- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Karabacak to serve as ARA Project Scope Speaker on June 16

John Hill — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 13:47:19 +0000

Dr. Tansel Karabacak, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will share his work as the featured speaker of the June Arkansas Research Alliance Project Scope on June 16. The monthly talk takes a closer look at research in the state conducted by members of the Arkansas Research Alliance Academy of Scholars and Fellows. Karabacak will discuss his research on the synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications. The talk will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 16, via Zoom. The event is free, but . “I would like everyone to know that we develop novel materials that are relevant to Arkansas’ economy and that research is an integral part of education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” he said. Karabacak was also recently featured in the column in Arkansas Money and Politics, where he reveals the challenges and rewards of developing laboratory research for use in the public sector.

Tansel Karabacak honored as Arkansas Research Alliance fellow

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 21:52:53 +0000

Dr. Tansel Karabacak has joined the ranks of some of the most celebrated and promising researchers in Arkansas. Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday, Aug. 3, that Karabacak, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor of physics and astronomy, is a 2017 fellow of the Arkansas Research Alliance. “These five new Arkansas Research Alliance fellows will be an incredible asset to our state in the area of scientific research and progress,” Hutchinson said in a news release. “And in today’s continuously evolving economy, more people are recognizing the massive influence science and innovation have on our economy. Arkansas Research Alliance continues to serve the state well with its commitment to economic prosperity through science and technology based jobs.” The Arkansas Research Alliance was founded in 2008 to invest in research that stimulates innovation, collaboration, and economic opportunity where Arkansas possesses core competencies. The fellows program annually recognizes researchers at Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Chancellor Andrew Rogerson nominated Karabacak for the award in recognition of his research that focuses on the properties and applications of nanostructured and thin film materials. Karabacak is especially well known for his pioneering work on glancing angle deposited (GLAD) nanostructures. GLAD is a simple and low-cost fabrication method of producing a wide variety of materials in nanostructured form and can be used for several applications, such as fuel cells, solar cells, battery electrodes, photodetectors, optical filters, and biosensors. “Being named an ARA fellow was quite the surprise for me,” Karabacak said. “The people who are selected are all highly skilled researchers. I was very humbled by this recognition.” Karabacak recently received $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy for a to develop high-performance, cost-effective fuel cells that can be used in vehicles. Additional research being conducted at his Thin Films and Nanostructures Research Group includes a collaboration to improve the lifetime and durability of lithium ion batteries. The group is also working on fabricating materials that control the behaviors of oil and water. “By controlling such materials, we can fabricate materials with anti-freezing, anti-fogging, and anti-bacterial surfaces,” he said. “It could also be used in oil spills to separate water and oil from each other.”

Dr. Tansel Karabacak is one of the 2017 recipients of the Arkansas Research Alliance fellowship. Pictured from left to right is Jerry Adams, Julie LaRue, Tansel Karabacak, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and Chancellor Andrew Rogerson.

As for receiving the fellowship, Karabacak is most excited about the potential research collaborations he can make through the Arkansas Research Alliance. “I feel more energized to work through the ARA, because I want to serve Arkansas on a big picture scale,” he said. “The ARA is helping me see the big picture by guiding me and other researchers to better contribute to Arkansas research, economic development, and industry.” As an Arkansas Research Alliance fellow, Karabacak will be awarded a $75,000 grant to be paid over the course of three years to assist him in his research. He would like to use some of the money to sponsor a graduate assistant at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. More about Dr. Karabacak: Karabacak holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in physics from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Shortly after coming to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock from Rennsselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2006, Karabacak set about creating new thin films in a nanostructures lab. The lab houses state-of-the-art fabrication and testing equipment, as well as computational tools for analysis and modeling studies. In addition to being a professor, Karabacak is also the graduate coordinator of the applied physics master’s and Ph.D. programs. Karabacak served as chair of the American Vacuum Society Thin Films Division, the top ranking international organization for professionals in his field. He has been awarded the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Faculty Excellence in Research, 2017; the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Science Faculty Excellence in Research, 2013; and the Kathleen Thomsen Hall Award, 2007 and 2012. He also was selected for the 2010 edition of Marquis Who’s Who in America.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor receives $500k to improve transportation fuel cells

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 16:26:28 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor has received $500,000 to develop high-performance, cost-effective transportation fuel cells. Dr. Tansel Karabacak, professor of physics and astronomy at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will provide $100,000 in matching funds. The main goal of the research is to produce transportation fuel cells that cost less, last longer, and provide more power. The three-year project, “High Performance Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Electrode Structures,” will run until December 2019. The funds are part of a more than $3 million grant awarded to a team led by East Hartford, Connecticut-based, a global company designed to nurture innovation in commercial aerospace, defense, and building industries. In 2016, the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy established the Fuel Cell Consortium for Performance and Durability. The research consortium awarded more than to improve fuel cell performance and durability. Vehicles powered by fuel cells use hydrogen gas to fuel an electric motor. Clean energy alternatives like hydrogen fuel cells can reduce carbon emissions, Karabacak said. The research team will develop a structure to improve polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Scientists hope this specific type of fuel cell can be used for mass transit because of their high power density, high energy conversion efficiency, and low or zero carbon emission. However, the fuel cells currently cannot be used in this manner due to their limited power and poor durability. Karabacak and his team are working with the U.S. Department of Energy to create a solution for this problem. “From an environmental point, these fuel cells are a big advantage,” he said. “It reduces our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, but there are also challenges. The fuel cell cars on the market are very expensive. To reduce the cost, we need materials of lower cost and longer lifetimes.” One of the most expensive components of fuels cells is a platinum catalyst. Karabacak and his team will work to decrease the amount of platinum required and increase the performance and durability of transportation fuel cells, thereby decreasing cost and improving the life of fuel cell electric vehicles. The grant will also fund a postdoctoral researcher and a graduate assistant at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The researchers will assist Karabacak and also have the opportunity to work with top scientists from universities, national laboratories, and companies in the U.S.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock chooses top faculty of 2017

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:01:56 +0000

Drs. Kathryn King, Tansel Karabacak, and Suzanne Penn have been selected as the top University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty members of 2017. The three professors were the recipients of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching; research and creative endeavors; and public service. Each will receive a $5,000 award. The winners were honored during an April 13 reception at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. Eleven other faculty members, who earned Faculty Excellence awards at the college level, also were honored. The 15 members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors reviewed the achievements and selected the winners. Since 1989, when the first award was given, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. More about the winners:

Faculty Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Kathryn King, assistant professor of anthropology, is known for her willingness to help students learn by creating a socially conscious learning environment. Students and colleagues praised King for her knowledge of the field, class organization, and student focus. King has also been involved in curriculum development for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Anthropology Department, having created several innovative courses such as Race and Ethnicity, the Anthropology of Death, and Historic Mortuary Archaeology, in which students collected data from historic cemeteries across central Arkansas. King received a Ph.D. and master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Kentucky.

Faculty Excellence in Research

Dr. Tansel Karabacak, associate professor of physics and astronomy, is an internationally known expert in the glancing angle deposition (GLAD) method to fabricate nanostructured metals, alloys, oxides, and semiconductors. Shortly after joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Karabacak created a new thin films and nanostructure laboratory, which utilizes state-of-the-art fabrication and testing equipment and computational tools for analysis and modeling studies. Karabacak collaborated with students, about 20 faculty members, and approximately 55 national and international researchers outside ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He has been involved in projects with 10 companies and built connections with about 20 project managers from federal funding agencies. Karabacak managed research projects and contributed to 83 journal papers, 39 peer-reviewed conference proceedings, two book chapters, and two patent disclosures. He has also presented or co-authored about 175 invited talks and conference presentations. Karabacak has a Ph.D. and a master’s degree from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s degree from the Middle East Technical University.

Faculty Excellence in Public Service

Dr. Suzanne Penn, associate professor of clinical law at William H. Bowen School of Law, is dedicated to serving individuals who do not have access to legal assistance. In 2014, Penn created a clinical experience for law students in the Delta region of Arkansas, an area that has long been underserved by attorneys. The Delta project is comprised of two courses: The Delta Experience and the Delta Clinic. In the Delta Experience course, students travel to the Delta to educate low-income residents about grounds for divorce and what is necessary to obtain one without attorney representation. In the Delta Clinic course, students travel with Penn to Desha and Chicot counties to conduct client interviews, perform fact investigations related to case success, prepare divorce complaints and motions for fee waivers for clients. The students appear in courts as needed to represent their clients and also observe sessions of the courts. Penn earned a Juris Doctor from Tulane University and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Hendrix College. In the upper right photos are Drs. Kathryn King (left), Tansel Karabacak (middle), and Suzanne Penn (right). Photos by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock announces college-level Faculty Excellence Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:31:58 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor 14 of its top faculty members during the Faculty Excellence Awards Thursday, April 13. “Faculty excellence winners underscore ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s commitment to quality instruction, innovative research, and service to the community. Our faculty’s dedication to these fundamental principles continue to be the bedrock of our institution,” said Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Deborah Baldwin. A panel of external judges will review the achievements of the college-level winners and select the university-wide winners in the categories of teaching, research, and public service. The three university-wide winners, who will each receive a cash prize of $5,000, will be announced during the Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. April 13 in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. A reception will follow in the Engineering and Information Technology Building lobby. Since 1989, when the first award was given, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of the Provost at 501.569.3204. The following is a list of college-level winners:

Public Service

��Allison Holland, director of the University Writing Center and senior instructor of rhetoric and writing, College of Social Sciences and Communications
��Cynthia Johnson, advanced instructor of accounting, College of Business
��Laura Barrio-Vilar, assistant professor of English, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
��Michael DeAngelis, assistant professor of earth sciences, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
��Suzanne Penn, associate professor of clinical law, William H. Bowen School of Law

Research/Creative Endeavors

��Mengjun Xie, associate professor of computer science, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
��Michael Flannery, professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law
��Tansel Karabacak, associate professor of physics and astronomy, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences

Teaching

��J. Lyn Entrikin, professor of law, William H. Bowen School of Law
��John Talburt, professor of information science and Acxiom Chair of Information Quality, George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology
��Kathryn King, assistant professor of anthropology, College of Communication and Social Sciences
��Linda Holzer, professor of music, College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
��Linda Stauffer, associate professor of interpreter education and program coordinator of the Interpreter Education Program, College of Education and Health Professions
��Otmar Varela, associate professor of management, College of Business

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Karabacak to serve as ARA Project Scope Speaker on June 16

Tansel Karabacak honored as Arkansas Research Alliance fellow

����Vlog��ý Little Rock professor receives $500k to improve transportation fuel cells

����Vlog��ý Little Rock chooses top faculty of 2017

����Vlog��ý Little Rock announces college-level Faculty Excellence Award winners

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor receives $500k to improve transportation fuel cells

��Vlog��ý Little Rock chooses top faculty of 2017

��Vlog��ý Little Rock announces college-level Faculty Excellence Award winners