Recipients of 3M Grants Come to Tell Their Tales of Innovative Research

In what may be the most eclectic assemblage of visionary young scientists in any corporate setting, 29 non-tenured faculty members from 17 of the leading R&D universities in the United States are sharing the results of their research here today, at the 3M Science and Engineering Faculty Day at 3M Center.

Each of the participants is a recipient of a 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Grant, under the company's quarter-century-old program to encourage the pursuit of new ideas among younger university researchers. The grant is part of 3M's support of higher education. There are 44 current recipients this year.

"This program supports our commitment to scientific innovation in America, and provides an opportunity for industry and academia to interact," says Alan Hulme-Lowe, chair, 3M's Technical Council.

"The unrestricted grants enable recipients to pursue their own lines of interest and have the opportunity to come to 3M and publicly share their investigations," he explains. "As you might expect, the presentations at Science and Engineering Faculty Day at 3M provide insight into a very diverse range of disciplines and ultimately affect how we think about innovative products."

Faculty Day is the culmination of this year's program, whereby young researchers not only present their research posters, but also interact and share learning with their peers.

This year, for example, attendees will hear about "Smart Polymers for Biosensors and Tissue Engineering" from Dr. Heather Canavan, University of New Mexico; "Piezoelectric Materials for Use in Energy Harvesting Applications" from Dr. Chao You of North Dakota State University; and "Use of Interference-Reflection Microscopy to Enhance Cytotoxic T-Cell Function for Generating Anti-Tumor Activity" from Dr. Ross Kedl, University of Colorado.

Also presenting are researchers from Auburn University, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Iowa State, Johns Hopkins, Michigan Technological University, North Carolina State, Northwestern, Penn State, and the Universities of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

A former three-time grant recipient in the 3M program is Dr. Thomas J. McCarthy, who today is professor of polymer science at the University of Massachusetts, but had just joined the university faculty when he received his first 3M grant in 1982. He used the grants to purchase small but necessary laboratory equipment, such as a contact angle goniometer, an instrument used to measure angles and achieve precise angular positions.

"I've obtained more meaningful results from that $3,500 instrument than some others costing more than a million dollars," comments Dr. McCarthy, who is co-principal investigator for the Center for UMass/Industry Research on Polymers, a major collaborative research program with government and industry.

Currently, the grants to each participating researcher average approximately $15,000. Recipients are nominated and sponsored by 3M scientists. For more information about this program, contact ahulme-lowe@mmm.com

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3M Public RelationsColleen Harris, 651-733-1566http://www.3m.com/PressContactorLVM Group Inc.Bob Rumerman, 212-499-6567bob@lvmgroup.comorJeannette Boccini, 212-499-6566jeannette@lvmgroup.com