BRONFMAN SCIENCE CENTER PROGRAMS

Serving as the home of the Computer Science, Mathematics, and Psychology departments, as well as providing offices and research laboratories for faculty representing all the other science departments, Bronfman Science Center fosters interdisciplinary interaction among all members of the Science Division. This interaction is facilitated through the sharing of core research equipment and services; through interdepartmental programs; and, to a great extent, by the spatial juxtaposition of faculty with common interests regardless of their departmental affiliation. Several Science Center activities promote this further by specifically encouraging discourse among scientists at Williams. This is carried out in many ways, including informal faculty presentations at Tuesday lunches (both during the summer and academic year), the maintenance of a weekly science calendar, the publication of the Report of Science at Williams, and the faculty lectures sponsored each semester by the local Sigma Xi chapter.

The programs based in the Bronfman Science Center lie at the heart of the Science Division. It is here that we carry out such vital functions as the coordination of grant proposals to federal agencies and private foundations, the distribution of more than $200,000 of research funds annually, and the allocation of space within the science division. In 1999-2000, individual Williams College science faculty received over $1,000,000 from active federal grants for the purchase of equipment and support of student-faculty research projects. The faculty and student research projects and summer research opportunities supported by internal divisional funds, as well as those supported by external grants, are detailed below and in the various departmental reports.

Summer Student Research Participation

Summer Research Fellowships were awarded to 137 at Williams in 2000. Many of the summer research students are entering their senior year and beginning work that will lead to senior honors research. A large number of research fellowships were awarded to rising sophomores and juniors who were getting their first taste of independent research. The summer research program also included students from outside Williams. Students from a variety of other institutions were sponsored NSF/REU site grants to the math and physics departments and worked with Williams College math and physics faculty members. As participants in a chemistry department exchange program, two students from the University of Leiden worked with chemistry professors at Williams while two Williams chemistry majors worked with professors at the University of Leiden.

The summer is a relaxed, yet concentrated time for research, without the competition of course work to interrupt collaborative efforts between students and faculty. In addition to the actual research experience, Bronfman Science Center sponsors a weekly Tuesday luncheon featuring a member of the faculty lecturing on current research, an annual science division picnic, and a poster session at the end of the summer where summer research students present their results.

Support for summer research, a $3300 stipend for 10 weeks plus housing, came from a variety of sources including College funds, external grants to individual faculty, foundation grants, and endowed fellowships provided by generous donations from alumni and friends of the sciences. The Wege-Markgraf endowment, gifts from Peter Wege and the Class of 1952 in honor of Hodge Markgraf ’52, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, supports summer research fellowships in chemistry. The Betty and Lewis Somers ’48 Student Summer Internships Fund supports summer research fellowships in physics. The Williams Bicentennial Psychology Scholarship Fund supports summer research fellowships in psychology. The Whitehead Scholarship Fund, a gift from John Whitehead ’76, to provide an opportunity for Williams students and faculty to interact with scientists at the prestigious Whitehead Institute, supports summer research fellowships for Williams biology students to spend the summer doing research at the Whitehead Institute. The Arnold Bernhard Foundation Endowed Summer Science Fellows Program, made possible by the generosity of Jean Buttner, Williams Trustee from 1982-1997, supports summer research fellowships across the division.

Full or partial federal, foundation and alumni support for summer student stipends was provided by the following sources:


Source of Funding Students
College funds*
40
NSF and NIH research grants to individual faculty
15
Howard Hughes Medical Institute*
32
Essel Foundation
15
NSF/REU
9
Wege/Markgraf Fellowships
4
Merck
4
Research Corp
3
Keck Foundation (Geology)
4
Keck Foundation ( Astronomy)
2
Beckman Grant
2
Space Grant
2
POWRE
2
Dreyfus
2
Pfizer
2
NSF/RUI
2
Premeasurement Physics Grant
2
PRF
1
Somers Fellowship
1
Synnot Physics Fellowship
1
Sperry
1
* Note: some students are supported by multiple grants.


2000 Summer Science Students and Their Faculty Advisors

Astronomy

Gabriel Brammer
K Kwitter
Sun Mi Chung
K. Kwitter
Misa Cowee
J. Pasachoff
David M. Gioiello
J. Pasachoff
Cheng Hu
J. Pasachoff
Joel Iams
S. Martin
Jason Otenson
J. Pasachoff
Joey Shapiro
M. Demianski
Daniel Seaton
J. Pasachoff
Biology

Robert Adamo
S. Zottoli
Kate Alexander
J. Edwards
Benjamin Angarita
S. Zottoli
Alana Belfield
S. Swoap
Alan Brelsford
H. Art
Gildade Boursiquot
D. Lynch
Margaret Cooley
J. Edwards
Erin Davies
N. Roseman
Joshua Easter
S. Zottoli
Sara Grote
E. Adler
Kelly Grogan
S. Zottoli
Kathryn Hibbert
N. Roseman
Nicholas Hiza
S. Zottoli
Kelly Ishizuka
S. Swoap
Maya Kapoor
J. Carlton
Ueda Ken-ichi
H. Art
Yeowon Kim
N. Roseman
Elizabeth Lo
W. Raymond
Duncan Meiklejohn
R. Savage
Timothy Menza
N. Roseman
Caren Mintz
J. Carlton
K. Mutyambizi
S. Zottoli
Jennifer Nierman
S. Zottoli
Christine Palmer
J. Edwards
Jonathan Peterson
S. Zottoli
E. Peacock-Villada
S. Zottoli
Meghan Vrabel
S. Zottoli
Joel Schmid
S. Swoap
Vivian Schoung
H. Art
Katherine Schorling
D. Lynch
Rebecca Semble
E. Adler
Leah Sharpe
E. Adler
Natalie Stephens
S. Zottoli
Liana Thompson
W. Raymond
Zuzana Tothova
W. Raymond
Cortni Tyson
S. Zottoli
Aimee Vasse
S. Zottoli
Andrew Werbrock
R. Savage
Matthew Wessler
D. C. Smith
Brooke Wright
D. Lynch
Chemistry

Carolyn Adams
J. Thoman
Laura Almstead
D. Weiss
James Apgau
Thoman/Weiss
Jessica Bauman
Lovett/Raymond
Peta-Gaye Burnett
C. Lovett
Katherine Belecki
T. Smith
Jaren Chachu
C. Lovett
Daniel Clayburgh
J. Chihade
Maria Drinane
L. Park
Renee Dumouchel
C. Lovett
Erica Dwyer
C. Lovett
Shakierah Fuller
C. Lovett
Biniam Gebre
C. Lovett
Benjamin Guidi
D. Weiss
Sarah Hart
Richardson/Art
Ryan Hayman
D. Richardson
Tracey Jackson
D. Richardson
Cindy Kaltner
J. H. Markgraf
Samantha Kim
J. Chihade
Leah King
C. Lovett
Susan Levin
Chihade/Raymond
Gerald Lindo
M. Schofield
Bevan Londergan
B. Koehler
Valerie Lothian
A. Skinner
Matthew Luedke
Richardson/Lynch
Marsha Lynch
L. Park
Kendrid Mays
A. Skinner
Daisy Pierce
C. Lovett
Elizabeth Roller
M. Schofield
Jay Slowik
B. Koehler
Mithandra Stockley
C. Lovett
Sophie van Alphen
T. Smith
Alan Velander
T. Smith
Lindi von Mutius
C. Lovett
Mark Walrod
L. Park
Peter Webb
J. H. Markgraf
Kamille Williams
M. Schofield
Computer Science

Carlett Malcom
B. Lerner
Douglas Thunen
W. Lenhart
Geosciences

Stephen DeOreo
R. Cox
William Ouimet
Dethier/Wobus
Mathematics

Sami Assaf
T. Garrity
Amie Bowles
T. Garrity
Li-Chung Chen
T. Garrity
Andrew Cotton
T. Garrity
Lukasz Fidkowski
T. Garrity
Amanda Folsom
T. Garrity
David Freeman
T. Garrity
Carmen Lefever
T. Garrity
Amy Marinello
T. Garrity
Alexander Pekker
T. Garrity
Julia Snyder
T. Garrity
James Tripp
T. Garrity
Physics

Daniel Bissex
S. Bolton
Camille Burnett
S. Bolton
Kenneth Dennison
W. Wootters
S. Charles Doret
P. Majumder
Paul Friedberg
P. Majumder
Rachel Horwitz
D. Aalberts
Duane Lee
W. Wootters
John Parman
D. Aalberts
Sarah Reynolds
S. Bolton
Andrew Speck
P. Majumder
Hans Stabenau
D. Aalberts
Psychology

Gail Anderson
P. Cramer
Ivelina Borisova
S. Fein
O’Neil Campbell
S. Fein
Audrey Chen
B. Zimmerberg
Adam Colestock
P. Solomon
K. Hadley Cornell
M. Sandstrom
Sandra DiPillo
N. Sandstrom
Anne Dwyer
N. Sandstrom
Abby Eisenhower
L. Park
Matthew Gunther
P. Solomon
Daniel Klasik
M. Schofield
Andrea Lee
N. Sandstrom
Alice Li
S. Engel
Valerie Lothian
L. Heatherington
Karen McCloskey
L. Heatherington
Alexander McWhorter
S Fein
David Mihm
T. Ben-Zeev
Dana Lea Nelson
K. Savitsky
Liliana Rodriquez
G. Goethals
Abigail Rosenthal
B. Zimmerberg
Grace Rubenstein
L. Heatherington
Aleksandra Stark
B. Zimmerberg
Nicole Stephens
K. Savitsky
Lida Ungar
G. Goethals


Summer Research Colloquia 2000

A luncheon is provided every Tuesday for participants in the summer science program. Faculty members from the science departments give talks on their research at these lunches, with opportunity for discussion afterwards. The speakers this summer were:


Professor Anne Skinner, Dept. of Chemistry, Williams College

“The EPA is Coming – Be Safe or Be Very Sorry”

Professor Ronadh Cox, Dept. of Geology, Williams College

“A Tale of Times Past: Beachfront Property in Central Arizona, Just 1.7 Billion Years Ago”

Professor Protik Majumder, Dept. of Physics, Williams College

“Diode Lasers, Thallium, and the Next Decimal Place”

Professor Lee Park, Dept. of Chemistry, Williams College

“Designing Molecular Wires”

Professor Jay M. Pasachoff, Dept. of Astronomy, Williams College

“Solar Eclipses”

Professor Frank Morgan, Dept. of Mathematics, Williams College

“Double Bubbles”

Professor Noah Sandstrom, Dept. of Psychology, Williams College

“Hormones and the Brain: Where Did I Put That Estrogen?”

Professor Elizabeth Adler, Dept. of Biology, Williams College

“Can a Cold Remedy Affect Anorexia and Epilepsy? Zinc and Neuropeptide Y”

Academic Year “Bag Lunch” Colloquia

During the academic year, the science faculty meets for lunch on Tuesdays in the Mathematics Library to discuss matters of interest to the sciences as a whole, and to hear informal reports on faculty research and other science developments. The following talks or discussions were held during 1999-2000.


Professor Markes E. Johnson, Dept. of Geology, Williams College

“Ancient Shorelines of Inner Mongolia,” (Results of Summer 1999 Field Project

Professor Robert Savage, Dept. of Biology, Williams College

“Leeches and You: Evolutionary Insights from a Maligned Creature”

Professor Susan Engel, Dept. of Psychology, Williams College

“Five Ways to Look at a Narrative: How to Analyze the Stories People Tell”

Professor Steve Swoap, Dept. of Biology, Williams College

“Stop Eating that Cookie, It’s Affecting Your Blood Pressure”

Professor Stewart Johnson, Dept. of Mathematics Williams College

“Some Mathematical Techniques in Cancer Chemotherapy”

Professor Colin Adams, Dept. of Mathematics, Williams College

“Molecular Rigidity”

Professor Thomas Smith, Dept. of Chemistry, Williams College

“Toward the Ideal Chemical Synthesis”

Professor Joseph Chihade, Dept. of Chemistry, Williams College

“How a Chemist Thinks About Evolution”

Professor Charles M. Lovett, Dept. of Chemistry, Williams College

“Genome to Gene Arrays: Biotechnology at Williams”

Professor Betty Zimmerberg, Dept. of Psychology, Williams College

“Multimedia Neuroscience Education Project” (Interim Report on a NSF DUE Grant)

Professor Sarah Bolton, Dept. of Physics, Williams College

“Squeezing Semiconductors”

Professor Talia Ben-Zeev, Dept. of Psychology, Williams College

“Implementation of Hamming Codes, or How to Win the Office Pool”

Professor Cesar Silva, Dept. of Mathematics, Williams College

“Exploring the Mandelbrot Set”

Professor Paul Karabinos, Dept. of Geosciences, Williams College

“Winter Study and How It Affects Division III and Psychology”

Professor John J. Thoman, Dept. of Chemistry, Williams College

“Water, Water Everywhere ......”

Professor Steven Zottoli, Dept. of Biology, Williams College

“HHMI Funding”

Professor Jerome Reiter, Dept. of Mathematics, Williams College

“Statistics and Causality”

Professor Frank Morgan, Dept. of Mathematics, Williams College

“Rumors of Proofs of the Double Bubble Conjecture”
Pre-First Year Summer Science Program
In its fourteenth summer in 2000, the Summer Science Program (SSP) provides an enriching and intensive five-week immersion in science, mathematics, and English for a talented group of science-oriented Williams pre-first year minority students. The goal of the Program is to promote and encourage continuing participation in science and science related studies by members of minorities that have historically been under represented in the sciences.

Seventeen students took classes in chemistry (including a major laboratory component), biology, mathematics and English (literature and expository writing). Although not replicas of Williams’ academic year offerings, the Summer Science Program classes are taught at a college level, thus introducing participants to the rigors and demands of college academics. In addition to the regular classes, the students participated in geology laboratory and field experiments. They also engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities, including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, a weekend trip to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a day trip to Six Flags over New England.

Enthusiasm for the Program has been high. Participants have taken full advantage of the opportunity to study at Williams in the summer. Their academic year experiences have, as a result of the Program, been successful and many of the students have continued their studies in science or mathematics. A significant number of former participants have returned to campus in the summertime as summer research students in science and mathematics, have become tutors for the Summer Science Program, or have secured positions elsewhere in science research institutes.

Professor Charles M. Lovett, Director of the Summer Science Program, taught the chemistry lectures and Professor David P. Richardson conducted the laboratory sessions. Professors Olga R. Beaver and Cesar Silva taught the mathematics component. Professors Nancy Roseman and Daniel Lynch taught the biology lectures. Professor Grant Farrad taught the English sessions and Professor David Dethier conducted the geology-in-the-field laboratory. Dr. Michael Payne led the students in discussions of goals, data management, and approaches to college life. The tutors for the Program in 2000 were Leah King ’03, Gerald Lindo ’03, and Kamille Williams ’03.

The Summer Science Program has been funded primarily by Williams College as part of the institution’s commitment to encourage the participation of women and minorities in the sciences. Since 1991, SSP has received additional funding from a biological sciences award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This grant contributed support for several SSP components, and has provided summer research stipends for SSP students after their first year at Williams. Special thanks go to the many science faculty and students of Williams College who, during the summer as well as during the academic year, have contributed to the success of the Program and of its participants.

Pre-First Year Program Participants

Students (’04)
Tutors
Faculty
Michelle Allen
Leah King
Charles M. Lovett, Director
Georgina L. Calderon
Gerald Lindo
Olga R. Beaver
Jonathan Cartagena
Kamille Williams
Grant Farrad
Jenica A. Chambers

Daniel Lynch
Sonia A Collymore

David Richardson
Jude A. Dumfeh

Nancy Roseman
April N. Figueroa

Cesar Silva
Victoria Fletcher-Smith

David Dethier
Kali K. Gairy

Dr. Michael Payne
Brett S. Hammond


Estelita Nimoh-Boateng


Chigozirim P. Nwankpa


Arthur C. Okwesili


Sasha Shekhar


Christina S. Villegas


Marina Vivero


Thomas G. Williams



Williams College Sigma Xi Chapter

The Williams College Sigma Xi Chapter has played an active role on the Williams Campus since it was founded as the Sigma Xi Club in 1969. Sigma Xi is a national society honoring and encouraging research in science. At Williams, it also sponsors outreach programs designed to stimulate interest in science among grade school, junior high and high school students. The officers for 1999-2000 were Professor Jay M. Pasachoff of the Astronomy Department, President, and Professor Protik Majumder of the Physics Department, Secretary/Treasurer.

During the 1999-2000 academic year, our chapter sponsored two events. In the fall, Professor Steven Swoap of the Biology Department gave two lectures entitled “Muscle Adaptation: From Bench Press to Lab Press” and “IIB or Not IIB: The Generation of Fast Twitch Muscles”. The first talk provided an overview of the adaptations of muscle in response to altered physiological environments and their function consequences. The second talk addressed the molecular mechanisms that are involved with the differential expression of this “fast” gene in the adult mammal. In the spring, Professor Phebe Cramer of the Psychology Department who works in developmental, identity and clinical psychology gave two lectures entitled “Predicting the Self: The Three Monkeys Revisited” and “The Road to Identity”. The first lecture focused on cognitive operations, known as defense mechanisms, that people use everyday to maintain self-esteem and protect themselves from excessive anxiety. The second lecture discussed the different pathways that adolescents follow to reach a sense of identity, what happens when identity is threatened and how this relates to the use of defense mechanisms, and how the different stages of identity are related to different personality characteristics as function of gender.

The Sigma Xi Club sponsored a High School Science Award for a student at Mount Greylock Regional High School, Williamstown, MA, in recognition of his/her high level of motivation and accomplishment in his/her science courses. This year the award was given to Elizabeth Peacock-Villada.

One of the primary purposes of Sigma Xi is to recognize graduating science students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and promise for further contributions to the advancement of scientific research. These students are elected as Associate Members of Sigma Xi and are then inducted into the Society at a ceremony during Class Day on Commencement Weekend. On Saturday morning, the Chapter honored 45 newly elected Associate Members from the Class of 2000 in a ceremony in the Bronfman Auditorium. A detailed description of the research projects of these students is presented later in this Report.


Associate Sigma Xi members from the Class of 2000

Astrophysics

Rebecca Cover
J. M. Pasachoff
Sara Kate May
J. M. Pasachoff
Kevin D. Russell
J. M. Pasachoff
Biology

Lauren B. Buckley
J. Edwards
Patrick M. Burton
S. Swoap
Erin L. Davies
N. Roseman
Joshua H. Goldstein
J. McKenna
Jason M. Langheier
S. Zottoli
Randall L. Lindquist
S. Swoap
Charles N. Munyon
H. Williams
Jillian A. Pepsin
D. Lynch
Aya E. Reiss
H. Art
Jeffrey D. Roizen
N. Roseman
David J. Seward
S. Swoap
Emily L. Simpson
H. Art
Lauren m. Singer
N. Roseman
Andrew H. Werbrock
R. Savage
Chemistry

Karelle S. Aiken
D. Richardson
Biniam T. Gebre
C. M. Lovett
Michael D. Hurwitz
J. Chihade
Veena Mandava
C. M. Lovett
Megumi Onishi
M. Schofield
Michelle Pacholec
J. Chihade
Amish A. Shah
C. M. Lovett
Computer Science

Reed L. Townsend
W. Lenhart
Geosciences

Rebecca K. Atkinson
R. A. Wobus
Patricia G. Hines
R. Cox
Cordelia R. Ransom
M. Johnson
Taylor F. Schildgen
D. Dethier
Mathematics

T. Cheslack-Postava
T. Garrity
Thomas R. Fleming
C. Adams
Cory R. Heilmann
J. Reiter
Adam D. Schuyler
T. Garrity
Physics

Mark R. Acton
S. Bolton
Ginel C. Hill
K. Jones
Anthony M. Ndirango
W. Wootters
Kevin M. O’Connor
W. Wootters
Andrew J. Speck
P. Majumder
Psychology

Deborah F. Frisone
B. Zimmerberg
Stephen M. Gray
L. Heatherington
Dahra N. Jackson
L. Heatherington
Kathryn C. Kavanaugh
L. Heatherington
Meghan Moscati
B. Zimmerberg
Rebecca J. Norwick
S. Kassin
Maria G. D. Pereira
K. Savitsky