Science Research Roundup: March 2017

Ram Dixit, an associate professor in the Department of Biology, received $822,000 from the National Institutes of Health for research on "Mechanisms for the Function and Regulation of Katanin."

Michael J. Krawczynski, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, has been awarded $257,000 by the National Science Foundation for a project entitled "Collaborative Research: Experimental Investigation of Actinide Partitioning in Zircon and its Applications to Geochronology." 

Timothy A. Wencewicz, an assistant professor of chemistry, has been selected as a Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The Cottrell Scholar program, which includes an award of $100,000, is designed to recognize the best early-career teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Wencewicz plans to use his award to study chemoenzymatic synthesis of strained beta-lactones.

Cory Knoot, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology, was named a 2017 Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow and will receive $134,000 toward his research on "Blue-green Engineering: A Sustainable Biosynthetic Production System for Cyanobacterial Natural Products."

Julie Bugg, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, was awarded $120,000 from the National Institutes of Health for research on "Boosting Older Adults’ Cognition by Training Real-World EHealth Skills."

Jonathan Barnes, an assistant professor of chemistry, was named to the inaugural class of Foresight Fellows by the Foresight Institute. The Foresight Fellowship is an exclusive program that gives participants support and mentorship to accelerate their work, which focuses on technologies that have massive potential yet are relatively undervalued in the media. Barnes' efforts will focus on synthetic polymer chemistry.

Thomas Rodebaugh, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences, was awarded $87,000 from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation for a project entitled "Social Integration and Internalizing Symptoms Over Time: A Test of Oxytocin as a Biomarker."

Robert Sussman, a longtime professor of anthropology who died in June 2016, is being honored with the creation of an annual award in his name for scientists making important mid-career contributions to the field of anthropology. A physical anthropologist known for his research on human and primate behavior, Sussman is being recognized by the anthropology section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Mitchell Sommers, a professor of psychological and brain sciences, was awarded $22,500 by the American Psychological Association in support of Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences.

Five Arts & Sciences researchers will be honored as outstanding scientists by the Academy of Science - St. Louis. The faculty members who will receive awards at the April 6 dinner are Stephen BeverleyLiviu MiricaKater MurchEdward Spitznagel,and Peter Wyse Jackson. Each year, the academy seeks nominations of outstanding women and men in science, engineering, and technology who are known worldwide for their scientific contributions to research, industry, and quality of life. Those recognized also have a record of excellence in communicating with the public or mentoring colleagues.

Nan Lin, an associate professor of mathematics, was commended by the journal Bayesian Analysis for having contributed “the most promising paper published in the journal in the last five years.” The paper, coauthored by former doctoral student Qing Li, is titled “The Bayesian Elastic Net.”

Emily Hanson, a University Fellow in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, was awarded $500 by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues for a protect entitled "On the Ironic Effects of Being Empathic: Consequences for Attitude Polarization and Intergroup Conflict."

Henry L. “Roddy” Roediger III, the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, has been elected chair of the psychology section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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Crystal Gammon, grants and science writer in Arts & Sciences.