January 25, 2019
Francis Pellegrino, center, with AGR team members Heriniaina Rajaoberison, at left, and Andrew Thankson.
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
What motivates and inspires outstanding University of Rochester undergraduates like Francis Pellegrino ’22 to be entrepreneurs—to start their own companies even before they graduate? “It has to do with solving problems and owning a solution,” says Francis, an optical engineering major who is CEO and co-founder of Advanced Growing Resources. The student start-up took first place at the University’s 2020 Swarm Starter Competition. “Having the freedom to use my creativity to make a real impact – that’s what drives me the most,” says Francis. This month’s outstanding student arrived here intending to major in optics not because he wanted to be an engineer, but a patent attorney with expertise in optics. “But when I arrived here, I really loved the subject material. And the whole department was just incredible,” Francis says. “I find that what I’m interested in is often driven by the people who teach it. And there’s no place better for that than The Institute of Optics,” he says. I had an opportunity to interview Francis for the prestigious Handler Scholarship that enabled him to attend the University tuition free and was very impressed by his accomplishments. Francis continues to be an exemplary student and, I am confident, will change the world! Read more here.
FOR STUDENTS
Hajim School undergraduates and graduate students interested in nuclear security should check out a virtual job fair on Wednesday, January 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST) being hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The administration and its labs, plants, and sites are seeking to hire about 2,000 new employees in fields such as engineering, science, security, IT, business, foreign affairs, and many others to join its workforce in 2021 and continue to build the next generation of nuclear security professionals. Participants are encouraged to register in advance.
Current and incoming students, it is not too late to sign up for EAS 144 Innovation and Engineering Design this spring. This 2-credit course is geared for undergrads who want to start solving big problems and even those who are not sure if they want to pursue engineering, but want to harness the power of the engineering approach, says Scott Carney, director of The Institute of Optics who teaches the class. No technical background is required. “I’ve had a few kids on the brink of leaving engineering rediscover their passion through this course and I’ve had artists learn how to lead a team of engineers,” Scott says. Learn more about registering here. Questions? Contact Scott by email.
The Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections and the Office of Alumni Relations and Constituent Engagement have launched a new mentor program for students across the entire University. This fully virtual program connects current students to alumni mentors for either one month of conversations or a three-month structured program. Mentors began registering on January 9, and registration opens to student mentees today, Monday, January 25. Program details are available within The Meliora Collective system, and an overview video is available here. For program questions, contact Michelle Cavalcanti or Amber Graham.
ALUMNI NEWS
We apologize for errors in this item last week, including a typo in Danielle Benoit’s name. Here is a corrected version: Congratulations to Marian Ackun-Farmmer ’20 PhD of biomedical engineering. Marian has been selected to receive the 2021 Outstanding Ph.D. Research Award from the Society for Biomaterials, a singular, national award for all PhD level research. Marian was selected based on her outstanding research performed under the mentorship of Danielle Benoit, professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Materials Science Program. Marian’s thesis was entitled “Engineering Drug Delivery Systems to Improve Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatments.” She was also co-founder and active member of the Rochester Chapter of the Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering, an initiative that encourages more people of color to pursue STEM-related majors and professions. Marian is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland under the mentorship of Prof. Christopher Jewell.
Congratulations as well to Rajeev Balasubramonian ’03, a former PhD student in the Department of Computer Science, who has been named a fellow of the IEEE for his contributions to in-memory computation and memory interface design. Rajeev was advised by Sandhya Dwarkadas, the Albert Arendt Hopeman Professor of Computer Science. His thesis was on “Dynamic Management of Microarchitecture Resources in Future Microprocessors.” Rajeev is now a professor in the School of Computing at the University of Utah. His other awards have included a 2017 Intel Outstanding Research Award for the Variable Length Delta Prefetcher, selection to the ISCA, MICRO, and HPCA Halls of Fame, and an Outstanding Teacher Award. Read more here.
ONLINE MASTERS FOR OPTICS PROFESSIONALS
Take it on your own time, on your terms. That’s the essence of The Institute of Optics’ HOME highly flexible, hybrid MS program designed with working optics professionals in mind–coming this fall. It will feature three weeks of in-person laboratory training combined with courses offered asynchronously, allowing students to set their own schedules. The degree will instill crucial skills, integrate HOME students with our optics community, and can be completed in as little as one year. If you are interested, The Institute would like to hear from you now to gauge interest and start reserving slots. Read more here.
Have great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
