Training the Next Generation of Scientists to Impact the World Letter from the Dean
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The magazine of the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame Winter 2013 IMPACT Training the next generation of scientists to impact the world Letter from the Dean more than 1,000 celebrate transit of venus at notre dame The Notre Dame and South Bend communities came together on June 5 at the Jordan Hall of Science to witness the Transit of Venus, a rare astronomical event in which the Earth, Venus, and the Sun align. More than 1,000 visitors gathered to watch Venus transit the Sun for the last time this century. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME FOUNDER, FATHER EDWARD SORIN, C.S.C., had a vision of the University becoming a powerful means for doing good in the country. Today, Notre Dame is fulfilling this bold vision, as well as expanding upon it by becoming a powerful means for doing good not only here at home, but around the world as well. This edition of Notre Dame Science highlights a unity of purpose in the research being conducted by faculty and students in the College of Science and in the community as a whole, as well as in cross-collaboration with both our campus counterparts in other colleges and with our off-campus colleagues at the Harper Cancer Research Institute. This unity of purpose broadens the scope of the University’s research initiatives while, at the same time, focuses each of our individual efforts on serving the common good Contents through purposeful research that, ultimately, leads to solving real-world problems. gregory p. crawford In 2010, Notre Dame created the Department of Applied and Com- William K. Warren Foundation Dean putational Mathematics and Statistics (ACMS). Part of the College of Feature Stories College News of the College of Science Science, ACMS enables the cross-fertilization of ideas by taking a mul- 2 Fulfilling Father Sorin’s Vision 22 Harper Cancer Research Institute Welcomes New Faculty tidisciplinary team approach to uncovering common patterns in diverse 4 New Dual Degree Prepares Physicians for Global Health 23 Partnering with the Ara Parseghian Medical Research and complex subjects. Careers Foundation Last year, Notre Dame became just the fourth college or university in 5 A Class of Its Own 24 ND LIGHTS Brightens Under-equipped High School the country to offer a Master of Science in Global Health. The interdis- 6 New Multidisciplinary Graduate Program Consolidates Laboratories ciplinary program will provide a mixture of both classroom and on-site Life Science Opportunities 25 Irish Students Bring their Passion and Innovative Spirit to learning where science is comprehended in the context of its promise to 8 One Department, Two Disciplines, Endless Possibilities ESTEEM improve the health of those who are disproportionately affected by pre- ventable diseases due to living in resource-poor settings. 10 Innovative Master's Program Prepares Graduates to Undergraduate News & Research Succeed in World of Big Data Finally, scientists from both the University of Notre Dame and the Indi- 26 Research Experience Impacts Career Decisions 11 Notre Dame’s New Sustainability Minor ana University School of Medicine are collaborating at the Mike and Josie 27 Undergraduates Publish Research in Scientia Harper Cancer Research Institute on research in cancer biology, placing 11 Department of Mathematics Offers New Minor in Actuarial 28 Undergraduate Students Learn Compassionate Care in special emphasis on genomics and proteomics, as well as breast, prostate, Science Medicine and colon cancers. Research News It is my sincere hope that this issue of Notre Dame Science enlightens 29 Student-Athlete Spotlight: Andrew Hendrix you to the truly groundbreaking work that’s going on at the University. 13 NSF Places the First Nuclear Accelerator Since the ‘80s 29 The Fight for Sight: Biology Club Raises Over $7,500 to It’s also my hope that it inspires you. Most of all, I hope the work, on and at Notre Dame Fight Blindness off campus and around the world, makes you as proud as it makes me, to 14 Notre Dame Taking the Lead in Adult Stem Cell Research New Faces be a part of Father Sorin’s vision and of the Notre Dame family. 15 Mini SRIs: Hartland, Huber, Fraser 30 College Expands Faculty 16 Sustainable Energy Initiative: Advancing Sustainable DEAN Gregory Crawford 31 Faculty Spotlight: Rebecca Wingert EDITOR Marissa Gebhard Sincerely, Fossil, Nuclear, Solar Energy WRITERS Mike Roe, Gene Stowe, Rachel 32 Graduate Student Spotlight: Doug Berry Fellman, Stephanie Healey, and Jessica 18 Environmental Change Initiative Developing New 32 Undergraduate Student Spotlight: MurphyKate Montee Stoller-Conrad Methods, Collaborations GRAPHIC DESIGN Noah Armstrong and 33 Alumnus Spotlight: Thomas Quinn Lotta Barnes 19 Innovation Fellows Advance Discovery from Bench PHOTO CREDITS Matt Cashore and Toward Bedside gregory p. crawford, ph.d. Barbara Johnston 20 QuarkNet Receives $6.1 Million NSF Award to Advance Standing Ovations Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the College of Science Professor of Physics Program 215 Jordan Hall 21 GLOBES Fellow Combines Ecology and Law to Guide Notre Dame, IN 46556 science.nd.edu Ecological Restoration [email protected] (574) 631-4465 Feature Notre Dame Strengthens International joseph bock, Collaborations director of global Fulfilling health training Father Sorin’s Vision Although Notre Dame is located in the state of Indiana, known colloquially as the “crossroads of America,” the University has long been enriched by To Be One of the Most Powerful distinctly international perspectives. To extend Notre Dame’s global impact, Nich- Means for Doing Good in the Country olas Entrikin, vice president and associate provost for internationalization, was recruited to Notre and Around the World Dame in 2010 to enhance and expand the inter- national components of Notre Dame. Through his leadership, Notre Dame champions international study, research, and collaboration. In particular, it Joseph Bock, director of global health he University of Notre Dame is build- strengthens the University’s international collabo- training at the Eck Institute for Global ing upon its growing strength in global rations with institutes and researchers, other uni- Health, oversees the Master of Science in versities, study abroad opportunities, international health research and training, while also Global Health. Bock has been the Uni- student recruitment and support, government continuing its Catholic tradition of cre- versity’s liaison to Catholic Relief Services T partnerships, global corporate and foundation part- and has supported the University's work in ating a sense of human solidarity and con- nerships, international delegations, and University Haiti. Bock says the goal of the program is tributing to the common good, by offering marta michalska advancement. to “help people widen their perspectives, to worked at a hospital in Tanzania In the fall of 2012, Notre Dame International a Master of Science in Global Health. Notre look closely at the reasons behind extreme through the Eck Institute for hosted the inaugural Symposium on Study Abroad Dame is just the fourth college or university poverty and vulnerability, and to develop Global Health. Assessment that brought together scholars and ad- the practical skills to make a real and last- in the country to offer such a degree. ministrators of study abroad programs from a new ing difference in world health. This is not consortium of private research universities that just about intellectual curiosity. This is about include Princeton, Georgetown, Yale, Duke, Rice, having a passion to reach out to the poor The M.S. in global health provides a mix- and Columbia to explore ways to strengthen the and vulnerable.” ture of classroom and experiential learning academic quality of study abroad programs. Notre The inaugural class of 14 members grad- where science is understood in the context Dame ranks ninth in percentage of students study- uated in May 2012 after completing field of its promise to improve the health of those ing abroad among American doctoral/research in- experiences fighting Dengue fever in Puerto people in resource-poor settings who are dis- stitutions. proportionately affected by preventable dis- Rico, cholera in Haiti, and Hepatitis C in eases. The program requires course work to Malaysia. Nineteen students in this year's be completed over two semesters, followed class are headed to places such as Tanzania by one to two months of field experience in and India to fight infectious diseases that a location where access to health care is lim- are becoming more threatening because of ited. Finally, students are required to present increases in non-communicable diseases. a scholarly report based on either original or In his inaugural address in 2005, Uni- literature-based research. A few core cours- versity of Notre Dame President Rev. John es and electives include: Research Methods I. Jenkins, C.S.C. , said, “The world needs in Global Health Science, Population and a university that graduates men and women Disease Ecology, and Medical Microbiol- who are not only capable and knowledge- ogy. Additionally, the program emphasizes able, but who accept their responsibility to project management, study design, and cul- serve others—especially those in greatest tural sensitivity. need.” Notre Dame is that university. 2 3 Feature Feature health of some of the world’s most under- New Dual Degree served populations,” says Gregory Craw- ford, dean of the College of Science at the A Class of Its Own University of Notre Dame. Prepares Physicians “The new joint effort will better pre- Notre Dame’s Master pare our graduates for highly competi- of Science in Patent Law for Global Health Careers tive global health careers at places like the World Health Organization, the U.S. Cen- Integrated program allows IUSM ters for Disease Control, and the National SMARTPHONES, SEARCH ENGINES, AND SOCIAL geneticist and patent agent, with experi- Institutes of Health,” says Eck Institute networking, fuel-cell technologies, texting, ence evaluating the viability of intellectual students to pursue M.S.