It is with regret that we announce that Daniel Song, Class of 2008,
lost his life in a vehicle accident Saturday night while returning to
campus to participate in graduation ceremonies Sunday morning. As
many of you know, Daniel was a very likeable student; full of
ambition, talent and with a goodly dose of humor. He will always have
a special place in the memories of the Weldon School family.

If you have a favorite memory of Daniel that you would like to share
with others who knew him, especially with his family, please e-mail
it to his Academic Advisor, Truda Strange. These will be compiled into a remembrance.

Five of the first research grants issued by the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Board have been awarded to faculty members at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Ji-Xin Cheng, Alyssa Panitch, Jenna Rickus, Riyi Shi, and Tom Talavage were selected from 32 proposals submitted for consideration.

Pedro Irazoqui, an assistant professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, is one of three Purdue University researchers selected to be a part of collaborative research teams with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Irazoqui and William Chappell, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, will work with HHMI investigator Simon John of the Jackson Laboratory on glaucoma research. his is the first time HHMI has provided direct funding for specific research projects.

BME graduate student Jianming Li has been named one of two Purdue students to receive a 2009 Chorafas Foundation Award. This award for advanced graduate students includes a $4,000.00 cash prize intended as co-funding of advanced research or studies, including travel to explore post doctoral opportunities in Nobel Laureate's laboratories.

A paper on the critical role of acrolein in spinal cord injuries co-authored by Riyi Shi has been selected by the Faculty of 1000 Biology as one of the most interesting papers in current biology.

A Decade of Achievement has been recognized in ceremonies at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering honoring President Emeritus Martin C. Jischke for his leadership. With the formal unveiling of his portrait, the state-of-the-art biomedical engineering building formally completed it's renaming to the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering. During his almost ten years as university president, Dr. Jischke oversaw the phenomenal growth of program into the first named school within the College of Engineering.

Dr. Alyssa Panitch has been presented with the first Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association (BMEGSA) Faculty Award for Mentoring. "Dr. Panitch," states Jon Boley, chair of the BMEGSA professional development committee, "is an outstanding advisor and mentor to many graduate students, and the BME Graduate Student Association is proud to award her for her efforts." Dr. Panitch received the most votes from the graduate students of the nominees for the award. "My favorite part of my job is working with the students, so it is especially nice to be recognized for mentoring," said Dr. Panitch, who was presented the award on August 20th.