Michael Clements
Today
Goldwater Scholars
Before graduating this spring from UNT’s Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Helen Xiong and Kevin Chen were named 2013 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars, a prestigious honor for students planning careers in mathematics, science and engineering. UNT leads all Texas universi-
ties, with 52 scholars, to date. Xiong researched polymer brittleness and nanocomposites under Witold Brostow, Regents Professor of materials science and engineering and director of UNT’s Laboratory for Advanced Polymers and Optimized Materials. She plans to study chemical engineering or physics at Stanford University this fall. Chen worked with Xiaotu Ma, research scientist of molecular and cell biology at the University of Texas at Dallas,
and Adi Gazdar, professor of pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, to develop a new statistical tool for cancer data analysis. He will study molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale University in the fall. Howard Hughes grant
Irán Román, a senior majoring in biology, music theory and German, wants to discover which genes play key roles in diseases such as cancer, HIV and diabetes. He earned a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Exceptional Research
Opportunities Program grant to research genetics and cellular biology at Stanford University this summer. He was among 20 students chosen to attend Stanford to train as the next generation of leaders in biological research under Tim Stearns, associate professor of biology and genetics. Román and Stearns’ research will use yeast as a model organism and molecular techniques to study human genes. Román will present his research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute headquarters.
UNT’s Emeritus College UNT’s Emeritus College proves that learning can take place at any age. Supporting UNT’s bold goal of serving its community through meaningful outreach and partnerships, the college provides lifelong learning through non-credit classes, travel-learn trips and social activities for adults age 50 and older. The annual membership fee is $140 for unlimited classes September through May. Housed in UNT’s Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning, the college has quadrupled its membership to 400 and increased its course offerings to more than 100 classes since it began five years ago. This fall, the college will expand its reach by offering classes at UNT, Texas Woman’s University and Robson Ranch, a Denton retirement community. Ken Dickson (’66, ’68 M.S.), Professor Emeritus of biological sciences and founder and director of UNT’s Elm Fork Education Center, oversees the growing college, which offers classes taught by active and retired faculty from UNT and Texas Woman’s University, as well as area professionals. “Emeritus College is a Denton treasure for our members because it allows them to attend thought-provoking classes and meet interesting people,” Dickson says. “Both active and retired faculty who participate in Emeritus College love teaching to an audience of smart, engaged people. We provide an experience that’s a win-win opportunity for both class members and teachers.” Learn more about UNT’s Emeritus College at call.unt.edu/emerituscollege and watch videos at northtexan.unt.edu/online.
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Summer 2013