PAMS Focus  -  April 2007

PAMS Focus is a periodic e-mail newsletter about activities, achievements and other news from the NC State College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences (PAMS). If you have any suggestions or comments, please share them with us by e-mailing pams_info@ncsu.edu.

Schweitzer confirms presence of dinosaur protein

Mary Schweitzer, assistant professor in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has confirmed the presence of protein molecules in soft tissue she recovered from the fossil of a 68-million year-old T. rex.  This discovery expands current views of fossilization processes, and may encourage other scientists to examine the molecular-level changes involved in fossil preservation.  Techniques developed to determine the protein sequences also may be useful for cancer research.  Most of the protein sequences matched those of chicken, strengthening the dinosaur-bird connection.  This work appeared in the April 13 issue of Science, and has made headlines worldwide. See the NC State news release at:  http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/2007/april/065.htm.l

Deiters receives prestigious Beckman award

Alexander Deiters, assistant professor in the Chemistry Department, has won a Beckman Young Investigators Award. The award program provides research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of academic careers in the chemical and life sciences.  Deiter’s research is in photochemical genomics and controlling genes with light.  He will receive $300,000 over three years through the grant.

D’OH!  Homer Simpson in statistics class?

Statistics Professor Len Stefanski has found a way to hide images and pictures in data sets that only appear when a student or statistician correctly analyzes the data via regression analysis, a statistical process for studying how one variable depends on others. His innovative approach to making statistical analysis fun is featured in the May edition of The American Statistician.  For more, see: http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/2007/april/064.html.

Professorship item

Matching funds are still available, allowing donors to endow a $1 million professorship for $333,000.  For more information about this 67 percent-off “sale” on professorships, visit: http://www.pams.ncsu.edu/development/professorships.php or contact Anita Stallings at 919-515-3462 or astallin@ncsu.edu.

Watch construction of the new Mathematics/Statistics building

Watch the construction of the future home of the Mathematics and Statistics departments. A live Web cam offers views of the building site at http://ncsu-ms.clancytheys.com/live.html. The view is looking from the intersection of Baver Drive and Boney Drive, toward Park Shops and Poe Hall, the tallest building in the shot. Sometimes, you can see traffic on Stinson Drive, which is on the opposite side of the construction site. Pullen Road is to the camera’s right.

Mark your calendar now!

The 2007 PAMS Alumni & Friends Weekend will be held Oct. 12-13. More information will be available at a later date.