Monday, May 5, 2003Volume 3, Issue 6
Materials Day at Penn State
I want to thank everyone who participated in Materials Day on April 15. By all accounts it was a successful event for the materials community and for Penn State. Students, faculty and researchers displayed nearly 120 posters and there were more than 500 participants including 80 from industry. Our goal was to showcase the materials community's activities and provide a mechanism to share the breadth of research programs on campus, amongst ourselves and with our industrial visitors.
According to recent NSF rankings, Penn State possesses the #1 materials research program in the country based on annual research expenditures. The breadth and quality of ongoing research activities, spread over 4 colleges (Engineering, Eberly College of Science, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Agriculture) and the Applied Research Laboratory, was clearly evident in the 120 displayed posters. An additional indication of quality is evident in the recent rankings by ISI of highly cited reserachers; see http://www.isihighlycited.com/isi_copy/Comm_news27.htm
During the Materials Day program, we also took the time to recognize several of our outstanding students performing materials research. These students received the MRI Student Research Award which provides recognition of their accomplishments and a cash award. They were chosen from more than 500 M.S. and PhD. students involved in materials research.
Juan C. Nino
Advisors: Clive Randall, Mike Lanagan
PhD Materials Science and Engineering
Thesis: Fundamental Structure-Property Relationships towards Engineering of an Integrated NPO Capacitor for Bismuth Pyrochlore Systems
Yaroslava G. Yingling
Advisor: Barbara Garrison
PhD in Materials
Thesis: Photochemical Processes in Laser Ablation of Organic Solids: Molecular Dynamics Study
Osama M. Al-Bataineh
Advisor: Nadine Barrie Smith
M.S. in Bioengineering
M.S. Thesis: "Biomedical Applications of the Miniature Hollow Sphere Transducer"
Olivier Pierron
Advisors: Donald Koss, Arthur Motta
M.S.: Materials Science and Engineering
The Penn State Materials overview presentation can be viewed at
http://www.mri.psu.edu/ematerials/v03i06/MtrlsDay.ppt
MRI Faculty Advisory Board Meeting Report
March 27, 2003
An overview on the ongoing MRI initiatives:
Nanoscale Science and Technology (NST)
- Nano-Commission - a university vehicle for coordinating NST research and facilities; reports to MRI executive committee.
- Nanofab and related renovations @ MRI Building; MRSEC and NSEC have requested space; HMS would also like adjacent space; renovations at the MRI Building are planned for January 2004.
- NNIN - Fonash, et al (previously NNUN) is up for renewal at NSF
- NMT/NUE - Fonash/Hallacher/McCarty; education and outreach activities are a focus; new curricula are under development in various departments including College of Ag; permanent state support is being sought
- NSF NSEC - Foley, et al; a proposal on Nano-Manufacturing has been selected for a reverse sight visit; they plan to add staff scientists and to combine their seed program with the existing MRI/MRSEC SeedGrant Program.
- To strengthen nanotechnology - PA state funding has been used to support a number of seed projects in Nano for MRI-MRSEC faculty; 15 total (~500K)
- Ben Franklin Center of Excellence in Nanoparticles (Jim Adair is the PI); includes a relationship with Leeds University through the WUN.
Sensors: Materials, Devices and Networks
- Many informal faculty working groups are engaged in sensor and related technology research. We are working to identify sensor(s) champion(s) to coordinate the research and organize major programs. It is an area of potential strength at Penn State, and could be crucial to homeland security and defense initiatives of the future.
- Lanagan, et al; remote MEMs vibration sensor; acoustic sensors; packaging technology; wireless biotoxin sensor network detects aerosolized biotoxins using magneto-elastic based sensors
- McGrath, Grimes, Pishko et al; hydrogen sensors for fuel cells, homeland security and healthcare; a multi-sensor analysis detector (MSAD) with ARL and LSC; one NIH proposal on H2- sensing for neo-natal care submitted.
- Bio-Optical Sensors; with Lehigh/COT; Jain is leader; optical sensing of signal transduction in cells; evanescent and infrared sensing; integrated bio-optical sensors;
- Sensors for Agriculture and Food; McPherson, Irudayaraj, et al are surveying their college; graduate course on nano for agriculture under development (Irudayaraj/McCarty)
- Nanowire sensors, Mayer, Keating, Mallouk and others, are under development and study; there is considerable interest in these at Hershey; possible collaborations with Drexel and UPenn
- Working closely with the Huck Institute, ARL and HMS to develop bio-sensor working groups; recently submitted Army UARC Proposal will serve as a roadmap for funding new initiatives; the newly formed Keystone Alliance for Homeland Security is a University-wide initiative led by ARL.
Center for Optical Technologies (COT)
- Venkat Gopalan, faculty member in Materials Science and Engineering was named the Associate Director and is actively involved in coordinating center activities and research at Penn State. The director of the center is Tom Koch (former VP of Technology Platforms at Agere); he is at Lehigh where the center is based. The five thrust areas for the COT are indicated below:
- All Fiber Networks
- Optical Bio-Sensors
- Optoelectronic Packaging
- Optical Interconnects
- Flexible Displays
Fuel Cells
- Yang-Wang, Mench, et al in MNE are studying fuel cell systems and the effects of mass, thermal and electrical transport on overall performance; in-situ nano-sensors, computational modeling, and the PEM are foci
- Lvov, Allcock, et al are focused on raising the operating temperature range for polymer electrolyte fuel cells using polyphosphazene membranes; they can characterize individual membranes as a f(T) alone or in a working fuel cell
- Johnson-Mathey/Foster Miller want to partner with PSU; JM is considering building an MEA-Factory in PA; possible WUN link through Soton, UK.
- Another working group is looking at nanocomposite membranes (Lvov, Allcock, Pantano and Komarneni)
- Materials for hydrogen generation, storage, sensing, etc., of interest to the H2 Center at PSU; the H2 Center will pursue an NSF-STC; Bruce Logan is leading.
Materials in the Environment
- Tim Considine and Mike Silsbee are seeking follow on funding for a Center under the NSF MUSES program with an emphasis on particulates and pharmaceuticals; the focus is industrial ecology; they held a successful Workshop with NSF seed funding; a Center Proposal has been submitted; PSIE is a partner;
Materials Simulation and Modeling
- Materials Simulation Center (MSC) - Jorge Sofo is the director; he has been cross-pollinating activities across campus; working closely with MRSEC, CAC and MSE; an NSF-MRI proposal is pending to expand the facilities for improved visualization capabilities and graduate education across disciplines.
- Z. K. Liu, et al are discussing an NSF-STC submission
- Sofo will represent MRI/Materials for University-wide/OVPR 'High-Power Computing' activities and opportunities (e.g., DOE)
Materials in Medicine/HMS
- Biomaterials Focus Group Meeting - Erwin Vogler (chair)
- Alan Snyder, Qiming Zhang, and Mary Frecker have an informal working group on Biomedical Applications of Electro-Active Polymers
- Summer Institute for Biomaterials and Biotechnology - Peter Butler (www.bbsi.psu.edu)
- Theresa Mayer and Gary Clawson have an activity to sense rNA target molecules on nanowires
- Carlo Pantano and Channa Reddy are convening groups to establish additional bio-nano-materials working groups
- MRI Faculty need to submit more proposals to NIH for this initiative to be successful; strong ties to biochemists and clinicians are needed; persistence too.
Materials Science and Engineering Overview - Gary L. Messing
Below are highlights from the MSE presentation from Gary Messing.
- The department is working hard on increasing the number of undergraduates, currently at 94 for freshman through senior.
- A new biomaterials Grad option (18 credits) is a growing area for the department
- Penn State materials science is ranked in the top ten in the nation - it probably is not solely based on MSE numbers (ISI Science Watch.)
- Modeling is a large area of emphasis for the department working closely with other groups on campus including Sofo who is coordinating campus wide activities via MSC. McGrath suggested trying to meet with Ray Orbach DOE Director of Science funds who will be on campus April 24 - 25 to discuss areas of collaboration the modeling group should meet with him. He is responsible for $850M in research at universities of which Penn State only gets $9M
- John Mason indicated that he has been assigned the role of liaison with Hershey through the college of Engineering. He suggested that MSE participate more in the process and should send a group of people to Hershey. Lipowsky and Mason are facilitating. We need to get the leadership from Hershey here for biomaterials overview. Moskowitz should be available.
Faculty members from other departments in the university that belong to the Materials Research Institute have applied for joint (courtesy) appointments in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. After review by the department Executive Committee and the MatSE faculty, and with the concurrence of the Dean, they have been granted a joint (courtesy) appointment in the department.
The Penn State Institutes of the Environment (PSIE) - Bill Easterling
Below are highlights from the presentation given by Bill Easterling.
The Associate Director is Dave Dewalle
- He indicated that PSIE's activities are broadly based and encompass "the impact of humans on the planet"
- They recently established new indoor air quality center with a new faculty hire.
- Methods to remove atmospheric load of carbon are very important - from air to ground with the goal being to make carbon more inert. "Carbon cycle" is a big issue.
- Many plans and activities with MRI are in the works including the NSF MUSES program on Industrial Ecology of Particulate Materials, Hydrogen Science including new vehicle technology, fueling, and hydrogen storage; PTI is involved with CATA.
- Working closely with Hershey and have created a co funded position at the Capitol Campus.
- Homeland Security RFP will be coming out in the next couple of months for universities to develop regional centers of excellence. PSU is interested in sensors, sensor networks, air quality and dispersion. There is a newly formed Keystone Alliance for Homeland Security Summit which is a PSU led initiative with Penn, Carnegie and Pitt
- PSIE's new web site comes out Monday, and will allow faculty to identify expertise for cross collaboration
- Are considering establishing an organic chemistry lab which is needed and should be used by faculty from across the University Park campus Messing indicated that MSE faculty would have a large interest and volunteered to have someone work with them on establishing the lab.
- Sensors are a large overlap area for the PSIE, MRI and faculty across the campus.
- Erwin Vogler questioned whether any work was being undertaken on "sick building syndrome" - at this time it is not a major emphasis. This is also related to homeland security via anthrax building mitigation and is a big issue.
The meeting ended at 5:00 p.m.
Origin Pro Site License
Penn State's Computer Store has recently purchased an unlimited site license of the scientific graphic and analysis software Origin Pro 7. To purchase licenses and media for Origin Pro 7, visit the Computer Store at http://computerstore.psu.edu/ and follow the link for online shopping. These licenses are available only for departmental purchases and can be ordered using the Penn State Purchasing Card for orders up to $2000 (orders over $2000 must be submitted via IDCC to & MOC).
The pricing structure of licenses for Origin Pro 7 represents approximately a 70% discount from educational pricing. Listed below are the part numbers and prices for media and licenses.
Part Number, Description - Price
SMWNSA005, Origin Pro 7 Media - $5
SLWNSA016, Origin Pro 7 License - New, $215
SLWNSA017, Origin Pro 7 License - Upgrade from Origin 7, $60
SLWNSA018, Origin Pro 7 License - Upgrade from Origin Pro 6, $75
SLWNSA019, Origin Pro 7 License - Upgrade from Origin Pro 5, $90
*Please note that licenses do not include media and that you must possess a valid license of a previous version to purchase an upgrade license.
For more information on this new offer, please visit the Penn State Computer Store web site or the OriginLab web site at:
http://www.originlab.com.
Penn State's Computer Store stocks many popular software titles available to Penn State departments, faculty, staff and students.
Materials Seminars
May 5, 12:00 PM
339 Davey Lab
Patterning cell signaling
Professor Erin Sheets
May 7, 11:15 AM
S5 Osmond Laboratory
Using Cantilevers to Detect Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Study Organic Electronic Materials
John Marohn, Cornell University
May 8, 3:00 PM
301 Steidle Bldg
Resonant Raman Spectroscopy from Carbons
Andrea Ferrari - University of Cambridge
For a complete list of upcoming materials-related seminars go to:
http://www.mri.psu.edu/seminars.asp
Funding Opportunities
NSF: Cooperative Activities in Materials Research beteen the National Science Foundation and the European Commission: Deadline July 18, 2003
