The Webb Space Telescope—an exquisite balancing of sheer bulk and exacting precision—owes much to James Fienup, left, the Robert E. Hopkins Professor of Optics, whose phase retrieval algorithms will help align Webb’s mirrors. Scores of other Hajim School faculty members, students, and alumni have also contributed. They’re eagerly awaiting the telescope’s lift off, and the images it will send us from 13.5 billion years ago when galaxies and stars first formed. Read more.

This is a moment full of opportunity for the Hajim School. As I write this, ABET reviewers are helping us document the strengths of our curriculum–and ways we can improve–as part of our reaccreditation. This fall we will join the University in setting key goals for our next five-year strategic plan. And with the return to in-person instruction, we  are drawing on some hard-earned lessons we’ve learned the past 20 months while adapting to COVID-19. All of these experiences provide us an opportunity to re-envision the way we teach, do research, conduct business, and connect with the community around us. Read more.

BEST EARLY CAREER TALENT IN THE LAB

Ranga Dias, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Michael Giacomelli, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, have been recognized by national publications as early career researchers who are leading their fields.

Dias made Time Magazine’s annual list of the top 100 individuals shaping their fields for his groundbreaking quest to seek viable superconducting materials at room temperatures.

Giacomelli was selected as one of Popular Science’s Brilliant 10 for his novel imaging technology that would enable surgeons to detect within minutes whether a potential nonmelanoma skin cancer is malignant.

METAFORMS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

What do you get when you imprint freeform optics with a nanophotonic metasurface? “A dream come true,” says Jannick Rolland, the Brian J. Thompson Professor of Optical Engineering and director of the Center for Freeform Optics. Her team has created a new design for AR/VR glasses that are compact and easy to wear, delivering high-quality imagery with socially acceptable optics that don’t look like “bug eyes.”

The Human-Computer Interaction lab of Ehsan Hoque, associate professor of computer science, is perfecting SOPHIE (Standardized Online Patient for Healthcare Interaction Education)—an online virtual “patient” that helps physicians practice how to communicate effectively with late-stage cancer patients about their disease.

EDDY-KILLING AND PULSED LASERS IN LIQUIDS

Hussein Aluie, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Shikhar Rai, a PhD student, have documented for the first time a phenomenon called “eddy-killing” and its impact on the ocean currents that moderate global temperatures.

Pulsed lasers in liquids offer a promising new technology to develop catalysts far more quickly than traditional wet lab chemistry. Astrid Müller, an assistant professor of chemical engineering and three PhD students in her lab have compiled the most comprehensive, up-to-date survey of a technology that was first developed in 1987.

NANOPHOTONIC CHIP,  NANOPORE DETECTOR

Researchers in the lab of Qiang Lin, professor of electrical and computer engineering, have taken advantage of quantum entanglement to generate an incredibly large bandwidth using a thin-film nanophotonic device. This could lead to advances in metrology, sensing, and quantum networks.

James McGrath, professor of biomedical engineering, is co-leading a multidisciplinary collaboration to develop a compact, portable, inexpensive detector using nanopore membranes and filters to quickly detect blood- and serum-borne biomarkers for traumatic brain injury, cancer, and other disorders.

We have another Rhodes Scholar among us! Kudzai Mbinda ’22, a chemical engineering major from Harare, Zimbabwe, is among the 100 students worldwide chosen to begin graduate studies at the University of Oxford in Great Britain as a Rhodes Scholar next fall. Learn more.

Three seniors at the top of their class in the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have “gone above and beyond” to excel in the humanities as well. As a result, George Funkenbusch, Helena Schreder, and Yiyao Yu are this year’s recipients of the Wells Award, created by the family of Robert L. Wells, a ’39 graduate of mechanical engineering who felt strongly that engineers “needed the balance of the humanities” to be competent in their field.

Ongjen ‘Ogi’ Bosic’s dream job is to one day design a Formula One race car. In pursuit of that dream, the mechanical engineering major from Bosnia and Herzegovina has been unswerving in his desire to learn new things, broaden his horizons–and take the initiative in finding “useful” applications for what he learns in the classroom.

Tracey Moyston is having an “amazing” experience as an undergraduate in our Department of Biomedical Engineering. She’s doing cutting-edge research, developing her entrepreneurial skills, and gaining self-confidence through internships and extracurricular activities.

Hristijan Stojkovic, an optics major who grew up in an orphanage in Serbia, has made the most of his opportunities to do research and get industry experience at the Hajim School. His dream is to return to Serbia to start his own company and eventually create a school of optics there.

Studio X, our University hub for learning about AR/VR, is now open in Carlson Science and Engineering Library. And another of our outstanding Hajim School undergrads–Muhammed El-Sayed–is helping make Studio X become easily accessible by serving as a Karp Family Fellow.

Thomas Brown, professor of optics, is serving as interim director of The Institute of Optics.

Chris Deeney is the new deputy director at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

Alvin Lomibao is our new Hajim School assistant dean for undergraduate students. Learn more about Alvin in our Meet the Team profile.

Susanna Marcos is our new David R. Williams Director of the Center for Visual Science, Nicholas George Professor of Optics, and Professor of Ophthalmology.

Our new faculty, in addition to Susanna Marcos, are:

• Cantay Caliskan, assistant professor of instruction of data science.
• Kaave Hosseini, assistant professor of computer science.
• Pablo Postigo, professor of optics.

The Hajim School is committed to:

• Increasing the diversity of our students, staff, and faculty.
• Creating policies, programs, and opportunities to ensure that women and those traditionally underrepresented in engineering are treated equitably.
• Above all, supporting everyone with a spirit of genuine inclusivity.

As part of our commitment we have celebrated the contributions of more than 50 Hajim School faculty, students, staff, and alumni who serve as role models for women and persons of color who wish to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Mark Bocko, Distinguished Professor and former chair of electrical and computer engineering, recipient of the Hajim Outstanding Faculty Award.

Lisa Norwood, former assistant dean for undergraduate studies, recipient of the Dottie Welch Award.

John Lambropoulos, professor and former chair of mechanical engineering, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lori Russell, administrator at The Institute of Optics, recipient of the Hajim Outstanding Staff Award.

Robert Huang ’70 (MS) ’76 (MA), recipient of the Hajim School Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Eileen Pullara, academic operations manager for the Department of Computer Science, recipient of the Witmer Award for Distinguished Service.

Read more here about other noteworthy achievements by our students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering is our youngest department. But it has much to be proud of after its first 20 years.

Under founding chair Rick Waugh and current chair Diane Dalecki it has become noted for:

• Remarkably talented students, faculty, and staff.
• Internationally recognized research.
• Outstanding programs in senior design and medical device design, among others.
• Gender parity in enrollments and faculty.
• Highly successful, engaged alumni.
• A welcoming, supportive spirit of collegiality.

Read more here.

Lisa Norwood, who retired as assistant dean for undergraduate studies recently, was instrumental in creating pathways for women, underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students to excel in engineering.

To honor her legacy, we are pleased to announce creation of the Lisa Norwood Student Endowment Fund. The fund will support student enrichment, travel to conferences, and student groups. The fund will also ensure that Lisa’s legacy lives on for generations to come.

This is one example of how your donation can make an important contribution towards helping our students make the most of their opportunities to become ever better.

To learn more contact:

Tyrone M. Jimmison
Executive Director of Advancement, Hajim School
O: 585.273.5901 | C: 216-650-0197   email