Andrew J Howard
Associate Professor of Biology, Illinos Institute of Technology
312-567-5881; howard@iit.edu
Alfred is one of the three brightest graduate students I have encountered
in the eight years I have taught at IIT. He was the best student in the radiation
biophysics class mentioned above. He masters new concepts readily, and communicates
ideas and results clearly to those around him. In several lengthy sessions
of crystallographic data collection with Alfred at the Advanced Photon Source
in 2003, including one that lasted all night, I knew that I could count on
him to take a mature and productive approach to the experiments we were conducting,
and he adapted to the peculiar environment of a synchrotron facility with
minimal difficulty. We were collecting small-molecule crystallographic data
on a macromolecular crystallographic beamline at the APS, and Alfred found
ways to get the most of the experimental setup. The experiments that he and
I ran were a success, in large measure because of the diligence and creativity
that he brought to them.
Alfred's productivity as a member of Provost Myerson's group is evident from
the position of trust that the Provost has placed him in, and from his publication
record. I am enthusiastic in placing his name before the university for consideration
as the student awardee for the Sigma Xi Award. Alfred is making arrangements
to forward his curriculum vita to this office.