2012 Assembly of Delegates:
Research & Doctoral Universities Representative for Committee on Nominations

Name: Frank Abrams

Chapter Affiliation: North Carolina State University

Candidate's Statement: The identification and election of individuals to serve in leadership roles in Sigma Xi is one of the more important things that we do, for in the hands of those elected is the responsibility to guide Sigma Xi, assure that the Society stays on mission, and ever keep the health of Sigma Xi uppermost in attention. The role of the Committee on Nominations is to put before the membership a slate of nominees for which there is clear evidence for each individual of qualifications and experience to serve in the role for which that individual is nominated. The nominations process for every office must be oipen to all members to participate individually, and electronic technology should be fully and effectively exploited to facilitate that participation. If seated on the Committee on Nominations from the RD Constituency, I will endeavour personally to assure that all Sigma Xi members in the constituency have the opportunity to participate not only in electing officers and directors, but also in putting names forward for nomination. I will further encourage other colleagues on the Committee to do likewise with the intention that processes be institutionalized in the Society to effectively and efficiently seek the guidance and wisdom of all members individually as well as through chapters.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Elected to Sigma Xi while a doctoral candidate at NC State University, Frank Abrams has been a member in good standing continuously for 34 years. Throughout the bulk of that period, he was active in the local chapter, serving at various times as Secretary, Treasurer, President, and member of the Executive Committee. In these capacities and otherwise, he has identified speakers for chapter and campus events, organized colloquia, and almost every year while directing graduate students, nominated deserving candidates for membership. At the request of the local chapter, he became involved in national Sigma Xi activities beginning in 2006 to carry the chapter’s recommendations for specific governance changes in the Society.

Biographical Information: B.S (1966), MS(1969), PhD(1970) -- North Carolina State University. Extension Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Engineering: 1969-72; Assistant Professor (1972-78), Associate Professor (1978-84), Professor (1984-2006), Professor emeritus (2006-present), North Carolina State University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering. Taught, conducted research and directed graduate students in machinery design, human factors engineering, and biomechanics as applied to plant and animal systems. Director of Graduate Studies (1986-94) and Interim Head (1991-92) in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Chair of the NC State University Faculty, 1991-92. Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff of the Office of the Provost, 1994-2003. Director of Graduate Programs in Biomedical Engineering 2003-2006. Currently serving on the Board and as President of the Association of Retired Faculty as North Carolina State University, on the Board of the Friends of NCSU Libraries, and on the host committee for the 2012 Biennial Conference of the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (Oct 21-24, 2012 in Chapel HIll, NC).

Name: Alejandro Espinoza-Orias

Present Position: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Organization: Rush University Medical Center

Chapter Affiliation: Rush University

Candidate's Statement: I was elected to Sigma Xi full membership in 2009. In this short period I have become very interested in the activities of the Society and its efforts to provide better networking options to scientists. As a young investigator, I experienced in person the need and importance of both mentorship and the development of a network of peers as part of the toolbox for a successful research career. Sigma Xi provides just the tools and environment to promote science careers. From that point of view, I would like to contribute to the Society from the Nominations Committee at the R/D Constituency, and in the words of another SX colleague: to assist in the task of scientists helping scientists.

Biographical Information: Dr Alejandro A. Espinoza is a mechanical engineer by training and currently serves as the President of the Sigma Xi Chapter at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. He obtained a licentiate degree in mechanical engineering in his native Bolivia at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés School of Engineering. After an initial career as a well-logging engineer in the South American oilfields of the Chaco and Neuquén Basins he went on to obtain his graduate degrees also in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame this time focusing on studies of bone mechanics. After a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Pennsylvania's McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory working in spine biomechanics, he re-located to his present home, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush. His current academic appointment role involves research studying the biomechanics of joints and the spine, particularly the effects of aging on the soft tissues.

Name: Edna Kaneshiro

Present Position: Distinguished Research Professor
Organization: University of Cincinnati

Chapter Affiliation: University of Cincinnati

Candidate's Statement: If elected to the nomination committee I will do my best to identify people who are deeply dedicated to Sigma Xi and have demonstrated that they will devote much time and energy to move the organization to new heights. I will work to obtain a ballot that is balanced with representatives from various ethnic/racial backgrounds, males and females, and geographical distributions.

Biographical Information: Ph. D. Syracuse University, 1968; corporation member, Marine Biological Labs, Woods Hole, MA; Henri Warembourg Faculty of Medicine Medal, University of Lille, Lille, France, 1997; AAAS fellow, 1999; American Academy of Microbiology fellow, 2001; University of Cincinnati, Rieveschl Award for Distinguished Scientific Research, 2001. Editor-in-Chief Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 1988-98; Society of Protozoologists, President, 1999-2000; American Society for Cell Biology; American Society for Microbiology, Council Policy Committee, 2004-10; American Institute for Biological Sciences, Council, 2005-present; International Commission on Protistology, International Union of Biological Sciences, 2003-09; International Workshops on Opportunistic Protists, Chair Organizing Committee, 1988-2010; Sigma Xi, University of Cincinnati Chapter, President, 1991-2 & 2009-10. Edna Kaneshiro has contributed to the physiology, cell biology, biochemistry of microbes, mainly on the lipid biochemistry of eukaryotic protists. She over 150 publications, served as editor or on editorial boards of seven professional journals, participated on review panels or reviewer for NIH, NSF and other funding agencies; and organized several scientific conferences. She has served Sigma Xi in various capacities (president, secretary, vice-president, several committees) and most recently headed efforts to reinvigorate the local chapter.