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February 23, 2016 - In This Issue:
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DHS Funds Contact Sampling Task Order
Led by Prof. Stephen Beaudoin, Purdue University
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The ALERT Center of Excellence has been awarded a $1.2 million dollar task order contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the creation of standardized procedures and methods to measure the efficiency and performance of contact sampling for trace explosives detection.
The task order, known as the Contact Sampling Task Order, came out of the Trace Explosives Sampling for Security Applications (TESSA) workshop series hosted by ALERT, and led by Professor Stephen Beaudoin of Purdue University. TESSA01 (August 2014) and TESSA02 (August 2015) brought together members of the trace explosives detection community in order to support the DHS objective of improving the performance of existing technologies within the security enterprise.
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Student Spotlight: Melissa Sweat
PhD graduate from Purdue University
Congratulations to Melissa Sweat, a recent ALERT graduate student who completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Purdue University last fall, and is now working as a Visiting Scientist with the Transportation Security Laboratory in New Jersey! Before graduating, Melissa worked with ALERT Thrust Leader, Prof. Stephen Beaudoin, at Purdue University. Her thesis, titled, "Compressive Behavior of Simulated Explosive-Filled Composites," has two major emphases: evaluating the compressive behavior (or "squishiness") of C-4, and creating a benign equivalent to C-4 - the end goals of which are to better remove explosive residues from surfaces. Because C-4 (a highly explosive compound) is difficult to obtain and dangerous to work with, Melissa created an inactive equivalent to C-4 that could be studied in the lab; she has recently submitted her work for publication to scientific journals such as Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics and Power Technology.
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 ALERT Researcher Awarded Grant for Breast Cancer Detection Innovation
Prof. Jose Martinez-Lorenzo, Northeastern University
ALERT bulk sensors and sensor systems researcher, Professor Jose Martinez-Lorenzo, has been named an Innovation Commercialization Seed Fund winner by the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC). Professor Martinez-Lorenzo is one of nine individuals to each receive $40,000, two other winners are also based at Northeastern University. The awarded parties were announced earlier this month.
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 ALERT Student Receives First
Michael B. Silevitch Scholarship
Thurston Brevett, Northeastern University
Thurston Brevett, an NU undergraduate studying for the BS in Electrical Engineering working on ALERT research under the direction of Professor Carey Rappaport, is the inaugural recipient of the Michael B. Silevitch Exemplary Engineering Leadership Fund Scholarship. Thurston has been involved with ALERT research since the fall of 2013 and has exhibited the leadership expected of students receiving this scholarship award through his efforts working with and mentoring other undergraduate and new graduate students on research projects in Prof. Rappaport's lab including millimeter wave radar imaging of concealed threats by developing reconstruction algorithms to characterize slabs of non-metallic affixed to the body. In addition, Thurston has undertaken another leadership position through his current role as the Pre-collegiate Initiative Chairperson for the Northeastern Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Congratulations, Thurston!
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ALERT Career Panel Webinar
February 9, 2016, Northeastern University
Held on February 9, 2016, the ALERT Career Panel Webinar successfully brought students together with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), industry, and national labs to discuss the career paths that have led them to their prominent positions today. The Career Panel is the first in a new series of Skill-Builder Webinars aimed at enhancing the professional development and connection of our students across campuses. In addition to dialogue surrounding the specific careers of each speaker, topics ranging from mentorship, networking, and interpersonal communication skills were addressed as a means of extending advice to students who are preparing to graduate or enter into internship experiences.
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 Spring 2016 ASPIRE Announced
Annual Student Pipeline to Industry Roundtable Event
Tuesday on April 12, 2016 at Northeastern University
Every year ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS host the ASPIRE for students and industry members to build connections. This spring's event will feature presentations by industry members, a poster session by students, and our 'speed-dating' format for students and industry to have one-on-one time to discuss their common goals.
This event is by invitation only for our ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS industry members and students.
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ADSA14 Workshop Announced
May 10-11, 2016, Northeastern University
ALERT will host the Fourteenth Advanced Development for Security Applications Workshop (ADSA14) on May 10th and 11th at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. The title of the workshop will be, "Development and Deployment of Fusible Technologies for the Checkpoint." Topics to be addressed will include: emerging fusible hardware and algorithms; specifying, testing and deploying fusible technology; standards; airport case studies; and concept of operations. Attendance to this workshop is by invitation only.
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STUDENT & RESEARCHER OPPORTUNITIES
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Fundamentals of Explosives Course
May 3-5, 2016, University of Rhode Island
A Fundamentals of Explosives course is being offered at the University of Rhode Island, May 3 - 5, 2016. In addition, URI is also offering a follow-on day of hands-on Explosive Analysis on May 6, 2016. For more information about these courses, please visit their website linked below!
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Opportunities at Raytheon Company
Search over 200 open positions
Raytheon Company has over 200 open engineering positions for recent graduates seeking full-time employment, as well as opportunities for students seeking co-ops and internships. Positions are available throughout the country and internationally. For detailed job information and information on how to apply, visit their website linked below!
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Image Formation in X-Ray Computer Tomography Conference
July 18 - 22, 2016, Bamberg Germany
The 4th International Conference on Image Formation in X-Ray Computed Tomography will be held in Bamberg, Germany, from July 18 - 22, 2016. The conference covers all aspects of medical CT image formation, and of industrial and security CT applications. Details about the meeting can be found on the following website: www.ct-meeting.org.
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Pathways to Science
Funding opportunities for STEM students
The Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP) Pathways to Science project supports pathways to the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) by connecting students to programs such as REUs, graduate fellowships, and postdoctoral positions. Students can sign up online to automatically receive information on research, funding, and professional development opportunities customized to their interests.
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