The 17-member U-M Synthetic Biology team led by Peter Woolf, chemical engineering and biomedical engineering, College of Engineering, placed third in the "best real world application" category at the second annual International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition, held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in early November. The team designed two projects called Plasmene and Landing Pads. Plasmene is a graphic and user-friendly programming tool that facilitates the design and modeling of synthetic genetic systems. Landing pads are tools for placing various genes onto the chromosome and controlling expression dynamics of the proteins for which the genes encode.

Chris Dick, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been awarded a three-year National Science Foundation grant for more than $478,000 to research genetic processes leading to speciation in 12 rain forest tree species found throughout tropical America and, for three species, West Africa. This research will test the hypothesis that widespread tropical tree species are genetically cohesive populations, on the one hand, or species complexes with high levels of genetic divergence.

Nguyen Xuan Vinh, professor emeritus of Aerospace Engineering, has been awarded the 2006 Dirk Brouwer Award by the American Astronautical Society for sustained and outstanding contributions to the theory of optimal control of space vehicles at the interface of orbital and atmospheric flight. His research has influenced the fields of theoretical optimal control, celestial mechanics, astrodynamics, guidance and navigation, and atmospheric flight mechanics among others.

Laura Rayner, a University Housing interior designer, received a first place award from the Association of University Interior Designers at its October national meeting in New York. She was the 2006 design competition winner in the category of renovation over $150,000 for the Blue Apple cafe and emporium in Bursley Hall. Rayner has worked for University Housing and Interior Design for six years.