News
Oral bezafibrate induces daily torpor and FGF21 in mice in a PPAR alpha dependent manner
by Lisa P. Chu, Steven J. Swoap
Lisa Chu ’10 just published a paper with Steve Swoap in the Journal of Thermal Biology. This manuscript was from her thesis work, for which she shared the David Bruce award for top undergraduate poster at the Experimental Biology meetings in 2010. Williams College, Department of Biology, published in Journal of Thermal Biology, Volume 37, Issue 4, July 2012, Pages 291–296
Thermoregulation: An Orphan Receptor Finds Its Way in the Cold
by Steven J. Swoap, Department of Biology, published in Current Biology, Volume 22, Issue 1, 10 January 2012, Pages R17–R18
Jan 22, 2012
Susan Loepp Wins National Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics
Celebrating Summer Research
Poster presentations highlight research findings and student-faculty collaborations.
Keck Geology Consortium Receives $261,000 Grant
posted June 29, 2011
The Keck Geology Consortium, a national alliance of 18 liberal arts colleges of which Williams College was the founding member, has received a grant of $261,000 to continue its support of intercollegiate collaborative research projects for geosciences undergraduates and faculty for the next year.
Williams and MIT Astronomers Observe Pluto and its Moons
posted June 28, 2011
A Williams College team of astronomers, headed by Bryce Babcock and Jay Pasachoff, have been in Hawaii, near Honolulu, to observe a rare double-double event about Pluto.
53 Seniors Inducted into Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
posted June 22, 2011
Fifty-three members of the Williams College Class of 2011 were awarded associate membership in Sigma Xi, the international scientific honor society, upon graduation in June.
Kevin Jones: Grant to Support Summer Students
posted May 6, 2011
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, through its Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program (NIST-SURF), has awarded Williams College a grant to support summer research by David Kealhofer and Christina Knapp, both current sophomores.
Rob Silversmith ’11, Seven Alumni Win National Science Research Fellowship
posted May 2, 2011
Rob Silversmith ’11 has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Williams Installs New Artwork by Jenny Holzer
posted April 11, 2011
This week, Williams will complete a public art installation by renowned artist Jenny Holzer.
Spotlight on Student Research

posted March 9, 2011
Antonio Lorenzo ’11 came to Williams serious about science.
Unplanned Lessons: A Fresh Eye

posted March 2, 2011
During a research trip to collect botanical data, one of Joan Edwards’ honors students spotted a “poof” in a field of forest flowers that opened up a whole new research avenue for the biology professor.
Unplanned Lessons: A Scientific Partnership

posted March 2, 2011
When professors encourage undergraduates to start “being scientists” earlyon, says physics professor Tiku Majumder, “we can approach more of a real scientific partnership.”
Astronomer Jay Pasachoff Awarded NSF Grant
posted February 24, 2011
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a three-year grant of $158,234 to Jay Pasachoff.
Tenure Awarded to Seven Faculty Members
posted January 14, 2011.
On the recommendation of the Committee on Appointments and Promotions, the Williams College Board of Trustees has promoted seven faculty to the position of associate professor with tenure, effective July 1, 2011. They are Edan Dekel, classics; Sarah Goh, chemistry; Sarah Hammerschlag, religion; Gage McWeeny, English; Bernard Rhie, English; Mihai Stoiciu, mathematics; and Tara Watson, economics.
Morgan McGuire: Wins Best Research Paper Award at ACM/Eurographics High Performance Graphics
posted January 7, 2011
Morgan McGuire’s paper on Ambient Occlusion Volumes wins best research paper award at ACM/EuroGraphics High Performance Graphics. Artists have long recognized the importance of soft shadowing effects for the perception of proximity and shape in 3D scenes. Ambient Occlusion is the technical term for this effect.
Frederick Strauch: Publishes Paper “Parallel State Transfer and Efficient Quantum Routing on Quantum Networks”
Posted January 3, 2011
Frederick Strauch, Assistant Professor of Physics, and Chris Chudzicki ’10 published a paper describing a new theoretical analysis of the routing of information in quantum networks.
Cesar Silva Awarded NSF Grant to Hold Oxtoby Centennial Conference
posted October 29, 2010
Cesar Silva, Hagey Family Professor of Mathematics and department chair at Williams College, was recently awarded a $36,525 grant from the National Science Foundation in support of the Oxtoby Centennial Conference. The project is under the direction of Silva, along with Leslie Chang and Paul Melvin of Bryn Mawr College.
Laurie Heatherington Honored for Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research
posted October 20, 2010.
Laurie Heatherington, the Edward Dorr Griffin Professor of Psychology at Williams College, was awarded the Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research Award along with collaborator Myrna Friedlander of the State University of New York at Albany.
NSF Awards Grant for Physics Professor Strauch’s Research
posted October 4, 2010
The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant to support the research of Frederick W. Strauch on “Control and Measurement of Coupled Mesoscopic Quantum Systems.”
Majumder Receives Grant from National Science Foundation
posted October 4, 2010
The National Science Foundation has announced the award of a three-year, $285,000 grant to Professor of Physics Protik Majumder.
Phi Beta Kappa Members Announced
posted September 29, 2010
Williams College announced 27 members of the Class of 2011 elected into Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society.
Kevin Jones: Publishes on Quantum Information Technology
posted July 1, 2010
Kevin Jones, McElfresh Professor of Physics, in collaboration with colleagues at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, published a paper describing a laboratory realization of a near-ideal amplifier for light and a study of its effects on the quantum mechanical state of a pair of light beams.
Steven Miller: Recognized by International Journal of Research
posted June 29, 2010
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Steven Miller won paper of the year award from the International Journal of Research in Marketing. The paper discusses applying linear programming to movie theatres.
James Carlton: Chair of Committee on Assessing Numeric Limits for Living Organisms in Ballast Water
posted June 10, 2010
James Carlton, professor of marine sciences and director of the Williams-Mystic Program, has been appointed to the National Research Council’s Committee on Assessing Numeric Limits for Living Organisms in Ballast Water.