Grants for Cancer Research Available, Deadline October 14

One-year, $20,000 individual research grants for junior investigators conducting research related to cancer are now available from the American Cancer Society through the UMass Cancer Center. Apply on-line today.

2005 Microsoft RFPs and Faculty Fellowships Announced

All interested faculty are invited to respond to Microsoft Research's latest round of RFPs in: Trustworthy Computing Curriculum 2005, Smart Clients for eScience, and Digital Memories (Memex). The RFPs are posted on the Corporate Funding page of the Research website. Deadlines -- Oct. 28, Sept. 30 and Sept. 23, respectively. Though these awards come in the form of unrestricted funds (gifts or grants), all proposals should be processed through OGCA (545-0698).

Only one award per institution will be granted for each of the grants, though there is no limit to the number of submissions per institution. All three RFPs encourage multidisciplinary/multiple PI projects. ILED can help advocate for your proposal. Contact Karen Hayes with your intent to submit.

Microsoft has also announced its 2005 Faculty Fellows Program. Each fellowship award is comprised of a cash gift of $200,000, issued in two $100,000 yearly installments. The Fellow also receives other Microsoft resources such as software, conferences, and engagement with Microsoft Research. Only one faculty can be nominated for the program from campus. Interested Faculty should contact Bev Strakose in ORA (545-5283) before September 9th for information on the application process.

Innovation RFPs

NineSigma--New RFP announcements from Nine Sigma are posted on the Corporate Funding page of the Research Area website. See also the new white paper, “Selling Your Innovation” for guidance from NineSigma on how to write a winning proposal. ILED provides support services for your Nine Sigma proposal. Contact Marla Michel or Karen Hayes (545-2706) for more information.

The Semi-Conductor Research Corporation (SRC) is soliciting grant applications in cross- disciplinary semiconductor research (CSR). CSR grants are intended to stimulate non-traditional thinking about the issues facing the semiconductor industry. Awards will be 1 year, unrestricted, non-overhead bearing gifts with a funding level of $40K. The technological scope of this solicitation is non-charge-based logic/memory devices and extremely scaled interconnect technologies/interconnects for charge-based and alternative devices. SRC is a North Carolina-based university research management consortium that matches academic research programs to the needs of SRC’s private sector members. Details and application available online.

Writer/Assistant Editor, ILED

Are you, or do you know, a talented graduate student who would like to gain valuable experience in marketing and communications? ILED is looking for a Writer/Assistant Editor to help with the ACCESS newsletter and other research-related writing projects. This is a 10-hour/week position, from September 2005 to May 2006, and possibly beyond. This is a GEO-eligible position and paid at the minimum hourly level for graduate assistantships. Check out the job description and give us a call at 545-2706!

Paid Internship to Support IBM/UMass Amherst Partnership

IBM is looking for a student intern to support the projects they have invested in on campus, e.g., CASA and the IBM Open Source Linux Lab. Candidates should have a technical background as they will be asked to supply help on IBM products, e.g., Quickplace, Sametime, Websphere, Rational, and must be motivated to learn IBM technology. The position will also interface with professors, students, researchers and IBM managers and may be asked to coordinate IBM events on campus. The student should be an undergraduate (junior or senior in fall '05), be willing to work on average 10-hours per week (with a flexible schedule), and work without direct supervision. This is a paid position reporting to the IBM Partnership Executive to our campus, Mark Hanny. Questions and inquiries to Marla Michel.

Microsoft's eScience Workshop
DEADLINE AUGUST 26th--Microsoft Research is looking for scientists and researchers to share their experiences and expertise in the realm of data intensive scientific computing through a call for presentations for their eScience Workshop in October 2005. For details about the eScience workshop and information on the call for presentations, go to the eScience 2005 website.

S&T Projects Picked for Potential

On July 8th, President Wilson announced the recipients of the 2005 S&T Initiatives Fund. Four of the nine projects were awarded to the UMass Amherst campus with hopes that they’ll realize similar successes as achieved by the 2004 award recipients – leveraged federal funding, established foundations for new R&D initiatives, cultivated new industrial and institutional partners, and strengthened UMass’ role in supporting state and regional economic development.

The four projects include:
- $145K in funding for a new Institute of Cellular Engineering (ICE), directed by Susan Roberts, Chemical Engineering. ICE will be a multi-disciplinary institute devoted to bringing engineering into the life sciences.
- $100K for a polymer-based drug delivery initiative to Shaw Ling Hsu, Chair, Polymer Science and Engineering. Hsu will use the funds to advance his department's research on drug-eluting stents further into the life sciences sector.
- $100K to Professor Julian McClements, Jochen Weiss, and Eric Decker for a Strategic Alliance for Food-Based Solutions to Health and Wellness. The faculty will work with ILED's assistance to understand this emerging market and develop an academic-industry consortium for research on nutraceuticals and functional foods.
- $55K to Frank Hugus, International Programs, to support a first-ever bi-directional faculty exchange program between the five UMass campuses and nine institutions of Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany's leading high tech regions.

For more information on the UMass S&T Initiatives Fund, contact either Amherst’s Marla Michel or Jeff Brancato, Associate Vice President for Economic Development, UMass President’s Office.

Campus Awarded MTTC Tech Investigation and Assessment Awards

Two UMass Amherst technologists were among the recipients of the first round of Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC) technology investigation and assessment awards. Assistant Professor Karsten Theis of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department received the $25,000 Technology Investigation Award to support the demonstration of a new technology’s viability, “High Throughput Vapor Diffusion Technology for Nanogram Scale Crystallization of Biological Macromolecules.” These funds can be used to develop a prototype, to gather data that show proof of concept, or to demonstrate how a technology compares to existing technologies and what its competitive advantages are. Steve Battisti, Senior Software Engineer in the Computer Science Department, received a $5,000 Technology Assessment Award to support the assessment of a new technology’s commercial application(s) for the “OWL Educational Software.”

These two awardees from UMass Amherst were selected in a statewide competition that consisted of more than 40 proposals and 14 institutions. Five Technology Investigation and five Technology Assessment awards were given.

The MTTC was created in 2004 as a program in the MA Economic Stimulus Bill. Its goal is to support technology transfer activities from public and private research institutions to companies in MA. It is based in the UMass President’s Office. For more information about the MTTC, contact the MTTC Director, Abigail Barrow.

President Awards Technology Development Funds to Campus Researchers

Two $20,000 grants from the CVIP Technology Development Fund awarded to campus researchers will help move previously disclosed University technologies toward commercialization. Lloyd Semprevivo (Veterinary and Animal Sciences Department) received funds to continue development of a powerful and cost-effective vaccine that will sharply reduce the worldwide prevalence of echinococcosis, a potentially lethal parasitic infection. Dhandapani Venkataraman (Chemistry) received funding to support the development of copper catalysts for cross-coupling reactions used in the molecular synthesis process of pharmaceutical production, which offer benefits over the palladium catalysts currently used by the industry. Technology Development grants are funded entirely through University licensing revenues. For more information about technology commercialization support services on the Amherst campus contact Lyne Laliberté (545-1062).

IGERT Program to Begin

UMass Amherst’s new IGERT Program in Nanotechnology Innovation makes its debut this fall with an initial group of five Ph.D. students from several departments. The program, which was established through a $3.1 million National Science Foundation grant, enables science and engineering graduate students to earn a Ph.D. emphasis in nanotechnology while receiving practical experience in developing new technologies for possible commercial applications.

The specific focus of the UMass IGERT Program is nanoscale device applications. Fellows, who must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, receive annual stipends of $30,000 for two years to participate in special courses, research activities, and team projects that give them an interdisciplinary background in nanotechnology while they pursue a regular doctoral degree program in one of six departments. Fellows also participate in external research experiences at companies, government labs, nanotechnology user facilities, and international research sites. A special focus of the program is to attract and serve minorities and women.

The program was initiated by the UMass Amherst MassNanoTech institute and is led by James Watkins and Mark Tuominen, co-directors. Other co-PIs are Thomas Russell, Seshu Desu, and Vincent Rotello. Participating departments are Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Physics, and Polymer Science and Engineering. Students and others seeking information on the IGERT Program in Nanotechnology Innovation should contact MassNanoTech at 545-1334.

Changes in RTC Leadership

Keith Parent, CEO of Court Square Data Group and a long-time advocate for regional technology-based economic development, was elected Chairman of the Board of the Regional Technology Corporation (RTC) in June. The RTC serves as the market-driven catalyst for growth and development of technology- based industries in Western Massachusetts and the Knowledge Corridor. Parent replaces outgoing Chairman Paul Tangredi, formerly of Western Massachusetts Electric Company now director of business development at Environmental Compliance Services in Agawam. Tom Loper, President of Kleer Lumber, will serve as RTC Vice Chair with Frank Gerberich, Technology Director-Performance Products Division at Solutia, functioning as Treasurer. The board also elected Edgar Alejandro, Director of Economic & Community Development at Western Massachusetts Electric Company as the newest Board member. Steven Richter, President of the Agawam-based MicroTest Laboratories will replace Parent as Chairman of the Bio Economic Technology Alliance (BETA), an RTC affiliated technology network.

Special Interest Groups Gain Momentum

Western Massachusetts clean energy advocates and computational biology enthusiasts got a boost this summer from several special interest group (SIG) meetings held in the Pioneer Valley. The RTC-affiliated Clean Energy SIG and Computational Biology SIG share the common goal of promoting interest in these areas and enhancing regional collaboration. SIG events feature presentations from knowledgeable speakers and interactive panel discussions. Both groups plan to continue meeting periodically throughout the year to share information and make connections. Events are open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. The next SIG meetings are tentatively scheduled for September 15, locations TBD.

New Library Database Provides Context for Research

Adding to its already extensive collection of business research resources, the W.E.B. DuBois Library has licensed MarketResearch.com, a database containing thousands of full-text market research reports from industry-leading publishers. Each report provides a market sector synopsis, economic outlook, technology forecast, and profiles of stand-out companies. Search the entire database or browse more than two dozen categories including agriculture, energy, information technology, life sciences, telecommunications and wireless. For assistance with this database and other business research resources contact Business Reference Librarian Michael Davis.

Increasingly, state, federal and private sector funders require grant applications to include a section on the potential economic impact of proposed research. The Research Area offers a variety of resources and support services to help you identify industry partners and assess market opportunities for your research. Contact Marla Michel or Karen Hayes (545-2706) for more information.

U.S. Export Control Laws: Could they Impact Your Research?

Export control laws and regulations were drawn up in the 1980s to control the conditions under which certain information, technologies, and commodities could be transmitted overseas or to foreign nationals in the U.S. Export Control regulations are implemented by the Department of Commerce and the Department of State. “Export" here refers not only to controlled technology and information leaving the United States, but also to the transmission within the United States of technology or information to someone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Discussions with foreign-born researchers or symposium attendees may even be deemed “exports”!

Fundamental research, wherein information is routinely shared broadly in the scientific community, is generally exempt from export control restrictions. However, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently proposed a new rule, published in the Federal Register, that would make it harder for universities to involve foreign-born nationals in unclassified research projects funded by the DoD and its agencies. The proposed rule does not include the fundamental research exemption and therefore would apply to all DoD-sponsored projects. To comply, universities and companies working on defense projects would not only need licenses to enable foreign nationals to participate in the research, but would also need to protect export-controlled information through an "access control plan" that includes "unique badging requirements for foreign nationals" and "segregated work areas," according to an article in the July 22 issue of Science. University officials across the country have expressed concern about the effect these draconian measures will have on research. The DoD is accepting comments on the proposed rule until September 12.

A primer on the type of research impacted by export control regulations is available in the UMass Amherst Research Compliance newsletter and links to additional resources are provided on the Export Control page of the OGCA website. Questions about research that may be regulated by export control regulations should be directed to OGCA.

Ting-Wei Tang
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: Samsung Electronics Company
Title: Simulation of Multi-Bridge Channel MOSFETs
Total Award: $629,316

William J. Leonard
Scientific Reasoning Research Institute
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Title: Teacher Learning of Technology-enhanced Formative Assessment
Total Award: $520,509

Alice Y. Cheung
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Sponsor: Coop State Res, Educ and Ext Service
Title: Regulation of Vesicular Transport by Rab GTPases in Plant Reproduction
Total Award: $359,710

Richard W. Vachet
Chemistry
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Title: Copper-Induced Amyloidosis Studied by Mass Spectrometry
Total Award: $268,031

Donald F. Towsley
Computer Science
Sponsor: Army Research Lab
Title: Study of Buffer Size in Internet Routers
Total Award: $200,000

Gloria Difulvio
Public Health
Sponsor: Donahue Institute
Title: Safe Schools/Healthy Students
Total Award: $124,091

Eric Decker
Food Science
Sponsor: Cargill Incorporated
Title: Oxidative Stability of Emulsified Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Total Award: $100,000

Andrea Assaf
Fine Arts Center
Sponsor: Theatre Communications Group
Title: New Generations/Project 2050
Total Award: $65,000