College of Arts and Sciences
American University
Washington, D. C.
Fall 2004
A M E RIC A N UN IV E RS I TY S C I E N C E
www.american.edu/cas
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEAN’S MESSAGE
cientific inquiry extends beyond the classroom and beyond the university. It motivates us to
journey to the depths of the sea and to the far reaches of outer space; and in the wake of movies
such as A Beautiful Mind, Gattaca, Pi, and Proof, it is now a staple of popular culture.
But we don’t have to leave campus or buy a movie ticket to see important and inspiring scientific
achievements. AU faculty members are renowned for research, scholarship, and influencing current
events in arenas such as computer programming, genetics, drug addiction, and environmental toxicity.
AU students are exploring the Florida Keys, creating new medicines in the lab, and designing
computer models to help predict the outcome of presidential elections. These are not rote lab
exercises but rather, original contributions that shape our world.
Our faculty and staff work to make the College of Arts and Sciences a catalyst for collaboration and
awareness of the sciences, providing a medium through which we all can effect change. AU recognizes
that as our society’s dependence on science grows, so should our understanding of it. Along with
discovery, ethical questions often arise, as in the cases of stem cell research and genetic engineering.
We all are responsible for educating ourselves about the science behind these controversies so that we
can contribute to thoughtful, informed debate. By taking advantage of research and intern s h i p
opportunities, by enrolling in science classes, and by choosing to make science a part of your education,
you too can be part of scientific achievement, growth, and policy making.
Catalyst is designed as a tool to inform you of the cutting-edge research of students and professors,
various internship and scholarship opportunities, and featured science classes that will allow students of
any background to enjoy science as part of their learning experience.
S
Kay Mussell
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Mission Statement:
A catalyst, as defined by scientists, facilitates
chemical reactions by bringing together substances that might not interact in its absence.
Similarly, Catalyst is one place where all the
sciences come together to relay exciting
scientific developments happening at AU in the
AU community and beyond.
Catalyst is a semi-annual magazine created
to promote discourse and keep us up-to-date
about how science at AU affects and inspires us
all. Our mission is to: serve students and faculty
in the sciences as a means to inspire, inform ,
and promote discourse; share news and
accomplishments of students and faculty;
i n f o rmstudents of timely and valuable opportunities; raise the profile of the sciences at AU;
and expose students outside of CAS to exciting
science classes.
Our success will be measured by how
useful and informative you find this
publication, so we want to hear from you!
Editor:
April Astor
DEAN’S MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside front cover
SCIENCE STARS: Student Projects Affecting You!
You Are What You Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Biology student Ethan Bassett helps illustrate intricate food webs
Pennsylvania More Powerful than Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Math student Jason Richwine’s study of swing states’ power in presidential elections
Does Alcohol Lessen the Effects of Cocaine? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Psychology student Elizabeth Lawrence studies the combined high
Environmental Changes Revealed by the Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Computer science student Resnik Boone studies forecasting properties of stars
Goldwater Award Winner Works to Create Better Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Chemistry student Carey Myers tries to keep a step ahead of bacterial resistance to antibiotics
Grad Student Sequences Squid Gene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Biology student Lynde Kunkle discovers some species mislabeled
‘Biological Basis’ of Chocolate Cravings Questioned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Psychology student Niveen Kamel challenges misconceptions and stereotypes
GETTING OUT OF DODGE: Students Take Science out of D.C. Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Researching Florida’s Coral Reefs
Graduate student Dave Baker describes his experience in the Florida Ke y s
More SCIENCE STARS
april.astor@american.edu
Coming to America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Associate Editor and Faculty Advisor:
Poly sci major Marjorie Jeansonne uses math minor to challenge immigration trends
Dr. Susan Solarz
solarz@american.edu
Senior Writer:
Need for Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Physics student Tristan White designs programs for computer of the future
Orlando Fo x
Table of Contents continued on next page
Please submit letters to the editor to
april.astor@american.edu
Read about Elizabeth Lawrence’s
work on cocaine and alcohol
addiction on page 4.
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ON THE COVER
Left to right: Trish Hall, Kiho Kim, Steve MacAvoy, Rania Tarboush, Ethan Bassett, and Tahir Jamil. Photo by Jeff Watts.
SCIENCE STARS:
Student Projects Affecting You
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Tracking Down Science Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
PROFESSOR PROFILES
Smaller is Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Physics professor Nathan Harshman discusses his work in particle physics
Lock onto This . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Math professor John Nolan talks about the practical applications of his work in radar and genetics
PIPING HOT: Internships & Scholarships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Math major Michael Huber describes his internship at NIST
Also: internship, fellowship, and job listings
EVENTS CALENDAR & Featured Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside back cover
“THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF MATHEMATICS”
Pioneering math student speaks at AU
Check out this and other events featured in our calendar
Stable isotopes are used to measure the rate of nutrient turnover. It is
known that tissues isotopically resemble what an organism consumes and
By: April Astor
that by measuring the rate of change of isotopes in a tissue after a change
ETHAN BASSETT (BIO ’04) IS FA S T. IN ADDITION TO FINISHING SEVENTH in diet, one can determine the tissue turnover rate.
The animals were fed a cer tain diet at first, then later a different diet
at the U.S. Olympic trials in the 200m breaststroke, he studied the speed
so Bassett could see how long it took for the isotope levels in the animals’
of something else: tissue replacement.
His honors capstone project measured the rate of tissue turnover in the tissue to change. Using stable isotope ratios helps scientists discover
heart, fat, blood, muscle, and liver of Mus musculus, the common mouse. what an animal is eating. Thus, a scientist can create a food web
As Bassett trained for his important race, he also helped to uncover vital articulating the interactions of a cer tain ecosystem.
“What remains relatively unexplored territory, and what we studied, is
linkages among organisms. Understanding tissue turnover helps biologists
the rate tissues turn over,” said Bassett. This makes determining diet more
to create a more accurate diagram of
precise by allowing scientists to see if the
intricate food webs and ecosystems. This
Understanding tissue turnover
animal is or is not in equilibrium with its environallows environmentalists to identify not only
habitat where animals live but also habitat helps biologists to create a more accurate ment. The result is a clearer picture of the food
diagram of intricate food webs and
web and species interactions.
where they eat and drink and what sources
ecosystems.
The experiment involved three groups of
they use for nutrients. Scientists can then
mice: one was fed a control diet, one a beet diet,
develop a holistic management plan for
and the third a marine (fish) diet. Each diet had two carbon sources, one from
endangered species.
The mice were fed a controlled diet from birth to eight months of age. a carbohydrate and one from a protein source, so that Bassett could
The experiment began when the mice were considered adults to rule out determine where each organ preferentially derives its nutrients.
Bassett was one of six 2004 Honors Capstone Competition winners.
the possibility of tissue growth and measure only tissue replacement in
terms of upkeep of the body.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
P E N N S Y LVAN IA M ORE POW ERFUL THAN TEXAS
John Nolan (MATH)
Using math to determine the relative power of
individual states in presidential elections
Nathan Harshman (CAP)
Professor Profiles Spring 2005
By: Susan Solarz
Monika Konaklieva (CHEM)
THIS ELECTION YEAR, JASON RICHWINE (MATH ’04) UNDERSTANDS
more about the mathematics behind determining voting power than most
campaign advisors.
Richwine, winner of an American University 2003 CAS Re s e a r c h
Award, used math to determine the relative power of individual states in
presidential elections. He collected election data from 1980 to 2000 to
learn if a list of powerful states from the past is still valid today.
Laura Juliano (PSYC)
Whereas previous studies assumed that state power lies solely in the
number of a state’s electoral votes (ranking California and Texas as the
most powerful states), Richwine showed that “swing states,” states that
often flip-flop between Democratic and Republican dominance, hold
voting power dispropor tionate to their size. He found, for example, that
Pennsylvania is more powerful than Texas in determining a presidential
victory. He also detected an increase in the spread of power between the
top and bottom of the state list. Richwine’s study reveals a top-heavy or
what he calls an “oligarchic” structure with a few states at the top holding
disparate power in elections.
Upon first inspection, this may seem like good news to candidates,
who should have fewer states to cover during their campaigns. However,
Richwine emphasizes one caveat: his model is based on the assumption
that each candidate behaves (i.e., campaigns) in the same manner as
candidates have in the past.
Richwine double majored in mathematics and political science, earning a BS
from CAS and a BA from the School of Public Affairs. His is the first study of its
kind since 1986, and he plans to publish his results in an academic journal.
Melanie Wo o d
(See the events calendar on the inside back cover. )
Catalyst Fall 2004 3
DOES ALCOHOL LESSEN THE AFFECTS OF COCAINE?
By: April Astor and Orlando Fo x
COCAINE AND ALCOHOL, ONE OF THE MOST LETHAL DRUG
combinations, are commonly co-abused. Researchers in AU’s
psychology department designed an experiment to determine
why drug abusers take such a deadly risk in search of a high.
While examining the combined effects of cocaine and alcohol,
they determined that alcohol can either weaken or strengthen
cocaine-induced preferences, depending on the dose of
cocaine. This finding is possibly related to the effects of alcohol
on both the rewarding and aversive properties of cocaine.
Elizabeth Lawrence (PSYC ’04) studied the effects of
alcohol and cocaine, along with graduate student Greg Busse
and department chair Professor Anthony Riley.
Busse, Lawrence, and Riley performed their experiment
on rats, injecting them with cocaine, alcohol, or one of a
variety of cocaine-alcohol combinations.
The procedure conditioned the rats to associate a certain
compartment of a three-chambered apparatus with a specific
dose of drug. The rewarding effects of the cocaine-alcohol combinations were measured by the rats’
preference for spending time in that particular compartment after being placed in a neutral compartment
of the container.
When given higher doses of cocaine (20mg/kg to 40mg/kg) combined with 0.5g/kg of alcohol
the rats showed no significant preference for the drug compartment.
However, when cocaine was given in lower doses (2.5mg/kg and 5mg/kg) combined with the
same amount of alcohol, the rats showed a significant preference for the drug compartment of the
apparatus. The finding that alcohol increases the rewarding effects for lower doses of cocaine suggests
one of the reasons people use this combination. This work was recently published in the journal Progress
in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.
Lawrence currently works part time as a psychiatric technician at Northern Virginia Mental Health
Institute, an in-patient psychiatric hospital. She is also continuing her work in Riley’s neuropharmacology lab and is investigating potential differences in drug preferences between rat strains.
GOLDWATER AWARD WINNER
WORKS TO CREATE BETTER
MEDICINE
By: Cosima Wa d h w a
CAREY MYERS (CHEM ’05) WANTS TO HELP
create a novel approach to fighting diseasecausing bacteria, many of which have developed
resistance to conventional antibiotics.
“Current antibiotics don’t work against a lot
of different types of bacteria,” said Myers. “They
aren’t susceptible to the antibiotics anymore.
The real problem is the lack of susceptibility due
to the various mechanisms of resistance that
bacteria have developed.”
Bacteria have developed resistance to certain
antibiotics due to their overuse in animal agriculture
and in human medicine.
Myers is working to
Bacteria
create new antimicrobials to
have
fight infectious disease. To
developed
do this, she applies literatureresistance to
based research to lab
certain
synthesis, performing various
antibiotics
chemical reactions to obtain
due to their
the desired product. Myers
overuse in
became involved with
animal
research in the area of
agriculture
antibiotic resistance in May
and in
of 2003. She expects prelimhuman
i n a ry results in 2004.
medicine.
Faculty members at
AU played a large role in her journey toward
success. Her advisor, Professor Monika
Konaklieva, who originally introduced
her to the project, supported her the
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES REVEALED BY THE STARS
entire way and continues to be a great
By: Mishri Someshwar
Atmospheric Administration, she selects stars that
inspiration to her studies, said Myers.
RESNIK BOONE (CAP ’05) WANTS TO GIVE THE are appropriate for the experiment. Then she
Paula Warrick from the Career Center
stars their 15 seconds of fame. A senior majoring f o rm ulates equations to predict the movement of
also contributed to Myers’ achievements
in computer science, she is currently researching stars across lenses. Boone chose the stars based
by encouraging her to apply for the
star signals, along with Professor I-Lok Chang.
on how many of the eight detectors of the lens she
Goldwater Award. This award is given
Usually satellites point toward the earth, in order used picked up the image of the star. She and
out to young and talented science
to collect the required data. Sometimes, they point Professor Chang were searching for stars to use in
students who have a great potential for
toward the stars for short periods of about 15
achieving their educational goals as
d e t e rmining whether or not their mathematical
seconds. Boone and Chang are searching the data
future researchers and who plan to earn
formulas were accurate portrayals of actual star
collected in those 15 second periods.
a PhD in their area of interest. Myers
movement across the lens. By comparing the actual
They are looking at the angle at which the stars’
won the award for the 2004–2005
light hits the lens of the satellite. Any fluctuations in data with what their formulas produced, they
academic year.
the angle and intensity of light can reveal changes determined that the stars followed their calculus using
Following her graduation from
in the earth’s atmosphere, as well as other circles as a basis in their movement across the lens.
AU, Myers hopes to continue working
Boone worked on this project May through
enviromental changes.
in drug design and discovery and to
Using data from the National Oceanic and August 2004.
pursue a joint MD-PhD.
Catalyst Fall 2004 4
‘BIOLOGICAL BASIS’ OF CHOCOLATE
CRAVINGS QUESTIONED
GRAD STUDENT SEQUENCES SQUID GENE
By: Phil Turner
A FTER A YEAR OF PERFORMING INTRICATE LAB EXPERIMENTS ON
squid to see if a certain gene can be used to identify them, AU graduate
student Lynde Kunkle (BIO ’04) l e a rned that these creatures are as
unpredictable as they are slimy.
Kunkle earned her master’s degree in biology this summer
through her work using genetics and gene sequencing to
identify three different species of squid. She spent a good
portion of the past year in Hurst Hall performing genomic DNA
extractions, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifications,
cloning, and sequencing a portion of a mitochondrial gene.
“It was really interesting to learn the lab techniques,” she said.
Kunkle obtained the squid for her project from the National
Museum of Natural History, a par t of the Smithsonian. The three
species she used have long been identified based on their
different morphological (anatomical) characteristics. Ku n k l e
expected that genetic identification would produce the same
results as identification based on morphological characteristics.
Discovery is often accompanied by unexpected results.
According to Kunkle’s molecular data, the species she studied
aren’t being correctly identified using the current criteria of
morphological characteristics.
“Only one species remained in the same group— based on
my data, the other two species are being misidentified,” she
said. “I expected the three different groups would coordinate
with the morphological characteristics, but they didn’t.”
Based on the gene she extracted and sequenced, the
species appear to be mislabeled, but Kunkle said the project
was still a success because molecular research is greatly
needed in taxonomy (i.e., the science of species classification).
This group of squid will continue to be investigated using both
morphology and molecular data for identification and life history
information.
Having spent her fair share of time under the microscope for
her thesis defense, Kunkle is heading to Australia for at least
seven months and perhaps longer. “I just want to travel and
hopefully do something biological in the future,” she said. We ’ l l
stay tuned.
Catalyst Fall 2004 5
By: April Astor
YOU CAN’T JUST ASSUME SOMEONE IS CRAVING SWEETS
because they have PMS, said Niveen Kamel (PSYC ’04).
Ever since she came to the United States, Kamel has heard
people say that women crave sweets just because they are
women, for biological reasons. But having moved to this country
from Egypt, she knew that in other parts of the world, women
craved different types of snacks.
As an undergraduate PSYC student, Kamel worked with
Professor Scott Parker to analyze food cravings in other par ts of
the world.
From her results, she deduced that the types of
food people crave has a “more cultural than
biological basis.”
While on vacation in Egypt, she
surveyed 246 Egyptian volunteers,
asking them what type of food they
craved most. She compared their
answers with previously published
results of this type of data from
North America and Spain.
Kamel and Parker analyzed the
data, focusing on participants’ age
and gender and whether they craved
sweets or savories (salty foods).
In Egypt, young women most often
craved savories. In North America and Spain,
it was reported that young women more often craved
sweets than savories. These were the results Kamel had expected.
“Spain is more Westernized,” she said. Like North America,
their Western culture encourages the consumption of sweets.
“I think it’s based on culture because in Egypt, for instance, it’s
really hot so you can’t just go out and buy chocolate to keep in
the house,” she said. “Most people don’t have air conditioning. Even
when Egyptian women said they craved
sweets, they were mostly referring to
fruit.”
Proving that these cravings
are culturally based is
i m p o r tant because many
stereotypes are justified by
“biological proof” when there
is actually no biological basis.
Kamel and Parker’s results
were published in Appetite, a
scientific journal. Kamel is now at the
National Institutes of Health, studying mood and anxiety disorders.
By: Jessica Macdonald
S
ENDING STUDENTS ON TROPICAL VACATIONS IS NOT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S
usual protocol for its talented student body, but the case of Dave Baker (BIO ’04),
a master’s student studying the buildup of man-made nutrients in the ocean,
warranted an exception. Courtesy of grants from AU’s biology department and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Baker was able to study coral
samples in the Florida Keys.
Toxic dumping and runoff now account for roughly 80 percent of the total
pollution in the ocean today. Everything from the small amount of oil that drips
from your car onto the parking lot ground to the fertilizers that so many
residential lawns and agricultural fields soak up each season has led to an
environmental crisis.
Ocean pollution causes a shift in the balance of existing marine life. High
levels of some specific types of pollutants, including fertilizers and sewage, lead to a
process known as eutrophication, which causes algae to grow rapidly and smother
coral reefs. Because corals are dying at an alarming rate, there is a new urgency
driving scientists to better understand exactly how nutrients and pollution are
changing the ecology of the ocean.
What Baker’s work has shown is that sea fan corals can capture information about
their environment in their tissue and skeleton and that this information can be used to
assess levels of nutrient pollution. This is important because Stable Isotope Analysis of
corals can provide a relatively simple and inexpensive method of monitoring the health
of coastal oceans, particularly in places where traditional monitoring is impractical.
Before heading down to the Florida Keys, Baker had to decide on a scientific
method for gathering the information needed to calculate the amount of nutrient input
principles present in coastal waters. Due to the lack of previous work on the specific
topic, it was up to Baker to synthesize a large amount of research before going to the
site for testing. Part of the reason so little
research exists is that the traditional method of Students Take Science Out of D.C.
measuring water quality is tedious and time
consuming and can be expensive. Baker decided
to use a different method, Stable Isotope Analysis, which bases its principles on the
fact that nitrogen exists in different atomic forms which can be traced to specific
origins. Both Baker and Professor Kiho Kim, Baker’s advisor, examined coral samples
from the site in the Keys to test for the presence of heavy nitrogen, which is more likely
to be a result of man-made pollution. Though Baker did have to make the decision to
use a certain methodology for measurement, he was at an advantage due to work that
had been documented prior to his research.
“It was advantageous that as soon as I came to AU,” Baker said, “I was able to jump
right into my research with coral samples that Professor Kim already had from 1999.”
The only real disadvantage that Baker dealt with prior to making the trip to the Florida
Keys was that he hadn’t seen the sites where the coral was collected.
“When I saw the sites, it gave me a better perspective on the local environment and
on my work,” Baker said after the conclusion of his Florida trip.
Baker is now starting to look at coral samples from the Pacific island of Palau for
C o rnell University, where he is now a PhD student. A portion of his research is funded
by the World Bank.
Catalyst Fall 2004 6
Before heading down to
the Florida Keys, Baker
had to first decide on a
scientific method of
gathering the information
needed to calculate the
amount of nutrient-input
principles present in
coastal waters.
Professor Kiho Kim, American University marine biologist and advisor to David Baker, helps Baker collect data in the Florida
Catalyst Fall 2004 7
MORE
SCIENCE STARS
COMING TO AMERICA
MARJORIE JEANSONNE (MATH MINOR
’06) l e a rned at an early age
about the hardships endured by immigrants to the United States. She is from
Covington, La., a region heavily populated by emigrants from Acadia.
Acadians are descendants of
the French settlers of
Nova Scotia in the early
seventeenth century. They lived in Nova Scotia
until they were forcibly ejected by the British
in 1755. Many of them immigrated to
Louisiana, where their descendants are
By: Susan Solarz
now known as Cajuns.
Jeansonne’s birthplace may have influenced
her decision to train at AU to become an immigration lawyer. “It’s unfair that currently the U.S.
accepts the vast majority of its immigrants from
developed countries rather than undeveloped
countries.”
In order to strengthen her understanding of the
trends in immigration and to best test her ideas for
solutions, Jeansonne has chosen to minor in math.
“The ability to think linearly and logically is a skill
honed by mathematical study,” she said.
She finds comfort and stability in having
strong math skills. “People can argue with me
about the emotional side of immigration p r o b l e m s ,
but no one can refute the numbers. I’ve also
learned that all problems may be approached
several different ways and how to recognize
when the approach I’ve taken is the wrong one.
The ability to adjust my plan of action will be key
to a law career. And, of course, the ability to read
and manipulate numbers is one of the most
persuasive powers a person may possess.”
When she is not organizing events for the
Math Club, such as the recent Pi Day Celebration,
complete with a “ P i ” eating contest and a viewing
of the movie Pi, Jeansonne hones her fencing
skills, volunteers with the College Democrats, and
interacts with fellow students in the Methodist
Student Association.
By: Michael Menachem
PROFESSOR NATHAN HARSHMAN (CAP) HAS GOOD REASON TO AGREE THAT INFORMATION IS POWER. Working under his
supervision, undergraduate Tristan White (CAP ’05) was selected for a McNair Fellowship, through which White will conduct
research on a project involving quantum computing.
“What’s nice is we’re a department of physics and computer science. [White] is being co-supervised by professors
familiar with both fields,” said Harshman.
White and Harshman are studying how information is stored and are discovering how to write theory
programs for quantum computers. Quantum computing promises to solve certain problems faster than
classical computers. As always, the more complicated the problem, the longer it takes to solve. Quantum
computers can crack codes faster than classical computers can; while classical computing is deterministic
by nature, the quantum computer lists outputs with possible probabilities.
The quantum computer could be useful for the defense industry and in research. A few decades back,
scientists and the public were skeptical about the personal computer, but today, it is considered by some as
essential to communication, education, and the workplace. It is not yet known what the full potential of quantum
computers is; however, they could break public codes for secure electronic communication.
Considering his goals for the fellowship, White said, “I hope to create a framework for others to build on and use as a
reference.” He believes his work with Harshman and Professor Larry Medsker will help future researchers learn more about
quantum computing.
NEED
FOR
SPEED
Catalyst Fall 2004 8
WHERE
WTHERE
ARE THEY NOW?
W
HERE
A
RE
HEY
?
ARE THEY?
PHYSICS
BIOLOGY
Dr. John Hillman. Retired.
Emeritus Senior Scientist in the Laboratory for
Extraterrestrial Physics NASA/Goddard Space
Flight Center
Dr. Lydia Waters Thomas
President and CEO of Mitretek Systems.
Dr. Hillman has been affiliated with NASA since
1969 in a number of positions, including head of
the Molecular Astrophysics Section, discipline
scientist in planetary astronomy at NASA
Headquarters, and associate chief of the
Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics. Hillman's
research interests include atomic and molecular
spectroscopy, radiative transport in planetary
atmospheres, metrological standards, remote
sensing of trace species, planetary atmospheres,
solar and stellar atmospheres, and the interstellar
medium.
Hillman earned his bachelor’s degree over
the course of eight years, as a part-time
student at AU.
“The physics depar tment was small
enough and personal enough so that I felt like I
was at home on campus even though I was a
perennial commuter,” he said. “There was no
other school in the D.C. area where I could
take so many diverse classes in the evenings. I
believe that this wonderful physical sciences
and mathematics education coupled with the
foundation of liberal arts classes enabled me
(or anyone else, for that matter) to tackle any
career objective before me.”
Hillman is a member of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science,
American Astronomical Society, American
Physical Society, and American Geophysical
Union. He is the author or coauthor of 80
professional publications, according to the
Optical Society of America Web page.
AU Degrees: BS Physics 1967, MS Physics
1970, Ph.D. Physics 1975
Mitretek Systems is a nonprofit scientific
research and system engineering company that
works in the public interest to solve complex
technological problems. Dr. Thomas was elected
to the Board of Trustees of Mitretek Systems
Inc. in May 1996 and president and chief
executive officer in July 1996. She is
responsible for the general management and
direction of the company’s overall technical,
financial, and administrative activities. Previously,
as a senior vice president and
general manager, Thomas was
responsible for strategic
planning and leadership
of Mitretek’s Center for
Environment, Resources
and Space. Prior to
Mitretek Systems, Thomas was with the
MITRE Corporation from 1973 to 1996. At
MITRE, Thomas held a series of technical and
management positions, spanning the areas of
energy, environment, health, and communications
systems.
AU Degree: MS Microbiology 1971
CHEMISTRY
Lois Trench-Hines
President Meniscus Ltd.
Meniscus Ltd. is a Web-based service for
monitoring, analysis, and benchmarking
process performance of assets. “I was going
to be fired from my corporate job, and I
realized that I would be better off devoting my
high level of energy and commitment to my
own company,” said Trench-Hines. “Over the
past 21 years, Meniscus Limited has had to
meet many challenges. Staff members must
continue their own professional development to
keep our products current, which means that
they are often their own toughest critics. We
are also constantly incorporating the latest
technologies into making our educational
activities and other publications suitable for
use on the Internet and CD-ROM. Every day,
we are integrating clinical information,
professional development, and technology into
our products.”
AU Degree: MS Chemistry 1971
Catalyst Fall 2004 9
PROFESSOR PROFILES
SMALLER IS BETTER
By: April Astor
WHAT DO BLACK HOLES, THE ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE, AND NUCLEAR POWER ALL
have in common? Pa rticle physics. Particle physics focuses on the smallest scales of
matter and energy. The saying goes that good things come in small packages, but
physicists don’t care; they’d just as soon smash the package.
Physics professor Nathan Harshman (CAP) said that par ticle physics is a useful
way to understand the world’s mysteries because, “If you smash things together as
hard as possible to get smaller pieces, a whole bunch of stuff comes out.” Harshman
then uses symmetry principles to isolate the information.
“A lot of triumphs in 20th-century physics use small scale to explain large-scale
phenomena,” he said. These “small” triumphs have helped physicists develop technologies
such as nuclear power and plastics, and may allow physicists to create black holes in the
laboratory. Harshman is currently developing a data analysis technique called Clebsch-Gordan
Coefficients for the Poincaré Group.
“The ultimate goal is to construct a theory that explains the kinematics
(mathematics of motion) of any experiment.” He said he wants to understand how
interactions are built and the general principles that all theories must satisfy. “It’s an
exciting field,” he said. “A lot of Nobel prizes have been awarded in it.”
Harshman takes on student researchers; interested senior physics majors should
e-mail harshman@american.edu.
By: April Astor
THE TERM “RA D A R” MAY INVOKE THOUGHTS OF TARGET
selection or methods to detect and curb smuggling through
coastline surveillance. It probably doesn’t prompt thoughts
about the mathematical equations and theories behind
those radar systems. Or does it? It did for mathematics
professor John Nolan, who has designed several programs
for these radar systems.
Nolan has worked with people from Patuxent
Naval Air Station in Maryland and his programs are now in
experimental use in the Navy. Nolan’s work is a prime example of how
all the writing and theory work in math can be put to a practical use.
And there is a lot of writing and theory work.
“Math departments can be pretty cheap,” Nolan joked. “All they
need are paper, pencils, and an eraser.” Although it began as
theoretical work, people in finance, like those designing radar systems,
are also using theories and programs that Nolan wrote. Knowledge of
math is not only useful to Nolan in the areas of radar and finance; his
work is applied to genetics as well.
“Biologists do the ‘wet work’ or lab work,” he said. “But
mathematicians and statisticians are still needed to analyze the
results.’’ Nolan spent two sabbaticals at NIH, working with
scientists in the Human Genome Institute and in the Mathematical
and Statistical Computation Laboratory.
“Gene maps are constructed using mathematical formulas,”
he said. He is involved in the study of genetically complex
diseases. Genetically complex diseases, such as the inherited
bowel disorder known as Hirschsprung disease, are caused by
a combination of defective genes, making it difficult to locate the
LOCK
ONTO
THIS
specific genes contributing to the disease. According to Nolan, the search
techniques are a combination of biology to collect data and mathematical
computer techniques to analyze that data and locate the contributing gene.
He is currently working on a related project with some of his graduate
students.
Nolan is also working on a book to be called Stable Distributions, which he
plans to complete within a year. He has been teaching at AU for 15 years.
Catalyst Fall 2004 10
PIPING JH
OT:
OBS, INTERNSHIPS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS
MATH STUDENT INTERNS WITH
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
“I work with experts in the fields of mathem a t i c s
and computational sciences and information
technology,” said Michael Huber, an undergraduate interning with NIST. “I write computer
programs for them. Right now I’m working on a
way to streamline the process of putting a digital
library of mathematical functions on the Internet.
I think internships like this provide good experience
for when you enter the job market.”
INTERNSHIPS + FELLOWSHIPS
EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
Fe l l o w s h i p
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
offering graduate fellowships for master’s
students in environmentally related fields of
study. The deadline for receipt of preapplications is Nov. 23, 2004. The fellowship
provides up to $37,000 per year for a
maximum of two years. SEE: http://es.epa.gov/
ncer/rfa/2004/2005_star_grad_fellow.html.
EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO)
Graduate Fellowship
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
offering graduate fellowships for master’s
students in environmentally related fields of
study. The deadline for receipt of preapplications is Nov. 23, 2004. The fellowship
provides up to $37,000 per year for a maximum
of two years. SEE: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/
2004/2005_gro_grad_fellow.html.
EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO)
Undergraduate Fe l l o w s h i p
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
offering undergraduate fellowships for
bachelor-level students in environmentally
related fields of study. The deadline for receipt
of pre-applications is Nov. 23, 2004. Students
would receive support for their junior and
senior years of undergraduate study and for an
internship at an EPA facility during the summer
between their junior and senior years. The
fellowship provides up to $17,000 per year of
academic suppor t and up to $7,500 of
internship support for the three-month summer
period. SEE: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/
rfa/2004/2005_gro_undergrad_fellow.html.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
NOAA accepts three AU students semi-annually
as nominees for internships in their Office of
Protected Resources (OPR). Successful candidates will help research, shape, and write U.S.
policy regarding the Marine Mammal Protection
Act (MMPA), The Convention on the International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and
others. Deadline for summer 2005 is March 30,
2005. Interested students should submit a
résumé to Professsor Susan Solarz at
solarz@american.edu and contact her in 112A
Hurst or at x3015.
D.C. Rape Crisis Center Internship Program
Internships available in counseling and advocacy,
community education, development, and
administration. Contact the internship coordinator
at 202-232-0789 or dcrcc@erols.com.
National Network for Environmental
Management Studies
www.epa.gov/enviroed/students.html
NNEMS is a comprehensive fellowship program
managed by the EPA’s Office of Environmental
Education. NNEMS fellows receive a stipend at a
level determined by the student’s level of education and the duration and location of the research
project. Fellowships are offered to undergraduate
and graduate students. The application deadline for
the program is in the winter of each year with all
projects beginning the following summer. Contact
the AU Career Center or call 1-800-358-8769.
Presidential Management Fellows
The federal government is seeking graduate
students for a leadership development program
that provides opportunities to work with and
impact public policy and receive competitive pay,
benefits, and career advancement. This two-year
paid program includes 80 hours of training each
year. Fellows are hired by agencies to work on
domestic and international issues in public
administration, technology, science, criminal
justice, health, financial management, and many
other fields. Students must apply between Sept.1
and Oct. 15 if they meet the degree requirements
for a graduate degree from an accredited school
between Sept. 1 of this year and Aug. 31 of the
following year. Selection includes nomination by
the school. SEE: http://www.pmf.opm.gov. College
and university officials wishing to nominate
students should refer to the guide at http://www.
pmf.opm.gov/guidance.asp.
Catalyst Fall 2004 11
Urban Institute
www.urban.org/content/about/employment/
internships
The Urban Institute, a nonpartisan economic
and social policy research organization, accepts
assistants on a temporary basis for full-time
and part-time assignments during the academic
year and during the summer. (Applicants should
be enrolled in a BA program in economics,
mathematics, sociology, public policy, computer
science, or other social science field.) To apply,
fax cover letter, résumé, and copy of transcript
to 202-887-5189.
World Flight Productions Studio
www.bandsindc.com/wfp/index2.htm
John F. Kennedy Center
www.kennedy-center.org/education/
v i l a r i n s t i t u t e /internships/home.cfm
National Academy of Recording Arts
and Sciences
www.grammy.com/washingtondc.html
NPR
www.npr.org/about/jobs/intern/index.html
JOBS
For application information, contact Professor
Susan Solarz at x3015
Continental Shelf Associates, Inc., Jupiter,
Florida
CSA, a small environmental/planning consultant
f i rm, is seeking an individual who has a passionate
interest to be involved in hazard mitigation planning.
Master’s degree preferred, but can be substituted
with equivalent experience. Salary range:
$30,000–$40,000
RS Information Systems (RSIS)
RSIS is currently seeking candidates for an
education media specialist position for the Flower
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
(FGBNMS) office, located in Bryan/College Station,
Texas. The FGBNMS is one of 13 national marine
sanctuaries administered by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). RSIS
provides contractual services to NOAA and other
g o v e rnmental agencies. Anticipated annual salary is
approximately $40,000. (Applicants should have a
BA/BS, or equivalent experience, in marine science,
resource management, science education,
environmental education, or related field.)
NOAA- Estuarine Reserves Division
Silver Spring, Maryland
NOAA’s Estuarine Reserves Division of the Office
of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management is
recruiting two program specialists on a
contractual basis. Program specialists work
closely with Reserves staff to provide technical
and administrative support, as well as coordination and support for system-wide projects and
activities. They are looking for one specialist with
science-based interests and experience and one
specialist with education and/or extension-based
interests and experience. Interested candidates
should contact Leslie Foraker at LForaker@JHT.com
The Georgia Conservancy
The Georgia Conservancy is seeking a policy
analyst whose work will focus primarily on
statewide water issues. The policy analyst helps
focus the conservancy’s involvement in advocacy
and education on issues that have the potential to
affect the integrity of Georgia’s water issues. A
successful candidate will have a master’s degree
in ecology, biology, or a related field. Two or three
year of experience in environmental education,
research, or policy work is also preferred. Excellent writing, speaking, and organizational skills
and an ability to work as part of a team are also
required. Please send résumé and references to:
Vice President and General Counsel
Georgia Conservancy
817 West Peachtree St., Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
www.iie.org/fulbright/us
(Applicants should be second-semester juniors and
seniors, alumni, and graduate students at all levels.)
Administered by the U.S. Information Agency,
assisted by the Institute of International
Education, each year the program allows more
than 800 Americans to study and conduct
research in over 100 countries. The U.S. Student
Program is designed to give recent graduates
opportunities for personal and professional
development and international experience.
The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy
Fellowship
www.nsgo.seagrant.org/funding/knauss/
knauss.html
The fellowship matches highly qualified graduate
students with “hosts” in the legislative branch,
executive branch, or appropriate associations/
institutions located in the Washington, D.C., area,
for a one-year paid fellowship. For application
information, contact Professor Susan Solarz at
x3015. The program is designed to infuse
scientists into the policy-making process
Career Center
Log onto www.american.edu/careercenter and
go to Eagle Jobs for current job, internship, and
scholarship listings. Also, don’t forget to check
out the Merit Awards Listing by field of study at
www.american.edu/careercenter/merit/
awardListing.html.
www.sciencevictoria.org.au/jobs.htm
This Science Victoria site offers links to jobs in
several scientific fields.
www.tncrimlaw.com/forensic/
Forensic Science Resources.
www.chemistry.com MedZilla:
This site offers a great place to advertise jobs
and find job-seekers in biotechnology, medicine,
and health care.
www.lvc.edu/chemistry/internships.html
Scroll to the end and you will find an internship
listing with contact information.
www.scied.science.doe.gov
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Education.
www.fbi.gov/employment/academy.htm
This site offers nonpaid internships with the FBI.
www.training.nih.gov/student/index.asp
Research and training opportunities at the
National Institutes of Health.
www.cdc.gov/hrmo/intshps4.htm
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), and Agency for Toxic Substance and
Disease Registry (ATRSDR) Sponsored/
Coordinated Student/Training Programs.
www.cyber-sierra.com/nrjobs/natres.html
Cyber-Sierra’s Natural Resources Guide—The
‘Jobs in Natural Resources’ page—tends to focus
on employment geared toward fieldwork and
resource professions. ‘New announcements’ are
frequently added.
SCHOLARSHIPS
HOT WEB SITES
www.ecojobs.com
Search engine for several opportunities in
environmental and natural sciences fields.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
www.orau.org/NSF/nsffel.htm
(Applicants should be graduating seniors or
beginning graduate students.)
www. American.edu/cas
Go to CAS Web site for details on all AU science
programs.
www.rileyguide.com/science.html
Includes links to a broad range of fields in natural
science.
The National Science Foundation Fellowships
NSF provides three years of support for graduate
study leading to research-based master’s or
doctoral degrees in the fields of science,
mathematics, and engineering that are supported
by NSF and are intended for students in the early
stages of graduate study. The approximate yearly
worth of the scholarship is $27,000.
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
www.udall.gov
(Applicants should be sophomores or juniors.)
Requires a university nomination from AU’s Office
of Merit Awards.
This scholarship covers eligible expenses
for tuition, fees, books, and room and board up
to a maximum of $5,000. The recipients will
receive one year of scholarship support.
www.training.nih.gov/careers/
careercenter/index.html
recruit.sciencemag.org
The Science Professional Network provides links
to job listings, with complete position descriptions.
www.scijobs.org
The Web site contains job listings in biology,
chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology and a
range of other jobs in science.
www.earthworks-jobs.com
Earthworks has a large number of jobs for
those interested in earth sciences and related
fields.
www.sciencejobs.com
Search for jobs mainly in the fields of chemistry and
bioscience. Also sign up for a “jobs email” alert.
www.rileyguide.com/science.html
View opportunities in every possible natural
sciences area.
Catalyst Fall 2004 12
EVENTS CALENDAR AND COOL CLASSES
OCTOBER
C-O-O-O-L CLASSES:
Oct. 21
If you are looking for a course to add, or just thinking ahead to next
semester, try these!
Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honor Society meeting followed by an
ethics discussion with Dr. Daniel Davis from the Georgetown Medical Center
for Clinical Ethics.
CHEM-230G Earth Sciences
Oct. 22
Usually offered every term.
Physics Family Weekend Event: Friday night, 6:00-8:00. A Pizza Party for
majors and their families.
Combines geology, geophysics, and geochemistry in describing the
evolution of our planet, the deep structure of the ear th, its plate tectonic
evolution, and interaction of the crust with the hydrosphere, biosphere,
and atmosphere. Occasional laboratory demonstrations and field trips.
Prerequisite for General Education credit: CHEM-100G or CHEM-110G
or PHYS-100G or PHYS-105G or PHYS-110G.
Oct. 26
Melanie Wood, “The Creative Process of Mathematics.” Wood, a recent
graduate and the first woman to win the Morgan Prize, speaks about the
creativity and fun involved in professional mathematics. 8:00 p.m., Ward 1.
R.S.V.P. to april.astor@american.edu.
Oct. 30
Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honor Society volunteer Halloween event at
Children’s Hospital. Primarily a club event, but anyone is welcome to come
in costume and help hand out treats for the patients. Expected departure
around noon. Contact ashley_brannen@hotmail.com
EVNS-572 Conservation Biology
Offered in the spring.
This is a seminar-style course covering introductory concepts, populationlevel to system-level biological concerns, and human societal concerns.
This class is unique because the professor is a lobbyist and brings in
members of congress, agency heads, and hill staffers to talk about
environmental policy.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 11
MATH-157 Finite Mathematics: Business
Alpha Epsilon Delta meeting, followed by presentations from Kelly
MacAlvaney from the Medical Scribe Program and Deborah Cohen from the
NIH pre-IRTA program.
Usually offered every term.
To Join AU Science Clubs:
Environmental Club: jc2167a@american.edu
Chemistry Club: maharaj@american.edu
Society of Physics Students: epoozesh@cox.net
Math Club: kalman@american.edu
Pre-Medical Honor Society: chrvins01@earthlink.net
Association for Computing Machinery Student Chapter:
tim@cap.american.edu
SIGN UP FOR MONTHLY E-MAILS TO FIND OUT ABOUT MORE EVENTS!
To sign up or subscribe to the listserv, send an e-mail to:
listserv@listserv.american.edu
In the body of this e-mail type: subscribe catalyst (your name)
Fundamentals of algebraic, exponential, and logarithmic functions with
emphasis on applications to problems in business and economics and
the natural sciences. Prerequisite: three years of high school
mathematics or equivalent. Note: Intended primarily for students planning
to take MATH-211 Applied Calculus I. No credit toward mathematics
major. Students may not receive credit for more than one course
numbered MATH-15x.
PSYC-350 Child Psychology
Usually offered every term.
Introduction to development from infancy through adolescence. Emphasis
on theory and research in normal development: genetics, growth, and
maturation; sensation and perception; motivation; cognitive and social
functioning. (prerequisite PSYC-105G)
College of Arts and Sciences
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