Bioengineering Grants

National Academy of Engineering Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize

The Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize, established in October 1999, is named after Fritz Russ, an esteemed engineer and founder of Systems Research Laboratories, and his wife Dolores Russ, a long-time supporter and benefactor of the engineering industry.

The NAE established the prize at the request of Ohio University to honor the Russes for their dedication to education and the field of engineering. Fritz Russ graduated from Ohio University in 1942 with a B.S. in electrical engineering.

The Russ Prize recognizes an outstanding achievement in bioengineering that improves the human condition. This achievement should help the public better understand and appreciate the contributions of engineers to our health, well-being and quality of life. An auxiliary purpose of the Russ Prize is to encourage collaboration between the engineering and medical/biological professions to work closely together.

Awarded biennially (odd number years), the recipient receives a $500,000 cash award and a gold medallion. NAE members and non-members worldwide are eligible to receive the Russ Prize.

The Russ Prize will recognize achievements in bioengineering in its initial years.Examples of bioengineering include research, education, or product development in such areas as biomedical instrumentation, separation, and control systems; aerospace biomedical engineering; diagnostic technologies; applied genetic engineering; pharmaceutical processing; prosthetic technologies; biomolecular engineering; medical engineering; and applied physiological systems.

The Russ Prize is awarded for a specific achievement or for a series of achievements in bioengineering, and may be awarded to an individual or a group of individuals contributing to the same achievement(s). The Russ Prize is not awarded posthumously. Recipients of the Charles Stark Draper Prize are not eligible for the Russ Prize. NAE members and non-members world-wide are eligible to receive the Russ Prize.

Russ Prize Selection Criteria
The narrative description of the achievement that accompanies the nomination form and additional materials should provide qualitative and quantitative evidence that the following criteria are met:

* Demonstrated success in the number of people actually or potentially benefited by the innovation or achievement, and the extent of this benefit.

* Demonstrated novelty, originality, and fundamental character of the technical idea or concept underlying the innovation or achievement.

* Demonstration that the innovation or achievement has removed fundamental barriers or constraints to subsequent incremental improvement and refinement, or that it embodies wholly new scientific principles.

* Demonstrated richness of technical ramifications of the new concept or invention, and its applicability in many different areas of application far removed from each other.

* Demonstrated follow- through on the part of the originating individual or team. Excellence in design, execution and management of the innovation, and commercialization or “operationalization ” of a new idea should be demonstrated, in addition to the ingenuity and novelty of the original technical conception of “proof of principle.”

* Demonstrated economic impact, actual or potential, of the innovation or achievement. Economic impact would include gross revenues generated by a new product or process, cost savings made possible by a new process, reductions in environmental impact, or benefits to health and safety in the workplace or of consumers.

* The achievement nominated helps increase the public understanding of the contributions and achievements engineers make to improve the human condition.

* The award of the prize to the nominated achievement will provide encouragement for the engineering and medical/biological disciplines to more closely work together.

A nomination form must be completed and submitted during the NAE Call for Nominations period starting January 4, 2010 ending April 1, 2010.

NAE Awards
National Academy of Engineering
500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 1048
Washington, DC 20001

Fax
Attn: NAE Awards
(202) 334-2290

Mary F.D. Morse Graduate Fellowship - Call for Nominations

The Mary F.D. Morse Graduate Fellowship fund is intended 'to support graduate students in biosciences and bioengineering and help support research that will improve the quality of life for those suffering from disease and illness.'

A $2,000 prize will be awarded to a graduate student this year. Students should have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement and scholarly research, with clear dedication to research related to improved healthcare. Please submit the names of nominees and a copy of their cv to Ms. Lisa Blinn (lisblinn@rice.edu) no later than 4 PM on March 31, 2010.

Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, MS-144
Rice University
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Phone: 713-348-5961
Fax: 713-348-2196
Email: ibb@rice.edu

Research Experience for Undergraduates in Cellular Bioengineering

Announcing a new REU program in Cellular Bioengineering

Beginning in summer 2010, Rutgers will be the home to a new Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site program, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The program on Cellular Bioengineering -- From Biomaterials to Stem Cells builds upon the legacy established by the ISURF (IGERT Summer Undergraduate Research Program), which was established by Professor Prabhas Moghe as a pipeline activity of IGERT training programs, first in Engineered Biointerfaces (2003-2008) and subsequently in the Integrated Science and Engineering of Stem Cells.

The new REU program will be led by PI Charles Roth and co-PI Prabhas Moghe and will launch in the summer of 2010. With an intellectual focus in Cellular Bioengineering, this program will provide research opportunities that articulate with a range of cutting-edge, multidisciplinary areas, including stem cell engineering, systems and computational biology, cell-active biomaterials, and micro/nanoscale biosystems. The REU program will serve a diverse population of students to whom cutting-edge research experiences are not typically available and will help broaden the pipeline to graduate school for a wide range of students.

Eligibility
All participants must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Preference is given to students who have completed their junior year. Outstanding sophomores and first-years may be considered. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
Persons from groups traditionally under-represented in science and engineering professions are particularly encouraged to apply.

Follow its directions completely.
The following must ALL be submitted to form a complete application:
The completed application form
A resume
A transcript (unofficial OK)
Two letters of recommendation (sent by letter writers)

All applications and supporting materials must be received by March 12, 2010.
Review of applications and rolling admissions will commence January 2010
Early application is encouraged, as the program is highly competitive.
Students will be notified of their status by email.

Program Elements
Program runs from June 1 – August 6, 2010
Applications accepted through March 12, 2010
Cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research projects
Hands-on training: “Cellular Bioengineering Boot Camp”
Faculty and near-peer mentoring
Weekly workshops and networking
End-of-summer research symposium
Living and Research Environment

10 week paid research experience
Participants receive $4500 stipend plus travel expenses and on-campus housing if desired
State-of-the-art research facilities
Easy access to New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey shore and Poconos Mountains.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact:

Charles M. Roth, Ph.D.
Director, Rutgers-NSF REU on Cellular Bioengineering
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
599 Taylor Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854
email: cmroth@rutgers.edu

Phone: 732-445-4500 x6205

Research Experience for Undergraduate Students in Nanomaterials and Biomaterials

This NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program at the University of Memphis invites students at the sophomore, junior or senior level with backgrounds in physics, chemistry and engineering to participate in a 10-weeks summer program in the interdisciplinary fields of Nanomaterials and Biomaterials.

Successful applicants will receive stipends ($4,200), on-campus housing, and travel allowances (up to $500). Students may also receive travel funds to present their REU research at conferences during the 2010/2011 academic year.

This highly interdisciplinary program will provide cutting-edge research experience and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art experimental and computational equipments and techniques under the supervision of faculty from the Physics Department, Chemistry Department and Biomedical Engineering. The program will enrich students research experience with various activities, including professional development, visits to industrial development and research laboratories, and social networking.

We seek a diverse student population. Minority students, female students, economically disadvantaged students and first generation college students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duration
June 1-August 6, 2010

(Students are expected to arrive on May 31st and leave on August 6th or 7th, 2010.)

Eligibility
Prospective student must be:
* Sophomore, junior or senior
* Major in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or Biology
* GPA equal or higher than 3.0
* American citizen or legal immigrant (Green card holder)

Students from two-year and four-year community colleges are strongly ecouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Please direct you email communications to fsabri@memphis.edu

Program Coodinator

Prof. Firouzeh Sabri
Physics Dept.
The University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152
fsabri@memphis.edu
(901) 678-2126