Recipients of the Sigma Xi
George Lefevre Research Award
The Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award
California State University, Northridge

 Sigma Xi is an international honor society for scientific and engineering research.
Learn more at the following web site: http://www.sigmaxi.org/

Alberto Candel (Mathematics) - 2004
" Geometry, Dynamical Systems, Low Dimensional Topology"

Randy W. Cohen (Biology) - 2003
"Coping with Neurodegeneration:  Cellular Strategies Involved with Self Protection."

Ben B. Yaspelkis III (Kinesiology) - 2002
"Are We Silently Being Killed? The Link from Obesity to Diabetes"

Dr. Taeboem Oh (Chemistry) - 2001
"Symmetry and Organic Synthesis"

Peter Bellinger^U (Biology) - 2000
"How did I get here anyway? (proposed title)"

Peter Weigand^U(Geological Sciences) - 1999 (shared)
"The Conejo Volcanics in the Santa Monica Mountains:
Origin of the Miocene Volcanic Firestorm in Southern California"

Peter Edmunds (Biology) - 1999 (shared)
"Coral Reefs in the 21^st Century?"

Gene Fritsche (Geological Sciences) - 1998
"The Amazing Geologic Rotation and Evolution of Southwestern California"

Sandra Jewett (Chemistry) - 1997
"A New Look at a Time-Worn System:  Oxidation of CuZnSOD  by H₂O₂"

Nick Kioussis (Physics and Astronomy)  - 1996
"Theoretical Modeling of the Mechanicl Properties of Materials"

Bob Carpenter (Biology) - 1995
"Interactive Effects Between Biological and Physical Factors
in Controlling the Metabolism of Coral Reef Algal Communities"

6.8 M Northridge Earthquake (no award) - 1994

Ken Hardcastle (Chemistry) - 1993
"X-Ray Crystallography:  Seeing is Believing?"

LeRoy Nyquist (Chemistry) - 1992
"The Triazine Ring and its Trying Behavior in Chemical Reactions"

Larry Allen (Biology) - 1991 (shared)
"Studies on the Recruitment of the White Seabass:
An Important Commercial Fish in Southern California"

Dick Squires (Geological Sciences) - 1991 (shared)
"Migrational Patterns of Eocene Marine Mollusks"

Barney Bales (Physics and Astronomy) - 1990
"Actual Size versus Average Size of Small Groups"

Joe Hajdu (Chemistry) - 1989
"Synthesis and Properties of Biologically Active Phospholipids"

Gary Chapman (Physics and Astronomy) - 1988
"Variations in the Sun's Output"

Ed Rosenberg (Chemistry) - 1987
"Organometallic Chemistry of Ruthenium Carbonyl Complexes"

Ryoichi Seki (Physics and Astronomy) - 1985
(Quantum Chromodynamics)

Steve Oppenheimer (Biology) - 1984
"Cell Surface Carbohydrates in Cancer and Development"

George Lefevre^U (Biology) - Inaugural Award 1983
"The Distribution or Randomly Recovered X-ray-Induced and
EMS-Induced Sex-Linked Genetic Effects in Drosophila melanogaster"

George Lefevre (1917 - 1990) (Biology) - Inaugural Award 1983 "The Distribution or Randomly Recovered X-ray-Induced and EMS-Induced Sex-Linked Genetic Effects in Drosophila melanogaster" Dr. George Lefevre was born in Columbia, Missouri, on September 13,1917 to George and Julia Lefevre.  George's father was Professor of Zoology at the University of Missouri, where George earned degrees in zoology and genetics.  He earned his Ph.D. in 1949, writing a thesis entitled "A comparison of X-ray induced genetic effects in germinal and somatic tissue of Drosophila melanogaster."  He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and the Genetics Society of America. George taught at the University of Utah from 1949 to 1956, and then was Program Director for Genetic Biology at the National Science Foundation from 1956 to 1959.  In 1959, he became Director of Biological Laboratories and Assistant to the Chairman of Biology at Harvard University, where he remained until coming to Northridge as Chairman of the Biology Department in 1965. He held that post until returning to full-time teaching in 1977.  He retired in 1984, but remained active in the department as researcher, teacher, and advisor. George came to the Department of Biology at a critical time in the history of CSU, Northridge, and immediately proceeded to provide strong leadership and to set an example for others in quality of teaching and research.  Throughout his years at our institution he maintained an active research program, supervised the research of scores of students, and helped many go on to advanced degrees.   He published numerous research papers and reviews on the cytogenetics of Drosophila and coauthored with Steve Oppenheimer three editions of the text "Introduction to Embryonic Development."  His outstanding research and his skill as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Genetics Society of America earned him an international reputation for excellence.  George was one of the first faculty members in the CSU to have achieved a truly international reputation.  After retiring, George collaborated with Dr. Sarko Tilkien of Northridge Hospital on factors involved in chromosome breakage, involving graduate students in the research.

Email any questions or problems with this information to sandra.jewett@csun.edu