Source: thznetwork.org£»

    Recent innovations in optics and imaging have landed doctoral student Brian Schulkin on the 2007 Scientific American 50 ¨C the magazine¡¯s prestigious annual list recognizing outstanding acts of leadership in science and technology from the past year.

    Selected by the magazine¡¯s Board of Editors with the help of distinguished outside advisers, the Scientific American 50 recognizes research, business, and policy leaders who have played a critical role in driving key science and technology trends over the past year in biotechnology, microelectronics, energy, genetics, and other fields.

    ¡°We applaud Brian¡¯s breakthrough work and congratulate him for this exciting recognition,¡± said Rensselaer Provost Robert Palazzo. ¡°The fact that two Rensselaer projects were featured on this highly selective list provides further evidence of Rensselaer¡¯s growing reputation as a world-class research university.¡±

    Brian Schulkin, a Rensselaer doctoral student in physics and winner of the prestigious Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize in 2007, was included on the Scientific American 50 for his work on terahertz imaging.

    Schulkin designed, created, and is looking to commercialize the Mini-Z, a fully integrated, portable terahertz spectrometer. The briefcase-sized, five-pound device allows doctors, the military, security personal, and scientists to peer through flesh, plastics, ceramics, and other materials to detect anything from early-stage breast cancer to explosive materials. NASA has even used the Mini-Z to detect cracks in the outer foam of space shuttles.

    The 2007 Scientific American 50 will appear in the magazine¡¯s January issue, which is expected to hits newsstands on Dec. 20. The complete list may also be accessed on the magazine¡¯s Web site at www.sciam.com.

    For more information on Schulkin¡¯s Mini Z, visit: Handheld ¡®T-ray¡¯ Device earns new $30,000 Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize