Honors and Awards

Three Stanford researchers were among 57 of the nation's most promising young scientists and engineers honored with 2002 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The award is the nation's highest honor for professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. John H. Marburger III, science adviser to President Bush and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, presented the awards May 4 at a White House ceremony.

J. Christian Gerdes, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was honored for developing a framework for revolutionary collision avoidance systems, with broad potential to improve on highway driving safety. Several automotive companies have shown significant interest in his research, which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Gerdes also has given undergraduate students, including underrepresented groups brought into his fold as a result of outreach, real-world research experiences and experiments.

Hari C. Manoharan, assistant professor of physics, was lauded for developing and applying single-atom and single-molecule manipulation techniques to a variety of challenges in science and technology. The Office of Naval Research sponsors this work. Exploiting a custom-built apparatus has enabled new measurements of phenomena well below the nanometer length scale in materials assembled one atom at a time. Manoharan also has created a student outreach and teaching program designed to weave together educational and research environments in the emerging fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

David Goldhaber-Gordon, assistant professor of physics, was praised for studies of how electrons behave when they are confined to small "boxes" -- that is, are restricted to discrete quantized states (instead of being able to move freely) in one, two or even all three spatial dimensions. His research, sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, examines how electrons flow through carbon nanotubes, electrical wires only one nanometer in diameter. These structures may be useful as fast, ultraminiaturized transistors.

Susan Zare, a senior advising consultant in the Undergraduate Advising Center, was honored with an outstanding advising certificate of merit by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Zare has been an undergraduate adviser since 1984, first as a volunteer adviser and then as a full-time adviser with the center since 1994. Zare and other award recipients will be honored at a special reception during the annual NACADA conference in Cincinnati in October. The association, formed as a nonprofit in 1979 to promote quality academic advising and professional development of its membership, has grown to over 7,200 members consisting of faculty members, professional advisers, administrators, counselors and others in academic and student affairs.