UH Engineering Professor Studying Brain Plasticity
(April 27, 2006) UH Cullen College of Engineering Assistant Professor, Valery Katatsky, electrical and computer engineering, and Hubert Dinse, a professor with Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, are collaborating on a research project in an effort to determine the plasticity of the adult brain. The project is supported by a three-year, $750,000 grant from the Human Frontiers Science Program, an organization dedicated to bringing together scientists from different parts of the world. Kalatsky is developing an optical imaging device that will map the adult brain 30-times faster than current methods.

Betty Barr Receives Regional IEEE Outstanding Educator Award
(April 21, 2006) UH Cullen College of Engineering's Betty Barr, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, was honored as the 2005 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Outstanding Educator of the Year at the IEEE Region 5 Technical, Professional and Student Conference held earlier this month. The award is one of numerous teaching and service awards Barr has received during her 35-year tenure at the college.

Student Researchers Honored at Sigma Xi Research Day
(April 13, 2006) Projects including the synthesization of aptamers used to inhibit illness progression, the growth of horizontally aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes, the development of mathematical models used to explain how the eye focuses and the development of a new method used to turn lunar soil simulants into ceramic bricks garnered several Cullen College of Engineering students recognition at the University of Houston Sigma Xi Research Day. Sigma Xi is a scientific research society and global honor society of scientists and engineers.

UH Student Chapter Hosts Regional AIChE Conference
(April 13, 2006) The University of Houston student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) hosted the organization’s 2006 Southwest Regional Conference on April 7-9. The three-day event attracted more than 130 students from nine universities to participate in chemical engineering professional development and social activities, including plant tours, workshops, research paper and Chem-E-Car competitions, and a job fair.

BP Check Presentation
(April 12, 2006) BP representative Gabe Cuadra (1988 BSChE) presents a check to UH Cullen College of Engineering Dean Raymond Flumerfelt and Vita Como, director of the Engineering Career Center. The gift will support the Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies (PROMES), equipment purchases in the chemical and mechanical engineering departments and the UH student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Photo by Kitty Karson.

Annual Golf Tournament Raises Funds for Cullen College of Engineering
(April 11, 2006) The 17th Annual Engineering Golf Tournament teed off at the Hearthstone Country Club on April 3, drawing over 130 golfers to help raise money in support of Cullen College of Engineering academic programs. Low Gross winners Miguel Ortega, Kevin Messer, Bob Martin and Ken James with Cannon Services, Ltd. captured the Dean’s Cup, an award given to the lowest scoring team representing one of the academic departments within the college. For the second consecutive year, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was awarded $1,000 in discretionary funds.

Colleagues Gather to Celebrate Ernest Henley's Career
(April 6, 2006) Emeritus Professor Ernest Henley was recently honored by his colleagues and friends for a lifetime of contributions to chemical engineering education and to the Cullen College of Engineering. Dean Raymond Flumerfelt and Michael Harold, Dow Chair Professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, hosted the event to celebrate Henley’s many academic achievements, as well as countless personal accomplishments, business ventures and philanthropic endeavors. Henley joined the Cullen College of Engineering in 1962 and was an important contributor to the department’s rise to becoming one of the top 10 chemical engineering programs in the nation. Dan Luss, Cullen Professor of Engineering, was one of many individuals that shared stories about Dr. Henley.

Engineering Student Athlete Sets the Pace
(April 6, 2006) Mechanical engineering sophomore Oumama Hallal captured first place in a recent five-kilometer race at Texas Southern University Relays. It was the first time she ran this distance competitively, beating out the second place contender by well over a minute. Not only does she succeed as a member of the University of Houston track team, but as an engineering student as well. While maintaining a 3.6 GPA, Hallal finds time in between running, classes and homework to volunteer as a math and science tutor for other student athletes.

UH Researchers Working on "Cruise Ship Virus" Diagnostic Tool
(April 4, 2006) Cullen College of Engineering's Paul Ruchhoeft, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Richard Willson, professor of chemical engineering, along with Robert Atmar at Baylor College of Medicine, are working to develop a quick and accurate test for the Norwalk virus, also known as the "Cruise Ship virus". The virus has sparked media attention in recent years due to large-scale outbursts on cruise ships. Ruchhoeft and Willson are working on a method of detection that involves retroreflectors, nano-sized reflectors that work by returning a light signal back to its source if Norwalk is detected in a biological sample. Such technology will simplify the Norwalk detection process, allowing individuals to be scanned for the virus before boarding a cruise ship, and has the potential to be an applicable diagnostic tool for other diseases.