Three University at Buffalo faculty members have been named SUNY Distinguished Professors for having achieved national or international prominence and an established reputation in their fields of expertise.
The appointments of Douglas H. Clements, professor of learning and instruction, Graduate School of Education; Vladimir V. Mitin, professor and chair of the Department of electrical engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; and Stephen Rudin, professor of radiology and director of the Division of Radiation Physics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, were made by the SUNY Board of Trustees at its meeting on March 11. Follow this link to learn more.
A new driving simulation laboratory is now open for business in the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The state-of-the-art facility, housed in UB’s New York State Center for Industrial Design and Innovation, will be available for use by students, faculty and industry to conduct research on automotive and flight vehicles, driver behavior, acclimation of accident victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and even supplemental training of young drivers. Follow this link to learn more.
Kelly Miller, a senior from Pittsford, NY, studying environmental engineering, was recently awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. The fellowship provides a stipend and tuition allowance for three years of graduate study. In 2007, she was also a winner of a Morris K. Udall Scholarship.
Since her freshman year at UB, Kelly has been engaged in research and activism involving world-wide water quality issues. She attended her first national Water World Conference as a freshman and as a result of her participation in such venues, she has developed a unique relationship with the Nigerian non-profit Rural Africa Water Development Project. Kelly has served as a volunteer assistant in preparing for and giving presentations to the World Water Forum. She also participated in fundraising efforts for the organization, including winning a $190,000 grant from the World Bank Development Marketplace competition.
Kelly has been very active outside her studies as the co-founder of Engineers for a Sustainable World-UB, the New York Water Environment Federation representative for UB’s Environmental Engineering and Science club, co-organizer of UB’s students United for Progress, as well as an Assemblyperson for the Student Association Assembly.
After graduation, Kelly will work for six months with Greenpeace’s Project Hot Seat Campaign as a field organizer. She then plans to travel extensively, visiting countries in Africa and Asia. In fall 2009, she will begin graduate study in engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In the coming years, Kelly would also like to study in the fields of international economics or international politics. She intends to work as an organizer with a non-profit organization defending the rights of oppressed persons in developing nations.
Stacy Pustulka of West Seneca, NY, was awarded a 2008 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The fellowship provides three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in mathematical, physical, biological engineering, or behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science.
Stacey graduated Summa Cum Laude from UB in December 2007 with a BS in chemical engineering and a minor in biotechnology. As an undergraduate, she performed research in the areas of tissue engineering and metabolic engineering. Stacey served as an officer in UB’s Student Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and was the first Chair of the Society for Biological Engineering at the university. Her leadership in these organizations, along with her academic accomplishments, earned wide recognition, including the AIChE’s 2006 Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship and the 2007 Outstanding Senior Award from the Buffalo chapter of AIChE. She also received a Dean’s Fellowship and a James C. Meade Graduate Fellowship from Carnegie Mellon University, where she will begin her Ph.D. studies in chemical engineering this fall. At Carnegie Mellon, her primary research area will focus on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
A junior Honors Scholar studying aerospace and mechanical engineering, Bradley Cheetham was recently selected as a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. The Goldwater Scholarship is awarded to sophomores and juniors who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue advanced degrees in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.
Brad is the president and co-founder of the University at Buffalo chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, as well as the vice president-elect of the UB Chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society. He has also been chosen to participate in the prestigious NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center this summer. As a recipient of a NASA Space Grant Fellowship, he is currently researching engineering problems associated with returning to the moon. Off campus, Brad serves as the Director of Student Relations for the Space Exploration Alliance, a coalition of the nation’s premier non-profit space organizations, which works to communicate the importance of NASA’s mission to the American public and elected officials.
Aaron Krolikowski, a University at Buffalo junior pursuing a double major in political science and social sciences interdisciplinary – environmental studies was selected as a 2008 Morris K. Udall Scholar on the basis of his commitment to a career in the environment, his leadership potential, and academic achievement. This is a very competitive scholarship program and Aaron was one of 80 Scholars selected from 510 candidates. Aaron was also selected as a finalist in the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Competition. The Truman Scholarship is awarded to junior-level college students preparing for careers in public service. Students are selected on the basis of leadership potential, intellectual ability, and likelihood of “making a difference.” About 600 college students across the U.S. were nominated by their colleges or universities for consideration.
A native western New Yorker, Aaron’s interests in environmental justice and other urban and regional issues have been sharpened through his establishment of a farm and irrigation project in rural Tanzania. Aaron has also conducted research with UB’s Regional Institute (the Buffalo-Niagara region’s public policy engine), and is involved with various community environmental action groups. Aaron also works as community assistant in UB’s Hadley Village Apartments. He is looking forward to attending a top-flight public policy school for his graduate studies and would like to return to the Buffalo area to continue his work. An award-winning music arranger, Aaron spends much of his spare time singing with UB’s male a cappella group, the Buffalo Chips.
To find out more about what Aaron has been up to, visit his blog on UB’s Admissions Web site.
The Buffalo News recently produced a video feature on the unique, hands-on learning experience offered by UB’s School of Architecture and Planning. Have a look.
