Four CEPS Faculty Receive CAREER Award
(R-L, Silas Beane, Erin Bell, Per Berglund, Brad Kinsey)
Four College of Engineering and Physical Science faculty members at the University of New Hampshire have been awarded the NSF Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The NSF Early Career Award is one of the most prestigious awards to honor investigators in the early stages of promising research and education careers. The award is an honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists and engineers beginning independent careers.
UNH CEPS faculty members Silas Beane, Physics Department; Erin Bell, Civil Engineering; Per Berglund, also of the Physics Department; and Brad Kinsey, Mechanical Engineering are among elite recipients whose work is funded by federal agencies. Awardees are distinguished as leaders for their extensive research accomplishments and noteworthy educational contributions.
Prof. Silas Beane's Career Award is entitled, "Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) Calculations of Nuclear Interactions." Beane's CAREER proposal outlines a program to perform pioneering calculations of simple nuclear properties using lattice QCD, a form of QCD amenable to large-scale supercomputer simulations. Primary goals of the proposed research are a computation of the properties of the simplest nucleus ---the deuteron--- using lattice QCD, and the determination of hyperon-nucleon and hyperon-hyperon scattering parameters that are relevant to an understanding of the equation-of- state of high-density baryonic matter. In addition, Beane proposes to perform precision lattice QCD calculations of fundamental particle properties that are essential for a deeper understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics and its possible extensions.(full abstract)
Prof. Erin Bell's Career Award is entitled "Integrating Structural Health Monitoring, Intelligent Transportation Systems and Model Updating Into a Bridge Condition Assessment Framework." Bell's research will develop a framework for bridge condition assessment that integrates information collected through structural health monitoring (SHM) and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) into a model updating program using parameter estimation for highway bridge decision-making and management. There are several challenges that have limited the successful use of model updating for condition assessment. Two of these major challenges are the development of the a priori model that creates a well-conditioned parameter estimation scenario (modeling error) and the quality of the collected data (measurement error). This proposed research will address these challenges by advancing the analytical and experimental components of model updating. This proposed research includes the creation of a bridge finite element model with respect to parameter estimation for model updating requirements, which increases the available a priori information and will shift the traditional elemental bridge design paradigm. Bell will also develop linear and multi-linear parameter estimation algorithms to alleviate some potential impact of modeling error. The U.S. government has made significant investments in SHM and ITS. The proposed model updating procedure will exploit SHM and ITS data for a selected bridge in New Hampshire providing information relating to the performance (SHM) and usage (ITS) of the bridge. (full abstract)
Prof. Per Berglund's Career Award is entitled, "Topics in String Compactifications." String theory has emerged as a leading candidate for a quantum theory of gravity, i.e., a theory that encompasses both quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of general relativity. A remaining challenge is the identification of the appropriate set of background conditions relevant to the formation of our universe, i.e., compactifying the ten dimensional string theory (or eleven-dimensional M theory/supergravity) can lead to a very large number of (non-)supersymmetric four dimensional vacua. The projects outlined in this research address two important aspects of string compactifications. On one hand, Berglund will study how in the context of flux compactifications one can find vacua which exhibit Standard Model like spectra.
He will also use constraints from cosmology, such as the cosmic microwave background, to put restrictions on the inflationary type potentials obtained from string theory. The second approach will be made in studying black hole physics in terms of four- and five-dimensional supersymmetric solutions of string theory. This will provide important information in trying to understand the black hole information puzzle. This proposal is very timely since, during the course of the next few years, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN will start operating, which will provide interesting information of what occurs beyond the Standard Model. Furthermore, more accurate observations of the cosmic microwave background using the PLANCK satellite, will provide even tighter constraints on the possible inflationary scenarios arising in string theory. (full abstract)
Prof. Brad Kinsey's "Development of Hyperplastic and Superplastic Microforming Processes and Related Educational Activities," research anticipates the specific scientific and technological outcomes of: (a) scientific understanding of the size effects on material behavior and process parameters; (b) development of models and methods to aid microcomponent designers; (c) creation of effective hyperplastic (high strain rate) and superplastic (elevated temperature with small grain size) microforming processes; and (d) implementation of effective microforming systems based on the microfactory concept. At the macroscale, these processes are too slow and energy intensive to be practical for high production rate applications, but at the microscale due to the reduced energy and force requirements, these processes will provide for a low cost, compact processing technique. Several broader impacts will be created through this research. First, the knowledge gained through this research at the microscale will lead to the advancement of microscale systems for energy generation, environmental monitoring, and biomedical applications and thus will benefit society as a whole. Also, the undergraduate and graduate students will benefit from the integration of research results into course material, international experiences, and involvement in this industrial relevant, multidisciplinary research. (full abstract)
Built in to the cutting edge research of all four Career Award recipients is a common thread directly impacting the New Hampshire secondary education experience. In addition to their research, Beane, Bell, Berglund and Kinsey will each provide gleanings of interactive and dynamic components for use by public education professionals. Namely, through the construction of simple computer programs Beane’s research will also focus on the teaching of elementary physics, at the high-school and undergraduate levels. Bell will provide a fun and educational activity using build-able bridge models that tell the story of engineering in relation to social studies, science and math. Berglund plans to capitalize on the existing infrastructure at the University of New Hampshire for interactions with high schools by bringing cutting-edge science into local high schools. And Kinsey will capitalize on the nature of the hyperplastic and superplastic forming, which lends itself to high school outreach activities, and which Kinsey is actively involved, through physics principles such as impact mechanics and chemistry principles such as grain size and structure.
During the recent UNH NSF CAREER Program Panel Forum hosted by the Office of the VP of Research to mentor junior faculty with their CAREER applications, Brad Kinsey, CAREER recipient and member of the panel, informed the audience that "The award helped me better define my research path. It also provided me with name recognition as well as opened research collaboration opportunities."
Per Berglund who also served on the panel noted that, "In addition to obtaining an esteemed track record, being a CAREER Award recipient brings recognition internally and externally. Five years of continual funding allows time for a long-term research project with the potential to completely fund a Ph.D. student."
Others in the group shared their strategies and offered their services as a resource to interested junior faculty members. Sharing best practices has proven to benefit the faculty, the students, the department, UNH, local school systems, and society as a whole. With today's announcement of four CAREER Award recipients, UNH can boast ten current cutting-edge CAREER Award Recipients.
The NSF established the CAREER program in 1995 to help top-performing scientists and engineers develop their contributions and commitment to research and education early in their careers.