Terahertz pioneers Daniel Grischkowsky (Oklahoma State University) , Xi-Cheng Zhang (Rensselaer), and Yuen-Ron Shen (University of California at Berkeley)

Rensselaer on the Move

New Ph.D. Program in CogSci
A new doctoral program in cognitive science at Rensselaer, approved by the New York State Department of Education, will be implemented this fall. The advanced degree will place special emphasis on developing next-generation “intelligent” systems. Research largely will focus on human perception, attention, motor control, memory, language, problem solving, and reasoning to model, enhance, predict, and measure human intelligence and performance. Students will work in Rensselaer’s state-of-the-art laboratories, such as CogWorks Lab, the Rensselaer Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning Lab, and the Institute’s new Social and Behavioral Research Laboratory.

New Keck Lab Dedicated
Rensselaer opened the W. M. Keck Laboratory for Terahertz Science within the Center for Terahertz Research at Rensselaer. The Dec. 5 dedication included a gathering of pioneers in the field, and featured a “Conversation on Terahertz” and a “Technical Symposium on Terahertz Research.” The new Keck Laboratory will expand the Institute’s pioneering work in the development of terahertz science and technology. The terahertz frequency range, which lies between microwave and infrared frequencies, presents the next frontier in imaging science and technology.

CAT To Conduct Research With Vermont Technology Center
Rensselaer’s Center for Automation Technologies (CAT) has partnered with the Bennington Microtechnology Center (BMC) in Bennington, Vt., to create a microsystems commercialization facility. In December, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy announced a $3.5-million Office of Naval Research appropriation for BMC to develop high-tech microsystems packaging technologies for Navy use. The CAT is expected to play a major role in the research. The CAT is an interdisciplinary research center specializing in advanced assembly and packaging processes for integrated microsystems.

Federal Support for New Research Center
Rensselaer will receive $750,000 in federal funding to support the development of a new Center for Quantitative and Computational Bioscience, which will be part of the Institute’s Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. Federal support for the new center was included in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill signed into law on Dec. 1.