Ask 2010 Magazine by Amy Weaver

2010

Ca ref ul ly C ra f ted C a re e r Pa t h s

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New Science Building Underway

O vercoming Anxiety with Second Life Tr y i n g o n D i f f e r e n t Careers

Navigating the We b S a f e l y

Dear Alumni and Friends, For many years, applications to Drexel went primarily to the Colleges of Engineering and Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences (CoAS) was too often viewed as a service college. This is no longer the case. The faculty, staff and students of CoAS have continued to bolster the reputation of the College, garnering prestigious awards year after year. In the last two years, three of our students have been the recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship. These three are the only students in Drexel’s history to take home this distinguished national award. And this is only one example of the countless accomplishments of our talented community. It’s no wonder that CoAS has become a potent force in the University, receiving more applications than any other college at Drexel in the last few years. In 2010 alone, our applications grew by an impressive 69 percent. Ask is in many ways a symbol of Drexel’s core values. It is a publication written almost entirely by our talented undergraduate students, exemplifying not only the industrious spirit that makes Drexel students unique, but also the opportunities for experiential learning which are so central to the University. The individuals profiled exhibit the passion for knowledge, the tireless work ethic, the propensity for collaboration and the genuine curiosity that fuels the professors and students of Drexel’s College of Arts and Sciences. I am impressed daily by the remarkable individuals in this College. As you read through these stories, I hope you feel that same sense of pride and inspiration. As a friend or alum, these accomplishments are your accomplishments, as much as they are ours.

Sincerely,

Donna M. Murasko, Ph.D. Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Ask is a marketing publication p r o d u c e d b y t h e D e a n ’s O f f i c e o f D r e x e l ’s C o l l e g e o f A r t s and Sciences. All articles and photos are the work of our talented Drexel students. Ask is published annually in print and quarterly online: https://ask.coas.drexel.edu/.

YOU’RE INVITED! This fall, the College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the merger of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science. We hope you will join us on November 12th, 2010 as we mark this historic occasion with a day of events highlighting the College’s exceptional faculty and students, followed by an evening gala. During this inaugural celebration, we will initiate four awards to be bestowed annually upon a member of the College’s faculty, two alumni, and a distinguished friend of the College. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus, to sharing with you the many accomplishments of the College, and to hearing about how your experiences in the College have positively impacted your career and life. For more information, visit: http://www.drexel.edu/coas/ news/20anniversary/

editor-in-chief Amy Weaver CoAS Director of Marketing writers and section editors Lauren Boyle ‘10 Jacob Harte ‘10 Maia Livengood ‘13 photographer Imani Rutledge ‘11

magazine design Smithworks Design web designer Kevin Hoffman ‘09 comments? contact us at askeditors@drexel.edu

Fe a t u r e d S t o r i e s

{ Expanding Our Notions of Electronic Safety

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From Healing One to Many: A Bio Majorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Path to Harvard

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Drexel Professor Inspires Across Disciplines

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A Cutting-Edge Design for an Innovative Future

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Drexel Battles Anxiety Disorders with Second Life

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The Drexel Co-op: A Practical Way to Find Yourself

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About the Cover Scientists and artists interpret the world in varying ways, but their goals are the sameâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to understand and to celebrate the world around them. Origami, the art of paper folding, demonstrates the beauty found through the integration

of art and science. It is about redefining our current limits to imagine a new world, not by adding or subtracting, but by creatively transforming.

The origami dragon on the cover represents the intersection of the diverse disciplines and viewpoints that make up the College of Arts and Sciences. It represent the collaboration, innovation and careful planning that is central to a CoAS education, and vital to finding a successful career in any field.

ask | Alumni Events

Alumni Events 2009-2010

2 3 The College of Arts and Sciences expanded upon its successful â&#x20AC;&#x153;behind-the-scenesâ&#x20AC;? showcase of prominent faculty this year with three unique events co-hosted by the Drexel University Alumni Association.

CoAS Locks Alumni Down at the Eastern State Penitentiary On June 4, 2009, CoAS locked alumni down for a night at the Eastern State Penitentiary. Guests were first guided on a private tour, where they learned details about daily life in the prison, as well as about uprisings, escapes and the role of religion. They then headed across the street to Jack’s Firehouse for a reception, followed with a lecture by CoAS faculty. Dr. Scott Knowles, assistant professor of history and politics, shared his knowledge of Philadelphia’s rich history and the significance of the Penitentiary. Julia Hall, professor of sociology, discussed the importance of the Penitentiary as a model for the prison system, as well as alternatives to incarceration. Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, department head of psychology, and fellow psychology professors Drs. Naomi Goldstein and Dave DeMatteo, discussed their respective areas of expertise, which included violence and mental health risk assessment; juvenile delinquency; Miranda rights and intervention development with female juvenile offenders; and forensic mental health assessment and testing.

Celebrating Galileo’s First Telescope at the Franklin Institute

Dr. David Goldberg, associate professor of physics, presented “Telescopes: From Galileo to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)” during the CoAS Alumni event at the Franklin Institute on August 26, 2009. The event was held in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, and in particular, the 400th anniversary of the first Galileo telescope. Alumni were treated to a reception on the roof of the Franklin Institute, overlooking the City of Philadelphia. The reception was followed by an exclusive tour of the exhibit, which showcased for the first time ever outside of Italy, one of Galileo’s two remaining telescopes. The evening ended with Dr. Goldberg’s presentation, which traced the history of telescopes up to the present, explaining the significant contribution Galileo made to science with his improvements on the telescope. “This was especially fun for me since I normally focus on the theoretical side of astrophysics,” said Goldberg. “It gave me an interesting opportunity to think about how far astronomy has progressed over the past four hundred years and gave me a renewed respect for Galileo, who provided such a good start.”

Alumni Mingle at 2010 Philadelphia Auto Show

Drexel alumni gathered on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 for an evening at the Philadelphia International Auto Show. The evening began with a reception at Maggiano’s restaurant and was followed with a discussion by CoAS faculty members, Dr. R. Andrew Hicks and Dr. Maria Schultheis. Hicks discussed his work in developing an automobile side-view mirror that eliminates blind spots, while Schultheis explained some of her recent research involving the dangers of texting while driving, including what she considers to be “the perfect storm of distractions.” After the presentations, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the group headed to the Auto Show, where they mingled among an array of 2011 vehicles from Chevys to Aston Martins, as well as vintage cars dating back to 1907.

ask | Expanding Our Notions of Electronic Safety

Expanding Our Notions of Electronic Sa f e t

Protection in the fog of the web By Lauren Boyle

citizens of an increasingly wireless society, Americans experience

AS no shortage of online technologies available for financial and

personal exchange. A Drexel student can check an email confirming that

his paycheck was deposited into his bank account while updating his Twitter page. After ordering his textbooks for spring quarter from Amazon.com, he might quickly “Like” his best friend’s Facebook status before the start of his ESPN.com Fantasy Baseball draft. Remarkably efficient and instant formats for communication have undoubtedly simplified life for people across all domains. Although the World Wide Web is a wonderful resource, many still have questions about the nature of various Internet sites, including the measures they take to protect users’ personal information and to ensure their overall safety. It is precisely these questions that Dr. Robert D’Ovidio, associate professor of sociology at Drexel, addresses in his courses and professional research endeavors.

ask | Expanding Our Notions of Electronic Safety

D’Ovidio investigates the virtual community of Second Life.

D’Ovidio received his B.S. in economics from Rutgers University, his M.S. in criminal justice administration from Villanova University and his Ph.D. in criminal justice from Temple University. As a sociology professor, he is interested in social relationships and technology’s contingent effects on social relationships. He gives this relatively abstract interest some real-world definition in the various courses he teaches on electronic c r i m e.

credit card fraud. Students explore the legal ramifications of these crimes, as well as the ways technology facilitates them. In another course, “Sex, Violence and Crime on the Internet,” students examine how social networking and communication technologies assist online harassment and bullying, as well as the sexual exploitation of children. His course, “Intellectual Property Theft in the Digital Age,” is especially interesting and relevant, as universities are typically stigmatized as breeding grounds for copyright violation. Although there is a wide difference of opinion regarding whether or not copyright laws are in line with current technologies, his course aims to maintain a neutral view of the subject. Instead of focusing solely on issues regarding pirating in the film, music and entertainment industries, he explores crimes such as violation of patent law and trademark infringement.

Straying far from traditional, stereotypical courses, such as Geometry or English 101, D’Ovidio’s classes are a unique blend of his academic and professional interests. He approaches “Introduction to Computer Crime” from a layperson’s perspective. The course focuses mostly on consumer-oriented fraud such as identity theft, stock market manipulation and

In “Surveillance Technology and the Law,” D’Ovidio guides his students through an exploration of the various technologies used in the justice system. The course also addresses issues of privacy, including the boundaries of s u r v e i l lan c e.

D’Ovidio’s most recent research endeavor is a partnership between Drexel University and Drakontas, LLC. At Drakontas, researchers oversee a number of projects to support the government and homeland security with various software developments and technology initiatives in the communications field. D’Ovidio’s project, which is funded by a sizable grant from the Bureau of Justice Administration, aims to discover various vulnerabilities users face when participating in online and gaming communities. D’Ovidio and his team are hoping to find new ways to improve safety and security for people using these forums.

A potential addition to the curriculum is the course “Computer Investigations in the Law,” which would be an upper-level course focused on digital evidence and its procedural implications. Students would learn how to trace and dissect emails and other forms of online communication. All of these courses tie in with D’Ovidio’s professional research. By sharing his work with students and developing specific courses devoted to understanding electronic crime, he ensures the attainment of his ultimate goal: improving safety on the Internet.

The two components of this project, virtual communities and virtual gaming environments, have a variety of challenges. Many of the gaming worlds have virtual economies that can be translated into real world money. Some gaming worlds are actually registered as banks and can provide their users with a debit card to withdraw funds from local ATM machines. These virtual economies open the door to new opportunities for exploitation such as debit card fraud, money laundering and bank f ra u d.

D’Ovidio explains that most of his work has been consumer oriented, with the purpose of determining how to protect consumers and reduce victimization in online environments. In order to understand what measures need to be taken to increase safety, one must first understand the origin of vulnerabilities. One of his past research projects, which was funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Administration, explored how predators use adult-child relationship advocacy websites or groups such as NAMBLA (The North American Man/Boy Love Association) to engage in and carry out activities that sexually exploit children. Many of these sites provide potential predators with information about how to access child pornography and how to evade detection by law enforcement agents using techniques such as encryption, steganography, sending anonymous emails, and browsing the Internet anonymously. The study explored the social learning implications of these communities, as well as their potential to encourage criminogenic activity.

“For the longest time with the internet we talked about the ‘global village,’ but now you’re seeing it come full circle, as things become more local as well.” The project will explore all virtual communities, but D’Ovidio and his researchers are particularly interested in assessing some of the specific risks involved in geo-social communities like Foursquare or MyTown (a game produced by Booyah. com). Foursquare combines geography-based interaction in the real world with microblogging to earn credit in the virtual world. For example, a person may blog on Foursquare that they are going to the Irish Pub on Walnut Street. Once they arrive at the pub, they register and gain credit online. The more real establishments a person visits, be it restaurants, stores or cafes, the more points he or she receives on Foursquare. The ultimate goal is to become a “regular” at a location. Foursquare is now looking to various real world businesses to be supporters and advertisers for their online community. While this may certainly seem like an innovative social and marketing device, D’Ovidio explains that it could also be a potent tool for criminals. Blogging one’s location tells a criminal exactly when the user’s home will be empty. It also gives anyone with the intention of hurting or stalking the blogger direct access to information regarding their whereabouts. These issues and others, such as the exploitation of minors, harassment and

ask | Expanding Our Notions of Electronic Safety general abuse, will be studied in various online communities, as well as in live gaming environments like Playstation Network and Xbox LIVE. The ultimate goal of this study is to use the findings to create a practical training program on issues of electronic crime for law enforcement officers.

to handle these types of situations. In addition, the program will also teach officers how to maintain the integrity of digital evidence so that it may be used in criminal proceedings. The course will be taught in classroom environments throughout the country, as well as online.

While pursuing his Ph.D., D’Ovidio worked with many of the law enforcement agencies in the Philadelphia and New York City areas. During that time, he realized that most police officers, detectives and law enforcement agents do not receive technical training in computer science. This information gap can create challenges for justice administration in terms of ensuring that their officers are equipped to handle electronic crimes. Many police officers may not be aware of the various types of vulnerabilities, crimes and risks within virtual worlds. The program, which D’Ovidio will create in collaboration with Drakontas, is designed to teach law enforcement officers how

Many police officers may not be aware of the various types of vulnerabilities, crimes and risks within virtual worlds. D’Ovidio explains, “For the longest time with the Internet we talked about the ‘global village,’ but now you’re seeing it come full circle, as things become more local as well. You have these social networks and games that aren’t necessarily as concerned with the broader geographic capabilities of the Internet as they are with supporting local behaviors and activities.” It seems the World Wide Web may not be as “wide” as in the past. With the acquisition of constantly advancing technologies, people (especially children) are at a greater, more frequent risk for victimization, not only in the virtual world but in the real world as well. In a society where elementary school children have Internet-capable cell phones and adolescents can chat with fellow video gamers across gaming platforms, it’s easy to see how harmless conversations in the digital world can translate into dangerous interactions in the real world. Thankfully, we have researchers like D’Ovidio, whose investigations into electronic crime bring us closer to a future where all Internet users can safely surf the Web. To learn more about D’Ovidio’s research, visit: http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~rd64

D’Ovidio with his graduate research assistant, Alex Jenkins.

ask | Every Little Bit Helps

Helps

Every

Little Bit

How You Can Support the Students and Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences The College of Arts and Sciences has been serving Drexel University proudly for the past 20 years, and its predecessor, the College of Science, will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Due to the vision of President Constantine Papadakis and the leadership of Dean Donna Murasko, CoAS has been a significant contributor to Drexel’s quick ascent into the ranks of the nation’s top private research universities.

Enhance and Expand Our Academic Programs For the last few years, U.S. News and World Report has ranked Drexel among the top 100 universities in the U.S. and 2nd among “Up-and-Coming Schools” in 2010. This is because we never stop growing and improving. Your funds can help us support academic programs and centers, which will increase opportunities for students both inside and outside of the classroom.

The students and faculty highlighted in ask provide only a small glimpse of the truly amazing work taking place here. New opportunities for research and discovery, for excellence in teaching and mentorship, and for an expanded commitment to the Philadelphia and global communities, are possible with your leadership and support. Your generosity would enable this work to continue, perhaps leading to the discovery of new cures or vaccines, new concepts for peace in places of turmoil, or the preservation of species currently facing extinction. The College’s campaign priorities fall into the following four categories:

Improve Teaching and Research Facilities The quality and size of the College’s academic and research programs are growing at an exceptional rate. By supporting the improvement and expansion of our research and teaching facilities, you can help ensure that we have the resources to achieve our educational goals.

Increase Funding for Our Students CoAS students are talented and highly-motivated, full of big ideas and big plans for the future. By helping to fund research opportunities and academic awards, you can help ensure their continued success.

We are confident that the College will continue to grow, to build, to challenge and to amaze over the next decade. But we need your help and dedication to make it happen, and there are many ways to help. Please consider a gift to the “College of Arts and Sciences Student Fund,” the “Dean’s Excellence Fund” or your department’s “Academic Excellence Fund.”

Support and Strengthen Our Faculty CoAS faculty excel at both teaching and research, and have continually garnered awards ranging from Fulbrights to prestigious fellowships. Your support will help us continue to attract and support leaders in all disciplines.

For more information, or to make your gift, please contact: Michael Andrulis, Director of Development, 215.895.6481 or andrulis@drexel.edu.

YOUR GIFT CAN BE MADE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS: • By check, payable to “Drexel University.” Please note your priority in the memo section and mail to: Michael Andrulis, Drexel University P.O. Box 8215, Philadelphia, PA 19101-9684

• By making a gift online at www.drexel.edu/IA. Click “Make a Gift” and designate your highest priority in the “Special Instructions” field.

• By establishing a charitable gift annuity

• By leaving a bequest in your will

• By a gift of securities

ask | A Bio Majorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Path to Harvard

From Healing One to Many:

A Bio Major’s P a t h t o H a r v a r d By Maia Livengood

Like many premier students, Jordan Gallinetti has a flawless academic record and is involved in numerous academic and professional organizations at Drexel. In reading through her accomplishments in preparation for our interview, I was struck by her motivation.

had been a strong influence in her early life; as a doctor who advocated for both patient and physician rights, he imparted in her the importance of a doctor’s role in public policy. “My family is a huge motivating factor for me. I want to make my dad, stepmom, and extended family proud, and I want to be a good influence for my younger siblings. I want to do well for them.”

I met Gallinetti on a Thursday morning in early spring. Though not a particularly inspiring setting, Starbucks served as our convenient location of choice. I immediately realized my mistake in not having designated an exact meeting area; at 10 am, seemingly every Drexel female had a hankering for caffeine—the place was mobbed.

Gallinetti soon realized that the scope and reach of her work in the labs had implications far beyond traditional physician-applied treatments…

While considering the possibility of phoning her, I noticed a well put-together young woman sipping coffee in a corner, eyes fixed on her wristwatch. From time to time she glanced up and looked about the café lounge, searching. “Hi, are you Jordan?” She smiled. “Yes.”

With her career goals in mind, Gallinetti applied to Drexel as a pre-med biology major. During her freshman year, she reached out to Dr. Shivanthi Anandan, her professor for a fundamental biology course, for a research position in the microbial laboratories. Already aware of the need to bolster her application to medical school, she also took a volunteer position at the University of Pennsylvania hospital. The pre-med program was separated into two phases: part one included assisting the hospital’s nurses, while part two allowed for the opportunity to shadow physicians. During the first phase, Gallinetti realized she didn’t enjoy working in the hospital as much as she had hoped, and soon she no longer wanted to be a doctor. However, she continued working in the microbial lab, enthralled by Anandan’s research initiatives. Anandan also encouraged her to participate in both the College of Arts and Sciences and University Research Day competitions.

She struck me as a little nervous, which was surprising. Though I too felt the familiar pang of anxiety pre-interview, it came from a feeling of scholastic inferiority—constantly worrying I would fail to understand the research projects of the profiled student. Setting my concerns aside, I opened my laptop, and began. I had been asked to write a feature on Gallinetti for a variety of reasons. She was recently accepted to both Harvard and Johns Hopkins for graduate school, opting to study in the Harvard Genetics and Complex Diseases program in their School of Public Health, where she will concentrate on the genetic factors contributing to obesity. And though she was extremely reluctant to discuss the remarkable achievements that led her down this path, it was clear that she had the motivation, self-discipline and perseverance to seek out every opportunity available during her undergraduate career.

Said Anandan of Gallinetti’s work ethic: “Not every undergraduate has the focus to be as productive; it takes real hard work and drive to accomplish what Jordan has. It also bears mentioning that she has never thought of herself as

In high school, Gallinetti elected to take several science courses, such as AP Biology and Human Physiology, knowing that she ultimately wanted to be a physician. Her uncle

ask | A Bio Major’s Path to Harvard

Gallinetti explores her new campus in Boston, MA.

something special, ever. We talked about where she would apply to graduate school, and that Harvard would be her ‘stretch.’ To be honest, I never truly considered it a stretch.”

At the end of her sophomore year, Gallinetti became involved in Tri Beta, the biological honors society of which she is now president. The national organization’s goal is to promote science, creating and advocating knowledge disbursement channels so that accurate and timely information is available to the general public. The organization sponsored a number of events, including “High School Days,” which was co-sponsored by the College of Engineering. The event provided Philadelphia high school students with the opportunity to participate in experiments and tour the Drexel laboratories. Another Drexel program, co-sponsored by the Science Leadership Academy of Philadelphia, allows select high school students to work in labs, such as Anandan’s.

While her interest in the medical field had originated in patient care, it shifted to disease prevention as she gained more experience in the lab. Gallinetti soon realized that the scope and reach of her work in the labs had implications far beyond traditional physician-applied treatments: through her future research, she would have the opportunity to impact lives on a greater scale than addressing the needs of individual patients. Research became her passion, and what she wanted to pursue professionally.

“The idea is to expose students to science,” said Gallinetti. “Through my involvement in Tri Beta, I’ve realized the importance of being a mentor: beyond sitting down and talking to a person, mentoring is done through action and leading by example.”

Gallinetti stressed the importance of communicating research findings: “The College of Arts and Sciences emphasizes the ability to write well. Lots of writing was required for bio lab and oral presentations, which helped me to present my research professionally. Being able to share knowledge is a big part of science; you must have reproducible science that is publishable in peer reviewed journals to legitimize your work.”

With the help of her fellow researchers, Gallinetti ensures that the young students have fun during their time in the labs. “Because it is fun!” she chuckled.

Of her many notable presentations, Gallinetti won first place in the category of Undergraduate Natural Sciences at the CoAS Research Day and at the Drexel-wide Research Day for her poster “The orfG Gene Regulates Synechococcus elongatus Cell Growth in Replete Media.” On May 23rd of this year, she presented her research work from Anandan’s lab at the American Society for Microbiology annual conference in San Diego (at which she also presented in 2009).

As our interview progressed, Gallinetti’s genuine excitement engendered in me a feeling of sincere respect—humbled by her passion for her field of study.

“Being able to share knowledge is a big part of science; you must have reproducible science that is publishable in peer reviewed journals to legitimize your work.”

It is for these accomplishments, among others, that she was awarded the Mary K. Howett Scholarship. Created in memory of Dr. Mary K. Howett, the former head of biology, the fund recognizes outstanding achievement in the field, as determined by representatives in the biology department. Gallinetti was presented with the award at the close of CoAS Honors Day 2009, and was moved by the honor. She maintains close contact with Howett’s husband, Jack.

During her junior year, she landed a highly competitive co-op with Merck Laboratories. The work was very different from her research with Anandan; she began working with human cells and testing drug compounds. She learned new assessment methods and considered research from a business perspective for the first time, which she reflected was “a little enlightening.” Previously, she had only volunteered in the university lab, which is funded primarily by grants.

“[Jordan] is a wonderful young lady and the absolute prototype for the Mary K. [Howett] Scholarship. She is the kind of person Mary K. would have really wanted to mentor—[mentoring] was high on her priority list. I’m anxious to see what she will accomplish; she has the potential to be a real star,” said Howett.

“There are positives and negatives to both paradigms,” said Gallinetti. “On one hand, the extra resources help, but there’s a definite distance to the research. Conversely, when you run an academic lab, you eat, sleep and live your research. If you’re not totally and completely invested, you’ll lose valuable funding.”

Dr. Mary K. Howett.

With a Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health, Gallinetti will soon command the ability to affect change in public health policy by combining socioeconomic, psychological and scientific knowledge. Her chosen career path will undoubtedly yield a lifetime of applied learning, truly embodying the CoAS values of collateral education, innovation and development.

The expanded understanding of her field, of the broad range of research in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry, solidified Gallinetti’s decision to one day run her own lab. She returned from Merck in the spring and continued her work with Anandan. Their current research examines a particular gene in cyanobacteria, how it’s affected by environmental stimuli, and its role in biomass accumulation. Anandan hopes the research findings will be published in either the Journal of Phycology or the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology by the end of 2010.

ask | Drexel Professor Inspires Across Disciplines

Drexel Professor Inspires Across Disciplines

Jacob Harte, ask writer and senior English major, sits down with mathematician Dr. R. Andrew Hicks to reflect on his optical research and the process of discovery.

In the past year, many have given well-deserved praise to Dr. R. Andrew Hicks for his optical designs. Make Magazine called him a “mathemagician.” Philadelphia Magazine said he was one of “the people whose moving and shaking makes Philly a fascinating place to be.” The first time I became aware of Hicks, a professor of mathematics at Drexel, he was presenting at a CoAS alumni event hosted at the Philly Auto Show. Dressed in a dapper black suit with a loud yellow tie, he captivated the crowd with his enthusiasm and his fascinating mirrors. By Jacob Harte Although I found Hicks’ apparent magical abilities appealing, what intrigued me the most was his approach to research. “First, I define my subject’s expectations of how they wish to see the world, and then, by using math tools from differential geometry, partial differential equations and computing, I design mirrors to best fulfill the subject’s expectations,” he explained. As an English major and writer, I found his methodology oddly relatable; the ability to mold how one views the world in continuously new ways is an essential part of developing characters for a novel. Hicks’ approach to satisfying the needs of his subject is strikingly similar to the way a creative writer endeavors to satisfy the needs of their characters. Mathematicians use math tools as guidelines in the process of discovery, just as authors use the elements of fiction; however, it is an intangible quality—call it creativity, genius or natural selection—that allows certain individuals to use ordinary tools to push their fields in extraordinary new directions.

Hicks explains optical design to Harte. fireworks, creating a cascade of individual ideas, images, feelings, words, all leading to his ground-breaking discoveries. Hoping not to disturb the mathematician in his habitat, I tried quietly to turn off my iPod—but to no avail; Hicks, ironically, caught a glimpse of me in one of his mirrors. I began to apologize for interrupting but he offered a kind smile that instantly put me at ease.

I was eager to learn more about Hicks’ approach, hoping it would give me insight into my own creative process, and because my imagination couldn’t satisfy my curiosity, I decided to set up an interview.

Before diving into questions about his research process, I first wanted to know more about how Hicks came to be the mathematical genius he is today. In 1995, after receiving his Ph.D. in global Riemannian geometry from the University of Pennsylvania, he decided he’d had enough of

When I entered Hicks’ office, I found him consumed in the equations on his computer. I tried to imagine the activity in his mind, all the different signs and signifiers shooting off like

15 15

ask | Drexel Professor Inspires Across Disciplines

…having never studied traditional optical design, it hadn’t even occured to him that he might not be able to find a solution.

theory for a while. As he waited for his wife to finish medical school, he enrolled in Penn’s M.S. in computer science program with the hopes of getting involved in something more applied. However, after a year into the program, in a rather serendipitous fashion, Hicks was offered a post-doctoral position that truly provided him the hands-on opportunity he had hoped for. He quickly went from being a theoretical mathematician to doing lab work on vision-based control of mobile robots in the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory at Penn, and it is here where he first learned one of the necessities of discovery: how to make use of the resources at hand. Hicks’ objective in the GRASP lab was to provide a robot with the tools necessary to view its surroundings with as little distortion as possible. To accomplish the task, he designed several different mirrors, venturing for the first time into the field of optics. One of his designs, which he called the “rectifying mirror,” allowed for a wider view of the robot’s surroundings without causing distortion. When used with cameras functioning as sensors, the mirror enabled the robot to accomplish several different tasks, such as playing soccer and going up stairs.

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45°

When Hicks completed his work at the GRASP lab, he began looking for an industry job, thinking it would allow him time to study and formulate his own problems, while also searching for a use for his new rectifying mirror. His plans changed, however, after he bumped into Dr. Ron Perline, a professor in Drexel’s mathematics department, who was enthusiastic about the intellectual freedom the University offered.

By 2000, Hicks had begun working at Drexel, but he still didn’t have a clear vision of the practical uses for his mirror. That was until one day, when Perline arrived to work irritated with the limited visibility of his bicycle’s rear-view mirror. The mirror, which was curved, significantly distorted the image of his surroundings. Perline asked Hicks to replace it with his new rectifying mirror and suggested that he might eventually do the same for a car. Hicks continued to work on the mirror, and one weekend, when he was fiddling around in his workshop at home, he realized he didn’t need an exact solution—a little distortion would not alter the image enough for the human eye to detect. That same weekend, he designed a shape for the mirror, which he ran through a simulation facing a checkered wall. The grid-like pattern of the symmetrical black and white squares allowed him to measure the distortion of the image. Hicks was pleased with the results: the mirror had the rectifying properties and all the right angles necessary for the passenger-side, while creating a wide enough view to eliminate the blind spot. However, it also had another unexpected result: a non-reversing property. Each time Hicks attempted to redesign the mirror with the normal reversing properties, the image became overly distorted.

Although this provided Hicks with a possible use for his mirror, it came with an array of new challenges. The first had nothing to do with math, but rather a conflict with legislation in the United States, which prohibits companies from manufacturing cars with curved driver-side mirrors because of the change in depth perception. For this reason, Hicks decided to tackle the passenger-side mirror instead, but it too came with a set of obstacles. The biggest of these was the different angle from which the driver viewed both the passenger and driver-side mirror. This was the point when the problem was “no longer sophomore mathematics, [but] a research problem,” Hicks said. So in an ad-hoc fashion, he began working on equations to solve the problem of the passenger-side mirror. To his dismay, he was soon able to show “very rigorously, mathematically, that there wasn’t a solution to the equations.”

It was these moments that reassured Hicks he’d made the right choice by coming to Drexel. After all the headaches involved with research, he was able to put down the problem for a while and find solace in teaching:

As a mathematician designing surfaces, Hicks admits that he had looked at the problem naively: having never studied traditional optical design, it hadn’t even occurred to him that he might not be able to find a solution. But he didn’t allow this to dissuade his determination. In the end, it was beneficial that he didn’t have all the loaded baggage of a traditional background in optics because it allowed him to pursue what others had thought was impossible. It was this pursuit, though unfruitful in some ways, which led Hicks to design the rectifying mirror, something entirely new to the field of optics.

“Research is very intense and consuming. It requires a lot of energy and momentum to break through the high levels of stress. The classroom keeps me grounded on a bad research day.” Hicks uses his courses not only as a sort of therapy, but also as a way to grow as a mathematician. Each year, he tries to teach something new in order to widen the lens through which he views the world. After recharging his battery for a while, Hicks picked up his research once again, this time working on the driver-side mirror using angles similar to his original rectifying mirror. This made a huge difference in the ability to approximately solve the problem because it made the slightly curved lines appear more natural. He is currently working on prototypes for the driver-side mirror with an undisclosed company. For most, Hicks’ path to discovery will have only meant a wider view of the road, but for me, it widened my perception of what it means to be a writer. Hicks’ genius is an example of perseverance and an acute understanding that everything in the world works under its own guidelines. His story reminds me not to be afraid of failure, but to push on and to learn from my mistakes, because often our greatest discoveries are things we never could have imagined from the start.

A comparison between Hicks’ mirror (top) and a standard driver-side mirror (bottom) highlights the substantial improvement in visibility.

To learn more about Hicks’ research, visit: http://www.math.drexel.edu/~ahicks/

17 17

ask | A Cutting-Edge Design for an Innovative Future

A CUTTING-EDGE DESIGN for an Innovative Future

BY LAUREN BOYLE

Whether you are a student on the way to class or an alumnus visiting your alma mater, it is impossible not to notice Drexel University’s rapidly evolving landscape. One of the most impressive additions to the University City campus is the Constantine Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB), the future home of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biology. The massive construction site at the corner of 33rd and Chestnut Streets is bound to spark the interest of passersby, and with good reason. As a university, Drexel has a reputation for being bold and innovative, for cutting-edge faculty research endeavors, and for placing heavy emphasis on practical experience for students. The PISB, Drexel’s latest and (possibly) greatest conception, is an impressive culmination of these positive attributes.

P a p a d a k i s

I n t e g r a t e d

S c i e n c e s

B u i l d i n g

Planning for the 130,000-square-foot building began in 2006, with the doors scheduled to open in July 2011. Spearheading the project were Dr. Donna Murasko, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Aleister Saunders, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Mary K. Howett, then head of biology. The three worked in conjunction with Canadian-based Diamond & Schmitt Architects, helping to design the $70 million landmark.

…perhaps the most impressive design feature is the four-story biowall in the atrium, which will serve as a living air filter. sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, innovation in design, and indoor environmental quality. While each of these areas is being addressed in the construction of the building, perhaps the most impressive design feature is the four-story biowall in the atrium, which will serve as a living air filter. Visitors to the PISB can expect the finest indoor environmental quality, as contaminated air will be drawn through the roots of the plants where microbes will help to remove particulates and volatile compounds. Additionally, faculty and student researchers will study the wall for its potential health benefits. Drexel will be the first university in the United States to have such a feature, further demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and progressive research.

After Dr. Howett’s untimely passing in 2008 due to complications from leukemia, the College recruited Dr. Jeffery Twiss from Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Twiss had served as the principal research scientist for Nemours Biomedical Research and as the director of both the Center for Translational Neurobiology and the Histotechnology & Muscle Histochemistry Lab. Upon his arrival at Drexel, Twiss immediately assumed a major role in the development of the PISB, working alongside Murasko and Saunders to ensure the swift, successful completion of Howett’s initial vision. This new facility will be Drexel’s first Silver LEED-certified building by the U.S. Green Building Council, and is also anticipated to receive a 4 Green Globes® rating from the Green Building Initiative. The LEED certification system, established to create a common standard of measurement for “green” buildings, assesses performance in six major areas:

This innovative step is largely credited to the initiative of Dr. Constantine N. Papadakis, Drexel University’s eleventh president, for whom the building is named. During his fourteen years as president, Papadakis helped shape Drexel

ask | A Cutting-Edge Design for an Innovative Future genetic damage causes most cancers and developmental disorders, Elefant and her team are finding that alterations to epigenetic code might be reversible with treatments that are less invasive than those currently used. Dr. Gail Hearn, research professor, leads a team on the west coast of Africa where they engage in conservation efforts with various species of primates through the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. Hearn’s group is also working to change the habits of the local people who hunt the primates. Dr. Susan Kilham, professor, is an aquatic ecologist looking at extinction events in Central America. She studies how various species of frogs and salamanders are affected by global warming. Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, associate professor, and his team are studying the most complete skeleton of a super-massive dinosaur, which they recently excavated from Patagonia, Argentina. They are looking at the dinosaur on a molecular level, a relatively new scientific endeavor.

Twiss and Saunders discuss the progress of the PISB at the construction site.

Dr. Daniel Marenda, assistant professor and co-director of the Cell Imaging Center, researches human disease, particularly late-onset Alzheimer’s, in Drosophila models. He also studies other neurodevelopment diseases like CHARGE syndrome.

into a comprehensive, nationally-ranked, research-intensive university. His desire to create a research and teaching facility that would promote the integration of various fields of scientific study at Drexel is clearly realized in the PISB’s varied research labs.

Dr. Donna Murasko, professor and dean, studies the effects of aging on the immune system. By determining how the immune system evolves with age, Murasko hopes to eventually improve the quality of life with advancing age.

The following biology faculty members will have a lab in the building, where they will pursue their research interests:

Dr. Michael O’Connor, professor, studies the physiological and biophyscial ecology of animals, considering how environmental factors affect animals’ habitats. His research has focused on how gases in the air are exchanged with sea turtle eggs, and how these gases affect the development of the eggs, as well as how the ecology of reptiles might change under global warming.

Dr. Shivanthi Anandan, associate professor, studies aquatic cyanobacteria, which produce biomass for the food chain and aggregate into large blooms in the ocean, generating nitrates and depleting oxygen. Understanding how to manipulate cyanobacterial genes, which resemble some mammalian proteins, may prevent the deaths of higher organisms.

Dr. Jacob Russell, assistant professor, studies symbiosis in insects, and how bacteria in the gut affect the evolution of organisms. His research on both ants and fish aims to determine the impact of microbes on their dietary evolution, revealing the mechanisms by which gut microbes can promote animal health.

Dr. Harold Avery, associate professor, focuses on terrapin conservation biology. He explores the survival of terrapin, a species of turtle native to the United States’ east coast, in local estuaries in Barnegat Bay, where Drexel has a field station. Human impact on the environment is especially important in his research.

Dr. Nianli Sang, associate professor, is a cancer biologist who looks at the metabolisms of cancer cells. His research aims to determine how cancer cells metabolize differently than normal cells, and how their metabolisms affect their ability to grow and metastasize.

Dr. Walter Bien, research professor, is a botanist who also works at the Barnegat Bay field station. He engages in restoration biology there, as well as in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, helping the environment to recover from human interventions.

Dr. Aleister Saunders, associate professor and associate department head, researches the genetic and molecular/ cellular biology of Alzheimer’s disease. He and his team are trying to identify predictive factors and possible targets for drug intervention.

Dr. Felice Elefant, associate professor, explores how epigenetic regulators control gene expression patterns that govern neurodevelopment, cognition and behavior, and various diseases. Unlike the previously accepted theory that permanent,

Dr. Elias Spiliotis, assistant professor and director of the Cell Imaging Center, studies the basic biology and pharmacology of a novel class of cytoskeleton-associated proteins, called septins. Spiliotis identified the mammalian form of septin proteins, and explores how these proteins contribute to both normal cell and cancer cell development and metastasis.

Due to the extremely varied and specialized nature of the research and teaching that will take place in the PISB, the complexity of the laboratories and classrooms is astounding.

Dr. James Spotila, Betz Chair Professor of Environmental Science, works in conservation biology, studying sea turtle and other reptile species, fish, and amphibians currently in the Pacific coasts of Central America and in the Mediterranean. He is interested in the physiological and population ecology of these organisms and the molecular basis for temperature dependent sex determination in reptiles.

Research conducted in the PISB will employ several advanced technologies, including fluorescent microscopy techniques to visualize cell structure and function, and proteomics and genomics techniques for analyzing extant and ancient biomolecules and their regulation. Researchers will utilize cutting-edge gene delivery approaches for studying the functions of biomolecules, as well as stem cells for modeling human disease and physiology in new ways. New technologies such as these are the driving force of the current revolution in the field of biology. Coupled with the exciting research of the biology faculty members, there is great potential to explore and create entirely new fields of study such as molecular paleontology, which will take place in Lacovara’s lab.

“With so much specialized scientific equipment,” Saunders explained, “literally every plug matters.”

Dr. Jeffery Twiss, department head, looks at growth and regeneration of neural processes. His lab is working to determine the function of various proteins with the hope that regeneration of neurons is possible. This type of regeneration would allow scientists to improve recovery from brain and spinal cord injury and to fight various neurodegenerative diseases.

“Thematically, it’s going to bring the department together and really cement our interactions with the undergraduate students.” Many of the biology department’s research endeavors have the potential to change the face of science as we know it. The PISB will provide Drexel students with the opportunity to delve into this groundbreaking research, working directly alongside their esteemed faculty advisors. Twiss and Saunders explained that promoting this strong connection between students and faculty is one of the most important goals of the PISB. “Thematically, it’s going to bring the department together and really cement our interactions with the undergraduate students,” Twiss said. Since the merger of MCP-Hahnemann University with Drexel University in 2002, there has been greater interest in the biological and biomedical sciences, which can be seen in the growing number of incoming biology majors: from approximately 50 in 2001 to 261 in 2010. Currently, the department has only four teaching labs in Stratton Hall, the building they call home. With 261 new students joining almost 600 current biology undergraduates and graduates, the department has literally outgrown this space. In the PISB, however, the first two floors will be dedicated solely to

Dr. Constantine N. Papadakis, Drexel’s late president, was a strong advocate of the PISB.

ask | A Cutting-Edge Design for an Innovative Future A high-quality teaching and research facility allows students to acquire knowledge, to gain experience, and to sharpen their skills in the field. Students want to be proud of their education and their educational institution, and biology graduate student Sara Ansaloni believes the PISB will only further Drexel’s growing reputation.

“The sense of belonging and the pride we will have in our highly technological home will increase our confidence in the program.”

“The sense of belonging and the pride we will have in our highly technological home will increase our confidence in the program. Biology students will finally be under one roof, and this will help us network across research fields,” Ansaloni explained.

teaching efforts, with eight teaching labs equipped with the latest technology. Twiss and Saunders excitedly agreed that this means no more Saturday lab courses.

The PISB will increase the quality and diversity of the student laboratory and classroom experiences, facilitating future leaders in the biology, biotechnology, environmental science, life science, and pharmaceutical industries. From the staggering biowall in the center atrium, to the groundbreaking scientific research occurring on floors three through five, the Constantine Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building is sure to draw a great deal of positive attention.

“The PISB will give us the needed flexibility to ensure that our biology department maintains its growth,” said Murasko. The building’s symbolic significance has given students and faculty another reason to be excited. “The College has no space that is clearly identified as ‘College of Arts and Sciences space,’” explained Murasko. “The new building will be a visual sign of the growth of the entire College, while the contemporary design and the living biowall will reflect our commitment to innovation in both research and teaching.”

There are numerous naming opportunities for the PISB, which would allow you to support this innovative landmark, as well as the faculty and students of the Department of Biology. A sampling of those opportunities is listed below.

Naming Opportunities Biowall Auditorium Faculty research labs (32) Teaching labs (9) Main floor classrooms (7) Lounge areas (3) Study areas (4)

$1,000,000 ऀ$500,000 ऀऀऀ $100,000 each ऀऀऀ$100,000 each $50,000 & 75,000 ऀऀ$25,000 ऀ$10,000

For more information, contact Michael Andrulis, Director of Development, at 215.895.6481 or andrulis@drexel.edu.

ask | The Hutchins Teaching Lab

Research Achievement Award (1982) and the University Research Scholar Award (1987). From California State University at Long Beach, where he received his Master’s degree in phytochemistry, Hutchins was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award (1987). He was also the recipient of the 26th Research Award (1987) given by the Philadelphia Section of the American Chemical Society. Hutchins was a talented and well-loved instructor, earning a C. & M. Lindback Outstanding Teaching Award in 1980. During his time at Drexel, he guided four master’s students and sixteen doctoral students, along with dozens of other graduates and undergraduates, through the complexities of stereoselective organic synthesis. Sadly, Hutchins passed away on October 9, 2009. Former student and close friend, Dr. Ira Taffer, explained that Hutchins was more than just a teacher—he took a genuine interest in his students’ personal and academic lives. He was always ready to offer helpful advice and continually encouraged undergraduates to participate in research alongside him.

The Hutchins Teaching Lab: Honoring a Legendary Professor, Mentor and Friend By Lauren Boyle In addition to serving as the new home of the Department of Biology, the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building will also include two teaching labs for the Department of Chemistry. CoAS is currently working to raise $500,000 to name the largest of these labs the “Professor Robert O. Hutchins Organic Chemistry Teaching Lab.”

It is both poignant and appropriate that this new lab will be, first and foremost, a teaching lab. “Much of what I know about managing people, I learned from Bob,” said Taffer, currently vice president of operations for Enzo Life Sciences International Inc. “He never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself.”

In the Hutchins Teaching Lab, students will be instructed in the practices and principles of organic chemistry. The lab will be devoted solely to organic chemistry and will only be utilized for teaching purposes, not for research. The motivation for naming the lab after Hutchins cannot be fully understood without knowing a bit about the man himself, and about his involvement in the University.

Like Taffer, many of Hutchins’ past students have gone on to receive distinguished awards and respected positions in the industry and in academia. Currently, there are two awards given annually at CoAS Honors Day, which are funded by former students in Hutchins’ honor. These awards are a shining example of the impact Hutchins made through his devotion to mentorship and to the field of chemistry, and of the legacy he left behind. The Professor Robert O. Hutchins Organic Chemistry Teaching Lab will allow this great legacy to continue.

After receiving his doctorate in organic chemistry from Purdue University, Dr. Robert Owen Hutchins devoted his professional life to researching and teaching the subject. He joined Drexel as an assistant professor in 1968, advanced to associate professor in 1974, and became a full professor in 1979. He served as chemistry department head from 1986-2000, and was appointed as the inaugural G. S. Sasin Professor of Organic Chemistry. His vital and detailed research dealt with new hydride reagents for asymmetric reactions and the conformational properties of phosphoruscontaining heterocycles. This research resulted in hundreds of scientific papers on the matter and garnered Hutchins a variety of awards and honors. At Drexel, he received the

For information on how you can help support the naming of this lab, please contact Michael Andrulis, Director of Development, 215.895.6481 or andrulis@drexel.edu.

ask | Drexel Battles Anxiety Disorders with Second Life

S ssse c o n L i Fe Patient-therapist interaction in Second Life.

ANXIE

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Drexel Battles Anxiety Disorders with Second Life By Maia Livengood

As the field of psychology struggles to develop a clear, scientific approach for diagnosis and clinical treatment of psychological disorders, Dr. James Herbert, professor of psychology and CoAS associate dean, strives to accelerate this transition through supportive clinical research. His Internetbased research does not stem from an interest in technologies per se, but rather, in how modern media can close the gap between state-of-the-art treatments and clinical application.

still an overwhelming number of practitioners who are not educated in a science-based approach to therapy. Most large, urban areas act as psychiatric information spheres due to the abundance of research facilities and universities. But in rural areas, one is likely to find that the majority of psychotherapists have not been trained in the newest, research-backed treatments for a variety of disorders. Many continue to revert to Freudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theories of diagnosis, firmly believing in the existence of the Id, Ego, and Superego, said Herbert. As a result, some therapists practice treatments that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t science-based and which could potentially cause harm.

Herbert explained that in most areas of medicine, such as surgery, the translational gap between research and application is small; research is converted relatively quickly into industry-accepted technologies for work in the field. However, in psychology, treament practices lag behind research, in some cases, by decades.

Ironically, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that same interplay (and sometimes conflict) between the humanities and sciences that first attracted Herbert to the field of psychology. As an adolescent, he Factors contributing to this had always enjoyed science; but information lag are multifaceted after graduating from high school and and complex, but Herbert noted spending a year in Switzerland, he a few primary problems within became intrigued by the humanitiesthe field. Surprisingly, a lack of based disciplines. During his malpractice suits in clinical Herbert and doctoral student, Erica Yuen. undergraduate career, he switched psychology and psychiatry has majors several times, from marine led to a mismanaged system. Rarely, he said, except in an biology to international relations to psychology. It was in instance of gross, unethical transgression, do therapists psychology that he finally discovered a discipline that integrated get sued for their treatments. Overall, Herbert reflected, the the humanities and sciences, taking a scientific approach to profession is very reluctant to police itself. And despite the something inherently humanistic. Ever since, his methodology protests of many professionals who write papers and give has involved using the basic philosophy of a scientific lectures in an attempt to dissuade that mentality, there is perspective to enhance his field.

ask | Drexel Battles Anxiety Disorders with Second Life

The very nature of social anxiety disorder makes patients more likely to avoid traditional therapy

fear worry avoidance Muscle weakness …dread ¡PANIC! Tense J U MPy rest less ness

Currently, the customary treatment for those with social anxiety is exposure therapy, which is used to help patients develop social skills and the necessary confidence to deal with social situations. In this respect, Second Life serves as an effective tool for creating hypothetical/virtual social situations in which therapists’ avatars may interact with patients’ avatars as a model for social interaction. For example, project therapists Yuen, Elizabeth Goetter and Jennie Park, all psychology doctoral students, would bring a participant to a virtual bar where staff members were also logged on as avatars in order to interact with the patient. The very nature of social anxiety disorder makes patients more likely to avoid traditional therapy, so Second Life works twofold by decreasing the geographical barriers as well as the social barriers to treatment.

Because systematically changing the professional culture in the field of psychology is a difficult and long-term process, Herbert has instead turned his efforts to helping qualified practitioners find ways to connect with patients in remote areas. Psychology experts tend to live, almost without exception, in large metropolitan areas, thus creating a substantial demand for cost-effective technology that can connect isolated patients with clinical expertise.

Yuen recalled, “We had many callers inquire about our in-person treatment program for social anxiety, but they lived too far away to participate, and they also had trouble finding CBT [cognitive behavior therapy] therapists in their area. We realized that a remote treatment would allow people without access to a CBT therapist to receive an effective treatment. [Additionally], James, Evan and I also wondered if individuals with greater severity of social anxiety symptoms would be more willing to seek therapy if they could receive therapy remotely from the comfort and privacy of their own homes.”

Consequently, Herbert launched a research project with Erica Yuen, a doctoral student, and Dr. Evan Forman, a fellow faculty member, both in the psychology department at Drexel. Their goal was to develop a successful treatment program for anxiety disorders using Internet-based technologies. Herbert, Forman and Yuen began their initial study by constructing a location on “Drexel Island,” a Drexel-operated Second Life application, in which they could interact with participants. The program, which uses state-of-the-art software, allows users to create a variety of virtual environments, such as business centers, educational centers, community groups and social clubs. Its versatility and unique visual component makes it a great new resource for a variety of communication needs. Users have the ability to choose between chatting (typed interaction) and speaking directly to other avatars (both publically and privately) via headset. Dr. Jean Claude Bradley, associate professor of chemistry and e-learning coordinator for CoAS, as well as Dr. Ronald Cromer, associate professor and director of behavior and addictions counseling, helped the trio create a virtual therapy room to which participants were granted access at specific times to ensure their privacy. The individuals who took part in the study were located through social networking groups, listserves, social anxiety boards and online message boards, and were heavily screened to determine eligibility. After a series of interviews, each participant downloaded the Second Life application and was given the opportunity to create an avatar, or a computerized visual representation of themselves.

Patients in the virtual waiting room. Yuen, Goetter and Park were also able to adjust the ease or difficulty of conversations and the degree of interaction. For instance, for those with a fear of rejection, a staff member may reject the patient during an interaction, forcing a confrontation of the fear as a form of treatment. This kind of role-playing is highly visual, but still lacks some components of a “real” social encounter. To increase the chances for success in their treatment, the researchers also gave homework assignments to all participants, who practiced their newly acquired skills while interacting with others between Second Life sessions.

FEAR

The results from the study, conducted February 2009 through December 2009, indicated success: at post-treatment, the majority of participants (64%) no longer met DSM-IV-TR criteria for social anxiety disorders. Fifty-seven percent of clients had a CGI-Improvement score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved). Additionally, 93% of clients were “completely” or “mostly” satisfied with their treatment. One hundred percent of clients were “completely” or “mostly” satisfied with their therapist. Seventy-nine percent of clients reported that receiving treatment through Second Life was “very” or “fairly” easy (Yuen).

Their next step would be to create a head-to-head comparison study between Internet-based treatments and in-person treatments

Endorsement from the Dalai Lama In November 2010, Drs. James Herbert and Evan Forman will publish Acceptance and Mindfulness in Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Understanding and Applying the New Therapies, a book that has already garnered significant interest worldwide. In fact, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently wrote the pair a personal letter endorsing the publication: “[I] feel that this engagement has a real potential to make a significant contribution to the wider world. The systematic approach of this book, wherein the insights of both classical Buddhist and contemporary psychology are integrated, represents a most beneficial and powerful method for ensuring a healthy mind and heart.” Over the past couple decades, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has become the dominant model of psychotherapy, and hundreds of studies support its effectiveness for a wide range of psychological conditions. Over the past few years, however, questions have been raised about some theoretical and technical aspects of standard CBT, and these questions have been accompanied by a rise in approaches that incorporate mindfulness practices, some of which are derived from ancient Buddhist traditions. Herbert and Forman’s book brings together leading scholars and researchers in CBT to present varying perspectives on the application of mindfulness and acceptance theories in the field.

With the positive outcome, Yuen will continue to work on a similar study for her doctoral thesis, for which Herbert is her advisor. This study will involve Skype, a software program that allows users to make calls and participate in webcam chats over the Internet. With this program, there is the added benefit of seeing live, real-time facial expressions, said Yuen. The drawback, though, would be losing the variety of teaching environments provided by Second Life. The team is not sure which program will yield better results, but Herbert commented that perhaps a hybrid would serve as the best model, allowing for the use of both programs in different conditions. Herbert and Yuen are currently working on a manuscript based on their initial study. Their next step, if Skype also proves successful, would be to create a head-to-head comparison study between Internet-based treatments and in-person treatments. Because the resources needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of these new treatments are expensive, the staff would be looking to NIH grants to help fund the project. Both Herbert and Yuen reflect that the study is in its very early stages, but as their results indicate a new effective treatment, they are excited to move forward with the Skype trials. And with a potential impact on the professional field of clinical psychology, it’s clear that student and faculty research is the ideal bridge for applying academic principles to real-world problems. For more information, visit: http://www.drexel.edu/psychology/formanherbert/

ask | A Practical Way to Find Yourself

The Drexel Co-op:

A P r a c t i c a l Wa y t o F i n d Yo u r s e l f

BY JACOB HARTE

recent years, the expectation that individuals will pursue a college education has increased tremendously. It has not only become a crucial step in preparing students for their chosen career, but it has also become a place where they find a pivotal aspect of their identity, something that defines them as they move forward. This places a considerable amount of stress on the decision of choosing a school, and is perhaps one of the reasons colleges open up like malls for prospective students. Campus tours allow them to try on each unique experience, each identity, like an article of clothing, asking similar questions about fit and style, and more specifically, “What will this do for me?” Drexel’s cooperative education program allows students to continue this “identity selection process” throughout their entire college career, providing them with the best opportunity to succeed after graduation.

DeFranco knew it was a “perfect fit” as soon as she interviewed; she accepted the job immediately and worked as a set dresser, assisting in all aspects of broadcast design. Frannie DeFranco is a prime example of a student who has fully utilized Drexel’s resources to tap into her greatest strengths. In June of 2010, she graduated with both a B.A. in corporate communications and public relations and an M.S. in public communications, as well as three diverse co-op experiences to round out her resume—and she achieved all of this in less than five years. 28

In 2005, when DeFranco decided to leave the mountains of Stroudsburg, PA for the skyscrapers of Philadelphia, the determining factor for her was Drexel’s co-op program, which she felt would supply her with the unique opportunity to sample her career choices. However, when she was assigned to the fall/winter co-op cycle as a freshman, she was initially disappointed. “I had looked forward to a winter break with my family and a routine summer job like all of my other friends.” Her doubts were soon diminished when her father pointed out several redeeming qualities of the fall/winter cycle, particularly the opportunity to network at corporate holiday parties and the freedom to plan her class schedule during the summer, rather than being tied to the nine-to-five workday. Relieved, DeFranco began searching for her first co-op position. After going for a few interviews that failed to capture her interest, she learned about a co-op at QVC in West Chester through a friend in one of her classes. DeFranco knew it was a “perfect fit” as soon as she interviewed; she accepted the job immediately and worked as a set dresser, assisting in all aspects of broadcast design.

the Chamber were invited to meet and exchange business cards in a setting similar to speed-dating. This event enabled her to gain valuable experience in all aspects of event planning, including marketing, mailing, registration, programming and evaluation.

DeFranco had a unique schedule at QVC: she worked Sunday through Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. While the long hours might not have appealed to everyone, she described the ten-hour shifts as “a pleasant surprise,” which she grew to love over the 6 months. The job was much different from DeFranco’s communication classes, as it was far more labor-intensive; she was on set every day, helping with the design of backgrounds and various rooms throughout the studio. She also worked with members of the lighting, construction, planning and directing crews, which taught her about interior design, room staging and camera work, as well as television production.

DeFranco’s time at the Chamber not only gave her quality experience in the business world, but it also significantly helped to extend her professional network. In addition to her job responsibilities, she volunteered for many events organized by the Chamber, including Phillies and Eagles events and the Chamber’s annual meetings. As a volunteer at “Reach Out and Read Greater Philadelphia,” DeFranco was able to meet the CEOs of companies throughout the Philadelphia area.

DeFranco’s time at the Chamber not only gave her quality experience in the business world, but it also significantly helped to extend her professional network.

After finishing her co-op, DeFranco was hired back as a freelance worker, covering shifts that were not taken by full-time employees. She ended up accepting an overnight shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesdays during the spring and summer of her sophomore year. “Although the work was exhausting, it allowed me to strengthen my network at QVC while adding year-long job experience to my resume,” DeFranco said. For her second co-op, DeFranco used Drexel’s online database to find a job in Center City at the non-profit organization, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. At the Chamber, she assisted with the registration process for all free events, which ranged from workshops, to networking events, to county breakfasts throughout the greater Philadelphia region. DeFranco was also put in charge of the “Corporate Speed Networking” event, where members of

ask | A Practical Way to Find Yourself When her second co-op came to an end, DeFranco stayed in touch with her manager to maintain her professional contacts and keep the door open for other unique opportunities. This decision paid off in May of 2008, when she was asked to fill in three days a week for an employee on maternity leave. Fortunately, DeFranco was able to schedule all of her summer classes for Tuesdays and Thursdays, so she could maintain the position at the Chamber until the fall.

Another of DeFranco’s friends encouraged her to join the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). As a pre-professional organization, PRSSA enhances its members’ professional networks, real-world skills, and experience. Since DeFranco joined in 2007, the group has significantly increased their involvement with Drexel, the Philadelphia region and the PRSSA National Outreach. In April of 2008, DeFranco became co-president of the PRSSA, and then became the sole president the following year. Since that time, she has overseen the creation of PRSSA’s own nationally-affiliated public relations firm, 33rd Street Public Relations, and the chapter has tripled in membership. Currently, she is working to increase the regional network by collaborating with schools such as Temple, Rowan and Villanova.

By the time her third co-op cycle came around, DeFranco’s previous experiences had garnered her several different job offers. She found herself torn between two significantly different positions: one as a full-time event coordinator at a small non-profit events group in Blue Bell, PA, and the other in the IT Communications Department at the global pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). DeFranco decided to accept the IT position at GSK in order to gain experience in a large corporate setting and further expand her diverse set of job skills. With a global headquarters in London, a domestic headquarters in Raleigh, and numerous other sites all over the world, DeFranco was confident that GSK could provide a unique, international experience. Working in a completely new field, she learned HTML coding to update the GSK website and was given the opportunity to write articles, plan events, and create marketing slide decks that had a global reach. DeFranco used every opportunity to make herself visible to upper management and, much like her other co-ops, she was invited to stay on as a part-time employee after the co-op position ended.

DeFranco on her graduation day. When DeFranco arrived at Drexel in 2005, her ambitions were similar to most: she wanted to gain the experience necessary to find a job that she loved and that would allow her to one day make a comfortable living. As she prepares now to graduate with two degrees and three unique co-ops decorating her resume, she is closer than ever to that goal.

Dena Summers, director of IT strategic planning and communications at GSK, recently recommended DeFranco for a cooperative education award through the Steinbright Career Development Center: “I know I speak for the whole team when I say that we feel comfortable giving Frannie any level of work...Since her first day at GSK, [she] has been an innovative thinker. In fact, we have implemented many of her ideas...[including] an IT-wide (5,500 employees) calendar for all volunteer events. [Frannie] has exemplified the true value of the co-op program.”

“I am confident that Drexel has prepared me for my next step in the post-college world,” says Defranco. And she isn’t the only one; GSK recently expressed their confidence in DeFranco by offering her a full-time position in one of their highly-competitive development programs. The program exposes employees to various groups across the IT department, training them to assume a leadership position after one year. DeFranco has accepted the position and will start work in September of 2010.

Beyond DeFranco’s dedication to academics and professional work experience, she has been consistently open to participating in a number of extracurricular activities. “One of the most wonderful things about Drexel is the opportunities that come up through your network of friends,” said DeFranco.

College is about defining the person you want to become. For DeFranco and many others, the co-op program provides a diverse selection of life experiences to help them decide which identity fits best. But while Drexel provides the environment for students to reach their fullest potential, it is their initiative and hard work that determines the extent of their success. DeFranco’s college career quintessentially represents how to take advantage of every opportunity Drexel offers.

In September of 2008, one friend encouraged her to get involved with marketing for CBS College Sports. This provided her with experience in brand management and intramural coordination, as she hosted POWERADE samplings at intramural events around campus.

When DeFranco arrived at Drexel in 2005, her ambitions were similar to most: she wanted to gain the experience necessary to find a job that she loved and that would allow her to one day make a comfortable living.

ask | Major Research Grants Awarded

Major Research Grants Awarded 2009-2010

Biology

Mathematics

Dr. Gail Hearn, research professor, was awarded a three-year grant of $900,000 from the ExxonMobil Foundation for her project “Biodiversity Conservation on Bioko Island Through a Capacity-Building Program of Research, Education and Outreach with the National University of Equatorial Guinea.”

Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, associate professor, was awarded a $264,000 grant by the NSF for his project “Distributions for Optical Design.” Dr. Douglas J. Wright, assistant professor, is the co-PI for the project. Dr. Hugo Woerdeman, professor and department head, Dr. Dmitry Kaliuzhnyi-Verbovetskyi, assistant professor, and Dr. Anatolii Grinshpan, assistant teaching professor, received a three-year, $475,578 grant from the NSF for their project “Decompositions for Multivariable Schur-class Functions, Christoffel-Darboux Type Formulas, and Related Problems.”

Dr. Daniel Marenda, assistant professor, was awarded a three-year R21 grant for $412,500 from the NIH to study CHARGE syndrome in a Drosophila model. Dr. Jeffery Twiss, professor and department head, was awarded a two-year grant of approximately $120,000 from the International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia for his project titled “Integration of Injury Response through Axonal mRNA Transport.”

Dr. Thomas Yu, associate professor, received a three-year NSF grant of $175,573 for his project “Multi-scale Modeling and Approximation in Novel Geometric and Nonlinear Settings.”

Paul UIlman, Ph.D. candidate in biology under Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, was awarded the very competitive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. The award is for $40,500 per year for three years. Ullman is pursuing groundbreaking topics in molecular paleontology.

Physics

Drs. David Goldberg and Gordon Richards, associate professors, were awarded a $149,998 grant from the NSF for their project “Where is the Information in Cluster Lensing?” This is a collaborative project with the Institute for Advanced Study and the California Institute of Technology.

Chemistry

Dr. Lynn Penn, professor and department head, received a three-year NSF grant in the amount of $249,801 for her project “Cyber Enabled Spectrometer Equipment.”

Dr. Charles Lane, professor, received a three-year grant award for $310,000 from the Department of Energy to support the project, “Physics at KamLAND and Double Chooz.”

Dr. Kevin Shuford, assistant professor, received a grant for $60,000 from Oak Ridge Laboratories for his project “Fluid Interface Reactions.”

Dr. Jelena Maricic, assistant professor, and Dr. Charles Lane, professor, received a three-year grant for $298,380 from the University of California, Davis, to support “A Proposal to Design a Megaton-Scale Water Cerenkov Detector for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab.”

Culture and Communication

Dr. Robert D’Ovidio, assistant professor, received a oneyear, $488,615 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to study crime and victimization in virtual communities and online gaming worlds. The grant also involves creating a corresponding training course for the law enforcement community. The grant is a partnership between Drexel and Drakontas, LLC.

Dr. Jelena Maricic, assistant professor, received a three-year grant for $300,000 from the Department of Energy to support her research on “Enhancing the Precision of Low Energy Neutrino Experiments with Nobel Calibration Technique.” Dr. Stephen L. McMillan, professor, received a three-year grant award for $443,768 from the NSF to support his research on “MRI-R2: Acquisition of a GPU-accelerated High-Performance Computing Cluster.”

English Language Center

Dr. Barbara Hoekje, director, and Reese Heitner, instructor, were awarded a research grant for $41,267 from the IELTS joint-funded research program for their project, “Keys to College: Tracking IELTS Test Performance within a One-Year Conditional Admissions Undergraduate Program.” The project will track international students in the “Drexel International Gateway” program.

Dr. Stephen L. McMillan, professor, and Dr. Enrico Vesperini, research professor, were awarded a $165,085 grant from the NSF for their project “Exploring the Use of Immersive Virtual Reality Technologies for Scientific Research, Communication, and Outreach.” This is a collaborative project with the Institute for Advanced Study and the California Institute of Technology.

Dr. Kevin Olson, research professor, received a three-year grant for $107,129 from NASA to support his project “Development and Modification of Numerical Algorithms for 1D Hydrodynamics and 3D Magnetohydrodynamics Adaptive-Mesh Refinement Codes.”

Dr. Dave DeMatteo, assistant professor, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association, was awarded an 18-month, $400,000 grant for his project using forensic peer specialists in training counties to divert and appropriately treat defendants with mental illness and substance abuse.

Drs. Gordon Richards and Michael Vogeley, associate professors, received a one-year grant for $40,000 to support their project “Mid-IR through UV SEDsof Type 1 SDSS Quasars.”

Dr. Evan Forman, associate professor, received an NIH grant for $422,000 for his project “Acceptance-Based Behavior Treatment: An Innovative Weight Control Intervention.”

Dr. Somdev Tyagi, professor, received a one-year grant from NTI/PChem for $75,000 to support his research on “Detection of Viruses and Bacteria in Environmental Samples using Surface-enhanced Raman Scatter (SERS) Substrates Based on Silver Nanoparticle Inks.”

Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, professor and department head, and Dr. Dave DeMatteo, assistant professor, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh and the National GAINS Center, received a two-year $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to establish the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence. The Center will provide training and consultation to Pennsylvania counties seeking to divert those with mental illness and substance abuse from standard criminal prosecution.

Drs. Brigita Urbanc and Luis Cruz Cruz, associate professors, received a $583,000 grant for their project “Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics of AB Folding and Assembly.” The project will explore, using a hierarchy of computational approaches, folding and assembly of the amyloid-beta protein, which is strongly linked to pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Maria Schultheis, associate professor, received a threeyear grant award for $461,690 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to support her research project “Examining the Relationship between MS Progression and Driving.”

Dr. Enrico Vesperini, research professor, received a three-year grant award for $289,155 from NASA to support his research on “Multiple Stellar Populations in Globular Clusters.”

Interdepartmental

Psychology

Dr. Amy Slaton, associate professor of history and politics, and Dr. Mary Ebeling, assistant professor of sociology, received a $325,000 grant from the NSF for their project, “Two-Year Colleges and the Invention of Nano Labor: Between Promise and Possibility.” Slaton and Ebeling will be studying academic-industrial partnerships intended to train workforces for high-tech industrial operations and will focus on the efficacy of a specific nano-training initiative in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Dr. Meghan Butryn, research assistant professor, and colleagues were awarded a $3.1 million grant from the NIH to conduct a clinical trial titled “Eating Disorders Prevention: An Effectiveness Trial for At-Risk College Students.” This five-year project will be conducted in collaboration with Oregon Research Institute and University of Texas-Austin. Butryn is the principal investigator for the Drexel site, which constitutes $707,000 of the project, and is co-PI for the project nationally.

Research Expenditures

Total Research Awards $12,000,000

$20,000,000

$10,000,000 $15,000,000

$8,000,000 $6,000,000

$10,000,000

$4,000,000 $5,000,000 0

$2,000,000 0

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

ask | Major Faculty and Student Honors

Major Faculty and Student Honors 2009-2010

Faculty

Dr. Rachel R. Reynolds, associate professor of communication, will be spending a 2010-2011 sabbatical year as a Fulbright scholar in Cameroon. While in the capital, Reynolds will be teaching graduate courses in discourse analysis and sociolinguistics at the University of Yaounde, and conducting research on language learning and migration in a society undergoing long-term brain drain.

Dr. Susan Kilham, professor of biology, was elected Chair of the Science and Technical Advisory Committee for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. This group of scientists from academia, government, NGOs and industry oversees and assesses the scientific work taking place in the Delaware Estuary region and reports regularly on the state of the estuary. Dr. James D. Herbert, professor of psychology and associate dean, was elected Fellow of the Institute for Science in Medicine. This prestigious body is a policy institute made up of leading scientists, physicians, and public health experts devoted to the application of science as the basis for healthcare.

Dr. Mimi Sheller, professor of sociology and director of the Center for Mobilities Research and Policy, was awarded a Penn Humanities Forum Regional Faculty Fellowship for 2010-2011. Sheller will be presenting her project on “Virtual Caribbeans: Inventing Island Edens, Economies, and Elsewheres.”

Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, professor of mathematics, was the recipient of the Drexel University Research Achievement Award, which recognizes one faculty member annually who exemplifies excellence in research and scholarship.

Susan Spaid, adjunct professor of philosophy, is a recipient of a 2010 National Endowment for the Arts Grant Award for a project proposed for the Abington Art Center in Jenkintown. Dr. Jeffery Twiss, professor and department head of biology, was invited to join the editorial board of the Molecular and Cellular Proteomics Journal.

Dr. John Kounios, professor of psychology, was elected Fellow by the Association for Psychological Science (APA). Fellow status is awarded to APS members who have made sustained outstanding contributions to the science of psychology.

CoAS Annual Faculty Awards

Dr. Julie Mostov, professor of political science, received the Bronze Award for the Association of Borderland Studies Book Award 2010 for her book, Soft Borders: Rethinking Sovereignty and Democracy.

Dr. David Ambrose, assistant professor of mathematics, and Dr. Mary Ebeling, assistant professor of sociology, were the recipients of the Antelo Devereux Award for Young Faculty. The awards will support the research projects of both faculty members: Ambrose will continue his work in theoretical fluid mechanics on the project, “Simulation and Mathematical Analysis of Water Waves,” while Ebeling will continue her fieldwork on nanomanufacturing and workforce development with her project, “Translational Machines: Nanobiotechnologies in Two Postindustrial Regions: Philadelphia and Milan.”

Dr. Donna Murasko, professor of biology and dean, was elected Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Murasko was elected for her distinguished contributions to molecular biology, particularly for her studies on influenza and the elderly, and for her contributions to education as dean.

Dr. Susan Stein, assistant professor of communication, was the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes one faculty member annually who demonstrates excellence and innovation in teaching.

Dr. Erik P. Rau, assistant teaching professor of history, was appointed Vice Chairman of the Delaware Humanities Council. Rau helped secure and will oversee a $90,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support state-wide programs exploring Delaware’s industrial heritage and legacy.

Students

Gabriela Blanco, Ph.D. candidate in biology under Dr. James Spotila, received a research fellowship award from the Wildlife Conservation Society. Chris Coughenour, Ph.D. candidate in biology under Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, received the Geological Society of America research and travel award. The Drexel Chapter of the Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society received its second consecutive national Chapter Project Award from the American Institute of Physics. These annual awards recognize chapter efforts to raise public awareness of the honor society, build Sigma Pi Sigma’s student/alumni community, and promote inter-chapter activities. The project was spearheaded by Jerome Mlack and Vede Ramdass, senior physics majors. The chapter is mentored by Dr. Roberto Ramos. The Drexel Chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) received their fourth consecutive National Marsh White Outreach Award from the American Institute of Physics for their proposal, “Hollywood Physics: An Outreach Event.” The group visited local high school classes to view and critique Hollywood movie clips using physics principles, discussing the “good” and “bad” physics in each film. The project was led by undergraduates Wendy Harris, Amanda White, Nick Kruczek and Jerome Mlack. The SPS also received its second Undergraduate Research Award, for a proposal written by Kenneth Mui, Amanda White, Jerome Mlack and Sajjan Mehta. Dr. Roberto Ramos is the faculty advisor for the SPS.

Pubudu Galwaduge, senior physics major, won the Best Physics Poster Award at the 2010 March Meeting of the American Physical Society in Portland for his poster “Laser Induced Structural Modification in Single-layer and Bilayer Graphene.” The work was done under the direction of Dr. Roberto Ramos. Sarrina Shraga and Harrison Clark, seniors in chemistry, were awarded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) fellowships from the NSF to work with Dr. Alan Bandy, R.S. Hanson Professor of Chemistry. Dan Tedesco, junior international area studies major, was selected from a competitive pool of nationwide applicants to be a Student Ambassador at the United States Pavilion of the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Tedesco has studied abroad at Peking University and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Paul Ullmann, Ph.D. candidate in biology under Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, received the Drexel Provost Fellowship, which is awarded annually to top graduate student recruits. Amanda White, junior in physics, and Daniel Verbaro, junior in the accelerated BS/MS program in biology & chemistry, achieved national distinction as the recipients of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

62 ask | 6 Questions for 2 Goldwater Scholars

Questions

FOR

Amanda White

Goldwater ScholArs

Daniel Verbaro

This year, CoAS undergraduates Amanda White and Daniel Verbaro achieved national distinction as recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious award recognizing students in the sciences, mathematics and engineering who have the potential to significantly impact their field. White and Verbaro were among only 278 students chosen out of 1,111 nominees nationwide.

ask: What is your area of interest?

White is currently pursuing a B.S. in physics with a concentration in astrophysics, while Verbaro is in a accelerated degree program, pursuing a B.S. in biology and a M.S. in chemistry. Ask recently sat down with the two to learn more about what it takes to be a Goldwater Scholar.

DV: My goal is to contribute as much as I can to furthering science. That may be a bit of a vague answer, but the field is growing rapidly and you never know what new questions might arise. The Goldwater Scholarship really allows me to continue my education.

Daniel Verbaro: Physical chemistry. Amanda White: Observational astronomy.

ask: What are your career goals and how will the Goldwater Scholarship help you achieve them?

AW: As of right now, my goals include going to graduate school and pursuing a Ph.D. in astronomy. Eventually I would like to go into instrumentation and develop new types of telescopes that will allow astronomers to see deeper and learn more about the universe.

ask: What intrigues you most about your research? DV: The unknown; because if everything was in a textbook, life would be boring. AW: One of the most interesting things about my research is seeing all of the different shapes of interacting galaxies. The same physics drives each interaction but, depending on the starting positions, each galaxy pair interacts differently.

ask: How has Drexel helped prepare you for your future academic and professional endeavors? DV: The Maryanoff Summer Research Fellowship at Drexel exposed me to research and to Dr. Reinhard Schweitzer-Stenner, who is a great mentor. He really gave me the opportunity to be active in science. AW: I can’t speak for all Drexel science programs but I do know from experience that the physics program here is worth a second look. The coursework is rigorous and the freshman sequence starts you off on a slightly different path from other universities, but it really helped to kick-start my career as a scientist. Drexel prepares you to excel outside of the classroom, and I believe it is that kind of focus that allows students to achieve their goals academically as well.

ask: Did any Drexel faculty play a role in your becoming a Goldwater scholar? DV: Again, I cannot emphasize enough that my relationship with [Dr. Schweitzer-Stenner] is really the reason for where I am with science. I am very grateful. AW: I am positive that I had strong recommendation letters because I am active in the department as a researcher and as a member of the Society of Physics Students. I was able to have faculty members look over my research essay and offer comments to make it better, which was very helpful.

ask: What words of wisdom do you have for current and prospective Drexel students? DV: I live by a quote from my idol, Michael Jordan: “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” (Hall of Fame Speech) AW: Find what excites you and pursue it. Drexel presents you with a lot of opportunities; your job is to take those opportunities and put them to your advantage. Talk to faculty and talk to other students. There are a myriad of clubs and research options available—you just need to know where to look for them.

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