For the first time, researchers have found a way to describe conditions deep in the convection zone of “white dwarf” stars, which are home to some of the densest collections of matter in the Universe.

In a project conducted at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the research team, including Gilbert (Rip) Collins, director of science, technology, and academics at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, simulated the crushing pressure created as stars cease to produce their own fuel, leaving only an extremely dense core.

“This is the first time we have been able to lock down an equation of state, describing the behavior of matter that is intrinsic to white dwarf stars, in particular the regime in a part of white dwarfs where oscillations occur that have been particularly difficult to model,” says Collins, who was a coauthor on the team’s paper published in Nature Research.

The results are important because they add to the growing body of evidence being collected by high-energy-density researchers about the formation and evolution of planets, stars, and other astrophysical bodies, which in turn can suggest possible approaches to creating novel materials in laboratories on Earth. Read more here.

Due to advances in technology, the nature of work and jobs is changing in every domain. Creative skills are being ranked as most valuable for future workers across the board, but how can we prepare students to develop those skills when Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) are changing the creative design process itself?

A one-year $150,000 planning grant awarded to the University by the National Science Foundation aims to address this question, starting September 1.

The project, called “Exploring Creative Design at the Human-Technology Frontier Through the Emerging ‘Artist-Technologist’ Occupation,” is funded by the NSF Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF) program. The program supports research to understand and develop the human-technology partnership, design new technologies to augment human performance, illuminate the emerging socio-technological landscape, understand the risks and benefits of new technologies, understand and influence the impact of artificial intelligence on workers and work, and foster lifelong and pervasive learning.

To explore the creative skills needed by tomorrow’s workforce and how these skills can be best developed, the Rochester project will study the emerging occupation of “artist-technologist,” with an initial focus on musicians and composers. As experts in both arts and technology who see no barriers between these two fields, artist-technologists are in a unique position to design previously inconceivable media products with relevance and applications, not only for arts and entertainment but for many other fields as well, including education, health care, marketing, and new product development in most industries.

Principal investigator Raffaella Borasi, Frederica Warner professor of education and LiDA (Center for Learning in the Digital Age) director, is heading the team. Co-principal investigators include: Mark Bocko, distinguished professor in electrical and computer engineering and Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS) director; Zhiyao Duan, associate professor in electrical and computer engineering; James Doser, director, Institute for Music Leadership; and Joseph Testani, associate vice provost for career education and Greene Center for Career Education and Connections director. Read more here.

“Like marathon runners, students at the end stages of writing the doctoral dissertation/thesis often struggle with exhaustion and motivation,” writes Mary Jane Curry, an associate professor at the Warner School, in an article she contributed to DoctoralWritingSIG, a forum where people who are interested in doctoral writing can come together to share information, resources, ideas, and dreams.

Curry shares some of the support structures she has created over the years to support PhD students, such as a monthly First Friday Group meeting and week-long writing camps. Read more here.

David Williams, the William G. Allyn Professor of Medical Optics, who has been selected by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology as the 2021 recipient of the RPB David F. Weeks Award for Outstanding Vision Research. The award annually recognizes and celebrates an outstanding ophthalmic vision scientist whose research has made meaningful contributions to the understanding or treatment of potentially blinding eye diseases. Williams, who directs the Center for Visual Science, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on human vision. Read more here.

Matthew McGraw, assistant professor of pediatrics/pulmonary division, and Nikesha Gilmore, research assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Cancer Control Division and Geriatric Oncology. They have each been selected for KL2 Career Development Awards, which support the early career development of multidisciplinary clinical and translational scientists with two years of funding to help them obtain independent funding for their innovative research. McGraw will investigate how a chemical in e-cigarettes kills stem cells in the lung; Gilmore will investigate whether EGCG, an anti-inflammatory supplement, can reduce frailty in older colon cancer survivors. Read more here.

Michael Gofman, assistant professor at the Simon Business School, who has received a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to investigate the impacts on students and their innovative activities when professors with expertise in Artificial Intelligence leave academia for positions in industry. The award will be used to hire graduate and undergraduate research assistants to help with the project.

Paige Lawrence, the Wright Family Research Professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Medicine and director of the Rochester Environmental Health Science Center, who has been appointed deputy editor of Environmental Health Perspectives. In this role with the nation’s leading journal covering environmental health research and news, Lawrence will help new researchers and faculty share their findings.

Students at the University of Rochester and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center are invited to participate in the Second Annual Tobacco Regulatory Science Student Competition. It aims to promote student awareness and interest in Tobacco Regulatory Science (TRS) and the aligned FDA Research Priorities to better understand toxicity, addiction, and appeal of current and emerging tobacco products, and to provide an evidence base for FDA regulatory considerations.

Each team (either an individual or up to four students) develops and presents a proposed solution — a well-developed and researched thought experiment — to address one or more identified Tobacco Regulatory Research Priorities. Presentations may also propose novel methodologies for addressing these priorities. For a list of Tobacco Regulatory Science priorities, students should consult the collaborative NIH and FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Program (TRSP).

The presentation must be five minutes or less. It may use various AV resources. Creativity is strongly encouraged. Presentations should also aim to have high regulatory impact. Each presentation will be followed by two minutes of Q&A with our judges. The competition will be held at the annual Western New York-based Center for Research on Flavored Tobacco Products (CRoFT) Conference on September 11, 2020.

The winning team will meet with the FDA and NIH and discuss their proposal. Completed entry forms are due to CRoFT by August 30, 2020. Questions and completed Entry Forms should be submitted to: https://is.gd/studentcomp2020

The Greater Rochester Health Foundation is looking to partner with a diverse array of organizations to support activities that address broad influences on health and well-being that create inequities and disparities for populations such as communities of color/indigenous communities, children and adults impacted by poverty, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA persons, rural residents, immigrants, refugees and older adults.

Through a new Call for Ideas, the foundation looks to advance investment in innovative, partnered work that re-imagines systems, programs and services to rebuild stronger, healthier communities.

An NCATS “rapid-response” Un-Meeting, hosted by the Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration at the UR CTSI, will encourage discussions about the changes encountered in areas of clinical and translational research resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential topics include: identifying clinical research trial design opportunities as a unified network in the post-COVID clinical era; what will remote trials look like; and what is the impact on recruitment? 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, September 30. Learn more here.

The US Office of Minority Health will host a virtual symposium to highlight state, tribal, territorial and community-based efforts to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority populations.

The Advancing the Response to COVID-19: Sharing Promising Programs and Practices for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities virtual symposium will feature presentations and strategies developed for public health leaders and community organizations confronting the pandemic. Noon to 6 p.m., Thursday, September 17.

Here are important links for researchers:

• University’s COVID-19 website for important updates and guidance on working, teaching, and learning remotely
• University of Rochester Medical Center website for restrictions, resources, and news
• Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA) site on Coronavirus 2019 resources related to sponsored programs
• University’s COVID-19 “Restart and Recovery” web page.
• The Rochester Restart weekly newsletter for a summary of updates.

SHARING TEST RESULTS WITH THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

The University will provide information about confirmed and self-reported COVID-19 infections on the Coronavirus Update website. Since the August 1 arrival of students who were required to complete a state-mandated quarantine, the University has tested more than 1,500 students as part of the campus move-in plan. So far, five students have tested positive and were immediately moved to isolation housing on campus or returned home. Working with the University, Monroe County health officials began the contact tracing process, and any confirmed exposures will be required to quarantine. If you have symptoms or concerns that you may have been exposed to the virus, here’s what to do.

WHERE, WHEN SHOULD I WEAR A MASK?

The best answer is you should wear a face mask everywhere you can—indoors and outdoors. Wearing a face mask protects you and others around you from infection, so it makes sense to reduce the risk, even if you are unsure whether it’s required. An exposure to COVID is considered being within six feet of an infected person for a minimum of 15 consecutive minutes during which one or both people are not wearing a mask. So why not do what you can to reduce the risk of exposure?

Everyone—students, parents, helpers, staff—need to wear a mask at all times throughout the campus move-in and testing process.

Indoors, face masks or face coverings must be worn any time there is more than one person in a given space—including times of brief interaction.

Exceptions to wearing a face mask or covering include eating or drinking, working alone in an office, and being in your residence hall room alone or with your living unit/“family unit.” On-campus living units have maximums: 1 person in a single room; 2 people in a double room; 1, 2, 3 or 4 people in an apartment; or 4 or 6 people in a suite. All students in a shared house must wear a mask at all times except when in their own room or in a bathroom.

Outdoors, face masks or coverings must be worn when six feet of separation is not feasible, and you must carry a face mask or covering with you at all times in case others approach to within six feet of you.

The University is making face masks readily available to all faculty, staff, and students on campus.

HOW TO REPORT A CONCERN ABOUT COVID-19 INCIDENTS

Every one of us has a shared responsibility to act in ways that reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and abide by the safety measures and policies put in place that help keep those learning, working, and living at the University safe and healthy.

But if students, faculty, or staff observe individuals or groups acting irresponsibly with regard to COVID-19, the incidents can be reported through the COVID Incident Report Form.

Examples may include concerns about gatherings, lack of mask wearing or social distancing, or other issues that present a risk to individual or communal health, and it can be something observed once or repeatedly.

Follow-up action can be requested through the form and the University will investigate the reports. In general, students should first report their concerns to deans, RAs, or their advisors; staff should report to supervisors; and faculty should report to chairs or deans.

However, the new form presents an additional reporting option for individuals who may not be comfortable reporting incidents along those lines.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE RETURNING TO CAMPUS

While the University is still requiring that anyone who can work remotely continue to do so, for members of the University community who are planning to work on campus, there’s a list of things to do before returning.

Most of the academic and administrative buildings on the River Campus and at the Eastman School have been safely brought back online for those staff who are approved to return. The buildings approved for occupancy have appropriate signage in place for COVID-19 precautions and social distancing requirements; have hand sanitizer stations installed in needed areas; and are confirmed to have met Facilities’ thorough checklist of reopening requirements.

A reminder for the Medical Center: faculty and staff returning to spaces at the Medical Center can find the latest information, guidelines, and signage options on an online portal urmc.edu/redesigned (University network access required).

As faculty and staff return to campus workspaces, the University’s Committee on Family Friendly Practice and the Genesee Staff Council, in concert with the Department of Human Resources, have developed guidelines for workplace flexibility for managers and employees.

YMCA AND UNIVERSITY TEAM UP ON EMPLOYEE CHILDCARE

As fall arrives, area school districts have announced modified schedules, which means K–12 students may only attend a few days a week, if at all.

The University is partnering with the YMCA’s School of Roc program to ease childcare challenges for employees who are unable to work remotely. A limited number of subsidized spots are available in the Y’s program, which provides childcare and support for remote learning for students ages 5 to 12. Parents can enroll children for either two or three days a week.

Learn more about eligibility, how to apply, cost, and more on the Restart website. Requests will be accepted through Monday, August 24, at noon, or until spots are full.

TEXTBOOK OPTIONS, DINING UPDATES

Did you know there are some publishers that do not allow libraries to purchase e-versions of their textbooks? Led by the River Campus Libraries, the Access to Course Textbooks (ACT) Commitment is a new University-wide effort to create a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive learning environment.

The University bookstore encourages students to get course materials through its website: Barnes & Noble in College Town is open for business but students are strongly encouraged to shop for their course materials, school supplies, and spirit items online through urochester.bncollege.com.

The Faculty Club will be closed this fall but the location will be available for take-out, featuring to-go meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Douglass Dining.

And the West Winds Cafe in Saunders Research Building has reopened with hours of 7 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.