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KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 17, 2019

Event honors legacy of one of KSU鈥檚 top science researchers

Two faculty researchers were recently recognized for their contributions in the fields of chemistry and biology at KSU鈥檚 , a symposium highlighting a cross-section of faculty research at the University.

Altug Poyraz, assistant professor of , earned the John C. Salerno Prize for Research Achievement, and Martin Hudson, associate professor of , received the People鈥檚 Choice Award for Best Presentation.

The symposium also featured seven researchers who shared their latest discoveries with KSU students and faculty colleagues.

• Joseph Bock,
  鈥淗umanitarianism Unleashed: How to Take the World into Your Own Hands鈥�
• Martina Kaledin, associate professor of
  鈥淒riven Molecular Dynamics Method for a Precise Understanding and Assignments of Experimental Spectra鈥�
• Kevin McFall, associate professor of
  鈥淗ow Do Self-Driving Vehicles Really Work?鈥�
• Charles Perrin, part-time assistant professor of
  鈥淔orgotten Prisoners of the Tsar: East Prussian Deportees in Russia during World War I鈥�
• Eric Stachura, assistant professor of
  鈥淎 New Mathematical Model for Cancer Stem Cell Invasion鈥�
• Jared Taglialatela, associate professor of
  What Bonobos and Chimpanzees Are Teaching Us about the Origins of Language鈥�
• Doreen Wagner, professor of
  鈥淎n Exploration of Postoperative Delirium and Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia in Surgical Patients鈥�

The symposium was launched in 2018 to honor the academic legacy of Salerno, the Neel Distinguished Chair in Biotechnology prior to his death in 2015. was eminent in the field focusing on fundamental discoveries in free radical biology, spectroscopy and enzymology.

鈥淭he Salerno Symposium is fast becoming the premier campus-wide celebration of the vibrant and growing research culture at KSU,鈥� said Jonathan McMurry, associate vice president for research in KSU鈥檚 Office of Research and the symposium organizer.  

Through the lens of materials chemistry, Poyraz鈥檚 research focuses on exploring alternative materials to coat a rechargeable battery鈥檚 cathode 鈥� the positive charge of a battery 鈥� which starts to breakdown during the charging/discharging phases.

Poyraz explained that the novel cathode-free zinc-ion battery design he is developing would help lower the costs of manufacturing large-scale energy storage devices as well as improving and extending battery life and performance.

鈥淗aving an event like this is really a great opportunity for us to present our research and to learn more about other research activities at KSU,鈥� said Poyraz. 鈥淭his is my second year participating and I feel more excited to be a part of the symposium.鈥�

On the life sciences side, Hudson conducts research on genetic control of nervous system development, connectivity, and function using a nematode (roundworm) model.

Hudson said that genes controlling neuron fate, shape and function in the C. elegans used in the studies are very similar to those essential genes found in humans. Therefore, discoveries made in the worm model will be translatable to understanding the causes of human neurological disorders.

鈥淭he Salerno family were incredibly open and welcoming when I moved here, and John was a valued mentor to me during my early days as a junior faculty member,鈥� added Hudson. 鈥淚t was a privilege to present my research at a symposium in honor of his legacy.鈥�

The symposium is organized by KSU鈥檚 , in conjunction with the .

鈥淭he second annual Salerno Symposium was a great success, bringing together the KSU community to reflect on research and scholarship from all over campus,鈥� Carol Chrestensen, professor of , who served as the symposium鈥檚 emcee.

鈥� Jo毛lle Walls

Photos by Jason Getz

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