HARPUR perspective
HHMI grant-funded projects/ departmental collaborations ◗ Ancient Microorganisms Communities in Fluid Inclusions in Halite and Gypsum — Geological Sciences, Anthropology, Biological Sciences ◗ Computer Recognition of Apoptotic vs. Normal Nuclei — Computer Science, Biological Sciences ◗ Genetic Basis for Mating Success — Biological Sciences, Mathematics ◗ Image Processing: Estimate Theory of Multiple Bacterial Species in Biofilms — Electrical Engineering, Biological Sciences
undergraduate team member, junior biological sciences major Gabriel Wolfson, was working on the project last year. “I really wanted the research experience and can continue it now because it was funded,” he says. The interdisciplinary nature of the projects posed challenges for the undergraduates. Some told Nancy Stamp, dean of the Graduate School and co-program director, they needed to work past the jargon of the different disciplines. “They said it was a revelation to them to see the faculty during joint lab meetings talk past each other in their disciplines’ jargon,” she says. “The undergraduates said they knew then how very important it was to create ‘common ground’ — one of the themes they had discussed in preparing for their projects.” The undergraduates reported on their progress and the results of the collaborations so far at an end-of-summer poster session. “I’ve never seen an undergraduate poster session where the students were so well prepared to discuss their posters,” said Stamp. “Interestingly, the students were both confident about
◗ Image Stitching, Devonian Forest Fossil Site — Biological Sciences, Computer Science
As program director, Anna Tan-Wilson is helping match students and faculty in research.
◗ Meta-analysis of DNA Microarray Studies on p53 — Biological Sciences, Bioengineering
their presentations and humbled by the realization that their projects were just the beginning of something bigger.” Tan-Wilson served as a matchmaker of sorts for many of the projects, pairing up faculty from the different disciplines. “We have five brand-new faculty in this group,” she said. “And we also had about 90 applications from students. A committee interviewed all of them, and then the faculty mentors held interviews and made the final selection of two students for each of the projects, half of them from groups underrepresented in these disciplines.” “All of the faculty with whom I spoke were very pleased with their undergraduates, and I think some were even a little surprised at how hard the students worked and what they had accomplished,” says Stamp. “One said that the two undergrads were unstoppable; one had discovered a ‘breakthrough’ piece of information that had stymied the lab group and the other wasn’t put off by anything she didn’t know, she ‘elbowed her way into every problem.’” Fall 2011
◗ P53 Binding to DNA in Nanofluidic Device — Physics, Biological Sciences ◗ Statistical-computer Based Technology to Determine Efficacy of Cancer Treatment — Bioengineering ◗ Vibrational Communication by Insects — Biological Sciences, Mechanical Engineering ◗ Watersheds and Wetlands: Reduction of Nutrients and Sediments — Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences ◗ Fe +2/Fe +3 Sensors — Chemistry ◗ DNA Binding to Carbon Nanotubes — Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering ◗ Glutamate Transport and Nociception — Chemistry, Psychology ◗ Computer Program for Mass Spectrometry-based Peptide Identification — Computer Science, Biological Sciences
Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
17