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Ronald E. Mcnair Undergraduate Research Journal - 2010 McNair Journal Volume 10 Article 1 October 2011 Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Research Journal - 2010 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/mcnair Recommended Citation (2011) "Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Research Journal - 2010," McNair Journal: Vol. 10 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/mcnair/vol10/iss1/1 This work is brought to you for free and open access by FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in McNair Journal by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program COHORT 7 Undergraduate Achievement Journal 2010 CONTENTS History of Ronald E. McNair Program . .3 Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair . 4 Letter from the Director . 5 Letter from the Provost. .6 Letter from Dean of the University Graduate School. .7 Letter from Vice President, Division of Student Affairs. .8 FIU Facts at a Glance . 9 McNair Fellows Presenter Index . 10 McNair Fellows Research . 12 Administrative Staff . 62 Ronald E. McNair Advisory Board . 63 Acknowledgements. 64 2 Florida International University McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program COHORT 7 Undergraduate Achievement Journal 2010 McNAIR Post-baccalaurEATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM The McNair Program was established at FIU in 2002 and since that time has inducted over 200 undergraduate students majoring in the different STEM fields of study. Congress established a series of programs, funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and ultimately progress to become experts in their field. The Ronald E. Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program was established in 1986. The McNair program was named after Ronald E. McNair who passed away during the explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle on January 28th, 1986. Its primary goal is to increase the number of Ph.D. students among groups under- represented in graduate education. Presently, there are over 156 academic institutions that house the McNair Program. Benefits of the program include faculty mentorship, opportunities to present research at various graduate school enrollment opportunities, and a generous stipend. The Ronald E. McNair program prepares students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have demonstrated strong academic potential for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other activities. The McNair program works closely with students as they complete their undergraduate requirements. The program also encourages students to enroll in graduate programs and then track their progress through successful completion of advanced degrees. The goal of the McNair program is to provide enriching scholastic experiences that prepare eligible scholars for doctoral (Ph.D.) education. To this end, participants are given the unique opportunity of developing the highest-level academic and research skills needed for successful admission to and completion of a Ph.D. program. McNair scholars are eligible for the following services until they complete their baccalaureate degree: academic counseling, financial aid assistance, mentoring, research opportunities, seminars, summer internships, and tutoring. Furthermore, program staff will always be ready to provide moral support, advice and guidance to all McNair alumni throughout their graduate years as they pursue their doctoral degrees. Florida International University 3 McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program COHORT 7 Undergraduate Achievement Journal 2010 DR. RONALD ErwiN McNAIR The McNair Program is named in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the laser physicist and Challenger space shuttle astronaut. McNair graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1971 and received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976. He was selected by NASA for the space shuttle program in 1978 and was mission specialist on the successful 1984 Challenger flight before his death in the space shuttle accident of 1986. Those who knew Ronald McNair characterized him as fearless, determined, and accustomed to applying all available resources to any problem he faced. Ronald E. McNair was the second of three mission specialists aboard Challenger. Born on October 21, 1950, in Lake City, South Carolina, McNair was the son of Carl C. McNair, Sr., and Pearl M. McNair. He achieved early success in the segregated public schools he attended as both a student and an athlete. Valedictorian of his high school class, he attended North Carolina A&T State University where in 1971 he received a B.S. degree in physics. He went on to study physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he specialized in quantum electronics and laser technology, completing his Ph.D. in 1977. As a student he performed some of the earliest work on chemical HF/DF and high pressure CO lasers, publishing path breaking scientific papers on the subject. McNair was also a physical fitness advocate and pursued athletic training from an early age. He was a leader in track and football at his high school. He also became a black belt in Karate, and while in graduate school began offering classes at St. Paul’s AME Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also participated in several Karate tournaments, taking more than 30 trophies in these competitions. While involved in these activities, McNair met and married Cheryl B. Moore of Brooklyn, New York, and they later had two children. After completing his Ph.D. he began working as a physicist at the Optical Physics Department of Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California, and conducted research on electro-optic laser modulation for satellite-to- satellite space communications. This research led McNair into close contact with the space program for the first time, and when the opportunity presented itself he applied for astronaut training. In January 1978 NASA selected him to enter the astronaut cadre, one of the first three Black Americans selected. McNair became the second Black American in space between February 3 and 11, 1984, by flying on the Challenger shuttle mission STS-41-B. During this mission McNair operated the maneuverable arm built by Canada used to move payloads in space. The 1986 mission on which he was killed was his second Shuttle flight Dr. McNair graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T (‘71) - named Presidential Scholar (‘67-’71), Ford Foundation Fellow (‘71-’74), National Fellowship Fund Fellow (‘74-’75), NATO Fellow (‘75) - winner of Omega Psi Phi Scholar of Year Award (‘75), Los Angeles Public School System’s Service Commendation (‘79), Distinguished Alumni Award (‘79), National Society of Black Professional Engineers Distinguished National Scientist Award (‘79), Friend of Freedom Award (‘81), Who’s Who Among Black Americans (‘80), an AAU Karate Gold Medal (‘76), 5 Regional Black belt Karate Championships. Dr. Ronald E. McNair died on January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. 4 Florida International University McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program COHORT 7 Undergraduate Achievement Journal 2010 November 18, 2010 Dear Reader: I am pleased to offer this publication representing the research activities of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Fellows at Florida International University. In its second cycle of funding from the United States Department of Education, the McNair program has served well over eighty students, many of whom are enrolled in masters and doctoral (Ph.D.) programs at some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Central to the core mission of Florida International University is the provision of high quality undergraduate research experience for its students. FIU is quite fortunate to be the recipient of only four Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement grants in the state of Florida and the only one in Miami-Dade County. The central mission of the McNair program is to expose our undergraduate students to cutting edge research conducted by world class faculty. Each year FIU selects twenty-two such students and pairs them with faculty involved in scientific research in a variety of STEM disciplines—Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, etc. It goes without saying that the entire staff of the McNair program here at FIU is extremely proud of the many achievements of our McNair Fellows. It is for this and other reasons that we gladly share with you this publication which aptly describes some of the research activities of our McNair students. In am certain that you will find the reading of the research papers as enjoyable and enlightening and I did when I first read them. Sincerely, Dr. E. George Simms Director, Pre-Collegiate, Grants & Ronald E. McNair Programs Florida International University 5 McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program COHORT 7 Undergraduate Achievement Journal 2010 E. George Simms Director of Pre-Collegiate Programs and Grants Florida International University MARC 414 Dear Dr. Simms, I am pleased to introduce the Florida International University Ronald E. McNair Research Publication. The document illustrates some of the outstanding research activities of our McNair students. In its second cycle of funding from the United States Department of Education, the McNair program makes it possible for a select group of students to engage in high quality research under the tutelage and guidance of world class research
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