(Left to right:) Brady McKenna ’25, James Jabbour ’25 and Alexandra Vaida ’25 standing beside Chamber D at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
For decades, NASA’s testing chambers have been used to simulate the harsh conditions of space, allowing engineers to test the durability of spacecraft and other equipment in a controlled environment. These testing chambers, which can simulate extreme temperature or pressure environments, have played a crucial role in developing new technology for space travel, dating back to the first Apollo space mission.
Collaborating with NASA on their senior design capstone project, four mechanical and aerospace engineering students, Liam Collins ’25, James Jabbour ’25, Brady McKenna ’25 and Alexandra Vaida ’25, are gaining real-world experience building a mechanical actuator test stand for one of NASA’s testing chambers, Chamber D. Chamber D will be used to test next generation spacesuit gloves and boots at extremely low temperatures. The mechanical actuator will apply force to the test article, allowing engineers and suit designers to analyze the thermal performance of spacesuit gloves and boots as NASA prepares to return to the moon and beyond.
To gain a better understanding of their design, the team visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, meeting with engineers across various disciplines, including the Chamber D team and industry experts. The team presented their designs and received feedback from various engineers, as well as tours of the Space Environmental Simulation Laboratory and the spacesuit laboratory.
“There were small vacuum chambers to test spacesuits and big, massive vacuum chambers to test the James Webb telescope, which is hundreds of feet tall. It was incredible to see that. It’s an engineer’s candy shop. Walking in, seeing all this technology they’ve built and are using, it’s mind-blowing,” says Jabbour.
“It was interesting to see the test sites because we were able to get tours of the facility as well as meet with the engineers. The scale of all their testing was interesting to see in person and it was helpful for our capstone,” says Vaida.
“We got to meet electrical engineers, controls engineers, thermal engineers and subject matter experts. It was great to hear their perspective on our design, which helped us better understand what we’re doing and how we’re approaching it,” says McKenna.
In the past, the testing plate in the chamber remained stationary, and test operators would move test articles to touch the plate. What sets Chamber D apart from previous testing is that the contact plate moves toward the test article, rather than requiring test articles to move to the plate. This design choice gives test operators flexibility and gives the students creativity in designing a truly novel system.
“We’re trying to make it as versatile as we can so different spacesuit companies can use it for whatever test they need,” says Vaida.
“Our test stand also meets extreme temperature and vacuum requirements that many other chambers cannot, which is unique to our project,” says McKenna.
The team has been prototyping and testing their mechanical actuator for final presentations and delivery to the Johnson Space Center in May. Final presentations will take place toward the end of the 2025 spring semester.
“I am very proud of my team for how we handled the adversity. No one ever complained and we all did what we could to help each other, which was great to see,” says Collins.
“Chamber D will be the Earth’s sandbox for testing technology that will be exposed to the coldest, darkest regions of the moon and beyond,” says Stephen Baker, project manager of NASA’s Systems Test Branch. “No other chamber in the world has the combination of thermal capabilities, size, and convenience. I’m happy with the progress I’ve been seeing on this project.”
“Liam, James, Brady, and Alexandra made the most of this incredible opportunity to collaborate with NASA on testing next-gen spacesuit components. Their visit to Johnson Space Center truly highlights the value of hands-on, experiential learning,” says Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice Alexander Deyhim.
Joining Syracuse University’s faculty at 23 years old, Distinguished Professor Pramod K. Varshney has exemplified Orange excellence. A world-renowned researcher and educator, he’s been recognized for his seminal contributions to information fusion and related fields, introducing new, innovative courses to the University. He’s also been an invaluable mentor to countless students on their academic and professional journeys. Supervising 68 Ph.D. dissertations thus far, he’s bolstered the career paths of many students.
Now, Pramod and his late wife Anju G’86, G’90 will continue their support for the University by creating a legacy that will impact generations to come. “Anju and I bled Orange,” says Pramod. “What we wanted to do was leave a legacy which would keep and grow the excellence that we have at Syracuse University in the mission of education.”
The Varshneys have established the Pramod and Anju Varshney Endowed Faculty Fellowship to recognize and support a promising research-focused scholar dedicated to mentoring doctoral students, just as Pramod has. This esteemed professor will hold a full-time faculty position in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) within the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
“The person [for this position] should be an agent of change,” says Pramod. “They should be transformational in research but have something else—a discovery that will serve humanity, working with groups that are outside of the University, or helping underprivileged students to realize their dream of going to college. Do something in our society that makes a difference.”
This fellowship is yet another example of Pramod and Anju’s commitment to promoting excellence at Syracuse University. In 2018, they established an endowed fund that provides annual scholarships and financial assistance to EECS graduate students pursuing their doctorates.
“The first ECS news story I ever read was about Pramod and Anju’s dedication to EECS Ph.D. students,” says Dean J. Cole Smith. “In reading that article, I was instantly struck by how much they mean to Syracuse University and what a lasting impact they have had on countless generations of ECS students. Now, the Varshney Endowed Faculty Fellowship will support and honor EECS faculty members as they set out to make their own research and societal impacts.”
This continued support reflects the Varshney’s dedication to empowering students to become leading figures in their fields—a sentiment shared by many of Pramod’s former students.
“I consider myself fortunate that Professor Varshney was my Ph.D. advisor at Syracuse University,” says Kotikalapudi Sriram G ’83, a former doctoral student. “He remains a true source of inspiration and professional support for me and many former SU students I know.”
“His guidance has meant everything to me—shaping not only my academic and professional growth but also my approach to problem-solving and collaboration,” says former doctoral student Engin Masazade G’10. “His unwavering support, insightful advice, and dedication to his students have had a profound impact on my journey, and I am incredibly grateful to have learned from him.”
Pramod hopes this fellowship will set a precedent of appreciation for the college, inspiring others to give back to the University. “I’ve loved being able to interact with a large number of graduate students from all over the world, who have gone on to do great things,” says Pramod. “My hope is that this fellowship will help keep the University and EECS growing, becoming further well-known around the world as a great place for education and scholarship.”
Farzana Rahman, an associate teaching professor in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), has received the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives. This award acknowledges faculty and staff who enhance the undergraduate experience for students or make contributions to supporting and advancing the University’s mission and goals through their work.
Rahman joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science in the spring of 2020. Over the past 12 years as an educator, she has blended evidence-based teaching practices with personalized mentoring, inclusive curriculum design and a deep commitment to student-centered learning. She has also designed and led multiple student engagement and experience initiatives to ensure that EECS students are not only successful in their studies but also feel a strong sense of belonging, agency and purpose.
Among her achievements in student engagement is the Inclusion Triangle, a framework to address three critical dimensions of student success: access, belonging and agency. Rahman also created Research Exposure for Students from Historically Overlooked and Resource-Constrained backgrounds (RESORC), which is a signature student engagement program that provides early research exposure to students who have traditionally faced systemic barriers, supporting students in building both technical expertise and a strong research identity.
“Receiving the Chancellor’s Award is both an incredible honor and a deeply personal milestone. It reflects the heart of my work—creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive,” she says. “For me, this recognition goes beyond individual achievement; it represents the shared journeys, challenges, and growth I’ve been privileged to experience alongside my students and colleagues.
“This award affirms my belief in the transformative power of inclusion, mentorship, and student-centered learning in higher education. It renews my commitment to fostering learning environments and student experiences where every student feels a true sense of belonging and is equipped to reach their fullest potential—both within the university and far beyond it.”
The Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence award will be presented to Rahman at the One University Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honor members of the Syracuse University community who are making a difference through academics, work and dedicated service. The ceremony will be held Friday, April 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.
“I am deeply grateful to my incredible colleagues whose support have been instrumental in shaping and sustaining my work, to my amazing students who continue to inspire me with their curiosity, resilience, and passion, and to Syracuse University for providing me with the platform to bring these ideas to life and create meaningful impact in computing education.”
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Younes Ra’di and doctoral students Pardha Sourya Nayani and Morteza Moradi received the Best Electromagnetics Paper Award at the 19th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP) for their paper titled “Approaching Fundamental Limits on Bandwidth-To-Thickness Ratio for Electrically Thin Absorbers Through Dispersion Engineering.” The conference was held in Stockholm, Sweden from March 30th through April 3rd.
EuCAP is one of the largest and most significant antennas and propagation conference attracting more than 1700 participants from academia and industry, and more than 50 industrial exhibitors from all over the world. The conference is sponsored by the European Association on Antennas and Propagation.
“It is a great honor to receive the Best Electromagnetic Paper Award among more than 1,300 papers submitted from around the world at such a prestigious conference,” says Ra’di. “Huge congratulations to my brilliant students, Pardha Sourya Nayani and Morteza Moradi, for their exceptional work and dedication that made this achievement possible.”
The 19th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP)
After completing an “Intro to AI” course in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), Emma Bellai ’25 was eager to apply everything she learned in class to her internship with Verizon. Joining the Global Network and Technology team as an AI intern, the timing was perfect, as the AI boom in recent years opened exciting opportunities for exploration in this field.
“One class is all it takes to make the difference and that’s what happened to me,” says Bellai, a computer science student.
In just 10 weeks, Bellai explored how prompt engineering and personas are used in AI chatbots and her background in AI research was a huge help. Prompt engineering involves writing instructions that guide AI chatbots to respond to questions or complete tasks. Personas guide the chatbot’s tone of voice or the way the chatbot speaks. Using specific personas are a great way to make AI chatbots sound more human, which helps personalize their responses.
“The chatbot would talk differently to a CEO than it would to a software engineer,” says Bellai. “The main focus of my work was seeing how to optimize personas for different people. To see the results of my work and having an application on the website that I worked on was very rewarding.”
A typical day at the office involved researching the latest developments in AI, preparing presentations on new concepts she was learning and communicating with her team and personal mentor. Interns were encouraged to engage with others in the company through coffee chats, and Bellai had the opportunity to speak with many employees, including senior leadership and the CEO.
“They wanted to hear from young voices and AI applications from my perspective,” says Bellai. “I got to speak with the CEO at least two or three times, which is great because I feel like at other companies, you don’t get that opportunity.”
Interning with Verizon connected Bellai with the company’s extensive network of professionals, including Syracuse University alumni. She also had an opportunity to share her experiences and insights during a live stream to the entire company. Bellai’s hard work and enthusiasm for her role paid off, as she was offered a full-time position and will return to Verizon after graduation.
“If you have a really great professor that makes you genuinely care about the topic you’re learning about, it can make such a big difference down the line,” says Bellai. “ECS gave me the confidence to go into the internship and I felt like I was put in a good position to thrive.”
Get to know the marketing and communications staff at the College of Engineering and Computer Science!
Name: Alex Dunbar
Title: Marketing and Communications Manager
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I oversee the college’s internal and external communications including news stores, publications, social media, digital signage and marketing efforts.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I’m from an engineering family so I love telling the stories of our students, our faculty and our staff. It is a lot of fun to cover the world class research and innovative projects happening every day in Engineering and Computer Science.
Name: Chris Barbera
Title: Communications Coordinator
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I collaborate with partners across ECS to support marketing and communication initiatives. My primary areas of focus are developing and distributing marketing content, brand management, and managing publication projects.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I like that my work is ultimately in support of young people getting an education, and a strong start to their careers and adult lives.
Name: Kwami Maranga
Title: Writer
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I write content that highlights research, alumni and excellence within ECS. I also assist other offices within ECS with writing projects.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I enjoy speaking with students and faculty about their research, collaborating with my team and interacting with coworkers.
Name: Emma Ertinger
Title: Assistant Director of Communications, Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I manage all the digital and print outreach for SyracuseCoE, including our newsletter, social media, marketing materials, and event promotion. I work with our faculty, students, staff, and partner organizations to amplify the innovative research they are doing related to clean energy, healthy buildings, and resilient communities.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I appreciate that everyone at ECS is willing to take the time to help each other out, answer questions, and share resources. Also, working in a LEED-certified building (727 E. Washington Street) is very cool!
Members of the College of Engineering and Computer Science will be honored at the annual One University Awards Ceremony for their excellence in academics, work and dedicated service. The ceremony will be held Friday, April 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The following awards will be presented:
Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives
Farzana Rahman, Associate Teaching Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
This award acknowledges faculty and staff who, through their work, enhance the undergraduate experience for students or make invaluable contributions to supporting and advancing the University’s mission and goals.
The Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction Award
Shikha Nangia, Professor and Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Department Chair
This award is intended for faculty members who are collaborators in work of intellectual richness that has the potential for future impact. The work of these nominees offers possibilities for collaboration within the University and outside in partnership with others.
Student-Athlete Award
Emma Klein, Chemical Engineering Student and Women’s Soccer
This award recognizes the top female and top male student athletes and are presented to the senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average over the course of their academic and athletic careers.
The 2022-2025 Meredith Professors
Julie Hasenwinkel, Associate Provost for Academic Programs
Alexander Deyhim (Early Performance), Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership
The Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorships for Teaching Excellencewere created in 1995 to recognize and reward outstanding teaching among faculty. In 2001, the Meredith Professorship Program was expanded to recognize teaching excellence by non-tenured faculty and adjunct and part-time instructors.
As the end of the spring semester and final exams approach, we’ve gathered some tips from ECS peer leaders on how they study for exams. Here’s what they had to say:
Isabella Perkins | Chemical Engineering | 2025
Create your own study guides for classes: making the study guide is a form of studying in itself.
Make sure you’re going to the professor’s office hours to clear up any questions you had on any past coursework.
Try to work through practice questions or rework homework questions without referencing your notes.
Take frequent breaks when studying for long periods of time and make sure you’re eating and drinking enough.
Switch between subjects every once and a while when studying to prevent burnout.
Michael Wehrle | Mechanical Engineering | 2025
As a senior, I’ve gained a lot of experience in tackling challenging coursework. During my freshman year, I primarily studied alone in my room and managed to achieve decent grades. However, in my sophomore year, I began to bond with other mechanical and aerospace engineering students, and we formed a small study group.
Collaborating with classmates made a significant difference; we would post problems on whiteboards and work through them together. Discussing concepts and explaining problems to one another enhanced our understanding and benefited the entire group.
From my experience at Syracuse, I’ve found that bringing a pack of Expo markers to a study room or classroom is one of the most effective ways to prepare for tough exams.
I will always be grateful for stepping out of my comfort zone to study with other students. We’re all in the same boat, tackling challenging classes, and having support makes a world of difference compared to struggling alone. I’m really glad I reached out and built friendships; we still stay close and not only study together but also enjoy time together socially.
Kana Wong | Civil Engineering | 2025
I study by retaking notes, putting together a good cheat sheet, and redoing homework problems or practice exams.
To combat stress, I try to get things done early when I know that exams are coming up.
I find time to do work around my clubs and social life because I’ve found that without those scheduled breaks, studying becomes much harder and less productive.
Even when she was just starting out, Carey Smith G’91 knew management was the direction she wanted to take her career. Like many promising young engineers, she wanted to work at IBM and took a position as a systems engineer at their Owego, NY site right after she graduated from Ohio Northern University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
IBM’s Owego site supported special operations, and she worked on avionics system engineering and software development. She would be involved with a system throughout its entire life cycle from design and development to integration and testing. That broad view of problem solving and mission effectiveness helped inspire a desire in her to lead.
“Engineering gives you a background,” says Smith. “The ability to ask questions. You have the technical background to ask the right questions.”
Smith decided to take advantage of a unique partnership between IBM and Syracuse University. Engineering and Computer Science faculty would travel to IBM’s campus twice a week and teach classes onsite for IBM employees who wanted to earn a master’s degree while they were working.
“It was a very good program and allowed me to move forward with my education while still working at IBM,” says Smith. “Syracuse is such a well-regarded university and the faculty were outstanding.”
Her first move into management was as a flight simulation engineering department manager at IBM. That led to managerial promotions at IBM and then leadership roles with Loral Corporation (acquired IBM Federal), Lockheed Martin (acquired Loral) and Honeywell. In 2016, she joined Parsons as president of the company’s Federal Business Unit. She was promoted to chief operating officer (COO) in 2018, president and COO in 2019, assumed the role of chief executive officer in 2021, and now serves as Parsons Corporation’s Chair, President, and CEO.
Her first three years as CEO of Parsons Corporation marked a significant chapter in the company’s evolution from a traditional engineering firm to an advanced technology leader in national security and critical infrastructure. Since assuming the role of CEO in 2021, Smith has steered the organization through substantial growth and transformation.
Under Smith’s leadership, Parsons embraced digital solutions and technology innovation. She has strategically focused the company on high-growth markets, high profit and enduring markets including space and missile defense, cyber and intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, transportation, environmental remediation and urban development. She also initiated internal research and development and acquired 14 technology-differentiated companies since 2017 to be an industry leader in applying innovation and technology across Parsons’ global infrastructure and national security portfolios. This forward-thinking approach has helped Parsons secure significant contracts and expand its market presence.
“I have tried to look at our customer’s emerging challenges and define solutions to meet their needs,” says Smith. “Not things that have been done before. We’re about starting with a clean piece of paper.”
Parsons unique position as a global leader in both national security and global infrastructure allows them to offer coordinated services that are in high demand.
“Utilities, water companies, transportation and health care have to be protected against cyber threats. We are a unique company that has the domain understanding for example of how a rail and transit system works coupled with the cyber capabilities to protect the domain,” says Smith.
Parsons has achieved remarkable business growth and financial performance in the past three years. The company’s strategic acquisitions have expanded its capabilities and market reach. This growth strategy has been balanced with organic expansion and internal innovation initiatives. Smith credits the company’s outstanding performance to the hard work and dedication of Parsons’ nearly 20,000 employees in 50 states and 20+ countries around the globe. Her leadership style combines strategic business acumen with a deep understanding of the importance of human capital in driving organizational success.
“I wanted to create a person first culture,” says Smith. “Our leadership supports employees.”
While Parsons is well positioned for the future, Smith is still prioritizing growth, innovation and emerging technologies. She believes her engineering background has been key to her success in navigating change while leading a global corporation. She encourages young engineers and computer scientists who are considering management roles to gain as much experience as they can on a company’s business side.
“You have to have strong technical acumen along with strong business acumen,” says Smith. “That’s the way I operate – with a focus on delivering results.”
While she took all her classes remotely, Smith is still proud of her connection to Syracuse University and the important role it played in her career journey.
“I’m always proud to be a Syracuse alum. It is a wonderful university.”
The Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Graduate Student Challenge was held from February 7 to 9, 2025. Over 100 graduate students signed up in teams of three or four. Their goal was to build a software to help organize the ECS Research Day poster judging event. The challenge had 3 parts: (a) assigning judges to posters; (b) creating a secure WebApp for judges to enter scores; (c) finding a fair way to normalize the scores and rank the posters.
Fourteen teams submitted entries after working on the challenge for 48 hours. Then, in the next 24 hours they created a video that demonstrated their software product, showed how to run it, and explained the inner-workings of the code. The competition was curated and evaluated by faculty in ECS. After several days of judging running each of the codes, four sets of winners emerged.
Here are the ECS Graduate Student Challenge award winners.
“Best Web App for Research Day Poster Competition” – Pranathi Nallala, Venkata Satya Sri Ram Giduthuri, Sai Vennela Gowreddy and Kamal Preetam Chittuluri
Chilukuri K. Mohan, professor in electrical engineering and computer science, and his Ph.D. student Youchuan Wang G’20 G’24 have received the Best Paper Award at the 17th Annual Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BICOB). Established in 2009, BICOB is one of the most recognized conferences in the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology. The conference is committed to creating an engaging environment for scientists to connect, present and publish their research findings, methodologies and studies.
BICOB-2025 took place in San Francisco, California from March 17-18 where Wang presented their paper, “Transitive Reduction and Cluster Normalization for Improved Gene Regulatory Network Inference.” Biological processes require complex sequences of expression of various genes, generating RNA and proteins and regulatory networks are sparse graphs that model which genes influence which other genes. Wang and Mohan’s research applies machine learning and computational methods to learn such models from available data.
Congratulations to all the Engineering and Computer Science students who participated in the 2025 Research Day. There were 97 poster presentations in total along with a keynote lecture by Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Charles Driscoll.
POSTER PRESENTATION AWARDS
First Place (tied): Wanning Ding – Breaking the Mempool Bottleneck: Defending Blockchain Transactions from Asymmetric DoS Attacks. Advisor: Dr. Yuzhe Tang
First Place (tied): Ruosi Qiao – Is Less Really More? Fake News Detection with Limited Information. Advisor: Dr. Yeqing Wang
First Place (tied): Anthony Watt – Prediction of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using Machine Learning Analysis of hiPSC-CM Functional Dynamics. Advisor: Dr. Zhen Ma
First Place (tied): Frank Chen – Continuous Stress Monitoring with Wearable Devices: A Multimodal Framework for Real-Time Assessment. Advisor: Dr. Vir Phoha
First Place(tied): Ratnakshi Mandal – Unlocking the Secrets of DNA and RNA packing. Advisor: Dr. Shikha Nangia
First Place(tied): Poojan Kaswekar – Enhanced dendrite suppression via hybrid interlayer in all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries. Advisor: Dr. Quinn Qiao
Second Place (tied): Cole Wilhelm – Investigation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Varying Hydrogen/Ammonia Fuel Mixtures. Advisor: Dr. Jeongmin Ahn
Second Place (tied): Jing Cheng – Harnessing Natural Oscillations for High-Speed, Efficient Asymmetrical Locomotion in Quadrupedal Robots. Advisor: Dr. Zhenyu Gan
Second Place (tied): Michael Seitz – Deciphering peri-implantation human development with stem-cell-based embryonic models. Advisor: Dr. Era Jain
Second Place (tied): Mingrui Jiang – The quaternary structure origin of the fibrillation of sickle hemoglobin: a molecular dynamics study. Advisor: Dr. Zhao Qin
Second Place (tied): Sevde Nur Can – A Smart Answer to Wound Healing: Vanillic Acid-Incorporated Polyurethane Shape Memory Polymer Foams for Hemorrhage and Infection Management. Advisor: Dr. Mary Beth Monroe
Second Place (tied): Ashok Thapa – Oscillating Heat Pipe with Highest Thermal Conductivity. Advisor: Dr. Shalabh C. Maroo
Third Place (tied): David Moses – Polymer-Modified Catalysts for Improved Biomass Conversion Processes. Advisor: Dr. Theodore Walker
Third Place (tied): Zixi Wang – Asynchronous Decentralized Federated Learning Deconstructs Excessively Large Batches. Advisor: Dr. M. Cenk Gursoy
Third Place (tied): Chenxu Zhao – Soft Shell Grippers with Highly Tunable Dry Adhesion through Low Negative Pressure for Universal Manipulation. Advisor: Dr. Wanliang Shan
Third Place (tied): Riliang Li – Numerical Study on the Influence of Unbonded Reinforcement on Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams. Advisor: Dr. Riyad Aboutaha
Third Place (tied): Zehui Han – Active topography with mucin coating inhibits biofilm formation by interrupting bacterial motility. Advisor: Dr. Dacheng Ren
Third Place (tied): Haodong Yang – Combinatorial Group Testing in Presence of Deletions. Advisor: Dr. Venkata Gandikota
Honorable Mention:Yasser Alqaham – 16 Ways to Gallop: Energetics and Body Dynamics of High-Speed Quadrupedal Gaits. Advisor: Dr. Zhenyu Gan
Honorable Mention:Natalie Petryk – Biodegradable and Bioactive Polyurethane Foams to Improve Traumatic Wound Healing. Advisor: Dr. Mary Beth Monroe
Honorable Mention:Matthew Qualters – SPOD Analysis of Experimental Flow Control within a Supersonic Multi-Stream Rectangular Nozzle. Advisor: Dr. Fernando Zigunov
Honorable Mention:Shao-Peng Yang – COMETS: Cost-effective Multi-node Efficient Training System with Memory Pooling and Sharing. Advisor: Dr. Bryan Kim
Honorable Mention:Paul Sagoe – Tailoring Polymeric Nanoparticles Properties for Enhanced Targeted Delivery to Macrophage Subpopulation. Advisor: Dr. Era Jain
Honorable Mention:Pardha Sourya Nayani – Approaching fundamental limits on bandwidth-to-thickness ratio for electrically thin absorbers through dispersion engineering. Advisor: Dr. Younes Ra’di
Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering Radhakrishna (Suresh) Sureshkumar and his former doctorate student Senyuan Liu G’24, in collaboration with the BioInspired Institute, authored a paper that was featured on the front cover of the leading scientific journal Langmuir. The journal is published by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Their research was supported by the ACS Petroleum Research Fund.
In 2010, Sureshkumar and his colleagues published a paper in Nature Materials where they found that surfactants, or soapy solutions, change into a gel-like material when exposed to a strong flow. This change happens because the flow rearranges the molecular assemblies in the solution into larger structures instead of breaking them apart—a behavior that is rather counter-intuitive.
Liu and Sureshkumar presented the mechanisms underlying the formation of such flow-induced structures in their recent paper. Specifically, they used molecular dynamics simulations to study how the shape and internal makeup of molecular assemblies change when exposed to flow cycles. Flow-induced structures are useful for targeted drug delivery, medical diagnostics and creating functional nanomaterials.
“This is an important milestone in my academic journey,” says Sureshkumar. “It’s indeed gratifying that Senyuan and I are able to provide a deeper understanding of flow-mediated molecular reorganization based on the principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.”
Michael “Mike” Venutolo ’77 and his wife, Kim, vividly remember sharing an eight-hour bus ride through the 110-degree desert in the United Arab Emirates with a half dozen engineering students from Syracuse University. Mike had helped design a novel two-week internship experience to expose the students to issues involved in producing and transporting potable water hundreds of miles across the desert. It was the kind of experiential learning that the Venutolos have supported through their philanthropy. The kind that directly and rapidly transforms the student experience.
“In the many hours we spent together, we learned so much about their lives and hopes and dreams,” says Kim. “These students come from all walks of life and many of them don’t have the funding they need to help them get where they want to go.” The desire to directly help students “get where they want to go” is the motivation behind their recent gifts to the Forever Orange Campaign for Syracuse University and what has become a nearly $2 million legacy in philanthropy that can only be described as “outside the box” thinking by a dedicated alumnus who describes himself as “atypical.”
Venutolo, who was appointed to the University Board of Trustees in 2022, came from modest means—his father was a plumber, and he grew up in a New Jersey town where many teens went to vocational and technical high schools to learn trade skills. “I grew up in a household filled with experiences,” says Venutolo. “There was a lot less learning from textbooks and a lot more learning from doing what my parents and grandparents did.”
His parents insisted that he go to college, but he says he didn’t do very well—until he met a counselor who helped him identify a field where he could excel (civil engineering) and a few professors who spent the time to support his success.
The atypical student became an atypical graduate, taking his engineering degree overseas to work in Saudi Arabia. “I was a junior engineer, working on a multibillion-dollar project building the world’s first major desalination plant,” Venutolo says. “We had no Google. If we had a critical question, we had to drive two hours to the closest telegraph office. It was hands-on problem solving.”
Venutolo would spend more than four decades living overseas, building a successful career and creating a company that became a worldwide leader in engineering and construction services. Living in the Gulf region and England, he was disconnected from the Orange community, but decided to attend his 30th class reunion and forge a new bond to bring his international experience to benefit his alma mater. He helped originate the Middle East Regional Council and engaged his company, Raymond International Pipeline Services Group, in the design and implementation of summer internships for civil and environmental engineering students.
In a 2012 article published in the American Society for Engineering Education, Syracuse University professors credited Venutolo with “helping to create and support another model for successful development of future global engineers.” The article, titled “Stepping Outside the Box: Education of Global Engineers,” detailed the significance of this kind of experiential programming. “These programs have provided an essential service to the engineering profession by providing students with a solid foundation of genuine openness, cultural curiosity and cultural understanding, as well as a greater appreciation for the power of communication, interpersonal relationship skills, organization and team membership,” the professors wrote.
Venutolo also supported the creation of a new construction engineering lab in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) in 2016, providing students on campus with a dedicated space for hands-on educational and research initiatives. His appreciation for international experiences and experiential learning is reflected in Venutolo’s most recent philanthropy, pledging nearly $1 million to create or support:
Kim and Michael Venutolo ’77 Fund for Experiential Learning to support students studying abroad and the London Center program with particular focus on community and cultural engagement through program-sponsored travel,
Kim and Michael Venutolo ’77 Fund for Professional Development to augment the activities of ECS clubs and societies specifically oriented to building professional skills, networking and education through their activities, including student travel to conferences,
Kim and Michael Venutolo ’77 Undergraduate Endowment Scholarship to provide scholarship and financial assistance to deserving ECS undergraduates,
Kim and Michael Venutolo ’77 Fund for Remembrance and Lockerbie Exchange to support trips to Lockerbie, the Lockerbie Academy and other remembrance related activities and
Invention Accelerator Fund, which supports undergraduates as they design, prototype and pitch their inventions.
“We want to make a difference in individual students’ lives, to make it possible to attend a conference or get a passport or get on a plane to the Middle East,” says Venutolo. For his wife, Kim, who never had a chance to get a college degree, helping college students achieve their dreams is particularly satisfying. “I feel like these students try their hardest and we like to help.”
“Mike and Kim have a deep understanding of the importance of experiential learning opportunities to student academic, professional and personal growth, and a passion for supporting these opportunities abroad,” says Erika Wilkens, Ph.D., assistant provost and executive director of Syracuse University Abroad. “Their generous gift will provide students with invaluable immersive learning experiences in London, Lockerbie and beyond, and enable them to develop global skills that will benefit them for years to come.”
Both Venutolos have been judges for Invent@SU, which encourages the kind of innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that guided Michael in his career development. “Michael has told me that he credits Syracuse University with his ability to succeed,” says Kim, who went to work after high school in order to help her family financially. Now married nearly 20 years, Michael credits Kim with being “a champion for the underdog” and identifying opportunities for philanthropy that directly help students. “It doesn’t have to be huge dollars,” says Kim. “It’s just got to be from your heart. I love the University that has adopted me. I’ve become Orange.”
“Through these extraordinary gifts, Mike and Kim have given current and future Orange students the chance to pursue a life-changing education: an education that is distinctive in the way it fosters innovation and professional growth,” says ECS Dean J. Cole Smith. “Thanks to them, ECS will now be able to provide new life-changing scholarships, support experiential learning initiatives through our engineering and computing clubs and organizations, and devise groundbreaking inventions through our invention accelerator program, Invent@SU.”
“When we can talk to the students, see what they are inventing or touch what they are building, that’s what gets us excited,” says Venutolo. Now that he is based in the states (he and Kim live in New Jersey), he has more access to the students and more reasons to visit campus as a University Trustee. “I’m really honored and proud to be part of the group. I’m enjoying bringing an international perspective and more outside the box thinking.”
Jovanni Mosca, Kim and Mike Venutolo and Kwaku Amofah-Boafo
Reza Zafarani, associate professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has received the Test of Time Award from the Web Search and Data Mining (WSDM) Conference organized by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The award was presented at this year’s conference in Hanover, Germany.
WSDM publishes original, high-quality papers related to search and data mining on the web and the social web. It also hosts a highly selective conference that includes invited talks and peer-reviewed papers. The Test of Time Award recognizes published papers that have had a significant impact on the field of computing over an extended period of time.
Zafarani was awarded for the paper titled “Sarcasm Detection on Twitter: A Behavioral Modeling Approach” which discussed “detecting sarcasm automatically using textual data that users generate.” The key contribution of the paper is in integrating social science theories with machine learning techniques where the machine learning model incorporates social science findings across different disciplines such as linguistics, communication, philosophy and psychology.
The WSDM conference has provided the following statement in recognition of the contributions provided by this paper: “This landmark paper studies a fundamental and difficult problem in understanding web contents, with a general approach grounded in psychology. It is one of the most important works on sarcasm detection, a problem that is of great relevance in coping with today’s polarizing social media. In full generality and with evolving sophistication of user texts, the problem is still unsolved even with large language models. This WSDM 2015 paper will have lasting value, by guiding modern AI in understanding sarcasm.”
Observing his father’s work in physical therapy research and cognition tests, Evan Tulsky’s ’24 interest in robotics and rehabilitation took shape at a young age. He recognized the crucial role that rehabilitation devices play in transforming people’s lives, motivating him to pursue research in this field while attending Syracuse University. This path would lead him to the Bionics, Systems and Controls (BSC) Lab, an interdisciplinary research space centered around robotics and rehabilitation.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of control systems, dynamics and rehabilitative devices,” says the mechanical engineering graduate student. “I was raised around research, and this was the best place for it. This is a really cool lab.”
Led by Victor Duenas, assistant professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering, the BSC Lab focuses on individuals who have had strokes or other neurological conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. Tulsky joined the lab as an undergraduate research assistant and is now pursuing his Ph.D., where he’s been building devices that support hip, foot and ankle movements.
Because the muscles and joints in the lower body work together, problems in one area can impact the others during movement. A robotic ankle-foot device and hip exoskeleton could help individuals with hip and knee issues since ankle pain can put stress on the hip and knee.
“If you’re working on an ankle and hip device, you’re working on the entire leg—they’re interconnected,” says Tulsky. “The goal is to develop devices that support all three joints and different movements.”
The lower limb exoskeleton—a wearable device that helps with walking, standing and other lower limb bodily functions—is the latest project in development in the BSC Lab, which Tulsky has been assisting with. This exoskeleton will give individuals with spinal cord injuries or strokes balance and flexibility, allowing them to rotate their legs naturally around their pelvis and hip area.
“Most exoskeletons don’t focus on foot placement and balance,” Tulsky explains. “People with spinal cord injuries can’t land on their foot well. With this device, we’re trying to make motions as natural as possible and help people regain their confidence.”
Tulsky’s graduate studies build upon his research in muscle activity, particularly electromyography (EMG). EMG measures the electrical activity of muscles and nerves and is a great way to assess the health of nerves and muscles that allow movement and other bodily functions. He would present a research paper on EMG and muscle activity in the ankle and foot at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Conference on Controls, Technology and Applications. The conference took place in England in 2024.
The BSC Lab conducts research in collaboration with the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center since the University has a well-established history with the veteran population. Tulsky has been honored as the Richard A. Bernard Scholar for his efforts in assisting the disabled population and received recognition for the best thesis in engineering.
“My journey is driven by a deep-seated passion to leverage technology for enhancing human health and quality of life. I aspire to continue contributing to innovations that advance the field of rehabilitative robotics and empower individuals facing physical limitations.”
New York State has set ambitious clean energy targets, with a goal of achieving a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. Because residential and commercial buildings are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, there is a need for innovative solutions to heat and cool buildings efficiently.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges program aims to find those solutions, funding projects related to advanced building technologies for clean heating, air conditioning, ventilation, building envelopes and intelligent building controls. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Professor and Associate Director of Grid-Interactive Buildings at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), Bing Dong recently received more than $1 million in funding through this NYSERDA program to develop intelligent building technologies.
Dong’s project, “Occupant-Centric Data-driven Controls for Multiple Energy Assets in Commercial Buildings,” will utilize physics-informed machine learning to optimize building energy systems. Using 727 E. Washington St. as a testbed, the research team will collect data from a variety of building systems – including HVAC, thermal storage, battery energy storage, and EV charging stations. They will use this information to model potential energy savings and peak load reduction. Ultimately, the team seeks to develop a plug-and-play platform structure that can be replicated in other buildings.
“With emerging energy storage technologies, future smart buildings need to know how to best optimize those technologies together with existing building systems,” says Professor Dong. “We will develop an AI-based control agent for those multi-energy assets to achieve their best performance.”
Building on SyracuseCoE’s strong industry connections, Professor Dong will partner with Taitem Engineering, Leaptran, and TRC Companies. Carrier will serve as a technical advisor. MAE faculty Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang and Ian Shapiro will serve as co-principal investigators on the project. Professor Zhang is the Executive Director of the SyracuseCoE , and Professor Shapiro is SyracuseCoE’s Associate Director of Building Science and Community Programs.
Next Generation Buildings Innovation Challenges was created to support the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% over the next 15 years. The program is supported by NY’s Clean Energy Fund.
In his home office, John Chawner ’84 proudly displays a disk of aluminum dated “4-8-84.” It is a treasured memento from his days at Syracuse University and, in many ways, it is symbolic of his approach to service and philanthropy to his alma mater, which includes a recent gift establishing a new endowed professorship. Chawner vividly recalls assembling a 100-foot-long shock tube, a testing device for supersonic airflow, in the basement of Link Hall, assembling it from parts, bolts and instrumentation that was scattered in offices throughout the engineering building. It was part of an independent study project under John LaGraff, then professor of mechanical, aerospace and manufacturing engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
“Creating such a device required open-ended thinking that is critical to learning,” says Chawner, who credits Syracuse University for laying the foundation for a highly successful career that made possible the generous gift for the professorship. “I feel that I was transformed by my time at the University, from a raw 18-year-old to someone ready to enter the professional world. I want to ensure that today’s students and professors are able to maximize their time at Syracuse and enjoy the benefits of higher education.”
Chawner has supported scholarships for deserving students for years, but his latest gift funds an endowed professorship within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Through the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program, the University will match one-third of the gift to ensure that the John R. Chawner Endowed Professorship has the resources to support world-class scholars and the research needed to propel their work forward.
Chawner earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 1984 and, later, a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. Immediately after graduation from Syracuse, he got a job with General Dynamics in Texas. “I came out of Syracuse University with a great body of knowledge and raw skills that allowed me to get into the aerospace and defense field at a great time,” says Chawner. “I’m an engineer by degree but I’m a programmer by practice because I got involved in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which was a brand new software technology back then. A bunch of us 22- to 25-year-olds were given the opportunity to develop this capability from scratch and that launched the rest of my career.”
Cultivating Talent
Chawner would go on to launch Pointwise Inc., which became internationally renowned for developing mesh generation software for CFD in aerospace applications. The technology has been applied to virtually every major military aircraft and spacecraft, including the F-16, F-22, F-35, B-2, and Space Shuttle. After more than 26 years at the helm, Chawner sold Pointwise to Cadence Design Systems where he continued to work until retiring in 2023 and forming his own consulting firm.
“Owning a small business is like agreeing to be punched in the face for a living,” Chawner told an interviewer in a blog on how to become a CFD engineer. In all seriousness, he loved the process of cultivating talent, inspiring creativity in teams, and the continuous learning required to develop and successfully market new technologies. “Everyone wants to pigeonhole engineers,” he says, but he personally defied being defined and found great value in following more than 300 blogs in engineering, business and marketing. He calls himself “an early adopter” of social media and eventually created a very popular blog called Another Fine Mesh to educate and share information.
Chawner is still educating, sharing and inspiring through a company called Gibberish Consulting (he’s the chief gibberish officer), where he attempts to redefine the stereotype of consultants. “What you need is someone with direct experience to guide you through the gibberish with simple, direct and actionable advice. That’s my role,” he says, adding the consulting work allows him to remain relevant, to pass along earned wisdom.
Building Future Engineers
Chawner brings that same wisdom and experience to his role as a member of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Advisory Board at the College of Engineering and Computer Science and as a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council. “John’s service to the college is invaluable,” says Dean J. Cole Smith. “He has acquired wisdom over the years that has impacted our approach to educating and preparing engineering students for successful careers. His generosity has opened doors, helped build futures and, with this new gift, creates a legacy that will continue to support innovation and creativity for generations to come.”
“I’m a big believer that an engineering education should not be like going to a trade school. It’s about developing the aptitude and ability to learn,” says Chawner, who describes himself as a continuous learner. “An engineering education allows one to be very impactful and I want to enable students and professors to enjoy that. The investment Micron has made in the Syracuse region amplifies that impact and essentially multiplies the effect of the gift.”
Chawner says he views philanthropy as a way to give back “to a place that gave me so much in terms of education and other life experiences.” Those “experiences” include his wife, Cathy, of nearly 40 years, whom he met “at a mixer” during freshman year. They lived in the same dorm and share many memories, including the first football games in the then-Carrier Dome.
Those were the years in the first phase of life, says Chawner—the learning phase, which is followed by the earning phase, and finally, the returning phase. Learn, earn, return. “I’m in the return phase where I give back what I’ve learned and earned,” he says.
While tourniquets and gauze have long been the standard for treating traumatic wounds, they have major limitations. Tourniquets restrict blood flow, damage skin tissue, and aren’t suitable for use on injuries to the neck or torso. When removed from wounds, gauze may also cause more bleeding. These challenges have driven the research conducted in the Monroe Biomaterials Lab, where biomedical engineering graduate student Natalie Petryk ’21, G’22, G’25 has been involved in pivotal research on degradable foams for treating traumatic wounds.
“There’s a huge need for it,” says Petryk. “The big picture goal is to create effective, affordable hemostatic foams that can be used in every first aid kit and replace current options.”
The foams Petryk has been researching are made from a polymer material called polyurethane, which is commonly used in insulations, bedding, and furniture. Polyurethane foams are porous and absorbent, like a sponge, and compatible with cells and blood, making them effective at controlling bleeding in a wound.
Petryk’s main goal has been to make degradable foam that can break down in the presence of water and oxygen found in blood and skin tissue. This would eliminate the need for foam removal and reduce the risk of wound re-bleeding typically associated with tourniquets and gauze.
“What I enjoy most about the lab space is the ability to do everything from synthesizing the foams to characterizing their material properties, like mechanical and thermal behavior, and exploring biological responses, like how cells and blood interact with the material,” says Petryk. “You acquire a wide breadth of knowledge working in the lab.”
Throughout Petryk’s undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. studies, she has explored different aspects of these foams to improve their healing capability. Her recent work focused on altering the foam’s chemistry to improve how quickly it degrades and studying how this change in molecular structure impacts the foam’s properties and bleeding control. She has also explored ways these polymer foams could help the healing process with collagen and gelatin, the main building blocks of the body’s skin, muscles, and connective tissues.
“We’ve been thinking about ways to incorporate bioactive components into the foams, something our native tissue is familiar with to promote and encourage cell growth and healing,” Petryk says. “Polyurethane foams are ideal for blood clotting, and we can control their degradation rates, but they are a synthetic material, so cells can’t directly attach. Proteins like gelatin and collagen can drive cell attachment on the foams to facilitate tissue regeneration.”
Working in the Monroe Biomaterials Lab, led by Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Mary Beth Monroe, Petryk is continually inspired by her research and work ethic. “Dr. Monroe has been the best mentor,” Petryk says. “Having a female role model to look up to in the STEM field is truly empowering. Dr. Monroe is extremely supportive and allows us to explore research interests that align with our future goals.”
Petryk presented her research on degradable foams at the American Chemical Society, where she connected with other chemists and gained valuable insights. She also presented her research at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s annual Research Day, where she won second place for her oral presentation. Additionally, Petryk shared her work at the Society for Biomaterials Northeast Regional Symposia. “Communicating research with a broader audience is really important,” says Petryk. “It makes people care about your work, which can help its societal and clinical impact.”
With a heavy heart, the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) announces the passing of chemical engineering alum, Andreas Acrivos ’50, on February 17, 2025. Acrivos was recognized by the American Institute of Physics as one of the greatest fluid dynamicists of the 20th century and was a leading figure in the chemical engineering field.
Born in Greece, he came to the U.S. to study at Syracuse University on a fellowship and received a bachelor’s in chemical engineering in 1950. He earned a Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1954 and began his academic career as a faculty member in chemical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley shortly after.
In 1962, he moved to the newly formed chemical engineering department at Stanford University and played a major role in bringing the chemical engineering program to national prominence. In 1986, Acrivos became the Albert Einstein Professor of Science and Engineering and the Director of the Benjamin Levich Institute for Physico-Chemical Hydrodynamics at the City College of New York, where he worked until his retirement in 2001.
Acrivos won numerous awards and recognitions for his research. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Physics of Fluids from 1982 to 1997. He received the National Medal of Science from President George Bush in 2002 and was awarded Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from several universities. During his long academic career, he also mentored numerous students, many of whom distinguished themselves in academia and the industry.
“The two-quarter course that Professor Acrivos taught at Stanford was the most memorable course I ever took in my entire education,” says biomedical and chemical engineering professor Ashok Sangani, who was one of Acrivos’ graduate advisees. “The course was so good that I have been teaching the same material at Syracuse University over the past 40 years even though there is a lot of temptation to add more. It was simply a classic!”
As a fitting tribute to his monumental mentorship, the American Physical Society named its annual award for the outstanding doctoral dissertation in fluid dynamics after Acrivos. Since 2014, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers has also given the Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering to individuals who have made significant contributions to chemical engineering.
Acrivos’s enduring legacy is reflected in his stellar academic family, which spans approximately four generations of scholars teaching at various universities across the United States and the world. Additionally, he was a great support of ECS and its commitment to providing its students with transformative learning experiences. His impact will be felt for generations to come.
In celebration of National Engineers Week, Advancing Women Engineers (AWE) held a professional networking event where students could connect with alumnae from the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Students engaged in meaningful conversations with former ECS graduates on topics ranging from soft skills and imposter syndrome to work-life balance and career growth.
“This event is more than just career prep—it’s about building a strong community where students in engineering can support, inspire and empower one another,” says Heather Carroll, assistant director of alumni and donor engagement.
Alumnae who attended the networking event included Gay Kasegrande ’93, senior group leader at Mondelēz International, Inc., who earned a bachelor’s in chemical engineering in 1993 and Dawn Penniman ’90, G’97, certified senior project engineer II at ARCADIS, who earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering in 1990 and master’s in environmental engineering in 1997.
“It was a great experience! I loved talking to alumni and gaining insights about networking and career pathways, ” says computer science student Adya Parida ’25.
“It was great speaking with alumnae,” says Liv Ochtabec ’28. “They provided us with support and advice that will benefit me in my career growth.
“The alumnae provided students with useful advice for networking and career development. For me, it emphasized the breadth and diversity of the SU alumni community and how we can use it to our benefit” says aerospace engineering student Aliza Willsey.
AWE plans to continue hosting events to engage both alumnae and students through networking opportunities, immersive programming and virtual conferences to empower the next generations of students for success.
Aerospace engineering student Tatiyyanah Nelums ’25 was selected by the national nonprofit Patti Grace Smith Fellowship as a member of its latest cohort. The program is designed to support the careers of Black aerospace leaders. As part of the fellowship, Nelums will participate in a challenging summer aerospace internship at one of America’s leading aerospace companies. They will also receive a scholarship, personalized mentorship and access to a community of young Black professionals pursuing careers in aerospace.
Nelums conducts research in computational fluid dynamics and aims to work in the commercial space sector. They are the co-president of the Syracuse University branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and serve as the aerodynamics and propulsion lead for Syracuse’s AIAA Design/Build/Fly team. As part of the fellowship, Nelums will be working at the research and development company Draper during the summer.
“Tatiyyanah’s fellowship is a recognition of their academic achievement and leadership skills as demonstrated during their studies in Syracuse. As their instructor in airbreathing and rocket propulsion, I can attest that they are well-equipped to succeed in the aerospace field. This award further sets them on that path to success,” says Ben Akih Kumgeh, associate professor and aerospace engineering undergraduate program director.
“Being a part of this fellowship is an amazing opportunity, and I am proud to be included in such an amazing program,” says Nelums. “It is not often that I get to interact with people in my field who look like me, so this representation matters a lot to me.”
Aicha Gory’s ’26 fascination with problem-solving made a career in computer science an ideal choice for her. With a strong background in STEM, she remained committed to her goals, even when faced with challenges as she navigated a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, her dedication to pursuing education fueled her resilience.
“Coming from Senegal, adapting to a new environment and navigating remote learning while improving my English ability was intimidating, but it also taught me resilience and adaptability,” says Gory.
After completing an online course at Syracuse University in the summer of 2021, Gory had an opportunity to visit the University’s campus, an experience that was crucial to her decision to attend the college.
“I enjoyed the powerful sense of community and the faculty’s help during the online session, which gave me confidence that Syracuse is a place where I might succeed,” she says. “I wanted to attend a school with a strong engineering department, and Syracuse’s combination of academic brilliance and a welcoming environment made it the perfect choice for me.”
Throughout her academic journey at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Gory has had the opportunity to explore her passions through internships. As an operations analyst intern at a financial institution, she improved financial accuracy by managing and verifying over 100 daily deposit transactions, ensured regulatory compliance and reduced errors.
She’s also been involved with the Research Exposure in Socially Relevant Computing (RESORC) program, where she attends research meetings, participates in technical research, soft skills-building sessions and collaborates with peers to brainstorm research topics.
“I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and contribute to impactful research. Also, I am in the steps of working on a project related to virtual reality with my professor from my VR class, which I am excited about. This opportunity will allow me to practice what I’ve learned in class and gain more experience.”
In addition to her academics, Gory holds positions in many clubs including the Secretary for the Society of Women Engineers, the Conference Planning Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers and an Academic Excellence Workshop Facilitator. Gory is also a mentor in the Catalyst Scholars program, which supports first-generation college students.
This role is perfect for her since she understands the struggles these students face and helps them adjust to college life as they navigate their academic journey. She also assists the admissions office with student panels, which allows her to “give back and help others who are in a similar position as a first-generation student.”
When she’s not juggling various responsibilities, Gory enjoys cooking, spending time with loved ones, watching sunsets and playing Badminton. She seeks to become a data scientist in healthcare, finance, business, or technology.
“Take time to care for yourself and enjoy the process of learning and growth. Remember, never compare yourself to others. We all have different paths, and the end goal is to simply keep moving forward and make it.”
As quantum science advances, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals who can apply quantum technology and develop commercial products. To address this need, Moamer Hasanovic, assistant teaching professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide training, education, and career development for quantum technicians. This initiative supports Syracuse University’s mission to remain a leading research institution while expanding its quantum educational programs.
Hasanovic previously developed a quantum curriculum, known as the EdQuantum Project, which provides quantum technicians—specialists who assist researchers in the lab—with the necessary skills required for the workforce. The curriculum consists of three courses in quantum technologies that combine theory and hands-on activities to raise awareness and build essential knowledge in quantum information science at a technician level.
As part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of quantum programs, Hasanovic has visited numerous community colleges to lead workshops and strengthen relationships with academic institutions such as Onondaga Community College, State University of New York Broome Community College, and Jefferson Community College, among other colleges regionally and nationally.
While attending quantum conferences across the country, Hasanovic has gathered information from the industry to enhance his curriculum and has been working on establishing a laboratory at Syracuse University that will support local community colleges as well as the University’s undergraduate program. The NSF grant award will play a crucial role in advancing these initiatives.
“We are very much ahead of the curve. There’s no one in the nation doing quantum at the community college level and we can lead these efforts. We’re expanding the program’s outreach, establishing collaborations to bring funding to the University and creating a quantum center,” says Hasanovic.
Some partners that Professor Hasanovic is collaborating with include the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, Chicago Quantum Exchange, Duke Quantum Center, University of Chicago, Georgetown University, Colgate University, and the University of Queensland in Australia. He will also introduce quantum science into K-12 and undergraduate programs to provide a firm foundation for the emerging workforce.
“We have to collaborate more. We don’t have to build labs across the nation that are costly. Nothing is impossible if we share the resources we have,” says Hasanovic. “I’m grateful for the NSF award and how it will impact the future of the quantum workforce.”
The College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) is excited to announce the opening of the Campos Student Center, a new community space designed for ECS students. The center celebrated its opening last week with a waffle bar, games and giveaways for attendees. Located on the second floor of the Center of Science and Technology, the Campos Student Center is a welcoming home-away-from-home where students can receive academic support, connect to campus resources and find a sense of community and belonging.
“Our overarching mission is to promote a sense of belonging for the breadth of undergraduates who comprise our college,” says Abby Fite G’18, director of inclusive excellence.
“There isn’t a space like this in the Life Sciences Building so it gives students an opportunity and place where they can come and study,” says computer science student Brianna Anthony ’26.
Established by Marco Campos and his sister Deanna Campos Miller to make STEM accessible to all students, the student center offers a variety of weekly programs that foster community-building and collaboration. These weekly programs include study sessions for programming on Mondays, open study tables on Tuesdays, math study tables on Wednesdays, Thriving Thursdays, and a weekly wind down on Fridays.
“I’m really excited for this space,” says computer science student Jenna Ballback ’26. “On Mondays, I’m running the computer programming study table. There’s a different thing going on every day.”
In celebration of National Engineers Week, the Campos Student Center will offer free headshots taken by a professional photographer on February 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All students have the option to participate in the #ILookLikeAnEngineer campaign, which highlights the breadth of people in engineering.
“It feels very homely, I like the couches,” says civil engineering student Kevin Guerrero ’28. “I also really like the campaign slogan, #ILookLikeAnEngineer. A lot of people think of a specific picture when thinking about an engineer so it’s nice having a campaign that celebrates all of us.”
“I think the center meets the needs of what Abby was going for, which is comfortability,” says civil engineering Candance Tabb ’26. “It’s very cozy and close-knit and it’s a space for students to be themselves.”
“Belonging is a reliable predictor of retention and graduation, so we see this as integral to our academic mission,” Fite says. “It’s also a predictor for a range of wellness outcomes, so we also see this as integral to our ethical mission to care for our students.”
Bamboo is a fast-growing and renewable plant that has important environmental benefits. It grows in many different climates, captures carbon and its root system improves soil health while preventing soil erosion. Bamboo’s natural strength and flexibility have also made it a great alternative to timber and metals for buildings, scaffolding, and many other manufacturing uses.
Studies have shown that bamboo’s outer layer is actually stronger than its inner layers. Known as the epidermis, bamboo’s outer layer is smooth and dense, containing cellulose fiber and silica particles, which contribute to the plant’s functionality and durability. Silica particles in particular may strengthen and help plants like bamboo withstand environmental stresses.
For decades, researchers have been attempting to understand how the low amount of silica particles helps strengthen the outer layer of bamboo and prevent the inner fibers from splitting. To explore this concept, Zhao Qin, assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering, combined theoretical analysis, experimental imaging, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing to study how the arrangement of silica particles affects bamboo.
“There are individual particles embedded in the matrix material of bamboo skin,” says Qin. “We realized in the microscopic images of bamboo skin, we see when there are cracks. These cracks will be captured by the silica particles because they are harder and stiffer than the matrix. So, the crack will not propagate straight through the bamboo, but instead, it gives you the zig-zag pathway to dissipate more energy.”
When studying the structure of bamboo skin, Qin found that it’s a composite material, meaning bamboo skin is made from two or more materials with different properties. This material includes soft cellulose fibers and rigid silica particles that are arranged differently in various directions. This arrangement makes the bamboo skin tougher and more durable.
“The silica particles are very ordered in the direction that is perpendicular to the bamboo fiber bundles, with dense areas located where the bundles meet,” says Qin. “Since fiber splitting is the main way bamboo fails under different stresses, such as buckling, bending, and twisting, the silica particles at the fiber junctions help increase the material’s toughness and prevent cracks from spreading. However, their distribution along the fiber is highly disordered.”
To understand how this arrangement affects the toughness of bamboo skin, Qin input his findings into generative AI and created a model based on the structure of bamboo skin. The AI model not only looks similar to actual bamboo skin but also breaks and withstands force in the same way. This research helps us understand the mechanics of bamboo skin better, discover ways to create materials similar to bamboo, or improve the strength of bamboo materials for sustainable development.
“Understanding how the bamboo epidermis works at the microscopic level can help us connect the beginning of mechanical cracks in bamboo with larger issues like buckling and splitting when under extreme pressure,” says Qin. “This understanding is essential for making bamboo products more durable. Additionally, insights gained from the bamboo epidermis can guide the design of composites by defining particle distribution in fiber-reinforced composites, which is important for sustainable construction and manufacturing techniques.”
Get to know the advancement and external affairs staff at the College of Engineering and Computer Science!
Name: Amy Gullotta
Title: Senior Director of Development
Tell us about your role at Engineering and Computer Science (ECS):
I’ve had the pleasure of working for the ECS Advancement & External Affairs team for the past 10 years helping to secure important resources of time, talent, and treasure from alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends to support the mission of the College. I travel often and wear many hats including fundraising, recruiting board members, guest speakers and student mentors, running alumni events, coordinating meetings for senior leadership, and working with colleagues across campus to promote ECS initiatives.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I love meeting with alumni, hearing their inspiring stories of success, and ultimately matching their philanthropic goals with the needs of our College and our students. When the magic happens it’s a win-win for everyone!
Name: Kelly Venturini
Title: Director of Development
Tell us about your role at ECS:
My role in advancement is to meet with alumni from our college and facilitate their engagement and their philanthropy to support ECS students, faculty, and key funding priorities. My primary travel areas include Northern California/Silicon Valley, Seattle, and the DMV area (DC/Virginia/Maryland).
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
Hearing firsthand from alumni about the transformational role the College of ECS played in their lives and how it inspires them to give back. Alumni share the names of faculty and staff and recall specific moments when someone went above and beyond on their behalf. This feedback spans all generations and is a testament to the great work the college has done and continues to do for its students. It’s both motivating and inspiring and, most often, the primary reason alumni choose to invest in our college through philanthropy.
Name: Heather Carroll
Title: Assistant Director, Donor and Alumni Engagement
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I plan, manage, and facilitate strategic regional and special events sponsored by the ECS Advancement team, both on and off campus, to identify, cultivate and steward current and prospective donors. Events include ECS DLC meetings, Invent@SU final judging, SU reunions and alumni awards, Orange Central events, Coming Back Together weekend, and other all-campus alumni programs. I am the coordinator for the AWE Networking Group (Advancing Women Engineers), the administrator for the Firsthand mentor platform, the liaison for scholarship assignments and stewardship, and I am responsible for the procurement of ECS giveaway merchandise, and donor brochures and acknowledgements.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I love my team! We have a great rapport and really enjoy working together. I enjoy everyone I work with on the ECS staff and, not trying to suck up, but we are really fortunate for Dean Smith’s positive and inspiring leadership. And I am grateful for Jenn Fazio and the Staff Council for the positive work culture and community they help promote.
Name: Gabby Spencer
Title: Advancement and External Affairs (AEA) Operations Coordinator
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I am the AEA Operations Coordinator here at ECS! I help with a lot of the administrative work in both the Dean’s Suite as well as for advancement from our department. I also assist with the Invent@SU program in the summer
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
My favorite part is the people I get to work with! Everyone has been so kind and helpful and I am fortunate to get to work with such a great team and with other great people from various departments.
Mussadiq “Muss” Akram ’10 will be the featured speaker for the Engineering Meets Business event at 6:00pm on February 18th, 2025. Akram is Vice President of Utility Strategy at CenterPoint Energy, a gas and electric utility that serves over six million customers in six states. In his role, Akram is responsible for setting the company’s direction for the future for its regulated businesses in collaboration with its stakeholders and in the context of the broader energy transition. Prior to joining CenterPoint Energy, Akram served as a management consultant to energy companies and stakeholders around the world, with a particular focus on North American utilities.
Akram holds a BS in chemical engineering and a BA in international relations from Syracuse University and an MEng in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University. A dedicated Syracuse volunteer, he founded the Engineering Meets Business program just two years after graduating from Syracuse University and serves on the Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Dean’s Leadership Council. He has previously been involved with the ECS Emerging Leaders Board, Alumni Association Board, and National Campaign Council. He is also a Generation Orange Award recipient. He resides in Houston, TX with his family.
Engineering Meets Business will be a virtual event and you can register here.
Engineering Meets Business with guest speaker Mussadiq Akram ‘10
Mechanical and aerospace engineering alumnus Christopher John Ruscher ’09, G’11, G’14, has been named by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as the AIAA Engineer of the Year. Ruscher is the vice president and a senior research engineer for Spectral Energies, LLC.
The AIAA will present the award during the AIAA Awards Gala on Wednesday April 30th at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC. The institute also will recognize its Class of 2025 Honorary Fellows and Fellows at the AIAA Awards Gala.
The AIAA Engineer of the Year Award is presented to a member of the Institute who has made a recent individual technical contribution in the application of scientific and mathematical principles leading to a significant technical accomplishment.
Rusher was recognized “for the design, development, integration, and demonstration of a robust pressure sensor on a hypersonic sounding rocket and F404 engine test.”
The AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society with nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries.
Ruscher earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree from Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
In recognition of superior scholarship, the following students have been entered on the Engineering & Computer Science Dean’s List for Fall 2024.
To be eligible for Dean’s List recognition, the minimum semester grade point average must be 3.40 or higher, must have earned a minimum of 12 graded credits and must have no missing or incomplete grades.
Syracuse University, in collaboration with ANDRO Computational Solutions, LLC, Marconi-Rosenblatt AI Innovation Lab of Rome, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) valued at approximately $2 million. This project focuses on pioneering research to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning technologies to enhance radio spectrum utilization in challenging conditions.
The project is led by Anu Jagannath, ANDRO Chief Scientist and Chief Research Officer, and Jithin Jagannath, ANDRO Chief Scientist and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The lead project team at ANDRO also includes Senior Scientist Sabarish Krishna Moorthy, with support from Syracuse University professors Biao Chen and Pramod Varshney from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Their expertise contributes valuable insights into advanced signal processing and distributed systems modeling for the project.
The collaboration between ANDRO and Syracuse University showcases the power of academic-industry partnerships in tackling complex challenges. This collaboration has persisted for over 30 years and has benefited over the years from support from the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE) which is a NYSTAR-designated Center for Advanced Technology (CAT). Under the STTR contract, the team is well-prepared to provide innovative solutions for both military and commercial applications. This venture aims to transform the landscape of intelligent spectrum technologies for various spectrum intelligence use cases.
Liesel Odden ’24 G ’25 knows all too well the challenges of being a student-athlete. One minute she’s in the research labs of Link Hall, the next minute, she’s boarding a bus for an away game in a different state. As the co-captain of Syracuse University’s women’s soccer team and a student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), Odden juggles these responsibilities much like she juggles soccer balls on the field.
“One of the hardest parts about being a student-athlete is traveling. In the fall semester, over the course of 9 days, I was in Texas, Virginia and Florida,” says Odden. “But I’ve learned a lot more about time management since being in college.”
Playing soccer for as long as she can remember, Odden was thrilled to learn that Syracuse University’s team was in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), widely recognized as the top conference for women’s soccer. And the chance to play her favorite sport while pursuing her research interests was appealing.
“My coaches made this place feel like home, and treated me like family,” she says. “I also saw Syracuse had environmental engineering and that, along with research opportunities, was exciting.”
Odden is enrolled in the 4+1 accelerated program for environmental engineering, a combined degree where students complete both their bachelor’s and master’s at the same time in five years, though she will complete both degrees early. She credits Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Cliff Davidson with helping her discover this accelerated program and though the courseload is rigorous, it’s also been helpful. Online lectures make catching up on work much easier, especially when she’s on the road.
As a research assistant, Odden collaborates with Professor Davidson to analyze survey data on how different organizations respond to extreme weather events caused by climate change. Using information gathered from survey data, they’re attempting to find patterns between locations, organizations and strategies to respond to extreme weather events.
“With climate change, we’re going to be seeing a lot more flooding, droughts, heat waves and other extreme weather events so we need to have better ability to respond. I think that we can be prepared and respond better if we know how different people and organizations strategize.”
Displaying leadership qualities both on and off the field, Odden has traveled to Mixco, Guatemala for several summers, leading volunteer teams for Hogars Helping Hands, a non-profit organization founded by her parents. The non-profit focuses on supporting orphaned children and the local community, with volunteer groups building stoves, installing concrete floors, and painting village homes among other tasks.
With the help of professors Elizabeth Carter and John Trimmer, Odden also aims to establish a student chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Syracuse University. The organization develops sustainable engineering solutions for underprivileged communities.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned from Dr. Carter and Dr. Trimmer is engineering in low-resource settings. We spent time looking into socioeconomic inequities in Dr. Carter’s class which I’ve really enjoyed and got even more passionate about.”
As Odden continues balancing her life as a student-athlete, she relies on her strong support system to achieve her goals and stay ahead of the game.
“I’ve always felt very encouraged by Dr. Davidson. He’s been an incredible mentor to me and I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him. Dr Trimmer and Dr. Carter have also both been super supportive of me as a student-athlete,” says Odden. “In ECS, I have felt very supported and love how much I’ve grown as a student and my passions have been fueled and cared for. After I’m done playing soccer, I’ll have a great environmental engineering background that I can have a career in.”
Absorbing layers have been fundamental to advancements in technologies like energy harvesting, stealth systems, and communication networks. These absorbers efficiently capture electromagnetic waves across broad frequency ranges, enabling the development of sustainable, self-powered devices such as remote sensors and internet of things (IoT) systems. In addition to energy applications, these layers are pivotal in stealth technology, where they minimize radar visibility and enhance the performance of aircraft and naval systems. They also play a crucial role in improving communication networks by reducing stray signals and mitigating electromagnetic interference, making them essential in our increasingly interconnected world.
Advancements in these technologies requires modules with greater functionality and broader bandwidths, all within smaller footprints, driving the demand for ultra-thin absorbing layers with significantly higher absorption bandwidths. However, a theoretical upper bound exists on the bandwidth-to-thickness ratio of metal-backed, passive, linear, and time-invariant absorbing layers. Absorbers developed to date, irrespective of their operational frequency range or material thickness, significantly underperform when compared to this upper bound, failing to exploit the full potential that passive, linear, and time-invariant systems can provide.
In a new research paper published in Nature Communications, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Younes Ra’di and his research team introduced a new concept for designing ultra-thin absorbers that enables absorbing layers with a record-high bandwidth-to-thickness ratio, potentially several times greater than that of absorbers designed using conventional approaches. Absorbers designed based on this concept can achieve a bandwidth-to-thickness ratio arbitrarily close to the ultimate bound. Utilizing this concept, they designed and experimentally verified an absorber yielding a very high bandwidth-to-thickness ratio.
“Our findings have the potential to make significant contributions to various industries, including defense, energy harvesting, and advanced communication systems, by addressing critical challenges in electromagnetic absorption technology,” says Ra’di.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our work attracting international recognition, not only from the scientific community but also from key players across various industries. I am immensely proud of my team for their dedication and hard work, which have led to these groundbreaking results. Publishing in a prestigious journal like Nature Communications is a testament to their exceptional efforts and the importance of our research.”
As computer engineering student Alexander Segarra’25 looked at how he wanted to build his career, he decided it would be a good idea to consider a co-op position. While internships allow a student to have a part-time or summer experience at a company in their field, the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s signature co-op program gives a student an extended, full-time opportunity to experience working with a company on more advanced projects.
“Work experience is pretty important when you go out into the workforce,” says Segarra. “It is very valuable learning the work environment, especially if you want to go down a certain route.”
Working with the career services team in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Segarra was accepted for a co-op position with Novelis, a global leader in aluminum products, at their Oswego location about 45 minutes north of Syracuse.
“The career services team was very helpful,” says Segarra. “They helped set everything up and had the right contacts. If you aren’t sure how to start, they are a great resource.”
Novelis is a premier partner with the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Employer Partnership Program and the company’s engineers appreciate the chance to bring Syracuse University students in to work on meaningful projects.
“You actually give them a real project, something they can take to completion,” says Rick Fiumara, a principal engineer at Novelis. “The best way to find out if you like your field is to do a co-op.”
For Segarra, his co-op opportunity showed him how he can apply the skills he was learning in classes to real world situations.
“Some of the people don’t even know I’m a co-op, they see me as a real employee,” said Segarra.
“With co-ops, they have more time to grow. It gives us more time to develop an individual,” says Stephen Dahar, engineering manager for Novelis. “It gives us a good look at who you are and can in some situations lead to full time employment.”
Novelis liked what they saw of Segarra and Segarra liked what he saw in the company’s culture and flexibility. He was offered a full-time position and will go back to Novelis right after graduation.
“Once I start my full time job it will be like picking up where I left off,” says Segarra.
Ian Storrs ’24 joined ‘Cuse Baja as a wide-eyed freshman eager to build off-road vehicles for rough terrains. But to his surprise, the club once known for participating in rugged vehicle competitions had seemingly lost its drive. The impact of the pandemic, coupled with former members graduating, left the student organization without guidance. The club’s off-road vehicle was also just a frame, and the remaining members didn’t know how to complete it. As the club’s numbers began to dwindle, Storrs knew he had to do something.
Assuming the position as the club’s leader, Storrs worked hard to rebuild ‘Cuse Baja from the ground up, focusing on recruiting and training the next generation of engineers to take the wheel. Today, ‘Cuse Baja is a thriving student organization that actively competes across the country and the off-road vehicle that was nothing more than a simple frame is now breaking records.
“The development of our current car has been a long road. With a large amount of reverse-engineering and scrappiness, we managed to cobble together a functional car,” says Storrs.
Despite challenges in their early competitions, ‘Cuse Baja didn’t let any roadblocks slow them down. And in September 2024, the club would set new records at the Baja Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) competition held in Michigan. After undergoing rigorous inspections, the team competed at different events that tested their vehicle’s acceleration, maneuverability, suspension and traction as well as rock-crawling ability.
The final event on the last day of the competition was the endurance race, where each team that passed inspections strives to complete as many laps as possible in 4 hours. ‘Cuse Baja was able to complete 15 laps, which was more than double the six laps they completed in a previous competition, making history as the best a Baja team had done at the University in over 20 years.
“We had gone from having never been to a competition to being legitimately competitive in only one year,” says Storrs. “Prior to us, a Baja team from SU had not raced at a competition in 20 years, so we are enormously proud of our accomplishments.”
“This year was filled with many great successes allowing our team to meet multiple goals,” says aerospace engineering student Laney Price ’27. “However, when I look back at Michigan, I will not remember our scoring. I’ll remember the excitement our team felt and expressed during that week when we worked through many obstacles to reach that success.”
Through Cuse Baja, Storrs has connected with other students who share his passion for designing and building off-road vehicles and gained hands-on experience in engineering through machining and welding. As president and chief engineer, he has also developed valuable leadership skills that have strengthened his team-building and project management abilities.
“Throughout my leadership, I have made it my number one priority to recruit and train the next generation of ‘Cuse Baja members who will be able to grow the team after I have graduated,” says Storrs. “Our current success is due to the large influx of passionate and interested members over the past year, who have shown great initiative in learning and leading the team.”
“I became a member at the beginning of the 2023 school season and have witnessed ‘Cuse Baja grow so much since I’ve been on the team,” says mechanical engineering student Riehen Walsh ’27. “With a new generation car being designed and an ever-growing connection with the local Syracuse community, I look forward to seeing what the team can become in the upcoming years.”
Even as Storrs prepares to graduate, he believes the club will continue to thrive. “Baja and the other engineering teams are an invaluable addition to the ECS community, and are, in my opinion, undervalued. We provide practical and hands-on experience to students, which is something that cannot be taught in class. I hope that through our continued success and growth, we can further prove our value to the engineering community.”
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Shikha Nangia has been named the permanent Department Chair of BMCE in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. She has served as the Interim Department Chair of BMCE since August 1, 2024, and her first term as Department Chair will run through summer 2028.
Nangia joined Syracuse University in 2012 and has since established herself as a leading expert in computational modeling, with a focus on overcoming biological barriers. Her groundbreaking research addresses critical challenges in treating complex diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as investigating gut tight junctions, implantable device-related infections, and epigenetics. A significant aspect of her work involves studying the architecture of the blood-brain barrier to develop innovative strategies for enhancing the delivery of drug molecules into the brain.
Nangia has authored numerous high-impact publications in leading scientific journals and serves as an Associate Editor for ACS Applied Bio Materials. She was a recipient of the NSF Career Award in 2015 and has received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has also received numerous honors for her research, including the ACS OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2016) and the ACS WCC Rising Star Award (2022).
Since 2012, Nangia has mentored approximately 110 students at various stages of their academic journeys, including postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, undergraduates, and high school students. Her dedication to teaching and mentoring has earned her numerous prestigious awards, such as the College Technology Educator of the Year (2016), the Meredith Teaching Recognition Award (2017), the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (2017), the Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Experience and University Initiatives (2019), and the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award (2022).
Currently, she serves as the faculty co-director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program and leads several impactful initiatives, including the NSF Interactive Biomaterials REU site and the NIH ESTEEMED program, which focuses on undergraduate research training.
“Shikha Nangia’s exceptional research contributions and mentorship are a testament to her capabilities as a leader in her field. I’m confident that she will continue to advance our college’s research initiatives in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering,” says Dean J. Cole Smith.
“I am deeply honored to lead this remarkable department, built on a strong foundation of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Together, we will push the boundaries of engineering, fostering a culture that values diversity, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge,” says Nangia. “Our mission is to educate the next generation of biomedical and chemical engineers and to pioneer research that addresses today’s challenges while shaping a better tomorrow. I am committed to empowering our faculty, staff, and students by creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, and every idea has the potential to thrive.”
When Emily Greaney ’21 G’22 faced the decision of where to attend college, she pictured a place that embodied the typical college experience – a campus with a beautiful landscape, great academic programs, and a vibrant school spirit with athletics and club sports. So when she came across Syracuse University during her search and saw everything the University had to offer, she knew it was the place to be.
“The programs were good, the campus had a collegiate feel, and it wasn’t too far from my home in New Jersey. I started playing ice hockey in high school senior year and SU had a club and D1 team, so it was an ideal school for me,” Greaney says.
Before graduating high school, Greaney initially planned to become a physical therapist but pivoted to engineering when she attended a summer camp at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. This experience would be crucial to discovering her passion for mechanical engineering.
“The summer camp touched on each engineering discipline. The mechanical module came up and we were playing soccer with robots” says Greaney. “It was taking all the things I loved, math, science, and physics, and putting it all together. After that, I knew mechanical was the way to go.”
Enrolling in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) as a mechanical engineering student, Greaney experienced what life at SU was all about. Joining clubs and connecting with others, she also got the chance to play ice hockey and find community among like-minded individuals.
“I really liked how welcoming the staff at ECS was. It was an environment where I never felt unsafe and felt that I belonged there,” she says. “They fostered that environment and my overall experience at Syracuse was great. There was always something to do, and I appreciated how the campus catered to anyone’s interest.”
Graduating from ECS with her bachelor’s in 2021 and her master’s in 2022, Greaney now works as a Generator Insulation and Non-Metallic Mechanical Engineer at General Electric (GE) Vernova. GE Vernova primarily focuses on energy generation, decarbonization, building power plants, and wind turbines. In her current position, Greaney works on the insulation that goes on copper bars inside power plant generators.
“In our power plants, we have generators. Those are what create the electricity that goes to the power grid. I’m working on the insulations that go around the copper bars that sit inside those generators.”
Greaney also runs a mechanical testing lab where a material’s mechanical properties are examined to see if they’re suitable for use. She’ll often start her day by going to the manufacturing floor of the building to see what’s going on. These workplace walkthroughs, known as “Gemba walks”, help management understand the work being done and engage with employees. Gemba walks derives from the Japanese word “Gemba” which means “the real place.”
“Gemba is where you actually go to where things are happening. You talk to the people, you understand what issues you’ve been experiencing for the past 24 hours and that kicks off your day on what you need to focus on or prioritize. I go there to understand what issues they’ve been experiencing and if that will be applicable to projects I’m working on.”
Greaney has also been interfacing with the mechanical manufacturing shop to create some samples for mechanical testing in her lab among other projects. She loves that her job continually keeps things interesting, and it goes hand-in-hand with her passion for sustainability.
“My advice to students would be to find your passion. I’m into sustainability and use this passion to contribute to making the world a better place. Whatever your passion is, find it since that will make you not dread your job.”
For many years, William T. “Ted” Frantz ’80, P’13 has been a faithful contributor to his alma mater, donating annually to the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) where he earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. But in 2024, Frantz made a philanthropic decision and a substantial investment in ECS that is designed to be transformative for the college and the region.
His new gift, which will be partially matched by the University through the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program, will establish the William T. Frantz Endowed Chair in Engineering and Computer Science. “The idea for this gift has been simmering for nearly 20 years,” says Frantz. The engineer turned investor, who has studied and invested in many promising concepts and companies, says his newest investment in ECS as part of the Forever Orange Campaign was a matter of just-the-right timing.
“The timing is ideal, coming on the heels of Micron Technology’s $100 billion commitment to the region,” says Frantz. He says the partnership opportunities between the technology company and the University are a boon for students, faculty and the wider community. “It’s a great time to invest in the University, the expansion of the engineering program and in the region. These things tend to build on each other.”
Frantz draws similarities to the success of Silicon Valley, where he once worked for Hewlett-Packard. “I witnessed the growth of Silicon Valley and how nearby universities like Stanford, Berkeley and Santa Clara provided the intellectual expertise, engineering and research,” he says. Forward-looking investors seized opportunities brought about by the region’s dynamic partnerships and ingenuity.
New Ideas
Investing in new ideas has always held appeal for Frantz, who has provided capital for companies exploring new computer technologies and biotech firms developing new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and other diseases. “It’s the challenge of seeing something grow and make a go of it, get off the ground and get bigger,” says Frantz.
The man who loves to see new ideas get off the ground and soar was perhaps inspired at a young age by his neighbors. They were airline pilots who built an aerobatic plane in the garage. A curious young Frantz helped out after school. One of those neighbors was Leo Loudenslager, who was a mechanic in the Air Force and a pilot for American Airlines, but who is best known for winning multiple U.S. Aerobatic Championships. “Leo was innovative,” says Frantz. “The design changes he made shook up the aerobatic community. And he not only built it, he flew it.”
Frantz, who has his own pilot’s license, has combined his passion for flight with his desire to fuel innovation through investment in a significant gift he made to Syracuse University students and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2008. Frantz funded the purchase and upkeep of an advanced flight simulator that would allow students to get hands-on experience with flight vehicles that they designed and to experiment “with the ‘edge of the envelope’ without endangering any persons or property.”
Edge of Innovation
Similarly, Frantz hopes his latest gift will help keep ECS on the edge of innovation, build on past successes and bring greater prestige. He notes that the gift is structured to allow for flexibility in that it is not restricted to a particular aspect or field of engineering. The recipient of the endowed chair will be selected by the dean of the college and hold a term of five years that is renewable. Frantz says flexibility allows the dean to look into the future and identify new fields where investing in faculty expertise would be most promising.
“Ted is a visionary in his approach to philanthropy,” says ECS Dean J. Cole Smith. “His background as both an engineer and investor allows him to look far into the future, to see where technology and creativity can take the next generation of engineers and computer scientists. His generosity is literally helping us shape the future of our program as we address the challenges facing our globe.”
“I’ve been studying the history of Syracuse,” says Frantz. “At one point, it was the center of commerce with proximity to the Erie Canal that allowed steel and manufacturing to thrive. But the city did not adjust to change, and new growth industries did not take root and adapt. Now, with Micron’s investment, the city has new opportunities, and Syracuse University is perfectly situated to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Quinn Qiao has been named Interim Associate Dean for Research (ADR) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Qiao joined Syracuse University in 2020. He has published over 200 papers in leading journals with topics ranging from battery storage and photovoltaics to sustainability and precision agriculture, establishing him as a global leader in electrical and materials engineering research. He has more than 16,000 citations on Google Scholar and received funding from a wide range of federal and industrial sources.
Qiao has experience in building and promoting successful interdisciplinary research teams as the Site Director for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research (IUCRC) Center for Solid-State Electric Power Storage (CEPS) at Syracuse University. He is also a campus lead at Syracuse University for the NSF Regional Innovation Engines New Energy New York led by Binghamton University and a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award in 2010.
“Quinn Qiao possesses exceptional research expertise, and his colleagues throughout the College have truly come to admire his passion and excitement for innovation since he came to Syracuse University,” says Dean J. Cole Smith. “His experience and proven ability to build successful interdisciplinary teams will be crucial for advancing our College’s research initiatives to new heights.”
“I am honored to step into this ADR role to build on the numerous successes that have been achieved, maintain the great momentum ECS currently has, grow new research areas to broaden the funding opportunities, partner with industry to advance technology and develop the workforce, and support our faculty and students to continue to innovate and succeed in a competitive world,” Qiao says. “We will certainly encounter new challenges, but I am confident that with the determination and persistence of our highly talented faculty and students, we will continue to grow as a leader in engineering fields.”
Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Pramod K. Varshney has received the Best Paper Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Signal, Information, and Data Processing. The conference took place in Zhuhai, China on November 22-24, 2024.
The award-winning paper focused on using copulas for change detection in heterogeneous remote sensing images. Copulas are a powerful tool used for modeling the dependence between multiple random variables. Over the past 15 years, Varshney’s research group has used copulas in various decision-making problems, including national security and defense and medical diagnoses, such as the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
Varshney and his colleagues proposed using copulas to improve change detection using heterogeneous remote sensing images. Heterogeneous remote sensing involves analyzing multiple images captured by different sensors or satellites at various times to identify changes in geographic features. This method is commonly used for disaster monitoring and land-use management. Experiments with different types of remote sensing images showed that the copula-guided neural network was effective and helped users better understand changes in geography.
“I co-authored the paper with two of my former visiting scholars who are professors at the famous Tsinghua University in China and my former doctoral student who is a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham,” says Varshney. “It is indeed a pleasure to maintain collaboration relationship with former members of my research group. The novel approach that combines copula theory with deep neural networks (DNNs) is quite novel and innovative. I am extremely happy that this work was deemed worthy of a Best Paper Award.”
Lihong Lao joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at Syracuse University as an Assistant Professor at the start of the Fall 2024 semester. Lao received her Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science from Cornell University. Lao leads the Environmental Control Materials (ECM) Lab. During the Spring 2025 semester, she will also teach a graduate-level course on polymer materials. Read on for more details about Lao’s research.
Question: Can you give us a brief overview of your research lab?
Professor Lao: My lab focuses on understanding the interaction among the human body, buildings and environment, and improving their performance by developing advanced materials and smart systems. We aim to design smart materials for thermal, moisture and air quality management for the human body and the built environment. Particularly, we use biomimetic approaches inspired by nature for the materials design and engineering based on polymers, fibers, textiles, soft materials, smart materials and advanced manufacturing.
Question: Tell us about your current research — are there any projects you’re working on that you’re especially enthusiastic about?
Professor Lao: The research topics in our lab include, but are not limited to:
Design of smart materials (e.g., stimuli-responsive materials, bio-inspired design, 3D printing)
Personal thermal and moisture management (e.g., smart textiles, surface wettability, thermal regulation, directional liquid transport)
Smart building and environment control (e.g., thermal regulation, ventilation control, air quality improvement).
I am particularly excited about developing new materials with self-thermoregulation properties and applying them in smart and green buildings towards energy-saving and sustainability.
Question: What do you like about working at 727 East Washington Street?
Professor Lao: The building is very beautiful and has so many flexible spaces. The indoor thermal condition and air quality are monitored and optimized, making it a comfortable place to work. More importantly, the people are extremely nice, and many faculty members, staff members and students have supported me to quickly adapt to this new environment.
Moamer Hasanovic brings broad teaching experiences across multiple areas of electrical engineering as a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Get to know him as he discusses his career path, research interests, and his role as a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Tell us about yourself and what brought you to Syracuse University.
With a diverse background in RF industrial expertise, quantum research, and teaching experience across multiple areas of electrical engineering, I am excited to bring my knowledge and innovative spirit to Syracuse University. My career has evolved from mentoring students as a lab technician to teaching electromagnetics and RF courses, conducting research, and managing grant-funded projects in photonics and quantum technology.
My work has resulted in several patents, demonstrating my ability to turn theoretical concepts into practical applications. Over two decades of academic experience at multiple institutions, both in the United States and abroad, I have mentored students in electronics, RF systems, optics, and quantum. In addition, my MBA and corporate experience allow me to bridge the academic and industrial worlds, promoting collaboration, internships, and innovation.
Professor Hasanovic collaborating with partners at the quantum research lab at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia (2024).
What sparked your interest in teaching at Syracuse University?
I was attracted to Syracuse University by its dynamic faculty team, which blends the experience of established faculty with the fresh perspectives of new colleagues. The university is uniquely positioned to make significant contributions to research and workforce development in emerging fields such as quantum technologies and chip manufacturing. With my background in workforce development and training, I would like to leverage my professional connections to improve collaboration with academic and corporate partners in semiconductor chip fabrication, integrated photonics, and quantum. My expertise complements well with the institutional needs in these areas. As a proud Syracuse University alum, I also feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to both the university and the local community, making my return to Syracuse especially meaningful.
What are your research interests?
I have spent over twenty years in the RF industry, holding various roles focused on board-level RF component design and development across multiple organizations. Alongside my work in RF, my research interests extend into optics and photonics, with a recent emphasis on integrating RF technologies with photonics and quantum. Currently, I am leading an NSF-funded project EdQuantum (NSF DUE 2055061) to raise public awareness about the transformative impact of quantum technologies on our daily lives, aiming to make this complex field more accessible to a broader audience.
This is a global effort with the collaboration that involves partners from Australia that share common interests in quantum technologies. Drawing from my industrial background, I am deeply committed to workforce development, actively supporting both regional and national initiatives in photonics, quantum technologies, and semiconductors. My goal is to contribute to the best of my ability so that the next generation of professionals is well-prepared to support these emerging technologies.
Professor Hasanovic visiting the Duke Quantum Center at Duke University in North Carolina (2022).
What are you most excited about in your role as a faculty member?
I am most excited about the opportunity to work with young people and engage in the exchange of ideas on a wide range of topics in electrical engineering and beyond. I firmly believe that knowledge transfer is a two-way street; as much as I educate my students, I also learn a great deal from them. Hearing fresh perspectives and exploring different approaches to classroom concepts is incredibly rewarding, fostering an educational environment where everyone benefits. Additionally, the prospect of leveraging our collective strengths and collaborating with fellow faculty members is something I find truly inspirational, as it enhances both personal growth and the broader academic experience.
What advice do you have for students?
Be passionate about the field and career you are pursuing. Strive to live it fully, rather than merely viewing it as a job or work. Use your creativity, knowledge, and effort to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others and contribute positively to society. True rewards and the pursuit of happiness ultimately lie in this purpose-driven approach.
What are some things you like to do for fun?
I have a deep passion for travel and exploration of different cultures and cuisines. So far, I’ve visited over 50 countries across five continents. When I travel, I enjoy mingling with locals, learning about their daily routines, discovering the restaurants they visit, and participating in the activities that bring them joy. I also have a love for outdoor activities, with hiking being one of my favorite ways to connect with nature. Additionally, I’ve been playing the accordion since my teenage years, which has become a hobby that helps me unwind and relax. As a father of three teenagers, spending time with my family is the cornerstone of my life that gives me a deep sense of purpose.
Professor Hasanovic at the Great Wall in China (2014)
Anand Wadurkar’s journey in biomedical and chemical engineering is a testament to his resilience, passion, and relentless pursuit of knowledge. His interest in science and engineering began at a young age, when, at just 15, he started exploring various STEM projects. From enhancing soil fertility by utilizing biodegradable waste to excelling in robotics competitions, Anand’s passion for science and engineering grew stronger, eventually gaining him recognition in his graduate school journey.
Hailing from Mumbai, India, he received his bachelor of technology in biotechnology and began his professional career at the bioprocess company, BiOZEEN. However, the desire to continue pursuing his education bubbled within him, which made him apply to Syracuse University’s Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering.
“As soon as I started the program, I had a co-op opportunity with the Center for Advanced Science and Engineering (CASE) for about 5-6 months at Triton Bio,” says Wadurkar.
Computational work was another aspect of biotechnology he found most interesting, and this eventually became his primary pursuit. He discovered this passion during the graduate student orientation at the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and was captivated as Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Shikha Nangia presented her computational research on the blood-brain barrier.
He then became a research assistant in Professor Nangia’s lab, where he explored his interests in molecular modeling and simulation. This computational process simulates and analyzes the properties of biological molecules. One project he is working on is enhancing small molecules to destroy bacteria or viruses. This molecule can prevent infections in biomedical devices, such as knee or hip implants, by forming a protective layer using biomaterials like microgel or hydrogel.
Wadurkar has also co-authored two research papers, one paper which involved predicting the clustering of devised small molecules. The paper was a huge breakthrough in small molecule research, and he even won a Master’s Thesis Prize. “The small molecules I work with are not naturally found in the body, but it can open great pathways to understand what’s in our body like proteins, cell membranes, and other things,” he says.
He also attended the Foundations of Molecular Modeling and Simulation (FOMMS) 2024 and International Community for the Advancement of Peptoids (ICAP) conferences in Berkeley, California where professionals worldwide gather and discuss their research and the latest developments in the field.
Under the guidance of Professor Nangia, who also serves as Interim Department Chair, he seeks to continue making breakthroughs in research. “It’s amazing,” he says when asked about collaborating with his advisor. “She empowers us to make our own decisions and, even if we don’t always succeed, she is understanding and supportive, providing us with additional opportunities to grow. Despite serving as the interim department head, she remains committed to ensuring that we stay on track and receive the guidance we need.”
Get to know the admissions and recruitment staff at the College of Engineering and Computer Science!
Name: Kathleen M. Joyce
Title: Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment
Tell us about your role at Engineering and Computer Science (ECS):
I oversee undergraduate and graduate recruitment, managing operations and outcomes while focusing on recruiting students across all ECS programs. I have the privilege of leading a fantastic team, and together we create programs and initiatives that not only support students through the admissions process but that also contribute to the success of our college.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I have a lot of favorite aspects of working in ECS but top of my list is the opportunity I have had over the years to work with amazing students who inspire me. Engineering and computer science are so vital to society. It is wonderful to work with students, faculty, and staff who aspire to make the world a better place with their talent, innovative vision, and hard work!
Name: Jonathan J. Hoster
Title: Associate Director for Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I connect with prospective undergraduate students and their families on campus, via Zoom, and in cities around the country. I host presentations for small and large groups, and I also meet with prospective students and families individually to highlight the outstanding opportunities that await them as an ECS student.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
My favorite part is getting to know our students and celebrating their many successes. I meet many of them when they are in high school. I enjoy seeing them in our buildings and around campus as they are pursuing their degrees in ECS. I am very proud of all their accomplishments in academics, research, extracurriculars, and industry, and I am always grateful for the opportunity to congratulate and celebrate them at graduation.
Name: Michaela Karcher
Title: Recruitment Specialist
Tell us about your role at ECS:
Meet with prospective students and families to discuss information about the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Work with the admissions team to host events on campus.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
Since I started in July, I have grown to meet so many kind and passionate people. I love when I am walking families around Link or CST and someone stops to share more in-depth information, whether it be staff, faculty, or current students. There is a true welcoming feeling in ECS.
Name: Nicholas Clarke
Title: Associate Director for Graduate Student Recruitment and Administration
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I work with our recruitment team to promote the College of Engineering and Computer Science to prospective graduate students. Through travel, weekly information sessions, one-on-one meetings and direct email correspondence I help students to better understand our programs and admissions process. I also assist with graduate administrative training for new staff.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
I love helping students and supporting them through the admissions process and their arrival on campus. My experience as a graduate coordinator allows me to field an array of questions that are unique to the graduate student experience. My favorite part of my job is having the useful information a student needs that solves a problem or just makes their day easier.
Name: Lilly Smolak
Title: Admissions Coordinator
Tell us about your role at ECS:
Provide daily operational support, including budget tracking, processing office requisitions, and assisting fellow staff members in the admissions department.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
My favorite part of working at ECS is the welcoming and supportive community. From the moment I started in July, I was embraced with warmth and kindness, with everyone eager to offer help whenever I needed it. I’ve made many wonderful friends within the ECS community and look forward to building even more connections in the future.
As the fall semester comes to a close, and final exams approach, we’ve gathered some tips from ECS peer leaders on how they study for exams. Here’s what they had to say:
One way I mitigate stress and study for exams is by creating a cheat sheet. It allows me to have all the content in one place and I split it into topics, formulas, and examples similar to a mind map
I use the Cornell method where I have all the formulas and relationships, I need to solve a problem then I solve the problem. Then on the bottom, there is a summary section to see where I might’ve messed up or any extra notes
I prefer not to study with friends for certain classes and then for other classes, I like to collaborate
I like doing my work in Goldstein Student Center where there’s a food court so I can make sure I am eating and hydrated. If anyone feels like they blank out during exams I would suggest referring them to the Center of Disability Resources (CDR) for extra exam time
Aaron Shinn | Civil Engineering | 2025
Note-taking in class can be a good form of studying with the right approach. When in lecture, be aware of what the professor says is most important to know, organize your notes in a way that works for you, and spend each day quickly reading over your notes to put what you wrote down to memory
Make sure to do your homework on your own or collaboratively without copying others
Putting an honest effort and asking questions is a form of practice for future exams. By retaining information from lecture and doing homework with an honest effort, you can save time with additional studying by focusing on the concepts that are more difficult to you
Make sure to also prioritize getting enough sleep and taking breaks because overworking yourself will negatively affect your performance on exams
Aicha Gory | Computer Science | 2026
For studying, I will make sure to start practicing two weeks before the exam with practice exams, homework and extra quizzes the teacher provides. If you don’t understand a concept, make sure to go to office hours or approach your Academic Excellence Workshop assistant
For math, you can go to the Syracuse library and find some past exams. The format is similar. Make sure to do at least one or two
Try approaching the teacher. Studying with your peers also helps since they might explain things easier than the teacher. And don’t wait till the last day to study!
Automotive Engineering (MAE 457) is a course designed to equip students for careers in the automotive industry and a variety of other fields. This course will ignite students’ curiosity to explore the design and development of different vehicle engines and will be taught by Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Andrea Shen. The course will also cover new topics in automotive engineering, including hybrid and electric vehicles.
Students in MAE 457 will learn about how internal combustion engines work, the significance of biofuels, vehicle dynamics, and how different factors impact engine performance. They will also have hands-on learning experiences with engines, observing the functions of a diesel engine and gasoline engine located in Link Hall. Additionally, each student will complete a project where they will conduct research on a vehicle of their choice.
The course will also feature guest speakers from companies such as Space X, Ford, Harley Davidson, Sierra Space, Roush Yates, Cummins and Caterpillar, and students will have an opportunity to interact with these industry professionals.
“I’m hoping students will gain an appreciation for cars,” says Shen. “They will gain an understanding of all the things that go on in the car and how they interact with each other. I also want to bring awareness on biofuels and the importance of research on combustion engines and automotives in the face of electric vehicles.”
Shen earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Virginia Tech and her Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Engine Research Center. She will incorporate her research focuses on gasoline engines, biofuels, and engine performance as well as creating representative models of different base fuels into the course.
Power outages have various causes, with severe weather conditions such as storms, hurricanes, and heat waves frequently disrupting transmission lines. According to the American Public Power Association, wildlife interactions also contribute to power disruptions, accounting for 11% of U.S. outages between 2013 and 2017. However, not every outage is caused by external factors. Sometimes, outages can occur when power generation simply can’t meet electricity demand.
“Depending on the time of day, such as morning work hours, the power consumption is lower so power generation should be adjusted to the power being consumed,” says Nathalie Uwamahoro, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student. “During rush hour in the evening, the power demand goes up so the power generation should be able to adjust quickly to meet that demand as well.”
The need for flexibility within power grids has been an ongoing challenge in electrical systems, as the power grid is a complex network with many components. Uwamahoro is developing a new flexibility metric to determine a power grid’s capability to handle the uncertainties of renewable energy generation. She’s been collaborating with her advisor, Associate Professor Sara Eftekharnejad, in Smart Grid Research Lab, an interdisciplinary lab that seeks to ensure power grid reliability and sustainability.
“If more transmission lines, transformers, or generation resources fail, power generation won’t be able to sustain the demand,” says Uwamahoro. “We want to create a simple, robust metric that can assess the capability of a power grid to maintain reliable electricity and support the power system.”
The power grid flexibility metric will use machine learning and electrical engineering theories to function and Uwamahoro believes their work can contribute to new topics in power grid research. Their metric could also help states in the U.S. with issues concerning power generation and sustainability. She was awarded the best graduate student paper award at the 2023 North American Power Symposium (NAPS) which was based on her research on cascading failure within power grid systems. This served as the foundation for the research on power grids she conducts today.
“A failure in a single transmission line can spread through the entire system if protection devices fail to clear the faults, leading to cascading failures that can cause large-scale power outages, ranging from city-wide to national levels. We used machine learning methods to predict potential power grid failures.”
Uwamahoro was also selected to participate in the Summer Dissertation Fellowship 2024 for Ph.D. students. She was chosen to be among 32 Teaching Mentors who trained new teaching assistants. “The opportunity to use machine learning techniques in power system problems is amazing,” she says. “As an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. candidate, I got the opportunity to study courses in computer engineering too. I look forward to publishing our research findings in the near future.”
When Fatimata Gory ’26 left her home country Senegal to study in the United States, she never imagined becoming a peer leader, running academic workshops, or holding positions in student organizations. However, with the right community and a healthy support system, Gory has been able to thrive in her academics, participate in hands-on research and make the most of her experience in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
“The language barrier was challenging when I first moved,” says Gory. “But I learned to adapt, be more open to people, got to know my professors and found friends in my major to help me in areas where I struggled. Now that I’m more involved, I find it more enjoyable.”
Gory initially planned to attend State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego but after a few interactions with Associate Director for Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment, Jonathan Hoster, she had a change of mind. “Jonathan was a big help. My sister was talking to him at the time, and I saw how much he was reaching out, talking to my family, and helping with financial aid,” says Gory. “It was comforting coming to this country for the first time not knowing a lot of people and there was someone who cared and willing to help me.”
Enrolling in ECS as an aerospace and mechanical engineering student, Gory was interested in the design aspect of aerospace after taking a solid mechanics course her first year. Now, Gory works as a research assistant in the Composite Material Lab where she focuses on frontal polymerization. Frontal polymerization is a chemical reaction that turns a liquid monomer into a solid polymer. In the lab, they use UV light to initiate frontal polymerization, which helps control the curing process in 3D printing applications.
“Working in the lab has been a very hands-on experience. I had to redesign the 3D printer head to accommodate continuous carbon fiber printing, which was key in making the process more automated and reducing manual intervention.” says Gory. “It’s been exciting to work in such a cutting-edge area of composite manufacturing, especially with the potential to apply these techniques in fields like aerospace or repair applications where quick, reliable material production is essential.”
On top of thriving in her academics, Gory is an active member of ECS. She’s the treasurer of the National Society of Black Engineers, assistant treasurer of the Society of Women Engineers, and an energy analyst for the Industrial Training and Assessment Center. Gory is also a peer leader and Academic Excellence Workshop (AEW) facilitator. Additionally, her lab research earned her an honorable mention from the Universities Space Research Association (USRA.) With a wealth of experience across ECS, she urges students to connect with peers, faculty and staff as well as being open to trying new things.
“I love being an AEW facilitator. I enjoy working with Jonathan, meeting with new students, talking to student panels and giving them advice. Before coming to college, I didn’t have that mentorship so it’s nice to be that for other students.”
From the collaborative research efforts at Syracuse University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Georgia Institute of Technology comes sustainable building startup Lamarr.AI. The startup recently raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize its automated technology which will use drones, thermal imaging and machine learning techniques to inspect and analyze buildings. The startup aims to reduce building carbon emissions and lower maintenance and ownership costs.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Senem Velipasalar has been collaborating with former Syracuse University professor Tarek Rakha, who is now at Georgia Tech, as well as Norhan Bayomi and John E. Fernandez from MIT. Velipasalar has been working on autonomous thermal anomaly detection using machine learning on building envelopes, which include windows, doors, walls, and roofs. Thermal anomaly detection involves identifying and classifying temperature variations in different areas.
Led by Rakha, the team received a $1.8 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2019 for their preliminary work on thermal anomaly detection. Lamarr.AI was then founded in 2021 to commercialize this technology, and Velipasalar has played a crucial role as the startup’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Rakha serves as the startup’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Using AI to automate building analysis, Lamarr.AI has collaborated with several building owners and facilities managers, saving over $1 million in engineering and construction costs. Their AI technology identifies issues, such as deteriorated window seals and leaky roofs. It has also helped in effectively planning and scoping large building envelope retrofits, a process that improves a building’s energy efficiency.
The algorithms Lamarr.AI has developed contribute to transforming building energy audits by providing recommendations significantly faster, more affordably and more accurately than traditional manual audits. The startup filed two patents based on this technology, both of which are co-owned by Syracuse University, Georgia Tech and MIT.
“I am very excited and happy that commercialization of this technology will allow us to increase the visibility of Lamarr and Syracuse University both nationally and internationally and draw attention to not only the AI-related research being conducted at Syracuse University but also the commercialization of these developed technologies for the betterment of the society,” says Velipasalar.
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) hosted its electrical engineering workshop in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Syracuse Section and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Central New York (CNY) Chapter on Friday, October 11th, 2024. The workshop covered various electrical engineering topics and aimed at power engineering professionals.
The IEEE Syracuse Section has over 770 members and is part of the world’s largest professional engineering society. Its mission is to promote technological advancement in CNY through events, lectures, and business, as well as technological advancement in CNY through events, lectures, business, and educational development. NSPE CNY comprises engineering professionals from all disciplines and seeks to promote the ethical, competent, and lawful practice of engineering while providing career development, networking opportunities, and other benefits to students and professionals.
The workshop is an annual event that was started 12 years ago. Originally envisioned by Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Prasanta Ghosh, and William Maxwell, ’87 G’03, they have co-chaired the event since the beginning. Its mission is to serve the continuing education needs of New York State’s licensed professional engineers as well as licensed professional engineers in other states with a primary focus on power engineering. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the hybrid format has expanded its reach both locally and across the Northeast and benefits presenters who can’t physically attend the event.
“Over previous years, there have been Ph.Ds. and senior practicing engineers from Canada, Saudi Arabia, India, and Australia. Although a small workshop, it is thrilling that every year, the best minds from around the U.S. and the world present to the professional engineering students. Typically, the workshop has 35 participants and continues to grow in number and breadth of attendance,” says Professor Ghosh.
The workshop was presented by faculty from Syracuse University, Binghamton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University and industry professionals from General Electric (GE). The students, licensed professional engineers, earned six (6) Professional Development Hours (PDHs) toward the continuing education requirements of their engineering license.
Building America team members at BTO’s 2024 Peer Review event. Left to Right: Ji Zhou, Ph.D. candidate, MAE; Asit Patel, Association for Energy Affordability; Ian Shapiro, Professor of Practice, MAE; Sameeraa Soltanian-Zadeh, Ph.D. candidate, MAE; Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, Professor, MAE
Multiple faculty and graduate students affiliated with the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE) traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) 2024 Peer Review. As BTO’s signature event, this annual peer review process brings together academics, practitioners, and policymakers in the building sector.
Bess Krietemeyer, Associate Professor in the School of Architecture (SOA), led a presentation on SU’s Advanced Building Construction award, “Integrated Whole-Building Energy Efficiency Retrofit Solution for Residences in Cold/Very Cold Climates.” Using a demonstration site on Syracuse University’s South Campus, Professor Krietemeyer’s team is developing a method for retrofitting single-family residences. By leveraging insulated panels and prefabricated systems, they can create significant energy savings and improve indoor air quality with minimal disruption to building occupants.
Ian Shapiro, Professor of Practice in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and Associate Director of Building Science and Community Programs, gave a presentation on SU’s Building America Project to improve the heat pump efficiency by reducing applied energy losses. SOA Assistant Professor Nina Wilson presented another Building America project led by Cycle Architecture + Planning, a SyracuseCoE Partner Program member, which will focus on field validation projects for residential retrofit solutions.
Three MAE Ph.D. students, who played key roles in SU’s DOE projects, participated in the peer review: Shayan Mirzabeigi, Sameeraa Soltanian-Zadeh and Ji Zhou. Sameeraa also attended workshops and gatherings specifically for DOE IBUILD Graduate Research Fellows.
SyracuseCoE collaborators represented at the BTO event included Taitem Engineering, Association for Energy Affordability, Cycle Architecture + Planning, and Hydronic Shell Technologies. Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, Executive Director of SyracuseCoE and MAE Professor also participated in the 2024 Peer Review.
“The annual BTO peer review meeting was a great opportunity for researchers and practitioners to learn about the wide range of high-impact projects supported by DOE, exchange knowledge and explore new collaboration ideas in addition to a rigorous review of the various funded projects,” said Professor Zhang. “It was exciting and gratifying to see so many SU faculty, students and collaborators participating and presenting findings from pioneering research sponsored by DOE at this event.”
DOE’s BTO works to develop cost-effective tools and technologies that make residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient. Supporting an equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system, BTO works in three key areas: research and development, market stimulation and building codes and equipment standards.
In just one year, computer science Ph.D. student Siwei Zhang has made outstanding achievements in research. Advised by electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) professor Endadul Hoque, Zhang has been involved in multiple projects, presented research at conferences, and published a paper, contributing significantly to the cybersecurity research field.
Joining the EECS master’s program in the fall of 2023, Zhang worked with Hoque on developing fuzzing methods. In cybersecurity, fuzzing is a security testing technique that uses an automated approach to find vulnerabilities and bugs in computer programs. “I’ve always had an interest in operating systems, and I find research interesting. In my spare time, I use new tools to find bugs in systems. Finding vulnerabilities in programs is the goal of my research.”
Zhang presented his work on fuzzing methods in operating systems at the 2024 USENIX Conference. This prestigious conference brings together researchers and practitioners in the cybersecurity field, and Zhang’s research caught the attention of several attendees. “People are interested in this area of research,” Zhang says. “It’s going to be the future.”
As a Ph.D. student, Zhang has authored and published a paper that focuses on enhancing the security of smart homes. He presented the paper at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Secure Development (SecDev) 2024, a conference where academic and industry researchers present and discuss state-of-the-art techniques for developing secure computer systems.
“As a first-year Ph.D. student, Siwei has made remarkable progress in academics and research, including leading multiple projects,” Hoque says. “He excels at system-level programming and quickly grasps complex problems. As a master’s student in my group, he developed an open-source gateway for large language models (LLMs)—advanced AI systems trained to understand and generate human language—which streamlines integration with both open and closed-source models. This tool has greatly supported our research. With his skills and enthusiasm, he shows strong potential to become a leading cybersecurity researcher, and I’m pleased to have him in our Ph.D. group.”
The annual BioInspired Institute Symposium hosts students, postdocs, and faculty from Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry as well as other partners from the community and the region. Research topics presented include but are not limited to cancer, developmental disorders, aging, medical device-related infection, drug delivery and toxicity screening, and many aspects of the most fundamental processes involved in how the material world around us works.
Congratulations to all the winners from the Fall 2024 BioInspired Symposium!
Overall Poster Awards
Yuming Jiang, Physics (PI: Liviu Movileanu)
Anna Hinman, Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate (PI: Jeff Amack)
Tyler Hain, Physics (PI: Lisa Manning)
Stevenson Biomaterials Poster Awards
Thalma Orado, Biomedical & Chemical Engineering (PI: Mary Beth Monroe)
Catalytic materials are defined as substances that speed up a chemical reaction without being changed in the process and many products that exist today are only possible because of catalysts. In fact, hundreds of catalytic materials are discovered or created each year, yet only a small number of them are commercialized. This is because many catalytic materials aren’t stable and break down over time, making them difficult to study and use.
The stability of catalytic materials is what motivates Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Theodore Walker and his research team’s work. In his lab, they’re attempting to create new, stable catalysts for renewable energy products.
“Catalytic materials need to last for two to three years minimum without being replaced. The timescales we can readily access in the lab are about 24 hours or weeks at most,” says Walker. “That makes probing catalyst deactivation behavior and exploring all the physical processes that govern that deactivation difficult. Our goal is to test the activity and stability of catalytic materials to transform raw materials into products and leverage these insights to invent more robust and stable catalytic processes.”
One project Walker and his research group are working on is changing the molecular structures of molecules taken from biomass, organic materials made from plants and animals. Using acid catalysts, they can create entirely new substances from these molecules. For example, the molecule hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is created from fructose, or plant sugar, can be turned into bio-degradable plastics when its molecular structure is changed.
However, the process of making HMF from fructose isn’t efficient. Once the acid catalyst creates an HMF molecule from fructose, the same acid quickly degrades HMF into other molecules. Walker and his team will conduct research to change the molecular structure of biomass molecules and stabilize these catalysts. “In my lab, we’re decorating catalysts with polymers to protect them from deactivation or steer them to selectivity towards the products we want,” he says.
Another project Walker and his team are working on involves pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the process of heating an organic material without oxygen to initiate a chemical change. This process can be used to create eco-friendly biofuels that are similar to gasoline. Though this biofuel has promising potential, it runs into the same problems as HMF: catalyst instability. Biomass contains calcium, potassium, and other metals that cause catalyst instability, so Walker and his team are exploring ways to make more stable catalysts for biomass pyrolysis.
“The catalyst deactivates in the presence of alkaline metals like calcium and potassium which crude oil has none of, but biomass has plenty of it,” says Walker. “We’re exploring strategies to prevent the alkali metal poisons from entering the pore structure or render them in a form where poison can be easily recovered.”
The Walker lab’s third project involves electrochemistry, a process where chemical reactions are driven by electricity rather than high temperatures. Walker’s team is working on creating stable electrodes, or electrical conductors, to produce renewable electricity and hydrogen fuel through water splitting, which involves breaking water down into oxygen and hydrogen gas.
“If you apply a voltage of greater than one volt across two platinum electrodes in an alkali aqueous solution, it will split the water apart into hydrogen and oxygen, which is zero-carbon fuel, and you can harvest electricity from this process as well,” says Walker. “But platinum is expensive. It would be great to use cheaper materials like iron, tin, or cobalt. However, the iron electrode rusts when placed in an alkali solution and oxidation occurs. We want to make electrodes more stable and use the same electrode formulations to oxidize molecules into carboxylic acids, a high-value molecule.”
By studying catalytic materials, Walker and his team hope that their research will have a massive impact on renewable energy resources. “Catalyst deactivation represents a real bottleneck in our technology-development pipeline. I can name a handful of promising technologies that, if broadly implemented, could be transformative; yet they haven’t because conventional catalysts aren’t stable,” Walker says. “If we could learn something new about what governs the catalyst degradation processes, that could be very impactful.”
The Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS) announced its rebranding at Syracuse University as the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE). This transformation reflects the organization’s continued and growing commitment to helping communities implement sustainability initiatives through transdisciplinary collaboration.
The transition from a center to an institute marks a significant step forward, positioning it for increased growth and broader impact. As a sustainability engagement institute, ISE focuses on connecting communities with university resources such as academic departments, faculty, and students, while leveraging new opportunities for funding, partnership, and impact.
Within the realm of sustainability, the ISE team has expertise in climate resiliency, water systems (including drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater), materials management infrastructure (waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting) solutions, and resource conservation (soil health restoration). Through active listening and participatory processes, the organization supports community capacity-building, communications, policy, and infrastructure improvements to foster economic well-being, environmental stewardship, and social equity.
Building upon more than 30 years of experience and hundreds of relationships, ISE meets communities where they are, recognizing their diverse values and perspectives to provide tailored support for their unique challenges and circumstances.
The institute will continue to house the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Environmental Finance Center for EPA Region 2, including New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight Native Nations. Syracuse University was chosen to host this important center in 1993. While Region 2 remains a primary geographic focus, the Institute for Sustainability Engagement will broaden its scope to include the Northeastern US, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as national collaborations and projects.
The shift to ISE also strengthens important and long-standing inter-university ties between Syracuse University and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) through a collaborative agreement that will serve to leverage resources across campuses.
“At the Institute for Sustainability Engagement, we co-create solutions with communities to achieve locally informed sustainable strategies. This is done by connecting local insights with academic expertise, building strong relationships between researchers, policymakers, and community members, and, at our core, engaging with others — meeting people where they are to get them where they want to go,” shares ISE Director, Melissa Young.
She continues, “The need for sustainability engagement is undeniable —and exponential— in our world’s ever-evolving climate crisis. Together, with our dedicated team and partners, we will continue to innovate and expand our impact, working to create a more sustainable and resilient future for all.”
“Universities are increasingly being called upon to directly engage with communities, as reflected in the priorities of both federal and philanthropic funders. The shift to the Institute for Sustainability Engagement allows the team to better align with the goals of their programs and the communities they serve, broadening both the breadth and impact of the Institute’s work,” said Andria Costello Staniec, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser presenting FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam G’89 with a CED Award
The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, awarded Raj Subramaniam G’89, president and chief executive of FedEx, with a 2024 CED Distinguished Leadership Award for Business Stewardship and Corporate Citizenship. The ceremony took place on October 9, 2024 in New York City.
The CED Distinguished Leadership Awards honor leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to corporate citizenship, business stewardship, and advancing public policy in the nation’s interests.
The 2024 awards pay special tribute to business leaders and their companies that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in challenging times, including advancing equal opportunity during a time of national economic uncertainty, building a more civil and just society, and upholding a rules-based international order.
“The US continues to face economic and geopolitical uncertainty. This year’s distinguished honorees have demonstrated steadfast, innovative leadership amid these transformational times, working tirelessly to advance policies and practices that benefit our nation’s well-being,” says Lori Esposito Murray, former president of CED. “They embody the best of business stewardship and corporate responsibility, and truly epitomize CED’s vision of integrity in business leadership. By recognizing these exemplary leaders and companies, CED aims to inspire other leaders across the public and private sectors to follow in their footsteps.”
“Raj is a visionary leader on an international scale,” says J. Cole Smith, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “He has been at the forefront of transformational change and next-generation problem solving. It is wonderful to see him recognized with such a prestigious award.”
Subramaniam is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of FedEx Corporation. Over the last 50 years, FedEx has built a well-connected network linking 220 countries and territories around the world. FedEx was also responsible for delivering the COVID-19 vaccine around the world.
With more than 30 years of industry experience at FedEx, one of the world’s largest transportation companies, Subramaniam’s forward-thinking, innovative ways have helped revolutionize the transportation and logistics industry.
Subramaniam earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University in 1989.
The other recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Leadership Awards for Business Stewardship and Corporate Citizenship were:
Nikesh Arora, CEO and Chairman, Palo Alto Networks
Jenny Johnson, President and CEO, Franklin Templeton
Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners
Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO, Accenture
Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO, Chobani, and Founder, Tent Partnership for Refugees
Flood damage in San Juan, Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria in 2017, captured by Kaira Fuentes.
The diverse landscape of Puerto Rico — which encompasses coastal lowlands, mountain ranges, and a tropical rainforest — necessitates an equally if not more diverse range of tools and community action to support its residents and ecosystems living in harmony. Amid hurricanes, landslides, and other weather-related crises magnified by climate change, understanding Puerto Rico’s vulnerabilities and ability to adapt to evolving climate risks is essential to its long-term prosperity. The Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) continues to support the Caribbean Island’s mission to achieve greater climate resiliency through the center’s recent research project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Program Office (NOAA CPO).
The ISE’s NOAA CPO Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) program FY23 competition project, “Beyond first response: investigating how Puerto Rico’s community-based organizations drive local climate action”, will support Caribbean climate adaptation by co-producing new research on Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), which are an important and understudied pillar of Puerto Rico’s climate-response system. By the end of this $300,000 two-year research project, ISE will advance the dialogue on the role CBOs play in climate adaptation efforts in island communities, contributing to the larger discussion about how policymakers can engage and integrate CBOs into a larger climate adaptation strategy.
CBOs have stepped up as Puerto Rico’s first line of defense against an increasing bombardment of environmental stressors due to a rising global climate. Through their hyper-local leadership, mediation, and implementation, these groups of largely informal, volunteer, not-for-profit civilian teams have established themselves as a vital and trusted resource in the face of climate emergencies, compared to the suboptimal role played by state and federal authorities. Most recently, CBOs were a critical part of a faster and more effective recovery response after Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Ernesto.
“Receiving minimal support in the face of steadily worsening challenges, Puerto Rico is often referred to as an ‘underserved’ population, but this idea does not capture the whole picture,” explained Kaira Fuentes, ISE’s CoPI for the AdSci project. “As an island territory, Puerto Rico’s climate-related risks are exacerbated by a 120-year-long colonial legacy. Those who engage in CBOs are self-determined and proud to serve in their neighborhoods, and their peers trust them to step up where their governments have not. As these groups are critical to driving local action, understanding their function, impact, and opportunities to organize can only strengthen their ability to succeed.”
Fishermen from the Laguna San José in Puerto Rico repairing their fishing boats to maintain their means of livelihood, captured by Kaira Fuentes.
While Puerto Rican CBOs have become experts in emergency response, the ways in which they facilitate “climate adaptation” (creating a means to deal with future stressors) outside the disaster-response period is less clear. This project will provide new insights into the strategies, tools, barriers, and adaptive capacities of CBOs to drive local climate actions in Puerto Rico through the following interdisciplinary and participatory adaptation research methods:
Exploratory case study development
Establishment of a Community Advisory Committee
Culminating regional presentations and a final report
In addition to identifying and describing how CBOs facilitate climate adaptation in Puerto Rico, this project aims to:
Develop recommendations for policy-makers that define strategies and additional areas of study for drawing CBOs more centrally into climate adaptation efforts
Develop a framework for integrating participatory research methods in climate adaptation inquiries
Support knowledge exchange, amplify local stories and voices, and strengthen the Caribbean community of practice.
This research project is strengthened by the perspectives of its two Puerto Rican Co-Principal Investigators, Fuentes (ISE) and Professor Juan E. Marcano, University of Puerto Rico Humacao (UPRH), who have each contributed significant research on local perceptions of conservation in Puerto Rico and the role of community-based groups in disaster recovery. As institutions, ISE and UPRH provide a breadth of applied and community-based research experience that will strengthen the completion of this project.
The NOAA CPO AdSci program received 27 proposals in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), and of these 11 projects were selected for funding, totaling $3,140,372.00 in grants.
Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) at Syracuse University
ISE is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of sustainability communications, policy, and science to foster economic well-being, environmental stewardship, and social equity by engaging community members at all levels to provide the coordination and knowledge needed to make informed decisions that support sustainability, resiliency, and climate adaptation. The Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (EFC), operated by ISE, is a pillar in this mission that facilitates the development of sustainable and resilient communities throughout US EPA Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight Native Nations) and nationally.
Three faculty members from the College of Engineering and Computer Science were honored at the Technology Alliance of Central New York’s (TACNY) 24th Annual Celebration of Technology Awards Banquet in October 2024.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Jackie Anderson received the College Educator of the Year award in recognition of her student-centered approach to teaching and mentoring.
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Professor Doug Yung received the STEM Outreach, Individual award for his passionate advocacy for STEM education, focusing on creating inclusive, engaging learning environments for underrepresented youth in Central New York.
Professor Emeritus Shiu-Kai Chin received the Lifetime Achievement award for his vast and sophisticated research in computer security, systems assurance and formal verification, spurring advancement locally and world-wide. In the announcement of the award, TACNY said they “are honored to recognize Dr. Chin not only for his extensive technological contributions and innovations, but also for his dedication to and impact on education and on human endeavors at large.”
Professors Bing Dong, Jackie Anderson, Ian Shapiro and Jensen Zhang
Syracuse University has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create a new Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC) to train undergraduate and graduate engineering students and build a clean energy workforce. The SU-BTAC, aligned with the vision of the DOE BTAC program, will educate and provide hands-on training for engineering students to perform assessments focused on reducing the energy burden for commercial and institutional buildings with a focus on disadvantaged communities.
The SU-BTAC will be housed at the Syracuse Center of Excellence (SyracuseCoE), New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental Energy Systems which engages more than 200 private companies, organizations, and academic institutions to create new products and services in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy, and water resource management. With SyracuseCoE, the SU-BTAC will create relationships and company screening opportunities to connect commercial and institutional buildings with existing programs in the region relating to unions, apprenticeships, trade organizations, community programs, and others.
“I see the SU-BTAC as an expansion of the Syracuse University Industrial Assessment Center (SU-IAC), now SU-ITAC, and as a great experiential learning opportunity for our students. Not only are we able to help commercial and institutional buildings with reducing their energy burden, but we are also able to teach and mentor the next generation of energy engineers,” says Jackie Anderson, director of IAC and associate teaching professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
SU-BTAC will be led by faculty from Syracuse University and supported by faculty from the City University of New York (CUNY). The center will be co-directed by Professor Ian M. Shapiro, with involvement from professors Jensen Zhang and Bing Dong.
When it comes to sustainable construction materials, there’s no contest: mass timber buildings require less heavy equipment, save on labor costs, and take less time to install than concrete and steel. By utilizing mass timber, the construction industry can utilize green building practices without compromising efficiency.
That was the message of “Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future,” a lecture delivered by Dr. Anthony Mirando and Dr. Lameck Onsarigo of Kent State University. Presented on September 30 at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the lecture was part of a national tour showcasing Dr. Mirando and Dr. Onsarigo’s research at Kent State University’s College of Architecture & Environmental Design.
Mass timber refers to a class of engineered wood products (EWPs) that are often used for wall, roof and floor construction. Because commercial-scale mass timber construction projects are on the rise across the United States, Professors Mirando and Onsarigo highlighted the importance of educating the next generation of professionals about these green building materials.
The lecture featured data from one of the tallest mass timber buildings in the United States: INTRO in Cleveland, Ohio. A mixed-use structure with 300 apartment units and ground-floor commercial space, the project was uniquely efficient because of the use of mass timber materials such as Glued-Laminated Timber (GLT) beams and columns, as well as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) slabs. The real estate developer reported that construction time was about 25 percent faster than typical concrete or steel construction.
“Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future” also included a weeklong exhibit in Link Hall where students could examine real-life examples of mass timber building materials, including dowel laminated timber, nail laminated timber, and connections and assemblies used in mid- and high-rise construction projects. The “Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future” national exhibit tour is funded by the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Andria Costello Staniec, Department Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mr. Reed Kelterborn, Director of Education for SLB, delivered welcoming and opening remarks.
The visit from Kent State University faculty was organized by Yilei Shi, Associate Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Civil Engineering Program Director, and Cliff I. Davidson, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Emeritus. “We were thrilled to host Drs. Mirando and Onsarigo’s national touring exhibition on the construction management aspects of the mass timber building industry, and to highlight the benefits of mass timber as a sustainable construction material to the Engineering, Architecture, and Construction (EAC) community here in Central New York,” says Professor Shi. “Interest in mass timber buildings is rising rapidly throughout the country. Skilled labor and seasoned professionals are in great demand. This state-of-the-art exhibition and lecture can help bring our students up to speed and get them ready for the next generation’s EAC industry.”
“In addition, we are training students to design and build more sustainable and resilient infrastructure to approach the immense challenges of climate change and natural disasters,” Professor Davidson adds. “Mass timber can be one of the most effective construction materials to meet these challenges.”
Students in engineering, architecture and other disciplines who are interested in the topic of sustainable building materials may also want to register for the 2025 New York State Green Building Conference, which will be held in Syracuse this coming March.
Two electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) graduate students, Nathalie Uwamahoro (electrical engineering) and Polina Kozyreva (computer science) attended the prestigious 2024 CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in San Diego, California. Known for its emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and collaboration in computing, the conference provided invaluable educational, professional, and networking opportunities for students and professionals alike.
The three-day event featured technical workshops, expert panels, and a robust career fair with major companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM. For Uwamahoro and Kozyreva, the Tapia conference opened doors to new professional connections and deepened their understanding of key topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, next-generation computing, and robotics.
“Being at the booth and engaging with people interested in graduate school or research was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the diverse projects my peers are working on. This conference reaffirmed my passion for academia, and I’m eager to contribute to this vibrant community in the future,” says Kozyreva.
“Attending the Tapia conference for the first time was an unforgettable experience. It strengthened my commitment to inspiring students of African descent to pursue careers in technology,” Uwamahoro adds.
The conference also saw participation from the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Academic Initiatives, Jae C. Oh and Recruitment Specialist, Michaela Karcher. They were involved in initiatives such as the LEAP Alliance, aimed at increasing diversity in EECS doctoral programs and strengthening the future faculty pipeline. ECS is a Cohort 3 member of the LEAP Alliance and Jae Oh and EECS professor Jason Pollack are LEAP Advocate Faculty. At the conference, LEAP Alliance Fellows and Faculty Advocates got together to share ideas about Broadening Participation in Computer Science Ph.D. programs.
EECS Professor Farzana Rahman is a long-time TPC member of the Tapia conference. Rahman spearheaded the EECS representation at the conference alongside Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment, Kathleen M. Joyce and her team, highlighting the department’s commitment to inclusive education, research, and faculty hiring.
Karcher also developed a list of potential graduate applicants interested in learning more about EECS programs. “This was my first computer science-focused conference, and it was eye-opening to see the many opportunities available,” she says.
The Tapia conference has strengthened Syracuse University’s presence in the computing world, with students returning to campus energized and committed to shaping the future of technology through inclusivity and innovation.
Ellie Parkes ’26 got a charge out of her internship with Dow, one of the world’s leading materials science companies. Parkes, an electrical engineering major worked on projects to improve energy production at the company’s operations plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Electrical engineering is such a broad field, and this exposure to one of the career paths I could take has really helped me understand what my future looks like,” she says.
Admittedly, Parkes wasn’t familiar with Dow when a representative contacted her through Handshake about a hiring expo for electrical engineers, but she followed up. In interviews, she fielded both situational and technical questions, and when an offer came her way, she accepted and spent 12 weeks in Louisiana.
The company’s industrial complex generates, distributes and uses its own power, and was replacing old equipment, dating back as far as the ’50s, as part of a new multimillion-dollar grid, she says. “My major projects were looking for improvement opportunities at our lower voltage levels (mostly 2400V), such as making existing electrical setups more reliable.” Parkes was also involved with work on the new transformers. “There was definitely a lot of coordination that had to take place given how many things were going on at one time,” she says.
Parkes stands in front of a transformer that was being renovated. It connects a gas turbine to a network of cables that eventually take power to the plant’s grid.
These experiences helped Parkes recognize the importance of communicating across disciplines. “Most of the people I worked with on a day-to-day basis were chemical and mechanical engineers who didn’t know much about electrical systems,” she says. “Being able to communicate high-level electrical concepts through images and metaphors has been a skill that helped me a lot through my time here.”
The most enjoyable part of the internship, Parkes says, was the variety of people she met and learned from. She forged friendships and says working with such a diverse group of people enhanced her teamwork and communication skills. Not only that, but she most likely never envisioned having a teammate who wrangled alligators on the weekends. “He offered to take my roommate and me with him when he went this summer,” she says, “but we both had to politely decline.”
Next summer, Parkes hopes to explore another electrical engineering field that interests her. “Many of the soft and technical skills I learned through working with a team will help me not only to get a job in the future,” she says, “but to also be successful in my field.”
Angela Au G’05 G’11 has loved science as far back as she can remember. Completing both her master’s and Ph.D studies in the biomedical program at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, she now works as the Associate Director of Manufacturing Technology at LOTTE BIOLOGICS. In this one-on-one interview, Au gives insight into her career path, her current role at Lotte Biologics and how she discovered her passion for her field.
What sparked your interest in Syracuse’s biomedical engineering program?
I completed both my M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioengineering through the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University, taking a break in between the program. My Ph.D. was completed part-time at SU via a non-traditional scenario while working full-time as a Research and Development manager at Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. down in Baltimore, MD after completing my M.S.
My journey to SU followed completion of my undergraduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) where I majored in Biomedical Engineering and double majored in Mathematical Science, with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Management. As an undergraduate, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in the JHU Department of Orthopedic Surgery laboratory where my biomedical-based research was largely focused on biomaterials. There, I was involved with evaluation of toxicity from wear particles from hip implants. My second project involved evaluation of thermo-reversible polymers for cartilage repair. Through immersion of these projects at Hopkins focused on understanding the impact of the cellular environment and stimuli on the cellular milieu, I discovered this was a field that I wanted to learn more about and dive more into. I applied to several different graduate programs which had strong biomaterials programs, of which SU had a long-standing Bioengineering program with some phenomenal faculty with diverse research interest. SU also had a biomaterials program with a focus on both hard and soft biomaterials, including polymer research.
My decision to attend SU was based on a chance encounter at the Society for Biomaterials conference, where I met Dr. Julie Hasenwinkel and a few of her graduate students working in her laboratory and the Biomaterials group with Dr. Jeremy Gilbert. The enthusiasm and passion they had for the program, SU, and the innovative research into orthopedic materials including hip implants and bone cement, as well as materials for spinal cord regeneration solidified my decision to attend SU over other programs.
Did you always want to be an engineer?
I think I’ve always had an engineering mindset and it was a natural choice for a career. According to my parents, even as a toddler, I have always gravitated to and enjoyed tinkering with puzzles, solving math problems, and had a curiosity for understanding how things worked around me. I have always loved science, particularly biology, chemistry, and physics and my favorite course even in high school was Calculus. I’m a quintessential nerd and lean into that being who I am. I actively participated in Odyssey of the Mind starting in middle school and was President of the Science Olympiad club in high school, where I enjoyed competing the most in areas involving solving problems, building contraptions, and designing and building weight-bearing balsa wood towers and bridges.
I was first introduced to Biomedical Engineering by my 11th grade Biology AP teacher. I knew I wanted to make a difference in a medical-related field but did not want to go directly into medicine as a practitioner. He suggested biomedical engineering as an option, where I could combine my love of solving problems by generating innovative solutions, while still focusing on the life sciences to bridge my passion to help others via an indirect route.
What is your role at LOTTE BIOLOGICS?
I currently wear many hats as the Associate Director of Manufacturing Technology/Manufacturing Science and Technology. There is a technical component, a strategic component, and a leadership component. In order to be proficient in my typical day, all three components are needed. Generally, my current role involves serving as a product steward across the process and analytical lifecycle. This includes working with clients and supporting our business development teams to support technical discussions. Having worked in multiple roles across process development, later process stages, through commercialization, as well as Quality Control, this has established a great foundation across multiple areas pivotal to the biopharma lifecycle. Currently, my role is to provide leadership and guidance for those working directly in Process Development, Process Characterization, and managing the technology transfer of processes from client programs from laboratory-scale to manufacturing-scale.
The role includes developing technical strategies, along with supporting growth and development of the organization. The breadth of activities and deliverables on a given day keeps things exciting. This could involve developing a new process once provided with a new cell line (research cell bank), developing and optimizing the operating and process parameters, evaluating and optimizing media formulation, screening resins, establishing statistical Design of Experiment (DoE) studies to support robust design spaces, and executing process validation. The team also executes feasibility runs with client processes to ensure minimal impact as part of the transfer between scales and from the client and also support Toxicology, Clinical, and Commercial batches. Once a process is ready for transfer to the manufacturing scales, the team supports troubleshooting via routine trending of process performance and quality attributes, providing technical guidance for forward processing, spending time on the manufacturing floor, and also completes deviations and root cause analysis investigations, while implementing robust corrective and preventive action, as appropriate to ensure robustness of the client material.
Other aspects include evaluation materials and consumables as part of the process stream, performing risk assessments to ensure safety of the product and ultimately, efficacy of the biopharmaceutical product. The team works to also trend and analyze data from multiple systems, building and leveraging data analytics programs and visualizations to facilitate real-time data evaluation between laboratory-, pilot-, and manufacturing-scales. As part of supporting GMP operations, we also lead and complete deviations and root cause analysis investigations where we leverage our sleuthing skills and technical expertise to drill down to the source of a deviation or issue. As scientist and engineers, we work across teams to also develop solutions for corrective actions and preventive actions for process, equipment, and analytical robustness.
Beyond the technical and strategic side, which I really enjoy, I am most fulfilled by my role on being able to support and influence others. This is associated with supporting others through direct mentoring and coaching others, or through building other’s confidence and technical acumen, whether they are on my own team, as well as those from other functional teams. This enables growth within the organization to support learning new skills and also developing new people leaders, whether direct people leaders or those leading cross-functional teams.
What projects are LOTTE BIOLOGICS currently working on?
LOTTE BIOLOGICS continues to provide biopharmaceuticals for our clients. Additionally, LOTTE BIOLOGICS has invested in building an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) facility at our Syracuse Bio Campus, which also includes QC laboratory, and process and analytical development laboratories. This has been a huge endeavor over the last year and a half to bring this newer modality to the site to harness the protein/antibody via bioconjugation using specific types of chemistry to better deliver the potent compound such as a chemotherapeutic agent (therapeutic drug payload) to the cancer cell. At a high level sample scenario, the antibody serves as the missile to deliver the conjugated linked drug specifically to a targeted cancer cell for destruction. This reduced the side effects typically seen with general systemic administration of the drug since the ADC is a more targeted approach for the patient to attenuate the response. We plan to have the ADC facility ready for manufacturing in early 2025. This is in addition to our current manufacturing capability here in Syracuse of 5,000 Liter scales.
We are also in the process of implementing a new laboratory to support the Sartorius AMBR 250 high-throughput automated system to facilitate process development through later process characterization studies. The system will enable use of these smaller scales and volumes to enable process scale-up to larger bioreactor scales. Leveraging process engineering principles, we can design and execute experiments to build process understanding while coupling this with our larger laboratory-scale bioreactors.
Additionally, as part of the business expansion and capabilities in the CDMO space, LOTTE BIOLOGICS recently had the groundbreaking in building a Songdo Bio Campus in Songdo, Korea which will house even larger scale production bioreactors at the 15,000 Liter scales to facilitate our ability to provide increased bioreactors for multiple clients at multiple scales. This will include 3 different plants to supplement and further increase the capabilities at the Syracuse Bio Campus. It has been great to collaborate with our colleagues in Korea on new endeavors as the business continues to expand.
What do you love most about your role?
I love that I am able to work with great people every day to solve scientific and technical problems. There is innovation all around me daily as we face new challenges in terms of how we scale-up a process to how we work around a deviation in our manufacturing facility. This requires both inside the box, as well as outside-the-box thinking. The people I work with is also key to my role. I work with phenomenal scientists, engineers, bioprocess associates on the manufacturing floor, as well as folks across other organizations in non-science-based fields that allow me to keep growing as an individual, while also supporting my personal journey for lifelong learning in finance such as budgeting, business development, to supply chain and logistics, to name a few.
What future do you see for Lotte Biologics?
LOTTE BIOLOGICS strives to be a top 10 contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) in a very competitive market and field of biopharmaceuticals. As there are so many medicines that need to be brought to patients quickly and with a high degree of quality, LOTTE strives to help other companies in their journey to achieve this goal.
What advice do you have for students who may want to pursue similar careers to yours?
First, engineering can be hard. The coursework is rigorous, and at times, it can be discouraging. Use this time to learn and really take in the basics. These courses help build the foundation where you continue to add on new layers over time and you can always go back to the foundations. You don’t need to know everything.
Second, I would suggest taking opportunities as they arise even if they may not seem to align with your original career path or ideal job for what you thought you would be doing after graduation. Although I had started my education believing I wanted to work primarily on soft biomaterials, I took the chance to work in an industry very different from a typical biomedical device company. There, I was able to leverage my understanding of materials and cell-based knowledge to engineer in vitro models to understand if specific agents would reduce inflammation and oxidative stress on different cell types. This provided me with a foundation and ability to learn the intricacies of how industry worked, while also continuing to build my leadership capabilities and network. I also never considered working in the biopharmaceutical industry, but 13 years later, I still love being able to develop new bioprocesses in bioreactor tanks and purifying these through different materials. When opportunities came up, I took the leap although I wasn’t the expert and have worked in different areas including leading a Quality Control bioanalytical team to continue expanding my personal capabilities through developing strategies for team execution while not being the subject matter expert.
Third, I suggest identifying a great mentor. I was fortunate enough to have a phenomenal undergraduate research advisor, who continues to be a mentor to this day, who actively supported her student’s growth and development. She was an advocate for her students by sending students to present their work at conferences and publishing in research journals. She provided career advice, as well as personal advice. Throughout my career, I have also had additional mentors to support me in different stages of what I needed in my career in how to navigate the complexities.
What do you like to do for fun?
My husband is a retired Air National Guardsman who grew up in Syracuse, NY, so he’s quite an adventurist who loves the outdoors. For fun, he has pulled this southerner (Houstonian) into a plethora of outdoor activities. In the winter, we enjoy downhill skiing and in the summer, we enjoy boating on Oneida Lake and are fortunate is only a few miles from our house. We are also only a short drive away from the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes where we frequent wineries, breweries, and get out on the boat. More recently, I have started golf lessons to dive into a new sport. Aside from spending time outdoors, I read a lot of non-fiction books on leadership and also scientific articles to stay up to date on industry trends.
The College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) hosted its annual Career and Internship Fair as part of Syracuse University’s Fall 2024 Career Week. Coordinated by the ECS Office of Student Success and Career Services, the fair allowed students to network with employers from approximately 100 companies. Students also had the opportunity to connect with ECS alumni, faculty, and staff. Employer Partners Novelis, Clean Harbors, Micron, and SRC, Inc. were represented at the fair.
“I graduated from Syracuse in 2014 and now I’m here as a recruiter for Davis-Standard,” says mechanical engineering alum Daniel Broe ‘14. “Syracuse has always welcomed me back to events like this. It feels like home, it’s always good to be back. Students are also excited for opportunities so it’s a great opportunity for both parties.”
“Coming to career fairs is a great way to get exposure, talk to other people, and find out what you want to get out of your life,” says computer science student Joseph Onwe ‘25.
“It was a really great turnout. Everyone was engaged, and it was great to interact with a bunch of students you normally don’t have contact with” says environmental engineering student Claire Kuiken ‘26.
“This is my third or fourth year coming back here now as a recruiter for Barton & Loguidice. Having graduated six years ago, it’s really exciting to come back every single year,” says civil engineering alumna Emily Mahana ‘18. “This fair is particularly exciting because it’s exclusive to engineering students so I’m looking forward to having one-on-one time with engineering alumni and focusing on recruiting more students in civil engineering.”
“I’m very hopeful since in the last career fair, I got a full-time internship with Stantec over the summer so I’m looking forward to companies and recruiters the fair has this year,” says mechanical engineering student Fernando Poli ‘25.
“As a freshman, Career Services has a lot of great resources for students, and I was impressed with all the companies that came in today for students too,” says computer science student Mariama Barry ‘28.
“It was an eye-opening experience where I had the chance to engage with several companies and recruiters…Each conversation offered a glimpse into opportunities that align with my computer science major, from full-time positions to internships,” says computer science student Aicha Gory ‘26. “The event was a valuable learning experience, particularly in understanding the dynamics of networking.”
The State University of New York’s Polytechnic Institute (SUNY POLY) has named Abdullah Eroglu G’99, G’04 as the dean of the College of Engineering. Eroglu earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Eroglu comes to SUNY Poly from UMass Boston, where he was the department of engineering chair. In that role, Eroglu led the development of new academic programs, including online programs and certificates and initiated strategic industry partnerships. Since 2018, he has also served as an ABET program evaluator for engineering programs.
Before his academic career, Eroglu spent over eight years in the semiconductor industry as a lead senior radio frequency (RF) design engineer at MKS Instruments, ENI Products in Rochester. He also held positions as a faculty fellow in the fusion energy division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and as a visiting scholar at the University of Gavle, Sweden.
Eroglu is a prolific researcher with more than 160 journal and conference papers, six books, and five patents. He has secured over $23 million in extramural funding as PI and co-PI from federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and National Science Foundation as well as from industry. His research expertise includes RF/microwave/THz circuit design, RF amplifiers and topologies, RF metrology, anisotropic and gyrotropic materials, and metamaterial devices and sensors. Eroglu serves on the editorial boards of several journals and has received numerous awards for his research accomplishments.
Managed by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the Bernard D. and Louise C. Rostker IVMF Dissertation Research Fund recently provided more than $40,000 to four students who are at varying stages of their dissertation pursuits. The Rostker IVMF Dissertation Research Fund operates annually for a span of five years. This marks the second cycle of funding dedicated to supporting Ph.D. candidates conducting dissertation research on topics related to and in support of veterans and military families.
Paul Sagoe is a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical and chemical engineering. His research aims to develop a drug delivery system for treating post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) a painful joint condition common among veterans and military personnel.
Originally from Ghana, Sagoe came to Syracuse University after earning first class honors in biomedical engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He also served as a clinical engineer at a teaching hospital in Ghana, an experience that invigorated his passion for medical science and informed his decision to pursue research studies in a field dedicated to impacting human health, improving patient’s well-being and alleviating pain. “As a Rostker Fellow, I am thrilled by the honor of being supported financially to pursue my research goals to the fullest capacity,” says Sagoe.
Sagoe’s dissertation, “Synovial Macrophage Targeting Immunomodulatory Therapies for Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis,” aims to design a disease-modifying intervention for PTOA by selectively targeting and eliminating inflammation-promoting synovial macrophages. The strategy aligns with mounting evidence highlighting the crucial involvement of synovial inflammation in PTOA progression, a problem that impacts more than 30 million Americans suffering from osteoarthritis following a joint injury.
Bernard Rostker G’66, G’70, and Louise Rostker G’68 have spent years of dedicated effort supporting military families. Bernard himself is a U.S. Army veteran, and Louise has a devoted history of supporting education for military children and expanding employment opportunities for military spouses. The pair met while pursuing their own advanced degrees at Syracuse University, and make the funding available to support those students who may face insurmountable barriers in their pursuit to obtain higher education just as they did in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“We both are so pleased with the program Syracuse University has established in our name,” says Bernard Rostker. “We know how demanding individual research can be, and we hoped that the support we could provide at a critical moment would have a positive impact. We look forward to the continued success of the program and the students it has helped.”
After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the southern coastline of the United States in 2005, Elizabeth Carter found herself on the Gulf Coast following the tropical storm’s aftermath. Witnessing the devastating impact of the hurricane on infrastructure and communities, she decided to place her undergraduate education on hold and join the efforts to rebuild – an experience that would be the catalyst for her future research.
“It was pivotal a time in U.S. history. It exposed a lot of the ways that structurally our publicly funded infrastructure is shunting risk down socioeconomic gradients,” Carter says. “As a young person figuring out what I wanted to do in the world, I didn’t think I could walk away from something like that and retain my humanity.”
Ignited with a passion for the environment, Carter returned to school and received her bachelor’s degree in soil science, a master’s in environmental information science and a Ph.D. in environmental engineering with a concentration in water resources. Now working as an assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering with a joint appointment as an assistant professor in earth and environmental sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, Carter is a computational hydrologist who studies the movement of water from space. Using data from satellites, these observations of water movement allow her to develop ways to respond to natural disasters and manage water resources.
She and her research team at Syracuse University have received a water resource grant from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to develop a sensor network that measures flooding. This sensor network will help predict different types of flooding caused by natural disasters, particularly flooding in areas where people live, which is referred to as urban flooding. This project is known as the Urban Flood Observing Network.
“We’re hoping to build a sensor network for better urban flood response and labels for satellite images so they can map urban flooding everywhere,” says Carter.
Fatemeh Rezaei G‘25 (environmental engineering), Huantao Ren G’21, Ph.D. ‘27 (computer science), Manu Shergill ‘24 (computer science) Nhy’ere Scanes, Ike Unobhaga, Kaitlyn Gilmore and Sharif Jafari are students from Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College (OCC) who have helped with the development of the Urban Flood Observing Network. Collaborators on the project include electrical engineering and computer science professor Senem Velipasalar and associate professor at the School of Information Studies, Carlos Caicedo.
“It’s been a great way to engage a lot of different students from different backgrounds and stages in their careers in hardware design, 3d printing, algorithm design, and photogrammetry,” says Carter.
Shergill is the primary developer leading the project and has been working on the sensor network since 2021. During a summer internship in his freshman year at OCC, he assembled the initial version of the water sensor camera. He’s also been working on adding higher-quality sensors, wireless communications, machine vision, and other features to the water sensor camera, hoping to install it on the roof of Syracuse’s Center of Excellence for testing.
“The next thing I’m tackling is a remote start function, so we can trigger continuous data collection when a storm is moving into the area the sensor is monitoring,” says Shergill.
Carter has hopes the USGS will install these sensor networks in different locations where quick responses to flood events are needed which can help manage future flood events.
“It’s been great to collaborate with different students on this project and make an impact on tackling natural disasters that are a result of climate change,” Carter says.
The 2024-2025 mechanical engineering senior capstone design teams have been formed and are now working on 15 industry-sponsored projects. This year’s sponsors include renowned organizations such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Eaton Corporation, Carrier Corporation, Dupont, Advion Inc., Aerovec Inc., Pursuit Aerospace, ASHRAE and TTM Technologies, as well as a number of start-ups including Automated Biomass Systems, RedCat, SoldyneX LLC, and TensilasticEnergy.
“We are grateful to all of our company sponsors for collaborating with our students, and delighted that some sponsors are alumni of the program. The diversity of projects is incredible and will allow our students to apply the knowledge they’ve gained from their core courses in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at SU,” says Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership Alex Deyhim. “The practical experience they gain from the capstone projects is invaluable, and we’re excited to see the incredible work our students will accomplish over the course of two semesters.”
Get to know the staff who lead the Office of Inclusive Excellence in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
Name: Abby Fite
Pronouns: She/her
Title: Director of Inclusive Excellence
Tell us about your role at ECS:
My job is to cultivate belonging for students, staff, and faculty across the breadth of their social identities and ECS positions. Historically, math-intensive STEM disciplines like engineering and computer science have been exclusionary; and engineering and computer science can still feel inhospitable to women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and working-class people. At OIE, we try to confront and challenge histories of exclusion through intentional assessment (participate in a belonging focus group this fall), programming (apply to join Catalyst Scholars, a new program for first generation ECS students), education (register for our forthcoming inclusive teaching certification program), and leadership structures (ask about our newly established Inclusive Excellence Council).
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
My favorite part of my job is figuring out what a more inclusive and equitable College would look like and then strategizing about exactly how to get there. This aspect of DEIA work is rigorous, creative- and always collaborative. Effective DEIA strategy can’t be developed in isolation, so what I really like about this process is that I get the chance to learn from students, staff, and faculty across the College. If you ever have ideas about how to cultivate belonging at ECS, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me- we might just be able to put them into practice.
Name: Kate Pynn
Title: Director, Student Programs for the Office of Inclusive Excellence
Tell us about your role at ECS:
I am primarily responsible for the oversight of OIE student programming in the College including our Academic Excellence Workshops, Peer Study Sessions, Scholar Programs, and working with our professional student organizations.
What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?
The most rewarding part of working in ECS is observing the growth of our students from the time they initially arrive on campus to the point that they walk across the stage at graduation. Our students are driven to succeed, I truly admire their perseverance and creativity as they engage in their coursework and leadership opportunities.
The College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) kicked off the 2024 fall semester with the Student Leadership Conference. The conference allowed students to connect with peers, learn tools and resources for professional development, and grow as student leaders.
Coordinated by the ECS Office of Student Success and Career Services, students representing student organizations, Academic Excellence Workshops (AEW), and those looking to hone their leadership skills and feel better prepared for their career development participated in the three-day conference. Sessions were facilitated by representatives from Micron and SRC Inc., in addition to the success and career services team. Alumni from SRC Inc. and Barton & Loguidice also participated.
“We had different speakers from Micron narrating about their professional experiences, what leadership meant to them, and how their perception of leadership changed over the course of their career,” says aerospace engineering student Fatimata Gory ‘26.
“I believe the conference was a great way to reinforce what resources are available to students here at ECS, while also giving us clear great examples of how to behave professionally in different environments,” says civil engineering student Esau Merino ‘25.
“The leadership conference was an amazing opportunity to practice professional development with the employers in attendance and it was great getting to workshop some new skills with my peers,” says chemical engineering student Isabella Perkins ‘25.
The conference also had mentorship training for student leaders and opportunities for students to socialize.
“A great leader leads by example but also ensures that whoever they lead can step into the darkness with them and shine just as bright or even brighter alongside them. Thanks to the student leadership conference, I know what type of leader I am, and how I want to help those who I lead to shine even brighter than me,” says electrical engineering student Luis Santin ‘24 G’25.
“As a student who went in without connections to AEW or a school organization, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was delightfully surprised with so many opportunities. Networking with peers whose faces I recognized but didn’t know by name, as well as connecting with various companies, was particularly rewarding,” says environmental engineering student Rylee Smith ‘26.
“I went to the conference as a leader for the Information Security Club and CuseHacks. There were a lot of knowledge gaps that I needed to learn leading a club and encouraging student engagement. The conference helped me feel confident and more comfortable to lead my clubs this year,” says computer science student Daniella Lat ‘27.
The Student Leadership Conference was made possible in part through the generous support of the ECS Employer Partners, Micron, Novelis, and SRC Inc.
Operations Research and System Analytics is a new master’s program developed to meet the industry’s emerging needs. With an emphasis on computer science and artificial intelligence, the program breaks away from traditional operations research programs and focuses on mathematical foundations to include concepts from machine learning, analytics and data science. These learning outcomes will provide students with skills to tackle problems in practice.
Students in the program will apply operations research models and methods to identify and solve engineering problems, use mathematical programming for informed decisions, gain proficiency in scientific tools, perform data-driven analytics, and integrate different concepts to design and optimize systems for engineering practice.
The program spans different departments across Syracuse University and offers a variety of electives that allow students to tailor their skills and interests. Students will also receive hands-on experience with a capstone project. The program is open to all students with an undergraduate degree in any STEM field.
“There is a growing need in the industry for graduates with skills in decision-making, data-science, coding, machine learning and AI,” says Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Natarajan Gautam. “We created this program to address that need by taking undergraduates with a quantitative background and educating them with the necessary skills to thrive in the emerging workplace.”
Davis Hood ’26, Carter Thompson ’26, Jennifer Mason ’26, and Matthew Pinto ’27 with Jim DaRin and professor and Invent@SU director, Alex Deyhim.
Former Syracuse University student Jim DaRin is one of many wheelchair users who rely on adapted vehicles to drive. These vehicles are equipped with a docking system designed to secure the wheelchairs in place while users focus on the road. However, even when the wheelchair is locked in, it’s not completely secure, causing DaRin to move back and forth while driving.
“The docking system moves and I’m rocking back and forth. I’m paralyzed from my waist down and have my hands on the steering wheel and throttle. It’s not secure or safe,” says DaRin. “The wheelchair’s pin also has a tendency to get caught on certain surfaces and the bolt drags on the pavement.”
DaRin is far from the first to complain about docking systems for adapted vehicles, but very few attempts have been made to fix these issues. That’s when he reached out to engineering students Davis Hood ’26 (electrical engineering), Jennifer Mason ’26 (mechanical engineering), Matthew Pinto ’27 (biomedical engineering), and Carter Thompson ’26 (aerospace engineering) to explore ways to improve his docking mechanism.
“I showed them the challenge I was having and the problems with my current docking system,” DaRin says.
Jennifer Mason ’26 and Carter Thompson ’26 measuring Jim DaRin’s docking system.
As part of Invent@SU, a six-week summer program where student teams prototype, design and pitch original devices to judges, Hood, Mason, Pinto and Thompson created MagniClaw, a device that securely locks wheelchairs in moving vehicles. Their device has a lightweight bar attachment on the back of the wheelchair and a docking mechanism that holds a clamping and electromagnet.
“We’ve gone through multiple different design iterations, and we are always trying to keep in mind Department of Transportation standards,” says Hood. “Our device is easy to use, has a universal design, and can go on a majority of manual wheelchairs.”
Matthew Pinto ’27, Jennifer Mason ’26, David Hood ’26, and Carter Thompson ’26 examining Jim DaRin’s adapted vehicle and docking system.
MagniClaw’s lightweight attachment can easily be connected to wheelchairs using two small clamps. Once attached, the user can connect to the docking frame. The attachment has a steel plate in the center that interacts with the electromagnet to securely hold the wheelchair in place.
“Our device has a clamping mechanism. With this, wheelchair users can back into clamps without any extra input from the control center and the clamp’s shape provides enough security for the electromagnet to turn on,” says Pinto.
The electromagnet, which holds the wheelchair in place, can pull up to 600 lbs. and is activated by a remote. The remote has a Bluetooth feature that can communicate whether the electromagnet is on or off.
“All wheelchair users have to do is back up and the system gets locked in, holding them in place until they press a button that activates the electromagnet. They’re held for the car ride, and when they’re done, they press a button to release the electromagnet and they can roll away freely,” says Mason.
MagniClaw’s hitch-less design and customizability not only set it apart from competitors but also provide more freedom and mobility for wheelchairs with an easier docking system. They showcased their original device at Invent@SU’s final presentations to a panel of 14 expert judges and guests, including faculty, staff, Dean Cole Smith, Syracuse University Life Trustee Bill Allyn, and program supporter Mike Lazar. The team tied for second place, winning a cash prize of $1,200.
“It was nice to have a broad spectrum of engineers in our group. It also feels great to help Jim out,” says Thompson.
“My previous docking system was not good. Their system is a hundred times better,” says DaRin. “It’s much more safe and secure. The potential for MagniClaw is huge.”
“Mr. Jim Darin, a former student of Syracuse University, approached me with a problem that he hoped an Invent@SU team could solve,” says Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership Alex Deyhim. “It was amazing to watch the students work directly with Mr. Darin to design and prototype MagniClaw, a magnetic wheelchair docking system that could be helpful to the millions of Americans who use wheelchairs full-time. This project is a wonderful example of what our students can accomplish when they work across engineering disciplines.”
Carter Thompson ’26 examining Jim DaRin’s docking system.
Two students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science were selected for 2024- 2025 scholarships from the Fellowship Board of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.
All Tau Beta Pi scholarships are awarded on the competitive criteria of high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.
Chemical engineering student Hope Johnson ‘25 received a Stabile Scholarship. The Stabile Scholarships are named for Tau Beta Pi member Vincent A. Stabile.
Biomedical engineering student Kerrin A. O’Grady ’25 received a Record Scholarship. The Record Scholarships commemorate Tau Beta Pi member Leroy E. Record.
Savonne Proctor is ready to support students on their journey to becoming well-rounded professionals while helping them balance their academics. Get to know her as she discusses her new role, what she looks forward to, and advice to students about managing college life.
What sparked your interest in working at Syracuse University?
My background is in higher education, so I have been working with students for quite a bit since leaving graduate school. I have always been on the student affairs side of higher education. However, I have been wanting to get to the academic side. As far as SU is concerned, I have been hoping to gain experience working with and connecting with students via academic affairs. I thought it was a great fit and opportunity for me to make that leap and the role aligns with a lot of my goals and professional aspirations.
What is your role as a student success advisor?
As an advisor, my role is to support, primarily first and second-year students, as they matriculate through their college experience. It is about being there to help them balance their personal life, professional life and academic life and support them to be well-rounded. Sometimes STEM majors can be hyper-focused on academics…I am also here to help students who may struggle with their people skills.
What are you most excited about in your role?
I am excited to get to know the population. This is a different kind of student population than I have worked with in the past, so I am extremely excited to get to know them. I am also thrilled to make new colleagues and do more collaborations across campus and engage in some professional development for myself as well.
What’s your favorite part about being a success advisor so far?
My coworkers and the team are great. I enjoyed adjusting to the work culture and starting some projects like the Student Leadership Conference, which gave me the opportunity to meet some of the students in ECS.
Do you have any advice for students?
I would say enjoy it all – not just hyper-focusing on academics. You should prioritize it, of course, but enjoy your social life, growing and learning. This is when you come into adulthood, and it goes by so fast. Enjoy the relationships you build, enjoy the experiences you will have, enjoy the classwork, and interacting with faculty. Enjoy it all.
What are some things you like to do for fun?
I like to thrift, watch some trash TV in my spare time and I am really connected to my faith. I spend a lot of time doing work for my church and staying spiritually grounded. It is a big part of my identity, and I like spending time with my church family. I am also a news junkie, and I like to travel and connect with my college friends. I enjoy seeing them when I get a chance to. I try to do the things I love & spend time with the people I love as often as possible.
From left to right: Mike Vanderwege ’96, John Vanderwege ’27, Maureen Vanderwege ’97, and Andrew Vanderwege ’25
Andrew ‘25 and John ‘27 Vanderwege come from a family that bleeds Orange. Not only have several relatives attended Syracuse University, but their parents, Maureen ‘97 and Mike ‘96, are graduates of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The University also happens to be the place where their parents would meet for the first time.
“We were floor mates the second half of my junior year at DellPlain Hall. Maureen and my roommate, who was also a sophomore engineering major at the time, knew each other,” their father, Mike recalls. “We only met at the end of the year. Our hometowns are only 20 minutes apart and we got to know each other that summer.”
Growing up, Andrew and John loved watching SU sports with their parents and frequently visited campus to attend home games at the Dome. So, when it came time to choose colleges to apply to, Syracuse was an easy choice. “[My parents] played a big role in my decision since both of them went to Syracuse and both studied engineering,” says John. “I also felt at home whenever I would visit the campus or go to a basketball or football game.”
Both Andrew and John are pursuing degrees in environmental engineering, with Andrew’s interest lying in climate change. He’s also a member of the Combustion and Energy Research (COMER) Laboratory and interning with the sustainable engineering company Ramboll as part of a soil remediation group for the summer. “I knew that I wanted to go into engineering and climate change has always been something that interested me,” says Andrew. “Environmental engineering seemed to give me the best chance at making a positive impact on the climate.”
John’s research interests include carbon capture, storage technology, and ocean acidification, areas he’s been able to explore through the civil and environmental engineering department’s comprehensive programs. He’s also considering other potential areas of study such as chemical engineering. “I wanted to do engineering since I enjoy hands-on activities as well as the math and science aspect of it,” says John. “I took an AP environmental class in high school which I enjoyed and made me realize that there are many different areas of the environment that can be studied.”
The two brothers’ passion for the environment goes beyond the classroom and they enjoy staying active as much as they love the outdoors. In their free time, the boys compete in Syracuse intramural sports like soccer and basketball and spend time hiking, biking, and backpacking. Since high school, John has also enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee and found Syracuse’s “Doom Ultimate Frisbee Club” the perfect place to get active and meet new people. “My favorite thing about Syracuse University is the opportunities available and the different majors on campus. It leads to the student body being comprised of people from all over and I really enjoy meeting others” says Andrew.
Mike and Maureen’s trips to Syracuse for sporting events and visiting their sons take them back to a time when they were students attending the University. “I remember falling in love with the campus and feeling a sense of belonging when I stepped foot on the Quad,” says Maureen.
“The campus is very much the same, and that’s a good thing. It feels like home,” says Mike.
Maureen, who currently works for her local school district as the Central Treasurer, received her bachelor’s in civil engineering and reflected on her experiences founding the Syracuse University chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon, a professional and social sorority for women interested in STEM. “The experience of starting a chapter was difficult but rewarding and I’m so happy to see that the Zeta chapter is flourishing.”
One of her favorite things about Syracuse was the smaller, personalized classes in ECS. “I got to know our professors and classmates well. My first-year ECS class for undecided engineers was with Dr. [Samuel] Clemence. He showed us an airport in Osaka Bay that was built on an artificial island, and I was instantly hooked on civil engineering.”
Mike, who received his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, works as a Senior Manager of Mechanical Engineering for L3Harris. He loved that Syracuse University had a wide variety of programs and opportunities outside of engineering. He initially leaned towards aerospace, then civil but eventually chose mechanical engineering as his major.
“Realizing aerospace engineering may have a limited job market in western NY, combined with my enjoyment of the Mechanics of Materials class, I declared as a civil engineer after my sophomore year,” he says. “However, I had a mechanical engineering internship that summer in a manufacturing plant and I enjoyed the work they gave me along with the manufacturing culture. I therefore switched to mechanical engineering upon return to school at the start of my junior year.”
The parents couldn’t be more proud of their sons as they embark on the college experience and fully immerse themselves into Syracuse’s campus community. Keeping up with their traditions of attending SU sports games, they truly showcase a family united by their Orange pride.
“I could fill pages and pages with memories and stories of my time at SU,” Mike says. “Picking a favorite would be difficult. I will share this more recent memory…We were at a football game, with Andrew and John in the student section and Maureen and I in the upper level above them. Watching them cheer on the Orange, combined with knowing they are in the classrooms of Link, walking the Quad, going to Marshall Street, and experiencing all that is SU… it brought my love for the university to an indescribably higher level.”
The ESTEEMED LEADERS program at Syracuse University recruits and trains the next generation of biomedical engineers. Made possible by the National Institute of Health, the program supports undergraduate students from historically underserved backgrounds.
The program began during the summer of 2023 with immersive research experiences in the labs of biomedical and chemical engineering faculty. It includes a six-week summer bridge to help students transition from high school to college, scholarships, research, mentorship, and professional development resources. Beginning in their third academic year, students will also be enrolled in the Renee Crown University Honors Program.
“In the ESTEEMED LEADERS program, we are focusing on developing our research skills and being exposed to lab environments to join a lab by our second semester. We’re also focused on developing skills such as calculus,” says biomedical engineering student Joshua Garcia ’28.
This year’s cohort worked with several biomedical and chemical engineering (BMCE) faculty, including Mary Beth Monroe, Shikha Nangia, Zhen Ma, Era Jain, and Yauying Wu. In Professor Monroe’s lab, students examined smart biomaterials for improved wound healing. In Professor Nangia’s lab, students received hands-on experience using computational tools to understand the physical structure and function of proteins, lipids, DNA, and RNA. In Professor Ma’s lab, students learned the significance and applications of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) in research with hands-on and computational training.
“I want to prioritize research in my future endeavors, and I believe this program is a great opportunity to do so,” says biomedical engineering student Aubrey Williams ’28.
While collaborating with faculty and other students in the program, ESTEEMED LEADERS will receive training, mentorship, and support to enhance their confidence in their academic abilities. They will also receive focused mentoring skill development and preparation for careers in biomedical engineering research.
“I’ve enjoyed interacting with other ESTEEMED LEADERS. We’ve been in different types of labs and spent a lot of time together working on projects and homework. Since I’m from New York City, it’s a new environment for me, but I’m glad I’ve grown a family here,” says biomedical engineering student Emily Gao ’28.
“We currently have 10 outstanding students in our program who are doing research in biomedical engineering, and we look forward to welcoming new cohorts of students in 2025 and 2026,” says Shikha Nangia, the Principal Investigator of the ESTEEMED LEADERS program and professor and interim chair of the BMCE department.
Electrical engineering and computer science alum, Ademola Adejokun G’20, has joined Tau Beta Pi, the oldest engineering honor society, for his outstanding contributions to systems software development and research efforts in open standards for mission-critical embedded systems.
Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi represents engineers from all disciplines and honors those who have demonstrated a history of academic and professional achievement. Adejokun has over 20 years of experience in the aerospace domain with competency in systems, software, computer, and cyber security engineering. He is currently a Cyber Security System Engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas. He is an International Council on System Engineering (INCOSE) Expert Systems Engineering Professional, a Six Sigma Black Belt, and a Project Management Professional.
Adejokun received his master’s in cybersecurity at the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and felt the program equipped him well for his professional pursuits. “The master’s program was fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding. It’s also well-respected, and propelled me to where I am now,” says Adejokun. “Everyone knows the value of a Syracuse University degree. Although other schools offer cybersecurity courses, they’re mostly theory-based. At Syracuse, many professors are IEEE fellows and well-known professors who have a hands-on approach.”
Adejokun is also a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a member of the Project Management Institute, International Council on Systems Engineering, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and the InfraGard National Infrastructure Protection Program.
Among his engagement in engineering societies’ boards and committees at regional and national levels, Adejokun serves on the College of Engineering Board of Advisory at the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, he is a board member and the current vice chair of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.)
Adejokun has also been recognized with numerous awards including the IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Individual Award, IEEE USA Professional Achievements Award (For contributions to IEEE Professional activities and for consistent efforts to professionalize software engineering), United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award (For lifelong commitment in building a stronger nation through volunteer service) and the Black Engineer of the Year Award-Outstanding Achievement-Science Spectrum Trailblazer.
The buildings that make up the College of Engineering and Computer Science continue to be renovated and transformed.
The new Link Hall lobby and renovated civil and environmental engineering faculty offices are on track to open in for the Fall 2024 semester. New student advising and admissions spaces are set to open in January 2025.
Here is a look at the progress made on the first floor of Link Hall!
The new Link Hall lobby under constructionCrews installing new flooring in Link HallThe admissions and student advising wing on the south side of Link HallStudent advising offices overlooking the Syracuse University quadNew admissions and advising spaces at Link Hall’s southwest cornerNew civil and environmental engineering faculty office spaceNew graduate student office space on the first floor of Link HallNew student meeting space on the first floor of Link Hall
Taylor Larsen’s love for higher education and passion for helping students have made her role as a Student Success Advisor fulfilling. Get to know Larsen as she discusses her background, advice to students, and her new role in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
What sparked your interest in working at Syracuse University?
I studied public relations and minored in sustainability. I really enjoy working in higher ed. Some things that energize my work are helping students find their passion and the different talents and skills they have that they can apply to their real lives and do that reflection. A lot of what I do in my job is hold up a mirror to my students and show them who they are. It’s not about trying to be more or doing more. It’s about helping them discover what they have within them.
Discovering different opportunities, I wanted to transition into a more advising role that focused on success. This position aligned with the journey I wanted to go on.
What is your role as a student success advisor?
The role of a student success advisor is to focus on the student and make sure they maximize their use of resources while they’re here. Especially with how big the university is, it’s easy to get lost and confused in figuring out who you are and what you want to do.
If I had a person in the position I have now when I was an undergrad, I would be a completely different person. I’m grateful to be where I am and offer the services I’m able to provide to my students.
It’s kind of like consulting to a certain degree. It’s different for each student depending on what’s going on in their lives. Making sure they are achieving their goals and pursuing their purpose while they’re here. We make sure they’re hitting all the milestones they must hit to graduate on time and build themselves up for their career.
What are you most excited about in your current role?
I am excited to build rapport with my students and become more creative in the ways that I help them define their success and encourage them to take action. In the age of social media, most people do a lot of talking but not a lot of doing. I look forward to encouraging my students to implement more action tools to put their thoughts and words into motion.
What’s your favorite part about being a success advisor?
Honestly, watching my students achieve their goals and not only be successful but feel successful. A lot of our wants and needs come from feeling. Nobody cares about what kind of car you’re driving–it’s about how you feel when you drive. I look forward to and enjoy watching my students find that within themselves. Helping them on that journey fulfills me a lot.
Do you have any advice for students?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and ask questions. You have to be brave enough to sound foolish at times otherwise you won’t learn anything or go anywhere.
What are some things you like to do for fun?
I like to walk my dog, Beans, sing, cook, and hang out with friends.
Mechanical and aerospace engineering Ph.D. student Xuezheng Wang G’21 has been selected to receive an American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Graduate Student Grant-In-Aid for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Pardha Sourya Nayani G’28, a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), has received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Fellowship Award for his research on “Unleashing Bandwidth: Passive Highly Dispersive Matching Network Enabling Broadband Absorbers with Record-High Bandwidth-to-Thickness Ratio”.
The AP-S Fellowship Program aims to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows worldwide interested in antenna analysis, design, development, and other research areas related to AP-S. Nayani joined EECS professor Younes Radi’s research group at the Radiation Laboratory of Syracuse University in the summer of 2023. “I am deeply honored to receive this award and look forward to making significant contributions in the field of electromagnetics and microwave engineering,” Nayani says.
“As a faculty member at Syracuse University and the prior institutions I have been involved with, I have had the opportunity to see and work with many talented students and researchers,” says Radi. “Rarely have I had the opportunity to work with a student as passionate, talented, and hardworking as Pardha. I am happy and proud that IEEE awarded him this prestigious Fellowship.”
Nangia joined Syracuse University in 2012. Her current research focuses on developing computational approaches to examine molecular and structural biophysics. Her primary project is to explore treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases by examining the molecular architecture of the blood-brain barrier. Her work also includes multiscale modeling of integral membrane proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, protein hydropathy, lipid membranes, bacterial membranes, epigenetics, drug delivery, thermo-responsive biopolymers, and polymeric gels. Her work is a highly multidisciplinary research portfolio that interfaces with computer science, math, engineering, biology, chemistry, and medicine. She has multiple collaborations with experimental bioengineers, chemists, and physicists worldwide. Nangia has published as a leading author in various journals, including Biomacromolecules, Macromolecules, JACS, JBC, PLoS Pathogens, Soft Matter, etc. She is also an artist and has designed artistic renditions of her scientific discoveries featured on the cover of several journals (Biomacromolecules, Langmuir, JCTC, JPC, and ChemComm). She is currently an Associate Editor of ACS Applied Bio Materials.
Nangia’s research has received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). These awards include NSF CAREER (2015), NIH R21 (2015), NSF CBET (2017), NIH R01 (2019), NSF BMAT (2021), NSF DMR REU (2018 and 2021), NSF MCB (2022), NIH NIBIB ESTEEMED grant (2022), and NSF GCR (2022). She has also received numerous honors for her research, including the ACS OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2016) and ACS WCC Rising Star Award (2022).
Nangia was awarded the College Technology Educator of the Year (2016), Meredith Teaching Recognition Award (2017), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (2017), the Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Experience and University Initiatives (2019) at Syracuse University, and Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award (2022). She is currently the director of the NSF Interactive Biomaterials REU site and NIH ESTEEMED programs.
Civil and environmental engineering professor Svetoslava Todorova, retired electrical engineering and computer science professor William Tetley, engineering students David Coghiel ‘24 (civil engineering), Elliot Salas ‘24 (electrical engineering) and Jasmine Rodriguez ‘25 (mechanical engineering) participated in the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo in Washington, DC from June 17-19. The group was a recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competitive program grant.
The EPA’s P3 program is a competition where undergraduate/graduate student teams design sustainable solutions to real-world environmental challenges. Todorova, Tetley, Coghiel, Salas and Rodriguez showcased their Smart Water Box, a low-cost sensor unit designed to monitor water quality in small rivers, in a 90-second sales pitch and answered questions in a booth where they displayed their sensor unit.
“The TechConnect World Innovation Expo was a great opportunity that I utilized to network with other student researchers, government agencies, and private companies,” says Rodriguez. “As one of the few student attendees, it was easy to stand out and make better connections with the professionals I interacted with. The P3 National Student Design Competition also gave me valuable insight into what other universities are researching and what issues are at the forefront of people’s concerns when it comes to our environment.”
“Our project stood out as a cost-effective, low-maintenance, solar-powered alternative to traditional water quality monitoring systems. I assisted with the development of the unit and fieldwork to ensure its continuous operation,” says Coghiel. “I was able to connect with different universities and companies to share experiences, knowledge, and accomplishments. Furthermore, introducing our project in an elevator pitch and a booth in the conference hall gave us valuable presentation experience that is bound to help us in our careers.”
P3 has a two-phase program where teams receive $25,000 for a one-year award. The expo concluded phase 1 of the EPA P3 award cycle and the group will compete for the second round of funding in phase 2 during the fall.
“The experience of presenting our project to other schools and EPA representatives was incredibly rewarding,” says Salas. “I was also thrilled to support my team and celebrate their achievements, like David’s impressive elevator pitch and Jasmine’s unique 3D prints, which are integral to our project. While I served a significant role in this project, I must acknowledge the collective effort of our group and the guidance of our mentors, Svetla and William. The time spent in DC was enjoyable and inspiring, and I eagerly anticipate the future improvements our group will make to the water quality monitoring box.”
“Although we discuss the need of using a multifaceted approach in solving contemporary issues, at college level students are often taught in silos. This design project stimulated interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity by bringing together students from three different engineering departments,” says Todorova. “I am extremely proud of their motivation, team spirit, and drive for success. The team stood out with their 90-seconds sales pitch. Everyone came to congratulate us. We are thankful to Linda Hartsock, Strategic Advisor at SU Libraries, for her invaluable guidance and tips in developing a strong sales pitch.”
Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew today announced the appointment of two new associate provosts, who will join the Academic Affairs leadership team effective Aug. 1. Julie Hasenwinkel will serve as associate provost for academic programs, and Elisa Dekaney as associate provost for strategic initiatives.
“Syracuse University is so fortunate to count outstanding teachers, scholars and administrators like Julie and Elisa among its faculty members, and I am truly grateful for their willingness to serve in these important roles,” Agnew says. “Their past leadership experiences and fresh perspectives position them to make a positive impact not only on the Academic Affairs team, but also across the University and in the local community.”
Hasenwinkel, a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence, is currently chair of the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). She is also a faculty affiliate of the BioInspired Institute. She has served as ECS associate dean for academic and student affairs and senior associate dean.
Her professional and scholarly areas of expertise include faculty development in teaching and learning; engineering education and active learning pedagogies; student success initiatives; orthopedic biomaterials; and biomaterials for nerve regeneration. She holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University, an M.S. in bioengineering from Clemson University and a B.S.E. in biomedical engineering from Duke University.
“I’m very excited to take on this role and to have the opportunity to work with colleagues across the University and the leadership team in Academic Affairs to enhance our academic programs, student success, experiential inquiry and teaching and learning excellence,” Hasenwinkel says. “I look forward to implementing the goals of the academic strategic plan and exploring innovative ways that we can meet the current and future needs of our students so they can thrive at Syracuse University and beyond.”
In the role of associate provost for strategic initiatives, Dekaney will work to strengthen the academic experience through strong connections with campus and community-based programs, particularly in the arts and humanities. In this role, she will oversee University-based cultural organizations like the Syracuse University Art Museum, La Casita Cultural Center and Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact, among others. Dekaney will also have oversight of the University’s study abroad and study away initiatives. She assumes the role from Marcelle Haddix, who was recently named dean of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dekaney, now the associate dean for research and global engagement and a professor of music education in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, is also a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence.
Her scholarly research focuses on aesthetic response to music, world music and cultures, International Phonetic Alphabet, Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian culture and clinical simulation applied to music education. She holds a Ph.D. in choral music education from Florida State University, a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas, a bachelor’s degree in sacred music (piano) from the Seminário Teológico Batista do Sul do Brasil and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the Universidade Federal Fluminense.
“I am honored to join Interim Provost Lois Agnew and the entire Academic Affairs team. This role presents an incredible opportunity to collaborate with Syracuse University faculty, staff and students in driving innovative projects and fostering a culture of excellence in an environment welcoming to all,” Dekaney says. “I am committed to advancing our strategic goals with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. By ensuring that our initiatives reflect these core values, we can create a transformative educational experience that benefits all members of our community.”
Sameeraa Soltanian-Zadeh ’26, a third-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been selected as an Innovation in Buildings (IBUILD) Graduate Research Fellow by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The fellowship is managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and administered by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).
The Graduate Research Fellowship aims to support the number of well-trained, diverse graduate student scholars prepared for research-intensive careers in fields supporting decarbonization. Recipients of the fellowship will receive financial support to conduct research at their home institution in an area that has shown relevance to advancing decarbonization efforts. Soltanian-Zadeh’s research focuses on indoor air quality and urban environmental dynamics, highlighting the effects of occupant behaviors on indoor air quality and building energy efficiency. This research will contribute to environmental justice, offering insights into public health, energy efficiency, and sustainable urban development, especially regarding the role of building occupants.
“By focusing on the intersection of indoor air quality, occupant behavior, and energy efficiency, my work has the potential to significantly impact how we design and operate buildings in the future. This research is crucial as we strive to create healthier, more sustainable urban environments while simultaneously tackling the urgent need for decarbonization,” says Soltanian-Zadeh. “Receiving the prestigious IBUILD fellowship marks a significant milestone in my academic journey and research career.
“This fellowship supports my ongoing work and is a step forward in my mission to create healthier, more sustainable built environments. The IBUILD program offers great opportunities to grow my skills, connect with other researchers, and learn about new developments in building science. Ultimately, it will help me contribute to a future where buildings not only meet energy needs but also enhance air quality and promote healthier living environments for all. I also want to thank my advisor, Professor Jianshun ‘Jensen’ Zhang, for his continuous support and guidance.”
“Sameeraa has made excellent progress in her Ph.D. study and played a key role in the project on ‘Integrated Whole-Building Energy Efficiency Retrofit Solution for Residences in Cold/Very Cold Climates’ and the Building America project on ‘Reducing Applied Losses in Heat Pumps’, both sponsored by DOE as well as the project on developing a multiscale building and urban environmental and energy monitoring systems supported by Syracuse Center of Excellence (SyracuseCOE)”, says Professor Jensen Zhang, Executive Director of SyracuseCOE and Soltanian-Zadeh’s Ph.D. study advisor.
Mary Beth Monroe, an associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering at the Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected to receive the 2023 Rosalind Franklin Society Special (RFS) Award in Science.
The RFS Awards in Science recognize contributions and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge, and outstanding peer-reviewed research by women and underrepresented minorities in STEM. The anthology of award winners is available digitally on the Rosalind Franklin Society website and in print.
“I am very grateful for this recognition from the RFS for my lab’s work that was published in Tissue Engineering, Part A (DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2022.0192),” says Monroe. “I’d especially like to acknowledge my former Ph.D. student, Dr. Henry Beaman, who spearheaded the published work. His creative approach to cell encapsulation within porous scaffolds could have a large future impact in wound healing and tissue engineering.”
Monroe leads the Monroe Biomaterials Lab in the multidisciplinary BioInspired Institute at Syracuse University. Monroe and her team aim to advance polymer chemistry to develop safer and more effective medical devices and improve healing outcomes. Their current research focuses on using shape memory polymers for hemorrhage control, Crohn’s fistula closure, and reducing the risk of infection and aiding wound treatment.
RFS, in partnership with Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., launched this prestigious annual award for the best paper by a woman or under-represented minority in science in each of the publisher’s more than 100 peer-reviewed journals to highlight the important contributions of these scientists and provide role models and mentors for younger scientists following in their footsteps. A total of $100,000 has been allocated for this year’s award winners. The award specifically recognizes the best paper published in 2023 in each of these journals.
The anthology includes a biography of each winner and an abstract of their selected work and is a remarkable compendium of research in science, engineering, and medicine that has been accomplished by outstanding investigators who, early in their careers, were not considered “real” scientists, engineers, or medical researchers because they did not fit the stereotypical scientist, engineer, or physician role.
The RFS Awards in Science 2023 was produced with support from the Rita Allen Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, and the Warren Alpert Foundation.
About the Rosalind Franklin Society The Rosalind Franklin Society is an honorific, interdisciplinary, and international society which recognizes, fosters, and advances the important contributions of women in the life sciences and affiliated disciplines. In so doing, the Society honors the under-recognized achievements of the late Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), a British x-ray crystallographer whose work producing x-ray images of DNA was crucial in the discovery of its structure by James Watson and Francis Crick. Franklin symbolizes progress for women in science, but her accomplishments were not recognized during her lifetime, awarded posthumously, nor are they completely acknowledged today. To celebrate the life, work, and symbolic power of this remarkable heroine in science, the Society recognizes the work of outstanding women scientists, fosters greater opportunities for women in the sciences, and motivates and educates by examples young generations of women who have this calling.
About Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a global media company dedicated to creating, curating, and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services to advance the fields of biotechnology and the life sciences, specialized clinical medicine, and public health and policy.
Trolley Trolls is a motorized cart designed to assist in carrying items, allowing users to have their hands free for other tasks. This original device was presented as a senior design capstone project at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Open House and was created by Ralph Lawrence Graham ‘24, Taylor Michael Madison ‘24, Alfonso Rivas ‘24, and Ernest Whitbeck ‘24. In this Q&A session, team members Graham and Madison discuss their project.
How does your senior design capstone project work?
Graham: Our project is a 3-tiered self-following motorized cart. The person using the cart wears a belt with a code on it. The code is then detected and that’s what triggers the cart to move. We used webcams attached to a Fusion 5 running image processing via Python that then feeds data to a PID controller system running on an Itsy Bitsy M4 chip to make the cart function.
Madison: We also talked about having distance sensors on the lower half of the cart. It goes much slower in reverse than it does forwards. If you go forward, it will go forward but if you come toward it, it will go backward but not as fast.
What inspired you to pursue this project?
Madison: Our team member, Alfonso, originally had the idea of a suitcase that would follow you through an airport. Some faculty didn’t know how practical placing a bunch of batteries and cameras on a suitcase would be, especially considering security risks for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Association (FAA).
We decided to go with something more utility-based that we could use around campus and came to a cart that could be used for a lab or food.
Are there other applications this motorized cart can have?
Madison: It can be applied to maintenance, hospitals, grocery stores, and even restaurants. We see all these areas benefiting from something like our cart for hands-free tasks.
How do you feel after completing your project?
Graham: We achieved what we were intending. It took a lot of research and trying things out. It was a process, and it was amazing to see the result of it and how everything works. It helped develop our skills more and we look forward to doing more things in a professional environment.
Madison: Even as a senior project that was supposed to be a showcase of what we’ve learned, we were learning continuously through this project. Continuously touching on other parts of engineering and developing skills we already have, it was great to put it all together.
Ernest Whitbeck ‘24, Ralph Lawrence Graham ‘24, Alfonso Rivas ‘24, and Taylor Michael Madison ‘24
Andrea Hoe ‘23 G‘28 was ecstatic when she received an invitation to join NASA’s Graduate Research Fellowship program. It felt like years of hard work had finally paid off. She had always been fascinated with space, but it wasn’t until high school that she discovered her passion for space architecture. Since then, she’s made it her mission to work with NASA and continue exploring her interests in cutting-edge design.
“Whether it was participating in STEM programs or conducting independent research, my goals and achievements were strategic towards realizing my dream of becoming a space architect,” says the aerospace engineering student. “Now, to have the opportunity to collaborate with NASA feels like the culmination of a journey filled with challenges, setbacks, and moments of sheer determination. It is a surreal experience, and I am eager to begin this new chapter in my academic career.”
She initially began her undergraduate studies at Syracuse University as an architect student but found herself gravitating towards research opportunities. While architecture and space habitat design have their differences, she saw concepts that overlapped and knew she could apply her studies in architecture to space habitats.
“Architecture provided me with a solid foundation in design principles and unconventional thinking. I knew I wanted to apply this knowledge to engineering. I believe the intersectionality of disciplines is important in today’s time and will push society forward. By embarking on this academic journey, I aim to bridge the gap between creativity and innovation to explore new possibilities for space exploration.”
The NASA Fellowship sponsors graduate student research and development of innovative space technologies. The fellowship includes a research grant, which will provide her the opportunity to research lunar regolith composites with carbon nanotubes for space habitation applications. The study aims to create a concrete-like structural material that can be made from soil on the moon, which is known as lunar regolith.
The primary focus of the research is to investigate the effects of adding carbon nanotubes to lunar regolith. Even a small amount of these nanotubes can significantly enhance the compressive strength of the lunar soil, making it an ideal choice for durable structural material in space architecture. “Our future testing plans are diverse and exciting as we aim to delve deeper into optimizing the composition and properties of this lunar regolith-based material. Space is an extreme environment, so exploring its durability and resilience is imperative.”
She believes this research is pivotal to ensuring secure and stable habitats on the moon as well as manned missions to Mars and beyond, paving the way for the future of human space exploration. “Syracuse’s architecture program empowered me to be creative and think critically, particularly in my final thesis project. The aerospace engineering department has allowed me to pursue my ambitions and gain insightful experiences. I am truly grateful. Receiving the NASA Fellowship and grant is an indescribable event for me. It is a validation of years of hard work, dedication, and unwavering determination.
“I am so grateful for the support from the professors at Syracuse who assisted me in this journey and for the recognition from an institution as esteemed as NASA. I am particularly grateful for the mentorship of my research advisor, Dr. Wang, whose guidance and support have made this possible.”
Assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science Jason Pollack envisions a promising future for quantum at Syracuse University. As the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) undergoes significant growth with renovated lab spaces, new faculty members, and groundbreaking research, it marks a transformative period not only for the college but for quantum-related fields as well.
“It’s exciting for me to be in a place where you can build a program and culture from the ground up,” Pollack says. “I’ve been telling my students that by the time they finish their grad school career, there will probably be three times as many people in quantum-related subjects as there are now. It’s very exciting that Syracuse University has put in all these resources.”
Prior to being an assistant professor in ECS, Pollack attended the California Institute of Technology for graduate school and completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of British Columbia and the University of Texas at Austin. He became interested in how underlying quantum physics can be seen in the world around us and switched from physics to computer science, collaborating frequently with mathematicians, engineers, scientists and experts within related fields.
Pollack’s research focuses on the theory of quantum information. He aims to understand basic information and computational structures underlying quantum systems. He also collaborates with other faculty members studying quantum in ECS and across the university, particularly in discussing ideas such as random quantum walks in superconducting cavities and the design of metamaterials with exotic refractive index. This highlights the significant role theorists like Pollack play in quantum experiments.
“Without theory, experimentalists wouldn’t know what theory to work on next. There’s always a whole set of possible things to do but then there’s the question of what to do next to increase my technical prowess or understanding. You have to take some steps to convert your results or what you’d like to understand about the world.”
Pollack’s paper published in March 2024 discusses quantum thermodynamics and focuses on understanding the entanglement structure of quantum states. When two particles become entangled, their properties may remain correlated regardless of the distance. “The world is made up of atoms and molecules, but if you want to run a heat engine, you don’t have to manipulate individual gasoline molecules to run the engine. I want to understand what types of interaction a quantum system can have with an environment so I can treat it like a traditional, classical thermodynamic system. If I wait long enough, it becomes characterized by its temperature or energy.”
Pollack also has research interests in quantum decoherence, which refers to the study of interactions between the environment and quantum systems (tiny particles like atoms and molecules.) His other research program is concerned with the physics seen by observers with only limited access to, or an imperfect ability to make measurements on, the quantum state.“Syracuse’s quantum community will be changing within a few years. The plan for ECS is to grow quantum faculty, and we’re going to be on the map. Students who want interdisciplinary work can certainly find it.”
Pollack will be teaching graduate course CIS 700 “The Structure of Quantum States” where students will learn the features of quantum-mechanical systems. Starting next academic year, he will also be teaching an undergraduate course on quantum computing.
A new $40 million award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor) was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in Syracuse hosted by INFICON. Syracuse University will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center. (Photo courtesy of Onondaga County)
Syracuse University will play a leading role in advancing Central New York’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities thanks to $40 million in new funds made available to the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hub. The new award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor) was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in Syracuse hosted by INFICON. J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, spoke at the event, and Duncan Brown, vice president for research, represented the University as principal investigator on Syracuse University’s component of the Tech Hub award.
“This is a monumental victory for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region as the first major Tech Hub award in the nation, bringing a whopping $40 million from my CHIPS and Science Law. With this major investment, the feds are shining a national spotlight, and confirming what I have long known, that America’s semiconductor future runs through the heart of Upstate NY along the I-90 corridor,” said Senator Schumer. “From the fields near Syracuse that will become Micron’s massive mega-fab to the cutting-edge research labs in Rochester and workers learning these manufacturing skills in Buffalo, this award helps connect the region to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and establish Upstate NY as the heart of America’s semiconductor industry. I created the Tech Hubs competition with Upstate NY in mind, and pulled out all the stops to win this award—first proposing this program in my Endless Frontier Act, then passing it into law as part of my CHIPS and Science Act, making the case to bring the region together, advocating at the highest levels and delivering the transformational investment to make today possible. It’s never been more clear: the heart of America’s semiconductor industry runs along the I-90 corridor in Upstate NY!”
Syracuse University will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center (C3), which includes Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and University of Buffalo. C3 will administer millions of dollars in grants to allow small and medium-sized businesses to collaborate with the region’s universities, bring new ideas to market and accelerate growth of the semiconductor industry in the region.
“Syracuse University is proud to lead this higher education collaboration that will help drive innovation and establish the NY SMART I-Corridor as a world leading entrepreneurial incubator for the semiconductor industry,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful for Senator Schumer’s steadfast advocacy. This substantial new grant builds on major investments the University is making. It will help create critical high-tech infrastructure and facilities, attract top semiconductor manufacturing researchers and faculty to the region, and develop unique experiential learning and internship opportunities for talented students.”
To support the NY SMART I-Corridor, the University is investing $10 million, which is matched by a $10 million investment from Onondaga County, to create a state-of-the-art advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility. The center is part of a more than $100 million investment in strategically transforming STEM and expanding the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at Syracuse University over the next five years.
“Together with our regional partners, and with the dedicated support of Senator Schumer, Syracuse University has a key role to play in the revitalization of Central New York,” says Haynie. “Today’s announcement is another exciting milestone in the realization of that goal, and we are gratified by the continuing opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation across the Tech Hub.”
As the NY SMART I-Corridor seeks to become the epicenter for American semiconductor commercialization efforts, C3 will integrate the region’s extensive assets into a single “point of entry” for small and medium-sized businesses, according to Brown.
“In our knowledge-driven society, university-led research and development is central to economic development. C3 will allow businesses of all sizes to partner with universities to develop, prototype and test new products,” Brown says. “Through these partnerships, the NY SMART I-Corridor will accelerate the transfer of ideas from lab to market.”
Modeled on New York State’s Centers for Advanced Technology, C3 will drive innovation in the I-Corridor’s semiconductor supply chain by establishing:
Innovation Asset/Expertise Engagement Network, an inventory of semiconductor relevant facilities and innovation expertise across the I-Corridor, accessible via a central online portal;
Knowledge/IP Collaboration Architecture, a new IP architecture for the region that incentivizes cross-collaboration between sectors and institutions and strengthens commercialization efforts in the I-Corridor; and
Formal Community of Practice, which will facilitate collaboration between businesses, researchers, investors and manufacturers in the region and sponsor programming and internships designed to benefit underrepresented communities.
The federal Tech Hub designation spans Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo and includes Ithaca, Auburn and Batavia. Key academic partners include Monroe Community College in Rochester, which will lead the hub’s workforce development efforts, and University at Buffalo, which will lead the effort to improve the region’s supply chain for semiconductors.
Schumer created the Regional Tech Hubs competition as part of the CHIPS and Science Bill, and said the three-region consortium beat out hundreds of applications and was one of only 31 regions across the U.S. chosen for the Tech Hub designation.
In recognition of superior scholarship, the following students have been entered on the Engineering & Computer Science Dean’s List for Spring 2024.
To be eligible for Dean’s List recognition, the minimum semester grade point average must be 3.40 or higher, must have earned a minimum of 12 graded credits and must have no missing or incomplete grades.
Eight teams of engineering students presented designs for original devices to industry experts and investors. These students were part of Invent@SU, a six-week summer program where students design, prototype, and pitch to judges.
On June 20th, the teams gave their final pitch presentations to a panel of 14 expert judges. The room was filled with guests, including Dean Cole Smith, Syracuse University Life Trustee Bill Allyn and program supporter Mike Lazar. The event kicked off with poster presentations that gave the student teams the opportunity to showcase their inventions and answer questions from the judges.
This year’s competitors were:
TreadBed: Jason Bae ’25 (biomedical engineering), Sandy Lin ’25 (computer science), Ian Roche ’25 (mechanical engineering), Colin Wanderman ’27 (mechanical engineering)
A patient transfer device that reduces the amount of lifting required for caregivers when moving a patient between a stretcher and a hospital bed.
MagniClaw: (Tied for Second Place)Davis Hood ’26 (electrical engineering), Jennifer Mason ’26 (mechanical engineering), Matthew Pinto ’27 (biomedical engineering), Carter Thompson ’26 (aerospace engineering)
A device that securely locks wheelchairs in place for moving vehicles.
Swift Straps: (Tied for Second Place) Jessica Moreno ’26 (aerospace engineering), Patrick Phanichyakarn ’26 (mechanical engineering), Amira Salihovic ’25 (biomedical engineering)
Retractable, color-coded restraint straps that make transferring or transporting EMT patients more efficient.
An all-inclusive solution for monitoring your dog’s health and ensuring their safety through a health harness.
Invent@SU is made possible by program sponsor Michael Lazar, partner sponsor the Lyons Family Foundation, and team sponsor Ralph Folz. A special thank you to Bill and Penny Allyn for sponsoring multiple years since 2017.
“Students learn about design, ideation and intellectual property, then conceive an original invention, prototype the invention and refine it in response to weekly feedback from diverse audiences of guest evaluators. In addition, students learn key business, entrepreneurship and professional skills, such as: communication, creating a “pitch,” financing a start-up, sustainable design, accounting, marketing, pricing, leadership and teamwork,” said Professor Alex Deyhim. “All 8 teams did an amazing job and walked away with invaluable lessons learned and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
As engineering students Fundi Juriasi ‘24, Hanna Salem ‘24, Prince Sarquah ‘24 and Sukhleen Atwal ‘24 brainstormed ideas for their senior design project, they couldn’t seem to land on an idea they all agreed on. Sarquah’s interest lay in robotics, Juriasi was fascinated with face-tracking cameras, and Salem liked the idea of a Lego sorter that could assort the bright-colored blocks by color. Inspired by her passion for the environment, it wasn’t until Atwal combined their ideas that the group finally came to a project they all loved: a camera-tracking, plastic-sorting robot.
Plastic pollution continues to be a significant environmental issue, with millions of plastic items entering our planet’s oceans every year and this is often due to improper waste disposal. The engineering group’s plastic sorting robot shows promise in enhancing current waste management methods by automating the sorting process. They believe that this technology could play a crucial role in reducing landfill waste, increasing recycling rates, and promoting more sustainable practices.
“Most plastics come with recyclable code, but the problem is, sometimes the code gets damaged, and it can’t be seen without advanced cameras,” Juriasi says. “We wanted to make our project more achievable, so we placed QR codes on objects to mimic how it can be implemented in the real world.”
Their robot, ARMie, uses a camera to scan QR codes and identify the type of material based on the code. With instructions from the user interface, ARMie sorts each item into the appropriate bin for recyclable, non-recyclable, or further sorting. This innovative system streamlines the recycling process, enhancing its efficiency and accuracy.
The hardware consists of the microcontroller board Arduino Uno, a robotic arm, servo motors, a PWM/servo driver, a camera, bins, and a power supply. The key technologies and software used for the project include the open-source code-writing software Arduino IDE, Python, graphical user interface (GUI), and QR codes.
Despite the challenges that came with putting this ambitious project together such as mechanical durability and power supply balance, the students were able to present ARMie at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s (ECS) Open House. “Overall, I would say this project was good. It has real-world applications and potential to impact sustainability,” says Salem.
“By integrating technology with environmental sustainability, ARMie facilitates a smarter way to manage waste, offering a significant step forward in our recycling efforts,” says Juriasi.
Melissa Yeung, a first-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, has joined the 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The fellowship offers three years of support for graduate research over a five-year period.
Yeung currently works in the fluid dynamics lab of Yiyang Sun, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and her research focuses on supersonic jet engines. “The goal of my work is to alleviate the undesired features through strategically placed small micro-jets of air,” Yeung says. “I am currently focused on optimizing these micro-jets such that they can continuously modulate themselves to adapt to various flight conditions. By doing so, the flow can be controlled even in off-design conditions and with minimal energy input.
“Understanding these complex flow physics is vital for the development of next-generation high-performance aircraft. Successfully controlling this flow can improve upon the aircraft’s performance and ensure the safety of nearby workers or civilians. This work is one of many steps in pushing supersonic flight for commercial use.”
Yeung believes the fellowship will give her greater flexibility in her research, fund her research activities and enable her to attend more conferences. She’s also grateful for the support she’s received from Sun, Professor Emeritus Mark Glauser, and Gina Lee-Glauser, retired vice president for research.
“Their guidance has been crucial to my success and without them, I would have not had the honor of being an NSF GRFP recipient,” Yeung says.
Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter today announced that J. Cole Smith has been reappointed to a five-year term as dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Today’s announcement follows a comprehensive review process that includes feedback from key stakeholders, including ECS faculty, staff and advisory board members.
“In Cole’s nearly five years as dean, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has grown stronger on multiple counts and made great strides towards reaching a new level of excellence,” Provost Ritter says. “This is an exciting time for the college, and I can think of no better leader to shepherd the students, faculty, staff and alumni into this new era.”
Smith assumed leadership of ECS in October 2019. His tenure has been marked by several high points for the college. A massive renovation, which included multiple new lab spaces and the Allyn Innovation Center, served to modernize ECS buildings and facilities. The pending new Campos Student Center, supported by a recent $2 million gift that Smith helped secure, will further enhance the college’s physical space.
“Engineering and Computer Science is driving regional, national and international growth in areas such as advanced manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, healthcare engineering, advanced computing technologies and materials science,” Smith says. “I have never been a part of a more exciting moment at the nexus of college, University, city and national growth. What we are doing here matters and will resonate for decades to come, and it is a true privilege to have the opportunity to realize the transformational opportunity that awaits Syracuse University and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.”
Smith came to Syracuse from Clemson University, where he held positions as associate provost for academic initiatives and chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering. His research focuses on integer programming and combinatorial optimization, network flows and facility location, computational optimization methods and large-scale optimization due to uncertainty or robustness considerations. In 2023, he was named an Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) fellow.
With funds sub-awarded through the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Convergence Accelerator program, Syracuse University’s Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS) will help develop more accessible pathways for small communities to develop and maintain safe drinking water infrastructure. This collaborative project will focus on communities in Puerto Rico, with the ultimate goal being to use this case study as a framework that can be replicated in other U.S. locations and beyond. The project officially kicked off in February 2024.
Access to clean drinking water is a right for all that is threatened by the looming climate crisis. In 2022, 2.2 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water; and 2 billion people lacked a basic hand washing facility, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Many of those without access are communities of less than 10,000 people who face their own unique obstacles. In Puerto Rico, challenges for these small communities include limited economic resources and severe natural disaster risk, which is amplified by climate change. Unless viable and proactive solutions are developed, this lack of access will prevail.
This $650,000 research project, named VersaWater by its team, is funded by the NSF Convergence Accelerator Program and led by Cornell University in partnership with CSCS; Interamerican University of Puerto Rico’s Center for Environmental Education, Conservation and Research; and AguaClara Reach.
Through the Convergence Accelerator Program, the water research team will use a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to accelerate the science and community engagement practices around Puerto Rico’s safe drinking water technology using three convergent focus areas: governance and financing, community education and workforce training, and resilient water system technologies.
“The Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS), which operates the Environmental Finance Center (EFC), has been a leader in environmental finance for over 30 years,” shared CSCS Director and the water project’s Co-Principal Investigator Melissa Young. “Ensuring that funding is not only available for investments like this but that it is also accessible is crucial to making everlasting change for the health and welfare of small communities.”
She continued, “We’re proud to be a part of the esteemed NSF Convergence Accelerator Program, which importantly prioritizes community-focused research and social impact.”
CSCS aims to identify how small communities can better access federal funding made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — a law that authorized billions of dollars for federal investment, including significant financial support for water infrastructure in small communities — and the barriers they experience in doing so. CSCS leverages over three decades of community-based work in EPA Region 2 (which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight Native Nations.)
Cornell Engineering is leading VersaWater (formerly called WaterSAVerS), bolstered by its ties to the non-profit AguaClara Reach, who have together been developing open-source sustainable water treatment technologies specifically for small and very small communities in the Global South over the past 20 years, according to Ruth Richardson, the water project’s Principal Investigator representing Cornell.
“The AguaClara technology aims to create gravity-powered water treatment plants specifically for small and very small communities. Innovations in automated dosing, water movement, and hydraulics create treatment plants that ease operation and maintenance demands since labor is a major cost for [these communities],” Richardson said.
What’s ahead
CSCS and team are currently in Phase 1 of the NSF Convergence Accelerator Program. Over the course of nine months, the water team will develop their initial idea into a proof of concept, identify new team members and partners, and participate in the NSF Convergence Accelerator’s Phase 1 innovation curriculum, which provides fundamentals in human-centered design; team science; use-inspired research; early-stage prototyping; and communications, storytelling, and pitching.
At the end of Phase 1, the water team will participate in a competitive formal NSF pitch and proposal process, which is used in selecting teams for Phase 2. Teams selected for Phase 2 will continue accelerating their solutions toward impact. By the end of the Convergence Research phases, solutions are expected to impact societal needs at scale and be sustainable beyond NSF support.
The Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS) at Syracuse University
CSCS is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of sustainability communications, policy, and science to foster economic well-being, environmental stewardship, and social equity by engaging community members at all levels to provide the coordination and knowledge needed to make informed decisions that
support sustainability, resiliency, and climate adaptation. The Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (EFC), operated by CSCS, is a pillar in this mission that facilitates the development of sustainable and resilient communities throughout US EPA Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight Native Nations) and nationally.
U.S. National Science Foundation
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that promotes the progress of science by investing in research to expand knowledge in science, engineering, and education across all 50 states and territories. NSF supports nearly 2,000 colleges, universities, and other institutions through competitive grants aimed at advancing science with broad impacts across the nation and its people. Learn more at nsf.gov.
About the NSF Convergence Accelerator
Launched in 2019, the NSF Convergence Accelerator—a TIP program—builds upon NSF’s investment in basic research and discovery to accelerate solutions toward societal and economic impact. The program’s multidisciplinary teams use convergence research fundamentals and innovation processes to stimulate innovative idea sharing and development of sustainable solutions. For more information about the program, visit new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/convergence-accelerator.
Professor Emeritus in mechanical and aerospace engineering, Mark Glauser, has received the 2024 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fluid Dynamics Award. The award recognizes individuals with outstanding contributions to the understanding of liquid and gas behavior in motion and notable accomplishments within the aerospace community. This prestigious award is proudly sponsored by the AIAA Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee.
Glauser was selected for his seminal contributions to the innovative use of multi-point low-dimensional methods for understanding and control of turbulent flows. He will be recognized during the 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum and AIAA ASCEND event in Las Vegas, Nevada in July. He will also give a special Fluid Dynamics Award Lecture.
“This is indeed a great honor for me and reflects very positively on the Syracuse University mechanical and aerospace engineering department and the approximately 70 of my outstanding MS and Ph.D. students who have been key to my success,” says Glauser.
A civil and environmental engineering research group has won the 2024 Best Case Study Award in the Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. The paper was written by graduate student Lucie Worthen G’19 along with Assistant Professors Christa Kelleher from the College of Arts and Sciences and Cliff Davidson from the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). The award is nominated and selected by the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) editorial board.
The research group was awarded for their work on “A Diagnostic Analysis of Low-Impact Development Simulations with Stormwater Management Model (SWMM).” The paper compares the results of the SWMM of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with measurements of stormwater runoff from the green roof of the Nick Pirro Convention Center owned by Onondaga County.
Worthen, Kelleher, and Davidson will be recognized at the 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Convention during the awards and lectures presentation.
Since childhood, Marco Campos has carved his own path, one that took him from poverty to great success. Today, Campos, together with his sister, Deanna Campos-Miller, are committed to creating opportunities for educational institutions and communities in support of student success through their foundation, Campos Foundation.
Through the foundation, Campos, whose son is a third-year student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, has just pledged $2.15 million to Syracuse University as part of the Forever Orange Campaign. The gift will fund a new student center in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). The student center will offer programming designed to attract underrepresented students to the college and support the academic success of all ECS students. It comes at a time of tremendous growth for ECS. As part of the University’s Academic Strategic Plan, ECS will grow its enrollment and faculty ranks by 50% by 2028.
“The Campos Student Center will provide dedicated space for our students with a home for collaboration, community and access to resources that maximize their success,” says ECS Dean J. Cole Smith. “This space will facilitate club activities that enhance the experience of our diverse student body. More than that, it will be a home on campus that is inviting and welcoming to all.”
The Campos Student Center will be housed on the second floor of the Center for Science and Technology.
Marco and his sister grew up in West Denver, Colorado, raised by a single mother with limited resources. Campos-Miller says her brother literally wore the boots in the family. “Marco got the snow boots, but I didn’t have any, so when we had to walk to school in the snow, he would walk in front of me and pave the way to school,” says Campos-Miller. “He told me, ‘Walk right behind me in my footprints.’”
Today, the siblings are paving the way for student success through the Campos Foundation.
“As a young teenager, I didn’t have role models,” says Campos. “I sensed there was something bigger, but there wasn’t a clear path.” He was talented in math but received little encouragement or support until becoming part of a summer bridge program in his senior year of high school. That opened the door to engineering at the University of Colorado in Boulder where, for the first time, his potential was recognized and cultivated. “I never loved engineering and math, but I saw the pathway to a career in an engineering degree,” says Campos. “It was grueling work, but the perseverance and grind ultimately get you there. You have to be consistent and hold the course.”
Campos-Miller says her brother has never forgotten where he came from. “Marco wants to elevate as many people as possible, and he can do that by funding the right kinds of programs,” says Campos-Miller. “Grit, perseverance and compassion are the best ways to describe Marco. He was always a really good dreamer!”
Campos’ gift was inspired by a recent visit to campus and by the success of an earlier gift made by his foundation to the University of Colorado in Boulder. He says he saw the geography and the demographics of Syracuse and thought he could make a similar impact. He believes the new student center will be a welcoming and inclusive home where engineering, computer science, and other STEM students can go for academic support, financial advice and career direction. The student center is intended to inspire those who have big hopes and dreams but maybe haven’t been empowered in the past, he says.
“This kind of philanthropic support represents a true endorsement of and investment in the vision, mission and strategic planning of the College of Engineering and Computer Science,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful to Marco and Deanna for their commitment to Syracuse University and am confident this center will have an impact on generations of students pursuing career paths in engineering.”
Campos’ career began with an internship at Texaco during his college years, and he was hired immediately upon graduation. By age 30, he had accumulated enough work and consulting experience, confidence and wealth to start his own company and start giving back. Campos EPC, established in 2005 with headquarters in Denver, offers engineering, procurement and construction counsel for utility, energy and midstream organizations. The company also offers STEM education initiatives through a community outreach program, while the foundation supports summer bridge programs, scholarships and SmartLabs at primary and secondary schools, among other initiatives.
“When I talk about the company, I rarely talk about the business,” says Campos. “Everyone can engineer. Everyone can project manage, but I want to be known for trying to improve the community and improve quality of life.”
He credits his hard-working employees for their commitment to giving back and driving the success of the Campos Foundation. He notes that the guiding principle of Campos companies is, “Our People are our Power,” and the power of philanthropy rests with his employees.
Campos and his sister believe the foundation’s intensive focus on mission through philanthropy, and the recruitment of specialized talent to lead and manage these kinds of student-centered programs helps universities “move the needle” when it comes to attracting students of all backgrounds to engineering fields. “This has become our corporate and social responsibility,” says Campos. “You have to be focused and disciplined and patient in your approach. Working with the University, we set up metrics to make sure the funding is accomplishing our established goals.”
Campos-Miller says the naming of the new student center aligns the hopes and dreams of students with the man who forged an enviable path to success. “Campos isn’t just a name. It’s the story behind the name. It represents possibilities and pathways to get there.”
“We all have a sphere of influence and it’s incumbent on each of us to affect our sphere of influence in the most positive ways we can,” says Campos. “Putting good out there in the universe brings back good, even more than we put out.”
New York City has over 12,000 miles of sidewalks, thousands of buses, and a huge transit system that can get you from one end of the city to the other. It’s perfect for pedestrians – but how accessible is it?
Vision loss affects hundreds of New Yorkers, who may find it difficult to navigate sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections. However, steps are being taken to address these accessibility issues. Along with recent federal court orders for NYC to install accessible pedestrian signals throughout the city, four electrical and computer engineering students are taking accessibility a step further with their navigational cane, Pear Vision+.
“We knew we wanted to make something that was really practical and useful,” says Armani Isonguyo ‘25. “Traditional canes serve only as a physical extension of the user, providing information of any obstacles within 5 feet proximity. Our cane offers comprehensive navigational aid.”
Created by Isonguyo, Alexander Segarra ‘24, Elliot Salas ‘24, and Isaish Fernandez ‘24, the engineering group’s smart cane can identify obstacles in a person’s way, which direction they’re facing the obstacle, and whether the objects are moving. It also provides feedback through audio descriptions via Bluetooth and vibrations, giving users a better understanding of their surroundings.
“I love video games and Nintendo Switches and PlayStation 5s all incorporate vibration into gameplay,” Salas says. “The original idea was actually to put a PlayStation 5 motor in the cane for vibration, but we used a 5V haptic motor disk instead.”
The smart cane is equipped with NVIDIA’s Jetson platform, which helps it identify objects in the surrounding environment. It also has a depth-sensing camera that can determine distances and create a three-dimensional view of the environment. This assists visually impaired individuals in identifying obstacles in real time and navigating their surroundings safely. The cane was also modeled using Shapr3D, a 3D modeling tool.
“With the design, we didn’t focus too much on the length or thickness of the cane, based on previous inspirations in the real world,” says Segarra. “We focused more on the handle and the angle you would want to hold so it doesn’t break.”
The students presented Pear Vision+ at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s (ECS) Open House and also won the William Peil Award for the best electrical engineering and computer science senior design project. They see potential for their project to impact the lives of many.
“I saw this project as one that was meaningful in advancing a certain industry and the world. I’m glad to be part of something that can be impactful,” says Segarra.
“This project not only pushed the boundaries of what we can achieve with technology but also taught us the importance of engineering solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives. We are proud to contribute to a more accessible world,” says Isonguyo.
