getting students launching students getting professors to change devising solutions to idiotic...
TRANSCRIPT
Getting studentsLaunching StudentsGetting professors to changeDevising solutions to idiotic regulationsWriting nastygrams and (less often) love letters to administrationManaging 13 accounts (Florence does)Hosting visitors & learning from themChancellor’s Taskforce on Administrative EfficiencyA larger role in university and state econ. development affairsWorking with other universities on APTECSupervising the Creation of Interdisciplinary Technology Apps.
Stepping aside…gracefully if possible
First, a few words about operating an IGERT
Outline (Outsquiggle?)
Time during talk
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My part Dooley’s part
Research
GeneralProblems
Courses
Impressions
Solutions
PublicationsIGERT Publications
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JOURNALSAIChE JournalBiomacromoleculesAnalytica Chimica ActaMacromoleculesProteins: Structure, Function and BioinformaticsJournal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer PhysicsPhysical Chemistry: Chemical PhysicsJournal of Biological ChemistryCurrent Opinion in Colloid and Interface ScienceAnalyst
No good way to summarize.
The following grants & submitted are based on IGERT preliminary results.
Future Research Prospectus
Funded, rejected or pendingKarsten ThompsonModeling of bacterial transport through microfiltration membranes, Millipore Corp.,
$63,380.10, (funded)Modeling of polymer transport in fractures, Schlumberger Corp., $36,000, (pending)Thomas MooreRole and Regulation of Membrane Lipid Biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii,
NSF (pending)Grover WaldropThe Catalytic Mechanism of GDP-Mannose 4,6 Dehydratase, NIHThe Catalytic Mechanism of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase, NSFRandy HallMolecular Dynamics Simulations of Natural and Synthetic Beta-Sheet
Polypeptides”, NCSA, 2004-2005, 10,000 SU of computer timeDooley/Knopf"Catalytic hydrogenation using an actively forced microreactor" NSF-GOALI , 2005 . Hammer/McCarley/Russo/Gilman“Inhibition of -strand aggregation with -strand mimics” NIH, $2,907,190, reject &
repeat.
Enough about Research--let’s get to the tantalizing problems.
T is for Troubles—Almost all IGERT’s• Teams are HARD in academia. Try to learn from pros in
industry. • Students can fool you; some are just in it for money.• Faculty can fool you; some are just in it for money. • Some in either camp may only appear to be in it for the
money, but actually have deeper problems and may yet contribute much. An IGERT PI should be a good judge of character.
• IGERT’s can be perceived as an elite, protected group by students with just as much talent but not IGERT-eligible. Only solution: IGERT students must excel.
• Two-year funding limit. • Faculty motivation. • Assistant professor problem: can they afford
interdisciplinary activity? • Change tens or hundreds of years of academic tradition in
a five-year time span?
LSU IGERT
The #1 complaint from students may be that we’re horribly disorganized.
ProblemNSF itself is experimenting with IGERT
They change the rules
It’s their football, so…
SolutionAdaptation…sometimes painful
Constant thinking/tweaking
Talk to other IGERT’s
Write a new one with a better plan
ProblemFaculty Incentives, especially to complete the
apprenticeship phase.Senior faculty lead a life of interruptions—hard to
focus on even a two-week, side-by-side experience, despite good intentions.
SolutionsGet away! -- National & international lab trips.
Easy for physical research, possible for synthetic/bio
Minigrants & global supplements can be written to require faculty presence
Farm the student out on internships
The USM solution!
ProblemIGERT A burden to the home department.It moves a lot faster, does unusual things
(like today).
SolutionUse the available resources better.
Get hands on and use the tuition.
Staff resources for research should flow to departments that need them. Why does a Chemistry department get a FTE for travel, for example?
ProblemMechanical engineers in graduate chemistry
class? Really?
SolutionMix the material.
Students work in teams, chosen carefully for mix of talents.
Be tolerant.
Enough depressing problems and putative-if-probable solutions. Maybe core courses will shine a
few rays of sunny optimism.
Core Courses
Chem 4010, Macromolecular Systems I
Chem 4011, Macromolecular Systems II
Chem 7010, Macromolecular Systems III
Chem 7011, Macromolecular Systems IV
Speaking of Macromolecules
Science & Technology in Service to the Community
Red tape, but same at any university
How it sometimes
seems students want
us to teach them.
Leuven, Belgium
Macro Studies Courses Teach Real-world Skills: Here’s one from
“The Web Workbook” Reduce that Huge MALDI data set
In a previous problem set, many of you found that the downloaded MALDI data set was huge. That's because mass spectroscopists are always interested in Dalton-level resolution. For most polymer problems, we could be happy with taking every tenth data point, corresponding to 10-Dalton resolution. Write a program (QuickBasic, Excel Macro, whatever works for you) to reduce the file to every tenth data point.
School for the Mechanically Declined
GETncm/justsaycust-recrate-itemcommunittg/stores/dtg/stores/d-favorite-listruejust-say-no
What they get from us instead
James Rucker’s TurboCad Drawing
6.000
5.375
0.75
R1
1.9380.5
1
2.375
-
Innova 90 Laser MountMake Two (2)AluminumTol:1/64"James Rucker
Rail, see detail
1/4-20 x 1/2"tap & leave stub
8-32 tap thruSupply knurled screws
supply 1/4-28 knurled ht.adj.screws
Macromolecular Systems II, Homework #3 (shortened) Our group and some others here are getting into DOSY and Prof. Butler wants a friendly CONTIN, like our ANSCAN. Some translation is needed, but of course the two programs are totally unconnected. Butler's program is on a Mac (what else?) and gives output that looks like this: PS2150_500_31_2 7.2122 ppm Polystyrene containing MW standards of 500 and 2150 298 K 1.00000000E-03 % little delta (seconds) 1.00000000E-01 % big delta (seconds) g(gauss/cm) q^2(big_delta - little_delta/3) expt_signal 6.65000000E-01 4.40750917E-02 1.00000000E+02 1.66200000E+00 2.75303652E-01 9.88369747E+01 2.65900000E+00 7.04671340E-01 9.57348015E+01 3.65500000E+00 1.33144949E+00 9.25603053E+01 4.65200000E+00 2.15689670E+00 8.80876912E+01
(etc. you can download the whole file later) Write a limber, easy-to-use program (a high school student should be able to use it) that converts Butler's DOSY output to ANSCAN input.
Some header information (7 lines) Then: row after row of G (gauss/cm) Something y(x)
Integrative Training: Semester-long programming assignment for inter-group research
Problem 4. A few weeks ago, Professor George Newkome of the University of Akron lectured on self-assembling hexaruthenium terpyridyl clusters. A sample molecule appears below:
Shortly after his return to Akron, Dr. Newkome sent a related sample that we took to Laboratorio Nacional Luz Sincotron (LNLS) in Campinas, Brazil, where small angle X-ray measurements were made. You can download a typical SAXS data file at:
Does the presence of Ruthenium aid or interfere with SAXS? Guesstimate the size of the molecule from the drawing above, using what you
know about C-C bonds, the diameter of benzene rings, etc. Analyze the SAXS data by the method of Guinier to obtain the radius of gyration,
Rg. There are 3 columns of numbers: q in inverse Angstroms, intensity I, and uncertainty in I. For the present purpose, you can ignore the uncertainty.
How does the Rg value compare to the "ring" diameter for this self assembly? Would you expect Rg from SANS to be the same, larger or smaller? Estimate the translational diffusion coefficient of the molecule. Do you think the real translational diffusion coefficient will be larger or smaller
than your estimate? Estimate the rotational diffusion coefficient of the molecule. Would it be possible to measure Drot by polarized (as opposed to depolarized)
light scattering? Would it make sense to do zero angle depolarized dynamic light scattering on the
molecule? These data on a novel synthetic material are less than one week old so this problem provides, just in time for summer, a natural transition to real research.
Integrative Training•Visitor’s seminar•Collaboration established•SAXS trip to Brazil•Analyze data for team exam•All in one month
Macro Studies I Enrollment
4010 Enrollment since 1999
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EnrollmentNonChemDepts Total Undergrad
F99 14 2F00 16 2F01 Textiles, Bio,ChE 12 1F02 ChE 23 5F03 ChE,ES,NonMatric 15 2F04 BE, ChE, Biol 24 7
The old ACS Polymer Exam, used as Entrance Exam for Chemists
Score on old exam over the years, all takers (out of 50) 12Score of 5 takers, F03 12Score after 4011 class, S04 16.4Improvement (AvgDivByAvg) 1.37
“Pitiful, jus’ pitiful.”
Our New Macro Examafter one semester
Entering Exiting Improvement14.8 23.6 1.59
A monkey could guess 8 on this exam.
They improved from Guess + 7 to Guess + 14
Macro Studies I Fall Semester 2004.
Who did well?
=Chose Macro
= Already Macro or IGERT
= Undergrad
Chinese chemistAmerican chemist American chemist American Chemical Engr. American Chemical Engr.
American Biologist
American chemist
A MS-I and MS-II “B Student” at USM’s INSPIRE 2003
ProblemThe meaty courses are still listed under Chemistry!
What about that new rubric? What about the new Concentration?
ExcuseWaiting for LSU’s MS & E Ph.D. program.
Plausible Solution 1.Do the concentration—not all that hard.2.Create courses with the same number in different
departments—e.g., ChE 4010 which could be a different name but, in fact, would be team taught with the MS series. This solves (or hides) the issue of who gets what credit for teaching, too.
Impressions
Recruiting: Three Initial Sources of Students
3. The occasional new and fabulous applicants from peer or better institutions—these will often leave you for Florida, UCLA, etc.
1. New arrivals to your department
2. Summer interns who maybe are or maybe
are not interested—no strings attached.
No summer intern program?Write an REU site proposal!
4. A lot of first-generation college students tend not to go so very far from home. You can get these, but …
Graduate student recruiters with REU
student at undergraduate fair
Rent Booth at National Meetings
All these help, but the most important thing is……
Recruiting
Win National Football Championship
Feeder Schools: Better Sources of StudentsCourtesy of our Advisory Panel
(copying the recruiting experts at USM)
Info
Let them eat cake!Sugar-coating IGERT for REU’s
and other summer interns.
Chemical engineer at Chemistry Department award ceremony
1. “Well, I never thought I’d see a professor weigh something out.”
2. Influenza minithesis, synthetic polymer thesis.
3. Quitting graduate school with MS!
Mechanical Engineer and High School Science Fair Judge…in Chemistry
1. Scope on a Rope school demos….now going beyond that.
2. With a teammate, spent a 2 hours (that is four person-hours) at national lab trying to load tiny cell with a high-surface tension fluid. A “craftsperson” showed her how in 5 minutes.
This only looks silly.
Science & Technology in Service to the Community
http://macro.lsu.edu/stsc
STSC class. Teamwork meets its limits.
Minigrants work (sometimes)Subject OutcomeGrant-writing workshop “PolyCommunity” non-profit corporation???
Langmuir imprinting Supports NSF-CAREER grantee in new direction
Preliminary data for new grant at Dupont/Univ. of Delaware
Grant submitted
Summer at NRL Student quit graduate school !!!
Experimental flow test apparatus
Simulation expert built apparatus with own hands
Set of tools like that at SAXS line
Real tools in that lab
Manifold for organic synthesis Badly needed manifold for organic reactions in a lab where synthesis equipment was dated
SAXS at Tsukuba 2 students to Tsukuba, Japan
Travel to NIST for SANS Students learn contrast matching—new capabilities for that research. Survive the drive home after snowstorm.
Build machine not commercially available.
Still under consideration—likely will require cost sharing plus teaching/outreach component.
Virtual Infrastructure is Better than None at All
Interdisciplinary Technology Example: Database-driven Student Tracker
To-die-for IT Example: Internet Scheduler
Web Seminar Sign-up With Negotiation & Adjustable Talk Length
Day Date
Speaker (Enter your
Name: First & Last
Names)
Research Group
Type of Seminar
Title or Subject
Michael Baylis Russo CT
TBA
changde Zhang Daly CT
TBA
Friday 2/20/2004
Elena Loizou
Schmidt CT TBA
Erick Soto Cantu
Russo CT TBA
Jianhong Russo CT TBA
Friday 2/27/2004
Derek Dorman Russo CT
Lipids and Dendrimers
Friday 3/5/2004 Hyuk Yu Russo FT Polymer Scaling
The one that got away.
Current Trends in LSU IGERT1. Enfranchisement: involve young faculty more deeply.2. Dissemination begins at home: developing other LSU
IGERT’s3. Strategy IS execution. 4. Student-led IGERT. 5. Cohort teaching. 6. Interdisciplinary Technology
– Computer tools (some progress)– LSU administrative infrastructure (well…)– Staff support (well…)
6. Economic development.7. Planning renewal with sharper scientific focus (with
someone else as PI, because dissemination begins at home).
IGERT Fellows—the next generation of IGERT PI’s—practice running the show…in consultation with “old” people. Leaders earn some special opportunities.
No, not West Point. West Point is for Weenies.
IGERT Meeting – 1/4/05 (Tuesday Monthly Meeting); 12:00 noon in 28 LSBAGENDALunch – Pizza (I think?)Update Email Addresses and phone numbersCommittee UpdatesNew Committee LeadersSocial Committee
Logo – to be approved by IGERT members or other suggestionsUpcoming Social Events
Career DevelopmentResumes – need to be finalized and posted on website (ASAP)Suggestions from Career ServicesOnline Information for internships/post docs/etc.Opportunities for Practice Interviews
ComputerWho has access to the current IGERT website?Website LayoutSetting up of Individual accountsNew members/pictures need to be added to websiteUpdate member information on website (phone number, status, etc)
Community ServiceRhonda – Girl Scout Event InfoColleen – Update on Christmas Gift to needy familyOther Community Service Ideas??Update on Minigrant for Macro Lab
Dr. Russo’s AnnouncementsIGERT Retreat (Internal Panel Review) – 1/13/04 – 1/14/04
Concerns/Questions from IGERT Members
Student-led IGERT – Agenda for a First Tuesday Monthly Meeting
IGERT Monthly Meeting January 4, 2005
Minutes taken by Kristy Brumfield 12:00pm-1:30 pmAllison started the meeting by making sure that everyone signed the check-in sheet.Established New Committee Members
Social Committee- DerekWebsite Committee- NadiaCommunity Service- RhondaCareer Planning and Development- Colleen
Presentation of gifts to Dr. Russo and Dr. Florence Committee Updates
SocialLogo DesignPossible Canoe tripOutside Campus Meeting at a restaurant Vote carried out for logo design- Derek’s design gained the majority vote- It will become the next Igert design
Career Planning and DevelopmentGather an on-line list for jobs, post-docs, and internships- this list will then be given to the website committee to form links for the websiteCompletion of resumes is needed ASAP- send all resumes to Matt by WednesdayVisit to career services to gain information about mock interviewsPossible suggestion: Ask an individual in industry or professor to give mock interviews to prepare students for future jobs in industry or academiaPossible grant writing workshops through NSF or NIH
Website CommitteeMark and Nadia are working on finding a person to build the serverGave information about the Student-Lead IGERT website: personal webpage, student legacy link, mission statement of each committee and its members roles
Community ServiceGirl scout project will take place on Jan. 29 at the Girl Scout Council from 9am-12pm (Directions will be sent)40 girls will be participatingPossible lab coats for the girlsBags, Jars for crystals, paper, and Logo must be purchased (eg. Hobby Lobby)All other ideas for community service will be acceptedCollen brought the toys and over $150 dollars worth of items to a needy family for Christmas. Family was adopted through the Catholic Community Service organization. Thanks to all who participated.Mini-grant items for the Macro lab have arrived and can be used for set-up for community service on a weekendBarbara Decuir at LSU lab school can be contacted for possible community service opportunities with high school students.
Dr. Russo’s AnnouncementsJanuary Meeting with Evaluators
CV’s/resumes must be completed ASAPii. Fly-by presentations will be integrated with a virtual tour of the campus in a powerpoint presentationiii. Please add mini-grants, number of publications, presentations at meetings, and community service projects to the individual’s Fly-by slideiv.Need volunteers to pick up evaluators at airport (Dr. Florence has the list)Dr. Mathias of Southern Mississippi IGERT will give a brief presentation about the China trip- approx. 5 CMC Igertians are interested in attending vi.Turn in Mini- thesis, Apprenticeships, Milestones, and Landmarks by the end of this week
vii. If you need a poster made go to CEBA on the 3rd floor in proximity to the Hurricane Center ( $8 )
Meeting minutes.
CONCLUSION
“We’ve still got a couple of years to go before we’re ready for the moon.”
But it’s a beautiful moon.
Turn loose!
“If this is true, he is indeed the greatest of men.”
King George, on hearing that Washington had voluntarily stepped down from his position as Commander in Chief at the end of the War of Independence.
George III
Next batter!
Dooley NOT blowing something up in the Rheocord for a change.
Fin!