February 11, 2019

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

We have more good news to report from the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. In a paper published in Nature, LLE researchers report they have tripled the fusion yields of experiments conducted on the OMEGA laser facility by applying statistical techniques to previously collected data and computer simulations. The facility has taken the lead in the laser direct-drive approach to fusion energy by blasting spherical deuterium-tritium fuel pellets with 60 laser beams, converging directly on the pellet surface from all directions at once. The latest increase in yields brings scientists closer to an important milestone in their quest to achieve controlled thermonuclear fusion – getting the plasma to self-ignite, enabling an output of fusion energy that equals the laser energy coming in.

Riccardo Betti, chief scientist and Robert L. McCrory Professor at LLE, says this was definitely a team project. First author Varchas Gopalaswamy and Dhrumir Patel, PhD students in mechanical engineering, worked with Riccardo, applying data science techniques to results from about 100 previous fusion experiments at OMEGA in order to create a predictive model. PhD students Ka Ming (Jack) Woo and Alison Christopherson also contributed. The support of LLE director Mike Campbell was instrumental; key contributions were also made by LLE senior scientist James Knauer, who coordinated the experimental campaign, and by the OMEGA facility crew, LLE target fabrication, cryogenic layering and system scientists, and LLE theory and experimental scientists. Read more here.

Two of our students, Maisha Idris ’19 of computer science and Majd Ismail ’21 of biomedical engineering, are among the nine University of Rochester first-generation students profiled in an excellent article by Jim Mandelaro of University Communications. These are compelling stories of students who overcame major obstacles to get where they are. And the article shows how the Kearns Center, the Office of Minority Student Affairs, the First Gen Society, and other University resources have helped these students thrive. I encourage everyone — and especially first-generation students in their first year on our campus — to read more here.

There’s a new student society on campus with a worthy mission. Seven graduate students, including PhD students Marian Ackun-Farmmer of biomedical engineering and Heta Gandhi of chemical engineering, have banded together to form the University of Rochester chapter of the Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering (ADSE). The mission of the national ADSE, which was founded in 2014, is to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in academia, industry, and government through graduate student organizations that reach out to students and scientists of all ages and backgrounds. The new group’s immediate goals include establishing a diversity lecture series to bring underrepresented faculty and postdocs from other universities to Rochester and providing a space where underrepresented graduate students in STEM fields from across the University can meet, network, and hold workshops and panels to openly discuss the issues they face. Read more here.

Congratulations to Bianca Dyer ’20 of chemical engineering, who has made the most of her first research experience last summer participating in an REU (research experience for undergraduates) program at the University of South Florida. She became well versed in the use of zinc gallium oxynitride as a potential photocatalyst for converting carbon dioxide into fuel. Bianca then parlayed her newly gained expertise into an award for Outstanding Presentation in Energy at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium at Rice University. The following month she finished in second place overall in an Engineering Science Symposium at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers National Conference. And this summer she’ll be interning at the Navy Research Lab in Washington, D.C. Good work, Bianca! Read more here.

Here’s a great opportunity for students participating in the NAE Grand Challenges Scholar Program. A Global Grand Challenges Summit to be held September 12-18 in London will include a student team competition to address questions related to the theme “Engineering in an Unpredictable World.” For example, will AI and other transformational technologies change humanity for the better, and how can we sustain 10 billion people? Five student teams from each of three countries — the US, China, and UK — will be invited to compete. Teams from universities like ours, which are participating in the Grand Challenges Program, are especially encouraged to apply. Interested? Contact Emma Derisi, director of our NAE Grand Challenges Scholar Program. But hurry; the deadline to submit a letter of intent is next Monday, February 18.

I was in Washington, D.C. last week with Josh Farrelman, our associate vice president of government and community relations, to participate in the annual Public Policy Colloquium of the American Society for Engineering Education, which represents the leaders from more than 400 public and private engineering schools across the country. Along with the deans of engineering from New York University, University of Buffalo, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, City University of New York, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute, we met with Representative Joe Morelle and staff from the offices of Rep. Nita Lowey, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

We expressed our gratitude for their consistent support for federal supported scientific research for agencies like NSF, DOE Office of Science, DoD, NASA, NIST and our own LLE; shared our concerns about the impacts of the federal shutdown and urged them to reach a bipartisan deal that finalizes FY19 support for these agencies; urged strong support for FY20; highlighted the importance of basic science and STEM education to our society, economy, and national security; and emphasized the unique roles engineers/engineering schools play in the innovation ecosystem so important to our future.

Have a great week,

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman