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K-State Today

June 23, 2017

College of Arts and Sciences names interim associate dean for research

Submitted by Noelle Blood

Kristan Corwin, Ernest K. and Lillian E. Chapin chair and professor of physics, has been named interim associate dean for research of the College of Arts and Sciences by Dean Amit Chakrabarti.

In this role, Corwin will assist with strategic planning and data analysis; manage the college's instructional fee programs; engage early career faculty for the college's faculty enhancement program and stimulate participation in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities and Discovery, or RSCAD, training activities offered by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs; act as a member of the Associate Deans for Research Council on behalf of the college; serve as college liaison to the Graduate School; coordinate with research compliance and safety offices; plan facility construction and oversee maintenance and repair projects; coordinate space migration projects; and represent the college in the dean's stead as necessary.

"I am delighted to serve the college as interim associate dean for research," Corwin said. "I look forward to engaging with and supporting RSCAD across our college. I am grateful for the strong foundation laid by Beth Montelone, former associate dean for research, and excited to build on it."

Corwin earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Buffalo in 1993, and her master's and doctoral degrees with an emphasis in laser trapping and cooling under the direction of Carl Wieman from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1996 and 1999, respectively. After a postdoctoral position at École Normale Supérieure in ultracold quantum gasses with Christophe Salomon, she joined NIST Boulder Laboratories as a National Research Council postdoctoral fellow working with optical frequency combs.

In 2003, she joined Kansas State University as an assistant professor, and established a research group in nonlinear optics and frequency metrology, emphasizing gas-filled hollow optical fibers for frequency metrology and novel laser systems. She has co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, and served as principal investigator for more than $4 million in research funding since joining K-State. Since 2006, she also has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on a federally funded Research Experience for Undergraduates site in K-State's physics department. In 2015-16, she was a visiting fellow at JILA, University of Colorado, a joint institute for the study of astrophysics, biophysics, quantum information, precision measurement, and atomic, molecular and optical physics. She is currently serving as vice president of the American Physical Society Division of Laser Sciences.

A search for a permanent associate dean of research will commence in fall 2017.