As therapies improve, more patients with rectal cancer forego surgery

A new study led by Wilmot Cancer Institute researchers shows that patients with rectal cancer who respond well to radiation and chemotherapy are increasingly foregoing surgery and opting for a watch-and-wait approach.

Provost Emeritus Brian Thompson remembered

Brian Thompson, a dean emeritus and professor emeritus of optics at Rochester, is being remembered as a welcoming colleague, active researcher, and engaging lecturer. Thompson, a pioneer in holography who developed the first direct application of the technique, known as dynamic particle size analysis, died on January 27. University flags on Eastman Quadrangle and near the entrance of Strong Memorial Hospital will be lowered for Thompson on February 15.

Why AI-generated audio is so hard to detect

NBC News, February 4

Neil Zhang, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said it’s difficult to assess how well specific detection tools in the space work given the lack of existing benchmarks, but that the options out there are “better than nothing.” “There’s a huge disparity in funding between companies racing to make passable deepfakes versus those trying to detect them,” says Zhang. “It’s hard to get funding for detection, very easy to get funding for large-language models and generative AI.”

Student-athlete survey

All University student-athletes are invited to participate in an anonymous well-being survey from the Mindful University Project. The data collected allows the Mindful University Project to better understand the needs of student-athletes and will guide the creation and implementation of new programs and services to support your well-being— specifically the creation of a new program that will be offered this spring centered on mindfulness, body awareness, growth mindset, and taming the inner critic. Your participation is voluntary and confidential and should only take approximately five minutes to complete. The survey will close on Friday, February 16.

Health Committee Letter process is open

If you are planning to apply to medical, dental, or veterinary school in the 2024–25 cycle (for fall 2025 matriculation), the Greene Center provides a Health Committee Letter for eligible candidates at the University. Students are required to fill out a Health Professions Questionnaire and complete an interview with a healthcare community advisor at the Greene Center. After you’ve completed your questionnaire, you will be sent a follow-up email with instructions for scheduling your interview for March or April. You must complete the questionnaire by February 29. Learn more here.

Google Developer Student Club hosts talk with Steve Furber

The University’s Google Developer Student Club is hosting a talk with Steve Furber, a professor emeritus in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, on Friday, February 9, at 2 p.m. in Morey Hall, Room 321. Find more information here.

River Campus Libraries seek summer interns

The University libraries are offering 10 internship positions for Rochester undergraduate students. The positions provide opportunities to work in functional areas that mirror different types of professions including social media, web development, user experience, qualitative/quantitative research, emerging technology, instructional design, and publishing. The paid internships run 8–10 weeks between May 28 and August 2 and include room and board upon request. Find more information and a link to apply.

Workshop on aligning assessments with learning outcomes

Open to all University instructors, faculty, and staff, this one-hour Zoom workshop supports the evaluation and alignment of course assignments and assessments to measure the essential learning in a course. Register to attend on Thursday, February 8, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Workshops on supporting student well-being

Join a variety of workshops offered by the Well-Being for Life and Learning Training Program this month to add more skills to your toolbox to support the well-being of students on campus.

• “Educator Self-Care and Self-Compassion” on February 9 from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom
• “Creating an Accessible Campus” on February 12 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Humanities Center, Room D
• “Trauma-Informed Conversations” on February 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom
• “Well-Being in Learning Environments” on February 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
• “Compassion Fatigue: Supporting Those Who Support Others” on February 20 from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom
• “Religious Diversity on Campus and in the Classroom” on February 23 from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom

Workshops are open to all faculty and student support staff. More information on locations and registration is available on MyPath by looking up the workshop title.

Childcare resources and options

The University provides several resources for employees to find childcare. These include Care.com and backup care, offering free premium Care.com memberships and subsidized backup care when there is a temporary disruption in normal care arrangements; the Children’s School at URMC (Call (585) 273-3677 for space availability and pricing); and a childcare discount program at KinderCare locations locally and throughout the country. Employees and students can save 10 percent on full-time, part-time, and drop-in tuition for children ages six weeks to 12 years at over 1500 KinderCare childcare centers or over 450 before- and after-school sites nationwide. Visit the Family Care website for eligibility information or to enroll.

Don’t wait to earn your Well-U incentive

As an eligible employee on the University health care plan, you can earn up to $325 in 2024 through Well-U. Learn more about your incentives and get started by completing your Personal Health Assessment here.

Behavioral Health Partners blog: Sharing and responding to good news

What do you do with your good news and how do you respond when others share theirs? Find out the difference between constructive and destructive replies in the February blog post from Behavioral Health Partners.

Celebrate the third anniversary of the Black Alumni Network

Help honor the University’s Black Alumni Network, a tradition of empowerment, fostering connections, and celebrating the University’s Black community. The event includes discussions with guests Jordan Ealey and Philip McHarris, the Department of Black Studies’ inaugural faculty members. All are welcome to join this virtual celebration on Thursday, February 7, at 6 p.m. Register now.

LGBTQ leadership lecture and dinner

Kris Hayashi, executive director of the Trans Law Center, gives the Lorri L. Jean and Darrel Cummings LGBTQ Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, February 21, at 6 p.m. in Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons. As a public transgender person of color, Hayashi has been a leader in movements for justice and rights for transgender and gender nonconforming communities for over a decade. The event includes a free dinner provided by Salena’s Mexican Restaurant. Registration by Friday, February 16, is required.

Rochester students spent this past weekend enjoying the annual Winterfest Weekend. Find photos on the University’s Facebook and Instagram pages.