Buschbeck Brings Another NSF CAREER Award to McMicken

The National Science Foundation has announced that Elke Buschbeck is the recipient of its coveted CAREER award given to young faculty who show exceptional promise for outstanding careers in research and teaching. NSF describes the program as recognizing and supporting “the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century.”

Buschbeck will receive $805,000 over five years for her proposal “CAREER: Function and Evolution of a Novel, Fundamentally Different Visual System in Dytiscid Diving Beetle Larvae.” She plans to investigate the function and evolution of neuroanatomical and optical features of insect eyes which differ greatly from known eye types. Her work will focus on a system of multiple retinas in the eyes of certain aquatic diving beetle species that have evolved unique visual processing associated with life as underwater predators.

Buschbeck believes that the research could eventually lead to improved understanding of the principles of vision. For example, the eyes of the insects may use a formerly unidentified mechanism to measure distances. A better understanding of such novel means of measurement might ultimately result in powerful new technologies.

A special feature of the project is that it will involve collaboration with the Cincinnati Zoo Insectarium and will engage not only McMicken graduate and undergraduate students but also middle school and high school science teachers in neuroscience research.

According to George Uetz, Buschbeck’s award will be one of six presented to McMicken recipients since the CAREER program was established in 1995. “NSF CAREER grants are highly competitive and awarded to the top young scientists in their disciplines. They are a strong indication of the future success of our junior faculty, and to have so many over the last decade suggests we have been hiring excellent candidates,” said Uetz.

Previously recognized for their outstanding promise were Bill Connick, Anna Guttmundsdottir, and Teresa Reineke in Chemistry; Dennis Grogan in Biology; and Margaret Hanson in Physics.