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FDA Chapter of Sigma XI
The Scientific Research Society

Newsletter -- July 05, 2004


Chapter website: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sxfda.html or http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/sigmaxi

As President of the FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi it has been a rewarding and very busy two years. I have enjoyed the experience and learned a lot along the way. We have managed to have some very interesting and often provocative programs, as well as, had some extremely wonderful banquets. In addition, we have consistently participated in the regional science fairs and hope that even more people will join us next year. One of the biggest challenges for our Chapter has been as a sponsor of the FDA Science Forum. We manage the poster exhibition and poster judging. As the Forum continues to grow in prominence in the scientific community and we set new records for the number of posters presented. For the past two years, the FDA Centers have worked with Sigma Xi in identifying high caliber poster judges. We appreciate the Centers' support, but could not have completed these challenging tasks if not for our Chapter members' support. Fred Fry has been exemplary as poster exhibition manager for the Science Forum. I had the privilege of managing the poster judging. Jeffrey Yourick has been excellent as the regional science fair manager. As a Chapter we provided poster winners with plaques, certificates of recognition as well as saving bonds and spring banquet tickets for regional science fair winners and their parents.

We continue to grow as a Chapter. Last year we added 7 new members and 8 transfers. This year we added 4 new members and 9 transfers. This is very good record for non-university associated Sigma Xi Chapters. The quality of the membership continues to be extremely high as well. New Sigma Xi members for 2004 are Nazmul Hassan (Feb. Chapter Newsletter), Wolfgang Kainz (April Chapter Newsletter) and Oscar Chiesa (June Chapter Newsletter) and Eric Brown (see below).

New Sigma Xi member:

The FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi welcomes, Dr. Eric Wayne Brown as a full member of Sigma Xi (confirmed by National headquarters in June 2004). Dr. Brown is currently employed at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) in the Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA) at the Muirkirk Road Complex (MRC) in Laurel, MD. He received his MS from Hood College in Frederick, MD and his Ph.D. in biological sciences (biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology) from George Washington University. Prior to coming to FDA he was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Loyola University of Chicago. Dr. Brown was honored at the 2004 FDA Awards ceremony as the FDA Outstanding Junior Investigator for "conducting groundbreaking research on the evolution of bacterial pathogens through the use of bioinformatic analysis of DNA sequences to probe genetic change". He is conducting research in the area of horizontal gene transfer among Salmonella pathogens using a phylogenic approach to assess recombination within the mutS gene of 70 SARC strains. MutS mutators accelerate bacterial mutation rates and relax the barriers that normally restrict homologous recombination. His work demonstrates that genetic diversity of bacterial is not only due to errors in DNA replication and repair but from horizontal exchange and recombination of DNA sequences from similar and disparate species. The results of his important work are applicable to food safety and food security issues to identify current and/or new emerging pathogens. Please welcome Eric Brown to Sigma Xi.


FDA Chapter Sigma Xi Election Results:

Elected Officers:

Appointed/Volunteer Positions:

Suggestions of speakers/locations are always welcome. Please contact any of the above officers.

As stated in my first Newsletter in 2003, we want to be more inclusive with representation from all aspects of FDA. We ask you to consider
as an officer, program planning committee, Center liaison, regional science fair judge and/or work with us on the FDA Science Forum. Please contact one or more of the above, if you are willing to serve our Chapter and our community.

Again, it has been an honor to serve you as Chapter President and I know that you will continue to show your support and encouragement to your new officers.


Respectively submitted,

Paddy Wiesenfeld, Ph.D.
President, FDA Chapter of Sigma Xi
2004 - June 30, 2004
NIVTB, DOT, OARSA, CFSAN, FDA
8301 Muirkirk Rd, Laurel MD 20708
Mod 1, HFS-025
(301) 827-8526
pwiesenf@cfsan.fda.gov

Remember for information about the national organization go to: http://www.sigmaxi.org

For Chapter updates and other information go to our Chapter website: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sxfda.html or http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/sigmaxi

Sigma Xi, FDA Chapter  |  CFSAN  |  FDA
Last updated on 2004-JUL-06 by frf