Why Haverford Sciences are phenomenal: Part 12(?)

Colleges & Universities Haverford College
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<p>Assistant professor of astronomy and physics Beth Willman received $422,000 in NSF grants to support her path-breaking work on ultra-faint galaxies.</p>

<p>[Haverford</a> College News Room](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/30961/51]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/30961/51)</p>

<p>Haverford Receives $1 Million from National Science Foundation to Purchase New Instruments. The instruments, which include three different kinds of microscopes and a high-tech cell sorting system, will strengthen research capabilities for faculty and students in the biology and physics departments.</p>

<p>[Haverford</a> College News Room](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/31121/51]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/31121/51)</p>

<p>Kate Alfieri and Heather McMahon from the class of '10 were honored by the Protein Society for having the best undergraduate poster at the Society’s annual symposium.</p>

<p>[Haverford</a> College News Room](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/29911/9]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/29911/9)</p>

<p>William Phillips is a Group Leader at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Phillips won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 (together with Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and Steven Chu) for his contributions to laser cooling, a technique to slow the movement of gaseous atoms in order to better study them, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. </p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/101142]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/101142]Haverford</a> College: Calendar: Event Detail<a href=“example%20of%20a%20guest%20lecturer%20students%20get%20by%20going%20to%20a%20LAC%20not%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20nowhere”>/url</a></p>

22

<p>I’ve heard a lot about Haverford’s Biology and Chemistry programs, but how reputable is their computer science program. I know that the program has just been created recently, so I’m curious to hear more about it.</p>

23

<p>I posted something about computer science before but I can’t find the link at the moment. You have to remember that it is also complementary with BMC’s computer science program. If you check out their website, there’s additional info. The Bi-co computer science program won a $1 million award I think 1-2 years ago.</p>

<p>Also, from what I understand, computer science projects can be coordinated with research with faculty in bio, chem, physics, astronomy, psych, econ, ect… </p>

<hr>

<p>Assistant Professor of Chemistry Casey Londergan has received an AREA (Academic Research Enhancement Award) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences—the basic research arm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—for a project focusing on the structure and binding of proteins. The award provides Londergan with $202,355 for two years of work</p>

<p>[Haverford</a> College News Room](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/31561/51]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/31561/51)</p>

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<p>Another example of a superb guest speaker available to HC students because of its ideal location close to an urban center in the North East corridor. Double this given the speakers who visit BMC as well. Having individuals as these introduce new ideas and applications to students really enhances the academics students get in the classroom.</p>

<hr>

<p>“The HIV Lifecycle: From Discovery to Drug Development to Clinical Applications” Dr. Robert Doms
“The HIV Lifecycle: From Discovery to Drug Development to Clinical Applications” Dr. Robert Domshttp://<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/121232KINSC”>www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/121232KINSC</a> Hilles 109 2009-12-02T16:15:002009-12-02T18:00:00
December 2, 4:15PM
KINSC Hilles 109
Lecture by Dr. Robert Doms,M.D., Ph.D, and Chair, Department of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania , supported by KINSC.</p>

<p>For More Info
Fran Blase
<a href=“mailto:fblase@haverford.edu”>fblase@haverford.edu</a></p>

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<p>Churchill Scholar
[Haverford</a> College News Room : Martin Blood-Forsythe '10 is Named Churchill Scholar](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/35471/51]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/35471/51)</p>

<h2>[Winston</a> Churchill Foundation](<a href=“http://winstonchurchillfoundation.org/index.php?hide=1&section=Scholars&type=php]Winston”>http://winstonchurchillfoundation.org/index.php?hide=1&section=Scholars&type=php)</h2>

<p>Beginning of March… the very north east LACs are snowed in and shut in… this week, visiting lecturers at HC include a professor with an endowed chair from Princeton
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: Mapping Identity - Opening Lecture by Kwame Anthony Appiah](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/119172]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/119172)</p>

<p>A upenn neurologist
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: ?Are Better Brains Better? Cosmetic Neurology and the Ethics of Enhancement??](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/130332]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/130332)</p>

<p>A musical telling of Tales of the Heike on traditional Japanese instruments and lecture
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: “Musical Storytelling from Medieval Japan”](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/120892]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/120892)</p>

<p>and 2 lectures from recent alumni
geochemistry/ assistant professor Pomona
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: Iron Wars: A Ferrous Hope](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/105672]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/105672)</p>

<p>history/africana studies/ phd candidate Upenn
[Haverford</a> College: Calendar: “Becoming Free”: Black Churches, Black Freedom and Black Sexuality in Postemancipation Virginia](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/130471]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/130471)</p>

<p>education= (your own initiative)^3 + (the physical plant + fulltime professors on campus + classmates + staff) + off campus experiences + resources that a college can bring onto campus</p>

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<p>Some personal experience… My D is a soph at HC and a physics major. She absolutely loves it. She also plays a varsity sport, has some significant volunteer responsibilities and works two campus jobs (she’s really busy). For her that’s great. Regarding the program, we discovered that the HC physics program packs so much “grad school” level instruction into four years, that there are very few “junior year abroad” options that will allow her to keep up with her major. The only realistic one discussed was Oxford, but they required a full year, and she would miss her junior sports season so she will stay in Philly. She also had the opportunity to get right into a summer research internship after Freshman year which continues this summer. While we miss her, we know she’ll come out of HC extremely well prepared for grad school options. I have heard similar comments from parents of other science majors. Our science-minded son (17) has HC on the top of his list (which includes also Swarthmore and Hamilton). So far his grades and SATs put him solidly in the top half of the current freshman class, so we may have two Fords in the family. I was in a conversation with Steve Emerson (President) last Fall who was reeling off the list of last year’s graduates now in top PhD programs at schools like the Ivies, MIT, Stanford, etc. Needless to say, we’re fans! The cost has crept up and the student population is small but the overall experience can be tremendous for the right kid.</p>

27

<p>My oldest son is waiting for the RD announcement. Anyone have experience with the mailing date from Haverford?</p>

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<p>[UCSF:</a> Synapse: Current Issue](<a href=“http://synapse.ucsf.edu/articles/2010/May/6/grant.html]UCSF:”>http://synapse.ucsf.edu/articles/2010/May/6/grant.html)</p>

<p>UCSF Grad Student Wins Big Grant
By Sachi Jain
Staff Writer</p>

<p>Melanie H. Smith, a UCSF MD/PhD student in the Biophysics Graduate Program, is one of fifteen recipients of the prestigious Hertz Foundation Award this year. Valued at over $250,000, the fellowship is the nation’s most generous award for young leaders and innovators pursuing graduate studies in the fields of applied science and engineering. </p>

<p>Melanie has finished her first two years of medical school and is currently in her first year of the Biophysics PhD program, conducting research in the Weissman lab at Mission Bay. Synapse talked with Melanie about her scientific background, the rigorous application process for the Hertz Fellowship, and advice she has for students applying for awards.</p>

<p>When did you first become interested in science?
I had an amazing biology teacher in high school. He was a very animated person, and he had a wealth of knowledge. Two friends and I TA’d for him, and one time we somehow convinced him to buy us a gel electrophoresis kit to run experiments. He would also bring in animals for us to dissect, some of which I’m sure were roadkill. </p>

<p>What kind of research experience did you have prior to winning the Hertz Fellowship?
I went into my undergraduate program at Haverford College thinking that I would study biology, since the school is known for its molecular biology department. But after taking more chemistry classes, I became interested in biochemistry – specifically, protein chemistry – and started a protein aggregation project. Towards my senior year, I realized that many of the scientific questions I wanted to answer were better tackled through biophysics rather than molecular biology. After college, I followed my interest in biophysics with a year-long research project using protein NMR in Sweden, funded by a Fullbright scholarship…</p>

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<p>The information at [Post</a> #4](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5017552-post4.html]Post”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5017552-post4.html) in this thread contains what I regard as among the most important information you don’t get from colleges or college guide books. Thank you, b@r!um!</p>

<p>Now if only I could find all of this as easily for other colleges and universities…!</p>

30

<p>[Haverford</a> College News Room : Strengthening Science](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/42591/51]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/42591/51)</p>

<p>Strengthening Science</p>

<p>Students and faculty are enhancing their research with new, high-tech instruments purchased courtesy of a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.</p>

<p>In the fall of 2009, Haverford’s departments of biology and physics were awarded an exceptional $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to purchase four high-tech imaging instruments. One year later, all of the instruments have arrived on campus, and students and faculty are reaping the benefits of enhanced capabilities for their teaching and research programs. </p>

<p>First to arrive in October of ’09 was the fluorescence-activated cell sorting system (FACS), which can analyze various features of individual cells and then sort or extract cells with specific characteristics. Last year, students in the junior “Superlab” used the FACS in an experiment designed by post-doctoral fellow and instructor Bob Daber. While examining the evolution of a sugar binding site in a bacterial system, the FACS allowed students to sort bacteria that glow green when related sugars activated a certain gene. </p>

<p>Haverford seniors have taken charge of operating the FACS, says Professor of Biology Jenni Punt. “I believe they are the only undergraduates in the country to run such a machine,” she says. </p>

<p>Also arriving on campus last semester was a confocal microscope. Unlike a regular microscope, which can focus on the forefront of an image while leaving the background blurry, the confocal microscope slices layers from three-dimensional objects like cells, tissues and organisms and brings those layers into sharp focus. Professor of Biology Phil Meneely’s students have used the microscope to study specific changes in chromosomes during meiosis, a process in which the number of chromosomes per cell is cut in half. </p>

<p>“The students have been 100 percent responsible for this instrument,” says Meneely. “They trained themselves on it and have even written a users’ manual.” </p>

<p>A scanning electron microscope, which arrived in March, is used in labs overseen by Assistant Professor of Biology Rachel Hoang and Professor of Physics Walter Smith. The instrument provides Hoang’s students with detailed views of the surface structures of cells, which has contributed to their research on the evolution of genetic pathways. Students in Hoang’s lab have also used a College “Teaching with Technology Grant” to develop lab manuals, video instruction segments and an integrated website for all of the instruments. </p>

<p>The final instrument to arrive was the transmission electron microscope. It offers molecular-level detail of atoms, proteins, and cells. “It’s wonderful to be able to walk through a cell as you’re sitting at the microscope,” says Karl Johnson, Professor of Biology and department chair. Johnson co-authored the original NSF grant proposal with Hoang, Punt, Smith, and Professor of Biology Rob Fairman. </p>

<p>Haverford has also hired an instrument specialist, George Neusch, who will help maintain the equipment as well as train and serve as a resource for students. This position was funded through support from alumni and private foundations. </p>

<p>-Brenna McBride</p>

31

<p>In the most recent HC alumni magazine, I saw the following and think it’s pretty rad…</p>

<p>“Per capita, the college is tied with Harvard and Stanford for the number of M.D.-Ph.D. and D.V.M.-PhD students it trains- the highest ratio in the country.” This was based on a finding in a book, “The Vanishing Physician Scientist?” [THE</a> VANISHING PHYSICIAN-SCIENTIST?](<a href=“http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/cup_detail.taf?ti_id=5493]THE”>http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/cup_detail.taf?ti_id=5493)</p>

<p>Alumnus William Harris MD '49, former head of orthopedics at Mass General, authored a paper in 1969 that based on a citation review is the the #1 cited paper in the field of orthopedics. [The</a> 100 classic papers of orthopaedic surgery: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS – Kelly et al. 92-B (10): 1338 – Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume](<a href=“http://web.jbjs.org.uk/cgi/content/abstract/92-B/10/1338]The”>http://web.jbjs.org.uk/cgi/content/abstract/92-B/10/1338)</p>

32

<p>[Samuel</a> Rodriques ?13 Named Hertz Fellow - Haverford College News](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/70331/51]Samuel”>Samuel Rodriques '13 Named Hertz Fellow | Haverford College)</p>

<p>Another Hertz and Churchill Scholar.</p>

33

<p>Let’s not forget Haverford’s student athlete/scientists:</p>

<p>[Haverford</a> Athletics : Kissin earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.haverfordathletics.com/sports/mxc/2012-13/releases/20130308vx3ohy]Haverford”>Kissin earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship - Haverford Athletics)
[Haverford</a> Athletics : Buikema honored with Ambler Award](<a href=“http://www.haverfordathletics.com/genrel/ambler_2013]Haverford”>Buikema honored with Ambler Award - Haverford Athletics)
just two to start…</p>

34

<p>[UVA</a> Astronomer Wins Major Prize in Astronomy | WVTF](<a href=“http://wvtf.org/post/uva-astronomer-wins-major-prize-astronomy]UVA”>UVA Astronomer Wins Major Prize in Astronomy | WVTF)</p>

<p>“A University of Virginia professor has won the Asian equivalent* to the Nobel Prize for his research on energy, magnetism and black holes. The news came by e-mail, and John Hawley is still buzzing.” </p>

<p>At Haverford College, he got interested in the question of what happens to matter as it approaches black holes – objects with a gravitational field so strong that light cannot escape. “When matter falls into a black hole, it gains speed, it gains energy, and basically the in fall speeds are greater than the speed of light, so if you have a way of tapping into that energy, other than just having it fall into the black hole, then you have an enormous source of energy which could be radiated. In the early 90’s, he and former UVA Professor Steven Balbus made an important discovery about the role of magnetism in the process. Their work was published, and the two moved on, but last week Hawley got a surprise. “There was an e-mail from somebody I knew in Germany that said, ‘Congratulations,’ and I said, ‘What’s that for?’ And then I saw an e-mail from my colleague Steve Balbus, and it said, ‘See you in Hong Kong,’ and then I showed I to my wife , and she said something to the effect that they must have the wrong John Hawley," he said. Later, he heard from the sponsors of a prestigious award called the Shaw Prize, set up by Hong Kong billionaire and media mogul Runrun Shaw. Hawley will split a million dollars with Balbus, who is now at Oxford."</p>

<p>*Since when is the Nobel Prize geographic or racial? :rolleyes:</p>

35

<p>[Stephen</a> Lippard Named Priestley Medalist | June 10, 2013 Issue - Vol. 91 Issue 23 | Chemical & Engineering News](<a href=“http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i23/Stephen-Lippard-Named-Priestley-Medalist.html]Stephen”>http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i23/Stephen-Lippard-Named-Priestley-Medalist.html)</p>

<p>Stephen J. Lippard, the Arthur Amos Noyes Professor of Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will receive the 2014 Priestley Medal, the American Chemical Society’s most prestigious honor. Lippard, 72, is being recognized “for mentoring legions of scientists in the course of furthering the basic science of inorganic chemistry and paving the way for improvements in human health,” according to the society.</p>

<p>A native of Pittsburgh, Lippard was a premed student focusing on English literature at Haverford College before his fascination with chemistry led him to choose it as his major.</p>