January 10, 2022

New research by Suxing Hu and his colleagues at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics provides more accurate data on hydrogen’s phase transition to metallic hydrogen, which will help in building more accurate computer models. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill)

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Once again, COVID-19 has forced us to pivot quickly. Though classes will resume on schedule this week, instruction will be conducted online for the month of January. Students not already on campus should delay their return. I urge all of our faculty, staff, and students to regularly check for the latest updates at the University’s COVID-19 Resource Center.

Though this is a disappointing turn of events, we can draw on the lessons we’ve already learned during the pandemic to provide meaningful instruction and guidance to our students until we can return to in-person instruction. We have already demonstrated the flexibility and patience this will require of all of us. I am confident we can work together to get past this as soon as possible!

In the meantime, we have much to celebrate.

For example, our new provost, David Figlio, will join us July 1. David, currently the Orrington Lunt Professor of Education and Social Policy and dean of Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), is an internationally recognized economist and educational leader whose interdisciplinary research spans educational, public, and social policy. I am excited to work with David as our next Provost; he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both an exceptional academic as well as an effective leader, which will benefit Rochester greatly as we move forward in strategic new directions in the coming years. Learn more.

Congratulations to:

Gonzalo Mateos, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and the Asaro Biggar Family Fellow in Data Science, who has been selected for the 2021 IEEE SPS (Signal Processing Society) Pierre-Simon Laplace Early Career Technical Achievement Award “for contributions to distributed, online and robust signal processing over networks.” The award is presented to an individual who, over a period of years in his or her early career, has made significant technical contributions to theory and/or practice in technical areas within the scope of the Society.
Edmund Lalor, associate professor of biomedical engineering and of neuroscience, who is a recipient of this year’s Misha Mahowald Prize for Neuromorphic Engineering for the impact of the ongoing research he and his collaborators have been doing on helping disabled humans improve sensory and motor interaction with the world, such as developing better hearing aids. Recently, for example, his lab found a new clue into how the brain is able to concentrate on the sounds we want to hear in a crowded party or restaurant. Using EEG brainwave recordings, the researchers found the story that participants were instructed to pay attention to was converted into linguistic units known as phonemes – units of sound that can distinguish one word from another – while the other story was not. “That conversion is the first step towards understanding the attended story,” Edmund says. Learn more.
Amanda Strenk ’22 of chemical engineering, a member of the women’s varsity field hockey team, who has been named a First Team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Last year she scored a Rochester single-season record 23 goals in 19 games for the Yellowjackets and led the Liberty League in points, goals, shots (111), game-winning goals (6) and shots per game (5.84). Amanda is also a Garnish Scholar Athlete Award recipient for excelling not only on the field but in the classroom.
Peri Fogel ’24 and Phuc (Nathan) Tran ’22 who have received Fall 2021 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Awards (UGTA) for outstanding service by the Department of Chemical Engineering. Peri was TA for CHE 150, Introduction to Sustainable Energy, and Nathan for CHE 225, Thermodynamics I.

RESEARCH NEWS

In a new paper in Nature’s “Matters Arising,” researchers at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), including lead author Valentin Karasiev, an LLE staff scientist; graduate student Josh Hinz; and Suxing Hu, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and a distinguished scientist at the LLE, respond to a 2020 Nature paper that used machine learning techniques to study the liquid-liquid phase transitions of dense hydrogen from an insulating liquid to a liquid metal.

In their response, Valentin and his colleagues outline how these machine learning techniques produced incorrect results in describing hydrogen’s phase transitions. Their research has important implications in building more accurate computer models to study hydrogen, which can lead to a better understanding of the interiors of planets and stars and the physical properties of processes like nuclear fusion. Learn more.

HEAR ABOUT RESEARCH FIRSTHAND

Please join me from noon to 1 p.m. this Thursday, January 13, to hear Ehsan Hoque, associate professor of computer science, and Ray Dorsey, the David M. Levy Professor of Neurology, describe–and answer your questions about–their exciting project. They are using computer vision software to analyze selfies in order to determine whether people are likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological disorders. They’ve also developed a simple, five-part test of facial expressions, finger movements, and spoken passages that can be administered by neurologists to patients sitting in front of their computer webcams hundreds of miles away and similarly analyzed. Thanks to our University’s Alumni Board for presenting this wonderful opportunity to hear firsthand about an important research endeavor. Register here.

EXCITING SUMMER RESEARCH

This year, we have a very strong lineup of Hajim School and Goergen Institute for Data Science REU programs–summer research experiences for undergraduates primarily from other universities. I encourage you to spread the word to any outstanding students you know at other colleges. The deadlines to apply are fast approaching.

Imaging in Medicine and Biology for Underrepresented Minorities. Our newest REU offers exciting opportunities for underrepresented minority students to learn and use computational, optical, or ultrasound imaging techniques to address significant medical and biology problems. They will be mentored by faculty from the Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound, the Institute of Optics, the Goergen Institute for Data Science (GIDS), and the Del Monte Institute of Neuroscience.
Computational Methods for Understanding Music, Media, and Minds. Offered through GIDS, this REU provides students an opportunity to work on interdisciplinary projects that combine machine learning, music theory, and cognitive science. Students will be mentored by faculty members drawn from computer science, biomedical engineering, philosophy, and public health (School of Medicine).
Nanophotonics, Quantum Photonics and Vision/Biomedical Optics. This REU, offered through The Institute of Optics, engages students in the frontiers of photonics research in nanoscience, vision science, bioscience, and quantum science while at the same time providing them with experiences to recognize the excellent career opportunities in photonics, both academic and industry based.
Tripods-STEM for All. Also offered through GIDS, this REU will explore the concept of neural nets, a computational framework that imitates the workings of the human brain. This REU is open to students from the University of Rochester, Cornell University, or other colleges or universities in the Rochester area.

In addition, the Discovery Science Center Summer School for Matter at Extreme Conditions in the Laboratory and the Cosmos, will again be sponsored by The Center for Matter at Atomic Pressures. Up to 50 undergraduates will learn more about the physics of extreme states of matter during an intensive week-long program. Details to come.

These programs showcase the outstanding research being done here. They open doors to underrepresented minority and women students by providing hands-on research experience, and developing skills needed to be successful in STEM graduate education, such as GRE preparation, time management, and oral/written presentation. And the outstanding students who participate from other colleges will hopefully consider returning here for graduate studies.

Thanks to all the faculty members who have helped organize these programs, and will be welcoming participants into their labs. Kudos as well to The Kearns Center, which again this year is supporting several of these REUs.

ALUMNI NEWS

Computer science alumnus Robert Wisniewski ‘92MS ‘96PhD has been promoted to a Fellow at Intel. His title is now Intel Fellow SuperCompute Software and Aurora Technical Lead and PI. Bob leads development of the new Aurora exascale supercomputer, which will be capable of a billion-billion calculations per second to integrate data analytics, AI, and simulation for advanced 3D modeling at Argonne National Laboratory. Before joining Intel, Bob was chief software architect and manager of Blue Gene Supercomputer Research at IBM. What an amazing career! Congratulations, Bob!

REMINDER TO SUBMIT ENTRIES

Entries are now being accepted for our annual Art of Science Competition, which explores and illuminates the aesthetic beauty that results when science, art, and technology intersect. Through March 18, currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff can use this online form to submit photographs, illustrations, visualizations, renderings, or posters showing an artistic representation of science, technology, engineering, math, and sustainability themes.

Entries should be high resolution jpegs (300 dpi, at least 3,000 pixels wide on the longest edge). 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 artofsciencecontest@gmail.com.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman