President Names Outstanding Young Us Scientists

By Stacy Cholewinski

Sixty young researchers were awarded the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), on November 3, 1997 in a ceremony at the White House. President Clinton stated, "their passion for discovery and their determination to explore new scientific frontiers will drive this Nation forward and build a better America for the twenty-first century."

Those selected receive up to $500,000 over a five-year period to further their research and broadly advance science for important government missions. Annually, ten government agencies nominate promising scientists and engineers. The supporting Federal agencies are: the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Veterans, Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation.

CRA would like to recognize those computer scientists who were awarded the honor this year:

Peter N. Belhumeur, Yale University for innovative concepts and student laboratories in appearance-based modeling for computer applications, and forging interdisciplinary links to physiology of human vision.

Steven W. McLaughlin, Georgia Institute of Technology for leadership in the development of optical recording systems capable of storing information in high-capacity, non-binary formats and development of novel courses in communication theory.

"The nice thing about the award is that is gives a great deal of both prestige and money. In the long run though, the prestige is really the gift that will keep giving."

Renee J. Miller, Ohio State University for contributions to solving problems of schematic heterogeneity in database-management systems and retaining women and minorities in computer science (see "Establishment of Diversity Program at Ohio State," CRN, November 1997).

"The greatest effect so far is that it has alleviated many tenure and career anxieties - the constant worries about where the next research assistant, machine, research idea, etc., is coming from. It has validated my research agenda. It has left me free to focus more of my energy on my research and teaching rather than on the time consuming, distracting struggle to get money and get established as an academic."

Jaswinder P. Singh, Princeton University for contributions to computer engineering education and research in the area of parallel architecture and software development, including results applicable to protein structure determination.