December 19, 2016
Dear members of the Hajim School community:
Congratulations to two of our faculty members who have been recognized for their outstanding research and the innovative applications that have resulted.
Kevin Parker, the William F. May Professor and dean emeritus of engineering, was named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for a host of discoveries, including Blue Noise Mask, patents that helped create the field of sonoelastography, and other patents that resulted in the founding of VirtualScopics, Inc., a provider of clinical trial imaging solutions. More recently a provisional patent has been filed for a new technology Kevin developed that uses color coding to reveal fine details that have previously been obscured in ultrasound images. Read more here.
Ehsan Hoque, assistant professor of computer science, received a World Technology Award from the World Technology Network for his research in human-computer interaction. Ehsan, who was named one of “35 innovators under 35” by MIT Technology Review in August, has developed a system that allows individuals to practice speaking and social skills and receive feedback in a repeatable, objective, and respectful way. He has also developed systems that help musicians practice singing vowels and provide live feedback to public speakers while they’re engaged with audiences. Read more here.
These are both very exciting, well deserved awards.
Congratulations as well to three of our seniors who have shown it is possible to pursue a demanding major in engineering or computer science, and still excel in other activities.
Wendy Snyder of mechanical engineering and Joyce Zhu of computer science are recipients of this year’s Robert L. Wells Award, which recognizes students in the Hajim School for “demonstrated competence in both engineering and the humanities.” Disciplines outside of engineering, in particular the humanities and social sciences, have a lot to teach us about critical discourse. Wendy and Joyce have both pursued their passion for music, with Joyce, a clarinetist, working on a major, and Wendy, a violinist, pursuing a minor while also performing with River Campus ensembles — and excelling in the classroom. Read more here.
Sayaka Abe of chemical engineering was named a first team Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-American in field hockey. She was also recently named North Atlantic Regional Player of the Year. You can read more about her remarkable season here.
Our University Research Awards program provides seed money to researchers who have good ideas so they can develop preliminary data to successfully compete for larger federal or foundation grants. Click here to read about how one such award is helping fund the collaboration between Jannick Rolland, the Brian J. Thompson Professor of Optical Engineering, and Amy Kiernan, associate professor of ophthalmology. They are exploring the possibility that, given the right stimulation, a critical layer of the cornea might be able to regenerate, without requiring transplants. I encourage other faculty with promising research ideas to consider applying for the next round of University Research Awards here.
“Watch the cream pour into your coffee, cloudily curling and swirling through the darkness. It’s a more enigmatic process than you might think,” writes Kathleen McGarvey in a current Rochester Review article about the research of Douglas Kelley, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Doug studies the space and time dynamics of fluid flows and the materials that mix within them. Thanks to Kathleen’s considerable writing skills, and Doug’s great ability to explain his work, this is a highly readable introduction to fluid dynamics!
Thanks to all of you who attended my investiture as dean last Tuesday. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk about the great things the Hajim School has accomplished, and the great things it has yet to achieve — all in the spirit of Meliora. My thanks as well to guest speakers Anantha Chandrakasan of MIT and Alicia Abella of AT&T Labs for their provocative comments about new trends in educating engineers and future technology.
As we look forward to making the Hajim School ever better in 2017, please consider making a gift to the Hajim School before December 31 to help support the myriad activities and programs we offer our students, including global experiences, internships, and opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research. Join the thousands of alumni and friends who support our efforts by visiting this link or by contacting Eric Brandt, executive director for advancement at eric.brandt@rochester.edu or (585) 273-5901. If you have already made a gift, thank you!
Our next Hajim Highlights will be Jan. 9. In the meantime I wish all of you a truly memorable holiday season.
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
