"Outstanding research programs" spurred on with major =
funding
![](3D"http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/files/news/images/MacRae_Lvovsky.jpg") =20
Andrew MacRae (left), a PhD physics student, and Alexander =
Lvovsky, a=20
professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, adjust their =
laser=20
array.If money is the fuel that drives the rate =
of=20
research, three members of the University of Calgary's Faculty of =
Science=20
have just received some welcome pressure on the pedal.
The =
Natural=20
Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has =
awarded=20
Alexander Lvovsky, Alex Brudnyi and Raymond J. Turner discovery=20
accelerator grants, designed to push the recipients=E2=80=99 =
research into turbo=20
drive.
Each award, worth $120,000 over three years, aims =
to=20
provide "substantial and timely additional resources to accelerate =
progress, and maximize the impact of outstanding research =
programs,"=20
according to NSERC. Across Canada, 125 researchers received =
funding=20
through these Discovery Accelerator Supplements.
Quantum =
physicist=20
Lvovsky's work focuses on exploring quantum optical technology. =
His=20
research grant will be used to expand on recent successes such as =
his=20
lab's experiments building with microscopic light particles or =
photons,=20
connecting them with other photons in a way never achieved before. =
Lvovsky, a professor in Physics and Astronomy says the=20
applications of quantum physics are enormous.
"This =
includes, in=20
particular, faster computers, secure communication lines, control =
over=20
chemical reactions, and measurements of unprecedented precision."=20
Turner, a professor in Biological Sciences, is interested =
in the=20
biochemistry and physiology of bacteria, specifically looking at =
how=20
bacteria deal with a variety of antimicrobial agents. This grant =
will=20
allow Turner's research group to concentrate primarily on the =
small=20
multidrug resistance (SMR) family of proteins.
"The =
long-term is=20
to provide a biochemical and biophysical picture of SMR proteins," =
says=20
Turner. "These are a particular interest as they are a model =
system for=20
other multidrug resistance proteins including those that help lead =
to=20
bacterial multidrug resistance and those that contribute to cancer =
chemotherapy problems."
Alex Brudnyi, an associate =
professor of=20
mathematics, says his award will finance extra help in the form of =
two=20
post-doctoral students. Together they will continue to attempt to =
solve=20
some of mathematics=E2=80=99 most complex problems, first proposed =
by Henri=20
Poincar=C3=A9, one of the greatest mathematicians of the last =
century.=20
"Much of our work is quite complicated and theoretical," =
says=20
Brudnyi. "You can't always show explicitly the results, and apply =
them to=20
a real-world problem. So this recognition of our theoretical =
research is=20
very significant for me."
For more information: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Media-Media/NewsRelease-Comm=
uniqueDePresse_eng.asp?ID=3D201=20
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![3D""=20](3D"http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/files/news/images/june24-2010UToday-Ba= "3D\"\"")
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June 24, 2010