Newsletter | Fall 2015

Anchors Aweigh!
Learn about the Universitys state-of-the-art
research vessel, the R/V Marcus G. Langseth, page 13

CONTENT

03

NASA AGREEMENT

04

RISE WINNERS

05

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

07

POSTDOC SYMPOSIUM

09

RESEARCH COMPLIANCE AND TRAINING

13

R/V MARCUS G. LANGSETH

The heart of the GISS-CU research collaboration is a

core climate modeling toolbox.

What happens when a cell is starved?

A newly-developed and implemented exposure assessment program, and an update on transporting biological materials.

An annual research and career symposium celebrates

the Universitys postdocs.

Certification Program Educates and Supports Research Administrators

Mapping the land claimed by sea level rise.

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH: HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
Continuing expansion of the federal regulatory system and its ever-growing requirements are diminishing the
effectiveness of the nations research investment
Most federal regulationsare efforts to address important issues of accountability and performancethese wellintended efforts often result in unintended consequences that needlessly encumber the nations investment in research.
The relationship between federalagencies and academic research institutions has for the last seven decades been
considered a partnership. Yet there exists.no process by whichpartners.can consider the effectiveness of
existing research policies
...stresses in the federal-academic partnership have diminished the effectiveness of the nations investment in
academic research.
I wager that many who are reading this could have written these words and certainly agree with their important and very troubling
sentiment. The reason for the use of the word hope in the title of this piece is that all these words are extracted from a recent National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that, believe it or not, was prepared at the request of Congress. (Optimizing the Nations
Investment in Academic Research A New Regulatory Framework for the 21 st Century: Part 1, National Academy of Sciences, 2015)
Having our government leaders in Washington aware of, and understanding this problem is an important step forward, but it is only
one step. Beyond this we need cogent and practical recommendations for reform (and a successful implementation no small matter
when it comes to regulatory mechanisms on this scale). To this end the NAS report offers four specific proposals that are listed below in highly abbreviated form.
The regulatory regimegoverning federally funded academic research should be critically reexamined and recalibrated.
Specifically, the committee recommends that:
1. The White House Office of Management and Budget...: conduct acomprehensive review of agency research grant proposal
documents for the purpose of developing a uniform format to be used by all agencies

The federal research agencies (should): Limit research proposals to the minimal information necessary to permit peer evaluation...and reduce and streamline reporting, assurances and verifications.

Research institutions (should) revise self-imposed burdensome institutional policies that go beyond those necessary and sufficient to comply with federal, state and local requirements

2. Research institutions must demand the highest standards in institutional and individual behavior
3. Inspectors General responsibilities be rebalanced so thatconsideration is given both to uncovering waste, fraud and abuse and
to advising on economy, efficiency and effectiveness
4. The creation of a new mechanismto foster a more effective conception, development and harmonization of research policies.
If, like I, you remember prior efforts to implement well-intentioned reforms of the regulations that increasingly burden us as PIs,
then you will undoubtedly be reading this with a skeptical eye. Nevertheless this report is music to my ears. We are committed,
along with the leaders of the major research universities of the nation, to continue the struggle for improvements in the regulatory
regime under which our investigators conduct research. The pursuit of these goals may be ongoing, but we must take advantage of
the visibility that this report brings to this important issue. We will be talking with our consultants in DC to devise ways in which we
can help to bring the substance of this report to the attention of key leaders.
I remain ever hopeful!

G. Michael Purdy
Executive Vice President for Research

NASA AND COLUMBIA SIGN TEN-YEAR AGREEMENT

The Space Act Agreement produces climate-related guidance for policy makers and the public.

Dr. Ansaf Salleb-Aouissi

Pictured (clockwise from bottom-right): Provost John Coatsworth, Goddard Space Flight Center Director Chris Scolese, Executive Vice President for Research Mike Purdy, Deputy Director of Sciences and Exploration Directorate Colleen Hartman,
Director of Sciences and Exploration Directorate Piers Sellers, GISS Deputy Director Ron Miller, Chief of Staff Terri Thompson, GISS Director Gavin Schmidt, Director of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Sean Solomon, Earth Institute Executive Director Steve Cohen.

he Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), a la-

agriculture and the economy. The models also enable provide

boratory in Goddard Space Flight Centers Earth Sci-

vulnerability assessments such as the National Climate Assess-

ences Division, has for more than five decades worked

ment, as well as providing a basis for evaluating large-scale mit-

with the University to conduct scientific research about the

igation strategies.

Earths climate, planetary environments, and the space environment. GISS has played a key role in raising the climate issue to

The GISS-Columbia collaboration will also leverage models

the general public, and their work has been instrumental in ad-

developed for earth science to characterize extra-solar planets

vancing the field of climate science.

and other planets in our solar system. During the past decade,
there has been a rapid rate of discovery of exoplanets. The en-

At the heart of the GISS-Columbia research collaboration is a

hanced collaboration will enable the University to leverage

core climate modeling toolbox that includes standard General

GISSs capabilities in modeling the Earth as a system to charac-

Circulation Models of the atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere system,

terize the atmospheric conditions on these newly discovered

with enhancements that include the carbon cycle and atmospher-

planets, with particular emphasis on the potential habitability of

ic composition, including chemistry and aerosols. This toolbox

other worlds. This work will lead to a better understanding of

also includes regional climate models, and integrated assessment

different extreme climate states, as well as aid in the search for

tools that evaluate climate change impacts. The models can be

possible Earth-like analogues orbiting other stars.

used to assess the impacts and implications of changes in emission or air pollution scenarios, and their impact on public health,

RISE-ING TO THE OCCASION

What happens when a cell is starved?

uch of every cells energy is devoted to making

machinery when cellular energy intake is low, essentially putting

proteins. Yet little is known about the cellular

the machinery into a dormant state. Once the cell has adequate

mechanisms underlying a cells ability to turn on

energy intake, the other regulatory factor then reverses the

and off protein production during times of nutrient limitation.

chemical modification, allowing the cell to rapidly activate the

Discovering the underlying regulatory mechanism, and how it

dormant protein synthesis machinery and initiate the process of

works in times of energy restriction, will answer important bio-

building new proteins. A detailed molecular understanding of

logical questions in cellular protein generation and cellular me-

the process through which the protein synthesis machinery can

tabolism. Applications for these discoveries could lead to a bet-

be switched from active to dormant, and vice versa, has the

ter understanding of human nutrition, or therapies involving

potential to unlock new avenues of basic and biomedical re-

cellular metabolism, which is implicated in diseases ranging

search.

from obesity to cancer.

Pictured above: Dr. Ruben Gonzalez (left) and Dr. Jonathan

Dworkin (right).
In 2013, Dr. Jonathan Dworkin, Associate Professor of Microbi-

RISE grants target particularly imaginative research proposals

ology and Immunology, and Dr. Ruben Gonzalez, Professor of

that are not yet ready to obtain funding from traditional sources,

Chemistry, collaborated to study this elusive problem, and were

but those that, if successful, would significantly advance scien-

awarded $160,000 in seed funding through the Office of the

tific knowledge, understanding and interdisciplinary discovery.

Executive Vice President for Researchs Research Initiatives in

Science & Engineering (RISE) competition.

With questions, please contact the RISE program staff at

rise@columbia.edu.

Their RISE-funded research identified two regulatory factors in

protein synthesis that they are now investigating as part of
anR01 [GM114213-01, Regulation of Protein Synthesis by Ser/
Thr Phosphorylation]. One of these regulatory factors allows
the cell to chemically modify and inactivate the protein synthesis

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Realizing the vision...

he EH&S Vision Statement aims to promote a

To date, only one isoflurane administration apparatus has

productive and safety conscious work environ-

required removal from service due to an irreparable leak in

ment by employing best practices and collabora-

the delivery system. Recommendations for reducing expo-

tion. We highlight below the development of two ap-

sure are updated periodically and disseminated to known

proaches that embody the spirit of the Vision Statement

users. For more information as well as current recommen-

and a commitment to health and safety.

dations to reduce exposure to isoflurane, visit http://

www.ehs.columbia.edu/Isoflurane.pdf.

Additionally,

Firstly, in order to reduce potential exposure to investiga-

EH&S is also available upon request to monitor personnel

tors administering halogenated anesthetic gases including

for potential exposure to anesthetic gases by contacting

isoflurane, EH&S has developed and implemented an ex-

occusafety@columbia.edu.

posure assessment program. The program evaluates the

ambient concentration of anesthetic gases that personnel

Secondly, EH&S and the Office of Risk Management col-

may be occupationally exposed to during their use. To

laborated on a recent revision to a University Policy that

identify potential exposure routes, the strategy includes an

previously prohibited inter-campus transport of biological

assessment of isoflurane delivery and evacuation methods

materials by researchers. A pragmatic approach to investi-

utilizing high-tech real-time detection equipment during

gator-mediated inter-campus transport was developed that

the performance of veterinary procedures. While the Na-

permits certain specific classifications of biological materi-

tional Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

als, with low or no risk that are NOT classified as hazard-

(NIOSH) recommends an isoflurane exposure limit below

ous materials/dangerous goods by the Department of

2 ppm, Columbia University EH&Ss goal is focused on

Transportation, to be transported in University-owned or

promoting best practices to reduce exposure to the lowest

contracted vehicle/shuttle bus, licensed taxi cab or personal

reasonably achievable concentration. Typical recommenda-

vehicles. However these biological materials are NOT per-

tions from these assessments include commonsense admin-

mitted on public transport such as an MTA bus nor sub-

istrative and engineering solutions that can effectively re-

way. As a result, this Policy revision may promote produc-

duce occupational isoflurane exposure.

tive collaborations between investigators on different campuses by removing the transport barrier.

For a full description of the Policy, refer to http://

www.ehs.columbia.edu/Intercampus.html. If you have any
questions, please contact a biosafety officer at
biosafety@columbia.edu.

NATIONAL RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR DAY!

his year, and every year hereafter, September 25 will be

faculty and researchers. They protect the institution and educate

National Research Administrator Day to recognize the con-

researchers on the proper management of sponsored project funding.

tributions made by research administrators. The announcement of

this national day of recognition was made during the 57 th Annual

The role of the research administrator is becoming increasingly

Meeting of the National Council of University Research Adminis-

complex, given the fast-paced nature of science combined with the

trators (NCURA). The day is now included in the National Day Cal-

increased scrutiny of sponsored research spending. The research

endar.

administrator must constantly stay up to date on compliance regulations while serving as the researchers advocate. September 25 will

Research administrators serve an important role in supporting the

be a day where you can show your appreciation to the research ad-

research enterprise. The broad field of research administration in-

ministrators in your life. Take them to lunch, buy them a gift card or

cludes many types of jobs, including, but not limited to, grants man-

treat, or simply say thank you for their hard work!

agers, grants coordinators, project officers, financial analysts, department administrators, subaward specialists, compliance officers,

You can see how research administrators celebrated the day on

human subject protection professionals, clinical research coordina-

Twitter by using #ResearchAdministratorDay.

tors. They include central and departmental administrators serving

POSTDOC SYMPOSIUM 2015

Annual research and career symposium celebrates Universitys postdocs

n September 17, more than 200 faculty, postdocs,

ulty review committees from the 110 abstracts originally

students and staff came together in Lerner Hall to

submitted for their significance, innovation and potential

celebrate the research accomplishments of the

impact. Each of these postdocs was given a $1,000 award

Universitys postdocs at the 2015 Columbia University and

donated by A&S, SEAS, CUMC, the Office of the EVP for

NYC ASCENT Postdoc Research and Career Symposium.

Research, and the NYC ASCENT program. The awardees

More than 100 postdocs and 1,600 graduate students also

were: Xi Chen, Department of Biological Sciences (Sahin

attended a graduate level career fair the following day, on

Lab), Melody Cheng, Department of Neurology (Kuo

September 18 that featured more than 75 employers and

Lab), Alp Kucukelbir (NYC ASCENT Fellow), Data Sci-

was held as part of the symposium. The symposium was

ence Institute (Blei Lab), Michael Metzger, Department of

organized to highlight the ground breaking research being

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (Goff Lab), and

carried out by the Universitys postdocs and to provide an

Dessislava Nikolova, Department of Electrical Engineering

opportunity for postdocs to meet with potential future em-

(Bergman Lab).

ployers.
The keynote talk for the symposium was delivered by Dr.
The symposium commenced with poster presentations

George Yancopoulos [pictured opposite page, bottom

from more than 100 postdocs spanning 50 departments

right], the President and Chief Science Officer of Regener-

across the University. The breadth of the research present-

on Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and a Columbia University PhD/

ed created a truly unique opportunity for researchers to

MD Alum. The keynote talk focused on the founding of

learn about exciting and innovative research both within

Regeneron and how their novel approaches in tackling

and outside of their disciplines and to perhaps form new

debilitating diseases have led to remarkable treatments and

collaborations. Ten postdocs were honored with top poster

have positioned Regeneron as a leader in the pharmaceuti-

prizes: Jennifer Robinson, College of Dental Medicine and

cal industry. The symposium sessions ended in a widely

Department of Biomedical Engineering; Justine Kupfer-

attended networking reception.

man, Department of Neuroscience; Deepika Suri, Department of Psychiatry; Ying Jean, Department of Pathology

The event was co-organized by the Office of Postdoctoral

and Cell Biology; Chan Aye Thu, Department of Biochem-

Affairs (OPA) and the NYC ASCENT Program, a profes-

istry and Molecular Biophysics; Katherine Alfredo, Earth

sional development program for computer science and

Institute, the Columbia Water Center; Ilan Jen-La Plante,

computer science related postdoctoral trainees at Colum-

Department of Chemistry; Kirsten Marie Jensen, Depart-

bia, Cornell, CUNY, and NYU. OPA also received signifi-

ment of Applied Physics and Mathematics; Shukun Luo,

cant assistance from the postdoctoral council, the Office of

Department of Biological Sciences; and Katarina Roos,

Research Initiatives and the EVPR office. The career fair

Department of Chemistry.

was run by the Center for Career Education in partnership

with OPA and NYC ASCENT.

Following the poster session, short research talks were

given by 5 postdocs whose abstracts were selected by fac-

For more information, please contact Rory Flinn, Office of

Postdoctoral Affairs, at rf2531@cumc.columbia.edu

OFFICE OF RESEARCH COMPLIANCE AND TRAINING

Compliance Training Initiatives Support Administrators/Chairs/Directors
Certification Program Educates and Supports
Research Administrators
Departmental research administrators are on the front lines of
sponsored projects management. Since 2008, the Office of
Research Compliance and Training (ORCT), in conjunction
with other EVPR offices and Sponsored Projects Finance, has
been offering Research Compliance Foundations, an 8-week
course that introduces research administrators to compliance
topics encountered throughout the lifecycle of sponsored research projects. Taught by senior representatives from SPA,
SPF, IRB, IACUC, EH&S, CTO and RCT, each session gives
participants, who range from recent hires to seasoned veterans,

Through the Foundations and Essentials courses and the Certification program, the offices of the EVPR are promoting and
supporting the professional development of the administrators
who play a crucial role in the successful management of our
sponsored research projects. For more information, visit the
Research

Compliance

and

Training

website,

www.columbia.edu/cu/compliance/docs/training/
Certification_Program,

or

contact

Joel

Roselin

at

jr2644@columbia.edu.

EVPR/RCT Provide Chairs/Directors Introduction to Research Responsibilities

an overview of the compliance issues they will face, available

resources, and how to manage those issues. Almost 1,200 Co-

Someone once said that being the chair is a half-time job eve-

lumbia administrators from all campuses and many depart-

ry other minute! The role of the chair or director has many

ments have attended the course, which receives consistently

responsibilities; some are obvious, but others remain hidden

high praise from attendees. Several departments are requiring

until a problem arises or an action is required. This may be

or strongly encouraging new hires to attend Foundations,

especially true of responsibilities relating to research. Much

which is offered each year in summer and winter.

research-related activity at Columbia is centered in the department, division or center, and some of that activity involves the

In 2009, we introduced Sponsored Projects Essentials, a more

chair or director in one way or another. At times, even experi-

in-depth look at pre- and post-award management of sponsored

enced chairs or directors may become aware of certain respon-

projects.

sibilities only after a problem arises.

Taught by SPA and SPF, the 5-week Essentials

course has been attended by nearly 500 administrators and is

offered each spring and fall.

To help orient chairs and directors to these sometimes unexpected responsibilities, in 2013, EVPR Michael Purdy and As-

Administrators who attend all Foundations sessions, all Essen-

sociate Vice President for Research Compliance and Training

tials sessions, and complete an online case review and Rascal

Naomi Schrag created an in-person overview of research-

test earn the Certification in Administration of Sponsored Pro-

related responsibilities and activities specific to chairs and di-

jects.

rectors. Although the one-hour program initially targeted

Initiated in 2011, the Certification program provides

administrators with the knowledge and understanding of poli-

new chairs and directors, the feedback the program has

cies and processes necessary for the successful administration

received from those who have participated indicates

of sponsored projects at Columbia. To date, 175 administrators

it is useful for seasoned leaders as well.

have earned the Certification, received certificates and letters

of congratulation, and had their chairs or directors notified of

For more information, contact Joel

their achievement.

Roselin at jr2644@columbia.edu.

U.S. Sanctions Programs may Impact International Research

ed Nationals and Blocked Parties List (SDN List). A list of

OFACs current sanctions programs is available on OFACs
website

What Researchers Need to Know About Economic

Sanctions
The U.S. government imposes economic sanctions against certain countries, entities and individuals in order to advance its
foreign policy and national security interests. Although U.S.
sanctions clearly impact the operations of a company engaged in
selling widgets internationally, you might be wondering whether
Columbia University, an institution of higher learning, needs to
be concerned about U.S. sanctions at all. The short answer to
this question is Yes - U.S. sanctions can and do impact Columbia research activities. The goal of this article is to briefly

(http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/

Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx), as is access to OFACs sanctioned

parties

lists,

including

the

SDN

List

(http://

www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/
default.aspx).
Although the various U.S. sanctions programs differ in terms of
what each program restricts, we can make some generalizations.
In general, U.S. persons (such as Columbia University and its
personnel) may not engage in the following activities:

Enter into contracts, agreements or research collaborations

explain how U.S. sanctions programs apply to Columbia re-

with an entity or individual located in a comprehensively

search and whom to contact when a sanctions-related question

sanctioned country or a Specially Designated National

arises.

Make payments to or receive payments from an entity or

individual located in a comprehensively sanctioned country
or a Specially Designated National

The U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) maintains sanctions against certain countries,

Provide services or training to or receive services or train-

entities and individuals. Certain countries are subject to com-

ing from an entity or individual located in a comprehensive-

prehensive sanctions, while others are subject to targeted sanc-

ly sanctioned country or a Specially Designated National

tions.

Comprehensive sanctions prohibit transactions with a

Export or import goods, services or technology to or from

countrys government and virtually all other transactions involv-

an entity or individual located in a comprehensively sanc-

ing the sanctioned country without first obtaining U.S. Govern-

tioned country or a Specially Designated National.

ment authorization to engage in such transactions. Currently,

the U.S. imposes comprehensive sanctions against Cuba, North

Although restrictions under the sanctions regulations apply

Korea, Iran, Sudan, Syria and, most recently, the Crimea region

broadly, and can even capture uncompensated interviews or

of Ukraine.

surveys taking place in a comprehensively sanctioned country or

with a Specially Designated National, there are some useful ex-

In addition to comprehensive sanctions, the U.S. also imposes

ceptions. For example, OFAC permits Columbia researchers to

limited, or targeted, sanctions against certain entities and indi-

engage in certain activities relating to the peer-review process

viduals. Unlike comprehensive sanctions, targeted sanc-

with individuals in certain comprehensively sanctioned coun-

tions do not broadly prohibit transactions with certain

tries, such as Iran and Cuba.

countries and foreign governments, but rather

prohibit transactions with certain entities

As discussed above, U.S. sanctions regulations can and do affect

and individuals included on one of

aspects of Columbia research. Given the significant penalties

OFACs sanctioned parties lists,

(both civil and criminal) that may be imposed for violating U.S.

such as the Specially Designat-

10

sanctions regulations and the complexity of the sanctions regula-

ficer, at mla25@columbia.edu or 212-851-9822.

tions themselves, it is important that Columbia researchers con-

More details about U.S. sanctions are available on Research

sider sanctions issues before engaging in research activities in-

Compliance & Trainings website, http://www.columbia.edu/cu/

volving sanctioned countries or Specially Designated Nationals.

compliance/docs/international_research/Keylawsandregulations/

ORCT can help you assess and resolve sanctions-related ques-

sanctioned_countries.html.

tions you may have. If a research project involves a sanctioned

country or a Specially Designated National, please contact
Michelle Avallone, Columbias Research Export Control Of-

Effort Reporting 2015

This years annual effort certification period runs from Tuesday, October 6 through Wednesday, November 18. During those six weeks,
all Faculty, including Officers of Instruction, Research (except postdocs), Administration and Libraries, who committed effort on sponsored projects, must review and certify their effort for the fiscal year that ran from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. Principal Investigators (PIs) must
do the same for their research staff. Self-certifiers and PIs who have not previously completed training must do so in Rascal prior to certifying.
For questions, please contact effort-reporting@columbia.edu, or visit the Effort Reporting website at www.effortreporting.columbia.edu.

Institutional Conflict of Interest

In Fall 2014, the Columbia University Senate approved a com-

research administration and compliance IT system, Rascal. Po-

panion policy to the Universitys Policy on Financial Conflicts

tential institutional conflicts of interest are reviewed by the Uni-

of Interest and Research. The new policy, entitled the Columbia

versitys Institutional Conflict of Interest Committee, an inter-

University Policy on Institutional Conflict of Interest (ICOI) in

disciplinary faculty committee that also includes non-voting

Research

[http://evpr.columbia.edu/files/evpr/imce_shared/

members from Columbia Technology Ventures and the Office of

FCOI_Research_Policy.pdf] protects the objectivity of Universi-

Alumni and Development. The Policy provides that [t]he ICOI

ty research from potential conflicts that may result from finan-

Committee and the University should make every attempt to

cial interests held by the University itself or by its officials who

resolve institutional conflicts in a manner that enables research

have responsibility for research oversight. Such financial inter-

to proceed at the University. However, if the ICOI Committee

ests could include, for example, royalties paid to the University

finds that an ICOI cannot be managed, and divestment is not

by research sponsors; ownership interests in start-up companies

feasible, then the affected research should not proceed at the

whose products are the subject of University research; or certain

University.

large corporate gifts.

Anyone with questions about the new Policy should contact
Implementation of the Policy is being administered by the
ORCT and will be automated in part through the Universitys

11

ORCT at research-compliance@columbia.edu.

IACUC OFFICE CONSULTATION SERVICES

The IACUC office staff is pleased to offer consultation services to better serve the research community.
Consultation Hour
The consultation hour is held on Fridays from 11a.m. to 12p.m. in Room 314, Hammer Building. The offices Executive Director
and/or Compliance and Training Coordinators will be available during that hour to discuss protocol issues or answer questions/
address concerns regarding the IACUC.

Protocol Preparation Consultation

The protocol preparation consultation service provides investigators and research personnel with the opportunity for one on one
meetings with members of the IACUC staff who can provide assistance with protocol preparation, or with responses to comments
subsequent IACUC review. Please note that this service does not include veterinary consultation and does not ensure automatic
IACUC approval.
To request a consultation, contact Ms. Sierrea Fuller (sf2534) by email or phone 212-342-0443, or the IACUC Executive Director,
Dr. MJ Shepherd (ms4387). When submitting the request, please provide:
1.

A draft of the animal care and use protocol

2.

Schedule of availability (2 business days required excluding weekends and holidays)

12

MAPPING LAND CLAIMED BY SEA LEVEL RISE

he New Jersey shoreline where sea birds wandered

The Langseth, operated by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observa-

during the last ice age was about 90 miles east of

tory as the nations premier marine seismic research facility,

todays beaches, tens of meters beneath the sea floor. As the

collects data about the Earth and oceans in several ways,

ice melted, sea level gradually rose and flooded the coastal

most prominently through a system of hydrophone stream-

terrain, and sedimentation carried out its relentless burial of

ers towed behind the ship that record sound waves bouncing

things past.

off structures deep beneath the sea floor. Its seismic mapping capabilities are about to get stronger: The National

13

This summer, a group of scientists spent several weeks

Science Foundation last week approved the purchase of a

aboard the R/V Marcus G. Langseth looking into that past.

new hydrophone streamer system that will reach up to 15

Using sound waves, they collected data that will be used to

kilometers, allowing the Langseth to capture refracted sound

build 3D images of the sediment beneath the ocean floor.

waves and their velocity through sediment layers over a

They hope to be able to peel back layers of the 3D images to

longer distance and wider angle, creating higher-resolution

see how coastal landscapes responded to rising sea levels

images of deeper features than any research vessel in the

and hurricanes through history.

world.

Understanding how coastal areas changed as the ocean rose

This summers New Jersey expedition, led by Rutgers Pro-

in the past could help communities protect themselves from

fessor and Lamont Adjunct Senior Research Scientist Greg

storm surge flooding in the future as the oceans warm and

Mountain, offers a window into the use of hydrophone

sea levels rise.

streamers for reconstructing Earths physical history, in this

case for identifying the impact and magnitude of past sea-

be able to peel back the sediment layers to reveal the migra-

level change.

tion of the shoreline as it advanced and retreated. Knowing

details such as whether barrier islands in the past were over-

Mountain and his colleagues Mladen Nedimovic of Lamont-

whelmed by single storms or cut by inlets as the sea level

Doherty and Dalhousie University and James Austin and

rose could help scientists find ways to protect and possibly

Craig Fulthorpe of the University of Texas Institute for Geo-

stabilize coastal communities in the future.

physics set out to map past shorelines buried within sediment

layers as much as 1,500 meters below the ocean floor. Sediment cores from the area reflect changes in the climate going
back about 40 million years. But cores dont provide a view
of buried landforms such as barrier islands and inlets, which
can show the resilience of coastlines as sea-level changes.
Earlier 2D seismic surveys suggested the area holds great
potential for understanding shoreline evolution, but the buried features were too fine to see in detail, which could mean
the changes that shaped them happened too quickly and were
too complex to be imaged with 2D data, Mountain said.
The New Jersey expedition was a technological leap past
prior seismic surveys in this region, designed to improve
acoustic resolution of ancient seascapes by collecting data in
3D. To do this, the Langseth towed four air guns just below
the ocean surface to generate an acoustic pulse with each
release of compressed air. Echoes of the pulses reflect off
sediment layers a mile or more below the seafloor and are
picked up by 24 hydrophone streamers trailed behind the
ship, the largest number ever attempted in the research community. In addition, one longer streamer increased the resolution. Satellite navigation located the position of the ship, each
acoustic pulse and the hundreds of hydrophones within those
streamers, resulting in roughly 30 million individual acoustic
traces over a 200 square-mile area. Mountain and his col-

An illustration of 2D seismic mapping (Hannes Grobe-

leagues expect that the quality and shear density of these

Alfred Wegener Institute CC-BY-SA2.5). A cutaway

acoustic soundings of ancient terrains below the seafloor

shows what 3D seismic mapping can do.

will reveal previously unseen details of how the New Jersey

coastline has changed over the last 40-60 million years.

Its in our best interest to understand what happened in the

past because it will help explain what we can expect will hap-

Processing the data into 3D representations will take several

pen in the future, Mountain said. Were going to have to

months, but once completed, Mountain and his team hope to

make some accommodations for sea-level rise along

14

Sean Higgins and Lamont Director Sean Solomon talk from the bridge of the Langseth.

the coast within our childrens lifetime. Sea level along the Jer-

Lamonts Office of Marine Operations plans to re-rig the

sey shore is likely to be 2.5 to 6 feet higher 100 years from

Langseth with the new streamer system this fall. The lighter

now. With that elevated base, we should expect to see the

streamer will also reduce the footprint of the seismic equip-

flooding and destruction equivalent to what now is a once-per-

ment on the ship, creating more room for additional research.

century Superstorm Sandy occur every 5 to 10 years.

The Langseths new 15 km streamer, purchased from an oil

Original story by Stacy Morford on August 19, 2015, pub-

company that had been unable to use it in the current market,

lished in the Earth Institute blog. Photos by Greg Mountain.

will be thinner, lighter and about twice as long as the ships

current streamer. When segmented into shorter streamers, it
will be able to create 3D images to show structures such as tsunami-generating faults, the volcanic underpinnings of continental margins, and magma chambers several kilometers below
mid-ocean ridges.

15

Columbia Examines Social, Mechanical

and Physiological Dimensions of Aging

he Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center announced

The 2015 recipients are:

the recipients of its first cohort of Faculty Research Fellowships, competitive awards designed to expand the

Sunil Agrawal, PhD, Professor of Mechanical

breadth of aging research across Columbia University. Increasing

Engineering and of Rehabilitation and Regen-

life expectancies in both the developed and developing world are

erative Medicine.

leading to more and more people around the world living into their
70s, 80s, and 90s. With this funding, the Center supports research
on the malleability of human aging to optimize our longer lives.
Walter O. Bockting, PhD, Professor of MediUnderstanding the malleability of aging becomes more important

cal Psychology

every year as more and more people live longer lives, says Ursula
M. Staudinger, PhD, the Robert N. Butler Professor of Sociomedical Sciences and Professor of Psychology who directs the Columbia Aging Center. The pool of applicants in our first call for pro-

Gina S. Lovasi, PhD, Assistant Professor of

posals reinforces my conviction that Columbia has the potential to

Epidemiology

become a leader in research on the positive plasticity of aging.

Positive plasticity, a term used by Dr. Staudinger to differentiate
from pathological aging, refers to the fact that human aging is modifiable and that aging trajectories (e.g., cognitive aging) can be improved.

Edward Owusu-Ansah, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics

The Faculty Research Fellowship program launched last fall and is

open to researchers across the entire Columbia campus to reflect
the Universitys need to strengthen its investment in aging science
in light of global demographic trends. The programs purpose is to
enable interdisciplinary study of the biopsychosocial nature of the

Marcella D. Walker, MD, MS, Associate Pro-

aging process and its modifiability. Housed at Columbias Mailman

fessor of Medicine

School of Public Health, the University-wide Center awarded a

total of $150,000 this year exploring topics as wide-ranging as the
role of parathyroid hormone in cognitive decline, successful aging
among lesbian and gay adults, and the role of the built environment
in delaying chronic diseases.
awarded in 2016.

Another five fellowships will be

The next call for proposals will be announced on December 1,

2015. For more information about the successful proposals and the
next call, please contact the Columbia Aging Centers Senior Science

and

Strategy

Officer,

Caitlin

Hawke:

cmh2197@columbia.edu or visit the Columbia Aging Centers

website: aging.columbia.edu.

16

NEW STAFF AND STAFF NEWS

FRANKLIN ESPINAL JR
Financial Analyst, MSPH

Franklin Espinal Jr has been promoted to Financial Analyst in the

Mailmain SPA Office, where he
has been working for 7 years. His
responsibilities include: processing
post-award actions and reviewing
data for accuracy and ensuring
compliance with award regulatory
terms and University policies. Prior to working at Mailman, he was
an Administrative Assistant for the
Department of Surgery, an Office
Manager at Choice Collectibles in
Fairview, New Jersey and the Database Coordinator for the Public
Safety office at Columbias Morningside Campus.

17

ARIELLA GHANOONI

THERESE HORN

Senior Project Officer, SPA

Senior Subaward Specialist, SPA

Ariella joined SPA in the Morningside Office as a Senior Project

Officer in May 2015. Prior to joining SPA, Ariella held positions as
Business Manager and Grants Coordinator in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences over
the past 4 years. When she is not
plugging away at her desk, she is
avid hiker and adventuring. She
recently completed the Haute
Route, a 118 mile high mountain
hike through the Alps.

Therese Horn has been promoted to

the position of Senior Subaward Specialist in the SPA Morningside Office. Prior to joining SPA, Therese
worked as a Grant Accountant in the
department of Laboratory Medicine
at Yale University for three and a
half years, where she was responsible
for pre- and post-award management
of the departments sponsored project
portfolio. She has also held positions
in financial reporting and financial
planning and analysis at Sikorsky
Helicopter Support in Connecticut,
and was Co-founder and Executive
Director of A Very Merry Birthday, a
small non-profit in New Haven, CT.
Therese holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in
Accounting from Southern Connecticut State University and a graduate
certificate in Project Management
from Boston University.

RIA MIRANDA
Senior Project Officer, SPA

Ria Miranda is the newest Senior

Project Officer in SPA, joining the
Morningside Office in June 2015.
Before switching to central administration, she worked in the departments of American Language Program, Applied Physics and Applied
Mathematics, and Electrical Engineering. She has earned a B.A. from
Carleton College and a master's degree from Columbias SIPA.

ERICA PENA

ARACELI VIRUET

Financial Analyst, SPA

Senior Subaward Officer, SPA

Erica Pena joins SPA in the

Morningside Office as a financial
analyst. She has more than ten
years in academic and medical
settings. In her current role, she
will be responsible for reviewing
and analyzing grants, contracts
and cooperative agreements and
approving all sponsored project
accounts and budget authorizations.

Araceli Viruet recently accepted a position

as a Senior Subaward Officer at the SPA
Morningside Office. She spent the last 8
years working at the Mailman SPA office
and has been working at Columbia for the
past 18 years. In this time, she has gained
extensive grants and post-award experience. Prior to being a Senior Subaward
Officer, she held roles as an Associate Project Analyst, Financial Analyst and Senior
Financial Analyst. In her current role,
some of her responsibilities include, but
are not limited to: negotiating and issuing
outgoing subawards, and preparing modifications to existing subaward agreements
on behalf of SPA. She also works directly
with investigators, department administrators, subrecipients, and SPA pre-/postaward staff to manage, develop and issue
subawards as well as assist with postaward activities related to subawards. Araceli holds a B.S. in Business Management
with a concentration in Marketing from
Marymount Manhattan College.

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