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 From
the Dean
As we begin a new academic year, we welcome several new members to our College community. Drs. John Fourkas and Amy Mullin have joined the faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Dr. Jian Wang has joined the faculty of Entomology. Casey Rice, an alumna and former peer mentor has joined the College's Student Services office as an advisor, and Stacy Woycheck will be the new Director of New Student Programs. Nancy LaPanne, formerly in the School of Architecture and currently Director of Administrative Services in Civil Engineering, has accepted the position of Assistant Dean for Finance. Thanks to everyone who participated in the searches that led to these appointments.
We will miss Stacy Richardson, Assistant Director of the College Park Scholars Life Sciences program, who has accepted the position of Senior Assistant Dean for Admissions at the College of William and Mary. Stacy has done a wonderful job here, and we wish her every success in her exciting new position.
During the coming year, Dr. Arthur Popper, who was one of the architects of the Senate Task Force Report on Mentoring and Success of Junior Faculty will be working with chairs, faculty, and the Dean's staff to develop a faculty mentoring program within the College. While most of our departments already have faculty mentoring programs, several of the recommendations in the Senate report would further strengthen existing programs.
I am pleased to report that we are in the process of deploying the campus wireless network across the entire College. The Biology/Psychology Building is completed. H.J. Patterson and Microbiology will be completed this month. The Chemistry Building is next in line. This joint project with the Office of Information Technology will enhance both our research and academic programs, and make life much simpler for everyone. 
Several of us had an opportunity yesterday to take our first tour of the Bioscience Research Building, which is moving along rapidly. The tour gave me a new appreciation of the impact and quality of the design. It is going to be a very beautiful building that will create major new opportunitiesfor the College.
An impressive number of new grants for research are listed below. Thanks to everyone who is working hard to sustain our external funding for research, and to move their own research programs forward in these difficult times.
As always, my best wishes for a rewarding and productive fall semester.
Norma
Allewell
Professor and Dean
Academic
Calendar and Upcoming Events
September 21: University Convocation in the Memorial Chapel at 3:00 p.m.
September 24: Academically Talented Open House
September 30: Visit Maryland Day
October 10: Visit Maryland Day
October 21: UM Technology Start-Up Boot Camp. More information: www.bootcamp.umd.edu
October 22: Academically Talented Open House
November 11: Visit Maryland Day
November
17: Bioscience
Research and Technology Review
Day. More information: www.bioscienceday.umd.edu.
CLFS contact: Gene Ferrick (gene@umd.edu)
December 22: Graduation in the Memorial Chapel at 9:00 a.m.
February 20, 2006: Open House for Juniors
April 29, 2006: Maryland Day
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Mike Doyle to Receive Two Awards
The American Chemical Society announced that Dr. Michael P. Doyle , Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will be a recipient of a 2006 Arthur C. Cope Senior Scholar  Award. The award consists of $5,000, a certificate, and a $40,000 unrestricted research grant. W hile the prize was established to recognize and encourage excellence in organic chemistry , scientists said they consider it to be one of the most prestigious awards in all of chemistry. Dr. Doyle, who came to the University in 2003, is the first Maryland faculty member to receive this honor. Noted for his discovery and development of chiral dirhodium(II) carboxamidate catalysts, known as the "Doyle catalysts," he has directed their catalytic applications in a large number of chemical transformations that are characterized by exceptional stereocontrol and high turnover numbers.
In a second tribute, the Santa Clara Valley Section of the American Chemical Society has announced that Dr. Doyle is the 2006 recipient of the Harry and Carol Mosher Award. This award was established in 1980 by the Santa Clara Valley Section of the ACS to: (1) recognize and encourage outstanding work in chemistry; (2) advance chemistry as a profession; and (3) recognize service to ACS. The award is named for the late Dr. Harry S. Mosher of Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, and Carol W. Mosher of SRI, Menlo Park, California, husband and wife, charter members and long-time supporters of the Santa Clara Valley Section. Dr. Doyle, who is actively engaged in activities of the American Chemical Society, has longstanding recognition as an educator and scientist.
Congratulations to Dr. Doyle for this well-deserved double recognition! Details of the Cope award can be found here and details of the Mosher award can be found here.
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Faculty
Recognition and In
the News
Please
send faculty news items to gene@umd.edu.
Dr. Gerald Borgia, Biology, was awarded a 3-year $228,609 National Science Foundation grant to research “Mate Choice and Display Complexity.”
Dr. Amy Brown, Entomology, recently received the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators' Board of Directors' Award for Meritorious Service. The honor was bestowed for her for excellence in pesticide education and exceptional service to AAPSE.
 Dr. Caren Chang, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, received a 2-year, $105,716 Research Supplement from NIH to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research as a supplement to her current R01 project "RTE, A Plant Growth Gene with a Conserved Role in Metals".
Drs. Caren Chang and Heven Sze, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, received a 3-year, $138,000 National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support "A Graduate Training Program in Plant Functional Genomics". This award will provide 3-year fellowships for 2 graduate students.
Dr. Eugenie Clark, professor emerita of Biology, and a shark expert who enjoyed world-wide fame is briefly noted in a story on the pursuit of an effective shark repellant in the Washington Post, August 8.
Dr. Jocelyne DiRuggiero, Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, received a 2-year $253,266 NASA grant to study the “Adaptation of Life to Extreme Conditions.”
Dr. Catherine Fenselau, Chemistry & Biochemistry, has been elected to be a vice president of the Human Proteome Organization beginning July 1, 2006. Congratulations!
In early August, Dr. William Jeffery, Biology, presented a talk entitled "Pleiotropy and the Evolution of Eye Degenration in Blind Cavefish" in the Gordon Conference on Ecological and Evolutionary Functional Genomics at Queen's College, Oxford. Later in the month, on the other side of Europe, he delivered a lecture on "Why are Cave Animals Colorless: Tyrosinase Positive Albinism in Cavefish" at the 14th International Congress of Speleology in Athens, Greece.
Dr. William Lamp, Entomology, received 2 grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is a co-investigator on a 3-year $185,000 grant titled, “Chesapeake Bay Agro-Ecology.” He also received a 1-year $5,000 grant to study the “Tolerance of Medicago Legumes to Biotic Stresses.”
Dr. Arthur N. Popper, Biology, gave the invited keynote talk at the Eastern Ear Retreat (EAR) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on July 15. The title of his talk was "A fish-ear view of vertebrate hearing." Dr. Popper was also invited to present a talk at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation in San Diego on August 30. The title of his talk was "What Do We Know About Pile Driving and Fish?" On the subject of seismic survey techniques used for looking for offshore reserves of oil, Dr. Popper commented on the adverse impact of such testing in the Christian Science Monitor, August 1, and the Sarasota Herald Tribune, August 7.
In addition to being a regular in the news, Dr. Michael Raupp, Entomology, was awarded a 3-year, $146,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study “Mechanisms underlying mite outbreaks following the application of neonicotinoid insecticides in landscapes.” The Baltimore Sun, August 13, did an article about Dr. Raupp’s efforts to spread the love for insects and how he is becoming a media Bug Guy. Dr. Raupp’s recent news appearances include comments about dragonflies in the Salisbury Daily Times , July 29; the effectiveness of non-DEET repellants on TV stations in San Antonio, San Diego, and Seattle; the Japanese beetle invasion on TV in Baltimore, WJZ-TV, July 30; the seriousness of West Nile virus in the Washington Post , August 9 and on WAMU-Radio, August 11; and what should be done to attack bed bugs on ABC News, August 26.
Dr. Steven Rokita, Chemistry & Biochemistry, received a 3-year, $382,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study “The Reversibility of DNA Alkylation by a Quinone Methide.”
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Attend the Faculty & Staff Convocation
Join your colleagues and friends at the University's Faculty and  Staff Convocation on September 21, 2005 in the Memorial Chapel at 3:00 p.m. This is a special event for the college as three of our own will be honored . Dr. Gerald Miller , Chemistry and Biochemistry, will receive the President's Medal, the highest honor the university community can bestow. Dr. William Higgins , Biology, will receive the Kirwan Undergraduate Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the quality of undergraduate education at the university. Gene Ferrick , Dean's Office, will receive the President's Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes exceptional performance, leadership and service by a member of the University staff. This is a pleasant event to begin our school year.
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JIFSAN Announces New Initiative for Global Food Safety
The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), a partnership of the University of Maryland and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will launch a new global food safety training program aimed at seafood and meat exported to the United States.
The program will be implemented by a new JohnsonDiversey International Food Safety Initiative announced in August at the annual conference of the International Association for Food Protection in Baltimore. JohnsonDiversey is a global provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions.
Since 2000, JIFSAN's Good Agricultural Practices program has trained food producers, exporters and regulators, as well as academics and educators in 13 countries to teach food safety methods for fruits and vegetables to agriculture and aquaculture workers, food processors, exporters, regulators, and educators. The JohnsonDiversey Initiative will help JIFSAN expand that program to train exporters of seafood and meat.
More than 85 percent of all fresh and frozen seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported. South and Central America exports about 20 percent of all fruits and vegetables to the U.S.
"With food exportation occurring around the globe, improving food safety from the beginning of the supply chain is critical," said David Lineback , JIFSAN director. "The most effective way to protect food and avoid importation of contaminated food is to educate food providers about the best practices for safe food handling right in their own countries."
"This initiative will create a linkage between JIFSAN and the food industry promoting best practices in food safety in participating foreign countries," said Serban Teodoresco, director of JohnsonDiversey Consulting. "The result will be better coordination and more effective food safety practices in exporting countries.
Press release - http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1112
Jessica Hines , a doctoral student in Entomology received a 1-year $35,730 EPA grant to study "Consequences of elevated CO 2 for a sensitive wetland food web." Jessica is working with Dr. Robert Denno, Entomology, and Dr. Bert Drake, Smithsonian Institution.
Graduate student Matthew Harney , who is working with Dr. Lawrence Sita, Chemistry & Biochemistry, has been selected to receive a $24,000 American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Graduate Fellowship for the 2005-06 academic year. The ACS Division of Organic Chemistry annually awards about fifteen fellowships to outstanding third and fourth year graduate students in organic chemistry. The program, now in its 25th year, has awarded nearly 275 fellowships since 1983. Matt is the second student in the Sita Group to receive an ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Fellowship in three years; Richard Keaton received this fellowship for 2002-2003. And Michael Seganish, working with Professor DeShong, received one such fellowship for 2004-2005. Evidence of research accomplishment is an important factor in the selection of the fellowship holders. Full details of this fellowship program can be found at http://organicdivision.org/fellowships.html.
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Staff News
Please send staff news items to gene@umd.edu.
Congratulations to Bobbi Donley in the Dean's Office on her promotion to Program Administrative Specialist. This reclassification reflects the growth in range and  scope of Bobbi's duties and responsibilities as well as the outstanding way in which Bobbi takes every opportunity to challenge herself professionally. She has shown leadership in assuming responsibility and taking on new projects.
As Program Administrative Specialist, Bobbi will primarily be responsible for supporting the College's development and alumni relations efforts, working closely with Assistant Dean Bruce Shatswell, Sharon Hodgson, and the incoming Associate Director of Development. Additionally, Bobbi will continue to provide key support to Dr. Robert Infantino, Associate Dean, and special projects such as coordinating aspects of the BIO MAP Program.
Save the Date! Bioscience Day 2005
On November 17, 2005 we hope you can join us for the 6 th annual Bioscience Research & Technology Review Day in the Stamp Student Union. The day's events will continue to promote university, corporate, and government collaborations as we showcase our science to all. We are pleased that Dr. Jeremy M. Berg, Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the National Institutes of Health, will be our keynote speaker. Your colleagues are putting together exciting symposia including:
"Microbial pathogens: New problems from old foes"
"Brain Damage, Plasticity and Recovery"
"Functional Genomics and the Analysis of Development"
"Bio-Inspired Approaches to Functional Molecules and Materials"
"Biological Challenges of Global Change"
As in the past there will be a Poster Session and Career Fair. This will be the second year for the Secondary School Teacher Workshop. The day is free to all who attend and registration will begin soon. Faculty should encourage their students to attend at least a portion of the day.
For more information go to www.bioscienceday.umd.edu or contact Gene Ferrick at gene@umd.edu. See you there!
Alumni
News
For
more alumni notes, check out the Alumni
Notes Web page. Please
send alumni notes to gene@umd.edu.
Charles Auer , BS'74 (Biochemistry) serves as the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. He is responsible for oversight of the Toxic Substances Control Act, which includes chemicals such asbestos, lead, and PCB's; and the Pollution Prevention Act where his office has a lead role in promoting pollution prevention. Mr. Auer also has broad international experience with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and has had extensive bilateral interaction with the European Union, Canada, Japan, and other U.S. trading partners. Recently, he played a major role in representing the U.S. in the successful negotiation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Andrew K. Balo , BS'70 (Microbiology) is Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Quality Systems for DexCom, Inc. which developes continuous glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes. Mr. Balo is widely regarded as an industry expert in regulatory strategies and sits on several FDA panels including cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal as the industry representative. Mr. Balo has been instrumental in bringing several key medical devices to market including a neurological cooling device, mechanical and tissue based heart valves, pacemakers, pacing leads, aortic grafts and electrophysiology mapping devices and has gained approval for over thirty PMA and PMA supplements.
Dr. Gary E. Eddey, BS'76 (Zoology), BS'74 (Education) is the new medical director of the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack, New Jersey. Dr. Eddey is a general academic pediatrician whose clinical area of interest is the chronic care of patients with disabilities. His research interests include medical education, the culture of disability and various aspects of the care of patients with Lesch-Nyhan Disease, a rare hereditary disorder of metabolism that is caused by a defective gene on the X chromosome. He recently co-authored the article "Considering the Culture of Disability in Cultural Competence Education," in Academic Medicine, a publication of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Dr. Fred W. Koontz , Ph.D.'84, BS'76 (Zoology), is the new Executive Director of the Teatown Lake Reservation, the largest nature education center in Westchester County, NY. Dr. Koontz has spent 21 years in the nature conservation and environmental protection fields, including 10 years as mammal curator at the Bronx Zoo. An author of more than 50 articles for scientific and lay audiences, he has held adjunct positions at three universities and helped mentor graduate students. His most recent research has focused on human wildlife conflict in the Hudson Valley with mute swans and coyotes.
Curt A. Tucker , BS'96 (Biological Sciences), BA'96 (History) an Army Reserve Specialist has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.
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Get in the Spotlight!
The new undergraduate admissions website (http://www.uga.umd.edu/admissions ) features faculty, staff, student and alumni profile information in a format called a SPOTLIGHT. Students can personalize their web portal with their major and extracurricular interest information. Admissions can then match these interests to news stories and faculty/student/alumni/staff spotlights in their intended College. For example, if a student shows she is interested in Biochemistry, news stories and spotlights pertaining to CLFS will show up on her personalized web page. The spotlight profile will change each time the page is refreshed or the student logs in.
You could be in the SPOTLIGHT! By going to the website below, you can use the drop down menu to select the appropriate category, whether it be student, staff, alumni or faculty, then fill out the information so your profile can be added to the site. Although the form asks for your email address, this information will NOT be published -- it is only for use if Admissions has any questions regarding your profile text.
If you'd like to be in the SPOTLIGHT, please log onto this site and answer the profile questions: http://128.8.64.21/ep-jobs/uga_spotlight/submit/. The survey also requests that you email a picture of yourself to Kate Innes in admissions (email address: kinnes@umd.edu) to include with the spotlight. If you have any questions about submitting a profile or undergraduate admissions, please contact Eden Garosi, Assistant to the Dean for Recruitment and Admissions, at egarosi@umd.edu. Thank you for your willingness to provide our students with a more "human" side of campus!
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Gifts to the College, Recognized with Thanks
Corporate and foundation support
Leakey Foundation $12,000; LG Chemical Company LTD $24,983 in support of Dr. Sang Bok Lee's Research; David and Lucile Packard Foundation $62,500 for Chemistry & Biochemistry; Syngenta $17,000 for Entomology
Annual Fund Gifts and Pledges
Private support of the annual fund of the College of Chemical & Life Sciences is essential to the progress of the College, and we thank those who have stepped forward in this important effort. Gifts are to the Dean's Fund except as noted.
Colonnade Society: Prof. Eugenie Clark* $5,000 Zoology Fund in Support of Dr. Eugenie Clark's Research, Prof. Todd J. Cooke* $1,000 for Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics.
Anonymous, Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics $10,000; Joshua R. Rich, BS'91 (Biochemistry), BA'91 (Government and Politics) $5,000 for the James H. & Patricia H. Rich Scholarship; Dr. Sang Bok Lee* to the Glen E. Gordon Memorial Fellowship Fund; Linda F. McCaig, BS'72 (International Programs); Jay Nixon, MS'73 (Entomology) $5,750 for Entomology; Marianna Schafer, BS'88 (Biological Sciences); William White $5,750 for Entomology.
* Faculty or staff of College of Chemical & Life Sciences
If you are interested in learning more about supporting the College of Chemical & Life Sciences, please contact Bruce Shatswell, Assistant Dean for Development and Corporate Relations, bashatswell@umd.edu, 301-405-0295.
Funding
Alerts
How
to Post Your News
If
you would like to share your accomplishments
or other news, please send a note (and
any accompanying photos)
to Gene Ferrick at
gene@umd.edu. Issues are usually sent at the beginning
of each month.
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