Carnegie Mellon University

The Piper

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April 19, 2012

Personal Mention

Eric Xing, associate professor of machine learning, language technology and computer science, has been awarded an IBM Open Collaboration Research (OCR) Award to develop novel and scalable ways to use very large data sets to search for associations between genetic variants and traits such as major diseases. Xing will receive $300,000 over two years for his project, “Scalable Genome-wide Association Studies: Towards a pipeline for large-scale personal genomics.” The OCR is the highest research award given by IBM to university faculty. Read more.

Eric Berryman, a 2011 graduate of the School of Drama, has received a $50,000 fellowship from The Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund for the Performing and Visual Arts. The fellowship fund annually makes investments in a limited number of exceptionally talented young dancers, musicians, actors and visual artists as they complete their training and begin their professional lives. The goal is to help these individuals become successful leaders in their field and help others in the future. Berryman felt honored to be considered for the award and elated when he found out he was selected.  "This award will allow me to achieve goals in my artistic journey that I would have never thought reachable this quickly," he said. Read the full story.

David Klahr's pioneering research into the relationship between children's cognitive development and educational practice is celebrated in a new book, "The Journey From Child To Scientist: Integrating Cognitive Development and the Education Sciences." Klahr's influential work combines the two previously independent fields of study by joining a detailed understanding of children's reasoning and skill acquisition with the role of education in influencing and facilitating scientific explorations. Published by the American Psychological Association, the volume provides a blueprint for improving STEM education. The book is edited by CMU's Sharon Carver and CMU alumnus and Stanford Associate Professor Jeff Shrager. Robert Siegler, CMU's Teresa Heinz Professor of Cognitive Psychology, authored the first chapter, "From Theory To Application and Back: Following in the Giant Footsteps of David Klahr." Klahr is the Walter van Dyke Bingham Professor of Cognitive Development and Education Sciences. Read the full story.

Carnegie Mellon chemists, led by Associate Professor of Chemistry Danith Ly, have created a synthetic form of a cyclic peptide known for its remarkable ability to combat a wide variety of pathogens, including HIV and SARS. Synthetic peptides like the one developed at Carnegie Mellon could provide an exciting new class of pharmaceuticals aimed at combatting hard-to-treat diseases. Furthermore, the manufacturing technique developed by Ly could further the study of cyclic peptides by making the molecules easier and less expensive to produce. Read the full story.

Associate Professor of Art Jon Rubin, adjunct faculty member John Pena (MFA ’08) and Dawn Weleski (A ’09) are recipients of a $25,000 ROOT Award from the Sprout Fund to support Conflict Kitchen’s expansion and relocation to a new venue in downtown Pittsburgh. Conflict Kitchen, a take-out restaurant that only serves cuisine from countries with which the United States is in conflict, has been featured in numerous international art, culture, and food magazines. Read the full story.

Robert C. Wilburn, distinguished service professor and director of the Heinz College's Washington, D.C., program, has been re-elected for a one-year term to the board of directors for the Erie Indemnity Company. Wilburn has been a member of the board since 1999. According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group is the 12th largest automobile and 14th largest homeowners insurer in the U.S.