College of Science Magazine, Fall 2005 - Physics - Virginia Tech

Science Goes Underground / Hope after Tragedy / Goldwater Scholars
Science
V i r g i n i a T e c h C o l l e g e o f
m a g a z i n e
Shedding Light
Across Disciplines
Chemical and biological researchers team up
to develop new light-activated cancer therapies
Issue No. 1 Fall 2005

Contents
Features
6 Science Goes Underground
What can we learn by doing research underground?
More than you might think.
2 Shedding Light across Disciplines
Chemical and biological researchers team up to develop
new light-activated cancer therapies.
8 Hope after Tragedy
Psychologist earns national recognition for his work
with child survivors of residential fires.
Other stories
10 Goldwater Scholars
David Erickson and Sarah Koss
reflect on undergraduate research.
12 Patricia Caldwell
Fourth generation Hokie named
COS Distinguished Alum.
14 News
16 New Faces in COS
Cluser hires exemplify research
excellence and diversity.
Managing Editor/Writer Catherine Doss
Copy Editor Richard Lovegrove
COS Names New
13 Development Director
Matthew banks leaves Seton Hall to
become a Hokie.
Photographers T. Corvin, Rick Griffiths,
Michael Kiernan, John McCormick, Bob Veltri
Designer Nathan Skreslet
College of Science Magazine Fall 2005

College of Science
Virginia Tech
Mail Code 0405
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540/231-5422
editor.cosmag@vt.edu
www.cos.vt.edu
ADMINISTRATION
Lay Nam Chang Dean
Sheryl Ball Associate Dean for Curriculum,
Instruction, and Advising
George Crofts Associate Dean for
Administration and Finance
Carole Nickerson Director of Strategic
Support
Nancy Ross Associate Dean for Research,
Graduate Studies, and Outreach
Jerry Via Assistant Dean for Undergraduate
Instruction
Deborah S. Wilson Career Services
Coordinator
ADVANCEMENT
Matthew Banks Director of Development
Mara K. Barker Associate Director of Alumni
Relations
Catherine Doss Communications Manager
Tim Howland Associate Director of Corporate
Relations
Erik Kahill Associate Director of Development
DEPARTMENT HEADS
Biochemistry Peter Kennelly
Biological Sciences Robert Jones
Chemistry Joe Merola
Economics Aris Spanos
Geosciences Robert Tracy (interim)
Mathematics John Rossi
Physics Royce Zia
Psychology Jack Finney
Statistics Geoffrey Vining
Message from the Dean
“There is a single light of science, and to brighten it
anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.”
-Issac Asimov
Dear Alumni and Friends,
It is a great privilege for me to welcome you to the inaugural
issue of Virginia Tech’s College of Science Magazine. We have
developed this publication as a means of keeping all of you –
who are arguably some of our greatest ambassadors – informed
of the remarkable achievements taking place in the college.
It is no coincidence that our cover story in this first issue deals
with light – as a metaphor and as a phenomenon. When we take
Issac Asimov’s quote above to heart, we realize that science is
all about shedding light. Illuminating the previously unknown.
Brightening understanding in different areas of our complex
world.
Light is also symbolic of the all-encompassing nature of science.
Science transcends across disciplines. Our feature story on lightactivated
cancer research currently underway in the college well
exemplifies this notion. In addition, our story on deep underground
neutrino detection indicates the breadth of our undertakings.
Our disciplines, too, know no boundaries among race, culture,
gender, or nationality, as you will see from the introduction
of 22 new world-class faculty members in the College of Science.
I encourage you to use this publication as a two-way vehicle of
communication. We love to hear from our alumni and friends.
Please e-mail us at editor.cosmag@vt.edu and visit our website
at www.cos.vt.edu. Of course, you may also write to us at
College of Science Magazine, Virginia Tech, Mail Code 1036,
Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against
employees, students, or applicants for
admission or employment on the basis
of race, gender, disability, age, veteran
status, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, or political affiliation. Anyone
having questions concerning discrimination
should contact the Office for Equal
Opportunity.
Sincerely,
Lay Nam Chang
Dean
College of Science
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005

College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Call it coincidence. Call it destiny.
Call it good fortune. Whatever it
was, when two young scientists
met at new faculty orientation at Virginia
Tech in 1992, it was the start of something
great.
In the 13 years since then, Karen Brewer, professor of
chemistry, and Brenda Winkel, professor of biology, have
led research teams that have developed new and potentially
revolutionary ways of treating cancer in humans.
A plant biologist and inorganic chemist working side-byside?
It seemed an unlikely union, but when a graduate
student in chemistry that same year expressed an interest
in taking a biological focus in his research, the deal was
sealed.
Chemical and biological researchers team up to
develop new light-activated cancer therapies
Light absorbing unit
Active sites
their work focused on the other drawback with Cisplatin
– that tumors can become resistant to the drug. And that’s
where the beauty of having a biologist and chemist working
closely together really started to show.
While Winkel’s team worked on DNA interactions, Brewer’s
team was busy modifying the chemical structures of the
drug.
Employing basic techniques that are routinely used in
Winkel’s lab, doctoral student Matt Milkevitch was able
to develop an assay for DNA binding activity that has now
become standardized in other chemical biology labs. The
team was eventually able to change the shape and basic
properties of the drug molecule, thus making it unrecognizable
to the tumor.
Metal-based systems for delivering pharmaceuticals are
a popular area of research. One reason is that metals are
constantly interacting with their environments, thus their
properties and reactivity can easily be changed. Metals are
also advantageous because they can be made into highly
colored dyes and by doing so are more easily detected.
Using colored systems also helps with the team’s research
into light-activated therapy.
Bridge units
Light absorbing unit
Light
Shedding across
Disciplines
New Molecular Structures
The research team started by looking at ways to overcome
some of the inherent drawbacks in the widely used cancer
drug Cisplatin. One such drawback is that the drug does
not dissolve well in water. This means it must be crushed
and administered in suspension form, which can cause
significant kidney damage.
So the first thing the research team did was develop a
system that would dissolve in water. Once they did that,
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005

College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Photoinitiation
One of the ways of decreasing the harsh side effects of
chemotherapy is to deliver the therapy only to cancerous
cells, thus maintaining the integrity of surrounding healthy
tissue. Currently, one method that is fairly effective at more
precisely targeting cancerous cells utilizes light-activated
therapy. The patient (for example, one with esophageal
cancer) takes the drug in pill form. It remains inert until
a fiber optic bundle of light shines into the esophagus,
which then activates the drug only at the location of the
cancerous cells.
Foundation funding to the tune of $300,000 for three
years and is capturing the attention of research partners
at other institutions across the country.
BEFORE
This is a promising therapeutic technique, but it has a few
inherent problems. The main one is that because the light
energy is transferred to oxygen, it is actually the oxygen
that kills the cancerous cells. This treatment method is
not highly effective in aggressive tumors because they are
already depleted of oxygen due to their rapid replication.
Vero cells. Area of light exposure in red.
“I am most surprised by
what you can accomplish
when you use this type of
team approach”
AFTER TREATMENT
Research assistant Matthew Mongelli tests one of the luminescent samples. Photo by Michael Kiernan.
Collaborative Benefits
The collaborative spirit of this project has made its way
throughout the chemistry and biology departments as
Brewer and Winkel agree that the collaborative effort on
well. Each department is receptive to hosting presentations
this research has been remarkable.
by the other, and Brewer and Winkel are able to serve as
“This is what really sets our research apart from what you see co-advisors to students involved in their research, not always
an easy administrative hoop to jump going on at medical schools,” Winkel said. “Rather than the
through.
“We decided to come up with some molecular systems
that didn’t require oxygen, but would still be light-
activated,” Brewer said.
The therapy the research group has been developing utilizes
a wavelength of light called the therapeutic window,
which is neither absorbed nor reflected away by tissue.
This is the same wavelength that one sees as red light
shining through a hand covering a flashlight. By using
light at this wavelength, the research team believes they
can signal their manmade molecules to release cancerfighting
agents at the disease site.
The research team recently started a partnership with
Theralase Technologies Inc. to design molecular systems
that use light that is in the therapeutic window.
Brewer and a former postdoctoral fellow, Shawn Swavey,
co-hold a patent, licenses to Theralase, in this new
technology. The project has received National Science
Dead Vero cells
Live Vero cells
trial and error of what works and what doesn’t, we are much
more methodical so we can understand the mechanism and
why things work or don’t work.”
The Brewer and Winkel research effort is a classic example of
the way the process of university research benefits students
as well as researchers. Over the past 13 years, more than 50
students have been involved in the research.
“With the student involvement, the project has really taken
on a life of its own,” Winkel said. “They bring their own ideas
and their own talents. They’re the ones who make valuable
mistakes that lead us in new directions.”
It is clear that Brewer and Winkel are in this project together
as much for the students as for the pure research. “I never
cease to be amazed by our students at Virginia Tech,” Brewer
said. “We get some incredibly talented, motivated, energetic
students, and if we challenge them, they really do step up
to the plate. We’re willing to do what’s right for their
intellectual development.”
For these two talented, dedicated scientists who have spent
over a decade testing and re-testing hypotheses in the
world of pharmaceuticals, professional life has been full of
surprises. But what has been their biggest source of wonder?
“I am most surprised by what you can accomplish when you
use this type of team approach,” Brewer said.
Winkel agrees. “This partnership has been one of the most
productive learning environments that I’ve ever been part of.”
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005

College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Difficult – perhaps impossible – to imagine for most of us.
Now try to imagine a 30-ton device that despite its size still
sees only a few per day of this tiny, weak matter. Again, a
concept beyond the scope of human comprehension.
But that’s what physics is all about — exploring and
theorizing about the “incomprehensibles” that make up
our world. And for physicists in the College of Science at
Virginia Tech, some of these explorations are taking place
underground … literally.
The particles referred to above are called neutrinos, and
they originate from the center of the sun. Neutrinos are
one of the fundamental particles of the universe but also
one of the least understood. They differ from electrons
in that they do not carry an electric charge and can pass
through great distances in matter without being affected
by it.
The Kimballton facility, a joint project between Virginia
Tech and the Naval Research Laboratory, is being
constructed 1,700 feet below ground at an operating
limestone mine in Giles County, Va. (about 20 minutes
northwest of Blacksburg). The facility will house research
related to detecting and measuring low-energy neutrinos
and their properties.
Why underground? Simply put, to shield detectors from
cosmic ray backgrounds.
Science Goes
Underground
Imagine something so small and so weakly interacting that 100 billion of
them go through your thumbnail per second and you don’t even know it.
Kimballton Mine
“Cosmic ray protons and neutrons are quickly attenuated
as you get deeper under the Earth’s surface,” said Bruce
Vogelaar, professor of physics, who is leading the project.
“But muons (a heavier version of an electron) continue
to penetrate much deeper, and when they pass through a
detector, can produce background events themselves or
secondary background. So the deeper you go, the more
you attenuate these muons, and the less background you
have. In physics, the name of the game is to get rid of that
background or the activity produced by it so you can see
rare events of interest.”
Studying neutrinos this way helps us understand the sun
and stars and even the deep core of our Earth. But this
“low-background counting” technology also provides
the capability to detect extremely small trace amounts of
radioactivity contained in samples of material, resulting in
applications for homeland security, microelectronics, and
space science.
Other Research
But it’s not only physics that has taken an interest in Kimballton
for scientific experimentation. Certain types of
research in geosciences, microbiology, and engineering
From left Bruce Vogelaar, Robert Bodnar and mine manager
Ray Roeder outside the entrance to Kimballton.
Photo courtesy of Bruce Vogelaar
can also benefit from an underground
location. For example, researchers
in geosciences are attracted to the
capability to conduct research related
to scales of time and space.
“In a normal university lab, we can do
experiments that we measure in sizes
of centimeters and meters and in
durations of minutes and hours,”
said Robert Bodnar, University
Distinguished Professor of Geosciences.
“But it’s difficult to ‘scale’
these processes up to the real world
and estimate changes, such as those
in geological formations, that may
occur over the course of hundreds to
thousands of years and may occur at
spatial scales of kilometers to tens of
kilometers. By setting up experiments
underground that can run for years
or decades, we can get a much better
idea of how things behave on longerterm
scales.”
Bodnar said an underground environment
also reduces the risk of environmental
interferences that can hinder
long-term experiments above ground.
The Kimballton site is also desirable
to a number of scientific disciplines
because of its location in sedimentary
rock – an environment where a wide
variety of processes occur in nature.
“For example, 90 percent of groundwater
comes from sedimentary rock,”
Bodnar said. “All petroleum deposits
we produce are from sedimentary
rock; the majority of underground
mines in the United States are in
sedimentary rock. So there is a wide
breadth of research opportunities
there.”
Another example of the diversity of
research efforts that benefit from
experimentation within the confines of
a mine is the university’s AMADEUS
(Adaptive Real-Time Geological Mapping
Analysis of Underground Space)
project. A multidisciplinary effort
among faculty from civil and environmental
engineering, mining and
minerals engineering, and computer
science, this NSF-funded project focuses
on mining safety and geological
stability issues through the use of
computer modeling.
The development of life can also be
explored by looking at organisms
buried hundreds of millions of years
ago, and members of Virginia Tech’s
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute are
looking at the impact ancient waterrecharge
may have had on these
organisms through studies of their
DNA.
A Strong Partnership
With internationally recognized excellence
in multiple programs, Virginia
Tech’s foray underground seems like a
natural. And the partnership with the
operators of the Kimballton Mine is a
win-win situation.
“The idea that cutting-edge, worldclass
underground science can be
done locally has real appeal to the
local community,” Vogelaar said.
“The Kimballton facility and related
research will hopefully add to the
justified pride the miners already feel
for this site. I think there’s opportunity
for a long-term science program here.
This is an investment that will grow.”
While the myriad of research possibilities
at Kimballton is just beginning to
be explored and developed, Vogelaar’s
counting of low-energy solar neutrinos
carries on, looking at those “one-in-abillion.”
For further information, see
www.kimballton.org.
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005

College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Hope
after tragedy
Sobering statistics. And yet researchers in the College of
Science’s Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech are
offering more than a flicker of hope to families whose lives
have tragically gone up in flames.
Russell T. Jones, professor of psychology, and his team have
studied the influence of major technological and natural
disasters on children’s functioning for the past 26 years. His
most recent endeavor was the completion of a $1.2 million
National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) grant assessing
the impact of residential fire on children and their parents.
“Residential fires are unique in that they typically impact
one single family,” Jones said. “After the fire trucks are gone
and the Red Cross has completed its efforts, families are
basically left to fend for themselves. This isolation may lead
to even greater levels of psychological distress.”
Jones found in his research that fire emergencies have
potentially deleterious consequences on children and their
families – consequences that may continue for years after
the disaster.
Russell Jones (l) counsels Katie Bowyer (r), 12,
of Blacksburg, while her mother, Angela (c),
observes. Katie survived a tragic house fire in
February 2005 that took the life of her grandfather.
She spent four months in the hospital
– most of them in critical condition – before
she was able to return home and begin to put
her normal life back together again.
photo by John McCormick
Studies show one in every five families will experience a fire in
their homes. Someone is injured by fire every 37 seconds and
killed by fire every three hours. About 70 percent of these fires
are residential, and most could have been prevented.
“We interview survivors and assess their level of psychological
distress,” Jones said. “The most common pathological
outcomes include depression and post-traumatic stress
syndrome.”
REACT
Most of the children studied reported that a house fire was
the most traumatizing event they had ever experienced,
and 75 percent of them believed they could do nothing
to prevent house fires. That’s where Jones and his clinical
team go above and beyond empirical research. Through
a program called REACT (Recovery Effort After Child
Trauma), they provide assistance to
help children and families recover
from a fire.
“There are currently no long-term
systematic programs that we know
of to assist children after a fire,” Jones
said. “We hope that our model will
be a template for other communities
across the country.”
The goal of this free program is to
help children and their families overcome
their physical and psychological
hardships resulting from residential fire and return to
their previous levels of functioning. Using cognitive behavioral
strategies, the REACT team helps children and their
families cope with the devastating impact of the fire.
The Fear Factor
“Most victims feel an unbelievable sense of loss after a fire,”
Jones said. “Children typically report a number of fears.
Often they are very worried they won’t survive the next
time there is a fire.”
The REACT team helps children feel more control over
their situations by talking about and processing their fears
as well as negative thoughts and memories of the event.
They are also taught empowering skills such as the “stop,
drop, and roll” technique and fire safety and relaxation
procedures.
“Fear is an important emotional aspect that can get overlooked
when the adults in a family are trying to pick up the pieces and
put their lives back together,” Jones said. “Many parents are not
aware of what’s really going on with their kids.”
Jones said a classic response to a negative event is to avoid
talking about it. “We know from research that avoidance
inadvertently reinforces the fear,” he said.
Beyond Psychological Counseling
Research shows those most likely to be injured by fire are
children and the elderly, and burn injuries are the thirdleading
cause of death in children each year.
Many victims of fires are from low-income families. The
There are currently no
long-term systematic
programs that we know
of to assist children
after a fire.
REACT team assists
families psychologically
and helps identify service
needs and connect them
with resources, such
as school counselors,
churches, the American
Red Cross, and social
services.
In addition to the NIMH
study, two FEMA grants
enabled Jones’ group to
study both injured and non-injured children following
fire-related trauma. He is also spearheading a project in
conjunction with the Yale Child Study Center designed to
treat children after a residential fire.
Jones’ research and humanitarian efforts are nationally
recognized. He was recently featured in a PBS documentary
on young burn victims and presented some of his collaboration
with Yale on C-Span at the First International
Conference on Trauma and Psychosocial Issues held at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
For Russell Jones, his personal and professional priorities
are children. Even though he and his wife, Virginia, a
counselor, don’t have children of their own, they are
actively involved in helping them.
“My life’s focus is all about advocating for kids,” he said.
“Children can’t speak for themselves.”
For more information about REACT, contact Jones by
telephone at 540/231-5934 or by e-mail at rtjones@vt.edu.
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005

10
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Reflections on the Fluid and
Fascinating World of Science
Life at Virginia Tech extends beyond the traditional classroom for David Erickson
and Sarah Koss, two undergraduate scholars in the College of Science.
The College of Science (COS) is proud to be the “home” of two Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
recipients this year. David Erickson, a junior majoring in physics and math, plans to pursue a
Ph.D. and ultimately conduct research and teach at the university level. Sarah Koss, a sophomore
with a triple major in biology, psychology, and studio art, plans to pursue a combined M.D./
Ph.D. program in the field of neuropathology.
Goldwater scholars are selected for academic merit, and each is awarded up to $7,500 per year for tuition, fees, books,
and room and board. Congress established the scholarship program in 1986 to honor the late Sen. Goldwater and to
encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.
Erickson and Koss were among 320 Goldwater scholars chosen from an applicant field of 1,091 undergraduates across
the country. We asked each of them to share their thoughts on the value of undergraduate research* and other topics that
have enlightened and inspired them in their journey so far.
David Erickson
Undergraduate research has been one
of the most important and helpful
experiences in my training for a scientific
career. My research has provided
a fun and challenging way to broaden,
yet focus, my education. I have been
able to branch out and educate myself
on diverse topics in hopes of better
tackling one problem. Through undergraduate
research I have also come
to better understand what it means
to be a scientist. In scientific research
you must determine the problem that
you want to solve as well as devise the
solution, whereas in a traditional
course, the problem is already well defined and thus much
simpler. I find it deeply satisfying to come up with an
intriguing problem that has never been investigated and
search for an answer. That is what research is all about.
Professors Beate Schmittmann and Royce Zia in the
physics department have both been excellent mentors. I
didn’t know of the extreme advantages of undergraduate
research until Professor Schmittmann contacted and
enlightened me. She encouraged me to
find a research project that interested
me and proposed a couple that I could
work on with her. After searching, I
decided to stick with her because the
project was fascinating, and I knew
that she would be a great adviser.
Thus I began my research with two
professors who often collaborate, and
I have no regrets. Both of them are
always accessible and able to help me
with research, classes, and general
questions. They inform me of programs
and scholarships that I should pursue,
and I even let Professor Zia talk
me into taking a graduate-level course
from him last fall. Both are always willing to write a letter
of recommendation and help out with any application
process. I truly believe that without their help I would not
have won the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. What’s
really extraordinary though is that they are more than just
mentors; I consider them friends. Our interactions are
not confined to research, but extend to social events and
friendly conversations.
* The College of Science continues to create and support programs that encourage undergraduate students to participate in the college’s research mission.
More than 300 students representing all departments in the college participated in undergraduate research and field study projects last year.
I would also say that the Intermediate Electricity and
Magnetism course I took at VT has made an enormous
impact on me. The course is part of what is known as the
“junior wall” amongst the physics undergraduates because
of its difficulty. It is indeed very challenging, but also
rewarding and intriguing. I learned more in that course
than any other; I picked up not only the basic course
material but also concepts essential to upper-level mathematics
and physics. A large amount of time and effort are
required in order to make so many gains, but I enjoyed
staying up late into the night grinding away at a problem
because after solving it, I felt I had truly accomplished
something.
That course helped me decide that physics is what I want
to do with my life; knowing that I understood a complex
universal truth made me feel like a part of something
bigger and more important than myself and gave me a
feeling of genuine satisfaction.
Sarah Koss
As with most worthwhile endeavors,
undergraduate research at Virginia
Tech has affected me in ways that were
totally unpredictable. Not only have
I gained respect from my professors
and peers as a result of successful lab
work and scholarships, but I have also
experienced unforeseen social and
emotional developments as a result of
my work.
As I began my work in the Harvey W.
Peters Center, interaction with the
other researchers was unavoidable.
In high school I was very shy, and
discussing and defending my own ideas among graduate
students and postdoctoral students was terrifying at
first. I felt that I was in way over my head, lost in a sea of
organic chemistry lingo that I could not decipher. However,
after quickly realizing that my opinions and ideas were just
as valid as those of the other members of the lab, I began
to speak my mind more readily and often found myself
engaged in heated debates.
This positive aggressiveness soon spread beyond the
lab, and I began to ask more questions in class and even
joke around with professors and add my own comments
to their lectures. I did not even notice this change until
I was home one weekend and my mom showed me a
report that had been written about me by one of my high
school teachers: “Sarah is a very bright student, but she
rarely offers her opinions in class. She always provides the
right answers when called on and offers original ideas.
She should be encouraged to talk more.” I was at first
surprised by these comments, but then I realized that even
during my freshman year of college I rarely contributed
to class discussions. After experiencing positive interactions
in the lab, however, I realized that asking a question in
a room of 200 students would not actually cause me to
be struck down by lightning. I also now find myself
feeling much more comfortable meeting new people, both
in academic and social settings.
Research as an undergraduate has also affected my view
of science and its representation in popular culture. Having
developed a hands-on understanding of the scientific
method and its use in a laboratory, I am now surprised
by the ways in which scientific data are presented by the
media. A philosophy professor at Princeton wrote in
one of his books that “of course only
nonscientists believe in the supposed
certainty of science.”
This quote perfectly sums up of the
view of the general public with regards
to scientists and their work – the idea
that these individuals who work in a
lab are slowly piecing together a puzzle
of the universe in which each piece fits
precisely into an ideal space, perfectly
aligned with the pieces surrounding
it. In fact, scientific work is filled with
much more dynamic uncertainty than
with the establishment of hard facts. A
more appropriate metaphor in which
science is compared to a puzzle should
mention puzzle pieces that refuse to
retain their shape and sometimes even disappear, or a
picture created by the pieces that sometimes reveals a
beautiful but fleeting image, or just a reflection of the
viewer, or often shows nothing at all.
My own research work has allowed me to fully grasp the
fluid nature of science as it is practiced by mankind and
to recognize the divide that exists between the concept of
“science” from the viewpoint of a researcher versus that
of a layman.
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
11

12
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Her great grandfather was a member of the first class of
Virginia Tech. More than 130 years later, Pat Caldwell is
honored for her Hokie spirit.
Daniel Franklin Hale from Giles County, Va., paid for his
education at the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College
(later known popularly as Virginia Tech) with a steer.
How did you first become involved in the
university as an alum?
Patricia Caldwell in New York
Fourth Generation Hokie
Named College of Science Distinguished Alum
Caldwell: For the first 20 years after graduation, I was
not very involved. Then, in the early 1990s, I was asked to
come back to the university and participate in a Women
in Mathematics Day held by the math department. Then I
is not all that accessible. I love visiting Blacksburg, but it’s
hard to get there from here.
What is your vision for the College of Science?
Caldwell: I think we’re a diamond in the rough. I want
us to be known as the premier place academically for
individuals who want to study science.
What do you enjoy most about being involved
in the College of Science?
Caldwell: I love being part of the Alumni Roundtable. I
learn so much whenever we meet. It’s a bit like going back to
school. Also, I find it so rewarding to meet with students in
the College of Science. They are phenomenal. It’s staggering
how impressive they are as students and as individuals.
What would you tell an alumnus who is
considering reconnecting with the college?
Caldwell: I’d say, “What’s taken you so long?” (laugh). I
think Virginia Tech has something for everyone, so it really
doesn’t matter what your interests are. There’s probably a
program or opportunity in which you can participate.
Do you take a ribbing in New York City for
being a Hokie?
Caldwell: No. In New York, “hokie” is an adjective, not a
noun!
That was in 1872. By the time his great granddaughter,
was asked to participate in the College of Arts and Sciences
Patricia “Pat” Caldwell entered the university in 1967,
Roundtable, and I’ve been active ever since.
tuition had gone up just a bit. Caldwell, a native of New
York, graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1971
and went on to achieve success as a financial analyst and
investment banker.
Last spring, Caldwell, a managing director with Gordian
Group LLC of New York, was the recipient of the first ever
Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Science
(COS). She was selected for her exceptional service to the
Why do you continue to be actively involved in
the College of Science?
Caldwell: Quite frankly, it’s fun. It’s different from my dayto-day
work. And I have always found that I get more back
than I give.
What do you think is the College of Science’s
greatest asset?
Banks Named Development Director
for College of Science
Matthew Banks took over as director of development cent and orchestrated
for the College of Science in April. In this role, Banks is a tenfold increase in gifts
responsible for the planning, implementation, and from university regents.
university as well as her professional achievements and
community service.
Caldwell was a long-time member of
Virginia Tech’s former College of Arts
and Sciences Alumni Roundtable
and is currently chair of the COS
Roundtable. In addition, she served
on the Virginia Tech Foundation
Caldwell: That’s easy. Dean Chang. He is what I would call
a Renaissance dean. He has a genuine interest in all kinds
of learning. I’m just as comfortable listening to him explain
a concept in physics as I am talking with him about good
restaurants in New York. Fundamentally, I think he
represents the best there is in academia. He is an inspiring
person, and I like that he has very high ambitions for the
college. It’s easy to be enthusiastic around him.
executive management of fundraising efforts from
all private sources to support current operations,
endowment, and other capital purposes in the college.
“I am very excited to be a part of the COS team,” Banks
said. “The college’s value to the Virginia Tech community,
every Virginia Tech student, and, arguably, the world,
is something in which all of its alumni, friends, and
constituents vest themselves. And as the college moves
From 2001 to 2002,
Banks was a campaign
director for Community
Counseling Service Inc.
of New York, a leading
fundraising consulting
firm to the nonprofit
sector. In this role, he
Matthew Banks
David Franklin Hale
in his 1875 cadet
officer graduation
photo. Courtesy VT Photo
Archive.
board and is currently a member
of the university’s capital campaign
steering committee. To date, seven
students in the COS have received
scholarship money in her name.
Recently, we asked Pat to share
her thoughts on being actively
involved with the university and her
visions for the College of Science.
Following is an excerpt from that
interview.
Other assets?
Caldwell: Oh, lots. But in large part, it comes back to the
people in the college. Both faculty and students. We have
some of the best. I also enjoy the alumni who participate
in the roundtable. They are such an interesting, committed
group of people.
What do you see as some of the challenges
facing the College of Science?
Caldwell: I think a challenge is that Virginia Tech is known
for its engineering or athletic programs and not perceived as
a university. Also, I think location is a challenge. Blacksburg
forward, I am confident our efforts will benefit greatly
the education and resources available for all Virginia
Tech students.”
Banks brings eight years of development and capital
campaign experience to the college, with a track record
of soliciting and securing gifts in excess of $500,000.
Most recently, Banks served as senior director of
principal and major gifts at Seton Hall University, where
he was responsible for managing principal gift activity and
solicitations amongst senior university administration
and the university’s board of regents. In this role, Banks
increased the number of major commitments by 150 per-
solicited and secured more than $3 million in major
gifts and managed a campaign staff and hundreds of
volunteers.
Banks served as development officer for the College of
the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., from 1997 to 1999
and was an associate with the Financial Marketing Group
in Worcester from 1993 to 1997.
Banks received his bachelor’s degree in economics from
Emory University and a master’s degree in religion from
Yale University. He and his wife have one child and
another one on the way.
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
13

14
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
NEWS
IP Law Program Moves Forward
A memorandum of understanding has been signed
between the College of Science (COS) and the University
of Richmond (U of R) to establish a pre-law program. A
joint curriculum will enable students in the COS to move
into law school at U of R in three years, which will lead to
a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a law degree
with a focus on intellectual property (IP) law.
Collaborative Cancer Research Underway
The College of Science is engaged in a collaborative
research effort with the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer
Center at Georgetown University. This unique partnership
allows for development of precision therapies for various
forms of cancer using nanoscience research being
conducted with the COS. By studying cells at the nano
level, researchers hope to understand the similarities
between various cancer cells so that therapies delivered
at the Lombardi Center can target these cells even more
precisely.
efforts in developing and directing a graduate education
program with Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea.
The program enables 20 to 25 Korean economics students
to come to Virginia Tech for a one-month intensive
course.
Geller and Brown Named
Alumni Distinguished
Professors
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors
recently bestowed the honor of
Alumni Distinguished Professor
on Scott Geller, professor of psychology,
and Ezra “Bud” Brown,
professor of mathematics.
Geller’s expertise in behavioral
community psychology has led
him to renowned work in such
areas as environmental protection,
automobile safety, and occupational
health.
Scott Geller
Bryant Named COS Outstanding
Young Alumnus
William S. Bryant of Alpharetta, Ga., has been named
this year’s Outstanding Young Alumnus for the College
of Science. Bryant received his Ph.D. in chemistry from
Virginia Tech in 1999 with a research concentration in
the construction of nanoscale objects from molecules.
While a research scientist at Minerals Technologies Inc.
of Easton, Pa., Bryant developed unique polymer coatings
for calcium carbonates and served on a research
team responsible for developing nanoparticles for the
polymer and sealant industries. He is currently senior
business development manager for IMERYS North
American Performance Minerals, a leading international
supplier of high-performance minerals to the polymer
and coatings markets.
COS Honors Outstanding
Senior and Graduate
Students
With a near-perfect grade point
average (3.98) and an honors thesis
Hochella Named Virginia’s 2005
Outstanding Scientist
Michael F. Hochella, Jr., professor of geosciences in
the College of Science, was recently named Virginia’s
Outstanding Scientist 2005 by Gov. Mark R. Warner.
Hochella studies the surfaces of Earth materials. He is
the first person to recognize important differences in the
behavior of Earth materials at the atomic scale and calls
this developing field of study “nanogeoscience.” As a
Humbolt Fellow, Hochella discovered heavy metals in soil,
streams, and rivers as far away as 300 miles from an old
copper mine in Montana. Scientists worldwide are following
Hochella’s lead in studying the role small atomic scale
particles play, for example, in triggering asthma attacks, allergic
reactions, and transporting infectious diseases and
fungus worldwide. Hochella is responsible for bringing
$7 million in research to Virginia.
Hochella came to Virginia Tech in 1992. He was named a
professor in 1996.
Spanos Receives COS
Award for Outreach
Aris Spanos, Wilson Schmidt Chair
of the Department of Economics
in the College of Science, is the
recipient of the college’s 2005
Award for Outreach Excellence.
Spanos was recognized for his
Aris Spanos
Brown’s expertise is in number
theory and elliptic curves. He has
been described as an extraordinary
ambassador for Virginia Tech
and the College of Science for his
remarkable ability to explain these
difficult concepts to audiences of
all ages.
Ezra “Bud” Brown
Members of the Frank Leigh Robeson (1904, B.S., M.E.) family
gather for the dedication of a new conference room in Robeson
Hall. Robeson was a professor at Virginia Tech from 1904
to 1954 and is credited with building the university’s physics
department. Robeson Hall was named in his honor and now
houses his portrait, commissioned from a Richmond artist. Pictured
left to right are Robeson’s four surviving children: Andy
Robeson ’48 B.S. (PHYS), emeritus professor, nuclear engineering;
Mary Robeson Pendelton; Amy Robeson Sjogren; and Martha
Robeson ’42 B.S. (PHYS). Another daughter, Helen Robeson
’34 B.S. (BIOL), died in 2000.
on the topic of university budgeting,
Brandon Bull of Riner, Va., was
named Outstanding Senior for the
College of Science last spring. Bull
was a double major in economics
and political science.
Also last spring, Sara Haden, a
native of Washington, D.C., was
named Outstanding Graduate
Student in the College of Science.
Haden is a third-year doctoral
candidate in psychology. Her major
area of research is biological theories
of aggression and violence.
Her scholarship includes seven
peer-reviewed articles in press, six
works in progress, and 20 presentations
across the United States
and Canada. A recent review paper,
authored by Haden, was accepted
for national publication on its first
submission.
Brandon Bull
Sara Haden
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College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
15

16
College of Science Magazine
Issue No.1 Fall 2005
Victoria Soghomonian Liwu Li Dana Hawley Hans Robinson Kirby Deater-Deckard Daniela Cimini Carla Finkielstein Jean Heremans Giti Khodaparast
New Faces
COS Faculty Cluster Hires Exemplify Research Excellence, Diversity
The College of Science is pleased to introduce 22 new faculty members who are part of a “cluster” hiring
across disciplines. Many research questions require advanced expertise from different disciplines.
Cluster hiring combines experts who are eager to work together to tackle such questions.
Cluster Area: Infectious Diseases
Dana Hawley, Ph.D., biology
Liwu Li, Ph.D., biology
Dongchu Sun, Ph.D., statistics
Cluster Area: Developmental Science
Kirby Deater-Deckard, Ph.D., psychology
Jungmeen Kim, Ph.D., psychology
Jeffrey Yau, Ph.D., economics
Cluster Area: Computational Science
Eric de Sturler, Ph.D., mathematics
Rahul Kulkarni, Ph.D., physics
Kyunghwa Park, Ph.D., physics
Jennifer Ryan, Ph.D., mathematics
Diego Troya, Ph.D., chemistry
Lizette Zietsman, Ph.D., mathematics
Cluster Area: Cell Biology
Daniela Cimini, Ph.D., biology
Carla Finkielstein, Ph.D., biology
Cluster Area: Ecology (Biostatistics)
Chong He, Ph.D., statistics
Cluster Area: Nanoscience
Jean Heremans, Ph.D., physics
Giti Khodaparast, Ph.D., physics
Hans Robinson, Ph.D., physics
Florian Shubot, Ph.D., biology
Victoria Soghomonian, Ph.D., physics
Dorothea Tholl, Ph.D., biology
Sungsool Wi, Ph.D., chemistry

Mark your calendars!!
SUMMER AROUND THE DRILLFIELD
How Small Can You Go? A peek into nanotechnology at Virginia Tech
A special summer experience for alumni in the new alumni and
conference center on the Virginia Tech campus
Featuring distinguished faculty from the College of Science
Also enjoy the campus and environs – golf, tennis, hiking the Cascades, biking,
horseback riding, tubing the New River, or just strolling around the Duck Pond
Visit www.alumni.vt.edu for details and registration
J u n e 2 006
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