Gregory Crawford, Dean of the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame, has announced that Professor Patricia L. Clark along with three other professors in the College of Science, have been appointed five-year collegiate chairs.
Professor Patricia L. Clark has been appointed the Rev. John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C. Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Professor Nora J. Besansky has been appointed the Rev. John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C. Professor of Biological Sciences, Professor Margaret Dobrowolska-Furdyna has been appointed the Rev. John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C. Professor of Physics, and Professor Claudia Polini has been appointed the Rev. John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C. Professor of Mathematics.
Clark studies protein folding mechanisms which are the cause of numerous human diseases including cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, juvenile cataracts, and many forms of cancer. Besansky’s research focuses primarily on African vectors of human malaria: the anopheline mosquitoes known as Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus. Dobrowolska-Furdyna specializes in magnetospectroscopy of semiconductor heterostructures—systems composed of ultrathin layers of different semiconductor compounds, with thicknesses in the range of a few atomic monolayers. Polini studies commutative algebra and its interactions with algebraic geometry.
These collegiate chairs are supported by a grant to stimulate the recruitment and retention of intellectual capital here in Indiana and are a testament to their exceptional accomplishments in research, teaching and service. Their achievements and continued contributions to the University and our region are invaluable. It is wonderful to be able to recognize each of them in this way.