National Recognition For Young Investigators

Researchers at Washington State University are conducting ground-breaking research early in their careers. This year two of the University’s young investigators received national attention for their outstanding research.

David Rector, an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience, was recently awarded a prestigious Beckman Young Investigator Award for 2004. Dr. Rector received his Ph.D. in neuroscience in 1995 at the University of California at Los Angeles. His primary research involves understanding how the brain uses complex interactions of oscillatory patterns to perform high levels of sensory processing. The secondary goal of Dr. Rector’s laboratory is to develop new neurophysiological procedures for imaging the electrical and chemical correlates of activity from large numbers of cells in the brain simultaneously. Dr. Rector is one of only 20 recipients of this award this year.

Susmita Bose, an assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, was among 20 scientists and engineers nationwide to receive the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Her research focus is on the development of nanoscale ceramics which have great potential for improving bone implants. Other research areas of interest are biomaterials; ferroelectric thin and thick films for MEMS; synthesis and characterization of organic and inorganic compounds; and processing of porous ceramic, polymer, and composites using rapid prototyping. Dr. Bose, who received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1998, was honored May 4 at the White House to receive the award.