Lab experience during your first year in college? Yes.

With faculty and graduate student mentorship, undergraduate researchers thrive in the Rochester Human-Computer Interaction lab, co-led by Ehsan Hoque, an associate professor of computer science, and Zhen Bai, an assistant professor of computer science. Above, computer science major Sammy Potter ’25 interacts with SAPIEN, an avatar built by the team in the lab.

Ukraine series: how long will the war last?

Financial Times, February 16

Hein Goemans, a professor of political science and director of the Center for Conflict and Cooperation, discusses what history tells us about why some conflicts endure and others end quickly.

Register for Global Health Create-A-Thon

Register by Monday, February 20, to help solve a global health problem, earn one of three $1,000 prizes, and benefit from nine technical and career development workshops by participating in the Global Health Create-A-Thon. The three-day event takes place February 24–26 in the Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons, and is sponsored by ApiJect, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Center for Medical Technology and Innovation. Teams of three to six students from all STEM disciplines will tackle global topics of health information systems (inappropriate infrastructure, limited capacity for software data collection); medical devices (performance, safety, reliability, affordability); and systems (multidisciplinary approaches to designing and analyzing a solution).

Apply to be a Writing Fellow

Do you love writing? Do you want to learn how to help people from all disciplines improve their writing? Consider applying to be a Writing Fellow—the undergraduate tutors who assist students at any stage of the writing process. The Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program is recruiting current first-year students and sophomores to join WRTG 245: Advanced Writing and Peer Tutoring in the fall semester, and, ultimately, to become peer writing tutors. Submit applications by midnight EST on Friday, February 24. Email Evan Volkin with questions.

Three Minute Thesis competition for doctoral students

Can you describe your thesis to a stranger in three minutes? The Three Minute Thesis competition is an opportunity for doctoral students to sharpen their research focus, improve their presentation skills, and perfect their elevator pitches. Explore this page for more details about the competition, including eligibility, prizes, and presentation rules and guidance. Register by Monday, February 27, to compete in this year’s contest. Students have multiple chances to win prizes from participating in the sub heats, the poster session, and the event final. The sub-heat schedule is as follows:

• Social sciences: Tuesday, March 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Meliora Hall, Room 203
• Humanities and music: Wednesday, March 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Humanities Center D
• Natural sciences: Monday, March 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Landers Auditorium, Hutchison Hall
• Engineering: Tuesday, March 21, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Computer Science Building, Room 209
• Life sciences: Wednesday, March 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Lower Adolph Auditorium (1-7619), Medical Center

Food facts and myths with Well-U

In Well-U’s Nutrition Basics, discover the answers to questions surrounding food, diets, nutrients, and best practices. The next sessions begin on Tuesday, February 21; save your spot here.

Teaching Center Podcast Club: Student mental health

Rochester instructors are invited to listen in advance to a podcast episode and then to gather on Zoom to discuss on Thursday, February 23, from noon to 1 p.m. EST.  Participants will discuss an episode featuring Sarah Rose Cavanagh, senior associate director for teaching and learning at Simmons University, on her forthcoming book on teaching and student mental health. Learn more and register here.

Satcher Award nominations due March 1

The Center for Community Health & Prevention invites Medical Center faculty and staff to nominate colleagues for the 14th annual Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards to recognize significant contributions to the health of the community through research, teaching, practice, and service programs; self-nominations are also accepted. The awards also reflect the shared mission of the Center for Community Health & Prevention and the Medical Center to develop and expand university-community partnerships that support participatory research and interventions to reduce health inequities and improve health in the community. The nomination deadline is noon EST on Wednesday, March 1.

Celebrate cultural diversity at Rochester

Celebrate the University’s rich cultural diversity with performances from all over the world, represented by ever-expanding cultural and performance student organizations. Hosted by the International Students’ Association, “Cultural Night” takes place today, February 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Strong Auditorium.

Lecture on the repercussions of FTX’s sudden collapse

Crypto markets have been in turmoil during the last year, with a significant amount of crypto asset wealth wiped out, and failings and losses observed in the market. The sudden collapse of FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, in November 2022 sent shockwaves around the world. Join Simon Business School’s Dean Sevin Yeltekin and Senior Associate Dean James Brickley on Thursday, February 23, as they discuss crypto markets, FTX’s corporate governance flaws, and the lessons that can be learned from its collapse. The virtual lecture is part of the Experience Rochester series.