Featured Faculty 2013: Leaders in Research

Key Info

• 2013 Featured Faculty introduced at luncheon
• Abdullah Eroglu associate professor of engineering
• Peter Dragnev, professor of mathematics
• Elaine Blakemore, professor of psychology

Elaine Blakemore, professor of psychology Print-quality image

Peter Dragnev, professor of mathematics Print-quality image

Abdullah Eroglu, associate professor of Engineering Print-quality image

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The 2013 inductees into Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne’s (IPFW’s) Featured Faculty were formally introduced at a luncheon this afternoon (Friday, Jan. 18, 2013).

Under the theme “Leaders in Research,” IPFW Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein congratulated each new member, noting, “Leadership in research and the classroom are both extremely important to the IPFW faculty.” The Featured Faculty are selected from those who apply for the Outstanding Researcher Award.

The 2013 Featured Faculty are:

• Abdullah Eroglu, associate professor of engineering
• Peter Dragnev, professor of mathematics
• Elaine Blakemore, professor of psychology

As part of their duties, each will present a lecture highlighting their research. The lecture series begins the second Wednesday in February and takes place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Walb Student Union, Room G-21. They are free and open to the public and a light lunch will be provided. The lecture dates and topics are:

• February 13: “Electromagnetic Devices and Applications,” presented by Abdullah Eroglu
• February 20: “From Electrons to Orifices to Fullerenes: the Unfolding Story of Energy Optimization,” presented by Peter Dragnev
• February 27: “ ‘If I saw a boy playing with dolls, I would punch him in the nose and call the police’: What Children Know and Think about Gender Norms,” presented by Elaine Blakemore.

The following are short biographical sketches of the 2013 Featured Faculty.

Abdullah Eroglu, associate professor of Engineering.

Abdullah’s passion for teaching and ideal to utilize his vast industrial experience in radio frequency applications with companies in northeast Indiana led him to IPFW. In 2009, he established the RF/Microwave Research Laboratory with the funding from the United States Department of Energy. Today the laboratory is also being funded by local companies and used by several undergraduate and graduate students for their research and teaching activities.

He is the author of over 70 journal and conference papers and two books. A third book is scheduled to be released this year. Abdullah was a fellow at the Department of Energy in 2009, received the ETCS Excellence in Research Award in 2010, and the Sigma Xi Researcher of the Year Award in 2011. 

In his spare time, he likes playing soccer, table tennis, and basketball and enjoys spending time with his family.

Peter Dragnev, professor of mathematics

Peter’s research is in the area of mathematical analysis, in particular, approximation theory and potential theory. His narrow specialty is the study of minimal energy problems and their applications in various fields of mathematics and sciences. He has authored or co-authored more than 20 articles that have been cited more than 250 times.

Peter is the interim chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, where he has been since 1997.

He is the 2002 Sigma Xi Researcher of the Year, 2003 and 2012 Pippert Sciences Scholar, 2004 IPFW Research Fellow, 2008 guest researcher for the MFO Leibnez Fellow, and 2009 Research in Pairs MFO Fellow. He has served two terms as president of IPFW Sigma Xi Chapter and is currently the Purdue speaker of the IPFW Senate.

In his spare time Peter enjoys jogging, playing guitar, and spending time with family and friends.

Elaine Blakemore, professor of psychology

Elaine’s research includes boys’ and girls’ interests and interactions with infants and toddlers, characteristics of boys’ and girls’ toys, children’s gender-related knowledge and attitudes, and parents’ influence on children’s gender development.

She came to IPFW in 1986, serving as chair of the Psychology Department from 1995 to 2009, and is now the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Elaine has published more than 20 journal articles and book chapters and has presented nearly 40 papers at scientific meetings. She has served in many capacities for the Midwestern Psychological Association, including local representatives coordinator, program moderator, secretary, treasurer, and president. The MPA awarded her its first (and at this point, only) Presidential Citation Award at its 2012 meeting.

Elaine and her husband are the parents of two adult sons and a daughter-in-law. They enjoy travel, bicycling, and Western square dancing.

For more information on the 2013 Featured Faculty, visit the website.

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