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Graduate School F A L L

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Seoul to Auburn: All In Math: A Team Sport The Question of Memory

The Big Picture Leanne Dillard Returns to Her Roots to Study the Impact of Cows on the Environment

CONTENTS 4

Message from the Dean

A Presidential Perspective

New at the Graduate School

Diversity at Auburn University

Seoul to Auburn: All In

Math: A Team Sport

The Question of Memory

Q&A on InterConnect

The Big Picture

Post-Graduate Studies at Auburn University

A Wise Investment

Areas of Study

Auburn, Alabama

Graduate Student Health Insurance Program

Electronically Delivered Graduate Education

Graduate Student Council

The Gift of Excellence

Graduate School Staff

Upcoming Events

Publication Team Editors Erin Edwards, Managing Editor George Flowers, Dean George Crandell, Associate Dean Jessica Nelson, Director of Recruiting and Communication Download this Auburn Graduate School publication online at www.grad.auburn.edu Auburn University Graduate School 106 Hargis Hall, Auburn, AL 36849 Phone (334) 844-2125 Fax (334) 844-4348 Postmaster, please send address changes to 106 Hargis Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5122. Contents 2011 by the Auburn University Graduate School, all rights reserved.

Message from the Dean

Dr. George Flowers Auburn University is a comprehensive institution dedicated to the land-grant mission of making a positive difference in people’s lives, as you’ll see throughout this publication. We have programs in agriculture; business; education; science; engineering; liberal arts; nursing; pharmacy; architecture, design and construction; human sciences; forestry and wildlife sciences; mathematics; and veterinary medicine. In all of these, graduate education, research, and extension are closely linked. Research and extension are integral parts of our mission, and graduate education is a critical factor in both. Graduate students are crucial in conducting cutting-edge research, performing laboratory work, and providing the hands and minds that produce success in these endeavors. These are challenging and exciting times for graduate education: challenging because of the need for growth and the tough economic environment that is facing our nation; exciting because our students and faculty are doing great things and having a tremendous, positive impact. And there are many great things going on in graduate studies at Auburn. In this publication, you will learn about some of the outstanding work that graduate students are doing and how it is impacting the lives of people in Alabama and around the world on every continent. For example, an Auburn graduate student in Pharmacal Sciences is testing a drug that shows real promise in treating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. Finally, I must note that Auburn University is ranked 36th among public universities nationwide, according to the 2012 survey by U.S. News & World Report. This ranking marks the 19th consecutive year that this magazine has ranked AU among the nation’s top 50 public universities. In addition, the city of Auburn was selected by U.S. News as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States. Auburn University has outstanding academic programs located in a truly great community. So, please enjoy this publication. If you desire more information on any of these articles or on matters related to graduate education at Auburn, please contact me. We invite you to join us for a great future.

George Flowers Dean of the Graduate School

A Presidential Perspective Dr. Jay Gogue

We know you face a difficult decision. What university will provide the graduate education that best serves your academic and career goals? The choice can become complicated. There are competing offers of financial aid and summer support. There are also considerations about location, housing, and proximity to potential employers, just to name a few. As a university, we understand that competition for graduate students is intense. We’re grateful you are considering Auburn University and hope this publication and the resources it describes help you make the decision that’s right for you. In my conversations with graduate students around campus, they make clear what they see as Auburn’s competitive edge. On top of quality academic programs, it’s the out-of-classroom experience that enriches their tenure at Auburn. Some are excited about opportunities to study complex issues alongside nationally recognized experts. For others, it’s Auburn’s caring, dedicated professors who go the extra mile. The chance to establish links with officials in industry, government, and academia is often mentioned as is gaining international exposure and skill sets. While it differs from one individual to the next, the common denominator is numerous possibilities beyond the classroom to excel, experience, and engage. We’re confident that’s what you too will find at Auburn. War Eagle!

Jay Gogue President

New at the Graduate School In 2010, the Graduate School saw renovations to its premises, historic Hargis Hall, which were completed near the end of the year. We have seen other changes and progress over the last year. First, enrollment continues to grow steadily with a record 4,005 graduate students enrolled for fall 2011. We anticipate more growth in 2012 to meet the goals set in the university’s strategic plan. Additionally, some new programs were introduced, including support services for international students and graduate students with children, and additional transit stops at graduate student “hot spots” in Auburn. The Graduate Student Council continues to work closely with the Graduate School to address issues important to graduate students. For prospective students, there will be a new, revised GRE test beginning in August 2011. The GRE website has more information about what to expect from the new test with regard to scoring, score reporting, and format. For Auburn students, the Graduate Student Council’s annual Graduate Research Symposium will be held in conjunction with a university-wide research week in 2012. There will also be a new, competitive thesis award in 2012 for master’s students, comparable to the Distinguished Dissertation Awards. The Graduate School at Auburn University will continue to grow and change to best serve our graduate students and to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Top Rankings

Auburn is included in a distinctive group of 18 universities designated as Land, Sea, and Space Grants and receives many accolades from accrediting agencies and ranking publications. • Auburn has been ranked among the top 50 public universities in the U.S. for 19 consecutive years, ranking 36th in the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report. • Auburn was listed in Princeton Review’s Best 373 Colleges and The Best 300 Business Schools, 2011 edition. • The city of Auburn was named one of the 10 Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report. • Modern Healthcare ranked the College of Business as the 16th best graduate school and 5th among MBA programs for physician-executives. • College of Education’s Rehabilitation Counseling Program ranked 17 in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” 2010 edition. • College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology doctoral program nationally ranked 28 by the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, 2010 edition. • Aerospace Engineering ranked 35 in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” 2010. • Industrial Systems Engineering ranked 24 in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” 2010 edition. • A comprehensive list is available at www.auburn.edu/rankings.

Diversity at Auburn University As part of an ongoing commitment to diversity, the Graduate School is helping to support an innovative program called the Auburn University College of Education Summer Research Bridge Program: Future Scholars Program. This intensive, five-week academic and research enrichment experience for prospective graduate students launched summer 2011 with 11 students from Morehouse, Spelman, and Albany State universities. The program is designed both as a diversity recruitment initiative as well as a way to strengthen collaborative ties with higher education institutions with significant populations of traditionally underrepresented students. Although currently the initiative is primarily contained within the College of Education, the Graduate School hopes to see the program expand to include other units on campus in the future. During their time on campus, participants have rotating assignments to research, teaching, or outreach units on campus. As part of their requirements, they will assemble a portfolio representing their work and give an oral presentation at the conclusion of the program. Dr. Jared Russell from the Department of Kinesiology has been the primary force in getting this Bridge Program off the ground, and is pleased with the success of the program. Many have already enrolled in Auburn graduate programs. The mentorship and guidance of research faculty is expected to provide a meaningful experience for participants as well as bring exceptional students from underrepresented groups to Auburnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus. So many current graduate students tell us that a visit to campus was the deciding factor when they chose Auburn. We hope that all of these young men and women, having visited Auburn, will return as graduate students.

Seoul to Auburn

All In By Jessica Nelson

An interest in fashion is not unique, but it takes a particularly focused individual to turn what is a hobby for most people into an academic career. Soo In Shim, PhD student in consumer affairs, has done just that.

In South Korea, Shim’s home country, students must begin to narrow down a career field in the second year of high school or earlier. Students pick from three career paths: liberal arts, sciences and math, or the art, music, and sports track. Although one teacher urged her toward the arts, she lacked confidence in that area, and opted instead for the math and sciences track. Now she thinks this is a good decision

for her field, because it allows her to be a generalist, and to be able to work from many different skill sets. “I think that the reason I chose the clothing and textile science was because it includes everything,” she says. “To understand the garments, and people wearing the garments, I have to understand the psychology…and I also need to understand design and the science of the fabric or construction of the garments.” She doesn’t just like fashion, she studies it from all angles. Of her first years of college, majoring in clothing and textile science, Soo In says, “I took so many classes. I just did my best to find my way about what I really want.” This approach left her with two minors and a broad range of knowledge about the apparel industry, and she followed with a master’s in the same discipline. Through all of this she had never really entertained the idea of studying abroad. However, after her master’s degree, Soo In worked for a fashion forecasting company. That’s when she began to really get interested in research. In that position, she researched consumer behavior for fashion companies, but felt like the research was too basic to really understand the market.

“They usually ask what brand people like and why they like, and may give some multiple choices like design, price, and quality. I felt like that’s too rough to really find out why people like this product.” She wanted to really dig into the reasons consumers behave as they do, and so a PhD was the only option. She was a little surprised when her advisor recommended considering school in the US, because she frankly had never considered it. However, since her bachelors and masters degrees were from the top institution in her field in S. Korea, she realized she needed to move on in order to really challenge herself. With that in mind, as well as her mentor’s advice, she made the decision to go abroad. When she really thought about coming to the U.S., she had no idea where to begin. However, when her advisor suggested she consider Auburn, she remembered the name. Previously, when she came to this country for a conference during her master’s program, she met several professors from Auburn. “I got a positive impression from them because they were really interested in my research. We discussed the research and they gave me some suggestions how to improve it.” So, on the basis of this experience and a recommendation from a professor, Soo In applied to only two schools and chose Auburn. That professor turned out to be an excellent resource, because she already had a contact here at Auburn — a faculty member who is now one of Shim’s co-advisors. Under her direction, she is beginning her dissertation research on web marketing and brand loyalty. Online shopping has long been one of her research interests, going back to master’s work with virtual models (ideal versus real-life measurements) and their effect on online apparel purchases. Her current focus, she says, borrows a popular theory from psychology – flow theory – and uses it to analyze online shopping. Flow theory deals with that state of mind when a person is so immersed in whatever they are doing that they lose all sense of time and place. Common depictions of a “flow state” feature an artist, so immersed in creation that she forgets to eat or sleep. Some, including Shim, think that this idea is transferrable to online activities like gaming or even shopping. Her overarching question is “what can we do to enhance brand loyalty?” It’s a hot question, because securing loyal consumers who have a sort of emotional connection with

a certain brand name or product is extremely desirable to companies. They would love to know more about what factors help forge that kind of consumer relationship. “I’m going to measure the flow, brand experience, and brand loyalty to verify the relationship statistically,” she explains. “People are really interested in how experience can influence the important variables in business, but they haven’t examined the relationship exactly.” While reading literature on the topic, she noticed what she felt was a gap in the literature. There has been some study of flow theory and the web, but none that specifically looks at online shopping and how a flow experience can influence brand loyalty. Depending on her research, this information could be extremely useful to companies and marketing firms who are looking for that next level of interaction between a company and its consumers online. In addition to her own dissertation research, Shim has also been involved with projects as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Consumer Affairs. In keeping with her interest in branding and online research, the two projects she has worked on involved “green” marketing and its effectiveness, and the online habits of mature consumers – those 55 and older. All of this adds to the body of what we know about how people shop, and why we buy the things we buy. Outside of her studies, Soo In has made an effort to see more of the U.S. as well as more of

Auburn University – including football games. In fact, during the 2010 -11 season, Soo In managed to get Iron Bowl tickets for herself and her brother, who was visiting from Seoul. She convinced him that he was needed to fill an empty seat, outfitted both of them in Auburn hats and shirts, and set off for Tuscaloosa. After the game, they boldly ventured into a country barbecue house dressed in their Auburn gear. “There were lots of Alabama fans,” she said, laughing at the memory. “They were staring at us.” They didn’t mind the stares though. “We are foreigners. So we can bravely cheer Auburn, like “Yea, Go Tigers!”” Her brother, she says, enjoyed the game as well. Although she chose Auburn without knowing much about the school, Soo In says that she has been able to compare Auburn to other schools during visits to friends at other schools in the U.S. “Whenever I visit them, I ask them to show me their school. I realized Auburn is quite special compared to those schools. People are really nice and friendly and,” she pauses for the right words and adds, “I heard from my professor that Auburn is kind of a rising star. People really gather together and make efforts to accomplish one common proposal. I really feel that atmosphere here.” Another person might say Auburn is “All In.”

Math: A Team Sport By Jessica Nelson

Imagine a mathematician. Now scratch that. Braxton Carrigan loves math, is good at math, and wants to spread the idea that math can be fun. However, he certainly isn’t the math nerd you would find on a sitcom – you know, the ones who display thick glasses and awkwardness. In fact, he says that Auburn’s socially engaging mathematics department was one of the deciding factors when he was comparing graduate schools. Though he had actually made up his mind for another school, a visit to the Auburn campus changed his mind. Dr. Chris Rodger, then the graduate program officer, was showing him around the department, but there was a wait for one of the classes he was planning to visit. “Three students saw me with Dr. Rodger, and they just pulled me into a lounge area and talked to me for like an hour. That was one of the biggest things for me,” he says. “I love our math department, compared to other math departments that I’ve been to,” he continues. “I’ve got friends in other math departments where you feel like you’re pulling your hair out every day. I’ve never felt that way.” Furthermore, to illustrate his department’s unique character, he exclaimed “We have a softball team, okay? And we’re good!” Carrigan came to mathematics in an unexpected way – baseball. He wanted to be a baseball coach, “And I thought, well, I’ve gotta teach something. I’m good at math, I’ll pick that.” However, he realized along the way that he wasn’t just good at it, he really enjoyed it. The revelation for him was that in upper-level

mathematics classes, his professors didn’t give him formulas to memorize or six steps to an answer. “College math is nothing like high school math,” he says. “It’s more, here are a couple of things, now can you prove it to me? Can you generally think of something and problem solve? And that’s where I fell in love with it.” At Samford University in Birmingham, Braxton not only fell in love with math, but he developed a real passion for teaching. “The general population hates math, doesn’t want to learn math. I love showing students that it is good for something. Not only that, but that it’s fun.” He sees part of math’s image problem as a result of algorithm-based teaching, which emphasizes a rigid set of procedures to achieve an answer. Although there are times when this approach is necessary, what interests him is the new emphasis on problem-based, or inquiry-based learning. This method gives students a problem and encourages them to find a solution in their own way first, before highlighting the math principles it demonstrates. This is the approach found in higher-level mathematics, and he thinks that it not only is more fun, but shows people how basic math concepts can be a stepping stone to critical thinking and general problem solving skills. “The thing is that basic logic can get you through math,” he claims. “And if you have those skills, there are lots of things in this life that you can get through.” When he came to Auburn from Samford, Braxton wasn’t quite sure which way he wanted to go in his graduate education. He knew that he wanted a master’s degree, and he knew that he wanted to teach. “Auburn has probably the largest span of possible research areas, so if you have no idea what you want to do – and I had

no idea what I wanted to do.” What he does now is research in the field of discrete geometry under the guidance of Dr. Bezdek, his advisor. He pauses before talking about his research, “I wish I’d brought my models with me.” He then offers a disclaimer: “First and foremost, you have to understand that mathematicians do mathematics for mathematics’ sake.” It is for others, he says – the physicists and computer scientists and engineers – to apply the mathematics to real world solutions. Carrigan’s research focuses on threedimensional shapes, and what properties they have or do not have. He explains first in two dimensions: any polygon, such as a rectangle or pentagon, can be divided into triangles (the polygon with the least number of sides) without having the triangles overlap. Triangulation, as it is called, was once used in surveying, and is now one of the mathematics concepts underlying GPS technology, along with other computer simulations. In three dimensions, the question is whether a polyhedron can be divided into tetrahedra, or triangle pyramids. We already know, Carrigan explains, that not all polyhedra – 3D shapes with flat faces joined by straight edges (imagine a prism or a ring pop for simplicity) - can be divided regularly into tetrahedra. Carrigan’s charge is to discover more shapes that have this property of refusal to break into tetrahedra. Although we have known since the early 20th century that there are special polyhedra that cannot be divided into tetrahedra, only a few other papers have made extensions in this field. He anticipates the question of application of his research. “I can tell you a weird way it can be used – or maybe not used.” A GPS system, he explains, works by treating the earth’s surface like a planar

surface and breaking it into triangles. Should navigation technology get more sophisticated, there might be a question of using threedimensional data for more accuracy. However, if a computer encountered one of the shapes that cannot be broken into tetrahedra but was attempting to do just that, it would lock up because it was given an impossible task. Although he’s in the thick of things with his research, Braxton finds time to nurture his love of teaching, often coupled with outreach projects. When he came to Auburn from Samford, Carrigan had not only a math degree, but a teaching license, and he made his interest in education known. Because of this, and also perhaps because of his wife (an Auburn alumna, current Auburn graduate student, and local eighth-grade math teacher) he found out about TEAM Math. TEAM Math is a partnership among Auburn University, Tuskegee University, and 15 east Alabama school districts. The idea is to instruct teachers in youth inquiry-based learning. Braxton and other mathematics and math education graduate students serve as the “math

experts” with teams of teachers to show them how to integrate this model of teaching math into their classrooms. “I got put with the second-grade teachers, which terrified me at first,” he says. For a guy who wants to teach higher-level math, you could certainly call second grade outside his comfort zone. “But I got to look at problemsolving from a very basic level.” Without the math vocabulary – exponent, square root, etc. – he had to examine the very roots of math. “You take all that away, and let the student really discover what the process is.” As long as the logic is sound, then it is reasonable to expect students to draw valid conclusions, he says, and this is part of the fundamental approach of TEAM Math. It was a valuable lesson, and now part of his current teaching assignment is geometry for elementary education teachers. Furthermore, from TEAM Math, which is funded by a five-year National Science Foundation grant, Carrigan found out about another NSF-funded outreach project led by Dr. Chris Rodger. This project takes some of the ideas inherent to TEAM Math, but instead of Alabama teachers, their audience is primarily students in the rural Australian outback. For two years, Dr. Rodger has led a group of graduate students in conducting math camps in two locations in Australia’s Northern Territory. The aim is to get students out of the classrooms and thinking about math in a new way. “It’s like a summer camp, with bunks and stuff,” he explains, “but just over the course of a weekend.” Each group gets a “world” set up with several related problems to solve. The problems are set up at stations, so students can browse for the one that interests them, and the instructors use that one as the

A WISE INVESTMENT

doorway to the other problems in the group. “Our job is to develop problems that they can get interested in that are not too stuck into the curriculum that they’re already doing.” The last thing they want is for students to feel that they are going back to school for the weekend. Imagine those outdoors team-building courses; you know, the ones with rope ladders and wall climbing – but with mental exercises. “Once they’ve had the experience of trying to solve it – and a lot of them come up with unique solutions and really cool ways to solve – then we show them the advanced mathematics behind it. So the students are solving a puzzle, only to discover they’ve been doing math all along.” He is working on a “world” right now that is based on geometry. For example, one problem features six people sitting at a table, and the challenge is to have everyone shake hands as many ways as possible, but without anyone’s arms crossing. “It actually turns into what’s called a graph theory problem,” he says. “It’s as though the students themselves are the diagrams and formulas.” This year, in addition to two weekend math camps near Alice Springs and Darwin, Carrigan also participated in high school seminars. By contrast, these seminars are presented academically, introducing high school students to the concepts behind mathematics research. Carrigan hopes that next they can bring these math camps for students back to the U.S., and many involved in the Australia project are working to make that happen. The wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, but they are turning. For now, Braxton is busy with teaching, research, and helping with TEAM Math and the Australian math camps – more than enough for one graduate student. Instruction. Research. Outreach. These are the core values of Auburn University as a land-grant institution, and Braxton Carrigan embraces them all.

“

Students who pursue a doctoral degree while working full time understand that it is not an easy task. However, I believe it is a wise investment because it will broaden my career opportunities for the future. I chose to return to Auburn to pursue a PhD in public administration and public policy because of the positive experience I had as a student in the master of public administration program. Along with my 12-year career in higher education administration, a PhD in public administration and public policy will allow me multiple career options in either the public or private sector. The program also caters to working professionals by offering evening and weekend courses. Classes are offered at the main campus and at AUM, which is helpful for students like me who commute from the Birmingham area. All of these factors make pursuing graduate education at Auburn University a wise investment. War Eagle!

”

Rebecca Hartley, Greer, SC Master of public administration, PhD candidate in public administration and public policy Currently serving as director of Graduate Admissions and Records at University of Montevallo

The Question of Memory By Jessica Nelson

The question of memory, according Manuj Ahuja, is one of the great mysteries of science. How exactly does the brain work? How do we form and store memories? Where do our thoughts and consciousness come from? These questions have long fascinated him, and this fascination brought him to Auburn University. Ahuja’s doctoral research in the Department of Pharmacal Sciences involves an ancient remedy and one of today’s most frightening conditions, Alzheimer’s disease. Despite increasing attention to this debilitating disorder that decimates the memory, we do not yet really understand the disease. Ahuja explains that Alzheimer’s is multifactorial, with several factors in the brain working together to produce the condition we call Alzheimer’s. We have identified several of these factors, he says, but we don’t know the root cause, the basic why someone gets the disease.

Along with his advisor, Dr. Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran, and their collaborator Dr. Vishnu Suppiramaniam, Ahuja investigates the potential for new entities, specifically the plant centella asiatica, in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Currently, treatment options involve slowing the disease’s progress and easing symptoms and, until we know why people get it and how it works, an outright cure seems unlikely. Ahuja explains their focus on herbal remedies, “The herbal drugs have so many constituents, and we believe that the drugs can work against all those multifactors.” Centella asiatica is their focus because first, it is a known antioxidant with antiinflammatory properties, Ahuja says. It is currently approved by the FDA for wound healing because of these qualities. Furthermore, centella asiatica, known as jal brahmi in parts of India, was used in the Ayurvedic tradition as a cognitive enhancer as well as for wound healing. Recently, some clinical trials have shown the herb to be effective in improving memory in humans. “If it is true that the drug has neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing properties, then eventually scientists can hope to identify exactly what in the substance improves memory, and either synthesize or extract it for use in treating memory disorders like Alzheimer’s,” Ahuja says. And while the primary goal is to treat the disease, they also hope to be able to use what they find to learn more about how and why a person develops it. He compares this path of discovery to quinine, used to treat malaria. “They found that these drugs from the plants have these beneficial effects. Then they wanted to extract the part causing the beneficial effects. Then they made compounds to go and bind to the target. Then they have to find the target, and then they find out the pathophysiology of the disease. Perhaps you could compare it to a mystery novel – when they can find out how the murder is committed, they can deduce the culprit. ” But that is in the future. For now, they have to validate their behavioral studies, which showed that transgenic mice – mice altered to have Alzheimer’s disease – performed better in a maze when they had been treated with centella asiatica. “Right now people know that it has a cognitive enhancing effect,” Ahuja says of his drug, “but we do not know the cellular and molecular pathways by which it is causing these effects. We want to find out what are

these pathways, what are the cellular molecules, and what happens in the brain when we take this drug.” This is all part of the determined march of science. They know something is working, but scientifically speaking, we don’t know something is true until we know why it is true. Ahuja summarizes their work. “What we do is, we treat the mice with the drug of interest, do behavioral tests, and sacrifice the animal. After that we extract the proteins from the brain, put them into a gel to isolate them, and from that we measure how much protein is present in each group.” They would compare an untreated control group, a transgenic group and then one that is treated. “Then you measure different proteins. If a drug is increasing the bad protein and decreasing the good protein, and my drug is reversing that, then that drug is neuroprotective.” And they are definitely finding that centella asiatica does just that, he says. His collaboration with Dr. Vishnu gives Ahuja access to the labs where his electrophysiological studies are conducted. They are looking closely at synapses in the hippocampus, the principal area of the brain where memory is formed and stored. Synapses are the electrical connections between neurons that pass on information. If the synapses in the hippocampus are sending more information after treatment, then we know, Ahuja says, that there is a concrete

boost to memory. Their initial study showed that both input and output were increased, an encouraging find. From there, they moved on to take a closer look with a study called single channel analysis. The tools used in the single channel analysis are absurdly small. In his lab, Ahuja points out a micro pipette – a small glass tube that tapers off to an impossibly fine point, and a tiny beaker that belongs in a doll’s laboratory. “So what I am actually doing is putting a single channel in the membrane – in a micro pipette.” This tube is filled with intracellular fluid, and the beakers contain an electrode and extracellular fluid, all of which recreate the brain environment and allow the synapse to function as it would in the body. Then they send current through the channel, or receptor, and read the output on a computer screen. Ahuja has dozens of graphs that show the activity in receptors, and points out what they look for. Spikes on the graph show when the synapse allows data through. A good result would show that the connection is open longer or more often. Ahuja clicks rapidly through different files, indicating hours of painstaking work with these tiny bits of memory. Also ongoing in the lab is a process that Ahuja calls extracellular field recording. To begin, he would prepare a slice of the rat hippocampus at a thickness of about 300 microns. For scale, this is 3/10 of one millimeter, or about the thickness of a coarse 15

human hair. When he examines the slice under the microscope, he is looking for activity in what is called the Schaffer collateral pathway, an area that is associated with learning and memory formation. In another room, he removes a tray of small brains from a refrigeration unit to demonstrate what his research subjects look like at present. Ahuja removes the brains himself and prepares them for study, “We cut them, make them very small slices, put the antibodies on them, and do the techniques by which you can find out which protein is increasing in which part of the brain. And then you compare with treated animals and say this good protein is increased or this bad protein is decreased.” One of these bad proteins is called amyloid beta, and is considered the primary pathological marker for Alzheimer’s disease. 16

This protein causes cell death, and is one of the factors leading to Alzheimer’s. When working with transgenic mice, the model most commonly used involves altering the animals to have deposits of amyloid beta in their brains. Ahuja says that several of the current treatments for Alzheimer’s work by clearing away these deposits, which does slow the progress of the disease. He is also testing his drug for this property. Ahuja reveals that he is responsible for extracting the brains from his animals himself, following strict protocols. In fact, he himself performs all aspects of the electrophysiological experiments involved in this study. “It’s my project,” he says, “so I am just doing all the parts. That’s why it’s slow moving.” Further down the road, he wants to investigate whether centella asiatica can address

other conditions affecting memory, such as fetal alcohol syndrome. “That would be a good study by itself,” he says. “It’s my whole PhD.” He would have to develop a new animal model, but he is excited about the possibilities for developing treatment for this condition as well. One of the things that he has noticed and liked about Auburn is a recurring theme among graduate students, “Research is very friendly here,” he says. “There is not that tension between the labs. In India things are very formal in a way that they are not here at Auburn.” In fact, he is enthusiastic about the work in other labs – at the College of Veterinary Medicine, in Biological Sciences. He enthusiastically references the research supervised by the late dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Marie Wooten. “Her research was very good. She found a gene which she claimed was being increased in the Alzheimer’s disease. So that is one of the pathophysiological factors of the disease.” Students often reference Auburn’s collaborative atmosphere, although Ahuja is experiencing it more closely than most, since he divides his time between two separate labs. And for the times when he is not in the lab, he has recently taken on a new role as vice president of the Graduate Student Council. In 2010, he served as a volunteer at the GSC’s annual Graduate Research Forum, which allows graduate students to practice presenting their work in a conference environment and compete for monetary awards. “It was the first time I was involved in those kinds of things, so I was enjoying all those things,” he says. There are a variety of experiences available at Auburn University for graduate students, and many ways for them to both lead and serve. In his capacity as a researcher and as a GSC officer, it seems that Ahuja is set for both.

Q&A on InterConnect calendar is under construction right now, and we’re expecting that it will be in place by late November or early December.” What activities or events have taken place so far?

Dr. Len Vining, special projects coordinator for the Graduate School, organized an International Colloquium Series entitled Understanding Life and Culture in America that began in fall 2010. One of the speakers discussed recreational opportunities in Alabama and offered opportunities for students to sign up for a few local recreational events. These were so successful that he has been developing a way to make it easier for international students to get authentic community-based experiences while they are in Auburn. Here, he answers a few questions about the project. What is “InterConnect at Auburn”? “InterConnect at Auburn is a new activity to connect people in the local community with international students. Because people in the local community have limited access to students at the university, what we want do is make a way for them to invite international students to events that they host.” How does it work? “We are currently developing an interface, an electronic calendar of events, so that anybody in the community who wants to host five or more international students can post an event and then describe it in detail. International students will be able to view this calendar, see the things that interest them, and then click on that and sign up for it. You then leave the community person and the students to make their own arrangements for logistics. The electronic

“We started in spring 2011 and early summer with some recreational events. Since then, we went to hike Tuskegee National Forest; we did a caravan of cars to Callaway Gardens – and everyone really liked that. We then held three fishing events. We’ve had a waiting list for the fishing events. Lots of students want to catch their first fish. A local church hosted a picnic at Lake Martin. More than 80 people attended that picnic; it was great, we had a perfect day. And we also went kayaking on the Coosa River.” What role does community involvement play in the InterConnect events? “It is intended that this whole program be community based, not an Auburn University program – similar to Auburn Family Friends. The only part that we want to play is to provide a venue for the community to interact with international students. The actual connecting – what they do and where they go – is going to be entirely in the hands of the students and community members. Right now we’re spreading news by word of mouth, but already people who have participated once want to do more. We hope that every person who wants to engage with international students will have a way to do it. It doesn’t have to be limited to recreation – it could be taking them to educational events, art events or music festivals. We started with recreation because it was summer, and I had more personal contacts with people in this area.” What is in store for the 2011- 2012 year? “We already have a person planning to go to Callaway Gardens, and the Auburn University Bass Fishing Club is tentatively planning to host a fishing event in October. We also have a local Rotary member who has volunteered to take a group of people hiking in Cheaha National Forest. So we are pretty sure that this concept will gain traction once people begin to hear about it. And why not? It’s a win-win situation. It’s good for our students, and it’s good for the Auburn community. It’s good for me too: I love my job.”

Top 15 countries represented by international student population: China India South Korea Turkey Taiwan Nepal Nigeria Thailand Brazil Sri Lanka Canada Bangladesh Kenya Colombia United Kingdom

The Big Picture

By Jessica Nelson

“I was running away from agriculture with every bit of my being,” says Leanne Dillard, a PhD student. Then she laughs, because she has just come from shoveling the manure of six cows that are intimately involved with her dissertation research in the Department of Animal Sciences. She clarifies that “When you grow up on a farm, which requires 24/7 work, you don’t want to do it for the rest of your life.” However, here she is, having happily jettisoned her goal of veterinary school for agriculture.

She was duly warned, she says, by her advisor when she applied for the master’s program as a stepping stone to veterinary school. Dr. Russell Muntifering said “You’re going to fall in love with research.” I said, “No! I’ve wanted to go to vet school since I was four years old. That’s not going to happen.” She pauses. “It happened!” Aside from animals, Dillard’s passion is ecology. Technically, her field is ruminant nutrition, but she considers herself a nutrient management ecologist. What she means is that she’s interested in systems in the big picture. She studies how all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together to form what we know. Right now, the subject she is investigating is the impact of cows on the environment. The astonishing thing, she says, is that no one has actually studied this in the Southeast region – or at least not like this. “We’re looking at the entire system,” she says, which is why she is single-handedly running six studies from her project. “My dissertation should be huge.” “These are my cows,” Dillard says, gesturing to the six yearling cows in pens. These cows are

inside this day so that she can collect fecal samples throughout the day, and then they will return to their pastures. She is a striking figure collecting manure in boots, jeans, a bright blue blouse, and matching Muslim head scarf. The only thing that seems typical is her southern accent. The purpose of collecting all of this “fertilizer” is to assess nutrient leeching into the soil. After she collects the samples, she will remake the fecal pats in an unoccupied pasture and wait for them to decompose. This soil quality monitoring is one part of the study, which also looks at water quality, forage quality, and ways to decrease the amount of fertilizer needed to sustain robust pasture for grazing cows. Other studies have all either been limited in scope or conducted on vastly different systems, such as the midwestern feedlots. Although we know that agriculture is in many cases a major pollutant, she says, no one has checked to see exactly what impact the cattle industry in the Southeast has on the environment. To illustrate, she explains that midwestern feedlots pack hundreds of cattle per acre, and give

them food concentrates designed to make them gain weight quickly. Alabama and other southeastern states provide stocker cows. So, she says, you’re talking about a mama cow and her baby instead of hundreds of 1,200-pound cattle. All of this is in addition to different environmental factors such as climate and rainfall. So we don’t really know, Dillard claims, the real impact of pastured cows on the environment. She suspects that they do not pollute to the degree that the EPA suggests, and is out to prove it. After leaving the cows, Dillard shows off her pastures – six individual enclosures of less than an acre, carefully designed for study. They all gently slope down to a creek, which is outside the fence and protected by a grassy buffer zone. A small white building sits at the bottom of each pasture and is filled with equipment to collect rainfall runoff. That equipment takes care of the water quality portion of her study. Every time it rains, Dillard turns on the equipment, and it collects the runoff, which she will sample for nutrients and bacteria. Each pasture is completely divided so that the 19

runoff doesn’t mix. In fact, this water quality study was the genesis of her entire project. “When I came here to do my master’s in 2007, Dr. Muntifering and Dr. Frank Owsley were already building this,” she says. About halfway into her master’s, her advisor asked if she would like to take over the project. “He said if you would like to continue this project, I’ll give it to you and you can do whatever you want with it.” That was finally what drove all thoughts of vet school out, and she elected to stay. However, the water studies were not yielding enough data. “That’s when we developed the whole system approach,” Dillard explains. 20

Furthermore, the interests of her other major professor, Dr. Owsley, dovetailed nicely with this approach. He was working with a breed of triticale – a rye/wheat hybrid – that is more cold-tolerant than other cultivars, and wanted to study it with regard to forage for cows. This brings us to another portion of the study: forage quality. Every two weeks, Dillard takes random samples of the forage in the pastures and compares it to the grass in the exclusion cages – a fenced square meter – to see what the cows are eating and what nutrients the ungrazed grass is picking up. She explains the sampling process, which sees Dillard tossing a square mater of PVC

into the pasture and clipping the grass, which is dried for later study. The final large piece of the puzzle is what she calls balancing the system. Nitrogen is commonly used to fertilize grass pasture so that it can support more cows. However, red clover – which is actually a legume – has the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Furthermore, it can produce more nitrogen than it needs. What Dillard is testing is whether there is a natural and less expensive way to get the additional nitrogen that the grass needs. Nitrogen fertilizer also happens to be expensive right now, since producing it is energy intensive. A natural way of fixing nitrogen would address more than one concern. To test the limits of clover’s nitrogen-fixing ability, Dillard has treated two pastures with zero application of nitrogen, two with 50 percent of the agronomic standard, and two with 100 percent of the agronomic standard. “We want to see if we can balance our system with legumes,” she says. Full application of nitrogen assumes that the clover will not help fix nitrogen at all, and none assumes it will do the job entirely. She is actually seeing that the 50-percentapplication is yielding the highest amount of grass. Furthermore, cows just love clover. “They love it, and it’s very nutritious. This is like eating steak for them.” Nature definitely needs the help of the nitrogen application to support the number of cows per acre that typically are expected in the Southeast, but, she says, “it’s amazing what you can do. We spent less money on these pastures with less nitrogen, but most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.” Although fertilizer is a “necessary evil” with regard to the nation’s beef consumption, she still feels like there are ways to minimize its impact. She admits candidly that it’s a lot of work: “When I put into words the things I do at any given time, it’s scary.” But she is clearly in love with research. She chats amicably with her cows while collecting samples and is a fountain of knowledge about grasses, soil, and cattle farming. Furthermore, the nature of her work is highly variable. “For six months, I’m in the lab. That’s all I do, and I love lab work. The other six months I’m taking forage samples, soil samples, water samples, and I get run ragged. So when I’m in the lab, I’m very lazy.” After another round of checking for fecal samples, Dillard sits in one of the comfy, if scruffy, sofas in the lobby of the Beef Teaching Unit to discuss her background. She grew up on a broiler chicken farm in north Georgia, where every day was a working day. She recalls when she first found out from a classmate that some parents paid an allowance for chores around the house. “I went home and was like “did you know that people pay their kids to mow the yard? Y’all owe me so much back pay!”

Perhaps she was only running away from chickens, because even when veterinary school was her focus, she was always interested in large animals, one thing that led her to Auburn. “Some other schools are going the economical route and shifting to small animals,” she says. Dillard also says that the proximity of the Beef Teaching Unit to campus – something she says she didn’t see at any other school she considered – counted for a lot in her decision. “From an agriculture perspective, Auburn has really integrated the agriculture and kept true to its land-grant personality. Auburn has invested enough and knows that we’re worth it, to have this facility.” Dillard has a broad smile and an easy laugh, and is not shy about talking about her personal choices as well. “Even by the people who don’t know me in our department, I’m known as the girl with the scarf,” she says, chuckling. “But I feel like it’s an asset. There are things that make my life slightly more difficult, but I can’t say whether that has to do with this (gesturing to her head covering) or because I’m a woman.” She is proud, though, that despite the physical challenges of the job, she is representing Muslim women in an unexpected way. “I may not be able to pick up a 50-pound bag of feed, but I can drag it to where I need it to be.” But she likes to think that she might be changing people’s minds about Muslim women. “Muslim women don’t just sit at home. I can work out there with the best of them,” she insists. For all of the challenges, physical and otherwise, she loves her department. A common theme at Auburn is that there is a collaborative, supportive atmosphere that people don’t seem to find elsewhere. “Here,” she says, “our whole department works together. My department is very small, but it’s like a family.” You might even say it’s an Auburn Family.

A WISE INVESTMENT

“

When deciding where to pursue my master’s in public

administration, I based my decision on two non-negotiable criteria. First, I wanted to attend an institution where the professors were engaged scholars, practicing their craft outside of the classroom and making significant contributions to the world around them. Second, it was very important to have faculty that were willing to mentor and cultivate their students. As an Auburn University graduate student, I have received the mentorship that I hoped for. I have had the unique opportunity to participate in many faculty-led research projects and community initiatives. These opportunities have not only given me invaluable practical experience, but also the unwavering confidence that upon graduation, I am prepared to take on anything....including the world.

”

Kellie Cosby, Birmingham, AL Master’s of Public Administration with a concentration in Economic Development

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Post-Graduate Studies at Auburn University

Distance Education Auburn University is committed to addressing the needs of the modern student. The educational opportunities you will find through the Distance Education program meet the same exacting standards as do on-campus offerings. Courses are carefully designed by Auburn faculty with the aid of distance education professionals who assist in the development of instructional materials, academic resources, technical support systems, telecommunications, and student services. Auburn University currently offers Distance Education Graduate Degree Programs in agronomy and soils, business, education, engineering, and human sciences. In addition, numerous Independent Learning and Professional Development courses are offered through Distance Education.

Founded in 1856, Auburn University is a public, comprehensive research institution with more than 25,000 students, including more than 3,700 graduate students. Auburn is consistently ranked in the top 50 public universities in the U.S., and Auburn University has nationally ranked graduate programs in engineering, agriculture, business, and education. We offer modern research facilities, competitive assistantship packages, and a supportive academic environment.

Funding

Tips For Applying To Graduate School

Auburn University has strategically worked to keep its tuition for a graduate education competitive. Full-time (9 or more hours) tuition and fees for the 2011-12 academic year is set at $4,346 per semester for Alabama residents and $10,958 for out-of-state residents. Currently, about half of Auburn University graduate students are supported by an assistantship. Assistantships provide a competitive monthly stipend, a tuition fellowship, and subsidized health insurance. In addition, the Graduate School offers a Graduate Travel Awards program for students traveling for research and/or presentation of their work at conferences. The Graduate School also awards Thesis/Dissertation Research Awards annually in the spring to support the incidental costs of thesis and dissertation research.

Letters of Recommendation  Select writers who know you well, who can comment on your potential as a researcher and a scholar.  Choose writers who can also speak to your goals, your motivation, and your commitment to graduate study.  Even better, if possible, select individuals who are known to the people at the institution where you are applying.

Personal Statements  Convince your audience that you have what it takes to succeed in graduate school.  Provide evidence that you are motivated and eager to learn.  Show that you are familiar with the program to which you are applying and that you are a good fit.  Proofread: typographical errors and grammatical mistakes can undermine your best efforts. General Advice  Take the GRE early, in case you want to take it again.  If possible, gain undergraduate research experience.  Apply as early as possible, and confirm your department’s priority deadline.  Talk to the departmental graduate program officer about the department’s specific admission requirements.  Schedule a campus visit through the Graduate School.

General Admission Requirements  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university  Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from each school

previously attended  GRE or GMAT (management, finance, MBA, accountancy)  Complete the online application.  Application fee: $50 for domestic students, $60 for international students  Three letters of recommendation (to be sent to your department) Additional Requirements for International Students  TOEFL Scores: 550 on the paper TOEFL (pBT), 213 on the computer TOEFL (cBT), and 79 on the internet TOEFL (iBT)-minimum of 16 in each section, or a 6.5 Overall Band Score on the IELTS  Proof of ability to finance graduate studies, if accepted All documents and fees should be submitted at least 45 days (domestic students) or 90 days (international students) prior to the desired date of enrollment.

Resources for International Students  Office of International Education

International Orientation Document processing

 International Student English Center

Free English language tutoring for enrolled international students

 International Student Organizations

Social support

 Airport pickup for new students

Auburn University Graduate School 106 Hargis Hall Auburn, AL 36849-5122 334-844-4700 e-mail: gradadm@auburn.edu

Apply Online at www.grad.auburn.edu. Admissions to any graduate degree program is granted by the dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the department of proposed study. Deadlines are listed in the Auburn University Bulletin (www.auburn.edu/bulletin). However, most academic units make admission decisions several months in advance. Thus, applicants should check with the department to which they seek admission to determine when materials should be submitted.

Graduate Education: A Wise Investment An Auburn University graduate degree can help you achieve your goals for the future. Alumni with a graduate degree stand out to potential employers and exhibit the advantage of a global education. Nationally, the projected number of job openings increases with the level of education, as does the level of potential earnings. In the state of Alabama, where many graduates choose to remain after graduation, the projected earnings reflect the national forecasts.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Areas of Study College of Agriculture

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Psychology

Aerospace Engineering

Public Administration and Public Policy

Agronomy and Soils

Biosystems Engineering

Sociology

Animal Sciences

Chemical Engineering

Spanish

Applied Economics (Interdepartmental)

Civil Engineering

Technical and Professional Communication

Biosystems Engineering (Interdepartmental)

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Entomology and Plant Pathology

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Nursing

Horticulture

Integrated Textile & Apparel Science (Interdepartmental)

Harrison School of Pharmacy

Materials Engineering

Pharmacal Sciences

Mechanical Engineering

Pharmacy Care Systems

Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology

Poultry Science (Food Science Option)

College of Architecture, Design, and Construction Building Construction Community Planning Design-Build

Polymer and Fiber Engineering

School of Forestry and Wildlife Services

Public Administration

School of Nursing

College of Sciences and Mathematics Biological Sciences

Industrial Design

Forestry

Cellular and Molecular Biosciences

Landscape Architecture

Forest Economics

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Real Estate Development

Natural Resources

Geology/Geography

Urban Forestry

Mathematics and Statistics

Wildlife Sciences

Physics

College of Human Sciences

College of Veterinary Medicine

Finance

Consumer Affairs

Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology

Management & Management Information Systems

Human Development and Family Studies

Biomedical Sciences

Real Estate Development (Interdepartmental)

Integrated Textile and Apparel Science (Interdepartmental)

Pathobiology

College of Education

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hotel Management

For an extensive list of specific programs or program advisor contact information, please visit the Graduate School Web site www.grad.auburn.edu.

College of Business Business Administration Accountancy

Curriculum and Teaching Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology Kinesiology Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling/School Psychology Sports Management (Minor)

College of Liberal Arts Audiology, Doctor of Audiology Clinical Degree Communication Communication Disorders Economics English History

Clinical Sciences

Auburn, Alabama For southern charm with collegiate vigor, consider Auburn. This diamond on the eastern Alabama plains has a population of just under 50,000 and is home to Auburn University. On football Saturdays, when die-hard fans arrive in droves to cheer their beloved Tigers, Auburn swells to the state’s fifth-most-populous city. And as Auburn’s largest employer, the university also plays a starring role in the local economy. With mild winters and hot summers, the city offers no shortage of outdoor recreation opportunities. Find a nice hiking trail in the 696-acre Chewacla State Park before cooling off with an afternoon swim. Take a stroll through the Donald E. Davis Arboretum, located on the Auburn University campus. Golfers can head to nearby Grand National golf course and wend their way through the state along the beautiful Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. “Once you have been there, you just want to come back,” says John Cannon, president of SunBelt Golf Corp., which manages the trail.* *Source: Best Places to Live 2009 by Luke Mullins, U.S. News & World Report, June 8, 2009

City of Auburn: Best Places to Live 2009 According to U.S. News & World Report, “In selecting our Best Places to Live for 2009, we looked for affordable communities that have strong economies and plenty of fun things to do.” 25

STUDENT LIFE

Graduate Student Health Insurance Program Auburn University recognizes that in today’s world of increasing healthcare costs, there is a need for students to have a cost-effective health insurance program available to help protect them in the event of an accident or illness. Beginning fall 2007, all graduate assistants with assignments of 10 hours (0.25 FTE) or greater for the full semester in the fall and/or spring semesters, who meet the minimum monthly stipend established by the Office of the Provost, and are in good academic standing are required to have health insurance coverage. For students with qualifying assistantships as described above, there is a $500 ($250 per semester) subsidy that will be automatically applied along with the charges for insurance. This brings the cost for fall to $390, which would be about $65 per month if it were charged monthly. This group will be automatically enrolled in the Auburn University Graduate Student Group Health Plan (GSGHP). The 2010-11 premium is $1,276, which will be billed in two installments of $640 for fall and $636 for spring/summer. If one has equivalent/greater prior coverage and can so demonstrate, that person may choose to opt out of the university plan. Those who wish to opt out must complete the required form by the end of the 15th class day of a given semester, or they must continue to be enrolled in the GSGHP for the remainder of that semester.

International graduate students and dependents in F or J immigration status will continue to be covered and billed similarly under the Mandatory International Student and Scholar Health Plan. Check with the Office of International Education (insurance@ auburn.edu) for details. Graduate students who do not qualify for the automatic enrollment may opt-in to the program. They must complete a request form and submit it to the Graduate School. For further information on optional enrollment, please visit http://www.grad.auburn.edu/Graduate_ Student_Insurance/insurance-Graduate.html and click on “Detailed Enrollment Information”. When seeing a doctor, students must use the Auburn University Medical Clinic (copay $25). If the patient needs to be referred to a specialist, the clinic will provide the needed referrals. For prescriptions, we recommend using the Auburn University Medical Clinic Pharmacy, which has a lower out-of-pocket copay expense. If the Auburn University Medical Clinic is closed, students may go to Auburn Urgent Care located on South College Street. In cases of emergency, students should go to the Emergency Room at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Ala. All information on the policy and additional information on using the plan will be made available during orientation.

Premium Rates for 2011-2012 GSGHP 2011-2012 Annual Premium Student with Assistantship

$776

$ 391

$385

Student with no Assistantship

$1,276

$641

$635

Spouse

$2,185

$1,098

$1,087

Child

$1,303

$655

$648

3+ children Coverage Dates for 2010 - 2011

$3,851 Annual

$1,936 Fall

$1,915 Spring/Summer

8/16/11 - 8/15/12

8/16/11 - 2/15/12

2/16/12 - 8/15/12

Premium for Premium for Fall Semester Spring/Summer Semester

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT

Electronically Delivered Graduate Education

Engineering EDGE combines traditional instruction with modern delivery methods to offer educational opportunities beyond Auburn’s campus. The EDGE program allows students to advance their education by pursuing a master’s degree in engineering at their home or work site without disrupting their career or relocating their family. EDGE students receive the same lectures, assignments, and professors as their on-campus peers. The EDGE program offers degree choices in the following disciplines:

MBA / MISE Dual Masters Dual degree program for students to earn both a master’s degrees in business administration (MBA) and in industrial and systems engineering (MISE).

Aerospace Engineering



Specializations in:  Aerodynamics  Astrodynamics  Boundary Layer Theory  Control Theory

Industrial and Systems Engineering Specializations in:  Engineering Economics / Financial Engineering /

  

Engineering Management Ergonomics / Safety Operation Research Probability and Statistics Production / Manufacturing Systems

Materials Engineering

 Flight Dynamics

Mechanical Engineering

 Propulsion

Specializations in:

 Structures  Structural Dynamics

Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Specialization in Environmental Engineering Computer Science and Software Engineering Specializations in:  Computer Systems and Application  Intelligent and Interactive Systems  Operating Systems and Networks  Software Engineering  Theory and Programming Languages

 Computer-aided Design  Dynamical Systems  Engineering Acoustics  Engineering Design  Engineering Mechanics  Experimental Mechanics  Materials Science  Robotics  Thermal / Fluid Sciences  Vibrations

For more information, such as how to apply to this program, tuition/fees, etc., please visit the program’s website: http://www.eng.auburn.edu/distance-learning/edge/index.html

Graduate Student Council The Auburn University Graduate Student Council (GSC) provides a voice for graduate students on campus, acting as the official graduate student representation in university affairs. The GSC has a mandate to promote research and improve the conditions under which graduate students live and work. Past initiatives include the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program and travel grants for graduate students. This year the GSC has been working on new projects and events. On a monthly basis, the GSC partners with the Graduate School to offer a colloquium series to present information on a wide variety of topics to graduate students,

along with a pizza lunch. The Graduate School and GSC, which strive to present cultural information of interest to graduate students, especially those from other countries, also jointly sponsor an International Colloquium series. There are typically two of these each semester. This semester, the GSC social committee organized a bowling night, and they hope to repeat that event in the spring. One large current initiative is attempting to obtain dedicated graduate student housing on campus. This is an ongoing effort, but there is strong momentum to move forward with this issue right now. The spring will see the largest GSC events of

Steven Clontz, President Steven Clontz is currently researching topological games for a PhD in mathematics at Auburn University and is a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics. Originally from Huntsville, Ala., Clontz received his BS and MS in mathematics from Auburn in 2008 and 2010, respectively. He is also an Eagle Scout and course director for Greater Alabama Council National Youth Leadership Training BSA camp. Prior to being elected as GSC president for 2011-12, Clontz served as GSC webmaster in 2010-11.

Manuj Ahuja, Vice President Manuj Ahuja is a doctoral candidate within the Department of Pharmacal Sciences at Auburn University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 2005 and a master of science in 2007 in pharmacology from Panjab University in India. He served Heron Health Pvt. Ltd. for more than a year in India as an executive associate (October 2007 to December 2008). Pursuing his dream of a research career in biological sciences, he joined the reputed Harrison School of Pharmacy in 2009 as a graduate student. He has published three research articles in peer-reviewed journals and is an active member of the Society of Toxicology and Society for Neuroscience. He is the recipient of Don Tillery Fellowship and Travel Award from the Department of Pharmacal Sciences. He likes the vibrant and friendly nature of the Auburn community and shares its passion for football. He is currently working on the development of novel drugs for the memory impairment in age- and developmentalrelated neurodegenerative disorders.

the year – The Graduate Scholars Forum and Symposium, and Graduate Student Appreciation Week. The Scholars Forum and Symposium allow graduate students to showcase their research and design projects as well as compete for cash prizes. Appreciation Week is a chance to show gratitude to graduate students for all of their hard work, with several activities planned throughout the week. This will be in April, after the Graduate Scholars Symposium. GSC senators serve on various university committees. For more information, contact Brittny Mathies, GSC executive vice president. Find out more online: http://www.auburn.edu/gsc/

Vivek Ahuja, Secretary Vivek Ahuja is a doctoral candidate with the Department of Aerospace Engineering. He obtained a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn in 2008 and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pune University in India in 2007. He is the author of more than 15 national and international papers on aeropropulsive predictions and design optimizations. He is an active writer for international defense journals and strategic think tanks and has numerous publications to his name in the field of military research and history. He is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Tripoli Rocketry Association, and the Indian Student Association. He is the recipient of the Woltosz Fellowship from the Department of Aerospace Engineering since 2007. He is currently working with the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the field of advanced missile dynamics and control and high-speed aeropropulsive optimization methodology development.

Brittny Mathies, Executive Vice President Brittny Mathies will serve as the 2011-12 executive vice president of the Graduate Student Council. Originally from New Orleans, La., she is currently completing requirements for her PhD in educational psychology. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mississippi State in 2002 and a master’s degree in human development and family studies in 2005 from the University of Alabama. Brittny has worked with children of all ages and especially enjoys working with at-risk students and their families. Brittny became involved with the GSC during her first semester of graduate school at Auburn, serving as a representative for her department in 2007-08. She served as GSC vice president during the following year, and has served as executive vice president since fall 2009.

The Gift of Excellence Auburn’s Strategic Plan emphasizes the importance of expanding graduate education by providing fellowships to deserving students, committing to rigorous research, and increasing the number of enrolled graduate students. Graduate education is the core of significant research in every discipline, and Auburn is committed to recruiting and financing high performing graduate students. To ensure continued excellence, the Graduate School is collaborating with the Office of Development to form the Graduate Education Development Council. In its initiate year, the council will pledge to raise $300,000 for the expansion of graduate education. The council will reflect the breadth of interests found within the graduate programs

themselves, unified by the single goal of advancing Auburn academics. Join us in supporting the students whose groundbreaking research and outreach initiatives impact our local, state, national, and international community. With an investment of $8,500 per year, you can provide a graduate student with tuition remission and a stipend for monthly expenses. Your gift will enable students to provide physical training to soldiers at Fort Benning, improve the quality of the local water supply, and participate in research on the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For more information on supporting Auburn’s graduate education, please contact Hank Galbreath at 334-844-1431 or hank.galbreath@auburn.edu.

A WISE INVESTMENT

“

A bachelor’s degree can help get you a job, a graduate degree is the key to a career that makes advancement possible.

”

Paula Bobrowski Professor in the Department of Political Science and Executive Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute

Graduate School Staff Dr. George T. Flowers Dean of the Graduate School flowegt@auburn.edu

Donna Childers Graduation and Program Specialist dct0002@auburn.edu

Dr. George Crandell Associate Dean crandgw@auburn.edu

Julie Renfro Academic Advisor of Theses and Dissertations renfrjb@auburn.edu

Julie Reece Executive Assistant/Business Manager reeceju@auburn.edu Deborah Bledsoe Insurance Coordinator dir0007@auburn.edu Hank Galbreath â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;76 Director of Development Hank.Galbreath@auburn.edu Anna McBee Development Graduate Assistant anna.mcbee@auburn.edu Theresa Morgan Director of Admissions morgatk@auburn.edu Jennifer Lovelace Domestic Admissions Processing jml0006@auburn.edu Sherry Ray Graduation and Program Specialist raysher@auburn.edu

Minnie Bryant Receptionist gradadm@auburn.edu Jessica Corbett Document Processing jac0033@auburn.edu Jessica Nelson Director of Recruiting and Communications jsn0002@auburn.edu Clint Lovelace Recruiter jcl0014@auburn.edu Richard Alverson Information Technology alverro@auburn.edu Abby McGregor Development Graduate Assistant macgram@tigermail.auburn.edu Dr. Len Vining Special Projects Coordinator vininlj@auburn.edu

Upcoming Events Oct 5: Graduate and professional fair. 10 am, Student Center Ballroom. Representatives from graduate schools across the country will be there to talk to students about graduate programs at their institutions.

A WISE INVESTMENT

Oct. 13: Graduate Student Council Colloquium Series. Noon, Student Center Ballroom. All graduate students invited. Dr. Douglas Coutts, on assignment to Auburn University from United Nations, “World Food Programme: Fighting World Hunger” Oct. 18: Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lecture. 3 – 4 pm, Langdon Hall. Reception following. Dr. Chris Newland: “Why a Clean Environment Matters: The Behavioral Impact of Environmental Contaminants.” Oct. 26: Graduate Student Council meeting 7 pm, 2223 Student Center Sept 28: Graduate Student Council meeting 7 pm, 2223 Student Center Nov. 11: WriteFest for graduate students. 1-4 pm, Student Center Ballroom. Sponsored by GSC, grad school, and the Miller Writing Center. Visit https://fp.auburn.edu/writing/ writingWorkshops.aspx for more information and to register. Nov. 17: Graduate Student Council Colloquium Series. Noon, Student Center Ballroom. All graduate students invited. Topic TBA. Nov. 30: Graduate Student Council meeting 7 pm, 2223 Student Center Dec. 5: Graduate Student Council Colloquium Series. Noon, Student Center Ballroom. All graduate students invited. Topic TBA.

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The hands-on experience that I have had in the athletic department at Auburn has made pursuing a degree in higher education and sport management a very wise investment. The collaboration between Auburn athletic administrators and professors in the College of Education has served to enhance my education. Furthermore, as someone who wants to work in collegiate athletics, I’ve benefited from the opportunity to work with many different people and make professional connections that will help me for years to come.

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Alex Drake, Charlotte, NC Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology with a concentration in Sports Management

The Graduate Scholars Symposium SAVE THE DATE The Graduate Scholars Symposium competition will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2012, at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center. It is part of Research Week at Auburn University from April 2 – 5. The Forum gives graduate students the chance to enhance their presentation skills, showcase their research, and receive helpful feedback from judges in their areas of research. Don’t miss this opportunity! Finalists from the Graduate Scholars Forum in March will compete at this prestigious event. Watch the Graduate School website (grad.auburn.edu) for announcements. Connect with us online at facebook.com/AUGradSchool and twitter @AUGradSchool.

www.grad.auburn.edu Thank you to the following companies for supporting the 2011 GSC Graduate Scholar Forum and Symposium.