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A full house

April 20, 2011

Five new ADs join the OSU Libraries staff

By Julia Harris

When Carol Pitts Diedrichs assumed the helm of the OSU Libraries not quite two years ago, her roster of associate and assistant directors was more than a little depleted. In fact, she was soon faced with the daunting prospect of hiring a whole new slate of personnel.

Continue reading ‘A full house’

Study: Breast cancer patients’ persistent fatigue is real

April 20, 2011

And the condition may actually speed up aging

By Earle Holland, Research Communications

The persistent fatigue that plagues one out of every three breast cancer survivors may be caused by one part of the autonomic nervous system running in overdrive, while the other part fails to slow it down.

That imbalance of a natural system in the body appears linked to the tiredness and exhaustion that can burden cancer patients as much as a decade after their successful treatment.

Continue reading ‘Study: Breast cancer patients’ persistent fatigue is real’

Top 3 on 2, 11/04/10

November 3, 2010

Why did you choose to work at Ohio State? My first position at OSU was as a part-time staff member at the Molecular Neurobiology Center. (Thanks for taking a chance on me, Juli!) When friends asked what I did, I jokingly told them I was a part-time brain surgeon. In reality I wasn’t saving lives, but I was optimistic that the dependent tuition benefit would come in handy down the road. And it did!

What do you like about your job? The College of Social Work is a place where I find friendship, encouragement, diversity and … if I’m lucky … I arrive in the morning to find an e-mail from Judy or Meghan announcing “goodies by the shredder.” Working at a smaller college gives me exposure to so many different facets of the university. I’m constantly learning, refuting the old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

What would you improve at Ohio State? I’d do my best to clarify confusing, and sometimes contradictory, business policies.

What advice would you give a new employee? Strive for teamwork and be willing to go the extra mile. Whenever possible, say “yes!”

Of what honor or recognition are you most proud?
It was a great honor to receive the 2010 Dianna Barrett Staff Person of the Year Award from the college. But this award is as much a tribute to the talents of my co-workers who graciously answer my questions, provide wise counsel and respond to my pleas for help.

If you weren’t working at Ohio State, what would you rather be doing? I’d be hiking and picnicking through every national park, starting with Zion.

What are you going to do when you retire? I’m counting on a rosy future for OPERS so I can travel the globe.

If you were the university president for a day, what would you do? Offer free parking for all employees!

To nominate a staff member for an upcoming issue, e-mail oncampus@osu.edu.

New research links three molecules to a critical tumor suppressor gene that is often turned off in multiple myeloma, a presently incurable cancer of the blood. The findings might offer a new strategy for treating this disease and other blood cancers, according to researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute who led the study.

The silenced molecules are called miR-192, miR-194 and miR-215. All of them are microRNAs, a large class of molecules that are master regulators of many important cell processes.

The study, published in the Oct. 19 issue of Cancer Cell, suggests that re-activating these three molecules triggers expression of the P53 tumor suppressor gene. This, in turn, slows the growth and leads to the death of myeloma cells and could provide a new strategy for treating the disease. More than 20,100 Americans are expected to develop the disease this year.

Good ‘Vibe’rations at Staff Arts and Crafts Exhibit

September 22, 2010

In our ongoing effort to recognize the outstanding creativity of Ohio State staff, onCampus once again has conferred its Editor’s Choice Award at the 19th annual Staff Arts and Crafts Exhibit.

Debbie Knight, a staff member in the Center for Microbial Interface Biology, has been selected to receive the award, now in its second year, for her modified digital photograph, “Vibe.” Earning the award is an outstanding achievement, especially considering that “Vibe” is Knight’s first digital photograph to be displayed in the exhibit.

The groovy piece of art began as a simple digital close-up of the sound hole of a vintage guitar. Upping the ingenuity, Knight used Photoshop to colorize portions of the 1972 Martin’s wood, as well as to digitally modify the guitar’s 12 strings.

“The piece almost transfixes you as you look at it,” onCampus Editor Jeff McCallister said. “That hypnotic effect made it hard to pull away and go look at the rest of the exhibition. Our whole staff agreed it was worthy of our award.”

The inspiration for “Vibe” arose when Knight snapped the photo for a poster she was designing to publicize her acoustic band (in which, not to lack creativity, she plays the mandolin). As the Photoshop modifications developed, the photo transformed from a simple poster image to an eye-catching work of art.

“I let the artwork that I’m working on inspire me: I get the best results when I let whatever I’m working on “become” what it wants to become as I’m working on it,” said Knight. “Although I didn’t use the image for the poster, I was struck by the vibration effect that was created—so, I framed it and hung it on my wall at home.”

Now, Knight’s entrancing photo hangs, with its new Editor’s Choice Award, on a wall surrounded by her colleagues’ creations. And there’s no place else she’d rather display her artwork than the Staff Arts and Crafts Exhibit.

“I have submitted photographs, paintings and a soapstone sculpture over the past few years and do so because it is a safe and friendly way to show my amateur artwork to fellow employees,” said Knight. “I’m always amazed at the talent we have at OSU and I look forward to seeing the exhibit every year. It’s nice to have my artwork included with so many other amazing works.”

Top 3 on 2, 8/12/10

August 11, 2010

Why did you choose to work at Ohio State? I chose Ohio State solely because I had just given birth to my first child in 1984 and wanted to be able to spend time with her and not return to full-time employment. A part-time evening switchboard position became available, I applied and I became a Buckeye employee. In 1987 I moved from part-time evening to part-time day, working in the dean/associate deans’ office, and several years thereafter went to full time. I joined the Office of Student Life in 2002.

What do you like about your job? Everything! But if I had to pick one thing it would be the people I work with. They are truly awesome.
What would you improve at Ohio State? The HR online job application system. My two daughters, both graduates of OSU, have utilized the OSU online application system. The system fails to give applicants updated information regarding application status, especially if the position is filled.

What advice would you give a new employee? Learn all you can and do your job well.

If you weren’t working at Ohio State, what would you be doing? Paddling around a pond in a swan paddle boat with a log cabin cottage near the dock.

Who is your hero? God. I cannot imagine life without him. If only more people believed the same thing, this world would be in much better shape than it is today.

Of what honor or recognition are you most proud? Receiving The Ohio State University Distinguished Staff Award in 2008, and the best part was being presented the award by President Gee. Having chosen not to go to college when I graduated from high school, I look at this award as my college diploma for my hard work and dedication to this university.

What is your favorite activity outside of work? Family is first and foremost in my life. I look forward to times spent together, whether it be a picnic, a birthday celebration, Christmas, etc. Over the years, we have enjoyed some great times and created wonderful memories. I look forward to many more.

What are you going to do when you retire? I was eligible to retire 3½ years ago. However, I like my job too much to retire. Plus, I would miss the folks I work with. But it’s nice to know that if I have a bad day, the option is readily available!

If you were the university president for a day, what would you do? Well, I too wanted to request to dot the “i,” however Mary Jo Spink Patterson, from the July 15 edition of onCampus stole my idea. So, my second choice would be to become president for the day on Saturday, Nov. 27 and watch the Buckeyes beat Michigan in the comfort of the President’s Suite at Ohio Stadium (with family and friends, of course).

To nominate a staff member for an upcoming issue, e-mail oncampus@osu.edu.

Two Ohio State graduate students are recipients of the new Department of Energy Graduate Research fellowships designed to strengthen the nation’s scientific workforce by providing support to young students during the formative years of their research. Kathryn Gabet in mechanical engineering and Kyle Wendt in nuclear physics will each receive $50,500 per year for up to three years to support tuition, living expenses, research materials and travel to research conferences or to Department of Energy scientific user facilities. Support comes in part from $12.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

For a complete list of awardees and eligibility requirements visit the Office of Science Graduate Fellowship program. Profiles of the awardees are at scgf.orau.gov/documents/awardees/WendtKyle_Profile.pdf and scgf.orau.gov/documents/awardees/GabetKathryn_Profile.pdf.

Confident teachers help more with language skills

July 14, 2010

Jessica Orwig, Research Communications