Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR Research Connection Semi-annual Newsletter for the Oklahoma National Science Foundation Volume 3, Issue 2 Fall 2006 Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Workshop Equips College Students to Develop and Implement Business Plans Oklahoma Experimental Program Submitted by: Ms. Shelley D. Wear, Outreach Coordinator, OK EPSCoR to Stimulate Competitive Research Advisory Committee Oklahoma college students and plans that are solid and that include faculty members with dreams of starting critical information necessary to attract Dr. Phil Moss, Interim Chancellor & Chair Mr. William Beard, Oklahoma City their own businesses came out in great investors. Mr. Mike Carolina, Oklahoma City force on October 27 to attend the “Who Other prominent Oklahoma business Dr. Glen Collier, Tulsa Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, Wilson Wants to be an Entrepreneur?” workshop men and women shared valuable informa- Rep. Abe Deutschendorf, Lawton held on the campus of the University tion on topics such as: The Planning Proc- Mr. David Hinkle, Hugo Dr. Edward Knobbe, Stillwater of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center ess, The Entrepreneur’s Dream, Funding Mr. Greg Main, Oklahoma City Dr. Rodger McEver, Oklahoma City located in Oklahoma City. Workshop or- Your Dream, and Do you Have What it Dr. Stephen McKeever, Stillwater ganizers received nearly 200 registrations Takes? (The agenda and presentations can Mr. Steven Rhines, Ardmore Dr. Paul Risser, Norman from 14 colleges and universities, exceed- be found at: www.okepscor.org/Events/ Dr. Cindy Ross, Lawton ing room capacity at the Robert M. Bird events2006.htm) Dr. James Sorem, Tulsa Ms. Lisa Tipping Davis, Oklahoma City Library Auditorium. The event was According to one UCO graduate Dr. D. Alan Tree, Stillwater moved across campus to the College of student and event participant, Liviu Pop, Dr. Joseph Waner, Oklahoma City Dr. Sonya Williams, Langston Medicine’s West Lecture Hall in the Basic “the workshop has opened my eyes to new Dr. T.H. Lee Williams, Norman Science Education building at the last ideas, new ways of approaching things, Dr. C. Kim Winkelman, Lawton minute, in order to accommodate the large and got me seriously thinking about group of future entrepreneurs. starting a business of my own in the not *********** The annual event sponsored by Okla- too distant future.” Dr. Frank Waxman, State Director homa EPSCoR, Oklahoma State Regents The EPSCoR and i2E staff are encour- Dr. James Wicksted, Associate Director for Higher Education, and i2E, Inc., aimed aged by the student and faculty response to equip interested students and faculty to the event and anticipate increased Inside this Issue: to develop and implement high-tech busi- participation in future years. nesses within the state. For more information regarding the New 454 Sequencing Instru- Workshop presenters painted an upcoming Donald W. Reynolds Oklahoma ment makes Quantum Leaps 2 accurate picture of the commercialization Governor’s Cup Statewide Collegiate Busi- in Knowledge for PVBE Researchers process with special emphasis on develop- ness Plan Competition, please visit: ing business plans that will succeed. The http://www.okgovernorscup.org. Upcoming Events 3 workshop also served as a kick-off to the Donald W. Reynolds Oklahoma Governor’s OK Scientists Investigate Use Cup Statewide Collegiate Business Plan of Nanocrystals to Detect Competition 2007. Staff from i2E, Inc., Bioweapons 4 informed prospective student teams about SouthWest Nanotechnologies the guidelines for participation in the com- Ink Nantotube Licensing petition which has jump-started eight Agreement with NEC 5 companies in the last two years. Mr. Barry Moltz, serial entrepreneur, Museum Without Walls investor, national speaker and author of Encourages Natural Curiosity “You Have to Be a Little Crazy” gave the and Drive to Learn in K-6 keynote address that enlightened students Students 6 on “What Not to Say in a Business Plan!” Networking was part of the “Who Wants to Be Current Trends in Research Participants received complimentary an Entrepreneur?” program. Oklahoma students Highlighted at Annual signed copies of Moltz’s book to further and faculty packed the West Lecture Hall at the OUHSC College of Medicine on October 27, 2006. Conference 7 encourage the development of business PAGE 2 OKLAHOMA NSF EPSCOR RESEARCH CONNECTION VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 New 454 Sequencing Instrument Makes Quantum Leaps in Knowledge for Plant Virus Researchers

Submitted by: Dr. Ulrich Melcher, Plant Virus Biodiversity & Ecology Project Coordinator

A quantum leap in knowl- Left: Graham edge of the information stored Wiley, in Dr. Bruce Roe’s in the DNA and RNA of the lab, loads the world’s organisms is happening new 454 now in Oklahoma. Oklahoma sequencing investigators, led by Dr. Bruce instrument capable of Roe of the University of Okla- analyzing homa’s Advanced Center for three– to Genome Technology (ACGT), four-hundred are leading the way in thousand tem- plates in one adapting the new technology day. Photo cour- to the demands for high tesy Bruce Roe. throughput sequencing of the bases on the polynucleotide strands that are the organism’s hundred thousand templates sequences this way. However, genes. In January of this year, can be processed in a day. The some Oklahoma researchers ACGT acquired a novel DNA ACGT crew, through careful need to determine sequences of sequencing instrument from trouble shooting, has trebled many viruses at the same time. the 454 company. the average number of units One of these investigators, Dr. The strategy behind the identified per template to over Marilyn Roossinck, of the Sam- new instrument relies on a 300 and is leading the nation uel Roberts Noble Foundation sequential flow of reagents in improving the protocols as- of Ardmore has teamed with Dr. past a reaction chamber to sociated with sample prepara- Bruce Roe to modify the 454 determine the sequence of tion. As a result, in one run, protocol so that templates from bases. The standard tech- the Oklahoma scientists can multiple samples can be nique, in place for many years, “read” over 100 million bases. analyzed in one run. Both are relied on separation of DNA The 454 instrument capac- members of the Plant Virus molecules differing in length by ity is such that entire genomes Biodiversity and Ecology scien- single bases. Such separation of bacteria have been deter- tific theme area supported by was done by electrophoresis mined in a week (preparation Oklahoma’s NSF EPSCoR through gels, most recently of samples adds days to the Research Infrastructure Im- gels in capillaries. The new single day of running the provement grant. The pair has strategy allows hundreds of instrument). Some genomes, obtained funding from the thousands of templates to be such as those of viruses, are so National Science Foundation for analyzed at the same time. In small that it would be tremen- their project, which they call a good run, three- to four- dous overkill to obtain their "5000 Viral Genomes”. VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 OKLAHOMA NSF EPSCOR RESEARCH CONNECTION PAGE 3

Upcoming Events 2006-2007 2006 Events December 1 Oklahoma Research Day University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond

2007 Events Spring (TBA) Women in Science Conference Oklahoma City

February 23 Communicating Science Knowledge: Implications for Oklahoma and Beyond Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

March 12 Donald W. Reynolds Oklahoma Governor’s Cup Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition Written Plans submitted to i2E, Inc., Oklahoma City

March 18 Big 12 Educational Research Conference Renaissance Hotel & Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City

March 18-20 Regional NSF Grants Conference Renaissance Hotel & Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City

April (TBA) Oklahoma Sci-Tech Student Reporting Awards Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma City

April 2 Research Day at the Capitol 4th Floor rotunda, State Capitol, Oklahoma City

April 12-14 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2007 Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA

April 19-20 Tallgrass Prairie & Konza Prairie Retreat Oklahoma & Kansas

April 26 Donald W. Reynolds Oklahoma Governor’s Cup Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition Awards Gala Oklahoma City

May 17 Annual State EPSCoR Conference

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

For more information please visit the website or contact Ms. Shelley D. Wear,

Outreach Coordinator at 405.225.9287 or [email protected].

www.okepscor.org/events.htm PAGE 4 OKLAHOMA NSF EPSCOR RESEARCH CONNECTION VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Oklahoma Scientists Investigate Use of Nanocrystals to Detect Bioweapons

Submitted by: Dr. Ken Roberts, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Tulsa

Dr. Ken Roberts of The University of Tulsa and Dr. Genetically modified E.coli illuminated with quantum Lloyd Bumm of the University dots taken in Dr. Roberts’ laboratory at The University of Tulsa. Epilfluorescence image, 800X magnification. of Oklahoma, members of the Oklahoma Network for Nanostructured Materials (NanoNet), have united their research groups to investigate the use of nanocrystals to de- tect bioweapons. Roberts’ and Bumm’s research groups were recently awarded a $750,000 DEP- SCoR grant to develop a novel biosensor for the detection of microbial warfare agents. pathogen, the binding affinity of signing the quantum dots with Current studies are being con- the aptamer for the pathogen a special silica coating to pro- ducted on non-pathogenic displaces the gold nanoparticle vide oxidative protection that model systems of anthrax and which allows the quantum dot to will preserve the luminescence E.coli utilizing highly lumi- luminesce (signal on—positive efficiency of the nanocrystals in nescent semiconducting test). harsh environments. Once ini- nanocrystals linked to patho- Roberts and Bumm aim tial design criteria have been gen-specific DNA aptamers to achieve optimal on/off met, the researchers hope to that are complemented to switching and hope to create a package the sensor into a port- strands of DNA bearing a gold biosensor that is rugged and able system for use in a variety nanoparticle. Investigators reliable. Special considerations of military and civil defense expect to show that the are being given in the sensor settings. nanoparticles can be used to design that involves synthesis Dr. Roberts heads a team detect the presence or absence and stepwise characterization of biosensor researchers that of biological agents. of the biosensor by near-field consists of a postdoctoral In the absence of the tar- scanning optical microscopy, fellow, research associate, two get pathogen, proximity of the confocal Raman microscopy, graduate students, and several gold nanoparticle quenches low-temperature luminescence undergraduates. Dr. Bumm’s the quantum dot photolumi- spectroscopy, and capillary team consists of himself, nescence (signal off—negative electrophoresis. a graduate student, and test). In the presence of a The researchers are also de- undergraduates. VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 OKLAHOMA NSF EPSCOR RESEARCH CONNECTION PAGE 5 Southwest Nanotechnologies Ink Nanotube License Agreement with NEC

Submitted by: Dr. Daniel Resasco, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – Norman-based South- integration. We are pleased to announce our West NanoTechnologies Inc. has been granted a license agreement with NEC. This is another non-exclusive license by NEC Corporation strong indication of SWeNT’s strategic intent to (NEC) covering the carbon nanotube. become the global market leader in the With its world headquarters in Tokyo, NEC production of single wall carbon nanotubes.” is a leading provider of Internet, broadband net- The carbon nanotube is drawing significant work and enterprise business solutions. NEC attention worldwide as a core material for holds basic patents for single- and multi-walled nanotechnology. Because of its extremely fine carbon nanotubes. structure and superior physical and chemical SouthWest NanoTechnologies (SWeNT) is a properties, the carbon nanotube is expected to privately held independent specialty chemical be used for such varied applications as high- company that manufactures high-quality single resolution AFM probes, flat panel displays, wall carbon nanotubes for a broad array of extremely lightweight and high-strength specialty products. The company was created in materials, high performance transistors, 2001 to spin off nanotube research developed at interconnect materials, fuel cells, ultra-sensitive the University of Oklahoma by chemical sensors and absorbents. engineering professor Daniel Resasco, who SWeNT has pioneered a catalytic method serves as SWeNT’s lead scientist. called CoMoCAT™ that produces single wall SWeNT CEO David Arthur said, “SWeNT’s carbon nanotubes at very high selectivity and mission is to make commercial nanotubes a remarkably narrow distribution of tube reality by focusing on quality, scalability and diameters and chirality. This unique selective synthesis capability makes it possible to grow customized nanotubes for specific applications. Also, the CoMoCAT™ process is inherently scalable to mass production of nanotubes. By using larger-scale fluidized bed reactors, SWeNT plans to make CoMoCAT™ nanotubes available to the masses at dramatically lower prices. Several patents on the technology have been issued or are pending. Single-walled carbon nanotubes consist of a hollow cylinder For more information about SWeNT, visit of carbon ~ 1nm in diameter, up to 1,000 times as long as it is wide. This structure has remarkable optical & electronic http://www.swnano.com . For more information properties, tremendous strength & flexibility, and high about NEC, visit http://www.nec.com . thermal & chemical stability. As a result, carbon nanotubes Editor’s Note: SWeNT’s lead scientist, Dr. Daniel are expected to have dramatic impact on several industries Resasco, is a member of the Oklahoma NanoNet and including displays, electronics, health care and composites. serves on the Nanoscale Science & Engineering Executive Graphic Courtesy of SWeNT Technologies. Committee for the NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Grant. PAGE 6 OKLAHOMA NSF EPSCOR RESEARCH CONNECTION VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Museum Without Walls Project Encourages Natural Curiosity and Drive to Learn in K-6 Students Submitted by: Ms. Shelley D. Wear, Outreach Coordinator, OK EPSCoR

In October, the Stillwater Children’s Museum (SCM) kicked-off the Museum Without Walls pro- gram which takes interactive science, literacy, and history exhibits into public schools encouraging students to learn in fun and exciting ways. The pilot program is being implemented in the local Stillwater School District during the 2006-2007 school year, with future plans for outreach to the other districts. According to Ms. Ruth Cavins, Executive Di- rector of SCM, “The mission of the Stillwater Chil- dren’s Museum is to educate and entertain chil- dren while serving as a resource for parents, edu- cators, and all who seek to enrich the lives of chil- dren.” Cavins continued, “The implementation of the Museum Without Walls supports this mission as we begin to raise the necessary financial support Photo by Mika Matzen. Courtesy Stillwater NewsPress. from the community through private foundations and individual donors, which is needed to build a permanent facility.” in the upcoming spring semester. The “Smart Start to Science and Literacy” exhibit Dr. Melcher is co-project coordinator for the plant is geared toward children in pre-Kindergarten virus biodiversity and ecology research group cur- through second grades and is the first of many exhib- rently funded by the Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR Re- its to come. SCM search Infrastructure Improvement will begin offering a grant, which is enabling Oklahoma scien- “Plant Virus Explo- tists to investigate plant viruses and ration” (PVE) mod- their ecological impacts at the Nature ule to elementary Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and middle school located in northern Oklahoma. The PVE students in Janu- exhibit will provide students with expo- ary 2007. Addition- sure to the scientific process through ex- ally, an exhibit en- perimentation. titled “Journey Ms. Amy Dolezal, a participating Back in Time” is teacher at Highland Park Elementary in planned for imple- Stillwater indicated that, “The children mentation in April have really enjoyed the interaction with 2007. someone new coming into the class- The PVE ex- room. These experiences have enhanced hibit was designed Facilitator, Rachel Sproul, asked elementary the science curriculum I am currently in collaboration school students to explain what they learned using, which is a plus.” with Oklahoma during a lesson that focused on buoyancy. In addition to serving K-6 grade State University students and teachers, the Museum (OSU) scientists. Dr. Ulrich Melcher, the Robert J. Without Walls project serves as a training ground for Sirny Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry, and Dr. OSU undergraduate students interested in careers in Stephen Marek, Assistant Professor in the depart- education. The museum employs undergraduate stu- ment of Entomology and Plant Pathology, contributed dents through a federal work study program. to the development of the curriculum and hands-on Rachel Sproul, an exhibit facilitator, said of the experiments that will engage fifth and sixth graders Museum Without Walls project, “I love it! It’s a great VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 OKLAHOMA NSF EPSCOR RESEARCH CONNECTION PAGE 7

MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS Current Trends in Research Highlighted (continued from page 6 at OK EPSCoR Annual Conference experience for students, teachers, and me. It’s preparing me for my Submitted by: Ms. Shelley D. Wear, Outreach Coordinator, OK EPSCoR career.” Sproul is an OSU fresh- man and elementary school edu- Nearly 200 Oklahoma scientists from around the state attended the cation major. Oklahoma EPSCoR Annual State The Smart Start to Science Conference held at the University of and Literacy and Plant Virus Oklahoma in Norman. The event Exploration exhibits are co- held May 18, 2006 hosted college sponsored by Oklahoma EPSCoR, faculty and students, along with Oklahoma State Regents for industry researchers who discussed Higher Education, The National current and future research trends in Science Foundation, Smart Start nanotechnology, and plant virus Payne County and the NASA biodiversity and ecology, a new Oklahoma Space Grant. The Mu- interdisciplinary field of science created through the Oklahoma’s NSF EPSCoR seum Without Walls exhibits are Research Infrastructure Improvement grant. expected to be used by museum Dr. Frank Waxman, OK EPSCoR Director, welcomed participants along staff as outreach tools even after with special guest, Dr. Sherry Farwell, NSF EPSCoR Office Head, who briefed the opening of the permanent attendees on the importance of EPSCoR and collaborative partnerships within facility, which is projected for and outside of the state. Dr. Farwell highlighted NSF’s co-funding program March 2010. benefits to Oklahoma’s researchers and hinted that the direction of future For more information on the EPSCoR grants would be strength-based research initiatives. Stillwater Children’s Museum Oklahoma was fortunate to host visit their website at: such a distinguished group of speak- ers, including Dr. Suxiang Tong, www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org or contact Ruth Cavins at research scientist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 405.533.3333 or email along with several External Advisory [email protected]. Board members from both theme areas. Dr. Young, and Dr. Alison Power, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Science and Technology Studies at Cornell University and Dr. Karen Garrett, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at Kansas State University are EAB members who presented research trends from the PVBE theme area. Dr. James Wicksted, Associate Director of OK EPSCoR, expressed, “I was also delighted to see three invited talks given by members of the NanoNet External Advisory Board.” NanoNet EAB members and conference presenters included Dr. Kenneth Klabunde, a distinguished Chemistry Professor at Kansas State University, gave a informative talk on the company he started in Manhattan, Kansas, known as Nanoscale, Dr. Rodney Ruoff, John Evans Professor of Nanoengineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Northwest- ern University, talked about the characteristics of the interfaces in carbon nanotubes and graphene-based materials, and Dr. Ray Baughman, Director of the Nanotech Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas, discussed carbon nanotube yarns and transparent sheets. In addition to presentations, the conference hosted a scientific poster session featuring 60 faculty and graduate student research posters. Stillwater students test various Oklahoma EPSCoR and the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative also spon- objects’ ability to sink or float during sored an undergraduate nanotechnology symposium in which 14 undergraduate a Museum Without Walls exhibit. research posters were presented during the annual conference poster session. Students were surprised by the Visit the Oklahoma EPSCoR website to view the full agenda and link to results of their experiments. available presentations at http://www.okepscor.org/Events/events2006.htm. Return Address:

415 Whitehurst Stillwater, OK 74078-1038

Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

Oklahoma City Office: Stillwater Office: Dr. Frank Waxman Dr. James Wicksted State EPSCoR Director Associate EPSCoR Director Oklahoma State Regents Oklahoma State University for Higher Education 415 Whitehurst 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Stillwater, OK 74078-1038 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405.744.9964 405.225.9459 405.744.7688 (fax) 405.225.9230 (fax) [email protected] [email protected]

www.okepscor.org

This publication does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the National Science Foundation. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations, do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.

This publication, printed by Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, was issued by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in November 2006, as authorized by 70 O.S. Supp. 2001, Section 3206. Six hundred seventy-five copies have been printed at a cost of approximately $485.87. Copies have been deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.