Archives for Honors and Awards

Bordoni to Receive AGU Honor

November 1, 2009 - Simona Bordoni, assistant professor of environmental science and engineering, has been named to receive the 2009 James R. Holton Junior Scientist Award. Established in 2004 by the Atmospheric Sciences Section of the American Geophysical Union, the award honors James Holton, known as a pioneer in atmospheric dynamics and an inspiration to young scientists. According to her citation, Bordoni "has become an excellent specialist in monsoon meteorology, advancing our understanding of the mesoscale dynamics of the North American monsoon and identifying fundamentals of the dynamics of large-scale monsoon circulations worldwide." She graduated from the University of Rome Tor Vergata in 1996 and received her MSc and PhD from UCLA in 2003 and 2007, respectively. She joined Caltech in 2009.

Brown Elected to California Academy of Sciences

November 1, 2009 - Mike Brown, Rosenberg Professor of Planetary Astronomy, has been elected an honorary fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. Nominated by their colleagues and appointed by the academy's board of trustees, fellows remain members for life. "Selection is made in recognition of their notable contributions to one or more of the natural sciences." Brown's work in the discovery of planetlike objects in the outer solar system has led to the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet, and a rethinking of how planets are defined. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Princeton in 1987 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1994, he joined Caltech the following year as a visiting associate. He became an assistant professor in 1997, associate professor in 2002, and professor in 2005.

Eiler Receives EAG Award–Epstein Medal

November 1, 2009 - John Eiler, Sharp Professor of Geology and professor of geochemistry, has been selected by the European Association for Geochemistry to receive its 2009 EAG Science Innovation Award–Samuel Epstein Medal. The Science Innovation Award comprises both the medal and a certificate, "to be bestowed upon scientists who have recently made a particularly important and innovative breakthrough in geochemistry, considered to be of fundamental significance." The recipient must be between the ages of 35 and 55. Eiler received his BS from the University of Iowa in 1989 and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1994, the same year he joined Caltech as a research fellow. He had risen to professor by 2006 and was named Sharp Professor in 2008.

Fink Honored by R & D

November 1, 2009 - Wolfgang Fink, visiting associate in physics, is part of a team of five national laboratories, four universities, and an industrial partner whose artificial retina has received an R & D magazine 2009 R&D 100 Award, which recognizes the 100 most technologically significant products of the past year. He will accept a plaque on behalf of Caltech at the November award banquet in Orlando, Florida. A retinal prosthesis that can be used to treat age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, the artificial retina was honored under the bioscience category. Fink, who received his PhD from the University of Tübingen in 1997, has been a senior member of JPL's technical staff since 2000 and a visiting associate at Caltech since 2001.

Fultz Chosen for Distinguished Scientist Award

November 1, 2009 - Brent Fultz, professor of materials science and applied physics, has been chosen by the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) as recipient of its 2010 TMS-EMPMD Distinguished Scientist Award. The honor includes a TMS conference symposium likely to emphasize the basis for the award—Fultz's work on "the vibrational entropy of materials, and studies of vibrational entropy by inelastic neutron scattering and modern computational methods of materials science." Fultz received his BSc from MIT in 1975 and his MSc and PhD from UC Berkeley in 1978 and 1982, respectively. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor of materials science in 1985, becoming associate professor in 1990 and professor in 1997. He was appointed professor of materials science and applied physics in 2003.

Patterson Receives IRSF Grant

November 1, 2009 - Paul Patterson, Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences, has received a grant from the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) for his research into regulation of MeCP2-mediated gene expression by IkB kinase alpha. The award is part of a total of $2 million being provided by IRSF in 2009 to support 18 innovative research projects focusing on the syndrome, a brain disorder affecting development in childhood and identified almost exclusively in females. Patterson received his bachelor's degree from Grinnell College in 1965 and his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1970, and he joined Caltech as a professor of biology in 1983. He served as executive officer for neurobiology from 1989 to 2000 and was named Biaggini Professor in 2005.

Wise Appointed to Distinguished Research Chair

November 1, 2009 - Mark Wise, McCone Professor of High Energy Physics, has been appointed to the position of Perimeter Institute Distinguished Research Chair, becoming one of 10 international scientists to receive the honor this time. Each year, Wise—who conducts research in elementary particle physics and cosmology—will spend extended research visits at Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, an independent, nonprofit scientific research and educational outreach organization. He received his BSc and MSc from the University of Toronto in 1976 and 1977, respectively, and his PhD from Stanford in 1980. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor of theoretical physics in 1982, becoming associate professor in 1984 and professor in 1985. He was named McCone Professor in 1992.

Daraio Named to Future Leaders Initiative

September 6, 2009 - Chiara Daraio, assistant professor of aeronautics and applied physics, has been selected to participate in the 2009 Science and Technology in Society forum Future Leaders Initiative. She will join nine other outstanding young scientists from Japan, England, Germany, Chile, Uruguay, Malawi, China, and the United States to discuss the impact of their research on societal development. The program is organized and sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Daraio received her BS and an MS from the University of Ancona, Italy, in 2001, and an MS and her PhD from UC San Diego in 2003 and 2006, respectively. She joined Caltech's faculty in 2006.

Ellis Appointed Oort Professor

September 6, 2009 - Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor of Astronomy, has been chosen to be the 2010 Oort Professor at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. He will visit Leiden for one month during 2010 to deliver a public lecture as well as a series of graduate lectures. The Oort Foundation provides the support for this professorship and provides the funding to support an international workshop on a topic that will be decided by Ellis and colleagues at the Leiden Observatory. A Fellow of the Royal Society, he received his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1974. He joined Caltech as a professor of astronomy in 1999 and was named Steele Family Professor in 2002. He directed Palomar Observatory from 2000 to 2002 and the Caltech Optical Observatories from 2002 to 2005.

Einstein Papers Project Honored

September 6, 2009 - Rudy Hirschmann, information-technology manager, software engineer, and literary historian for Caltech's Einstein Papers Project, accepted on behalf of the project the Wheatley Medal for outstanding index, for the indexes in volume 11 of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein. The presentation took place at the Society of Indexers annual dinner on September 12 at the University of York, England. Considered one of the most ambitious publishing ventures in the field of the history of science, The Collected Papers provides the first complete view of Einstein's written legacy. Other project leaders from Caltech are Diana Buchwald, general editor and professor of history, and Tilman Sauer, editor and senior research associate and lecturer in history.

Mazmanian Receives Benirschke Award

September 6, 2009 - Sarkis Mazmanian, assistant professor of biology, has been selected by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America to receive its first Rolf Benirschke Scholar in Ulcerative Colitis research award. Established to honor advances made by the foundation's "highest ranked and funded awardee in ulcerative colitis research," the award is named in honor of the former NFL placekicker for the San Diego Chargers, who has openly battled ulcerative colitis since 1977 and drawn much-needed attention to the disease. Mazmanian is noted for his discovery of "how a single bacterium offers protection from the gastrointestinal inflammation of ulcerative colitis in a laboratory animal model." He received his BS and PhD from UCLA in 1995 and 2002, respectively. He joined Caltech's faculty in 2006.

Mead Inducted Into Inventors Hall of Fame

September 6, 2009 - Carver Mead, Moore Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Emeritus, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, which honors those "responsible for the great technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible." Mead is being honored for his role in developing very large-scale integration (VLSI), which permits tens of thousands of transistors to be packaged on a single silicon chip, and for his publication with Lynn Conway of the 1980 textbook Introduction to VLSI Systems, which facilitated early Internet use in the rapid distribution of student chip designs to manufacturers nationwide. He is a graduate of Caltech's class of 1956, has been a member of the faculty since 1958, and received his PhD from the Institute in 1960.

Ricoux Receives Youth Award

September 6, 2009 - Juan "Pedro" Ochoa Ricoux, graduate student in physics, has received Mexico's most prestigious youth award, the 2008 Premio Nacional de Juventud (National Youth Prize) in Academic Activities. Ricoux is working with Professor of Physics Harvey Newman on neutrino oscillations that have led to the appearance of electron neutrino events in the MINOS experiment, a long-baseline experiment with a one-kiloton detector at Fermilab, in Batavia, Illinois, and a five-kiloton detector in a mine in Minnesota, 735 kilometers away. Neutrino oscillations are the only experimentally confirmed phenomena clearly outside the Standard Model of particle physics. MINOS is based on a concept originated by the late Doug Michael, who was a senior research associate in physics at Caltech.

Rutledge Awarded Kenneth J. Button Prize

September 6, 2009 - David Rutledge, Tomiyasu Professor of Electrical Engineering, has been awarded the 2010 Kenneth J. Button Prize "for pioneering contributions to millimeter-wave technology, including integrated-circuit antennas for submillimeter waves, imaging antenna arrays, and quasi-optical systems." Awarded annually, the prize consists of a bronze medal, a certificate, and Ł2,000. Rutledge received his BA from Williams College in 1973, his MA from the University of Cambridge in 1975, and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1980, the same year he joined Caltech as an assistant professor. Appointed associate professor in 1984, professor in 1989, and Tomiyasu Professor in 2001, he has served as executive officer for electrical engineering and as chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science.

Ellis PhD Graduate Receives Trumpler Prize

August 2, 2009 - Kevin Bundy, who received his PhD in astrophysics from Caltech in 2006 working under the supervision of Steele Family Professor of Astronomy Richard Ellis, has been chosen by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific to receive its 2009 Trumpler Prize, awarded for the best North American thesis "whose research is considered unusually important to astronomy." According to the award's citation, Bundy's analysis of star formation rates and galaxy morphology "has been widely cited and is considered an important constraint on theories of early galaxy formation." Bundy is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley. A Fellow of the Royal Society, Richard Ellis has been a professor at Caltech since 1999 and directed the Caltech Optical Observatories from 2002 to 2005.

Gray Elected ACS Fellow

August 2, 2009 - Harry Gray, Beckman Professor of Chemistry and founding director of the Beckman Institute, has been elected a fellow of the American Chemical Society. He and the 161 other members elected to ACS's inaugural class of fellows are being recognized for their "common set of accomplishments, namely true excellence in their contributions to the chemical enterprise coupled with distinctive service to ACS or to the broader world of chemistry." A professor of chemistry at Caltech since 1966, Gray received his BS from Western Kentucky College in 1957 and his PhD from Northwestern University in 1960. He served as chair of chemistry and chemical engineering from 1978 to 1984 and as director of the Beckman Institute from 1986 to 2001.

Grubbs ACS Inaugural Fellow

August 2, 2009 - Robert Grubbs, Atkins Professor of Chemistry, has been elected an inaugural fellow of the American Chemical Society. He and the 161 others of ACS's inaugural class of fellows are being recognized "for outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession, and the society," and together will "make up a body that can be called upon by the president and the board of directors for advice and counsel." Grubbs received his BS in 1963 from the University of Florida and his PhD in 1968 from Columbia University. He joined Caltech as professor of chemistry in 1978 and was named Atkins Professor in 1990. In 2005 Grubbs won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Ravichandran Elected SEM Fellow

August 2, 2009 - Guruswami Ravichandran, Goode Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering and director of GALCIT, has been elected a fellow by the Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM). Election recognizes individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the society and to the field of experimental mechanics. Presentation will take place during the SEM Annual Conference, to be held in June 2010 in Indianapolis. Ravichandran received his BE from the University of Madras (Regional Engineering College) in 1981 and an ScM in solid mechanics and structures, an ScM in applied mathematics, and a PhD from Brown University in 1983, 1984, and 1986, respectively. He came to Caltech as an assistant professor in 1990, was appointed professor in 1999, and was named Goode professor in 2005.

Anderson Named Benzer Professor

July 5, 2009 - David Anderson has been named the Seymour Benzer Professor of Biology, effective May 1; this title replaces that of Roger W. Sperry Professor of Biology. Anderson received his AB from Harvard in 1978 and his PhD from Rockefeller University in 1983, and he joined Caltech's faculty as an assistant professor in 1986, becoming associate professor in 1992, professor in 1996, and Sperry Professor in 2004. He is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. A professor at Caltech since 1967, Crafoord Laureate Seymour Benzer was James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, Emeritus, at the time of his death in 2007.

Brennen One of Irish Education 100

July 5, 2009 - Christopher Brennen, Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been named one of the Irish Voice's inaugural Irish Education 100, the newspaper's listing of leading figures in education across North America. A graduate of the University of Oxford, where he received both his BA, in 1963, and his doctorate, in 1966, he joined Caltech as a research fellow in 1969. He was appointed associate professor in 1976 and professor in 1982. Over the years, he has served as master of student houses, from 1983 to 1987; dean of students, from 1988 to 1992; executive officer for mechanical engineering, from 1993 to 1997; and vice president for student affairs, from 1997 to 2002.

Dunn Receives Schmitt Award

July 5, 2009 - Tom Dunn, head of the electronics shop in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, has received one of the 3rd Annual Thomas W. Schmitt Staff Awards. The award, which includes a check for $3,000, recognizes a staff member "whose contributions embody the values and spirit that enable the Institute to achieve excellence in research and education." His nominators' many comments noted among his attributes his technical skills, his can-do attitude, and the freedom he has given division faculty to focus on research and teaching. He is in his 36th year at Caltech.

Libbrecht Selected for Chamot Award

July 5, 2009 - Ken Libbrecht, professor of and executive officer for physics, has been selected by the State Microscopical Society of Illinois to receive its 2009 Emile Chamot Award "for outstanding contributions to the field of light microscopy and photomicroscopy," with the award's presentation taking place on July 8 in Chicago at the INTER/MICRO Microscopy Conference. A Caltech alum (BS 1980), Libbrecht both received his PhD from Princeton and joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1984, becoming full professor in 1995 and executive officer in 1997. He is the author of the award-winning Snowflake books.

Rosakis Elected SEM Fellow

July 5, 2009 - Ares Rosakis, von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering and chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, has been elected a fellow by the Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM). Election recognizes individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the society and to the field of experimental mechanics. He received his BSc from the University of Oxford in 1978, and in 1982 he both received his PhD from Brown University and joined Caltech as an assistant professor, becoming associate professor in 1988 and professor in 1993. He directed the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories (GALCIT), now the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories, from 2004, the same year he was named von Kármán Professor, to this year, when he was appointed division chair.

Shan Named Teacher-Scholar

July 5, 2009 - Shu-ou Shan, assistant professor of chemistry, has received a 2009 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation. Only 14 Teacher-Scholars were chosen. According to the foundation, "The award provides a $75,000 unrestricted grant to young faculty in the chemical sciences who are within the first five years of their academic careers. These young faculty have created an independent body of outstanding scholarship and demonstrated a commitment to education." A member of Caltech's faculty since 2005, Shan received her BS from the University of Maryland in 1994 and her PhD from Stanford in 2000.

Shull Receives Schmitt Award

July 5, 2009 - Sheila Shull, administrative assistant in Applied and Computational Mathematics for almost 30 years, has received one of the 3rd Annual Thomas W. Schmitt Staff Awards. Noted for the speed and skill with which she straightened out the department at a time when it was in considerable disarray, Shull on a day-to-day basis takes care of nearly every aspect of ACM, from proposal submissions and grant management to managing personnel and organizing conferences to space utilization. The award, which includes a check for $3,000, recognizes a staff member "whose contributions embody the values and spirit that enable the Institute to achieve excellence in research and education."

Elowitz Picked for Discover List

June 7, 2009 - Michael Elowitz, assistant professor of biology and applied physics and Bren Scholar, has been named to Discover magazine's "20 Best Brains Under 40" list, which recognizes young innovators who are changing their fields. Elowitz investigates how cells' genetic circuits work by building his own circuits and inserting them into living bacteria, and by using time-lapse movies to observe the dynamics of circuits in individual cells.

Gray Receives Welch Award

June 7, 2009 - Harry Gray, Beckman Professor of Chemistry and founding director of the Beckman Institute, has been selected by the Welch Foundation to receive the 2009 Welch Award in Chemistry. The award, comprising a gold medallion and $300,000, recognizes his lifetime of achievement in basic research, including the discovery that molecules need not be in close contact to transfer electrons, opening up the possibility of capturing and storing energy created by electrons moving from one molecule to another.

Hsieh-Wilson Wins Gill Award

June 7, 2009 - Linda Hsieh-Wilson, associate professor of chemistry and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has received the 2009 Gill Young Investigator Award. Presented by the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Science at Indiana University–Bloomington, the award honors "scientists whose research has had profound impact on shaping the field and enhancing public understanding of neuroscience." Hsieh-Wilson received a plaque and a check for $5,000 and gave a keynote lecture at the 2009 Gill Symposium, held May 20 on the Bloomington campus.

Huang Receives Fulbright

June 7, 2009 - Julie Huang, a senior in geobiology, has received a Fulbright fellowship that will enable her to do research in Germany at Universität Bremen and the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. "The flagship international educational program sponsored by the U.S. Government, the Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and the people of other countries."

Hudson Selected for Fulbright

June 7, 2009 - Alex Hudson, a senior in applied physics, has joined the prestigious ranks of Fulbright recipients. His fellowship will enable him to pursue a one-year program in theoretical chemistry at the University of Oxford. The Fulbright Program "awarded approximately six thousand grants in 2008, at a cost of more than $275.4 million, to U.S. students, teachers, professionals, and scholars to study, teach, lecture, and conduct research in more than 155 countries."

Katz Named Political Methodology Fellow

June 7, 2009 - Jonathan Katz, professor of political science and chair of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, has been named an inaugural Fellow of the Society for Political Methodology, established to honor individuals "who have made outstanding scholarly contributions to the development of political methodology, and whose methodological work has had a major international impact on subsequent scholarship in the field, in the discipline more broadly, and where appropriate in other areas."

Lakhanpal Receives Hertz Fellowship

June 7, 2009 - Amit Lakhanpal, a graduate student in biology, has been named a Hertz Fellow by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. Established in 1963 for the purpose of "empowering young scientists and engineers with the freedom to innovate," the foundation has selected 10 students from an applicant pool of 543 to receive financial support for up to five years of graduate studies. With no strings attached, the fellowships provide "exceptional applied scientists and engineers the freedom to pursue their own ideas with financial independence under the guidance of the finest professors at the country's top universities." The awards are valued at over $250,000 each.

Loh Selected for Beckman Prize

June 7, 2009 - Po-Ling Loh, a senior in mathematics with a minor in English, has been chosen as the 2009 recipient of the Mabel Beckman Prize, which is "awarded to an undergraduate woman upon completion of her junior or senior year in recognition of demonstrated academic and personal excellence, contributions to the Institute community, and outstanding qualities of character and leadership." Noted for her unparalleled generosity "toward her friends, fellow students and the least-loved people in the community," she established an outreach to the homeless using money received with last year's Mari Peterson Ligocki '81 Memorial Fund award. She has "maintained a flawless academic record" and is the recipient of a Hertz Foundation Fellowship valued at over $250,000 to support her graduate studies.

Mazmanian Named to Discover List

June 7, 2009 - Sarkis Mazmanian, assistant professor of biology, has been named to Discover magazine's "20 Best Brains Under 40" list, which recognizes young innovators who are changing their fields. Mazmanian studies the evolutionary mechanisms underlying host-bacterial symbiosis, particularly how some bacteria promote human health and protect human beings against disease.

Schneider Picked for Discover List

June 7, 2009 - Tapio Schneider, professor of environmental science and engineering, has been selected for Discover magazine's "20 Best Brains Under 40" list, which recognizes young innovators who are changing their fields. His research uses theory, computer simulations, and observational data to study atmospheric turbulence and its influence on global climate.

Stoltz Receives Sackler Prize

June 7, 2009 - Brian Stoltz, Bowles Professor of Chemistry, is a recipient of the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences, awarded at Tel Aviv University. The research field for 2009 was Total Synthesis of Biologically Active Natural Products, and Stoltz is being recognized for "his seminal contribution through the development of enantioselective methods for oxidation and catalytic bond construction, and their utilization for the total synthesis of complex natural products."

Sun Awarded SPIE Scholarship

June 7, 2009 - Xiankai Sun, a graduate student in applied physics, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship by SPIE, the international optics and photonics society. According to SPIE, it will in 2009 "be awarding $292,000 in scholarships to 116 outstanding students based on their potential for long-range contribution to optics and photonics, or a related discipline." Sun's thesis project "investigates the supermode control and demonstrates its potential advantages in hybrid Si/III–V optoelectronics."

Yang Named to Discover List

June 7, 2009 - Changhuei Yang, assistant professor of electrical engineering and bioengineering, has been named to Discover magazine's "20 Best Brains Under 40" list, which recognizes young innovators who are changing their fields. Yang's biophotonics laboratory focuses on the development of novel tools that combine optics and microfluidics to tackle diagnostic and measurement problems in biomedicine.

Varma Receives Fulbright

June 7, 2009 - Ila Varma, a senior in mathematics, has received a Fulbright fellowship that will enable her to pursue research as well as a master's degree at the University of Leiden. "The flagship international educational program sponsored by the U.S. Government, the Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and the people of other countries."

Bronner-Fraser Elected to American Academy

May 3, 2009 - Marianne Bronner-Fraser, Ruddock Professor of Biology, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy includes among past fellows and foreign honorary members George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Webster, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Albert Einstein, and Winston Churchill. Bronner-Fraser's research focuses on the formation and migration of neural crest cells, which can be involved in a variety of birth defects and cancers. She received her ScB from Brown University in 1975 and her PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1979, and she joined Caltech's faculty as professor of biology in 1996 and was named Ruddock Professor in 2000.

Dougherty Named to NAS

May 3, 2009 - Dennis Dougherty, Hoag Professor of Chemistry, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Created when Abraham Lincoln signed incorporating legislation in 1863, the NAS is called upon "to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering. Dougherty received his BS and MS from Bucknell University in 1974 and his PhD from Princeton in 1978, joining Caltech in 1979 as an assistant professor. He became associate professor in 1985, professor in 1989, and Hoag Professor in 2002, and he served as executive officer for chemistry from 1994 to 1999.

Lin Receives Rotary Scholarship

May 3, 2009 - Benjamin Lin, a junior in chemistry and the president of Ruddock House, has received a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, which will allow him to do chemistry research at the University of Oslo, Norway, during the 2010-11 academic year, following his graduation from Caltech in June of next year. His work will focus on reaction mechanisms. The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships promote world peace and understanding by bridging cultures and encouraging goodwill.

Newman and Team Honored

May 3, 2009 - Harvey Newman, professor of physics, and his team have been awarded the 2009 Internet2 IDEA Award for their EVO ("Enabling Virtual Organizations") application, a videoconferencing and desktop sharing system originally designed for the high-energy physics community but now used by thousands of collaborators in many disciplines, as well as by educators and students worldwide. Internet2 is the foremost U.S. advanced networking consortium, and IDEA stands for Internet2 Driving Exemplary Applications. Newman received his bachelor's and doctoral degrees from MIT, in 1968 and 1973, respectively. He came to Caltech in 1982 as an associate professor, becoming professor in 1990.

Readhead Named Jansky Lecturer

May 3, 2009 - Anthony Readhead, Rawn Professor of Astronomy, director of the Chajnantor Observatory, JPL senior research scientist, and director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, has been selected by the Associated Universities Inc. to be the 2009 Karl G. Jansky Lecturer. The lectureship is named after the scientist who, in 1932, first detected radio waves from a cosmic source, and the recipient gives lectures at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Virginia, and in Socorro, New Mexico. Readhead received his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1972 and joined Caltech's faculty in 1974.

Rosakis Elected to American Academy

May 3, 2009 - Ares Rosakis, von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780, the academy includes among its 2009 fellows and foreign honorary members actor Dustin Hoffman, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela. Rosakis's research interests range from materials to the mechanics of solids to geophysics. He received his BSc from the University of Oxford in 1978, and his PhD from Brown University in 1982, the same year he joined Caltech's faculty. He has directed the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories (GALCIT), now the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories, since 2004, the same year he was named von Kármán Professor.

Sternberg Named to NAS

May 3, 2009 - Paul Sternberg, Morgan Professor of Biology and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Incorporated in 1863, the NAS is "a private organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering. Sternberg received his BA from Hampshire College in 1978 and his PhD from MIT in 1984. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1987, becoming associate professor in 1992, professor in 1996, and Morgan Professor in 2004.

Thorne Receives Einstein Medal

May 3, 2009 - Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, has been chosen to receive the 2009 Einstein Medal from the Albert Einstein Geselleschaft in Berne, Switzerland. The medal is awarded annually to a "deserving individual for outstanding findings, works, or publications related to Albert Einstein." Thorne will also be Lorentz Professor at the University of Leiden both in June and next fall. He received his BS from Caltech in 1962 and his PhD from Princeton in 1965. Returning to Caltech as a research fellow the following year, he was appointed associate professor in 1967, professor in 1970, and Feynman Professor in 1991. He was William R. Kenan Professor from 1981 to 1991.

Zewail Joins President's Council

May 3, 2009 - Ahmed Zewail, Pauling Professor of Chemistry and professor of physics and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has been named by President Barack Obama to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a group of 20 leading experts from the private sector and the academia who will advise the president on issues related to energy, education, health, climate change, the environment, security, and the economy. Zewail received his BSc from Alexandria University in 1967 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. He joined Caltech's faculty in 1976 as an assistant professor, becoming professor in 1982 and Pauling Professor in 1990.

Bruck Receives Feynman Prize

March 8, 2009 - Jehoshua Bruck, Moore Professor of Computation and Neural Systems and Electrical Engineering, has received the 2009 Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching, which is awarded annually "to a professor who demonstrates, in the broadest sense, unusual ability, creativity, and innovation in undergraduate and graduate classroom and laboratory teaching." The prize consists of a cash award of $3,500 and is matched by an equivalent raise in the annual salary of the awardee. Bruck received his BSc from the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology in 1982 and his PhD from Stanford in 1989, then joined Caltech as an associate professor in 1994, becoming professor in 1998 and Moore Professor in 2001. He served as director of information science and technology from 2003 to 2005.

Calegari Wins Clay Research Award

March 8, 2009 - Danny Calegari, Merkin Distinguished Professor of Mathematics, has received the 2009 Clay Research Award, along with colleagues Ian Agol, of UC Berkeley, and David Gabai, formerly of Caltech and now at Princeton, for their solutions of the Marden Tameness Conjecture. Recipients of the award are named as Clay Research Scholars and receive flexible research support for a period of one year. Calegari is noted for his work in geometry and topology, the field involved in the tameness conjecture. He received his BA from the University of Melbourne in 1994 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 2000. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 2002 and was appointed associate professor in 2003 and professor in 2007, then named Merkin Distinguished Professor that same year.

Chameau Named to NAE

March 8, 2009 - Jean-Lou Chameau, president of Caltech and professor of civil engineering, environmental science and engineering, and mechanical engineering, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering "for national and international leadership and contributions in engineering education, geotechnical engineering, and public policy." Founded in 1964, the NAE "provides engineering leadership in service to the nation," with election to the academy considered "among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer." Chameau received his secondary and undergraduate education in France, and his MS and PhD from Stanford in 1977 and 1981, respectively. He became Caltech's eighth president in September 2006.

Chueh Receives Lemelson-Caltech Honor

March 8, 2009 - William Chueh, a graduate student in materials science, has taken honors and $10,000 as runner-up for the Lemelson-Caltech Student Prize. The prize is funded by the Lemelson-MIT Program, which "celebrates those inventors who have turned their ideas into accomplishments." Chueh, who works with Sossina Haile, professor of materials science and chemical engineering, has developed a method for fine-tuning the ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen in syngas generation and, utilizing nickel as a catalyst, converting syngas to methane, a fuel. Chueh's successful demonstration of the method has led to construction by eSolar of a solar concentrator to provide energy for the production of carbon-neutral fuel.

Diamond Elected AAAS Fellow

March 8, 2009 - Rochelle A. Diamond, member of the professional staff, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Section on Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering. The award ceremony took place on February 14 during the AAAS annual meeting, in Chicago. The applications specialist and facility manager of Caltech's flow cytometry and cell sorting facility since 1984, Diamond was cited by the AAAS for "outstanding technical contributions to the field of cytometry/cell sorting, and for distinguished professional service in development of understanding human diversity in science and engineering."

Elowitz Receives Presidential Early Career Award

March 8, 2009 - Michael Elowitz, assistant professor of biology and applied physics and Bren Scholar, has received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The awards, which provide five years of grant support, "recognize and nurture some of the finest scientists and engineers who, while early in their research careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge during the twenty-first century." Elowitz investigates how cells' genetic circuits work by building his own circuits and inserting them into living bacteria. He received his BA from UC Berkeley in 1992 and his MA and PhD from Princeton University, both in 1999. He was named a Bren Scholar in 2003, the same year he joined Caltech's faculty.

Epstein Awarded Sacks Prize

March 8, 2009 - Inessa Epstein, Clare Boothe Luce Postdoctoral Fellow in Mathematics, has been named a recipient of the Association for Symbolic Logic's Sacks Prize, awarded internationally each year for the most outstanding doctoral dissertation in mathematical logic. The association's prizes and awards committee citation notes that in her thesis, titled "Some results on orbit inequivalent actions of non-amenable groups," Epstein "solves one of the most important problems in measurable group theory." She received her PhD in 2008 from UCLA.

Grubbs Receives Award for Creative Invention

March 8, 2009 - Robert Grubbs, Atkins Professor of Chemistry, has received the 2009 ACS Award for Creative Invention from the American Chemical Society. Intended "to recognize a single inventor for the successful application of research in chemistry and/or chemical engineering that contributes to the material prosperity and happiness of people," the award—which consists of $5,000 and a certificate—recognizes Grubbs for his invention of olefin metathesis catalysts that have considerably eased the production of pharmaceuticals, materials, and fine chemicals. Grubbs received his BS in 1963 from the University of Florida and his PhD in 1968 from Columbia University. He joined Caltech as professor of chemistry in 1978 and was named Atkins Professor in 1990.

Huang AAAS President-Elect

March 8, 2009 - Alice Huang, senior faculty associate in biology, has been selected as president-elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Huang previously served as Caltech's senior councilor for external relations and is described by the AAAS as "a distinguished virologist and lifelong advocate for women in science." She received her BA, MS, and PhD from Johns Hopkins University, in 1961, 1963, and 1966, respectively, and joined Caltech's faculty as a faculty associate in 1997. She was named senior faculty associate in 2007.

Lange Receives Dan David Prize

March 8, 2009 - Andrew Lange, Goldberger Professor of Physics and chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, has—along with Paolo De Bernardis of Sapienza University of Rome and Paul Richards of UC Berkeley—been awarded the Dan David Prize in astrophysics, the field selected for 2009 to represent the prize's "Time Dimension" of the past. Lange and de Bernardis led the BOOMERANG experiment, a microwave telescope suspended from a balloon over the Antarctic that provided images of the early universe demonstrating its flat geometry, which Richards's MAXIMA experiment confirmed. The trio will share $1 million. A professor at Caltech since 1994 and the Goldberger Professor since 2001, Lange received his BA from Princeton in 1980 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1987.

McEliece Honored With Bell Medal

March 8, 2009 - Robert McEliece, Puckett Professor and Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus, has been selected by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) to receive the Alexander Graham Bell Medal for 2009, in recognition of his "fundamental contributions to the theory and practice of error-correcting codes and to the design of deep space telecommunication systems." A Caltech alumnus, McEliece received his BS here in 1964 and his PhD in 1967. He returned to Caltech in 1982, joining the faculty as professor of electrical engineering. Named Puckett Professor in 1997, he became emeritus in 2007. He served as executive officer for electrical engineering from 1990 to 1999.

Refael Receives Sloan Fellowship

March 8, 2009 - Gil Refael, associate professor of theoretical physics, has been named the recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Designed to "support the work of exceptional young researchers early in their academic careers," the fellowships were established in 1955. Each award provides a grant of $50,000 for a two-year period, with the recipient "free to pursue whatever lines of inquiry are of most interest." Refael received his BS from Tel Aviv University in 1997 and his MS and PhD from Harvard University in 1998 and 2003, respectively. He joined Caltech in 2005 as an assistant professor and was appointed associate professor in 2008.

Spiropulu Elected AAAS Fellow

March 8, 2009 - Maria Spiropulu, associate professor of physics, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Section on Physics "for her leadership in experimental high-energy physics, in particular for her pioneering efforts in the experimental search for supersymmetry and extra dimensions." Spiropulu received her BSc from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1993 and her MA and PhD from Harvard University in 1995 and 2000, respectively, and came to Caltech from the European Organization for Nuclear Research in 2008.

Stoltz Wins Corey Award

March 8, 2009 - Brian Stoltz, Bowles Professor of Chemistry, has been named winner by the American Chemical Society (ACS) of its Elias J. Corey Award for Outstanding Original Contribution in Organic Synthesis by a Young Investigator. Stoltz—whose lab, according to ACS's Chemical & Engineering News, "has been described as one of the major sources of new strategies for constructing complex molecules"—received two bachelor's degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and his PhD from Yale University in 1997. He joined Caltech's faculty as assistant professor in 2000, and was appointed associate professor in 2006 and professor and then Bowles Professor in 2007.

Tsao Receives Sloan Fellowship

March 8, 2009 - Doris Tsao, assistant professor of biology, has been selected to receive a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Established in 1955, the fellowships "seek to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise." Each award provides a grant of $50,000 for a two-year period "in recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions." Tsao, who investigates how the brain recognizes visual form, received her PhD from Harvard University in 2002.

Vermesh Wins Lemelson-Caltech Student Prize

March 8, 2009 - Ophir Vermesh, a graduate student in chemistry who works with Jim Heath, Gilloon Professor and professor of chemistry, has won the first $30,000 Lemelson-Caltech Student Prize, awarded to a Caltech student "who has created or improved a product or process, applied a technology in a new way, redesigned a system, or in other ways demonstrated remarkable inventiveness." Vermesh has led an effort to develop a microfluidics chip designed to take a drop of blood, separate the plasma from the whole blood, and then assay for a large panel of blood-based protein biomarkers, using a barcode-like format, all within a few minutes. The Lemelson-Caltech Student Prize is funded by the Lemelson-MIT Program.

Arnold Elected to AAM

December 7, 2008 - Frances Arnold, Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. New fellows are elected annually, chosen "based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology." A member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, Arnold is the only woman to have been elected to all three. She received her BS from Princeton University in 1979 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1985, and she joined Caltech's faculty as an assistant professor in 1987. She became professor in 1996 and Dickinson Professor in 2000.

Attardi Honored

December 7, 2008 - Giuseppe Attardi, late Steele Professor of Molecular Biology, has been honored with the creation of the Giuseppe Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine at Wenzhou Medical College in Wenzhou, China. Min-Xin Guan, a former postdoctoral fellow who worked with Attardi, arranged the institute's establishment. Known for his work linking degenerative diseases and aging to genetic mutations, Attardi was among the first to investigate the processes through which DNA's information is transferred. A native of Vicari, Italy, he received an MD from the University of Padua in 1947. He originally came to Caltech in 1959 on a yearlong Fulbright Fellowship, and was appointed associate professor in 1963, professor in 1967, and Steele Professor in 1985. He died on April 5.

Arnold Picked for Top List

December 7, 2008 - Frances Arnold, Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, has been chosen by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for its list of 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era, published in the October issue of Chemical Engineering Progress. The honor recognizes her both for "research on engineering biological systems, particular proteins and genetic regulatory networks, (e.g., using novel enzymes to catalyze cellulose hydrolysis)" and for her status as the only woman to be elected to all three branches of the National Academies: the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences. Arnold received her BS from Princeton in 1979 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1985. She joined Caltech's faculty in 1987.

Baltimore Chosen Senior Scholar Recipient

December 7, 2008 - David Baltimore, Millikan Professor of Biology and Nobel laureate, has been awarded a Senior Scholar Award of nearly $1 million by the Ellison Medical Foundation. Created by Laurence J. Ellison, Oracle cofounder and CEO, and Nobel Prize–winning biologist Joshua Lederberg, the foundation supports basic research that integrates molecular biology with biomedical research into aging. Baltimore has been researching the role of microRNAs—tiny bits of RNA that appear to control gene expression—in the process of aging. Caltech's president from 1997 to 2006, Baltimore received his BA from Swarthmore College in 1960 and his PhD from Rockefeller University in 1963. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975 for identifying reverse transcriptase.

Barton Receives Medical Foundation Award

December 7, 2008 - Jacqueline Barton, Hanisch Memorial Professor and professor of chemistry, has received a Senior Scholar Award of nearly $1 million from the Ellison Medical Foundation, which supports basic research that integrates molecular biology with biomedical research into aging. The foundation was created by Laurence J. Ellison, Oracle cofounder and CEO, and Nobel Prize–winning biologist Joshua Lederberg. Barton plans to use her Senior Scholar Award to explore novel ways in which the body can defend itself against oxidative damage, a major contributor to aging. Barton received her AB from Barnard College in 1974 and her PhD from Columbia University in 1978, and she joined Caltech as a professor of chemistry in 1989. She was named Hanisch Professor in 1997.

Baltimore Named Best Leader

December 7, 2008 - David Baltimore, Millikan Professor of Biology and Nobel laureate, has been named in U.S. News and World Report as one of America's Best Leaders 2008 for his influence on science that "has stretched far beyond the Nobel he won at age 37 for his work on retroviruses. An early advocate for federal research on AIDS, he served as president of Rockefeller University and the California Institute of Technology, all while continuing to do research." While at MIT he directed the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and he served as Caltech's president from 1997 to 2006. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975 for identifying reverse transcriptase. Baltimore received his BA from Swarthmore College in 1960 and his PhD from Rockefeller University in 1963.

Campbell Selected for Senior Scholar Award

December 7, 2008 - Judith Campbell, professor of chemistry and biology, has received a Senior Scholar Award of nearly $1 million from the Ellison Medical Foundation (EMF). Created by Laurence J. Ellison, Oracle cofounder and CEO, and Nobelist and biologist Joshua Lederberg, EMF supports basic research integrating molecular biology with biomedical research into aging. Campbell intends to study the enzyme Dna2, which seems to slow down the aging process by maintaining telomeres, bits of DNA at the end of chromosomes. Campbell received her BA from Wellesley College in 1965 and her PhD from Harvard in 1974. She joined Caltech as an assistant professor of chemistry in 1977, becoming associate professor in 1983 and associate professor of chemistry and biology in 1985. She was appointed professor in 1989.

Davis Selected for Elite List

December 7, 2008 - Mark Davis, Schlinger Professor of Chemical Engineering, has been chosen by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for its list of 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era, published in the October issue of Chemical Engineering Progress. The honor recognizes his "pioneering work in new catalytic materials and chemical sensors using ceramics and electronic materials." A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Davis received his BS and PhD from the University of Kentucky, in 1977 and 1981, respectively. He joined Caltech with the rank of professor in 1991, was named Schlinger Professor in 1993, and served as executive officer for chemical engineering from 1999 to 2004.

Johnson Wins McGroddy Prize

December 7, 2008 - William Johnson, Mettler Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, has been named a corecipient of the American Physical Society's 2009 James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials, which he will share with Akihisa Inoue of the Institute for Materials Research. The prize consists of $5,000, to be divided equally, and a certificate reading "For the development of slow cooling methods for the fabrication of bulk metallic glasses with remarkable mechanical properties and the characterization and application of these materials." After receiving his PhD from Caltech in 1975, Johnson returned to the Institute in 1977 as an assistant professor, becoming associate professor in 1980, professor in 1984, and Mettler Professor in 1989. He received his BA from Hamilton College in 1970.

Harrison Named Best Leader

December 7, 2008 - Fiona Harrison, professor of physics and astronomy, has been picked for U.S. News and World Report's list of America's Best Leaders 2008. The honor recognizes her role as principal investigator of the $150 million NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) mission, which "will send a high-powered telescope into orbit to observe the properties of black holes, the mysterious objects at the center of every large galaxy that are so dense even light can't escape from them." Harrison received her AB from Dartmouth College in 1985, and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1993. She came to Caltech that same year as a Millikan Research Fellow, then joined the faculty in 1996 as an assistant professor, becoming associate professor in 2001 and professor in 2005.

McAfee Named SPARC Innovator

December 7, 2008 - Preston McAfee, Johnson Professor of Business Economics and Management, has been named a SPARC Innovator by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC). Citing his status as "the first to publish a complete textbook, Introduction to Economic Analysis, and make it openly available online," the honor recognizes "his pioneering contributions to the Open Educational Resources movement and passionate advocacy for Open Access." McAfee received his PhD from Purdue 1980. A visiting professor at Caltech in the late '80s, he joined the faculty as Johnson Professor in 2004 and served as executive officer for the social sciences from 2005 to 2007. He is currently on leave from Caltech serving as vice president and research fellow at Yahoo! Inc.

Preskill Named Welsh Lecturer

December 7, 2008 - John Preskill, MacArthur Professor of Theoretical Physics, has been named the 2009 Welsh Lecturer at the University of Toronto. Established in honor of H. L. Welsh, a distinguished former faculty member in physics, the lecture is a major public event in the university's department of physics. The honor comprises a public lecture, to be given in May 2009, followed the next day by a physics colloquium. Preskill received his bachelor's degree from Princeton in 1975 and his PhD from Harvard in 1980. He came to Caltech in 1983 as an associate professor, becoming professor in 1990 and MacArthur Professor in 2002.

Kornfield Chosen for Top List

December 7, 2008 - Julia Kornfield, professor of chemical engineering, has been chosen by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for its list of 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era, published in the October issue of Chemical Engineering Progress. The honor recognizes her "work on polymer blend dynamics; flow alignment of liquid-crystalline and block polymers; physical aspects of new biomedical materials." A fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Kornfield received her BS and MS from Caltech in 1983 and 1985, respectively, and her PhD from Stanford University in 1988. She joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1990, becoming an associate professor in 1995 and professor in 2001.

Roberts Honored by NAS

December 7, 2008 - Jack Roberts, Institute Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, has received the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society. According to the National Academy of Sciences, he is being honored "for seminal contributions in physical organic chemistry, in particular the introduction of NMR spectroscopy to the chemistry community." The award consists of a prize of $20,000. Roberts received his BA and PhD from UCLA in 1941 and 1944, respectively. He joined Caltech as a research associate in 1952, becoming professor in 1953, Institute Professor in 1972, and Institute Professor Emeritus in 1988. He served as chairman of chemistry and chemical engineering from 1963 to 1968, as acting chairman 1972-73, and as provost and vice president, and dean of the faculty, from 1980 to 1983.

Stalzer Named Distinguished Scientist

December 7, 2008 - Mark Stalzer, member of the professional staff at Caltech and executive director of Caltech's Center for Advanced Computing Research, is one of 37 members of the Association for Computing Machinery named a Distinguished Member. Initiated in 2006, the honor "recognizes those members with at least 15 years of professional experience who have made significant accomplishments or achieved a significant impact on the computing field." Included are computer scientists and engineers from corporations, laboratories, and universities worldwide responsible for "significant advances in computing technology that have dramatically influenced progress in science, engineering, business, and many other areas." Stalzer is one of 27 specifically recognized as 2008 Distinguished Scientists.

Seinfeld Picked for Elite List

December 7, 2008 - John Seinfeld, Nohl Professor and professor of chemical engineering, has been chosen by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for its list of 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era, published in the October issue of Chemical Engineering Progress. The honor recognizes his "developing first models describing urban air quality" and his being among the "first to describe linkage between urban ozone and global climate change." Elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Seinfeld received his BS from the University of Rochester in 1964 and his PhD from Princeton in 1967, when he joined Caltech as assistant professor. He has served as executive officer for chemical engineering and as chair of engineering and applied science.

Zewail Receives Othmer Medal

December 7, 2008 - Ahmed Zewail, Pauling Professor of Chemistry and professor of physics and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has been selected by the Chemical Heritage Foundation to receive the 2009 Othmer Gold Medal. The award ceremony and luncheon will take place on May 14. Created in 1997, the medal honors "outstanding individuals who have made multifaceted contributions to our chemical and scientific heritage through outstanding activity." Zewail, who helped create the new field of femtochemistry, making it possible to observe atoms in motion, received his BSc from Alexandria University in 1967 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. He joined Caltech's faculty in 1976 as an assistant professor, becoming professor in 1982 and Pauling Professor in 1990.

Baltimore Named to Receive Builders of Science Award

October 5, 2008 - David Baltimore, Millikan Professor of Biology and Nobel laureate, has been chosen to receive Research!America's Builders of Science Award, which "recognizes leaders in medical and health research who either worked to establish a research facility or substantially revitalized an existing institution." Baltimore founded the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and he served as president of Caltech from 1997 to 2006. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975 for identifying the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which synthesizes DNA from RNA and plays a role in the development of cancer, and he received the National Medal of Science in 1999. Baltimore received his BA from Swarthmore College in 1960 and his PhD from Rockefeller University in 1963.

Haile Awarded NSF Fellowship

October 5, 2008 - Sossina Haile, professor of materials science and chemical engineering, has been awarded an American Competitiveness and Innovation Fellowship by the National Science Foundation. The program honors current NSF grantees "who have demonstrated a combination of transformative research accomplishments and outstanding contributions toward education, mentoring, and broadening participation of women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities." Haile received her BS from MIT in 1986, her MS from UC Berkeley in 1988, and her PhD from MIT in 1992. She joined Caltech as assistant professor of materials science in 1996, becoming associate professor in 2001, associate professor of materials science and chemical engineering in 2003, and professor in 2006.

Hay Chosen to Receive NIH Award

October 5, 2008 - Bruce Hay, associate professor of biology, has been named by National Institutes of Health director Elias Zerhouni to receive a 2008 NIH Director's Pioneer Award. The award will provide $2.5 million over five years. Now in its fifth year, the Pioneer Awards are a key part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, a series of initiatives "intended to accelerate the translation of research to improvements in public health." Hay received his BA from Claremont McKenna College in 1982 and his PhD from UC San Francisco in 1989. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1996, becoming associate professor in 2002, and he will use the award to pursue a strategy for preventing malaria in humans by introducing into wild mosquitoes genes that block transmission of the disease.

Kitaev Named MacArthur Fellow

October 5, 2008 - Alexei Kitaev, professor of theoretical physics and computer science, has been named a MacArthur Fellow. As a recipient of the "genius" award, he will receive $500,000 over five years with no strings attached. Kitaev is well known for his research into quantum systems and the possible application of quantum physics to computation and computers, and has made important contributions as well in areas such as quasicrystals and quantum chaos. He received his diploma from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1986 and his PhD from the Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics in 1989, and he first came to Caltech as a visiting associate and lecturer in 1998. He joined Caltech's faculty as a senior research associate in 2001 and was appointed professor in 2002.

McKeown Receives Bonner Prize

October 5, 2008 - Robert McKeown, professor of physics, has been awarded the 2009 Tom W. Bonner Prize in Nuclear Physics by the American Physical Society. To be given at the society's April meeting, the prize consists of $10,000 and a certificate citing the recipient's contributions; McKeown's citation recognizes "his pioneering work on studying nucleon structure using parity-violating electron scattering, in particular for the first measurement of the strange quark contribution to the electromagnetic structure of the proton." McKeown received his BS in 1974 from the State University of New York (Stony Brook) and his PhD in 1979 from Princeton University. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor the following year, becoming associate professor in 1986 and professor in 1992.

Roth Inducted into Hall of Fame

October 5, 2008 - Dana Roth, Caltech's chemistry librarian, has been inducted into the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Hall of Fame for his "work and contributions to the field of librarianship and information management." Roth once served as a library advisor at the Indian Institute of Technology, and besides authoring journal articles has served on journal advisory boards, including those of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of Springer. A member of the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Information Science, and active in the Chemistry Division of SLA since 1991, Roth celebrated his 40th year of service at Caltech in 2007. He received Caltech's Thomas W. Schmitt Annual Staff Prize this past June.

Stoltz Awarded $10 Million Grant

October 5, 2008 - Brian Stoltz, Bowles Professor of Chemistry, has been awarded a $10 million grant by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Part of its Global Research Partnership Investigator competition, the award recognizes Stoltz's "efforts to discover and develop new oxidation reaction processes of potential utility for the chemical, polymer, and pharmaceutical industries." He will spend at least three weeks per year on the university's campus in Saudi Arabia, participating in its research and academic life. Stoltz received a BA and BS from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and his PhD from Yale University in 1997. He joined Caltech's faculty as assistant professor in 2000, and was appointed associate professor in 2006 and professor and then Bowles Professor in 2007.

Vahala Selected to Receive Sarnoff Award

October 5, 2008 - Kerry Vahala, Jenkins Professor of Information Science and Technology and professor of applied physics, has been selected to receive the IEEE David Sarnoff Award. Consisting of a bronze medal, a certificate, and an honorarium, the award is given for exceptional contributions to electronics. Vahala is specifically being recognized for "seminal contributions to improved dynamics of quantum well semiconductor lasers." After receiving his BS, MS, and PhD from Caltech in 1980, 1981, and 1985, respectively, Vahala was appointed a research fellow in applied physics. He became assistant professor in 1986, associate professor in 1990, professor in 1996, and Jenkins Professor in 2002.

Wasserburg Chosen to Receive Bowie Medal

October 5, 2008 - Gerald J. Wasserburg, MacArthur Professor of Geology and Geophysics, Emeritus, has been chosen by the American Geophysical Union to receive its Charles William Bowie Medal, in recognition of his "outstanding contributions to fundamental geophysics and for unselfish cooperation in research." The medal will be presented on December 17 in San Francisco at the union's fall meeting. Wasserburg received his SB in 1951 and his PhD in 1954, both from the University of Chicago, and joined Caltech as an assistant professor the following year. He became associate professor in 1959, professor in 1963, MacArthur Professor in 1982, and MacArthur Professor Emeritus in 2001. From 1987 to 1989 he served both as chair of Geological and Planetary Sciences and as executive officer for geochemistry.

Gharib Camera System Honored

September 7, 2008 - Mory Gharib, Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and professor of bioengineering, and his team have been recognized with an R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine. According to the magazine, "The winning of an R&D 100 Award provides a mark of excellence known to industry, government, and academia as proof that the product is one of the most innovative ideas of the year." The award is for their Volumetric 3-Component Velocimetry Video (V3V) System, a 3-D camera, which has been licensed and marketed by TSI Inc., a Minnesota-based company. Gharib received his BS from Teheran University in 1976, his MS from Syracuse University in 1978, and his PhD from Caltech in 1983. He returned to Caltech as a full professor in 1992, and was named Liepmann Professor in 2002.

Greer Named Top Innovator

September 7, 2008 - Julia Greer, assistant professor of materials science, has been selected as one of the world's top innovators under age 35 by MIT's Technology Review magazine. The annual TR35 list recognizes "accomplished young innovators who exemplify the spirit of innovation," and Greer is being honored for her having "reinvented nanomechanics—the field that studies the mechanical properties, such as elasticity and strength, of materials at extremely small scales." Her "SEMentor" has "greatly simplified and improved the process" of obtaining mechanical properties of materials at nanoscale dimensions. She received her BS from MIT in 1997 and her PhD from Stanford in 2005, and she came to Caltech in 2007.

Miller to Receive New Faculty Award

September 7, 2008 - Thomas Miller, assistant professor of chemistry, has been selected by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation to receive a 2008 New Faculty Award. Established to help incoming faculty in the chemical sciences initiate their independent research programs, the award provides $50,000 in unrestricted grants—"The intent is to support young academic researchers of great promise at this earliest stage of their independent professional development." Miller received his BS from Texas A&M in 2000 and his PhD from the University of Oxford in 2005, and he joined Caltech this year. His research focuses on understanding complex dynamics in chemistry and biology.

Phillips Named Conference Honoree

September 7, 2008 - Tom Phillips, Altair Professor of Physics and director of Caltech's Submillimeter Observatory, has been chosen to be honored at the Templeton Xiangshan Conference in Beijing China, October 12–15. "As you have been a major contributor to the technology and the leadership that has enabled the current, world-wide set of tools with which we can now observe the cosmos, we would like to honor you at this celebration. Your presence will also enrich the discussions and reflections on the great enterprise of what it takes to understand the Universe." He joined Caltech as professor of physics in 1979, has been director of the Submillimeter Observatory since 1986, and was named Altair Professor in 2004. Phillips received his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1964.

Shaindlin to Chair Advisory Commission

September 7, 2008 - Andy Shaindlin, executive director of the Alumni Association, has been named chair of the Commission on Alumni Relations, which is an advisory group for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The three-year appointment includes membership on the CASE board of trustees. Based in Washington, D.C., CASE is the professional organization for fund-raising, communications, and alumni-relations professionals in higher education around the world. Shaindlin has worked with CASE since 1989.

Varshavsky Chosen for EUREKA Grant

September 7, 2008 - Alexander Varshavsky, Smits Professor of Cell Biology, has received a EUREKA grant from the National Institutes of Health for his work in cancer therapies. According to the NIH release, "EUREKA researchers will receive direct costs of approximately $200,000 per year for up to four years, subject to the availability of appropriations." Varshavsky's grant is for his project "Split Proteins as Boolean Circuits and Drugs of a New Kind." The recipient of numerous awards, including most recently the $1 million Gotham Prize for Cancer Research, Varshavsky earned his BS from Moscow State University in 1970 and his PhD from the Institute of Molecular Biology in 1973. He has been Smits Professor at Caltech since 1992.

Bond to Receive Gruber Prize

July 6, 2008 - Dick Bond, visiting associate in theoretical astrophysics, has been selected to receive the 2008 Gruber Cosmology Prize, which will be awarded in September at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The award citation reads: "Bond's approach to cosmological questions combines a unique blend of original theory and full involvement in the observations made by experimental teams. He has helped usher the field through three decades of what has been described as its 'golden age.'" A Caltech alumnus, he received his MS here in 1975, and his PhD in 1979; he received his BSc from the University of Toronto in 1973. He holds the title of University Professor at the University of Toronto and is director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research's Cosmology and Gravity Program.

Borodin Awarded Mathematics Prize

July 6, 2008 - Alexei Borodin, professor of mathematics, received an EMS Prize on July 14. Awarded by the European Mathematical Society in recognition of distinguished contributions in mathematics by young researchers not older than 35 years, the EMS Prize is presented every four years at the European Congress of Mathematics. The award citation commends Borodin for his "substantial contributions to the representation theory of 'big' groups, to combinatorics, interacting particle systems and random matrix theory," and his prize winner's lecture was titled "Random surfaces in dimensions two, three, and four." A professor at Caltech since 2003, he received his MSc from Moscow State University in 1997 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001.

ASCIT Honorees Named

July 6, 2008 - Mani Chandy, Ramo Professor and professor of computer science, Mathieu Desbrun, associate professor of computer science, Sarkis Mazmanian, assistant professor of biology, David Politzer, Tolman Professor of Theoretical Physics, and Joel Tropp, assistant professor of applied and computational mathematics, are faculty recipients of 2007 ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Teaching Awards. The Teaching Award for research mentor has gone to John Eiler, professor of geochemistry, and, for teaching assistant, to grad students Aadel Chaudhuri, in biology, Kristin Gleitsman, in chemistry, and Nahid Walji, in mathematics, and to Po-Ling Loh, undergraduate in mathematics, class of '09.

GSC Honorees Named

July 6, 2008 - Robert Clayton, professor of geophysics, has received the 2007 Graduate Student Council (GSC) Mentoring Award. Graduate students James Swan, in chemical engineering, Chris Wegg, in physics, and Ling Zheng, in mechanical engineering, have received the GSC Teaching Assistant Award, and Flora Hinz, graduate student in biology, an Honorable Mention.

Farley Awarded Day Medal

July 6, 2008 - Kenneth Farley, Keck Foundation Professor of Geochemistry and chair of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, has been named the 2008 recipient of the Arthur L. Day Medal, which is "awarded for outstanding contribution to geologic knowledge through the application of physics and chemistry to the solution of geologic problems." The medal will be presented in October at the Geological Society of America 's annual meeting in Houston, and the honor also includes life fellowship in the society. Farley received his BS from Yale in 1986 and his PhD from UC San Diego in 1991. He came to Caltech as an assistant professor in 1993 and became professor in 1998 and Keck Foundation Professor in 2003. He served as director of the Tectonics Observatory in 2003–04.

Patterson Receives Thesis Award

July 6, 2008 - Ryan Patterson, Richard Chace Tolman Postdoctoral Scholar in Experimental Physics, is a corecipient of the Fermilab/URA Graduate Thesis Award; he and fellow recipient Peter Wagner of the University of Pennsylvania will split a $3,500 prize funded by the Universities Research Association. Patterson's dissertation, "Search for Muon Neutrino to Electron Neutrino Oscillations at Delta M Squared > 0.1 eV Squared," presented findings declared by the American Institute of Physics to be among the top science results of 2007. Patterson received his BS from Caltech in 2000 and his PhD from Princeton this year.

Prince Honored by NASA

July 6, 2008 - Tom Prince, professor of physics, received the Distinguished Service Medal at JPL's annual NASA Honor Awards ceremony on July 23. The medal is the highest honor conferred by NASA. Prince has been recognized "for distinguished scientific contributions to, and leadership of, NASA astrophysics programs, and for distinguished management of NASA science programs as JPL chief scientist." Prince joined Caltech as a research fellow after receiving his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1978. He was appointed assistant professor in 1983 and professor in 1992, and he served as associate director of the Center for Advanced Computing Research from 1995 to 2001 and as chief scientist at JPL from 2001 to 2006. He is currently a JPL senior research scientist.

Schmidt Chosen for Kavli Prize

July 6, 2008 - Maarten Schmidt, Moseley Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus, has been named a corecipient of the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. Jointly sponsored by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and the Kavli Foundation, the prize consists of a scroll, a medal, and $1 million, which Schmidt will share with Donald Lynden-Bell of Cambridge University, "both of whose work underpins our understanding of quasars." Schmidt received his PhD from the University of Leiden in 1956 and his ScD from Yale in 1966. He joined Caltech's faculty in 1959, and served as chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy from 1976 to 1978 and as director of the Hale Observatories from 1978 to 1980.

Thorne Awarded Honorary Degree

July 6, 2008 - Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Chicago on June 13. The award citation reads: "Kip Thorne has deepened our understanding of space, time, and gravitation through his research on black holes, gravitational waves, and other aspects of general relativity. He has trained and inspired generations of graduate students, and has provided leadership and vision to scholars and students in the general relativity community." Thorne received his BS from Caltech in 1962 and his PhD from Princeton in 1965. Returning to Caltech as a research fellow in 1966, he became associate professor in 1967, professor in 1970, and Feynman Professor in 1991. He was William R. Kenan Professor from 1981 to 1991.

Wang Receives Feynman Prize

July 6, 2008 - Zhen-Gang Wang, professor of chemical engineering, has been awarded the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Caltech's most prestigious teaching honor, the prize comes with a $3,500 cash award plus an equivalent raise in annual salary. Wang was chosen for the award in recognition of "his mastery of thermodynamics and polymer physics, clarity of presentation, and ability to empower students through the knowledge and experience they gain from his teaching." Wang received his BSc from Beijing University in 1982 and his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1987. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1991, becoming associate professor in 1997 and professor in 2002.

Arnold Elected to NAS

June 1, 2008 - Frances Arnold, Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for her work integrating fundamentals of molecular biology, genetics, and bioengineering, which has revolutionized protein engineering and its applications to biotechnology. Already a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, she is one of only eight living persons to have been elected to all three branches of the National Academies, and the only woman. Arnold received her BS from Princeton University in 1979 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1985. She joined Caltech's faculty as an assistant professor in 1987, becoming professor in 1996 and Dickinson Professor in 2000.

Chan Named HHMI Investigator

June 1, 2008 - David Chan, associate professor of biology, has been named an HHMI investigator by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. According to HHMI, the institute "provides long-term, flexible funding to enable its investigators to pursue their scientific interests wherever they lead." Chan specializes in mitochondria, the dynamics of which in animal cells have far-reaching implications for health and aging. He received his bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 1988 and his MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School, both in 1996. He came to Caltech as an assistant professor in 2000, the same year he was named a Bren Scholar, and he was appointed associate professor in 2006.

Daily Receives ASCIT Award

June 1, 2008 - Peter Daily, senior director of campus dining, has been selected to receive a 2007–08 ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Staff Award, with students citing his "genuine care about the undergraduates," his approachability and friendliness, and his being "open to student comments and suggestions, and passionate about improving Caltech's dining services."

Dickinson Elected to American Academy

June 1, 2008 - Michael Dickinson, Zarem Professor of Bioengineering, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy includes George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Winston Churchill among past fellows and foreign honorary members. Known for Robofly, a mechanical fly originating from his studies of fly neurobiology and biomechanics, Dickinson first came to Caltech in 2001 as a visiting associate, then joined the faculty the next year as professor. He was named Zarem Professor in 2003. He received his ScB from Brown University in 1984 and his PhD from the University of Washington in 1989.

Elowitz Named HHMI Investigator

June 1, 2008 - Michael Elowitz, assistant professor of biology and applied physics and Bren Scholar, has been named an HHMI investigator by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which, in the words of its president, is committed to providing biomedical scientists "with the freedom and flexibility" to advance scientific knowledge. Elowitz pursues his interest in how cells' genetic circuits work by building his own circuits and inserting them into living bacteria. He received his BA from UC Berkeley in 1992 and his MA and PhD from Princeton University, both in 1999. He was named a Bren Scholar in 2003, the same year he joined Caltech's faculty.

Finigan Receives ASCIT Award

June 1, 2008 - Kate Finigan, administrative assistant in basic applied physics, has been selected to receive a 2007–08 ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Staff Award, with her award message stating, "You have been selected because we believe you truly go above and beyond your expected duties," and students noting in particular that she is "always happy and smiling."

Jensen Named HHMI Investigator

June 1, 2008 - Grant Jensen, assistant professor of biology, has been named an HHMI investigator by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. According to HHMI, the institute "provides long-term, flexible funding to enable its investigators to pursue their scientific interests wherever they lead." Jensen utilizes electron-microscope technologies to image biological structures and to create animations for biological processes. He received his BS from Brigham Young University in 1994 and his PhD from Stanford University in 1999. He joined Caltech in 2002.

JPL Receives AIAA Excellence Award

June 1, 2008 - The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been selected by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to receive its 2008 Foundation Award for Excellence "to recognize 50 years of historic space exploration which began with the first Earth-orbiting U.S. satellite—Explorer 1—and continues today throughout the solar system, and beyond." Presentation of the award took place at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala on May 14 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, in Washington, D.C.

McAfee Awarded Honorary Doctorate

June 1, 2008 - Preston McAfee, Johnson Professor of Business Economics and Management, received an honorary doctor of economics degree from Purdue University on May 10 during commencement ceremonies at its West Lafayette campus. Known as an authority on industrial organization and microeconomics, McAfee has done consulting for the federal government. He received his BA from the University of Florida in 1976 and his MS and PhD from Purdue, in 1978 and 1980, respectively. A visiting professor at Caltech in the late '80s, he joined the faculty as Johnson Professor in 2004 and served as executive officer for the social sciences from 2005 to 2007. He is currently on leave from Caltech serving as vice president and research fellow at Yahoo! Research.

Oguri Receives Humboldt Research Award

June 1, 2008 - Hirosi Oguri, Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics, has been chosen to receive a Humboldt Research Award, which is granted "to internationally renowned scholars from all disciplines whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future." Oguri is planning to use his award to collaborate with researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Germany. A visiting associate at Caltech in 1999 and a professor since 2000, Oguri was named Kavli Professor in 2007. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Kyoto University, in 1984 and 1986, respectively, and his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1989.

O'Rourke Named Platinum Citizen

June 1, 2008 - Bob O'Rourke, vice president for public relations, has been named a 2008 Platinum Citizen of the Year by THE Magazine. The award is "bestowed upon the character of each recipient and the 'quiet and unassuming' approach each gives back to the community and people." Recipients "were chosen because of what they do each day to make the world a better place. Their professions are merely outlets for their true values and commitments." He was honored at the Second Annual Pasadena Platinum Gala, which raised $25,000 for the Pasadena YMCA.

Palfrey Elected to American Academy

June 1, 2008 - Thomas Palfrey, Flintridge Foundation Professor of Economics and Political Science, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy includes U.S. Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, Academy Award–winning director Milos Forman, and blues guitarist B. B. King among its 2008 fellows. Noted for applying game theory to voting behavior and to auction bidding, Palfrey joined Caltech' s faculty in 1986 with the rank of professor, was named Flintridge Foundation Professor in 2003, and served as executive officer for the social sciences in 2001–02. He received his BA from the University of Michigan in 1975 and his PhD from Caltech in 1981.

Plott Named AEA Distinguished Fellow

June 1, 2008 - Charles Plott, Harkness Professor of Economics and Political Science, has been chosen by the American Economic Association as one of their Distinguished Fellows for 2008. No more than three Distinguished Fellows may be elected "in any one calendar year from economists of high distinction in the United States and Canada." A professor of economics at Caltech since 1971, and the Harkness Professor since 1987, Plott received his BS from Oklahoma State in 1961 and his PhD from the University of Virginia in 1965.

Refael Receives Cottrell Award

June 1, 2008 - Gil Refael, assistant professor of theoretical physics, has been named a Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for his proposal "Breakdown of Superfluidity in Low-Dimensional Disordered Systems." Awards are in the amount of $100,000, are intended "for institutions and faculty members who wish to excel at both teaching and research," and are among the most prestigious for beginning faculty in the sciences. Cottrell Scholar proposals are subject to peer review. Refael, whose research concentrates on the field of strongly correlated quantum systems, received his BS from Tel Aviv University in 1997 and his MS and PhD from Harvard University in 1998 and 2003, respectively. He joined Caltech in 2005.

Chen, Manin, Theodoris Win Goldwater Schlarships

May 4, 2008 - Kevin Chen, junior in aeronautics, Fedor Manin, junior in mathematics, and Christina Theodoris, junior in biology, have been awarded Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships for the 2008–09 academic year. Created in honor of the late Senator Barry M. Goldwater, the scholarship program encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. This year the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation awarded 321 academic merit scholarships to sophomores and juniors, chosen from 1,035 mathematics, science, and engineering students nominated by college and university faculties nationwide. The one- and two-year scholarships cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Gingrich Named Hertz Fellow

May 1, 2008 - Todd Gingrich, a senior in chemistry, has been named a Hertz Fellow by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. Established to identify and support scientific talent in the United States, the foundation has chosen 15 students from an applicant pool of more than 580 to receive financial support for five years of graduate studies in the applied physical, biological, and engineering sciences. With no strings attached, the fellowships provide financial independence and, since university or study choices are not limited by strict funding requirements, give recipients the freedom to conduct innovative research. Awardees are granted full Hertz Foundation Fellowships valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars each over five years. Gingrich is also a Rhodes Scholar and an NSF Fellow.

Goddard Receives ACS Award

May 1, 2008 - William Goddard, Ferkel Professor of Chemistry, Materials Science, and Applied Physics, has received the American Chemical Society's Award in Theoretical Chemistry. The awards ceremony took place in New Orleans on April 8 at the society's 235th national meeting. Goddard received his BS from UCLA in 1960 and his PhD from Caltech in 1965, the year after he joined Caltech's faculty as a Noyes Research Fellow in Chemistry. Appointed assistant professor in 1967, associate professor in 1971, and professor in 1974, he was named Ferkel Professor of Chemistry in 1984 and Ferkel Professor of Chemistry, Materials Science, and Applied Physics in 2001. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Ooguri Named Takagi Lecturer

May 1, 2008 - Hirosi Ooguri, Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics, has been invited to deliver the Takagi Lectures for 2008. Established by the Mathematical Society of Japan, the lectures are named in honor of Professor Taiji Takagi (1875–1960), creator of class field theory and father of modern mathematical research in Japan. Ooguri received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Kyoto University, in 1984 and 1986, respectively, and his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1989. A visiting associate at Caltech in 1999 and a professor since 2000, Ooguri was named Kavli Professor in 2007.

Deser Named APS Outstanding Referee

April 6, 2008 - Stanley Deser, visiting associate in theoretical physics, has been designated as an APS (American Physical Society) Outstanding Referee. According to the APS website, "The Outstanding Referee program was instituted in 2008. The highly selective award program recognizes scientists who have been exceptionally helpful in assessing manuscripts for publication in the APS journals." Like an APS fellowship, the designation is a lifetime award. Deser received his MA and PhD from Harvard in 1950 and 1953, respectively. He has been Ancell Professor of Physics at Brandeis University since 1980, and a visiting associate at Caltech since 2005.

Djorgovski Wins Writing Contest

April 6, 2008 - George Djorgovski, professor of astronomy, has been awarded first prize in this year's Griffith Observer science-writing contest. Sponsored by Boeing, the contest recognizes articles that "best communicate to the average reader, material of current or historical interest in astronomy, astrophysics, and space science." First prize is $1,000, and Djorgovsky's article, "A Picture Worth a Thousand Stories," will be published in the July issue of the Griffith Observer. Judging was done at the Griffith Observatory, and authors' identities were kept anonymous. A graduate of the University of Belgrade, Djorgovski received his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1985. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1987 and was appointed associate professor in 1990 and professor in 1997.

Elachi to Receive Goddard Award

April 6, 2008 - Charles Elachi, Caltech vice president, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and professor of electrical engineering and planetary science, has been selected to receive the 2008 Goddard Astronautics Award, the highest honor of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), for his "outstanding engineering and scientific contributions to synthetic aperture radar technology and extraordinary leadership in American space science." The medal will be presented at a black-tie gala in Washington, D.C., on May 14. Elachi received his bachelor's degree at the University of Grenoble in 1968 and his Caltech PhD in electrical engineering in 1971, the same year he began working for Caltech/JPL.

Varshavsky Wins Gotham Prize

April 6, 2008 - Alexander Varshavsky, Smits Professor of Cell Biology, has been selected to receive the first Gotham Prize for Cancer Research. According to the Gotham Prize Foundation, "The annual $1 million Gotham Prize for Cancer Research (Gotham Prize) has been established to encourage new and innovative approaches to cancer research by fostering collaboration among top thinkers in the field . . . Each year, the member who submits the best idea in the area of cancer research as judged by our expert panel will receive $1 million for personal use." Smits Professor at Caltech since 1992, Varshavsky earned his BS from Moscow State University in 1970 and his PhD from the Institute of Molecular Biology in 1973.

Vogel Named APS Outstanding Referee

April 6, 2008 - Petr Vogel, senior research associate in physics, emeritus, has been designated as an APS (American Physical Society) Outstanding Referee. "This is the first year of this very selective award," according to Gene D. Sprouse, editor in chief for APS. "The awardees chosen are truly exceptional in their contributions to the physics community by their hard work and careful attention to the peer review process." Like an APS fellowship, the designation is a lifetime award. Vogel received his PhD from the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (USSR) in 1966, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 1970 as a senior research fellow, becoming research associate in 1975 and senior research associate in 1981, and retiring to emeritus status in 2004. He has also served as a Caltech lecturer in physics.

Bunn and Newman Honored for UltraLight

March 2, 2008 - Julian Bunn, member of the professional staff at Caltech and principal computational scientist in Caltech's Center for Advanced Computing Research, and Harvey Newman, professor of physics, have been selected by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) to receive the CENIC 2008 Annual Innovations in Networking Award for Experimental/Developmental Applications. Bunn and Newman are being recognized for their UltraLight project, "a collaboration of experimental physicists and network engineers whose purpose is to provide the network advances required enable petabyte-scale analysis of globally distributed data." Bunn will accept the award on March 11 at the CENIC 2008: Lightpath to the Stars conference, in Oakland, California.

Elachi Receives Procter Prize

March 2, 2008 - Charles Elachi, Caltech vice president, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and professor of electrical engineering and planetary science, has received the Sigma Xi 2008 William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement. Awarded to a scientist "who has made an outstanding contribution to scientific research," the prize consists of a certificate, a Steuben glass sculpture, and $5,000, plus a $5,000 grant-in-aid to be given to a student designated by Elachi. He will also give the William Procter Prize Lecture on November 21, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Past recipients of the prize include Murray Gell-Mann, Benoit Mandelbrot, James Van Allen, and William Pickering. Elachi received his Caltech PhD in electrical engineering in 1971, the same year he began working for Caltech/JPL.

Hirata Selected for Sloan Fellowship

March 2, 2008 - Christopher Hirata, assistant professor of astrophysics, has been named the recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. "Intended to enhance the careers of the very best young faculty members in specified fields of science," the fellowships were established in 1955. Each award provides a grant of $50,000 for a two-year period. A Caltech alumnus who received his BS here in 2001, Hirata received his PhD from Princeton in 2005 and joined Caltech's faculty in 2007. His area of research is cosmology—the study of the origin, structure, and evolution of the universe.

Smolke Receives Sloan Fellowship

March 2, 2008 - Christina Smolke, assistant professor of chemical engineering, has been selected to receive a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Established in 1955, the fellowships were set up to identify researchers "who show the most outstanding promise of making fundamental contributions to new knowledge." Each award provides a grant of $50,000 for a two-year period. Smolke received her BS from USC in 1997 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 2001, and she joined Caltech's faculty in 2003. She studies how cells respond to their environment and whether that knowledge might be used to make cells change their function, with implications for cancer research.

Tirrell Elected to NAE

March 2, 2008 - David Tirrell, McCollum-Corcoran Professor, professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, and chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Founded in 1964, the NAE "provides engineering leadership in service to the nation," with election to the academy considered "among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer." Tirrell received his BS from MIT in 1974 and his PhD from the University of Massachusetts in 1978, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 1998, becoming division chair in 1999. The NAE cites his "pioneering contributions to bioengineered materials and the synthesis of novel artificial proteins."

Bellan Elected AIAA Fellow

February 3, 2008 - Josette Bellan, visiting associate in mechanical engineering and a member of the technical staff at JPL, has been elected a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for notable contributions to the science of aeronautics and astronautics. She received her BS from the Lycée Jules Ferry in 1964, an MS from the University of Sciences (Paris) in 1969, and an MS as well as her PhD from Princeton University in 1972 and 1974, respectively. A lecturer in jet propulsion at Caltech in 1992–93, she joined JPL in 1994 and has been a visiting associate at Caltech since 1995, first in aeronautics and then mechanical engineering.

Emami-Neyestanak Receives CAREER Award

February 3, 2008 - Azita Emami-Neyestanak, assistant professor of electrical engineering, has won a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award for her research proposal Hybrid Data Communication in Advanced Integrated Systems, whose objective "is the development of high-performance electro-optical interconnections in advanced integrated systems." The award is for $400,000. The NSF's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program offers the NSF's "most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education." Emami-Neyestanak, who received her BS from Sharif University of Technology in 1996 and her MS and PhD from Stanford University in 1999 and 2004, respectively, joined Caltech's faculty in 2007.

Ioana Wins Clay Fellowship

February 3, 2008 - Adrian Ioana, Taussky-Todd Instructor in Mathematics, has been awarded a Clay Research Fellowship in Mathematics. Given annually to a select group of young mathematicians based on the exceptional quality of their research and their promise to become leaders in their field, the fellowship provides full support by the Clay Mathematics Institute for the duration of the award. Ioana's fellowship is for three years, and he will receive a generous 12-month salary and benefits, as well as flexible research support, including travel, travel for collaborators, books, and equipment. Ioana received his BS from the University of Bucharest in 2003 and his PhD from UCLA in 2007, the year he joined Caltech.

Lew Receives Excellence Award

February 3, 2008 - Matthew Lew, a senior in electrical engineering, has received a Newport and Spectra-Physics Research Excellence Travel Award at the SPIE Photonics West Conference, held January 19–24, 2008, in San Jose, California. He won the award for his work on "Two-dimensional differential interference contrast microscopy based on four-hole variation of Young's interference," conducted in Changhuei Yang's Biophotonics Laboratory. Because this award is typically given to graduate students for outstanding research, Lew stands out among this year's recipients as the only undergraduate to receive the prize.

Low Elected IEEE Fellow

February 3, 2008 - Steven Low, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, has been elected a fellow of the IEEE for his "contributions to internet congestion control." The distinction recognizes "an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest." Low received his BS from Cornell University in 1987 and his MS and PhD from UC Berkeley in 1989 and 1992, respectively. He came to Caltech as an associate professor in 2000 and was appointed professor in 2006.

Narsimhan Receives Churchill Scholarship

February 3, 2008 - Vivek Narsimhan, a senior in chemical engineering, has received a Churchill Scholarship for the academic year 2008–09, an award of nearly $50,000. He plans to complete the Certificate in Advanced Mathematics (Maths Part III) at Churchill College, University of Cambridge. While at Caltech, Narsimhan has served as vice president of the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, cocaptain of the tennis team, and an upperclass counselor at Caltech's freshman orientation, and he is a recipient of the Caltech Upperclass Merit Award as well as the Robert Byrd Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement. He is noted for modeling the behavior of soft biomaterials, which can be applied to making shape-changing replacement lenses for cataract patients.

Pellegrino Elected AIAA Fellow

February 3, 2008 - Sergio Pellegrino, professor of aeronautics and civil engineering, has been elected a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for notable contributions to the science of aeronautics and astronautics. He graduated from the University of Naples in 1982 and received his PhD from Cambridge in 1986. He joined Caltech's faculty last year.

Shepherd Named Johnson Professor

February 3, 2008 - Joseph Shepherd has been named the C. L. "Kelly" Johnson Professor of Aeronautics. He will retain the title of professor of mechanical engineering. Internationally recognized for his research in combustion, fuel properties, and fluid dynamics relevant to the initiation and propagation of explosions, he received his BS from the University of South Florida in 1976 and his PhD from Caltech in 1981. He returned to the Institute as associate professor of aeronautics in 1993, and he was appointed professor in 1999 and professor of aeronautics and mechanical engineering in 2006.

Vahala Selected for Humboldt Award

February 3, 2008 - Kerry Vahala, Jenkins Professor of Information Science and Technology and professor of applied physics, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award in recognition of lifetime achievements in research. Vahala received his BS, MS, and PhD from Caltech in 1980, 1981, and 1985, respectively. He was a appointed a research fellow in applied physics the same year he received his doctorate, and became assistant professor the following year, associate professor in 1990, professor in 1996, and Jenkins Professor in 2002.

Ellis Receives CBE

January 13, 2008 - Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor of Astronomy, has been named by Queen Elizabeth as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) "for services to international science." The CBE is Great Britain's highest civilian honor other than a knighthood, and it is rarely given to nonresident British citizens. Ellis, whose research focuses on galaxy evolution and observational cosmology, will receive the award at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace later this year. A Fellow of the Royal Society, he received his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1974. He has been a professor at Caltech since 1999, and he directed the Caltech Optical Observatories from 2002 to 2005.

Lazzarini Named APS Fellow

January 13, 2008 - Albert Lazzarini, member of the professional staff in the LIGO Laboratory, has been named a fellow of the American Physical Society. His citation reads, "For leadership in the development of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and its scientific program, and in the development of large-scale computational grids for gravitational-wave physics and other fields of science."

Ooguri Receives Eisenbud Prize

January 13, 2008 - Hiroshi Ooguri, Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics, is a corecipient, with Andrew Strominger and Cumrun Vafa of Harvard University, of the first-ever Leonard Eisenbud Prize for Mathematics and Physics, created in 2006 and awarded by the American Mathematical Society. The prize, which honors work connecting the fields of math and physics, is for their 2004 paper "Black Hole Attractors and the Topological String." Ooguri received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Kyoto University, in 1984 and 1986, respectively, and his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1989. He came to Caltech as a visiting associate in 1999, and joined the faculty as a professor in 2000.

Ortiz Selected for Hill Prize

January 13, 2008 - Michael Ortiz, Hayman Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering, has been selected as the first winner of the Rodney Hill Prize in Solid Mechanics, sponsored by scientific publisher Elsevier Limited and awarded under the auspices of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. The international prize includes a plaque and $25,000 and will be awarded every four years. Ortiz is being recognized for contributions that include a new method for computing plastic deformation—the reshaping of a material without breaking it. A graduate of Polytechnic University of Madrid, he received his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1982. He came to Caltech in 1994 as a Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar and joined the faculty as a professor the next year.

Prince Named APS Fellow

January 13, 2008 - Tom Prince, professor of physics, has been named a fellow of the American Physical Society. His citation reads, "For his broad contributions to the fields of astrophysics and space science, including his leadership role as the LISA Mission Scientist and his service as the Chief Scientist at JPL from 2001 to 2006." After receiving his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1978, Prince joined Caltech as a research fellow. He was appointed assistant professor in 1983 and professor in 1992, and he served as associate director of the Center for Advanced Computing Research from 1995 to 2001. He is also a JPL senior research scientist.

Rhodes Receives Excellence Award

January 13, 2008 - Jason Rhodes, visiting associate in astronomy and a staff scientist at JPL, has been named a recipient of JPL's Lew Allen Award for Excellence. Given annually to up to four full-time JPL employees, the award recognizes and encourages "significant individual accomplishments or leadership in scientific research or technological innovation" during the early years of employees' careers. The award consists of a wall plaque and a prize of $25,000 from the JPL Research and Technology Development Fund, "to be used at JPL to enhance the professional efforts of the awardee." A physics postdoc at Caltech from 2004 to 2006, Rhodes received his BS from Harvey Mudd College in 1994 and his PhD from Princeton in 1999.

Roukes Group Tapped for Art Display

January 13, 2008 - Michael Roukes, professor of physics, applied physics, and bioengineering, and his research group have had a colorized electron micrograph of a device involved in their discovery of the quantum of thermal conductance chosen for display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, beginning February 24. The image of the nanoscale device will be part of MoMA's exhibition "Design and the Elastic Mind." Roukes received his bachelor's degree from UC Santa Cruz in 1978 and his PhD from Cornell in 1985, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 1992. He served as director of the Kavli Nanoscience Institute from 2004 to 2006.

Caligari Named Merkin Professor

December 2, 2007 - Danny Calegari has been named Richard Merkin Distinguished Professor of Mathematics, effective December 1. Noted for his work in geometry and topology, and particularly foliation theory, he received his BA from the University of Melbourne in 1994 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 2000. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 2002 and was appointed associate professor in 2003 and professor in 2007.

Gingrich Selected as Rhodes Scholar

December 2, 2007 - Todd Gingrich, a senior in the chemistry option, will attend Oxford University, England, as a Rhodes Scholar. With the scholarship covering all expenses, he plans to earn a master's degree in theoretical chemistry, after which he intends to study for a PhD either at Oxford or in the United States. At Caltech, Gingrich first worked in the lab of Beckman Professor of Chemistry Harry Gray, investigating a protein implicated in Parkinson's disease. More recently, his research with Argyros Professor and Professor of Chemistry Nate Lewis has involved studying solar power. The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and best-known award for international study. It was created in the 1902 will of Cecil Rhodes, the British philanthropist and colonialist.

Kimble Receives Honorary Degree

December 2, 2007 - Jeff Kimble, Valentine Professor and professor of physics, has received the degree of Doctor Scientiarum Honoris Causa (an honorary doctorate in the natural sciences) from the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, for his pioneering research in atomic and optical physics, particularly quantum optics. The festivities, which took place November 14–15, included a lecture by Kimble. He received his BS from Abilene Christian University in 1971 and his PhD from the University of Rochester in 1978. A professor at Caltech since 1989, he was named Valentine Professor in 1997.

Palomar Group Honored by Time

December 2, 2007 - Palomar Adaptive Optics has been honored by Time magazine. The Caltech group, working with astronomers from the University of Cambridge, combined adaptive optics (AO), which corrects atmospheric blurring of images, with a new camera developed at Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy. Time cited the resulting "Lucky Camera" as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year, stating that it "works with conventional telescopes, on the ground. It snaps up to 20 images per sec., sorts out the best ones and combines them into a picture sharper than the Hubble's at 1/50,000 the cost." The term "lucky" refers to the technique of depending on chance fluctuations in the atmosphere sorting themselves out and providing a set of images that is easier for the AO system to correct.

Anneila Sargent Chosen for Honorary Degree

December 2, 2007 - Anneila Sargent, Rosen Professor of Astronomy and director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, has been invited by the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh to be admitted to the honorary degree of Doctor of Science. A graduate of Edinburgh who received her PhD from Caltech in 1977, Sargent has served as a member of the Institute's faculty or professional staff ever since. In 1998 she was appointed professor and Owens Valley Radio Observatory director. She also served as director of the Interferometry Science Center from 2000 to 2003 and was founding director of both the Michelson Science Center and the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA).

Yeh Elected AAAS Fellow

December 2, 2007 - Nai-Chang Yeh, professor of physics, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); fellows are recognized for "their contributions to science and technology," and she specifically is "being honored for significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics, especially phenomena associated with perovskite materials that demonstrate unusual superconducting and magneto-resistive properties." Yeh received her BS from National Taiwan University in 1983 and her PhD from MIT in 1988, and she joined Caltech the following year as assistant professor. She was appointed associate professor in 1995 and professor in 1997.

Andersen Elected to Institute of Medicine

November 4, 2007 - Richard Andersen, Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, has been elected a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the institute is recognized as "a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on human health issues" whose members "devote a significant amount of volunteer time as members of IOM committees." Andersen is known for his work in developing implanted neural prosthetic devices to serve as an interface between severely paralyzed individuals' brain signals and their artificial limbs, allowing thoughts to control movement. Andersen received his BS from UC Davis in 1973 and his PhD from UC San Francisco in 1979, and he joined Caltech's faculty as Boswell Professor in 1993.

Lowenthal Receives Medal of Excellence

November 4, 2007 - Tina Lowenthal, director of procurement services, has received the 2007 Caltech Women at Work Medal of Excellence, sponsored by Women at Work, a Pasadena nonprofit career and resource center. Lowenthal joined JPL as a buyer in 1986, then transferred to Caltech nine years later. She was promoted to associate director of purchasing services in 1998 and director in 2006. As director, she oversees an office of over 60 employees who work in the areas of purchasing and contracting, procurement support, supplier management, payment services, travel, property services, and risk management. According to Julia McCallin, associate vice president for human resources, Lowenthal "is noted for her passion in building bridges and fostering relationships, as well as being a community leader."

Stolper Named to Receive Honorary Degree

November 4, 2007 - Ed Stolper, provost and Leonhard Professor of Geology, has been chosen to receive an honorary degree of doctor of science from the University of Edinburgh. He received his bachelor's degree from Harvard in 1974, his master of philosophy from Edinburgh in 1976, and his PhD from Harvard in 1979, the year he joined Caltech as an assistant professor. Appointed professor in 1983 and Leonhard Professor in 1990, Stolper served as executive officer for geochemistry from 1989 to 1994, chair of the geology and planetary sciences division from 1994 to 2004, and acting provost in 2004. He was named provost this year. His research involves experimental, analytical, theoretical, and computational studies aimed at understanding the origin and evolution of igneous rocks on Earth and other planets.

Arnold Receives Award

October 7, 2007 - Frances Arnold, Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, has received the 2007 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Award, which is sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company and recognizes outstanding achievement by women in biological science. Arnold joined Caltech's faculty as an assistant professor in 1987, becoming professor in 1996 and Dickinson Professor in 2000. She received her BS from Princeton University in 1979 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1985.

Ensminger Named Wasserman Professor

October 7, 2007 - Jean Ensminger has been named Edie and Lew Wasserman Professor of Anthropology, effective October 1. She received her bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1974 and her master's degree and PhD from Northwestern University in 1976 and 1984, respectively. She came to Caltech as professor of anthropology in 2000, and served as chair of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences from 2002 to 2006.

Pellegrino Elected Fellow

October 7, 2007 - Sergio Pellegrino, professor of aeronautics and civil engineering, has been elected a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, whose announcement refers to him as "the father of ultra-lightweight expanding space mirrors." The academy "promotes the engineering and technological welfare" of the United Kingdom. Pellegrino graduated from the University of Naples in 1982 and received his PhD from Cambridge in 1986. He joined Caltech's faculty this year.

Ramakrishnan Named Taussky-Todd-Lonergan Professor

October 7, 2007 - Dinakar Ramakrishnan has been named Taussky-Todd-Lonergan Professor of Mathematics, effective October 1. The endowed chair honors the late Caltech professors of mathematics Olga Taussky-Todd and John Todd, and John Todd's companion, Rosemary Lonergan. Ramakrishnan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Madras in 1970, an MS from Brooklyn Polytech in 1973, and an MA and his PhD from Columbia University, in 1977 and 1980, respectively. He joined Caltech's faculty as professor of mathematics in 1988.

Tirrell Selected for Scholar Award

October 7, 2007 - David Tirrell, McCollum-Corcoran Professor, professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, and chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, has been selected by the American Chemical Society to receive the 2007 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, in recognition of his contributions to the field of organic chemistry. The award includes $5,000 plus a $40,000 unrestricted research grant. Tirrell joined Caltech's faculty in 1998 and became division chair in 1999. He received his BS from MIT in 1974 and his PhD from the University of Massachusetts in 1978.

Meyerowitz Receives Award

September 2, 2007 - Elliot Meyerowitz, Beadle Professor of Biology and chair of the biology division, has been chosen to receive an award from the American Society of Plant Biologists 2007 Grant Awards Program. He and collaborator Martha Kirouac at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens will use the award to create a teacher-training program in coordination with the Huntington's Botanical Educators group. A member of the Caltech faculty since 1980, Meyerowitz received his bachelor's degree from Columbia in 1973 and his PhD from Yale in 1977.

Yang Named to TR35

September 2, 2007 - Lili Yang, a project manager and lead scientist in Caltech's Engineering Immunity Program, has been named one of the nation's top 35 innovators under age 35 by MIT's Technology Review magazine. The annual TR35 list recognizes "driven, creative individuals" whose work "represents the future of technology." Yang, who received her BS from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1997 and her PhD from Caltech in 2004, has been honored for her work reprogramming the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.

Dervan Receives National Medal of Science

August 5, 2007 - Peter Dervan, Bren Professor of Chemistry, has received the 2006 National Medal of Science; the award ceremony took place July 27 at the White House. Administered by the National Science Foundation, the award was established by Congress in 1959 to honor individuals for pioneering scientific research. Dervan received his BS from Boston College in 1967 and his PhD from Yale in 1972, and he joined Caltech's faculty the following year as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1979 and professor in 1982, and he was named Bren Professor in 1988. Chair of chemistry and chemical engineering at Caltech from 1994 to 1999, Dervan is noted for his work in the field of bioorganic chemistry.

Ellis Honored for Contribution

August 5, 2007 - Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor of Astronomy, is a member of the Supernova Cosmology Project, one of two teams awarded the 2007 Cosmology Prize of the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation. The $500,000 prize will be shared by Saul Perlmutter and the members of the project and by Brian Schmidt and the High-z Supernova Search Team for the two teams' independent discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Ellis made a significant early contribution when, in a Nature paper in 1989, he and Danish collaborators demonstrated the practicality of using distant supernovas for this purpose. He is a coauthor of the widely cited 1999 paper of which Perlmutter was lead author. A Fellow of the Royal Society, Ellis joined Caltech's faculty in 1999.

Kulkarni Appointed Professor-at-Large

August 5, 2007 - Shri Kulkarni, MacArthur Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science, has been appointed an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. The six-year appointment began effective July 1, and Kulkarni will visit the campus three or four times for a period of one to two weeks "under a single mandate-to enliven the intellectual and cultural life of the university." Kulkarni received his MS from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1978 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1983. He came to Caltech as a Millikan Research Fellow in 1985, became assistant professor in 1987, professor in 1992, and MacArthur Professor in 2001. He served as executive officer for astronomy 1997–2000 and currently is director of the Caltech Optical Observatories.

Sari Receives Frenkiel Award

August 5, 2007 - Re'em Sari, associate professor of astrophysics and planetary science, has been selected by the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics to receive the François Frenkiel Award, which recognizes "significant contributions to fluid mechanics that have been published in Physics of Fluids during the preceding year by young investigators." Sari was honored for his paper "First and Second Type Self-Similar Solutions on Implosions and Explosions containing ultrarelativistic Shocks." He received his BSc in physics in 1991 and his BSc in mathematics in 1992, both from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and his PhD in 1998 from Hebrew University. He came to Caltech as a Fairchild Senior Research Fellow in 1998, and was appointed associate professor in 2003.

Anderson Named Distinguished Investigator

July 22, 2007 - David Anderson, Sperry Professor of Biology and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has been selected by NARSAD: The Mental Health Research Association to receive a Distinguished Investigator Award. The one-year grant of $100,000 will support his study of the amygdala, a portion of the brain implicated in depression and severe anxiety as well as several phobias. NARSAD is the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression. Anderson received his bachelor's degree from Harvard in 1978 and his PhD from Rockefeller University in 1983. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1986, becoming professor in 1996 and Sperry Professor in 2004.

Brady Awarded Bingham Medal

July 22, 2007 - John Brady, Chevron Professor of Chemical Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering, has been named the 2007 recipient of the Society of Rheology's Bingham Medal "for his outstanding contributions to the field of rheology." The award will be presented in October at the society's 79th annual meeting, in Salt Lake City. Brady came to Caltech as an associate professor in 1985, becoming professor in 1990 and Chevron Professor in 1999, and serving as executive officer for chemical engineering from 1993 to 1999. He received his BS from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975 and his PhD from Stanford in 1981.

Flagan Named Corecipient

July 22, 2007 - Richard Flagan, McCollum-Corcoran Professor of Chemical Engineering, professor of environmental science and engineering, and executive officer for chemical engineering, is a corecipient of the American Association for Aerosol Research's 2006 Fuchs Memorial Award "in recognition of his seminal contributions to aerosol research and education, and his outstanding service to the aerosol community." He has also been chosen by the American Chemical Society to receive its 2007 Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology, which includes a $5,000 cash prize. A member of Caltech's faculty since 1975, Flagan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1969 and his PhD from MIT in 1973.

Newman Receives Honorary Degrees

July 22, 2007 - Harvey Newman, professor of physics, has been chosen to receive two honorary doctoral degrees. The first was awarded this past May by the University Politehnica of Bucharest, and the second will be awarded this September by the Pavol Jozef Safarik University, in Kosice, Slovakia. Newman received his bachelor's and doctoral degrees from MIT, in 1968 and 1973, respectively. He came to Caltech in 1982 as an associate professor, and was appointed professor in 1990.

Shan Chosen Beckman Young Investigator

July 22, 2007 - Shu-ou Shan, assistant professor of chemistry, has been named a recipient of the 2007 Beckman Young Investigators Award. The Beckman Young Investigators Program provides research support "to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of academic careers in the chemical and life sciences." A member of Caltech's faculty since 2005, she received her BS from the University of Maryland in 1994 and her PhD from Stanford in 2000.

ASCIT Honorees Named

July 8, 2007 - Fulvia Castelli, lecturer in psychology, Peter Dervan, Bren Professor of Chemistry, Glen George, lecturer in computer science and electrical engineering, Douglas Rees, Dickinson Professor of Chemistry, and Ellen Rothenberg, professor of biology, are faculty recipients of 2007 ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Teaching Awards. Teaching Awards for research mentor have gone to Ralph Adolphs, Bren Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and professor of biology, and Jesse Bloom, graduate student in chemistry, and, for teaching assistant, to grad students Nawaf Bou-Rabee, in applied and computational mathematics, and Michael Salem, in physics, and to Victor Liu, undergraduate in electrical engineering, class of '07.

GSC Honorees Named

July 8, 2007 - Raymond Deshaies, professor of biology, executive officer for molecular biology, and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has received the 2007 Graduate Student Council (GSC) Teaching Award, Michael Alvarez, professor of political science, the GSC Mentoring Award, and Rich Wildman, graduate student in environmental science and engineering, the Teaching Assistant Award.

Goldreich Awarded Shaw Prize

July 8, 2007 - Peter Goldreich, DuBridge Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Physics, Emeritus, has been named the 2007 Shaw Laureate for Astronomy "in recognition of his lifetime achievements in theoretical astrophysics and planetary sciences." Established by Sir Run Run Shaw of Hong Kong, the honor includes a cash prize of $1 million. Goldreich received his BS and PhD from Cornell University, in 1960 and 1963, respectively, and he is currently a professor of astrophysics in the Institute for Advanced Study's School of Natural Sciences, in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ingersoll Receives Kuiper Prize

July 8, 2007 - Andrew Ingersoll, Anthony Professor of Planetary Science, has been awarded the Gerard P. Kuiper Prize in Planetary Sciences, established by the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences to recognize and honor "scientists whose achievements have most advanced our understanding of the planetary system." Ingersoll received his BA from Amherst College in 1960 and his PhD from Harvard University in 1966, the same year he joined Caltech as an assistant professor. He became associate professor in 1971, professor in 1976, and Anthony Professor in 2003. He served as executive officer for planetary science from 1987 to 1994.

Kanamori Wins Kyoto Prize

July 8, 2007 - Hiroo Kanamori, Smits Professor of Geophysics, Emeritus, has been selected by the Inamori Foundation to receive the 2007 Kyoto Prize in the category of Basic Sciences, specifically in the field of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Astronomy and Astrophysics, for his "elucidation of physical processes of earthquakes and its application to hazard mitigation." The prize, to be awarded this November in Kyoto, Japan, comprises a diploma, a gold medal, and a cash gift of approximately $410,000. Kanamori received his BS and PhD from the University of Tokyo, in 1959 and 1964, respectively, and then spent a year at Caltech as a postdoc. He returned as professor in 1972, was named Smits Professor in 1989, and became Smits Professor Emeritus in 2005. He directed the Seismo Lab from 1990 to 1998.

Barton Receives Two Honors

June 3, 2007 - Jacqueline Barton, Hanisch Memorial Professor and professor of chemistry, has been awarded the 2007 F. A. Cotton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Research by the Texas A&M Section of the American Chemical Society and the university's department of chemistry. The honor recognizes her contributions to molecular biology, particularly her intercalation techniques for the study of DNA. A director of Dow Chemical, Barton has also been named an Outstanding Director for 2006 by the Outstanding Directors Exchange for her role in creating the post of chief technology officer at Dow. Barton joined Caltech as a professor of chemistry in 1989 and was named Hanisch Professor in 1997. She received her AB from Barnard College in 1974 and her PhD from Columbia University in 1978.

Graduate Students Chosen for PEO Awards

June 3, 2007 - Grad students Cynthia Chiang, physics, Ann Marie Cody, astrophysics, Adrienne Erickcek, physics, Dennice Maynard Gayme, control and dynamical systems, Neena Kadaba, chemistry, and Margarita Marinova, planetary science, are among 85 applicants out of more than 700 to have received Philanthropic Educational Organization Scholar Awards. Established in 1991, the awards provide educational support for women in the United States and Canada who are pursuing a graduate degree or are engaged in advanced study or graduate research. The $10,000 merit awards can be used to pursue educational goals, research interests, or other professional development. This is the first time Caltech has garnered six awards from this competition.

Hudnut Named "Leader to Watch"

June 3, 2007 - Ken Hudnut, visiting associate in geophysics, has been named one of "50+ Leaders to Watch" by GPS World magazine, which has been covering the global-positioning industry since 1989. A geophysicist and project chief with the U.S. Geological Survey, Hudnut manages the GPS L1C modernization project and is geodesy coordinator for the U.S. Department of the Interior. He received his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1983 and his PhD from Columbia University in 1989, and he did postdoctoral work as a research fellow at Caltech from 1989 to 1992.

Kechris Selected for Colloquium

June 3, 2007 - Alexander Kechris, professor of mathematics, has given the ninth Paul Erdös Colloquium at the University of Florida. The event took place in the school's department of mathematics on May 7. An annual series, the lectures in pure mathematics were initiated in 1998–99 in honor of Paul Erdös, who was a frequent visitor to the university and a collaborator with many faculty members in the mathematics department. Kechris received his MS from the National Technological University of Athens in 1969 and his PhD from UCLA in 1972, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 1974 as an assistant professor. He became associate professor in 1976 and professor in 1981, and he served as executive officer for mathematics from 1994 to 1997.

Nelson Nash Receives Community Service Award

June 3, 2007 - Denise Nelson Nash, assistant vice president for public events, has been selected by the Association of Black Employees (TABE) to receive this year's Community Service Award. The presentation took place at the TABE Scholarship/Awards Breakfast on May 24 at the Louis Creveling Center Lounge on the Pasadena City College campus. A graduate of Scripps College, Nash has been at Caltech since 1998 and is noted for establishing its Cultural Expedition Program, which in collaboration with the Pasadena Unified School District has benefited more than 600 high-school students annually.

Anderson Elected to NAS

May 6, 2007 - David Anderson, Sperry Professor of Biology and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Created when Abraham Lincoln signed incorporating legislation in 1863, the NAS is called upon "to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Busch Named Hertz Fellow

May 6, 2007 - Michael Busch, a graduate student in planetary science, has been named a Hertz Fellow by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. He is one of 15 students selected from an applicant pool of more than 580 to receive financial support for five years of graduate studies. With no strings attached, the fellowships provide financial independence and give recipients the freedom to conduct innovative research. The awardees are granted full, five-year Hertz Foundation Fellowships valued at nearly $250,000 each, with a total value of $3.6 million over the grant period.

Elachi Chosen for von Kármán Wings Award

May 6, 2007 - Charles Elachi, Caltech vice president, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and professor of electrical engineering and planetary science, has been selected by the Aerospace Historical Society to receive its 2007 International von Kármán Wings Award. The award recognizes him for his exceptional leadership at JPL as well as related distinguished technical contributions to the nation and its aerospace industry. Elachi will be honored at a ceremony on May 10 at Caltech. He has also been elected to the National Academy of Engineering's governing council for a three-year term. Elachi received his bachelor's degree at the University of Grenoble in 1968 and his Caltech PhD in electrical engineering in 1971, the same year he began working for Caltech/JPL.

Fisher Named Hertz Fellow

May 6, 2007 - Matthew Fisher, a senior in computer science, has been named a Hertz Fellow by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. He is one of 15 students, from an applicant pool of more than 580, selected to receive no-strings-attached financial support for five years of graduate studies. The fellowships provide financial independence and give recipients the freedom to conduct innovative research. The awardees are granted full, five-year Hertz Foundation Fellowships valued at nearly $250,000 each, with a total value of $3.6 million over the grant period.

Johnson Elected to NAS

May 6, 2007 - William Johnson, Mettler Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. An honorific society incorporated in 1863, the NAS is "dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Koch Elected to American Academy

May 6, 2007 - Christof Koch, Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology, professor of computation and neural systems, and executive officer for neurobiology, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy "undertakes studies of complex and emerging problems." Other 2007 fellows include former vice president Al Gore, film director Spike Lee, and pianist Emanuel Ax.

Ortiz Elected to American Academy

May 6, 2007 - Michael Ortiz, Hayman Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy "undertakes studies of complex and emerging problems." Past fellows and foreign honorary members include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Winston Churchill.

Plott Elected to NAS

May 6, 2007 - Charles Plott, Harkness Professor of Economics and Political Science, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Signed into being by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the NAS is called upon "to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Russell Receives Churchill Scholarship

May 6, 2007 - Emily Russell, a senior in physics, will study astrophysics next year at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, as one of 12 Churchill Scholars chosen from a pool of students nominated by colleges and universities nationwide. Founded in 1963, the scholarship program allows outstanding U.S. students to do graduate work in engineering, mathematics, and the sciences at Churchill College. Caltech hosts three former Churchill Scholars: Chevron Professor of Chemical Engineering John Brady, Professor of Chemical Physics Mitchio Okumura, and Member of the Professional Staff Alan Cummings.

Schwarz Elected to American Academy

May 6, 2007 - John Schwarz, Brown Professor of Theoretical Physics, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy "undertakes studies of complex and emerging problems." With its broad-based membership, the academy has the unique capacity to conduct a wide range of interdisciplinary studies and public-policy research.

Wang Named Hertz Fellow

May 6, 2007 - Zhan Wang, a senior in chemistry, has been named a Hertz Fellow by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation. He is one of 15 students selected from an applicant pool of more than 580 to receive financial support for five years of graduate studies. With no strings attached, the fellowships provide financial independence and give recipients the freedom to conduct innovative research. The awardees are granted full, five-year Hertz Foundation Fellowships valued at nearly $250,000 each, with a total value of $3.6 million over the grant period.

Wise Elected to NAS

May 6, 2007 - Mark Wise, McCone Professor of High Energy Physics, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Incorporated in 1863, the NAS provides to the nation's leaders "advice on the scientific and technological issues that frequently pervade policy decisions." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Romy Wyllie Publishes New Book

May 6, 2007 - Romy Wyllie, cofounder and chair of the Caltech Architectural Tour Service, as well as a writer and an expert on the Caltech campus, has published a new book about the man who created the Caltech "look," Bertram Goodhue: His Life and Residential Architecture (W. W. Norton & Company, New York). Wyllie is also the author of Caltech's Architectural Heritage: From Spanish Tile to Modern Stone, published in 2000 and now considered a standard reference work for those interested in Institute history. The Caltech Bookstore will host a book signing on Wednesday, May 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Brown Awarded Feynman Teaching Prize

April 8, 2007 - Mike Brown, professor of planetary astronomy, has been awarded the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching in recognition of "his extraordinary teaching ability, his skill in exciting his students, and his evident caring about his students' learning." Caltech's most prestigious teaching honor, the prize comes with a $3,500 cash award plus an equivalent raise in annual salary. Brown received his bachelor's degree from Princeton in 1987 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1994, then came to Caltech the following year as a visiting associate. He became an assistant professor in 1997, associate professor in 2002, and professor in 2005. He is noted for his leading role in the discovery of planetlike objects in the outer reaches of the solar system.

Hood Elected to NAE

April 8, 2007 - Leroy Hood, visiting associate in biology, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering "for the invention and commercialization of key instruments, notably the automated DNA sequencer, that have enabled the biotechnology revolution." Hood is currently president of the Institute for Systems Biology, and he and his Institute colleague Valerie Logan have received one of the first-ever Science Education Advocate Awards of Washington State LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform) for "outstanding advocacy for science education in the state of Washington." A former Caltech professor of biology and chair of the biology division, Hood received his BS in 1960 and his PhD in 1968, both from Caltech, and an MD from Johns Hopkins University in 1964.

LIGO Recieves Education Honor

April 8, 2007 - The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Hanford, Washington, created by Caltech and MIT, has received one of the first-ever Science Education Advocate Awards of Washington State LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform). Recognizing five individuals, organizations, and project teams "who have exhibited outstanding advocacy for science education in the state of Washington by promoting the importance of science education among the general public and/or the education system," the awards include $5,000 for each recipient. LIGO develops and collaborates in programs to promote science, emphasizing the effort to directly detect gravitational waves. LIGO's donation will support transportation expenses for field trips to the observatory.

Mayo Named Bren Professor

April 8, 2007 - Stephen Mayo has been named Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry, effective February 1. He is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and is executive officer for biochemistry and molecular biophysics. Mayo received his BS from Penn State in 1983 and his PhD from Caltech in 1987. He returned to Caltech as a senior research fellow in 1991, becoming assistant professor in 1992, professor in 2003, and executive officer in 2004.

Oguri Appointed Kavli Professor

April 8, 2007 - Hiroshi Oguri has been named Fred Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics, effective February 1. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Kyoto University, in 1984 and 1986, respectively, and his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1989. He came to Caltech as a visiting associate in 1999, and joined the faculty as a professor in 2000.

Stone Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

April 8, 2007 - Edward Stone, Morrisroe Professor of Physics and vice provost for special projects, has received the Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement as part of Aviation Week's 50th annual Laureate Awards. The Laureate Awards recognize achievements in aerospace, aviation, and defense. Stone joined Caltech's faculty as a research fellow in 1964, the same year he received his PhD from the University of Chicago, and he achieved the rank of full professor in 1976. A principal investigator on nine NASA spacecraft missions and coinvestigator on five others, Stone has served as project scientist for the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 deep-space probes since 1972. He has held many administrative positions at Caltech as well, including that of director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Ando Honored for Thesis

March 11, 2007 - Shin'ichiro Ando, a Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar in the theoretical astrophysics group and at the Kellogg Radiation Lab, has received an Inoue Award for Young Scientists, which is given to young researchers for an outstanding PhD thesis written in the past three years. Ando received his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 2005, and he came to Caltech in April 2006.

Gukov Receives Sloan Fellowship

March 11, 2007 - Sergei Gukov, associate professor of theoretical physics and mathematics, has been selected to receive a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Established in 1955, the fellowships "are intended to enhance the careers of the very best young faculty members in specified fields of science." Gukov received his BS from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1997, and his PhD from Princeton in 2001. He joined Caltech's faculty in 2005.

Iwan Awarded Housner Medal

March 11, 2007 - Wilfred D. Iwan, professor of applied mechanics, emeritus, and director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Lab, has been chosen to receive the George W. Housner Medal, the most prestigious award bestowed by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. Named in honor of Caltech's Braun Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, the award recognizes "extraordinary and lasting contributions to public earthquake safety." A Caltech alumnus who received his BS and PhD from the Institute in 1957 and 1961, respectively, Iwan has been a member of the faculty since 1964. He served as executive officer for civil engineering and applied mechanics form 1980 to 1986.

Kamionkowski Receives DOE Award

March 11, 2007 - Marc Kamionkowski, Robinson Professor of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, has been named a recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy's Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award. The honor recognizes his describing "how precise observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation can lead to deeper understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe." A professor at Caltech since 1999, he received his bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1987, and his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1991.

LIGO Center Honored for Design

March 11, 2007 - The LIGO Science Education Center in Livingston, Louisiana, has received a 2007 American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Orleans Design Award for "form and function coming together in an exciting and unexpected way" in the design of the center's building and its dynamic exterior "Wave Wall." An enormous moving sculpture, the wall demonstrates wave motion and propagation when activated by the wind or by ropes and pulleys. The award is part of the AIA New Orleans chapter's effort to highlight the best in design and revitalization in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory's Science Education Center officially opened in November 2006.

Montrunich Receives Sloan Fellowship

March 11, 2007 - Olexei Motrunich, associate professor of theoretical physics, has been selected to receive a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Established in 1955, the fellowships "are intended to enhance the careers of the very best young faculty members in specified fields of science." Motrunich received his BS from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1996, and his PhD from Princeton in 2001. He joined Caltech's faculty in 2006 as an assistant professor.

Borodin to Give Porter Lectures

February 4, 2007 - Alexei Borodin, professor of mathematics, has been invited to give the 2006–07 Porter Lectures at Rice University. He will give five lectures over two weeks on topics of his own choosing, with the first intended for a general audience and the remaining four for mathematicians. Borodin received his MSc from Moscow State University in 1997 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001. He joined Caltech's faculty as professor in 2003.

Chameau Elected Director

February 4, 2007 - Jean-Lou Chameau, president of Caltech and professor of civil engineering and environmental science and engineering, has been unanimously elected to the board of directors of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, which promotes greater understanding of global issues by providing an open forum in Los Angeles for influential figures in world affairs. Chameau came to Caltech as its eighth president on September 1. He received his secondary and undergraduate education in France, and his MS and PhD from Stanford in 1977 and 1981, respectively.

Cutri Awarded Watson Medal

February 4, 2007 - Roc Cutri, member of the professional staff and deputy executive director of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), has been chosen by the National Academy of Sciences to be a corecipient of the James Craig Watson Medal, which includes a prize of $25,000 plus $25,000 to support the recipient's research. He and Michael Skrutskie, an astronomy professor at the University of Virginia, have been honored "for their monumental work in developing and completing the Two Micron All-Sky Survey, thus enabling a thrilling variety of explorations in astronomy and astrophysics."

Gould Elected AAAS Fellow

February 4, 2007 - Roy Gould, Ramo Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Section on Physics. The award ceremony will take place during the AAAS meeting in San Francisco, February 15–19. A Caltech alum, Gould received his BS in 1949 and his PhD in 1956; he also received an MS from Stanford in 1950. He joined the Institute's faculty in 1955 as an assistant professor of electrical engineering and during his career has held appointments in physics and applied physics as well. He became full professor in 1962 and was named Ramo Professor in 1980, and he has served as executive officer for applied physics (1973 to 1979) and as chair of engineering and applied science (1979 to 1985).

Grotzinger Awarded Walcott Medal

February 4, 2007 - John Grotzinger, Fletcher Jones Professor of Geology, has been selected to receive the Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal in recognition of his "insightful elucidation of ancient carbonates and the stromatolites they contain, and for meticulous field research that has established the timing of early animal evolution." Awarded by the National Academy of Sciences every five years, the honor includes a prize of $10,000. Grotzinger received his BS from Hobart College in 1979, his MS from the University of Montana in 1981, and his PhD from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1985. He joined Caltech's faculty as Jones Professor in 2005.

Shaindlin Receives Crystal Apple Award

February 4, 2007 - Andy Shaindlin, executive director of the Alumni Association, has received a Crystal Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The award is given only to conference faculty who have been judged by their students to be "stellar speakers" (i.e., have received the highest ranking) at 10 or more separate CASE educational programs. Based in Washington, D.C., CASE is the professional organization for alumni relations, development, and communications professionals in higher education around the world. Shaindlin has been involved with CASE since 1989.

Stoltz Elected AAAS Fellow

February 4, 2007 - Brian Stoltz, associate professor of chemistry, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Section on Chemistry. The award ceremony will take place during the AAAS meeting in San Francisco, February 15–19. Stoltz received his BS from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and his PhD from Yale University in 1997, joined Caltech's faculty as assistant professor in 2000, and was appointed associate professor in 2006.

Chameau Receives Prize

January 7, 2007 - Jean-Lou Chameau, president of Caltech and professor of civil engineering and environmental science and engineering, has been selected to receive the Prix Nessim Habif from the Sociètè des Ingènieurs Arts et Mètiers. The honor brings with it a prize of 3,000 euros. Chameau received his secondary and undergraduate education in France, and his MS and PhD from Stanford in 1977 and 1981, respectively. Prior to joining Caltech he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a Georgia Research Alliance Scholar and Hightower Professor and former dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering. He became Caltech's eighth president on September 1.

Lester Receives Cole Award

January 7, 2007 - Henry Lester, Bren Professor of Biology, has received the Kenneth S. Cole Award from the Membrane Biophysics Subgroup of the Biophysical Society. The award is given annually to an investigator "who has made a substantial contribution to knowledge of membranes." Lester received his AB from Harvard in 1966 and his PhD from Rockefeller University in 1971. He joined Caltech in 1973 as an assistant professor of biology and was appointed associate professor in 1976, professor in 1983, and Bren Professor in 2000.

Boehm Elected AAAS Fellow

December 3, 2006 - Felix Boehm, Valentine Professor of Physics, Emeritus, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Section on Physics. The award ceremony will be held in 2007 during the AAAS meeting in San Francisco, February 15–19. Boehm joined Caltech's faculty in 1953 as a research fellow, became senior research fellow in 1955, assistant professor in 1958, associate professor in 1959, professor in 1961, Valentine Professor in 1985, and emeritus in 1995. He received his PhD from the Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich) in 1951.

Caltech Observatories Honored

December 3, 2006 - The Caltech Astronomical Observatories, and the scientists, researchers, and students associated with it, have been selected by the Space Foundation to be the group recipient of the John L. "Jack" Swigert, Jr., Award for Space Exploration. Named after the late Apollo 13 astronaut, who died of bone cancer in 1982 shortly after being elected to Congress by Colorado's newly created Sixth District, the award recognizes "the trailblazing body of astronomy research and discoveries made by the Caltech astronomy community, and the successful management of one of the world's most impressive portfolios of observatories," which includes the Palomar Observatory, the W. M. Keck Observatory, and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, among others. JPL received the award last year.

Christy Elected AAAS Fellow

December 3, 2006 - Robert Christy, Institute Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Section on Physics. The award ceremony will be held in 2007 during the AAAS meeting in San Francisco, February 15–19. Christy received his BA from the University of British Columbia in 1935 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1941. He joined Caltech's faculty in 1946 as an associate professor of physics, was appointed professor of theoretical physics in 1950, was named Institute Professor in 1983, and became emeritus in 1986. During his career he served as executive officer for physics from 1968 to 1970, as vice president and provost from 1970 to 1980, and as acting president in 1977–78.

Ellis to Give Bahcall Lecture

December 3, 2006 - Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor of Astronomy, has been named the inaugural John Bahcall Distinguished Professor at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. He will give the Bahcall Lecture at the Space Telescope Science Institute and a public lecture at the Goddard Space Flight Center in early December. Ellis was selected for this honor on the basis of his research accomplishments and his "activities and vision in building for the future," as well as his "ability to communicate both the substance and the excitement of frontier astrophysics." A Fellow of the Royal Society, Ellis received his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1974. He has been a professor at Caltech since 1999, and he directed the Caltech Optical Observatories from 2002 to 2005.

Kamionkowski Named Robinson Professor

December 3, 2006 - Marc Kamionkowski has been named the Robinson Professor of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics. A professor at Caltech since 1999, he received his bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1987 and his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1991. His research interests include how the large-scale distribution of mass in the universe originated, galaxy formation, the formation of the first stars, and the problems of dark matter and dark energy.

Raab Elected APS Fellow

December 3, 2006 - Frederick Raab, a member of the professional staff in the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Laboratory, has been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), on the recommendation of the Topical Group on Gravitation. According to the APS Fellowships page, "members are eligible for nomination and election to Fellowship. Each nomination is evaluated by the Fellowship committee of the appropriate APS division, topical group or forum. After review by the APS Fellowship Committee, the successful candidates are elected by APS Council. Fellowship is therefore a distinct honor signifying recognition by one's professional peers."

Ravichandran Receives Honorary Degree

December 3, 2006 - Guruswami Ravichandran, Goode Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the honorary degree docteurs honoris causa by Paul Verlaine University, Metz, France, "in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the mechanical behavior of materials under extreme conditions and for promoting international collaboration with researchers" at that university. Ravichandran received his BE from the University of Madras (Regional Engineering College) in 1981 and an ScM in solid mechanics and structures, an ScM in applied mathematics, and a PhD from Brown University in 1983, 1984, and 1986, respectively. He came to Caltech as an assistant professor in 1990, was appointed professor in 1999, and was named Goode professor in 2005.

Drever Awarded Einstein Prize

November 5, 2006 - Ron Drever, professor of physics, emeritus, has been chosen a recipient of the American Physical Society's 2007 Einstein Prize, which is supported by the Topical Group on Gravitation. Drever and his corecipient, Rainer Weiss of MIT, are being recognized "for fundamental contributions to the development of gravitational wave detectors based on optical interferometry, leading to the successful operation of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory"; they will share the honor's $10,000 prize. Drever received his BSc and PhD from Glasgow University in 1953 and 1958, respectively, and joined Caltech as professor of physics in 1979.

Eisenstein Named Buckley Prize Winner

November 5, 2006 - James Eisenstein, Roshek Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, has been named a corecipient of the American Physical Society's 2007 Oliver E. Buckley Prize in Condensed Matter Physics "for fundamental experimental and theoretical research on correlated many-electron states in low dimensional systems." He will share the $10,000 prize with Steven Girvin of Yale and Allan MacDonald of the University of Texas, Austin. Eisenstein received his bachelor's degree from Oberlin College in 1974 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1980, and he joined Caltech as professor of physics in 1996.

Elowitz Receives Packard Fellowship

November 5, 2006 - Michael Elowitz, assistant professor of biology and applied physics and Bren Scholar, has been awarded a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering. "The intent of the Fellowship Program is to provide support for unusually creative researchers early in their careers." Elowitz will receive $625,000, payable over five consecutive years. A member of the Caltech faculty since 2003, he received his bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley in 1992 and his PhD from Princeton in 1999.

Libbrecht Snowflake Guide Published

November 5, 2006 - Ken Libbrecht, professor of and executive officer for physics, who received multiple awards in 2004 for his book The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty, has a new book out, Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service has issued a set of four commemorative stamps featuring images of snowflakes based on his photographs. Libbrecht received his BS from Caltech in 1980 and his PhD from Princeton in 1984, the same year he joined Caltech as an assistant professor of astrophysics. He has been professor since 1995 and executive officer since 1997.

Simon to Give Wasow Lecture

November 5, 2006 - Barry Simon, IBM Professor of Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, has been chosen to be the 2007 Wolfgang Wasow Memorial Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the lecture will be given next fall. Simon first came to Caltech as a Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar in 1980, then joined the faculty as a full professor in 1981. Named IBM Professor in 1984, he served as executive officer for mathematics from 1997 to 2003. He received his AB from Harvard College in 1966 and his PhD from Princeton University in 1970.

Barish Receives Honorary Degree

October 1, 2006 - Barry Barish, Linde Professor of Physics, Emeritus, has been awarded a Laurea ad Honorem in Physics by the University of Bologna. A workshop, "Beyond the Standard Model," was held at the Bologna Academy of Sciences on October 2 in honor of Barish and fellow recipient Nobel Laureate Sheldon Glashow of Boston University. Barish has been a member of Caltech's faculty since 1963. He was named Linde Professor in 1991 and served as director of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory from 1997 to 2006.

Lange Awarded Balzan Prize

October 1, 2006 - Andrew Lange, Goldberger Professor of Physics, has been selected to be a corecipient of the 2006 Balzan Prize for Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics, one of four Balzan Prizes to be presented November 24 in the Palazzo Corsini in Rome. Each prize is worth one million Swiss francs (about $810,000), which Lange will share with his corecipient and BOOMERANG colleague, Paolo de Bernardis. The BOOMERANG experiment, utilizing a microwave telescope suspended from a balloon over the Antarctic, has provided important new images of the early universe. A professor at Caltech since 1994 and the Goldberger Professor since 2001, Lange received his BA from Princeton in 1980 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1987.

Meyerowitz Receives Balzan Prize

October 1, 2006 - Elliot Meyerowitz, Beadle Professor of Biology and chair of the biology division, has been selected to be a corecipient of the 2006 Balzan Prize for Plant Molecular Genetics, one of four Balzan Prizes to be presented November 24 in the Palazzo Corsini in Rome. Each prize is worth one million Swiss francs (about $810,000), which Meyerowitz will share with his corecipient, Christopher Somerville of Stanford University, for "their joint efforts in establishing Arabidopsis as a model organism for plant molecular genetics." A member of the Caltech faculty since 1980, Meyerowitz received his bachelor's degree from Columbia in 1973 and his PhD from Yale in 1977.

Simon Named van Winter Lecturer

October 1, 2006 - Barry Simon, IBM Professor of Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, has been invited to give the 2006–07 van Winter Memorial Lecture in Mathematical Physics at the University of Kentucky, on March 20 of next year. Simon received his AB from Harvard College in 1966 and his PhD from Princeton University in 1970. He first came to Caltech as a Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar in 1980, then joined the faculty as full professor in 1981. Named IBM Professor in 1984, he served as executive officer for mathematics from 1997 to 2003.

Zewail Honored by World Cultural Council

October 1, 2006 - Ahmed Zewail, Pauling Professor of Chemical Physics and professor of physics, has been selected to receive the "Albert Einstein" World Award of Science 2006 for his development of the new field of femtoscience and his "valuable contributions to the revolutionary discipline of physical biology." The honor is awarded by the World Cultural Council, which was founded in Mexico in 1982. The recipient of many honors, including the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Zewail received his BSc from Alexandria University in 1967 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. He has been a member of Caltech's faculty since 1976, and he is director of the Laboratory for Molecular Sciences.

Elachi to Receive Massey Award

August 26, 2006 - Charles Elachi, Caltech vice president, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and professor of electrical engineering and planetary science, has been selected to receive the 2006 Royal Society of London Massey Award, which "recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of space research, interpreted in the widest sense, in which a leadership role is of particular importance." He has also been named one of "America's Best Leaders" by U.S. News & World Report and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Elachi received his bachelor's degree at the University of Grenoble in 1968 and his Caltech PhD in electrical engineering in 1971, the same year he began working for Caltech/JPL.

E&S Earns Silver Medal

August 26, 2006 - Engineering & Science, Caltech's quarterly magazine for exploring the Institute's intellectual life and research activities as well as for advancing interest in science and scientific issues, has for the second year in a row won a silver medal in the Research Magazine category of the Circle of Excellence competition held annually by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. According to the judges, the publication "excels at meeting its mission and serving its unique readership." The E&S team includes editor Douglas Smith, writer Barbara Ellis, graphic designer Doug Cummings, photographer Bob Paz, and circulation manager Susan Lee, who obtains the necessary permissions for using graphics from non-Caltech sources.

Visiting Associate Wins First Prize

August 26, 2006 - Wolfgang Fink, visiting associate in physics, has won first prize in the Congress of Evolutionary Computation 2006 Huygens Probe Competition, which was held at the World Congress on Computational Intelligence 2006, July 16–21, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The competition involved creating algorithms for evaluating fractal landscapes representing the surfaces of moons. A senior member of the technical staff at JPL, Fink received his PhD from the University of Tübingen in 1997.

Goldreich Receives Medal

August 26, 2006 - Peter Goldreich, DuBridge Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Physics, Emeritus, has been awarded the Grande Medaille of the Academie des Sciences of the Institut de France. Created in 1997, the award is given annually, rotating among the disciplines relevant to each division of the academy. Recipients have "contributed to the development of science in a decisive way, both through the originality of their personal research and by their international presence and stimulating influence." A member of Caltech's faculty since 1966, Goldreich received his PhD from Cornell in 1963.

Valentine Professor Chosen for Laser Honor

August 26, 2006 - Jeff Kimble, Valentine Professor and professor of physics, has been chosen to receive the 2006 Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis, which "honors outstanding milestones in research for appliance and generation of laser light." He is the first recipient of the prize, which is to be awarded every two years, and was cited for "his groundbreaking experiments in the field of cavity quantum electrodynamics." Kimble received his PhD from the University of Rochester in 1978, joined Caltech as a professor in 1989, and was named Valentine Professor in 1997.

Sky Survey Honored

August 26, 2006 - The Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) Team has been named to receive the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's 2006 Maria and Eric Muhlmann Award, which recognizes "the development of innovative research instruments and techniques." Based at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the project includes team members from Caltech's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) and from JPL. The Muhlmann Award is given annually "for recent significant observational results made possible by innovative advances in astronomical instrumentation, software, or observational infrastructure."

Honorary Alumni Named

July 2, 2006 - Kevin Austin, senior director of health and counseling services, and William Caton, visiting associate in biology, have been admitted to honorary membership in the Caltech Alumni Association. Austin has been working with the Caltech community since arriving on campus in 1990, and Caton is chairman of neurosurgery and director of neurosciences at Huntington Hospital, in Pasadena.

ASCIT Honorees Named

July 2, 2006 - Warren Brown, associate professor of history, Nathan Dunfield, associate professor of mathematics, Ali Hajimiri, associate professor of electrical engineering, Niles Pierce, assistant professor of applied and computational mathematics and bioengineering, and Brian Stoltz, associate professor of chemistry, have been named as faculty recipients of 2006 ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Teaching Awards. The Teaching Award for research mentor has gone to Preston McAfee, Johnson Professor of Business Economics and Management, and awards for teaching assistant have been received by grad students Bob Pelayo, in mathematics, and Christine Thomas, in chemistry, and by Po-Ru Loh, undergraduate in mathematics, class of '07.

Furlanetto Selected for Trumpler Award

July 2, 2006 - Steve Furlanetto, former DuBridge Prize Fellow and now a visiting associate in physics, has been selected to receive the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Robert J. Trumpler Award, which is "given each year to a recent recipient of the PhD degree in North America whose research is considered unusually important to astronomy." An assistant professor at Yale University, Furlanetto received his PhD from Harvard in 2003.

Hall Receives Guggenheim

July 2, 2006 - Judith Hall, lecturer in creative writing, has received a 2006 Guggenheim Fellowship. Associated with Caltech since 1999, Hall is a widely published poet, the author of several books, and the poetry editor for the Antioch Review. Her fellowship will support the composition of a new book. "Granted in diverse subjects, from the natural sciences to the creative arts," Guggenheim Fellowships "are awarded on the basis of distinguished achievement in the past and exceptional promise for future accomplishment."

Jennings Chosen for Housner Medal

July 2, 2006 - Paul Jennings, provost and professor of civil engineering and applied mechanics, has been chosen to receive the George W. Housner Medal, the most prestigious award bestowed by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. Named in honor of Caltech's Braun Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, the award recognizes "extraordinary and lasting contributions to public earthquake safety." Jennings has been a member of Caltech's faculty since 1965, and has held a number of administrative positions during his career, including as chair of the engineering and applied science division, and a prior stint as provost.

Marsden Elected to Royal Society

July 2, 2006 - Jerrold Marsden, Braun Professor of Engineering and Control and Dynamical Systems, has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society, which cites "his fundamental contributions to a very wide range of topics," including plasma physics, general relativity, and solar-system mission design. He has been a professor at Caltech since 1995 and was named Braun Professor in 2003. Established in England in 1660, the Royal Society is the world's oldest scientific academy in continuous existence and has counted Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein among its members.

GSC Honorees Named

July 2, 2006 - Professor Marsden has also received the 2006 Graduate Student Council Mentoring Award. Robert Sherman, professor of economics and statistics, received the GSC Teaching Award, and Ryan Turner, graduate student in chemical engineering, the award for teaching assistant.

Barton Receives Gibbs Award

June 4, 2006 - Jacqueline Barton, Hanisch Memorial Professor and professor of chemistry, received the 2006 Willard Gibbs Award at a dinner hosted by the Chicago section of the American Chemical Society on May 12; she is the second woman to have received the honor in its 95-year history, the first having been Marie Curie. She and Peter Dervan, Bren Professor of Chemistry, who won the award in 1993, are the first husband and wife to have received the honor. Barton was cited for her "major impact on the understanding of the molecular chemistry of DNA and its relevance to the development of a variety of diseases and inherited abnormalities . . . Her work is elegant, vitally important work that has been widely recognized for its novelty and significance."

Elachi Decorated in Lebanon

June 4, 2006 - Charles Elachi, Caltech vice president, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and professor of electrical engineering and planetary science, in May received the Order of the Cedars, officer grade, from Émile Lahoud, president of Lebanon. Elachi's return to his native country included, among numerous events, a visit to Saint Joseph University's Ain Saade campus before the medal ceremony and giving a lecture at the American University of Beirut on "The Challenges and Excitement of Space Exploration."

Braginsky Elected NAS Foreign Associate

May 21, 2006 - Vladimir Braginsky, visiting associate in physics, has been elected a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences. Incorporated in 1863, the NAS's mandate is to "investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art" whenever asked by any government department. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Mark Davis Elected to NAS

May 21, 2006 - Mark Davis, Schlinger Professor of Chemical Engineering, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. An honorific society incorporated in 1863, the NAS is "dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Lester Elected to American Academy

May 21, 2006 - Henry Lester, Bren Professor of Biology, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy undertakes "projects and studies that advance the public good." Other 2006 fellows include former presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, director Martin Scorsese, and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas.

Anneila Sargent Elected to American Academy

May 21, 2006 - Anneila Sargent, Rosen Professor of Astronomy and director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and other scholar-patriots, the academy undertakes "projects and studies that advance the public good." Past fellows and foreign honorary members include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Winston Churchill.

Steidel Elected to NAS

May 21, 2006 - Charles Steidel, DuBridge Professor of Astronomy, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Signed into being by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the NAS is called upon "to act as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Tirrell Elected to NAS

May 21, 2006 - David Tirrell, McCollum-Corcoran Professor, professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, and chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Incorporated in 1863, the NAS provides to the nation's leaders "advice on the scientific and technological issues that frequently pervade policy decisions." Election to the academy is considered one of the highest U.S. honors in science and engineering.

Benzer Receives $500,000 Award

May 7, 2006 - Seymour Benzer, Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, Emeritus, has been selected to receive the $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research. The prize, widely considered second only to the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, recognizes "extraordinary and sustained contributions to improving health care and promoting biomedical research."

Bockrath Named Sloan Fellow

May 7, 2006 - Marc Bockrath, assistant professor of applied physics, has been selected by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to receive a Sloan Research Fellowship. Established in 1955, the fellowships are awarded "to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise."

Candes Chosen for Waterman Award

May 7, 2006 - Emmanuel Candes, professor of applied and computational mathematics, has been chosen to receive the National Science Board's Alan T. Waterman Award, the highest honor bestowed by the National Science Foundation. Comprising a medal and a grant of $500,000 over a three-year period, the annual award recognizes "an outstanding young researcher in any field of science or engineering" supported by the NSF.

Corngold Named for Compton Award

May 7, 2006 - Noel Corngold, professor of applied physics, emeritus, has been named the recipient of the American Nuclear Society's 2006 Arthur Holly Compton Award, which consists of a plaque and a monetary award of $2,000 to both the recipient and the recipient's academic institution. Corngold is being recognized "for the profound impact his seminal research and writings have had on nuclear engineering, his exemplary standards of scientific excellence, and his nurturing in his students the qualities that have enabled them to become leaders of the nuclear community."

Kimble to Give Haus Lecture

May 7, 2006 - Jeff Kimble, Valentine Professor and professor of physics, has been invited to give the second Hermann Anton Haus Lecture, speaking on "The New Science of Quantum Information: From Quantum Computers to Teleportation of Quantum States" at MIT's Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE). The Haus Lecture is "RLE's visiting lecturer program designed to bring the leading world researchers in fields intersecting RLE interests to RLE to share their thoughts and perspectives with the MIT community."

Murray Selected for Feynman Prize

May 7, 2006 - Richard Murray, Everhart Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems and director of information science and technology, has been awarded the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Caltech's most prestigious teaching honor, the prize comes with a $3,500 cash award plus an equivalent raise in annual salary. The Feynman Prize Selection Committee singled out Murray for his "enthusiasm, responsiveness, and innovation" in the classroom and his "contribution to the undergraduate experience through teaching outside the conventional classroom."

Baltimore AAAS President-Elect

April 2, 2006 - David Baltimore, president of Caltech and Nobel laureate, has been chosen to serve as president-elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science beginning February 21, at the close of the 2006 annual AAAS meeting, and will begin his one-year term as president in February 2007. President of Caltech since 1997, Baltimore is also chairman of the National Institutes of Health AIDS Vaccine Research Committee.

Golwala Receives DOE Award

April 2, 2006 - Sunil Golwala, assistant professor of physics, has received a Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Award in High Energy Physics. Equivalent to an NSF CAREER award, the honor is intended "to identify exceptionally talented new high energy physicists early in their careers, and to assist and facilitate the development of their research programs."

Kennedy Honored by IPSEN Foundation

April 2, 2006 - Mary Kennedy, Davis Professor of Biology, has been selected as a corecipient of the IPSEN Foundation Prize in Neuroplasticity, with Morgan Sheng of MIT and Eckard Gundelfinger of the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, for "studies of synaptic protein complexes in neuroplasticity."

MacMillan Chosen for Thieme-IUPAC Prize

April 2, 2006 - David MacMillan, Anthony Professor of Chemistry, has been named the recipient of the 2006 Thieme-IUPAC Prize. Consisting of 5,000 euros, the prize is awarded every two years to a scientist under 40 years of age "whose research has had a major impact on the field of synthetic organic chemistry." MacMillan will be presented with the prize and will give a lecture on June 13 at the International Conference on Organic Synthesis in Mérida, Mexico.

Murray Named Everhart Professor

April 2, 2006 - Richard Murray has been named the Thomas E. and Doris Everhart Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems, effective March 1. A member of Caltech's faculty since 1991, he served as chair of engineering and applied science from 2000 to 2005. His research focuses on dynamics and feedback in information, mechanical, and biological systems.

Simon Invited as Porter Lecturer

April 2, 2006 - Barry Simon, IBM Professor of Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, has been invited to give the 2006-07 Milton Brockett Porter Lectures at Rice University. He will present the series of five lectures from September 10 to 21 on topics of his own choosing and will have the opportunity to prepare a manuscript for publication by Princeton University Press.

Postdoc Awarded Lectureship

March 5, 2006 - Nicole Bell, Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar in Physics, has been awarded the Michelson Postdoctoral Prize Lectureship by Case Western Reserve University. The prize includes an invitation to spend a week at Case Western and present a colloquium and three seminars to the university's physics department.

Professor Receives L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Honor

March 5, 2006 - Pamela J. Bjorkman, Delbrück Professor of Biology, executive officer for biology, and full investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has been selected as the 2006 North American winner of the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO for Women in Science Award in recognition of her leadership and her research contributions. The award ceremony was held at UNESCO national headquarters in Paris on March 2.

Chemistry Prize Valued at 25,000 Euros

March 5, 2006 - Harry Gray, Beckman Professor of Chemistry and founding director of the Beckman Institute, has been chosen by the Italian Chemical Society to receive the Premio Cittŕ di Firenze sulle Scienze Molecolari (City of Florence Prize on Molecular Sciences) in honor of his contributions to scientific progress. The prize, which has a value of 25,000 euros, will be awarded in Florence on March 20.

March of Dimes Honors Professor

March 5, 2006 - Alexander Varshavsky, Smits Professor of Cell Biology, has been awarded the 2006 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology. He is being honored "for revealing and characterizing the biological significance of the ubiquitin system in the regulation of living cells." The recipient of numerous awards for his role in the discovery of ubiquitin, Varshavsky earned his BS from Moscow State University in 1970 and his PhD from the Institute of Molecular Biology in 1973. He has been Smits Professor at Caltech since 1992.

Archives Receive Grant

February 5, 2006 - Judith Goodstein, university archivist and faculty associate in history, and the Institute Archives have received a grant of $7,500 from the American Institute of Physics to process the papers of Murray Gell-Mann, Nobel laureate and Millikan Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus. Goodstein came to Caltech in 1968 as archivist, and she served as registrar from 1989 to 2003 as well as lecturer in history for several years. She received her BA from Brooklyn College in 1960 and her PhD from the University of Washington in 1969.

Postdoc Honored for Dissertation

February 5, 2006 - Elissa Hallem, postdoctoral scholar in biology, has received a 2005 Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)/UMI Distinguished Dissertation Award for her dissertation "The Role of Odorant Receptors in Odor Coding." Sponsored by the dissertation publisher UMI, its winners selected by CGS, and considered to be the nation's most prestigious honor for doctoral dissertations, the award is in its 24th year of recognizing "doctoral scholars who contribute exceptionally to their fields." Hallem completed her doctorate at Yale University last year.

Professor Wins Astronomy Prize

February 5, 2006 - Re'em Sari, associate professor of astrophysics and planetary science, has been selected by the American Astronomical Society to receive the Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy. Given to young astronomers under 36 or within eight years of receiving their PhD, the prize is awarded "for a significant contribution to observational or theoretical astronomy during the five years preceding the award." It includes a cash award and an invitation to present a paper.

Honorary Fellowship Bestowed

February 5, 2006 - Barry Simon, IBM Professor of Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Wales Swansea. The degree ceremony will be held at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, during the week of July 17-21. The honorary fellowships were established in 1985 as a special honor for persons "who have attained high distinction in their chosen field."

Professor Receives Philosophy Award

February 5, 2006 - James Woodward, Koepfli Professor of the Humanities, has been named winner of the 2005 Lakatos Award in Philosophy of Science by the London School of Economics (LSE), for his book Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation (Oxford University Press, 2003). Endowed by the Latsis Foundation, the Ł10,000 award is given in memory of former LSE professor Imre Lakatos to honor an outstanding contribution to the philosophy of science.

Yuk Yung Elected a Fellow of AAAS

January 4, 2006 - Yuk Yung, professor of planetary science, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his contributions to science. His research focuses on the current chemical state of Earth's upper atmosphere, on describing current chemistry and radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres, and on the processes that have governed the evolution of atmospheres in the solar system.

Mitchio Okumura Elected a Fellow of AAAS

January 4, 2006 - Mitchio Okumura, professor of chemical physics, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his "groundbreaking applications of laser spectroscopy, kinetics, and experimental molecular dynamics" to problems in atmospheric chemistry.

Michael Gurnis Named Smits Professor of Geophysics

January 4, 2006 - Michael Gurnis has been named the John E. and Hazel S. Smits Professor of Geophysics. He joined Caltech as associate professor of geophysics in 1994, becoming professor in 1996. He served as associate director of the Seismological Laboratory from 1995 to 2003, and is currently working in the area of interpreting seismological observations.

Out of Gas is a Finalist for the National Academies Communication Award

January 4, 2006 - David Goodstein, Caltech's vice provost, professor of physics and applied physics, and Gilloon Distinguished Teaching and Service Professor, has had his book Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004) selected by the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative as one the two finalists for the National Academies Communication Award in the book category.

Hans Hornung Elected a Fellow of AAAS

January 4, 2006 - Hans Hornung, Johnson Professor of Aeronautics, Emeritus, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his "distinguished contributions to fluid mechanics, particularly in Mach reflection, the effects of dissociation in gas dynamics, in separated flows, and in wind tunnel technology."

Tracey Ho named one of the nation’s top 35 innovators under age 35

January 4, 2006 - Tracey Ho, assistant professor of electrical engineering, has been named one of the nation's top 35 innovators under age 35 by MIT's Technology Review magazine. The honor recognizes her contributions to electrical engineering and computer science. She received her bachelor's degree from MIT in 1999 and her PhD in 2004, and she joined Caltech that same year as assistant professor.

David MacMillan a Corecipient of the 2004 Corday-Morgan Medal and Prize

December 20, 2005 - David MacMillan, Anthony Professor of Chemistry, has been named a corecipient of the 2004 Corday-Morgan Medal and Prize by the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has also been selected to receive the 2005 Elias J. Corey Award for Outstanding Original Contribution in Organic Synthesis by a Young Investigator.

Stephen Mayo Awarded Outstanding Science Alumni Award

December 20, 2005 - Stephen Mayo, professor of biology and chemistry; associate investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and executive officer for biochemistry and molecular biophysics, has been awarded the Penn State Eberly College of Science 2005 Outstanding Science Alumni Award. "The Outstanding Science alumni Awards are presented annually to recognize and reward outstanding Penn State alumni for their success as leaders in science and for the impact they have had and will continue to have on society and their professions." Mayo received his BS from Penn State in 1983 and his PhD from Caltech in 1987.

Athanassios Siapas Received a McKnight Scholar Award

December 20, 2005 - Athanassios Siapas, assistant professor of computation and neural systems, has received a McKnight Scholar Award to support his work in "Cortico-Hippocampal Interactions and Memory Formation." Granted by the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience "for innovative research in neuroscience as it pertains to memory and, ultimately, to a clearer understanding and treatment of diseases affecting memory," the award will provide $225,000 over the next three years.

Paul Patterson Named Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences

December 20, 2005 - Paul Patterson has been named the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences. A professor of biology at Caltech since 1983, he served as executive officer for neurobiology from 1989 to 2000. His research currently focuses on the overlap of and interaction between the nervous and immune systems.

Judith Cohen Named Page Professor of Astronomy

December 20, 2005 - Judith Cohen has been named the Kate Van Nuys Page Professor of Astronomy. She joined Caltech's faculty as an associate professor of astronomy in 1979, becoming professor in 1988 and serving as executive officer for astronomy from 1995 to 1996. She is currently working on a large survey of extremely metal-poor stars in the halo of our galaxy.

Mory Gharib Elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

December 20, 2005 - Mory Gharib, Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering, has been elected a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, in recognition of his "many distinguished contributions to the field" as well as his "demonstrated interest, concern and involvement with critical issues affecting medical and biological engineering."

Keith Taylor Given Royal Astronomical Society Medal

December 20, 2005 - Keith Taylor, a member of the professional staff in astronomy, was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society's Jackson-Gwilt Medal, the society's premier award for instrumentalists. The honor recognizes "the pivotal role he has played in developing world-class instrumental facilities for UK astronomers. The instruments he has built and commissioned have inspired a new generation of observers and have been responsible for major discoveries in optical astronomy." He came to Caltech after a distinguished career with the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Anglo-Australian Observatory, and is best known for his role, as project scientist and then project manager, in the Two-degree Field (2dF) project, which has identified the redshift values for over 250,000 galaxies and 20,000 quasars.

Brian Stoltz Received the 2006 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award

December 20, 2005 - Brian Stoltz, assistant professor of chemistry, has been selected by the American Chemical Society to receive the 2006 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, in recognition of his contributions to the field of organic chemistry.

Fred Anson Received the Hans Fischer Career Award in Porphyrin Chemistry

December 20, 2005 - Fred Anson, Gilloon Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, has received the Hans Fischer Career Award in Porphyrin Chemistry from the Society of Porphyrin and Phthalocyanines, in recognition of his achievements in the field of chemistry.

David Baltimore Received an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Harvard University

December 20, 2005 - David Baltimore, president of Caltech and a Nobel laureate, received an honorary doctor of science degree from Harvard University at the school's 354th commencement ceremony. President of Caltech since 1997, Baltimore is also chairman of the National Institutes of Health AIDS Vaccine Research Committee. He shared the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1975--for identifying the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which synthesizes DNA from RNA and plays a role in the development of cancer--and received the National Medal of Science in 1999. He is also a professor of biology at Caltech.