Announcements

  • Dr. Tony Lupo, department chair and professor of MU atmospheric science, broke the bad news about the likely worse-than-usual spring storm season on a recent "World News with Diane Sawyer" segment.
  • Dr. Jerry Taylor, MU's Wurdack Endowed Chair of Animal Genomics, and his team were profiled in an Illumination article about their Bovine HapMap project. The "HapMap" captures the variations in DNA sequence patterns among seven different breeds of cattle.
  • An Illumination article describes a joint effort between MU and Washington University to create a better understanding of the Earth's core. MU geology professors Drs. Alan Whittington and Peter Nabelek worked with Washington University geophysicist Anne Hofmeister to uncover a new method of measuring heat conduction in the crust.
  • Congratulations to Lesa Beamer, who has joined the editorial board of Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications.
  • To increase the number of Missouri high schools that offer physics courses, MU physics professors are partnering with Missouri school districts, local colleges and organizations. The "A TIME for Freshman Physics" program recently received a $5 million grant from NSF to fund a five-year teacher development program for 80 ninth-grade science teachers. Congratulations to program director Meera Chandrasekhar and co-investigators Dorina Kosztin, Dorina Mitrea, Debi Hanuscin, and Sara Torres.
  • Please join Mizzou ADVANCE in congratulating Dr. Sheryl Tucker on her new role with the National Science Foundation (NSF). As part of the VSEE (Visiting Scientists, Engineers and Educators) program, Sheryl will be joining NSF's Division of Graduate Education as Program Director in the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Her one-year leave from MU, which begins this month, will give her an opportunity both to represent our university at the national level and to participate in and influence policy as the GRFP budget increases 30% as part of a Presidential mandate. We are grateful for Sheryl's leadership on and service to Mizzou ADVANCE, particularly with the Mentoring Program, and wish her well in this assignment. Sheryl's MU email account will remain active, and any notes of congratulations may be sent directly to her at: TuckerS@missouri.edu.
  • Congratulations to Dr. Bruce McClure, Professor of Biochemistry, who was recently awarded a Faculty Fellowship by his department. The fellowship recognizes excellence in science education and community outreach. In particular, Dr. McClure is commended for his efforts in fostering the Saturday Morning Science series in Missouri.
  • Dr. Charlotte Phillips, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, was featured in a Mizzou Wire article about the University of Missouri volunteer team that races to save Mennonite infants born with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Dr. Phillips and her colleagues recently developed a faster test to identify the disease, which, if not treated immediately, could lead to death.
  • Congratulations to Dr. Sheryl Tucker, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Chemistry, who was recently recognized as a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer. Sigma Xi is an international, multidisciplinary research society that recognizes outstanding members of the science community by inviting them to give lectures at its various chapters.
  • Dr. Nancy Flournoy, Chair of the Department of Statistics, was profiled by Mizzou Wire. The article, which recognizes Dr. Flournoy as one of "Mizzou's brightest and geekiest," highlights her professional achievements in the biostatistics world.
  • Dr. Lesa Beamer and Dr. Steven Van Doren of the Biochemistry Department were awarded a $1 million NSF grant to study an enzyme from the human pathogen P. aeruginosa. The four year award, "Dynamics, catalysis, and residue networks within a phosphohexomutase," builds on their research agenda of studying the molecular structure and motions of biological macromolecules. Understanding these processes may help researchers design new types of proteins, like faster and more efficient enzymes, that can be used in industry or medicine.
  • Dr. Alan Whittington and Dr. Peter Nabelek, MU faculty in the Department of Geological Sciences, along with another colleague, published an article in Nature about their research on heat transfer in the Earth's crust, as noted in Research and the Arts.
  • Dr. Kathleen Trauth was one of six women recognized this year with a Tribute to MU Women Award from the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women. More information.
  • Dr. Jerry Taylor and his colleagues developed a new genetic device to identify DNA markers in livestock, as noted in CAFNR news.
  • Dr. Carol Lorenzen and her colleagues discuss their USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service grant to develop a food defense education program in a University of Missouri System news feature.
  • Congratulations to Drs. Karen Cone and Carol Wicks! Karen Cone is now a Program Director at the National Science Foundation in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. Carol Wicks is now the Chair of the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Louisiana State University. Both Karen and Carol were actively involved in the Mizzou ADVANCE Program, and we are very grateful for their service and commitment to the grant. We wish them well in their new endeavors.
  • Drs. Karen Cone and Bruce McClure are among the four faculty members of the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Plant Group to be awarded the distinction of Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Drs. Cone and McClure received this honor for their efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or fostering applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished, according to the AAAS. Both faculty are members of the Mizzou ADVANCE STRIDE Committee.
  • Congratulations to Dr. Sheila Grant, Associate Professor of Biological Engineering, who received the 2008 Alumnae Anniversary Fund for the Recognition of Faculty Women Award from the Department of Women's & Gender Studies and the MU Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women. The award recognizes faculty women who are notable for their teaching excellence and/or other contributions to the education of women.
  • Dr. Azlin Mustapha, Associate Professor of Food Science, discussed recent research findings related to soy energy bars in the St. Louis Dispatch.
  • Dr. Karen Cone, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, was profiled in Syndicate Mizzou. The article highlights Dr. Cone's research program.
  • Dr. Dorina Kosztin, Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was awarded a 2008 Kemper Fellowship. More information is available in an online news release.
  • Dr. Mike Smith, Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, received the 2008 University of Missouri Graduate Mentor Award.
  • Dr. Jerry Taylor, Professor and Wurdack Chair of Animal Genomics, received the 2008 CAFNR Distinguished Research Award. The award recognized him as a national leader in livestock genomics, which has led MU to a prominent position nationally in livestock genomics. Additional information is available online.
  • Dr. Azlin Mustapha, Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science, received the 2008 CAFNR Outstanding Graduate Advisor Award. This award recognizes her as a great teacher, dedicated advisor, and close friend to her graduate and post-graduate students. More information is available online.
  • Dr. Marcia Carlson Shannon, Associate Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, received a 2008 Excellence in Education award from the Division of Student Affairs. Additional information about Excellence in Education awards is available online.
  • Dr. Judy Wall, Professor of Biochemistry, is spotlighted on the Biochemistry website’s Faculty Focus.
  • Dr. Sheryl Tucker and her colleagues are working to increase girls’ interest in science. Their work was profiled in the March 21, 2008 issue of Science Magazine. Read more about the paper and Dr. Tucker's work in a Kansas City Star article.
  • Dr. Marcia Shannon, Associate Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, recently conducted a Show Me Quality Assurance certification program for Missouri youth during the Missouri Pork Expo in February. Read more.
  • Dr. Marge Skubic, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is developing an emergency alert sensor system to put in homes of the elderly. The sensor system would help detect when an individual falls. Her research was recently profiled by KOMU news (full story).
  • Dr. Shubhra Gangopadhyay has developed a state-of-the-art device to treat life-threatening illnesses. Her work was discussed on the Discovery Channel
  • Dr. Marcia Shannon, Associate Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, was awarded the 2007 Achievement Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. You can read more about this accomplishment in the Fall 2007 issue of the Animal Sciences Alumni Newsletter.
  • Dr. Michele Warmund, Professor in the Division of Plant Sciences, recently discussed the how-to and benefits of growing citrus trees indoors. The original news feature can be found on the Division of Plant Sciences News page.
  • Dr. Azlin Mustapha, Associate Professor of Food Science, discussed an on-going research study involving the benefits of red wine and grape juice in a MU news release in October of 2007. The full news release can be found on Mizzou News
  • Congratulations to Dr. Suzanne Burgoyne, Professor of Theatre, who was recently named a Curators Professor. Dr. Burgoyne is leading the Mizzou ADVANCE Climate Theatre initiative.
  • Dr. Meera Chandrasekhar discusses her research and student involvement in a Syndicate Mizzou feature.
  • Dr. Silvia Jurisson was profiled in a Syndicate Mizzou article about her research in chemistry.
  • Dr. Sheryl Tucker has accepted a position as Associate Dean of the Graduate School at MU beginning October 1, 2007. In addition to her new duties in Jesse Hall, Dr. Tucker will remain an Associate Professor of Chemistry and the Chair of the Mizzou ADVANCE Mentoring Program.
  • Dr. Nancy Flournoy, the chair of MU's Statistics Department, recently received a national honor from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies. She was awarded the Florence Nightingale David Award, an honor given to "a female statistician who serves as a role model to other women by her contributions to the profession through excellence in research, leadership of multidisciplinary collaborative groups, statistics education, or service to the professional societies." Dr. Flournoy is only the fourth person to receive this award.
  • Biochemistry professors Dr. Grace Sun and Dr. Gary Weisman were awarded a $6 million NIH grant to continue a study on Alzheimer's disease treatments. A recent MU News Release discusses the grant.
  • Dr. Lesa Beamer, a Biochemistry professor, received a new NIH grant to study the enzyme phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase (PMM/PGM) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium is an opportunistic human pathogen that often infects cystic fibrosis patients, burn victims, and cancer patients. The two-year grant began in July 2007.
  • Congratulations to Mizzou ADVANCE faculty members! A number of faculty members involved in the Mizzou ADVANCE initiative have recently been recognized for their accomplishments and contributions both on campus and in the larger community. We are pleased to acknowledge their excellent work!