2008 Frederick A. Howes Scholars in Computational Science Announced

Contact: Shelly Olsan
515-956-3696
olsan@krellinst.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2008

Ames, IA — Dr. Mala Radhakrishnan of Wellesley College has been named the 2008 Frederick A. Howes Scholar in Computational Science.

The Howes Scholar award was established to honor the late Frederick Anthony Howes who managed the Applied Mathematical Science Program in the U.S. Department of Energy during the 1990s.  Dr. Howes was highly respected and admired for his energy, dedication and personal integrity.

One of Howes’ responsibilities was to oversee the Department of Energy’s Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) program.  He was extremely committed to this program which supports graduate students in computational science.  This program is unique, as it requires candidates to take courses in mathematics, computer science and an applications discipline, such as physics or engineering.  The CSGF program currently supports over 70 graduate students and is administered by the Krell Institute.

To honor his memory and his dedication to the Department of Energy’s Computational Science Graduate Fellowship program, one CSGF fellow will be chosen each calendar year as a Howes Scholar.  But because there were so many outstanding nominees for the award this year, two winners were selected.  This award will provide the recipients with a substantial cash award, a plaque, and the distinction of being named a Howes Scholar.

A CSGF fellow is eligible to be named the Howes Scholar if he or she has completed all the requirements for his or her Ph.D. program while being supported by the CSGF program or having been supported by the CSGF program for the maximum number of allotted years.

Dr. Radhakrishnan was a CSGF fellow from 2004-2007.  She received her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2007 from MIT.  She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at Wellesley College, where she heads a group that uses computational techniques to design and analyze drugs and other biologically-relevant molecules.

There will be a special presentation to the Howes Scholars at the 2008 CSGF Fellows’ conference to be held June 17-19 in Washington, D.C.

For more information on the Howes Scholar award, please contact the Krell Institute at 515-956-3696 or email Jeana Gingery, at gingery@krellinst.org .  For more information on the CSGF program, visit the CSGF website or send email to Ms. Gingery at the above email address.

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