Jackie Anderson (right) receives the College Educator of the Year award from James VanDusen, current TACNY president. (Photo courtesy of TACNY)

Three faculty members from the (ECS) were among the honorees recognized at the (TACNY)’s 24th Annual Celebration of Technology Awards banquet recently.

Jackie Anderson, associate teaching professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, received TACNY’s College Educator of the Year award in recognition of her student-centered approach to teaching and mentoring. At ECS, Anderson also directs the Industrial Assessment Center and is director for the engineering management graduate degree program.

, associate teaching professor of , was presented with the STEM Outreach/Individual award.

Doug Yung (right) was presented with the STEM Outreach-Individual honor by Howie Hollander, TACNY president emeritus. (Photo courtesy of TACNY)

The award cited his passionate advocacy for STEM education and his focus on creating inclusive, engaging learning environments for underrepresented youth in Central New York. Yung also serves as program director for the ECS biomedical engineering undergraduate program.

, emeritus professor of , received TACNY’s Lifetime Achievement award. The organization said it chose Chin based on his vast and sophisticated research in computer security, systems assurance and formal verification that has spurred advancement locally and worldwide.

Shiu-Kai Chin (right) receives TACNY’s Lifetime Achievement award from Howie Hollander, TACNY president emeritus. (Photo courtesy of TACNY)

In announcing the award, the organization said it is “honored to recognize Dr. Chin not only for his extensive technological contributions and innovations, but also for his dedication to and impact on education and on human endeavors at large.”

At ���ϲ�����, Chin has been recognized as a Provost Faculty Fellow, a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence, and recently was awarded the Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to the University’s Academic Programs.

Keynote speaker for the TACNY banquet was��, ECS professor��of mechanical and aerospace engineering and Executive Director of the University’s (CoE). He spoke on the topic, “Managing Indoor Air Quality at Multiple Scales–from Urban to Personal Microenvironments.”

TACNY is a not-for-profit organization that has served the Central New York community since 1903. It says its is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York.

As technology advances, companies face a growing need to hire graduates skilled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, finding the ideal candidate can be difficult at times due to a limited pool of applicants. Part of the reason for this is that 1 in 3 students who originally declare as a STEM major change their field of study before they graduate, according to research from the .

Professors (from left) Abrar Aljiboury, Heather Coleman and Carlos A. Castañeda have been awarded an NSF grant to welcome undergraduate students from around the country to ���ϲ����� to conduct research over the summer. (Photo by Elise Krespan)

One way to keep STEM students engaged in their major is through hands-on research, where they can apply their theoretical knowledge to address real-world challenges. In 1987, the National Science Foundation launched the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program to help attract and retain STEM students by funding experiential learning opportunities during the summer.

Three biology faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) have been awarded that department’s first three-year , “.” , associate professor of biology, serves as the grant’s principal investigator (PI), with , associate professor of biology and chemistry, and , biology professor of practice, collaborating as co-PIs. The award will fund 10 undergraduate students per year (30 in total) from other institutions to conduct summer research at ���ϲ����� in biology and biology-affiliated labs alongside faculty.

While this is the first REU site grant in biology at ���ϲ�����, faculty from the department have collaborated on similar programs through the site in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the site in A&S. Other active REU site grants at the University include the and the programs.

According to Coleman, a primary objective of the team’s project is to promote diversity within the STEM field and offer meaningful hands-on research experiences to students who may not have access to such opportunities at their home universities. They will focus on recruiting domestic students from minority-serving institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions and community colleges.

“Students who participate in research are more likely to see themselves as scientists and remain in STEM,” says Coleman. “Through this 10-week summer program, students from diverse backgrounds will have the opportunity to conduct research, join a cohort of summer undergraduate researchers across the university, participate in professional development and present their research.”

Beginning in 2025, REU students will conduct 10 weeks of summer research with one of 14 biology and physics faculty mentors. Research will focus on using microscopy to understand form and function across biological scales. This entails developing insight into the relationship between the shape, size and structure of an organism and exploring how these characteristics enable functions that support the organism’s survival.

“Each student’s project will incorporate microscopy into innovative biological research,” says Coleman. “All REU participants will gain exposure to microscopy methods, including fluorescence and super-resolution, using state-of-the-art instrumentation to address questions that cross multiple scales of biological research.”

The team notes that this REU will take advantage of the University’s strengths in microscopy, and the core facilities and resources, including the (directed by biology professor and managed by co-PI Aljiboury) and the BioInspired Institute’s (directed by Eric Finkelstein, Ph.D.).

Potential student projects include investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning neurodevelopment; identifying the connections between form, function and environment in animals that interface with and attach to surfaces; examining mechanisms driving plant responses to climate change; elucidating mechanisms of protein quality control to understand the assembly and disassembly of biomolecular condensates; and understanding how cells self-organize and develop.

The will host its first cohort of undergraduates in the summer of 2025. The program will begin accepting applications in November 2024 through the .

The 2024 cohort of ���ϲ�����-area high school students who took part in the ���ϲ����� Physics Emerging Research Technologies Summer High School Internship Program.

Thanks to a new National Science Foundation grant, ���ϲ�����’s physics department doubles the number of ���ϲ�����-area high school participants in their paid summer internship program.

STEM jobs are quickly becoming the backbone of America. By 2031, STEM occupations are��, while non-STEM occupations will grow at about half that rate at 4.9%. Therefore, it’s essential for today’s students to gain a solid foundation in math, science and engineering subjects. ���ϲ����� is about to see its own boom in STEM jobs, as the arrival of the Micron chip manufacturing facility will include 9,000 high-paying positions at the Central New York campus.

Federal funding organizations like the National Science Foundation (NSF) have acknowledged this workforce shift and are seeding and supporting initiatives aimed at growing a diverse STEM workforce. Since 2022, the Department of Physics has hosted one such program, bringing in ���ϲ�����-area high school students to participate in a paid research internship. In support of that program, the NSF recently pledged nearly $1 million to ���ϲ����� through their Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) campaign, which will fund the physics internship over three years.

Ruell Branch

Originally known as ���ϲ����� Research in Physics (SURPh) during its first two summers in 2022 and 2023, the program seeks to create STEM career pathways for historically excluded groups by involving them in authentic research experiences and providing mentoring and peer networks. SURPh was the brainchild of former physics student Ruell Branch ’24, who pitched the idea to his professors as a way to strengthen the University’s connection with the local community and inspire local students to pursue STEM.

“I wanted ���ϲ����� high school students who have interests in physics to see what it’s like to work as a paid scientist,” says Branch, who graduated from the ���ϲ����� City School District. “I think it’s extremely important for students to get experience conducting research in an actual science lab.”

Expanding the Program

With the help of physics professor��, Henninger High School science teacher Melanie Pelcher, and fellow ���ϲ����� alum and Henninger High School graduate Devon Lamanna ’23, G’24, SURPh was born. Now, thanks to the NSF funding awarded to Ross and fellow physics professor and department chair , the summer program will be funded through the summer of 2026.

“The new NSF support is a game-changer,” says Soderberg. “It signifies to the students who participate that not only those of us in the SU physics department and ���ϲ����� city schools, but also policymakers in the federal government, see value in helping them get excited about STEM disciplines and see the potential for them as future professionals who will someday help drive innovation and discovery.”

The three-year grant, totaling nearly $1 million, allowed the program to grow from 12 students in 2023 to 24 in 2024 and brought in additional faculty mentors. SURPh was made possible in past years thanks to funding from the John Ben Snow Foundation and internal support from the Engaged Humanities Network and the physics department.

“This program could not have achieved NSF funding without these other sources to prop us up,” says Ross.

Now called the ���ϲ����� Physics Emerging Research Technologies Summer High School Internship Program (SUPER-Tech SHIP), the program just wrapped its summer session with a closing ceremony and poster session.��Through SUPER-Tech SHIP, students were exposed to skills and concepts related to computational physics, biophysics and particle physics during the six-week program.

Read the full story on the��.

Pinyuen Chen

�ʰ��Ǵڱ�����ǰ��� from the Department of Mathematics has received an award that honors the best publication each year from the Journal of Sequential Analysis. The Abraham Wald Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of sequential analysis, which is a technique in mathematical statistics that, unlike classical techniques, analyzes data in real-time, allowing researchers to make decisions on whether to stop or continue an experiment as new data comes in, often leading to faster and more efficient results. It was developed during World War II as a tool to improve industrial quality control for the war effort.

Chen’s paper “” was co-authored by Elena Buzaianu, who received a Ph.D. from ���ϲ����� in 2006, with Chen as her advisor, and Lifang Hsu, professor of mathematics at Le Moyne College. There is a connection from Chen to the namesake for the award, Abraham Wald. Wald, a mathematician who founded the field of sequential analysis, was the advisor for Milton Sobel, subsequently Chen’s advisor for his dissertation in 1982 at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Teaching at ���ϲ����� since 1982, he is both a serial collaborator and an innovator, “I thank the department and my colleagues for giving me the time to work on my favorite research in the last 42 years,” says Chen.

Elena Buzaianu accepted the prize on behalf of herself, Chen and Hsu at Utah Valley University.

Chen conducts interdisciplinary research with scholars from other disciplines at ���ϲ����� and around the world. He is a senior member of the����and affiliated with the�� at ���ϲ�����, both interdisciplinary programs within the College of Arts and Sciences that also include faculty from computer and information sciences, management, psychology and the social sciences. Chen has worked on military projects with electrical engineers at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, on data used for radar signal processing that may improve the detection and specific location and speed of a target.

“It’s always a thrill when our faculty are recognized for their outstanding scholarship,” says Graham Leuschke, professor and chair of mathematics. “The entire department is proud of Professor Chen’s accomplishment, and it’s especially sweet that our former Ph.D. student, Elena Buzaianu, was recognized as well.”

This is the 20th anniversary of the Abraham Wald Prize, established in 2004 and first awarded at the Joint Statistical Meetings in Minneapolis in August 2005. Elena Buzaianu accepted the award for Chen and the team in a special 2-hour ceremony at the 8th International Workshop in Sequential Methodologies, held at Utah Valley University.

With grant funding from the Department of Energy, Professor Mathew Maye and his collaborators will manufacture and test a new generation of Quantum dots.

Tiny but mighty semiconductors named Quantum dots (Qdots) could someday drive hyper-powerful computers.

Qdots are crystals squeezed in a space just a few nanometers in diameter. They are used today in products such as solar cells or LEDs and work by either absorbing or emitting light with high efficiency. The amount or color of the light is fine-tuned by Qdot dimension, chemical composition and crystal structure, which is designed by chemists in the lab or at the factory.

These applications rely on the excitation or relaxation of an electron in what is called “quantized” energy levels, but “the future of Qdots is not about bright colors or how much electricity they produce,” says��, professor and department chair of chemistry at ���ϲ�����.

Instead, the future is about what happens to the electron’s spin while in those energy levels—measuring or manipulating it in new ways.

For example, each electron in an atom has one of two spin states, “up” or “down,” which describes its orbit. Spins can then be “paired,” a situation where a spin-up electron is combined with a spin-down one or un-paired when a single electron is left, which is either spin-up or down. The amount of un-paired electrons affects a material’s magnetic property. When a single electron is excited in a Qdot, it should maintain the same spin, but there may be ways to engineer or flip its spin in the future.

Such ability will provide new pathways in communications and information storage, leading to powerful quantum computers and important cryptographies that use spin states to store information instead of the “1” and “0” bits of traditional computers.

Images of Quantum dots – or “Qdots.” Cell “a” shows photographs of Qdots of different compositions emitting light at tailored energies (i.e., colors). Cells “b-e” show transmission electron microscopy images of three different Qdot morphologies.

To do this, Maye is partnering with Brookhaven National Laboratory and its Center for Functional Nanomaterials, on a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to manufacture and test this new generation of Qdots.

Pardha Sourya Nayani

Pardha Sourya Nayani G’28, a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), has received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Fellowship Award. The award is for his research on “Unleashing Bandwidth: Passive Highly Dispersive Matching Network Enabling Broadband Absorbers with Record-High Bandwidth-to-Thickness Ratio.”

The AP-S Fellowship Program aims to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows worldwide interested in antenna analysis, design, development and other research areas related to AP-S.

Nayani joined EECS Professor Younes Radi’s research group in the Radiation Laboratory in the summer of 2023. “I am deeply honored to receive this award and look forward to making significant contributions in the field of electromagnetics and microwave engineering,” Nayani says.

“As a faculty member at ���ϲ����� and the prior institutions I have been involved with, I have had the opportunity to see and work with many talented students and researchers,” says Radi. “Rarely have I had the opportunity to work with a student as passionate, talente, and hardworking as Pardha. I am happy and proud that IEEE awarded him this prestigious fellowship.”

The workshops, open to all faculty, students and staff, will be held mornings (10 a.m. to noon) and afternoons (1:30 to 3:30 p.m.) from Aug. 12 through Aug. 15 in 114 Bird Library. Participants must bring their own laptop. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited and is required.

Collin Capano

, OSPO director, says the workshops are part of the office’s ongoing effort to educate the campus community on open-source tools and to promote open-source culture on campus.

“The idea for the workshops came out of discussions with faculty. There was a desire for cross-disciplinary educational opportunities on campus that cover basic computing know-how so that anyone can acquire the skills they need to develop open-source software. This will help individuals in the research environment on campus, and for students in particular, be an asset in the job market after they graduate,” Capano says. “We hope to offer more of these workshops in the future.”

The sessions, which are a combination of lectures and labs, will be conducted in two parts. Part 1, “Computing Basics,” is scheduled for Aug. 12, and Aug. 13. Part 2, “Introduction to Python,” is planned for Aug. 14, and Aug. 15.

Topics being covered are:

Monday, Aug. 12:
Morning: Operating systems; basic terminal usage
Afternoon: Simple bash; text editors; GitHub

Tuesday, Aug. 13
Morning: More advanced bash; environment variables; conda
Afternoon: ssh and computer clusters

Wednesday, Aug. 14
Morning: Python: variables, assignments, types, operations, containers
Afternoon: Python: control-flow (if/else); intro to functions

Thursday, Aug. 15
Morning: Python: for/while loops; functions (continued)
Afternoon: Python: libraries; numpy/scipy/matplotlib

The OSPO team will be available from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday to help participants set up their computers. That step is especially recommended for Windows users, Capano says.

A new $40 million award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor) was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in ���ϲ����� hosted by INFICON. ���ϲ����� will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center. (Photo courtesy of Onondaga County)

���ϲ����� will play a leading role in advancing Central New York’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities thanks to $40 million in new funds made available to the Buffalo-Rochester-���ϲ����� region through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s . The new award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor () was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in ���ϲ����� hosted by INFICON. J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, spoke at the event, and Duncan Brown, vice president for research, represented the University as principal investigator on ���ϲ�����’s component of the Tech Hub award.

“This is a monumental victory for the Buffalo-Rochester-���ϲ����� region as the first major Tech Hub award in the nation, bringing a whopping $40 million from my CHIPS and Science Law. With this major investment, the feds are shining a national spotlight, and confirming what I have long known, that America’s semiconductor future runs through the heart of Upstate NY along the I-90 corridor,” said Senator Schumer. “From the fields near ���ϲ����� that will become Micron’s massive mega-fab to the cutting-edge research labs in Rochester and workers learning these manufacturing skills in Buffalo, this award helps connect the region to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and establish Upstate NY as the heart of America’s semiconductor industry. I created the Tech Hubs competition with Upstate NY in mind, and pulled out all the stops to win this award—first proposing this program in my Endless Frontier Act, then passing it into law as part of my CHIPS and Science Act, making the case to bring the region together, advocating at the highest levels and delivering the transformational investment to make today possible. It’s never been more clear: the heart of America’s semiconductor industry runs along the I-90 corridor in Upstate NY!”

���ϲ����� will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center (C3), which includes Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and University of Buffalo. C3 will administer millions of dollars in grants to allow small and medium-sized businesses to collaborate with the region’s universities, bring new ideas to market and accelerate growth of the semiconductor industry in the region.

“���ϲ����� is proud to lead this higher education collaboration that will help drive innovation and establish the NY SMART I-Corridor as a world leading entrepreneurial incubator for the semiconductor industry,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful for Senator Schumer’s steadfast advocacy. This substantial new grant builds on major investments the University is making. It will help create critical high-tech infrastructure and facilities, attract top semiconductor manufacturing researchers and faculty to the region, and develop unique experiential learning and internship opportunities for talented students.”

To support the NY SMART I-Corridor, the University is investing $10 million, which is matched by a $10 million investment from Onondaga County, to create a state-of-the-art advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility. The center is part of a more than $100 million investment in strategically transforming STEM and expanding the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at ���ϲ����� over the next five years.

“Together with our regional partners, and with the dedicated support of Senator Schumer, ���ϲ����� has a key role to play in the revitalization of Central New York,” says Haynie. “Today’s announcement is another exciting milestone in the realization of that goal, and we are gratified by the continuing opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation across the Tech Hub.”

As the NY SMART I-Corridor seeks to become the epicenter for American semiconductor commercialization efforts, C3 will integrate the region’s extensive assets into a single “point of entry” for small and medium-sized businesses, according to Brown.

“In our knowledge-driven society, university-led research and development is central to economic development. C3 will allow businesses of all sizes to partner with universities to develop, prototype and test new products,” Brown says. “Through these partnerships, the NY SMART I-Corridor will accelerate the transfer of ideas from lab to market.”

Modeled on New York State’s Centers for Advanced Technology, C3 will drive innovation in the I-Corridor’s semiconductor supply chain by establishing:

• Innovation Asset/Expertise Engagement Network, an inventory of semiconductor relevant facilities and innovation expertise across the I-Corridor, accessible via a central online portal;
• Knowledge/IP Collaboration Architecture, a new IP architecture for the region that incentivizes cross-collaboration between sectors and institutions and strengthens commercialization efforts in the I-Corridor; and
• Formal Community of Practice, which will facilitate collaboration between businesses, researchers, investors and manufacturers in the region and sponsor programming and internships designed to benefit underrepresented communities.

The federal Tech Hub designation spans ���ϲ�����, Rochester and Buffalo and includes Ithaca, Auburn and Batavia. Key academic partners include Monroe Community College in Rochester, which will lead the hub’s workforce development efforts, and University at Buffalo, which will lead the effort to improve the region’s supply chain for semiconductors.

Schumer created the Regional Tech Hubs competition as part of the CHIPS and Science Bill, and said the three-region consortium beat out hundreds of applications and was one of only 31 regions across the U.S. chosen for the Tech Hub designation.

Angela Oliverio

Each fermented food—kombucha, sauerkraut or sourdough bread—is the result of an active, unique microbiome, which is the microbial community in a particular environment. A sourdough starter, for instance, is a distinctive community of yeasts and bacteria that ferments carbohydrates in flour and produces carbon dioxide gas, making bread dough rise before baking.

Microbiomes often bump into each other, such as when two people shake hands. They can trade microbes while keeping their original integrity intact. However, microbiomes can be accidentally or purposely mixed, creating new microbial systems and functions. Agricultural soils and their microbiomes are often blended and reassembled to improve crop productivity.

Scientists term these mixing events as community coalescence, but little is known about this process or its outcomes.

“We have a poor understanding of community coalescence,” says��, an assistant professor of biology. “We lack a theoretical framework to help predict what happens during coalescence, and we lack model systems to test its effects.”

Oliverio has been awarded a����to study the mechanisms of community coalescence in synthetic microbiomes constructed in the lab. Her team uses microbial model systems that are easy to culture and replicate.

“We aim to learn how microbiomes reassemble when they mix,” Oliverio says. “We want to see how mixing events impact the function of microbiomes and how often new communities with novel functions form.”

The Olivero lab houses a library of 500 global sourdough starter samples previously collected from community scientists globally. Her co-investigator at Tufts University has developed a library of kombucha samples.

The researchers are addressing fundamental questions about how complex systems work.

“We are culturing different isolates from these wild samples that we can then put together in synthetic communities and coalesce them with each other,” Oliverio says. “We will use genomics tools to see if there are attributes at the genome level that we can use to predict how coalescence will occur.”

Oliverio’s team plans to use RNA tools to understand how the transcription of communities shifts when they encounter another community or microbiome.

Samples of microbial cultures from Oliverio’s lab.

“These genomic tools could offer us hypotheses about how this process occurs at a metabolic level, so we can predict which community components will be successful,” says Oliverio. “But we also think we can develop useful tools for microbiome engineering with a potential to improve manipulation of microbiomes that are relevant to medicine and industry.”

Oliverio plans to take advantage of the appeal of fermented food systems to increase public interest in microbiology.

“People have questions about food, especially sourdough starters, and that’s a good way to connect with people and perhaps get them excited about microbiology,” she says. “Everyone wants to tell me about their sourdough starter, and that’s a starting point for a conversation.”

She is developing an undergraduate course in computational biology and genomics, using sourdough starters as a “charismatic tool” to learn those topics.

“The idea is that students will start their own sourdough culture, isolate microbes from it, sequence those microbes, and then learn how to assemble and analyze genomes from their own sample.”

Story by John H. Tibbetts

Julia Fancher, a rising junior majoring in physics and mathematics in the and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, has been named a 2024-25 Astronaut Scholar by the .

Founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the foundation awards scholarships to students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their degrees. Astronaut Scholars are among the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity and excellence in their chosen field.

The Astronaut Scholarship includes funding of up to $15,000 toward educational expenses, a paid trip to the ASF Innovators Week and Gala in Houston in August, where Fancher will receive the award, and lifelong mentoring and engagement opportunities with astronauts, Astronaut Scholar alumni, industry leaders and the ASF.

Fancher worked with the University’s on her application. “Julia’s commitment to research in astrophysics since her first semester on campus at SU, combined with her extraordinary publication and presentation record, make her a superb fit for the Astronaut Scholarship,” says CFSA Director Jolynn Parker. “We’re thrilled that she’ll benefit from the program’s tuition support and excellent mentorship and professional development opportunities.”

“For 40 years, ASF has been at the forefront of nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders and fueling their passion for exploration and innovation,” says Caroline Schumacher, ASF president and CEO. “Each year, it’s thrilling to see the exceptional talent and dedication each new scholar brings to the ASF community. We welcome the 2024 class and look forward to supporting them in their quest to make their unique mark on our society.”

Fancher, who is also minoring in computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, was recently named a 2024 Goldwater Scholar. When she was in middle school, her aunt gifted her Nathalia Holt’s 2016 book “Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars.”

“I was captivated by the stories of these women, and they inspired me to pursue STEM research,” Fancher says. She now plans a career researching theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

As a first-year student at ���ϲ�����, she joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. Under Coughlin’s guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events (TDEs), astrophysical transients that occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole. She uses a combination of numerical simulations and analytical methods to accurately model TDEs, which reveal properties of distant galaxies. “I want to continue contributing to our understanding of the sources of astrophysical transients and expand our knowledge of the universe,” she says.

Fancher’s research has overturned previously held convictions about the physical effects of shocks during the disruption of a star in a TDE and established the importance of self-gravity for understanding how stellar debris behaves once a star has been destroyed. She published this research as first author in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in December 2023. She is now testing a new model developed by Coughlin and Chris Nixon, associate professor of theoretical astrophysics at the University of Leeds, and she is creating a library of PHANTOM stars with realistic structures that will be publicly available for future TDE research.

With support from ���ϲ�����’s undergraduate research office (SOURCE) and a Young Research Fellowship, Fancher presented her work at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society and was a finalist in the Chambliss poster competition. She has presented posters at SOURCE research fairs and at the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics at West Point. She is second author on a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in January 2024. Her publications and presentations have implications for how observational data from TDEs is interpreted and could lead to new insights into distant black holes and stellar populations in galactic centers.

Fancher supports local ���ϲ����� high school students through the ���ϲ����� Research in Physics (SURPh) program during the summer and mentors students through the Society of Physics Students. She also volunteers for Friends of Inkululeko, through which she works with learners in South Africa. “I want to ensure that students from a variety of backgrounds have the opportunity to explore their interests and are encouraged to pursue careers in STEM just as I was,” she says. Outside of the classroom and lab, she plays alto saxophone in the ���ϲ����� Marching Band and completed a half marathon last fall.

Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of joining a research university or national laboratory to conduct research in theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

“I aim to build my own astrophysics lab focusing on discovering possible mechanisms of observed astrophysical transients through a combination of analytical methods and computational modeling,” Fancher says. ‘The mentoring that the ASF provides will be invaluable as I work towards a career in research, and I am excited to meet the other scholars in my cohort as well. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join this community.”

Created in 1984, ASF awarded its first seven scholarships in honor of the Mercury 7 astronauts—Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. Seven students received $1,000 scholarships. To fundraise and support future scholarships, the founders ̶ which included the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, Betty Grissom (Gus’s widow), Dr. William Douglas (the Project Mercury flight surgeon) and Henri Landwirth (an Orlando businessman and friend) ̶ began donating proceeds from their speaking engagements. The incredible efforts of these legends have shaped ASF’s mission to support and reward exceptional college students pursuing degrees in STEM. Forty years later, more than $9 million has been awarded to more than 800 college students.

As a university partner of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, ���ϲ����� can nominate two students for the Astronaut Scholarship each year. Interested students should contact CFSA for information on the nomination process (cfsa@syr.edu; 315.443.2759). More information on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation can be .

Rendering of the ���ϲ����� Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing

���ϲ����� today announced its plans to launch the ���ϲ����� Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, an interdisciplinary center that will bring together expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, manufacturing processes, optimization and robotics to advance the science of semiconductor manufacturing. The center will be funded by a $10 million investment from the University, as well as a $10 million grant from Onondaga County. The center is part of a more than $100 million investment in strategically transforming STEM and expanding the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at ���ϲ����� over the next five years.

Housed in the University’s Center for Science and Technology and situated within ECS, the new center will position the University and Central New York as a global leader in research and education on the intelligent manufacturing of semiconductors.

“���ϲ����� and Onondaga County have a longstanding history of collaborating in ways that are mutually beneficial for our students, faculty and staff; the Central New York community and the economic prosperity of our region,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful for the county’s support. I look forward to the teaching and research that will occur at this new center as well as the meaningful ways that its educational outcomes will contribute to a thriving advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry in Central New York.”

Today’s announcement comes as Micron Technology continues its $100 billion investment in Central New York, which is expected to create 50,000 new jobs in the region, including 9,000 high-paying jobs directly with Micron. Micron will also invest $500 million in community and workforce development, focusing on assisting traditionally underrepresented and disadvantaged populations while training or retraining the region’s ��workforce.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, who was central to attracting Micron to Central New York, says this new facility will play a significant role in helping to drive economic development, cultivate the talent pipeline, attract federal research and development funding and build the semiconductor supply chain in ���ϲ�����.

“As Onondaga County prepares to become the hub for memory technology chip production, we know that we will need our partners in higher education to help develop the necessary workforce critical to ensuring our success,” says McMahon. “With this historic investment by Onondaga County and ���ϲ����� to launch the Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, we are taking a huge step forward in that effort. This new center will serve as a vital workforce pipeline as Micron proceeds with the largest investment in the country at White Pine Business Park. I want to thank Chancellor Syverud and the entire team at ���ϲ����� for their commitment and partnership in making this important initiative a reality.”

The new ���ϲ����� Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing will drive progress in manufacturing processes across the semiconductor supply chain. A state-of-the-art teaching and research facility, it will replicate an autonomous-advanced manufacturing floor enabling research and design that will make ���ϲ����� and the United States globally competitive in semiconductor manufacturing technologies. Students will be trained in the manufacturing technologies of today and create the new ideas that will drive the industry tomorrow. This university’s ongoing partnership with Micron and the county will ensure that Onondaga County can deliver chips through the most high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing processes possible for years to come.

“Central New York is about to undergo a once-in-a-generation transformation and ���ϲ����� will play a critical role as one of the region’s key higher education partners,” says Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie. “We are proud to partner with the county, Micron and other community and business leaders to prepare a workforce in a way that capitalizes on all of the economic opportunities facing our region today.”

Rendering of the ���ϲ����� Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing

The new center is aligned with the University’s academic strategic plan and leverages the investment it has already made in AI, manufacturing, quantum technologies and precision measurement. Over the next five years, the University will hire more than 10 new faculty at various ranks with expertise in manufacturing process engineering and automation, optimization and artificial intelligence, materials science engineering and other related fields.

“Not only will this center support economic and workforce development, it will also generate significant academic opportunities for both our students and our faculty from a teaching, learning and research perspective,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter. “There is huge demand for trained professionals in and across these fields and ���ϲ����� will be at the forefront of preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers and leaders in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing space.”

The center’s research will drive the improvements in manufacturing needed to give designers the ability to create tomorrow’s most advanced chips. It will also deliver the skill sets needed by today’s semiconductor industry by educating graduate and undergraduate students in cutting-edge manufacturing and supply-chain technologies.

ECS Dean Cole Smith, who is leading the efforts to expand engineering at ���ϲ�����, says the new center will allow the University to attract and retain diverse and talented student scholars from across the globe who will come to ���ϲ����� to live, learn, study and work.�� The University will also work closely with the county and the City of ���ϲ����� to recruit students from area high schools, including the new STEAM High School. These efforts directly support the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s plan to grow its undergraduate enrollment by 50% by 2028.

“We want to make advanced manufacturing tangible, exciting and accessible for all students, even if they have not yet seen engineering and computer science as a potential career field,” says Dean Smith. “One of the most exciting aspects of this center is in its dual use for research and education. Prospective students, especially those coming from Central New York, will see amazing opportunities for themselves in the field of semiconductor manufacturing. Instead of just reading about the industry, they will both witness exciting research and interact with an automated, intelligent factory floor when they visit the center.”

Work to transform existing space into the new facility is underway.

Ellie Parkes (left), AJ Bekoe (center) and Sandy Lin say their experiences at ���ϲ����� have helped prepare them for careers in historically male-dominated fields.

Women have traditionally found themselves outnumbered by their male counterparts when it comes to jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, as only 21% of engineering majors and 19% of computer and information science majors are women, according to the American Association of University Women.

Thankfully over the years, the field has become more inclusive and progress has been made to help more women earn STEM degrees and land a job working in STEM once they graduate.

Three current students—Juanitta “AJ” Bekoe ’24 (aerospace engineering), Sandy Lin ’25 (computer science) and Ellie Parkes ’26 (electrical engineering)—have set their sights on leveling the playing field and helping more women enter these traditionally male-dominated industries.

They sat down with SU News to share their stories of how the is preparing them for career success, the most valuable lessons they’ve learned during their time on campus and how they plan to utilize their degrees once they graduate.

The pathway program, “Roadmap Into ���ϲ����� Engineering Undergraduate Programs and the Profession” (“RISEUP²”), aims to attract academically talented, low-income students from Central New York who historically have been excluded from those types of careers, including adult learners, first-generation students, traditionally under-represented minorities, veterans and students with high levels of financial need.

The grant also allows a multi-school project team to plan for and prepare to submit a later for NSF funding that would provide student scholarships for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies.

That step recognizes the need to educate, grow and retain a diverse and highly skilled STEM workforce in the Central New York region, a realization catalyzed by of plans to build a $100 billion megafab semiconductor manufacturing facility in the region and New York State’s subsequent in community and workforce development, says , Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and chair of biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), who is the project’s principal investigator.

Julie Hasenwinkel

“This is a really exciting opportunity for ECS to envision different ways to bring students into our undergraduate program. With the growing regional and national need for engineers, we want to attract students who don’t just come to us straight out of high school. This planning grant gives us the opportunity to dig deeply into assuring that we would give those students the best opportunity to succeed if they come here,” Hasenwinkel says.

The NSF award funds information-gathering, program research and partnership-building efforts that the multi-school, multi-organizational project team is undertaking through spring 2025, when the Track 3 S-STEM NSF grant proposal will likely be submitted, Hasenwinkel says. That type of grant would directly fund scholarships for engineering students and underwrite the support services to help assure the academic, social and career success of RISEUP² program participants, Hasenwinkel says.

Goals for the planning phase include:

• Strengthening current connections between the University and Onondaga and Mohawk Valley Community Colleges and expanding partnerships with additional regional community colleges (potentially Jefferson, Cayuga, Tompkins Cortland and Broome Community Colleges)
• Formalizing transfer agreements with the regional community colleges to provide direct admission to ���ϲ����� ECS programs
• Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment across all partner institutions to determine what kinds of programming best support low-income engineering students at their two-year college, during their transition to a four-year university and throughout their time at ���ϲ�����
• Developing formal partnerships with Micron and other area STEM employers and strengthening alliances with the Manufacturers Association of Central New York and the Technology Alliance of Central New York to solidify internship and employment opportunities
• Conducting research to better understand how a scholarship-based cohort model focused on workforce development can improve outcomes for low-income community college engineering transfer students

Project team members envision a program that offers a clear pathway to a bachelor’s degree within a “360-degree” system of student support. Beginning in the earliest years of college, it would offer ongoing guidance in financial aid, academic counseling, student success and educational and social programming at both the community college and University campuses. It would also offer living-learning residency opportunities, summer internships, professional development training and ultimately, job placement assistance.

Michael Frasciello

Working with Hasenwinkel are co-principal investigators ,��professor of mathematics at ; , associate professor of higher education in the ; , dean of the School of STEM Transfer and associate professor at ; and , dean of the at ���ϲ�����. Other ECS faculty and staff in admissions, recruitment and enrollment, student success and inclusive excellence are also part of the process, as are their counterparts at the community colleges.

David Pérez

Though the team fully plans to proceed with a Track 3 S-STEM proposal, this year’s planning activity and research will be useful in and of itself, creating knowledge and new information regarding the group of students the proposal aims to help, Hasenwinkel says.

“We’ll also be learning as we go, and we’ll be able to contribute to the educational literature on the most effective practices for supporting this population of students.”

Founded in 1999, the program supports the recruitment, persistence and advancement of underrepresented scholars in STEM on the ���ϲ����� campus. The group continues to build a pipeline of scientists and engineers through its key goals to increase retention and representation, highlight scholars and establish an advising and mentoring network. These initiatives create a platform for students and faculty to exchange ideas and celebrate each other’s achievements.

Sadie Novak

Sadie Novak, a fifth-year chemistry student, is one of the many WiSE participants who is following her passion of scientific research. She remembers connecting with organic chemistry as an undergrad and credits a noteworthy professor and the lab she worked in as promoting a community of belonging.

“The professor did an amazing job of showing how organic chemistry is applied beyond [the field of] chemistry. It made me realize there are so many opportunities to do with chemistry,” says Novak.

Continuing her work at ���ϲ�����, Novak has found support and community within the WiSE monthly peer chat gatherings and networking events. “This has definitely opened a lot of doors and created a lot of community for women and other scholars in STEM here at ���ϲ�����,” says Novak.

Kate Lewis

Program co-directors and say opportunities via informal mentorship and collaboration across science and engineering disciplines are crucial in providing support to University women and other scholars in the STEM fields and ensuring they have a shared space to build academic relationships.

“Having the opportunity to network with other women and scholars in STEM and obtain specific mentoring, training and coaching relevant to being a woman in STEM is really valuable,” says Lewis, biology professor and the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence in the College of Arts & Sciences. “It enables women to find different strategies to succeed and thrive and the networking also helps them to build their resilience.”

Shobha Bhatia

“WiSE provides a network and collaboration, mentoring and connections for different groups,” says Bhatia, civil and environmental engineering professor and the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “That is unique and if WiSE was not there, it’s not that people would not do well. But if you talk to any of them individually, they will find that the peer support has been extremely supportive.”

While women only hold about in the U.S., the landscape is shifting. Organizations like WiSE play a crucial role in this change. With a spotlight on women and girls in science in February, Novak says creating spaces where students can see themselves in professors and other STEM academics makes all the difference.

“If you don’t see other people who have done it [like role models] it’s even harder for you to imagine yourself there,” says Novak. “I think days like [Feb. 11] where we highlight people who are in the field are super important.”

Story by Daryl Lovell and Keith Kobland, members of the University’s central media relations team

Prof Quinn Qiao (third from left) with his research team (from left) Hansheng Li, Madan Bahadur Saud, Muhammad Bilal Faheem Sattar, Poojan Indrajeet Kaswekar and Yuchen Zhang

���ϲ����� is a core partner in the , one of 10 inaugural Regional Innovation Engines created by the National Science Foundation (NSF).��The program was Monday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, whose CHIPS and Science Act helped create the NSF Engines.

“Up to $160 million is now on its way to supercharge Upstate New York as a booming battery research hub from ���ϲ����� to Binghamton and beyond,” Sen. Schumer says. “Thanks to my CHIPS and Science Law, Upstate New York will be the beating electric heart of federal efforts to help bring battery innovation and manufacturing back from overseas to spark the growth of this critical industry vital to America’s national and economic security. Whether it is Micron’s historic investment in Central New York or cutting-edge innovation in battery development, my CHIPS and Science Law has been the catalyst to supercharge a transformation in Upstate New York’s economy. Batteries are the building block for the next generation of technology—from cell phones to electric vehicles—and this esteemed award from the National Science Foundation shows that America’s top scientific minds believe Upstate New York universities and workforce are best-in-class for the scientific discovery and innovation to ensure this industry grows in America.”

Led by Binghamton University and its New Energy New York coalition, the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine will bring $15 million in federal funding over two years and up to $160 million over 10 years to support research and development in battery and energy storage technologies.

The goal, according to NSF, is to establish a “tech-based, industry-driven hub for new battery componentry, safety testing and certification, pilot manufacturing, applications integration, workforce development and energy storage, including through material sourcing and recovery.” It builds on the region’s historical strengths in battery innovation and manufacturing.

“���ϲ����� looks forward to collaborating with New Energy New York to further world-renowned research and development, address next-generation energy storage challenges and inspire the future innovators of this critical industry,” says Vice President for Research .

At ���ϲ�����, the program lead is , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the (ECS) and an expert in solid-state batteries. Qiao is the ���ϲ����� site director for the Center of Solid-State Electric Power Storage, an NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center.

“The transportation sector produces the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Battery is a key component in electric vehicles, which will significantly reduce the amount of carbon emissions,” Qiao says. “NSF Engines funding will address the entire battery technology value chain and facilitate new battery technologies for a green world by working on the three key areas including use-inspired battery research and development, technology translation and workforce development.”

Professor Quinn Qiao works with his graduate students on testing new solid-state batteries.

Qiao will conduct use-inspired battery research and development and training activities, work with industry partners and collaborate with local economic development agencies and government. Leveraging the work of the Center of Solid-State Electric Power Storage, he will also work with faculty, graduate students and existing entrepreneurship programs for technology transfer and commercialization. Additionally, he will organize workshops and other training opportunities for students from primary to graduate school as well as local industry employees.

“The College of Engineering and Computer Science is dedicated to research that tackles the grand challenges facing our planet today: research that improves the human condition,” says ECS Dean . “The NSF Engines award speaks to the heart of our college’s mission by promoting the development of cleaner, safer and more affordable energy sources. This prestigious award will serve as a vital cornerstone as our college embarks on its 50% growth trajectory in the next five years.”

In addition to Binghamton and ���ϲ�����, core partners include Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University, New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, Launch NY and Charge CCCV.

Josh Henkin will visit campus Feb. 1 and 2.

Nationally recognized career expert Josh Henkin will visit campus next month to offer a series of workshops for doctoral students and postdoctoral associates who are preparing to seek industry or government positions in STEM. ��

Henkin is founder of career coaching and counseling services firm . He will be on campus Thursday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 2, to offer a series of four workshops on ways to tailor resumes, discuss and categorize skills, and interview for positions in today’s ultra-competitive STEM fields. Henkin will also be available for informal discussion over meals with doctoral students, postdocs and faculty mentors.��

“Henkin’s workshops are a must-attend experience that can be a game changer for participants,” says Daniel Olson-Bang, director of professional and career development for the Graduate School. “His extensive experience in industry and his support of STEM graduate students and postdocs in institutions across the country make him uniquely situated to address our students’ and postdoc scholars’ needs and provide essential support for their job searches.”   ��

After earning a STEM Ph.D. and completing a postdoctoral fellowship, Henkin was awarded an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy fellowship and has held numerous industry and government jobs. He is a subject matter expert and career coach for the and works as a career development coach for Lawrence Berkeley National Labs Postdoc Program. He previously served two terms on the board of directors of the and spent 15 years as a hiring manager in STEM. He is author of the book “,” copies of which will be raffled at the workshops.����

 The workshops are offered jointly by the Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. They are co-sponsored by the Graduate Student Organization (GSO), College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) at ���ϲ�����, and by the Upstate Medical University College of Graduate Studies and the SUNY ESF Graduate School.

For more information about the workshops and to register, visit the .

Their three-year research project, , offers new insights, recommendations and data supporting the practice of “retrofitting” older buildings. The team has demonstrated how updating interior and exterior building systems for increased energy efficiency and improved air quality can achieve “” energy use—where the energy a building harnesses is equal to or greater than the energy the building consumes. Retrofitting is an integral part of energy-use and carbon footprint reductions as well as lowering demolition waste and the building sector’s overall carbon impact, says , assistant professor at the and the project’s principal investigator.

Nina Wilson

“We expect to see wide application of our findings as the state and nation move forward in their efforts to fight climate change. Given the energy and carbon impact exerted by many thousands of retrofit-ready buildings just in New York state, it is important to keep delivering physical demonstration projects and data that enable the industry to better model and predict performance outcomes of retrofit approaches,” Wilson says.

New York State has set to combat climate change, committing $6.8 billion for projects to cut on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs by 2025, reach 70% renewably sourced electricity by 2030 and achieve a zero-emission electric grid by 2040.

The Net Zero project received a from the (NYSERDA), with an additional $200,000 from ���ϲ����� as part of a commitment to its Climate Action Plan.

Two-Building Approach

Two identical residential apartment buildings built in 1972 on�� Winding Ridge Road on the University’s South Campus were used for the study. One was chosen for retrofitting and the other served as a “control” to provide near-identical, non-retrofitted building data throughout the project.

Research began in 2021 with a building assessment to diagnose conditions like poor insulation, building envelope leakage and a lack of active ventilation and cooling systems. At the same time, sensor data, digital modeling, cost criteria and performance goals drove the design process. Construction of the retrofit was completed in the summer of 2022, followed by a year of post-occupancy energy and environmental data collection. That analysis compared the retrofitted building’s energy use to the non-retrofitted building to gauge the impact of the adjustments.

More Systems, Less Energy

The retrofit plan was initially modified due to cost issues during COVID-19, but because indoor thermal comfort and improved air quality remained as priorities, high-efficiency heat pumps and heat recovery ventilation systems were installed.

So far, Wilson says, the construction modifications have exceeded expectations, producing up to 80% reduction in energy use for heating and cooling, even with the addition of fresh air and cooling systems in place of the original electric baseboard heating. Data also shows significant improvements in indoor air quality through reductions in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals commonly found in indoor environments that can have long-lasting health effects.

Using holistic and interdisciplinary approaches have been important, given the research team’s expectation that this type of work will continue for decades, Wilson says. “We pushed beyond the simple energy-use reduction goal to include occupant well-being and environmental quality considerations. That we were able to do that and still meet the energy target was an outcome that provided valuable lessons.”

Interdisciplinary, Academic-Industrial Alliance

Faculty, staff and students from three University schools and colleges, the and the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction, plus industry experts and community business partners, participated in the project.

Bing Dong

, associate professor at the and a co-principal investigator, designed and managed building data-collection systems to measure indoor air quality, energy efficiency of the spaces and various ways occupant behavior (such as opening windows) affected energy use and indoor comfort levels. He used behavior models, building energy simulation and machine learning approaches in taking those measurements.

Bess Krietemeyer

associate professor and project co-principal investigator, led the design of an interactive, 3D exhibit showing how the ���ϲ����� community would benefit from the energy savings and improved environmental quality, health and well-being advantages that deep-energy retrofits can provide. The exhibit demonstrates how retrofitting can improve thermal comfort for occupants while realizing cost savings on monthly energy bills and provide fresher air to breathe inside and out. Through interactive, dynamic features, the exhibit also locates residential buildings of all types—from multifamily to single-family homes—to show where and how retrofits can support the health and vibrancy of all ���ϲ����� neighborhoods.

Jason Dedrick

faculty members and , also co-principal��investigators, created a website that broadcasts live project data and summarizes research methods, plus an app that streams energy performance data directly to building occupants’ personal devices.

Jeff Hemsley

Students have been involved in hands-on learning opportunities during all project phases. They have evaluated data, created modeling, analyzed innovative technologies and materials, reviewed life cycle analysis tools that measure carbon impact, assessed energy-saving technologies and documented all aspects of the work.

Website, MOST Exhibit

The website illustrates all phases of the project’s three-year path, from the start of building identification in 2021 through data collection, design origination and development and construction phases.

Bess Krietemeyer, center, project co-principal investigator, discusses aspects of the 3-D exhibit she developed showing how retrofitted buildings throughout ���ϲ����� could provide energy benefits. (Photo by Shengxuan Hector Yu.)

Through the interactive exhibit designed by Krietemeyer and Wilson, visitors can explore the impacts of deep-energy retrofits across residential communities in the ���ϲ����� area. The exhibit was developed in collaboration with interactive artists and students in the School of Architecture.

The display uses 3D depth-sensing technologies, tracking and gesture-directed software and projection mapping onto a 3D-printed model of the to display the environmental, health and economic benefits that retrofits offer. It will be on display at the in ���ϲ����� through the end of January.

The extra work is worth it. At SHPE, Herrera has been able to balance academic and organizational work and found a supporting community where she can be herself. “I didn’t realize how much work it would actually be, but it keeps me busy,” says Herrera, a senior studying computer science. “I love what I do and everyone I’ve met.”

Members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at ���ϲ�����. (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

Founded in 1987 to empower Latinos and Hispanics in the STEM field, SHPE at ���ϲ����� strives to create a diverse environment on the University campus and help students reach their fullest potential. It’s open to all students and comprises both engineering and non-engineering students. Herrera was in a STEM program for underrepresented groups in high school so when she came to the University, she was eager to be a part of SHPE’s mission. Initially, she was a general member but her passion for the cause led her to take on the role of events coordinator.

As the events coordinator, she helped organize the very first Brillanté Banquet, a grand event SHPE hosts to highlight Hispanic excellence within their community. And it was quite the spectacle. Taking place towards the end of the spring semester, the event entailed a catered dinner, an award ceremony, performances from individuals and organizations across campus, as well as a keynote speaker.

“The planning takes pretty much all semester. We have to reserve the venue and submit catering requests as well as find performers and our keynote speaker. We also submit budget requests to be able to pay for everything,” Herrera says. “It was one of my favorite events last year and I’m looking forward to it this year too.”

The Brillanté Banquet also gave Herrera insight into organizing large-scale events and communication efforts within the college. This instilled in her a desire to take up a leadership role within the organization and she would eventually become the co-president of SHPE at ���ϲ����� with Julia Ruiz ‘24.

“Our last vice president, Julia, wasn’t ready to let go of SHPE just yet. She loved the work and community too much,” Herrera says. “That’s why we’re doing a co-presidency, and this is the first time it’s been done. We communicate occasionally, and she’s a very resourceful person.”

Karen Herrera, co-president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at ���ϲ�����. (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

As co-president, Herrera oversees all of SHPE’s organizational activities. The organization is actively collaborating with several companies to get its name recognized, and it has also received invitations from other local companies to collaborate. Herrera spends time reading and responding to emails and assisting with event coordination and monthly meetings.

“Our monthly meetings are where we discuss upcoming events, networking, volunteer opportunities or just catch up. We usually meet between 7-8 p.m. depending on people’s availability” Herrera says. “During a recent meeting, we took a break from our usual discussions and made slime to de-stress.”

As the end of the year approaches, the organization also hosts a “Cocoa and Cram” event, which is a study session for finals where hot cocoa is served for attendees – something Herrera always looks forward to. “Most of the time, it’s not that much studying. It’s just nice to hear how everyone’s semester went. It’s very chill,” she says.

Another event Herrera is looking forward to is the SHPE National Convention in early November, which is held in a different city each year and brings in thousands of Hispanic students in STEM. With networking, workshops, and awards, it’s an opportunity that many students don’t want to miss.����“This is my first convention and I’m excited for the workshops and career fair. It’s going to be big,” Herrera says.

As she continues to work towards her goal of breaking into STEM, Herrera has loved the close relationships she’s formed with the group’s members and the club has been the perfect place for like-minded, ambitious individuals with a passion for STEM to connect.

“I love how the club has become a little family. Our meetings are so long because we get sidetracked and talk about other things,” Herrera says. “The connections and friends I’ve made here are great and I’m grateful to be part of this organization.”

Looking to join or partner with SHPE? Click to get connected!

The creation of the NY SMART I-Corridor is expected to attract new companies to the “next frontier” of research and development in the region, says U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who advocated for the funding legislation, says the creation of the NY SMART I-Corridor will attract new companies to the “next frontier” of research and development in the region. Schumer says the region was one of only 31 selected from hundreds of applications from across the United States.

“This 3 region Tech Hub will hit the gas on New York’s booming chips industry by attracting new companies, training our workforce for tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and bringing manufacturing in this critical industry back from overseas to right here in Upstate NY,” says Schumer in the designation. “I pulled out all the stops to land this Tech Hub Designation for my great home state—making the case that bringing together these three cities and giving them the resources to combine forces would create an unstoppable engine that will rev the region’s industries to life and make Upstate New York a global center for semiconductors.”

“This designation represents another significant step forward for the Central New York community as partners from around the state and region work to propel our position as an economic and technology incubator,”��says Chancellor Kent Syverud.��“I am grateful to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and all our elected officials for their relentless efforts to strengthen, transform and advance the economic prosperity and vitality of our region. ���ϲ����� is proud to support this Tech Hub designation and looks forward to our continued collaboration with partners throughout the state and in Central New York.”

The CHIPS and Science Act included a $10 billion authorization for the Tech Hubs program. With the new designation, the NY SMART I-Corridor will now be able to compete for $50 to $75 million to be invested in a handful of designated hubs. The ultimate goal is to spur innovation focused on improving the quality and quantity of semiconductor manufacturing and amplify the region’s microelectronics and microchip supply chain ecosystem, including bringing new suppliers from overseas into the region and ensuring that underserved populations are connected to the thousands of good-paying jobs expected to be created.

“True innovation is never a solo endeavor. Along with Micron Technology’s historic investment in this region and the creation of the Northeast University Semiconductor Network, ���ϲ����� will play a pivotal role in fostering the talent, developing the skill sets, and inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit in the workforce of the future,” says J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “Collaborative initiatives like this one are essential to the short- and long-term prosperity, vitality and growth of the City of ���ϲ����� and Central New York, and will most especially positively impact our region’s people and economy.”

“This is an exciting time for ���ϲ�����’s talented faculty scholars,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter. “Our faculty stands ready to work with our partners and take on the challenges so critical to our nation and the next generation of pioneers in the semiconductor and related industries. The ability to tap into other great scientific minds, to align research and skills development for a common purpose, and to collectively bring necessary resources to a critical need is significantly magnified in a strategic partnership like the NY SMART I-Corridor consortium.”

“With many extraordinary partners, we are��witnessing a remarkable��change in mindset from competition to collaboration to solve our nation’s generational challenges in economic and national security,” says Duncan Brown, vice president for research. “As part of the NY SMART I-Corridor ���ϲ����� is working with��universities across the region to pursue new opportunities for research and innovation for our students and industrial partners. Driven by Senator Schumer’s CHIPS and Science Act investments, Central and Western New York are more united in meeting these challenges than we��have been in a��generation. We look forward to collaborating with our regional partners to take the Tech Hub to the next level.”

At the Sept. 26, Guzman will take part in a panel discussion about the expansion of STEM at ���ϲ�����. ���ϲ����� sat down with him to discuss his research, his future plans and how ���ϲ����� nurtured his interest in the STEM fields.

Students from ���ϲ�����-area high schools participated in this summer’s ���ϲ����� Research in Physics paid internship program. The students presented their research during a culminating poster session on Aug. 4 in the Physics Building.

Thanks to the ���ϲ����� Research in Physics (SURPh) paid internship program, ���ϲ����� City School District (SCSD) students and recent graduates spent six weeks on campus in labs and in classrooms where they worked alongside faculty to engage in cutting-edge research. Among the topics explored, students took a dive into the world of invisible subatomic particles, known as neutrinos, and probed the inner regions of distant galaxies using computational astrophysics.

SURPh was an idea developed last year by rising senior physics major��, who is also an alum of SCSD. The program provides SCSD students the unique opportunity to work as a paid scientist before entering college, which organizers hope will inspire the young researchers to continue in STEM.

The program is led by��, professor and department chair of physics, and also includes co-organizers Melanie Pelcher, a science teacher at Henninger High School in ���ϲ�����, Devon Lamanna ’23, an SCSD alum who majored in economics in the and is now pursuing a master’s in the same subject, and Yudaisy Salomón Sargentón, operations specialist for the Department of Physics.

Now in its second year, SURPh is a collaboration of Arts and Sciences and SCSD and is supported in part by the , , and . The program welcomed 12 new student participants and five that returned from last year’s cohort to serve as near-peer mentors.

Faculty instructors included physics professors , who specializes in computational astrophysics and simulations of black holes and stars; , who focuses on experimental biophysics and bacterial biofilms; , who specializes on experimental biophysics and microtubule self-organization; and and , who specialize in experimental neutrino physics.

Physics professors Denver Whittington (second from left) and Mitch Soderberg (third from right) with the experimental neutrino physics research group.

The program wrapped up with a poster session where students presented their research to their peers, faculty, local high school teachers and families in the University’s physics building.

“It is exciting to see the science these students are able to achieve in just six weeks,” says Ross. “It is even more exciting that so many wanted to return as mentors and to do science with us a second summer. To me, that is the impact—creating the longitudinal pipeline going into the future.”

While one of the major goals of the program is to instill in these students an interest in science, Ross hopes the six weeks on campus serves as a recruiting tool that will bring them back to ���ϲ����� for the next step in their academic journey.

“(At the poster session) one local teacher said that the students from his school are all saying that ���ϲ����� is a top pick for them to go to college, and he wasn’t sure they were thinking about college before,” says Ross. “That is a major win. Any kids who continue their school after this is a win. Any kid who stays with science is a win. If they pick physics, double win. My top-level goal is to have a student do this program, major in physics, decide to stick with it for a Ph.D. and come back to teach for us at ���ϲ�����. We are trying to create our own pipeline of diverse talent from the local neighborhoods up.”

Ross says they plan to hold the event again next year and will get started in December with recruiting at local high schools.

From left: Fayetteville-Manlius High School student Anusha Saxena, Institute of Technology at ���ϲ����� Central student Miranda Azemi (center) and Fowler High School Syan Castro present their research posters.

All photos by Yudaisy Salomón Sargentón

The Direct Transfer Admission Program Agreement guarantees eligible OCC graduates admission to academic programs in ���ϲ�����’s , , and , where they can complete a bachelor’s degree in four semesters.

“���ϲ����� is proud to partner with Onondaga Community College to offer a new pathway to prepare students for emerging careers,” says ���ϲ����� Chancellor Kent Syverud. “To fully take advantage of the economic opportunities developing in the region, we need a workforce with the training and knowledge to meet the needs of emerging industries. This new agreement makes it easier for learners from OCC to benefit from the outstanding educational opportunities available at ���ϲ����� while building a ready workforce for the region’s employers.”

“We’re honored to partner with ���ϲ����� on this Direct Transfer Admission Program,” says OCC President Warren Hilton. “As the community’s college, we are committed to giving students access to higher education pathways, and ultimately the opportunity to enjoy rewarding careers at places like Micron’s new chip fabrication facility right here in Onondaga County. This agreement gives our students a clearly defined pathway to one of the top institutions in the country, and we are proud to collaborate with ���ϲ����� for the betterment of our students and the Central New York region.”

���ϲ����� Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter says, “This partnership reflects the University’s commitment not only to expanding academic excellence in STEM and other areas, but also to growing and strengthening our local community and embracing economic opportunities for our students and alumni.”

Adds OCC Provost and Senior Vice President Anastasia Urtz: “We appreciate the tireless work of our innovative faculty who have built more than 20 new programs in health and human services, STEM and advanced technologies, and the liberal arts. Our programs respond to local economic needs and prepare people for careers across New York state and around the world.”

To be eligible for the program, OCC graduates must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0. Those with GPAs of 3.25 or higher will be awarded a merit-based scholarship of at least $10,000.

Both OCC and ���ϲ����� will establish advising guidelines and course transfer recommendations to support students in the program and ensure their ability to complete their degrees in a timely manner. The institutions will also work together to recruit students to the program from the ���ϲ����� City School District and other regional schools.

While participants in the program may study a range of disciplines, an emphasis on pathways to STEM-related majors will serve to prepare students for careers at high-tech companies, including Micron Technology, which plans to build a $100 billion semiconductor fabrication facility in the ���ϲ����� suburb of Clay. In this way, the program dovetails with OCC’s new associate degree in and related , as well as existing degrees in engineering science and liberal arts: mathematics and science.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) , the fourth time the ULSAMP program has been funded. ���ϲ����� leads the program, which also involves Clarkson University, Cornell University, Monroe Community College, Onondaga Community College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Rochester Institute of Technology.

ULSAMP program participant Donyell Logan received the Chancellor’s Citation for Student Research award from University Chancellor Kent Syverud in 2023. The award recognized Logan’s research in inorganic chemistry.

The program promotes practices that increase the number of students from ULSAMP populations in STEM majors; increases the number of underrepresented students entering STEM careers or graduate-level programs; and conducts and disseminates scholarly research to assess the impact of research experiences for undergraduates on their graduate enrollment and completion.

, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, says, “���ϲ����� is proud to have this important grant renewed for a fourth time. Its objectives mirror the University’s crucial missions to expand education in the STEM fields, broaden educational opportunities for underrepresented communities, boost levels of research and creative activity and continue productive alliances with the wider community. We are proud to have led this initiative for 16 years now and to work with alliance partners on these important goals.”

School of Education Leadership

The University’s LSAMP program is housed in the School of Education’s . The program has been highly successful in increasing the enrollment, retention, graduation and graduate-school enrollment of underrepresented STEM students. When the program began in 2007, ULSAMP institutions enrolled 1,943 underrepresented STEM students in undergraduate programs and awarded 249 bachelor’s degrees. By 2020, those numbers increased to 3,891 students enrolled and 700 degrees awarded, according to ���ϲ����� co-principal investigator and ULSAMP program director.

The renewed NSF funding is essential to the achievements of the Upstate LSAMP program, Hamilton says. “We are excited to be able to continue this great work. This funding has allowed us to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who are pursuing STEM fields, support student transition from community colleges to four-year institutions, boost undergraduate research and graduate school preparation and provide students with leadership and professional development opportunities. Program funding has also helped us expand collaborations across our campuses and with our industry and government partners,” Hamilton says.

Student Research Opportunities

ULSAMP research scholars Kaura Reyes (top) and Jazmine Richardson (at right below)

The ULSAMP program operates several programs that encourage participation in robust research activities in the STEM fields. They include an undergraduate research program where students participate in projects with distinguished faculty; a summer experience providing paid research experience and networking with faculty and staff; an annual symposium that recognizes elite scholars’ participation in research projects on and off campus; reimbursement of funds for students to travel to attend or present at conferences; and graduate school stipends for students pursuing master’s and doctoral programs.

Studying STEM Interest Factors

The factors that lead students to decide to continue studying in the STEM fields is the subject of a current School of Education faculty research project, according to Hamilton.

Cathy Engstrom, associate professor of higher education and the School of Education’s faculty director of graduate studies, and Dawn Johnson, associate professor of higher education, are studying current and former USLAMP summer students’ involvement in their research experiences. The investigators are examining the graduate school aspirations, pathways and outcomes of USLAMP underrepresented minority students to gain insights regarding their decisions to pursue, delay or opt out of graduate study in STEM fields.

The research project’s goal is to link effective practices within ULSAMP to facilitate students’ graduate study interests and aspirations. The researchers also hope to define the kinds of activities (such as providing�� undergraduate research opportunities, conducting GRE preparation, and hearing graduate students speak about their research experiences) that strengthen students’ aspirations to pursue graduate study in STEM fields.

Several community and industry partners will also be collaborating with the alliance over the next five years to provide real-world research opportunities, Hamilton says. They include Micron Technology, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and National Grid.

Led by , Ph.D., M.P.H., the Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health in the Falk College, the research group considered arsenic exposure and health data of 245 children in the ���ϲ�����, New York, metropolitan area. It is the first study to directly measure the associations between arsenic exposure and precursors to cardiovascular disease in children.

The study’s findings are important because they highlight the need to reduce arsenic exposure in children. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can be found in soil and water. It can also be released into the environment from industrial activities.

Brooks Gump

In this ���ϲ����� Q&A, Professor Gump shares details about how this research can contribute to safer public health standards, and how arsenic exposure in children potentially accelerates the development of cardiovascular disease in adults.

Q: Can you briefly explain your research findings related to arsenic exposure and the health impacts on children?

A: Arsenic was measured in urine as well as several measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease. This arsenic exposure was significantly associated with some of the health outcomes, including increasing vascular “thickness” and heart changes. These particular cardiovascular changes can predict later disease. Given this was not a clinical trial (it would be unethical to purposively expose children to arsenic), we made a point of controlling for many other factors, such as poverty.

Q: How do you measure “arsenic exposure”?

A: Arsenic exposure is best assessed using urine, as we did in this study. These levels are considered an indicator of cumulative but relatively recent arsenic exposure.

Q: How do the results found in children compare to adults who have been exposed to similar conditions?

A: Adults have shown some of the same associations between arsenic and cardiovascular disease—this is the first study to document these associations in a group this young. However, it should be made clear that this is not actual disease but rather a risk factor for future disease (such as elevated cholesterol),

Cardiovascular disease develops very slowly, beginning at a very young age and potentially developing into a diagnosable disease later in life.

Q: From a prevention standpoint, what can parents and caregivers do to protect their kids?

A: Given arsenic is now so commonly found in our environment, one of the best actions we can take is to first lower what is considered a “normal” level (<50 mcg/L; although CDC now states that any level is considered too much). This will automatically move many children into “elevated” levels which should precipitate a federal response to address this “new” public health issue. We are also planning new research to consider specific foods we could eat to reduce arsenic in the body.

Q: Your findings suggest an area southeast of Onondaga Lake could be a sort of “hotspot” for arsenic exposure, potentially tied to past industrial pollution. Can you explain how pollutants persist in the environment?��

A: Because metals such as arsenic are elements (not chemical compounds), they cannot degrade in the environment. As such, they may move around or recombine in the environment but do not disappear over time. Although water in some geographic areas has harmful but naturally occurring arsenic, arsenic is also used in industry and agriculture and thereby has spread into the community.

Q: Your findings were specific to ���ϲ�����, but the infrastructure features and historic pollution of ���ϲ����� are conditions seen in many other U.S. cities. How could your research provide answers for other locations?

A: Although arsenic urine levels in our cohort were slightly elevated relative to national averages—there are numerous such hotspots around the country and therefore it is very likely that other communities in the U.S. would also show similar associations between arsenic and disease.

Q: Was there anything that truly surprised you during the research process or in the findings?

A: Although hypothesized, we were still struck by the effect of arsenic being seen at such a young age (9-11 years old). There are many risk factors for cardiovascular disease, even in children, including stress, diet, lack of exercise and cholesterol. Perhaps arsenic should be added to this list of risk factors that should be monitored and addressed.

To get more information or connect with researchers, please contact:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations

University Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu��|��

news.syr.edu��|��

���ϲ�����

Officials with Micron Technology Inc. and the National Science Foundation, along with U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, visited campus earlier this week for the announcement of a partnership of universities that will focus on developing the next generation of the U.S. semiconductor industry’s workforce. (Photo provided by Micron; photo by Skip Dickstein)

Earlier this week, ���ϲ����� hosted officials with Micron Technology Inc. and the National Science Foundation, along with U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, for the announcement of a partnership of leading universities that will focus on developing the next generation of the U.S. semiconductor industry’s workforce.

The University will be one of 21 institutions as part of the Northeast University Semiconductor Network that will form a training pipeline to build the future of the semiconductor industry in Central New York.

Micron Technology made a historic announcement in October to create a proposed $100 billion semiconductor fabrication facility in the town of Clay, New York. The plant is expected to increase the domestic supply of leading-edge memory and create nearly 50,000 New York jobs, including approximately 9,000 Micron jobs, with ���ϲ����� playing a key role in training this workforce of the future.

During the event on Monday, Schumer and Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF),�� joined Micron executives as they revealed the new network and the publication of a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL). The DCL opens two NSF solicitations and follows a partnership between Micron and NSF to support future workforce development efforts at institutions of higher education, aligned with the strategic vision laid out in the CHIPS and Science Act.

“Alongside government partners, Micron is taking bold action to cultivate and support collaboration between institutions of higher education to develop a diverse and robust STEM talent pipeline—a model that we look forward to advancing in other regions,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, Micron’s president and CEO. “By uniting institutions across the Northeast, we can further develop the talent needed to produce leading-edge memory at Micron’s massive scale here in New York. U.S. technology leadership and the future of the American semiconductor industry depend on the development of a diverse, highly skilled workforce that is fully prepared to excel in tomorrow’s STEM careers.”

Also on Monday, Micron facilitated two roundtable discussions with representatives from the region’s technician, apprenticeship and community colleges as well as four-year institutions��at the at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building,

Combining the reach of traditional and nontraditional pathways into the semiconductor industry, the Northeast University Semiconductor Network will expand and prepare the next generation of talent through a framework centered on collaboration, innovation and problem solving.

Micron, in partnership with the network institutions, will champion efforts to modernize and enhance curriculum by sharing industry-backed technical content, expanding experiential learning programs for greater access to cleanrooms and teaching labs, and bolstering research opportunities for students. In all these efforts, the Northeast University Semiconductor Network will work to reach more underrepresented students.

The NSF solicitation is the next step in the partnership between the Micron Foundation and NSF to jointly invest $10 million to fund and develop semiconductor curricula in colleges and universities across the country. supports inclusive experiential learning opportunities designed to give learners the skills needed to succeed in STEM and strengthen the semiconductor workforce, while supports projects to improve STEM teaching and learning for undergraduate students.

“Now that Central New York has landed the largest investment in U.S. history, it’s all-hands-on-deck to prepare a new generation of workers to fill the tens of thousands of new construction, manufacturing and innovation jobs that Micron’s $100 billion project will create in ���ϲ����� and across Upstate New York,” said Sen. Schumer.

“���ϲ����� is proud to partner with Micron to advance this once-in-a-generation investment here in the Central New York Community,” said Chancellor and President Kent Syverud. “The Northeast University Semiconductor Network will cultivate collaboration to unlock new opportunities for educators and students in the semiconductor industry. Together with our fellow Northeast universities and colleges, we will develop the workforce of the future, strengthening our region’s and our country’s position as a leader in manufacturing and technology.”

Other founding partners in the Northeast University Semiconductor Network include the entire State University of New York and City University of New York systems, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Clarkson University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Hofstra University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Penn State University, Princeton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

A vegetable plant growing next to its E-seed carrier. This seed was planted in a lab at Carnegie Mellon University in order to observe the effect on the seed of helpful fungus also carried in the E-seed.

Before a seed can grow into a tree, flower or plant, it needs to successfully implant itself in soil—a delicate and complex process. Seeds need to be able to take root and then remain protected from hungry birds and harsh environmental conditions. For the Erodium flower to implant a seed, its stalk forms a tightly wound, seed-carrying body with a long, curved tail at the top. When it begins to unwind, the twisting tail engages with the ground, causing the seed carrier to push itself upright. Further unwinding creates torque to drill down into the ground, burying the seed.

Inspired by Erodium’s magic, Professor Teng Zhang worked with Lining Yao from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and a team of collaborators to engineer a biodegradable seed carrier referred to as E-seed. Their seed carrier, fashioned from wood veneer, could enable aerial seeding of difficult-to-access areas, and could be used for a variety of seeds or fertilizers and adapted to many different environments.

The carriers also could be used to implant sensors for environmental monitoring. They might also assist in energy harvesting by implanting devices that create current based on temperature fluctuations.

Teng Zhang

“This is a perfect example demonstrating the beauty and power of bioinspired design. We learn from nature and eventually achieve superior performance by leveraging the freedom of engineering design,” says Zhang, who also serves as an executive committee member of the .

The team’s research appeared in the .

The project is led by Lining Yao, director of the����in the School of Computer Science’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute at CMU. Zhang developed models and performed simulations to explain the working mechanism of the wood actuators and the benefits of E-seed design.

The key authors of the paper also include Danli Luo, a former research assistant at the Morphing Matter Lab; Shu Yang, a materials scientist from the University of Pennsylvania; Guanyun Wang, a former postdoctoral researcher in the Morphing Matter Lab and now a faculty member at Zhejiang University; and Aditi Maheshwari and Andreea Danielescu from ​Accenture Labs.

drone dropping seed carriers

“Seed burial has been heavily studied for decades in terms of mechanics, physics and materials science, but until now, no one has created an engineering equivalent,” says Yao. “The seed carrier research has been particularly rewarding because of its potential social impact. We get excited about things that could have a beneficial effect on nature.”

“Gaining insight into the mechanics of wood and seed drilling dynamics leads to improved design and optimization,” says Zhang. “I am excited to see, by embracing cross-disciplinary collaborations, mechanics can play a critical role in making our society more sustainable.”

Read more about the .

Story by Byron Spice and Alex Dunbar

Feldman still majored in biology but decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue a law degree. She eventually entered into practice with her father and grandfather, concentrating in medical malpractice and complex litigation. She formed the first all-female owned trial law firm in Philadelphia and specializes in medical malpractice, drug and medical device injury, and other personal injury cases. Feldman also serves as chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Public Interest Section, advocating on behalf of individuals who are often marginalized by society.

Laura Feldman ’81

Despite her professional success, Feldman has never forgotten the challenges she faced as an undergraduate. That memory—and the desire to ease the journey for others—is what drives her philanthropy. In her latest gift to ���ϲ����� through the , Feldman has bequeathed $1.5 million to the SUSTAIN program in the . Launched in 2017 with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the , provides scholarships and academic support along with professional and social experiences to attract and retain students from underrepresented groups in science and mathematics (STEM).

“What I learned as a biology major served me well in my career,” says Feldman, whose specialty demands a deep understanding of medicine and pharmaceuticals. “I like to think I ended up in a non-conventional science job. That’s why I want to help students with an interest in science see the possibilities they might explore.”

The world of possibilities is what SUSTAIN is all about. “Many of our young scholars are first-generation college students who come to ���ϲ����� thinking of being a doctor or veterinarian or dentist,” says John W. Tillotson, associate professor of STEM Education and chair of the Department of Science Teaching in A&S. “What we try to do in SUSTAIN is expose them to all the many career possibilities beyond the traditional. We bring in professionals, give them early immersion research experience and help them with internships and job shadowing. We open their eyes to what exists out there in STEM fields.”

Tillotson says the SUSTAIN program is truly turning the tide for many students interested in STEM fields. “Typically, only about 40% of students who enter college with the intention of being a STEM major graduate with a STEM degree,” he says. “Many of them change course in their first year. With the support and encouragement SUSTAIN provides our students, our first-year retention rate is 95% and our graduation rate is over 75% into STEM fields.”

That kind of statistical success impressed Feldman and inspired her first gift to SUSTAIN, a $250,000 five-year commitment to support the program. She was even more impressed and inspired by the letters from SUSTAIN students who wrote to thank her for her ongoing support.

“I was contemplating transferring out of a STEM major because it was becoming too stressful and time-consuming,” wrote one student. “The SUSTAIN scholarship’s resources and guidance are the primary reason I am still studying a science major today.”

“I started college with the intention of being pre-med and wanting to go on to medical school. Joining a lab as a freshman, and getting to listen to special SUSTAIN speakers, helped me realize I would prefer a career in research,” wrote another student. “With the extra support and guidance of the SUSTAIN program, I was able to finish my undergrad degree a full year early with a major in biology and a minor in anthropology.”

Feldman, who serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board, says she was moved to tears by letters from students like this one: “Overall, my experience in SUSTAIN was as influential as it was because it was the first time that anyone had been willing to invest in me because they believed I had the potential to succeed.”

The “belief in potential” strikes Feldman close to home. She became foster parent to five siblings, ages 6 to 17, after their mother died. “Their mother was one of my father’s clients,” Feldman says. “She died of AIDS after a blood transfusion. Her legal case involved negligence in the medical care she received that led to the transfusion. Before she died, she made me promise to take care of her kids. I quickly realized the many challenges these kids would face in their pursuit of the American dream.”

Feldman adds that she truly believed in her kids’ potential: the oldest became a first-generation college student; all are now adults working in fields they enjoy.

“Belief in potential” is a critical element in SUSTAIN. Tillotson says students who come from challenging backgrounds—whether low-income or historically marginalized groups—often suffer from “imposter syndrome.”

“They find it difficult to fit into the culture at many universities, feeling like they are not talented enough to compete with their peers,” Feldman says. Through faculty mentorship and other support, they gain confidence and recognize their capabilities.

“The SUSTAIN program is a fine example of what we mean when we say ���ϲ����� is committed to preparing our students for personal and professional success,” says College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Lois Agnew. “That preparation goes well beyond the classroom. We create a holistic environment for students to thrive, give them the opportunities to explore their passions, allow them to see what success looks like, and provide them the tools they need to get there.”

The endowed fund created by Feldman’s latest gift will ensure the SUSTAIN program can continue in perpetuity to carve pathways to success for countless students. “Laura is making a long-term investment in the human capital these students possess,” says Tillotson. “She is investing in the future well-being of these young people, who have demonstrated their desire to pay it forward.” Tillotson says SUSTAIN graduates stay involved with the program, motivating the students who come after them.

Feldman is heartened by the fact that her gift will “keep on giving” through SUSTAIN graduates. “I’d like the people who benefited from my gift to give back to future generations,” she says.

Judging from the letters written to her, that’s already happening: “I really appreciate your generosity and your gift has allowed me to attain my goals,” writes one SUSTAIN graduate. “You have motivated me to give back to students in the future so that they too have the opportunity to achieve their goals.”

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

Atanu Acharya

Coronaviruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19, have numerous protruding spikes salting their surfaces. When a coronavirus raises one of these spike proteins—like opening a finger to full length—it becomes capable of invading a human cell. The pointed spike can insert its key-like domain into a keyhole protein (ACE2) in the outer wall of a human cell, binding to it. And the spike protein becomes a gateway for infecting a cell.

In those moments, however, a coronavirus reveals its Achilles’ heel.

Coronavirus surfaces are mostly coated with sugars or glycans. In recent years, researchers have learned that glycans offer coronaviruses camouflage protection from antibodies, which are proteins that protect you when a potentially harmful substance enters your body. Antibodies need an exposed beachhead for an assault on a coronavirus, but glycans conceal landing areas (epitopes) and help thwart attacks.

A team of researchers have been searching for un-sugared locations on coronavirus spikes where antibodies have a better chance to attach and stop infections of human cells.

“We tested and compared seven known antibodies, and some of them work well in grabbing onto the exposed part of the spike protein,” says , assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and member of the . “Different antibodies target different spots on the spike protein.”

As a co-first author, Acharya recently published a study in with lead author James C. Gumbart, associate professor in the School of Physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Acharya performed this research while a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech and is continuing his studies of coronavirus antibodies at his .

To simulate un-sugared locations exposed on opening and closing spike proteins, the team used the fastest computer available in the United States to model the corona of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2—the virus which caused COVID-19. The supercomputer, Summit, is housed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

“We used this ‘computational microscope’ to look at atomistic details of the entire route as the spike opens and how antibodies can play a role by attacking this gateway when that happens,” Acharya says. “We wanted to understand why one antibody is better than the others and why some antibodies are more successful in attacking parts of the spike protein.”

Antibodies race to stop a coronavirus infection from crossing the spike gateway and entering a cell. And the coronavirus races to complete the infection process before antibodies destroy it. Sometimes this continues even when the spike key has entered the cell’s keyhole. “There are moments when antibodies can attack the coronavirus spike even when it has already attached to the cell,” Acharya says

In his lab, Acharya hopes to find a “pan-coronavirus” antibody that could treat multiple variants of the novel coronavirus and future coronaviruses.

A big mystery in developing antibodies for treatment is the complex role of glycans. These sugars are more than just shields against invading antibodies. Glycans also have multiple roles in opening and closing spike proteins. For instance, glycans function as sticky material, helping to hold a spike in an “up” position, allowing the coronavirus a chance to bind to a cell.

“Glycans play a role in stabilizing the open state of the spike protein that is crucial for infecting the cell,” says Acharya.

Glycans can also help hold a spike in a closed position, limiting its capacity to become a gate for infection.

The infectious capability of a coronavirus might depend on how rapidly it can transition its spike protein from a closed state to an open state and continue holding there to invade a human cell despite threats from antibodies. Therefore, researchers want to identify the most potent and fast-acting antibodies for the job, ones that can immediately identify the best place on the spike protein to attack.

Story by John H. Tibbetts��

Using the solutions observed in nature to address global challenges in health, medicine and materials innovation is at the heart of research by .��, assistant professor of biology and member of BioInspired, specializes in functional morphology—studying the form and function of animals and then applying it to bio-inspired designs in a wide range of applications.

Garner recently co-authored a paper in the exploring design principles on polar bear paws, which allow them to have better traction on ice compared to other bear species. The work identifies a new nature-based method that could be incorporated into human engineering challenges associated with traction, namely for products that slip on snow and ice such as tires and shoes.

Garner took part in the research as a Ph.D. student at the University of Akron. His collaborators were Ali Dhinojwala, the H.A. Morton Professor of Polymer Science in Akron’s School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and Nathaniel Orndorf, a 2022 Ph.D. graduate from Akron who now works as a senior material scientist at the tire company Bridgestone Americas.

The team scanned bear paw prints using a surface profilometer to evaluate their features

They used actual samples and replicas of bear paw pads from museums, taxidermists and other collections, and imaged them using a scanning electron microscope and a surface profilometer, instruments that can measure surface texture and features. The team also created 3D printouts of the structures to vary diameter and height of features and tested them in the lab to see how they reacted to snow conditions.

The group specifically studied the hard bumps on the foot pads of bear paws called papillae, which have long been thought to help them grip ice and keep from slipping. The team discovered that the papillae on polar bears were taller than other species—up to 1.5 times. Importantly, the taller papillae of polar bears help to increase traction on snow relative to shorter ones.

When Amy Rabideau ’10 started working at Moderna in 2015, she never imagined that she would someday help fight one of the world’s deadliest viruses.

Fresh out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she had received a Ph.D. in biological chemistry, Rabideau began working at the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that has since become a household name. Her passion for biochemical research traces back to her undergraduate majors in chemistry and biology in the (A&S).

As a first-year student in the , an Introduction to Chemistry class with Professor sparked her interest in the biochemical field. She then approached Doyle requesting to join his lab as a researcher—a decision that would ultimately influence her career trajectory.

Amy Rabideau ’10

“I had the chance to contribute to some really important publications in the field, and it ultimately set me up to go to graduate school, do more research and be successful there,” says Rabideau.

In the Beginning: mRNA Vaccines

Mentoring: Opening Doors to Possibilities

Realistic View, Down to the Instruments

Alexis Eckhart ’22

Rabideau was matched with Alexis Eckhart ’22, who double majored in chemistry and forensic science. Like Rabideau, Eckhart utilized undergraduate research opportunities, working in a biochemistry research lab with chemistry Professor . Being a part of hands-on research related to health motivated her to look more into professional opportunities in the biotechnology field after college. “Amy really gave me some great career advice as I was looking to get into the workforce,” says Eckhart. “Because of the pandemic, there weren’t as many internships available, and I wanted to know what I was doing after graduation.”

Eckhart applied for numerous biotech jobs at several other companies. Thanks to her connection to Rabideau through the alumni match program, she investigated positions at Moderna that fit her interests. She interviewed and was soon offered a job on their Analytical Science and Technology team.

“Amy’s perspective was something that I valued,” says Eckhart. “The alumni match experience provided a realistic view of working in the biotechnology industry, down to the instruments. It also helped me understand how to network properly. I now plan to participate in the alumni match program as a mentor because it was helpful to me.”

Both Rabideau and Eckhart are continuing to be part of medical breakthroughs at Moderna, working on vaccines against infectious disease targets.

“I think it’s so meaningful as a scientist to do work that has an impact,” says Rabideau. “Helping to deliver new vaccines exemplifies how research can help people, and it feels great to be a part of that.”

If you are interested in participating in the alumni connections program as student mentee, complete the online registration form on the��.

Spearheading work to make those cell manufacturing process discoveries is Associate Professor Zhen Ma, the Carol and Samuel Nappi Research Scholar in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He is working with a newly awarded $500,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) future manufacturing seed grant and coordinating the project with bioengineering experts at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Zhen Ma

Ma’s project is examining new ways to ramp up the quantity of extracellular vesicles (EVs), produced from mesenchymal stem cells that can be manufactured in a lab to meet the therapeutic critical need for biological products. The cells have the ability to use EVs to communicate with other cells by transferring proteins, lipids and nucleic acids using EVs as a compartment. EVs produced by mesenchymal stem cells can inhibit inflammation, modulate immune responses, reduce cell die-off, and enhance tissue repair and regeneration.

At present, EV manufacturing capacity remains far below desired needs, according to Ma. “We are currently at the beginning stage, in that engineers can manufacture perhaps a hundred thousand cells in a lab, although the capacity needed to scale-up production of more than one million cells a day is the level needed to bring EV use to bear in the clinical trial stage,” he says.

Mesenchymal stem cells, produced by Tackla Winston, a former graduate student in Zhen Ma’s lab

With the NSF future manufacturing seed grant, Ma and his research partners are looking to boost EV production in what would technically be described as integrating human induced pluripotent stem cells for scalability in the donor cell source, genome engineering for scalability in EV biogenesis and advanced nano-membrane technology for scalability in EV purification. It is a project that can be potentially transformative in EV biomanufacturing due to several technological advances that would improve not only the scalability but the consistency and therapeutic potency of next-generation EVs, Ma says.

Partnering With RIT

The project is unique because of its cross-disciplinary, multi-institution nature, as well. As principal investigator on the project, Ma is partnering with co-principal investigators affiliated with RIT. They are Thomas Gaborski, professor and director of RIT Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Ph.D. program, and Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Kate Gleason Endowed Full Professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Tissue Regeneration and Mechanobiology Lab at RIT. Also involved is Aslan (Mehdi)��Dehghani, lead extracellular vesicle (EV) scientist and bioengineer in the Corporate Research team of Sartorius Stedim North America, one of the largest global biotechnology firms. The company provides solutions to biopharmaceutical industries and laboratories to simplify and accelerate progress in bioprocessing. Dehghani, current collaborator and former trainee of Gaborski, will provides his expertise in EV purification to this collaborative project.

Zhen Ma with students in the biomedical engineering lab.

Ma says that in addition to the immediate effort to find ways to boost levels of manufacturing EVs in labs, the team also has a longer-term goal. That is to gain a fundamental understanding of the biogenesis process, regulatory mechanism, physiochemical properties and biological functions of EVs to further advance the biomanufacturing of therapeutic EVs from various stem cell types. That work calls for new expertise in EV biology, bioreactor design, biomanufacturing processing and quality controls.

Courses and Internships

In addition to the research aspects of the initiative, the team’s work is designed to benefit graduate and undergraduate students who are studying and working in the labs at both academic institutions. Those goals are being achieved by the development of new courses to be conducted jointly at both ���ϲ����� and RIT campuses, and by leveraging existing programs at both institutions for outreach activities, Ma says. The close industrial collaboration the project creates with Sartorius Stedim North America will also present industry internship opportunities to graduate students, he says.

Ma’s expertise focuses on stem cell engineering, cardiac tissue engineering and 3D organoid technology. In his research lab, he is working on improving the diagnosis and treatments used for human heart diseases. His research includes developing next-generation cardiac organoid models through the combination of stem cell biology, micro/nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Tianjin University and a Ph.D. at Clemson University, and did postdoctoral work at the University of California, Berkeley, before coming to ���ϲ�����.

Now, Pollard is once again taking on a role to inspire—with a company that is making a big impact in Central New York and beyond.

Savion Pollard ’25 and his wife, Enesa, along with Pollard’s little brother, Kenorie, bottom left, through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the youngster’s twin brother, Kenare (Photos provided by Savion Pollard)

Pollard, a student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected by Micron Technology, which plans to build a $100 billion semiconductor fabrication facility in the Town of Clay, New York, as the company’s first intern hire from the ���ϲ����� veteran community.

“Being selected for this new role means progress. I joined the U.S. Navy as a 21-year-old from New York City that just wanted to get out of the city and be somebody. I wanted to inspire people and be admired but I did not know how. The military was that how for me,” says Pollard, who is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. “Upon my separation in 2021, I still felt compelled to give back and inspire. I think being selected as the first hire of Micron in Central New York is extremely inspiring.”

The announcement about Pollard was made as part of an event last week in ���ϲ����� to mark a $500 million investment in education, community assets and organizations by Micron, New York State and other local, state and national partners to ensure that the Central New York workforce has the advanced skills needed to sustain leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing.

���ϲ����� was noted as preparing to play a key role to build and train the workforce of the future that will power Micron’s leading-edge memory megafab in Clay, the largest facility of its kind in the United States. Chancellor and President Kent Syverud was among the Central New York leaders who welcomed President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68; federal, state and local officials; and Micron leadership at the community event at Onondaga Community College.

As part of Micron’s plans that were announced, the Micron internship program is designed to prepare students for full-time positions as engineers, scientists and other critical roles in the semiconductor industry. Recruitment will focus heavily on veterans and students from traditionally underrepresented communities.

“Getting selected for this position gives hope to little boys and girls who look like me. It gives hope to veterans, it shows that success in higher education for a non-traditional student is possible,” Pollard says. “I am honored to have been selected for this position and hope I can use this opportunity to uplift my campus community as well as the ���ϲ����� and Onondaga County community.”

During last week’s event, April Arnzen, Micron’s chief people officer, introduced the plans for the internship program and Pollard as its first recruit, noting Pollard’s eight years of experience in electronic systems maintenance and nuclear power, including nuclear subs.

“He’s a proven leader—treasurer of the Student Veterans Organization. He also volunteered as a youth mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America,” Arnzen said. “To him, I say, ‘thank you for your service and welcome to Micron.’”

Pollard, who was hired as an equipment engineer intern, will work with the team in Manassas, Virginia, during the summer of 2023. He will maintain the state-of-the-art fabrication equipment and troubleshoot issues and correct deficiencies to improve production and quality, Pollard says.

Pollard’s little brother Kenorie (back), with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and his twin Kenare (forefront) met President Joe Biden at the Micron event.

“I am mostly looking forward to being a sponge and soaking up all the knowledge that I can, to bring back home to CNY to make the fab up here as successful as I can,” Pollard says.

Pollard’s wife, Enesa who is originally from Watertown, New York, and is an associate banker at Chase Bank, attended the event, along with Pollard’s mentee, Kenorie, through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the youngster’s twin brother, Kenare.

“It was truly a blessing to have them there, where they got to interact with the president. I think it is extremely important for them to see what can be done when you put your mind to it,” Pollard says.

In October, ���ϲ����� was the site of the historic announcement by Micron Technology to build a leading-edge memory fab in Central New York—the largest investment and facility of its kind in the United States.

Micron Technology Inc. is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies and the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory. The new megafab will increase domestic supply of leading-edge memory and create tens of thousands of new jobs. It is the largest private investment in New York state history.

Micron is looking to tap Central New York’s significant military population, a highly skilled and talented pool of labor critical to scale U.S. high-tech manufacturing. In coordination and partnership with Micron, the University’s D’Aniello Institute of Veteran and Military Families (IVMF) will support veteran skill development for advanced manufacturing jobs and transitions into Micron and other industry roles.

Micron plans to hire more than 1,500 veterans in the region over two decades in Central New York, aligned with Micron’s goals for veteran hiring.

Jason Webb

Jason Webb G ’18, ��an instructional analyst with ITS Online Learning Services, adjunct professor in the Newhouse School and instructor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, recently received a “Create with VR” grant from Unity and Meta Immersive Learning. As part of the grant, Webb will receive 15 virtual reality (VR) headsets. The grant is awarded by three-dimensional (3D) content platform Unity and Meta, the parent company of virtual reality brand Oculus, as well as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other apps and services.

Webb plans to use the VR headsets to “help introduce students in the 3D animation and visual effects class to new ways to tell stories using 3D models along with trainings for faculty to help introduce VR to the classroom,” he says. “For my research, it will help dive into how educators can use VR to immerse students in the content.”

The grant comes at a time when extended reality is becoming more common in higher education, both in physical and virtual classrooms and in research and creative settings.

“Over the last few years, we have seen a huge swing in the use of XR (extended reality) in the classrooms, whether it be for medical, industrial, storytelling or STEM classes,” Webb says. “With increases in technology power and design, it is getting easier to access the technology for consumption and development.”

In addition to receiving the grant, Webb is now certified as a VR Educator in Unity. This semester, he will be a keynote panelist at the Inclusive Campus of the Future Conference and give a presentation on the topic of “Extended Reality in Research” at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference.

Webb also is an active participant in the Extended Reality (XR) group at ���ϲ�����.

“Students and faculty can join our XR at ���ϲ����� group that meets virtually online twice a semester, and they can reach out to me (jmwebb02@syr.edu) to join the group,” says Webb. “We also have the ��website that updates information on XR projects on campus.”

Below, she shares about this experience and her time at ���ϲ�����.

You may not know it, but every second 100 billion extremely tiny, invisible subatomic particles called neutrinos pass through every square centimeter of your hand. Physicist says the reason you didn’t notice is because they rarely interact with matter, so most of those neutrinos moving through your palm, and the entire Earth, come and go without a trace before zooming back off into the universe.

A&S physicists Mitch Soderberg, left, and Denver Whittington have been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy to fund their neutrino research.

Neutrinos are produced by nuclear reactions and radioactive decay from sources all around us, including the sun, the atmosphere, nuclear reactors and particle accelerators.

“We know neutrinos and their antimatter versions, antineutrinos, would have been around in the early universe, and we want to know if subtle differences in the way they interact could have led to matter coming to be dominant over antimatter in the universe,” says Soderberg, professor and associate chair of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

Nearly 14 billion years ago a tiny, dense, fiery region of space expanded and cooled to become the universe we know today, an event known as the Big Bang. The Big Bang should have created equal amounts of matter and antimatter, which are particles identical in almost every way except for their electrical charge. If that happened, the particles of matter and antimatter would have annihilated one another resulting in a universe containing nothing but leftover energy. Instead, a tiny portion of matter—about one particle per billion—managed to survive.

Understanding how neutrinos—one of the most fundamental, abundant and lightest subatomic particles with mass—interact may be the key to determining why our universe exists. By studying those interactions, ���ϲ����� researchers hope to understand the answers to really big questions, such as why all of the “stuff” in the universe, including stars, planets and people, are made out of matter and not antimatter.

Stefan Ballmer

At the same time, members of the Advanced LIGO team are continuously working on refinements for future observation periods years ahead. , professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was a member of the team that helped design and build the LIGO detectors.

To continue that work, Ballmer was recently awarded a $555,000 to develop technology for sensing optical cavity mismatches and actuators for suspensions for the next generation detector, a renewal of funding for detector technology for gravitational-wave astrophysics.

The award also provides support for Ballmer’s doctoral students, including Elenna Capote, who is currently on site in Hanford, helping tune the detector alignment and control systems to make sure the detector performs as designed.

“These detectors are complicated machines with thousands of control loops keeping four main mirrors and an additional 30 suspended mirrors aligned and controlled in length to keep the light resonant,” Ballmer says. “Every time you make a change, it really becomes a new detector that has to be re-tuned.”

How LIGO Works

LIGO uses a pair of giant laser detectors called interferometers, located 1,900 miles apart in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Each detector contains two 2.5-mile-long vacuum arms—tubes that run perpendicular to one another. A powerful laser beam is split into two and sent down the arms. Mirrors at the end reflect the light back to where the laser beam was split. Since the arms are the same length, the light should take exactly the same time to travel to the mirror at the end of each tunnel and back. But if a gravitational wave passes through Earth, it changes the distance between the mirrors, causing the light beams to return at different times.

By comparing both beams, LIGO is able to measure the stretching of spacetime caused by gravitational waves, a seminal observation first made in 2015 with the first physical confirmation of a gravitational wave generated by two colliding black holes, nearly 1.3 billion light years away.

According to Ballmer, the higher the laser power in the 2.5-mile-long arms, the more accurately scientists can determine the motion of the arm. But the amount of laser power that can be used is currently limited by imperfections in the detectors’ optical system. “The optical phase front of the laser coming back from the detector can get distorted by thermal effects in the mirrors,” he says.

Innovating LIGO

Physics graduate students Elenna Capote (front) and Varun Srivastava (back) working on site at LIGO Hanford in Washington state.

Ballmer is working on a diagnostic camera that records thermal distortions in the detector, allowing scientists to determine their cause and effect. While a prototype camera was developed under a previous award, “this continued support is for deploying that camera and miniaturizing it, making it easier to use on the site,” he says.

The award also supports collaborative research with scientists at MIT to redesign the test mass suspensions for the current detectors to use heavier masses. “Random arrival photons push the test masses around, so the heavier the test masses are, the less they move when they get randomly hit by a photon,” Ballmer explains. “Going to heavier test masses is a way to increase low frequency sensitivity.”

Previous research has focused on new coatings for the mirrors. Under the current grant, Ballmer is also exploring research and development to integrate these coatings on the detector. “The new coatings have much lower thermal noise, but do not work with some auxiliary laser frequencies in the detector. Changing the mirror coatings thus requires other changes in the detector, and so the R&D that’s going under this award is to prototype the new detector systems compatible with the new types of coatings,” he says.

In addition to being used to upgrade the LIGO detectors in its fifth or sixth observation cycle, Ballmer says these developments can be used as a baseline for the next generation of detectors.

Ballmer was a principal investigator on the Cosmic Horizon Explorer Study, a project planning for the third generation of detectors, which will have 10 times the sensitivity of Advanced LIGO. The Cosmic Explorer will push the detection range of black hole and neutron star mergers out into cosmic distances. “We will actually see mergers happening from the very first stars that formed in the universe,” he says.

The 100-page study will inform next steps in NSF funding decisions on the project, which Ballmer says will likely focus on the site proposal and development of the conceptual design for the detector. “We’ve all just seen these beautiful images from the James Webb telescope showing the furthest and earliest galaxies of lights. So, with the Cosmic Explorer, if there are black hole mergers in those early galaxies, we would see them,” he says.

About Stefan W. Ballmer

Ballmer joined ���ϲ����� in 2010. Leading up to his contributions to LIGO’s Nobel Prize-winning work, he received an NSF CAREER Award in 2013 to support detector technology in the era of gravitational wave astrophysics, providing $860,000 of research funding over five years.

In October 2021, Ballmer was named a (APS), for his critical role in the design and commissioning of the Advanced LIGO detectors and the scientific interpretation of their observations, leadership in the development of third-generation gravitational-wave detectors and mentoring of the next generation of gravitational-wave experimenters.

A native of Switzerland, Ballmer has held a visiting associate professor position at the University of Tokyo; a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan; and a Robert A. Millikan Fellowship at Caltech. He earned a Ph.D. from MIT and a master’s degree from ETH Zurich in Switzerland. An aviation enthusiast, Ballmer enjoys flying in his spare time, is an instrument flight instructor and holds a commercial pilot license.

Discover what motivates Dhaouadi and how she likes to have as many others involved in leadership initiatives as possible, as well as what she might do next once she completes her program.

Grant applications from companies who are new or existing members of the are being accepted through 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 20. Awards of up to $10,000 each for up to five projects may be presented.

M3 Innovations’ Chris Nolan, left, and Joe Casper with their Mako Solution System. The company received Innovation Fund grants in 2020 and 2022. (Photo by Kerrie Marshall)

Companies at all —industry, affiliate and start-up—are invited to apply for the grants. Project proposals must address a challenge in the ���ϲ�����CoE’s core focus areas of indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resources.

Led by ���ϲ�����, ���ϲ�����CoE is one of�� designed to foster collaboration between the academic research community and the business sector to develop and commercialize new products and technologies and promote private sector investment in emerging high-technology fields in New York state.

���ϲ�����CoE Executive Director , who is also a professor of in the University’s , notes that many ���ϲ�����CoE partners have leveraged their Innovation Fund awards��to commercialize their technologies and strengthen their companies.

Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, executive director, ���ϲ�����CoE.

“These awards accelerate research and development and help transform innovative discoveries into commercially viable products and services, making the companies more competitive. The entrepreneurial culture that is inherent in university-industry collaboration contributes to a strong economy for New York state, while addressing important, multifaceted societal challenges,” Zhang says.

Zhang cites the success of three prior grantees as a measure of the potential the awards can mean. used its 2016 grant to build financial and physical models of their system to advance critical conversations with utilities. The company is now working with National Grid to build New York state’s . 2014 award allowed it to test new, innovative LED sports lighting technology that they used the following year to light the Super Bowl. ’s 2016 grant helped it test the heat management system for its portable electric vehicle chargers. The startup built its first prototype at ���ϲ�����CoE headquarters and has won millions in other grants. Founder Josh Aviv ’15 G’17 has received multiple “best entrepreneur” honors. Recently, he introduced President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68 at the White House signing of the CHIPS and Science Act.

Those who are interested in joining the partner program now to be eligible for grant consideration for this October’s awards can contact Tamara Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.��More details about the program and application process can be found on the .

The NSF award is providing the funding to a consortium of 10 academic institutions for the implementation and execution of the IN I-Corps Hub program. The program aims to expand the nation’s geography of innovation by creating a cohesive innovation ecosystem that delivers inclusive models of education and workforce training designed for and by innovators in rural regions and small cities. The region that includes ���ϲ����� stretches from New Hampshire to West Virginia and represents large portions of the U.S. that are largely rural, economically underserved and working to restore economic vitality.

���ϲ����� is joined by hub lead Cornell University and hub partner institutions Dartmouth College, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rochester, University of Vermont and West Virginia University. Each institution will be hosting regional I-Corps courses and contributing to programming and curriculum strategy in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The grant captures activities taking place across the ���ϲ����� campus, including at the College of Law’s Innovation Law Center; the College of Engineering and Computer Science and its Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering; and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, says the University is excited to partner with the NSF and other colleges to boost entrepreneurism and contribute academic programming and curriculum development in that field.

“The University has a long and distinguished reputation as a leader in entrepreneurship education, evidenced by the many innovative programs in place across our campus,” Ritter says. “We are pleased to lend our expertise and capacities to the I-Corps program goals. Given our institutional priority to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, we are gratified to see that a special program focus is assuring equitable access to resources and talent development among groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in STEM field education.”

Duncan Brown, vice president of research, says the program provides new opportunities, both interdisciplinary and cross-school collaboration on campus and dynamic partnerships with other colleges that emphasize innovation, entrepreneurship and local economy initiatives.

“We are pleased to join with these institutions and the NSF in this initiative and the University looks forward to the many ways our faculty and leadership can enhance STEM learning and market innovation through this collaboration,” Brown says.

New Tech for Society

Founded by the National Science Foundation in 2011, I-Corps programming nationwide empowers researchers to combine their technical and scientific knowledge with an entrepreneurial mindset to develop new technologies and startups that benefit society. The I-Corps curriculum addresses the knowledge gap between the skills needed to develop an innovative technology in a lab and the skills needed to bring that technology to market. With a core tenet of customer discovery, participants in I-Corps courses work to connect with potential customers and ensure the solutions they are developing fill an existing market need.

Campus Leads

Alexander McKelvie

Alexander McKelvie, interim dean and professor of entrepreneurship in the Whitman School, is the principal investigator for the ���ϲ����� portion of the grant. Todd Moss, chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises and the Pettinella Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Whitman School, is the research lead for the program. Pramod Varshney, distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science and director of CASE, is the faculty lead.

“We are delighted to collaborate with these partner institutions in the interior northeast region on this transformational program,” says McKelvie. “The combination of practical teaching and academic research reflects the ‘sweet spot’ of the strengths of ���ϲ�����’s entrepreneurship model. It is also gratifying that Todd Moss has been selected to the be research lead for the program, and that the work aligns closely with the expertise of multiple Whitman School faculty members. This reflects Whitman’s academic standing in the field.”

Todd Moss

���ϲ����� is a recognized leader in the field of entrepreneurship. Its entrepreneurship programming includes applied education in the community, such as through the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, the WISE Women’s Business Center, the South Side Innovation Center, the Innovation Law Center and the Blackstone Launchpad, among other programs. Its leadership in the field is also reflected as a globally ranked academic research unit having 11 tenure-track faculty housed at the Whitman School, many of whom are thought leaders in their entrepreneurship fields, as well as multiple other scholars across campus. The University has hosted a number of I-Corps courses in recent years in collaboration with the UNY I-Corps Node.

DEIA Focus

Pramod Varshney

A mission-critical element of the IN I-Corps Hub’s approach to entrepreneurship is the creation and administration of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. IN I-Corps officials report that STEM researchers in underrepresented groups face heightened barriers to success and creating equitable access to resources and talent development is crucial to ensuring the most innovative deep-tech developments are being discovered and amplified. Hub leadership and partners are working to actively create opportunities to support the development of STEM research talent who are women, veterans, people of color and individuals with disabilities. These initiatives will include collaborations with such organizations as the National GEM Consortium’s and.

The IN I-Corps Hub joins eight other I-Corps Hubs within the (NIN). ��The hub will regularly offer regional courses designed to support geographically dispersed participants in learning the I-Corps method of customer discovery and applying it to real-world opportunities, while still remaining connected to their home institutions and communities.

The Interior Northeast Hub launches officially on Jan. 1, 2023. STEM researchers interested in learning about opportunities to participate in regional I-Corps courses at Hub institutions will be able to look for that information on the program website.

Donald I. Siegel

Siegel is acclaimed for his decades of pioneering work on wetland geochemistry and hydrogeology, his education and mentoring of students and early-career scientists, and his leadership in multiple geoscience professional societies.

His wetland research evolved to examine the ways that groundwater flow and water quality influence greenhouse gas emissions in the vast peat lands of northern Canada, Siberia and northern Minnesota. This research has been recognized as showing potential significance for building understanding of global climate change.

Siegel has provided society leadership in numerous capacities, including as past president of the Geological Society of America (GSA) and has received many honors in the field of hydrogeology, including the O.E. Meinzer Award, the Birdsall Distinguished Lectureship, and GSA’s Distinguished Service Award. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union and GSA.

“Don Siegel’s groundbreaking work as a scientist, his teaching and mentoring of students entering the discipline, and his leadership in professional societies and publications, taken together, represent a tremendous service to the geoscience community,” says AGI President Paul Weimer. “He has not only shaped the field of hydrogeology but provided a model of professional excellence for future geoscientists.”

“Don Siegel has been the instigator of great progress in the science of groundwater hydrology and its effects on surface ecology,” says Jeffrey Chanton, professor at the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science at Florida State University, in nominating Siegel for the award. “He has been instrumental to the advancement of science through his many research publications, his education of students, and the support of his colleagues.”

“I am flattered to receive the 2022 Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal from AGI and thank those who graciously nominated me,” Siegel says. “Throughout my career I did my best to teach and mentor students with compassion and understanding, do research with rigor and a sufficiently open mind to accept when others proved me wrong, and finally, as an administrator, listen and understand opposing views and not just ‘hear’ them. I thank AGI and feel honored receiving this award.”

Siegel has been invited to accept the medal during the awards ceremony of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists/Society of Exploration Geophysicists annual meeting in Houston, Texas, Aug. 28-Sept. 2.

The Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal is a lifetime achievement award given in recognition of an individual’s high-quality basic and applied science achievements in the Earth sciences. The award, established in 1999, was named in late 2006. Marcus Milling was an ardent and tireless champion of geoscience education, policy and information services who served as AGI’s executive director from 1992 until July of 2006, when he transitioned to a senior advisor role.

AGI directly, or in cooperation with its Member Societies, bestows a number of awards each year to recognize particular excellence in the geosciences. In addition, AGI works with its Member Societies to foster nominations of deserving geoscientists for consideration in a number of National Science Awards.

Researchers Kelly Schmid (left) and Mariah Maxwell (center) co-authored studies with biology professor Jason Wiles (right) addressing inclusivity in STEM.

With only 17% of the STEM workforce being Black or Hispanic, according to a , diversifying STEM at ���ϲ����� and beyond is a commitment by��, associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).����and����for innovative teaching and science education research, Wiles and his team seek to increase inclusivity among students and professionals in STEM fields.

Through the��, funded by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence grant, they are working to implement inclusive structures, policies and practices in STEM departments at the University. One of the major goals of CHANcE is to eliminate the disparity that exists between underrepresented and majority students who enroll, continue with, and complete their STEM majors.

Wiles and his team are hoping to create a model that can eventually be used to increase gender, racial and ethnic diversity in science fields. Below are two recent publications highlighting work by Wiles and students in his lab.

Call Her a Scientist

G’16, G’20, now a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, has published an article in ��on the effects of mentoring for undergraduate researchers, particularly women.

Among other findings, the study revealed a great disparity between undergraduate women and men in whether they think of themselves as scientists. The team polled undergraduate students who are engaged in faculty-led research at ���ϲ����� and found that 100% of men who responded identified as scientists compared to only 30% of women. Men also reported lower threshold criteria for adoption of scientist identities, with women tending to express that they would need credentials, such as a Ph.D. in a scientific field, or other external justification, before they could confidently call themselves scientists.

To close the gender and representation gap in STEM, Wiles and Schmid say that there is a critical need to address the disparity in science identity. As 100% of faculty members participating in the study considered undergraduate researchers to be scientists, Wiles and Schmid assert that professors might help undergraduate women researchers to think of themselves as scientists by��calling��them scientists in the context of their scientific activities.

The Success of Cyber Team Learning

��recently completed a master’s degree in biology in A&S and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in A&S’��. Maxwell and Wiles have published a paper in “��detailing the effect of expanding the previously successful Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) program in Introductory Biology to online environments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PLTL program was first implemented at ���ϲ����� in 2011 following a curriculum shift where labs were made optional in the second semester of Introductory Biology. For students who opted out of the lab, there was an expectation that their achievement in the course would diminish without the weekly hands-on, inquiry-based interaction that they gain during laboratory work.

Wiles and then Ph.D. student����(now a research assistant professor of science teaching in A&S) found that����for students who opted out. PLTL was subsequently identified by members of the Wiles lab as being effective in supporting student����as well as����in STEM programs, particularly for students from underrepresented groups. They said the PLTL program in Introductory Biology at ���ϲ����� was successful in part because it provided an active learning experience and presented students with����to help them learn not only about content material, but also strategies for success.

With the virtual learning environments that were adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maxwell and Wiles engaged students in cyber PLTL (cPLTL) and found that first-year biology students who took part in cPLTL, particularly those from underrepresented groups, had higher rates of retention. Additionally, perceptions of cPLTL were generally very positive, especially among women, and participation in cPLTL was associated with increased motivation, feelings of belonging, comfort in asking questions and better understanding of course content.

appointment to the renewable three-year term was announced by Ramesh Raina, interim vice president in the University’s Zhang will lead research activity and operations at the downtown ���ϲ�����CoE building and serve as principal investigator for the contract that provides the center’s annual operating funds.

The ���ϲ�����CoE engages with more than 200 private companies, organizations and academic institutions to create new products and services in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resource management. Its research areas include systems that monitor and control comfortable air temperature, air quality, lighting, sound and water quality in built and urban environments, and innovative energy systems, including clean technologies and renewable fuel sources.

“Now is an especially critical time for innovation in climate change, energy and fuel sources, and air quality and temperature control research, and the University is thrilled that Professor Zhang has accepted this important role,” says Raina. “His unique multidisciplinary background, notable international reputation, extensive applied research strengths, recognized industry knowledge and high degree of dedication to the University, fellow faculty and student communities will be instrumental in leading the ���ϲ�����CoE forward.”

Zhang, who has more than 30 years of research experience in built environmental systems, also retains his position as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and his role as one of three co-leaders of the University’s and is its Heathy and Intelligent Built Environments subcluster lead. He will report to the University’s vice president of research.

Aiding Zhang in his transition to the ���ϲ�����CoE position will be , who had been chair of the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences and who has served as ���ϲ�����CoE interim executive director since May 2020. A professor of physics at ���ϲ����� since 1981, Schiff has led interdisciplinary research groups and collaborations with laboratories from other universities and private organizations the world over.

“We extend much gratitude to Professor Schiff for maintaining the integrity of ���ϲ�����CoE operations and its research momentum these past two challenging years. The University is extremely appreciative of the steady hand and thoughtful guidance he provided during a time when focus on both the importance of indoor air quality and the impacts of climate change experienced heightened world attention and concern,” says Raina.

Excited for the Future

As someone who has been involved with the development of the ���ϲ�����CoE since its inception, and who has maintained a keen interest in its research activities through the years, Zhang says he is particularly honored to have been asked to lead its operations.

“I’m quite excited at the opportunity to lead a center like this. It’s a unique platform where you can integrate research and product development along with the commercialization and licensing aspects of bringing applied research to industry. I’m also excited because there is a huge demand and a need for technology that can improve human health and combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions,” he says. “There’s much more opportunity for research and product development in that arena now, as evidenced by an increase in requests for proposals we’ve seen from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, as well as the increasing interest and significant funding supports from the relevant industries.”

Zhang’s goals for the organization include furthering the center’s engagement with faculty at ���ϲ�����; initiating and continuing partnerships with other universities; and expanding the center’s intersection with industry innovators and business partners.

He’d also like to raise the ���ϲ�����CoE’s national and international profile and foster further collaboration with international researchers and companies. He is also interested in working more closely with startups to bring new ideas in active research applications to the marketplace.

���ϲ����� Center of Excellence

Assessment Center, Testbed

Another vision of Zhang’s is developing a building assessment center to educate students on how to assess building’s energy and environmental performance, make recommendations on what improvements can be made and how to make them and then quantify the energy savings and health impacts those changes would create. Due to Schiff’s initiating the proposal for piloting such a center and the strong support from ECS, ���ϲ�����CoE will be well positioned to compete for future funding opportunities in this area, Zhang says.

Working in concert with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and other universities, Zhang also wants to guide the development of a testbed in ���ϲ����� that would examine air quality in buildings and in urban microenvironments around buildings. Its focus would be on improving people’s health by reducing their exposures to both the indoor atmosphere of the buildings they frequent as well as the outdoor environment they experience on the street, he says.

Zhang earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering from Beijing Agricultural Engineering University, and a Ph.D. in agricultural engineering with a specialty in structures and environment from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before he joined ���ϲ����� in 1999, he had been a researcher at the National Research Council of Canada for eight years.

His areas of expertise include combined heat, air, moisture and pollutant simulations in buildings; material emissions; air filtration/purification; ventilation; indoor air quality and intelligent control of building environmental systems. He has developed advanced experimental methods and apparatus, computer simulation models and environmental control technologies. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 technical papers and three standard methods for testing organic emissions from building materials and furnishings.

Zhang is a fellow of American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and a member of the International Academy of Indoor Air Science (ISIAQ fellow). He also is currently vice president of IAQVEC (Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation and Energy Conservation) Association. He also served as president and chairman of the board of the International Association of Building Physics from 2018 to 2021.

Duncan Brown

“Duncan’s career here at ���ϲ����� is truly a model of leadership, scholarship, innovation, academic excellence and mentorship,” says Ritter. “He has all the professional experience and personal qualities necessary to lead the research, scholarship and creative enterprise and secure our position as a world-class research university. Duncan is well respected among his peers, both on campus and at some of the world’s most preeminent institutions. Duncan is uniquely suited to support ���ϲ�����’s faculty scholars in their efforts to pursue and secure external funding that advances their research, scholarship and creative work.”

In his new role, Brown will report directly to Provost Ritter; oversee $100 million in extramural funding across the natural sciences, engineering, education, social sciences and law; support and empower ���ϲ�����’s internationally recognized creative and scholarly excellence from artists, architects, directors and writers; and advance centers and institutes that lead the world in fields, including in the humanities, aging studies, autonomous systems policy, disability studies, environmental and energy systems, biological and smart materials, national security, veterans and military families, and quantum computing. Brown will also lead the Office of Research and its component units, including the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of Research Integrity and Protections, the Office of Technology Transfer and the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE). Together, these departments serve as the backbone of ���ϲ�����’s research, scholarship and creative support enterprise.

“The role of the vice president for research is to advance all areas of the University’s research, scholarship and creative work,” says Brown. “We have extraordinary faculty, staff and students at ���ϲ�����, and we attract gifted students from around the globe who want to expand knowledge through innovation, creativity and discovery. Our vibrant intellectual environment across a wide range of disciplines allows us to recruit world-class scholars. I am excited to help everyone in the University community secure the resources that they need to pursue their research, scholarship and artistic endeavors. Together, we can sustain and build upon our Carnegie R1 designation, reach new heights as a premier research university, and change our community and our world for the better.”

Brown is widely respected by faculty and staff across the University. He chairs the Senate Research Committee; played an integral role in the Cluster Hire Review Working Group, created by Provost Ritter last year; and was a leader in creating the University’s Research Computing group. He was the faculty representative to the University Board of Trustees (2017-19) and serves as a proposal reviewer for funding agencies around the world. Brown has been actively involved in national searches for academic leaders. In fact, he was the chair of the search committee appointed to find the next vice president of research.

“We are fortunate to have an internal leader of Duncan’s caliber to take our research enterprise to the next level,” says Ritter. “I look forward to working with him in his new role and have great confidence in his ability to inspire, empower and support our talented scholars.”

Brown earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was a post-doctoral scholar at Caltech and came to ���ϲ����� in 2007. He is an internationally recognized leader in gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics, and was integral to the discovery of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO). A Fellow of the American Physical Society and a Research Corporation for Science Advancement Cottrell Scholar, he has taught large and small courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, including the popular undergraduate course “Introduction to Astronomy,” and established a National Science Foundation-funded program that provides pathways for students from underrepresented groups to pursue a Ph.D. in physics at the University. In the last five years, Brown has co-authored over 50 publications. He has played an integral part in securing more than $15 million in external funding over his 15-year career at ���ϲ�����.

Ritter thanked Ramesh Raina, professor and former chair of the department of biology, for serving as interim vice president for research since January 2020.

“Ramesh took on the interim leadership role just as the pandemic gripped our nation. He engineered a remarkable recovery of our research enterprise after the pandemic. As a result, this year will be one of the most productive years on record for ���ϲ�����. That’s thanks in large part to Ramesh Raina’s vision, operational prowess and careful stewardship,” says Ritter. “Additionally, he played an integral role in managing the University’s COVID response strategy. He was a key member of the public health team and was responsible for launching and maintaining our effective internal surveillance testing program. I thank him for his leadership and service.”

Ritter also credited Raina for increasing professional development for research faculty and students and effectively deploying the CUSE grant, postdoctoral scholar grant and small equipment grant programs. Raina also led the execution of the faculty hiring strategy for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years. He is co-director of the interdisciplinary major in biotechnology and a member of the core faculty of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

The award will fully fund her tuition for her remaining years of college; provide her with an annual stipend of $25,000; provide mentorship through a DoD sponsoring facility; guarantee summer internships at a DoD-connected institution every year she is an undergraduate; and guarantee her employment placement within the DoD or at a DoD-connected institution after graduation. She will work for the DoD for one year after graduation as part of the conditions of the award.

Valitutti says that when she began her studies as an aerospace engineering major, she knew very little about emerging aerospace technologies, and even less about how they intersect with sustainable solutions to engineering problems.

“I had this preconceived notion that all the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly ways to fly planes and launch rockets had already been invented,” she says. “It wasn’t until I took courses such as thermodynamics, mechanical/aerospace laboratory and computational fluid dynamics that I was challenged to think about improving existing designs as I learned the course material.”

Valitutti has worked in the Skytop Turbulence Lab with Mark Glauser, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. The lab aims to understand the flow of a rectangular jet nozzle, and manipulate the flow, for a more desirable product.

“I have learned how to set up the fuel tanks and air compressors needed for running the tests, as well as use a computer program to capture data from high-speed cameras and render the images for analysis,” she says. “In the future, I look forward to contributing to design ideas on modifying the jet’s splitter plate—a component of interest—as I run more tests and continue to be mentored by senior researchers. Learning how to operate the equipment has confirmed my passion for testing—a pathway that earning a SMART scholarship will allow me to follow.”

Valitutti gives much credit to those she has learned from. “I’m extremely grateful to have had professors such as Dr. (Jeongmin) Ahn, Dr. Glauser and Dr. (Mehmet) Sarimurat,” she says. “They have inspired me to change my way of thinking—that the ‘best’ solution to sustainable and affordable air travel or space travel has not been invented yet, and if I set my mind to it, I can be a small contributor toward that solution.”

Upon graduation in May 2023, Valitutti will be assigned to the 461st Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) assigned to the 412th Test Wing of the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The AFTC is the hub of research, testing, development and deployment of aerospace systems for the U.S. Air Force. “I feel really lucky to be placed at the center of all this innovation. I will be joining the Test Operations division, where I will help test aircraft. Currently, the 461st FLTS is working on testing the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, so I’m excited to be involved in that when I join,” she says.

Valitutti says that the SMART Scholarship, and subsequent employment with the Department of Defense, will help her both pursue her research interests and fulfill her desire to serve the United States and its citizens. “As an immigrant, I have seen the opportunities opened to my parents because of our new lives in the United States, especially through employment with the federal government,” she says. Valitutti’s mother and father work for the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation, respectively.

“Their trust in the United States granted us better living conditions and the chance for me to have educational opportunities that would not have been available in our home country. I feel an immense sense of gratitude and patriotism for the nation that has changed the course of my life,” she says. “For these reasons, I believe the Department of Defense is the ideal place for me. At the DoD, I can apply my aerospace engineering skills in a way that contributes to the safety of Americans and give back to the country that has offered so much to me and my family.”

In addition to her faculty mentors, Sasha worked closely with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) to apply for the SMART Scholarship. “Sasha’s desire to use her aerospace engineering education as a public servant is really inspiring and makes her an ideal candidate for the SMART Scholarship,” says Melissa Welshans, assistant director of CFSA. “We know that Sasha will have an outstanding career making innovations that benefit society.”

CFSA will hold a session on DoD-related scholarships and research opportunities, including SMART, with alumnus Steve Farr G’93 on Friday, April 29, at 10:30 a.m. in 331 Link Hall.

For this round, ���ϲ�����CoE partner companies were invited to submit proposals in ���ϲ�����CoE’s focus areas of indoor environmental quality and building energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, and water resources.

Projects that include research engagements with faculty and students, support for product development and testing, market analyses and proposal match requirements were encouraged. Awards for this program are funded by member companies of the ���ϲ�����CoE Partner Program with the purpose of helping companies advance product development and technological innovation.

The 2022 winning projects are the following:

• Power Converter Development for Off-Grid Renewables, Mission Drives: This project will help develop next generation electronics for off-grid solar, wind and storage applications with a longer-term path of revolutionizing power conversion technology generically. This program will complete a preliminary design of a new off-grid system configuration that is more flexible and lower cost.
• HABAlert: AI-Powered Real-Time Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring, BloomOptix & Ramboll: HABAlert is a mobile, cost-effective handheld harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring system that can detect and quantify the presence of HAB-causing cyanobacteria in 10 minutes or less. Using artificial intelligence and a cellphone-based miniature microscope, HABAlert can provide users with cyanobacterial ID and counts in near-real-time, replacing traditional methods, which require multi-day processing times.
• MAKO Smart EV Charging Station, M3 Innovation, based at ���ϲ�����CoE, is developing a smart EV charging station and gateway that integrates seamlessly into their Sports Lighting Platform and eliminates the barriers of cost and added infrastructure to install conventional charging stations.

“The Innovation Fund awards are intended to help companies bridge the gap to commercialization of new products, as well as to provide thoughtful, constructive feedback from a panel of reviewers with expertise in the application of new technology in the marketplace,” says Eric Schiff, ���ϲ�����CoE executive director. “The projects highlight Central New York’s expertise in environmental and energy systems, as well as area companies’ enthusiasm for innovation and commercialization of new technologies.”

With these awards, ���ϲ�����CoE has supported more than 49 clean energy commercialization projects by 30 companies throughout New York State, totaling over $525,000. Participating companies have reported more than 176 jobs created and over $3,000,000 in additional funding leveraged from the Innovation Fund projects.

Eligibility for Innovation Fund awards is extended to all current members of the ���ϲ�����CoE Partner Program. Proposals may include collaborations with non-Partner Program firms and academic partners; however, proposals must be submitted and led by members of the Partner Program.

Learn more about the Partner Program or contact Tammy Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.

NicholasDonofrio

Nicholas “Nick” Donofrio G’71, H’11, a ���ϲ����� Life Trustee, was one of the distinguished award recipients at the 2022 International Peace Honors on Feb. 27. The International Peace Honors celebrates the most outstanding global leaders and change agents of our time who make philanthropy and humanitarian service a hallmark of their lives to advance humanity and our planet.

Donofrio spent 44 years at IBM, working his way up to become executive vice president of innovation and technology. He has dedicated much of his life to providing and expanding opportunity in STEM fields to students from underrepresented groups. Donofrio has also served as the board chairman for the nonprofit PeaceTech Lab since it was founded by the United States Institute of Peace in 2014, he was appointed by the U.S. Department of Education to serve on the Commission on the Future of Higher Education and by the National Academy of Engineering for their Committee on Racial Justice and Equity.

“Nick’s commitment to making STEM fields more diverse and inclusive exemplifies the leadership he has shown throughout his career,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “His tireless efforts have provided pathways to countless individuals pursuing careers in STEM. I congratulate Nick on this tremendous recognition. Our community is proud and fortunate to have him as an active part of our ���ϲ����� family.”

He founded the Donofrio Scholars program at the College of Engineering and Computer Science that evolved into the ECS Ambassadors program. His recent gift to the Forever Orange Campaign helps support and grow holistic diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that touch on every aspect of the college, including recruiting and retaining diverse students, faculty and staff, strengthening a culture of equity and inclusion, ensuring student access to internships and co-ops, academic support, career mentoring, and professional societies.

“Nick is one of the most extraordinary people I’ve had the chance to meet,” said College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith. “Before you meet Nick, you know him for his elite professional success and recognition. After you get to know him, you see a man with a rare and profound dedication to helping humanity. We have long known of Nick’s sustained impact on students and his profession at ���ϲ�����, and I am so gratified to see him recognized worldwide with this prestigious honor.”

In an article published in 2021 by the National Academy of Engineering, Donofrio wrote that “innovation doesn’t just ‘happen.’ It is enabled by environments and organizations that foster open, collaborative, inclusive, multidisciplinary thinking and working. Time and again, I have been reminded that the more open and inclusive the team, the more successful it is—because nobody knows in advance which team member is going to supply a critical piece of the value puzzle.”

As a 2022 International Peace Honoree, Donofrio joins prestigious actor, director and social activist Forest Whitaker; MasterCard chairman Ajay Banga; internet phenomenon and “Humans of New York” creator Brandon Stanton and Advanced Micro Devices president and CEO Dr. Lisa Su.

Lawrence Mouillé

Lawrence Mouillé will join the College of Arts and Sciences’ (A&S) in July 2022 for a three-year appointment as a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded postdoctoral fellow.

The Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF—pronounced “mouseproof”) is among the most prestigious awards in the math community, created by the NSF to “support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development.” Approximately 30 MSPRFs are granted annually across all areas of mathematics, and this is the first for the ���ϲ����� mathematics department.

Currently, Mouillé is a G.C. Evans Instructor in the Department of Mathematics at Rice University; he earned a Ph.D. in 2020 from the University of California, Riverside. His areas of interest include Riemannian geometry, metric geometry and mathematics education.

The MSPRF is granted via a process in which a candidate presents a project with the support of a senior scientist with whom they wish to work; Mouillé chose Lee Kennard, assistant professor of mathematics in A&S, as his host and mentor. Both specialize in geometry and topology. “We study how curvature influences the global shape of a manifold,” explains Mouillé. “Kennard is expert on that. [Working together] will prove to be beneficial to both of us.”

Professor Kennard echoes that sentiment, and explains that the pair have been pondering a collaboration since 2019, when Mouillé visited ���ϲ����� at Kennard’s invitation, to speak at a geometry and topology seminar.

“I’m excited he’s coming here, and we will be able to work closely,” says Kennard. “Being in the same place—to talk, write on paper or a whiteboard—for math research, is so important and effective. That’s something we’ve really been missing during the pandemic.”

“Postdocs are an essential ingredient to a modern research department in mathematics,” says Graham Leuschke, professor and department chair of mathematics. “They bring vigor, new ideas, and fresh perspectives, while enhancing the research of the tenure-track faculty…as well as the reputation of the department as a center for excellence in research.”

And, he explains, the fact that Mouillé applied to work with Kennard is a testament to the strength of department’s faculty.

“[Professor Kennard] was recently awarded an NSF grant to support his research,” Leuschke notes. “This MSPRF, awarded through a national competition, further indicates the high regard in which his work is held, and that he is seen as a potential leader in his field.”

Indeed, this appointment is just the latest in a string of notable accomplishments within the ���ϲ����� math department. Of the ten current faculty hired since 2011, six have current NSF grants, including two, awarded to Professors William Wylie and Minghao Rostami, CAREER grants—five-year grants that are among NSF’s most distinguished and competitive.

That reputation and stellar faculty is part of what drew Mouillé to ���ϲ�����. “When I visited in 2019, [both] Professor Kennard and Professor Wylie suggested directions for my research program that have proven to be fruitful. My hope is that we can continue to work synergistically to make further advances in differential geometry.”

Two versions of the MSPRF are offered to awardees: research fellowships and research instructorships. Mouillé chose the research instructorship and as such will be teaching several courses during the second two of his three years at ���ϲ�����. “Teaching is a very valuable part of my experience,” he explains. “I really appreciate the time I get to spend with undergraduates, helping them to understand mathematics and how it fits in to their studies in other areas.”

Story by Laura Wallis

���ϲ����� has been a member of the GEM Consortium for almost 30 years. In the past five years, GEM Fellowships have been awarded to graduate students in the School of Architecture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science and School of Information Studies. The number of GEM Fellowship applications from ���ϲ����� students is now in the top 10 among GEM member universities. Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor is the current ���ϲ����� representative on the GEM Consortium.

“The award recognizes the contributions of the GEM Consortium in providing a scalable path to STEM careers in academia and industry for underrepresented students,” says Negussey.

“I’m grateful for all of Professor Negussey’s efforts to grow our graduate education pipeline for underrepresented graduate students at ���ϲ�����,” says , dean of the Graduate School. “To go from relatively little activity with the GEM Consortium to being a top 10 contributor of GEM applicants is a clear marker of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our graduate student population.”

Over the past 45 years, more than 4,000 GEM Fellows have earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in STEM fields. At present, the GEM consortium membership consists of 129 private and public national universities and 61 major corporations and research laboratories.

Participants at the WiSE Women of Color in STEM Social Hour: Peer Networking and Fun in October

Hundreds of people—students and faculty—in STEM fields have been mentored, energized and supported in their advancement through the work of , since its inception more than 20 years ago.

Serving 19 STEM departments at the University, WiSE offers undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty networking and learning opportunities that help enhance the inclusion and success of STEM women.

“Over the last 22 years at SU, WiSE has created mentoring relationships in STEM across all disciplines, levels and ranks,” says Shobha Bhatia, professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and faculty co-director of WiSE. “WiSE has allowed its participants to both climb the ladder and hold the ladder—this is remarkable and worth celebrating.”

Shobha Bhatia

Although the mission of WiSE is to empower women in STEM, its hosted events and workshops are open to all, regardless of sex, gender or gender identity. This includes an exciting upcoming event celebrating WiSE’s history.

This spring, WiSE will recognize the past, present and future of its work during “Celebrating 22 Years of SU WiSE,” from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, April 1.

The event will include:

• presentations by WiSE faculty leadership;
• panel sessions on the graduate and undergraduate perspective;
• presentations by Virginia Valian, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Hunter College, and Cristina Marchetti, professor of physics at the University of California Santa Barbara, former William R. Kenan, Jr. and Distinguished Professor of Physics at ���ϲ�����, Fellow of the American Physical Society and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the National Academy of Sciences; and
• the awarding of the Norma Slepecky Undergraduate Research Prize.

“WiSE has made a huge difference in the lives of women in STEM at all levels of the pipeline for 22 years, helping them to succeed and flourish,” says Katharine Lewis, professor and chair of the biology department, co-director of WiSE and Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence. “On April 1, we will celebrate these achievements and look forward to what still needs to be done to achieve gender equity in STEM.”

Katharine Lewis

In 1996, the underrepresentation of faculty women in STEM was noted by women in the University Senate and a proposal was submitted for a WiSE program by Cathryn Newton, then chair of Earth sciences and currently professor of interdisciplinary sciences and dean emerita of Arts and Sciences, and Diane Lyden Murphy (currently dean of the Falk College) and Priti Ramamurthy, then directors of women’s studies.

The proposal was not funded, but a year later, the Senate Committee on Women’s Concerns recognized the scarcity of women faculty in the science, mathematics and engineering disciplines. Newton and��Bhatia were appointed as co-facilitators of the early WiSE project.

Newton and Bhatia met with other faculty members, researched similar programs and developed three goals: increase representation and retention; highlight women scholars through a lecture series; and develop mentor programming.

Since then, WiSE, which was integrated into the Office of the Provost in 2017, has developed programming and mentoring opportunities that have continued to deepen its members connections.

Among its many offerings, WiSE initiatives include the following:

• the Norma Slepecky Prize (for undergraduate research) and Lecture;
• WiSE Women of Color in STEM and Career Preparation Program, promoting persistence in STEM and also providing tools for women to succeed while addressing bias;
• scientific writing workshops;
• Summer Research Program for undergraduate students;
• WiSE Future Professionals Program (WiSE-FPP);
• leadership development grants for faculty; and
• various professional development opportunities for post-doctoral student and faculty members.

Visit to find out more and how to participate.

Patricia A. Wood

A newly endowed fund set up to support undergraduate interdisciplinary research recognizes the importance of connecting diverse fields of thought in generating new ideas. It also reflects the experiences and passions of William Hrushesky ’69 who graduated cum laude with majors in philosophy, zoology, fine arts and anthropology, and was a teaching assistant in biology and histology.

The fund will be the Patricia A. Wood, M.D., Ph.D., Spinoza Award Fund, in honor of Hrushesky’s late wife and their shared passion for the ideas of the 17th-century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza and his fearlessness in breaking boundaries to explore new ideas.

“Be not astonished at new ideas,” wrote Spinoza, “for it is well known to you that a thing does not therefore cease to be true because it is not accepted by many.”

Similarly, Wood carved new paths in cancer research, exploring the concept of medical chronobiology to create innovative approaches to cancer care. Together, Wood and Hrushesky found connections not previously explored in medical research.

In recent years, Hrushesky provided gifts toward what was known as the Spinoza Award, offered by the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (The SOURCE) to an undergraduate exploring philosophical aspects of issues that arise within the sciences or other professional disciplines. To establish the award, he had contacted Danielle Smith, director of�� She told him about the course Linked Lenses: Science, Philosophy, and the Pursuit of Knowledge, co-taught by philosopher Samuel Gorovitz and paleontologist/oceanographer Cathryn Newton and connected him with Gorovitz. That led to Hrushesky’s initial donations.

One award recipient brought philosophical principals to the blending of theater and technology; two others together redesigned the interior of spacecraft. This new $50,000 endowment from Hrushesky ensures that such creative pursuits will continue in perpetuity, aligned with the mission of the .

Hrushesky explains that the new fund will provide ongoing support for the kind of exploratory critical thinking that turns learning into understanding: “During the Enlightenment, the intimate connections among science, philosophy, art, music and literature became vividly obvious; these deep and broad connections are now atrophying. This��award must go to ambitious students who see how these things are intimately connected, rather than separated. Patricia had that kind of encompassing perception, which fuels great creativity. She developed and gained approval for the first cellular gene therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, saving tens of thousands of American children’s lives each year. My intent is for her example to inspire future students to emulate her and for my gift to inspire other donors to establish endowments to support student research in other ways.”

The endowment supports the kind of creative thinking fostered in courses like Linked Lenses.

“Creativity is often fueled by the blending in new ways of ideas, images, perceptions, or processes that might have been thought to be unrelated to each other,” says Gorovitz, founding director of the current Honors Program (2004-2010). “I’m convinced that any two items we identify are related to each other, if we can just see deeply and imaginatively enough to recognize, or invent, the relationships.”

Gorovitz explains that students must be encouraged “to abandon the idea that you have to have it all figured out before you start speaking, writing, drawing or composing. You may have a bunch of ideas; they may seem inconsistent with each other. You should let them tumble out in any order, don’t filter or censor. That comes later.”

This creative process is energized by The SOURCE, where the new endowment will be housed. Founded swiftly by Newton in collaboration with 60 colleagues, it was launched in 2019 to drive discovery and innovation and helps coordinate support for the interdisciplinary and inclusive research that Newton says is so vital to student success.

“Each of us has superpowers, right? My own gifts are not necessarily the same as all the members of the team, and that’s frankly what makes us strong,” says Newton, professor of interdisciplinary sciences, dean emerita of Arts and Sciences, and until recently special advisor to the Chancellor and provost for faculty engagement. “When you encourage original thought and creative work, and you look for ways to combine things that haven’t formerly been combined, you can have a powerful impact on the success of all students across diverse constituencies.”

Hrushesky says his beloved wife was always open to new ideas, welcoming contradicting arguments and data in the rigorous formation of evidence-based scientific breakthroughs. Her commitment to independent thinking and intellectual rigor was similar to that of Spinoza, a brilliant young ex-communicated Spanish/Jewish immigrant whose family and community fled the Spanish Inquisition to Holland near the end of the 16th century.

Both Wood and Spinoza provide a compelling intellectual model for students, says Hrushesky.

Now retired from academia, Hrushesky is co-owner of Oncology Analytics, a company whose mission is to ensure that cancer patients have access to evidence-based, data-driven guidance to receive the right diagnostic tests and treatments at the right time for the right reasons. He and his colleagues are creating a suite of decision support products to help cancer patients from the moment of diagnosis through end-of-life care.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Hrushesky for his vision and commitment to supporting undergraduate research that is dynamic, innovative and meaningful,” says Ramesh Raina, interim vice president for research. “These awards, named for individuals who were both thinkers and doers, will impact generations of students who want to make a positive difference in our world.”

Students interested in applying for the Patricia A. Wood, M.D., Ph.D., Spinoza Award will apply through The SOURCE Grant application process in either fall or spring. Visit����for instructions.

“The STEM designation for our MBA program reflects the commitment of our faculty to prepare students for a fast-changing business environment that includes cutting-edge technology, data analytics as well as creativity and forward-looking innovation. These areas are fundamental to modern business and therefore central to our MBA education. Our required curriculum and broad set of elective courses emphasizes these skills and abilities already,” says Alex McKelvie, associate dean for undergraduate and master’s education and professor of entrepreneurship. “Receiving STEM designation appropriately reflects our MBA programmatic emphasis and facilitates students’ success in industry after graduation.”

A STEM-designated program allows international students on an F-1 visa to extend their time in OPT (Optional Practical Training) from 12 to 36 months in the U.S. This makes graduates from STEM- designated programs more hirable and allows them to gain valuable experience relevant to their field of study. The Whitman School already has STEM designation for their master of science programs in business analytics, finance, marketing and supply chain management.

“We are delighted to be able to support our international students and their dream of launching their careers here. STEM designation is a testament to the Whitman School’s belief that our students are well prepared for careers in business that reflect STEM-based skills and industries. Receiving this designation brings our current students closer to these dreams and will help to signal to prospective students that we will support them throughout their careers,” says McKelvie.

These biomaterials—easy to use and highly effective—could control bleeding within wounds, especially critical in instances where time is of the essence such as on the battlefield, in an ambulance or in rural locations, far from the nearest hospital.

Monroe, an assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), and her lab work extensively with shape memory polymers (SMPs). These smart materials can be shaped into a temporary shape when a stimulus, such as heat, is applied to them. Monroe compares the materials to a kitchen sponge in terms of feel and flexibility.

ECS assistant professor Mary Beth Browning Monroe holds shape memory polymers, a material that can be used for wound healing.

“You can imagine if you have a big sponge and you cool it down in a really small shape, you can then stick that into a gunshot wound. It would be easy to fit in there because it’s really small,” Monroe says. “But then once it reheats to body temperature, it expands out and fills up that wound. It hits all the wound walls and is there for the healing process.”

Monroe’s SMP research is a continuation of the work she started years ago. Now in her own lab at ���ϲ�����, she works to give back to other students by connecting with women graduate students and instructors and participating in campuswide peer mentoring opportunities for those in the STEM fields.

Mentorship opportunities and connecting women with other scientists that look like them are important steps to close the gender gap that has existed in STEM fields for years. That persistent gap is one of the reasons that the International Day of Women and Girls in Science was established in 2015 by the United Nations. Celebrated each year on Feb. 11, the annual effort recognizes the role of women and girls in science not only as beneficiaries, but also as agents of change.

“I’ve been very lucky to have a lot of strong female mentors in my life throughout all my training,” Monroe says. “That’s kind of rare in engineering because there aren’t a whole lot of women. I love the idea that I could be that to even just one woman in my lab group.”

Professor Monroe shows an example of SMPs inside her lab.

Monroe sees endless possibilities for the biomaterials she’s working with. Applicable uses include making the materials degradable so they can disappear in the body, engineering material that’s anti-microbial to reduce infection risk, and formulating a smart material with pain reliever components to provide comfort to a patient before they’ve reached the hospital. She hopes the wound healing technology could be in clinics or in the field in the next five to 10 years.

“Harnessing the body’s natural ability to heal itself is really the goal of tissue engineering,” says Monroe. “What drives me and makes me really excited is thinking about how these can be applied and make a difference in patients’ lives.”

To learn more the public health benefits of the network, you are invited to join a free webinar called “Introduction to the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network” from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 19. is required to attend.

The webinar is organized by the�� and the University’s Environmental Finance Center, and co-sponsored by the and .

Epidemiologist David Larsen leads the ���ϲ����� public health team that’s partnering with the state Department of Health to create a statewide wastewater surveillance network.

In mid-December, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ’80 announced that the and the ���ϲ����� public health team led by epidemiologist , an associate professor of public health at Falk College, will to analyze wastewater for COVID-19 to include at least one wastewater treatment plant in each of the state’s 62 counties.

In the last year, 20 counties have participated in wastewater surveillance with test results providing evidence of COVID-19 in communities that are home to more than 2 million New York residents. New York City has also conducted wastewater surveillance in its five boroughs, and the expansion of the statewide network will improve coordination and provide an opportunity for participation from many more municipalities.

Studies have shown that wastewater surveillance detects variants of the virus such as omicron. New York State reported 22,478 new COVID cases on Dec. 19 and 60,000 from Dec. 17-19, each a record for the state.

“We’re learning new things about the COVID-19 virus every day, and in order to stay ahead of it, we’ve had to adopt new and innovate strategies for prevention and detection, particularly when it comes to variants,” Hochul says on the official New York State website. “I thank our nation-leading scientists and researchers at the Department of Health,��and our academic partners at ���ϲ�������University and SUNY Buffalo, SUNY ESF and SUNY Stony Brook��for their efforts to track the virus through the��cutting-edge��wastewater surveillance program that will undoubtedly be used to inform public health issues well into the future.”

The Jan. 19 webinar will feature Larsen; , associate professor of environmental studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF); and other experts who will discuss details of the network and answer questions about the real-time monitoring of wastewater for coronavirus RNA. Larsen’s team and the Department of Health are working with the state to develop the network throughout the state.

“Establishing wastewater surveillance in every county throughout the state will give us better understanding of COVID-19 transmission,” Larsen says. “This system will help the public and policymakers better respond to the pandemic.”

The webinar is designed to inform wastewater treatment plant operators, county and municipal government officials, elected officials and staff, and public health officials, but will be structured in a way that any New York State resident can learn how the network will work and the health benefits derived from it.

Testing wastewater for the virus that causes COVID-19 doesn’t depend on testing individuals. The statewide network will help participating municipalities establish the baseline level of virus and identify which communities experience an increase. This information will complement other state testing and surveillance efforts to better understand the risk of COVID-19 transmission throughout the state and allocate public health resources.

While the wastewater surveillance network will initially focus on COVID-19, it will remain a vital public health resource as it will be able to detect other infectious diseases and provide estimates of opioid use.

For more information, visit the website. Visit the to attend the free Jan. 19 webinar “Introduction to the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network.”

Kevin Du

Electrical engineering and computer science professor Kevin Du wanted to up the production value of the cybersecurity instruction videos he has been posting to YouTube and decided to construct a studio inside his lab space.

“I used to have one in home at my basement but that one has a problem because my family just walked around,” says Du. “So I decided I’m just going to build one in the corner of the lab.”

Loredana Lanzani

Loredana Lanzani, professor of mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS). Lanzani is one of 45 mathematical scientists from around the world to receive the honor this year, which recognizes scholars who have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication and utilization of mathematics.

Lanzani has taught at ���ϲ����� since 2014 and specializes in harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, complex analysis of one and several variables, and fluid dynamics.

Her AMS citation, which reads the following: “For contributions to function theory in one and several complex variables,” acknowledges her work in mathematical analysis, especially on questions involving complex numbers. Lanzani’s area of research is foundational in many related areas of mathematics, including number theory, algebraic geometry and applied mathematics, as well as physics and many areas of engineering.

An accomplished scholar, Lanzani has written 29 peer-reviewed journal articles, has been continuously funded for over 20 years by research grants from the National Science Foundation and is currently PI for a collaboration grant from the Simons Foundation. She has also delivered over 140 invited colloquia, conference talks and seminar talks; is a member of four editorial boards; and has served as an advisor to four Ph.D. students.

According to Graham Leuschke, professor and department chair of mathematics, Lanzani’s appointment marks the first time a ���ϲ����� professor has been named a Fellow of the AMS.

“We’re thrilled that Professor Lanzani has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society,” says Leuschke. “This honor recognizes her many outstanding contributions to mathematics. The Department of Mathematics is proud of her leadership in the field, as well as in the department and the college.”

The Fellows of the American Mathematical Society program has taken place annually since 2013. AMS is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through their publications, meetings and conferences, professional services, advocacy and awareness programs. View the names, institutions and citations of the .

We all know that the dinosaurs died in a mass extinction. But did you know that there were other mass extinctions? There are five most significant mass extinctions, known as the “big five,” where at least three quarters of all species in existence across the entire Earth faced extinction during a particular geological period of time. With current trends of global warming and climate change, many researchers now believe we may be in a sixth.

Researchers examine an Ordovician Period outcrop on the shoreline of Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. (Credit: André Desrochers, University of Ottawa)

Discovering the root cause of Earth’s mass extinctions has long been a hot topic for scientists, as understanding the environmental conditions that led to the elimination of the majority of species in the past could potentially help prevent a similar event from occurring in the future.

A team of scientists from ���ϲ�����’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Riverside, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, the University of New Mexico, the University of Ottawa, the University of Science and Technology of China and Stanford University recently co-authored a paper exploring the Late Ordovician mass extinction (LOME), which is the first, or oldest of the “big five (~445 million years ago).” Around 85% of marine species, most of which lived in shallow oceans near continents, disappeared during that time.

Zunli Lu, professor of Earth and environmental sciences at ���ϲ�����, and his students took measurements of iodine concentration in carbonate rocks from that period, contributing important findings about oxygen levels at various ocean depths. The concentration of the element iodine in carbonate rocks serves as an indicator for changes in oceanic oxygen level in Earth’s history.

Zunli Lu

Their data, combined with computer modeling simulations, suggested that there was no evidence of anoxia–or lack of oxygen–strengthening during the extinction event in the shallow ocean animal habitat where most organisms lived, meaning that climate cooling that occurred during the Late Ordovician period combined with additional factors likely was responsible for LOME.

On the other hand, there is evidence that anoxia in deep oceans expanded during that same time, a mystery that cannot be explained by the classic model of ocean oxygen, climate modeling expert Alexandre Pohl says.

“Upper-ocean oxygenation in response to cooling was anticipated, because atmospheric oxygen preferentially dissolves in cold waters,” Pohl says. “However, we were surprised to see expanded anoxia in the lower ocean since anoxia in Earth’s history is generally associated with volcanism-induced global warming.”

They attribute the deep-sea anoxia to the circulation of seawater through global oceans. Pohl says that a key point to keep in mind is that ocean circulation is a very important component of the climatic system.

He was part of a team led by senior modeler Andy Ridgwell, professor at UC Riverside, whose computer modeling results show that climate cooling likely altered ocean circulation pattern, halting the flow of oxygen-rich water in shallow seas to the deeper ocean.

According to Lu, recognizing that climate cooling can also lead to lower oxygen levels in some parts of the ocean is a key takeaway from their study.

“For decades, the prevailing school of thoughts in our field is that global warming causes the oceans to lose oxygen and thus impact marine habitability, potentially destabilizing the entire ecosystem,” Lu says. “In recent years, mounting evidence point to several episodes in Earth’s history when oxygen levels also dropped in cooling climates.”

While the causes of Late Ordovician extinction have not been fully agreed upon, nor will they for some time, the team’s study rules out changes in oxygenation as a single explanation for this extinction and adds new data favoring temperature change being the killing mechanism for LOME.

These Brachiopod fossils date back to the time of the Late Ordovician mass extinction.

Pohl is hopeful that as better climate data and more sophisticated numerical models become available, they will be able to offer a more robust representation of the factors that may have led to the Late Ordovician mass extinction.

Read the team’s full paper in .

“As an Institute, we pledged to develop and implement actionable plans to promote diversity in our ranks and support people of color. The CAREER program is the first effort to come out of this commitment, and we are thrilled to have launched this pilot program with our partners at Hampton University and North Carolina A&T,” says Lisa Manning, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Physics and director of BioInspired.

“We looked at programs here at ���ϲ����� and at other institutions, and what seemed to be missing were pre-college and post-baccalaureate programs that would really help promising students transition well from high school to college, succeed during college and then proceed to similar success in graduate school admissions and job placement,” says Jay Henderson, associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and associate director of BioInspired.

As both Henderson and Manning have previously worked with Hampton University, a historically black private research university in Hampton, Virginia, and with faculty at North Carolina A&T State University, a historically black public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina, Henderson reached out to colleagues at each institution to create a virtual summer program to help students embrace the opportunity to do original research as undergraduates. Their goals are to strengthen high school-to-college pathways in STEM, providing research opportunities, mentoring and other supports to keep diverse students in STEM during their undergraduate careers and provide professional development and networking to enable a successful transition to graduate school.

The result, known as the CAREER (Career Acceleration via Rigorous Educational Experiences in Research) , is a one-week intensive experience that took place over the Discord online collaboration platform. CAREER programming included interactions with researchers, help developing a personal statement, discussions of how scientific research works and career planning for incoming undergraduate students.

“We covered topics like creating a professional profile and resume, reaching out to faculty for opportunities, taking advantage of resources on campus and how to apply for financial support for summer research during college,” says Henderson.

Fourteen students drawn from Hampton, North Carolina A&T and ���ϲ����� participated in the summer program.

Melanie Salas, a first-generation college student from ���ϲ�����, plans to attend veterinary school after graduation. She chose to participate to meet potential mentors and test out her commitment to STEM to see if it is the right fit. “The most valuable part of the program was seeing the support that professors give students. I have already been accepted into a lab to work with Professor Latha Ramalingam in the Falk College. I also learned to never be afraid to seek help. There is always someone willing to help, but it’s on us to reach out.”

While students gained from what they experienced during the program, faculty development is another program goal. “We want to improve how we mentor diverse students and increase collaborations between minority-serving and predominantly-white universities,” says Henderson.

After this summer’s successful pilot, program faculty plan to look at outcomes, such as how many students participate in research during the year and each summer, internship and fellowship applications and long-term outcomes such as successfully earning a STEM degree and admission for graduate programs. Faculty at all three institutions hope to form collaborative research programs where students can get real-world experience in multi-institutional scientific research.

“Our next step is to seek additional funding,” says Henderson. “We’re investing our time and expertise because we believe that STEM disciplines can only gain from broader representation. The partnerships with Hampton and North Carolina A&T can help us broaden the pool from which we recruit graduate students and postdocs and the program has already taught us ways we can improve how we work with undergraduate students.”