Flaherty Named Dean of Science
Joseph
E. Flaherty, Amos Eaton Professor of Computer Science, has been
named dean of the School of Science following an international
search. The appointment, announced by President Jackson, is
effective immediately.
"Dr.
Flaherty has served Rensselaer for 28 years as a distinguished
scholar and administrator," said President Jackson. "He
will bring the intellectual leadership, the vision, and the
commitment that will move the School of Science forward to even
higher levels of excellence. In addition, his research is at
the intersection of biotechnology and information technology,
the two research areas given priority in the Rensselaer Plan,"
Jackson said.
"Dr.
Flaherty has served Rensselaer for 28 years as a distinguished
scholar and administrator. He will bring the intellectual
leadership, the vision, and the commitment that will move
the School of Science forward to even higher levels of excellence."
—President Shirley Jackson—
|
Flaherty,
whose research includes the simulation and modeling of biological
materials, served on the internal strategic planning committee
for biotechnology and chairs the Constellation Search Committee
for Information Technology.
"I
am pleased and honored to have been chosen as dean of the School
of Science," Flaherty said. "While we certainly face
challenges, we have the very pleasant opportunity of having
major components of Rensselaer's key thrusts in biotechnology
and information technology within the school. I'm eager to get
going and I thank President Jackson, Provost Peterson, and many
others at Rensselaer for the confidence that they have placed
in me."
A
graduate of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, with a bachelor's
degree in aeronautical engineering and a master's degree and
doctorate in applied mechanics, Flaherty joined the Rensselaer
faculty in 1973. He became the founding chair of the Department
of Computer Science in 1984.
Flaherty
has been co-author of 13 books and 139 articles in refereed
journals. He is a Fellow and Secretary of the U.S. Association
for Computational Mechanics, and the recipient of an IBM Director's
Award and an Army Service Recognition Award. He is an editor
of SIAM Review, SIAM Monographs in Modeling and Simulation,
and Applied Numerical Mathematics, and member of the editorial
boards of International Journal of Computational Engineering
Science, SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, and IACM Journal
Computational Mechanics.
Flaherty
has held visiting teaching and research appointments at such
universities as Stanford, the University of Minnesota, the University
of Arizona, and New York University.
Claude
Rounds Named Vice President for Administration
Claude
D. Rounds, who recently completed 15 years of service as vice
president for plant management at Albany Medical Center, has
been named vice president for administration at Rensselaer effective
June 4.
"Mr.
Rounds brings to Rensselaer more than 30 years of experience
in facilities and property management," said President
Shirley Ann Jackson. "He is a skilled engineer, administrator,
communicator, and strategic planner.
"In
addition to his professional training and experience, Mr. Rounds
has been a long-time resident and active community member here
in the Capital Region. We are fortunate to have him join the
administration at Rensselaer," Jackson said.
"Mr.
Rounds brings to Rensselaer more than 30 years of experience
in facilities and property management. He is a skilled engineer,
administrator, communicator, and strategic planner."
—President
Jackson —
|
Rounds
joined Albany Medical Center in 1979. Prior to becoming vice
president, he served the hospital for seven years as manager
of plant operations and maintenance. Earlier, he was director
of physical plant and facility planning at Hudson Valley Community
College, director of environmental health for Rensselaer County,
director of plant operations at Wilton Developmental Center,
and senior building construction engineer for the New York State
Department of Mental Hygiene.
A
registered professional engineer, Rounds earned a bachelor's
degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University,
in Fargo, N.D., and has an associate degree in construction
technology from Hudson Valley Community College.
He
is a board member of the Health Resource Conservation Coalition,
past chair and member of the University Hospitals Consortium
Steering Committee for Technology Management and Facilities
Management, and chair of the Hospital Association of New York
State Technical Advisory Group.
Rounds
served on a number of national advisory groups including the
Advisory Committee on Healthcare Safety of the Joint Commission
for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Rounds
is former chair of the East Greenbush Planning Board and chair
of the Town of East Greenbush Project Review Team. He has served
as project planning consultant for the Town of East Greenbush
and as engineering consultant for the Town of Nassau. Rounds
is president of the Board of Directors of Rouse, RPC, and an
instructor at Hudson Valley Community College, where he also
serves as a member of the Advisory Committee for Plant Technology.
Boston
Cyberarts Fest Shines Spotlight on Rensselaer Works
About
40 faculty and M.F.A students from the Arts Department presented
their work at the recent Boston Cyberarts Festival, the nation's
first and largest festival focused on art and technology in
all media.
More
than 75 arts and educational organizations participated in the
100 events that took place around Boston including exhibitions
of visual art, music, dance, robotics, theater, film, and computer
animation.
"Considering
Boston is a mecca for electronic music and that Rensselaer is
a hotbed of art and technology, I thought the university needed
to be involved in the festival," said Sarah Smiley, co-founder
of the Boston Cyberarts Festival and electronic arts graduate
student at Rensselaer who helped organized the university's
appearance at the festival. "The range of music, media,
and performances that have come here from Troy to Boston is
very exciting."
"Considering
Boston is a mecca for electronic music and that Rensselaer
is a hotbed of art and technology, I thought the university
needed to be involved in the festival."
—Sarah Smiley—
|
Curtis
Bahn, assistant professor of arts, performed with a five-string
upright electronic bass. His wife, dancer and ethnomusicologist
Tomie Hahn, also performed. As Hahn moves her body fitted with
tiny transmitters, gestural information is sent by radio to
an interactive computer music system designed by Bahn.
Neil
Rolnick, chair of the Arts Department, delivered a multimedia
elegy on the passing of his dog "Elka," in front of
five video monitors echoing variations on his story, and Igor
Vamos, assistant arts professor, performed with an array of
interactive animated talking bears.
Researchers
Study Cells in Wounded Tissue
Nobel
scientist and Institute Professor of Science Ivar Giaever '64
and Charles Keese '71, senior research scientist in biology,
have upgraded the ECIS 100 (Electric Cell-substrate Impedance
Sensing) device so that it can do more than just look at cells
in motion.
The
researchers have now added a fully integrated module that uses
high electric fields to deliberately alter the cells. This enhanced
feature could advance biotechnology research by aiding in cancer
studies and screening new drugs to treat hard-to-heal wounds
prompted by illnesses such as diabetes.
ECIS
is sort of "an electronic petri dish" that provides
online, computer-guided analysis of living cells. The earlier
version uses electric fields too weak to interfere with or harm
the cells.
Nobel
scientist and Institute Professor of Science Ivar Giaever
'64 and Charles Keese '71, senior research scientist in
biology, have upgraded the ECIS 100 (Electric Cell-substrate
Impedance Sensing) device so that it can do more than just
look at cells in motion.
|
The
modified version—patent pending—uses an Elevated-Field
Applications Module that inserts into the existing instrument.
New software, developed by Giaever, applies an electric current
that kills or alters a group of cells. Once the alterations
are completed, the system returns to its normal mode of harmlessly
eavesdropping to follow the activities of the altered cells.
Sarah
Walker, who is receiving her bachelor's in biology and bioinformatics
at Rensselaer and recently was accepted to Harvard to prepare
for her Ph.D, is one of several undergraduates using the newest
ECIS version to conduct molecular and cellular research.
Walker
uses the new version of the ECIS to study the behavior of cells
in wounded tissue. In this work, she first grows cells to cover
the bottom of a special ECIS tissue culture well. This bottom
surface also contains a small gold film electrode. When a high
electric field is applied, the cells touching the electrode
are killed. The ECIS then follows the activity of the neighboring
cells as they migrate inward to replace their dead cohorts.
Four RAA Fellows Awards Announced
Four
alumni have been honored with the Rensselaer Alumni Association
(RAA) Fellows Award. The award was created to honor those
alumni or any member of the Rensselaer community who, by their
achievements in a chosen profession or endeavor or by their
service to the Institute, have set an example for others to
emulate. Recipients are nominated by faculty or administration.
Four
alumni have been honored with the Rensselaer Alumni Association
(RAA) Fellows Award: John F. Haller '86, Harvey L. Zeve
'52, John C. Hester III, and Robert F. Ducatte.
|
John
F. Haller '86 was presented with the RAA Fellows Award
from the Department of Computer Science. He is co-founder,
president, and chief technology officer of NearMe, a spin-off
of MapInfo Corporation that provides Web and wireless location-based
services. Haller, who received a bachelor's degree in mathematics
from Rensselaer, is a member of the Livingston W. Houston
'13 Society of Patroons.
Harvey
L. Zeve '52 received the RAA Fellows Award from the Department
of Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems. Zeve, president
of H.L. Zeve Associates, has served as RAA president, national
chair of the Patroon Gift Committee, and is a current member
of the Institute Board of Trustees. He received the RAA's
Albert Fox Demers Medal in 1989, and is a member of the Livingston
W. Houston '13 Society of Patroons.
John
C. Hester III, who received the award from the Department
of Civil
Engineering, is director of Tunneling Operations Worldwide
for Balfour Beatty in Surrey, England. Hester, a licensed
professional engineer in Virginia and Texas and a fellow of
the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK, has more than 30 years
experience in civil engineering with extensive experience
in tunnel projects throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada,
and Europe. He is a recipient of the 1999 Moles' Award, established
in 1941 to recognize outstanding ability and accomplishments
in the heavy construction industry.
Robert
F. Ducatte was honored for his contributions to Rensselaer's
athletics programs. He has served as director of athletics
since 1971. Ducatte, who established the Transit Trophy Football
Game with Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Shotglass
Trophy Football Game with Coast Guard, was instrumental in
the creation of the annual Big Red Freakout Hockey Game. As
director of athletics, he led the growth of the department
from 12 sports to 23, including all 11 of the women's intercollegiate
varsity teams.
Governor Creates New Centers for High-Tech Research
 |
| Rensselaer's
Luciano Castillo (center), assistant professor of mechanical
engineering, and Angela Eaton, a doctoral candidate in LL&C,
who helped to prepare the proposal for the Star Research
Center in Environmental Quality Systems, were at Syracuse
University May 3 when Gov. Pataki announced the new STAR
Center. Photo Credit: Stephen Sartori/Syracuse University. |
To
promote high-technology research and economic development in
New York, Governor George E. Pataki has announced a series of
major awards totaling $102.5 million to create eight Strategically
Targeted Academic Research (STAR) Centers and five Advanced
Research Centers (ARCs) across New York state.
Rensselaer
is a participant in three of the centers: An
ARC in Pharmacogenomics, a
STAR Center in Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics Research
and Technology,
and a
STAR Center in Environmental Quality Systems.
The
one-time awards are being made through the New York State Office
of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) Capital
Facility Program and Faculty Development Program.
Senate
Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver joined the governor in making the announcement.
Governor
Pataki also announced a grant of $1 million to Rensselaer "to
help attract world-class scientists and researchers for specific
high-technology related research."
Advanced
Research Center in Pharmacogenomics
Pataki announced a $4 million grant to create an ARC in Pharmacogenomics.
Headquartered at Albany Medical College, the center will include
participation by Rensselaer, Albany College of Pharmacy, and
the Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health
and Health Research.
The
consortium will conduct research to identify genes that are
candidates for disease susceptibility and adverse drug reaction.
By performing research in genomic technology, including single
nucleotide polymorphism and microarray techniques, the consortium
will become a world leader in pharmacogenomics.
STAR
Center in Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics Research and Technology
Governor
Pataki announced that the Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics
Research and Technology Center at the University at Albany and
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will be designated as a STAR
Center based on the world-class research that will be conducted
there. No funding was specified for the center.
The
center will act as a development resource that provides the
science and technology base for future generations of integrated
circuitry. It will target a portfolio of nanoelectronics-based
products ranging from microprocessor and memory computer chips
with higher functionality and complexity to the rapidly evolving
areas of micro- and nanosystems-based "system-on-a-chip"
(SOC) technologies including biochips, optoelectronics and photonics
devices, sensors for the energy and environment, and ultra-fast
communication equipment.
STAR
Center in Environmental Quality Systems
The
governor also announced the creation of the New York Environmental
Quality Systems (NYEQS) Center at Syracuse University. The center,
which includes Rensselaer, received $15.9 million in funding.
It will conduct research, education, and outreach programs to
improve building environments and urban ecosystems.
Other
partners include SUNY Albany, SUNY Buffalo, Clarkson University,
Cornell University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY College
of Environmental Science and Forestry, Metropolitan Development
Association of Syracuse and Central New York, New York Indoor
Environmental Quality Center Inc., Institute of Ecosystem Studies,
and Upstate Freshwater Institute.
Hewlett
Foundation's $400 Million Gift to Stanford Is Largest Ever
The
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has pledged $400 million
to Stanford University, university officials announced May 2.
The gift is the largest gift ever to an American institution
of higher education, surpassing Rensselaer's
$360 million gift from an anonymous donor earlier
this year.
The
Hewlett Foundation gift will bolster Stanford's endowment for
humanities, sciences, and undergraduate education.
The
gift to Rensselaer, announced March 12, remains among the top
three gifts to any university in the United States. Now second
in size, it is followed by an earlier gift to MIT of $350 million
to create an institute for brain research.
The
Rensselaer gift, by an anonymous donor, is unlike the others
in the top three because the donor gave the Institute complete
discretion in its use. It is extremely rare for a university
to receive unrestricted gifts of such magnitude.
Summer
Schedule
Campus.News
begins a biweekly summer schedule with this issue. The next
issue will appear on Tuesday, May 29 (due to the Memorial Day
holiday). Thereafter, Campus.News will publish every
other Monday as follows: June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23,
July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 20. Weekly publication will resume Aug.
27.
Important
breaking news will still appear immediately.
The
deadline for submitting items for inclusion is the Tuesday before
the publication date. Please send calendar items to leibat@rpi.edu.
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Bill
Cosby urged the members of Rensselaer's Class of 2001 to change
the world by being honest, remaining humble, and continuing to
learn from others. The entertainer and educator addressed graduates
at the Institute's 195th Commencement, Saturday, May 12, at the
Pepsi Arena in Albany.
Charles
E. Schumer, the senior U.S. Senator from New York praised President
Jackson for her "leadership at one of the greatest universities
in the entire nation." Schumer said Rensselaer was "one
of the keys to educational excellence and job growth here in the
Capital Region."
After
receiving his doctorate, Cosby removed his ceremonial robe and
revealed a red Rensselaer sweatshirt to match his Rensselaer baseball
cap, replete with gold tassel.