SCIENCE
CENTER PROGRAMS
The
recently completed Science Center now links the Bronfman Science Center with the
Thompson Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Laboratory buildings, Schow Library,
the Morley Science Laboratory wing. Clark Hall completes the Science Center
complex. Serving as the home for astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer
science, geosciences, history of science, mathematics and statistics, physics,
and psychology, this facility 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 a number of 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 Xichapter.
The programs based in the Science Center encompass 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 2002-2003, 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 161
individuals at Williams in 2003. 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 by an
NSF/REU site grant to the mathematics and statistics department and worked with
Williams College 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, the 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, comes 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 |
56 |
NSF grants to individual faculty |
13 |
Howard Hughes Medical Institute* |
26 |
Arnold Bernhard Foundation Fellowships |
20 |
Essel Foundation |
10 |
NSF/REU |
14 |
Wege/Markgraf Fellowships |
5 |
N.I.S.T. grants to individual faculty |
1 |
Whitehead Scholarship |
2 |
Pfizer |
1 |
Somers Fellowship |
2 |
Bicentennial Psychology Scholarships |
2 |
Keck Geology Consortium |
3 |
Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium |
5 |
Lowe Fellowship |
2 |
Center for Environmental Studies |
2 |
* Note:
some students are supported by multiple grants. |
|
2003
Summer Science Students and Their Faculty Advisor
Astronomy |
|
Ryan Carollo |
Steve Souza |
Peter Forshay |
Jay Pasachoff |
Megan Roscioli |
Karen Kwitter |
Davis Stevenson |
Karen Kwitter |
Terry-Ann Suer |
Jay Pasachoff |
Galen Thorp |
Steve Souza |
Biology |
|
David Arnolds |
Wendy Raymond |
Flynn Boonstra |
Henry Art |
Simone Bras |
Steve Zottoli |
Oliver Burton |
Steve Zottoli |
Jenica Chambers |
Steve Zottoli |
Ellen Crocker |
Joan Edwards |
Nisha David |
Steve Zottoli |
Jessica Davis |
Lois Banta |
Greg DelPrete |
Heather Williams |
Shauna Dineen |
Steve Zottoli |
Rosemary Eseh |
Steve Zottoli |
S. Aiden Finley |
Wendy Raymond |
Mary Flynn |
Marsha Altschuler |
Meghan Giuliano |
Lois Banta |
Linda Gutierrez |
Steve Zottoli |
Bryan Harmon |
Marsha Altschuler |
Tory Hendry |
Heather Williams |
Alice Hensley |
Lois Banta |
Amy Hobbie |
Marsha Altschuler |
Peter Holland |
Heather Williams |
Galen Holt |
David C. Smith |
Stephen Kelleher |
Dan Lynch |
Maria Kerr |
Heather Williams |
Michelle Kron |
Steve Zottoli |
Michael Leparc |
Marsha Altschuler |
Paul Lindemann |
Rob Savage |
Cameron Marshall |
Dan Lynch |
William McDowell |
Manuel Morales |
Jodian Pinkney |
Joan Edwards |
Daniel Runcie |
Manuel Morales |
Tynisha Smalls |
Rob Savage |
Ross Smith |
Manuel Morales |
Joanna Touger |
Rob Savage |
Samuel VanVolkenburgh |
Joan Edwards |
Chemistry |
|
Noah Bell |
RPI |
Victoria Bock |
Tom Smith |
LaVonna Bowen |
Anne Skinner |
Noah Capurso |
Dieter Bingemann |
Kathleen Carroll |
Tom Smith |
Elaine Denny |
David Richardson |
Adrian Dowst |
Tom Smith |
James Enterkin |
Chip Lovett |
Drees Griffin |
Chip Lovett |
John Harris |
Dieter Bingemann |
Jeffrey Ishizuka |
E. Peacock-Lopez |
Charles Jakobsche |
Hodge Markgraf |
Elizabeth Landis |
LEIDEN |
Gerald Lindo |
Dieter Bingemann |
Jennifer Linnan |
Jay Thoman |
Joanna Lloyd |
Anne Skinner |
Ryan Manalansan |
Hodge Markgraf |
Ian McCormick |
Amy Gehring |
Edward McGehee |
Lee Park |
Catherine Mercado |
Anne Skinner |
Paul Obeng-Okyere |
Chip Lovett |
Arthur C. Okwesili |
Chip Lovett |
Brian Saar |
Jay Thoman |
Muhammed Esa Seegulam |
Chip Lovett |
Rachel Selinsky |
Larry Kaplan |
Chemistry |
|
Hang Song |
E. Peacock-Lopez |
Marie-Adele Sorel |
Hodge Markgraf |
Analia Sorribas |
David Richardson |
Terry-Ann Suer |
Anne Skinner |
Drew Thompson |
Anne Skinner |
Erwin P.L. van der
Geer |
Mark Schofield |
Emily Wasserman |
Chip Lovett |
Daniel Weintraub |
Jay Thoman |
Emily Welsh |
Chip Lovett |
Edward Wydysh |
Mark Schofield |
Computer
Science |
|
Peter Applegate |
Steve Freund |
Diane Bennett |
Jim Teresco |
Christopher Cyll |
Barbara Lerner |
Laura Effinger-Dean |
Bill Lenhart |
Robert Gonzalez |
Kim Bruce |
Ashok Pillai |
Kim Bruce/Tom Murtagh |
Shimon Rura |
Barbara Lerner |
Thomas White |
Tom Murtagh |
Brent Yorgey |
Bill Lenhart |
Geosciences |
|
Katherine Ackerly |
Bud Wobus |
Ryan Gordon |
David Dethier |
Eli Lazarus |
Paul Karabinos |
Paige McClanahan |
Bud Wobus |
Marina Mednik-Vaksman |
David Dethier |
Lissa C.F. Ong |
Ronadh Cox |
Susanna M. Theroux |
Heather Stoll |
Nina Trautmann |
Heather Stoll |
Mathematics |
|
Suzanne Armstrong |
Satyan Devadoss |
Hanna Bennett |
Colin Adams |
Michael Carr |
Satyan Devadoss |
Joseph Corneli |
Frank Morgan |
Darren Creutz |
Cesar Silva |
Christopher Davis |
Colin Adams |
Ariana Dundon |
Susan Loepp |
Eric Engler |
Satyan Devadoss |
Neil Hoffman |
Frank Morgan |
Michael Jennings |
Colin Adams |
David Jensen |
Susan Loepp |
Ananda Leininger |
Satyan Devadoss |
Michael Manapat |
Satyan Devadoss |
Stephen Moseley |
Frank Morgan |
Jennifer Novak |
Colin Adams |
Nicholas Perry |
Colin Adams |
John Provine |
Susan Loepp |
Jordan Rodu |
Susan Loepp |
Eric Schoenfeld |
Colin Adams |
Physics |
|
John BackusMayes |
Tiku Majumder |
Justin Brown |
Dwight Whitaker |
Colin Bruzewicz |
Tiku Majumder |
Mark Burkhardt |
Tiku Majumder |
Joshua Cooperman |
Bill Wootters |
Paul Crittenden |
Jeff Strait |
Eric Daub |
Daniel Aalberts |
Jesse Dill |
Sarah Bolton |
Zophia Edwards |
Sarah Bolton |
Jeffrey Garland |
Daniel Aalberts |
Nathan Hodas |
Daniel Aalberts |
Matthew Hoffman |
Bill Wootters |
Christopher Holmes |
Tiku Majumder |
Sarah Iams |
Dwight Whitaker |
Zachary Kung |
Dwight Whitaker |
John Mugno |
Bill Wootters |
Aubryn Murray |
Kevin Jones |
Jennifer Simmons |
Sarah Bolton |
Matthew Spencer |
Jeff Strait |
Leon Webster |
Dwight Whitaker |
Psychology |
|
Nicolas Bamat |
Noah Sandstrom |
Miles Belknap |
Luis Schettino |
Alyssa Fluty |
Betty Zimmerberg |
Janette Funk |
Laurie Heatherington |
Laura Futransky |
Steve Fein |
Rebecca Herlan |
Marlene Sandstrom |
Lindsay Holland |
Saul Kassin |
Gianna Marzilli |
Marlene Sandstrom |
Kelly Morgen |
Marlene Sandstrom |
Rui Nie |
Betty Zimmerberg |
Amanda Niu |
Al Goethals |
Meredith Olson |
Paul Solomon |
Emily Perry |
Steve Fein |
Jose Reyes |
Ken Savitsky |
John Rudoy |
Noah Sandstrom |
Kristin Sageser |
Betty Zimmerberg |
Margit Sande-Kerback |
Elliot Friedman |
Christie Schueler |
Susan Engel |
Kameron R. Shahid |
Paul Solomon |
Kyle J. Skor |
Bob Kavanaugh |
Molly Wasserman |
Noah Sandstrom |
Summer
Research Colloquia 2003
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, Department of Chemistry, Williams College
“An Introduction to
Safety - Be There or Be Square!”
Professor Henry Art, Department
of Biology, Williams College
“Antarctica - Extreme
Science”
Professor Steve Fein, Department
of Psychology, Williams College
“Automaticity and
Control in Stereotyping and Prejudice”
Professor Daniel Aalberts,
Department of Physics, Williams College
“Finding with Binding: A
New Method for Messenger RNA Splice Site Detection”
Professor Thomas Garrity,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Williams College
“Adding”
Professor Lee Park, Department
of Chemistry, Williams College
“Molecular Wires That
Build Themselves”
Professor Lois Banta, Department
of Biology, Williams College
“Agrobacterium
tumefaciens: The Genetic Engineer in
Your Own Backyard”
Professor Frank Morgan,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
“New Kinds of Soap
Bubbles”
Academic Year “Bag
Lunch” Colloquia
During the academic year, the science faculty meets for
lunch on Tuesdays in Thompson Biology Laboratory 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
2002-2003.
Professor Jay M. Pasachoff,
Department of Astronomy, Williams College
“Pluto’s
Atmosphere from this Summer’s Stellar Occultations”
Professor Cesar Silva
“Discussion on Proposed
Class Hour Schedule”
Professor Paul Karabinos,
Department of Geosciences, Williams College
“Why Are the Himalayas
So Tall”
Professor Duane Bailey,
Department of Computer Science, Williams College
“Is Fast
Cache”
Professor Susan Engel,
Department of Psychology, Williams College
“Creating a New School:
A Different Kind of Experiment”
Professor Kim Bruce, Department
of Computer Science, Williams College
“Bending without
Breaking: Making Software More Flexible”
Professor James Carlton,
Department of Biology, Williams College
“Marine Bioinvasions and
Marine Extinctions: Adding and Subtracting from Modern
Shallow-Water
Communities”
Professor Heather Williams,
Department of Biology, Williams College
“Choreography of Song
and Dance in the Zebra Finch”
Professor Jay Thoman, Department
of Chemistry, Williams College
“Athletics Committee
Update”
Professor Protik Majumder,
Department of Physics, Williams College
“Making Cold Atoms the
Easy Way”
Professor Stewart Johnson,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Williams College
“Optimality, Chatter
Cycles, and Vehicle Cruise”
Professor Joan Edwards,
Department of Biology, Williams College
“Botanical
Explosions”
Professor Dieter Bingemann,
Department of Chemistry, Williams College
“Following Chemical
Dynamics One Molecule at a Time”
Professor Amy Gehring,
Department of Chemistry, Williams College
“Characterization of
Development and Antibiotic Production by a Soil
Bacterium”
Professor Laurie Heatherington,
Department of Psychology, Williams College
“Now, Why’d She/He
Do THAT?”
Professor Stuart Crampton,
Department of Physics, Williams College
“Combining Teaching
Multimedia Using Macromedia Director”
Professor Saul Kassin,
Department of Psychology, Williams College
“True or False:
I’d Know a False Confession If I Saw One”
Professor Satyan Devadoss,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Williams College
“Configuration
Spaces”
Pre-First
Year Summer Science Program
In its seventeenth summer in 2003, 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.
Sixteen 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, and a
weekend trip to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Enthusiasm for the program has been high. Participants
have taken full advantage of the opportunity to study at Williams in the summer.
As a result of the Summer Science Program, their academic year experiences have
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 Daniel Lynch and Wendy Raymond
taught the biology lectures. Professor D.L. Smith 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 Summer Science Program has been funded primarily by
Williams College as part of the institution’s commitment to encourage the
participation of 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 |
Faculty |
Kara
A. Brothers |
Charles M. Lovett, Director |
Abelee
R. Esparza |
Olga R. Beaver |
Rafael
G. Frias |
Daniel Lynch |
Alison
O. J. Gaby |
Wendy Raymond |
Bhrandon
A.N. Harris |
David Richardson |
Henry
A. Hernandez |
Cesar Silva |
Alcia
C. Jackson |
David L. Smith |
Leroy
R. Lindsay |
|
Brandon
D. Lucien |
Tutors |
Neil
Mendoza |
Drees C. Griffin ‘05 |
Branden
L. Mirach |
Catherine E. Mercado ‘05 |
Alejandro
Mones |
Muhammad Esa Seegulam ‘05 |
Aalayah
Rasheed |
Analia Sorribas ‘05 |
Devin
K. Schweppe |
|
Jonathan
T. Turriago |
|
Mariana
M. Uribe |
|
|
|
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. The Williams
Chapter also sponsors outreach programs designed to stimulate interest in
science among grade school, junior high and high school students. The officers
for 2002-2003 were Professor Jay M. Pasachoff of the Astronomy Department,
President, and Professor Protik Majumder of the Physics Department,
Secretary/Treasurer.
During the 2002-2003 academic year, our chapter held the
traditional fall and spring Sigma Xi lecture series. In the fall, Prof. Tom
Murtagh of the Computer Science Department delivered a pair of lectures on the
subject of Internet congestion. The first day’s lecture, “Internet
Architecture”, presented an overview of the protocols that are essential
in controlling network congestion. He went on to discuss “Traffic Jams on
the Information Superhighway” on the second day, in which the
Internet’s transmission control protocol (TCP) was discussed. In the
spring, Prof. Sarah Bolton of the Physics Department presented lectures dealing
with lasers and laser technology. The first lecture, entitled “Fast,
Cheap, and in Control: Laser Science at Fifty”, introduced some general
physical principles behind the laser, and discussed the current status of laser
technology, as well as important current applications. On the second day, Prof.
Bolton focused on her own area of research – that of ultrafast laser
spectroscopy.
The Sigma Xi Chapter sponsored a High School Science
Award for a student at Mount Greylock Regional High School, Williamstown, MA, in
recognition of a high level of motivation and accomplishment in science courses.
This year the award was given to Alexander Kopynec.
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 Commencement Weekend. On Class
Day, the Chapter honored 41 newly elected Associate Members from the Class of
2003 in a ceremony in the Bronfman Auditorium. The names of this year’s
honorees are listed below and a detailed description of the research projects of
these students is presented in the Student Abstracts section of this
Report.
Associate Sigma Xi members
from the Class of 2003
Astrophysics |
|
Kristen L. Shapiro |
J.M. Pasachoff |
Biology |
|
Jennifer L. Barone |
M. Morales |
Angus L. H. Beal |
M. Morales |
Nathan M. Briggs |
M. Morales |
Abigail L. Davidson |
B. Zimmerberg |
Shakierah N. Fuller |
B. Zimmerberg |
Emily M. Hatch |
L. Banta |
Kimberley S. Kemper |
J. Edwards |
Sarah M. Klionsky |
J. Edwards |
James N. LaFave |
H. Williams |
Jessica L. O’Brien |
N. Sandstrom |
Malin L. Pinsky |
D. Smith |
Brigitte D. Teissedre |
S. Swoap |
Jessica M. Tierney |
H. Williams |
Ken-ichi M. Ueda |
L. Banta |
Chemistry |
|
Peta-Gaye Burnett |
D. Richardson |
Jason S. Leith |
J. Thoman |
Alison B. Peet |
D. Bingemann |
Jennifer L. Roizen |
T.E. Smith |
Robert N. Gonzalez |
K. Bruce |
Jeremy A. Redburn |
W. Lenhart |
Shimon Rura |
B. Lerner |
Erica C. Dwyer |
A. Gehring |
Geosciences |
|
Christopher J. Garvin |
R. Cox |
Elizabeth S. Mygatt |
P. Karabinos |
Karl S. Remsen |
B. Wobus |
Nina M. Trautmann |
H. Stoll |
Mathematics |
|
Michael T. Baiocchi |
T. Garrity |
Philippa L. Charters |
S. Loepp |
Brian P. Katz |
S. Loepp |
Edvard Major |
T. Garrity |
Mark P. Rothlisberger |
T. Garrity |
Eric M. Schoenfeld |
C. Adams |
Physics |
|
Jeffrey A. Garland |
D.P. Aalberts |
Kathleen S. Gibbons |
W. Wootters |
Christopher D. Holmes |
P. Majumder |
Sarah R. Nichols |
S. Bolton |
Psychology |
|
Terrinieka Autry-Williams |
L. Heatherington |
Marissa A. Berman |
E. Friedman |
Jacqueline Dinzey |
E. Friedman |
|
|
|
|