Department of Physics & Astronomy

1. Department of Physics & Astronomy Advisory Board Meeting Friday, November 7, 2003

2. Welcome

3. Today’s Agenda 8:30 Mix and Mingle 9:00 State of the Department 11:00 Revision of Board Mission Noon Lunch 1:00 Industrial Relations: Past, Present & Future 2:00 Importance of Networking (Strategies for Board Members) 3:30 Subcommittees 5:30 Dinner – Mondo’s

4. Overview of the Strategic plan • Revitalize graduate program • improve recruiting • increase incentives • integrate grad students with research programs • improve retention • Maintain strong undergraduate program • Curriculum Development • improve student satisfaction • develop new courses for non-science majors • Develop a long-range hiring plan

5. Hiring Plan - Process • Departmental Review and Space Science Review foundation of plan • Faculty grouped into three primary research areas • Space/Plasma/Astronomy • Condensed Matter/Optics • High Energy Particle/Nuclear • Research groups worked on preliminary long term plans • Group plans were brought to the Executive Committee for discussion • Long-range plan developed by negotiating and combining individual plans • Discussion at faculty meetings • Plan overwhelmingly approved by the faculty • Submitted to the CLAS in February 2003 • Meetings with Dean Maxson to sell the plan

6. Hiring Plan - Results • 13 lines over next 10 years • 5 in condensed matter – nano & quantum information • 5 in space sciences – space-based astro & space plasma • 3 in high energy-nuclear – accelerator & astroparticle • Plan to increase faculty size to 35 • Anticipated retirements of current faculty anticipated • Long Range Hiring Plans is designed • To provide excellence in our 3 major research areas • To grow and improve graduate student training • To enhance our teaching mission

7. Space Science Review • Summary comments from review: • Build from strength…The Committee considers that the best opportunity for Iowa to improve its national visibility and reputation is to preserve and enhance its historical base of excellence in space science • Aging workforce? Potential influx of students • Capability to build space hardware and train students (machine shop, electronics shop, etc.)

8. Space Science - The Plan • Hire an experimentalist who can compete for hardware missions • Hire at the mid to senior level • Broaden to include space-based astronomy • Tied to particle astrophysics – link to high energy • Involve graduate students in hardware development

9. Space Science – Potential Difficulties • Creating shared infrastructure • Implementing hiring plan quickly to maintain resources • Mentoring by senior faculty • Strong departmental and collegiate leadership • Adequate start up funds

10. Recent Initiatives • Faculty/Staff Hires & Infrastructure • Faculty: Cornelia Lang (Astronomy), Markus Wohlgenannt (CMO) • Two faculty searches this year (Plasma Theory & Space-Astronomy) • New computer staff member • Recurring research staff budget lines • Machine Shop equipment • Student Recruitment • GAANN • REU • Increase in graduate stipend • Council for Status of Women – Site Visit • UG Open House • Community Outreach • Hawkeye’s on Science Proposal • Sounds of Space • Distinguished Lecture Series

11. New Faculty Searches • Two searches for AY 03-04 • Experimental Space-Based Astronomy • Assistant to Associate level • $1M start up package • Dean Maxson committed to preserving search • Plasma Theory • Replacement for Bhattacharjee – (UNH) • Junior appointment

12. Machine Shop – Infrastructure • $225 K of new equipment purchased for Physics Machine Shop • Sharpe manual lathe • Milltronics CNC lathe • Milltronics CNC vertical milling machine • Electrical discharge machine (EDM ) • Chemistry & Physics/Astronomy faculty are on equal ground as to shop prioritizes • Open House scheduled for spring 2004 to showcase new equipment

13. Committee Structure • External Review Committee recommendation • Appoint Advisory Committee that broadly represents Department • Develop strategic decision making • Develop stronger committee structure in key aspects • Recruitment & Admissions Committee • Educational Operations Committee • Build departmental consensus through committees • Encourage open communication

14. GAANN Proposal • Provides grants to support graduate students • Department of Education – national needs • physics • Three year proposal to bring in four new students - three US minorities and one woman • PI – Vincent Rodgers

15. NSF REU Grant Proposal • Research Experience for Undergraduates - REU • Opportunity for undergraduates - particularly those majoring in Physics and/or Astronomy - to get paid to work on a research project for the summer with a scientist • The NSF provides money to the site so that they can hire 6-10 students to work with faculty who are interested in hosting a student • PI – Mary Hall Reno • Goal – Recruitment of Graduate Students

16. Increasing TA Stipends • Comparison with data from Midwest Physics Chairs • net compensation in bottom quartile • Agreement in Fall 2002 with CLAS • Incentive program to increase stipends • Based on increases in number of RAs in Department • If P&A increase by two RAs - the college will increase • funding by equivalent of one TA • Current AY stipend: $17,500 • Supplemented by new tuition remission policy

17. Recruitment Open House - December 2003 Forum/open house for high school educators, guidance counselors and students who would like to learn about educational and career opportunities in physics and astronomy. • Discuss career opportunities in physics and astronomy • Life as a physics and/or astronomy major • Outreach programs that may directly benefit your students • Talk to current students, staff and faculty • Tour of research laboratories and facilities • Provide lunch with faculty/staff

18. APS CSWP Site Visit • To assess the climate for women in the Department • High Points of the Site Visit: • Department had made positive changes in recent years • Climate is “Welcoming and Supportive” • Commitment to increasing diversity • Strong interest in welfare of its students • More vigilant in monitoring progress of students

19. APS CSWP Site Visit - continued Recommendations: • Improve facilities – grad office, grad commons & computer facilities • Increased effort to recruit and retain UG and Grad women • Optimize use of University resources to recruit women & minority faculty • Departmental support for WISE • New lab equipment for upper division courses • Teaching assignments for 1st year courses • Strengthen connection with Science Education/Education • Increase graduate stipends – to cover tuition • Stats to better monitor demographic profile • Family friendly environment

20. Sounds of Space Irvine, California 200 + guests for free event Sounds of Space and "Sun Rings": A Multimedia Experience of Space Exploring Space For Younger Guests (6 - 12) Sponsored by the Alumni Association, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Physics and Astronomy

21. Rolling Outreach ProgramHawk-Eyes on Science • A mobile science outreach program throughout the state of Iowa. • Hands-on physics and chemistry demonstrations • K-12 audiences • A key goal - to pique the natural curiosity of these students at an early age • Three year proposal to Roy J. Carver Foundation – $164,225 • purchase of a dedicated cargo van • outfitted with portable experiments • 12 month TA

22. Mobile Outreach Continued

23. Donation of 24” Telescope • Have worked with Cedar Amateur Astronomers in past • CAA expressed interest in 24” telescope that is located the Hills Observatory • Plan to build in Observatory at Palisades Observatory in Mount Vernon, IA • Iowa faculty, staff and students will have access to the telescope • Removed in October 2003.

24. Distinguished Public Lecture Series • Supported by the CLAS, Physics and Astronomy and Vice President of Research • Bring the most exciting recent advances in physics and astronomy directly to the public through talks given by departmental faculty and invited speakers • This new lecture series is intended to generate a faithful following within the community, which then actively supports university activities • Web site

25. Student Demographics Enrollment Trends Placement Information Increase in Research Assistant positions Female Enrollment

26. UG Enrollments

27. Graduate Enrollments

28. UG Placement

29. MS Placement

30. Ph.D Placement

31. TA & RA Distribution

32. Female Demographics

33. BREAK

34. Revision of Board Mission • Review Draft Statement • Solicit feedback from group members • New members • Focus is relationship building and establishing networks • Community advocates • Outreach to the community • Industrial Relations & Economic Development • Fundraising • Marketing students

35. Goal • To promote partnerships and establish networks that will help the Department of Physics and Astronomy carry out its strategic plan.

36. Through these partnerships and networks, we aspire to: • provide high quality community outreach activities; • develop business/University partnerships that facilitate the formulation of research projects of mutual interest and benefit; • build a network of community advocates to help promote the Department; • strengthen relationships with alumni and friends; and • market our students to potential employers.

37. Community Outreach Committee Chair: Alan Tribble Members: TBD Mission Ideas • Sharing knowledge of physics with the general public and schools • Encouraging the study of physics • ‘Market’ The University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy to potential students • Relationship building and advocacy within the University of Iowa community

38. Industrial and Research Institute Relations Committee Chair: TBD Members: TBD, Diane Gallagher (Office of Corporate Relations) Mission Ideas • Building extensive and strong relationships with industry and research institutes Benefits • Potential resource support for research at Iowa • Opportunities for employment of students • Economic development Questions • How should contacts (businesses and institutes) be identified and selected from? • Should focus be on contacts with direct tie to Iowa research focus, or balanced with potential for student placement? • What is the required commitment level from faculty? • What roles do Board members and faculty play in developing the relationships?

39. Student Recruitment and Placement Committee Chair: TBD Members: TBD, Michelle Stricker (Career Advisor) Mission Ideas • Recruitment • Assist in finding high caliber undergrad and grad students and market UofI Department of Physics and Astronomy (Coordinate as appropriate with Community Outreach) • Placement • Assist in finding and enabling internship opportunities • Assist in finding full-time job opportunities and assist in marketing the Iowa program and its students • Advise on the preparation of students for internships and full-time jobs

40. Committee Inter-relationships Find funding sources for outreach activities Industry/Research Relations Community Outreach Finding and enhancing opportunities for internships and full-time jobs Finding and motivating potential students Student Recruitment and Placement

41. Obvious Keys to Success • Keeping momentum going for initiatives after we’ve scattered for home. How will activities be coordinated and driven? • Defining expectations for the on-site at Iowa committee members.

42. Lunch

43. Past Successes and Future • Summarize successful experiences with industry • Professor Bob Mutel – Torus Technologies • Professor Tom Boggess – Overview of Past Successes • How industry could help a faculty member succeed with current research • Professor Markus Wohlgenannt

44. A Summary of Industrial Collaborations • HRL (Hughes Research) Laboratories • Major industrial research lab • Malibu, CA • Rockwell Collins • Local industry • High-tech • Terahertz Device Corporation • Start-up high-tech company • Salt Lake City, UT • Cryovac – SealedAire • Local industry • Food storage

45. HRL Laboratories – Best Example • We provide them with expertise and facilities and they do the • same for us: • Spin Filter with 100nm feature size – fabricated at HRL • UI Funding exclusively pass-through • Mid-IR semiconductor lasers (AFRL, 1993 – 1996; ~$196K) • Spintronics (DARPA, 2000-2004; ~$600K) • UpSpins; Bio-Chem Sensors; IR Optoelectronics (DARPA)?? • Led to separate NSF, AFRL, ONR, JPL Funding (~$2.5M)

46. Rockwell Collins • Bob Sternowski (RC) / David Andersen (ECE) • Non-line-of-sight UV free-space optical • communications (1998-2000; $85K) • Funding directly from Rockwell • Follow-on project with Softronics • Sternowski’s start-up • Summer grad support (Amrit De) • Bob was very pleased with this arrangement

47. Terahertz Device Corporation • Design, growth, characterization of materials • for THz external-cavity lasers (2001 – present) • Phase I STTR* (AFOSR, ~$27K) • Phase II STTR (AFOSR, ~$150K) • Collaboration with Flatté, Prineas • Potential direct AFOSR connection • * Small Business Technology Transfer Program

48. Cryovac – SealedAire, Cedar Rapids • Plastic food storage bags • Proposed project to convert thermal sealing and • mechanical cutting to laser-based processing • concept developed internally at Cryovac • conversion would increase throughput, safety and • reduce maintenance, noise • they need optics/laser expertise • Cryovac not willing to invest own resources • Currently considering proposal to Iowa Values Fund • would include ~$1M funding for UI – research and • prototype development • funds for pilot facility at CR plant • Intellectual property a serious concern

49. Pros and Cons of Industrial Partnerships • On the Up Side: • Access to equipment and expertise not available at UI • Connections to funders and programs that we would • otherwise not access • Insight into what is important in “real world” • Student & postdoc contact with industrial environment • Potential source of employment for students/postdocs • But: • Don’t count on big $ coming directly from industry • - more likely through subcontract • Constant nurturing • Travel • IP and nondisclosure agreements • Potential for delay in publishing • On large projects, industry often takes lead – you are not • in the driver’s seat

50. Networking Presentation Fred Streicher, Director of External Relations, College of Engineering • How to Successfully Build Networks • Importance of Relationship Building • Strategies for Board Members