Progress 11/15/07 to 11/14/08
Outputs
USDA fellows are now all on-board. The most recent addition was Mr. Brett Diehl, who began in June 2009. Mr. Heath Watts and Ms. Dana Mears have been participating for just over one year. Their research is progressing nicely. Mr. Watts is preparing a manuscript based on some of his initial work. Ms. Mears is heavily involved in coursework, but also making adequate research progress, as is Mr. Diehl. Generous matching support has been provided by Penn State University in the form of two additional assistantships. Those students, Prashanti Iyer and Jing Guo, are making excellent progress. Together, the five students have degree homes in diverse fields: Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology, Forest Resources, Integrated Plant Biology, and Geosciences. All are active on cellulose-based research projects. The PIs and students participate in weekly meetings. In addition, the PIs provide guidance and mentorship during near daily interaction with the fellows. We are currently developing ideas for international/national lab experiences for the fellows, and will request add on funding for those exercises. PRODUCTS: The funded students will be the first group of scientists intentionally trained in a broad area of nanotechnology as it applies to forest resources. Each will complete a dissertation on a project relating to nanoscale engineering of cellulose or other renewable forest-based materials. OUTCOMES: Students will complete a cluster of courses relating to nanoscale sciences. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dissemination of results will occur primarily through conference presentations and publications. To date, participating students have presented the following conference talks or posters. P Iyer, NR Brown, JM Catchmark, M Tien. Characterization of Acetobacter xylinum cellulose synthase proteins. Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE) Annual Meeting. March 21, 2009. Santa Clara, California. P Iyer, JM Catchmark, NR Brown, M Tien. Study of proteins involved in bacterial cellulose synthesis. Presented at: 1) 12th Annual Environmental Chemistry Student Symposium, 1st Prize. March 27-28, 2009. University Park, PA; and 2) 2009 Graduate Research Exhibition. March 29, 2009. University Park, PA. J Guo, M Tien, JM Catchmark. Biosynthesis and analysis of Cellulose binding domains. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Annual International Meeting. June 21-24, 2009. Reno, Nevada FUTURE INITIATIVES: Activities to follow this grant are still in the planning stages.
Impacts
We are educating graduate students who will be poised to be leaders in the emerging fields of nanotechnology as it applies to forest resources. It is our hope that these students will leave our program ready to make important contributions to industry or academia.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 11/15/06 to 11/14/07
Outputs
The principal activities in 2007 were largely related to recruiting. We created and circulated a flyer regarding the availability of fellowships, and circulated those nationwide through faculty colleagues at other institutions, list-serves, and a series of conferences. We feel our best recruiting tool will be advising students in the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. During the summer of 2007, we interacted with one excellent undergraduate from Texas A&M, and she has indicated her interest in applying to our programs for a Fall 2008 start date. In addition, one of her colleagues (who worked in a different laboratory) has expressed interest in applying to our program. We are also participating in a series of interviews that occur through Penn State's Huck Institute for Life Sciences. The Huck Institute flies in some of their top prospective graduate students each spring. We hope to attract one additional student through participating in this
venue. To date, we have identified one fellow, but this student is currently funded on a Penn State matching assistantship because she is an international student. We have one remaining Penn State matching assistantship and the three USDA funded fellowships to fill. Our activities with the international student have already begun. The student has identified a topic for her research, and she presents her research monthly to the team of PIs.
PRODUCTS: An advisory team of faculty in a variety of fields including: Biology; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Agricultural & Biological Engineering; Wood Products; and Geosciences will work together to co-advise students in projects relating to nanoscale engineering of renewable materials. The grant provides stipends for 3 Ph.D. students, each of a 3 year duration. Penn State University is providing 2 matching Ph.D. assistantships, also each of a 3 year duration, plus the University will provide a fourth year of coverage for each of the USDA funded fellows. In all, 5 Ph.D. students will be trained. Each student will complete a dissertation on a project relating to nanoscale engineering and renewable forest-based materials.
OUTCOMES: Students will complete a new course relating to nanoscale engineering of renewable materials, and they will complete an additional cluster of courses in courses relating to nanoscale sciences. They will have the opportunity to participate in an International exchange (Germany) or intern at the National Forest Products Laboratory.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dissemination of results will occur primarily through conference presentations and publications.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Activities to follow this grant are still in the planning stages. We are still in the beginning process of this grant.
Impacts
The roadmap for the Forest Products Industry outlines a clear need for scientists trained in nanoscale engineering and renewable materials. The marriage of these two fields will lead to increased economic opportunities within the United States. Our project will provide a group of well-trained employees to nucleate this emerging sector of the economy.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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