SCIENCE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ANNUAL 2015-16
Message from the Dean THE FUTURE
Welcome to the 2015-16 College of Science annual magazine. The publication you now hold is remarkably different from previous issues. Yes, it looks at some of our best accomplishments from the past 12 or so months, awards won, and vital faculty appointments made, but in these pages we are looking at the future of the College of Science. It is a future of endless opportunity and tremendous growth. To paraphrase the brand mantra of Virginia Tech, we are inventing our future. And we are doing so right now. Our cover story focuses on Harald Sontheimer, who joined our faculty from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in June to head our School of Neuroscience program, a partnership with our friends at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke. As this publication goes to press, we are interviewing and hiring faculty, and recruiting undergraduate students who in four years’ time will graduate as neuroscientists. Each week for several months, Harald has tirelessly split his time between our offices on campus and offices in Roanoke’s medical district. His work is laying a great foundation that will make the College of Science a destination university for students from across the nation and around the world. Also interviewed in this issue is Mark Embree, leader of our Computational Modeling and Data Analytics (CMDA) program (part of our emerging Academy of Integrated Science), which is accepting new students who will be among a true first class of Hokie data scientists. We also include profiles of Tim Warburton, the newly appointed John K. Costain Faculty Chair and affiliated faculty member in CMDA; Sudipta Sarangi, our new head of the Department of Economics; and Ron Fricker, the new head of the Department of Statistics. The coming years will be as exciting for the College of Science as was our founding at Virginia Tech 12 years ago. And more change is coming in 2016. This introductory letter may well be my last as dean of the College of Science. In July, I will step aside and return to the classroom and labs of Virginia Tech. I want to thank all of my fellow faculty, staff, alumni, and especially our students, who have made serving as dean since the college’s founding in 2003 the zenith of my academic life. I will always treasure the opportunity I had to serve as leader of this college, and for the countless opportunities I had to learn about new discoveries and innovation every day. May we continue to invent the future at the College of Science.
Lay Nam Chang Dean, College of Science
ADMINISTRATION Lay Nam Chang Dean Randy Heflin Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Gary L. Long Associate Dean for Curriculum and Instruction J.P. Morgan Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Janet Sanders Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration Jerry Via Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Instruction Michel Pleiming Director of Academy of Integrated Science Harald Sontheimer Executive Director for School of Neuroscience ADVANCEMENT Jenny Orzolek Director of Development Steven Mackay Director of Communications Katie Lafon Director of Alumni Relations Tim Howland Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations DEPARTMENT HEADS Glenda Gillaspy Biochemistry Brenda Winkel Biological Sciences Jim Tanko Chemistry Sudipta Sarangi Economics Nancy Ross Geosciences Peter Haskell Mathematics Patrick Huber Physics Bob Stephens Psychology Ronald D. Fricker Jr. Statistics
SCIENCE 2015-16
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Tim Warburton brings highperformance computing expertise
Ron Fricker joins Tech to head Department of Statistics
Graduate statistics program renamed to honor alumna
Sudipta Sarangi takes lead of Department of Economics
The big data degree: a Q & A with Mark Embree
10 15 16 18 20 The School of Neuroscience is off to a fast start under Harald Sontheimer
Virginia names Timothy Long as Outstanding Scientist
Pigments found in fossils reveal true colors of the extinct
Three students with Goldwater Scholarships
Virginia Tech honors undergraduate student Jessica Li
About the cover: This confocal microscopic image shows cultured astrocytes from a mouse brain, stained with an antibody against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in green. Additionally, the cytoskeleton of the cells has been visualized using antibodies against actin (red) and tubulin (blue). This image is from a study that assessed responses of astrocytes to injury in an in vitro scratch test. Credit: Stefanie Robel, research assistant professor, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status; or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees, or applicants; or any other basis protected by law. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, contact the Office of Equity and Access at 540-231-2010 or Virginia Tech, North End Center, Suite 2300 (0318), 300 Turner St. NW, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Printed by University Printing Services VT/0316/28.5K/1613016/SCI2015-0182/TP
www.science.vt.edu College of Science Administration (0405) Suite 4300 300 Turner Street NW Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5422 smackay@vt.edu
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On Nov. 6, Tim Warburton presented the inaugural John K. Costain Faculty Chair Lecture to a packed room of students, faculty, alumni, and members of the Dean’s Roundtable at the Skelton Alumni Conference Center.
Tim Warburton brings expertise in algorithms for high-performance computing to Virginia Tech By Steven Mackay
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imothy Warburton, the John K. Costain Faculty Chair in the Department of Mathematics, joined the Virginia Tech faculty this past year from Rice University. He will play a significant role in the university’s new Division of Computational Modeling and Data Analytics (CMDA), part of the new undergraduate curriculum in the Academy of Integrated Science within the College of Science.
The John K. Costain Faculty Chair was established through a gift made in 2007 by alumnus David Worthington and his wife, Beverly, and is named for Worthington’s mentor, a professor of geophysics in the Department of Geosciences. Costain was a Virginia Tech faculty member for 29 years until he retired in 1996. He passed away in March 2015 at the age of 85.
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Warburton is developing his own research program in mathematical geophysics that will relate to the petroleum industry. His research focuses on creating robust, accurate, and scalable algorithms for computationally solving partial differential equations. He has made fundamental contributions to the development of high-order finite element methods for wave-dominated physical phenomena. His work in this area culminated in the nodal discontinuous Galerkin method and related algorithms for high-performance computing that are being used in industrial applications. His past and future works continue to influence these important research areas. “As an achieved scholar and researcher working at the interface between applied mathematics and physical sciences, Tim Warburton will have a huge impact on the Division of Computational Modeling and Data Analytics,” said Michel Pleimling, director of the academy and a professor with the Department of Physics. “Through his outstanding ex-
pertise in applied computation, Tim will be instrumental in growing the CMDA community and attracting the brightest students and faculty to this innovative new program.” Warburton has received more than $3 million in research funding. He has published 42 journal articles, 28 conference proceedings papers, two book chapters, and a highly regarded graduate textbook that has been translated into Chinese, and he has delivered more than 100 invited talks. He has served on several editorial boards and is an associate editor of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Journal on Scientific Computing. From 2001 to 2004, Warburton was a faculty member at the University of New Mexico. He also has served as a consultant for Hypercomp Inc. and Brown University’s Division of Applied Mathematics, and has served as a visiting researcher at Shell Technology Center in Houston, Texas. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from Oxford University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics from Brown University.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ANNUAL
Statistics Department of
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on Fricker joined Virginia Tech as a professor and head of the Department of Statistics in summer 2015.
Fricker brings more than 20 years of statistics experience, including work in both corporate and academic settings. He most recently served as a professor in the Operations Research Department at the Naval Postgraduate School in California. He has conducted research on a wide variety of topics, including Gulf War illnesses, military recruiting and retention, disease detection and surveillance, and body armor testing. He is recognized for his research in quality control and statistical process control; statistical methods for biosurveillance, survey design, and analysis; and data analytics and data science. “It is an honor and a privilege to join the Virginia Tech faculty and to be a member of the statistics department,” said Fricker. “The department has a long and distinguished history. With roots that go back to 1935, it is one of the earliest statistics departments in the United States.” Before joining the Naval Postgraduate School, Fricker was associate director of the U.S. National Security Research Division and a senior statistician at the RAND Corp. While at RAND, he was responsible for overseeing a $40 million research portfolio. “Virginia Tech is fortunate to have such a talented individual joining our faculty as a department head,” said Lay Nam Chang, dean of the College of Science. Eric Smith, the former statistics department head, said Fricker’s connections
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gets a leader By Mark Owczarski
and experience will provide new opportunities for funded research and collaboration. “Ron brings an expertise in biosurveillance and military applications, along with an enthusiasm for teaching,” he said.
“It’s an exciting time to be a statistician,” added Fricker. “Today big data are everywhere — and so are all other types of data. We statisticians are at the forefront of helping scientists, government policymakers, and private industry make sense of this tidal wave of data for the betterment of science and humankind. And, heck, it’s now cool to be a statistician. Just a few years ago, Google’s chief economist said, ‘The sexy job in the next 10 years will be statisticians.’ How great is that?” Fricker’s most recent research focuses on developing new spatio-temporal algorithms for biosurveillance, which is used in event detection and situational awareness, as well as methods for optimizing the performance of biosurveillance systems. His research also includes assessing the effects of individual augmentation deployment on naval personnel retention, exploring federal support to state and local organizations for domestic terrorism preparedness, and investigating the use of pesticides by U.S. forces during the Gulf War. In recognition of his contributions to the field of statistics, Fricker is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA). He also is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and a former chairman of the ASA Section of Statistics in Defense and National Security.
“In spite of its reputation, learning and applying statistics can be a lot of fun,” said Fricker. “The famous statistician John Tukey once said, ‘The best thing about being a statistician is that you get to play in everyone’s backyard.’ What he meant is that statisticians get to apply their skills to almost every type of problem imaginable. In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on public health problems, public policy problems, military problems, and problems in private industry.” Fricker has published research often in both statistical and professional journals. He is a contributing editor for Interfaces, a journal focused on operations research and management science and its impact on organizations around the world. He also is a member of the editorial boards for Statistics, Politics, and Policy and the International Journal of Quality Engineering and Technology. Fricker received his bachelor’s degree with merit in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy, his master’s degree in operations research from The George Washington University, and a master’s degree and a doctorate in statistics from Yale University.
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Statistics
program gets a new name By Annie McCallum
Virginia Tech’s graduate program in statistics has been named in recognition of Jean Dickinson Gibbons, a generous benefactor and alumna of the program.
Gibbons, from Vero Beach, Florida, an accomplished and renowned statistician, has enhanced the historic reputation of the statistics program and given generously to the school. She earned a doctoral degree in statistics from Virginia Tech in 1962, at the age of 24. “I loved everything about the program as a student and have watched it grow over the years,” Gibbons said. “I’m very proud to have my name attached.” The Virginia Tech Department of Statistics is the third-oldest department of its kind in the U.S. and has approximately 100 full-time graduate students. The Jean Dickinson Gibbons Graduate Program in Statistics focuses on theory, but emphasizes practical applications as well. After her time at Tech, Gibbons taught at several universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Alabama, from which she retired in 1995. During her career, Gibbons also conducted research, testified before congressional committees, and authored 10 scholarly books. Her first book, on nonparametric statistical inference, was published in 1970. It is now in its fifth edition. As a young woman in statistics in the 1960s, Gibbons was a minority in the field. She blazed a path for women and has been a role model for many. A Fellow of the American Statistical Association, she served as a board member for that association for four terms and was the first chair of the Committee on Women in Statistics.
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Before studying at Virginia Tech, Gibbons earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in mathematics from Duke University. She completed much of her doctorate course work at Columbia University, but contacted Boyd Harshbarger, who was then chairman of the statistics department at Virginia Tech, to ask if she could finish her degree there. “He said he would be delighted to have me,” Gibbons recalled, adding that officials at the university even waived the residency requirement for her. “I felt like I might not have even completed the Ph.D. degree had it not been for professors at Virginia Tech that were so welcoming to me. I will just always be grateful.” Gibbons has been recognized in the President’s Circle of the Ut Prosim Society, the university’s most prestigious donor recognition society. She also has made a generous commitment of support from her estate. Her gifts support scholarships for statistics graduate students. “Jean’s life and professional legacy set a standard for scholars everywhere,” said Eric Smith, a professor who served as department head for several years until summer 2015. “We are honored by her enduring allegiance to the Virginia Tech Department of Statistics and grateful for her tangible support. Future generations of graduate students will benefit from both her generosity and her example. “Nothing could be more fitting,” than naming the program the Jean Dickinson Gibbons Graduate Program in Statistics, Smith added. COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ANNUAL
SUDIPTA
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udipta Sarangi joined Virginia Tech in July 2015 as a professor and head of the Department of Economics. He previously served as program director for economics at the National Science Foundation. Even before his hire, he was well known to the Hokie community as both a student and a visiting professor. Sarangi has worked in the academic world for most of his career, beginning as a research assistant while a graduate student. His research interests include applied game theory, experimental economics, and development economics. Much of his current research focuses on issues relating to social networks.
“We are thrilled to have such a distinguished scholar among us at Virginia Tech,” said College of Science Dean Lay Nam Chang. Prior to working for the National Science Foundation, Sarangi was a professor of economics at Louisiana State University, where he was the Gulf Coast Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Inc. Distinguished Professor of Business Administration. He has been a visiting researcher at several institutions, including Purdue University in spring 2008 and at Virginia Tech in fall 2007. He also has been a consultant to the World Bank and the Food and Agricultural Organization. “His experience with interdisciplinary research at the National Science Foundation will enable him to lead our faculty in integrating their scholarship with work done by other scholars at Virginia Tech,” said Nicolaus Tideman, former economics department head. science.vt.edu
takes lead of
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS By Katherine Wells
Sarangi has more than 50 published papers and worked with researchers in computer science, mathematics, and industrial engineering. He has received nearly $1 million in funded research for topics that include building social networks, modeling hurricane evacuation behavior, and how people make choices. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Homeland Security, and the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency. In recognition of his contributions to the academic world, Sarangi won numerous awards and grants at Louisiana State University, including the Tiger Athletic Foundation Teaching Award, LSU Rainmaker Award, and the LSU Distinguished Faculty award. Sarangi serves the economics community as a member of the American Economic Association, the Royal Economic Society, the Econometric Society, and the Game Theory Society. He is an associate editor for the Southern Economic Journal and Studies in Microeconomics. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi, a master’s degree from the Delhi School of Economics, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.
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G BI DATA The
degree
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ark Embree, a 1996 Virginia Tech graduate with a double major in computer science and math, was subsequently named a Rhodes Scholar (one of only two Hokies to claim the prize; the other is William Lewis, a College of Science physics alum) and then became a mathematics professor at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He returned to Blacksburg in 2014.
Embree came back to Virginia Tech to help lead the new computational modeling and data analytics (CMDA) major, part of the College of Science’s burgeoning Academy of Integrated Science. He calls the CMDA division “one of the most innovative programs in exactly my research area,” coupled with a great team of faculty and an exciting vision for the future. Embree is passionate about mathematics and CMDA, and students are catching onto this excitement.
Q: Several new College of Science programs have recently
been unveiled to undergraduates, including the degree in computational modeling and data analytics. This new major will emphasize big data?
A: The new degree will combine modern algorithms for han-
dling big data with related skills in mathematical modeling and high-performance computing. Our whole team was excited that the CMDA degree got approved so quickly. Eric Smith, a professor in statistics, did a wonderful job leading this endeavor. The state of Virginia recognizes CMDA as a timely and important degree, as do our students. There is a real buzz, especially among younger students, when they hear about these new courses. Industry shares this enthusiasm. Their early support was a key part of the degree proposal, and they are eager for students to get this degree. Often I’m asked, “Can I hire your first 10 graduates?”
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Q: Are CMDA programs for undergraduates unique across the country?
A: There are a number of programs working in a similar spirit,
including a number of data analytics programs at the professional master’s level. Our program is unusual because it starts at the undergraduate level and combines both computational modeling and data analytics. The mixture of the two is a key and distinguishing feature. We talk about big data, petabytes of data — mega, giga, tera, and peta data — coming so fast we can’t even look at it all. Data scientists seek algorithms that don’t even touch each piece of data, so we have to build an algorithm that gives us confidence in our sample in an intelligent way.
Q: How much is a petabyte? What would give you that kind of data?
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Consider the Internet. Think about the billions of Web users, and all the websites, and the interactions between users and sites. If every user hits a hundred sites and you want to correlate the two and then predict traffic and do it over time, that’s a ton of data. And that’s before you even get to scientific measurements. Closer to home with our partners at the College of Engineering, Goodwin Hall pulls 2 gigabytes to 4 gigabytes of data per hour through more than 220 sensors installed throughout the building. You have all this sensor data, but what do you want from it? Do you want to figure out how the building is settling over time? Or how many people are walking down the hall? Or who those people might be? The information we extract from the larger data set may be
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This program is designed for students who have a deep curiosity about how the world works and enjoy using math to solve practical problems.”
very different depending on what we’re trying to find out. Ultimately, we would like to use this data to make the building a “first responder” during a crisis, a step toward connected cities made up of networked smart buildings.
Q: Who should consider applying for the CMDA degree? A:
This program is designed for students who have a deep curiosity about how the world works and enjoy using math to solve practical problems. Traditional scientists, such as those in physics and biology, who want to hone their ability to develop computer simulations, will find it appealing. So will students who enjoy computer programming, and want to apply those skills to code up large-scale scientific simulations. Many will get excited by the opportunity to create algorithms — writing a program with the goal of modeling some aspect of the world, which can range from physical science, to biology, to economics, to sociology. At the same time, this degree isn’t for everyone. Those who think analysis only requires clicking a button should probably consider other options. We’re looking for students who want to dig deep and understand how to design methods best suited for the problem at hand, so (that) they discover why something doesn’t work or runs too slowly, and figure how to make it better.
Q: Beyond the computing, and statistics, and math, is there
an element of ethics involved with the handling and manipulation of large quantities of data?
A:
It’s more than an element. Ethical considerations are a critical component of the program. If I design a model and present it to a general audience, few people will be able to challenge the veracity of the model. Math is a perishable skill and if you don’t use it, you lose it. Mathematical models can be intimidating to outsiders, so there is a real responsibility on the part of those who design the models to explain not only their accuracy, but also their limits and governing assumptions. When public servants formulate policy based on models, they must understand the accuracy of the underlying analysis. Models can affect many lives. So, our students will learn, not in an abstract way, but by working on their own applications, where
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a variety of ethical questions will arise in a natural context. This experience will take place in our senior-level CMDA capstone class, which will be a key vehicle for drawing together many lessons from throughout the curriculum.
Q: What kind of job prospects can CMDA graduates expect to find?
A: It’s difficult to provide an exhaustive list because so many
people we’ve spoken with want to hire students with the skills and background our graduates will have. Almost every startup in Silicon Valley, California, seeks this talent. They need the best algorithms and they need employees who can give them an edge by developing custom algorithms tailored to their data sets and business model. The same applies to the energy, finance, and healthcare sectors.
Our graduates also will be appealing for the many Northern Virginia companies consulting in cybersecurity and defense. Essentially every company that hires engineers can benefit from the special skills our students will have as the first graduates enter the workforce in 2017. Companies won’t find many undergraduates in the United States who have this preparation. I’ve spoken to members of software companies who have said they write job descriptions for these skills and can’t find people to fill the vacancies. Whenever I’ve talked to industry, I’ve explained that our CMDA graduates will have mathematical skills, statistical skills, and big-data algorithmic skills, coupled with high-performance computing skills. They say that’s exactly what they need. When I meet with industry representatives, I always ask them, “What skills do you want our students to know?” Their insights will help keep our curriculum fresh and relevant.
Q: What kind of game changer is the CMDA program in regard to the pace of innovation and our ability to move down a path toward a new product, or result, or breakthrough?
A: The skills at the heart of the CMDA program have revolutionized our approach to science, manufacturing, business, and even our personal interactions through social networks.
Consider the design of a jet. Simulation once required patternmakers and machinists to make prototypes to be tested in wind tunnels. Effective algorithms and high-performance computing have all but created simulation science, through which we develop not just a handful of prototypes, but a full continuum of prototypes from which we can select a design that is optimal — provided the underlying model is correct. Model designers are heirs to the craft legacy of those patternmakers: great attention to detail and exacting standards are needed to get the model right.
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Now the next exciting step is to rapidly realize optimal designs through the use of additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing. This pairing lets us not only try multiple designs, but also produce customized parts and quickly test new models. We’ll be developing a physical lab as part of the CMDA program. In this space, students will understand how a model and its accompanying computer simulation agree with a real experiment. The experiment then becomes a source of data for uncertainty quantification and further statistical studies. Physical experiments and real, messy data will be at the core of the curriculum.
Q:
The program is inherently multidisciplinary, but does it take advantage of collaboration between departments and disciplines?
A:
Absolutely. Computer science, mathematics, and statistics collaborate on the core of the curriculum. A key 12-credit sophomore sequence is team-taught by a statistician and a mathematician.
Mark Embree demonstrates a Chladni plate, which creates patterns in sand in response to audio vibrations.
But we want our students to go beyond these natural interdisciplinary connections. Collaboration with experts in an application discipline is essential when developing a model, with its inherent assumptions, or analyzing a data set, rich with subterranean meaning. We emphasize the need for collaborative problem-solving: In isolation, a mathematician can find a satisfying solution, but when they present it to the scientist or policymaker who posed the problem, they may discover that they have answered the wrong question. So the interdisciplinary spirit the program engenders is important when students go out into the workforce or pursue further academic study. You want to have someone who can say, “You know, that data just doesn’t look right — either you’ve discovered something important or you’ve made a mistake.” One of the great lessons we’ve learned from engineering is the importance of a capstone design project, which gives students tremendous opportunities to learn about teamwork and project management. They may work as part of a high-functioning team or a dysfunctional team: With proper coaching, students will learn much from the dynamics of either experience. This program certainly responds to Virginia Tech’s call to “hands-on, minds-on” learning. We faculty are privileged to have the opportunity to develop the CMDA program, and are eager to welcome new students into the major.
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is the new English major
By Ashley WennersHerron Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute
Harald Sontheimer is spearheading a new, inclusive school within the College of Science
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he neuroscience major in Virginia Tech’s College of Science wasn’t official until the fall of 2014, yet more than 150 undergraduate students had already added their names to the waiting list before then. By fall 2015, the number was at 200 and rising.
“Neuroscience is arguably one of the most popular majors, already,” said Harald Sontheimer, executive director of the School of Neuroscience within the College of Science. “Are you undecided? Get a neuroscience degree. You’ll become a fact-based individual who looks at data before introducing policy or curating an exhibit or treating a patient.” He calls the neuroscience major the new English degree — a program that will prepare students with a strong foundation for a range of careers. The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved the school in November 2015, followed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in the first quarter of 2016. Following Sontheimer’s own research parameters, students in the neuroscience degree can choose from four majors: clinical neuroscience, experimental neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and computational and systems neuroscience. In each major, students can tailor their educational goals. For instance, students in different majors might take different approaches to a project about whether vitamin D helps protect neurons in patients with multiple sclerosis. The clinical neuroscience student could examine existing data collected from patients by hospitals; the experimental neuroscience major could conduct experiments with an animal model in the laboratory; the cognitive neuroscience major could research the existing scientific literature in the library; and the computational and systems neuroscience major could extract and simulate models data from existing databases.
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“All four approaches are equally compelling and scientifically sound,” said Sontheimer. “The point of the major is to teach students to become translational, fact-based thinkers, whether they’re going to medical school, entering graduate school, or planning to go into in public policy, law, or architecture.” Translational collaboration is the key. Sontheimer is already eyeing opportunities for crossover research and interdisciplinary education with scientists at Virginia Tech. The possibilities range from art to business to media ethics, and include everything in between. “Everything in neuroscience can be quantified and analyzed. Why can’t we apply that to other disciplines?” asked Sontheimer. “We can — and we should — inspire people to think in a data-driven way.” Sontheimer, who previously was a professor with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Neurobiology, as well as director of the university’s Civitan International Research Center, is a leading expert worldwide in glial biology. This field looks at how the brain’s most abundant cell, outnumbering even neurons, behaves in health and in disease — especially in cancer. Glial cells can give rise to glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, as well as to innumerable other disorders and 5 dysfunctions in the central nervous system. The cells are still so poorly understood that experts anticipate discovering their relation to yet undiscovered diseases. Sontheimer and his colleagues hope to be part of that discovery. For known diseases, Sontheimer has made several fundamental discoveries about the molecular mechanisms of glial cells. He’s taken even greater strides toward developing therapeu-
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We can – and we should – inspire people to think in a data-driven way.”
Renowned neuroscientist Harald Sontheimer will head the Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience. He holds the I.D. Wilson Chair in the College of Science. Established in 2014 by alumnus Luther Hamlett (biology ‘45), the faculty chair is named in honor of Hamlett’s mentor, I.D. Wilson, a longtime faculty member and administrator in the Department of Biology who was instrumental in helping Hamlett with his education and career.
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COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ANNUAL
A concept drawing of Sandy Hall as it is expected to appear in 2017 after a full renovation and expansion of the building.
tics and interventions to counteract the effects of diseased glial cells. He has also broken new ground in Alzheimer’s research. He’ll continue his research as director of the newly established Glial Biology in Health, Disease, and Cancer Center at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, in addition to his role at the College of Science. “The College of Science and the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have given me the chance to stay involved in research while also educating the next generation of neuroscientists,” said Sontheimer. “We’re hoping to encourage more engagement in both Roanoke and Blacksburg.” Originally from Germany, Sontheimer earned an undergraduate degree in biophysics and fell into glial research by proximity — it’s what many of the scientists in the laboratory he worked were studying. After finishing his graduate studies, he landed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. “I hadn’t necessarily planned to make my life in the United States, but I was pulled in completely by the relationship between researchers and clinicians in this country,” said Sontheimer. “They actually talked to each other. They spoke the same language. I realized we could accomplish so much more by working together. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to build my research program here.” Sontheimer said collaborative tradition, in hand with a scientific education, could lead to an innovative kind of student. “We’re recruiting a new type of student and preparing them in a new way.” Lay Nam Chang, dean of the College of Science, said neuroscience attracts entirely different students than those who would necessarily already have interest in Virginia Tech. “We’re receiving applications with only neuroscience checked out of all of the majors at Virginia Tech,” he added. “If those students aren’t accepted into the neuroscience major, they’ll go somewhere else. They’re applying for this program.”
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A neuroscience major had been planned since the College of Science’s founding in 2003. The concept didn’t gain traction until 2011 after the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute opened its doors in Roanoke, 40 miles to the north, with neuroscientist Michael Friedlander as its founding executive director. “Michael Friedlander is a powerhouse neuroscientist, and he assembled an incredible team of world-class researchers at the institute,” said Chang. “We wanted to build upon his research program and bring a neuroscience major to undergraduate students.” Friedlander enthusiastically joined forces with Chang to recruit Sontheimer to design the program. “Dr. Sontheimer is a world-leading glial cell biologist, as well as an outstanding scientist and educator,” said Friedlander. “His reputation in research and leadership is internationally known and respected. He’s the perfect person to lead both the School of Neuroscience in Blacksburg and the Glial Biology in Health, Disease, and Cancer Center in Roanoke.” The School of Neuroscience will be headquartered in Sandy Hall, an iconic building with a Hokie Stone façade, just off the Drillfield. The exterior façade will stay mostly the same, while the building’s interior will be gutted and fully renovated with interactive classrooms, a space for potential TED-inspired talks, and even a neuroscience café. The building — 90 years old — also will get two new wings on either side for an expanded stairwell. Interior demolition is set to begin soon, with construction completion slated for mid-2017. Sontheimer splits his time between the two campuses, and he hopes more undergraduate students will brave the 45-minute shuttle ride from Blacksburg to work in Roanoke. “I’m a passionate researcher, and that makes me an effective educator,” said Sontheimer. “Virginia Tech is where I can do the greatest good.”
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Virginia Approves
School Of Neuroscience Virginia Tech’s School of Neuroscience promises to be a unique program in the nation, one that will study not only disorders of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury, but also the mind itself, including decision-making, behavior, and creativity. The school, to be housed in the College of Science and headed by neuroscientist Harald Sontheimer, was approved Nov. 9 by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, and in early March 2016 by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). SCHEV approved neuroscience as an undergraduate degree program in 2014, where it was based in the college’s Academy of Integrated Science. An estimated 200 undergraduates already have declared neuroscience as their major since it became available as an option at the start of the current academic year. The goal for the fall 2016 recruiting class is 100 students. “This is a step in Virginia Tech’s development into a 21st century land-grant university,” said Virginia Tech President Timothy D. Sands after the board vote. “Every discipline grounded in human decision-making and human interaction will be transformed by our rapidly expanding understanding of how the brain works. Students across the disciplines who participate in our neuroscience curriculum will be in positions to lead in their chosen fields.” Added Sontheimer: “It’s a great day for Virginia Tech, it’s a great day for our students, and it’s a great day for neuroscience. It’s the first school of neuroscience of its kind in the nation, and I think we’ll be watched by many of our competitors. I’m expecting there to be as many as a thousand students who
By Steven Mackay
will call it a destination area of study, who would not otherwise come to Virginia Tech.” Students and faculty in the school will explore how the mind works, including decision-making and the origins of biases, ethics, and creativity. Classes will span the entire university, touching on behavior economics, ethical decisions in business, consumer behavior, child development, what makes individuals spiritual or creative, and how neuroscience can be used in the courtroom. The school is expected to have educational, research, and administrative space at the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg. Students will also be able to take advantage of the neuroscience research already ongoing at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke. Gary Long, associate dean for curriculum and instruction in the College of Science, said the Board of Visitors’ Academic Affairs Committee members applauded Sontheimer after his presentation on the proposed school in November. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that,” added Long. Sontheimer, holder of the I.D. Wilson Chair in the College of Science, will also head the newly established Center for Glial Biology in Health, Disease, and Cancer at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.
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Students across the disciplines who participate in our neuroscience curriculum will be in positions to lead in their chosen fields.”
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COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ANNUAL
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2015
Virginia Outstanding Scientist By John David Pastor
T
imothy Long, a professor with the Department of Chemistry, was selected as one of three Virginia Outstanding Scientists for 2015. He was honored by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the Science Museum of Virginia at a ceremony in Richmond.
Long, who earned his doctoral degree from Virginia Tech, is director of the university’s Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute. He spent nearly a decade as a research scientist at the Eastman Kodak Co. before returning to Virginia Tech as a professor. His work with industry has helped him maintain vigorous partnerships with corporations like BASF, Elevance, IBM, and 3M. “Tim is well known as one of the leading researchers in the field of polymer chemistry,” said Lay Nam Chang, dean of the College of Science. “Having Tim as part of our team at Virginia Tech provides rich opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration between departments and provides our students with instruction and research opportunities available in very few places.” During the past 16 years, Long has received more than $41 million in research funding and maintains a 20-member, interdisciplinary research group focusing on macromolecular structure and polymerization processes for the development of advanced technologies, including drug and gene delivery, sustainable food stocks, adhesives and elastomers, and biomaterials for health and energy. “It is an honor to recognize Virginia’s leading scientific minds,” McAuliffe said last March. “The 2015 Virginia Outstanding Scientist recipients are at the forefront of their fields and are recognized for their contributions to future technologies.” In 2014, Long was named director of the Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, which harnesses Virginia Tech’s scientific and engineering expertise in polymers — crucial materials in the multibillion dollar chemical and manufacturing industries. The institute leverages the capabilities of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science to identify new opportunities for polymer research.
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Within the field of polymer chemistry, Long received the Robert L. Patrick Fellowship Award in 2014. In 2012 he was the regional chair of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry World Polymer Congress at Virginia Tech, was inducted as an American Chemical Society Polymer Division Fellow, received the Mark Scholar Award, and earned the Carl Dahlquist Award from the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council. He also has received the American Chemical Society’s Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Cooperative Research Award; the Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Research Excellence; the Collano Innovation Award of Lucerne, Switzerland; Panhellenic Council of Virginia Tech Certificate of Teaching Excellence; the IBM Faculty Award; and the 3M Faculty Award. Long has more than 40 patents in macromolecular science and engineering, and has authored 22 book chapters and more than 220 peer-reviewed publications.
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Pigment from
fossils color reveals
of extinct mammals By John Pastor
G
eosciences doctoral student Caitlin Colleary has led a multi-university study that reveals how pigment can be detected in mammal fossils, a discovery that may end the guesswork in determining the colors of extinct species.
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The researchers discovered the reddish brown color of two extinct species of bat from fossils dating back about 50 million years, marking the first time the colors of extinct mammals have been described through fossil analysis. The techniques can be used to determine color from wellpreserved animal fossils that are up to 300 million years old, researchers said. “We have now studied the tissues from fish, frogs, and tadpoles; hair from mammals; feathers from birds; and ink from octopus and squids,” said Colleary, of Los Angeles, lead author of the study. “They all preserve melanin, so it’s safe to say that melanin is really all over the place in the fossil record. Now we can confidently fill in some of the original color patterns of these ancient animals.” The research involved scientists from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Ethiopia, and Denmark. It was published in a fall issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Resulting media attention on the discovery came from The Atlantic, Christian Science Monitor, Smithsonian Magazine, and more.
The researchers said microscopic structures traditionally believed to be fossilized bacteria are in fact melanosomes — organelles within cells that contain melanin, the pigment that gives colors to hair, feathers, skin, and eyes. Fossil melanosomes were first described in a fossil feather in 2008 by Jakob Vinther, a molecular paleobiologist at the University of Bristol and the senior author of the current study. Since then, the shapes of melanosomes have been used to look at how marine reptiles are related and identify colors in dinosaurs and, now, mammals. “Very importantly, we see that the different melanins are found in organelles of different shapes: reddish melanosomes are shaped like little meatballs, while black melanosomes are shaped like little sausages and we can see that this trend is also present in the fossils,” said Vinther. “This means that this correlation of melanin color to shape is an ancient invention which we can use to easily tell color from fossils by simply, looking at the melanosomes’ shape.” In addition to different shapes, melanosomes are chemically distinct. Using an instrument called a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer, scientists identified the molecular makeup of the fossil melanosomes to compare with modern melanosomes. Researchers also replicated the conditions under which the fossils formed to identify the chemical alteration of melanin, subjecting modern feathers to high temperatures and pressures to better understand how chemical signatures changed during millions of years of burial. “By incorporating these experiments, we were able to see how melanin chemically changes over millions of years, establishing a really exciting new way of unlocking information previously inaccessible in fossils,” Colleary said. The work was carried out at the University of Bristol, where Colleary previously was a master’s student working with Vinther, and the University of Texas at Austin. It was supported by funds from UT Austin, National Geographic, and the University of Bristol.
Caitlin Colleary inside the Virginia Tech Museum of Geosciences science.vt.edu
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2015 Goldwater Scholarships by Alison Matthiessen
Donovan Buterakos, of Bluefield, Virginia. Major: Physics. He plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in 2016 and a master’s degree in 2017.
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V
irginia Tech, along with hundreds of other colleges and universities, is allowed to nominate up to four individuals for the prestigious national award. Out of the more than 1,200 students nominated, the foundation awarded 260 scholarships to students “who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.” The one- or two-year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
Louis “Bobby” Hollingsworth, of Springfield, Virginia. Majors: Chemical engineering and biochemistry and chemistry. He plans to graduate in 2017
Christine Tin, of Dale City, Virginia. Major: Biological sciences. She plans to graduate in 2016.
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DONOVAN BUTERAKOS Buterakos is interested in string phenomenology, which uses theoretical models of string theory to make predictions that can be verified by real-world experiments. He is researching with Lara Anderson, assistant professor of physics, on numeric metrics on Calabi-Yau manifolds.
“Donovan wants to solve things for himself rather than being given the answer and clearly enjoys the process and hard work of puzzling out solutions to difficult problems,” said Anderson. “He is extremely self-motivated and unlike many students his age, he is able to take a problem and ‘run with it’ — rather than expecting each step to be laid out for him.” Buterakos received the Robert P. Hamilton Prize from the Department of Physics in 2014, named in memory of Robert Hamilton, who received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1974. The prize is awarded to a student who has exhibited career promise and high scholastic standards. Buterakos plans to become a faculty member at a high-level research university that will allow him to conduct research while also teaching students. “Donovan has convinced me over and over again that not only does he have what it takes to succeed in research, this is what he truly wants,” Anderson said. BOBBY HOLLINGSWORTH
Hollingsworth has been active in undergraduate research, both at Virginia Tech and through internships and programs at other institutions. In summer 2014, he interned at the National Institutes of Health conducting research in a structural biology lab of the National Cancer Institute. He did additional research with the National Institutes of Health during winter 2014-2015, with some work continuing into spring 2015. On campus, he works in the lab of Richard Gandour, professor of chemistry, and is a member of the Chem-E-Car and TEK Robotics teams. “Mr. Hollingsworth’s performance and grades at university speak for themselves, but they don’t quite do justice to the depth of his abilities,” said Sriram Subramaniam, senior investigator and chief of the biophysics section of the Laboratory of Cell Biology at the National Cancer Institute. “He is remarkably articulate, analytical, and highly disciplined in terms of the care with which he can see complex projects to completion.”
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Hollingsworth plans to obtain a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology and then conduct biomedical research at an institute while mentoring graduate students. He wants to make contributions to biomedical sciences and human health, particularly using molecular biochemistry to study cancer and HIV, both of which have affected him personally through the deaths of family and friends. CHRISTINE TIN Tin has performed a wealth of undergraduate research on rotavirus under the mentorship of Lijuan Yuan, associate professor of virology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Specifically, Tin has investigated ways to increase the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines through probiotics. The data she helped collect was included in major research publications from Yuan’s lab. Tin presented her work at the 2014 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
“She is always willing to go the extra mile to master material,” said Art Buikema, Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of biological sciences. “To prepare for this scholarship experience, she has been conducting undergraduate research for 14 months on antibody response to a rotavirus, which resulted in two publications. She also spent the past summer as an National Institutes of Health trainee developing a luciferase immunoprecipitation systems assay for profiling antibody responses to norovirus.” In 2014, Tin received the Class of 1956 Ut Prosim Fellowship through the University Honors program. The award honors students with the ability and capacity to make a difference in the world through volunteerism or service. Fellows receive up to $10,000 to cover expenses related to their proposed travel or research experience, designed to enhance their undergraduate experience. During summer 2015, Tin researched a novel tick-borne pathogen in Chile, in addition to promoting health awareness to children in primary school in Mexico to better understand the impacts of research on society. To learn more about Hispanic culture and customs while working on her Spanish, Tin spent the spring semester enrolled at the Universidad San Francisco in Ecuador. Tin plans to obtain a doctorate in virology/immunology and conduct research on viral pathogenesis to advance vaccine design for infectious diseases, particularly those that impact developing countries.
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2015
Undergraduate
Student of the Year
J
essica K. Li, of Martinsville, Virginia, who graduated in May 2015 with dual degrees in human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and biological sciences in the College of Science, was selected Virginia Tech Undergraduate Student of the Year. She also minored in chemistry and maintained a 4.0 GPA while paying for her education through work and scholarships. The Virginia Tech Undergraduate Student of the Year awards recognize a graduating student who has achieved overall excellence during their undergraduate careers at the university. The recognition is the most prestigious nonacademic undergraduate award given at Virginia Tech and is awarded to a student who has exceptional and balanced achievement in academics, leadership, and service. The recipient exemplifies the qualities and values important to a Virginia Tech education, captured in the university motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Li, a self-described “Hispanic Asian American with a slight country twang,” said her research and service work in the field of medicine made her realize the true meaning of Ut Prosim. Li said, “As a Spanish translator on a medical mission trip in Honduras, I discovered the importance of seeing the world through the eyes of others. Applying myself in communitybased research, I work toward positive changes in my local community. As a hospice volunteer, my patients model the importance of living every moment with an open mind and learning from the people around us. Working as an academic tutor, students teach me to be sensitive to the needs of others. In classes, through brainstorming and teamwork, my peers instill the power of collaboration and strength in numbers.” As a geriatric intern, Li was recipient of the Virginia Tech University Honors Patricia C. Perna Scholarship. She designed a
By Sandy Broughton
study to compare geriatric care in West Kowloon, Hong Kong, and Richmond, Virginia, and examine the cultural dynamics that influence it. As a research assistant and technician, Li was part of a team that explored the motivators and barriers to healthy lifestyles. The team’s work assessed and quantified the availability of healthy food choices in health-disadvantaged regions of Virginia and North Carolina. Another research project Li took part in was funded by the National Institutes of Health to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Southwest Virginia. Li was nominated for the Undergraduate Student of the Year award by her supervisor, mentor, and undergraduate thesis advisor, Jamie Zoellner, associate professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise. Zoellner said, “Jessica’s résumé exemplifies a very high standard of achievement and service. She is truly the epitome of our Ut Prosim motto.” Li has held leadership positions in the American Medical Student Association and served as president of Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society. A University Honors and Dean’s List student, Li is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Li’s experiences at Virginia Tech inspired her to dedicate her life to the service of others. In spring 2015, Li was accepted into medical school, where she continues to pursue her passion for medicine, especially as it relates to diversity and geriatrics. The Undergraduate Student of the Year award recipient is selected by a committee of students, faculty, and administrators from across the academic colleges and the Division of Student Affairs. The division sponsors and administers the annual award, now in its 63rd year.
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COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ANNUAL
Touch the future.
JUST IMAGINE: This young archosaur is reaching across 210 million years to share its secrets. Paleontologist Michelle Stocker, research scientist in Virginia Tech’s Department of Geosciences, holds the skull of a juvenile archosaur, Redondasaurus, a phytosaur (crocodile-relative) from the Late Triassic Period. Stocker will use CT scan data to study phytosaur anatomy and growth. NOW IMAGINE THIS: You too can reach across time to touch the future of science. Your endowed gift to the College of Science can create a named scholarship, fellowship, faculty chair, research fund, or other sustained support that will help invent the future, year after year, for generations to come. There are many ways to support the College of Science with an endowed gift that carries your name or the name of someone you wish to honor. Some gifts even pay you lifetime income. Calculate how a life income gift could work for you at http://bit.ly/vtgplig.
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For information about any gift to the College of Science, contact Jenny Orzolek Director of Development 540-231-5643 | jorzolek@vt.edu
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