New faculty members receive grants

Three new faculty members are receiving research facilitation awards from the Office of Research.

Dr. Melvin Ray (left) and Dr. Clay Taylor (right) of the Office of Research congratulate research facilitation grant recipients (from left) Alex Thomasson of agricultural and biological engineering, Amie Oliver of art and Rayford Vaughn of computer science.

Rayford Vaughn of computer science, J. Alexander Thomasson of agricultural and biological engineering, and Amie Oliver of art received $500 grants to help develop their research programs. The research office began the competitive program last year.

Awards are made on the basis of concept papers and are announced during an annual research orientation workshop for new faculty members and researchers.

Vaughn will develop a "state of national security" summit at the university to address security issues associated with the national information infrastructure, in particular the Internet and web-based applications.

A former senior executive with Virginia-based Electronic Data Systems, he also has headed a major software development activity for the U.S. Army and has participated in computer security research while working at the U.S. National Security Agency. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Kansas State University.

Thomasson will procure data acquisition software for use in research dealing with precision farming and crop processing. His work will allow real-time graphical visualization of data and real-time interaction of data with computer software.

He earned a Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Kentucky, a master's in 1989 from Louisiana State University, and a bachelor's degree in 1987 from Texas Tech.

Oliver will create a multi-media performance/installation titled "An Evening with Ms. Venus de Milo." The presentation will involve music, a monologue with actors or recorded voices, an installation of drawings and photographs, a video, and a web site.

Formerly an associate professor at Longwood College in Virginia, she holds a master's degree from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor's from Mississippi State.