National Science Foundation Recognizes Wooster Students and Recent Graduates

WOOSTER, Ohio - Two College of Wooster students and two recent graduates have been recognized by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Danny Shai, a senior physics and chemistry double major, and Brian Lutz, a 2005 graduate who majored in biology, have been awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, while Derek Schook, a senior biology major, and Allison Nau, a 2005 graduate who majored in international relations and mathematics, have received honorable mention citations.

The National Science Foundation awards graduate fellowships based on the intellectual merit of candidates (competency in conducting scientific research) and the perceived broader impacts of their projects and their training. Applicants are evaluated on their ability to effectively integrate research and education at all levels. NSF awards seek to encourage diversity and broaden opportunities for students in science. In addition, the graduate fellowship program supports students whose research will enhance scientific and technical understanding, and whose projects will benefit society. Awardees receive support to fund three years of their graduate training.

Shai, who has worked on five summer research projects since the end of his junior year in high school, submitted a research proposal, inspired by his Senior Independent Study project, that described a plan to better understand the phenomenon of ferromagnetism (a property of some substances in which the application of a weak magnetic field within a certain temperature range induces high magnetism). "I'm thrilled to be selected," said Shai, who served as president of the Chemistry Club and vice president of the Physics Club at Wooster. "The fellowship opens up doors for me to explore what I find interesting." He will enroll in the physics Ph.D. program at Cornell University this fall. After that, he is considering a career in education or research. "I've really enjoyed my experience as a teaching assistant here at Wooster," he said. "That's one of the reasons I am considering the academic path after grad school."

John Lindner, professor of physics at Wooster, praised Shai's ambition and accomplishments. "Danny is the first student in my 18 years at Wooster to attempt a physics-chemistry double major," he said. "Although the two are allied sciences, the double major is difficult because each is very challenging, but DannyÕs performance has been outstanding."

Lutz, whose Senior Independent Study (I.S.) project examined an invasive plant species in wetlands, will pursue research on the coupled biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus in headwater streams. A Ph.D. student in the department of biological sciences at Virginia Tech, Lutz is part of the department's "Stream Team." His theoretical contributions will be extended to address how stream management practices directed at multiple elements simultaneously may promote enhanced water quality. "I'm very excited," said Lutz. "This award will help me to maximize my graduate education and to fully engage in research. I am fortunate to have this opportunity, and I am indebted to those who have helped along the way, especially the faculty at Wooster."

Lyn Loveless, professor of biology at Wooster, described Lutz as a superb student. "The NSF Graduate Fellowship is a well-deserved recognition of Brian's academic achievements, his scientific maturity, and his promise as an ecologist," she said. "His graduate research is sophisticated, and the NSF fellowship will be a real boon to his graduate work."

Schook studied song dialects in the dickcissel, a small grassland bird. His proposal outlined methods to investigate the influence of local habitat, which helps dictate bird density on degree of song sharing. The project is a continuation of his I.S. research, which he will submit for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. After graduation, he plans to work as a field ecologist for a year before attending graduate school. Eventually, he hopes to use ecological research to establish a career in environmental conservation. "Even though I was not given the fellowship, I was still quite proud of the recognition for such a competitive award," he said. "This achievement provides me with a great first experience in the NSF's Fellowship program, and I will be sure to apply again after building a stronger rŽsumŽ."

Michael Collins, visiting instructor in biology at Wooster, expressed high regard for Schook. "Derek is an exceptional student," he said. "His NSF proposal is a logical extension of his I.S. project."

Nau focused on the role of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, in shaping international law. "I am drawing from the political science literature on international organizations and lobbying, as well as the sociology literature on social movements," she said. "I am in the process of developing mathematical models of NGO behavior. The math involved is game theory - basically what John Nash did in the movie 'A Beautiful Mind.'" After completing graduate school at the University of Michigan where she is currently enrolled, Nau is considering remaining in academia as a professor, or working more closely with NGOs in some capacity. "Wooster prepared me extremely well for graduate school," she said. "My background in both math and international relations from Wooster has been invaluable."

Matt Krain, associate professor of political science at Wooster, said he was "pleased but not surprised" that Nau's NSF grant proposal was so well received. "Ali was one of the brightest lights in our interdisciplinary international relations program," he said. "Her superior critical-thinking skills, careful attention to international relations theory, and advanced mathematical skills all contribute to her success to date, and to her immense potential as a top-flight international relations scholar."

Shila Garg, Dean of the Faculty and professor of physics at Wooster, said that the awarding of NSF Fellowships reflects very favorably on the quality of the science curriculum at Wooster. "Each year, the National Science Foundation awards its Graduate Research Fellowships to the nation's 'best and brightest' students in mathematics, science, and engineering, to help support the early stages of their graduate study," she said. "These four students definitely fit into that category."