Ogden College of Science and Engineering
The Leading Edge
(September—December 2009) Feature
Article 1
Issue 20
January 2010
Biotechnology Center The National Institute’s of Health has awarded 5 additional years of funding for the Kentucky IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (Ky­INBRE). Since 2001, the program has received $20 million in NIH funds to build infrastructure and enhance the capacity for biomedical research and training in the state. In the first year of the renewal, Biotechnology Center investigators will receive over $400,000 in direct costs from this program to support the research programs of Sigrid Jacobshagen, Rodney King, Nancy Rice, Nilesh Sharma, and Di Wu. The award will also provide administrative and programmatic support for WKU’s lead faculty representative, Dr. Cheryl Davis, also a Biotechnology Center member, and will provide support for WKU’s growing involvement in the Kentucky/Tennessee Bioinformatics Summit. Since 2001, the NIH Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) and INBRE awards have had a profound impact in enhancing the biotechnology / biomedical research capacity and infrastructure at WKU. Since 2001, over 75 undergraduate and graduate students have participated in research with KBRIN/INBRE funded faculty members; 33 of these students ultimately entered masters or PhD level graduate programs, 32 entered health­related professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, physician assistant, medical technology), and 9 are employed as research technicians in biomedical research laboratories. Graduates from WKU who participated in KBRIN/INBRE funded research activities have been competitive for programs highly prestigious institutions across the country including; Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Boston University, Northwestern University, University of California­Davis, Stanford University, UC­Berkeley and the University of Alabama­Birmingham. Additionally, monies leveraged through the INBRE program supported the successful obtainment of independent extramural funding through the NIH­AREA mechanism for three Biotechnology Center members (King, Jacobshagen, and Rice), through the NSF­ RUI mechanism for Dr. Larry Alice, and through a USDA­ARS mechanism for Dr. Kinchel Doerner. Biotechnology Center members that have been KBRIN/INBRE supported have published over 40 peer­ reviewed articles since 2001 with well over 100 papers and posters being presented at local, state, regional, and national meetings. Student success has also been high. Nationally competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarships were earned by research students working with Biotechnology Center members in 2007 and 2008 (Chavarria­Smith and Vervynckt) with a third student earning honorable mention in 2008 (Marquardt), and a fourth student earning honorable mention in both 2007 and 2008 (Gilley). Most recently, the Outstanding Biotechnology Student for both 2008 and 2009 (Chavarria­Smith), was awarded a prestigious NSF­Predoctoral Fellowship to support his graduate studies at the University of California­ Berkeley. This is the first NSF­Predoctoral award every received by a WKU student. Through Ky­INBRE support, the Biotechnology Center has also been the training ground for several post­doctoral fellows. Most recently, fellows Dr. Bethel Sharma and Dr. Todd Penberthy accepted faculty positions at Sewanee: The University of the South and the University of Cincinnati, respectively. The list of additional awards and honors earned by Biotechnology Center faculty and students supported by the KBRIN/INBRE program is too large to give in its entirety, but highlights include: 2008­2009 University Distinguished Professor (Davis), 2006­2007 University Award for Outstanding Research/Creativity (Rice), 2001­2002 University Award for Outstanding Research /Creativity (Bilotta); 2007­2008 Outstanding Biotechnology Student (Chavarria­Smith); 2007­2008 Outstanding Microbiology Student (Ebelhar); 2006­2007 L.Y. Lancaster Award (Zhou); 2006­2007 Outstanding Biology Student (Miles); 2006­2007 Biotechnology Center Student (Polen); 2006­2007 Outstanding Microbiology Student (Pendleton). The most recent renewal of the Ky INBRE award to WKU’s Biotechnology Center investigators will allow continued success of our research programs. Figure 1: Dr. Michael Smith with undergraduate student researcher Reagan Gilley and graduate student, Julie Schuck Figure 2 Figure 2: Zan Lee working in the Biotechnology Center with a epifluorescence stereomicroscope Figure 3 Figure 1 Figure 3: Chandrika Kunapuli , M. S. student working with Dr. Rodney King
Feature
Article 2 Bioinformatics & Information
Science Center
The Bioinformatics and Information Science Center (BISC) is heavily involved in genomic research. The center sponsored the sequencing of two DNA genomes, one from the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium scatologenes and a second from a bacteriophage that infects Mycobacteria smegmatis. Eleven students participated in independent research to map the location of genes in C. scatologenes and to identify their functions during the Fall 2009 semester. Four posters from this work were presented at the Kentucky Academy of Science meeting and three received awards. Dr. Rodney King and Dr. Figure 1 Claire Rinehart introduced their first group of 20 freshman students to the Genome Discovery and Exploration Program (GDEP) during the fall semester. GDEP is supported by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance (HHMI SEA). Each student in the GDEP isolated a bacteriophage from an environmental sample that they had collected and mapped to a specific site. The structure of each bacteriophage was visualized by electron microscopy and DNA was purified from the bacteriophage. The DNA from two student’s bacteriophages was sent off for genomic sequencing during the Winter break. During the Spring Figure 1: Phage hunters from the HHMI Genome Discovery 2010 semester the same students and Exploration Program. will return to determine the structure of the two genomes and will map the genes and determine their function. The completed annotation of these genomes will be published in the NCBI Genbank. These hands on experiences in the application of biotechnology and bioinformatics is an outstanding research training opportunity. The HHMI SEA is conducting surveys on students participating in GDEP and those in non­participating control groups to see if this innovative experience helps students academically and influences them to enter into careers in science. Alice Wright, a graduate student in Dr. Rodney King’s lab recently finished sequencing and annotating the entire viral genome (41,528 bp) of a bacteriophage. This is one of the first genome sequencing / annotation projects ever completed at WKU and is a significant accomplishment since bacteriophage are the most numerous organisms on our planet and impact bacterial evolution, infectious disease and global processes such as carbon and energy cycling. Alice started research as an undergraduate and expanded the Figure 2 project as part of her M.S. thesis work. BISC received a contract from the Kentucky Biomedical Figure 2: Alice Wright, Infrastructure Network (KBRIN) to help with the organization of the a graduate student in Dr. Rodney King’s lab. KBRIN­UT­ORNL Bioinformatics Summit that is held each spring. This funding allowed BISC to hire Donna Schulte to assist with the meeting organization and some BISC administrative responsibilities. She is available most mornings in the new BISC lab, room 2108 Snell (270­745­6892, bisc@wku.edu), where we will also be conducting genome research and workshops throughout the Spring semester. — Applied Research In The News —
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
IN THE NEWS
Agriculture Research
and Education Complex
Director: Linda Gonzales EST 237, 270­745­3151 linda.gonzales@wku.edu
Director:
Alex Barzilov
TCCW 214, 270-745-5484
alexander.barzilov@wku.edu
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Faculty and students attended Kentucky Academy of Science. Eight presentations included these awards: Diana Edlin won the 2nd Place Graduate Oral Presenta­ tion, Tara Holaday and Crystal Walker won the 2nd Place Poster Undergradu­ ate, and Brandon Burchett won the 2 nd Place Undergraduate Oral Presentation.
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API team led by Dr. Ivan Novikov developed the 160­processor computational physics facility.
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Students led by Dr. Stacy Wilson developed a robotic platform for noninvasive elemental analysis applications.
Diana Edlin successfully defended her thesis research and now is working on the Ph.D.
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The Southern Regional Dairy Challenge was co­hosted by WKU, UK and EKU. More than 18 universities and 80 stu­ dents participated. Members of the WKU Dairy Challenge Team placed Platinum (first) and Silver (second) in the contest.
API team led by Dr. Alex Barzilov studied time coincidence methods for associated particle imaging using a pulse neutron generator.
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API students led by Dr. Edward Kintzel performed neutron scatter­ ing experiments at the Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge, TN.
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Organic Alchemy’s methane digester is being tested as an alternative energy source at AREC.
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The Beef Unit produced the Grand Champion Bull at the Georgia National Fair.
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Six graduate students received at least partial support for their assistantships from AREC and engaged in research activities. Center for
Biodiversity Studies Biotechnology
Center
Director:
Scott Grubbs
TCNW 107, 270-745-5048
scott.grubbs@wku.edu
Director: Nancy Rice TCNW 201, 270­745­5995 nancy.rice@wku.edu
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Thirteen graduate and undergradu­ ate student affiliates of the Center presented research papers at the 2009 Kentucky Academy of Science meeting at Northern Kentucky Uni­ versity.
à First place awards for best stu­ dent presentations were awarded to: Mary Penick (Graduate, Oral, Ecology & Environmental Sci­ ence), Joseph Marquardt (Undergraduate, Oral, Zoology), and Patrick Stewart (Undergraduate, Poster, Zoology)
The National Geographic Society awarded a grant to Dr. Steve Huskey to study the feeding behav­ iors of predatory pelagic fishes and will bring a 2­man film crew over the course of a 30 day expedition to produce a one hour TV show called “Speed Kills”.
Dr. Bruce Schulte and collaborators published several new research papers on African elephants in the following journals: Behavioral Ecol­ ogy & Sociobiology, Behavior, The Journal of Threatened Taxa, Meth­ ods in Ecology and Evolution, Pachyderm, and Zoo Biology.
Dr. Scott Grubbs published new species descriptions of stoneflies in the journal Illiesia in December 2009. Applied
Physics Institute
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Many students working with Biotechnology Center members attended the Kentucky Academy of Sciences meeting at Northern Kentucky University in November, 2009. Those winning awards are given below along with their faculty mentor:
à Cellular and Molecular Biology Undergraduate Paper Session: 3rd place ­ Bonnie McCullagh (Marcus) Physiology and Chemistry Undergraduate Paper Session: 3rd place ­ Leah Frazier (Crawford)
à Zoology Undergraduate Paper Session: 1st Place ­ Joseph Marquardt (Marcus)
à Cellular and Molecular Biology Undergraduate Poster Session: 1st place ­ Aric Johnson (KBRIN Summer Program)
à Computer and Information Sciences Undergraduate Poster Session: 1st Malika Ahmed (Rinehart) 2nd Alan Simmons (Rinehart) 3rd Alexander Hare (Rinehart)
à Zoology Undergraduate Poster Session: 1st Patrick Stuart (Smith)
à Microbiology Graduate Paper Session: 1st Place ­ Alice Wright (King)
à Cellular and Molecular Paper Session: 2nd Place ­ Shravya Maddi ·
API received a unique Large Chamber Scanning Electron Microscope MIRA as a gift from the Department of Energy (Dr. Edward Kintzel).
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API students presented their research projects at the 20th Annual Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engi­ neering and Mathematics in IL. Bioinformatics & Information
Science Center
Architectural and
Manufacturing Science
Institute
Director:
Neal Downing
EST222, 270-745-6302
neal.downing@wku.edu
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There are 26 design projects on the drawing board devel­ oped by 9 students employed by AMSI.
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There are 8 Architectural De­ sign Projects under construc­ tion including a Dentist’s Office.
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AMSI has surpassed the $14 million plateau in construction value for Built Works to date .
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AMSI has fabricated 325 Bike Racks for WKU to date.
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AMSI is now performing laser etching services for WKU and local industries.
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AMSI is now performing water jet services for WKU and local industries. Center for Water Resource
Studies
Director:
Claire Rinehart
TCNW 121, 270-745-5997
claire.rinehart@wku.edu
Director:
Andrew Ernest
TCCW 105, 270-745-8895
andrew.ernest@wku.edu
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Dr. Jonathan Quiton and Dr. Claire Rinehart collaborated with Rick Fowler, Water’s Lab, to develop analysis methods for detecting bacteria that are specific to mammalian hosts that may be contaminating water sources.
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Dr. Jonathan Quiton and Dr. Claire Rinehart are providing statistical / bioinformatics support for Dr. Johnathan Whestine’s lab and Dr. Nick Dyson’s lab, both from Harvard.
WATERS Laboratory acquired a Varian GC/MS for analysis of organic contaminants in water. This will expand lab capacity to assist small drinking water systems with Disinfection By­Product (DBP) trouble shooting.
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CWRS conducted the first phase of a water quality monitoring project for the KY Division of Water to assist with development of nutrient criteria for the Pennyroyal Region of Kentucky.
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CWRS hosted a kick­off meet­ ing and workshop in Louisville for stakeholders in the Water Training Institute, an NSF­ funded project being conducted jointly with the Bowling Green Community College and several trade associations and technical assistance providers.
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Three CWRS employees attended training in Lexington on Stormwater Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control. ·
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Dr. Michael Brockman, a graduate of WKU, gave a BISC seminar on “Combining Computational and Experimental Methods to Study Post­transcriptional Gene Regulation”.
Dr. Rodney King, Dr. Claire Rinehart and graduate student Prasanna TamarapuParthasarathy completed bioinformatics training December 14­18 at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Farm Campus in Ashburn VA. While there, they annotated a bacteriophage genome and are listed as coauthors in the NCBI Genbank publication of the Redrock mycobacteriophage. ·
ARTP Office
Ogden College of Science
and Engineering
STH 2116
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Engineering
Services Center
Hoffman Environmental
Research Institute
Institute for Astrophysics
and Space Science
Director:
Kevin Schmaltz
EBS 2210, 270-745-8859
kevin.schmaltz@wku.edu
Director:
Chris Groves
EST 401, 270-745-5201
chris.groves@wku.edu
Director:
Michael Carini
TCCW 229, 270-745-6198
mike.carini@wku.edu
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The Institute's China Environmental Health Project implemented a workshop on water resource devel­ opment for Chinese government scientists in Kunming, China
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The Institute welcomed Dr Vu Nguyet from Vietnam who is at WKU studying impacts of rock weathering on atmospheric carbon, funded by the Vietnamese Educa­ tion Foundation
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-745-8892
270-745-8893 Fax
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Blaine Ferrell
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Director, Dean OCSE
STH 2114
270-745-4448
blaine.ferrell@wku.edu
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Shivendra Sahi
Assistant Director
TCNW 105
270-745-6012
shiv.sahi@wku.edu
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Marilyn Anderson
Assistant to the Dean
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STH 2110
270-745-8891
marilyn.anderson@wku.edu
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Assistant
STH 2111
270-745-8890
Research Coordinator
STH 2115
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ICSET Purchased a High­Pressure TGA From TA Instruments;
à Applications:
¨ Adsorption/Desorption Iso­ therms
¨ Pressure­Composition Iso­ therms
¨ Sorption/Desorption Kinetics
¨ Pressure/Temperature Cycling
¨ Coal Gasification Studies
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ICSET Received A Funding From DOE for "Novel Oxygen Carriers for Coal­Fueled Chemical Looping Combustion"
à The Fundamental Purpose Is To Further Develop A Method For CO2 Capture
à Will Cover a 3­Year Period (2010, 2011, 2012
¨ Project Objectives Will Be Developed In 3­Phases:
¨ Phase I ­ The Basic For­ mula Of The Oxygen Carriers Will be Determined
¨ Phase II ­ The Interfer­ ences Of Prepared Oxygen Carriers Under High Sulfur/ Chlorine Environments Will Be Eliminated
¨ Phase III ­ Oxygen Carriers With Final­Determined For­ mula Will be Tested In A 10 kW Coal­Fueled Chemical Looping Combustion Facility At ICSET Shavonna Smith
shavonna.smith@wku.edu
Wanda Johnson
Operations Specialist
STH 2113
270-745-8894
wanda.johnson@wku.edu
Lisa Haynes
Office Coordinator
EST 438
270-745-3252
lisa.haynes@wku.edu
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Kevin Schmaltz attended the ASME annual meeting, presenting a paper on the conclusion of an ASME funded project to improve the hu­ man­powered purification of drinking water. Institute for Combustion
Science and Environmental
Technology
270-745-8895
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The Department of Engineering conducted the 10th annual Kentucky Bluegrass Robotics Competition on November 7. A total of 19 teams from a 13 area schools participated by building a robot using construction materials provided by WKU; the robots had to pick up and move a variety of objects in a series of com­ petitions with other teams’ robots.
Director:
Wei-Ping Pan
2413 Nashville Rd.,
270-745-2272
wei-ping.pan@wku.edu
cindy.graham@wku.edu
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Twenty Mechanical Engineering seniors are beginning 5 senior pro­ jects where they will design, build and test projects for Logan Aluminum and Des­Case (2 projects each), and a project for the WKU Engineering EPF.
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USDA­funded research on karst groundwater quality continued at Crump’s Cave in northern Warren County
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Hoffman Institute personnel trav­ elled to the island of Borneo in Malaysia to participate in the first high accuracy measurements of Deer Cave, which contains one of the world’s largest cave passages
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Fred Siewers and Chris Groves lectured at a UNESCO sponsored karst hydrogeology training work­ shop for international students in Guilin, China
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The Institute’s Crawford Hydrology laboratory continued groundwater investigation studies for field sites throughout the US and in India, China, and Brazil
Cindy Graham
Administrative Research
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Eight students (3 ME, 2 EE, 2 CE and 1 Gatton) are participating in the NASA Lunabotics competition to design, build and test a vehicle to excavate simulated regolith. The competition will be at NASA’s Space Center in Florida in May. The team secured a $5000 KY Space Grant to partially fund the project.
Sharon McGowan
Office Associate
STH 2116
270-745-8892
sharon.mcgowan@wku.edu
Website:
http://www.wku.edu/artp
Feedback:
lisa.haynes@wku.edu
Kentucky
Climate Center
Director:
Stuart Foster
EST 304, 270-745-5983
stuart.foster@wku.edu
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KCC and the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management co­ sponsored the 2010 Kentucky Weather Conference that was held at the Carroll Knicely Conference Cen­ ter on January 15­16, 2010. The conference was targeted to emer­ gency managers and focused on developed enhanced storm spotter capabilities across Kentucky.
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Students, faculty, and staff attended the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society. A total of eight papers and posters were presented, as WKU continues to make a strong impression nation­ wide on the professional meteorol­ ogy community.
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The KCC was featured in a presenta­ tion at the Regional Climate Change Forum hosted by the Kentucky Sci­ ence and Technology Corporation in Lexington, Kentucky on December 8, 2009.
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The Kentucky Mesonet added 25 new monitoring stations in 2009, bringing the total number of opera­ tional stations to 45. ·
Hardin Planetarium debuted a new show entitled Earth’s Moon in Sept. The program included Lunar folklore, the Lunar phases, Lunar surface features, the tides, eclipses, and what we have learned about the Moon from the Voyages of Apollo.
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The new ‘Astronomy for Scouts’ program consisting of planetarium visits, hands­on activities and use of the rooftop telescopes continues to be a great success. More than half of the scouts who have taken part in the program achieved their belt loop.
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In Oct. the Hardin Planetarium held a Star Party, hosted by a professional astronomer, to watch live the double impact of the LCROSS satellite as it crashed into the moon.
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A “Start and Smores” evening was held at Glasgow Elementary in Nov. The program included viewing through telescopes, craft activities and astronomy talks. The event was attended by more than 50 parents and children.
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Physics and Astronomy students presented their research at the 20th Annual Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering and Mathematics in Argonne, Illinois. Advanced Materials
Institute
Director:
Darwin Dahl
TCNW 300/301, 270-780-2568
darwin.dahl@wku.edu