Who will make the next big discovery? Who will create new, life-changing technology? The National Science Foundation and NASA, two of USU’s largest funders of research, are betting that these six Utah State researchers will be among the pacesetters in their research fields. As recipients of early CAREER grants, these researchers received up to $500,000 each to answer pressing research questions.

Lisa Berreau

Chemistry & Biochemistry

To the non-chemist, “chelating ligands containing hydrogen bond donors” is a foreign language. For Lisa Berreau, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, those words are the aim of her research. Chelating compounds form a ring of atoms around a metal which can be useful for a variety of purposes, from keeping metal deposits in water from staining a swimming pool, to helping plants intake important nutrients, to creating important catalysts for many chemical processes. Berreau is developing a new class of these chelating ligands and is also developing several related courses for Chemistry students at Utah State. Berreau received her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Iowa State University in 1994 and has been at Utah State since 1998.

Anthony Chen

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Transportation is a major issue, especially in Utah. People want to know how our roads can be more reliable and less congested. Anthony Chen, associate professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, is studying how to do this, especially in times of natural and man-made disaster. He is developing a transportation network reliability analysis, which will use models and algorithms to develop a framework for understanding different roads’ capacities and how drivers make their traveling decisions. The results of this research will be useful to provide better protection, mitigation, and recovery strategies of these critical infrastructures. Chen received his Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of California – Irvine in 1997 and has been at Utah State since 1999.

Vladimir Kulyukin

Computer Science

Seeing-eye dogs may be seeing some competition in the future. Vladimir Kulyukin, assistant professor in the Departments of Computer Science and Special Education & Rehabilitation, is designing and testing technologies that may help visually impaired people navigate dynamic and complex indoor environments, such as grocery stores, airports, and office buildings. Kulyukin is the head of USU’s Computer Science Assistive Technology Laboratory (CSATL). The CSATL is currently developing a robotic guide for the visually impaired in indoor environments. The project has active support of USU’s Center for Persons with Disabilities. Kulyukin received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago in 1998 and has been at Utah State for the past three years.

Bradley Ritts

Geology

Striking oil is not easy, but Bradley Ritts may be shedding some light on the matter. Ritts, an assistant professor in the Department of Geology, is studying several remote sedimentary basins in China to understand the tectonics of these unusual systems. Ritts is one of the first to characterize the evolution of many of these areas. This research is important for people who want to know how inland basins form and how economic resources (like petroleum) are distributed within those basins. Ritts received his Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from Stanford University in 1998 and came to Utah State in 1999. Ritts is moving to Indiana University next year as the Robert R. Shrock Professor of Sedimentary Geology.

Michael White

Aquatic, Watershed & Earth Resources

It’s hard enough for weather forecasters to get it right a week in advance, but Michael White is working to get it right long-term. White, assistant professor in the Department of Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources, uses remote satellite sensing to investigate seasonal and long-term climate changes and their impacts. By integrating remote sensing, surface meteorology and ecological models, White creates regional and national models of variables, such as urbanization, water and carbon cycles, and soil water content, and creates analyses of the changes. White’s research will help identify forest fire dangers, climate anomalies, and drought areas. White received his Ph.D. in ecological modeling and remote sensing from the University of Montana in 1999 and has been at USU since 2001.

David Wiley

Instructional Technology

The Internet has allowed nearly every facet of life to be automated in some way, but David Wiley has different plans for online education. Wiley, assistant professor in the Department of Instructional Technology, believes that rather than automate the instructional process, the Internet should be used to bring people together in highly social learning communities. His research is focused on open educational resources that can be efficiently reused to facilitate learning. During his research, Wiley will continue to develop new frameworks describing the social use of open educational resources and study their use in real life settings. Wiley received his Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology and Technology from Brigham Young University in 2000 and has been at Utah State since 2000.

- Anna McEntire