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Towson physicist taps undergrads for cutting-edge nanotech work
Originally published in Maryland Daily Record
By James Mosher
Daily Record Business Writer
June 23, 2006
A physics professor needs to know more than just his Newton and Einstein
these days. David M. Schaefer realizes he's got to be up on Freud as
well.
Over the years, Schaefer, who has a doctorate in physics, has added a
bit of psychology to his repertoire while helping to boost Towson
University's scientific research reputation, particularly the hot corner
of nanotechnology.
Schaefer, 42, the director of the Baltimore County state college's
nanotechnology laboratory, wants to keep students interested in math and
science careers, seeing it as important to the futures of the students,
school and the country's technology landscape. The process involves
giving students summer jobs in his lab, which was established 10 years
ago. He sells it using psychology salted with a dash of self-interest.
"It's much better for them than going to work in a restaurant," the
professor says.
Schaefer has combined his dedication to undergraduate research with the
rapidly advancing field of nanotechnology to create learning
experiences, colleagues say. The lab time is giving students knowledge
that's becoming increasingly important in a variety of industries.
A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter or 80,000 times thinner than a
human hair.
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions
of roughly one to 100 nanometers, where "unique" phenomena enable
"novel" applications, according to the Web site of the National
Nanotechnology Initiative, created by the United States government in
2003 to promote nanotechnology. More than 20 federal agencies, including
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of
Defense, Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug
Administration, participate in the program.
Scientists in and out of government see nanotechnology research leading
to useful new products in fields including medicine and pharmaceuticals.
"Nanotechnology is expected to be a critical driver of global economic
growth in this century," says a 100-page report for the forest products
industry entitled "Vision and Technology Roadmap." "Using nanotechnology
to produce nanomaterials with unique properties is expected to
revolutionize technology and industry."
Several federal agencies date their involvement in nanotechnology back
to 1996. Schaefer's pedigree goes back at least that far.
Catch 22
Since returning to Towson as an assistant professor in 1995, Schaefer
has focused on obtaining research opportunities for undergraduates while
delving deeper into nanotechnology. He's personally been able to secure
almost $1 million in grants with the National Science Foundation, an arm
of the U.S. government, providing the lion's share, Schaefer says. The
money chase presents a psychological dilemma for the doctor of physics.
"Right now, I'm happy with our level of funding," says Schaefer, who did
his undergraduate work at Towson, graduating in 1986. "But that hasn't
always been the case. I'll have to stop doing research in order to write
a grant for the research that I just had to stop working on. It's a
Catch-22 sometimes."
The long hours in the lab and the grant applications are paying off. The
lab is getting more opportunities to work with businesses on problems
ranging from biological fungi to creating smaller crystals for copy
machines, Schaefer says. The teacher and his students have collaborated
with Mark R. Martin, an assistant professor in the graduate school at
the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, on the fungi project.
Schaefer's immediate supervisor likes the direction things are moving.
"The nanotechnology lab has been incredibly productive," Dr. David A.
Vanko, chairperson of Towson's Department of Physics, Astronomy and
Geosciences, wrote in an e-mail. "Dr. Schaefer and his students have
been doing some really interesting research, with potentially important
applications."
Several offices are recognizing the contributions of Schaefer, promoted
to full professor last year. The University System of Maryland - the
state college system of which Towson is part of - earlier this month
awarded him the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship for fiscal year 2007.
The review committee was "particularly impressed with Professor
Schaefer's heavy involvement with undergraduate teaching, research and
advising," university system Chancellor William E. Kirwan said in a news
release. The award comes with $28,000 for stipends and laboratory
supplies for two undergraduate research students, plus travel money to
enable them to present their results at professional meetings.
Between two and four students work with Schaefer in the lab at any one
time.
One current area of study is helping to create smaller transistors for
computerized nanolithography, an alternative to silicon chips widely in
use today. Schaefer doesn't see himself as spearheading the downfall of
silicon.
"I wouldn't say it will revolutionize computer chips," he says. "But I
think a small niche market could be developed based upon what we've been
working on."
Corporate sponsorship of research isn't something Schaefer, a Harford
County native, is looking for but wouldn't object if opportunities
presented themselves.
"Traditionally, that isn't how we've done things," he says. "Businesses
bring their problems to us and we try to help them. I've never gone out
looking for a business to give us money for a project.
"I have an open-door policy. Anything that sounds interesting, I say,
'Let's try it.'"
At the heart of lab are two atomic-force microscopes costing about
$150,000 each. Schaefer describes them as being like record players with
large needles that can sense forces and enable adhesive force
measurements.
Although strides in research point to an eventual graduate school,
Schaefer sees Towson's mission still essentially focused on
undergraduates and improving research opportunities for them.
"If it would take away from what we're doing on the undergraduate level,
then I wouldn't support it," says Schaefer, reflecting on the
possibility the university may start a master's degree program in
physics in two to three years. "But I think we can do both effectively."
An increasing number of students are going on to prestigious graduate
programs such as those at the University of California, Berkeley and
Penn State University.
Besides giving his undergraduates a chance to solve problems for
businesses, Schaefer likes the lasting effect research has on the
students.
"Most are not going on to do graduate work," the professor says.
"Undergraduate years are the only place where students will get that
kind of experience. That [experience] develops a way of thinking that
stays with the student a long time."
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