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SMALLER IS BETTER

The 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill includes $3.5 million for microengineering efforts at the Automation & Robotics Research Institute. The funding will help ARRI researchers expand the development of fundamental techniques for assembling microparts into small devices, enabling cost-effective, onshore micromanufacturing. ARRI houses the Texas Microfactory, which embeds microdevices into functional microsystems for military and commercial markets. A key defense application involves high-precision "smart" bullets steered by microactuators and swarms of microrobots that increase a soldier's situational awareness by performing dangerous monitoring duties, many of which are also applicable to homeland security. The Texas Microfactory assists the commercial sector by perfecting techniques in microassembly and micropackaging. Online: https://arri.uta.edu/.

GENETIC HEALTH

The School of Nursing has received $500,000 from The University of Texas System to create the Genomics Translational Research Laboratory. The school will partner with the Department of Biology's genome biology group and the Department of Psychology's health psychology program. Nursing Assistant Professor Patricia Newcomb, a pediatric nurse practitioner, has been named the lab's science director. Dr. Newcomb, who earned master's and doctoral degrees from UT Arlington, has conducted research on childhood asthma and gene-environment interactions in asthma. "The Human Genome Project changes traditional nursing roles, as health care activities will increasingly be affected by genomic-related issues," she said. The lab will examine risks for complex health conditions, how drugs interact with gene variants and how genetic makeup affects care outcomes for patients.

ENGINEERED FOR SUCCESS

The Fort Worth Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has named computer science and engineering Professor Sajal Das its 2007 Engineer of the Year. The award recognizes his technical society activities, leadership in community/humanitarian work and significant engineering achievements. Dr. Das, a UT Arlington faculty member since 1999, directs the Center for Research in Wireless Mobility and Networking.

NURSING PROFESSORSHIP

Baylor Health Care System (BHCS), in recognition of the School of Nursing's commitment to nursing education and research, has established the Baylor Distinguished Professorship for Nursing Research. The professorship will recognize a distinguished nursing faculty member with outstanding research credentials who will collaborate with BHCS on clinical and/or administrative research. "Baylor is committed to investing in the future of nursing education," said Rosemary Luquire, chief nursing officer of BHCS. The professorship will help "promote more research conducted by nurses throughout our system, and we look forward to collaborating on many research initiatives with UT Arlington." Nursing Dean Elizabeth Poster says the $100,000 endowment will support evidence-based care practices, one of the partnership's primary goals.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

The National Institute of Justice has awarded UT Arlington computer science and engineering researchers a $264,879 grant to develop a mesh network-based solution to locate personnel within a secure area. Assistant Professor Gergely Zaruba is the principal investigator, with Associate Professor Manfred Huber, Professor Farhad Kamangar and Senior Lecturer David Levine assisting. The project involves developing a software and hardware system to track individuals as they move through a space like a police headquarters. "This is an important technology to help save lives of our nation's emergency personnel," said Richard Billo, College of Engineering associate dean for research. "For example, if a firefighter becomes trapped in a building, others will know the exact location and will be better prepared to take immediate action."