Nominations are open for the Doherty Professorship in Ocean Utilization, for which all nontenured faculty members in any MIT department are eligible.
Endowed by the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, the two-year chair opens the way for promising nontenured professors to undertake marine-related research that will further innovative uses of the ocean's resources. There are no restrictions on the area of research, and any aspect of marine use and/or management may be addressed, whether social, political, environmental, economic or technical.
Each year, one or two new faculty members are appointed to the chair and receive $25,000 each in annual support. In 1997, John Leonard, assistant professor of ocean engineering, was appointed for his proposal, "Dynamic Underwater Sonar Data Fusion." Dr. Leonard is investigating the unique ability of certain animals -- dolphins in particular -- to combine their controlled movement with a sonar capability to interpret the size and shape of objects.
Department heads may submit one nomination every year. The deadline for applications is October 2. Final selection will be made by a committee that includes the vice president and dean for research, the dean of engineering, dean of science, chairman of the sea grant committee and the director of the MIT Sea Grant College Program, following a review and recommendation from the full Sea Grant Committee. The vice president and dean for research will announce the new Doherty Professor in early spring.
Anyone wishing to be nominated should contact his or her department head for procedures and selection criteria. For more information, contact ReRe Quinn in Rm E38-300 or x3-9305.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on September 10, 1997.
