Students Advancing Scientific Knowledge Honored

A group of 16 UA students have received Achievement Rewards for College Scientists awards for their research and contributions to their fields.

Compressed sensing, a technique used to construct images from small amounts of data, may soon change the way signals are broadcast and interpreted and how astronomers see extraterrestrial objects, among other applications.

Benjamin Berman, a University of Arizona doctoral student studying applied mathematics, is employing the theory and technique in an effort help improve biomedical imaging, particularly with MRI. 

"I can think about this from my mathematical point of view and, after that, interpret it from an applied side," said Berman, who is testing the performance of algorithms developed by other researchers. "Will this work? It's one thing to solve the math problem, but no point in it if it cannot be implemented."

Instead of a radiologist making many measurements of an organ to develop an image, it could be faster and more feasible to use compressed sensing to measure a mere portion data points, Berman said. This should result in swifter and reliable data and more comfort for patients, he added.

For his research and contribution to his field, Berman was named the recipient of an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation grant alongside more than one dozen other UA students last month.

"The ARCS support is amazing," Berman said, noting that he has especially enjoyed interacting with the foundation's donors.

Doctoral students must be nominated by their deans and department heads and are considered among "the next generation of science leaders and innovators," said Anna Maria Matteucci, president of the foundation's Phoenix chapter.

Students funded specialize in science, engineering or medicine and must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5. 

The $7,000 in funding is supported by the ARCS Phoenix chapter and the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation. Other award recipients, all pursuing doctoral degrees at UA include:

• Logan S. Ahlstrom of the chemistry and biochemistry department utilizes biophysical computation to improve knowledge about proteins.
• Marina Cholanian is in the neuroscience program and investigates the mechanisms that control reproduction in humans.
• Shannon Fortin, in cancer biology at the Arizona Cancer Center, studies what causes cells to be resistant to cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy. 
• Chris Gainer and Joseph Keyes are both studying biomedical engineering. Gainer's research employes optical imaging to analyze tissues, while Keyes is studying blood vessels to help improve the delivery of drugs.
• Timothy Renkoski is a student in the College of Optical Sciences researching multispectral fluorescence imaging of tissues in order to detect cancer.
• Nathaniel J. Hart, who is studying physiological sciences, was also an ARCS recipient last year. Hart investigates how diabetes develops and progresses.  
• Jared Males is studying astronomy and specializes in applied physics. He is working to improve advanced algorithms for the Magellan Adaptive Optics project at the UA. 
• Kendra Murray, who is a student in the geosciences department, is investigating a new model for understanding tectonics, the Earth's mantle and mountain construction.
• Kristen Ward is studying civil engineering and researching the steel design in order to aid in improved construction to withstand earthquakes. 
• Teresa White, who is studying breast cancer research, is studying how proteins interact as certain cancer types begin to spread. 
• Grey Nearing, studying hydrology, employs computer models to study crop growth and yield.
• In electrical engineering, Shiva Planjery is working on algorithms for coding purposes for improved digital communication. 
• Joshua Wiersma, who is studying optical sciences, is working to improve the capabilities of certain times of microscopes to help better detect certain diseases. 

The last recipient is Sarah Leung, doctoral student studying biomedical engineering. 

Leung has spent years collaborating with Marek Romanowski, a UA associate professor of biomedical engineering and a BIO5 Institute member, on designing gold-coated liposomes.

Her research has been especially concerned with studying ways to protect healthy cells while killing off cancerous cells in humans. 

For now, she is using optical trapping – using laser light through a microscope – to trap and study individual cellular activity. The research has implications for drug delivery and also for helping to better understand not only how cancers develop, but how they respond to different types of treatment.

It is the third year Leung has been awarded ARCS funding, having been named the organization's Steele Foundation Scholar last year.

"It's been really fantastic," said Leung, this year's Haga Scholar. Leung said she has used the funding to attend seminars and other events to conduct further studies and also present her research. 

Leung also said that having Romanowski as a mentor has been "monumental" to her development as a scientist.

"It is definitely helpful to have a PI (principal investigator) who is fully supportive and who is willing to help in getting scholarships," Leung said. "That's huge."

Berman, who works with Ali Bilgin, a UA assistant professor of biomedical engineering and Bio5 Institute member, said he also is indebted to the external funding. 

"They are making a huge difference that enables us to do the research we want to do," Berman said. "It's great to see so many people taking a genuine interest in science in such a way that they are enabling young people like myself to pursue more research."