�鶹��Ƶ Researchers Part of Breakthrough Study on Gravitational Waves</h1> <article> <h1>�鶹��Ƶ Researchers Part of Breakthrough Study on Gravitational Waves</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:36:20 +0000</p> <span>�鶹��Ƶ Researchers Part of Breakthrough Study on Gravitational Waves</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-06-29T11:36:20-04:00" title="Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 11:36">Thu, 06/29/2023 - 11:36</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>�鶹��Ƶ physics and astronomy students over the past 15 years—a roster of nearly 50 undergraduate researchers and their faculty mentors—played roles in a study on gravitational waves that has resulted in the publishing of significant findings that offer galaxy-sized evidence of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity in action.</p> <p>The research, conducted by the <a href="https://nanograv.org/">North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves</a> and supported by the National Science Foundation, focuses on the use of radio telescopes that effectively transform an array of exotic stars into a gravitational-wave detector that can be likened to the size of an entire galaxy. Scientists believe that the waves detected may be caused by the movement of massive black holes—bodies as large as the distance between the earth and sun.</p> <p>The NANOGrav research team, whose membership includes some 190 scientists across the U.S. and Canada, published its findings this week in the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/acdac6"><em>Astrophysical Journal Letters</em></a>. <a href="/node/6191">Dan Stinebring</a>, an emeritus professor of physics at �鶹��Ƶ and a founding member of NANOGrav, is a senior researcher on the team and continues to work with current �鶹��Ƶ students, often in tandem with Associate Professor of Physics <a href="/node/6176">Robert Owen</a>, who is an expert in gravitation and a member of the <a href="https://www.black-holes.org/">Simulating Extreme Spacetime collaboration</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Fifteen-year NSF-funded project involves dozens of students past and present, provides evidence of Einstein’s theory of relativity.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-06-29T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/29/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/robert-owen" hreflang="und">Robert Owen</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy" hreflang="und">Physics and Astronomy</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">NANOGrav's pulsar timing array, made up of 68 pulsars, detects gravitational waves believed to be caused by the movement of supermassive black holes.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pull-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yes</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of NANOGrav</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32096" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant> <p>Within hours of the June 28 release of NANOGRav’s findings, reports of the research were published in the <em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/science/astronomy-gravitational-waves-nanograv.html">New York Times</a></em>, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2023/06/28/gravitational-wave-background-nanograv/"><em>Washington Post</em></a>, the <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/29/astronomers-detect-cosmic-bass-note-gravitational-waves">Guardian</a></em>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/28/1183878163/new-gravitational-wave-supermassive-black-hole">NPR</a>, and <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/long-sought-hum-of-gravitational-waves-from-giant-black-holes-heard-for-first-time"><em>Science</em></a>, among other outlets.</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27743" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>The team’s research offers the first evidence of gravitational waves at very low frequencies. The newly detected waves, unlike high-frequency waves that have been observed by ground-based instruments, stand out because they can be perceived only by a detector that is much larger than Earth. NANOGrav’s detector, referred to as a “pulsar timing array”—literally a set of 68 pulsars, or remnants of previously massive stars—effectively functions as a galaxy-scale gravitational wave antenna. Pulsars are deemed a reliable tool for such study because they emit radio beams that are seen as highly regular pulses, rivaling in their timing stability the best collections of human-made atomic clocks.</p> <p>As Einstein theorized, gravitational waves expand and contract space and time in a predictable pattern, causing changes in the intervals between pulses that can be detected across all 68 pulsars in the array. The gravitational waves observed in NANOGrav’s research are believed to result from orbiting pairs of supermassive black holes—each of them likely billions of times more massive than the Sun.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Dan Stinebring (second from left) with �鶹��Ƶ students Christopher Haddad ’12, Alex Spatzier ’12, and Karen Ressler ’11 at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in January 2010. The Winter Term project involved inspecting equipment underneath the main reflecting dish, one of three telescopes used by NANOGrav for data collection.</figcaption> </figure> <p>The array’s immense size has afforded researchers what is believed to be the first real-life glimpse of Einstein’s predicted correlation pattern between gravitational waves and the timing of pulses.</p> <p>Within hours of the release of NANOGRav’s findings, reports of the research were published in the <em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/science/astronomy-gravitational-waves-nanograv.html">New York Times</a></em>, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2023/06/28/gravitational-wave-background-nanograv/"><em>Washington Post</em></a>, the <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/29/astronomers-detect-cosmic-bass-note-gravitational-waves">Guardian</a></em>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/28/1183878163/new-gravitational-wave-supermassive-black-hole">NPR</a>, and <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/long-sought-hum-of-gravitational-waves-from-giant-black-holes-heard-for-first-time"><em>Science</em></a>, among other outlets.</p> <p>“For the first time, we will be able to see evidence of the formation process of galaxies at a great distance,” says Stinebring, who notes that previous explorations of the universe have been made possible primarily through use of electromagnetic radiation. “That’s one channel,” he says. “But gravitational waves are a completely new channel. By using gravitational waves, we’re able to answer some questions we weren’t able to answer before.</p> <p>“Based on what we know about each pulsar, we are able to predict far into the future when a particular pulse will arrive at our radio telescope,” says Stinebring, who retired from �鶹��Ƶ in 2019 but remains active with the study and �鶹��Ƶ’s student researchers. “Unbelievable as it sounds, we’re typically able to predict 10 years into the future to within a few millionths of a second. Then we actually measure the pulse arrival at that appointed time. The difference between when the pulse does arrive and when we predict it will arrive is called the residual. This is our main measurement.” These measurements are recorded every two weeks for each of the 68 pulsars that make up the array.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Physics professor Robert Owen (center) with �鶹��Ƶ students Terrence Pierre-Jacques ’18 and Hengrui Zhu ’21 at a meeting of the American Physical Society.</figcaption> </figure> <p>�鶹��Ƶ is one of 66 U.S.-based member institutions in NANOGrav and one of only two Ohio colleges. Among most colleges and universities, Stinebring notes, student participation is limited to graduate- and postgraduate-level researchers.</p> <p>Stinebring and his undergraduate researchers focus their efforts on “detector characterization,” which he likens to the work of a precision watchmaker, who would examine potential factors—such as temperature, humidity, or altitude—that could affect a watch’s accuracy over time.</p> <p>“We need to do the same thing with every pulsar in our array,” he says.</p> <p>With unsurprising precision, Stinebring readily produces a list of the �鶹��Ƶ students, past and present, who have collaborated on the NANOGrav project. It numbers some 48 researchers, ranging from 2007 graduates to rising second-year student Lucilla Rubio Fernandez.</p> <p>“I am very happy to look over that group of �鶹��Ƶ students and see a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and aspirations represented,” Stinebring says. “Many, of course, have gone on to further work in the physical sciences, an �鶹��Ƶ tradition that I am proud to have contributed to.”</p> <p>Learn more about the research and the implications of the team’s findings at the <a href="https://nanograv.org/news/15yrRelease">NANOGrav website</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Fins to the Left (and Right)</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 25 May 2023 16:54:03 +0000</p> <span>Fins to the Left (and Right)</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-25T12:54:03-04:00" title="Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 12:54">Thu, 05/25/2023 - 12:54</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Jules Lieberman wants to pursue a career in marine science, with the goal of doing research to understand migratory patterns of at-risk and endangered sharks and rays. A recipient of the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship">Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship</a> from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Lieberman will benefit from tuition support, paid research and professional opportunities, and mentorship in the field of marine biology.</p> <p>A rising junior majoring in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology">biology</a>, Lieberman applied for the scholarship with the intent of getting their feet wet in marine biology (pun intended). </p> <p>“I want to understand how the migratory patterns of large, pelagic fishes are currently being affected by climate change and create a model to predict how they will change in the future,” says Lieberman. This work is relevant to the conservation side of NOAA’s Fisheries department and is especially pertinent in our era of mass biodiversity loss,” explains Lieberman, who is from Philadelphia and expects to graduate early.</p> <p>The Hollings Scholarship provides tuition assistance up to $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. The internship provides scholars with hands-on, practical experience in NOAA-related science.</p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Lieberman has been doing computational and evolutionary biology research in the lab of Associate Professor of Biology <a href="/aaron-goldman">Aaron Goldman</a>, where the main goal is to identify protein presence, function, and evolution in the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA).</p> <p>“Over the last year, I have developed a computational biology research pipeline to determine phospholipid membrane protein evolution in LUCA. I used the pipeline to identify proteins present across all domains of life. Moving forward, I will use this pipeline to track ancient proteins’ evolution and reassemble them into metabolic and physiological systems,” Lieberman says. As they move forward in their career, Lieberman intends to pursue a PhD in marine science with a broad focus on pelagic fish migratory dynamics or fish systematics.</p> <p>“I eventually want to become a professor. I have been so privileged to be able to attend �鶹��Ƶ College, and I have so many incredible mentors. I want to pay that forward.”</p> <p>Lieberman already has shown their commitment to giving back to the community. In summer 2021, they worked as a STEM facilitator at Eureka!, an intensive, five-year, STEM-based program for rising eighth grade girls who come from racially, economically, or otherwise marginalized communities. The program builds confidence and skills through hands-on STEM activities.</p> <p>“For my senior project, I spent months writing lessons about climate justice and the scientific process, and I later led these to two cohorts of 20 girls. This summer, I will be leading these campers’ capstone projects as they design an exhibit for the Academy of Natural Sciences on a sustainable topic. I am so thankful to have worked with these girls, and watching them blossom into young scientists, engineers, and people has been one of the most meaningful experiences I have had the pleasure of being a part of.”</p> <p>In their free time, Lieberman is a member of Nothing But Treble, �鶹��Ƶ’s all-treble a cappella group, and serves as a hiring representative for the biology majors committee.</p> <p>“I also love cooking for friends, especially making pasta from scratch. When I’m not cooking, you can find me reading (or writing!) fantasy fiction, playing Dungeons & Dragons, hiking, or swimming.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Biology major Jules Lieberman to study shark and ray migratory patterns through NOAA Hollings Scholarship.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-25T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/25/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/aaron-goldman" hreflang="und">Aaron Goldman</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Biology major Jules Lieberman is a NOAA Hollings Scholar.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Keith Tarvin Earns Excellence in Teaching Award</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 18 May 2023 15:17:43 +0000</p> <span>Keith Tarvin Earns Excellence in Teaching Award</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-18T11:17:43-04:00" title="Thursday, May 18, 2023 - 11:17">Thu, 05/18/2023 - 11:17</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>�鶹��Ƶ has recognized six faculty members with <a href="/news/six-faculty-receive-2021-2022-excellence-teaching-honors">Excellence in Teaching Awards</a> for the 2021-22 academic year. The annual Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes faculty in the college and conservatory who have demonstrated sustained and distinctive excellence in their teaching at the college and conservatory.</p> <p>Professor Emeritus of Biology <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology/faculty-list">Keith Tarvin</a> came to �鶹��Ƶ in 2000 as a visiting assistant professor. He was hired as a tenure track faculty member in July 2001 and became a full professor in 2014. At �鶹��Ƶ, he taught 11 lecture and discussion courses and four different lab courses in the fields of evolution, behavioral ecology, ornithology, and organismal biology.</p> <p>Throughout his career, Tarvin mentored 89 individual undergraduate research students (including 11 honors students) spanning 230 student-semesters, student-summers, or mentored student-winter term projects since fall 2000. These projects included field and laboratory studies of goldfinches, mockingbirds, tree swallows, snakes, squirrels, fish, salamanders, dolphins, and ants, as well as theoretical projects and preparation of bird specimens.</p> <p>“Throughout his career, Professor Keith Tarvin has instilled in his students a profound scientific sense of wonder through brilliant lecturing and mentoring of undergraduate researchers in biology,” says David Kamitsuka, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The number of undergraduate student co-authors on Keith’s important peer reviewed publications would fill a classroom in our Science Center.”</p> <p>Tarvin was a mentor for junior faculty and served on a host of elected and volunteer committees related to faculty governance, undergraduate research, and curriculum.</p> <p>“Teaching at �鶹��Ƶ demands constant re-evaluation and reinvention, which makes it both scarily challenging and wonderfully stimulating,” says Tarvin. “To my great benefit, many colleagues have graciously shared pedagogical ideas, approaches, and strategies with me over the years. Being recognized at an institution bursting with so many amazing teachers is truly an honor.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">A scholar in the fields of evolution, behavioral ecology, ornithology, and organismal biology, Tarvin was honored for his approach to teaching and mentoring undergraduate researchers. </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-18T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/18/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2414">Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2576">Excellence in Teaching Award</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3501">Teaching & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Building Encouragement for Careers in Science and Technology</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:38:06 +0000</p> <span>Building Encouragement for Careers in Science and Technology</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-11-11T12:38:06-05:00" title="Friday, November 11, 2022 - 12:38">Fri, 11/11/2022 - 12:38</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Abby Tejera Rocha wants young people around the world to feel empowered to pursue careers in STEM fields. One way to do that is to increase the visibility of contemporary scientists and leaders in technology—including women such as herself.</p> <p>A second-year <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy">physics</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science">computer science</a> double major, Tejera is a <a href="https://womenawards.globant.com/2022/RisingStar/AbbyTejera">finalist</a> voted to be a “Rising Star” in the <a href="https://womenawards.globant.com/">Women that Build</a> awards program, sponsored by the international tech company <a href="https://www.globant.com/">Globant</a>. The award recognizes and promotes talented women leaders in technology. The Rising Star category distinguishes young women who are starting STEM careers and generating a positive impact on society.</p> <p>A native of Maldonado, Uruguay, Tejera graduated as a GeneXus Analyst from Plan Ceibal, a free training program sponsored by the Uruguayan government. She performed so well that she was hired to tutor an Introduction to Programming class for more than 400 students between the ages of 18 and 30. Then came an offer to work for Globant, where she trained as an Android and app developer, and learned other programming languages.</p> <p>Tejera was 16 when she founded an outreach project called Physic-ally Possible. Her goal was to disseminate knowledge of science and technology in accessible and entertaining ways. She interviewed scientists from all over the world, including the 2017 Nobel<br> Prize winners in physics, who are credited with having detected gravitational waves.</p> <p>She was invited by Uruguay’s Ministry of Education and Culture and other organizations to participate in a series of videoconference interviews highlighting the possibilities for study and work in science and technology, with the aim of encouraging young people—particularly girls—to venture into those fields.</p> <p>Tejera was admitted to �鶹��Ƶ as an <a href="/admissions-and-aid/arts-and-sciences/early-decision">Early Decision</a> applicant, making her dream of studying at �鶹��Ƶ College come true. Her commitment to service and mentoring continues at �鶹��Ƶ, where she is a <a href="/bcsl/programs/bonner-scholars">Bonner Scholar</a>, an America Counts leader, a <a href="/undergraduate-research/programs/strong">STRONG</a> scholar, and a student researcher in the lab of Associate Professor <a href="/jillian-scudder">Jillian Scudder</a>, as well as a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/pal#:~:text=Peer%20Advising%20Leaders%20(PALs)%20are,Year%20Seminar%20program%20(FYSP).">Peer Advising Leader</a>, a member of the <a href="https://www.oberlininclusiveexcellence.org/student-leadership-committee">Student Leadership Committee</a>, and a peer tutor.</p> <p>In the following Q&A, she discusses the importance of awakening vocations, motivating and supporting other young students, and giving visibility to contemporary role models in STEM.</p> <p><strong>How did you hear about the Women that Build awards program? What would this recognition mean to you?</strong></p> <p>I found out about the program when I received an email saying that I had been nominated in the “Rising Star” category of the awards. It was a great surprise, and I’ve been interested in the great work Globant does to recognize and highlight many women from STEM and information and computing technology.</p> <p>Having been nominated—and later finding out that I am a finalist, thanks to a people's vote—is a great joy, and I am very grateful to all the people who support me unconditionally. It is very gratifying and at the same time a challenge to continue learning and improving day by day. I am also very grateful to the entire educational community of �鶹��Ƶ College.</p> <p><strong>You started volunteering at a young age, and in your first two years at �鶹��Ƶ, you’ve chosen experiences and taken positions that show your commitment to leadership and mentorship. What motivates you to help fellow students? </strong></p> <p>In my country, a program called Plan Ceibal was being implemented to bridge the existing digital gap in elementary schools. My parents were volunteers, and I accompanied them to distribute free computers with Linux and taught students how to use them. I will never forget those first smiles of the children—my peers—when seeing a computer for the first time. </p> <p>I have participated in science camps with people from several countries, and I have created an app to make it easier for young people to find opportunities for science education. I also volunteered with an organization called Ceautismo, which works with children and young people with autism and raises awareness.</p> <p>When I arrived at �鶹��Ƶ, I found an incredible educational community that highly values the work of all students who are committed to society in one way or another. I have had the immense joy of being selected to participate in the Bonner Scholar program, which not only allows me to volunteer in various organizations, but trains us to do it in the best way. I would also like to highlight the great work that the Peer Advising Leaders Program (PAL) does to support all students during our first year at �鶹��Ƶ, and I am really grateful for the opportunity of being a PAL and a member of that wonderful team that guides us.</p> <p><strong>What do you think are the most significant barriers to STEM education for young students, and what can be done to improve it?</strong></p> <p>If we ask young people about their favorite athlete, surely they have a role model or someone who inspires them. On the other hand, ask them to name a scientist who they know or inspires them, it is most likely that they name scientists like Albert Einstein or Marie Curie. In general, most young people can’t name or identify with contemporary women scientists, even though there are many and they are doing great things. This is why making visible the work of contemporary scientists helps to inspire, motivate, and awaken vocations in students who believe it is unattainable.</p> <p>There is still a lot of work to be done to close the race and gender gaps that exist in some sectors. Just looking at the percentages of women who occupy management roles in research teams demonstrates that it is necessary to begin raising awareness and educating at a young age. </p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, I found an academic community that offers students lots of amazing opportunities to prepare ourselves for professional experiences and for thriving at STEM. For example, the STRONG Scholars program, the <a href="/undergraduate-research">Office of Undergraduate Research</a>, the Student Leadership Committee, and different resources and groups that contribute to the STEM education and the inclusion and equity in these areas.</p> <p><strong>What excites you about your studies in physics and computer science?</strong></p> <p>Physics, although we do not always realize it, is immersed in every activity that we carry out daily. The discipline contributes to the conservation and preservation of resources, through the approach of the scientific study of matter, energy, time, space, and the interactions of its components. The analysis of these interactions makes it possible to explain the properties and behavior of matter, and to gain an in-depth understanding of nature.</p> <p>Personally, I’m really interested in astrophysics, an area that studies the bodies found in space, their movements, properties, and phenomena, but I am also interested in quantum mechanics and atomic physics.</p> <p>I also love doing research in these areas and am really grateful to all my professors, who with vocation and dedication, provide students with an excellent academic experience. Currently, I am a student researcher with my mentor, Professor Jillian Scudder in the Physics and Astronomy Department of �鶹��Ƶ, giving me the opportunity to be a researcher for her laboratory, and I’m really grateful for this opportunity. This is a great motivation and daily learning experience that lets me prepare myself in the best way possible.</p> <p>I’m also excited about the future of computer science and how this profession can generate a positive impact on society. It’s important to educate people to be creative agents of the digital world and not just consumers. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Abby Tejera Rocha has promoted women in STEM since she was a girl. Now she’s earning acclaim from an international tech firm.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-11-11T12:00:00Z">Fri, 11/11/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25411">Physics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25321">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jillian-scudder" hreflang="und">Jillian Scudder</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy" hreflang="und">Physics and Astronomy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Abby Tejera Rocha is a second-year physics and computer science major. She is a finalist in an awards program sponsored by Globant, an international tech firm.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>No Ordinary Matter: Professor of Physics Jason Stalnaker is Part of Global Effort Testing for Dark Matter</h1> <p>anagy — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 19:11:41 +0000</p> <span>No Ordinary Matter: Professor of Physics Jason Stalnaker is Part of Global Effort Testing for Dark Matter</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-09-06T15:11:41-04:00" title="Tuesday, September 6, 2022 - 15:11">Tue, 09/06/2022 - 15:11</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Professor of Physics <a href="/jason-stalnaker">Jason Stalnaker</a> is part of a worldwide network of scientists searching for evidence of dark matter fields using magnetometers based on alkali atoms. </p> <p>Stalnaker’s lab is one of only three undergraduate-only institutions collaborating in the Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic Physics Searches, or <a href="https://budker.uni-mainz.de/gnome/">GNOME</a>. The researchers are coordinating experiments with the goal of detecting and collecting data on dark matter—a hypothetical mass that doesn’t emit light but makes up the majority of the universe.</p> <p>Physicists have long known that dark matter exists because of the effect it has on astronomical observations. For instance, it can explain the way stars in a galaxy spin around the center. Dark matter is named so because it is composed of particles that do not absorb, reflect, or emit light. </p> <p>“We have a pretty good understanding of ordinary matter, but if we look out in the universe and we look at the way stars move in galaxies, we see that apparently 80 percent of a matter out there is not made up of the matter that we know of and are familiar with,” says Stalnaker. “It's something that is not basic atoms made up from quarks and electrons. It doesn't interact with or emit light, and we don't see light scattering off of it. We don’t know exactly what it is at this point.”</p> <h4>Looking for signals </h4> <p>Scientists working on the project believe that dark matter fields should produce a signal pattern that can be detected by magnetometers at multiple stations of the GNOME network distributed around the world, including Germany, Serbia, Poland, Israel, South Korea, China, Australia, and several labs in the United States. </p> <p>“The question is, how do you detect dark matter? One possibility is that the interaction between dark matter and ordinary matter might act like a magnetic field,” explains Stalnaker, whose research is funded by a <a href="https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2110370&HistoricalAwards=false">three-year grant from the National Science Foundation</a>. One candidate for dark matter is that it can take the form of a large-scale cosmological structure known as a domain wall. </p> <p>Stalnaker has expertise in building atomic magnetometers—instruments that can measure very small magnetic fields. By spreading the magnetometers across the world, researchers can stream data at the same time and look for correlations between locations. If the Earth passes through some very large structure, the hope is that it will be detected by the GNOME network and produce a signal pattern—a sign of a global dark matter interaction. </p> <p>An article published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-021-01393-y"><em>Nature Physics</em></a> in late 2021 includes three �鶹��Ƶ undergraduates as coauthors: Sun Yool Park '19, Perrin Segura '20, and Dhruv Tandon '22. All three participated in the honors program in physics and did their research on some aspect of the GNOME project. Stalnaker says the article was an important milestone for the collaboration, as it reports the first limits the GNOME network has placed on a potential dark-matter candidate. </p> <h4>Mentoring future physicists </h4> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Stalnaker and his student collaborators are leading a different analysis designed to look for dark matter in the form of axion stars. These axion stars would be large-scale clusters of dark matter particles. Segura and Tandon both worked on this effort for their honors theses. </p> <p>“This is a great project for students because they have been able to take control of the analysis, and they get to do really cool things,” Stalnaker says, noting that his former students graduated with highest honors and are now working toward graduate programs in physics. Stalnaker’s students also have opportunities to present their data at conferences and GNOME collaboration meetings. </p> <p>Park, a PhD student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, was the lead student in the construction of the first generation of the magnetometer. “She was the driving force behind getting it up and running. It’s really quite impressive,” says Stalnaker.</p> <p>Segura, a PhD student at Harvard, did her honors thesis on developing an algorithm to look for a dark matter candidate. In 2019, she accompanied Stalnaker to a GNOME collaboration meeting in Germany, where she presented on her data analysis routine. </p> <p>Ehsan Nikfar is a rising sophomore who is working on the axionstar analysis, and Eduardo Castro Muñoz, a rising senior, is working on a project related to GNOME, the <a href="https://vimeo.com/737550063/95527f75e5">Search for Non-Interacting Photon Experiment</a> (SNIPE).</p> <p>Nikfar, an international student from Herat, Afghanistan, joined Stalnaker’s lab as a scholar in �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/undergraduate-research/programs/strong">STRONG program</a> (Science and Technology Research Opportunities for a New Generation), which provides early research opportunities with faculty mentors. Nikfar says that collaborating with his faculty mentor has given him experience in solving real-world problems. </p> <p>“At first, it was very challenging for me to do research because I lacked a plethora of skills,” says Nikfar, a computer science and physics double major. “Professor Stalnaker was very supportive in my first year and patiently taught me the necessary skills.”</p> <p>Castro Muñoz, a physics and Hispanic studies major from Copiapó, Chile, says his work on the dark matter experiments and data analysis has made him a better computer programmer. </p> <p>“I’ve fallen in love with physics. After graduating from �鶹��Ƶ, I want to join a PhD program and keep learning about physics,” Castro Muñoz says.</p> <p>Scientific research isn’t a solitary pursuit, and the investment in training young scientists is mutually beneficial for faculty and students. </p> <p>Stalnaker says the nature of dark matter is one of the most important questions in fundamental physics, and “it has been exciting to work on figuring it out with �鶹��Ƶ undergraduate students.” </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">An effort to understand dark matter is underway in an �鶹��Ƶ physics lab.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-09-07T12:00:00Z">Wed, 09/07/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25411">Physics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jason-stalnaker" hreflang="und">Jason Stalnaker</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy" hreflang="und">Physics and Astronomy</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">From left, Sun Yool Park '19, Perrin Segura '20, Eleda Fernald '22, and Dhruv Tandon '22 work on the magnetometer for the GNOME research collaboration.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jennifer Manna</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id class="o-flex--video-embed"> <h2>SNIPEs and Where to Find Them</h2> <div class="video-embed-field-provider-vimeo video-embed-field-responsive-video"> </div> <p>Rising fourth-year physics major Eduardo Castro Munoz and his mentor, �鶹��Ƶ professor Jason Stalnaker, conducted summer research intended to shed light on a little-known facet of our universe. Along with fellow physics student Ehsan Nikfar, they took to the woods to capture information about dark photons, which could provide evidence supporting the existence of dark matter. All of which helps explain the study’s playful acronym: the Search for Non-Interacting Photons Experiment, or SNIPE.</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Elizabeth Rigby Selected for Prestigious CBYX Fellowship in Germany</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:18:23 +0000</p> <span>Elizabeth Rigby Selected for Prestigious CBYX Fellowship in Germany</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-07-27T11:18:23-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 27, 2022 - 11:18">Wed, 07/27/2022 - 11:18</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Elizabeth Rigby, a spring graduate of �鶹��Ƶ College, is one of 75 Americans selected to live and study in Germany for a year as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program. The 2022-2023 cohort departs in July and returns in June 2023. </p> <p><a href="https://culturalvistas.org/programs/abroad/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-young-professionals/">CBYX</a> is a joint program of the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag (Parliament). Cultural Vistas administers the CBYX Young Professionals program through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participants come from a wide variety of career fields and from all over the United States. </p> <p>Rigby, who majored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry">chemistry</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/german">German</a>, will attend a two-month intensive language course, study at a German university, and complete a chemistry internship. Participants are usually placed with host families throughout Germany, where they act as citizen ambassadors of the United States.</p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Rigby most recently worked in the lab of Assistant Professor Rachel Saylor, left. Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</figcaption> </figure> <p>While German language ability is not required for the fellowship, Rigby studied German all four years at �鶹��Ƶ. </p> <p>“I met some of my best friends and housemates in these courses, and I particularly enjoyed working with Visiting Assistant Professor Peter Woods,” says Rigby, who is a resident of Clancy, Montana. </p> <p>From October 2022 to January 2023, Rigby will live in Mainz, Germany, and study at the Johannes Gutenberg University. For the proceeding internship, she hopes to work in Yafang Cheng’s lab at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, where the research will focus on studying climate change, aerosols, and air quality. </p> <p>Rigby has collaborated on chemistry research with several �鶹��Ƶ faculty members, including Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry <a href="/manish-mehta">Manish Mehta</a>, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry <a href="/shuming-chen">Shuming Chen</a>, and Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry <a href="/rachel-saylor">Rachel Saylor</a>.</p> <p>After the fellowship year, Rigby intends to pursue a graduate program in chemistry. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-07-27T12:00:00Z">Wed, 07/27/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25371">German</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/german" hreflang="und">German Language and Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Elizabeth Rigby is a spring 2022 graduate in chemistry in German.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Marwan Ghanem '22 Receives Nexial Prize</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 16:49:18 +0000</p> <span>Marwan Ghanem '22 Receives Nexial Prize</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-07-18T12:49:18-04:00" title="Monday, July 18, 2022 - 12:49">Mon, 07/18/2022 - 12:49</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Marwan Ghanem came to �鶹��Ƶ College from a STEM-centered high school in Egypt, where he worked in teams to design and test solutions for Egypt’s challenges. While he considers himself fortunate to have an early foundation in interdisciplinary research, it was through �鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts courses in anthropology, history, and sociology that Ghanem began to rethink approaches to problem solving. </p> <p>A resident of El Mahalla El Kobra, Egypt, Ghanem proudly holds the distinction of being the first African, Arab, and international Muslim student to receive �鶹��Ƶ’s 2022 Nexial Prize, a $50,000 award made annually to a member of the graduating class whose science studies are complemented by a profound interest in the study of culture. With majors in biology and neuroscience and a minor in Middle Eastern and North African studies, Ghanem will use the Nexial Prize to study how cultural upbringing might influence the development of neuropsychiatric disorders among Arab youth.</p> <p>“I feel honored that �鶹��Ƶ believes in my potential as a next-generation leader and scientist,” Ghanem says. “The Nexial Prize will advance my goal of understanding neuropsychiatric disorders.”</p> <p>The Nexial Prize was launched in 2017 with support from an alumnus who wanted to recognize the contribution that �鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts education made to his successful career as a scientist and manager, as well as his growth intellectually and culturally. </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Marwan Ghanem and his faculty mentors, Biggs Professor of Neuroscience Gunnar Kwakye, left, and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Christopher Howard. Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</figcaption> </figure> <p>During his academic and experiential learning journey at �鶹��Ƶ, Ghanem received the <a href="/undergraduate-research/programs/ocrf">�鶹��Ƶ College Research Fellowship</a> award through the <a href="/undergraduate-research">Office of Undergraduate Research</a> and studied the neural mechanisms behind drug addiction and learning with Assistant Professor of Neuroscience <a href="/christopher-howard">Christopher Howard</a>, where he was a contributing author on three papers.</p> <p>Under the mentorship of Biggs Professor of Neuroscience <a href="/gunnar-kwakye">Gunnar Kwakye</a>, he developed his understanding of genetic and environmental influences in neurodegeneration. Specifically, Ghanem and Kwakye are co-authors on a paper in preparation that examines how the huntingtin gene and heavy metals cooperatively alter cellular and biochemical processes to promote Huntington’s disease. He also studied Middle Eastern cinema history in a private reading with Professor of History <a href="/zeinab-abul-magd">Zeinab Abul-Magd</a>.</p> <p>“I was attracted to �鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts education, which widened my horizons to non-STEM fields like the study of cultures in anthropology, history, and sociology, in addition to the exceptional training in neuroscience research,” Ghanem says. </p> <p>Through �鶹��Ƶ’s Winter Term and summer research grants, he conducted research at Zewail City of Science and Technology in Egypt to develop a portable water filtration system for arid areas in Africa. </p> <p>“�鶹��Ƶ reshaped the way I approach the world and its challenges. I came to discover the key to solving problems is vulnerability—being vulnerable to admit lacking the knowledge and to find humility is what a scientist needs to solve big problems.”</p> <p>Kwakye, whose research team studies the impact of environmental pollutants on the development and progression of various neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and multiple system atrophy diseases, says he admires Ghanem’s positive attitude, work ethic, and growth mindset.</p> <p>“I have been impressed with his humility and cross-disciplinary knowledge. He perseveres through challenges, loves to learn, and supports the younger generation of students,” Kwakye says. “His dedication to research and ability to work independently and collaboratively are outstanding. I am optimistic that these qualities will propel him to success in graduate school and beyond, and I am delighted that he has received this well-deserved recognition.”</p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Ghanem was a <a href="/bcsl/programs/bonner-scholars">Bonner Scholar</a>, and he was involved in the <a href="http://msa@oberlin.edu">Muslim Students Association</a>, the <a href="http://asa@oberlin.edu">African Students Association</a>, and the Middle Eastern and North African Students Association. He also participated in the Interfaith Student Council and Barefoot Dialogue.</p> <p>Ghanem plans to enroll in the neuroscience PhD program at the Scripps Research Institute. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The award is given annually to a student who demonstrates excellence in the pursuit of interdisciplinary research.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-07-18T12:00:00Z">Mon, 07/18/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2396">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25446">Middle East and North Africa Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christopher-howard" hreflang="und">Christopher Howard</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" hreflang="und">Gunnar Kwakye</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/zeinab-abul-magd" hreflang="und">Zeinab Abul-Magd</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Marwan Ghanem '22, a graduate in biology and neuroscience, is the recipient of the 2022 �鶹��Ƶ College Nexial Prize.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Charles Boissavy ’22 Named a 2022 Young Botanist Award Winner</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 14:10:05 +0000</p> <span>Charles Boissavy ’22 Named a 2022 Young Botanist Award Winner</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-09T10:10:05-04:00" title="Thursday, June 9, 2022 - 10:10">Thu, 06/09/2022 - 10:10</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Charles Boissavy ’22, a <a href="http:///arts-and-sciences/departments/biology">biology</a> major and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy">physics</a> minor, is one of 25 outstanding graduates in the country to receive special recognition from the Botanical Society of America with a 2022 <a href="https://botany.org/home/awards/awards-for-students/bsayoungbotanistawards.html">Young Botanist Award</a>. </p> <p>Nominees are selected based on their research accomplishments and recommendation from a faculty advisor. The award comes with a certificate of special achievement, complimentary student membership in the Botanical Society of America, and recognition in the Plant Science Bulletin.</p> <p>This summer, Boissavy will present his research on Phacelia, also known as scorpion weed, in collaboration with Longman Professor of Biology <a href="/mike-moore">Mike Moore</a>.</p> <p>“I plan to use this opportunity to learn more about the kind of research I can do while making connections with the botanical sciences community,” says Boissavy, a resident of Los Angeles. </p> <p>Boissavy’s research involves understanding the evolution of plants that grow on unusual soils—in this case, gypsum—in the scorpionweeds, which is a large group of flowering plants in western North America. He has discovered that all of the species that grow only on gypsum are part of a single diverse group within the genus, and may have discovered a yet undescribed species.</p> <p>In addition to working in Moore’s plant systematics lab, Boissavy helped analyze element concentrations in soil samples from Cuba with Associate Professor of Geosciences <a href="http://z/amanda-schmidt">Amanda Schmidt</a>. As part of his post-graduate plans, Boissavy intends to continue doing research in plant evolution.</p> <p>“To me, the Young Botanist Award reflects the hard work I’ve put into my research and gives me confidence that I have a future in the botanical sciences,” Boisaavy says. “Getting this award also fuels me with inspiration and motivation to keep following my passion of working in botany.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nominees are selected based on research accomplishments and recommendation by faculty..</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-06-14T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/14/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25411">Physics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/mike-moore" hreflang="und">Michael (Mike) Moore</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy" hreflang="und">Physics and Astronomy</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Charles Boissavy ’22 conducted research with Professor of Biology Mike Moore.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Boissavy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Nick Beltramini Receives NOAA Hollings Scholarship</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 13 May 2022 20:25:10 +0000</p> <span>Nick Beltramini Receives NOAA Hollings Scholarship</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-13T16:25:10-04:00" title="Friday, May 13, 2022 - 16:25">Fri, 05/13/2022 - 16:25</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Double degree student Nick Beltramini hopes to contribute to the management, regulation, and public appreciation of marine fisheries as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings Scholar. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship">Hollings Scholarship Program</a> awards undergraduates with academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides scholars with hands-on, practical experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards also include travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation and the annual Science & Education Symposium, scientific conferences where students present their research, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship.</p> <p>Beltramini is in his third year as a double degree student majoring in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies">environmental studies</a> and <a href="/jazz-performance#:~:text=At%20�鶹��Ƶ%2C%20Jazz%20Performance%20students,%2C%20percussion%2C%20and%20double%20bass.">jazz performance</a>. This summer, he has an internship with Jeff Kneebone of the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, where he will be tagging mako sharks and yellowfin tuna offshore to monitor the potential adverse effects of catch and release.</p> <p>“I grew up obsessed with fishing, and I still am,” says Beltramini, who is from Wrentham, Massachusetts. “I was heavily involved in the local fisheries and the local fishing community, and it’s quite obvious that overfishing pressures and poor management have negatively impacted our nation's fisheries, including the local fisheries I grew up with. I want to make a difference and feel that I can make a difference in the end. NOAA is arguably the largest national player in terms of fisheries management, and that’s where I want to be.”</p> <p>Beltramini says his combination of studies in the <a href="/admissions-and-aid/double-degree-program">double degree program</a> gives him a distinct advantage when tackling challenges. </p> <p>“I firmly believe that music makes me a better scientist and science makes me a better musician,” he says. Most importantly, leading the band Slightly Tooned has been the most influential experience of my life to date. Learning how to communicate with people, be a leader, and acquire all the necessary skills it takes to run a business have been incredibly important to my ability to achieve as a scientist.”</p> <p>Off campus, Beltramini has performed research at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, where he headed a project on methylmercury bioaccumulation of trout in kettle ponds. He has also aided and will continue to be involved in NOAA-funded research monitoring sandbar shark mortality for the New England Aquarium.</p> <p>When he’s not practicing or studying, Beltramini plays club soccer at �鶹��Ƶ, and there’s a good chance he can be found on the rivers casting for steelhead. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">A double degree student, Beltramini is eyeing a career in fisheries management.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-05-16T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/16/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Nick Beltramini is a 2022 Hollings Scholar.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Shira Presberg '24 Receives NOAA Hollings Scholarship</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 04 May 2022 14:44:45 +0000</p> <span>Shira Presberg '24 Receives NOAA Hollings Scholarship</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-04T10:44:45-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - 10:44">Wed, 05/04/2022 - 10:44</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Second-year chemistry major Shira Presberg is a 2022 recipient of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship">Hollings Scholarship Program</a> awards undergraduates with academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides scholars with hands-on, practical experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards also include travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation and the annual Science & Education Symposium, scientific conferences where students present their research, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship.</p> <p>Presberg is currently a research assistant in Professor of Chemistry <a href="/matt-elrod">Matthew Elrod</a>’s atmospheric chemistry lab, where they are working on projects to understand secondary organic aerosols. </p> <p>“Secondary organic aerosols are very prevalent in the atmosphere, yet we know very little about what they are made up of and what reactions happen in them,” Presberg explains. “These aerosols play a role in both climate change and pollution, so it is important to learn as much as possible about what they could contain.”</p> <p>This summer, Presberg will continue to work in Elrod’s lab. “I love the work that I am doing in the Elrod lab because it combines my interest in chemistry with my desire to contribute to our knowledge about the environment and how humans have changed it. I applied to the Hollings Scholarship because it would give me an opportunity to work with career researchers at a NOAA facility and see what it would look like to pursue that path myself. I am very excited both for the summer internship opportunity and to meet new mentors in the field of environmental chemistry.”</p> <p>A resident of Rochester, New York, Presberg participates in club tennis and takes secondary lessons in piano through the conservatory. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Presberg will use the award to continue atmospheric chemistry research with Professor Matt Elrod.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-05-04T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/matt-elrod" hreflang="und">Matthew (Matt) Elrod</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Professor Matt Elrod and Shira Presberg work in Elrod's atmospheric chemistry lab.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jonathan Clark '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>