Vol. 3, No. 2 dec 2013 COLLEGE OF dCOMPUTER,yss MATHEMATICAL, ey O AND NATURAL SCIENCES Welcome to the PHYSICAL SCIENCES COMPLEX FROM THE DEAN Dear Friends, Increasingly, our university embraces interdisciplinary research across departments, colleges and institutions. The most recent addition to the CMNS infrastructure is an excellent example of the university’s commitment to cross-disciplinary work. This fall, the fences are down, and the keys are in hand to the new Physical Sciences Complex. This extraordinary facility will house faculty members and researchers, including student researchers, from physics, astronomy, the Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology, and the Joint Quantum Institute. The spectacular building, including its laboratories with exquisite controls, will attract collaborators from NIST, a major government partner, as well as NASA and NIH. We are especially grateful for the work of Jordan Goodman, Steve Halperin, Dan Mote, and other college and university leaders who pushed hard to make this exemplary facility a reality. Collaboration is alive and well in virtually every area of the college. In this “The fences are down, and the issue, we present a snapshot of climate change research across disciplines. Much of the research is carried out in collaboration with government agencies, including keys are in hand to the new NOAA, NASA and USDA. Physical Sciences Complex.” We are pleased to profile two accomplished scholars, Michael Fisher and Jim Yorke, who excel in their pursuit of interdisciplinary science. We present inspiring conversations with them in this issue of Odyssey. In addition, we celebrate many CMNS colleagues who have been recognized for their contributions to the university. The college continues to attract increasing numbers of undergraduate students. The latest figures show that CMNS enrolls the largest number of undergraduate student majors among all colleges and schools at UMD (more than 4,400 students). The newest undergraduate major in atmospheric and oceanic science is now more than 50 students strong, and several student research projects are highlighted in ON THE COVER this issue. Our Department of Computer Science has seen a 90 percent increase PHYSICS FACULTY MEMBERS JORDAN in enrollment in the last five years. You can read more about the department’s GOODMAN AND ARPITA UPADHYAYA innovative efforts to transform the educational experience for students in this ARE SURROUNDED BY THE ELLIPSE OF issue of the magazine. THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES COMPLEX. PHOTO BY JOHN T. CONSOLI. We take great pride in our continuing achievements, which reflect your invest- ment in the future of the college. We remain indebted to you—our alumni, friends and well-wishers—for your invaluable support of and dedication to our college. CORRECTION ON PAGE 14 OF THE MAY 2013 ISSUE OF ODYSSEY, WE FAILED TO INCLUDE EUGENIA KALNAY’S FULL TITLE: Jayanth Banavar SHE IS DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND EUGENIA BRIN Dean PROFESSOR OF DATA ASSIMILATION. ODYSSEY Odyssey is published twice a year for alumni, DEPARTMENTS, CENTERS AND INSTITUTES Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology friends, faculty, staff and students of the College of Department of Astronomy Center for Health-related Informatics and Bioimaging Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Center for Scientific Computation and (formerly Meteorology) Mathematical Modeling Alumni notes are welcome. Department of Biology (formerly Zoology) Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center Please send them to Odyssey, CMNS Dean’s Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Institute for Physical Science and Technology Office, University of Maryland, 2300 Symons Hall, (formerly Microbiology) Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics College Park, MD 20742. Send information by fax Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Institute for Advanced Computer Studies to 301.314.9949 or by email to [email protected]. Department of Computer Science Joint Quantum Institute Department of Entomology Joint Space-Science Institute Editor: Nancy Grund Department of Geology Maryland Cybersecurity Center Senior Writer: Beth Panitz Department of Mathematics Maryland NanoCenter Editorial Associate: Mary Kearney Department of Physics Maryland Pathogen Research Institute Designer: Loretta Kuo National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) 2 ODYSSEY December 2013 Banavar photo by John Consoli / Phillips photo by GradImages / Cover photo illlustration by Loretta Kuo ALUMNI PROFILE that the process may be triggered by the acti- vation of a molecule called Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which is blocked by Eritoran. Surprised by the attention her recent research has received, Vogel acknowledges, A New Twist in “We did take an unusual approach by focusing on the host immune response.” The studies Tackling the Flu are now moving to the “gold standard” for animal models. “We are working with cotton Flu season is here, along with the latest set rats that are susceptible to human influenza of flu vaccines to keep us all healthy in the strains, and we expect to progress to ferrets months to come. University of Maryland that transmit disease by aerosol.” The latter School of Medicine Immunologist Stefanie studies will be carried out with Daniel Perez, N. Vogel, B.S. ’72, Ph.D. ’77, microbiology, is associate professor of virology at UMD, who exploring a potentially potent flu remedy that is a leader in avian flu research. follows a different course of action. Instead of targeting the virus, Vogel and her group have The Importance of a Strong Mentor tried to interfere with an overzealous host Vogel’s brief stint as a technician at Walter STEFANIE N. VOGEL IS LEADING immune system. Reed Army Institute of Research in its viral GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON Vogel’s group investigated Eritoran, a diseases department led her to the field of A NEW FLU TREATMENT. drug previously tested as a sepsis treatment, as immunology. “I discovered that I was not as a potentially potent anti-influenza medication. interested in the specific organism but, rather, “I remain in touch with my doctoral advisor “Because Eritoran made it to Phase III clinical in the host response to infection,” she recalls. Bob Roberson,” says Vogel. “He was a trials, we know a good deal about how this After completing her Ph.D. in microbiology remarkable mentor who always found time drug works,” describes Vogel. “We also know at UMD, she served a postdoctoral fellowship for us despite his many teaching and that it has an excellent safety record.” In lab at the National Institute of Dental Research, administrative obligations.” studies with mice infected with a mouse strain Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology. An even earlier mentor was her under- graduate math tutor and future husband, Richard L. Vogel, Jr., who obtained his B.S. from the Clark School of Engineering and his M.B.A. from the Smith School of Business. “I was in a calculus class that consisted mainly of engineering students. When I approached the instructor for help, she turned to Rich and said, ‘You will tutor her.’” The rest is history. The Maryland connection runs deep in the family. Their daughter, Sarah, received her B.S. from the Smith School and has worked STAINED SECTIONS FROM COTTON RATS SHOW ERITORAN TREATMENT IMPROVES for Booz Allen Hamilton for nearly 10 years. LUNG PATHOLOGY OF H3N2-INFECTED RATS. Their son, Andrew, earned his B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from the Clark School, where he is now pursuing his Ph.D. of influenza, 90 percent of mice that were In 1980, she joined the Uniformed Services in the same department. “Our children were not treated with Eritoran died compared with University of the Health Sciences as an accepted at top public and private schools only 10 percent of those given the drug for assistant professor, rising to the rank of around the country, and they chose five days beginning two days after infection. professor in her 22-year career there. Maryland,” explains Vogel. The study was published inNature earlier Vogel joined the Department of Micro- When her parents died, Vogel knew the this year. biology and Immunology at the University best way to honor them. Today, the Stefanie Scientists have long speculated that some of Maryland School of Medicine in 2002 to and Richard Vogel Graduate Student Award severe influenza cases are not the direct result increase opportunities to conduct transla- Fund in Memory of Anne DeStefano Nucci of the virus, but may be due to an overactive tional research. During her career, Vogel has and Elidio John Nucci supports graduate immune system that leads to numerous mentored more than 10 Ph.D. students and students who study host responses to inflammatory substances being released in 35 postdoctoral researchers. She claims the infectious agents. The Vogels are also loyal the whole body that, in turn, result in multiple key to professional success is a strong mentor, supporters of the Clark School, where they organ failure. Previous studies have indicated and she has never forgotten her early mentors. have established similar graduate stipends. n Images reprinted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature doi:10.1038/nature12118, copyright 2013. Vogel photo courtesy of UM School of Medicine ODYSSEY December 2013 3 GREATGREAT SCIENCESCIENCE HAPPENSHAPPENS HEREHERE 4 ODYSSEY December 2013 Photos by John T. Consoli By Nancy Grund PHYSICAL SCIENCES COMPLEX OPENS ITS DOORS It has been more than 15 years in the making, and this fall the college’s dreams and aspirations for a state-of-the-art research facility have become a reality as the Physical Sciences Complex (PSC) opens its doors. One of the largest building projects in University of Maryland history in both size and cost, the complex promises to be one of the nation’s premier research buildings. With more than 160,000 square feet of space for collaborative efforts that cross CMNS departments and nearby federal agencies, the PSC is the long-awaited home for leading researchers who are making ground- breaking discoveries about the universe, quantum physics and the battle against disease.