gets sort of scary if the answer is not known as apoptosis. what it’s supposed to be,” he said. “But I always thought that Examples in nature abound, from the disappearance of the was the fun of it.” Photo: Joshua Clark tadpole’s tail in the adult frog, to the in utero loss of webbing [email protected] David Ucker: “Aim to really understand things.”

Nursing Excellence at End of Life Transition) have been pro- vided to nurse educators and medical school faculty in the Pinpointing pain U.S., Canada and Taiwan. The materials were expanded into a web-based self-study Diana Wilkie course and an advanced practice palliative care program for Professor and Harriet H. Werley endowed nurses and other health professionals. chair for nursing research Wilkie’s early research examined pain behaviors in people with advanced cancer. She identified 42 different pain control behaviors that patients used to prevent the onset By Sam Hostettler of their pain or reduce its intensity — many not previously identified. Diana Wilkie can’t alleviate all the suffering in people’s The findings led Wilkie to develop the PAINRelieveIt lives, but she’s working to reduce their physical pain. program, where patients use a touch-screen computer to Through the use of computer technology she developed, describe their pain. patients suffering from sickle cell disease, cancer and other The information is used by clinicians to prescribe pain illnesses can show health care professionals precisely where control and document pain in the medical records. the pain in their body is located and how it feels. Wilkie played an integral role when the College of Nurs- Wilkie, professor and Harriet H. Werley endowed chair for ing obtained nearly $2.5 million in federal funds to create nursing research, has also done groundbreaking research on the UIC Center of Excellence for End-of-Life Transition end-of-life care. Research. To help medical professionals assist patients who are near “I know the University Scholar award is an individual death, Wilkie led a research team that created an electronic honor, but I’m just one part of a great research team that tool for teaching end-of-life care. Photo: David Shuey performs excellent research at UIC,” Wilkie said. Since 2001, more than 12,000 CDs of TNEEL (Toolkit for Diana Wilkie: Research findings help clinicians reduce patients’ pain. [email protected] 8 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I FEBRUARY 13, 2013

calendar Send information about campus events to Christy Levy, [email protected]

FEBRUARY 13 IN HISTORY HIGHLIGHT FEBRUARY

Academy Award milestone “Re-Thinking Soup” Feb. 13, 2001: Ang February 19 S M T W T F S Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” be- Chef Kocoa Scott- comes the first Asian Winbush reads 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 movie and the seventh excerpts from foreign-language film to acclaimed cook- 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 receive an Oscar nomi- books by chef Edna 24 25 26 27 28 nation for Best Picture. Lewis while partici- The Chinese film re- pants enjoy one of ceived 10 Oscar nomina- her soup recipes. tions and won four of its Noon-1 p.m. Jane categories. “Gladiator” Addams Hull-House beat the film in the Best Edna Lewis Museum. Picture category.

Black History Month Exhibits LECTURES/SEMINARS/ CONFERENCES For more information, call 312-413-5070 or visit uic.edu/depts/ Through February 14 campusprograms/ February 14 “Travel and Destination” Peter Thaddeus’ work combines abstracted forms with clear February 13 “Global Warming and Antarctica” imagery. Sponsored by Campus Programs. Montgomery Ward Lounge, SCE. [email protected] Peter Doran, professor of earth and environmental sciences. “A World of Global Learning Community Green Matter Series. Noon, 1-470 Opportunity: Enrich Daley Library. RSVP to [email protected] Your Future Through Study Abroad” “Not in My Classroom: Race, Disability and the 3:30 p.m. 1-470 Daley Li- Dilemmas of Difference” brary Alfredo Artiles, professor of education, Arizona State University, and Nirmala Erevelles, professor of educational leadership, Uni- February 14 versity of Alabama. Institute for Research on Race and Public Pol- icy’s Race and Disability Series. 3 p.m. UIC Forum. [email protected] Literary Speaker Series February 19 Brenda Eatman Agha- Peter Thaddeus’ “Travel and Destination” howa, associate professor of English, Chicago State “Improving Maternal Health Across the Globe” University; author of Through March 9 Stacie Geller, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and director Grace Under Fire: Barbara Jordan’s Rhetoric of Watergate, Pa- of the Center for Research on Women and Gender and Center of triotism, and Equality. 4 p.m. 1-470 Daley Library “Observer Effect” Excellence in Women’s Health. 11:45-1 p.m. 5175 CMRB. Light Exhibit examines how artwork incorporates processes akin to lunch served. RSVP to [email protected] February 15 the scientific method to examine phenomena. Curated by Carrie Gundersdorf and Lorelei Stewart. Exhibit hours, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. “Reading With and Without Dick and Jane” Tues.-Fri., noon-6 p.m. Sat. Gallery 400, ADH. 312-996-6114 SPECIAL EVENTS Opening reception for exhibit that addresses the politics of identity and literacy in 20th century America. 3:30 p.m. Afri- Through May 31 can-American Cultural Center, AH February 13, 19, 21 “Commerce in Human Souls: The Legacy of the February 19 Atlantic Slave Trade” Blood Drives Exhibit includes 18th and 19th century documents from the Mini-Blood Drives, Feb. 13 and 21, Ft. Dearborn Room, SCE, Keynote speaker UIC Library’s special collections including letters, government and Feb. 19, White Oak Room, SCE. 9 a.m-2 p.m. Appointments, Donna Brazile, political strategist and author. 4 p.m. reports, diaries and slave ship drawings. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. [email protected] Illinois Room, SCE Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wed. Third floor, Daley Library. 312-996-2742 February 14 February 20 Through August 31 Tour de Farms Information and Registration “Look What We Started” Information about June 22-23 bike ride to raise money for Mul- Panel discussion on the founding of UIC-based minority “Unfinished Business: 21st Century Home tiple Sclerosis Society. Sponsored by the Chicago Campus Cyclers. support programs, such as Educational Assistance, Upward Economics” 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hospital lobby. [email protected] Bound and the Urban Health Program. 3 p.m. SPHPI Audito- Interactive exhibition that demonstrates Jane Addams’ legacy rium for domestic life and public health. Public workshops, performances, conversations and hands-on activities. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. 312-413-5353

For more UIC events, visit www.events.uic.edu FEBRUARY 13, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 9

Want to contribute a story? student voice Email Christy Levy, [email protected] ‘Monologues’ puts voices behind women’s issues

By Krista Coulter

Whether the women were new to the group, veterans re- turning for yet another performance, or students and faculty who had joined to support a good cause, their rehearsal ran smoothly and excitedly. Once they finished practicing and started talking amongst themselves, it became clear that each performer had her own reason to get onstage for UIC’s 2013 performance of “The Va- gina Monologues.” “I did ‘The Vagina Monologues’ as an undergrad and I thought this was a great opportunity to meet other like-minded women,” graduate student Jessica LeBeau-Richman said. “A lot of the women I’ve worked with have experienced violence or discrimination so I feel like “A lot of the women it’s a good way to have their spirit with I’ve worked with m e .” have experienced Other performers stepped into the violence or spotlight for the first time, intrigued discrimination by the buzz sur- rounding the play Photo: Krista Coulter so I feel like it’s a and wanting to step UIC students and employees take the stage Friday and Saturday for UIC’s annual performance of “The Vagina Monologues.” good way to have out of their comfort zones. The cast hits the stage at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 7 their spirit with me.” “This is my first p.m. Saturday at in L285 Education, Performing Arts and So- time; I’m a ‘Vagina’ cial Work Building. Students can purchase tickets for $5 with Catch the show virgin,” undergrad Gabriela Illa said. “My girlfriend Vanessa i-card; others are $10. Purchase tickets from any cast member, [Lopez] is actually the one who made me audition for it with at the UIC Campus Advocacy Network office (802 University UIC’s annual production of “The Vagina her so I’m really excited I got forced into it and I think it’s Hall), online at www.facebook.com/vday.uic or by emailing Monologues” takes the stage at 7 p.m. Friday going to be a great show.” [email protected]. and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday in L285 Education, Performing Arts and Social Work Building. Tickets are $5 for students with i-card, $10 for others.

“The Vagina Monologues,” originally a play written by feminist activist Eve Ensler, is a series of monologues that touch on issues of sex, love, rape, violence and more. The performance led to the formation of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women, celebrated at a national and also local level. The cast and crew will hold their annual V-Fest event March 8 for International Women’s Day, hoping to bring in people to share their own stories and get involved. “The play doesn’t directly address everything,” director Josie Mazza said. “So a lot of times people come to the show and they feel pumped and they want to know how they can get involved and we want to use that as a mecha- nism to get people involved.” Most of the performers cited raising awareness as a key reason for joining “The Vagina Monologues.” “I consider myself a feminist since I was a teenager and I support raising awareness about violence against women and girls,” faculty member Christina Tomacic said. “I invited friends and family [last year] who would not consider themselves feminists or never even use the word ‘vagina’ in mixed company and had them leave Photos: Krista Coulter empowered.” Grad student Amanda Averack (left) and undergrad Amanda Reilly rehearse their monologues for UIC’s annual production. Performing is “a [email protected] great opportunity to meet other like-minded women,” says graduate student Jessica LeBeau-Richman. • Krista Coulter is a senior in communication. 10 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I FEBRUARY 13, 2013

police

UIC Police emergency: 312-355-5555 1050 W. Congress Parkway. Nonemergency: 312-996-2830 For more information on police activ- Feb. 4-10 ity, visit the UIC Police crime map, www. uic.edu/depts/police, and the Chicago Police Crimes reported to UIC Police CLEAR Map, http://gis.chicagopolice.org Theft: 6 Battery: 2 Crimestopper tip DUI: 1 UIC Police have recovered several bi- Disorderly conduct: 4 cycles recently but they were not registered with UIC or the city, making them nearly Arrests by UIC Police impossible to identify. Feb. 9: A man was arrested for battery at 1:17 Register your bike at www.uic.edu/depts/ a.m. at 1435 W. Taylor St. police/index.html to help with its recovery in A man was arrested for DUI at 4:25 a.m. at case of theft. UIC NEWS

Published on Wednesdays during the academic year Assistant graphic designer (monthly during summer) by the Office of Megan Strand...... [email protected] Public Affairs of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Editorial associate 1320 University Hall (MC 288), 601 S. Morgan St., Alex Rauch...... [email protected] Chicago, IL 60607-7113. Editorial interns http://www.uicnews.uic.edu Matt O’Connor...... [email protected] Gina Russell...... [email protected] Editorial: ...... (312) 996-7758 Advertising coordinator Advertising:...... (312) 996-3456 Samella Wright...... [email protected] Fax:...... (312) 413-7607 Associate chancellor for public affairs Editor Mark Rosati...... [email protected] Sonya Booth...... [email protected] News bureau director Associate editor Bill Burton...... [email protected] Christy Levy...... [email protected] Assistant editor Photography Gary Wisby...... [email protected] Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Visual communications and design Joshua Clark Anna Dworzecka...... [email protected] UIC Photo Services...... [email protected] FEBRUARY 13, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 11

Sending a hopeful message

By Christy Levy Julia Tobin, an occupational therapy student at Colorado State University who com- There’s hope on the eighth floor of the pleted fieldwork at UIC over the summer, hospital. created a master drawing from the adoles- That’s what the adolescent patients re- cents’ ideas, then projected it onto the wall. ceiving treatment in the inpatient psychiatric The patients traced the artwork onto the wall unit want visitors, hospital staff and new and painted it. patients to know. So they’ve created a cheer- “I pulled the different designs together so ful mural to welcome people to the unit. it was one big picture and it really was their Patients who were being treated at UIC’s mural on their unit,” Tobin said. Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Working on the mural helped the ado- Unit last summer designed the mural with lescents in many ways, Tobin said. A child the help of occupational therapy staff. The with sensory issues, for example, learned unit treats as many as nine patients, ages how much pressure to use when touching 11 to 17, with the average length of stay be- the paintbrush to the wall. Others improved tween six to eight weeks, said occupational their motor skills and cognitive skills, she therapist Anna Blazevic. said. “We started talking about the message we “The activity was definitely what occu- wanted to give our visitors,” Blazevic said. pational therapy is — doing something you “There were all of these different ideas enjoy doing but learning skills at the same that were voted on, but the theme of hope time,” she said. “A lot of these kids have re- w on .” ally low self-esteem, so trying a new skill The 9-by-7-foot mural, completed in No- for the first time helped them with gaining vember, depicts a winding road called “Hope confidence.” Ave.” that leads to a tree of hope and a bright While the adolescents learned skills that rainbow. Patients’ quotes about hope are will last them a lifetime, the unit as a whole featured as graffiti. benefits from the mural, Blazevic said. “We talked about what were some of the “It was great to see the kids work together images that you think of when you think and use their creativity and talents to beau- about hope,” Blazevic said. “We put all of tify and uplift the unit in a way that leaves a those images together and incorporated all permanent and positive mark,” she said. Photo: Anna Blazevic of those pieces.” [email protected] A mural created by adolescent patients welcomes visitors to the hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit. 12 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I FEBRUARY 13, 2013

sports For more Flames sports, visit www.uicflames.com Granderson pledges funding for baseball stadium

By Christian Davis

When UIC alumnus and current New York Yankee Curtis Granderson visited campus Feb. 6, he had a big announce- ment to make: he pledged the funding to build a multi-million dollar baseball stadium on campus. The Curtis Granderson Baseball Stadium is scheduled to open in summer 2014; construction begins this fall. Grand- erson’s contribution is expected to be the largest gift in UIC Athletics history. “Partnerships that combine academics and baseball — these speak to Curtis’s passions,” UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares said. “We are deeply grateful to Curtis and to his wonderful parents. He epitomizes the UIC family and all we can accomplish together.” At a news conference in Student Center East, Granderson stressed that the field would provide youths ages 6 to 18 the chance to play baseball in a safe university atmosphere, with the help of partnerships between UIC, Major League Base- ball, the Chicago Public Schools and youth organizations. “Not only is this going to give UIC baseball a great facility to play — with a beautiful skyline — but we’re going to house every Chicago Public High School, all of which are going to get the chance to play here,” Granderson said. “I started playing baseball when I was 6 years old and friendships I had at that point I still have today. You learn teamwork, leadership, discipline and also how to fail and suc- ceed, things you don’t realize at the time how beneficial they are going to be moving forward.” The design of the stadium is intended to make the field as transparent as possible to offer glimpses of the action to ap- proaching fans. There will be concession stands and refresh- Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin ments, lighting towers and the Chicago skyline at centerfield. The new multi-million dollar stadium “is designed to have a ‘wow’ factor,” says UIC alumnus and current New York Yankee Curtis Granderson. In addition to the stadium’s visual grandeur, the field itself will be made of turf, which allows for maximized playing time. Turf not only makes the field 10 degrees warmer than tative for UIC.” the actual temperature, but it also is impervious to rain, so as The idea was born when Granderson and UIC head base- soon as the rain stops, players can get right back on the field. ball coach Mike Dee were discussing the decline of diversity “We are grateful to Curtis for his generosity, which will in baseball in the major and minor leagues, as well as college impact UIC baseball and our student-athletes for genera- teams. tions,” said UIC athletic director Jim Schmidt. “Curtis is once “Being a baseball player is such a small piece of who Curtis again demonstrating his strong core values in assisting the really is as a person,” Dee said. “I think this gift demonstrates youth of Chicago. He is a special person and a great represen- where his heart is and his sense of social responsibility. I’m really proud of him as a person and I’m proud he came from this program.” Their resolution was to create a miniature coliseum just south of UIC’s east campus that had access to public transportation, security, a Rendering of the stadium, expected to open in 2014. university atmosphere, access to other fields and beauty. “There are a lot of people in the community that are in the “The field is designed to same situation I was in 15 to 20 years ago,” Granderson said. have a ‘wow’ factor,” Grand- “Now, I am in a position where I have the ability to help erson said. kids pursue whatever dreams they have, whether they are edu- And with that “wow fac- cational, athletic or just life in general. tor,” Granderson hopes to “I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to team up with inspire youths to start play- UIC, which has helped me get to where I am today.” ing early. His No. 28 Flames jersey was retired Feb. 6 at the UIC base- Granderson said he and ball team’s inaugural Diamond Dinner. his fellow New York Yankees “Hopefully I didn’t take it [the number] away from anyone plan to host youth baseball on the current UIC roster,” he joked. camps at the field and would “It’s amazing looking back, 10 years removed from gradu- Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin like to host the high school ating, to see all I’ve accomplished because of UIC.” The UIC baseball team, led by Mike Dee (right), retired Granderson’s jersey Feb. 6. “It’s amazing looking state championship or re- [email protected] back, 10 years removed from graduating, to see all I’ve accomplished because of UIC,” Granderson says. gional conference finals. • Christian Davis is a senior in English.