AUBURN – An Auburn University professor has received a $424,000 National Science Foundation grant for research in the fight against infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and anthrax, as well as staph infections.

Evert Duin, an assistant professor of biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, is focusing his research on the different steps that biological cells use in making a group of lipids, called isoprenoids. These are fatty substances that are essential for the survival of all organisms including humans.

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AUBURN – An Auburn University psychology professor has been honored as one of the nation's top psychology educators.

William Buskist, Distinguished Professor in the Teaching of Psychology in Auburn's College of Liberal Arts, has been named by the American Psychological Foundation Board of Trustees as the recipient of the 2009 Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award. The award, which has been given annually since 1970, recognizes exemplary career contributions to the teaching of psychology and leadership in improving the teaching and learning of psychology.

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AUBURN – A collaboration between Auburn University and Tuskegee University faculty members resulted in a $600,000 National Science Foundation grant that will strengthen mathematics education in regional Alabama school systems through a new TEAM-Math initiative.

TEAM-Math, or Transforming East Alabama Mathematics, is a partnership of Auburn University, Tuskegee University, 14 local and regional school districts and area businesses designed to improve mathematics education in East Alabama.

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AUBURN – Auburn University will award an estimated 1,442 academic degrees at its fall graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

Of those degrees, 1,101 are bachelor’s degrees, 266 are master’s degrees, 73 are doctorates and two are specialist degrees.

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AUBURN - On Oct. 17, a group of Auburn students and other concerned citizens will embark on a 60-mile Hunger March from the Auburn University campus to the steps of the state capitol in Montgomery to raise awareness about the issue of world hunger.

Marchers will set out from the Auburn University Medical Clinic on Friday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. and travel southeast on College Street until it becomes U.S. 29. They will continue on to Ala. 81 North and conclude the first day, and 20 miles, in Tuskegee. On day two, Oct. 18, a 30-mile walk will follow U.S. 80 and finish in the Mt. Meigs area. On Sunday, Oct. 19, the final 10 miles will take the marchers to the steps of the capitol where they will arrive at about noon.

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AUBURN - Auburn University honored the outstanding academic achievements of four faculty members and recognized many others at an awards ceremony Oct. 8. The event, at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, marked the third time these annual awards have been given in a combined, formal ceremony.

Among those receiving awards were Daniel D. Butler, the Thomas Walter Professor of Technology Management and associate professor of marketing in the College of Business, and Steven Kincaid, alumni professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Both received the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Rex Dunham, alumni professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures in the College of Agriculture was presented with the Creative Research and Scholarship Award. Chris Rodger, the Scharnagel Professor of Mathematical Sciences in the College of Sciences and Mathematics received the Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach.

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AUBURN - Auburn University is ranked 28th among land grant universities nationally and in the top 50 of public universities overall for the 16th consecutive year, according to an annual survey released by U.S. News & World Report today. Auburn placed 45th among the top 50 public universities.

"The comparison to other land grants is critically important to us, because land grants share certain common academic qualities," said Jay Gogue, Auburn University president. "Our strategic plan calls for us to steadily increase our measures of quality among this distinctive group.

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High-res photo: An Auburn engineering student grinds frame rails during the construction phase of Auburn's 2008 Formula SAE car team project.

To better prepare engineers for jobs in the region’s growing automotive manufacturing industry, the 15 credit-hour minor will focus on vehicle quality, logistics, design and planning. This program will provide Alabama’s automotive factories with much-needed employees for mid- and upper-management roles, developing the state’s economy by allowing the plants to become more efficient.

"The minor is designed to enhance students’ preparation for careers in the automotive manufacturing industry,” said John Evans, faculty member in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. “These well-educated graduates will be ready to join the workforce and fill positions that support production processes and improve assembly.”

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AUBURN - Economics faculty at Auburn University achieved high rankings in a newly published study in the Southern Economic Journal that examined research productivity and impact in the area of economic education from 1991-2005.

Economics departments were ranked on total citations and citations per author. Auburn ranked 14th, just ahead of such noted institutions as Princeton and the University of Toronto. The top three ranking universities for research in this discipline were Vanderbilt, Indiana and Wisconsin.

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AUBURN - Auburn University will present an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Mobile attorney and AU Trustee John C.H. “Jack” Miller Jr. at fall commencement on Monday, Dec. 17.

Approximately 1,396 new graduates will also receive AU degrees at the 2 p.m. commencement in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. These include 1,061 bachelor’s degrees, 266 master’s degrees, 66 doctorates and three education specialist degrees.

Miller was a founder and is chairman of the Mobile-based law firm of Miller, Hamilton, Snider and Odom, which has offices in Birmingham, Montgomery, Atlanta, Washington and Miami.

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