"People say, 'If only I had the opportunity.' I have every opportunity now," Priebe said.
A native of Lone Rock, Iowa, he became a lab researcher at the Naval Ocean Systems Center and the Naval Surface Warfare Center.
It was there, while doing research on the mathematics of sonar-based submarine detection, that Priebe became interested in informatics.
While working by day, he pursued his doctorate at night at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., while raising twins with his wife, Teresa, with whom he lives in King George, Va.
"He's very well thought of here," said Donald T. Gantz, chairman of the department of applied information technology at George Mason, who taught Priebe.
The five other grant recipients are:
* Diana L Huffaker of the University of California, Los Angeles, who will explore dissimilar and nanomaterials integration as a platform for medium and long wave infrared device functionality.
* Stephen L Mayo of the California Institute of Technology, who will research engineering proteins for anti-viral applications
* Chad A Mirkin of Northwestern University, who will research functional, one-dimensional structures based on on-wire lithography.
* Barbara G Shinn-Cunningham of Boston University, who will research managing acoustic communications in high-stress settings;
* Susan Trolier-McKinstry of Pennsylvania State University, who will study high strain actuators for miniaturized actuators and self-powered sensors.
