Rochester physicists will study heat and energy flow in quantum mechanics to help develop more efficient quantum computers.

At the incredibly tiny quantum level, the laws of physics begin to act differently and the usual rules don’t apply, including the ways heat and energy flow through atoms. In order to build more efficient quantum computers and other technologies, scientists must first understand how to manipulate heat and energy in quantum-mechanical systems.

John Nichol, an associate professor of physics, is one of 21 experimental physicists who will receive $1.25 million over the next five years from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Experimental Physics Investigator Initiative to “advance the scientific frontier in experimental physics.” The award will allow Nichol and his research group to better understand thermoelectricity and the ways heat and energy flow at the nanoscale level of quantum mechanics.

They’ll explore how refrigerators based on quantum dots can cool atoms to nearly absolute zero temperatures.

(Unsplash photo by Kelli McClintock)

The University’s Mt. Hope Family Center has been awarded a multimillion-dollar grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health for the TRANSFORM Center.

TRANSFORM (Translational Research that Adapts New Science for Maltreatment) is a national resource center that conducts research, disseminates discoveries, and builds on research and best practices to help train the next generation of interdisciplinary professionals committed to preventing and addressing child abuse and neglect.

“One especially novel part of the grant is that we will study how parents’ own experiences of abuse and neglect when they were children influences not only their own health in adulthood, but also the health and well-being of their children,” says team member Elizabeth Handley, an associate professor of psychology and Mt. Hope’s director of research.

Watch a video about Mt. Hope’s impact.

A new academic year brings a cohort of three new postdoctoral fellows to the Warner School of Education.

A postdoctoral fellow—or postdoc—is an individual professionally conducting research after completing their doctoral studies, typically a PhD. Their roles extend beyond their own research endeavors, as they also contribute to various school initiatives, ranging from important center work and data collection to research evaluation, teaching, and offering invaluable perspectives through their work.

“Postdoctoral fellows bring immense value to our robust research programs,” says Associate Dean for Research Samantha Daley, who oversees the recruitment and mentorship of postdocs at Warner.

Read about this year’s cohort.

Anthony Pisani is the first recipient of the Robert G. Holloway CTSI KL2 Alumni Lectureship in Clinical and Translational Science. The lectureship recognizes past UR CTSI Career Development Award translational scientists and mentors who have gone on to significantly contribute to the University’s national reputation for research. The lectureship is named in honor of Robert Holloway, who served as director of the KL2 program for 17 years.

“The KL2 was critical in my transition from clinical and administrative leadership to research,” Pisani says. “After experiencing suicide loss, I found my calling in suicide prevention. Thanks to training grants like the KL2, I was supported to follow that calling through translational research.”

Learn more about Pisani’s work.

Monday, September 25, 10–11 a.m.
Rush Rhees Library: Humanities Center, Conference Room D 

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to improve life around the world. One of the 17 goals is “Reduced Inequalities.” The Open Scholarship Community Rochester (OSC Rochester) and University of Rochester Libraries believe an equitable future for all requires a free flow of ideas and information between researchers and the beneficiaries of their work.

In this talk, Ana Peršić, a program specialist for UNESCO’s science, technology, and innovation policy section, will share how UNESCO is making progress on the SDGs through open science and open scholarship. Learn more and register.

Monday, September 25, 11:15 a.m.–noon
Rush Rhees Library: Humanities Center, Conference Room D

The Open Scholarship Community at the University of Rochester (OSC Rochester) was created in part to respond to the growing interest in improving the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of research through open science and scholarship initiatives. This event is a casual discussion about the future of OSC Rochester. Attendees will brainstorm ideas for community activities and events that encourage interaction and collaboration to promote open scholarship practices at Rochester. A complimentary lunch will be available to participants who register for the in-person session.

Tuesday, September 26, 1:30–2:30 p.m. EDT
Virtual

The River Campus Libraries can help you take your Excel, Tableau, and ArcGIS Online skills to the next level with Data Bloom, a series of workshops designed to help you create attractive data visualizations. This workshop will give you tips on choosing the right chart type for the most compelling graphs, giving you an accessible, accurate, and appealing visualization. At the end of a series, participating student can submit to the Visualization Contest. Prizes will be given for best undergraduate and graduate student visualizations. Workshops are open to everyone. Learn more and sign up.

Wednesday, September 27, 4–5 p.m. EDT
Virtual

This panel discussion, hosted by the Junior Faculty Biomedical Research Association and UR Clinical and Translational Science Institute, is comprised of junior and senior faculty with a variety of experiences as both mentees and mentors. Learn about the importance of a mentorship committee and the who, what, when, and how of building a team. Get the details and register.

Thursday, September 28, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue

Recent advancements in molecular genetics and imaging techniques have propelled our understanding of early brain patterning, neurogenesis, and neural circuit formation. These breakthroughs, combined with human and clinical research, allow us to uncover the origins and underlying causes of neurodevelopmental diseases. This symposium brings together experts from diverse fields to discuss and debate the latest discoveries in neurodevelopmental processes across species, shedding light on the brain’s systems-level function and dysfunction. Register to attend.

Friday, September 29, 8:15 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Hybrid: 415 Elmwood Ave., Class of 1962 Auditorium

The second annual Department of Medicine symposium places a special emphasis on research addressing workplace climate and culture. The symposium will also include research on health disparities, including but not limited to anti-racist clinical care, social determinants of health, LGBTQ+ care, and workforce diversity. We will also host a community panel discussing the important work our community members do in the community. Register to attend in person or remotely.

Friday, September 29, 2–3:30 p.m. EDT
Virtual

The University of Rochester has an institutional agreement that allows its researchers to access data from the All of Us program. This webinar, hosted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and All of Us, will provide tools to learn how to become an All of Us Research Program User, demonstrate how you can take your research to the next level using the All of Us Researcher Workbench, and hear presentations of research on addiction and mental health using data from the All of Us Research Program. Register to attend.

Monday, October 2, noon–1 p.m. EDT
Virtual

Nicole Wolfe, Mayra Rubio-Diaz, and Lindsay Slay of the University of Southern California CTSI will highlight effective strategies for investigators and others who work in and with diverse communities to develop greater capacity and success in engaging, recruiting, and retaining research participants from underrepresented populations. Learn more and sign up.

Monday, October 2, 9 a.m.–noon
415 Elmwood Ave., Class of ’62 Auditorium, G-9425

If you’d like structured support in taking the next step in your PhD career journey, join this three-part series to find out what jobs are out there for PhD scientists, test out possible career paths, form a professional pitch about yourself, and practice telling your story for future interviews. Join Thi Nguyen—a national trainer in PhD-level professional development, career coach, former associate dean of career development, and founder of InterSECTjobsims.com—as you reflect on professional skills and strengths for different fields, how they fit for you, and how to tell your scientific career story. Sign up to attend.