[BNC-all] WEEKLY MEMO, SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

WEEKLY MEMO, September 2, 2008 ****************** 1. ANNOUNCEMENTS ****************** 1.1: SHUTDOWN: There will be a preventive maintenance shutdown of the Birck Nanotechnology Center from October 6-10, 2008. The cleanroom and laboratories will be shut down during all (or at least most) of that week. There will be no temperature control in the offices on Monday and Tuesday, so we will be at the mercy of outdoor temperatures. More details are forthcoming, but this should serve as an advanced warning to the BNC community. (per John Weaver) 1.2: NEW SEMESTER, NEW ROOM RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Please use the RAT system (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/Resources/Tools/RAT/) or contact your secretary to request room reservations for the new semester. Room reservations should be renewed every semester. Remember: First come, first serve. 1.3: FREE Vacuum Training Seminars offered by Varian Inc. on Sept. 16-17. Standard High and Ultra High Vacuum Seminar offered on Sept. 16 from 5:30-9:30pm and Advanced High and Ultra High Vacuum Seminar offered on Sept. 17 from 5:30-9:30pm. Registrants of advanced seminar are recommended to also attend the standard seminar. Seminars will be in room 1001 (NOT BIRCK) in the Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering (MJIS). Free dinner (pizza or sandwiches) will be provided. Contact Jeremy Schroeder (jlschroe@purdue.edu) to register. ************************************************ 2. SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS/CLASSES see below (item 6) for descriptions, abstracts, and bios ************************************************ 2.1: Thursday, 09.04.08, 10:30AM, BRK 1001: “Development of Automated Particle Sorting Using Optical Trapping,” by Stephen Howell, PhD; Radiation Hard CMOS Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories. 2.2: Thursday, 09.04.08, 4:30PM, ME 161: “Control and Manipulation at the Nanoscale: From Molecular Manufacturing to Molecular Recognition,” by Nader Jalili, Associate Professor and Director, Smart Structures and Nanoelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University. 2.3: REGISTER NOW: Friday, 09.19.08, 8:00AM-2:00PM, STEW 314: “Crane Lab Experts to Present on Campus. Online registration is available at http://dagon.admin.purdue.edu/crane/user_registration.php or contact Lisa Muncy at lamuncy@purdue.edu or 494-0743. A box lunch will be provided. To guarantee a lunch you need to register by September 12th. 2.4: Wednesday, 09.24.08, 10:30AM-3:00PM, MRGN 120: “Introduction to the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI).” 2.5: Thursday, 09.25.08, 7–8:30PM, STEW 214ABC: “Proposal Writing Workshop for Graduate Students,” by Peter E. Dunn (registration required). 2.6: CLASS BME 695D, 3 credits: “Surface Science Techniques for Biomedical and Chemical Applications,” Fall 2008, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00–10:15AM; MJIS 1083, laboratory and instrumentation assignments will be done in Birck; Instructors: Dr. Albena Ivanisevic (albena@purdue.edu) and Dr. Dmitry Zemlyanov (dzemlian@purdue.edu). **************** 3. OPPORTUNITIES **************** 3.1: Special NNIN iWSG Announcement: NNIN International Winter School for Graduate Students — Deadline Approaching. NNIN announces and solicits applications for its first International Winter School for Graduate Students <http://www.datawho.com/dwc_redirect.cgi?4239,2432,http://www.nnin.org/nnin_iwsg.html> . This two week program in India offers an intense graduate level course in Organic Optoelectronics and Electronics, coupled with a rural technology implementation experience. The course will take place at IIT Kanpur, Dec. 8-19, 2008. The program is open to graduate students (U.S.Citizens or Permanent Residents) of the highest quality from across the United States with an application deadline of Sept. 10, 2008. Participants need not be NNIN Users. All living and transportation expenses will be covered. For further information, visit http://www.nnin.org/nnin_iwsg.html <http://www.datawho.com/dwc_redirect.cgi?4239,2432,http://www.nnin.org/nnin_iwsg.html> . 3.2: Pre-application for a Biomedical Technology Research Resource (X02), per Perry Kirkham (pkirkham@purdue.edu): Below is a pre-application that may be of interest to you or some of your faculty. Please disseminate as appropriate, and contact Perry Kirkham, for assistance: * Biomedical Technology Research Resource (P41) (PAR-08-259) National Center for Research Resources National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-259.html * Pre-application for a Biomedical Technology Research Resource (X02) (PAR-08-260) National Center for Research Resources National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): December 2, 2008, April 2, 2009, and August 6, 2009 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-260.html ***************** 4. DISCOVERY PARK ***************** 4.1: Learn about health care research at Regenstrief fall conference: The Regenstrief Center’s fall conference, "Transforming Healthcare Delivery: Advancing Multidisciplinary Research at Purdue University," is an opportunity for Purdue researchers to learn about the progress of multidisciplinary health care research on campus, network with colleagues and students with similar research interests and establish multidisciplinary partnerships to pursue new health care research directions. Last year, more than 150 researchers attended. The 2008 conference will be held on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Purdue's Burton D. Morgan Center. Purdue graduate or undergraduate students are also invited to display health care-related research posters at the conference. Posters must be registered by Sept. 3 to be printed by the Regenstrief Center. The symposium is free to Purdue faculty, students, staff and collaborators. TO REGISTER for the conference and poster session, visit www.purdue.edu/rche/fall2008 (registration will close on September 10). Questions? Contact Mary Schultz with the Regenstrief Center at schultm@purdue.edu or (765) 494-9828. 4.2: Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition Callout: The Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship and Krannert School of Management are pleased to announce the 22nd annual Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurial Competition. The competition is open to graduate and undergraduate students of Purdue University. The Center invites interested students with a business idea to enter and to attend a callout on: September 9, 2008 or September 10, 2008, MRGN 121, 6:00-7:00PM. Questions will be answered and the registration process will be discussed. Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to enter. Total Prize package to be awarded to Purdue students is $100,000. For additional Information, contact Jackie Lanter, lanter@purdue.edu, 4-6400. ********* 5. KUDOS ********* 5.1: Purdue biomedical engineering graduate students MEGGIE GRAFTON and MIKE ZORDAN received top awards for their research posters during the recent XXIV International Congress of the International Society for Analytical Cytometry in Budapest, Hungary. Grafton won an Outstanding Poster Award for her poster "Microfabrication of a Two-Stage BioMEMS Cell Sorter." She also was a finalist for the President's Award for Excellence. Zordan won an Outstanding Poster Award for his poster, "A novel multiplatform method for the clonal isolation of rare cancer cells." Both are research students studying under biomedical engineering professor James F. Leary. ******************************* 6. ABSTRACTS/BIOS/DESCRIPTIONS for seminars/workshops lists above ******************************* 6.1: Thursday, 09.04.08, 10:30AM, BRK 1001: “Development of Automated Particle Sorting Using Optical Trapping,” by Stephen Howell, PhD; Radiation Hard CMOS Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories. Our efforts to build an automated particle handling/sorting system using a modified commercial optical trapping instrument, which has been integrated with laser scissors and microfluidic storage, will be discussed. Activities to determine system optimization by measuring trap strength and modeling will also be discussed. Additionally, parallel efforts to optically trap semiconducting nanowires such as ZnO and SiON will be shown. Optical trapping, also know as optical tweezing, has emerged as a useful tool for manipulating microscale objects. Transparent objects can be trapped in three dimensions by the momentum transferred from highly focused incident photons. For our application, particles of interest are embedded in a thin polymer film. This film serves as a handle that can be optically trapped, allowing us to move particles made of materials that are otherwise not trappable. To trap a particle, an integrated laser scissors cuts the thin polymer film around the embedded particle, releasing it to a fluidic chamber where the polymer piece is then optically trapped and transported to a storage site. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. 6.2: Thursday, 09.04.08, 4:30PM, ME 161: “Control and Manipulation at the Nanoscale: From Molecular Manufacturing to Molecular Recognition,” by Nader Jalili, Associate Professor and Director, Smart Structures and Nanoelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University ABSTRACT: Advancement of emerging nanotechnological applications such as nanoelectromechanical systems require precise modeling, control and manipulation of objects, components and subsystems ranging in sizes from few nanometers to micrometers. One of the most challenging aspects of “nanoscale” manipulation and control design as compared with “macroscale” control design is the added complexity of uncertainties and nonlinearities that are unique to nanoscale. This added complexity combined with the sub-nanometer precision requirement calls for development of fundamentally new techniques and controllers for these applications. In an effort to respond to such demanding needs, this talk presents a mechatronic-based framework for nanoscale control and manipulation utilizing two different platforms; i) scanning probe microscopy (SPM)-based systems (e.g., scanning tunneling microscopy–STM, atomic force microscopy–AFM, nanomechanical cantilevers–NMC), and ii) nanorobotic manipulation (NRM)-based techniques. Building based upon this framework, several example case studies currently being pursued at SSNEMS Laboratory will be used to highlight these modeling and control design challenges. These examples include; i) modeling and control of nanopositioning systems with applications to STM-based imaging and precision fabrication, ii) development of a comprehensive distributed-parameters modeling and force estimation for nanoscale force sensing, iii) development of a general nonlinear modeling framework for NMC-based biosensing and molecular recognition, and finally iv) NRM-based nanoscale force control with applications to materials characterization, DNA immobilization and cell mechanics. BRIEF BIO: Dr. Jalili is Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of Clemson University (CU) Smart Structures and NEMS Laboratory. His research interests and expertise include precision mechatronics, system dynamics, vibration control, piezoactive structures and systems, micro- and nano-electromechanical sensors and actuators, and control and manipulation at the nanoscale. He is currently the Technical Editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, Associate Editor of ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, founding Chair of ASME Technical Committee on Vibration and Control of Smart Structures, and active member of numerous ASME technical committees. Jalili obtained his BS and MS degrees (both with First Class Honors) from Sharif University of Technology (Tehran, Iran) in 1992 and 1995, respectively, and his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from University of Connecticut (CT, USA) in 1998. 6.3: REGISTER NOW: Friday, 09.19.08, 8:00AM-2:00PM, STEW 314: “Crane Lab Experts to Present on Campus. Online registration is available at http://dagon.admin.purdue.edu/crane/user_registration.php or contact Lisa Muncy at lamuncy@purdue.edu or 494-0743. A box lunch will be provided. To guarantee a lunch you need to register by September 12th. Speakers – 5 Technical Warrant Holders: Dustin Wilson, Electro-optic and Infrared (EO/IR) Sensing Systems; Trent Frady, Anti-terrorism/Force Protection; Charles Zeller, Special Operations Weaponry (Small Arms and Weapons); Gerald Carroll, Surface Ship Electronic Warfare Systems and Decoys; Darren Crum, Anti-Tamper Implementation (**Restricted to U.S. Citizens only due to the sensitivity of the topic). This is a great opportunity to hear about Crane’s activities and to learn about their needs, which could lead to research collaborations. Tentative Agenda: 8:00, Continental breakfast; 8:30, Introductions; 8:40, Jerry Carroll; 9:10, Dusty Wilson; 9:40, Trent Frady; 10:10, Break; 10:30, Chuck Zeller; 11:00, Darren Crum (**Restricted to U.S. Citizens only due to the sensitivity of the topic); 11:45-2:00, Boxed Lunch provided, Individual breakout sessions, Technical discussions. If you have questions about the content of the meeting, please contact Cliff Wojtalewicz at wojtalew@purdue.edu <mailto:wojtalew@purdue.edu> or 496-2719. 6.4: Wednesday, 09.24.08, 10:30AM-3:00PM, MRGN 120: “Introduction to the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI).” Come learn about applying for pilot grants, research core support, graduate student stipends, help with managing your projects and more. Schedule: 10:30 a.m. a. Introducing the CTSI – Connie Weaver, Deputy Director CTSI b. Indiana CTSI.org (Communication HUB – Mike McLennen, Purdue and Bill Barnett, IUSM) c. Training Clinical Investigators – Jon Story d. Community Health Engagement Program – Carol Boushey e. Biomedical and Nanotechnology Program – George Wodicka f. Participant and Clinical Interaction Resources – Wayne Campbell g. Research Cores – Lilith Reeves, IUSM and Charles Buck, Purdue h. Pre-Clinical Medical Discovery Resource Unit – John Turek i. Bioethics – Richard Mattes, Purdue and Eric Meslin, IUSM j. Regulatory Knowledge and Support – Rose Fife, IUSM and Steve Byrn, Purdue k. Biostatistics – Bruce Craig, Purdue and Susan Perkins, IUSM l. Clinical trials – Tina Noonan, IUSM and George Moore, Purdue m. Commercialization Opportunities – Simran Trana n. Opportunities for the State with the CTSI – Anantha Shekhar, Director and Principal Investigator 12:30 p.m. Lunch with Interactive Stations 2:00 p.m. Brainstorming Session on Improving and Implementing CTSI Questions? Contact: Connie Weaver at weavercm@purdue.edu 6.5: Register now! Proposal Writing Workshop for Graduate Students: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7–8:30PM, STEW 214ABC. Peter E. Dunn, associate vice president for research and director of University research administration, will conduct the workshop. Online registration will be available at the Graduate School’s Professional Development website (http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/development/). Questions should be directed to Peter Dunn (46840; pedunn@purdue.edu). ********************* 7. LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE ********************* 7.1: October 11, 2008: Walk for Breast Cancer. Birck has a team of individuals taking part in the Breast Cancer walk at the Subaru plant on the 11th. Join the team or give a donation (checks payable to the American Cancer Society are tax deductible) and assist in this effort to eliminate breast cancer. See Melissa Marris (Birck Atrium) or Vikki Fast (Birck Business Office). 7.2: IT’S A GIRL? Goodman’s welcome Rebecca Rose Goodman: Born at 12:34 am, Saturday Aug. 30, 2008; Weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces; Height was 21 inches long. See pictures at http://www.davidnalicia.blogspot.com