Dr. Jonathan Merten, professor of chemistry, gave a research talk at LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) XIII international meeting in Argentina based on a collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Merten, Steven Hoke, instructor in physics, and undergraduate researcher Mary Elizabeth Foster performed the work, which should allow nuclear site inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to verify nuclear weapons treaty compliance almost instantly.

A paper co-authored by Dr. Hilary Schloemer, associate professor of management, with colleagues from two other institutions was presented at the annual Strategic Management Society conference in Istanbul. Their paper was nominated to receive the conference Research Methods Paper Prize. The authors used two field studies to develop a model of how teams can develop novel strategies for addressing complex organizational changes.

Dr. Carlitta M. Moore, associate professor of athletic training and vice chancellor for access and institutional engagement, made a presentation with a colleague from Texas at the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association annual meeting. They discussed how to understand the athletic training profession through the context of an intergenerational workforce.​ Also, they described the consequences of intergenerational diversity in the workplace, and strategies to enhance collaboration in a diverse setting.

Dr. Mohammad Abrar Alam, professor of chemistry and holder of the Beck Professorship, is co-author of research just published in ChemistrySelect. The authors identify an efficient methodology they have developed to synthesize chimeric thiazole-fused diosgenin compounds. These novel compounds have been tested against various bacterial strains and panels of cancer cell lines; some compounds showed narrow-spectrum antibacterial activities. The fluorophenyl derivative is a potent cytotoxic agent against renal cancer cell lines.

Dr. Virginie Rolland (left), professor of quantitative wildlife ecology, and Dr. Than Boves (right), professor of wildlife ecology, are co-authors with graduate student, Ty Sharrow, corresponding author, of an article to be published in the Journal of Raptor Research. They report surprising behavioral observations made on camera, including one of an American Kestrel, a common bird of prey in Craighead County, that ate its own egg. The abstract is online.