May 10, 2021

These are the prize-winning images from this year’s Art of Science Competition. At left, Crystals in Bloom. At upper right, Iridescence in Motion and, at lower right, The Butterfly Effect.

Dear members of the Hajim School Community,

The submissions to this year’s Art of Science Competition are truly breath-taking, which is a testament to the resiliency and creativity of our students, staff, and faculty during a trying time. Congratulations to these winners who so clearly fulfilled the goal of our competition to “explore and illuminate the aesthetic beauty that results when science, art, and technology intersect.”

First place winner Michael Klaczko, a PhD candidate in chemistry working in Jim McGrath’s lab, used a scanning electron microscope to capture an image of hydroxyapatite crystals. He then added colors in photoshop, creating the appearance of “Crystals in Bloom,” an intriguing connection between the inorganic and organic.

The second place and People’s Choice prizes both went to Benjamin Margulies ’24, an optics major, who photographed light shining onto a soap bubble to show how “Iridescence in Motion” is the result when white light is broken up into its component wavelengths by interference.

And third-place winner Anna Lussier ’23, a studio arts major, borrowed a tissue-engineering technique from her collaborator, Sarah Broas ’23, a biochemistry major, to remove all but the cellulose structure of multiple plant leaves, which were then arranged to create “The Butterfly Effect.”

I am a staunch advocate for this competition. The ability to connect with others, telling the story of science and technology through artistic means, is more important than ever in a world where many are skeptical about science.  The Art of Science competition allows our community members to do so in unique and creative ways.

Special thanks to Brian McIntyre, Michelle Dunn, and the rest of the Art of Science team for all of their hard work that enables us to continue hosting this important competition each year. Read more here.

DOTTIE WELCH AWARD

I am delighted to announce that Lisa Norwood, our assistant dean for undergraduate studies, is this year’s recipient of the Dottie Welch Award, which recognizes a Hajim School staff member “whose performance and dedication enriches the student experience” in the tradition exemplified by the former undergraduate coordinator of biomedical engineering. Lisa, who was nominated by a number of our current students, has been a role model for countless Hajim students during her many years at the University, including hours upon hours advising and mentoring our low income, first generation, and underrepresented minority students. The STEM-Gems program Lisa designed dramatically increased the retention of these students in the Hajim School and earned a Meliora Award from the University in 2016. Her commitment to providing access to all students and to enabling different on-ramps into engineering helps to ensure that students are given every opportunity to learn and grow. Read more here about Lisa’s many contributions to our school and University.

PHI BETA KAPPA

Congratulations to these students who were recently inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. Inductees are chosen based on exceptional academic performance and a letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member. Particularly strong candidates are elected as juniors, the rest as seniors. (Note: many of these students are also completing majors outside the Hajim School.)

  • Biomedical engineering: Meron Abate, Eric Chang, Myoungju Kang, Kexin Li ’22, and Warish Orko
  • Chemical engineering: Paul Irving
  • Computer Science: Nguyen Anh ’22, Sydney Dlhopolsky, Bartek Jezierski, Sangwu Lee ’22, Abdul Moid Munawar ’22, Patrick Phillips (also Engineering Science), Aman Shrestha, Yiyang Su, Pham Thanh, Hecong Wang ’22, Bowen Wu, Tongyu Yang, Haoqi Zhang, and Yipeng Zhang.
  • Data Science: Ryan Algier, Ruqin Chang, Xinyu Guo, Yihan Shao ’22, Pham Tuan ’22, Li Sun, Shengyang Wu, and Ruiyu Zhou
  • Electrical and computer engineering: Andrew Balogh and Shuangyang Li
  • Engineering science: Alexander Pavlicin
  • Inderdepartmental engineering: Ethan Fahnestock
  • Institute of Optics: Garrett Beals, Andres Garcia Coleto, George Funkenbusch ‘22, Sarah Grabowski, Lauren Scheg, and Tianshu Xu
  • Mechanical engineering: Jaafar Al Hadab, Caroline Cardinale, Nils Kingston, Karen Leap, Trent Noordsij, and Jiayin Zhang

TAU BETA PI

Congratulations as well to these students, recently inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, which recognizes engineering students who have distinguished themselves by their academic performance and exemplary character.

  • Biomedical engineering: Meron Abate ’21, Kexin Li ’22,  and Tracey Moyston ’22.
  • Chemical engineering: Anjana Seshadri ’22 and Phuc Tran ’22.
  • Electrical and computer engineering: Abrar Rahman Protyasha ’21, Zezheng Xu ’21, and Eric Elias ’22.
  • Mechanical engineering: Christina Kersten ’21 and Lale Yilmaz ’22.

GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

More than half of this year’s University of Rochester recipients of prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships are current or recent Hajim School students. The fellowships provide up to three years of support for outstanding US students pursuing doctoral or research-based degrees in STEM, STEM education, and social science fields. Congratulations to:

  • Garrett Beals ’21 optical engineering, who will pursue a PhD in applied physics at Columbia University
  • Ethan Fahnestock ’21, dual major in robotics engineering (interdepartmental engineering) and in physics and astronomy, who will attend MIT
  • Amanda Hornick ’19 biomedical engineering, now a PhD student at Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology
  • Nathaniel Silvia ‘19 biomedical engineering, now a PhD student in bioengineering at Northeastern University
  • Michael Anthony Taylor ’20 optical engineering, currently pursuing his PhD in optics here
  • Daniel Troyetsky ’21, mechanical engineering, who will attend Stanford University
  • Sabrina Westgate ’19 chemical engineering, now a PhD student at Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Haley Wohlever ’19 mechanical engineering, now a PhD student at University of California, Berkeley

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

This year’s Provost’s Circle Scholars include three Hajim students. Nominated by the Athletic Department, these students exemplify excellence in academics as well as in their sport. They are Jarod Forer ’22 of mechanical engineering and a member of the track team; Emma Schechter ’22, a data science major who plays on the soccer team; and Kendra Watson ’22 of chemical engineering, a member of the track team. Read more about their accomplishments here. Well done, Jarod, Emma, and Kendra!

Congratulations as well to Declan Hickton ’21 of mechanical engineering, who has been selected to compete in the NCAA Division III Golf Championships this week. He is one of six individuals around the nation chosen to play in the championships, which also feature team competition. The Pittsburgh, PA native is a Lysle “Spike” Garnish Scholar Athlete.

DESIGN DAY

Be sure to view our Senior Design and Capstone projects starting today at noon at www.hajim.rochester.edu/senior-design-day. The site will be open the next two weeks. I encourage you to congratulate our students and comment on their exciting projects.

STATE OF THE SCHOOL

Thanks to all of you who zoomed in for my recent State of the School address, with updates on our school’s accomplishments this year and future plans. For those of you who were unable to join me live, you can access the presentation on YouTube.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman

 
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