April 29, 2024

Dean Wendi Heinzelman poses with members of the Hajim School Dean's Advisory Committee.

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Hajim School Dean’s Advisory Committee (DAC), a group of passionate and committed University of Rochester alumni, trustees, and supporters who convene with me twice a year to provide counsel on key aspects of the school’s management.

The group offers insight and guidance on curricular initiatives, capital needs, trends in admissions and retention, career and internship services, and the skills our students need to be successful. Attendees during this month’s DAC included Board of Trustees member Carol Karp ’74 (biology); Stuart Elby ’82 (optical engineering); Stephen Fantone ’79 (PhD optics); Daniel Sabbah ’81 PhD (computer science); Richard F. Rashid ’77 MS, ’80 PhD (computer science), ’15 HNR (doctor of science); Jeanine Hayes ’92 (optics); and Board of Trustees member John Bruning.

The DAC’s advice is invaluable and helps ensure the Hajim School continues to thrive as one of the nation’s top engineering schools.

JANNICK ROLLAND NAMED TO XR HALL OF FAME

Professor Jannick Rolland stands next to students using VR headsets.

University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster

Jannick Rolland, the Brian J. Thompson Professor of Optical Engineering and director of the Center for Freeform Optics, has been inducted to Augmented World Expo’s (AWE) inaugural class of the XR Hall of Fame. Featuring 101 inaugural inductees, the XR Hall of Fame honors the pioneers whose groundbreaking contributions have shaped and propelled the extended reality industry forward.

The XR Hall of Fame noted Jannick as an “optical see-through head-mounted display pioneer.” She and her fellow inductees will be recognized at the AWE USA 2024 event taking place in June in Long Beach, California. Please join me in congratulating Jannick. Read about how she uses freeform optics to make AR/VR headsets look more like regular glasses at the News Center.

VARCHAS GOPALASWAMY ’21 PHD RECEIVES EARLY CAREER PRIZE

Varchas Gopalaswamy in front of a rendering of the OMEGA Laser System.

University of Rochester photo / Eugene Kowaluk

Congratulations to Varchas Gopalaswamy ’21 PhD (mechanical engineering), an assistant scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics who has been awarded the 2024 European Physics Society–Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Sylvie Jacquemot Early Career Prize. This award, which honors exceptional plasma physicists in the early stages of their careers, recognizes Varchas’s impressive contributions to the development of statistical modelling to achieve accurate predictions of laser fusion experiments thereby improving implosions and achieving record Lawson products for direct drive on OMEGA.

Read about his work to help create an effective “spark plug” for direct-drive methods of inertial confinement fusion at the News Center.

HAJIM STUDENTS EXCEL AT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPO

This year’s Undergraduate Research exposition featured an impressive array of scholarship, and I’m happy to note the Hajim students who were recognized for their outstanding work in the engineering and math category:

Loralai Crawford ’25 (biomedical engineering/Take Five Scholars) earned the President’s Award for her presentation entitled, “Digital Ink and Surgical Dreams: Perceptions of AI-Generated Essays in Residency Applications.” The President’s Awards recognize the students selected as giving the most outstanding talks at each of the division symposia.
Alexander Martin ’24 (computer science) took home the Dean’s Award for his presentation entitled, “Jurassic World Remake.” The Deans Awards recognize the students selected as runners-up for each division of the symposia.
Sophea Urbi Biswas ’24 (biomedical engineering) received the Professor’s Choice Award for her presentation, “Incorporating Syntactic Features Improves the Ability to Model Electroencephalogram Responses to Natural Speech.” The Professors’ Choice Awards go to the best poster presentation in each of the four divisions.
Nina Long ’24 (computer science) earned the People’s Choice Award in the Lightning Talk competition for her presentation, “Are Racially-balanced Datasets Truly Balanced? Uncovering Mislabeling in Face Recognition Research.”

Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all students who presented their work.

GRAND CHALLENGES SCHOLARS

Biomedical engineering student Aashee Budhwani stands beside her poster at the Undergraduate Research Expo.

The Undergraduate Research Expo also featured the work of students who participated in the Grand Challenges Scholars (GCS) program. The GCS program invites undergraduates to pick one of 14 “grand challenges” of the 21st century, identified by the National Academy of Engineering. Students then tailor their academic experiences to address the challenge they’ve chosen, engaging in five key competencies: research, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary studies, global experience, and service. This year’s participants included:

Christina Bednarzh ’24 (neuroscience, business)
Aashee Budhwani ’24 (biomedical engineering)
Derek Chein ’25 (chemistry)
Stephany Correa-Diaz ’24 (geomechanics)
Bohan Cui ’24 (computer science)
Jaclyn Dron ’24 (computer science)
Katelyn Freebern ’24 (biology)
Thanothii Ganesh ’24 (computer science)
Tochukwu Iyke-Nzeocha ’24 (biomedical engineering)
Prince Ou ’24 (biology)
Medha Pan ’24 (biology)
Riley Prewett ’24 (chemical engineering)
Saudarshan Ramanan ’25 (biology)
Kendall Smith ’24 (optical engineering)

The students worked on projects ranging from cybersecurity to less invasive tests for in-vitro fertilization patients and studied in places ranging from Australia to China. These outstanding students embody the well-rounded, experiential learning model that we pride ourselves on. Go to the Hajim School Facebook page for more pictures of this year’s Grand Challenges Scholars.

PODCASTING HISTORY: HEAR UR

A blue graphic with fish and waves that says, "Rapid History The Genesee River, Through Time Hear UR."

This week, students from the audio and music engineering and history programs will launch a new season of podcasts exploring the environmental history of Rochester. Over the course of the spring semester, students in the Podcasting History: Hear UR class researched, developed, and produced a season of episodes focused on the Genesee River. Under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Stephen Roessner and Associate Professor of History Thomas Fleischman, the students took on the roles of producer, lead researcher, or engineer.

The students will host a podcast event launch at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 2. Learn more and register to attend on the University of Rochester calendar.

ART OF SCIENCE CEREMONY AND AWARDS RECEPTION

A white and blue graphic that says "ART OF SCIENCE COMPETITION"

The Rochester community is invited to attend the 2024 awards ceremony and reception for the annual Art of Science Competition. The event takes place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1 on the second floor of the Carlson Library.

This is an opportunity to celebrate the record 84 students, faculty, and staff who submitted artwork for the competition. We will announce the first, second, and third place winners as well as the people’s choice award. Refreshments will be provided.

FRIDAY IS DESIGN DAY

Students examine a project while standing inside a tent during Design Day.

University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster

The Rochester community is encouraged to stop by the Hajim Quad from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3 for Design Day.

The event celebrates our students’ hard work, creativity, and ingenuity. Seniors in the Hajim School departments and programs, as well as students in data science and the Medical Technology and Innovation master’s degree program, will present a wide range of projects that showcase their design expertise.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman