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 .

Presenters and attendees at the 2023 SOURCE Symposium

Hua, a nutrition science major in the , has investigated the effects of fish oil on paternal obesity and its impact on offspring muscle function. Ross, a neuroscience and psychology major in the , has studied the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. And Lu, a music composition major in the (VPA), has worked with music ensembles and experienced the premieres of two of his original compositions.

They are among the more than 250 students who have actively participated in research this summer—both in-person and remotely—through initiatives of the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry, iSchool, and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; the McNair Scholars Program; the psychology SPARC and STAHR programs; Renée Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.

As a culmination of their experiences, the —a poster session featuring more than 110 undergraduate research students, will be held Thursday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Schine Student Center’s Panasci Lounge. A picnic will follow on the patio of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. .

Some of the posters that will be presented include:

• Mercury Release From Alaskan Permafrost
• The Role of the Kit Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation and Cyst Breakdown
• The Effects of the Post-Mating Immune Response in Drosophila on Female Fecundity
• ���ϲ����� Policy Legacy Project
• Testing the Hydropathy of Synthetic RNA
• Polyurethane Foams for Hemorrhage Control
• Supporting Healthcare Outcomes and Access for Refugees
• Effects of I-81 Highway Construction on Freshwater Streams in the Valley Neighborhood of ���ϲ�����
• Role of Rab GTPase-Mediated Ciliary Cargo Transport in Cilia formation and Cellular Polarity
• Validating Hydraulic Flood Control Risk Assessment Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery

“Summer research students make great strides in their research skill-building during these few short months; they explore fascinating topics, engage with existing work, try new methods and techniques and experience deep immersion and focus in their work,” says SOURCE Director Kate Hanson. “We are thrilled to learn about research at the Summer Symposium and grateful to the mentors that have supported them.”

Xuezhu (Stephanie) Hua ’25

Stephanie Hua

Hua’s research is inspired by the obesity epidemic. “Obesity is a growing concern, with two in five people in the U.S. affected. It not only diminishes quality of life but also has lasting effects on the health of future generations,” Hua says. “In our research explores the potential of fish oil supplementation in mitigating the detrimental, we focus on using fish oil as a dietary intervention for obese fathers.”

Hua and her colleagues have found that a father’s high-fat diet during the preconception period significantly impacts the muscle health of their offspring, potentially decreasing muscle function. Conversely, when the father follows a low-fat diet during the preconception period, the offspring’s muscle health is more influenced by their own diet. “Moving forward, I will employ an analysis of variance test to determine if fish oil supplementation can reverse the adverse effects of a father’s high-fat diet on offspring,” she says.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the SOURCE, Renée Crown University Honors Program and WiSE for sponsoring my research. This invaluable experience has allowed me to ask scientific questions, grapple with challenges and find solutions,” Hua says. “What drives me is the potential impact of my research on people’s lives. To me, research is about serving the community. This experience has been instrumental to me in preparing for my Ph.D. studies in obesity and metabolism.”

Hua’s faculty mentor is , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.

Edward Lu ’26

Lu says his music composition research this summer has provided him with some of the most artistically fulfilling experiences in his career. He attended the Connecticut Summerfest and the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at the Juilliard School as a part of their Emerging Composers Program.

Edward Lu (photo by Isaac Schwalbe)

“Both of these festivals were incredible, and they each provided a diverse array of insights into the business of composition and chamber music,” Lu says.

He traveled to Connecticut in June for a week of lectures, presentations, rehearsals, concerts and recording sessions. “I was paired with ~Nois, a saxophone quartet based in Chicago, who were an absolute joy to work with,” Lu says. “They premiered my piece, ‘Leaf Litter,’ and we also shot a separate professional video/audio recording with the Kinsmen Sound Studio. I loved how much creative liberty I was given during this process, and how much they valued my artistic input. Additionally, I enjoyed getting to know the other ensembles-in-residence.”

In July, Lu spent 10 days in New York City, attending lectures and masterclasses with Imani Winds and the composer-in-residence, Jessica Meyer, as well as other visiting composition faculty. “I was paired with Nimbus Winds, a student wind quintet, and we spent the week rehearsing and workshopping my piece ‘Cloud Shapes,’ which was premiered at Juilliard’s Morse Recital Hall on Aug. 3.” He also had the opportunity to present “Leaf Litter” in a masterclass and share his work from Connecticut Summerfest, bringing his summer research full circle.

“At both festivals, I met a lot of amazing people and built lasting and meaningful relationships while learning important skills such as outreach and finding my musical voice and message,” Lu says. “Additionally, I now have two new pieces and recordings to add to my portfolio. Most importantly, I’ve made colleagues and friends in the field of chamber music that will last my entire lifetime. I’m eternally grateful to SOURCE for making these experiences possible for me.”

Lu’s faculty mentor is , associate professor and chair of music composition, theory and history in VPA’s Setnor School of Music.

Kaniya Ross ’25

Ross’s project is specifically investigating the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid

Kaniya Ross

supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. Loss of Cited2 (knockout) has been known to cause disruptions in brain development such as neural tube defects, reduced cortical thickness that can lead to microcephaly, and heart and lung defects.

“Based on preliminary research, prepartum folic acid supplementation has been linked to a reduction in�� neural tube defects like exencephaly. It has also been linked to rescuing reductions in cortical thickness seen with Cited2 knockout,” says Ross. Her team uses immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis and cell counting to measure whether reduced cortical thickness is due to increased cell density or decreased cells overall following Cited2 knockout and maternal folic acid supplementation. As microcephaly is linked to learning and memory deficits, they also do novel object recognition testing to measure changes in both following maternal folic acid supplementation.

“This project is deeply connected with my future endeavors as a pediatric neurologist who will continue doing research on neurodevelopmental disorders as well as providing affordable care and treatments in my own private practice,” Ross says.

Ross has worked with faculty mentor , associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and graduate student Sara Brigida.

Additional events featuring undergraduate research include the 2024 McNair Summer Research Symposium, which will be held Aug. 9 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. in 331 Sims Hall. The Psychology SPARC-STAHR & iSchool REU Program Symposium was held on July 25.

Five ���ϲ����� students have been selected for the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship awarded in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the U.S. This is the first time ���ϲ����� has had five students selected for the cohort and the third consecutive year the University has had at least three scholars selected in one year.

The recipients are:

• Julia Fancher, a sophomore physics and mathematics major in the (A&S) and a member of the ;
• Sadie Meyer, a sophomore biomedical engineering major in the (ECS) and mathematics major in A&S;
• Kerrin O’Grady, a junior biomedical engineering major in ECS and neuroscience integrated learning major in A&S;
• Serena Peters, a junior chemistry major in A&S; and
• Gianna Voce, a sophomore computer science major in ECS and neuroscience Integrated learning major in A&S.

“The fact that five students from ���ϲ����� were selected as Goldwater Scholars this year is a testament to our University’s robust support for undergraduate research and the high quality of faculty mentoring here.” Jolynn Parker, director, Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising

All five are research grant recipients from the .

�ճ������was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.

The Goldwater Foundation received 1,353 nominations this year from around the country and 438 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each ���ϲ����� Goldwater Scholarship nominee worked with the (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by James Spencer, professor of chemistry in A&S, selected ���ϲ�����’s nominees for the national competition.

“We’re so proud of Julia, Sadie, Kerrin, Serena and Gianna. They are exceptional young scientists and it is gratifying to see them honored with this award,” says Jolynn Parker, CFSA director. “The fact that five students from ���ϲ����� were selected as Goldwater Scholars this year is a testament to our University’s robust support for undergraduate research and the high quality of faculty mentoring here.”

Julia Fancher

Fancher, a physics major, is also minoring in computer science and draws on those skills to create effective theoretical models of astrophysical phenomena.

“I have always loved space, and I now get to use physics and math to learn more about distant galaxies and black holes,” she says.

As a first-year student, Fancher joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. With Coughlin’s guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events, which occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole.

Fancher has published two papers in national journals on this topic and presented her research at the local Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics and the national American Astronomical Society conference in January 2024, and was a finalist in the undergraduate AAS Chambliss poster competition. She participated in the “Education and Inclusion in Post-Apartheid South Africa” program through ���ϲ����� Abroad last summer.

Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of becoming a professor at a research university 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.

Sadie Meyer

Meyer grew up surrounded by research with widespread impacts on healthcare and recognized the importance of such work early on. She developed a strong purpose to advance new approaches to women’s health and infertility, specifically with a biomedical engineering perspective.

In her first semester on campus, wanting to get more involved with research, Meyer joined the laboratory of James Henderson, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and director of the . The lab specializes in functional shape-memory materials and biocompatible platform development.

Meyer has learned material synthesis and combined mathematical approaches with experimental design to conduct characterizations of programmed shape memory polymer topography to serve as a dynamic cell culture substrate. Her current project analyzes bacterial response to shape-memory actuated 3D silk wrinkled surfaces as a strategy for biofilm prevention. Meyer is third author on a manuscript published in February 2024 in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute journal, “Polymers.”��She will present her research at the 50th Northeast Bioengineering Conference on April 4 at the Stevens Institute of Technology. This summer, she will participate in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Northwestern University’s Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental Resource Facility. There, she will study the ultrastructure of yeast mitochondria, working toward a better understanding of cellular function, health and evolution.

Meyer plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program with strengths in regenerative medicine, biomaterials and mechanobiology. “After earning my Ph.D., I will pursue a faculty position where I can oversee a lab of my own and conduct research to address challenges in fertility and reproductive health,” she says.

“Being selected for the Goldwater Scholarship encourages and supports my ambitions for further inquiry in my fields and makes a tremendous difference to my development as a researcher,” she says.

Kerrin O’Grady

In high school, O’Grady volunteered at a camp for neurodivergent children and adults. “I have seen the need for adaptive and customizable everyday devices for individuals with impaired motor control,” she says.

She is now pursuing degrees in biomedical engineering and neuroscience, with a minor in philosophy. “As a bioengineer, I am eager to support communities that may not have the same opportunities I have been afforded,” she says.

O’Grady has engaged in research in the Henderson Lab since the beginning of her sophomore year. There, she has focused on creating silk-wrinkled topographies on 3D shape-memory polymeric scaffolds and optimizing the attachment and proliferation of mammalian, specifically neuronal, cells on the scaffolds. Her current work focuses on using silk-wrinkled shape-memory polymeric conduits to aid in peripheral nerve injury repair.

O’Grady plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering, focusing on neuro-engineering. After completing her Ph.D., she aims to pursue a career focused on neural engineering research, working closely with the neurodivergent and physically disabled communities.

“I want to lead experiments and to create devices and repair in vivo damage, similar to the work that Argonne National Laboratory is conducting on repairing spinal cord damage by injecting a treatment directly into paralyzed mice,” she says. O’Grady will continue this work at the University of Victoria this summer through a Fulbright MITACS research internship. There, she will work in a lab on 3D bioprinting neural tissues from stem cells.

“The Goldwater Scholarship will help me in a financial sense and will provide me with a community of dedicated students who have similar passions and goals as me,” she says.

Serena Peters

Peters is pursuing a major in chemistry because of her interest in applications for environmental sustainability. She has contributed to a research project with Professor Jonathan French quantifying students’ sense of belonging in general chemistry courses. Currently, in Professor Timothy Korter’s lab, she is using high-complexity experimental and computational techniques to study the polymorphism of two antiviral compounds, acyclovir and ganciclovir.

Peters purposefully chooses assignments that allow her to delve deeper into the realm of sustainable chemistry. “Whether presenting on how zeolites can be employed for nuclear waste cleanup or writing a paper on innovative carbon capture strategies, I consistently integrate environmental chemistry into my academic pursuits,” she says.

Peters plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry with a concentration on applications for environmental sustainability. Her career goal is to work in aquatic cleanup as a research professor at a university.

“I aspire to guide undergraduates who, much like myself, may harbor uncertainties about venturing into the field of research. I hope to continue researching in the field of environmental chemistry, specifically using different forms of spectroscopy to analyze water contaminants. My goal is to foster a research environment that demonstrates that research is an inclusive pursuit open to anyone, regardless of their background or identity,” she says.

“The Goldwater Scholarship has helped me build my confidence. I long wondered if research was for me, partially since it’s such a male-dominated field. However, receiving this scholarship has shown me that I am capable and I deserve to be a researcher as much as anyone else,” Peters says.

Gianna Voce

Voce has always loved the problem-solving of computer science and its endless possibilities to intersect with other fields. “Computer science was originally inspired by the human brain and continues to be influenced by neuroscience, so seeing the parallels between my two majors is fascinating to me,” she says. “I love seeing the ways two seemingly disconnected fields interact and discovering new ways for them to do so.”

Voce transferred to ���ϲ����� from Clarkson University; she has sought out research opportunities since the summer before her freshman year, when she participated in a PreFrosh Summer Research Experience through Clarkson’s Honors Program. There, she studied the effects of commonly used fluorescent dyes on tendon mechanics, research that was published in the Journal of the Mechanics of Biomedical Materials.

In the summer of 2022, she participated in an REU at Texas State University focused on cybersecurity in connected vehicles. She helped create a reinforcement learning algorithm that could successfully identify which vehicles had been compromised by a cyberattack for networks that were more than 90% corrupted. She published and presented this research at the Association for Computing Machinery REUNS 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., and at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ International Conference on Consumer Electronics 2024 in Las Vegas. She will be studying abroad in Florence this summer through ���ϲ����� Abroad.

After transferring to ���ϲ�����, Voce joined the lab of Qinru Qiu, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, where she researches algorithms for neuromorphic computing. Her team focuses on developing software and artificial neural networks to run on Intel chips.

Voce plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science or neuroscience with a concentration in computational neuroscience. After obtaining her degrees, she plans to take a research position within the tech industry, working as either a computational neuroscientist or a machine learning engineer. “I aim to contribute novel insights toward the development of artificial intelligence systems that mimic the qualities of biological neural networks with the goal of increasing efficiency and accuracy in AI learning,” she says.

“The Goldwater Scholarship is an incredible honor that will not only assist me in my education but provide the opportunity to be a part of an amazing network of researchers that offer inspiration to pursue this career path,” Voce says.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at��cfsa@syr.edu.

Falk students accompany their faculty research mentors to leading academic conferences across the country and commonly receive high honors for their accomplishments in research. Danny Baris, Sarah Dellett and Mingxuan (Jessica) Li are three examples of students who have been recently honored for their research.

We asked them to discuss their research and here’s what they shared:

Danny Baris ’26
B.S. Sport Analytics

Danny Baris

Danny Baris ’26 won the student paper competition at the New York State Economics Association annual conference in October 2023 in Old Westbury, New York, where he presented his research, “Promotions and United States Hockey League Attendance,” under the guidance of Professor Rodney Paul.

“As someone who enjoys attending sports games, the topic of promotions is of great interest to me. For my paper, I wrote about the effects of various types of gameday promotions on attendance for minor league hockey. Through this project, I was able to gain valuable experience conducting a study, writing a research paper and presenting my findings.

“My findings could be used to help teams set their promotions schedules in ways that maximize revenue. Future research could examine the effects of promotions in other sports leagues. Along with some other students, I am currently working on a project surrounding the effects of promotions across minor league baseball.”

Sarah Dellett
M.A. Nutrition Science

Sarah Dellett

Sarah Dellett received first prize among students in master’s degree programs at the mid-Atlantic region of the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting in November 2023 for her research “Prevalence of and Reasons for Dietary and Supplementation Habits Among Physically Active College Students,” under the guidance of Professor Jessica Garay. Through Sarah’s work in Professor Latha Ramalingam’s nutrigenomic lab, where she studies metabolic improvements and genetic differences with omega-3 supplementation, Sarah discovered her ambition to become a clinical researcher in the wide field of nutrition science.

“I loved my statistics and research methods class during my first year and wanted to further hone my analytical skills using R Studio. I linked up with Professor Garay over the summer to explore her dataset collected on athletes in Fall 2020. She helped me critically think through the methodology and correctly describe statistical results for my presentation.

“I found my passion for this project as I’m interested in how sustainable, plant-based diets can be a balanced diet for athletes. This research showed unique developments within vegetarianism, as the most common reason for adopting a vegetarian diet among this cohort is environmental, rather than animal rights reasons. We also found that the vegetarian group had a higher level of nutrition knowledge and had supplementation habits that reflected an understanding of their need to supplement with Vitamin B12 and iron, commonly deficient in vegetarians.”

Mingxuan (Jessica) Li
Master of Public Health

Mingxuan (Jessica) Li

In November 2023, Mingxuan (Jessica) Li attended the American Public Health Association annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, where she accepted the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Student Award on behalf of her fellow students, Michelle Asiedu-Danso and Matthew Scrape. There, Jessica, Michelle and Matthew were recognized for their research, “Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment in New York State: A Content Analysis of Articles Published by Newspapers Focusing on People of Color,” completed under the guidance of Professor Bernard Appiah.

“Our goal of this study is to understand how newspapers for people of color discuss prostate cancer, examining both risk factors and media representation. We identified a significant gap in news coverage for people of color on this crucial health issue. Our mission was not just to point out the issues but also to find ways to better share information about prostate cancer in these communities.

“It was a moment of immense honor and pride when standing as the first author and presenter of our project in Atlanta. As we shared our findings and engaged with fellow researchers during the conference, we realized there are potential impacts that our work could have in raising awareness, fostering informed discussions and shaping future research directions in prostate cancer. We hope our work has positive impacts not only on academic discourse but also inspires ongoing efforts to bridge communication gaps and champion health equity for all.”

Artist’s representation of a tidal disruption event (a star being torn apart by a black hole) (Photo courtesy of NASA/CXC/M. Weiss)

Astrophysicists from ���ϲ����� and the University of Leeds have collaborated with high school students in ���ϲ����� to confirm the accuracy of an analytical model that can unlock key information about supermassive black holes and the stars they engulf.

At the center of most large galaxies lives a supermassive black hole (SMBH). The Milky Way has Sagittarius A*, a mostly dormant SMBH whose mass is around 4.3 million times that of the sun. But if you look deeper into the universe, there are vastly larger SMBHs with masses that can reach up to tens of billions of times the mass of our sun.

Black holes grow in mass by gravitationally consuming objects in their near vicinity, including stars. It’s a catastrophic and destructive end for stars unlucky enough to be swallowed by SMBHs, but fortunate for scientists who now have an opportunity to probe otherwise-dormant centers of galaxies.

TDEs Light the Way

As the name implies, black holes do not emit any light of their own, making them very difficult for researchers to observe. But when a star comes sufficiently close to a supermassive black hole, it can be destroyed by the black hole’s immense tidal gravitational field through an interaction that is, effectively, an extreme instance of the Earth’s tidal interaction with the moon. Some of the tidally destroyed material falls into the black hole, creating a very hot, very bright disk of material as it does so. This process, known as a tidal disruption event (TDE), provides a light source that can be viewed with powerful telescopes and analyzed by scientists.

TDEs are relatively rare—predicted to take place roughly once every 10,000 to 100,000 years in a given galaxy. One to two dozen TDEs are typically detected annually, but with the advent of new technology like the , currently under construction in Chile, hundreds are anticipated to be observed in the coming years. These powerful observatories scan the night sky for rising and falling sources of light, and thus “survey” the cosmos for time-changing astronomical phenomena.

Using these surveys, astrophysicists can perform studies of TDEs to estimate the properties of SMBHs and the stars that they destroy. One of the things that researchers try to understand is the mass of both the star and the SMBH. While one analytical model has been used quite often, a new one was recently developed and is now being tested.

The Advent of Analytical Models

The accretion rate—or rate at which a star’s stellar material falls back onto the SMBH during a TDE—reveals important signatures of stars and SMBHs, such as their masses. The most accurate way to calculate this is with a numerical hydrodynamical simulation, which uses a computer to analyze the gas dynamics of the tidally destroyed material from a TDE as it rains onto the black hole. While precise, this technique is expensive and can take weeks to months for researchers to compute one TDE.

In recent decades, physicists have devised analytical models to calculate the accretion rate. These models present an efficient and cost-effective method for understanding the properties of disrupted stars and black holes, but uncertainties remain about the accuracy of their approximations.

A handful of analytical models currently exist, with perhaps the most well-known being the “frozen-in” approximation; this name derives from the fact that the orbital period of the debris that rains onto the black hole is established, or “frozen-in,” at a specific distance from the black hole called the tidal radius.

Proposed in 1982 by Lacy, Townes and Hollenbach, and then expanded upon by Lodato, King and Pringle in 2009, this model suggests that the accretion rate from massive stars peaks on a timescale that can range from one to 10 years depending on the mass of the star. This means that if you’re looking at the night sky, a source could initially brighten, peak, and decline with time over timescales of years.

A New Way Forward

, physics professor in the , and , associate professor of theoretical astrophysics at the University of Leeds, proposed a new model in 2022, simply referred to as the�� model, which determines the peak timescale for TDEs as a function of the properties of the star and the mass of the black hole. From this new model, they recovered TDE peak timescales and accretion rates that agreed with the results of some hydrodynamical simulations, but the broader implications of this model—and also its predictions over a wider range of stellar type, including the mass and age of the star—were not completely elucidated.

To better characterize and understand the predictions of this model in a wider context, a team of researchers from ���ϲ�����, led by Ananya Bandopadhyay, a Ph.D. student in the��, conducted a study to analyze the implications of the CN22 model and test it against different types of stars and SMBHs of various masses.

The team’s work has been published in��. In addition to lead author Bandopadhyay, co-authors included Coughlin, Nixon, undergraduate and graduate students from the Department of Physics, and ���ϲ����� City School District (SCSD) students. The SCSD students’ involvement was made possible through the�� (SURPh) program, a six-week paid internship where local high schoolers engage in cutting-edge research alongside University students and faculty studying physics.

SCSD students who took part in the SURPh program served as co-authors on the study. From left to right are Matt Todd (physics graduate student), Eric Coughlin (physics professor), Valentino Indelicato (SURPh participant), Dan Paradiso (physics graduate student), Julia Fancher (physics undergraduate student), Aluel Athian (SURPh participant) and Ananya Bandopadhyay (physics graduate student and lead author)

During the summers of 2022 and 2023, the SCSD students collaborated with ���ϲ����� physicists on computational projects that tested the validity of the CN22 model. They used a stellar evolution code called “Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics” to study the evolution of stars. Using these profiles, they then compared the accretion rate predictions for a range of stellar masses and ages for the “frozen-in” approximation and the CN22 model. They also performed numerical hydrodynamical simulations of the disruption of a sun-like star by a supermassive black hole, to compare the model predictions to the numerically obtained accretion rate.

Their Findings

According to Bandopadhyay, the team found that the CN22 model was in extremely good agreement with the hydrodynamical simulations. Moreover, and perhaps most profound, was the finding that the peak timescale of the accretion rate in a TDE is very insensitive to the properties (mass and age) of the destroyed star, being ~50 days for a star like our sun destroyed by a black hole with the mass of Sagittarius A*.

Most striking and surprising about this result is that the “frozen-in” model makes a very different prediction. According to the “frozen-in” model, the same TDE would produce an accretion rate that would peak on a timescale of two years, which is in blatant disagreement with the results of hydrodynamical simulations.

“This overturns previously held notions about the way that TDEs work and what types of transients you could possibly produce by totally destroying a star,” says Bandopadhyay. “By confirming the accuracy of the CN22 model, we offer proof that this type of analytical method can greatly speed up the inference of observable properties for the disruption of stars having a range of masses and ages.”

Their study also addresses another previous misconception. By clarifying that complete TDEs cannot exceed month-long timescales, they disprove the earlier belief that they can be used to explain long-duration light curves that peak and decay on multiple-year spans. In addition, Coughlin notes that this paper verifies that peak fallback rate is effectively independent of the mass and age of the disrupted star and is almost entirely determined by the mass of the SMBH, a key indicator that models like CN22 can help researchers constrain masses of SMBHs.

“If you measure the rise time, what you could be directly peering into is actually the property of the supermassive black hole, which is the Holy Grail of TDE physics—being able to use TDEs to say something about the black hole,” says Coughlin.

Acknowledging the paper’s influence on the field, Bandopadhyay was invited by the American Astronomical Society to give a�� of the team’s findings at the society’s 243rd meeting in New Orleans this past January.

Looking to the future, the team says by confirming the accuracy of the CN22 model, this study opens a window for researchers to make observable predictions about TDEs, which can be tested against existing and upcoming detections. Through collaboration and ingenuity, researchers at ���ϲ����� are bringing details about the physics of black holes to light and helping explore areas of the distant universe that were once untraceable.

As vice president for research, supports and empowers ���ϲ�����’s internationally recognized creative and scholarly excellence, advancing centers and institutes that are global leaders in their fields.

In this role, Brown helps faculty and students pursue research and creative activities across the natural sciences, humanities, engineering, education, arts, social sciences and law fields. Brown also leads the and its component units, which serve as the backbone of the University’s research, scholarship and creative support enterprise. Collectively, these efforts help students and faculty expand their knowledge through innovation, creativity and discovery.

Duncan Brown, vice president for research.

Brown, who is in his second year as vice president for research, has been a physics faculty member since 2007 and is an accomplished physics researcher, recognized as an international leader in gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics before taking on this latest position.

“The main vision is to empower and amplify and tell the stories of the amazing research that’s happening here and the amazing creative activities that our faculty are pursuing. Faculty really want to do research and creative activities, and they want to engage our students and our students want to be part of this,” says Brown, who also serves as the in the .

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Brown elaborates on his vision for the research enterprise at ���ϲ�����, explains what makes ���ϲ����� a premier research institution, examines the impact of the research being done by faculty and students and reveals where his passion for research came from.

Check out podcast featuring Brown. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Vice President for Research Duncan Brown supports and empowers the University’s internationally recognized creative and scholarly excellence, advancing centers and institutes that are global leaders in their fields.

Inaugural winners of the Orange Innovation Fund awards, from left: Thomas Montfort, Natasha Brao, Trustee Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill, Scott Warren, senior associate dean for research excellence, Alex Levy and Sam Schreiber

The Orange Innovation Fund supports student research initiatives emerging from campus innovation programs. The grant “concept to commercialization” fund is designed to help move graduate and undergraduate student research or scholarly projects from ideation to proof of concept to commercialization. Initial funding from the program came from a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees.

Grants up to $5,000 per award will be made, with a total of up to $50,000 per academic year based on the merit of applications.

The program is administered through ���ϲ����� Libraries, in collaboration with the University’s research and commercialization programs, including the , ,��,��, the��, the����at ���ϲ�����,��,��, the����(NYSTAR designated Center for Advanced Technology) and the��. Applicants can also come directly through research classes, labs or independent study programs across the University.

Student applicants must identify specific tangible needs related to the product, service, technology or creative work they are developing. Grants will support defined projects over a clear timeframe with identified outcomes that will help move a research project or innovative venture toward proof of concept toward commercialization.

A prerequisite to applying is attendance at one of the proposal writing workshops being offered by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor, strategic initiatives ���ϲ����� Libraries, and former founding director of the Blackstone LaunchPad. Students should attend one of the following workshops to create a successful application:

• March 6, 3 to 4 p.m. in Bird Library
• March 7, 3 to 4 p.m. in Bird Library
• Friday, March 8, 10 to 11 a.m. ET via Zoom (Zoom link provided upon e-mail to orangeinnovation@syr.edu)

Applications are due Friday, March 29, by 5 p.m. ET to ���ϲ����� Libraries. For a link to the application or to register for a workshop, please email orangeinnovation@syr.edu to indicate your interest in the program.

Following a cross-campus committee review process, announcements and award letters will be made in late April or early May.

Three student teams were the fall 2023 winners of inaugural Orange Innovation Fund awards.

The new journal was developed from a Fall 2023 Honors course, HNR340: Producing a Scholarly Journal, and highlights the academic work of students across disciplines. It includes pieces ranging from technical projects to analytical essays. The course is taught by Honors Program faculty member Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, who served as advisor.

The editorial team consisted of Anjana Dasam ’26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), Samantha Olander ’26 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Newhouse School), Elijah Schmeller ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Yuming Jiang ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences) and Neeya Rostampour ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics).

The design team included Gianna Rullo ’27 (School of Architecture), Brshna Sultan ’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) and Jackelyn Villatoro-Ortiz ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts).

The website and marketing team included Amani Moses ’24 (College of Arts and Sciences and Whitman School), Kira Donegan ’26 (Newhouse School) and Ashfia Ibnat ’26 (College of Arts and Sciences).

According to Moses, the marketing director and website editor, “Research is an integral part of all our lives … we all actively engage in research to further our understanding of the world. Yet, we understand that sometimes it may be challenging for undergraduate students to find opportunities to showcase their everyday research achievements,” he says. “It is for this reason that we created The Crown: ���ϲ����� Honors Research Journal, to give Honors and SOURCE-funded students a chance to display the bountiful research that they are conducting both within and outside of their academic courses.”

Moses says, “We are a team of 11 students in the Reneé Crown University Honors program who have worked all semester to bring you the carefully curated research pieces.” The staff comprises students from all four graduating classes and over seven different schools and colleges, which allowed them to interact with each other’s unique perspectives when discussing the elements of this journal.

“Our varied outlooks led to the selection of 20 research articles that represent students from a range of disciplines, including architecture, mechanical engineering, political science and sociology. Furthermore, we wanted to ensure that various forms of research were displayed in our journal,” says Moses. “You will find some traditional research projects like Lucy Olcott’s piece, ‘Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea: Developing a peptide antagonist to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea.’ Alternatively, you will find more creative work that utilized background research for their creation, such as Ash Murray’s ‘Hunted: A tale of identity, self-discovery, mourning and acceptance.’ While these are only two examples of the stellar work within our journal, we wanted to showcase the wide array of talent in the ���ϲ����� undergraduate research community.”

“It was an absolute joy to work with such a talented and motivated group of students over the course of the semester,” says Dylan Mohr, open scholarship librarian at ���ϲ����� Libraries. “The reward at the end of this is both a SURFACE-hosted journal that showcases the incredible research and creative work done by the undergraduates at SU and a hands-on learning experience for students with the research and publishing process.”

Jana Rosinski, instruction and education librarian, working with students in the Special Collections Research Center.

SOURCE Explore introduces curious students with no prior research experience to research by providing hands-on, interactive workshops led by a faculty member or research staff member. This pilot program will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 26, Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, with presentations by all participants on March 1. Students interested in participating should submit their application by Jan. 18^��. Space is limited to 12 participants in each of the workshops. Those selected who complete the program will receive a $250 stipend.

SOURCE is partnering with �� to offer the following SOURCE Explore short-term research experience workshops:

• SOURCE Explore: Finding Yourself in the Archives

For students at ���ϲ�����, maybe you’re from ���ϲ����� or somewhere nearby, or perhaps you’re from another state or even another country. Now that you’re here, you’re learning places on and off campus, being introduced to new topics and ideas through your classes and you’re becoming part of a larger community. There’s a history to ���ϲ�����, to the city of ���ϲ�����, to this region of New York, to the United States, the Americas and the world. Ideas and stories turn into books, letters about life are sent from one friend to another, photos are taken to capture a moment, inventions are dreamed up and then created, culture is made and re-made each day through humans just living on earth. History is made up of countless stories that need many to give it voice–your voice included.

Let your wonder wander through doing archival research in special collections. Over the course of one month, students will not only learn how to do research in archives and special collections but will get to explore something of themselves—their own experiences, their own interests, their own curiosities— within SCRC’s collections. Students will create a presentation of their researching experience to share in an informal forum, along with a publication of their project in the SCRC blog, in the SU Libraries’ SURFACE digital repository for scholarship and in a zine with their fellow research residency cohort.

Instructors include Jana Rosinski, instruction and education librarian, SCRC; Amy McDonald, reference and access services librarian, SCRC.

• SOURCE Explore: Mapping Stories, Making Change

Maps are powerful storytellers. They help us visualize and share pressing stories like the impacts of climate change, the global pandemic, housing inequalities and ongoing racial injustice (among many more). They help us locate people, places and events within our stories. They help us identify patterns, trends, divergences and relationships that nuance our stories and illustrate changes in our stories over time. Maps have the capacity to bring us together as communities to better understand the complexities of the world around us and our everyday experiences of the challenges we face. Perhaps, most importantly, maps create social change by centering stories that are too often left off the map.

By the end of this program, students will tell a map-based story with industry standard mapping software by developing a geographic research question, conducting background research, identifying relevant spatial datasets and analyzing and visualizing their data to answer their research question. Students will reflect upon the power of maps as storytellers throughout the research process in a research journal. Students will create an ESRI StoryMap (i.e., an online platform that allows for map-based visual storytelling) that documents their spatial story and answers their research question. Students will share their ESRI StoryMap and research experience in a presentation at an informal forum sponsored by SOURCE.

Instructors include Jonnell Robinson, associate professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences and co-director of ���ϲ����� Community Geography; Andre Ortega, assistant professor of geography and the environment and co-director of ���ϲ����� Community Geography; and Meghan Kelly, assistant professor of geography and the environment and faculty fellow in ���ϲ����� Community Geography.

Nearly 30 million people in the United States struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is characterized by impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. Of that 30 million, less than 10% receive treatment, according to the . Among the barriers to care are cost, stigma and presence of co-occurring psychological symptoms or conditions, including anxiety, depression and trauma.

Sarah Woolf-King (left), associate professor of psychology, and Fatima Dobani, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology, were each recently awarded prestigious grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Through the development of novel intervention strategies, members of the College of Arts and Sciences’ are dedicated to advancing treatment for individuals suffering from AUD. This is another example of cutting-edge research at ���ϲ����� that contributes to human thriving, a key pillar of the University’s new . In support of that work, a psychologist and graduate student in psychology were recently awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

, associate professor of psychology, received a (major NIH research grant awarded to individual investigator teams) to test the efficacy of a novel approach to decrease alcohol use and improve co-existing psychological symptoms among people with HIV.

A second NIH award—an —was obtained by , a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology. The prestigious F31 award will support her work to generate a way to measure how discrimination against Multiracial young adults contributes to alcohol misuse among that population. Her study will develop a discrimination scale to help inform culturally sensitive intervention strategies.

Learn more about these .

]]> /blog/2023/10/20/aiming-for-the-stars-aerospace-engineering-student-meets-nasa-administrator/ Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:46:30 +0000 /?p=193105

Greg Slodysko

“I was always excited to see photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, which has some of the best pictures we’ve ever taken of distant stars and galaxies,” Slodysko says. “I also enjoyed watching documentaries or films about space travel and even went to space camp in high school.”

Now a senior studying in the , Slodysko recently had an experience that further fueled his love for rocketry: a conversation with Bill Nelson, the current administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

How exactly did he manage to meet with NASA’s chief officer? The answer lies in an unexpected craving for ice cream.

Nelson and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who represents Pennsylvania’s 8th district, visited a high school in Slodysko’s hometown of Pittson, Pennsylvania. After the event, the NASA administrator was craving a sweet treat, so they both decided to head over to a nearby ice cream shop. The shop owners are friends with Slodysko’s parents and knew he was studying aerospace engineering at ���ϲ�����. They invited Slodysko’s dad to the shop while Nelson and Cartwright were there. This provided the perfect opportunity for Slodysko to speak with Nelson.

Bill Nelson (center) and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who represents Pennsylvania’s 8th district, participate in a FaceTime call with Greg Slodysko

“When I first got the mention that I had a chance to talk to Bill Nelson, I went for it. I immediately said ‘Yes, get me in!’ These situations are rare and don’t happen often,” Slodysko says.

Slodysko couldn’t physically attend the meeting as he was on campus, but was thrilled to participate in an impromptu FaceTime call with Nelson and Cartwright. Though he was initially nervous, the conversation was filled with encouragement and support, reigniting Slodysko’s passion for aerospace engineering and potentially paving the way for a future at NASA.

“They told me I was on the right path, and they were impressed with my work. It was such an inspiring conversation that I’ll never forget,” Slodysko says.

Slodysko intends to continue exploring his interest in structural design, propulsion and aerodynamic analysis as he completes his undergraduate degree. He’s also currently completing a computer-based code that produces modular model rocket parts that are 3D printable. He aims to make this code available for free download online so that others can either create their own model rockets by adjusting code variables or work to improve the code created by him.

Additionally, Slodysko plans to enroll in graduate school and hopes to secure an internship with NASA, potentially getting to meet the administrator once again but this time, face-to-face. To Slodysko, this would be an experience that’s truly out of this world.

“I’m deeply grateful to Congressman Cartwright and Bill Nelson for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Slodysko says. “I’ll never forget this and I’m so excited for what the future holds. This is going to stick with me for a long time.”

One of the visible examples of how the University is leading the way in research excellence is the , an interdisciplinary institute whose members examine complex biological systems, developing and designing programmable smart materials to address global challenges in health, medicine and materials innovation.

BioInspired serves as a framework for ���ϲ�����’s talented faculty and student researchers, supporting researchers from such disciplines as life sciences, engineering, physics and chemistry. It collaborates with both industry partners and other academic institutions, including , and others.

Helping the current and next generation of ���ϲ����� researchers achieve their goals fuels , who served as BioInspired’s founding director beginning in April 2019, and , who took over as director on July 1. The two have frequently collaborated to provide a roadmap for successful research endeavors on campus.

Lisa Manning

“BioInspired is at the intersection of materials and living systems. The idea is there’s types of materials called biomaterials that interact with living systems, and there are types of materials that are bioinspired, which means they have features or functions or can execute tasks like intelligent new types of materials that act like living systems,” says Manning, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. “There’s this idea that organisms are actually secretly a material. By thinking about living systems as materials or having mechanical interactions, we can come up with new hypotheses that might even someday drive treatments for a disease.”

Jay Henderson

“We’re trying to figure out ways to solve really big problems like antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics or how we can better treat injuries when they occur,” says Henderson, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “How can we use materials to try to do those things? Some of the biggest challenges facing our society might have solutions rooted in the materials we could use to address them, whether it’s treating an injury or a disease, or capturing energy in some way that it can’t currently be captured to address things like global warming or combating COVID. These are problems we’re going to continue to face in the future.”

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Henderson and Manning share how BioInspired embraces an interdisciplinary approach to research, discuss the importance of introducing students to research opportunities early in their academic careers and explain how BioInspired and ���ϲ����� are helping more women and students from underrepresented populations get involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

They also explore the Cluster Hires Initiative—a key part of the intended to significantly invest in faculty recruitment and retention in areas of distinction for the University—preview the second annual BioInspired Symposium, scheduled for Oct. 19-20, and explain how they became passionate about research.

Check out featuring Henderson and Manning. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Jay Henderson and Lisa Manning discuss BioInspired’s interdisciplinary approach to research, the importance of introducing students to research opportunities early in their academic careers and what BioInspired and ���ϲ����� are doing to get more women and students from underrepresented populations into STEM fields.

The program will be led by , assistant professor of magazine, news and digital journalism in the��. She will direct five students in a public-facing research and writing project that analyzes American news coverage of U.S. war on terror policies, how those policies have affected communities, and the various ways individuals and organizations have resisted and responded to those policies and growth of the supporting government infrastructure.

Collaborators will include Nicole Nguyen, associate professor of criminology at University of Illinois Chicago, Muslim community-focused advocacy organizations and media analysis groups.

Selected fellows will spend two years on the project, receive a��$2,000��stipend and have opportunities for additional funding. Research activities will include:

• Working with Husain and collaborators to design academic research on news coverage.
• Learning how to use oral history methods to conduct trauma-informed interviews with members of communities affected by war on terror policies.
• Researching and writing about resistance projects and movements that have developed during the past three decades of war on terror policies.
• Presenting research at the 2025 Lender Center for Social Justice Symposium.

Information Session Sept. 13

An information session will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to provide student applicants with more details about the project’s components. It is scheduled for 1 p.m. in 207 Bowne Hall.

Applications Due Oct. 2

Program information is available on the . Students can apply through the . The application deadline is Monday, Oct. 2.

“We are looking for students from all academic disciplines who are passionate about news media, public messaging, community advocacy and social justice to apply for these fellowships,” Husain says. “This is an important and fascinating topic to study because it concerns some stark realities in American society. The war on terror is often framed as something that is over, but it’s not. The government infrastructure to keep it relevant to the public remains intact and its reach continues to expand, particularly globally.

“There has been resistance to these policies for decades; I think a huge and hopeful part of this project will be documenting those movements. We hope this project will shed some additional light on what is actually occurring in the war on terror arena today, how various segments of America are responding to it, and the value of added information and increased awareness regarding it.”

From left, Caden Lippie, Zachary Palfey and Jonah Soos were three of the six sport analytics students from ���ϲ����� who spent the Spring 2023 semester working for performance intelligence company Kitman Labs.

Thanks to a collaboration between the and Kitman Labs, six sport analytics students from ���ϲ����� experienced real-world opportunities this past spring.

is the world’s leading sports science and performance analytics company. The six majors from Falk’s —Robert “RJ” Frahm, Benjamin Jennings, Caden Lippie, Garrett Naylor, Zachary Palfey and Jonah Soos—were assigned weekly tasks to answer questions about the impact of the NBA schedule on player injuries.

“The best way to learn the analytical skills we’ll need for our future careers is to work directly with real-world data,” says Palfey, who graduated in May and is now working as a digital analytics assistant for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. “Kitman provided us with injury data, and we were tasked with gathering NBA schedule data. It was a great experience to match the two datasets and analyze different tendencies over time.”

Kitman Labs has an established history of working with top teams and athletes across a variety of sports. The company’s technology has been used by teams in many of the world’s most elite sports leagues, including the NCAA, Premier League (soccer) and NFL.

“It’s hard to emphasize the value of an experience like this; it takes everything we do in classes and applies it to the real world and sports industry,” says Soos, who’s in his second year of a 3+1 program majoring in sport analytics and minoring in sport management and economics. “It was a chance to learn and do what I love, and our results mattered and can make a difference.��It was a defining experience in my freshman year and a partnership I hope to continue in the future.”

The opportunities to work with Kitman will continue for Soos and other sport analytics students as Kitman and Falk recently announced a research partnership that will produce detailed analysis and findings on a wide range of topics on a quarterly basis starting this fall. Timely topics investigated in the studies will include the impact of load management and back-to-back games on the health and performance of NBA players, performances in women’s sports and other areas.

“My freshman year consisted of mostly general classes, so having an opportunity to work on an analytics project was great,” says Lippie, a rising sophomore. “I also found the support from the other students I worked with to be extremely valuable. Going into the project with little experience, I was not expecting to be contributing much, however, with the support of the group and Kitman, I was able to contribute and learn a lot in the process.”

, director of the sport analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management, is always on the lookout for potential business partners and he worked with adjunct professor and sport analytics alum Nick Riccardi to develop the partnership with Kitman.

“Kitman Labs is doing important, innovative and informative work in sports, and it’s an honor to have our students working on projects with them,” Paul says. “From day one, they have shown a genuine interest in helping our students improve and preparing them for work in the industry. We are excited about the collaboration between the talented professionals at Kitman and our students.”

Soos, who worked with Paul in the fall of 2022 on an independent research project on MLB umpires, says he jumped on the opportunity to work with Kitman because “they’re an exciting company doing exciting things.” For the project, Soos created a “star-player” variable to measure the top players on each NBA team, and used that variable to assess injuries, team success and how and when stars were injured or rested.

“Opportunities to work with real data while creating real conclusions and discoveries are few and far between for college students, let alone underclassmen,” Soos says. “Along with that, [Kitman’s team] took the time to meet with us weekly, get to know us and were quick to answer our questions and concerns.

“Never did they make us feel like college students working for them, but more like respected colleagues,” Soos says. “It was a great privilege to work with them, and I hope to do so in the future.”

Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs, says “having a cooperative research partner at ���ϲ����� will be invaluable in making these vital studies even more relevant, timely and actionable.”

Soos, Palfey and Lippie all say they want to thank Kitman, professors Paul and Riccardi, and their fellow sport analytics colleagues for their partnership and support this past spring. For Kitman, the feeling was mutual.

“We are proud to work with Professor Paul and the students at Falk College on a series of critical research topics that will help better understand and amplify the work we are doing in the space with a wide number of teams, leagues and sports,” says Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs. “Our goal is to continue to dig deeper on the how and why tied to data and performance success, and having a cooperative research partner at ���ϲ����� will be invaluable in making these vital studies even more relevant, timely and actionable.”

The analysis of the NBA-related case study findings is currently underway, and the initial results will be shared soon. There’s more to come this fall, with sport analytics students expected to play a significant role in that research.

“Having the ability to learn while completing a project was more helpful than the typical lecture format seen in most classes,” Lippie says. “Being able to learn something and then immediately apply it to a real-world task made me feel more confident in what I was learning.”

About Kitman Labs

Kitman Labs is the performance intelligence company setting a new industry standard for how elite sports organizations use data. Its proprietary advanced operating systems—iP: Intelligence Platform—is used by top teams and organizations across a variety of sports to optimize athlete performance, reduce injury risk and enhance overall health, wellness and longevity. Kitman Labs is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Dublin and Manchester.

Originally when Pasha enrolled, they felt passionately that becoming a lawyer was the best way to bring about change in their community. But Pasha soon realized the legal field wasn’t for them, and instead, set their sights on earning dual degrees in political science and sociology in the and the .

Since embarking on this journey, Pasha credits the University for providing them with the resources and, more importantly, the opportunities to effect change. Included in those efforts are Pasha’s involvement with a local organization, . The organization educates women of color about reproductive and sexual wellness issues while engaging with a community that often feels neglected, Pasha says.

Erykah Pasha ’24

“���ϲ����� just always seemed like it was going to be the place for me to go, and since I started going here, it’s clear that was the right choice for me,” Pasha says. “My education has allowed me to improve my own engagement with my community here in the City of ���ϲ�����.”

When they graduate, Pasha plans on assisting marginalized communities and citizens through policy and political engagement.

This summer, Pasha is participating in a highly competitive and prestigious public affairs experience, serving as a research assistant at the University of Michigan through the . Pasha will assist Lydia Kelow-Bennett, assistant professor of Afroamerican and African studies at the University of Michigan, on a book proposal on Black women in popular culture.

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Pasha, a and , discusses their research, how they hopes to create change through this summer experience and how they found their voice through their time on campus.

As Pride Month is celebrated across the country, Pasha, who identifies as queer, shares how both the and the play a pivotal role in their development as a campus leader and how the programs and engagement efforts offered through the LGBTQ Resource Center created a home-away-from-home atmosphere.

Check out episode 141 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Pasha. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Chance Baggett, a rising senior in the studying physics and mathematics and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, has been named a 2023-24 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF).

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.

After graduating from ���ϲ�����, Baggett plans to pursue a doctoral degree and research career in the field of physics. His current research, under the mentorship of , focuses on theoretical self-folding origami, an emerging branch of soft matter physics, with a particular focus on the role of elasticity in origami, which helps shed light on how certain physical materials function. Future implications of this work include in the fields of medicine, such as determining how misfolded proteins contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and space science, helping researchers engineer unique solutions to solar array deployment.

“I find soft matter physics incredibly exciting because it gives me the opportunity to research systems at a scale I can hold in my hand. Paper-folding, beyond a scientific pursuit, allows me to express my creativity in my work,” says Baggett. In addition to his scientific aptitude and curiosity, he has had a personal interest in paper craft since middle school, when he used specialized software to create 3D models of props found in movies or video games from paper. “That’s one thing that excited me about being nominated for the Astronaut Scholarship—it mentioned the role of creativity and the artistic aspect of science, which is really cool to see.”

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

“Chance’s commitment to a research career, and his pursuit of research opportunities in mathematics and physics since his first year at SU, made him an excellent candidate for the Astronaut Scholarship,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the .�� “We’re delighted this award will support him in the work he aims to do in soft matter physics.”

Studying remotely in his first year at ���ϲ�����, Baggett became interested in theoretical particle physics and conducted research with . After taking nuclear physics, he embarked on a research project modeling gamma flux through lead using Geant4 software simulations. This work culminated in an oral presentation at the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) Research Festival this past spring, where Baggett illustrated a counterintuitive relationship between particle flux and lead thickness.

For the next phase of his research career, Baggett will continue his exploration of soft matter physics and hopes to pursue study in atomic molecular and optical (AMO) physics at the graduate level. This summer, he received funding to conduct a National Science Foundation REU (research experience for undergraduates) project on theoretical ultracold atomic physics at Washington State University and plans to use the opportunity to explore the critical role that atomic physics plays in nano-scale origami mechanisms.

“I really love physics, and even after four years of studying, it feels like I’m only at the surface,” Baggett says. “I’m still itching to learn more, and there’s so much more to explore, so I’m compelled to keep learning physics for as long as I can.”

“The 2023 Class of Astronaut Scholars is truly exceptional and embodies the passion, dedication and innovation that will propel us into the future of STEM,” says Caroline Schumacher, ASF’s president and CEO. “We are excited to support these outstanding individuals in their endeavors and cannot wait to witness their achievements as the game-changers of tomorrow.”

Created in 1984, ASF awarded its first seven scholarships in honor of its founding members, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. Each founding member sponsored a $1,000 scholarship and began to fundraise to support future scholarships by 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 fields. Over the past 39 years, more than $8.3 million has been awarded to nearly 800 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 found on .

On April 21, the hosted its annual Undergraduate Research Festival in the Milton Atrium of the Life Sciences Complex. Throughout the day, well over 100 undergraduate students presented their findings to fellow peers, faculty, staff and interested visitors.

With projects ranging from Experiences of Deaf Women in Reproductive Healthcare Settings (Katie Miles ’24 and Ainsley Rodio ’25) to Long-Term Single People’s Experiences of Being Single (Maxum O’Halloran ’23), the impressive science- and humanities-related research on display investigated past topics through a modern lens and explored the innovations of today and the future.

Chemistry major Jack Pocorobba with his project titled,��“Forever Chemicals” No More: Photocatalytic Degradation of PFOA. (Photo provided by @suchemistry on Instagram)

Chemistry major Samantha Tran explaining her research to attendees. Her project was titled,��“Flouroplatin” Pt(IV) Pro-Probes for Fluorescence Detection of Cisplatin by In-Situ Reduction and Co-Localization of a Blue Emitting Fluorophore.

Physics major Hong Boem Lee with his project,��The Effect of Ionic Strength in MAP65 Binding to Microtubules. (Photo provided by @physicssyracuseu on Instagram)

Forensic Science major Natalia Y. Pedraza presented findings from her project,��Recovering Trace Evidence from Archival Samples. (Photo provided by @SUForensics on Twitter)

Stemming from intense astrophysical events like exploding stars, neutrinos are notoriously tricky to pin down and detect since they rarely interact with other particles.

Neutrinos can come from many sources, but Benevides Rodrigues studies the ones that come out of nuclear reactions and those that are made in particle accelerators.

Whenever a neutrino is formed, it comes in three different types: electron, muon and tau (this is where the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry analogy comes into play). But unlike those ice cream flavors, which exist in one primary flavor, neutrinos can change as they travel through space.

Starting with an internship with Fermilab, the country’s renowned particle physics and accelerator laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, Benevides Rodrigues’ research has concentrated on studying how neutrinos interact and why they change from one state as they travel.

After successfully defending her physics dissertation, Benevides Rodrigues, a Ph.D. candidate in in the , has been selected as marshal for ���ϲ�����’s 2023 Commencement.

Ohana Benevides Rodrigues G’22

“It is such an honor to be recognized,” Benevides Rodrigues says. “It’s special because I do physics in an unconventional way. Most physicists are very mathematically driven and always start with formulas and equations. I start with the opposite end. I have to think about what is going on in a given system and only then I put together the formula in a kind of intuitive way.”

The Universitywide honor recognizes outstanding academic achievement, inspired research, campus and community involvement and��Orange spirit and pride. Benevides Rodrigues will lead the graduate student procession and walk the stage during Commencement.

“The Graduate School congratulates Ohana on her excellent academic achievements and innovative, distinctive research. She has been a dedicated, hardworking doctoral student and accomplished scholar. We look forward to her representation of the Graduate School at Commencement and wish her all the best in her future career path,” says .

Currently a postdoctoral senior research associate at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Benevides Rodrigues plans on pursuing a permanent position in the field of reactor neutrinos and MeV-scale neutrino physics.

Benevides Rodrigues currently works on three different experiments. One is located near a research reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, observing and studying how the neutrinos coming out of the high flux isotope reactor change when arriving at the facility’s detector. She’s also involved in a project called Mobile Anti-Neutrino Demonstrator, developing a detector that could be used as an extra tool for nuclear safeguards and surveillance. Lastly, she uses the MicroBooNE detector at Fermilab to search for MeV-scale neutrinos coming from the neutrinos at the main injector beam.

“When I was growing up, my dad was a lawyer who eventually became a judge. I always wanted to follow my dad’s footsteps, so I wanted to go to law school and become a prosecutor. I always had a sense of justice and I think I still have that sense of justice. I consider myself an activist in many ways, including the research I’m currently doing,” Benevides Rodrigues says.

Ohana Benevides Rodrigues G’22 prepares the anode plane assembly, a major component of the short-baseline near detector, for installation at Fermilab.

It’s a career path that got off to an inauspicious start. Growing up in Petropolis, a city in Brazil north of Rio de Janeiro, Benevides Rodrigues initially struggled with math since her school didn’t have a math teacher. Eventually, a high school physics teacher helped her realize her potential.

While her math skills weren’t on the same level as her classmates, Benevides Rodrigues enjoyed an advantage over her peers: Rather than memorizing formulas and equations and relying on math to solve problems, Benevides Rodrigues employed a more intuitive approach to physics.

“I love thinking about physics that way, of looking at systems and trying to figure out what was going on there by observing and looking out for patterns and behaviors. Eventually I understood I could use math to describe those patterns and behaviors, but that’s not the only way you can think of physics,” Benevides Rodrigues says.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the State University of Campinas in Brazil, Benevides Rodrigues was drawn to ���ϲ����� for her doctoral degree. She credits her advisors, especially , her graduate school advisor, and , associate teaching professor of physics, for inspiring and motivating her to press forward with her research.

“I was lucky to have great mentors around me that supported me through my failures,” Benevides Rodrigues says. “I’m a people-driven person who connects with people and science requires that. Science is a game where we’re supposed to fail all the time. You come up with a hypothesis and you test it. It doesn’t work and you try again. That’s rule 101 of science. You just keep doing it until you get it right, so having people supporting you throughout the failures is essential,” Benevides Rodrigues says.

Alexander Borelli, Sport Analytics

Borelli

“Throughout my four years, my most influential and memorable experiences have come from within the Falk College. Starting the Fantasy Sports Club in 2021 and serving as vice president was an incredibly fulfilling experience that allowed me to bring together many like-minded individuals. It has been amazing to see an idea I started with one of my peers develop into a hub for students to attend weekly and discuss their fantasy football leagues.

“Being a recruiting intern for the football team during the 2021-22 season was also a memorable experience that taught me about the player operations side of a football organization. ���ϲ�����, and the various experiences in my time here, has helped me develop into a better person and leader.”

In the News: Borelli competed for the ���ϲ����� team that in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Kylie Dedrick, Sport Analytics

Dedrick

“���ϲ����� has provided me with memories, experiences and friends that will stick with me for years to come. One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had was joining the Sport Analytics Women (SAW) club. I was involved with other clubs but SAW truly gave me a tight-knit community of women to go through this program with as there are not too many of us. ��The club gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and take on more responsibility.

“I’ve also been able to participate in multiple case competitions, attend the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and connect with some amazing people in the sport industry. Coming to ���ϲ����� is truly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

In the News: Dedrick competed for the team that division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Kiersten Edwards, Public Health, Neuroscience

Edwards

“While my classes and clubs at ���ϲ����� have always provided security in their routine, it’s really the people and the adventures you embark on with those people that make the difference. Nothing has been more meaningful to me than the nights I spent with friends staying awake far too late, or the in-depth conversations with faculty beyond school—those that dove into my dreams, my sorrows and our collective hope for what the world could be someday. I am so grateful for the friends I made, the faculty mentorship received and the future ���ϲ����� has helped provide for me!”

In the News: Edwards is also a 2023 ���ϲ����� Scholar and through public health, she found the path to improving the lives of others.

Taylor Fein, Nutrition Science and Dietetics

Fein

“I’ve had many meaningful experiences at ���ϲ����� but volunteering for the Shaw Center’s Books and Cooks program each semester is one that stands out. We visit a local elementary school every Friday to teach students a lesson about nutrition and food from different countries. I have built connections with the students and witnessed how much joy it brings to their day, and am grateful to have been part of a program that makes a difference.

“Another experience I am thankful for is conducting my own research. In my Sleep and Hydration study I was able to conduct hands-on research with human participants. I am now looking forward to pursuing a Ph.D. in physiology and continuing this path of academic discovery through research.”

In the News: Fein received the 2021 from the Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics.

Shane Halpin, Sport Analytics

Halpin

“The sport analytics program has provided me with countless rewarding opportunities to cultivate and demonstrate my analytical skills as they relate to the world of sports. My most meaningful experiences have been representing ���ϲ����� through the SABR [Society for American Baseball Research] Diamond Dollars Case Competitions.

“As part of these events, I collaborated with peers formulating responses to complex prompts relevant to current issues in baseball. These experiences have required me to think outside the box and find precise and unique answers. Being selected as captain of my teams in the last two competitions has been a gratifying experience, allowing me to reflect on my growth as a student and leader.”

In the News: Halpin competed for the ���ϲ����� team that division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Aric Lechner, Public Health, Neuroscience

Lechner

“In my time at ���ϲ�����, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing, bright-minded people. Working closely under the guidance and mentorship of Professor and other public health faculty members has been a defining experience. The pilot study was made possible through SOURCE [���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement], through which I received research funding to further analyze new methods for the detection of opioids in wastewater.

“���ϲ����� Ambulance (SUA) has been another place of support during my time here. Being able to serve as a personnel supervisor has had a meaningful impact on my growth as a leader, teacher and person, and I’m forever grateful to all of those who have made these last four years so special.”

In the News: In addition to SUA, Lechner was a member of the , ���ϲ�����’s official welcoming committee for new students.

Eli Miller, Sport Analytics

Miller

“Being part of the Falk College provided me with a unique learning experience that I could not have received anywhere else. The coursework was not only challenging but also very practical, giving me real-life experience that will undoubtedly come in handy in my future career.

“The University’s robust internship program allowed me to apply my knowledge in real-world settings, giving me hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with industry professionals. The faculty and staff were also incredibly supportive, providing me with guidance and resources to succeed both academically and personally. I feel confident my experiences at ���ϲ����� have given me a strong foundation for success and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

In the News: Miller competed for the ���ϲ����� team that division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Mara Miranda, Public Health

Miranda

“Since beginning my journey at ���ϲ�����, I have had opportunities to grow professionally and personally. My experience participating in undergraduate research through SOURCE has been truly rewarding.

“Working with Professors , and on research involving head injuries, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), helmet policies and rule changes in the National Football League (NFL) has helped me bridge my love for sports with my passion for public health and medicine. Being a member of the Falk community granted me opportunities that I will hold for a lifetime.”

In the News: Miranda assisted with the research for a study on head injuries for NFL players that was published in the .

Matthew Penn, Sport Analytics

Penn

“Some of my most influential experiences at ���ϲ����� have been in clubs. One of those clubs is the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club, for which I have served as vice president. Through the organization, I have been able to work on research and travel to Arizona to compete against other schools across the country in SABR Case Competitions.

“Another club that has been influential is the Sport Management Club and its Charity Sports Auction. As co-chair of the Analytics Committee for the auction, I helped raise money and give back to the Central New York community. These experiences have helped me grow both as a person and in my career.”

In the News: Penn and the Sport Management Club at the 2022 Charity Sports Auction.

Madison Roberts, Human Development and Family Science

Roberts

“���ϲ����� offered many extraordinary opportunities, but my time presenting at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) stands out as one of the most impactful. In the fall of my sophomore year, I began an independent study with Professor and another student, examining the developmental and personality variables that influenced students’ willingness to engage with diverse viewpoints on campus. This project was accepted for the SPSP National Conference in Atlanta.

“This opportunity reinforced my passion for research and contributed to my decision to pursue graduate school, including taking a position in a research lab. I look forward to taking these skills and applying them to my future academic career.”

In the News: Roberts received the 2021 from the Department of Human Development and Family Science.

Brielle Seidel, Public Health

Seidel

“���ϲ����� has been a place of true academic and personal growth for me. I have been able to explore my passion for the medical field and service by taking public health and addiction classes and engaging in meaningful campus organizations, including ���ϲ����� Ambulance and Camp Kesem. Additionally, I traveled abroad to Geneva, Switzerland, expanding my understanding of the world and addiction studies.

“Being a 2022-23 Remembrance Scholar has been one of the most meaningful experiences at ���ϲ�����. I faced challenges and grief in honoring Luann Rogers and those who perished on Pan Am Flight 103. Through that experience, I was able to find the importance of promoting peace, connection and love—the qualities that build a better future.”

In the News: Seidel was one of the University’s 2022-23 Remembrance Scholars, whose mission was to honor and remember the students and others lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Joanna Vines, Public Health, Policy Studies (Maxwell School)

Vines

“During my freshman year, I determined that a double major in public health and policy studies would align with my interests and goals. This interdisciplinary path provided me with valuable opportunities and meaningful experiences and enabled me to make positive impacts over my years at ���ϲ�����.

“I have engaged in experiential learning roles as a research consultant for the Onondaga County Health Department, an intern for Planned Parenthood and a laboratory assistant at the COVID-19 Program Management Office. Through these positions, I enhanced my skills and knowledge in public health practice and connected with influential public health community leaders. These experiences inspired the research content for my honors thesis, which addresses public health and educational disparities and inequities in New York state.”

In the News: This spring, Vines is working as an intern in the education and outreach department at of ���ϲ�����.

Benjamin Wachtel, Sport Analytics

Wachtel

“When I first learned of the sport analytics program at ���ϲ�����, I knew it was the best choice for me. Now as I am completing my studies, I can reflect on how much I have grown both inside and outside the classroom.

“Out of all my experiences—whether competitions, research or other extracurricular projects—one of the most meaningful has been being a Berlin Scholar for sport management instructor . In this role, I am participating in department research while also learning about this process. I have assisted with research pertaining to the NCAA transfer portal, providing input on project ideas and cleaning data.

growth as a student, researcher and future professional in the industry could not have been achieved without the opportunities the sport analytics program provided to me.”

In the News: Wachtel competed for the ���ϲ����� team that in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Junhui “Carol” Yang, Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences)

Yang

“As an undergraduate researcher and research assistant at ���ϲ�����, I have been presented with numerous impressive opportunities and resources. During my sophomore year, I joined Professor ’s lab and worked on a study investigating the cross-generational effects of omega-3 fatty acids on improving obesity and chronic inflammation. Through this research project, I learned various skills in experimental operation, including testing gene expressions.

“Serving as a peer mentor in International Student Success and the Renée Crown Honors Program, and being a teaching assistant for Professor , has provided me with meaningful opportunities to assist others. Additionally, I am honored to have been pre-selected by the Phi Beta Kappa Society New York Chapter at ���ϲ�����, the most prestigious academic honor society in America. The confidence and passion I have developed at ���ϲ����� have propelled me toward pursuing my dream of becoming a physician-scientist.”

In the News: Yang’s research with Ramalingam involved examining obesity in male mice to explore the idea that a healthier father will produce a healthier child.

was home in Kenya when she discovered that her grandfather had been tortured, detained and disenfranchised by the British for his part in the Mau Mau war in Kenya, a Kenyan revolt against British colonial rule in the 1950s, which led to 11,000 deaths by some counts.

She was sitting just a half mile away from the detention center that imprisoned him, when she decided that she wanted to get a master’s degree in Pan African studies—and focus her research on reparations for colonialism.

Karinge was introduced to the College of Arts and Sciences’ as an undergraduate student at the United States International University – Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, when she took a pair of classes taught by alumni of the program. She was immediately drawn to their perspectives, passion and determination to make a difference—and they introduced her to works authored by other renowned scholars from the program that influenced her academic path.

“When it came time to apply for graduate school, there was absolutely no question about where I wanted to go because I’d been exposed to so many revolutionary ideas from ���ϲ����� alumni and faculty,” she says. “The Pan African studies program was exactly what I was looking for.”

Karinge is now in her second year at ���ϲ����� and just published a paper on the same uprising that her grandfather was involved in. In her research, she examines whether the court-ordered reparations from this case were sufficient and whether the British government has overstepped its rights to conceal key documents from the case.

“Elderly Kenyans from the Mau Mau group filed a case against the British government in 2009 and the judge ruled in favor of the claimants,” says Karinge. “But, my research questions whether this settlement was sufficient from a reparative justice lens—and looks at the politics of access to documents and information about this case.”

When Karinge began to conduct her research for this project, she discovered that the British government had gone through great lengths since the 1960s to remove and destroy documents that confirmed the widespread abuse and torture that had taken place in detention camps during the Mau Mau war, including the one where Karinge’s grandfather was detained.

“They were having bonfires to burn documents and flying over the ocean to dump crates of files,” Karinge explains.

Joy Nyokabi Karinge (right) interviewing her grandmother, Lucy Wanjiku Karinge (left), in Kenya. Stories passed down from her family members have inspired her research pursuits at ���ϲ�����.

The presiding judge over the High Court in London ordered the remaining documents to be released, or the British government would be held in contempt of court. They eventually released them—and the documents confirmed the many accounts of violence. This led to the settlement order, which forced the British government to release a statement of regret, offer a settlement of $31 million, and install a statue in Nairobi in honor of the fallen Mau Mau soldiers. But, the documents went back on lockdown.

“The outcome of this case was only a partial win as it did not fulfill the tenets of reparative justice,” says Karinge, who explains that the British government did not sufficiently accept liability for their actions, nor address the deep-seated injustices of colonialism, that continue to harm Kenyans across the country.

“More sobering was the fact that the British government continued to maintain that the migrated documents belonged to them and the released files, now heavily redacted, were transferred to The National Archives in Kew, London.”

Karinge traveled to London in the summer of 2022, to review the files for this research project, and she learned for herself just how difficult it is to access these strictly controlled documents. Her trip was supported by the , the , an African American studies departmental award and Hendricks Chapel.

Despite making all of the proper arrangements with the archives’ authorities to view the files, Karinge was denied access when she arrived in London.

After she was shut down by the British government, she began meeting with many other scholars, experts, reparations groups, Kenyan officials, historians, advocates and others, who had confronted similar challenges with accessing these records and wanted to see the archives opened and returned to Kenya.

“To keep these archives locked down is stealing history and sanitizing it—and trying to control the narrative of British colonialism in Kenya,” she says. “And this raises questions about the broader conversation around reparations.”

Karinge published her paper, “,’” in Democracy in Africa, which outlines her findings about the lengths that the British government has gone through to keep these documents locked down and why this is unjust for Kenyans.

“It is evident that silence has been systemized and weaponized to conceal and deny colonial history,” she says. “When I was in high school, just 10 years ago, we were being taught the benefits of colonialism. We need to rewrite all of that and share the true stories of Kenya.”

Karinge at Christ Church in Oxford during her research trip in 2022

She hopes her paper adds to the voices calling for change—and contributes to the bigger conversation about adequate reparations.

Karinge stresses that this conversation is not just about the victims of one uprising— or even about all of Kenya. She points to the many Africans who don’t have access to land, have been separated from family and have been cut off from opportunity and wealth.

“This is the story of a continent,” she says, referring to restricting access to the records. “We know African countries are stuck where they are because of the damage that was done during colonialism. So, how do we begin to rethink and change the systems and institutions that continue to oppress African people?” Karinge’s research contributes an informed perspective and new ideas to the conversation about adequate reparations in Kenya—and beyond.

Story by Emily Halnon��

During the annual ACC Meeting of the Minds research conference, held March 24-26 on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, undergraduate students from each ACC institution convened to present recent findings to their peers.

The nomination and selection process—conducted by the (SOURCE)—is extremely competitive, and only five students represented ���ϲ�����:

• Nathan Ashby, a senior biochemistry and neuroscience major in the ;
• Grace Brock, a senior political science major in the and College of Arts and Sciences;
• Jordyn Lee, a sophomore sport management major in the ;
• Katarina Sako, a junior neuroscience and biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences; and
• Husna Tunje, a junior environmental engineering major in the .

(From left): SOURCE assistant director Odette Marie Rodríguez poses with student researchers Jordyn Lee ’25, Katarina Sako ’24, Nathan Ashby ’23, Husna Tunje ’24 and Grace Brock ’23 during the annual ACC Meeting of the Minds research conference.

Students either delivered a 10-minute oral presentation followed by a Q&A (Brock and Sako) or they devised a poster displaying their research (Ashby, Lee and Tunje).

Get to know three of this year’s Orange representatives at the conference, their passions for their research topics and how this experience inspired them to go further with their research.

Katarina Sako ’24: Ensuring Older Adults Have the Proper Prescriptions

Last summer, Sako watched as her grandfather was admitted to a hospital after a series of fainting spells. While hospitalized her grandfather, who was on several medications at the time, was observed to have a really slow heart rate, and his physician recommended installing a pacemaker.

Before the pacemaker surgery could be scheduled, Sako’s grandfather started seeing a different physician—one who, after carefully reviewing his medical history, realized the fainting was caused by one of his medications.

Katarina Sako ’24

The experience inspired Sako to become interested in geriatrics, the branch of medicine focused on the health needs and care of older adults. Her research addressed a topic currently underutilized in skilled nursing facilities across the United States: deprescribing, or the “systematic reassessment of an elderly patient’s medications in an effort to promote a better quality of life and ensure that the benefits of the medications they’re taking outweigh the harms,” Sako says. “My grandfather was lucky, but he’s not the exception [to being overprescribed]. This is very common in elder care. The elderly population is expected to double by 2050, so this is an international issue in terms of properly addressing the needs of the elderly population.”

Knowing most people don’t know much about deprescribing, Sako set out to demonstrate what deprescribing is and why it’s an important topic to study. Her presentation clearly defined the problems facing elderly citizens who are receiving more than five medications, the harm overmedicating can cause and how her research would help resolve the issue.

Sako says besides learning from her fellow presenters, the most influential portion of the conference was the Saturday evening keynote speaker: Brandy Faulkner, Gloria D. Smith Professor of Black Studies and collegiate assistant professor of political science at Virginia Tech.

“She talked about being fearless with your research, being open to new ideas while remaining diligent in your research. She made me realize that when I’m investing in my research project, I shouldn’t have to modify my goals and I should always keep the interests of my target population in mind. She reframed how I should mature as a researcher going forward,” Sako says.

Grace Brock ’23: Analyzing the Effect of Gender on Xenophobic Language in Political Communications:

Political races have become increasingly personal over the years, with candidates relying more and more on language that tends to divide rather than unify when reaching out to voters.

In her home country of England, Brock knows firsthand how contentious some of the populist radical right-wing parties—those that are anti-immigration and pro-nationalist—have become.

Grace Brock ’23

Brock, a native of Cornwall, England, whose studies in Maxwell focus on comparative politics, wanted to analyze the effect of gender on xenophobic language when it came to political communications distributed in France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

“I’ve always been interested in xenophobic language and where those beliefs come from. When you look at these populist radical right-wing party officials, you see how people could take on these beliefs because how they’re communicated to people can be quite convincing. But these politicians are expressing some extreme, dangerous views,” says Brock, who is also a student-athlete on the University’s and teams.

Turning to a major source of campaign communications, Twitter, Brock spent more than 100 hours over two months reviewing tweets from eight populist radical right party officials over a yearlong period to see how different candidates discussed issues involving immigration and non-native individuals.

Brock studied both tweets and campaign speeches from male and female politicians to see how often their rhetoric involved xenophobic language, and whether there were observable differences in how female and male candidates spoke about issues of immigration.

“I found that male party officials were utilizing a lot more xenophobic language than the female officials [on social media], but when I looked at the speeches, I didn’t really find a difference in the utilization of xenophobic language,” Brock says. “There’s a concept in literature called strategic descriptive representation, which suggests women are being brought into the parties to attract more female voters. Since the tweets were targeted more at voters, but the speeches were targeted at smaller, more elite audiences, I concluded that when women are communicating with voters, they’re modifying their use of xenophobic language. But with the lead audiences, there isn’t really a difference.”

Brock says she felt great pride representing the University at the conference, and the Q&A provided her with important takeaways that will impact her research moving forward.

Jordyn Lee ’25: Tracking a Lack of Diversity and Equity in Professional Sports Front Offices

When Lee heads home after completing her sophomore year, she will intern for two different sports organizations: with event operations for Fastpitch Nation Softball Park, a sports complex in Windsor, Connecticut, and with USA Boccia, a national organization dedicated to promoting a highly competitive seated Paralympic sport where athletes with disabilities and able-bodied athletes participate in a throwing sport.

Jordyn Lee ’25

Lee, a lifelong tennis player, hopes to work for a professional sports organization or league once she finishes her sport management degree. As someone who grew up playing and following sports, Lee knows the front offices of these leagues and teams predominantly feature male executives.

When she arrived on campus, Lee noticed that her sport management classes contained mostly males, but she was determined to follow in the footsteps of recent female sport management graduates who have landed key jobs with professional sports teams and leagues. Those experiences of being in the minority in the classroom, combined with her personal experiences in sports, inspired Lee’s poster presentation delving into the lack of diversity and equity among the front offices of teams in both the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“Just speaking with the other participants at the Meeting of the Minds gave me new insights into my research and [the knowing] that the possibilities are endless,” Lee says. “This experience inspired me to keep doing what I’m doing, to keep going with this research, and to expand it to include other sports leagues, like the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), to compare their front offices to the NBA teams. I left this conference more determined to raise awareness of this issue and make changes in these professional sports organizations.”

While obesity in mothers has been the primary focus of early life nutrition and children’s health, obesity in fathers has been overlooked. According to the CDC, about two in three males of reproductive age in the United States are either overweight or suffer from obesity.

, Ph.D., an assistant professor of in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, has spent the last two years working with students on research involving parental obesity and how a diet modification–specifically the consumption of fish oil–can potentially reduce a father’s or mother’s obesity and its adverse effect on children.

After studying effects of fish oil in maternal obesity last year, Ramalingam and nutrition science students Junhui “Carol” Yang ’23 and Mariana Pérez Lugo ’24 are currently examining obesity in male mice to explore the idea that a healthier father will produce a healthier child.

“If (human) fathers are obese, it increases the risk of obesity by 10 to 12 times in their children,” Ramalingam says. “My research will hopefully establish that fathers need to pay attention to what they eat during the pre-pregnancy period to help reduce obesity in their children.”

Yang, a double major in nutrition science in the Falk College and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, is investigating the role of fish oil in reducing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity in males, and examining if healthier fathers are producing healthier female offspring.

Pérez Lugo is studying the role of fish oil in reducing obesity in male offspring by analyzing the adipose tissue (i.e., body fat) of obese male mice who are fed fish oil and their offspring.

The American Heart Association is funding this year’s research and funded last year’s research, which was spearheaded by Akriti Shrestha G’22, a research assistant in the nutrition science department. Last year, Shrestha focused on the male offspring liver tissue.

In a previous study, Ramalingam examined the benefits of fish oil for pregnant female mice and their offspring. Shrestha’s research and the ongoing research with Yang and Pérez Lugo is connected to Ramalingam’s earlier study, with the ultimate goal to determine if fish oil consumption in both females and males will lead to healthier offspring. Ramalingam’s ongoing research was recently highlighted in from ���ϲ����� Woman Magazine.

“The rates of obesity are increasing and leads to other diseases, including diabetes and heart diseases,” Ramalingam says. “I have a genetic risk of heart disease and hence my interest in reducing obesity and associated heart diseases. What better way than to reduce it using diet or bio actives.”

Nutrition science student Junhui “Carol” Yang (left) says with the support and encouragement of Professor Latha Ramalingam, she has received several grants and awards for her research.

Ramalingam says this study is important for Yang and Pérez Lugo, who are both interested in attending medical school. The research training in nutrition will help them recognize the importance of nutrition in the prevention of chronic diseases.

To get a better understanding of the impact of this research on their current studies and future careers, we asked Yang and Pérez Lugo about their work with Ramalingam. Here’s that conversation:

Q: Why is this research important to you?

Yang: This research is valuable because it allows me to see my potential and interest in doing research; Dr. Ramalingam has given me patient and professional guidance on my graduate thesis for the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and with her support and encouragement, I have received several research-related grants and awards for my study, which has built my confidence and made me more proactive.

I am impressed by how much financial and resource support ���ϲ����� provides to undergraduate researchers. Through doing presentations at research fairs, I have met and built connections with several outstanding professors and researchers.

Pérez Lugo: This research is important to me because we aim to find a very easy and realistic intervention that will lead to healthier children. Fish oil can be taken as a supplement but can also be found in certain foods. A good example is adding fatty fish such as salmon to our diet.

Q: For prospective students who want to come to ���ϲ����� and conduct research, can you give us an idea of the time commitment for this research and how you have fit it into your schedules?

Pérez Lugo: The time commitment has varied depending on the stage of the study we were in. You can spend anywhere from two to 10 hours in the lab each week. It comes down to communicating with your research mentor and setting clear expectations and goals.

I am lucky that Dr. Ramalingam is very flexible and considerate of my class schedule, so it has never been difficult to make time for research. If time commitment is a concern, set a specific time each week dedicated to research and look at it as you would a class or any other commitment where you are expected to attend.

Yang: The first semester of your sophomore year is a good time to go research fairs because the students and professors of various laboratories will introduce their current projects and research topics. The students can target several laboratories based on their interests and leave their contact information to the lab members. Later, they will receive emails from the targeted labs. They can ask more detailed questions, including the schedule.

Mariana Pérez Lugo says her research work in Falk College has provided valuable experience that will benefit her future career in medicine.

When the decision is made, students receive related lab training and start lab work during the second semester of their sophomore year. However, if the student already feels overwhelmed by courses or anything else in their sophomore year, junior year is also a good time to commit to a lab. In my situation, I efficiently took most of the required courses for my double majors in my first two years, so I only needed to take 15 credits of courses per semester in the following two academic years while committing to research. Another smart way to save time is using your research project to apply for an independent study to fulfill 3 credits of major electives.

Q: How valuable has it been/will it be for your career goals to have conducted this research and worked with Dr. Ramalingam on this project?

Yang: This enjoyable working experience in Dr. Ramalingam’s lab helps me see the charm of finding potential solutions to clinical diseases through research. I have changed my career goal from being a physician to a clinical trial researcher for epidemiology.

Now, obtaining an M.D.-Ph.D. degree will be my new academic goal for the coming years. Meanwhile, I have gained good skills in using experimental instruments, including but not limited to RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and gene expression. This has enabled me to build a good skill foundation to start more research studies in the future, even in different science fields.

Pérez Lugo: I joined Dr. Ramalingam’s lab my first semester of freshman year, so I have been part of this study for a long time and am very proud of everything I’ve learned and accomplished. It has taught me so much not only in the lab but in areas such as writing, teamwork and problem-solving.

This has been a valuable opportunity because it has given me research experience that will be beneficial in my career in medicine. Additionally, as data analysis continues, we are also writing our research paper on this study with the intent to publish which will also serve as my senior year honors thesis.

Q: Is there anything else about your experience that you’d like to share?

Junhui “Carol” Yang, shown here at the Honors Research Fair with Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, says her career goal is to become a clinical trial researcher for epidemiology.

Yang: Dr. Ramalingam is very generous and thoughtful. We had a high school student doing a summer research project in our lab, and I had a wonderful working and mentoring experience with her. During the project, whenever we encountered questions, Dr. Ramalingam gave timely help and guidance. Before the student left, Dr. Ramalingam took us out to celebrate. This semester, Dr. Ramalingam organized a team meal for us and praised our efforts!

Pérez Lugo: Being in a research lab has been a major part of my undergraduate career and I am very grateful that Dr. Ramalingam gave me a chance my freshman year. To any student interested in research but doesn’t have a lab yet, my advice would be to reach out and stay in touch with professors whose research interests you. They may not have an open spot now, but they might next semester!

Junhui “Carol” Yang

A native of China, Yang is a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program advisory board and the American Society for Nutrition, and this past fall she was nominated by Falk faculty as a candidate for a ���ϲ����� and Falk College Scholar Award. She received the Ruth Tolley Award from the Women of the University Community in Spring 2022, and she has received funding/scholarship awards from several ���ϲ����� programs, including SOURCE, the University Honors Program, International Student Success and Invest in Success.

Mariana Pérez Lugo

A native of Puerto Rico, Pérez Lugo is president of the Catholic Student Association and an EMT for ���ϲ����� Ambulance and was an orientation leader. She is a Renée Crown University Honors Program student, and received the Nutrition Science and Dietetics Research Award-Undergraduate and the Emili Gere Coon nutrition student award. She has received scholarships/funding for her research as a McNair Scholar, WiSE Undergraduate Research Scholar and SOURCE grant recipient. She is in Spain this semester with the ���ϲ����� Abroad program.

During the session, students interacted with items from the SCRC archives dating back hundreds of years and talked with curators about how SCRC can be a valuable resource in their research. Read more about their visit in the Cool Class profile below.

Class Name: European Music Before 1800 (HOM/MHL 267)

Professor: , professor and department chair of art and music histories

Class description: Students in HOM/MHL 267 learn the cultural and philosophical contexts of European music before 1800. Students consider a range of questions: What did this music mean to people when it was originally composed? How did this music participate in and reflect European culture? Why do we still study this music? What might it reveal about the power structures of the past and present? Why have some composers and types of music been excluded from the “canon” (collection of influential composers and works)? This course helps students formulate answers to these questions through extensive listening, targeted readings, creative projects and musical analysis.

A student examines an Edison cylinder record case from the SCRC collection.

Students who should enroll: HOM/MHL 267 includes students from across the University, although anyone who takes the class must be able to read music. A&S majors include music history and cultures, psychology, women’s and gender studies, communication sciences and disorders, and biology. College of Visual and Performing Arts majors include sound recording technology, performance, music industry and music education.

What students learned at SCRC: Students were acquainted with music-related collections, particularly those from the University’s��, which includes over 500,000 items ranging from the earliest experimental recordings on tinfoil to modern digital media. They also viewed and handled European music books and manuscripts from the medieval and early modern period.

The benefits of hands-on learning: The visit to SCRC provided students an opportunity to make a tangible connection to material discussed in class. During a session led by SCRC curator Jana Rosinski, they were introduced to different types of sound recording media including Edison cylinders, diamond discs and flexidiscs. Rosinski also pulled a range of 19th- and 20th-century objects from their music collections to talk about the range of materials available to students in the SCRC.

During a second session, curator Daniel Sarmiento offered a presentation about SCRC’s services and discussed with students the difference between primary and secondary sources. Curator Irina Savinetskaya then spoke with the class about the research center’s medieval and early modern musical collections. Students interacted with a very large elaborately illuminated choir book (the ���ϲ����� Gradual), which they had learned about in class. They also saw a range of printed musical material, dating from the early modern period. They discussed the different ways books were used, for example how singers would stand around the choir book to perform and how people wrote notes in the margins.

This latest meeting follows the March renewal of an Educational Partnership Agreement between the AFRL and ���ϲ����� that provides a unique opportunity for research and development in a number of diverse technical areas.

“The renewal of ���ϲ�����’s partnership with AFRL in March and our recent brainstorming session are major steps forward for both parties,” says , vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “Our students will have increased academic, research and internship opportunities and faculty will enjoy access to new scientific collaborators and to AFRL’s world-class lab facilities. Both ���ϲ����� and the AFRL, and indeed the U.S., will benefit from the work of more dedicated scholars focusing on quantum computing inquiry and technology development as well as the AFRL’s other core focus areas.”

The representatives discussed current projects both parties have underway then generated ideas on how to jointly expand their explorations. Ideas included ways to develop new laboratory and academic partner collaborations and to create new undergraduate and graduate student research opportunities.

“Having the ability to work with more great scientific minds, to access the lab’s unique capacities and to align with its worldwide reach is a tremendous opportunity for ���ϲ�����,” says J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “We look forward to ongoing productive findings and exceptional research potential for students and faculty as they immerse in cutting-edge thinking, experiments and applications taking shape in quantum information science and the lab’s core competencies of cyber science and technology, processing and exploitation, connectivity and dissemination and autonomy, command and control decision support.”

The AFRL Information Directorate, located in Rome, New York, is the Air Force’s and nation’s premier research organization for command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence and cyber technologies.��It has been for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. The lab leads an international alliance of government, academic and industry researchers to accelerate development of quantum technologies. It has received significant government funding to expand its global network of quantum information science collaborators in those sectors, with goals to speed deployment of quantum technologies and develop the workforce needed to meet emerging national security challenges.

Five leaders from the AFRL attended: Michael Hayduk, deputy director, Information Directorate; Don Telesca, chief of the Quantum Information Sciences and Technology Branch; and Laura Wessing, Kathy-Anne Soderberg and Matt LaHaye, principal research scientists.

In addition to Ritter and Haynie, two dozen others represented ���ϲ�����, including Interim Vice President for Research Ramesh Raina; College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith; College of Arts and Sciences Dean Karin Ruhlandt; Dean of the Graduate School Peter Vanable; and Chris Johnson, associate provost for academic affairs and professor of civil and environmental engineering.

Also present were associate deans of research in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and School of Information Studies, and 13 University faculty members from the departments of physics, information science, and electrical engineering and computer science. Staff members from ���ϲ�����’s offices of Community Engagement, Government Relations, Foundation Relations and Research participated as well.

A&S students presented their work at the Undergraduate Research Festival in the Milton Atrium of the Life Sciences Complex on April 22.

The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) hosted one of the University’s largest in-person undergraduate research festivals on April 22. The event offered a sneak peek of scholarly possibilities to current and also admitted students who were on campus for a visit.

With project titles ranging from “Analysis of Abraham Lincoln Brigade Posters/Postcards Propaganda” (Gillian Follett ’22) to “Determining Cause of Death Using Machine Learning Algorithms” (Cheyene Muenzel ’22), the student research on display investigated topics of the past through a contemporary lens and explored research innovation of today.

After being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and , this year’s event marked the first in-person festival in three years. Well over 100 undergraduate students presented their findings to fellow peers, faculty, staff and visitors in the Milton Atrium of the Life Sciences Complex.

Sophia Martin (left) and Niaz Zaid Goodbee presented findings from their project, “The Effect of Ionic Strength in Microtubule Tactoid Formation.”

The festival took place on a day when students accepted to ���ϲ����� and their families visited campus to get a taste of the Orange experience. One of their activities was visiting the festival to learn about the many research opportunities available to Arts and Sciences undergraduates. A large contingent of future students and their families, led by A&S | Maxwell School Director of Undergraduate Recruitment Chris Anderson, took their time enjoying the displays.

The festival featured 82 poster exhibitions and seven faculty-moderated presentations with 24 student panelists, making it one of the largest of any such event at ���ϲ�����.

Subjects spanned the humanities and sciences, with students taking part from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Forensics, Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, Physics, Psychology, and Writing and Rhetoric.

“I have to thank the (Research Celebration) committee–that was a tough job to decide,” says , the committee chair and an assistant professor in the . “The incredible participation shows the vitality of the research that’s being done at Falk.”

Held virtually March 29, the Research Celebration highlighted students’ research collaborations with their faculty mentors. Undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students who are enrolled in a Falk degree, minor or CAS (Certificate of Advanced Study) submitted electronic posters of completed or in-progress empirical, exploratory, policy analytic, systematic review, or hypothesis-driving research projects using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods for display.

Graduate student Abigail Picinich (right) submitted one of the winning posters for this year’s Falk Student Research Celebration. She’s standing in front of her poster with faculty mentor Sara Vasilenko.

The committee selected nine winners—three each in the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral categories (the winners are listed at the end of this story). , research operations specialist in the and a member of the Research Celebration committee, says the winning posters are displayed on the third floor of White Hall in the Falk Complex, across from the Research Center (Room 344).

“Congratulations to all the students and faculty mentors for an outstanding virtual display of research projects,” Gratien says. “We are so excited that the interest and participation in the Falk Student Research Celebration keeps growing each year and thank you to all the students and their mentors for their hard work and high-quality poster submissions.”

The posters were judged by the Research Celebration committee, which is comprised of faculty and staff. Faculty mentors who are on the committee did not participate in rating their students’ posters.

“I want to thank all of the faculty members who were involved in mentoring the students,” Vasilenko says. “There’s so much great research happening at Falk involving students, and that’s something the faculty should be really proud of.”

2022 Falk Research Celebration Winners

Undergraduate Student Poster Winners

• Accumulative Effects of Novel Biomarkers on Identification of Individuals at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)

Names: Nathan Redmond, Jared Rosenberg and Professor Joon Young Kim

Program/Major: Health and Exercise Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Joon Young Kim

The poster from Samantha Jezak (left) and Olivia Templeton was selected as one of the three winners for undergraduate students. Their faculty mentor is Jessica Garay.

• The Effect of a 3-month Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet Intervention on Diet Quality

Names: Olivia Templeton and Samantha Jezak

Program/Major: Nutrition Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Jessica Garay��

• Association between Cognitive Function and Metabolic Syndrome in US Firefighters: Does Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) Matter?

Names: Sewina Yu, Professor Joon Young Kim and Myong-Won Seo

Program/Major: Health and Exercise Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Joon Young Kim

Graduate Student Poster Winners

• Risks and Protective Factors for Veterans’ PTSD, Mental Well-being, and Substance use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Names: Jacqueline Allen, Professor Xiafei Wang and Professor Ken Marfilius

Program/Major: Social Work

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Ken Marfilius��

• Interparental Conflict in Early Childhood as a Predictor of Adolescent Depression and Anxiety

Name: Abigail Picinich

Program/Major: Human Development and Family Studies

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Sara Vasilenko��

• Paternal Obesity and Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on Offspring Metabolic Health

Names: Akriti Shrestha, Mariana Perez Lugo and Professor Latha Ramalingam

Program/Major: Nutrition Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Latha Ramalingam

��Doctoral Student Poster Winners��

• Cardiac Autonomic Modulation in Healthy Young Adults With and Without History of COVID-19

Names: Burak Cilhoroz, Sydney Brackett, Leah Rozumov, Sophia Luchs, Zachary Greely and Professor Kevin Heffernan

Program/Major: Exercise Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Kevin Heffernan��

• Examining Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in Normal Weight (NW) and Overweight/Obese (OB) Individuals: Results from 2017-2020 NHANES

Names: Lindsey Clark, Myong-Won Seo and Professor Joon Young Kim

Program/Major: Exercise Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Joon Young Kim��

• The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Cardiorespiratory Function

Names: Andrew Heckel, Danielle Arcidiacono, Kailee Coonan, Jacob DeBlois, Alaina Glasgow and Professor Kevin Heffernan

Program/Major: Exercise Science

Faculty Research Mentor: Professor Kevin Heffernan

About the Falk College Research Center

The promotes a robust, collaborative research community in which�� At Falk, graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to work directly with faculty to collect data, analyze findings and draw conclusions on relevant topics surrounding public health, food studies, nutrition, sport management, human development and family science, social work, exercise science, and marriage and family therapy.

Energy, Environment and Smart Materials

• First Prize: “Light-Induced Self-Writing: A Novel Approach to Develop Organized Polymer Composite Materials.” Shreyas Pathreeker; Advisor Ian Hossein
• Second Prize: “Development of Inside Out Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Combined Heat and Power Systems.” Alexander Hartwell, Advisor Jeongmin Ahn
• Third Prize: “HYDRUS-1D Modeling to Represent Hydrologic Performance of the OnCenter Green Roof.” Courtney Gammon; Advisor Cliff Davidson

Communication and Security

• First Prize: “Optimized Virtual Antenna Array of Wideband Narrow Beam MIMO System for Overlapped Virtual Elements.” Richard Tanski, Advisor: Jay Lee
• Second Prize: “Coverage in Networks with Hybrid Terahertz, Millimeter Wave and Microwave Transmissions.” Xueyuan Wang, Advisor: M. Cenk Gursoy
• Third Prize: “An Efficient Deep Capsule Network with Interleaved Sparse Connections and Attention-Based Routing.” Chenbin Pan, Advisor: Senem Velipasalar

��Sensors, Robotics and Smart Systems

• First Prize: “Towards Disaster Recovery: Incorporating the Uncertainties Caused by Cyber Attacks in Controlled Islanding.” Sagnik Basumallik, Advisor: Sara Eftekharnejad
• Second Prize: “Real-Time Adaptive Sensor Attack Detection in Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems.” Francis Akowuah, Advisor: Fanxin Kong
• Third Prize (tie): “Data Generation for Transient Stability Assessment to Address Lack of Training Data.” Rui Ma, Advisor: Sara Eftekharnejad, and “Soft Crawling Inchworm Robot Enabled by Dynamically Tunable Friction.” Siavash Sharifi, Advisor: Wanliang Shan

Health and Well-Being

• First Prize: “Investigation of the Effects of Electrochemical Reactions on Complex Metal Tribocorrosion Within the Human Body.” Thomas Welles; Advisor Jeongmin Ahn
• Second Prize: “Prediction of Tight Junction Strand Architecture.” Nandhini Rajagopal, Advisor: Shikha Nangia
• Third Prize: “Persister Control by Leveraging Dormancy Associated Reduction of Antibiotic Efflux.” Sweta Roy; Advisor: Dacheng Ren

Peter Robison ’78 Ph.D. has established an endowment in honor of professor emeritus Dick Levy to support student research in biology.

Peter Robison G’78 (Ph.D.) remembers joining professor emeritus of biology Richard Levy’s lab in 1974 during a particularly tumultuous time in our nation’s history. Richard Nixon had resigned from the presidency due to the Watergate scandal and students were feeling uncertain and even pessimistic about the state of the government and the country.

“Dick counseled us not to worry, telling us to stick with our studies and things would turn out fine—and it did,” Robison says. “He was definitely a family man and a father figure to us, and we regularly had lab events where our families were also invited.”

Robison, now retired in Florida, laughs when he thinks back on the numerous occasions bringing his two-year-old daughter into the lab on evenings or weekends, setting her up in a playpen, and letting her play with plastic beakers while he carried out experiments.

“I’m not sure if Dick knew, but if he did, I don’t think he had any problem with it,” he says.

Robison says Levy was a guiding mentor to many and motivated students through positive encouragement. He fondly recalls the camaraderie within Levy’s lab. “We had a summer graduate student-faculty softball league up at Skytop. While Dick might not have been an athlete, he was one of our biggest fans and came to support us at just about every game. Everyone working in his lab was like one big family.”

For those like Robison who worked closely with Levy, they got to know that his compassionate nature stretched far beyond the classroom. Joann Ingulli-Fattic, a technician and manager in Levy’s lab during the 1970s, says, “Dick always took the time and care to educate those who sought out his guidance on work-related matters, as well as on many other topics. Dick’s calm, logical and fair approach to situations was generally recognized and he was consulted for his sage advice.”

Enduring the Unthinkable

As a young Jewish boy living in Germany in 1938, Levy and his family were among the millions persecuted by the Nazis under Hitler. At nine years old, he was one of around 10,000 children under age 17 to be granted refuge in England—but he was forced to leave his parents behind in Germany. Levy was taken in by a British family who would also rescue 12 more Jewish children. Read more about Levy’s harrowing story in .

The memory of fleeing for his life and then being rescued through the generosity of another family stayed with Levy and shaped his moral view. Later in life, Levy paid his experience forward. He established a fund at the Central New York Community Foundation. The endowment supports Jewish organizations dedicated to preserving the memory and names of Jews murdered during the Holocaust as well as organizations that help refugee families reestablish their lives and overcome the barriers to successful integration in their new communities.

Levy’s positive outlook and unwavering commitment to helping others both at ���ϲ����� and beyond have inspired Robison to create an endowment supporting student research in honor of Dick Levy. His gift to the Department of Biology is part of the University’s Forever Orange campaign.

Dick Levy, professor emeritus of biology, in 1981. Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� Archives, Special Collections Research Center.

A Backbone in the Biology Department

For over 35 years, Levy was a pillar in the Department of Biology, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary (the department we know today was formed in 1970-71, after the departments of zoology, bacteriology and botany merged). He served as department chair from 1993-99 and retired from the University with professor emeritus status in 2000. Levy, who still resides in the ���ϲ����� area, is also the author of “Biology at ���ϲ�����: 1872-2010” (���ϲ����� Press, 2012), a book chronicling the department’s growth and crowning achievements.

As a graduate student in biology, Robison studied under Levy, who specialized in enzymology, a branch of biochemistry that deals with enzymes, the catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in living organisms. Robison’s work with Levy at ���ϲ����� was a springboard for a successful decades-long career in the oil industry.

After graduating from ���ϲ����� in 1978, Robison accepted a postdoctoral research position at the University of Texas under the late��, a 1971 doctoral graduate of ���ϲ�����’s biology department. There Robison studied enzymology around carbon dioxide fixation, which he says Tabita best described as “the dark side of photosynthesis,” since it is the part of that process of converting inorganic carbon to organic molecules that doesn’t require sunlight. In 1980, he was hired by Texaco to help set up a biomass fermentation laboratory and from there spent the remainder of his career working in the oil industry as a researcher, environmental manager and fuel quality advisor.

A Chance to Give Back

Robison (right) with Levy at Robison’s doctoral defense in 1978.

Throughout his career, Robison never lost sight of his formative years as a graduate student at ���ϲ�����. “When I think back on my time spent in graduate school, I remember that it is a critical juncture in a person’s scientific career where they are really trying to figure out where they want to go,” Robison says. “I wanted to give back and be able to give back specifically, so I am supporting student research in biology.”

Robison’s endowment will be created with a gift from his estate. He is also making a difference now with annual gifts to the department, to be used for student research in Levy’s honor.

Katharine Lewis, the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and biology department chair, says, “This donation in celebration of Dick Levy is a wonderful way to continue Dick’s already very strong legacy to SU’s biology department. It will enable us to fund student independent research projects, which is obviously crucial for graduate student success and is also often a life-changing experience for our undergraduates.”

Lewis says Robison’s contribution has already funded students with stipends which helped them conduct full-time research over winter break. It will also cover the costs of supplies needed in order to conduct research projects, under the mentorship of biology faculty, this academic year. The department granted three stipends at the end of 2020 (two for $1,000 and one for $2,200) and they expect to make several more this summer.

“Later in life, I have become especially fortunate myself and have been looking for ways to share my good fortune,” says Robison. “I can think of no better way to recognize Dick Levy than by supporting biology student research at ���ϲ�����.”

About Forever Orange
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 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.

Jin Zhao is a fourth year Ph.D. student working toward his career goal of becoming a practicing psychologist. His qualifying exam project is researching Asian college students and how their experiences of microaggression are related to their attitudes about going to see a professional mental health service provider. Asian mental health is a subject that Zhao has always been interested in researching. Before coming to ���ϲ�����, Zhao worked as a case manager at the only Asian language community clinic for substance use on the East Coast.

“I always wanted to serve my community and better understand it because there are not a lot of psychologists who can speak an Asian language and understand Asian populations,” Zhao says. While barriers exist in the United States for every group to address mental health and receive therapy, these challenges are especially prevalent for Asian communities because there is such a stigma around mental health, says Zhao. “It’s a taboo subject for a lot of the more conservative Asian communities,” Zhao said. Aside from the rarity of finding a therapist that speaks an Asian language, it is difficult to find therapists who are sensitive to the challenges that are found in different Asian cultures.

To help address the lack of culturally informed therapists for Asians and Asian Americans, Zhao first got involved with a Facebook group called “Subtle Asian Mental Health.” That has since been rolled into the “Asian Mental Health Collective.” Zhao volunteers his time and leads the Listeners Program. This program is a community-based peer mental health support team that provides free sessions of supportive listening for anyone interested in a session. The group currently has 52,700 users and people from every continent. SU News spoke to Zhao about his work with the Asian Mental Health Collective.

What is your contribution to the Asian Mental Health Collective?

I lead the Listeners Program and it has grown quite a lot since I inherited it. A lot of work went into front-loading efforts to design and create a community mental health service program from scratch. Now people can sign up for a session, and then we will assign them to a listener. I recruited listeners who either have training in therapy, are clinicians or grad students who work in human services. A few of them are Ph.D. students from ���ϲ�����.

What is your role in the Listeners Program?

Leading the program involves coordinating personnel and coming up with novel ways to reach more users and support our volunteers. A lot of the work goes into training Listeners to use counseling skills to help people talk about difficult subjects. Trauma history can be especially prevalent, but for many people, getting help can be difficult. For example, women with sexual trauma and physical abuse reported difficulties in talking about their experience. This may be because it is a taboo subject in their culture, or no one believed them. Since beginning the program, we have held almost 400 sessions. There is a high need for it.

How many Listeners are volunteering their time?

Right now, we have eight to 10 listeners. We are lucky to have licensed therapists who volunteer their time to supervise the listeners. We also have a team of people who are constantly tracking data, writing training manuals and policies, and taking care of our logistics. In total, it is a team of 20 volunteers. But the amazing thing is that we all do it for free. We are constantly working, and it is amazing to see how committed people are to making this service run smoothly.

What is a typical experience for Asian Americans in therapy and how are you providing more culturally sensitive resources?

The history of therapy and therapy training originally was geared towards white middle-class people. How those theories conceptualize problems implicitly fits within the mold of white American culture. But, when therapists try to apply these theories to other cultures and different socioeconomic classes without adaptation, it is often inappropriate. I think one very blatant difference is conflict resolution. Many Asian cultures approach conflict by first considering how other people might react. Whenever we talk about interpersonal problems, we do not outright prioritize our emotional reactions, but rather we comment on the other person’s possible struggles and misunderstandings. Like the concept of “face” for maintaining our relationships. Face is an aspect of one’s reputation. For example, if I angrily confront someone and make a scene, then I lose my reputation. It is like a collective reputation for your groups or reputation for yourself. In this instance, if I do something outwardly where people can see my behavior, it looks bad despite any justification. It will look bad on me and my groups. For therapists who do not fully understand the nuances in our cultural differences, they may see this as submissiveness and ignoring personal feelings because Western cultures value individualism and assertiveness more.

Why are Asian Americans one of the critically under-served groups in mental health?

For many Asians who have had therapists from a different cultural background, they did not feel heard and did not go back to therapy. Or that maybe in their locations, they do not have access to therapists at all. Many folks in this group come from parts of the world where mental health is very much treated like a medical problem; the cost for therapy can be prohibitive, or that there are not mental health services in their healthcare infrastructure to help them. Government funding is also lacking, clinics can really use more money to do outreach in Asian communities. Education about mental health is integral to spreading awareness and help normalize seeking help. Fundamentally, there are not enough therapist trainees who are racial or ethnic minorities and training programs that address cultural differences. There is also a pervasive “model minority” myth that suggests Asians do not have problems both health-wise and socioeconomically, which is why there is such a lack of concern and attention on our communities.

Subtle Asian Mental Health started out by addressing access to care. As it grew bigger, the administrators of the group decided to expand it to work with different Asian mental health professionals and connect with them. They wanted different platforms to advocate for Asian mental health, to destigmatize the concept of mental health, and encourage people to feel less shame about going to therapy. We have a database that records as much information as possible about Asian therapists from around the country and register them on this database. We send out monthly newsletters about current Asian mental health projects and tools that are very digestible for folks that deal with anxiety or depression. We have weekly discussion groups, roundtables and support groups. There are so many of these projects that I cannot track them all, I am just one small part of it. Subtle Asian Mental Health joined together with other related projects and we now call it the Asian Mental Health Collective. It is a large grassroots network made up of advocates who are passionate about mental health and folks wanting to find out more about how to help themselves.