President Clinton today named 20 young National Science
Foundation (NSF)-supported researchers, nine of whom
are women, and eight of whom are engineers, to receive
the second annual Presidential Early Career Awards
for Scientists and Engineers. The presidential honor
is the highest bestowed by the U.S. government on
outstanding young scientists and engineers who are
in the early stages of their independent research
careers.
Sixty awards were announced overall, spread among
eight federal agencies.
The awards were established by President Clinton in
February, 1996, in order to meet the Administration's
goals of producing the finest scientists and engineers
for the 21st century while maintaining U.S. leadership
across the frontiers of scientific research.
"These gifted young professionals exemplify the best
of our science and technology community and will help
set the scientific pace for the U.S. and the world
in the years ahead," said the President. "Their passion
for discovery and their determination to explore new
scientific frontiers will drive this nation forward
and build a better America for the twenty-first century."
Ten government agencies join together annually to
nominate the promising scientists and engineers who
will receive up to $500,000 over a five-year period
to further their research. The young scholars are
recognized through these awards for their research
contributions, their promise and for their commitment
to broader societal goals. In addition, their work
supports advances in science for important government
missions.
NSF selects its nominees for the presidential early
career awards from a group of its most meritorious
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program
scientists and engineers. They have received NSF support
because of exceptional research and leadership potential
in their fields, and their integrated contributions
to research and education.
The presidential early career awards will be presented
in a White House ceremony on November 3.
NAME/INSTITUTION
|
CONTRIBUTIONS
|
Jill E. Bargonetti
Hunter College of City University of New
York
| Scholarly work in cancer-related studies
of cell growth and gene expression and
involvement of undergraduate, graduate,
and especially minority students in the
discovery process.
|
Peter N. Belhumeur
Yale University
| Innovative concepts and student laboratories
in appearance-based modeling for computer
applications, and forging interdisciplinary
links to physiology of human vision.
|
Geoffrey E. Hill
Auburn University
| Original contributions to understanding
evolutionary biology, specifically avian
sexual selection, and integrating a fundamental
research program with public science education.
|
Daniel P. Lathrop
Emory University
(now at Univ. of Maryland)
| Innovative contributions to research and
education of undergraduates in non-linear
properties of fluid interfaces relevant
to understanding turbulence, optical fibers,
and black holes.
|
Jon P. Longtin
State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook
| Research on laser-liquid interactions important
in manufacturing, materials processing,
and biological systems and outreach activities
for high school students and prospective
teachers.
|
Timothy A. McKay
University of Michigan
| Contributions to a major optical sky survey,
particularly the interpretation of gravitational
lensing, and for involving the public
and students at all educational levels
in research activities.
|
Ann M. Sastry
University of Michigan
| Research on predictive models for selection
and repair of fibrous materials such as
those used in structural design or human
biology and introducing students to interdisciplinary
team learning.
|
Steven W. McLaughlin
Georgia Inst. of Technology
| Leadership in the development of optical
recording systems capable of storing information
in high-capacity non-binary formats and
development of novel courses in communication
theory.
|
Renee J. Miller
Ohio State University
| Contributions to solving problems of schematic
heterogeneity in database-management systems
and retaining women and minorities in
computer science.
|
David P. Morton
University of Texas at Austin
| Innovative research on computational methods
for large-scale systems optimization and
decision-making in the utilities industry,
finance, and manufacturing and helping
students gain industrial experience.
|
Linda K. Nozick
Cornell University
| Development of innovative solutions to
problems associated with transportation
of hazardous waste and incorporating non-tradtional
skills into undergraduate transportation
engineering courses.
|
Katherine Okikiolu
University of California at San Diego
| Innovative research in geometric analysis,
particularly the determinant of the Laplacian
under smooth perturbations, and developing
student workshops and mathematics curricula
for inner-city children.
|
Lori A. Setton
Duke University
| Leadership in education and research in
understanding and restoring biomechanical
functions to tissue degenerated by injury
or aging, especially in the spine.
|
Jaswinder P. Singh
Princeton University
| Contributions to computer engineering education
and research in the area of parallel architecture
and software development, including results
applicable to protein structure determination.
|
Eileen M. Spain
Occidental College
| Contributions to the synthesis of thin
films essential to fabrication of reliable
semiconductor materials and providing
laser laboratory opportunities to high
school students.
|
Florence I. Thomas
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
| Interdisciplinary research on the impact
of organisms on nutrient and pollution
flow in marine environments and development
of an interactive display in a public
aquarium.
|
Lonny L. Thompson
Clemson University
| Scholarly work on predictive models for
structural acoustics applicable to noise
suppression and sonar tracking and facilitating
student involvement in real-world engineering
problems.
|
Daniel W. van der Weide
University of Delaware
| Pioneering research on nanoscale-dimension
electronic circuits and development of
a web-based virtual laboratory that provides
student access to advanced scientific
instrumentation.
|
Patricia A. Van Zandt
Johns Hopkins University
| Contributions to cognitive research and
education, especially in development of
mathematical and computer models for perception,
cognition and decision-making.
|
Miguel Velez-Reyes
University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
| Contributions to engineering education
and research on power systems applicable
to large systems that transfer power among
multiple suppliers in the electric power
industry.
|