ALERT 2016-2017 Call for White Papers June 2, 2016
White Papers are due by July 1, 2016, 11:59pm local time.
Pursuant to the goals of DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, Office of University Programs (OUP), the ALERT Center of Excellence (COE) is accepting white paper submissions for research and transition projects in 2016 and beyond. The COE seeks end-user focused projects that conduct transformational research, develop technology, and provide educational development to improve effective characterization, detection, mitigation and response to explosives-related threats facing the country and the world.
This call will consider white papers for projects ranging from fundamental research through transition to the security enterprise (government, private sector). Submissions must document the problem, describe the gaps that exist, and how their project will address the gaps to protect the public from explosives-related threats. ALERT plans to fund approximately four awards for up to two years at $60,000 to $100,000 per year.
Current Funding Opportunities in the Security Domain May 24, 2016
There are several funding opportunities in ALERT-related topics we would like the community to be aware of. Each of these are actively seeking proposals.
Congratulations to our ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS Scholars! April 29, 2016
This year, ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS had the honor of hosting 15 freshmen engineering students as participants in the ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS Scholars Program.
After two semesters of active involvement in the program — which includes participation in an ALERT or Gordon-CenSSIS research project, K-12 STEM outreach, and Scholar meetings, seminars and activities — they completed the program on Wednesday, April 20th, 2016, when they presented their final research presentations to their faculty advisors and other members of the Scholars community. The final presentations consisted of 3-minute overviews of each Scholar’s research project, addressing their project’s overall mission and activities, their specific contributions to the project, as well as what knowledge and skills they gained.
The ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS Scholars Program is designed to provide freshmen engineers with the opportunity to get involved in research and STEM outreach, but also focuses on building their professional development. Throughout the year, Scholars attended seminars on Public Speaking Skills, Research Ethics, Lab Safety and Research Poster Building Skills.
2015-2016 Scholars [L-R], Top Row: James Dowd, Sule Sahin, Jennifer Silva, Peyton Perry, Sofia Catalina, Amanda Barbour, Kalina Yang, Matthew Greenlaw, Kevin Kimelman, Sarah Fayerweather; Bottom Row: Justin Xia, Aayush Parekh, Ryan Birke, Darya Malkova, August Howell.
The program also aims to provide Scholars with multiple resources for mentorship and guidance. In addition to their faculty advisor, the program coordinator, and the STEM Center team, each Scholar is assigned a specific Scholar Mentor, who regularly connects with them regarding program-related activities, as well as questions or concerns related to their overall experience at NU. Scholar Mentors are undergraduate engineering students who have previously completed the Scholars program, and who apply to participate in this supporting role. As part of their involvement this spring, the Mentors each gave a presentation to the Scholars on their research, outreach and co-op experiences.
All ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS Scholars who successfully complete the program requirements receive an NU Bookstore Voucher of up to $1,000.
The program is hosted and sponsored by the Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats (ALERT) Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, and the Bernard M. Gordon Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems (Gordon-CenSSIS), a Graduated National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center.
DHS S&T hosts “The Nose Knows” Twitter Chat 12/17, 12pm December 17, 2015
Join the @dhsscitech#STTechTalk “The Nose Knows” Thursday December 17th at noon EST. Tune in and chat about improving canine explosives detection.
The Nose Knows: The Science of Threat Detection Canines
Did you know dogs’ noses are a million times more sensitive than a human’s nose? Dogs can be trained to detect a wide variety of specific scents, such as drugs, fruits, and explosives and are trained to alert their handlers to the presence of these hazardous items by pawing, barking or, in the case of something dangerous, sitting or lying quietly.
Canines have been used by law enforcement agencies for decades to alert their handlers to threats or objects of interest. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Canine Program is working with DHS partners, including the Transportation Security Administration, other federal agencies, and state and local first responders to provide independent verification of canine teams’ performance, as well as ways to enhance overall detection capability…
DHS I&A Internship Program Announcement October 28, 2015
Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.
SciX 2015, Presented by FACSS, Preliminary Program is Now Available September 18, 2015
SciX is the annual meeting of the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS). The conference represents the future of international scientific exchange in the fields of analytical sciences – comprehensive, intimate, all inclusive. This is the meeting where all the member societies of FACSS present their newest, most innovative research.
Preliminary Program is now available. For a list of the scheduled sessions, click “Sessions”
SciX 2015 will take place on September 27 – October 2, 2015 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR POSTER PRESENTATIONS IS JULY 31. Submit Abstract
The Awareness and Localization of Explosives Related Threats (ALERT) program at Northeastern University employs an Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) lab in the Egan building on Campus. In this lab there are technologies used to image the surface of the human body, very similar to the systems used at airports worldwide today. We are exploring combinations of imaging techniques in order to determine optimum detection of threats capabilities. The types of technologies (Video, Radar, X-ray, thermal imaging, and passive nuclear quadrapole resonance) have all been proven to be safe for human exposure. We are now in the testing phase of this research. We are calling out now for volunteers willing to be imaged by these technologies.
Please contact us if you are interested in participating:
Professor Carey Rappaport ALERT Thrust Lead – Bulk Sensors & Sensor Systems,
Northeastern University [email protected]
Alyssa White ALERT Research Consultant,
Massachusetts General Hospital [email protected] 315-244-8178
Please note, this call for volunteers has been approved by Northeastern University’s Institutional Review Board.
United States Secret Service Seeking Eligible Students with Chemistry Backgrounds May 23, 2013
The United States Secret Service would like to fund a COE, using the BOA, to support their Dynamic Ink Aging project. This project involves performing a series of experiments to determine the optimized parameters for assessing the age of ballpoint writing ink.
They are looking for two students who are citizens of the United States, chemistry majors and are able to obtain a security clearance or already have a clearance. Students have the option to either work on-site in Washington D.C. in the USSS Forensic Lab or off-site in their own university labs. If the students work off-site they must have access to a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and a thermal desorption unit (TDU). It is anticipated that the length of the project will be one year.
If interested, please send a resume, bio, and a list of chemistry courses to:
2013 ALERT REU Summer Program Now Accepting Applications January 16, 2013
We are accepting applications for the upcoming ALERT REU Program. The 10-week paid summer program offers undergraduate engineers the opportunity to engage in ALERT research with faculty members located at Northeastern University in Boston, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez. The application deadline is February 22, 2013. For more information, and to apply, visit the REU webpage.
2012 Post Doctoral Research Associate Position August 7, 2012
Location: Gordon-CenSSIS Optical Sciences Laboratory, Northeastern University
The Gordon-CenSSIS Optical Sciences Laboratory in the College of Engineering at Northeastern University, is looking for a Post Doctoral Research Associate to perform basic research, maintain the laboratory, and assist the supervisor in the interpretation and publication of results and grants.
Candidate must have a Ph.D. or equivalent, experience in Matlab, electronic test equipment, optical breadboarding, safe operation and handling of laser diodes, among other things, and must be able to undertake substantially full-time research or scholarship, working under the supervision of a senior scholar.
This position ranges in pay between $36,848 – $60,733, with a midpoint of $48,791. Qualified applicants should send their resume to Anne Magrath at [email protected].
For questions and more information, contact Emel Bulat at [email protected].
