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WVNano Initiative: New Faces in Nano

Morgantown, WV – July 7, 2006 – What is nano? Well, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanoscience is the study of objects hundreds to tens of nanometers in size. Interesting, right? Why should these tiny things be studied at all? These tiny dimensions of matter are being studied by researchers from every sector of science because nano-sized materials have a rich set of properties that are valuable for various real world applications. Nanoscience brings biologists, chemists, physicist, engineers and those in the medical profession together to explore nanotechnology. Molecular diagnostics, sensors, nanophotonics, nanomedicine, drug delivery and cancer research are just some of the areas where nanotechnology is showing great promise. It is becoming the premier scientific approach to attaining solutions to a plethora of major security, health and medical issues plaguing our society.

West Virginia University has a strong understanding of the importance of nanotechnology.  The WVNano Initiative is an interdisciplinary faculty-led effort started in 2004 housed at the Vice President’s Office of Research and Economic Development at WVU.  WVNano’s primary objective is to improve the research environment and diversify West Virginia’s economic base through cultivation and growth of vigorous research in targeted areas of nanoscale science and engineering.  Working with Marshall University and WV State University,  WVNano leads the technical component of the recent NSF EPSCoR RII grant awarded to the State of West Virginia.  This technical component focuses on discovery and innovation in the area of molecular recognition which brings together material, device, and biomolecular systems expertise at the participating institutions to advance research of societal impact in security and health. To advance this  research, WVNano is developing a diversified portfolio of capable new researchers to complement existing strengths already found at WVU and elsewhere in the state.  WVNano has a commitment for eleven new hires to carry out this very important research.  This is a brief introduction to the first five.

Dr. Lloyd Carroll, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at West Virginia University, hails from the University of North Carolina.  His areas of expertise include: magneto-elastomeric composites, design and direction of biomotor systems for device applications.  He also brings experience in the areas of new course development and NSE education.

Nick Wu, a graduate of Zehjiang University in China, joined WVNano from Northwestern University and is now an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University.  Dr. Wu specializes in imaging and characterization, nanoscale probing biological molecules and cells and nanomaterials, nano-structures and nanofabrication.  He is collaborating on a project involving drug toxicology.

Dr. James Lewis brings a combined experience of nano-theory, collaborations and an international perspective of nanotechnology.  Lewis, a physics professor from Brigham Young University, and now, an Assistant Professor of Physics at West Virginia University, will surely introduce student mentoring in the area of nanotechnology and research support.

WVNano and West Virginia University also has a new hire most recently working at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Feruz Ganikhanov’s, main research interests are nonlinear optical imaging techniques as applied to biological matter/tissue, active cell transport, inter- intra- cellular interactions, ultrafast physics and nonlinear optics of condensed matter and nanostructures and  advanced solid state and semiconductor laser sources and laser based measurement systems.  Dr. Ganikhanov received his degrees from Moscow State University, Russia.  He will be an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics.

Dr. Xian-An (Andrew) Cao received his B.S. degree in physics and M.S. degree in condensed matter physics from Fudan University, China, and his Ph.D. degree in materials science and engineering from University of Florida. He has been a research scientist at General Electric Global Research Center. The experience from working on diverse projects with interdisciplinary teams at GE sparked an interest in nanotechnology and biotechnology. His current research interests include semiconductor processing and device fabrication, micro and nano optoelectronics, semiconductor biological and chemical sensors. Dr. Cao will join the WVNano team and the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at WVU as an Assistant Professor this fall. He will continue to pursue his research interests in collaboration with other faculty members. 

The WVNano Initiative is committed to solidifying and growing WVU’s nanoscience and engineering research by bridging and building strengths of funded collaborative groups, advancing critical shared facilities, and facilitating cross-cutting research within WVU and in coordination with WVEPSCoR, across the State.  The idea of a shared vision --- an integrated science and engineering strategy leveraging existing and building new synergies based on a diversified faculty will secure West Virginia’s advance into the next frontier of nanotechnology.