By Gail Gallessich

	Frank L. H. Brown, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry

The White House announced last month that Frank L. H. Brown, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has received the highest honor that a scientist at the beginning of his or her career can receive in this country. He is among 58 individuals from across the nation to be presented with the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

The Presidential award recognizes young scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. Each year the National Science Foundation (NSF) selects 20 nominees for the PECASE from among the most meritorious of the agency’s recipients of its Faculty Early Career Development award.

The NSF nominated Brown. Other government agencies also select nominees.

This award is UCSB’s first PECASE in the sciences and only the second ever awarded to a faculty member. (Dan Blumenthal, professor of electrical and computer engineering, received the PECASE in 1999.) It is also the first time a UCSB faculty member has been nominated by the NSF.

Brown was cited for developing new computational algorithms for the investigation of cellular phenomena, which are providing new computational tools to investigate cell membrane dynamics and cytoskeletal assembly. He explains his research group’s work this way: “Cellular biology and molecular biology are complementary fields working toward the ultimate goal of elucidating the processes of life.

“Given this complementarity, it is interesting to note that theoretical and computational efforts have largely been directed toward the molecular side of biology. Our interests lie in developing theoretical and computational tools from the physical sciences for use in studies of cellular biology.”

Chancellor Henry T. Yang said: “This outstanding recognition of the work and potential of one of our young faculty members brings pride and pleasure to our UCSB community.”

Dean of Science Martin Moskovits said, “Frank Brown embodies all of the outstanding characteristics this award recognizes: innovative and imaginative research, stellar teaching and student mentoring, and good citizenship.”

Brown received his B.S. in chemistry and B.A. in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from MIT. He was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Diego and a Yen Fellow at the University of Chicago before joining the UCSB faculty in 2001.