FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2003
FY04-25i
Rice University Faculty Member Receives Research Enhancement Award
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.–Rice University faculty member Michael Wong is one of 24 recipients of Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ (ORAU) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards for the 2003-2004 academic year.
The grants of $5,000 each are intended to provide “seed money” to allow faculty members in their first two years of tenure track to enhance their research during the early stages of their careers. Each recipient’s institution matches the ORAU award with an additional $5,000.
Awards were made in five areas of science and technology: engineering and applied science; life sciences; mathematics and computer science; physical sciences; and policy, management, or education. Faculty members will use grant funds for the continuation of research, purchase of equipment, and travel to professional meetings and conferences.
In the 13 years since the program began, ORAU has awarded 232 grants totaling more than $1 million. The inclusion of matching funds from member institutions means ORAU has facilitated grants worth $2,320,000.
The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award program was named for Ralph E. Powe, who served as the ORAU Councilor from Mississippi State University for 16 years. He served on numerous committees and special projects during his tenure and was elected by his peers as Chair of ORAU’s Council of Sponsoring Institutions prior to his death in 1996.
ORAU plans to offer the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award program again for the 2004-2005 academic year. Faculty members at ORAU member institutions who are within two years of their initial tenure-track appointments as assistant professors are eligible for the grants.
For more information, visit www.orau.org/consortium/programs/powe/powe-awards.htm, call Ann Farler at (865) 576-1898 or e-mail her at ann.farler@orau.org.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 88 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.