Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology

Fall 2017 • Issue 33

BECKMAN INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS This past summer, 10 undergraduate students performed research at the forefront of advanced imaging and microscopy technologies with faculty and graduate student mentors. The “Discoveries in Imaging” Research Experience for Undergraduates also gave them a first-hand look at what it's like to be a graduate student. See page 3. IN THIS ISSUE From the Director ... Program Provides Undergrads with Research Experience, Professional he Beckman Institute is about establishing Development...... 3 Tconnections and creating research synergy between METRO Sniper Unit Benefits From our faculty and staff members, the University of Vis Lab Expertise...... 6 Illinois, and the larger community. To this end, we have been looking at ways to reinvigorate the physical space GSK Center Finding Early Success at the Beckman Institute. We’ve been examining how with Imaging Technique in our researchers use the building to interact and how we Dermatological Studies...... 8 bring members of the campus and outside community Jeff Moore Mohaghegh Promotes Illinois’ into the institute. Leadership in Socio-technical Communication is one aspect of the dynamic Risk Analysis ...... 10 interaction between those that call Beckman “home” and Beckman Postdoc Receives First those that are interested in what we do here. We’re looking Place in ‘Science as Art’ at ways to improve our communication pathways, and are in Competition...... 11 the process of updating the Beckman website and examining Events at Beckman...... 13 other venues that communicate about the exciting projects and events that happen here. Honors & Awards...... 15 Communication is a two-way street and we’d like input on the best ways for you to receive news about the institute. As SYNERGY is a publication of the we prepare for our 30th anniversary celebration, we’d like to Communications Office of the Beckman keep you informed about upcoming events. We’re interested Institute for Advanced Science and in what you think is the best way to do that. Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Each issue highlights Do you follow us on Facebook (BeckmanInstitute) or the people and science that make the institute one of the premier facilities for Twitter (@BeckmanInst)? Are you subscribed to our interdisciplinary research in the world. publications listserv (go.illinois.edu/Beckman_Subscribe)? Editor Do you have any comments about our outreach efforts and Maeve Reilly, [email protected] publications? Writers We’d love to uncover what information resonates with you Doris Dahl, Justin Pence, Maeve Reilly and the best way to deliver it to you. If you have thoughts Designer or suggestions, please email [email protected]. Doris Dahl edu. Photography Doris Dahl, L. Brian Stauffer, Sincerely, Thompson-McClellan

Join our mailing list: go.illinois.edu/Beckman_Subscribe Jeff Moore, Director Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology

ON THE COVER: During the 10-week "Discoveries in Bioimaging" Research BeckmanInstitute @BeckmanInst BeckmanInstitute Experience for Undergraduates, Cheri Fang, left, a first-year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, served as a graduate Company/Beckman-Institute-at-Illinois student mentor for Amanda Craine, a junior in biomedical engineering at Pennsylvania State University. See story, page 3.

2 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Program Provides Undergrads with Research Experience, Professional Development

By Doris Dahl his summer, 10 undergraduate “This is the perfect opportunity to engage the next Tstudents performed research at generation of scientists and engineers, particularly those the forefront of advanced imaging and microscopy technologies through the from underrepresented groups.” “Discoveries in Bioimaging” Research —Stephen Boppart Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Funded by the National Science Foundation, the 10-week program Marina Marjanovic, the REU program ing, and microscopy through lectures, allowed the students to experience life as coordinator and the associate director demonstrations, lab activities, and tours. a graduate student. of the GSK Center for Optical Molecu- Then, the students engage in intensive lar Imaging, said the program, which research projects in imaging and biologi- “Our REU program is a wonderful receives more than 100 applicants each cal visualization, closely mentored by a opportunity to bring in some of the top year, has three main goals. faculty member and graduate student. undergraduate students in the U.S. and The program has exceeded expectations “It’s about research and exposure to a inspire them through bioimaging to and benefits everyone involved, accord- different academic environment,” Mar- pursue graduate degrees,” said Stephen ing to Boppart. Boppart, a professor of electrical and janovic said. “It’s also about professional computer engineering and of bioengi- development because we offer them “The (undergraduate) students have neering who also is co-chair of Beck- other types of training besides research.” been excellent and incredibly dedicated man’s Integrative Imaging theme. Bop- Professional Development to their research and to fully experi- part is the principal investigator for the encing the graduate research lifestyle,” The program begins with a weeklong program. “This is the perfect opportunity he said. “Their graduate mentors have Bioimaging Bootcamp that provides to engage the next generation of scien- gained a new sense of professional matu- safety information as well as founda- tists and engineers, particularly those rity as they shift from student to teacher, tional information on biology, imag- from underrepresented groups,” he said. and the faculty mentors have seen their own research program advance as a result.”

Professional development also is a key part of the program. Several U of I REUs and similar campus programs often collaborate on activities for participants, and the Graduate College hosts professional development events for students as well. In addition, the students receive guidance in preparing for an oral and poster presentation at the campus’s Illinois Summer Research Symposium (ISRS). Students Reap Rewards Participants are enthusiastic about the benefits of an REU.

“I didn’t know much about bioimaging Jamila Hedhli, left, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, and Than Huynh, a or medical device research prior to this junior in bioengineering at Illinois, demonstrate equipment in Beckman’s Biomedical REU,” said Amanda Craine, who is now Imaging Center.

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 3 From left, Andrew Bower, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering, and Joanne Li, a sixth-year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, mentored Janet Sorrells, a fifth-year senior studying biomedical engineering at the University of Rochester. in her junior year in biomedical research,” Fang said. “We have worked nois) and to further build on the founda- engineering at Pennsylvania State on experimental techniques (cell culture, tions of my developing research skills.” University. “Through different seminars, immunomagnetic cell isolation, flow His research project utilized PET-CT I have learned about many different cytometry), technical writing, critical and ultrasound technology in addition aspects of imaging research and its direct thinking, and using analytical software.” to laser speckle contrast imaging to impact on the medical field. I have also assess angiogenesis and its connection learned more about graduate school Than Huynh—the only Illinois student to the phenotype of different melanoma admissions, the milestones within a Ph.D. in the group—is now a junior in bioengi- cell morphologies. program, and how to prepare for neering. This summer, he worked in the lab of Wawrzyniec Dobrucki, an assistant graduate school.” Javier de Jesus Astacio, now in his third professor of bioengineering and member year studying mechanical engineering Craine has been working in the lab of of Beckman’s BST Group. Huynh previ- at the University of Puerto Rico at Princess Imoukhuede, an assistant pro- ously conducted research with Dobrucki Mayaguëz, worked in the lab of fessor of bioengineering and member of and his graduate mentor Jamila Hedhli, Catherine Best, a research assistant pro- the Bioimaging Science and Technology a fourth-year Ph.D. student in bioengi- fessor of bioengineering. (BST) Group. Craine’s summer research neering who also was a mentor last year. focused on studying angiogenesis, the “My goal is to provide a realistic world “I saw this REU program as an oppor- growth of new blood vessels from pre- of research experience,” Best said. “I like tunity to not only continue our research existing vasculature. the students to see the ups and downs of with my undivided attention, but also as research, and to appreciate the process Craine’s mentor Cheri Fang, a first- an opportunity to explore more of the of science.” year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, campus itself and all the cool ‘toys’ the is participating in the REU for the first other labs have,” Huynh said. “Through She was impressed with Astacio’s prog- time. “Amanda has been doing great in this experience, I also hope to get a look ress in the program. “He has exceeded learning the techniques important to our into graduate student life here (at Illi- my expectations in every way,” she said.

4 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu “Javier is tenacious, has persevered through many technical challenges, thinks critically, and is a great com- municator. With these traits, and a little guidance from Pati Cintora (his graduate student mentor), he successfully used spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) to quantify mass, volume, and cell density maps from his 3D models of a mouse cerebellum.” Leading by Example Joanne Li, a sixth-year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, has served as the REU’s research team leader for three years and served as a graduate mentor for Janet Sorrells, a fifth-year senior studying biomedical engineering at the University During the 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates, Cheri Fang, left, a first- year Ph.D. student in bioengineering, served as a graduate student mentor for Amanda of Rochester who is working in Craine, a junior in biomedical engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Boppart’s lab. Li was impressed with Sorrells’ achievements. As the research team leader, Li checks whether it’s the path they want to take,” “She’s doing amazing and has totally in with each student frequently, hold- Li said. exceeded my expectations,” Li said during weekly meetings to make sure they Marjanovic is preparing an NSF proposal ing the program. “Since both Andrew are making progress, meeting deadlines, to renew the REU, which is in its final (Bower, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in and also handling the stress of such an year of a three-year agreement. Andrew electrical and computer engineering who intense program. also is a grad mentor for Sorrells) and I Smith, an assistant professor of bioengi- have taken the approach of being very “One of the purposes of this program is neering and co-PI for the program will hands-off with her, she usually works to let the students experience grad school serve as PI and Marjanovic as co-PI if the independently—and she’s getting lots at the U of I, so I share a lot of my experi- project is accepted; Boppart will continue of good data. Her independence plus ences with the students—both good and as a faculty mentor. bad—because at the end of the program, this level of work quality is something I Of the 12 students who have graduated I want them to have a clear and realis- don’t often see from an undergraduate since participating in the program during tic idea of what grad school is like and student.” the first two years, nine are in graduate school or will enter this fall. Four are en- rolled at Illinois. One additional student has deferred his admission and plans to attend Illinois.

“We hope to continue our involvement because of the success of the program in encouraging undergraduate students who are underrepresented in STEM graduate programs to attend graduate school,” Smith said. “Continuing also benefits (the Urbana campus) directly because the program serves as a unique experience for undergraduates from other campuses to become immersed in campus prior to applying for graduate At right, Catherine Best, a research assistant professor of bioengineering, supervises school, which enhances our recruitment students, including REU participant Javier de Jesus Astacio, center, who is in his third rate of top students.” year in mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguëz, and Yujin Lee, an Illinois junior in bioengineering.

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 5 METRO Sniper Unit Benefits From Vis Lab Expertise

By Doris Dahl embers of the sniper unit of the MChampaign County Metropolitan Emergency Tactical Response Operations (METRO) gathered last month for an unconventional target practice that was captured on video.

And, that was the point.

“The METRO team is a multijurisdic- tional SWAT team that is activated in response to law enforcement situations that require special equipment, training, and a team approach in order to ensure Officer Grant Briggs, of the U of I Police Department and a member of the METRO sniper unit, fires a round at 100 yards from the target. "The high-speed camera gives us the the best resolution,” said Officer Grant ability to see what happens to the different bullets, what happens to the barrier, and Briggs, of the U of I Police Department. how much debris is created," he said. Travis Ross, the manager of Beckman’s proper equipment. We can be called to sold the camera to the Vis Lab, offered Visualization Laboratory (Vis Lab), respond to a vast range of situations and his services to help set up the Photron which is part of the Imaging Technology it is imperative we select the right tool for FASTCAM SA-Z ultra-high speed cam- Group, was asked to join the sniper unit t h e j o b.” era and make sure things went smoothly. at the Urbana shooting range to record The Vis Lab was a perfect fit for the proj- They fired several test rounds so that high-speed video as three different types ect and Ross was excited at the prospect Ross and Huhn could make sure the of ammunition penetrated various barri- of his first ballistics experiment. camera was capturing the desired data ers, representing different scenarios the and to make sure the images captured snipers might encounter. “I had never done this before. I have were clear enough to be useful. always wanted to do ballistics but I just “The round is traveling at such a high thought ‘What campus unit is going to “The sniper bullets were flying at around speed, it’s hard to picture what’s happen- need ballistics?’” Ross said. “But I never 2,675 feet-per-second and were shot ing to it as it’s traveling through the bar- thought the SWAT team would need Vis from a distance of 100 yards so the rier,” Briggs said. “The high-speed camera Lab services.” time from rifle to target was only about gives us the ability to see what happens to 1/8th of a second,” Ross said. “With that the different bullets, what happens to the To assist Ross on his first ballistics proj- knowledge, we had to figure out how barrier, and how much debris is created. ect, John M. Huhn, the general manager many frames per second was needed.” The results will aid us in selecting the of Motion Engineering Company, which “We figured out we needed 25,000 frames per second (fps) to capture it minimally, Two frames from the so we doubled that and did 50,000 fps high-speed video show the point of impact and were prepared to up it, if needed, on the barrier. It was but that seemed to be fine. And then we the first ballistics could adjust the shutter speed in order to experiment for the capture more crisp detail.” Visualization Lab, but may not be the last as “The longer the shutter is open, the blur- members of the sniper rier a moving object will be,” Ross said. unit consider other “We want to stop that blur to ensure a uses for the technology crisp image. So something that fast we to aid them in their jobs. have to have a very fast shutter speed such as 10 or 15 nanoseconds.”

6 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Each video clip was actually a fraction of a second in real time. The set up provided a three-feet-wide window for the camera with the material the snipers were shooting through in the middle. “With the camera shooting at 50,000 frames per second, by the time the bullet enters and exits the frame, there were only like 200 frames,” Ross said.

The team wanted to test several types of bullets to increase their accuracy. Although each bullet weighs about the same, the bullets had different covers or “jackets,” and the interior composition varied, which effects how each bullet expands and how it separates on impact. Travis Ross, the manager of the Visualization Lab, adjusts the high-speed video From preliminary viewing of the videos camera he used to record the point-of-impact as three different types of ammunition on site after each shot, Ross felt confident penetrated various barriers. It was part of a project with the sniper unit of the from the reaction of the team that they Champaign County Metropolitan Emergency Tactical Response Operations (METRO). were getting the desired data from the clips. Briggs confirmed the team’s satis- “As snipers, it is essential that we have The project illustrated what Ross likes faction a few days later. confidence in the round that is being most about his job. fired,” Briggs said. “We have to be certain “I am happy with the preliminary re- “Probably the thing I enjoy about my job it will strike where we are aiming and sults,” Briggs said. “I am going to com- is figuring out how to do some of these deliver the terminal performance neces- pile the results into a presentation that difficult tasks that no one else does,” sary to resolve the situation. Our work I will share with the other members of Ross said. “I’m delivering a product that with the Visualization Lab will give us our unit. We will analyze the results and makes people’s lives easier in some way confidence that the right round is being decide if we need to modify our round or so they can learn something or be utilized for the situation at hand.” selection depending on each type inspired by it to learn more. Like today, of barrier.” they will probably come back and want to do more research because some of the Travis Ross, the results puzzled them. People learn things manager of the that they never thought possible.” Visualization Lab, consults with Briggs confirmed he is considering John M. Huhn other applications for the high-speed to finetune the video equipment. settings for the high-speed video “I can see potential for analyzing other camera. Huhn weapons platforms—perhaps less lethal is the general weapons, pistols, patrol rifles, and things manager of Motion like that.” Engineering Company, which Members of the sniper unit participat- sold the camera to ing in the project: Briggs, Officer David the Vis Lab. Dameron, Parkland Police Department; Officer Jared Hurley, Urbana Police -De partment; and Lt. Jason Norton, UPD.

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 7 GSK Center Finding Early Success with Imaging Technique in Dermatological Studies

By Doris Dahl uOnline Video: hair ranges from about 50-100 microns.) esearchers at the Beckman Institute bit.ly/BoppartVideo17 The light can actually penetrate com- Rare investigating the efficacy of topi- pletely through the skin—up to 10 cen- cal dermatological medications through advancing the technology. We’re advanc- timeters—but it only provides valuable noninvasive imaging technologies that ing the applications. And the marriage high-resolution imaging and feedback at track changes at the molecular level more of those two makes the sum greater than about 200 microns in depth, according quickly than previously possible. either part.” to Arp.

The research represents a unique “Our advanced optical imaging tech- “Traditional imaging modalities such as Beckman collaboration—a partnership niques also enable new molecular, MRI, x-ray, and CT typically measure between Beckman’s Biophotonics Imag- metabolic, structural, and functional morphological (or structural) changes,” ing Laboratory and the pharmaceutical imaging of cells and tissues, even in Arp said. “We’re looking more for company GSK, which created the GSK human subjects,” said Boppart, who is the small changes, the chemical-level Center for Optical Molecular Imaging co-chair of the Integrated Imaging theme changes that occur before you ever see in 2016. and co-director of the GSK Center. “All that morphological change.” of these aspects were directly relevant Perfect Match to what GSK was looking for in order Detecting how medications work at the GSK’s global search for the right partner to advance their drug discovery and molecular-cellular level can save time lead them to the Biophotonics Imaging development. There is a clear need to im- and money. Lab at the Beckman Institute and the lab’s age drug distribution and efficacy at the The new optical imaging techniques director, Stephen Boppart. molecular-cellular level in living tissues, allow researchers to see what targets the “Steve proposed a structure where we and our techniques and technologies medication is hitting in a variety of dif- have GSK working side-by-side in the lab were a perfect fit.” ferent systems including cells, animals, with postdocs and grad students working Improving Efficacy and humans. This allows vertical transla- on the same project,” said Zane Arp, U.S. The techniques involve laser light that tion of methods from these systems into lead for imaging technologies at GSK penetrates the skin about 200-500 clinical work, such as dermatology. In and co-director of the center. “They’re microns. (The width of a single human dermatology, the techniques can be used to determine how long the drug stays on the skin, the dosing regimen, and drug- target interaction. Skin is the body’s natural protective layer so figuring out how much medication—if any—is penetrating the skin can be problematic.

“Most dermal drugs fail because they don’t manage to get through the stratum corneum (the first layer of skin),” said Aneesh Alex, who is a GSK employee and a postdoctoral fellow in the center.

“As a drug development company, one of the critical aspects of our dermatologic drugs is how we defeat the barrier so that we’re getting our medicine where it needs to go in the patient,” Arp said. Three GSK Postdoctoral Fellows—from left, Aneesh Alex, Jang Hyuk Lee, and Jose Rico- Jimenez—assist with research at the GSK Center for Molecular Optical Imaging based at “If you get too much penetration too the Beckman Institute. quickly, you’ll just wash it out into your

8 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Top right, the laser light is applied to a small area of skin, providing high-resolution imaging and feedback below the skin's surface. The technique assists with determining medication penetration, how long it stays on the skin, the dosing regimen, and drug- target interaction. Bottom right, a 3D image of the scanned tissue is shown. Co-directors for the GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging are Zane Arp, left, U.S. lead for imaging technologies at GSK, and Stephen Boppart, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and of bioengineering, and co-chair of the Integrated Imaging theme. bloodstream,” he explained. “If you get because it eliminates the need for a true “Being able to see our drugs have an too little penetration then you don’t see biopsy, where you need to extract a tissue action at the earliest possible time point any effect. We also have to prove that the sample,” Arp said. improves safety, improves the efficacy, drugs hit the primary target the hardest. and improves our knowledge base,” The center also benefits from additional That’s where we get the most efficacy. It’s Arp said. services and facilities at the institute. an art actually.” Alex also touted the benefits to the stu- “Another advantage is the facilities at Another benefit of the new platform of dents involved in the research. Beckman, including the Microscopy technologies is that they allow research- Suite and other imaging facilities,” Alex “I think by being able to be a post- ers to observe changes at the cellular said. “In the future, we are also planning doc here, I am getting the best of both level without tagging the medication to go beyond the optical capabilities so worlds,” he said. “Because I see the applied with a dye, which can impact the we want to make use of the MRI and industrial aspect and also the academic test results. PET capabilities that we have here. And aspect, it’s really a unique development Getting Results I think that is something unique about opportunity.” The center has three to four projects in Beckman. We have all the resources here “We are confident that we are on the right progress, and researchers have completed under one roof. I think that is one of the track, and that we have a very unique nearly half-a-dozen studies with several main reasons GSK wanted to come here. academic-industry partnership that is in publication. Not a lot of places have these kinds of demonstrating early success,” Boppart resources in one location.” The noninvasive techniques also allow said. “I believe it is important to con- the center to do its dermatological re- And even though it’s early, the center tinue this work because of the significant search on healthy human subjects as well is seeing results and impacting decisions impact it can have, not only on drug de- as animal models. at GSK that will improve patient velopment, but also ultimately on patient health care. health and health care.” “The other beauty of this is that we GSK Center, continued on page 12 can do what we call an optical biopsy

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 9 Mohaghegh Promotes Illinois’ Leadership in Socio-technical Risk Analysis

By Doris Dahl & Justin Pence at an increasing number of uni- he disaster at the Fuku- versities in the U.S. and abroad. shima Daiichi Power Plant T After completing her postdoc- in Japan and the catastrophic toral research appointment in Macondo oil spill in the Gulf 2011 at the Center for Risk and of Mexico are bitter reminders Reliability at the University of of the critical need to create Maryland, Mohaghegh created innovative scientific solutions a risk management consulting for risk management, risk- company in Boston. She made informed decision making, the move to academia in 2013 and regulation. Zahra Moha- to fulfill her desire to teach ghegh, an assistant professor of and to interact with students nuclear, plasma, and radiologi- through research. cal engineering (NPRE) and a member of the Organizational “Although building a new area Intelligence and Computa- has its challenges, the critical- tional Social Science Group, ity of the topic in high-conse- is helping position Illinois quence industries and the soci- to become a global leader in etal benefits of its applications socio-technical risk analysis. will enable Illinois students with highly competitive skill- Mohaghegh’s goal is clear. “At sets to fill the growing demand Illinois, we want to develop for risk analysts,” Mohaghegh the research and educational said. “I believe that the collab- infrastructure that will help orative research environment of solve the most challenging risk Illinois will give me the oppor- and safety issues of industries,” tunity to make this university a Mohaghegh said. To meet this global leader in socio-technical goal, she is advancing probabi- Zahra Mohaghegh is helping position Illinois to become a risk analysis.” listic risk assessment (PRA). global leader in socio-technical risk analysis. She established the Socio-Technical Risk Analysis (SoTeRiA) Laboratory, where a She has diligently worked to- PRA is the leading methodol- multidisciplinary team of students, researchers, and industry ward this goal—establishing the ogy for estimating the system- professionals are advancing probabilistic risk assessment. Socio-Technical Risk Analysis atic risk for high-consequence (SoTeRiA) Laboratory, where industries and is a constantly regulatory framework for the Nuclear a multidisciplinary team of students, re- changing technology that can meet the Regulatory Commission. Other govern- searchers, and industry professionals are demands and challenges of complex ment agencies, including the Depart- advancing PRA with scientific innova- socio-technical systems and processes. ment of Energy (DOE), the Federal tions in two key areas: spatio-temporal “Next-generation leaders must begin to Aviation Administration, the National causal modeling of social and physical think differently, using risk-informed so- Aeronautics and Space Administration, failure mechanisms in PRA, and the fu- lutions to initiate safe, resilient, sustain- the Department of Defense, the Environ- sion of big data analytics with PRA. able, and socially responsible technologi- mental Protection Agency, the Food and cal advancements to usher in an era void Drug Administration, and the Depart- When Mohaghegh joined the NPRE of technological accidents,” Mohaghegh ment of Transportation, also have begun faculty, she transferred a large-scale said. to adopt PRA for decision making and industry research project sponsored by policy setting. the South Texas Project Nuclear Since its inception at the Massachusetts Operating Company to Illinois. During Institute of Technology, PRA is now one A concurrent trend is the expansion of the last four years, Mohaghegh and her of the key pillars of the risk-informed PRA research and educational programs Mohaghegh, continued on page 12

10 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Beckman Postdoc Receives First Place in 'Science as Art' Competition

By Maeve Reilly ostafa Yourdkhani, a postdoctoral Mresearch associate in the Autono- mous Materials Systems (AMS) Group, recently received first place in the “Science as Art” contest sponsored by the Materials Research Society.

The image, taken with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in the Micros- copy Suite at the Beckman Institute, represents the cross-section of a polynuclear microcapsule embedded in an epoxy resin. From more than 100 entries, the image was chosen as one of the top three first-place winners.

The microcapsule is an example of the self-regulating material that is the sig- nature work of the AMS Group. In this case, the material can be used in dental The award-winning image, taken with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in restorations, such as dental fillings. the Microscopy Suite at the Beckman Institute, represents the cross-section of a polynuclear microcapsule embedded in an epoxy resin. “Several years ago we were approached by the National Institutes of Health Na- of Illinois at Chicago lead by Dr. Ana tannic acid, to enhance the binding tional Institute of Dental and Craniofa- Bedran-Russo and began a long-term between teeth and filling material in cial Research (NIDCR) about developing collaboration on innovative dental order to construct long-lasting compos- novel dental materials drawing from our resins that prolong the life of dental ite dental fillings. In clinical settings, original work on self-healing polymers,” restorations.” however, the natural materials can be said Scott White, a professor of aerospace problematic: Applying all the extract at Bedran-Russo, from UIC’s College of engineering and member of the AMS once may limit the length of time that Dentistry, has worked on various natural Group. “Through that initiative we made the binding will last, and the extracts can extracts, such as grape seed extract and contact with a group at the University cause adverse chemical reactions with the binding material. Mostafa Yourdkhani, a The ideal solution is to release the postdoctoral natural extracts into the binding slowly research associate over time. in the Autonomous Materials Systems “We were looking for ways to develop Group, received sustained and controlled release of the first place in the bioactives we isolated from plants so we “Science as Art” could accelerate clinical implementation,” contest sponsored by the Materials Bedran-Russo said. So she reached out to Research Society. White, seeking expertise in creating such a method. A NIDCR supplement allowed the creation of a collaborative team. Yourdkhani, continued on next page

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 11 Mohaghegh, from page 10 graduate students have been develop- In 2015, Mohaghegh became the prin- analysis collaborations through the ing an integrated risk methodology for cipal investigator (PI) of a five-year program to develop tailor-made solu- the resolution of a 20-year longstanding National Science Foundation (NSF) grant tions for high-risk operations around the safety issue in the nuclear industry, the to quantify organizational factors using world. Industry members will work with Generic Safety Issue 191, which is related big data analytics in PRA, and in 2017, the SoTeRiA IAP team to build special- to the performance of the emergency she became the PI for a three-year DOE ized tools for solving their most challeng- core cooling system following a loss of grant for enterprise risk management ing problems, while developing training coolant accident. to promote the sustainability of the U.S. series that fit their business needs. nuclear fleet. Mohaghegh became affiliated with the “Risk analysis will be advanced by cre- Beckman Institute in 2014, and the col- With recent support from the College of ative, scientific, and multidisciplinary laborative environment has helped her Engineering, Mohaghegh is establishing students who have the interest and sup- further her research in the field. As a the SoTeRiA Industry Affiliates Program port to explore and study courses among Beckman faculty member, Mohaghegh (IAP), the first program in academia diverse engineering and non-engineering has initiated collaborations with other that works with industry for risk analysis departments,” Mohaghegh said. “The Beckman groups, proposing new areas and offers the latest research methods Beckman Institute embodies this model of discovery on the topics such as fire for real-time risk detection, monitor- and it is through this style that a univer- PRA, risk-informed emergency response, ing, mitigation, and risk management sity can enable the nonlinear cross- health care risk analysis, and monetary with big data applications, while provid- disciplinary thinking needed to analyze value of risk analysis, which assists ing risk-analysis training. The SoTeRiA the risks emerging at the interface of companies and organizations to make Laboratory has initiated collaborations social and technical systems.” decisions that not only promote safety with national and international research but also helps their profitability. institutions and plans to expand risk

GSK Center, from page 9 Yourdkhani, from page 11 “We’re very pleased with the prog- Working with White, ress being made,” Arp said. “We have Yourdkhani encapsulated had senior managers come out here the extracts in polymer who are extremely pleased with the microcapsules to protect type of work we’re doing and the them from the com- fact that we’re getting value out of posite resin monomers. cutting-edge capabilities five to The capsule used in the 10 years before the techniques are award-winning image commercially available is a big deal.” was about 200 microns The center also is helping to drive large, but the capsules the future of technology. For one, can be as small as 3 to 5 microns, perfect for reducing the size of the equipment Polynuclear microcapsule in order to help diagnose and treat dental materials. A individual patients is a possible recent paper in Dental the outermost layers toward the long-range goal. Materials outlines the process (visit bit.ly/DentalMaterials_June2017) inner layers. “We expect that we will start see- “That material will work longer, for ing biomarkers that are specific The shell of the capsules is a biode- less cost, less loss of dental tooth to individual patients or patient gradable and biocompatible polymer, structure, and fewer visits to the populations,” Arp said. “But I would which allows for the gradual degrada- dentist,” Yourdkhani said. say that using these technologies to tion of the shell polymer, and slow release of the bioactive extract. The differentiate patient populations for The research is sponsored by the polynuclear structure of the capsules personalized medicine is a larger National Institutes of Health. Mina allows for continuous release of the goal for us at some point. That’s Rezaeian, a graphic designer, helped extracts as the capsules degrade from something we see out in the future.” with the final design of the artwork.

12 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Memorial Symposium Honors Life, Career of Klaus Schulten ore than 125 schol- Theodore "Ted" Brown, the founding director ars and students M of the Beckman Institute, remembers when gathered at the Klaus Klaus Schulten founded the Theoretical and Schulten Memorial Computational Biophysics Group in 1989, the Symposium Nov. 7-9 at year Beckman opened. Brown is shown here the Beckman Institute to with Zaida "Zan" Luthey-Schulten, who also is honor the life and career a TCBG member. Klaus Schulten of a leader in computational biophysics. Schul- ten (1947-2016) was a physics professor and faculty affiliate at the Beckman Institute.

Among more than 30 speakers, which included former students and colleagues from around the world, were Schulten’s widow, Zaida “Zan” Luthey-Schulten, an Illinois chemistry professor; Nobel Emad Tajkhorshid, a professor of Prize winner Anthony Leggett; Beck- biochemistry and group leader of TCBG, spoke at the symposium honoring man Founding Director Theodore “Ted” Sir Anthony Leggett gave closing his friend and longtime colleague. At Brown; and current and former members remarks on the second day of the the top of the slide, it says "First visit of the Theoretical and Computational conference. Leggett, a professor of to TCBG, 1998." Tajkhorshid officially Biophysics (TCB) Group that Schulten physics who also won the Nobel began his full-time Beckman career Prize in 2003, lives next door to when he joined the group in 2000 as a founded in 1989, the year Beckman the Schulten house. opened. postdoctoral researcher. Kiessling Delivers Second Annual Beckman-Brown Lecture

aura Kiessling, the Novartis Professor of Chemistry at the LMassachusetts Institute of Technology, delivered the second Beckman-Brown Lecture on Interdisciplinary Science on Nov. 3 in the Beckman auditorium.

The annual lecture honors Arnold Beckman, the founder of the Institute, and Theodore “Ted” Brown, the founding director.

Kiessling's talk “Cell Surface Glycans as Cellular IDs,” was fol- lowed by a reception in the atrium.

This year's speaker, Laura Kiessling, received a Beckman Young Investigator Award (1994-1996) at the Beckman Institute at the California Institute of Technology and said she met Arnold Beckman in person during her time at CalTech.

Joining Ted Brown, the Founding Director of the Beckman Institute, were Vivian Lau (left), the 2017 recipient of the Beckman-Brown Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowship, and Lydia Kisley the inaugural recipient of the award (2016).

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 13 Sen. Bennett Tours Beckman, Talks About Science Legislation en. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) Sspoke in the Beckman Institute Audi- Sen. Scott Bennett torium about working with scientists to tours labs of the Autonomous craft legislation within the Illinois Senate. Materials Systems Prior to his July 13 talk, Bennett toured Group at the Beckman Beckman learning about research within Institute. The group the Autonomous Materials Systems is known for its Group and viewing the facilities of the research on self- Bioimaging Medical Center. The event healing materials. was planned by the campus’ Science Policy Group and co-sponsored by the Beckman Institute.

Sen. Scott Bennett tours the Biomedical Imaging Center at the Beckman Institute. Iwona Dobrucki, a senior research scientist, explains about some of the scanning capabilities in the Molecular Brad Sutton, an associate professor of bioengineering Imaging Lab (MIL). and member of Beckman’s Bioimaging Science and Technology Group, explains to Sen. Scott Bennett about the capabilities provided by the new Prisma MRI in the The full talk is online: bit.ly/SenBennett-Video17 Biomedical Imaging Center.

Mahadevan Delivers SmithGroup JJR Lecture

he April 21 SmithGroup JJR Lecture was presented by L. Mahadevan, TEngland de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics, a professor of or- ganismic and evolutionary biology and of physics at Harvard University. His talk, “Shape: Mathematics, Physics, Biology, and Engineering,” took attendees on a vibrant tour from biological shapes to the mathematics of shape compar- ison to predictive theories, and even origami and map folding. The Smith- Group JJR (formerly Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls Associates, of Detroit) is the architectural firm that designed the Beckman Institute.

Harvard University's L. Mahadevan presented the SmithGroup JJR Lecture in the Beckman Institute auditorium on April 21.

From left, Tony LoBello, Rana Lee, and Andy Vazzano— from lecture sponsor SmithGroup JJR—join Beckman Institute Director Jeff Moore and Harvard Professor L. Mahadevan, who delivered this year's lecture.

14 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu 2017 Beckman Student Award Recipients Announced The Awards Beckman Institute Undergraduate Fellowship Carle Neuroscience Institute Undergraduate Research Award Cognition, Lifespan Engagement, Aging, and Resilience Awards Erik Haferkamp Memorial Award for Undergraduate Research Janssen Family Undergraduate Research Award Nadine Barrie Smith ineteen students were named recipients of the 2017 Beckman Institute student Memorial Fellowship Nawards. At a reception in their honor, award recipients gathered for a group photo with Jeff Moore, the director of the Beckman Institute, and Peter Schiffer, the vice chancel- Neurotechnology for Memory lor for research. Pictured: (front row, from left) Moore, Kang Yong Loh, Anastassia Sorokina, and Cognition Awards Kevin Horecka, Hsiao-Ying Huang, Jungeun (Jenny) Won, Fatemeh Ostadhossein, and Organizational Intelligence Schiffer. Back row, from left: Dongkwan Lee, Renato Azevedo, Yuan Bian, Michael Jorgen- and Computational Social son, Jerome Davis, Ashley Lenhart, Ning Xu, Laura Pritschet, Lily Benig, and Taylor Jansen. Science Awards Not pictured: Amit Das, Kathleen Murphy, and Natalia Wojnowski. Thomas and Margaret Huang Award for Graduate Research u For full bios of the awardees: bit.ly/BIStudentAwards17

2017 Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows Announced The Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows program offers Illinois graduate students at the M.A., M.S., or Ph.D. level the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary research at the institute.

he 2017 Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows Tare, from left, Shachi Mittal, a doctoral candidate in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) and member of the Biomedical Science and Technology (BST) Group; Hassaan Majeed, a doctoral student in bioengineering and member of BST; Zhikun Cai, a doctoral student in nuclear engineering and a member of the Computational Molecular Science Group; Matthew Moore, a doctoral student in psychology and a member of the Social and Emotional Dimensions of Well- being Group; Timothy Moneypenny, a doctoral candidate in materials chemistry and a member of the Autonomous Materials Systems Group; Andrew Bower, an ECE doctoral candidate and member of BST; and Nitya Sai Reddy Satyavolu, a doctoral student in chemistry and a member of u For full bios of the awardees: bit.ly/BIGradFellows17 the 3D Micro- and Nanosystems Group.

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 15 Honors & Awards

Beshers Honored with Grad Ewoldt Selected to Participate College Award in NAE Symposium Sam Beshers, coordina- Randy Ewoldt, an assis- tor of the Neuroscience tant professor of mechani- Program, was honored cal science and engineer- with the 2017 Graduate ing and member of the College Excellence Award Autonomous Materials Aluru Named APS Fellow for Graduate Contact. The Systems Group, was one Narayana Aluru, a award seeks to recognize of 82 young engineers professor of mechanical “those staff members whose service has selected to participate in the National science and engineer- enhanced the experiences of gradu- Academy of Engineering’s 23rd annual ing and member of the ate students and/or has had a positive U.S. Frontiers of Engineering symposium Computational Multiscale impact on the operations of the graduate in September. He was one of three engi- Nanosystems Group, has program or department.” neers invited from the U of I. been named a Fellow of Boppart Named BMES Fellow Griffin Part of iVenture Class the American Physical Society (APS), an Stephen Boppart, a Autonomic Energy Solu- honor bestowed to no more than one professor of electrical and tions, created by Anthony half of one percent of the society’s mem- computer engineering and Griffin, a graduate bership. He was selected by APS’ Division of bioengineering, and a research assistant in the on Computational Physics. member of the Bioimaging Autonomous Materials Bashir Honored for Leadership, Science and Technology Systems Group, is one to Receive BMES Lecture Award Group, was honored as of 12 student ventures Rashid Bashir, a profes- a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering named iVenture Acclerator startups to sor of bioengineering and Society at the society’s annual meet- participate in the program's intensive member of the 3D Micro- ing. According to the society's website, 10-week summer curriculum. Griffin and Nanosystems Group, a fellow has “demonstrated exceptional developed patented microcapsules that was one of four llinois achievements and has made significant prevent fires in and extend the lives faculty members honored contributions within the biomedical of batteries. with a Campus Award engineering field.” Gruev Receives ‘Best Paper’ for Excellence in Faculty Leadership. Chan Named 2017 Sloan Honors at IEEE Symposium The Office of the Provost sponsors the Research Fellow Viktor Gruev, an associ- campus awards to recognize excellence Jefferson Chan, an assis- ate professor of electrical in leadership for faculty members who tant professor of chem- and computer engineer- distinguish themselves with their vision istry and member of the ing (ECE) and member of of the future and their efforts to aid Bioimaging Science and the Bioimaging Science others in shaping that future. Technology Group, was and Technology Group, Bashir also was selected to receive the one of four Illinois profes- and Nimrod Missael 2018 Robert A. Pritzker Distinguished sors named a 2017 Sloan Garcia Hernandez, a visiting ECE scholar, Lecture Award, the Biomedical Engineer- Research Fellow by the Alfred P. Sloan received two awards for Best Paper at the ing Society’s (BMES) premier recogni- Foundation. According to the founda- IEEE International Symposium on Circuits tion for outstanding achievements and tion, the awards “honor early career and Systems: one in the Sensory Circuits leadership in the science and practice of scholars whose achievements mark and Systems track and one for Best Stu- biomedical engineering. them as the next generation of dent Paper. Gruev is principal investiga- scientific leaders.” tor for the research.

16 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Hadley to Receive Award for Beckman Institute Vision and Spirit Award Recognizes Bhargava Leadership, Dedication ohit Bhargava, left, Founder Profes- Pierce Hadley, a junior sor of Engineering, a full-time fac- in bioengineering and a R member of the first class of ulty member in the Bioimaging Science Cancer Scholars, received and Technology Group, and the founding the William R. Schowalter director of the Cancer Center, received Award, given by the Col- the Beckman Institute Vision and Spirit lege of Engineering. Award during a ceremony April 10 (the birthday of founder Arnold Beckman). Hernandez-Burgos Receives Bhargava is shown with Jeff Moore, the Author Award director of the Beckman Institute. The Beckman Institute Post- $150,000 award recognizes a Beckman doctoral Fellow Kenneth researcher who exemplifies Beckman’s Hernandez-Burgos and vision in establishing the institute, and Illinois doctoral student who has contributed significantly to the Mark Burgess received uOnline Video: mission of the institute. the Norman Hackerman bit.ly/Video-VisionSpiritAward17 Young Author Award for best paper published by young authors Llano Named Goldberg faculty members awarded 2017-2018 in the Journal of the Electrochemical Soci- Professorial Scholar Faculty Fellowships by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications ety. Both work with Joaquín Rodríguez- Dan Llano, an associate at Illinois. Her work will explore the as- López, assistant professor of chemistry professor of molecular and sociation between the serum factors and and member of the Nanoelectronics and integrative physiology and demographic variables related to poor Nanomaterials Group. They were recog- member of the Neuro- outcomes in African-American women nized for their publication, “Scanning technology of Memory with breast cancer. Electrochemical Microscopy and Hydro- and Cognition Group, was dynamic Voltammetry Investigation of appointed the Benjamin Moore Elected to National Charge Transfer Mechanisms on Redox R. and Elinor W. Bullock and Edwin E. and Academy of Sciences Active Polymers.” Jeanne Bullock Goldberg Professorial Jeff Moore, the director Huang Named Top 10 Most Scholar in the Department of Molecular of the Beckman Institute, Influential Scholar and integrative Physiology in the School a professor of chemistry, of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Thomas S. Huang, a and member of the Au- research professor of elec- Li Named IEEE Fellow tonomous Materials Sys- tems Group, is one of four trical and computer engi- Xiuling Li, a professor of Illinois professors elected neering and a member of electrical and computer to the National Academy of Sciences. the Organizational Intelli- engineering and a mem- gence and Computational ber of the Nanoelectronics Pan Elected Fellow of American Social Science Group, was and Nanomaterials Group, College of Cardiology recognized by AMiner—a free online ser- was named a Fellow by the Dipanjan Pan, an assis- vice for academic social network analysis Institute of Electrical and tant professor of bioengi- and mining—as a Top 10 Most Influential Electronics Engineers. Li was recognized neering and member of Scholar for his contributions to the field for her contributions to semiconductor the Bioimaging Science of computer vision. nanomaterials for electronic and pho- and Technology Group, Kong Named AIMBE Fellow tonic applications. was elected a 2018 Fellow Hyunjoon Kong, a Madak-Erdogan Among Eight of the American College professor of chemical and NCSA Faculty Fellowships of Cardiology for his contributions to translational nanomedicine in cardiovas- biomolecular engineer- Zeynep Madak- cular science. ing and a member of the Erdogan, a professor of Bioimaging Science and food science and human Parameswaran Receives IEEE Technology Group, was nutrition and a member TCDE Early Career Award inducted into the Ameri- of the Bioimaging Science Aditya Parameswaran, an assistant can Institute for Medical and Biological and Technology Group, professor of computer science and mem- Engineering College of Fellows. is among eight Illinois ber of the Organizational Intelligence

beckman.illinois.edu || SYNERGYSYNERGY •• FallFall 20172017 •• No.No. 3333 1717 and Computational Social Sciences. He is a leader in developing You Wins McGinnis Fellowship Science Group, was named and applying advanced computational Sixian You, a fourth-year this year’s recipient of the techniques to understand proteins. doctoral student and a IEEE TCDE Early Career Four Beckman Faculty Receive member of the Bioimaging Award. The award honors Provost’s Campus Award Science and Technology an individual for their body Four Beckman research- Group, received the of work in data engineer- McGinnis Medical Innova- ing in the first five years after their Ph.D. ers are among 12 faculty members honored with tion Graduate Fellowship Sam Among 14 Illinois Students, the Provost’s 2017 Campus in the Department of Bioengineering. Alumni Offered Fulbright Grants Distinguished Promotion Zhang Receives Engineering Kimberly Sam, who Award, which recognizes Achievement Award Beck earned a B.S. in molecular extraordinary contribu- Yang Zhang, an assis- and cellular biology from tions in quality of work tant professor of nuclear, Illinois in May 2017, was and overall achievement. plasma, and radiological one of 14 Illinois stu- They are: Diane Beck, engineering and a mem- dents and alumni offered an associate professor of ber of the Autonomous student Fulbright grants psychology, Mechanisms Materials Systems Group, to pursue international educational, Ewoldt of Cogni- won the 2017 Landis research, and teaching experiences this tive Control Group; Randy Young Member Engineering Achieve- coming year. Sam, a member of the Ewoldt, an assistant ment Award from the American Bioimaging Science and Technology professor of mechanical Nuclear Society. Group, was awarded a Fulbright grant science and engineering, to conduct medical research in Ecuador. Zhuo Receives Postdoctoral Autonomous Materials Sam plans to attend medical school to Scholar Award Systems Group; Prashant Jain pursue an M.D./Ph.D. Yue Zhuo, a Beckman Jain, an assistant professor Postdoctoral Fellow, Illinois IFP Places Second in of chemistry, Nanoelec- received a postdoctoral ImageNet Challenge tronics and Nanomaterials scholar award for a paper For the second time in Group; and Brad Sutton, that was submitted to the three years, a team from an associate professor of annual Microscopy and Illinois has placed high bioengineering, Bioimag- Sutton Microanalysis Conference. in the global ImageNet ing Science and Technol- Large Scale Visual Recog- ogy Group. nition Challenge (ILSVRC 2017). Honghui Shi, a Beckman Researchers Receive Ph.D. student in electrical and computer Blue Waters Awards engineering who works with the Orga- Eight Beckman researchers were nizational Intelligence and Computa- among the Illinois researchers awarded tional Social Science Group, led a team 3,697,000 node hours (NH) of time on that placed second in all four categories the Blue Waters supercomputer by the Aksimentiev Makri Anderson of object detection and tracking from National Center for Supercomputing video. Shi works in the lab of Thomas Applications (NCSA) from spring 2017 Huang. proposals: Aleksei Aksimentiev and Tajkhorshid Named to Endowed Nancy Makri, members of the Nano- Chair in Biochemistry electronics and Nanomaterials Group; Emad Tajkhorshid, a pro- Aaron Anderson and Narayana R. fessor of biochemistry and Aluru, members of the Computational Aluru Perilla Hadden member of the Theoretical Multiscale Nanosystems Group; Juan and Computational Bio- Perilla and Jodi Hadden, members of physics Group, has been the Theoretical and Computational Bio- named the J. Woodland physics Group; and Alex Cerjanic and Hastings Endowed Chair in Biochem- Brad Sutton, members of the Bioimag- istry in the College of Liberal Arts and ing Science and Technology Group. Cerjanic Sutton 18 SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 | beckman.illinois.edu Appointments Announced at Carle Illinois College of Medicine Dell, Gruebele, and Murphy Are New CAS Faculty Members eckman researchers are among Robinson, Joanna Shisler, Brad the inaugural faculty members for Sutton, Yurii Vlasov, Karen C. Three Beckman Institute B the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. researchers are among White, and Brenda Anne Wilson. In They include Dolores Albarracin, those recently appointed addition, Bashir, a professor of and , , as permanent faculty Rashid Bashir Marni Boppart the head of bioengineering and a members of the Center Stephen Boppart, Stephanie member of the 3D Micro- and Nano- for Advanced Study: Gary Ceman, Neal Cohen, Wawrzyniec systems Group, has been appointed a permanent executive associate dean Dell Dell, a professor of psy- Dobrucki, Manuel Hernandez, chology and a member of Graham Huesmann, Iwona Jasiuk, of the college. King Li, the inaugural the Illinois Language and Amy Jaye Wagoner Johnson, Mark dean of the college, is a member of the Bioimaging Science and Technol- Literacy Initiative; Martin Johnson, Hyunjoon Kong, Dan ogy Group. Gruebele and Catherine Morrow, Michael Oelze, Gene Murphy, professors of Jennifer Robbennolt, ber of the Organizational Gruebele chemistry and members of the Nanoelectronics and a professor of law and Intelligence and Compu- Nanomaterials Group. The member of the Social and tational Social Science appointment is one of the Emotional Dimensions of Group, received the award highest forms of academic Well-being Group, re- for his proposal, “Advanc- recognition the Urbana ceived the Campus Award ing Open-Ended Crowd- Robbennolt Parameswaran campus makes for out- for Excellence in Graduate sourcing: The Next Frontier and Professional Teaching, which recog- Murphy standing scholarship. in Crowdsourced Data Management.” nizes sustained excellence and innova- Wenjuan Zhu, an assis- Beckman Researchers Honored tion in teaching and contributions to tant professor of electrical for Excellence in Teaching learning beyond classroom instruction. Four Beckman Institute faculty members and computer engineering were among those honored April 26 at Four Beckman Faculty Receive and a member of the Na- the campus’s Celebration of Teaching NSF CAREER Awards noelectronics and Nano- Excellence awards reception. Four Beckman faculty members received materials Group, received NSF CAREER Awards, which provide five Zhu the award for her proposal, Laura DeThorne, an asso- years of monetary support. “Transforming Electronic Devices Using ciate professor of speech Two-dimensional Materials and Ferro- Liang Gao, an assistant and hearing science and electric Metal Oxides.” a member of the Illinois professor in electrical and Language and Literacy Ini- computer engineering and Benjamin, Stine-Morrow tiative; Rebecca Stumpf, member of the Bioimaging Appointed APA Journal Editors DeThorne an associate professor Science and Technology Aaron Benjamin, a of anthropology and a Group, received the professor of psychol- Gao member of the Bioacous- award for his proposal on ogy and member of the tics Research Laboratory; compressed fluorescence lifetime Mechanisms of Cogni- and Andrew Suarez, a imaging microscopy. tive Control Group, and professor of animal biol- Princess U II Liz Stine-Morrow, a Benjamin professor of educational ogy and a member of the Imoukhuede, an assistant Stumpf psychology and member Bioimaging Science and professor of bioengineer- of the Cognition, Lifespan Technology Group, were ing and a member of Engagement, Aging, and among the faculty mem- the Bioimaging Science Resilience Group, have bers awarded the Campus and Technology Group, been appointed editors of Award for Excellence in Imoukhuede received the award for journals published by the Undergraduate Teaching, her proposal, “qBio+cBio=sBio; Identify- Stine-Morrow American Psychological which recognizes sus- ing the role of cross-family signaling in Suarez Association: Journal of Experimental Psy- tained excellence in and angiogenesis.” innovative approaches to undergradu- chology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, ate teaching and contributions beyond Aditya Parameswaran, an assistant and Psychology and Aging respectively. classroom instruction. professor of computer science and mem- The six-year terms begin in 2019.

beckman.illinois.edu | SYNERGY • Fall 2017 • No. 33 19 Support the Beckman Institute

Beckman Scholarship Fund Klaus Schulten Memorial Fund Make a secure online gift today: Supporting students and postdocs at the Supporting research in computational and beckman.illinois.edu/about/giving Beckman Institute theoretical biophysics For more information, please contact: 217-244-1176 Nadine Barrie Smith Memorial Fund Beckman Support Fund [email protected] General support for research, operations, Supporting women engineers in travel, equipment, and facilities medical imaging

Erik Haferkamp Memorial Fund Thomas & Margaret Huang Fund Supporting undergraduate research in for Graduate Research neuroscience Supporting graduate research in human-computer intelligent interaction Janssen Family Undergraduate Research Award Supporting undergraduate research in neuroscience or psychology