DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION AT NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY
Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk State University
Spring 2011, Volume 4, Number 1
Cost-effective
Moving Closer to RealitySolar Cells
ResearchResearch
When 15-year-old Victoria Alexanderbegan Norfolk State University’sSummer Research Program
during the summer of her high schoolsophomore year, she had no interest ingoing to college.
Teachers at her inner city high school didn’tseem to care if she did her work or not, andshe lacked confidence and self-esteem. Allthat changed when Victoria experienced thetwo-week residential research program atNSU, in which students are paired withmentors and then brought back to campusduring their junior year.
“She was really excited to have someone tohold her accountable,” said Zenora Spellman,program coordinator for Science andTechnology Academicians on the Road toSuccess (STARS) who coordinated thesummer research program. “She gained alot of confidence and found what she wascapable of doing. She had a lot of personalissues at home, and I had to earn her trust.Now she calls herself ‘my daughter’!” Victoria,now a high school senior, is looking forwardto attending NSU next year.
The residential research program is just oneof a host of programs NSU offers to increasethe number of minorities and women in science,technology, engineering and math – other-wise known as “STEM.” These programsreach out to influence kids as young aselementary age and motivate them before societyhas a chance to set their minds with oldprejudices about what is possible. In mostcases, program costs are absorbed by NSU.
“We look at this as outreach,” said SandraJ. DeLoatch, Ph.D., dean of the College ofScience, Engineering and Technology. “Weknow you can’t decide once you get here tomajor in STEM if you haven’t preparedbeforehand. We would be delighted to have
you come to Norfolk State, but it’s moreimportant that you go to college somewhereand major in STEM.”
Additional STEM outreach programs atNorfolk State University include:
A partnership with the Girl Scout Councilof Colonial Coast to hold on-campus Saturdayworkshops on topics such as the effects ofliquid nitrogen, robotics, gaming and simulation,and building Web pages. NSU assiststhe Council in offering similar programs topublic school students. This STEM initiativewas chosen as the best “big idea” innational Girl Scouting.
The Saturday Scientists program,ongoing since 1993, aims to prepare highschool students for college. NSU facultymembers volunteer to teach the series.
The Health and Science SummerAcademy is a two-week non-residentialacademic enrichment program for motivatedmiddle and high school students. It provides
academic and laboratory activities, culminatingin field trips to area hospitals.
The Environmental Summer Programpartners with three area high schools,Norview, I. C. Norcom and Booker T.Washington, to increase the retention ofstudents in science and engineering programsonce they enroll in college. This is a two-week residential program plus several Saturdaysduring the following school year. Lastsummer, the students built a simulation of theenvironmental effects of the Gulf oil spill.
The Summer Bridge Program is afour-week intensive summer program forpromising scholarship students accepted toNSU as freshmen. It provides math, scienceand ethics workshops.
Other programs include pre-SOL reviewblitzes, science and technology day camps,peer mentoring and tutoring and graduatestudent preparation.
Gail Kent of The Buzz Factoree LLC is a writer and publicrelations professional.
2 NSU Research • Spring 2011
Kim Luckes, J.D.Acting President
Clarence D. Coleman, D.Ed.Vice Provost
Sandra J. DeLoatch, Ph.D.Dean
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Joseph C. Hall, Ph.D.Vice President
for Research and Economic Development
Phillip AdamsVice President
University Advancement
Regina LightfootGeneral Manager/Editor
Stevalynn R. AdamsGraphic Designer
Contributing WritersMessaoud Bahoura, Ph.D.
Heath E. CoveyJoseph C. Hall, Ph.D.
Mindy HughesGail Kent
Rasha Morsi, Ph.D.Aswini Pradhan, Ph.D.
Govindarajan Ramesh, Ph.D.Eduardo Socolovsky, Ph.D.
Dawn StovallSam-Shajing Sun, Ph.D.Frances Williams, Ph.D.
PhotographersKeith Cephus
Anne M. Peterson
Norfolk State University Research is published bythe Office of Communications and Marketing
700 Park AvenueHBW 340
Norfolk, VA 23504Telephone: 757-823-8373Facsimile: 757-823-9206
Norfolk State University is accredited by the Commissionon Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges andSchools to award associate, baccalaureate, masters,and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission onColleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions aboutthe accreditation of Norfolk State University.
Norfolk State University
ResearchSpring 2011, Volume 4, Number 1
Message from the Acting President
By Gail Kent
Outreach Programs Encourage Women and Minorities to Enter the Sciences
High school students work on a simulation of the Gulf oil spill as part of the environmental summer program.
NSU Research • Spring 2011 3On the Cover: NSU researchers are working on ways to make solar cell technology cost-effective and efficient.
ContentsOutreach Programs Encourage Women and Minorities to Enter the Sciences ............... 3Health Initiative Uses Innovative Approach to HIV/AIDS Education .............................. 4Cleanroom Expands Research Capabilities......................................................................... 5NSU Helps Move “Invisibility Cloaking” Forward.................................................................... 6Biometrics Authentication will Change the Personal Identification Process ............... 7Two NSU Researchers Take Different Paths to Energy-efficient
Solar Cell Technology.......................................................................................................... 8Notable Awards........................................................................................................................ 10Tiny Carbon Fibers have Big Potential in the Biomedical Field ........................................ 11Dozoretz Scholars Make Their Mark in Science................................................................ 12New Software can Lead to Quicker Discovery of New and Novel Drugs...................... 13Virtual Training is a Valuable Tool for Healthcare Professionals..................................... 14Optical Engineering Program is one of the few Accredited in the Nation ..................... 15Environmental Program Spawns Students’ Interests in Science.................................... 16
Norfolk State University is at the forefront of discoveryand innovation! The research that we are conductingon our campus has enormous potential to transform
our quality of life and improve the stewardship of our planet.These innovations and advancements in science and technologycomplement our dedication to producing leaders for America’sglobal market.
Much of our research capabilities are housed in the Marie V. McDemmond Center forApplied Research, which sits at the corner of Park and Brambleton Avenues across fromour main campus. This 128,000 square-foot building is home to several research centersthat are expected to generate discoveries that will become commonplace in the marketplace.
The University’s research capacity and assets are important to Hampton Roads and theregion. Our Class 100/Class 1000 cleanroom provides processing capabilities for regionalscientists and researchers as well as the opportunity to develop partnerships with privateindustry, laboratories and universities. Norfolk State University’s work on solar celltechnology will help with energy conservation and could lead to less dependence onfossil fuels.
Our professors help shape and mentor the next generation of scientists and researchersby providing opportunities for students to conduct undergraduate research. Additionally,Norfolk State University has successful initiatives that are increasing the number ofminorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Within the pages of this publication, you will experience the breadth of our researchexpertise and capabilities of our faculty as well as the tremendous potential of ourstudents who work alongside their professors. Norfolk State University is working todayto build a better community and a greener planet.
With best regards,Kim LuckesActing President
Founded in 1935, Norfolk State University adheres
to the traditional purpose of the Historically Black
University and espouses the tradition of service to its
students, its alumni, the academy, the Commonwealth
of Virginia, the nation, and the world.
To learn more, email [email protected]
Norfolk State University has launched a new andinnovative initiative titled “Achieving SustainableHealth Empowerment III: A Comprehensive Health and
Wellness Initiative at NSU” (A.S.H.E. III). The initiative, whichis geared towards women’s health on campus and in thecommunity, has three primary components: the promotion ofoverall health; HIV/AIDS education, including prevention; andending violence against women. This program is the firstmulti-tiered, multi-agency health and wellness programdesigned for a campus setting. This unique approach mayserve as a model for other Historically Black Colleges andUniversities across the country.
African-Americans are disproportionately affected by healthrisks compared to all other minority groups in the United
States. A lack of health care plays a pivotalrole in the overall wellness of African-American females. They are less likely to seekmedical care; subsequently, it is often toolate when they do. A.S.H.E. III, which isfunded by a $300,000 national grant, recog-nizes the need to address the disparity inhealth care particularly among African-American women.
The cornerstone of the three-year projectfocuses on HIV/AIDS education and prevention.In Virginia, 77 percent of all new HIV/AIDScases diagnosed are among women and 77percent of all women living with HIV/AIDSin the Commonwealth are African-American.In addition, Virginia Health Departmentstatistics show 71 percent of the peopleliving with HIV/AIDS in the Eastern Region
are black, and 47 percent of females with HIV/AIDS wereinfected after heterosexual contact. That compares to 11percent for males.
Violence against females raises the risk of HIV/AIDS infec-tion exponentially. A Campus-Community Women’s HealthTaskforce has been established at Norfolk State Universitywhich serves as the umbrella organization for the A.S.H.E. IIIinitiative. A sub-task force, aimed at ending violence againstwomen, is working with NSU’s existing Sexual AssaultResponse team on education and activities to raise awareness.
A second sub-task force is tackling HIV/AIDS/STD issues.Student members are trained as Health Ambassadors by a core team of educators, led by Sheila Ward, Ph.D., MPH, aprofessor in the Department of Health, Physical Educationand Exercise Science. The core team includes local, state,regional and national health and wellness professionals.“The intent of this Comprehensive Health and WellnessInitiative is to empower females on campus to make healthychoices and practice healthy behaviors. Developing theseskills now will enable them to practice healthy behaviorsthroughout their lifespan and model and promote thesehealthy behaviors to their families,” said Ward.
The student Health Ambassadors plan and facilitate work-shops in the residence halls to educate young women abouthow gender and culture impact achieving overall wellness.Although the small peer-facilitated workshops target fresh-men, the health initiative is reaching out to women in thecommunity as well. A host of activities are in the planningstages for on- and off-campus. These programs will educateall women about health risks. Additionally, women will learnhow to ask their doctors questions, what diagnostic teststhey should have performed, how to overcome unhealthyhabits, and to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.
4 NSU Research • Spring 2011 NSU Research • Spring 2011 5
Health Initiative Uses Innovative Approachto HIV/AIDS EducationBy Dawn Stovall
The Norfolk State University Micro- andNano-technology Center (MiNaC) is a6,000 square-foot cleanroom facility
located in the Marie V. McDemmond Centerfor Applied Research. This $6.5 million facilityis a Class 100/Class 1000 user facility thatprovides unique processing capabilitiesnot only for NSU researchers, but also forresearchers around the Hampton Roads regionand beyond. Moreover, it is currently theonly full-scale cleanroom at an historicallyblack college or university. This world-class facility will engage teams of NSUresearchers in partnership with privateindustry, government laboratories, andother university investigators in the productionof microelectronics and optoelectronicsdevices on the micro- and nano-scale. Inpast years, NSU has emphasized thecharacterization and synthesis of advancedmaterials, but not prototype devicedevelopment. The cleanroom facility allowsfor the necessary facilities to extend theon-campus research capabilities intofabrication and development of optical andmicroelectronics devices for applicationsincluding bio-chemical sensing, renewableenergy, and neural probes.
Further, the MiNaC is an incubator for thecreation of entrepreneurial enterprises thatsupport economic strength in the HamptonRoads community, and world leadership incritical technologies for the United States.This facility will allow external researcherswho currently do not have access to such a
robust infrastructure,but need to makecustomizable deviceson the micro- andnano-scale, thecapability to do so.
MiNaC houses equip-ment that enables thedeposition and etchingof thin films, thepatterning of devicesand nano-/micro-structures, and wetchemical processing.This premier facilityenables faculty andstudent researchers to
have access to state-of-the-art equipment,facilitating novel research. The equipment inMiNaC includes:
• Evaporators (thermal and e-beam)• Sputtering Systems (DC and RF)• Rapid Thermal Annealing System• Furnaces and Ovens• Double Side Contact Mask Aligner• Polymer Spinners• Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor
Deposition System• Inductively Coupled Plasma Etching
System• Reactive Ion Etching System• Chemical Mechanical Polishing System• Profilometer• Ellipsometer• Wet Processing Work Stations• E-beam lithography System
(coming soon)
The MiNaC will open in spring 2011.
Cleanroom Expands Research CapabilitiesBy Frances Williams, Ph.D.Engineering
Frances Williams
In Virginia, 77 percent ofall new HIV/AIDS casesdiagnosed are amongwomen and 77 percentof all women livingwith HIV/AIDS in theCommonwealth areAfrican-American.
Frances Williams, Ph.D., is an associate professor in theDepartment of Engineering.
To learn more, email [email protected] To learn more, email [email protected]
Dawn Stovall is an award-winning freelance journalist.
In this 21st centuryof global informa-tion, there is an
ever-growing need toauthenticate individuals.Biometrics-basedauthentication isemerging as a reliable method that canovercome serious limitations of the traditionalautomatic personal identification technologies.Biometric recognition, or biometrics, refersto the automatic identification of a personbased on his/her anatomical (e.g., finger-print, iris) or behavioral (e.g., signature)characteristics or traits. This method ofidentification offers several advantages overtraditional methods involving ID cards (tokens)or PIN numbers (passwords) for variousreasons: (i) the person to be identified isrequired to be physically present at thepoint-of-identification; and (ii) identificationbased on biometric techniques obviatesthe need to remember a password or carrya token.
Norfolk State University plans to start newbiometrics research and development in thefast growing and promising areas of finger-print, facial, and iris recognition technologies,
and to develop abiometrics curriculum.This effort will fosterrelationships withcommercial, private, andfederal agencies.
Biometrics development will position NSUas the only Historically Black College orUniversity entering this ever growing andemerging field with applications vital tohomeland security and military includingapplications for improving airport security,strengthening our national borders, in traveldocuments, visas and in preventing ID theft.Commercial applications include automobilekeyless entry, retail sales, amusement parks,banks, health and social services, enterpriseand government networks, colleges, physicalaccess to multiple facilities and school lunchprograms. Now, more than ever, there is awide range of interest in biometrics acrossfederal, state, and local governments andsecure consumer transactions.
The Biometrics Lab will build on the excellentmaterial science expertise and the synergisticinteraction between materials science,engineering, biology, and computer science
departments, in addition to the availability ofthe state-of-the-art infrastructure at the MarieV. McDemmond Center for Applied Researchon NSU’s campus.
The Biometrics Lab aims to develop cutting-edge multi-level biometric solution technolo-gies and to create biometric standards,databases, and protocols to perform biometricproduct testing. The initial focus is thedevelopment of new fingerprint sensors thatcan be optical, semiconductor and capaci-tance-based. Ideas such as the use of multi-spectral scanning scheme for minutiaecapture will be explored. To increase accu-racy and reduce false acceptance and falserejection, a multimodal biometric approachwill be investigated integrating live humanfeatures such as body temperature, sweat,blood pressure and blood vessels. Costeffectiveness, security and convenience arethe basic requirements for successfuldeployment of these sensors in everyday life.
A comprehensive biometrics curriculum willbe developed at NSU. Such a program willattract a significant number of underrepre-sented minority students interested in highlypaid jobs and in-demand careers such asfingerprint examiners, forensics, cyber security,quality assurance, intelligence, profilers,law enforcement, and security.
NSU scientists will forge ties and cooperatewith industries to provide biometric solu-tions that can quickly produce enormouseconomic benefits and nurture local eco-nomic growth as well as provide consultingfor industry to ensure sound investment inbiometric ventures. Strong research and anacademic relationship with Harris Corporationwill be initiated through joint publications,joint grants writing and proposals, SBIRsand STTRs, students’ internships andsummer research programs.
Messaoud Bahoura, Ph.D., is an associate professor inthe Department of Engineering.
6 NSU Research • Spring 2011 NSU Research • Spring 2011 7
Imagine a friend tells you that they justpainted their kitchen “blue.” You mightask if it’s Navy Blue, Sky Blue or Turquoise.
But if they told you they painted a wall“black,” you wouldn’t have any such questions.There’s only one shade of black, right?Wrong. At least if work being conducted byMikhail Noginov, Ph.D., at the NSU Centerfor Materials Research continues to evolve.Noginov and his colleagues, includingProfessor Evgeni E. Narimanov of PurdueUniversity, who has proposed the concept,are developing materials that are bestdescribed as “blacker than black.”
These new, high-tech substances are thenext step in what Noginov calls the develop-ment of material science reaching as farback as the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, andeven to the more recent rise of SiliconValley. Termed “Metamaterials,” thesematerials work by altering light in waysheretofore impossible in any naturallyoccurring substance.
The science is complex, with work takingplace at the ultra-small nanoparticle level.In the simplest terms, the Metamaterialbends incoming light waves in unnaturaldirections, either changing their finalappearance or preventing them from beingreflected all together.
One example that illustrates this concept isplacing a straw into a glass of water. In a“normal” material, the straw will appear tobend slightly due to refraction but stillcontinues in the same general direction.However, in a negative index Metamaterial,the straw would appear to bend almostbackwards, its reactions altered by theMetamaterial’s specially alignedarrangements of nanoparticles.
Another, albeit simplistic, example is theimage of water entering a sponge. Most ofthe water is held within the sponge’ssurface, with only a small percentageescaping. In a Metamaterial such as thatunder development at NSU, light replaceswater, and theoretically, all of the light thatenters the material is scattered inside, withlittle or no light escaping.
Noginov’s research, funded by both theDepartment of Defense and the NationalScience Foundation, could have implicationsfor civilian and military uses. Among theseare enhancements in the field of optics,greatly enhancing the resolution of opticalmicroscopes and other tools.
On the military side, the potential usesmight seem more like science fiction than
fact. Through the application of Metamateriallight distortion, it may one day be possibleto produce a complete “invisibility cloak”around Army tanks or Navy submarines.By altering how light passes around andthrough the material, researchers at NSUand other centers hope to effectively deletean object from an observer’s view, renderingit functionally invisible.
And it may not be just light that can bealtered. “If we can translate the currentmetamaterial technology to RADAR wave-lengths,” says Noginov, “the next stepcould be enhancements to our militarystealth technology.”
Noginov, who has been at NSU since 1997,leads a team of doctoral, master’s and under-graduate students working in partnership withresearchers at Cornell and Purdue Universities.“The Center for Materials Research is afairly small center in the area of Materials,”says Noginov of the NSU efforts, “but wehave a number of people here at the top oftheir fields. Just like our materials, our massmay be small, but our quality is high.”
Heath E. Covey is a professional writer and communicatorworking in Hampton Roads.
NSU Helps Move “Invisibility Cloaking” ForwardBy Heath E. Covey
Biometrics Authentication will Change thePersonal Identification ProcessBy Messaoud Bahoura, Ph.D.Engineering
To learn more, email [email protected] learn more, email [email protected]
NSU Research • Spring 2011 9
Global demand for energy isincreasing exponentially andthe need for innovation in this
area has never been more apparent.Solar energy has emerged as one of themost promising alternative and greenenergy sources for this century thatmight curb the global energy demand.Cost effectiveness, efficiency and relia-bility have limited the applications ofmost of photovoltaic (PV) technologies.However, in recent years, a newcomposite inorganic multi-junction thin-film material has shown very promisingresults in terms of efficiency (more than20 percent), cost, and reliability. Thismaterial is Copper, Indium Gallium,Selenide (CIGS). CIGS is flexible, efficient,reliable, environmentally friendly andcustomizable to architectural design.
A research team at Norfolk State University lead by Dr. AswiniPradhan has successfully manufactured nanomaterials-based CIGSthin films using a very inexpensive electrochemical growth technique.The research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).The preliminary data, recently published in the Solar Energy Journal showvery promising characteristics in terms of morphology, low manufacturingcost per watt, and anticipated high efficiency. “The CIGS thin filmsconsisting of nanostructures, mostly interlaced nanosheets, are theclue for higher surface to area ratio and consequently higher solarenergy conversion efficiency,” described team member, MessaoudBahoura, Ph.D. Further work in progress includes the optimization ofthe electrochemical and annealing processes to devise reproduciblegrowth conditions and the fabrication of optimized absorber layers forefficient PV cells applications.
CIGS solar cells use very thin layers of semiconductor materialapplied to a low-cost substrate such as flexible metallic foils, glass,high-temperature polymers or stainless steel sheets. Therefore,CIGS thin-film solar cells require less energy to make and can be fabricated by a variety of techniques. Consequently, thin-films of
CIGS are considered as the most promising PV material providingmore affordable solar cells that can be incorporated into roofshingles, windows, siding material and glass, leading to sustainableconstruction in the future. In addition, light weight and flexiblesubstrate CIGS-based modules could have excellent applicability forspace application and portable consumer electronics.
Because of their high absorptivity and stability against photo-degra-dation, line produced CIGS thin-film based solar cells are not onlycompeting with the efficiency of the more common silicon-basedsolar cells, but they are surpassing them steadily. Furthermore, theCIGS module cost has greatly reduced due to active research fueledby massive investments and fierce competition. According toResearch and Market analysis reports, CIGS has become the bestsolar cell invested product when compared to other PV materials.This trend is expected to continue as time goes on.
Aswini Pradhan, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Engineering. He is alsodirector of the CREST Center for Nano & Bio-Inspired Materials & Devices (CNBMD).
Energy supply and environmentalconservation have become two of thetop concerns and challenges human
beings are facing nowadays, and the twoissues are closely related to each other.Over 80 percent of the world’s energy suppliesare from the burning of fossil fuels includingcoal, oil, and natural gas [1]. However,carbon dioxide and other toxic gases releasedfrom fossil fuel burning are causing environ-mental problems such as air pollution andglobal warming. In addition, fossil fueldeposits on the earth are limited and will begone eventually. Sunlight is perhaps themost abundant, free, renewable, and cleanenergy source available on the surface ofthe earth and in the solar system. Sunlightcan be converted directly into clean electricalpower via photovoltaic technology or solarcells. Though the best inorganic crystallinesolar cell technology has achieved photo-electric power conversion efficiencies of
over 30 percent, and the annual industrialgrowth of commercially available solar cellshas been more than 40 percent over the lastfive years, the technology is still noteconomically competitive compared to theenergy supply from chemical fossil fuelburning. Future generation “plastic” solar celltechnology appears very attractive andpromising for supplying power due to itslow cost, lightweight, and flexible thin filmshape which can be easily applied in largeareas such as roof tops or desert[2].
Since 1998, a research team led by Dr. SamSun, professor of Chemistry at Norfolk StateUniversity, has worked on a number ofprojects to investigate and develop novelpolymers with tailored electronic structuresand solid state morphologies that could leadto the realization of “plastic” solar cells. Theresearch team has published over 70scientific publications (including two books)at international scientific communities, andthe team has been recognized as one of theworld’s leading research teams on the
subject. It is expected that the new “plastic”solar cells will be widely used as a renewableand clean energy technology within the nextdecade with further improvement of deviceefficiency and stability. A number of compa-nies worldwide have expressed interests inNSU’s plastic solar cell R&D projects, andNSU has signed preliminary Memoranda ofUnderstanding (MOU) with two companies(Georgia Aerospace System in Georgia, andSolar Energy Solutions in Ohio) to facilitatethe industrial R&D and commercializationefforts of plastic solar cells.
Two NSU Researchers Take Different Paths to Energy-efficient Solar Cell Technology
[1] Sun, S. and Sariciftci, N. (Eds.). (2005). Organic Photo-voltaics: Mechanisms, Materials and Devices. Boca Raton: CRC Press/Taylo Francis (ISBN 0-82475-963-X).
[2] Sun, S. “Organic and Polymeric Solar Cells”, an invitedreview article in Handbook of Organic Electronics and Photonics,edited by S. H. Nalwa, American Scientific Publishers, Los Angeles, California, 2008, vol. 3, chapter 7, pp 313-350.
Sam-Shajing Sun, Ph.D., is a professor in the ChemistryDepartment. He is also an associate editor of a prestigiousinternational journal “Solar Energy,” and is a technicalreviewer for a number of funding agencies such as NSF, DOD and NASA.
Sun’s website can be accessed at http://vigyan.nsu.edu/~cmr/ssun.htm.
By Sam-Shajing Sun, Ph.D.Chemistry By Aswini Pradhan, Ph.D.
Engineering
8 NSU Research • Spring 2011 To learn more, email [email protected] To learn more, email [email protected]
10 NSU Research • Spring 2011 NSU Research • Spring 2011 11
Tiny Carbon Fibers have Big Potential in the Biomedical FieldBy Govindarajan Ramesh, Ph.D.Biology
Carbon nanotubes(CNTs) have generateda tremendous amount
of interest in the field ofnanotechnology due to theirunique physical properties.CNTs are tiny carbon fibersabout 100,000 times thinnerthan a human hair. Thesemicroscopic fibers formtubes which are rolled upinto geometric hexagons ofcarbon. CNTs have similarproperties as metals andhave proven to be goodsemiconductors. They arealso extremely strongmaterials and have goodthermal conductivity.Because of this, CNTsrepresent an ideal buildingblock for nano-devices, suchas bio-sensors, fuel cells,and field-emission displays.
One particular area of application forCNTs that is of considerable interest isin the biomedical field. Potentialapplications include targeted drugdelivery, virus detection, better medicalimplants, artificial organs, diseasediagnosis, and molecular imaging.Therefore, looking at the many possibleuses of CNTs, it is extremely importantto understand the biological effect ofthese materials. Is there any healthrisk in the use of these materials in thework place? What impact will theyhave in the environment? Suchquestions require vigorous researchin various biological models to betterunderstand the CNTs’ impact in themany potential uses.
The team of researchers at NorfolkState University’s Center for Biotech-nology and Biomedical Sciences, is
focusing on answeringthese questions. Theresearch is aimed atevaluating the biocom-patibility of CNTs in livingsystems. Since thehuman skin is a primarytarget of CNT exposure,the biocompatibility ofCNTs with skin cells hasbeen studied. Theresults from this study,as published in the ACSJournal Nano Letters,have shown that CNTs atvery low concentrations(1μg/ml) can be toxic toskin cells. The toxicitywas determined to bethe result of the CNTsgenerating reactiveoxygen radicals within thecells. These findings
warrant a reasonable level of publichealth concern, while requiring furtherstudies in more biological systems.
The work in the lab has demonstratedthe potential health hazards of CNTsassociated with skin contamination.However, it is possible that the CNTs maybe chemically modified to reduce oreliminate their toxicity. This possibilitywill be addressed in future research.Also, the researchers are interestedin developing novel biomedicalapplications for CNTs. These includebio-sensors (glucose, tumor makers, andmetal ions), drug delivery systems, andmedical imaging probes. This excitingresearch aims to forge the successfuland safe integration of CNTs with “realworld” devices.
Govindarajan Ramesh, Ph.D., is a professor in theBiology Department and the principal investigator forthe CNT research project.
The McDemmond Center for Applied Research at Norfolk State University
Notable Awards
To learn more, email [email protected] To learn more, email [email protected]
NSU’s Information Assurance – Research, Education, and Development Institute (IA-REDI) has been designated as a NationalSecurity Agency/Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence for Information Assurance Education and has research fundingfrom the Department of Energy.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGYAgency Title PI/PD Start End Award Amount
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Norfolk State University Dozoretzscholars are standouts in theirrespective fields. Graduates of
the program include researchers, medicaldoctors, pharmacists, dentists and lawyers.Most of them will quickly tell you that someof their success is due in part to NSU’sDozoretz National Institute for Mathematicsand Applied Sciences (DNIMAS).
“Our courses at Norfolk State were rigorousenough that wherever we went after gradu-ation, we were prepared,” said Victor P.Clark, M.D., ’01, who specializes in internalmedicine at Sentara Obici Hospital inSuffolk. Clark graduated from EasternVirginia Medical School in 2007.
A rigorous honors program, DNIMAS hasbeen effectively preparing students for
successful graduate-level study and employ-ment for 25 years, addressing a severeshortage of minority scientists in math,science and engineering.
DNIMAS was established in 1985 with a giftfrom psychiatrist and businessman, Dr. RonaldI. Dozoretz. The first class of 20 studentsenrolled in fall 1986, and to date, more than320 students have graduated.
“Everyone talks about the need to increaseSTEM (science, technology, engineering,math) graduates for our nation to remaincompetitive,” said Sandra J. DeLoatch,Ph.D., dean of NSU’s College of Science,Engineering and Technology. “ThroughDNIMAS, we are producing individualscapable of earning advanced graduate orprofessional degrees who will be our futureSTEM leaders. Even though this programwas conceived in 1985, its goals are evenmore timely today.”
Key features of the DNIMAS program includea four-week summer bridge program; four-yearscholarship; specialized curricula in biology,chemistry, computer science, engineering,
applied mathematics and physics; internshipsand/or research experiences; career counseling;and seminars.
Aliecia McClain, Ph.D., has been director ofDNIMAS since 2004. She teaches classes,but devotes about 75 percent of her time toadministering the program. “I’m involved inrecruiting students and developing programsto help ensure student performance, includinga peer tutoring and mentoring program,”McClain explained.
The summer program for incoming freshmenand peer tutoring have proven very effectivein student performance and retention, andare considered “best practices” for this typeof honors program, she added.
Dozoretz scholars must complete at leasttwo internships, and they are placed atpremier government and corporate laboratoriesand prestigious universities. These sitesinclude the Environmental Protection Agency;General Dynamics; NASA; Georgia Tech;Department of Homeland Security; NavalResearch Laboratory; Eastern Virginia MedicalSchool; Fermi Laboratories; Lawrence Liver-more Laboratory; Lucent Technology; Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology; HarvardUniversity; and the Cern in Switzerland.
More than 75 percent of graduates go on tograduate or professional schools, and theyhave been awarded millions of dollars infellowships for their advanced studies. Sixteengraduates were awarded the competitive$100,000 Packard Foundation fellowship tostudy for doctorate degrees.
With this stellar reputation, the DNIMASprogram attracts plenty of qualifiedapplicants. “We can accommodate morestudents, but the constraint is scholarshipdollars,” DeLoatch said.
NSU invests more than $2.5 million annuallyto support Dozoretz scholars. The universityhas secured some grant funding for theprogram, and three current students haveearned Gates Foundation scholarships,which cover all expenses during the fouryears of undergraduate study.
Mindy Hughes of Hughes Communications and Consultingis an independent public relations and communicationsprofessional.
Dozoretz ScholarsMake Their Markin ScienceBy Mindy Hughes
New Software can Lead to Quicker Discovery ofNew and Novel DrugsBy Joseph C. Hall, Ph.D. and Eduardo Socolovsky, Ph.D.Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences
For both biochemist and medicinal chemists, the processof drug discovery is conceptually no more complicatedthan matching a square peg to a square hole. To be
effective, a drug must fit a specialized receptor or enzymeactive site in a “target” cell, producing a change in the waythe target cell functions that can affect the course of a diseaseor biological function. In practice though, the challenges thatbiochemists and medicinal chemists face are formidable. Tostart with, they can’t see the square hole directly; they beginwith only a rough notion of its shape and have to make thesquare peg themselves. Fortunately, there are a number ofhigh-technology tools that are at their disposal. One suchhigh-technology tool called SYBYL, is available at the NorfolkState University’s Center for Biotechnology and BiomedicalSciences (CBBS). SYBYL is a suite of programs, each oneperforming a part of the computational drug discovery process. Inthe figure shown below, a receptor-based design workflow isone of many possible workflows using the SYBYL programsthat can lead to the discovery of new and novel drugs.
The SYBYL programs allow the researcher to model new leadcompounds and to predict their effectiveness on a targetedcell function. One can then synthesize and test only those
compounds with the “highest predictive value” reducing thetesting time from decades to two or three years. With fundsfrom a $3.6 million grant awarded in 2005 from the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH), Norfolk State University has theonly fully operational Computationally-Aided Drug DiscoveryLaboratory in Southeastern Virginia. The establishment of thedrug discovery lab has enhanced our scientific approach to-wards the “male contraceptive” (i.e., a male birth control pill).The Drug Discovery laboratory is under the direction ofJoseph C. Hall, Ph.D., and Eduardo Socolovsky, Ph.D.
Joseph C. Hall, Ph.D., is a professor in the ChemistryDepartment and is the vice president for Research andEconomic Development. Eduardo Socolovsky, Ph.D.,is the Bioinformatic and Computational Science Coordinator for the Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences.
NSU Research • Spring 2011 1312 NSU Research • Spring 2011 To learn more, email [email protected] To learn more, email [email protected]
Victor P. Clark, M.D.,’01,was a DNIMAS scholar. He is currently a physicianat Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Va.
Victor P. Clark, M.D.,’01,was a DNIMAS scholar. He is currently a physicianat Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Va.
The rapid advances in technologydemand a ready supply of innovativeproblem solvers and critical thinkers.In response to the need for skilledscientists, Norfolk State Universityestablished an Optical Engineeringprogram with the goal of becoming apowerhouse in technology in the UnitedStates. NSU’s Department of Engineeringhas developed an infrastructure ingeneral optical education to supportlaboratory development of new photonicand electro/magneto materials andtheir applications to optics, sensors,micro/nanofabrication, and smartdevices for the skill and knowledgeenhancement of students. Studentsinterested in the science of light, canearn both the Bachelor of Science andMaster of Science degrees. The curriculumemphasizes the duality of classroominstruction and research activities indeveloping world-class scientists tocompete in the global technologicalarena.
In 2003, Norfolk State University becamethe first historically black university tooffer a degree program in optical engineering.
The engineering department has developedsix educational optics laboratories, includingan educational cleanroom to provide semi-conductor processes such as solar cell;micro-electronics; and optical, MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems), and nanodevices. In 2008, the optical engineering
program was approved by the AccreditationBoard for Engineering and Technology (ABET),making it the fifth accredited program in theUnited States. This accomplishment is consis-tent with the university’s mission to establishworld renowned academic programs. Theengineering faculty is dedicated to both thetraditional realm of teaching and conductingfrontier research. The areas of research in-clude the use of solar cells as renewable en-ergy and the development of biomedical andenvironmental sensors. Norfolk State University’sresearch has attracted several prestigiousgrants from the National Science Foundation,NASA and the U.S. Army. The engineeringdepartment faculty has secured nearly $7million in research grants which will benefitstudents by providing the hands-on experiencenecessary to gain employment in bothgovernment and private sectors.
Opportunities for graduates in opticalengineering are available in many industriesand are increasing. The diverse applicationsin optics have transformed the science fiction-based technology to modern-day uses. Commonexamples of optics are laser printers andother devices, Internet switches, fiber opticcommunications, radar systems, and all typesof consumer electronics.
NSU is also pursuing several partnershipswith government agencies, corporations andother schools. As a part of the AcademicCommon Market (ACM) agreement with thestate of Maryland in 2003, both the states ofDelaware and South Carolina now offerstudents the opportunity to also attendNSU at in-state rates. Dr. Kyo Song, chairof the Engineering Department says, “ThisACM agreement has the potential toprovide opportunities to a larger pool ofstudents. As we have achieved basicinfrastructures in the optical engineeringprogram at NSU, we are expecting morestudents in the program, and continue toeducate our students in order to fit industrialrequirements and national needs.”
NSU graduates are accepted into master’sprograms and are employed by national andlocal governmental agencies and majorcorporations such as the Norfolk NavalShipyard, Lockheed Martin, Naval SurfaceWarfare Center, A.G. Taylor Research andDevelopment Inc., BAE Systems, and others.
14 NSU Research • Spring 2011 NSU Research • Spring 2011 15
Simulation is typically used to providerealistic, safe, and repeatable trainingopportunities for many occupations.
One of the main reasons that simulation is avaluable training tool is its ability to createrealistic scenarios for situations wheretraining in the corresponding real scenariowould be expensive, undesirable, or impos-sible. This is especially true in the area ofmedical simulation and healthcare profes-sional training. The realism of the simulationcan be the key to its training effectivenessif one of the goals of the training is toprepare the trainee for situations that may bestressful, emotionally unsettling, or thataffect human life.
The mission of the Army Medical Depart-ment is to maintain soldier health. In 2005,the Army was struggling to recruit enoughdoctors, dentists, nurses, and other health-care professionals to treat soldiers on thefront lines and on their return. The efficienttraining of healthcare professionals in amanner that reduces risk to life can helpaddress this problem and further the missionof the Army Medical Department. Dr. DavidGaba in a 2005 Annals of Medicine articlestated that “Health care may be unique
among high-risk fields in that learning takesplace largely on human beings….Youwouldn’t get on an airplane unless the pilothad been trained in a flight simulator andcertified to use the new instruments on ajet. Why would you place yourself in thehands of a doctor who hadn’t proven hiscompetency and been certified on a simulator?”
The Creative Gaming and Simulation Lab(CGS) at Norfolk State University is a state-of-the-art research lab for the research anddevelopment of game based, interactiveWeb-based, and interactive training solutionsfor education, industry, and government. TheCGS has been awarded $4.2 million in fundingfor the VNurse project. The funding comesfrom the U.S. Army Medical Research andMateriel Command’s (USAMRMC) Telemedicineand Advanced Technology Research Center(TATRC). The Virtual Nurse (VNurse) trainingenvironment is a modular dynamic PC basedsimulation framework for nurse training in avirtual 3D environment. VNurse addressescurrent issues regarding nurse preparation.It will provide an opportunity to increase thetraining and efficiency of nursing studentsand professionals. The project will evaluatethe learning of clinical content and how this
is translated into performance of clinicaltasks. VNurse is a fully interactive 3D simu-lation training environment with 6 trainingunits: Case Studies, Medical Surgical,Pharmacology, Pre/Post testing, Resource,and Evaluation and Assessment units.
VNurse is also designed to allow for expan-sion and incorporation of physicians andother medical personnel making it a futuremultiplayer game addressing issues such asworkflow and teamwork training. Theproject Co-Principal Investigator is Dr. MonaRizvi, Associate Professor of ComputerScience. The project development teamincludes Dr. Jun Wang (Research AssistantProfessor of Software Development) andMr. Bratislav Cvijetic (Research Associate inGraphics Design and Animation).
Optical Engineering Program is one of the fewAccredited in the NationBy Dawn Stovall
Virtual Training is a Valuable Tool for Healthcare ProfessionalsBy Rasha Morsi, Ph.D., DirectorCreative Gaming and Simulation (CGS) Lab
Rasha Morsi, Ph.D., is an associate professor in theDepartment of Engineering. She is the principal investigatorfor the Vnurse project.
Dawn Stovall is an award-winning freelance journalist.
This device is a coupling fixture for fiber optic cable.
To learn more, email [email protected] To learn more, email [email protected]
Interesting high school students in the sciences can be a challenge; keepingthem interested into college is even
more daunting. But that was the aggressivegoal of a 2008 Memorandum of Understand-ing (MOU) between Norfolk State University,the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Hampton University and the VirginiaDepartment of Environmental Quality.
Entitled, “Linking Environmental andAcademic Programs: Air Quality Monitoring,Environmental Results, Career Developmentand Stewardship,” the MOU soughtexpanded participation by underrepresentedgroups in environmental activities. Studentsfrom Norview and Booker T. Washingtonhigh schools in Norfolk, along with I.C.Norcom in Portsmouth, participated in two-week residential Environmental SummerPrograms (ESP) on the NSU campus in 2008,2009 and 2010. The EPA provided NSU a$50,000 grant to help sponsor the programs.
The students worked with mentors andmembers of the NSU science and technologyfaculty to study the impact of jet exhaustscontaining high levels of Volatile OrganicCompounds (VOCs). Students collected airsamples which they and their professorsthen studied using the University’s gaschromatographic mass spectrophotometer.Following identification of the VOCs present,biology and chemistry professors leddiscussions on the potential health effectsof the compounds. The summer 2010program took advantage of a uniqueenvironmental emergency, the massive oilleak in the Gulf of Mexico, to study sciencein action. Using large aquariums, studentssimulated a leak and studied variousdispersal and cleaning methods.
In addition to their classroom studies, ESPparticipants engaged in nightly “Rap Sessions”on many topics. The sessions helpedreinforce the program’s overall goal toprovide students with the tools necessaryto succeed in a scientific field.
The ESP project benefited from NSU’sSTARS (Science and Technology Academicianson the Road to Success) Project, funded bythe National Science Foundation and inplace at NSU for more than a decade.STARS provides NSU’s College of Science,Engineering and Technology students with a seamless environment of recruitment,pre-entrance preparation, advising, mentor-ship and research. ESP students were ableto participate in many of the STARSprograms, along with other NSU students.
Both ESP cohorts (2008 and 2009) partici-pated in an academic year program thatintroduced them to STEM (science, technology,engineering, mathematics) fields and avariety of science activities including thesampling of local wetlands to measurewater quality, opportunities in health andmedicine, Nano-Technology, Robotics andSimulation, and Electronics. NSU facultyvolunteers conducted these activities withthe students on Saturday mornings. Partici-pants were paired with a mentor and onsitetutoring and mentoring were provided by theSTARS Centers. Students also touredJames Madison University and theUniversity of Virginia.
In order for students to participate in theprogram, a strong commitment from parentsor guardians was required, including
specialized orientation sessions. Studentswho performed well in the program wereoffered enrollment in science curricula atNSU and were eligible for scholarships,provided they maintained at least a 3.0 highschool GPA.
The ESP team is led by Sandra J. DeLoatch,Ph.D., dean of the College of Science,Engineering and Technology. The STARSprogram is led by Project Director LarryMattix, Ph.D., who directed recruitmentefforts in the partner high schools. NSUfaculty members–Charmagne Odom;Govindarajan Ramesh, Ph.D.; Maureen Scott;and Joseph D’Silva, Ph.D.–directed theinstructional activities for students.
Heath E. Covey is a professional writer and communicatorworking in Hampton Roads.
Environmental Program Spawns Students’Interests in ScienceBy Heath E. Covey
16 NSU Research • Spring 2011
For more information about theseresearch projects, contact the
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
(757) [email protected]
