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A new study of plant cell walls offers promise for more efficient ethanol production with less waste. Erik E. Nielsen, Ph.D., adjunct professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, and his team make discoveries in a lightly researched area.

Claudia Daugherty, coordinator of the nonprofit management master’s degree program in University College in Arts & Sciences, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at her home in Wildwood, Mo.

Photo by Mary ButkusEmil R. Unanue, M.D. (left), and Michael W. Sherraden, Ph.D., receive Faculty Achievement Awards Dec. 2 at the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center.

Photo by Mary ButkusJeremiah M. Giles, a master of engineering management degree candidate from the School of Engineering & Applied Science, receives a WUSTL memento from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton during the December Degree Candidate Recognition Ceremony Dec. 3 in Graham Chapel.

The WUSTL Police Department and Parking Services help motorists get their cars geared up for holiday travel Dec. 9.

At recent Board of Trustees meetings, the following faculty members were promoted with tenure, appointed with tenure, granted tenure or granted track/title change effective July 1, 2006, unless otherwise noted. Promotion with tenure Heather Corcoran, to associate professor of art Michael Diamond, to associate professor of medicine Lev D. Gelb, to associate professor of chemistry Martin Jacobs, to associate professor of rabbinic studies Phyllis I. Hanson, to associate professor of cell biology and physiology, (promotion effective Jan. 1, tenure effective March 3, 2006) David B. Haslam, to associate professor of pediatrics, effective Jan. 1, 2006 Erik D. Herzog, to associate professor of biology Kathleen B. McDermott, as associate professor of psychology James C. Morley, to associate professor of economics Robert B. Pless, to associate professor of computer science and engineering, effective March 3, 2006 Scott Saunders, to associate professor of pediatrics Ralf Wessel, to associate professor of physics Jeffrey M. Zacks, to associate professor of psychology Appointment with tenure Robert E. Blankenship, as professor of biology and of chemistry Michele Boldrin, as professor of economics Carmon Colangelo, as the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Community Collaboration in the Arts and dean, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts Thomas E. Ellenberger, as the Raymond H. Wittcoff Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (appointment effective Jan. 1, 2006, tenure effective May 5, 2006) Matthew J. Gabel, as associate professor of political science Raj Jain, as professor of computer science and engineering, effective March 3, 2006 Evan D. Kharasch, as professor of anesthesiology, (appointment effective Oct. 1, 2006, tenure effective March 3, 2006) Timothy R. Kuklo, as associate professor of orthopaedic surgery (appointment effective Aug. 15, tenure effective Oct. 6, 2006) David K. Levine, as professor of economics Bruce M. Lindsey, as professor of architecture and dean, college of architecture, effective Aug. 9, 2006 George A. Macones, as professor of obstetrics and gynecology, (appointment effective Sept. 1, 2005, tenure effective March 3, 2006) James F. Spriggs II, as professor of political science Lihong Wang, as professor of biomedical engineering, effective Sept. 1, 2006 Stephen D. Williamson, as professor of economics Granting of tenure Ingrid B. Borecki, associate professor of genetics, effective Oct. 6, 2006 Track and title change Mark F. Jacquin, to professor of neurology with tenure, effective Oct. 6, 2006

Courtesy PhotoThe Guiding Star is given to a clinical staff member who models clinical excellence and professionalism, among other qualities.

Early registration closes Dec. 13 for the School of Law’s Center for Empirical Research in the Law workshop.

Dennis Barbour, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, has received a two-year, $236,000 grant from the Coulter Foundation for research titled “Improvement of Noisy Signal Representation in Auditory Prostheses via Biologically Inspired Spectral Contrast Shaping.” … Christopher R. Carpenter, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine, received the Dennis W. Jahnigen Career Development Scholars award from the American Geriatrics Society. The award, funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies, provides two-year grants of $200,000 to help young faculty initiate and sustain a career in research and education in the geriatrics aspect of his or her discipline. … Raj Jain, Ph.D., professor of computer science and engineering, is co-author of a paper that has received the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Data Communication (SIGCOMM) Test of Time Award. The award recognizes a paper published 10 to 12 years ago in Computer Communications Review or any SIGCOMM-sponsored or co-sponsored conference, the contents of which are still deemed to be a vibrant and useful contribution today. The paper, “A Binary Feedback Scheme for Congestion Avoidance in Computer Networks with Connectionless Network Layer,” appeared in ACM Transactions on Computer Systems in May 1990 and was reprinted in the 25th Anniversary Special Issue of Computer Communication Review in January 1995. … Adam S. Kibel, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Urologic Surgery, received the Young Investigator Award from the Society of Urologic Oncology. The award is given to the physician/scientist who has made the most outstanding contributions to the field of urologic oncology within 10 years of completing urology residency. … James E. Koch, affiliate faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering and past director of the Master of Construction Management Program, has been named Hill International’s 2005 Project Manager of the Year. The award recognizes his leadership of Hill’s team in Iraq, which is supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to manage the $12 billion Iraq Reconstruction Program. … Robert Pless, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science and engineering, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award for research titled “Passive Vision—What Can Be Learned by a Stationary Observer.” The five-year award totals $500,000. … Kenneth F. Wong, Ph.D., senior research associate in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, has received the 2006 Big Fish Award from the Association of Graduate Engineering Students. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Oscar P. Chilson, Ph.D., adjunct instructor and professor emeritus of biology in Arts & Sciences, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, after a brief illness. He was 73.