University of Cincinnati Wins $1.37 Million Research Scholar Funding from State of Ohio

Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut announced today the University of Cincinnati is the winner of both of this year’s two Ohio Eminent Scholar Awards in Third Frontier-related technology research. Fingerhut was joined for the announcement by University of Cincinnati President Nancy Zimpher, UC engineers, researchers, scientists and members of the Ohio General Assembly.

UC's College of Engineering and McMicken College of Arts and Sciences will receive $1.37 million in state funds, to be matched by funds from the university itself, to conduct research directly focused on technology commercialization in concert with Ohio’s Third Frontier Project in the fields of NanoBioDevices and Advanced Propulsion and Power Systems.

"The State of Ohio is proud to partner with the University of Cincinnati to support its role as a center of excellence in the Southwest Ohio region as it embarks on this important work,” said Fingerhut. “This is a prestigious award for UC, an institution we recognize as one of the finest urban research universities, ranked by the National Science Foundation among the top 25 public research universities in the country.”

“It also comes at a time where we’re experiencing an unprecedented level of investment by Ohio in higher education,” Fingerhut continued, referring to the $1 billion boost in higher education spending agreed to by Governor Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly.

Funding the winning proposals will allow the University of Cincinnati to recruit two senior faculty from among the nation’s finest research talent who will relocate to UC and establish new centers of excellence for research and technology commercialization. The two new senior scholars will be Ohio’s 50th and 51st Ohio Eminent Scholars since the program’s 1983 inception, and the 13th and 14th at the University of Cincinnati.

“The University of Cincinnati is extremely proud of all of our Eminent Scholars and that UC was awarded two new Eminent Scholars — the only ones awarded this year,” said University of Cincinnati President Nancy L. Zimpher. “UC is committed to continuing innovative research in key areas, such as advanced materials, biosciences, and power and propulsion. Our success in these areas fosters visibility for Ohio nationally and internationally, strengthens our state and regional economic base, and provides further opportunities to attract top faculty and top students to Ohio."

About the Ohio Eminent Scholar Awards for the University of Cincinnati

NanoBioDevices

(College of Engineering/McMicken College of Arts & Sciences)

The field of NanoBioDevices joins biochemical procedures with macromolecular biology, solid-state physics, and photonic and sensor fabrication technology to develop small, rapid, relatively inexpensive sensors and “labs on demand” or “labs on a chip.” For example, these tiny devices, reminiscent of the “Fantastic Voyage,” can be introduced into the blood stream to monitor the blood’s chemistry.

One of the limitations of traditional health care instruments is that the information contained in the liquid (blood) must be translated into electrical signals that can be read in some kind of measuring device. Biomedical devices are both analytical — where they take measurements — and therapeutic — where they deliver treatment.

NanoBioDevices assist in drug delivery to measure the existing condition and to immediately measure the effect of the medicine. The doctor checks the condition after drug delivery, perhaps adjusts the dose, sees the effect and monitors the patient’s reaction. This is just one of many applications of NanoBioDevices.

The integration of biological macromolecules into existing electronic and photonic device architectures has been termed “biotronics,” with the goal of reaching performance and capabilities not achievable using traditional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor or integrated circuit processes.

Reliability and Service Life Management for Advanced Propulsion and Power Systems

(College of Engineering)

The aeronautics industry faces significant challenges in improving safety, increasing fuel efficiency, decreasing erosion and minimizing environmental impacts of air and noise pollution. Life-cycle management of propulsion and power systems continues to be of major importance not only in the operation of existing commercial aircraft engine fleets, but also in the design and development of future propulsion systems, with increased use of lighter composite materials and thermal barrier coatings, and health management tools.

The eminent scholar will strengthen and expand existing life-management research activities in the areas of advanced erosion and corrosion protection under extreme operational conditions and environmentally assisted degradation mechanisms, manufacturing quality control, nondestructive inspection, and real-time in situ engine health monitoring.

According to the FAA, U.S. airlines are projected to transport one billion passengers in 2025. In addition, air traffic is projected to grow internationally with especially high rates of 10.8% growth in emerging regions. The demand for domestic air travel alone will grow at an annual rate of 16.5% in India over the next 10 years, with similar projections for China through 2025.

The United States will need a well-educated workforce to maintain competitiveness in this field to address the challenges of continued demand for improved fuel efficiency under increasingly restrictive environmental constraints. Fortunately, Ohio — with its “Aerospace Corridor” — is in a position to be a strong player in this world market.

About the Ohio Eminent Scholars Program
The Ohio Eminent Scholars Program was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1983 to foster national eminence of outstanding academic programs at Ohio colleges and universities. During the period 1984–2004, 49 endowed chairs were established at nine different Ohio universities. All 49 positions are currently occupied by distinguished senior scholars.

An Ohio Eminent Scholar is an individual acknowledged as a scholar of distinction by national measures who has a distinguished record of research and scholarly achievement. An Ohio Eminent Scholar must be a new hire to an Ohio university or college and may not be employed within the State of Ohio prior to the time of her or his appointment.

Since the Ohio Eminent Scholars Program was started in 1984, and as of Monday, July 30, 14 scholars will have been awarded to UC. The breakdown for Ohio recipients is as follows:

OSU: 22
University of Cincinnati: 14
Bowling Green: 3
Ohio U.: 3
Case Western: 3
Akron: 2
Miami: 2
Kent State: 1
Wright State: 1

 Current Ohio Eminent Scholars at UC
Ten current faculty members at UC are Ohio Eminent Scholars (David Gosling is deceased and William Krantz, in engineering, is an emeritus professor):

• John Dedman (Genome Research Institute) 
• Ephraim Gutmark (COE/Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics)
• Andrew Herr (MED/Molecular Genetics)
• Jay Lee (COE/Mechanical, Industrial and Nuclear Engineering)
• Patrick Limbach  (McMicken/Chemistry) 
• Michael Magazine (CoB/ Quantitative Analysis and Operations Management)
• John Monaco (MED/Molecular Genetics) 
• Masato Nakafuku (MED/Pediatrics)
• Andrew Steckl (COE/Electrical and Computer Engineering)
• James Tocco (CCM/Keyboard)

About the University of Cincinnati

Ranked by the National Science Foundation among the top 25 public research universities in the United States, UC's faculty have distinguished themselves worldwide for their creative teaching and research. The University of Cincinnati serves a diverse enrollment of more than 35,000 students through a balance of educational excellence and real-world experience. Founded in 1819, UC is the largest employer in the Cincinnati region, with an economic impact of more than $3 billion.