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July, 2004 Volume 2, Issue 3 In this issue • VI-EPSCoR funds incubator project • VI-EPSCoR researchers busy for the summer • Coordinator’s Update • BCCR Update • Job Announcements Virgin Islands EPSCoR (340) 693-1478 The Virgin Islands EPSCoR (VI-EPSCoR) office was pleased to receive proposals for a variety of incubator projects. The investigators represented St. Thomas and St. Croix, and the projects spanned agricultural science, physics and chemistry. A panel of VI-EPSCoR scientists reviewed the proposals. We are pleased to announce the funding of Virgin Islands EPSCoR Funds Incubator Project Busy summer for VI-EPSCoR Researchers VI-EPSCoR will provide funding for five researchers during this summer. Computer scientist Marc Boumedine, PhD, is working to enable data mining applications in the USVI. He will work closely with GIS personnel, as well as with researchers in the Biocomplexity in Caribbean Coral Reefs (BCCR) research focus area. Physicist Michael Henry, PhD, is working from St. Croix for the summer and seeking to identify biological materials that would provide Earth Box Farming in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Year- Round Growing Potential of Tomatoes In Self- Contained Watering Units. This project will enhance VI-EPSCoR outreach activities. It will focus on drought-resistant tomatoes. The project will allow for the gathering of data on product growth rates, yield and efficient use of water for use by the local farming community, by UVI Agricultural Experiment Station in vegetable research and by the V.I. Department of Agriculture. Outreach to students in grades K-12 will be developed through summer and after-school programs, teaching them easier, high-tech approaches to farming. At-risk youth will also be employed during the project to maintain the research areas during trial periods. Ms. Carolyn T. Hawkins, Executive Director of The Garden School Inc., St. Croix, will lead the project. new capabilities in electronic and optical sensors. Dr. Jennifer Carroll (natural products chemistry), Dr. Sandra Romano (marine biology), and Prof. Roy Watlington (physical oceanography) will begin work on BCCR projects. Dr. Carroll is looking for new pharmacological leads in Caribbean sponges; Dr. Romano studies molecular phylogenetic analysis of USVI Porites; and Prof. Watlington is improving capabilities for biocomplexity-related pilot studies. Welcome Support from Lana Vento Charitable Trust We are pleased to confirm the report that Lana Vento Charitable Trust, a private grant maker on St. Thomas, has donated $50,000 to further the goals of VI- EPSCoR. Unlike many other EPSCoR programs, the USVI program depends heavily on support from the Territory’s private sector to match the generous federal share. Both University President LaVerne Ragster, PhD, and Henry Smith, PhD, project director of VI-EPSCoR have expressed their gratitude. Highlights • Dr. Sherry O. Farwell now heads NSF- EPSCoR. • Mr. Frank Schulterbrandt is the new Chair of the VI-EPSCoR Governing Committee. • Lana Vento Charitable Trust makes generous donation to VI-EPSCoR. VI-EPSCoR Dr. Henry H. Smith, Project Director Tel: (340) 693-1062 E-mail: hsmith@uvi.edu VI EPSCoR Newsletter VI-EPSCoR is looking for: a Graduate Programs Administrator, a Research Assistant Professor in Biological Oceanography and a Research Assistant Professor in Marine Invertebrate Biology. Contact VI-EPSCoR at (340) 693-1478 or by e-mail: cmckayl@uvi.edu We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sherry O. Farwell has assumed the position of Head of NSF-EPSCoR. We welcome Dr. Farwell and reaffirm our support of NSF-EPSCoR’s national efforts. We are also pleased to announce that the CEO of Coordinator’s Update by Camille McKayle VI-EPSCoR’s primary research focus area is in Biocomplexity in Caribbean Coral Reefs (BCCR), a program with great ambitions for the summer. Two leaders of the BCCR team, Rick Nemeth and Sandra Romano, have already highlighted the summer by making presentations at the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium in Okinawa. BCCR Update VI-EPSCoR Graduate Programs Administrator: Duties include conducting a feasibility study for appropriate graduate programs, developing funding opportunities focused on building the marine science research and education program, recruitment of faculty, Job Announcement the V.I. Economic Develop- ment Agency, Mr. Frank Schulterbrandt, Esq, has been selected by the VI- EPSCoR Governing Committee to be its next chair. We thank him for agreeing to serve in this important position and thank his predecessor, Mr. Frank Fox, for his leadership as the Committee’s first chair. VI-EPSCoR is in the process of filling out its administrative team. Ten persons have applied for the advertised position of VI- EPSCoR Outreach Programs Coordinator. Results of this search will be announced later in July. The search continues for three positions: a graduate programs administrator, a biological oceanographer and a marine invertebrate biologist. VI-EPSCoR is getting ready for its Community Kick-Off. The event celebrates the Meanwhile, Jennifer Carroll, recipient of a sub-award for priority BCCR research, plunged right into her pilot project on Caribbean sponges mentioned above. With student trainees she began sampling sponges near Savannah islet off the southwestern St. Thomas coast. In support of BCCR infrastructure improvements, Kevin Brown has been surveying literature and speaking with experienced users in order to make the optimal purchase of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers to be used in BCCR’s research. While spending most of his summer coordinating VI- EPSCoR activities, Roy Watlington has also begun building his lab’s data- management and computa- tional capabilities. Student intern, computer science major Paul L. Mills, is learning to program in MATLAB® and to manipulate data sets by practicing on files from the CaribVent and ACTS projects. management of VI-EPSCoR funded initiatives including facility improvements and forging relevant collaborations between the University of the Virgin Islands, other educational entities, and industry. The qualifications include: (1) PhD in related field, (2) Training in the marine sciences, (3) Experience directing a marine lab or a graduate program that offered degrees in the marine sciences or related fields, (4) Administrative experience, especially in the area of graduate programs, (5) Experience working with federally funded programs. Apply by calling VI-EPSCoR (340) 693-1478. successful Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) award and will bring together the Governor of the US Virgin Islands, the VI Delegate to Congress, the VI Senate President, members of the Governing Committee, the BCCR Advisory Group, the assembly of other VI- EPSCoR community advisors, faculty and incubator researchers, and other members of the community. The next newsletter will provide additional details. July, 2004 Volume 2, Issue 3 VI-EPSCoR Governing Committee: * Frank Schulterbrandt, Esq., Chair * LaVerne Ragster, PhD, Vice- chair * Hon. Donna Christensen, MD, Member of Congress * Hon. David Jones, President V.I. Legislature * Anna Hector, President, St. Croix Chamber of Commerce * Hon. Noreen Michael, PhD, Commissioner, Department of Education * Richard Nemeth, PhD, Director, Center for Marine & Environmental Studies * Hon. Dean Plaskett, Esq., Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources * David Sharp, President & CEO, Innovative Telephone * Henry H. Smith, PhD, UVI Vice-Provost and VI-EPSCoR Project Director * Robert Stolz, PhD, Chair, UVI Science & Mathematics Division, St. Thomas * Thomas N. Taylor, PhD, Kansas EPSCoR