Graduate School Certified as TOEFL Test Administration Site
Monday, June 25, 2007The Graduate School at Clemson University announced today that it has reached an agreement with Educational Testing Services (ETS) to offer the internet-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) at Clemson University. "Becoming an approved ETS certified test administration site is an important step in internationalizing Clemson's campus," said Bruce Rafert, dean of the Graduate School. The Graduate School is leading the way toward a truly international campus with initiatives like this one and others such as the International Ambassadors Program (www.grad.clemson.edu/ambassadors_intro.php). "We're looking forward to the opportunity this certification affords us to compete globally for the best students - both graduate and undergraduate," said Rafert. Graduate applications at Clemson have increased by 49 percent in the past two years. ETS administers more than 50 million tests each year, including the TOEFL, in more than 180 countries. More than 6,000 institutions and agencies in 110 countries rely on TOEFL scores to select students with the English skills needed to succeed in their educational programs. The test will be offered on the Clemson campus. For more information about ETS or the TOEFL iBT, please contact Tristam Aldridge at 864-656-2561 or saldrid@clemson.edu.
NASA fellowship goes to Clemson Physics Student.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Bethany Johns, second-year doctoral student in physics, was
honored by recently being selected for a 2007 NASA Graduate Student Researcher
Program (GRSP) fellowship. Bethany's research covers the mystery of the positron
annihilation emission from the galactic bulge with a focus on supernovae as the
cause for the emission. In response to her award, Bethany stated, 'I was completed
shocked. The award is very prestigious, and I had already received the South
Carolina Space Grant; I wasn't expecting to be accepted. The money the
fellowship provides will allow me to focus on my research. In addition,
the fellowship requires an internship with the NASA center I applied to, Goddard
Space Flight Center, which adds another dimension of opportunity to my
research.' For more information about the NASA Graduate Student Researcher
Program, visit http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/nav.
To find out more about Clemson's graduate program in physics,
visit http://physicsnt.clemson.edu/?main=p_grad&sub=programs
or contact Dr. Mark Leising at lmark@clemson.edu.
The GSRP awards fellowships for graduate
study leading to advanced degrees in the science, mathematics and engineering
fields specifically related to NASA research and development. This 12-month
award includes a $30,000 grant to Clemson-renewable for up to three years-and a
required internship at the NASA Center affiliated with the NASA-sponsored
research.
Guiseppi-Elie Named Guest Editor of NanoBiotechnology
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Anthony Guiseppi-Elie, Dow Chemical Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, has been named guest editor for NanoBiotechnology, a journal
dedicated to science and engineering at the intersection of nanotechnology,
molecular biology and biomedical sciences. For more information about Clemson's graduate program in biochemistry and
molecular biology, visit: www.clemson.edu/genbiochem/gradprograms.html
Guiseppi-Elie will serve as
guest editor for the special issue titled 'Frontiers in BioCompatibility.' This
special issue will explore the emerging roles of bioactive, responsive,
biologically inspired materials by design, biomimicry and nano-topography in
addressing long-term implant biocompatibility.
'Biocompatibility has been
a grand challenge problem for several decades,' said Guiseppi-Elie. 'Recent
attention reflects a shift in thinking regarding strategies to mitigate the
inflammatory response. This is reflected in a movement away from bio-benign
materials to bioactive designs. This special issue of NanoBiotechnolgy seeks to
document the current state of the science and engineering regarding
biocompatibility.'
Guiseppi-Elie is a founding member of the editorial
board of NanoBiotechnology. He also serves on the editorial advisory boards of
the Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, which is dedicated to
fundamentals of science and engineering materials used in biology and medicine,
and Your World, a journal of biotechnology developed for high school
students.
Along with teaching bioengineering, he serves as director of
the Clemson University Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips.
Leaving No Families Outside during Child Abuse Prevention Month
Monday, April 16, 2007April was Child Abuse Prevention Month and Strong Communities, an initiative of IFNL, wanted all families to be included so that no family was left outside. 'Leaving No Families Outside' was the Strong Communities theme for April, 2007. The goal of Strong Communities is to encourage all segments of the community to embrace families with young children to form a community that is so strong, it won't allow any young families to remain outside. As neighbors come together in activities that allow them to get to know one another's children, families are supported and children are safer. The Strong Communities website lists activities for families to get to know one another, launch of a book about a small town, Fountain Inn, authored by residents celebrating Fountain Inn as a strong community and information on Blue Ribbon Sabbath. Original article located at: http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/ifnl/archive/headlines.html
Article Based on Graduate's Thesis Becomes Required Reading
Wednesday, February 07, 2007MAPC graduates’ theses and projects often yield important ideas that can benefit the profession. Kathy (Pringle) Jeep, 2005 MAPC graduate, took steps to get her ideas out to the profession by publishing an article based on her thesis. The article, co-authored with her committee chair, Dr. Sean Williams, appeared in the August 2005 issue of Technical Communication, the peer-reviewed journal of the Society of Technical Communication. Titled “The Future is the Past: Has Technical Communication Arrived as a Profession?”, Kathy and Sean’s article has now been listed as required reading for MA students in technical writing at the University of Central Florida. This honor is recognition that the article contains important information for the profession. STC members can access the article through the publications section of the STC website at www.stc.org.
National Science Foundation Names Clemson As Research Site
Friday, October 20, 2006The National Science Foundation has selected Clemson University as a research site for the Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution (CELDi), an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC). The selection has the potential to affect the flow of raw materials, scheduling production and distributing finished goods for everything from Homeland Security and disaster preparedness to automobile production and distribution.
As a CELDi university, Clemson receives at least $1 million over a three-year period through industry projects and matching contributions. Last year, the total value of the research shared among members was $2 million. Clemson industrial engineering professor Bill Ferrell, director of the research site, said this is attractive to corporations, such as Lockheed Martin, that have partnered with Clemson. Lockheed Martin’s Supply Chain Programs director Tom Goudreau agreed.
“Having Clemson University selected as a CELDi research site is a great opportunity for the logistics community as a whole to benefit from the tremendous services they offer. Clemson is helping to shape the future of logistics, and any model where industry and academia can partner ultimately results in strategic benefits for all involved,” said Goudreau.
“This is a tremendous vote of confidence in Clemson by the National Science Foundation as well as a valued industry partner, Lockheed Martin,” said Clemson President Jim Barker.
The research site is a component of a broader plan that includes an endowed chair in supply chain optimization and logistics. The Research Centers for Economic Excellence program, created by the South Carolina legislature, has approved $2 million for the chair at Clemson, and efforts are under way to secure matching funds.
As a research site, Clemson joins eight universities nationwide in developing integrated solutions to logistics and supply chain problems. The work will enhance the United States’ competitive edge in the world by producing and delivering products into the marketplace more quickly and efficiently. For example, in 1990, IBM reportedly reduced its U.S. spare parts inventory investment half a billion dollars by addressing stocking levels that use an integrated logistics approach.
Ferrell said Clemson will bring unique expertise in modeling and analysis to the group.
“This is an elite group of universities and industries that think beyond the traditional approaches to logistics. CELDi is a good fit for Clemson because none of the universities has sufficient resources to address all logistics problems, but we can each have world-class expertise in certain areas that when put together is impressive,” he said.
“Just like automobile companies and their suppliers have the opportunity to work with Clemson on vehicle design issues through CU-ICAR, their supply chain logistics and planning issues can now come through CELDi.
“We’re also currently seeking partners in the Homeland Security and disaster preparedness arena to address logistics that are so important to national and personal security.”
CELDi is based on sharing research among members so industry partners can work with Fortune 500 companies in manufacturing, maintenance, distribution, transportation and information technology.
Industrial engineering research at Clemson is rooted in industry needs.
“Our programs apply rigorous principles to real problems to assist industrial partners in remaining competitive. This research is vital for economic development,” said Anand Gramopadhye, industrial engineering department chairman. “For instance, we worked on a solution for one client that was faced with many possible strategies for moving products from production facilities to retail outlets, but had no quantitative way to determine the combination that was best for them in terms of customer service and cost.”
Clemson’s vice president for research and economic development, Chris Przirembel, said scholarly research within the context of real applications is invaluable.
“Our industrial engineering department has been solving real world problems for some time. With this partnership, we now have the opportunity to increase our research capacity while partnering with major universities and corporations to help solve global logistical issues,” he said. “This is an extremely effective integration of resources from academia and industry.”
Other universities participating include the University of Arkansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Louisville, University of Nebraska, Oklahoma State University, Lehigh University, University of Florida and Texas Tech University.
One other NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) exists in South Carolina –– the Center for Fuel Cells at University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Testing, Research Equipment Puts Clemson Automotive Engineering Graduate Program In A Class By Itself
Wednesday, September 27, 2006Major automotive testing and research equipment, valued at nearly $10 million, for the automotive engineering graduate program in Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) gives students and faculty access to a unique world-class laboratory. Several companies that are worldwide leaders in their respective specialties made in-kind gifts totaling $2.3 million to make the equipment purchase possible.
The equipment includes an MTS seven-post shaker unit with a Weiss climate chamber, an FEV engine dynamometer, a RENK Test Systems chassis dynamometer and a state-of-the-art coordinate measuring machine from Carl Zeiss IMT Corporation and J&H Machine Tool. Tom Kurfess, the BMW Chair in Manufacturing at Clemson and director of the Carroll A. Campbell Graduate Engineering Center, which will house the automotive engineering program when the building is complete next year, said these tools make a testing and diagnostic platform like no other. 'I don't know of another university in the country - maybe in the world - that has this combination of equipment under one roof,' he said. 'Clemson students and faculty are fortunate indeed. We are very excited.' The equipment manufacturers are the newest supporters of the automotive industry to join the CU-ICAR team that includes BMW, Michelin, Timken and SAE. MTS Systems Corporation, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn., has more than four decades of ground vehicle testing expertise, providing full-vehicle, system and component-level testing solutions for a broad spectrum of vehicle development applications. Additional information on the company is available at www.mts.com. Germany-based Weiss is a major producer of standard testing chambers and systems for environmental simulation worldwide. The product range comprises temperature and climate testing systems as well as test systems for simulated exposure to weather, temperature shock, corrosion and for long-time testing in various test chamber volumes. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.wut.com. FEV is an independent engine and powertrain systems research, design and development company with facilities worldwide. FEV's Test Systems group from Auburn Hills, Mich., which specializes in the design and fabrication of engine test facilities and equipment, will provide an advanced, containerized engine test cell for use in gasoline and diesel engine research and development. Additional information is available at www.fev.com. RENK Test Systems, with headquarters in Augsburg, Germany, along with their U.S. operation, RENK LABECO Test Systems Corporation in Mooresville, Ind., design and build turnkey test systems for research/development, production and quality assurance. Their activities focus on automotive, railway and aerospace industries. The company's web site is www.renk.biz. Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, Carl Zeiss Industrial Measuring Technology (IMT) is a member of the Carl Zeiss Group. It is the global leader in CNC coordinate measuring machines and complete, multi-dimensional metrology solutions for a wide variety of industrial sectors. Carl Zeiss is a globally leading international group of companies in the optical and opto-electronic industries. The company offers a spectrum of leading-edge solutions and products for semiconductor and optoelectronic technology, life sciences and health care, eye care and industrial applications. More information is available at www.zeiss.com/imt. J&H Machine Tools, Inc., based in Charlotte, N.C., is a machine tool distributor providing the manufacturing community with high-quality machine tools for metal removal and precision inspection. The company's web site is www.jhtools.com. CU-ICAR equipment consultant George Trask, who coordinated the purchase, praised the companies for their generosity and for what their involvement means to CU-ICAR. 'These names are recognized throughout the automotive industry for their quality and commitment to excellence,' he said. 'Their combined support of CU-ICAR will be of great benefit to our students, and it also serves as a message to other potential industry partners that this program has the support of industry leaders.' Unique funding support Just as the equipment is unique, so is the funding process that made it possible. South Carolina legislation provides state funds to match private dollars for higher education research infrastructure. In this case, the equipment manufacturers donated a portion of the cost, which Clemson was able to utilize as matching funds. 'This innovative legislation - the South Carolina Research Infrastructure Bond Act - leverages and enhances private support for higher education,' Kurfess said. 'Through the generosity of the manufacturers and the vision of the South Carolina legislation, we are able to provide our research teams with about $9.6 million worth of equipment for approximately $5 million. That is true investment in education. 'We have been very gratified by the response of the automotive industry to CU-ICAR, and we anticipate that as we tell the story of this outstanding public-private partnership that focuses on both education and economic development, there will be other companies who will want to join the CU-ICAR team. They will be most welcome,' Kurfess added. Similar legislation, the South Carolina Research Centers of Economic Excellence endowed chairs program, also provides state education lottery funds to match private funding to attract top-flight faculty. The CU-ICAR graduate program has four such chairs, including Kurfess. The Campbell Graduate Engineering Center is the focal point for academic research and technology transfer in support of the automotive industry and offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in automotive engineering with emphasis in systems integration. Facilities for full-scale vehicle and component testing are integral to the program. Clemson University Vice President for Research and Economic Development Chris Przirembel noted that the potential for the presence of the engine test cell equipment in the CGEC has already contributed to the Timken Company announcing a relocation of its power train group to the CU-ICAR campus, bringing high-paying new jobs to the Upstate. This equipment and these facilities will also bring automotive suppliers and motor sports companies to the CU-ICAR campus for testing and research purposes. 'This unique laboratory is very impressive,' Przirembel said. 'Students conversant with this technology will be invaluable to the industry.'
