Chemistry professor awarded prestigious NIH R01

Dr Sailaja Paruchuri has been awarded an NIH R01 grant for her research, “Integration of leukotriene and prostaglandin receptor signaling in mast cell activation and pulmonary inflammation during asthma”. The five-year award is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH-NIAID) and totals $1.9 million.

This is the most prestigious grant a scientist can be awarded. The grants are incredibly competitive and represent excellence in research.

Congratulate Dr Paruchuri when you see her – we are incredibly proud of her accomplishment.

Research Highlights

If you are thinking about completing graduate studies at UA, you should know we have very successful researchers that can offer you incredible career opportunities.

Here are a few of our notable faculty highlights:

Dr. Hazel Barton, professor of biology and director of the Integrated Bioscience Program, whose research on cave formations has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, National Geographic Explorer, The Smithsonian magazines, NPR, BBC Radio, Animal Planet, the History Channel and more;

Dr. William Schneider IV, professor of civil engineering, who has been the principal investigator on thirty transportation-related projects. UA has recognized him as one of the Top 5 most productive faculty members in Spring 2016;

Dr. Hossein Tavana, associate professor of biomedical engineering, is conducting National Institutes of Health funded research that has the potential to improve cancer treatment. He recently developed and patented a method to make 3D cultures of clustered cancer cells that better mimic tumors in the body than 2D cultures used in traditional methods (in which a thin layer of cells is treated on a flat, plastic dish), which may lead to more accurate drug testing and more effective treatment.

6 facts about your blogger

To start – here are 6 facts about your blogger – Marnie Saunders, PhD – Associate Dean of the Graduate School

  • I was born and raised in the Canton/Massillon Ohio area  – I am from a working-class family, the daughter of a machinist
  • I attended my local university, The University of Akron – I graduated with a BSME (Mechanical Engineering), MS (Engineering) and PhD (Engineering)
  • I am an active researcher – funded by the Whitaker Foundation, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation since 2002
  • I conduct research in orthopaedic and bone mechanics and bone cell mechanics (mechanobiology)
  • I am not at all biased – I have the best graduate students in my laboratory and any research successes we have are ultimately due to their efforts and hard work
  • I am honored to have been asked to serve as Associate Dean of the Graduate School, assisting our dedicated Executive Dean, Chand Midha

I am not alone – we have incredibly dedicated administrators, faculty and staff at The University of Akron.  Their efforts enable our students to succeed.  Follow my blog so you can learn all about them.

WELCOME

Welcome!

My blog is about The University of Akron and highlighting the amazing students, faculty and staff that we have here on campus.  While undergraduate education is the focus of much of our social media – I will be concentrating on graduate students and their experiences.

               Spring on the UA campus

Spring 2019 Dissertation Boot Camp

The Graduate School in conjunction with the Library will be hosting a Dissertation Boot Camp on March 15, 2019 in the Bierce Library.  The all day event will run from 7am to 6pm.  The goal is to provide a distraction-free environment where students can focus on the writing/work – no formal instruction or interruptions.  Meals and snacks are provided.  Any graduate student wishing to spend a focused day on their work are welcome to participate.

Seating is limited to 30, and the price for food is $20.

Participants must register by March 12.  Please click the link to sign up:   https://commerce.cashnet.com/GRADSCHL3

We hope to see you there!