A laser that could ‘reshape the landscape of integrated photonics’
A team of researchers led by Qiang Lin, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, has developed the first multi-color integrated Pockels laser that emits high-coherence light at telecommunication wavelengths, allows laser-frequency tuning at record speeds, and is the first narrow linewidth laser with fast configurability at the visible band. It will pave the way for new applications of integrated semiconductor lasers in LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) remote sensing that is used, for example, in self-driving cars. The technology could also lead to advances in microwave photonics, atomic physics, and AR/VR.
In today’s issue:
Meet the recipients of this year’s Goergen Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Finger Lakes Coffee located in the Strong Memorial Hospital main lobby is closed for maintenance today
Registration closes October 31Â for the annual Wilmot Cancer Institute symposium
Three professors honored for undergraduate teaching innovations
Ajay Anand, an associate professor of data science; Christopher Muir, a professor of mechanical engineering; and Pablo Sierra Silva, an associate professor of history, are the recipients of the 2022 Goergen Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. “This year’s awardees are all innovators who have shaped and reshaped their programs, creating a better, more immersive experience for students,” says Jeffrey Runner, dean of the College. The recipients will be honored on Thursday, October 27, with a ceremony in Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons.
Finger Lakes Coffee in Strong main lobby closed for maintenance today
The Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters located in the main lobby at Strong Memorial Hospital is scheduled to be closed for maintenance today, October 26, and will reopen Thursday, October 27. During today’s closure, standard coffee and light refreshments will be available down the hall at their Green Elevator location from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., as well as at the School of Medicine and Dentistry café from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. You may also find fresh, hot coffee at Café 601 during this temporary closure.
The River Campus Libraries is hosting an event that will give you an opportunity to make real-time changes to climate change—on Wikipedia. Attendees will learn how to make basic edits in Wikipedia to help contribute to or improve entries related to climate change. The event takes place today, October 26, from noon to 2 p.m. in Evans Lam Square. Grab your laptop and drop in; light refreshments will be provided.
Halloween party at the Greene Center
Get spooky with the Greene Center at its annual Hallowgreene party on Friday, October 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. Celebrate the holiday early with the Greene team and grab treats and limited-edition merch, challenge yourself to a game or two with peer career advisors, trick-or-treat around the office, and decorate your own pumpkin cookies to go. Costumes are encouraged.
Draw your own creature with ‘BIC-Ture This!’
The “BIC-Ture This!” queer artmaking series brings together Rochester LGBTQ students. “Draw Your Own Creature” at the next class on Friday, November 5, at 6 p.m. in the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center, Douglass Commons. All supplies are provided. Registration is required by Monday, October 31.
Weekly peer-led yoga begins October 27
Jenny Lee ’23, a registered yoga teacher with the Mindful University Project, will offer a weekly peer-led yoga class on Thursday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. to destress and unwind. Classes, which are open to all University students at all levels of experience, will be held in the Spurrier Den, Room 202 in Spurrier Hall. Yoga mats, bolsters, and props will be provided. Register here.
Temporary referral bonus program begins November 1
The Office of Human Resources will again offer the Referral Bonus Program to reward faculty and staff who recommend candidates for staff positions at the University who are then hired into a full-time or part-time position. Between November 1 and February 28, current employees can receive up to $5,000 for a successful referral as outlined by the program guidelines. Find more information on the HR website. The process for nursing practice referrals can be found on Box.
MyURHR project enters new phase
The myURHR implementation project has reached a new milestone this month, moving from the architect phase to the configure and prototype phase.
This is a significant step in the development of myURHR—the new, modernized Human Resources system—as the project team will now begin to review, at a high level, the first design models including those for recruitment, new employee onboarding, and benefit elections.
Departments and employees from across the University have been sharing their insights and best practices to help guide this large-scale implementation, and there is still a considerable amount of work ahead. You will hear more in the coming months about the project’s progress, including how you and your colleagues can get involved by seeing and experiencing myURHR, which is scheduled to go live in 2024, replacing the PeopleSoft (HRMS) platform. Bookmark the myURHR website to stay up to date.
Elect benefits during open enrollment
Through its Total Rewards program, the University offers compensation and comprehensive benefits, such as health care, tuition, retirement, and more, that empower faculty and staff. Open enrollment, which is your opportunity to take action on many of the University’s benefits, takes place Tuesday, November 1, through Tuesday, November 15. During open enrollment, University faculty and staff have the ability to change health care plans, elect to contribute to a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, elect to increase or decrease their plan coverage, and enroll in Group Universal Life Insurance or several other voluntary benefits. Visit the open enrollment website to learn more about what’s new in 2023, and review the 2023 open enrollment planning steps.
Workshop on transparent assignment design
Learn the principles of transparency in assignment design, which has been shown to reduce achievement gaps for first-generation students. This Teaching Center workshop is Thursday, October 27, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT on Zoom and is open to all University faculty. Sign up here to attend, and contact Rachel Remmel with any questions.
Vision coverage reminder
If you enrolled in VSP for routine vision coverage, don’t forget to take advantage of it during the calendar year. You don’t need a card to utilize your benefits. At your eyecare appointment, tell them your VSP ID number, which is three zeros, followed by your employee ID number. Learn more about your coverage here.
Careers in Data Science: Alex Clark, UR Health Lab
Join the Goergen Institute for Data Science and the Undergraduate Data Science Council for Careers in Data Science with Alex Clark, a senior data analyst with the UR Health Lab. Learn about his career path, work projects, and tips for a career in data science. The talk takes place Friday, October 28, at 11 a.m. in Wegmans Hall, Room 1400.
Register for the 27th annual Wilmot Symposium
The annual Wilmot Cancer Institute Scientific Symposium brings together scientists working in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research to share findings, new projects, and success stories. This year’s program on Thursday, November 3, will include a keynote presentation from Jeffrey Rathmell, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Immunobiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Find more information and register by October 31.
Biomedical Ultrasound Symposium Day
Kathy Nightingale, the Theo Pilkington Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, and Manoj Menon ’04 ’10 (PhD), director of clinical science and innovation at Philips Ultrasound, will be the distinguished lecturers when the Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound hosts its annual symposium day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, in the Feldman Ballroom, Frederick Douglass Commons. The day’s events will also include graduate student presentations, a poster session, lunch, and networking. Contact Carla Boff to register to attend (include any dietary restrictions) or if you will be presenting a poster.
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