Tech grant to aid postgraduate work
FAYETTEVILLE -- A $499,000 federal grant will help the university begin new training for graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Cynthia Sides, director of the Office of Industry Engagement, will use money awarded to her by the National Science Foundation to create new programming designed to broaden the educational experience of graduate students.
"It is to make sure that they are exposed to a broad range of career options," Sides said.
Students taking part will complete activities in disciplines such as graphic design or law to learn about opportunities outside the narrow focus of their research, Sides said.
UA enrolled 945 master's and doctoral students in its engineering college in fall 2016, with the university not yet reporting data for this fall. The graduate engineering enrollment increased from 571 in fall 2006.
Exchange program planned in Turkey
FAYETTEVILLE -- An agreement signed in July creates opportunities for educational exchange between the university and Erzurum Technical University in Turkey.
The agreement specifies that both schools will work at creating academic and research exchange programs.
The cooperative agreement is the first between UA and a university in Turkey, said Amanda Cantu, director of communications for the Graduate School and International Education unit. UA has similar agreements with 88 foreign institutions, Cantu said.
Two professors win grant for research
FAYETTEVILLE -- A $450,000 federal award to two professors will help with research into alternative ways of producing ammonia and hydrogen.
Jingyi Chen, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Lauren Greenlee, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, will receive the National Science Foundation grant.
Ammonia is synthetically produced to make chemical fertilizers, with conventional methods often involving the burning of natural gas.
Greenlee said hydrogen and ammonia both could be more widely used in applications like fuel cells that power cars, but current production methods rely on fossil fuels.
She said she and Chen will work toward a method of commercial production involving renewable energy, like electrochemical technology powered by wind or solar sources.
$717,524 awarded for molecule study
FAYETTEVILLE -- A $717,524 federal award will help biochemistry researchers work to better understand the inner workings of the environment that surrounds living cells.
Roger Koeppe, a distinguished professor, and Denise Greathouse, a research associate professor, will study molecules known as proteins and lipids.
The grant from the National Science Foundation will aid research to understand those molecules and biological membranes, as proteins and lipids help govern the way cells operate.
Koeppe said computer modeling helps with predicting these biological functions. But lab work must be done to ensure that the predictions are accurate, he said.
"We're doing experiments to validate computational biology," Koeppe said. He said the project will help make predictions more accurate in the future.
Law dean is given development role
FAYETTEVILLE -- A new assignment for the law dean involves taking stock of what the school does to drive the economy statewide and drafting new proposals related to economic development.
"In this role, I will listen, learn and develop strategies that are mutually beneficial to business, industry and the University of Arkansas while also providing opportunities for students to gain experience and faculty to lend their expertise," Stacy Leeds, UA law dean since 2011, said in a statement released by the university.
She will continue as law dean while serving as interim vice chancellor for economic development.
Chancellor Joe Steinmetz assigned Leeds to the role because of her "strong record of public service and engagement," he said in a statement released by the university.
Metro on 08/27/2017