Wolfgang Losert will serve as Insterim Associate Dean for Research in the College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (CMNS).

Wolfgang has an appointment in physics, the Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST), and the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (IREAP). As a member of the Nonlinear Dynamics Group, Wolfgang's research focuses on discovering emergent dynamic properties of complex systems at the interface of physics and biology, with a special emphasis on cancer biology.

Within CMNS and the broader scientific community, Wolfgang actively fosters cross-disciplinary interactions and new research and educational opportunities. He chairs the Division of Biological Physics of the American Physical Society, and is part of a trans-university initiative of HHMI (called NEXUS) that is developing new science and math courses for biology majors and pre-health care students that can serve as a national model. He helped initiate and now leads the Partnership for Cancer Technology, which provides UMD faculty and graduate students the opportunity to tackle pressing problems in cancer research in collaboration with National Cancer Institute experts. To take on this new position in the dean’s office, Wolfgang will be stepping down from his roles as member of the Burgers Board for Fluid Dynamics and director of the graduate program in biophysics. Wolfgang’s interdisciplinary expertise will be especially valuable in the context of our recently integrated college.

Sankar Das Sarma, Richard E. Prange Chair and Distinguished University Professor was included on Thomson Reuter's newly launched list of Highly Cited Researchers, a compilation of influential names in science.

The list includes 3,215 authors from 21 science disciplines. These researchers earned the distinction by writing the greatest numbers of reports officially designated by Essential Science Indicators as Highly Cited Papers—ranking among the top 1 percent most cited for their subject field and year of publication—between 2002 and 2012. The listings of Highly Cited Researchers feature authors whose published work in their specialty areas has consistently been judged by their peers to be of particular use and significance.

The Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers list is one of several criteria used by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University to determine the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Steve Rolston has been choosen as the recipient of the Kirwan Undergraduate Education Award for 2014. The prestigious award recognizes a faculty member who has made exceptional contributions to the quality of undergraduate education at the university.

Professor Rolston, co-director of the JQI, was recognized for his outstanding achievment in engaging undergraduates (majors and non-majors alike) in science education, emphasizing its applicability and importance in everyday life. He is a model faculty member skilled at research and exceedingly devoted to the department's teaching mission.

The award will be presented at the Campus Convocation this fall in the Memorial Chapel.