September 2011

• ASEE MEMBERSHIP
  

• ASEE PROGRAMS
  

• UPCOMING CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS

• CHAUTAUQUA SHORT COURSE TIDBITS

ASEE MEMBERSHIP

Congratulations and thanks to Wayne T. Davis, dean of engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who offered to sponsor ASEE membership for all UTK engineering faculty who didn’t currently belong. Result: 51 new members.

ASEE PROGRAMS

ASEE/NSF SMALL BUSINESS POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP. ASEE, in partnership with the national Science Foundation (NSF), will place 50 recent Ph.D. recipients in designated active Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) participating companies. Trained recipients will engage in hands-on research projects in their areas of expertise. To be eligible, candidates must have been awarded, within three years to the date of their application, a Ph.D., Sc.D. or other earned doctoral degree in a STEM-related discipline supported by the National Science foundation. Spring 2011 Ph.D. candidates may apply but may not begin their fellowship until a degree is received. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents. Qualified women and underrepresented minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Fellowship recipients will receive an annual stipend of $75,000 plus full health benefits for at least one year. The deadline is ongoing, and fellowships will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further information, please visit the ASEE website at http://nsfsbir.asee.org/ or contact the ASEE program administrator, Curt Millay at c.millay@asee.org or 202-649-3832.

THE NAVAL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. This program is open to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents and offers a competitiveness stipend as well as insurance, relocation and travel allowances. Locations include Naval Research Lab (NRL) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center/Indian Head. The program offers one- to three-year postdoctoral fellowships designed to involve scientists and engineers from academia and industry in scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy. The program has a rolling admissions policy. For the Naval Research Laboratory, go to: http://www.asee.org/nrl/ and for the Naval Surface Warfare Center/Indian Head, go to: http://www.asee.org/nrewc/

THE NAVAL RESEARCH ENTERPRISE INTERN PROGRAM (NREIP). NREIP is a 10-week summer research opportunity for undergraduate sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students at a participating Naval Laboratory. This is the first year the program will be accepting sophomores. The stipend amounts for the program are $5,250 for sophomores, $7,880 for juniors and seniors and $10,500 for graduate students. U.S. citizenship is required; permanent residents and dual citizens are accepted at certain labs. (Please see web site for details). The online application process opens October 1, 2011, and all those wishing to be considered must have their applications completed and submitted by January 6, 2012. For more information or to apply, go to http://nreip.asee.org/

THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (SEAP). SEAP is an eight-week summer research opportunity at participating Office of Naval Research laboratories for high school students who have completed at least grade 9. Applicants must be 16 years of age for most laboratories, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents (Please see web site for details). A graduating senior is also eligible to apply. The stipends for the summer program are $3,150 for new students and $3,680 for returning students. The application opens October 1, 2011 and must be completed by January 6, 2012. For more information or to apply, go to http://seap.asee.org/

2012 GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP). The 2012 GRFP application is now open at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/. The National Science Foundation (NSF) anticipates making up to 2,000 awards depending on the availability of funds. The GRFP award consists of a $30,000 annual stipend and a $10,000 cost of education allowance paid to the institution (anticipated to increase to $12,000 for 2012) and is renewable for up to three years. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents, be pursuing a research-focused Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a NSF-supported field and have completed no more than 12 months of full time graduate study as of August 1, 2011. Applicants may not have earned a graduate or professional degree to be eligible for the 2012 GRFP. Prospective applicants should refer to the 2012 program for full details about eligibility. The GRF operations center is available to answer questions about the GRFP application at either info@nsfgrfp.org or 866-673-4737.

SMART SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. The Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation (SMART) program is now accepting online applications until December 1, 2011. SMART is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be employed upon degree completion at a Department of Defense research facility. Please visit http://smart.asee.org/ for more information.

BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE DESIGN CONTEST. This challenge is available to student teams from any university. Biomimicry is looking to nature for inspiration when designing. Biomimicry is a fast-growing field that crosses the disciplines of biology, chemistry, engineering, architecture and many others. Teams (minimum of two individuals; interdisciplinary teams highly encouraged) must register by October 1, 2011. Submissions will be due December 21, 2011 and winners announced in February 2012. The winning entry will receive a $5,000.00 prize. Visit the Challenge website for details.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEM & ENGINEERING MENTORING (PAESMEM). Nominations are due by October 5, 2011. Criteria for nominations are at least five years of outstanding mentoring to a significant number of persons who might not otherwise have considered or had access to opportunities in STEM (including persons with disabilities, women, minorities) who are students at the K-12, undergraduate or graduate levels. Early career scientists, mathematicians, or engineers who have completed their degrees in the past three years are also eligible. For more information or to submit a nomination, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/ or contact Division of Undergraduate Education/NSF at PASEMEM@nsf.gov

ALAN T. WATERMAN AWARD. The National Science Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2012 Alan T. Waterman Award. This award commemorates the foundation’s first director and is NSF’s highest honor for promising early-career researchers. For detailed information, please visit http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards/ or contact the Program Manager waterman@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040.

ENGINEERING GRADUATE SYMPOSIUM. The University of Michigan will host the annual Engineering Graduate Symposium on Friday, November 11, 2011. More than 250 graduate engineering students will present posters on their current research projects. For further information, please visit http://www.engin.umich.edu/gradsymposium/. Travel grant applications are available at http://www.engin.umich.edu/academics/gradprograms/grad symposium/travelgrants.html

AIMBE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. An institute entitled “Effective mentoring Strategies to Accelerate Retention and Career Advancement of Underrepresented Minorities and Women in Biological, Biomedical, and Bioengineering” will be held on November 17–18, 2011 at the Crystal City Marriott near Reagan National Airport. Please visit the AIMBE website for further information or call 202-496-9660.

2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY. Online registration is open for the Second International Conference on Green & Sustainable Technology Research and Workforce Development. The conference is hosted by the Center for Energy Research and Technology (CERT) at North Carolina A & T State University and will be held at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC on November 7-8, 2011. The conference website is http://greenconference.ncat.edu/

ABET ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The ABET 2011 Annual Conference will take place October 27-28, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. For complete conference information and to register, please http://www.abet.org/annual.shtml

NEW FACES OF ENGINEERING, COLLEGE EDITION. This national initiative recognizes the best and brightest 3rd, 4th and 5th year engineering students whose academic successes and experiences in the engineering field are already poised to make an impact. College Edition is an outgrowth of the New Faces of Engineering Program. Live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/collegeedition, College Edition is the bridge to the engineering profession and a forum where students receive recognition, meet with their peers, and learn about events and the benefits of membership in engineering associations.

ENHANCING FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Ray Landis, dean emeritus of engineering, computer science, and technology at California State University, Los Angeles, has written “Tidbits on Enhancing the Success of First-year Engineering Students.” The paper contains what Landis calls "choice or pleasing bits” of information from his annual Chautauqua short course, "Enhancing Student Success through a Model Introduction to Engineering Course." He hopes educators will reflect on how the tidbits relate to their work with students and would welcome feedback. You can find the paper here.

______________________________________________

Warren W. Sallade

w.sallade@asee.org