March 8, 2021

We are proud to recognize the contributions of, left to right, Miguel Alonso, Mark Buckley, and Jaime Cardenas as part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative.

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

This week we continue our celebration of underrepresented minority faculty members, staff members, and alumni of the Hajim School, who serve as outstanding role models. This week we recognize three more of our faculty members.

MIGUEL ALONSO, professor of optics:

Scott Carney, director of The Institute of Optics, speaks in glowing terms when he refers to Miguel.  “He is a beloved professor, valued colleague and, as an alumnus, an exemplar of Institute excellence,” Scott says. “Miguel’s outstanding work in theoretical optics positions him as the natural successor to the late Emil Wolf, arguably the most celebrated faculty member in our storied history.” Miguel grew up in Mexico City, and did his undergraduate studies at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana there before coming to The Institute to begin his graduate studies. As a faculty member, Alonso received the Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2013. Students marveled at his ability to enter a classroom with just chalk and a mug of coffee and start filling four walls of blackboards with equations—without once having to refer to notes. “As faculty members,” Miguel says, “we do things with research that have an impact, but the biggest impact we have is through our students. Each course you teach, you’re influencing a lot of people who are going to influence a lot of people later, so you can have a potentially very positive cumulative effect.” Read more here.

MARK BUCKLEY, associate professor of biomedical engineering:

Mark’s research lab uses principles of mechanics to improve treatments for diseases and injuries affecting soft biological tissues. He has forged collaborations with colleagues across the University. He provides valuable service in other ways, chairing the BME Graduate Committee, serving on the BME Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and serving as faculty advisor for the student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Mark has also done an outstanding job of supporting underrepresented minority students in his research lab, especially high school students participating in the Kearns Center’s STEMterns program. He was one of five inaugural recipients of a Kearns Center mentoring award. Mark, whose biological and adoptive families are biracial, says “my upbringing has taught me to really value diversity. So that’s something that I have always wanted to expand in STEM fields. I think it leads to better science . . . when you involve individuals coming from different backgrounds. If we can concentrate on all phases of encouraging and supporting the many talented underrepresented students interested in STEM, starting with high school students and even earlier, I think we can make progress.” Read more here.

JAIME CARDENAS, assistant professor of optics:

Jaime’s lab creates nanoscale optical devices with microfabrication techniques. Another focus: overcoming the limitations of current photonic devices that generate and manipulate photons. “Jaime is a brilliant researcher and mentor. I am so impressed with the students in his group and the growth I have seen in them,” says Scott Carney. When asked what he would like to achieve during his career, Jaime puts high priority on giving his students the foundation to achieve great things in their careers. So, the emphasis in his lab is on constantly pushing boundaries.  Born in Monterey, Mexico, Jaime excelled in physics as an undergraduate at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterey before earning a PhD from the University of Alabama/Huntsville. He urges Hispanic students, indeed any students interested in STEM, to be persistent, to not let anyone tell them to set their sights lower. “It’s all about failing and getting back up. Trying again, and failing again . . . This is very hard to understand growing up, but everything you do, you are doing for yourself, not for the people who say things about you,” Jaime says. Read more here.

CONGRATULATIONS TO . . .

Aman Shrestha ’21 of computer science, who is a recipient of the Alice DeSimone Award, one of the College Student Organization Leadership Awards presented by Wilson Commons Student Activities. This award recognizes “dedication, enthusiasm, collaboration, and positive role modeling as leadership traits that help promote and maintain a strong quality of life for all.” Aman is certainly a worthy recipient. He is president of CSUG, the Computer Science Undergraduate Council; has been a TA for five courses; was a DAAD Rise scholar; participated in two internships; and has directed two DandyHacks. Well done, Aman!

FOR STUDENTS

I urge our undergraduates who have been engaged in research during the past year, including our Grand Challenges Scholars, to be sure to participate in the AS&E Undergraduate Research Exposition, including a poster session, to be held virtually starting April 16. This is a great opportunity to share your research at a College-wide event with students of all disciplines. Prizes will be awarded. Three to four participants from each of four disciplines, reflecting the most accomplished undergraduate work throughout the College, will be invited to give presentations during a symposium. Please note, the application deadline is midnight next Monday, March 15.  Read more and apply here.

Hajim School seniors or recent graduates of our ABET-accredited engineering programs who are interested in taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam should be sure to check out the River Campus Libraries’ website, which has resources to help you prepare. The FE exam is the first step in the process to becoming a professional licensed engineer (P.E.). Sarah Siddiqui, STEM librarian at Carlson Library, can provide additional information about accessing these materials. Please note, if you are interested in becoming a professional licensed engineer, it is easier to start the process now, when the engineering skills you’ve learned are still fresh and current, compared to trying to start the process 10 years from now.

ART OF SCIENCE COMPETITION

The deadline for submissions to our Art of Science Competition is almost here. Entries from currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff need to be submitted using this form by March 19. We welcome photographs, illustrations, visualizations, renderings, and posters showing an artistic representation of science, technology, engineering, math, and sustainability themes. Cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 will be awarded to winning student entries. All other entries will be eligible for a People’s Choice Award of $250. For inquiries, contact Brian McIntyre and the project team at artofscience@gmail.com.

REMINDER

Chemical engineering alumnus Ed Hajim ’58, former chair and life member of our University’s Board of Trustees and our school’s chief benefactor, will be the River Campus Libraries’ Neilly Author Series Lecturer at noon this Thursday, March 11. During the zoom presentation, Ed will discuss his recently published memoir, On the Road Less Traveled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom. It will be my privilege to moderate a discussion with Ed after his talk. Please join us by registering here.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman

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