News

p=. !/assets/125311/125x/estefan_ortiz_thumb.png(Estefan Ortiz, PhD Candidate, Computer Science and Engineering)! p. _— Using smartphones to track eye movement and facial features..._ _— A national ID program based on iris images..._ _— Iris scans used to track children exiting a school bus..._ p. While these scenarios may seem like science fiction to some, they are actual feats of identification in our world today. All are possible thanks to advances in the field of biometrics — the field in which Notre Dame Computer Science and Engineering doctoral student *Estefan Ortiz* spends his days — and, frequently, his nights.

Read More about Student Spotlight: Estefan Ortiz, Computer Science and Engineering

Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the Indiana University School of Medicine have revealed a putative role for the circadian clock in the liver in the development of alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis, or fatty liver disease.

Read More about New study reveals links between alcoholic liver disease and the circadian clock

p(image-right). !http://news.nd.edu/assets/121709/iris_200.jpg(iris)! University of Notre Dame biometrics researchers "Kevin Bowyer":http://news.nd.edu/for-the-media/nd-experts/faculty/kevin-bowyer/ and "Estefan Ortiz":http://engineering.nd.edu/profiles/eortiz have released a paper that points to errors in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report on how iris aging affects the accuracy of iris recognition. In addition to describing specific methodological errors in the NIST report, Bowyer and Ortiz presented a list of suggestions to be addressed in a revised version of the NIST report.

Read More about Notre Dame researchers point to errors in NIST report on iris aging

Charles Leavitt, who received his Ph.D. in literature from Notre Dame in 2010, has accepted a position at the University of Reading as a lecturer in Italian studies—equivalent to assistant professor in the American university system. Located in Reading, England, the school is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world.

Read More about Alumnus Charles Leavitt Accepts Position at University of Reading

This past summer, four University of Notre Dame graduate students in the "Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry":http://chemistry.nd.edu/ attended the prestigious "Lindau Nobel Laureate meetings":http://www.lindau-nobel.org/. In its 63rd year, the Lindau meetings bring together Nobel Laureates with young researchers to “educate, inspire, and connect.”

Read More about Reflections on the 63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Graduate School Dean Laura Carlson has announced two new appointments in the Professional Development area: Prof. X. Sharon Hu, the new associate dean for professional development, and Mike Westrate, the associate program director for grants and fellowships.

Read More about Graduate School Welcomes New Associate Dean and Associate Program Director

Laura Carlson, professor of psychology, has been appointed Vice President and Associate Provost, and Dean of the Graduate School.

Read More about Meet the New Dean of the Graduate School: Laura Carlson

Melissa Mayus never planned on specializing in Old English. The current English Ph.D. student took an Old English class as an undergraduate at Notre Dame that sparked an unexpected passion that has taken her all the way to Iceland.

Read More about Ph.D. Student Pursues Old English at ND and Abroad

Brandon Vaidyanathan, a graduate student in Notre Dame's Department of Sociology, is discovering a different reality as he focuses on the world of skilled professionals in multinational corporations in two rapidly globalizing cities—Bangalore, India, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Read More about Exploring Capitalism and Catholicism in India and Dubai

The full text of Dr. Nathan Hatch's commencement address to the 2013 Ph.D. and Master's recipients, delivered at the Compton Family Ice Arena on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Read More about Nathan Hatch Graduate School Commencement address

The University of Notre Dame’s "Graduate School":http://graduateschool.nd.edu recognized 438 master’s and 213 doctoral degree recipients and presented several awards during Commencement ceremonies Saturday (May 17) in the Compton Family Ice Arena.

Read More about Graduates urged to exhibit intellectual curiosity and 'grit' at Graduate School Commencement

To ensure that postdoctoral scholars in the early stages of their careers receive necessary resources, training, mentoring and comprehensive professional development support, the University of Notre Dame is forming an Office of Postdoctoral Scholars. The newly formed office will be administered through the "Graduate School":http://graduateschool.nd.edu/ and is slated to open July 1.

Read More about Notre Dame establishes Office of Postdoctoral Scholars

Dr. Jennifer Tank of the Department of Biological Sciences was selected by a faculty committee to receive the 2013 James A. Burns, CSC Award, and Dr. Kathie Newman, of the Department of Physics, was selected to receive the 2013 Director of Graduate Studies Award.

Read More about Drs. Tank, Newman Granted Graduate School Faculty Awards

The highest honor awarded to a graduate student, the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Graduate School Awards are bestowed annually upon the top graduating student in each of the four divisions of the Graduate School - Engineering, the Humanities, Science and the Social Sciences.

Read More about Graduate School Announces 2013 Shaheen Award Winners

Richard D. Connell (Ph.D. Chemistry 1989), Vice President of External Research Solutions, Global Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., has been named the "Graduate School’s 2013 Distinguished Alumnus":http://graduateschool.nd.edu/about-the-graduate-school/gs-awards/distinguished-alumnus.

Read More about Richard D. Connell, Ph.D. Chemistry 1989, Named the Graduate School’s 2013 Distinguished Alumnus

Nine Notre Dame Graduate students were named winners of the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program, equaling the total number of winners from Notre Dame over the last seven years combined.

Read More about Nine ND Graduate Students Win NSF GRFP Awards

The 2013 Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, which is given annually by the Notre Dame Graduate School and the Notre Dame Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, honors graduate student instructors and teaching assistants whose teaching demonstrates excellence in the classroom or laboratory.

Read More about 47 Graduate Instructors Receive 2013 Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Awards

Working in Jeffrey Feder's laboratory, graduate student Gilbert St. Jean was part of a team tasked with using a revolutionary method of identifying larval specimens of fruit flies affecting Washington apple crops by using genetic analysis, saving the region thousands of dollars in monitoring, inspection and control costs.

Read More about Genetic analysis saves major apple-producing region of Washington state

Nathan O. Hatch, president of Wake Forest University and formerly Provost and The Andrew V. Tackes Professor of History at Notre Dame, will be the principal speaker on Saturday, May 18, at the Commencement ceremony for the University of Notre Dame Graduate School.

Read More about Dr. Nathan Hatch Selected to Speak at Graduate School Commencement

Much has been written and discussed about the outlook for science and engineering in the United States. If a recent event at the University of Notre Dame’s Stinson-Remick Hall is any indication, the future looks bright.

Read More about Building a future for young engineers, one LEGO at a time