October 24, 2022

From left to right, Valerie Battista, Danielle Getz, and Max Morris.

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Wells Award, given annually to Hajim School students who excel in both engineering or computer science and in the humanities. The award was created by the family of Robert L. Wells, a ’39 graduate of mechanical engineering who became a top executive at Westinghouse. Wells felt strongly that engineers “needed the balance of the humanities” to be competent in their field.

Valerie Battista, a Suzanne J. O’Brien Book Award recipient who we previously highlighted as an Outstanding Student, is a computer science major who will begin working as a full-time software engineer for T. Rowe Price in Maryland next summer. Valerie has also pursued her passion for music to the fullest. She has sung with various ensembles and has played the carillon since the spring semester of her first year.

“I came in hoping to minor in music,” Valerie says. However, thanks to the University’s unique open curriculum, “I am going to be able to double major in it, because the flexibility of the program here has allowed me to take enough classes.” Learn more about Valerie’s background and experiences here.

Danielle Getz, a Grand Challenges Scholar also previously highlighted as an Outstanding Student, is a chemical engineering major who works in the research group of Marc Porosoff on cutting edge research addressing the problem of climate change. The courses she’s taken for her minor in environmental humanities complement her lab research, helping her look at environmental problems from different angles, and “consider the people affected, and not just the science,” she says.

After graduation she plans to pursue a PhD, apply for a professorship, “have my own lab, study what I’m curious about, and lead a good team of students.” But she’s not ruling out “whatever opportunities come my way,” Danielle says. Learn more about her experiences.

An internship at the renowned Blackbird recording studio in Nashville this summer cemented Jameson “Max” Morris‘ desire to become an audio and music engineer. Thanks to his major in the field and his minor in music, this month’s Outstanding Student knows what it is like to be on both sides of the microphone. He has recorded and mixed tracks of performances by some of the same student ensembles he performs with.

Working with senior lecturer Stephen Roessner, a Grammy Award-winning sound engineer, was invaluable. So were classes on music theory and history. “When you’re recording in a studio, obviously you need a lot of technical knowledge, but it is also important to really know music, to be able to communicate with musicians from many genres,” Max says. Learn more about his experiences.

PUMPKIN LAUNCH

It’s that time of year! Get in the Halloween spirit when ASME, our American Society of Mechanical Engineers student chapter, hosts its annual pumpkin launch competition this Friday, October 28, at the Wilson Quad. Test launches begin at 1 p.m., followed by the competition at 2 p.m.

Also, you can register to create a “spooktacular 3D character of your nightmares” at StudioX from 6-7:30 p.m. tomorrow using Blender, the 3D modeling software. No experience is necessary but bring your laptop with Blender already installed.

GET THE FACTS ABOUT DEEP FAKES

Deep fakes—texts, images, audio, or videos that have been automatically synthesized by a machine-learning system—add to the disinformation that confronts us daily. Computer science and applied mathematics alumnus Hany Farid ’89, a professor at the University of California/Berkeley, will provide an overview of how deep fakes are created, how they are being used and misused, and if and how they can be perceptually and forensically distinguished from reality in a zoom talk from noon to 1 p.m. next Monday, October 31. Use this zoom link. This talk is sponsored by Women and Minorities in Computing (WiC-MiC).

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH WEEK

Interested in learning about research opportunities at our University? You are invited to participate in events all this week hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Here’s the lineup:

Monday: Summer internships and research related fellowships; how to get started in research.
Tuesday: Research in the humanities; connecting with peer researchers.
Wednesday: Resources at UR Libraries and the Kearns Center.
Thursday: Rare Books and Robbins Library; how to get started in research.
Friday: Sharing your research (scholarly communications); Research Fair with representatives from various departments.

Visit this website for times, locations, and to sign up.

CONGRATULATIONS

Sandra Willison, academic operations manager, AS&E, in the Department of Chemical Engineering, received an ACE Meliora in Action Staff Recognition Award, given monthly to individuals who play a critical role the success of AS&E and the University as a whole. During a staff shortage in another department, Sandra “graciously offered her support to assist in completing a required compliance activity.”

Previous recipients have included Eileen Pullara, Sara Klinkbeil, and Kristi Kongmany (CS), Michele Foster and Angela White (ECE), Jennifer Condit and Clair Cunningham (CHE), Sylvia Francisco (GIDS), Lori Russell and Kai Davies (Optics), Sarah Ansini (ME), and Cindy Gary, Emma Derisi, Nick Valentino, and Kelly Johnson from our Dean’s Office.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Left to right: Omolade Fasusi, Madeleine Laitz, John Ofori, Sean Rodrigues, and Milenia Rojas.

The Department of Chemical Engineering will have a great lineup of alumni for its zoom panel discussion on equity and inclusion from 5-7 p.m., Friday, November 4. The lineup includes:

Sean Rodrigues ’12, a senior scientist at Toyota North America, who will be presented a special award for his leadership role in equity and inclusion in chemical engineering.
Madeleine Laitz ’16, a consultant at Bain & Company.
John Ofori ’96 (PhD), senior director, new ventures, at US Pharmacopeia.
Omolade Fasusi ’22, a gas and power analyst at Bloomberg NEF.
Milenia Rojas ’22, a PhD student at Stanford University.

The discussion will be moderated by Astrid Müller and Jason Maher. Register here.

REMINDER

If you want to learn more about The Institute of Optics’ one-year, two-year, and HOME master’s degree programs, you can sign up now for an info session and lab tours from 6-8 p.m. November 4. A Zoom link will be available for those who register but are not able to attend in-person. Dinner will be provided.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman