C. Frank Abrams

Present Position

Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, both joint appointments between North Carolina State University and  University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Chapter Affiliation

North Carolina State University

Statement

It has been my good fortune to have been elected to serve a first term as director for the research-doctoral constituency of Sigma Xi during a crucial time in the history of the Society.  I respectfully ask my colleagues to consider re-electing me to a second term.

Due to the thoughtful and dedicated work of the directors and officers over the last three years, along with many, many wise and unselfish members, our Society is decidedly increasing its vibrancy and effectiveness.  Leadership is more connected to members than ever before.  Administration of the Society is right-sized and is more efficient and responsive to member concerns and interests than ever. Our dedication to our mission is clear as is our commitment to keep our mission pertinent and impactful for those who serve society as researchers across all disciplines and areas of knowledge.

Sigma Xi is in a unique position, now more than ever; to assert its lead role in addressing the many issues surrounding research and its understanding and appreciation by society in general.  Indeed, doing so is vitally important for the society in which we live.  As an honor society, Sigma Xi seeks to identify and encourage with the honor of membership those individuals who have taken significant and exemplary steps in the arduous process preparing themselves for research careers.  But it does, and can better do, more than that. Sigma Xi encourages those honored with membership to assume collective responsibility for the well-being of the scientific research enterprise, and it seeks to provide a forum and a collegial structure in which that responsibility can be exercised.  We must continually be attentive to and improve that forum and structure.  We must more fully exploit the convenience of up to date means of communication that can be both effective in getting important things done and respectful of the busy lives of members actively engaged in research.

There is a special significance to the research-doctoral constituency of Sigma Xi.  It comprises the thousands of members for whom every day of their professional lives is dedicated not only to doing meaningful and needful research but also to the training and education of the next generation of researchers through doctoral programs in high level and very high level research universities.  Increasingly, the ability to undertake this training and education is dependent on the entrepreneurship of faculty at such universities that enables acquisition of the resources needed to undertake their important work.  At the same time, they are faced with the reality that appropriate training and education of the next generation of researchers does not only mean preparing scholars to take their places in academia, but also requires mentoring students who will find challenges and opportunities in endeavors outside academia that benefit from their research training and education.  On top of that, most constituency members active in research universities are engaged in and share responsibility for education of students at the undergraduate and master’s levels in curriculum design, advising, and teaching.  Sigma Xi as an organization must be ever more attentive and responsive to the challenges and opportunities faced by members of this constituency.

I commit, if re-elected, to work with redoubled effort with my worthy colleagues on the board and our officers to continue to improve the health and vitality of the Society, its relevance to those who are honored by membership, and its attention to the health of the research enterprise.  I further commit to keep very closely connected to my colleague members of the research-doctoral constituency and to bring their viewpoints, experience, ideas, and wisdom to the work of the board and our officers.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities:

Elected to Sigma Xi while a doctoral candidate at NC State University, Frank Abrams has been a member in good standing continuously since 1969. Throughout the bulk of that period, he was active in the local chapter, serving at various times as Secretary, Treasurer, President, and member of the Executive Committee. In these capacities and otherwise, he has identified speakers for chapter and campus events, organized colloquia, and almost every year while directly active in research and education, nominated deserving candidates for membership. At the request of the local chapter, he became involved in national Sigma Xi activities beginning in 2003 to carry the chapter’s recommendations for specific governance changes in the Society, including direct election by the membership of directors and officer.  He continues, in retirement, to serve his local chapter as an appointed advisor and webmaster.  He has served on the Society Committee on Nominations and for the last three years as director for the research-doctoral constituency of the Society.

C. Frank Abrams's CV.
C. Frank Abrams's Biography.