Dr. Otto Loewer, professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas on a number of occasions, beginning in 1985, when he was Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department Head until 1992. He returned in 1996, serving as Dean of the College of Engineering until 2002 when he founded the University of Arkansas Economic Development Institute (UAEDI).
UAEDI helped improve economic, community, education and leadership development in rural communities across Arkansas, especially in the Delta. The Crossroads Coalition in East Arkansas was one of UAEDI’s initiatives and received considerable national recognition.
Loewer returned to the faculty of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering in 2009.
Loewer has worked in various capacities at six different Land Grant universities, earned placement in the Louisiana State University College of Engineering Hall of Distinction and served as president of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
He also chaired the effort to create the Arkansas Research & Technology Park and secured external funding for the remodeling of the Engineering Research Center.
Loewer originally chose agricultural engineering because he planned on returning home, to help his father with the family rice, soybean and cattle farm which was connected to the family’s commercial seed business.
“I always thought I’d return. At a certain age, you don’t consider other possibilities,” he said.
Loewer earned his bachelor’s of science in agricultural engineering from Louisiana State University, his masters of science in agricultural engineering, also from LSU, a second masters of science in agricultural economics from Michigan State University and his doctorate in agricultural engineering from Purdue University.
Initially, he didn’t have much direction in choosing a college major. “I didn’t fully take into account my interests and talents,” he said. Loewer was influenced by the opinion of his father’s former college roommate, an engineer, to pursue agricultural engineering at Louisiana State University.
To any college student that is “undecided,” Loewer suggests “take a personality test, not a vocational test, and then work within those boundaries.” What’s most important, he said, is to “understand who you are. The world of higher education—stretches you too far sometimes during the undergrad experience, you cover a lot of different things.”
Instead of being discouraged by the breadth of topics and skills, Loewer encourages students to “just stick it out and when you get to grad school, you can choose a focus (something you excel at) and do well.”
Over the years, Loewer has met many admirable people and remembers an exceptional few as role models. These people were not famous, or particularly known for their research. Instead, they were people that “always had integrity, were articulate and competent, ethical and able to communicate.”
Among these people were two Department Heads and a dean he worked for, early in his career.
“One of the department heads knew how to recruit,” he said. “He understood human nature and how to choose people that would succeed together.”
Of approximately 22 faculty recruited by this department head, 17 would later became department heads or deans.
The other department head was an inspiring force. “He knew what it took to excite people and to get them involved,” Loewer said. “He looked after people. I wanted to work just to please him!”
Loewer found special respect for the Dean of Agriculture because this person truly cared for his faculty.
“In a position like that, you can scare people with what you’re going to do with the budget and your power, but this guy didn’t,” he said. “If you’re going to be truly successful, you have to look after the interest of the faculty.”
For example, early in his teaching career, before he had any sabbatical credit, Loewer had a research opportunity in Brazil that would require a few months of his time.
“Now, anyone else might have told me it was too early to do something like that, but this guy sat down with me and said, ‘I can give you a half of a sabbatical, and if you throw in some leave, I’ll work with you.”
Loewer would later understand the benefit of that research trip to the college and to the Dean, but he was first, and always, grateful for the personal benefit of the experience.
“At the time…I did understand it would benefit me, and I greatly appreciated him helping me.”
Above all, Loewer believes that kindness, integrity and honest concern from those in positions of power generate true respect.
His extensive experience has shown him that the strongest academic cultures are between types of universities and disciplines, not regional locations.
“Land Grant universities like the University of Arkansas are much alike in culture. They were created to serve people,” he said. “Every university has a culture, and this one is changing.”
As an educator, he learned that “students everywhere have the same needs.”
Loewer’s most recent work is the development of a new course, “Linkages among technology, economics and societal values: understanding change in the emerging chaos.”
“This subject is one of my fascinations,” he said, explaining that he did all the development of coursework materials. “I’ve given international workshops on this subject and now have a distance education version with video presentations.”
Loewer got the idea when preparing a presentation for the 100 year anniversary of ASABE based on this professional engineering society’s vision for the next 100 years.
The Linkages course will be offered next during the spring semester of 2012.
Prerequisites are senior or graduate standing.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
UA gets Biomedical Engineering Society Chapter
The latest addition to the engineering societies at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the local chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society. This group provides biomedical engineering students with resources and opportunities in the biomedical field and a chance to connect to others within the department.
The group formed so recently (Fall semester 2010) that only last week, officers met to complete the Associated Student Government paperwork to officially become a registered student organization. Dr. Zaharoff, professor of biomedical engineering, was the key figure in scoping the department for interest and coordinating preliminary stages of the group.
“It’s a place where younger students can learn about opportunities through older students, about REUs and internships,” said Abby Washispack, BMES President. “It’s what freshmen are looking for. At BMES, you make strong connections, it’s very useful so they know where to go.”
All engineers with an interest in biomedical engineering are welcome to the group, which has meetings once a month. Washispack encourages freshmen to attend meetings, even before declaring a major.
“We’re mostly about campus awareness, because people don’t know we’re here,” she said, referring to the newness of the University of Arkansas biomedical engineering department.
“It’s for us to have a voice…and gives credibility to our work,” she said. “Everyone knows what the national BMES is, so (that gives us a good name).”
Membership
“If you want to officially be a part of the national society, there are dues, mostly for conferences, resume help and availability of resources and articles,” she said. “BEMS provides connections to employers, professors and forums.”
National BMES Conferences are in the fall and President Washispack would like to send a couple of officers to the next one, which is in October.
“Attending the BMES National Conference should be an exciting opportunity for me to see what the current trends in the field are so I keep abreast of the latest issues and developments,” said Saumil Shah, BMES Treasurer.
The group currently has about 20 members and 10 freshmen with a strong interest in it. BMES officers are in suspense, awaiting the results of Decision Day, when freshmen declare a major and new Biomedical students will join the seasoned Biomedical students socially and professionally through this society.
If you’re an incoming freshman and have not chosen a major, Washispack suggested, “Come to meeting even before you pick your major. Talk to upperclassmen, talk to professors early.
“Dr. Zaharoff has been especially helpful to me, to help me figure out where I’m going and how to get there,” she said. “The faculty here want to help you succeed.”
Activities
BMES is still in preliminary stages, so events are limited.
“We’ll have fundraising in the future and more events once we’re officially an RSO and have ASG funding,” Washispack said.
The last major event until Fall semester is a Membership Drive on April 21.
“We will be having a membership drive…there will be pizza and drinks. We'll be talking about our goals for the remainder of the semester and next year.”
BMES works closely with the Ecological Engineering Society and the Biological Engineering Society, which has a lot of overlap in students, mostly upperclassmen.
“Last semester, we helped an elementary Lego robot competition at Turnbow Elementary in Springdale for their Bio Medical Day,” she said.
Officers
This year’s Biomedical Engineering Society officers are Abby Washispack, President; Jimmy Vo, Vice President; Katelin Cherry, Secretary; Saumil Shah, Treasurer.
Dr. Zaharoff will decide initial leadership responsibilities for the society. In the future, other professors will present lectures on research to BMES.
“I was interested in BMES…to learn more about the field of study I am most interested in,” Treasurer Shah said. “It provides me with the opportunity to network with my peers and professors and build professional relationships.”
Shah keeps track group finances, including fundraising, event cost and ASG funding process.
He particularly values the “access to the BMES Career Centre, another privilege that comes with membership in the society,” he said, which provides a solution to the challenge of job searching.
“Through the Career Centre I have more access to internships and Co-ops around the country,” he said.
For Jimmy Vo, BMES Vice President, “My experience with BMES so far has been a learning one,” because he has been an officer for other student organizations, but this is his first time as a founding officer.
“This brings challenges in creating student awareness, but with biomedical engineering being one of the fastest growing engineering disciplines, students are coming to us,” he said. “We are also developing ties with biomedical companies, to create a network of potential employers for graduating students.
Vo sees a lot of potential in the Biomedical Engineering Society.
“These tasks…will require time and patience, but I have high hopes for BMES and look forward to seeing it become a stepping stone for biomedical engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Katelin Cherry, BMES Secretary, became a member this semester. She became secretary because she wanted to broaden perspective of the Biomedical Engineering Program and students at the University of Arkansas.
“I'm excited to see BMES at the University of Arkansas become involved with the national chapter,” she said. “I hope by being secretary, I can work to promote them.”
Contact Us:
The Biomedical Engineering Society Facebook page and website are not currently activated. To reach the president, email Washispack at awashisp@uark.edu, or Dr. Zaharoff, zaharoff@uark.edu.
The group formed so recently (Fall semester 2010) that only last week, officers met to complete the Associated Student Government paperwork to officially become a registered student organization. Dr. Zaharoff, professor of biomedical engineering, was the key figure in scoping the department for interest and coordinating preliminary stages of the group.
“It’s a place where younger students can learn about opportunities through older students, about REUs and internships,” said Abby Washispack, BMES President. “It’s what freshmen are looking for. At BMES, you make strong connections, it’s very useful so they know where to go.”
All engineers with an interest in biomedical engineering are welcome to the group, which has meetings once a month. Washispack encourages freshmen to attend meetings, even before declaring a major.
“We’re mostly about campus awareness, because people don’t know we’re here,” she said, referring to the newness of the University of Arkansas biomedical engineering department.
“It’s for us to have a voice…and gives credibility to our work,” she said. “Everyone knows what the national BMES is, so (that gives us a good name).”
Membership
“If you want to officially be a part of the national society, there are dues, mostly for conferences, resume help and availability of resources and articles,” she said. “BEMS provides connections to employers, professors and forums.”
National BMES Conferences are in the fall and President Washispack would like to send a couple of officers to the next one, which is in October.
“Attending the BMES National Conference should be an exciting opportunity for me to see what the current trends in the field are so I keep abreast of the latest issues and developments,” said Saumil Shah, BMES Treasurer.
The group currently has about 20 members and 10 freshmen with a strong interest in it. BMES officers are in suspense, awaiting the results of Decision Day, when freshmen declare a major and new Biomedical students will join the seasoned Biomedical students socially and professionally through this society.
If you’re an incoming freshman and have not chosen a major, Washispack suggested, “Come to meeting even before you pick your major. Talk to upperclassmen, talk to professors early.
“Dr. Zaharoff has been especially helpful to me, to help me figure out where I’m going and how to get there,” she said. “The faculty here want to help you succeed.”
Activities
BMES is still in preliminary stages, so events are limited.
“We’ll have fundraising in the future and more events once we’re officially an RSO and have ASG funding,” Washispack said.
The last major event until Fall semester is a Membership Drive on April 21.
“We will be having a membership drive…there will be pizza and drinks. We'll be talking about our goals for the remainder of the semester and next year.”
BMES works closely with the Ecological Engineering Society and the Biological Engineering Society, which has a lot of overlap in students, mostly upperclassmen.
“Last semester, we helped an elementary Lego robot competition at Turnbow Elementary in Springdale for their Bio Medical Day,” she said.
Officers
This year’s Biomedical Engineering Society officers are Abby Washispack, President; Jimmy Vo, Vice President; Katelin Cherry, Secretary; Saumil Shah, Treasurer.
Dr. Zaharoff will decide initial leadership responsibilities for the society. In the future, other professors will present lectures on research to BMES.
“I was interested in BMES…to learn more about the field of study I am most interested in,” Treasurer Shah said. “It provides me with the opportunity to network with my peers and professors and build professional relationships.”
Shah keeps track group finances, including fundraising, event cost and ASG funding process.
He particularly values the “access to the BMES Career Centre, another privilege that comes with membership in the society,” he said, which provides a solution to the challenge of job searching.
“Through the Career Centre I have more access to internships and Co-ops around the country,” he said.
For Jimmy Vo, BMES Vice President, “My experience with BMES so far has been a learning one,” because he has been an officer for other student organizations, but this is his first time as a founding officer.
“This brings challenges in creating student awareness, but with biomedical engineering being one of the fastest growing engineering disciplines, students are coming to us,” he said. “We are also developing ties with biomedical companies, to create a network of potential employers for graduating students.
Vo sees a lot of potential in the Biomedical Engineering Society.
“These tasks…will require time and patience, but I have high hopes for BMES and look forward to seeing it become a stepping stone for biomedical engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Katelin Cherry, BMES Secretary, became a member this semester. She became secretary because she wanted to broaden perspective of the Biomedical Engineering Program and students at the University of Arkansas.
“I'm excited to see BMES at the University of Arkansas become involved with the national chapter,” she said. “I hope by being secretary, I can work to promote them.”
Contact Us:
The Biomedical Engineering Society Facebook page and website are not currently activated. To reach the president, email Washispack at awashisp@uark.edu, or Dr. Zaharoff, zaharoff@uark.edu.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Journey In a Concrete Canoe
A group of active, networking, career-centered civil engineering students are the University of Arkansas chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
We are an organization comprised of civil engineering students who like to have an active education and be involved on and around campus. Above all else, it is our goal to keep engineering students engaged and interacting with the professional world, according to the University of Arkansas ASCE website.
“Anyone can join ASCE. We have frequent meetings, food, a chance to chat with upperclassmen and faculty members,” said Michael Howland, University of Arkansas ASCE President. “We’re focusing on getting more freshmen and faculty involvement.
Among the group’s novel features are a few student representatives for outreach: one for each level of college student.
“We have freshman representatives that cater to other freshmen, trying to get them involved,” he said, also explaining that officer representatives do the same for sophomores, juniors and seniors .
Howland joined the group as a sophomore when an older member told him about ASCE. “I started out as a membership chairman,” he said. “I was excited about getting involved.”
Events
ASCE organizes multiple group events, including an annual trip to the ASCE Mid-Continent Conference, which will take place April 27 in Manhattan, Kansas. The University of Arkansas team will compete with teams from Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois in the concrete canoe competition, steel bridge competition, GeoTech walls competition and technical papers.
“We meet with the department head for event scheduling and planning for guest speakers,” Howland said. “Every other week we try to have a social event between times of work,” that are often picnics and softball games, typically with teams of undergraduate students versus graduate students.
ASCE works with the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Department to bring relevant, informative speakers to students.
“In the fall, we had a speaker from the Navy, a civil engineer who has worked in war zones, Lieutenant Thacker,” Howland said. “We also helped with bringing in the speaker from Mack-Blackwell that talked about the Panama Canal.”
ASCE service projects include community clean up-- in the Agri-Park and most recently, a Clabber Creak clean-up on April 2 with National Society of Black Engineers and Chi Epsilon.
Officers
This year’s officers are Michael Howland, President; Danny Hernandez, Vice President; Christian McGuire, Treasurer; Cary Beth Lipscomb, Secretary; Ryan Hansen, Membership Chair; Sean Salazar, Competitions Chair; Katie Dunn, Senior Representative; Tyler Avery and Clint Engle, Junior Representatives; Sadie Smith and Chase Henrichs, Sophomore Representatives and Christine McAlpine, Freshman Representative.
Secretary Cary Lipscomb, a sophomore civil engineering student and heard about ASCE through civil engineering upperclassmen.
“It sounded like a good opportunity to gain more hands-on experience as an engineer as well as socialize and learn from other civils,” she said.
“My main responsibility is organization. I keep records of the agenda and discussions, making notes of upcoming events and help with the organization of responsibilities as best as possible.”
Upcoming events for the end of the semester include barbeque and movie nights.
“One of my favorite aspects of ASCE is the competitions we compete in…it’s a huge convention with both educational and social aspects. This is my first year to go, but I'm looking forward to it from what I have heard about it in past years.”
Unlike other RSOs, the national conference fees aren’t a simple $20-30 for official membership or travel expenses.
Instead, the group creates quality products that provides students with valuable professional development.
The ASCE national conference is an annual series of competitions for chapters, including events in concrete canoe building/racing, steel bridge building, geo-wall, and a technical paper writing section. Teams competing must design and build within ASCE requirements.
“We usually need about $10,000 in supplies,” Howland said. “We get donations from Afco Steel in Little Rock. Sometimes they donate or write a check, and we give it back to them later.”
Christian McGuire, ASCE Treasurer, joined the group as a sophomore and coordinates ASCE meetings and travel logistics.
“I look forward to seeing other ASCE chapters at the conference and their different approaches to each competition,” he said.
McGuire joined ASCE because he saw it as a good place to develop some leadership skills and network with classmates. “It is always nice to spend time with classmates in a setting other than the classroom.”
“My favorite part of the group is how close this ASCE chapter is with all the professors,” he said. “Our professors really take an interest in the members of ASCE.”
Adviser Dr. Kevin Hall
“Student chapters of professional associations can be vital to the total educational experience of a student – helping prepare the student for active participation in the profession,” said Dr. Hall.
“It also provides a great outlet for enjoying what we do without worrying about tests, assignments, and grades.”
Howland suggested that freshmen civil engineering students “don’t just get involved, get involved to help out.”
Contact us
For more information about the American Society of Civil Engineers, visit the national website asce.uark.edu, the U of A chapter Facebook page: “ASCE- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville” or call the chapter at 479-575-4954.
We are an organization comprised of civil engineering students who like to have an active education and be involved on and around campus. Above all else, it is our goal to keep engineering students engaged and interacting with the professional world, according to the University of Arkansas ASCE website.
“Anyone can join ASCE. We have frequent meetings, food, a chance to chat with upperclassmen and faculty members,” said Michael Howland, University of Arkansas ASCE President. “We’re focusing on getting more freshmen and faculty involvement.
Among the group’s novel features are a few student representatives for outreach: one for each level of college student.
“We have freshman representatives that cater to other freshmen, trying to get them involved,” he said, also explaining that officer representatives do the same for sophomores, juniors and seniors .
Howland joined the group as a sophomore when an older member told him about ASCE. “I started out as a membership chairman,” he said. “I was excited about getting involved.”
Events
ASCE organizes multiple group events, including an annual trip to the ASCE Mid-Continent Conference, which will take place April 27 in Manhattan, Kansas. The University of Arkansas team will compete with teams from Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois in the concrete canoe competition, steel bridge competition, GeoTech walls competition and technical papers.
“We meet with the department head for event scheduling and planning for guest speakers,” Howland said. “Every other week we try to have a social event between times of work,” that are often picnics and softball games, typically with teams of undergraduate students versus graduate students.
ASCE works with the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Department to bring relevant, informative speakers to students.
“In the fall, we had a speaker from the Navy, a civil engineer who has worked in war zones, Lieutenant Thacker,” Howland said. “We also helped with bringing in the speaker from Mack-Blackwell that talked about the Panama Canal.”
ASCE service projects include community clean up-- in the Agri-Park and most recently, a Clabber Creak clean-up on April 2 with National Society of Black Engineers and Chi Epsilon.
Officers
This year’s officers are Michael Howland, President; Danny Hernandez, Vice President; Christian McGuire, Treasurer; Cary Beth Lipscomb, Secretary; Ryan Hansen, Membership Chair; Sean Salazar, Competitions Chair; Katie Dunn, Senior Representative; Tyler Avery and Clint Engle, Junior Representatives; Sadie Smith and Chase Henrichs, Sophomore Representatives and Christine McAlpine, Freshman Representative.
Secretary Cary Lipscomb, a sophomore civil engineering student and heard about ASCE through civil engineering upperclassmen.
“It sounded like a good opportunity to gain more hands-on experience as an engineer as well as socialize and learn from other civils,” she said.
“My main responsibility is organization. I keep records of the agenda and discussions, making notes of upcoming events and help with the organization of responsibilities as best as possible.”
Upcoming events for the end of the semester include barbeque and movie nights.
“One of my favorite aspects of ASCE is the competitions we compete in…it’s a huge convention with both educational and social aspects. This is my first year to go, but I'm looking forward to it from what I have heard about it in past years.”
Unlike other RSOs, the national conference fees aren’t a simple $20-30 for official membership or travel expenses.
Instead, the group creates quality products that provides students with valuable professional development.
The ASCE national conference is an annual series of competitions for chapters, including events in concrete canoe building/racing, steel bridge building, geo-wall, and a technical paper writing section. Teams competing must design and build within ASCE requirements.
“We usually need about $10,000 in supplies,” Howland said. “We get donations from Afco Steel in Little Rock. Sometimes they donate or write a check, and we give it back to them later.”
Christian McGuire, ASCE Treasurer, joined the group as a sophomore and coordinates ASCE meetings and travel logistics.
“I look forward to seeing other ASCE chapters at the conference and their different approaches to each competition,” he said.
McGuire joined ASCE because he saw it as a good place to develop some leadership skills and network with classmates. “It is always nice to spend time with classmates in a setting other than the classroom.”
“My favorite part of the group is how close this ASCE chapter is with all the professors,” he said. “Our professors really take an interest in the members of ASCE.”
Adviser Dr. Kevin Hall
“Student chapters of professional associations can be vital to the total educational experience of a student – helping prepare the student for active participation in the profession,” said Dr. Hall.
“It also provides a great outlet for enjoying what we do without worrying about tests, assignments, and grades.”
Howland suggested that freshmen civil engineering students “don’t just get involved, get involved to help out.”
Contact us
For more information about the American Society of Civil Engineers, visit the national website asce.uark.edu, the U of A chapter Facebook page: “ASCE- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville” or call the chapter at 479-575-4954.
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Change of Hands
Officer campaigns for the Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association took place Tuesday, presenting new ideas and directions for the group. Members have a week to consider the campaign, before replying to an email-ballot from group member Cindy.
The 2011/2012 PPGSA Presidential Candidates are Lou Hirsch and Alma Laney.
“I want to bring a new sense of camaraderie to the group. Not that we don’t already have one, just want it to be more prominent,” said Lou Hirsch.
“What would we talk about if we saw each other in ten years—what memories would we have of PPGSA?”
As a solution, he suggested meeting up with other graduate student associations for social events.
“This is where we expand research and perspectives in a cohesive group, we should cut loose and relax during a (hard) time in our lives,” he said.
The main challenge Hirsch presented in his campaign speech was funding for social events, since ASG funding will go toward research-based activity.
“I spoke with someone about our budget. Part is funding, but we can’t spend it on “fun” stuff like field trips or non-research stuff. It’s dictated by the University,” he said.
Overall, Hirsch finds this additional advantage to the group would be worth it, despite lack of funding.
“That’s what I’d like to bring to the group, a sense of camaraderie,” he said. “I’d like to have that.”
Alma Laney proposed two new features for the association: a bi-weekly Journal Club and an expansion to the Farmer’s Market Diagnostic Booth, additional publication of Disease Notes.
“The Journal Club would give us an opportunity to learn new techniques and to learn about pathogen interactions that are outside our very focused area of research,” she said.
Laney has seen other RSOs participate in similar activities and benefit from the bonding activity.
The Diagnostic Booth “is not fully being utilized,” she said. Besides being a valuable development for plant pathologists, “there is the possibility of gaining publications if we utilize this tool properly.”
“Disease Notes are easy to write, about one page long including references, but they count on our CVs as a publication,” she said. “Very minor changes to how we approach the samples brought to us at the Farmer’s Market would be required:
“In addition to checking the literature to see what is reported to infect the specific host, a quick literature search to see the geographic distribution would tell us if the pathogen is new to our area or if it is infecting a new host.”
Candidates for vice-presidency are John Ridernour, Jing Zhou, Kevin Lee and Kim Cochran. None attended the campaign meeting (some because of class-overlap), but Cochran submitted a response that Urrea read during the meeting:
“I will simply do my best to serve as an officer in either the treasurer or vice-presidential position and try to make the coming year an enjoyable one for everybody,” Cochran said.
Candidates for 2011/2012 Treasurer are Jonathon Smith- this year’s vice president, Lou Hirsch (also running for president), Andrew Jecmen, Kim Cochran and Kevin Lee.
“This is a great opportunity to learn, a lot of good experience for everyone,” said President Keiddy Urrea.
The University of Arkansas Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association meets in room nine of the Plant Sciences Building on Tuesdays after seminar, approximately 4:15 or 4:30.
For more information, see our note “RSO Highlight: Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association.”
The 2011/2012 PPGSA Presidential Candidates are Lou Hirsch and Alma Laney.
“I want to bring a new sense of camaraderie to the group. Not that we don’t already have one, just want it to be more prominent,” said Lou Hirsch.
“What would we talk about if we saw each other in ten years—what memories would we have of PPGSA?”
As a solution, he suggested meeting up with other graduate student associations for social events.
“This is where we expand research and perspectives in a cohesive group, we should cut loose and relax during a (hard) time in our lives,” he said.
The main challenge Hirsch presented in his campaign speech was funding for social events, since ASG funding will go toward research-based activity.
“I spoke with someone about our budget. Part is funding, but we can’t spend it on “fun” stuff like field trips or non-research stuff. It’s dictated by the University,” he said.
Overall, Hirsch finds this additional advantage to the group would be worth it, despite lack of funding.
“That’s what I’d like to bring to the group, a sense of camaraderie,” he said. “I’d like to have that.”
Alma Laney proposed two new features for the association: a bi-weekly Journal Club and an expansion to the Farmer’s Market Diagnostic Booth, additional publication of Disease Notes.
“The Journal Club would give us an opportunity to learn new techniques and to learn about pathogen interactions that are outside our very focused area of research,” she said.
Laney has seen other RSOs participate in similar activities and benefit from the bonding activity.
The Diagnostic Booth “is not fully being utilized,” she said. Besides being a valuable development for plant pathologists, “there is the possibility of gaining publications if we utilize this tool properly.”
“Disease Notes are easy to write, about one page long including references, but they count on our CVs as a publication,” she said. “Very minor changes to how we approach the samples brought to us at the Farmer’s Market would be required:
“In addition to checking the literature to see what is reported to infect the specific host, a quick literature search to see the geographic distribution would tell us if the pathogen is new to our area or if it is infecting a new host.”
Candidates for vice-presidency are John Ridernour, Jing Zhou, Kevin Lee and Kim Cochran. None attended the campaign meeting (some because of class-overlap), but Cochran submitted a response that Urrea read during the meeting:
“I will simply do my best to serve as an officer in either the treasurer or vice-presidential position and try to make the coming year an enjoyable one for everybody,” Cochran said.
Candidates for 2011/2012 Treasurer are Jonathon Smith- this year’s vice president, Lou Hirsch (also running for president), Andrew Jecmen, Kim Cochran and Kevin Lee.
“This is a great opportunity to learn, a lot of good experience for everyone,” said President Keiddy Urrea.
The University of Arkansas Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association meets in room nine of the Plant Sciences Building on Tuesdays after seminar, approximately 4:15 or 4:30.
For more information, see our note “RSO Highlight: Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association.”
U of A EWB National Status: to be or not to be?
With only four meetings left, the next four weeks will be filled to the brim with activity for the University of Arkansas chapter of Engineers Without Borders. On top of officer election and national evaluation, members will host a guest speaker from Colorado State University, participate in five local service projects, continue Belize trip plans and have a goodbye gathering for senior members.
An evaluation by USA-EWB will take place for the chapter on April 18, to decide if the RSO should continue under national status as an official EWB chapter. The group had been grandfathered in with the Central Arkansas professional chapter of EWB when the national office underwent crucial changes to the organization, leaving the UA chapter in a grey area.
“When they consider our chapter on April 18, they’ll look at our numbers (of membership), if we’ve been attending national events, which we have and if we’ve participated in conference calls, which we have,” said International Project Chair, Ben Marts.
The status of national membership will do little to change the main goals and interests of the group. Each member voiced dedication to the ongoing project plans and discussed options in case of denial.
“If we don’t get accepted this year it’s okay. They’re interested in us,” said EWB Secretary, Jenny Doyle. “The hardest part is staying on top of the paperwork. It’s not hard, just takes time in waiting for approval.”
Each international project requires five years of involvement in the chosen country and a detailed series of paperwork for each stage of the project. The sheer magnitude and particular style of paperwork requires coverage during regional conference workshops, which organization treasurer and or secretary usually attend.
Doyle assured members that the University of Arkansas chapter should continue to be in good standing with the national office.
“Every year they’re more and more organized, and we keep in contact,” she said.
President Nikki Lorenz called for April 13 to be an official group debate on national status.
“We’ll have a debate next week, and then we’ll make the final decision during elections on April 20,” she said.
EWB officers encouraged members to research the national chapter and its project requirements so that next week’s debate will be filled with informed opinions that could move the organization forward.
“If you argue during the debate, please come with facts, not opinions like ‘EWB is very nice,’” Doyle said.
Updates on the Belize Front
A total of eight members will participate in the end-of-the-semester service project in Belize, at a significantly reduced cost, thanks to a dedicated fundraising team, generous department heads of the University of Arkansas and regional companies.
According to Ben Marts, international project manager, initial total trip costs were $18,000, but were cut to $11,000 or $2,300/person. Those attending are paying less than half of that out of pocket so far, which is $1,100. In fact, fundraising is not over.
“We’re still talking to department heads,” Marts said.
Project members should expect to make a deposit when the group purchases plane tickets to Belize and should prepare for defense of sand flies, by packing for use any of a variety of oils: olive oil, canola oil or hemp oil.
A few of the group activities during this trip will be digging a 300-foot long trench at two feet deep, putting up spigots, cinder blocks, with other design and construction responsibilities.
Creativity will play a large part in the international project, when members won’t have access to all common tools.
“During the last trip, we were tamping dirt with sticks,” said EWB Website Manager, Halley Malle.
EWB events this month are as follows:
Scull Creek clean-up on April 12, from 4-7 p.m.
Rebuilding Day on April 16, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Speaker Lloyd Walker, water systems specialist from Colorado State University, April 18 at 6 p.m.
Hamestring Creek April 19, from 4-7 p.m.
Leverett Elementary Science Club April 21, from 3-4:30 p.m.
To participate in building a Garden Shed, email Gavin Smith at gavintree@gmail.com
Senior Goodbye Gathering at Powerhouse or Mellow Mushroom (TBA)
An evaluation by USA-EWB will take place for the chapter on April 18, to decide if the RSO should continue under national status as an official EWB chapter. The group had been grandfathered in with the Central Arkansas professional chapter of EWB when the national office underwent crucial changes to the organization, leaving the UA chapter in a grey area.
“When they consider our chapter on April 18, they’ll look at our numbers (of membership), if we’ve been attending national events, which we have and if we’ve participated in conference calls, which we have,” said International Project Chair, Ben Marts.
The status of national membership will do little to change the main goals and interests of the group. Each member voiced dedication to the ongoing project plans and discussed options in case of denial.
“If we don’t get accepted this year it’s okay. They’re interested in us,” said EWB Secretary, Jenny Doyle. “The hardest part is staying on top of the paperwork. It’s not hard, just takes time in waiting for approval.”
Each international project requires five years of involvement in the chosen country and a detailed series of paperwork for each stage of the project. The sheer magnitude and particular style of paperwork requires coverage during regional conference workshops, which organization treasurer and or secretary usually attend.
Doyle assured members that the University of Arkansas chapter should continue to be in good standing with the national office.
“Every year they’re more and more organized, and we keep in contact,” she said.
President Nikki Lorenz called for April 13 to be an official group debate on national status.
“We’ll have a debate next week, and then we’ll make the final decision during elections on April 20,” she said.
EWB officers encouraged members to research the national chapter and its project requirements so that next week’s debate will be filled with informed opinions that could move the organization forward.
“If you argue during the debate, please come with facts, not opinions like ‘EWB is very nice,’” Doyle said.
Updates on the Belize Front
A total of eight members will participate in the end-of-the-semester service project in Belize, at a significantly reduced cost, thanks to a dedicated fundraising team, generous department heads of the University of Arkansas and regional companies.
According to Ben Marts, international project manager, initial total trip costs were $18,000, but were cut to $11,000 or $2,300/person. Those attending are paying less than half of that out of pocket so far, which is $1,100. In fact, fundraising is not over.
“We’re still talking to department heads,” Marts said.
Project members should expect to make a deposit when the group purchases plane tickets to Belize and should prepare for defense of sand flies, by packing for use any of a variety of oils: olive oil, canola oil or hemp oil.
A few of the group activities during this trip will be digging a 300-foot long trench at two feet deep, putting up spigots, cinder blocks, with other design and construction responsibilities.
Creativity will play a large part in the international project, when members won’t have access to all common tools.
“During the last trip, we were tamping dirt with sticks,” said EWB Website Manager, Halley Malle.
EWB events this month are as follows:
Scull Creek clean-up on April 12, from 4-7 p.m.
Rebuilding Day on April 16, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Speaker Lloyd Walker, water systems specialist from Colorado State University, April 18 at 6 p.m.
Hamestring Creek April 19, from 4-7 p.m.
Leverett Elementary Science Club April 21, from 3-4:30 p.m.
To participate in building a Garden Shed, email Gavin Smith at gavintree@gmail.com
Senior Goodbye Gathering at Powerhouse or Mellow Mushroom (TBA)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
UA Plant Pathology Grad Student Assoc.
The University of Arkansas Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association is a registered student organization that formed in 2002, that among other activities, serves community farmers and homeowners by pinpointing and finding solutions for plant problems. Currently made of 25 graduate students in the Department of Plant Pathology in Bumpers College, members are from the U.S., China, Nepal, Colombia and Argentina.
PPGSA President, Keiddy Urrea, is from Colombia and was active in a similar association there before beginning graduate school at the University of Arkansas. Urrea became active in the University of Arkansas group in 2007 and served as Vice President last year.
“It’s great experience and helps improve your skills, your communication and opportunities,” she said.
The group is in collaboration with the Biology Graduate Student Association, which parallels interests.
“We’re trying to make our group bigger and have interest with other graduate students,” she said, explaining that they’re connecting with groups that share similar topics and technologies.
As opposed to undergraduate RSOs, which spend time directing students to a more specific area of study, PPGSA members are all graduate students who have a narrowed focus.
“We have research going on all the time,” she said. “It is demanding.”
Urrea encouraged students that it is a worthwhile endeavor, increasing coordination and time management.
“People have to do these kinds of (busy) things in college because later they’ll have to deal with many people and deal with many things.”
Activities
PPGSA focuses primarily on manning a booth biweekly at the Saturday Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, which will be open this summer from 8 a.m.- noon, starting at the end of May.
Community farmers, local growers “bring the (sick) plant to us, we take it to the lab and work on it, then bring it back with the answers,” Urrea said. “We focus on diseases, on symptoms that are not normal.”
It’s “one of the more rewarding activities for me and an important aspect for many students,” said group Faculty Advisor, Craig Rothrock.
The group receives mostly ornamental, vegetable and fruit plants from the community to study.
Members attend the annual American Phytopathological Society Conferences, which are in Honolulu (national) and Corpus Christi (regional) this year. During these, members attend meetings specific to their research, which instantly divides them based on work objectives, topical discussion and crop interest.
Students must be prepared to “give talks, but mostly do posters about research,” Urrea said.
Members meet for monthly meetings to plan group activity- a particularly challenging endeavor because fundraising is not an option and this year will participate in the spring festival, advertising their services and group goals to the community.
“We have activities to improve careers and future opportunities for students,” Urrea said. “We host seminars with speakers, professors from the University and professors in our areas of interests.”
Officers
This year’s officers are Keiddy Urrea, President; Jonathon Smith, Vice President; Jianbing Ma, Treasurer and Craig Rothrock, Faculty Advisor.
The 2011/2012 officer campaign speeches and election will take place at about 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, in room nine of the Plant Sciences building. Results will be announced the following Tuesday after the stuents have had a week to make their decisions.
Urrea always looks forward to a new set of officers because “your (past officers’) ideas are good but fresh ideas are needed and always welcome.”
Jonathon Smith, former Treasurer and current Vice President is hoping to return to post as Treasurer.
“I like keeping the organization funded,” he said.
Smith became an officer because he truly appreciated PPGSA activity.
“I had enjoyed events hosted by the PPGSA and… I wanted to help get more events sponsored,” he said. “I have really enjoyed hearing suggestions from other students and incorporating those with officer’s ideas.”
Officer elections follow a straightforward schedule. “ Potential officers sign up, they have a day to campaign and then the members vote,” Urrea said. “It’s very democratic.”
Urrea highly recommends getting involved by taking on responsibility, then by moving up in officer ranking.
“You get good experience for a year, then move up and you know what to expect.”
PPGSA advisor, professor Craig Rothrock, conducts research that is directed toward developing sustainable cropping systems, according to the University of Arkansas Plant Pathology website.
In addition to teaching and research, he runs the Farmer’s Market booth with the students, helps with the labwork on the plants and helps with event planning.
“My role is to assist the students in realizing their goals as a group…finding funding for activities or providing guidance on organizing (them),” he said.
Since the RSO is graduate-student centered, Rothrock sees himself as a facilitator rather than advisor. He likes to step back and watch the students come into their own leadership roles to encourage professional development.
“It has served as an educational experience for students…and is a chance to interact with the public in an advisory role.”
PPGSA has “increased the public awareness of the importance of plant diseases and agriculture in growing plants and producing food at the local level.”
PPGSA President, Keiddy Urrea, is from Colombia and was active in a similar association there before beginning graduate school at the University of Arkansas. Urrea became active in the University of Arkansas group in 2007 and served as Vice President last year.
“It’s great experience and helps improve your skills, your communication and opportunities,” she said.
The group is in collaboration with the Biology Graduate Student Association, which parallels interests.
“We’re trying to make our group bigger and have interest with other graduate students,” she said, explaining that they’re connecting with groups that share similar topics and technologies.
As opposed to undergraduate RSOs, which spend time directing students to a more specific area of study, PPGSA members are all graduate students who have a narrowed focus.
“We have research going on all the time,” she said. “It is demanding.”
Urrea encouraged students that it is a worthwhile endeavor, increasing coordination and time management.
“People have to do these kinds of (busy) things in college because later they’ll have to deal with many people and deal with many things.”
Activities
PPGSA focuses primarily on manning a booth biweekly at the Saturday Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, which will be open this summer from 8 a.m.- noon, starting at the end of May.
Community farmers, local growers “bring the (sick) plant to us, we take it to the lab and work on it, then bring it back with the answers,” Urrea said. “We focus on diseases, on symptoms that are not normal.”
It’s “one of the more rewarding activities for me and an important aspect for many students,” said group Faculty Advisor, Craig Rothrock.
The group receives mostly ornamental, vegetable and fruit plants from the community to study.
Members attend the annual American Phytopathological Society Conferences, which are in Honolulu (national) and Corpus Christi (regional) this year. During these, members attend meetings specific to their research, which instantly divides them based on work objectives, topical discussion and crop interest.
Students must be prepared to “give talks, but mostly do posters about research,” Urrea said.
Members meet for monthly meetings to plan group activity- a particularly challenging endeavor because fundraising is not an option and this year will participate in the spring festival, advertising their services and group goals to the community.
“We have activities to improve careers and future opportunities for students,” Urrea said. “We host seminars with speakers, professors from the University and professors in our areas of interests.”
Officers
This year’s officers are Keiddy Urrea, President; Jonathon Smith, Vice President; Jianbing Ma, Treasurer and Craig Rothrock, Faculty Advisor.
The 2011/2012 officer campaign speeches and election will take place at about 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, in room nine of the Plant Sciences building. Results will be announced the following Tuesday after the stuents have had a week to make their decisions.
Urrea always looks forward to a new set of officers because “your (past officers’) ideas are good but fresh ideas are needed and always welcome.”
Jonathon Smith, former Treasurer and current Vice President is hoping to return to post as Treasurer.
“I like keeping the organization funded,” he said.
Smith became an officer because he truly appreciated PPGSA activity.
“I had enjoyed events hosted by the PPGSA and… I wanted to help get more events sponsored,” he said. “I have really enjoyed hearing suggestions from other students and incorporating those with officer’s ideas.”
Officer elections follow a straightforward schedule. “ Potential officers sign up, they have a day to campaign and then the members vote,” Urrea said. “It’s very democratic.”
Urrea highly recommends getting involved by taking on responsibility, then by moving up in officer ranking.
“You get good experience for a year, then move up and you know what to expect.”
PPGSA advisor, professor Craig Rothrock, conducts research that is directed toward developing sustainable cropping systems, according to the University of Arkansas Plant Pathology website.
In addition to teaching and research, he runs the Farmer’s Market booth with the students, helps with the labwork on the plants and helps with event planning.
“My role is to assist the students in realizing their goals as a group…finding funding for activities or providing guidance on organizing (them),” he said.
Since the RSO is graduate-student centered, Rothrock sees himself as a facilitator rather than advisor. He likes to step back and watch the students come into their own leadership roles to encourage professional development.
“It has served as an educational experience for students…and is a chance to interact with the public in an advisory role.”
PPGSA has “increased the public awareness of the importance of plant diseases and agriculture in growing plants and producing food at the local level.”
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Meet the Professor: Dr. David Zaharoff
Dr. David Zaharoff, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering for two years. He earned degrees in mechanical and biomedical engineering before beginning his teaching career at Duke University, as a teaching assistant. In addition to teaching, research and mentoring students, he serves as faculty adviser for the Biomedical Engineering Society.
When he’s not teaching or conducting research, Zaharoff spends time with his three children, all under the age of six.
“They’re everything to me,” he said. “They get first dibs on my time.”
How I got into engineering
Zaharoff started college as a saxophone performance major, but his parents required him to choose a second, more applicable major.
“They wouldn’t pay for college unless I chose a ‘real’ major, too. So I was a double major in music performance and engineering,” he said. “Turns out engineering is a lot easier.
Zaharoff began studying mechanical engineering before finding his focus during junior year of his undergraduate while applying to grad school. He decided to enter biomedical engineering and ruled out medical school.
He chose his educational path because he wanted to find solutions to human body malfunctions, so that treatment could be more affective.
“I wanted to enter biomedical engineering—what more complex machine is there to engineer than that? I wanted to design the ‘car’ in the first place, have the ultimate impact instead of placing a band-aid over it.”
Scientist Role Model
Zaharoff admires the work of thousands of engineers, physicians and other scientists, but has no central, guiding role model in his field.
“There is no one person I look up to because those who achieve success are solely focused.”
He finds the most successful people to be self-centered, and wanted his life to have personal success as well as professional success.
“You paint yourself in a corner if you choose” a role model, he said. “Take Einstein…he was brilliant, but could you imagine what it would be like to live with him? My respect for someone requires a balance of work and home life.”
University of Arkansas experience
Dr. Zaharoff came to the University of Arkansas following his training at the National Career Institute.
“I sent out many applications and found that Fayetteville was the best fit for me- for the research me, the teaching me, the family me,” he said.
His time as a teaching assistant at Duke University gave him a perspective of what sets University of Arkansas students apart.
“They’re not aggressive enough. I would like students to take more ownership in their future- set a path and be determined about it,” he said.
As a professor ready and willing to help students, he said he’d like to see more students take advantage of office hours.
“Any goal worth achieving, you have to be aggressive to find it. Michael Phelps didn’t get where he is without aggressively pursuing his goals.”
Research
“What I do can be seen as essentially vaccine delivery, something that we can control that response of the vaccine based on delivery.”
Zaharoff is searching for unique, improved solutions in the biomedical field. Instead of living in a world where cancer treatment is limited to surgery, chemo or radiation, he’s looking for something else.
“I’m looking for a more elegant way to treat cancer- to make the immune system recognize cancer anywhere in the body, even if the doctor can’t see it.”
Zaharoff’s current research focuses on bladder cancer, which is diagnosed early when tumors are very small, but it has the highest recurrence rate and the highest cost to treat per patient of any cancer.
To prevent bladder cancer recurrence, “We have designed a novel immunotherapy based on the local delivery of an immune stimulating protein called interleukin-12 (IL-12) directly into the bladder. We formulate IL-12 with a thick polymer solution that allows the IL-12 to stay in the bladder for an extended period of time. IL-12 activates the immune cells to attack and destroy the bladder tumor,” according to Zaharoff’s website.
In the process, the immune system "learns" about the cancer to prevent it from coming back.
“We are currently working on improving our immunotherapy formulation; determining which immune cells are involved during tumor regression; and collaborating with our colleagues at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD to translate this immunotherapy into clinical trials.”
For a list of research publications, see http://comp.uark.edu/~zaharoff/Dr._Zaharoff.html.
Student Involvement
Zaharoff oversees the U of A chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society, a registered student organization that began in Fall 2009.
“In the group, they can partner with companies, community service, network with students in Arkansas and network nationwide.”
His advice for success as a biological and agricultural engineering student is to have a goal.
“Students seem afraid that their options are going to leave. They’re always saying that they’re keeping their options open,” he said.
Instead, he strongly advocates the choice of a direction, making it easier to succeed with a stronger focus.
To ensure the best possible job opportunities, students need to help themselves, to be strong advocates for themselves.
“You need valuable experience,” he said. “Get lab experience, the educational experience of extra-curricular activities…and to be job-ready, have work experience.
Zaharoff believes that potential employers are probably not aware that University of Arkansas has a biomedical engineering program, and especially are not aware of the quality of students it produces.
“It’s critical for our faculty and students to engage and educate the employer by aggressively seeking internships, co-ops and jobs,” he said.
“Employers have no clue about Arkansas biomedical engineering, so you need to show up on their doorstep to show them.”
When he’s not teaching or conducting research, Zaharoff spends time with his three children, all under the age of six.
“They’re everything to me,” he said. “They get first dibs on my time.”
How I got into engineering
Zaharoff started college as a saxophone performance major, but his parents required him to choose a second, more applicable major.
“They wouldn’t pay for college unless I chose a ‘real’ major, too. So I was a double major in music performance and engineering,” he said. “Turns out engineering is a lot easier.
Zaharoff began studying mechanical engineering before finding his focus during junior year of his undergraduate while applying to grad school. He decided to enter biomedical engineering and ruled out medical school.
He chose his educational path because he wanted to find solutions to human body malfunctions, so that treatment could be more affective.
“I wanted to enter biomedical engineering—what more complex machine is there to engineer than that? I wanted to design the ‘car’ in the first place, have the ultimate impact instead of placing a band-aid over it.”
Scientist Role Model
Zaharoff admires the work of thousands of engineers, physicians and other scientists, but has no central, guiding role model in his field.
“There is no one person I look up to because those who achieve success are solely focused.”
He finds the most successful people to be self-centered, and wanted his life to have personal success as well as professional success.
“You paint yourself in a corner if you choose” a role model, he said. “Take Einstein…he was brilliant, but could you imagine what it would be like to live with him? My respect for someone requires a balance of work and home life.”
University of Arkansas experience
Dr. Zaharoff came to the University of Arkansas following his training at the National Career Institute.
“I sent out many applications and found that Fayetteville was the best fit for me- for the research me, the teaching me, the family me,” he said.
His time as a teaching assistant at Duke University gave him a perspective of what sets University of Arkansas students apart.
“They’re not aggressive enough. I would like students to take more ownership in their future- set a path and be determined about it,” he said.
As a professor ready and willing to help students, he said he’d like to see more students take advantage of office hours.
“Any goal worth achieving, you have to be aggressive to find it. Michael Phelps didn’t get where he is without aggressively pursuing his goals.”
Research
“What I do can be seen as essentially vaccine delivery, something that we can control that response of the vaccine based on delivery.”
Zaharoff is searching for unique, improved solutions in the biomedical field. Instead of living in a world where cancer treatment is limited to surgery, chemo or radiation, he’s looking for something else.
“I’m looking for a more elegant way to treat cancer- to make the immune system recognize cancer anywhere in the body, even if the doctor can’t see it.”
Zaharoff’s current research focuses on bladder cancer, which is diagnosed early when tumors are very small, but it has the highest recurrence rate and the highest cost to treat per patient of any cancer.
To prevent bladder cancer recurrence, “We have designed a novel immunotherapy based on the local delivery of an immune stimulating protein called interleukin-12 (IL-12) directly into the bladder. We formulate IL-12 with a thick polymer solution that allows the IL-12 to stay in the bladder for an extended period of time. IL-12 activates the immune cells to attack and destroy the bladder tumor,” according to Zaharoff’s website.
In the process, the immune system "learns" about the cancer to prevent it from coming back.
“We are currently working on improving our immunotherapy formulation; determining which immune cells are involved during tumor regression; and collaborating with our colleagues at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD to translate this immunotherapy into clinical trials.”
For a list of research publications, see http://comp.uark.edu/~zaharoff/Dr._Zaharoff.html.
Student Involvement
Zaharoff oversees the U of A chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society, a registered student organization that began in Fall 2009.
“In the group, they can partner with companies, community service, network with students in Arkansas and network nationwide.”
His advice for success as a biological and agricultural engineering student is to have a goal.
“Students seem afraid that their options are going to leave. They’re always saying that they’re keeping their options open,” he said.
Instead, he strongly advocates the choice of a direction, making it easier to succeed with a stronger focus.
To ensure the best possible job opportunities, students need to help themselves, to be strong advocates for themselves.
“You need valuable experience,” he said. “Get lab experience, the educational experience of extra-curricular activities…and to be job-ready, have work experience.
Zaharoff believes that potential employers are probably not aware that University of Arkansas has a biomedical engineering program, and especially are not aware of the quality of students it produces.
“It’s critical for our faculty and students to engage and educate the employer by aggressively seeking internships, co-ops and jobs,” he said.
“Employers have no clue about Arkansas biomedical engineering, so you need to show up on their doorstep to show them.”
Meet the Professor: Dr. Scott Osborn
Dr. Scott Osborn, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2001. In addition to mentoring students, he works with three registered student organizations: the Biological Engineering Society, the Ecological Engineering Society, and the Biomedical Engineering Society.
When he’s not teaching or conducting research, Osborn drives his children to sports and music events. He also collects records, “mostly things I wish I could’ve bought as a teen.” He loves to travel, bicycle and his favorite movie is “This is Spinal Tap.”
“I didn’t always want to be the geek with the pocket-protector,” he said. “I was good at math and science, but I was also into creative writing and radio DJ.”
To find a direction for his college education, Osborn took several aptitude tests.
“They showed that I was a problem-solver and that I have got to work with people. Knowing that, engineering seems like a bad choice,” he said, but “an engineering job can have its extremes. You can talk to people all day long or sit in an office with the door closed and work alone.
“As an engineer, you’re involved in the real world. You’re out solving other people’s problems and if you prefer communication, it makes you a better engineer,” he said. “It’s a human activity.”
So far, the diverse possibilities of engineering education and research have suited his personality and lifestyle, though Osborn would say engineering suits a variety of lifestyles.
“There’s a whole range of things you could do as an engineer…you could find a cure for cancer or another way to building a (video) game,” Osborn said. “I wanted to work with living things.”
This passion lead to his interest in biological engineering.
Osborn’s research involves designing equipment to improve natural systems. He often works with Dr. Marty Matlock, an academic partnership that resulted in the innovative SDOX product and the BlueInGreen company.
“We’re big picture engineers. We encourage students to get out there and use what you know-that’s our bias,” Osborn said.
Scientist Role Model
Burl Shuler was Vice President of Technical Sales and Chief Engineer of Grain Systems Incorporated and became an inspiration to Osborn while they worked together.
“You learn the most from people who are different from you. His approach was totally opposite of mine, so I learned a lot from him,” Osborn said.
Shuler pushed Osborn to the realization that engineering solutions don’t require calculations and computer models, two extensively used skill-sets in college.
University of Arkansas Experience
Since teaching at the U of A, Osborn was impressed by a team made mostly of women engineers.
“One of our mechanical design teams built something to use for teaching middle school students…you can tell the (middle school) girls are so proud, and that they were really influenced that girls can do engineering.”
A distinctive feature of the University of Arkansas Biological Engineering Department is that students make their own prompts for design projects, so each project varies exponentially from group to group and year to year.
“Find a problem and fix it- it’s a chance to practice. The students almost always come up with projects better than what the (faculty) would come up with.”
The supersaturated dissolved oxygen injector (SDOX) is a technology that solved the need for oxygen restoration to water, which couldn’t be achieved by competing technologies.
SDOX is based on the concept that bacteria “eat” organic waste through the respiration process. Dissolved oxygen is required, whether that waste is oil or sewage.
“We found a way to more effectively add dissolved oxygen and do it cheaper.”
BlueInGreen, LLC began in 2004, to design, manufacture and market the SDOX technology. It led to the use of SDOX in several locations around the country: the Fayetteville wastewater treatment plant, U of A Technology Park pond, Hawaii, Seattle and in area lakes overloaded with nutrients and pollutants.
In the wake of the Gulf Shore Oil Spill, the National Science Foundation awarded a grant to BlueInGreen to use the SDOX for restoration of marshes and wetlands.
Osborn suggests that Biological and Agricultural Engineering students consume large amounts of information to fuel their success in engineering research and careers.
“You need a ton of info--the more, the better. Learn your strengths, weaknesses, and get involved with people on campus. Intern, study-abroad,” advising students to do it all, have the ultimate college experience.
A crucial learning technique, he said, is to meet the people that will be using your design: the experts in your field, the customers and competitors.
Additionally, he encourages students to dive in.
“Decisions now don’t define your career from the start—you’ll do many things in your life. If you can do one thing well, you can do lots of things well,” he said, encouraging students to take charge of their own education. “You are the only one who can limit yourself.”
Osborn enjoys being the one to help people learn, and his most valued aspect of teaching is watching students during their senior year. “My favorite part is when I see them make that connection of what they’ve learned, I love watching the lightbulb come on.”
When he’s not teaching or conducting research, Osborn drives his children to sports and music events. He also collects records, “mostly things I wish I could’ve bought as a teen.” He loves to travel, bicycle and his favorite movie is “This is Spinal Tap.”
“I didn’t always want to be the geek with the pocket-protector,” he said. “I was good at math and science, but I was also into creative writing and radio DJ.”
To find a direction for his college education, Osborn took several aptitude tests.
“They showed that I was a problem-solver and that I have got to work with people. Knowing that, engineering seems like a bad choice,” he said, but “an engineering job can have its extremes. You can talk to people all day long or sit in an office with the door closed and work alone.
“As an engineer, you’re involved in the real world. You’re out solving other people’s problems and if you prefer communication, it makes you a better engineer,” he said. “It’s a human activity.”
So far, the diverse possibilities of engineering education and research have suited his personality and lifestyle, though Osborn would say engineering suits a variety of lifestyles.
“There’s a whole range of things you could do as an engineer…you could find a cure for cancer or another way to building a (video) game,” Osborn said. “I wanted to work with living things.”
This passion lead to his interest in biological engineering.
Osborn’s research involves designing equipment to improve natural systems. He often works with Dr. Marty Matlock, an academic partnership that resulted in the innovative SDOX product and the BlueInGreen company.
“We’re big picture engineers. We encourage students to get out there and use what you know-that’s our bias,” Osborn said.
Scientist Role Model
Burl Shuler was Vice President of Technical Sales and Chief Engineer of Grain Systems Incorporated and became an inspiration to Osborn while they worked together.
“You learn the most from people who are different from you. His approach was totally opposite of mine, so I learned a lot from him,” Osborn said.
Shuler pushed Osborn to the realization that engineering solutions don’t require calculations and computer models, two extensively used skill-sets in college.
University of Arkansas Experience
Since teaching at the U of A, Osborn was impressed by a team made mostly of women engineers.
“One of our mechanical design teams built something to use for teaching middle school students…you can tell the (middle school) girls are so proud, and that they were really influenced that girls can do engineering.”
A distinctive feature of the University of Arkansas Biological Engineering Department is that students make their own prompts for design projects, so each project varies exponentially from group to group and year to year.
“Find a problem and fix it- it’s a chance to practice. The students almost always come up with projects better than what the (faculty) would come up with.”
The supersaturated dissolved oxygen injector (SDOX) is a technology that solved the need for oxygen restoration to water, which couldn’t be achieved by competing technologies.
SDOX is based on the concept that bacteria “eat” organic waste through the respiration process. Dissolved oxygen is required, whether that waste is oil or sewage.
“We found a way to more effectively add dissolved oxygen and do it cheaper.”
BlueInGreen, LLC began in 2004, to design, manufacture and market the SDOX technology. It led to the use of SDOX in several locations around the country: the Fayetteville wastewater treatment plant, U of A Technology Park pond, Hawaii, Seattle and in area lakes overloaded with nutrients and pollutants.
In the wake of the Gulf Shore Oil Spill, the National Science Foundation awarded a grant to BlueInGreen to use the SDOX for restoration of marshes and wetlands.
Osborn suggests that Biological and Agricultural Engineering students consume large amounts of information to fuel their success in engineering research and careers.
“You need a ton of info--the more, the better. Learn your strengths, weaknesses, and get involved with people on campus. Intern, study-abroad,” advising students to do it all, have the ultimate college experience.
A crucial learning technique, he said, is to meet the people that will be using your design: the experts in your field, the customers and competitors.
Additionally, he encourages students to dive in.
“Decisions now don’t define your career from the start—you’ll do many things in your life. If you can do one thing well, you can do lots of things well,” he said, encouraging students to take charge of their own education. “You are the only one who can limit yourself.”
Osborn enjoys being the one to help people learn, and his most valued aspect of teaching is watching students during their senior year. “My favorite part is when I see them make that connection of what they’ve learned, I love watching the lightbulb come on.”
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