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NSF PR 98-85 - December 10, 1998
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NSF Awards Career Development Grants to Women
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has honored 206
outstanding women nationwide this year with $13.7
million in awards through its Professional Opportunities
for Women in Research and Education (POWRE) program.
These awards, one of NSF's investments in women scientists
and engineers, promote the development of scholarly
and institutional leaders in research and education
in fields ranging from atomic physics to zoology.
NSF established POWRE in 1997 to help ensure the vitality,
quality, distribution and effectiveness of the nation's
human resource base in science and engineering, and
to help overcome the under-representation of women
in these fields. NSF's POWRE program supports efforts
to facilitate the full participation of women in the
science and engineering mainstream.
Awardees were selected from among 773 applicants. POWRE
grants last between 12 and 18 months and range from
$13,000 to $150,000 each.
"This year's grants exhibit a broad range of research
and education projects," said POWRE program director
Priscilla Nelson. This is especially true for fields
in which women are underrepresented, she indicated.
By providing opportunities for career advancement,
professional growth and increased stature of women
in science and engineering, the POWRE program encourages
women to pursue careers and achieve leadership positions
in science and engineering. "At the same time, women
scientists and engineers will obtain greater visibility
and influence not only in academic institutions but
in industry as well," said Nelson.
The POWRE program encompasses all areas of NSF-supported
research and education in science and engineering
and was developed to merge the previous targeted women's
programs into one overall program. The programs incorporated
into POWRE include the Career Advancement Award, Research
Planning Grant, Faculty Award for Women, and Visiting
Professorship for Women.
Attachment: Selected 1998
NSF POWRE Awards
Editors: For a complete list of fiscal
1998 POWRE award recipients, including their institutions
and their project descriptions, see: http://www.nsf.gov/home/pubs/1999/nsf9939/nsf9939.htm
Attachment
Selected 1998 POWRE Awards by the National Science
Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded 206
outstanding women scientists and engineers with grants
from its Professional Opportunities for Women in Research
and Education (POWRE) program. The awards help in
career development in research and education, leading
to enhanced positions of leadership. Use the grant
numbers below to find more details on the world-wide
web at http://www.nsf.gov/verity/srchawdf.htm.
- Nancy Berner, University of the South
nberner@seraph1.sewanee.edu
Biological Sciences: grant
#9805808
Learning and Application of New
Methods to the Study of Mitochondrial Heat Generating
Mechanisms in Endothermic and Ectothermic Vertebrates
The
researcher's ongoing project compares cellular
and subcellular heat generation in endothermic
("warm-blooded") and ectothermic ("cold-blooded")
vertebrates. The POWRE award is allowing Berner
to learn new laboratory methods to broaden the
scope of the project already in progress, increasing
the number of questions that can be investigated.
- Amy Briggs, Middlebury College
briggs@middlebury.edu
Computer & Information Science & Engineering:
grant #9806108
Geometric Algorithms for Landmark-based Mobile
Robot Navigation
This young researcher at
a small liberal arts college will develop a research
program in a promising new domain of robot navigation.
The objective is to develop efficient new geometric
algorithms that allow a robot to find its way
in an unknown environment using visual landmarks.
The long-term goals of the research include the
development of task-level strategies for robot
navigation in an environment without the aid of
a global map.
- Carol Dieckmann, Univ. of Arizona-Tucson
(Univ. of Mass. Med. School-Worcester, 508-856-2443)
Biological Sciences: grant #9806135
Eyespot Assembly in Chlamydomonas
Even
some primitive single-celled organisms are complex
enough to react to light. Yet little is known
about the origin and function of the eyespot in
the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas. This
organism is free-swimming and phototactic, using
its eyespot to detect light. Dieckmann will research
the light sensitivity and associated functional
capabilities of this organism.
- Diane Dutkevitch, Northwestern University
dutkevitch@nwu.edu
Education and Human Resources: grant #9806304
The Web as a Laboratory: Hands-On Astronomy
in Large Lecture Courses
This project aims
to incorporate rigorous, but fun, hands-on experience
into introductory science courses for non-science
majors. Labs using the world-wide web and custom
software will present interactive astronomical
images, allowing students to magnify and process
the pictures, make measurements and learn how
professional astronomers tackle critical questions.
The labs will encourage exploration and creative
thinking and allow students to discover for themselves
the strengths and limitations of a variety of
telescopes and instruments.
- Robin Garrell, Univ. of California-Los Angeles
rlg@chem.ucla.edu
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: grant #9806151
Novel Inorganic Self-Assembled Monolayers:
Boranes and Gold
The research aims to design
and fabricate new types of inorganic self-assembled
monolayers (SAMs) on noble metal and oxide surfaces.
This work could ultimately benefit the manufacture
of electronics, sensors and ultrathin coatings
for use in harsh environments.
- Morton Gernsbacher, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
magernsb@facstaff.wisc.edu
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences: grant
#9806076
Testing the Structure Building Framework Using
Functional Imaging
The investigator will incorporate functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) into behavioral studies,
in order to further explore the cognitive processes
and mechanisms underlying language comprehension.
Training skilled behavioral-cognitive-psychological
researchers to use more complex, neuro-imaging
techniques will allow the field to answer more
complex questions about brain activities that
govern language.
- Andrea Koziol, University of Dayton, Ohio
koziol@neelix.udayton.edu
Geosciences: grant #9805873
Experimental Studies of Fe-Mg Carbonates and
Their Role in Petrogenesis
This research will help geologists understand
the conditions of formation of a number of unusual
and interesting rocks. The objectives are to determine
how the minerals siderite (FeCO3) and magnesite
(MgCO3) act and react under a variety of conditions
of high pressure and temperature. These studies
will provide tight constraints on how CO2 fluid
behaves deep in the earth and provide information
on oxidation state of the mantle and a better
understanding of diamond formation.
- Jennifer Miller, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
jamiller@unlinfo.unl.edu
Engineering: grant #9870435
Combined Corrosion Assessment Techniques for
Evaluating the Effect of Free Chlorine on Aged
Cast Iron Water Distribution System Pipes
To make water safer to drink, disinfectants such
as free chlorine are routinely added to drinking
water. But free chlorine can greatly increase
corrosion of pipes. This project will use traditional
and newer corrosion assessment techniques to study
iron corrosion and allow the researcher to learn
the use of analytical techniques not traditionally
applied to the study of pipe corrosion.
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