Newsletter

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Site Visit Underscores Successes

• Travel Grant Program:
Long-Term Exchanges

• A Few Moments With...
Rad Roberts

• Thank you, Mike Bruck

• GEM-STC Partnership

• Travel Report:
Michael Halter

• Save the Date

• Industrial Affiliate Program

CMDITR Site Visit Underscores Successes

by Glen Shen

On May 23rd and 24th CMDITR cleared a major hurdle in the life of our Center. This year's NSF Site Visit was significant as the results feed directly into the review process for Phase 2 (2007-2012) renewal. We are pleased to report that this year's event was marked by positive dialogues with the 8-person Review Panel and NSF Program Managers. The Site Visit Team's report (available in our Document Archive) was laudatory in its assessment of the Center's research, technology transfer, and education and diversity enhancement efforts:

"The Site Visit Team is very impressed with this STC. The bottom line is that the STC works very well as a Center where it has developed a unique style of combining materials development with applications research. The electro-optic materials developed by the STC are unique and have properties that far surpass any other organic polymeric materials to date. Many exciting and important device applications are being explored. The STC has demonstrated a highly commendable program for enhancing diversity both within its programs and outside of its programs. The enthusiasm of students and faculty toward both the scientific program and the STC itself is highly evident."

Site Visit Team suggestions included: 1) to detail the Center's end-to-end research integration strategies in order to solidify links to specific technological applications; and 2) greater focus on the "signature course" development as an innovative Center-wide effort. CMDITR has earned a reputation for acting on Site Visit recommendations and these will certainly be taken to heart by the Management Team.

We extend our thanks to Drs. Advincula, Arias, Burland, Crawford, Dodabalapur, Redwing, Szleifer, and Yardley for their praise and constructive criticism. Our appreciation is also extended to Verne Hess and Dragana Brzakovic for their guidance and sponsorship as NSF Program Managers these past four years. Thanks also to Drs. Aizenman and Pitts of NSF for their participation in this year's review.

Travel Grant Program Now Funds Long Term Exchanges

The CMDITR Travel Grant Program was established in 2004 to encourage Center students and postdocs to take advantage of research and education opportunities across all partner campuses. So far, approximately 20 online applications have been approved for short term (1-week or less) visits.

At the suggestion of the GPAC, we have now expanded this program to facilitate longer-term exchanges between partner universities. The goal is to foster in-depth research and collaboration, and enable students to develop an intimate feel for life at another institution and forge lasting bonds with peer research groups.

The expanded Travel Grant Program is explained in greater depth in our Members-Only website. The brief online application is largely unchanged, but be sure to indicate which award you are seeking, and please apply at least one month in advance of your visit. Long-term awards are good for up to $3,000, but require a one-to-one monetary match from the student's advisor. Year-5 funds are finite, so if you are planning a visit after August 1, consider filing your application early!