cos-community

From Poetry to Polymers: How the Pursuit of a Creative Path Led to Electrochromic Materials

admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 14:54:59 +0000

From Poetry to Polymers: How the Pursuit of a Creative Path Led to Electrochromic Materials admin Fri, 06/06/2025 - 10:54

Eric Shen, a research engineer in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, loves art and science in equal measure — and believes it’s possible for creatives to build STEM careers that foster joy. In the latest installment of the “Unexpected Paths” series, Shen discusses his work with color-changing windows and why he continues to be at Georgia Tech after over a decade.

Read the article here »

Summary sentence

Eric Shen loves art and science in equal measure — and believes it’s possible for creatives to build STEM careers that foster joy.

Summary

Eric Shen loves art and science in equal measure — and believes it’s possible for creatives to build STEM careers that foster joy. Learn about his unexpected path to becoming a research engineer in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Dateline

Wed, 05/28/2025 - 12:00

Keywords

cos-community

College of Sciences

School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Research

Student and Faculty

Mercury ID

682584

Source updated

Fri, 06/06/2025 - 10:54

The Real Mockingbirds

admin — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:43:41 +0000

The Real Mockingbirds admin Tue, 05/20/2025 - 10:43

Half a century ago, Marvel Comics introduced the superpower-wielding scientist Bobbi Morse — aka Mockingbird — one of several famous superheroes imagined to hold a degree from Georgia Tech.

Today, just over seven decades since women first enrolled at the Institute, 56% of students earning degrees in the College of Sciences are female. As we celebrate Women's History Month and look to the future of our field, meet seven real-life superheroines of life science — and science fiction — from across the Institute.

Tap here to read this story in the Georgia Tech newsroom.

Summary sentence

As we celebrate Women's History Month and look to the future of our field, meet seven of Georgia Tech's real-life superheroines of life science — and science fiction.

Summary

Half a century ago, Marvel Comics introduced the superpower-wielding scientist Bobbi Morse — aka Mockingbird — one of several famous superheroes imagined to hold a degree from Georgia Tech. Today, 56% of students earning degrees in the College of Sciences are female. As we celebrate Women's History Month and look to the future of our field, meet seven real-life superheroines of life science — and science fiction — from across the Institute.

Dateline

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 12:00

Associated importer

Keywords

cos-community

cos-microbial

cos-climate

cos-neuro

Mercury ID

666883

Source updated

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 15:41

2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Award Recipients

dgivens8 — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:23:29 +0000

2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Award Recipients dgivens8 Fri, 04/25/2025 - 11:23

This year's Provost's Academic Excellence Award recipients include Alexander Divoux from the College of Sciences, Isabella Baker from the College of Design, Camryn Bryant from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Aubrey Charron from the Scheller College of Business, and Andrew DiBiasio from the College of Computing.

Established in 2021, the Provost’s Academic Excellence Award was created to recognize the remaining finalists of the Love Family Foundation Award. Each recipient is a graduating senior and represents the most outstanding scholastic record from their college. Finalists receive a $2,000 award, generously sponsored by the Love Family Foundation, and recognition at the annual Student Honors Celebration.

Alexander Divoux is a mathematics and computer science student in the College of Sciences. Alexander has conducted research in combinatorics and wishes to continue math research in external probabilistic combinatorics and structural graph theory. He is also fluent in Chinese and actively studying Japanese as a part of the Japan Student Association. Alexander plans to pursue a PhD in mathematics at Princeton University after he graduates. “I am deeply honored to have received this award, and am incredibly grateful to my family, friends, and mentors for their continuous support. Throughout my time at Georgia Tech, I have been shaped by the outstanding guidance generously offered by this amazing community. A special thanks to Dr. Tom Kelly and Dr. Xingxing Yu for nurturing my curiosity and growth in mathematics. Georgia Tech has been a place of constant discovery and inspiration, and I am both excited and proud to carry that spirit forward in all that comes next.”

Isabella Baker is an architecture major in the College of Design and is minoring in Environmental Science. Isabella was awarded “Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher” for her work on photogrammetry in Italian ornamentation. She aspires to contribute to environmentally conscious urban development through interdisciplinary collaboration and research. Isabella notes, “The future of sustainable architectural design is promising, and I am committed to contributing to climate change mitigation through innovative and responsible design solutions.” Isabella will be returning to Georgia Tech to obtain her Master’s in Architecture. “Receiving this award is a deeply meaningful way to conclude my undergraduate experience at Georgia Tech. I’m especially thankful to the School of Architecture for creating space for me to explore the areas of the field I am most passionate about while learning alongside inspiring peers and faculty. I’ve found the collaborative environment at Georgia Tech extremely supportive and exciting, and through my minor, research, and student-led initiatives, I have grown as both a designer and individual. Special thanks to Dr. Danielle Willkens and Julie Kim for their invaluable support and guidance. I’m looking forward to carrying forward everything I have learned at Georgia Tech as I take the next steps in my studies and career.”

Camryn Bryant is currently a literature, media, and communication student in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Camryn was a recipient of the Gold OMED Tower Award which celebrates the academic achievements of Georgia Tech students. She is the founder of an online fashion magazine and has been involved in several organizations on campus including filmmaking, investing clubs, Society of Women in Business, and Girls into Venture Capital. One day, Camryn hopes to build her dream career that blends her love for film, fashion, and finance – combining creativity, style, and strategy. After graduation, Camryn will be working as a Financial Analyst for the Wealth Management Division at Goldman Sachs. “As a student in Ivan Allen College, I have learned a variety of tangible skills — from analyzing films to writing white papers. But ultimately, the most important thing I’ve learned is the value of community. I am blessed to have the support of my family, friends, and educators during this chapter of my life. My communities, both at home and on campus, have shown me that anything is possible with hard work, commitment, and faith. I am extremely honored to represent Ivan Allen College in this way and can’t wait to give back to Georgia Tech as an alumna. Go Yellow Jackets!”

Aubrey Charron is a business administration major in the Scheller College of Business. Aubrey interned at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on the Arthur M. Blank Transition Team as they worked to open the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital. She also was a campus tour guide and won Tour Captain of the Semester in 2024. Aubrey hopes to pursue a career in hospital administration and would like to get her Master of Healthcare Administration in the future. “I am honored to represent the Scheller College of Business and grateful to the Love family for making this award possible. As I found my footing both at Georgia Tech and as a young adult, there have been countless reasons to laugh, celebrate, and even cry. In every moment, I have been able to turn to the Undergraduate Program Office, Professors Bill Todd and Tim Martin, my incredible friends and family, and countless others for support and guidance. Scheller has become my home over the past four years. Thank you, Scheller– I’ll forever be your biggest fan!”

Andrew DiBiasio is a computer science major in the College of Computing. Andrew is a teaching assistant for CS 1332 where he strives to provide mentorship and guidance to students. Andrew is interested in facing real-world problems, one example of this is a tool he made that track room utilization on campus, addressing enrollment issues. Andrew will be returning to Georgia Tech to pursue a Master’s of Science in Computer Science with a specialization in Machine Learning. “I’m deeply honored to receive this award and want to express my gratitude to my family and friends for their support, and the faculty and staff of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing for their guidance throughout this incredible four-year journey. I want to issue a special thank you to Dr. Mary Hudachek-Buswell for her exceptional support, as this recognition wouldn’t have been possible without her. Lastly, I'd like to thank Dr. Offerson, who has served as a role model throughout my time at Tech, for motivating me to always put my best foot forward.”

The Office of Undergraduate Education is proud to celebrate these exceptional students and looks forward to their continued success in their academic and professional pursuits.

Summary sentence

Alexander Divoux, a mathematics and computer science major, is among the recipients of the 2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Awards.

Summary

Alexander Divoux, a mathematics and computer science major, is among the recipients of the 2025 Provost's Academic Excellence Awards.

Dateline

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 12:00

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Sciences

School of Mathematics

academic excellence

cos-community

Categories

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682045

Source updated

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 11:21

CoS Graduate Researchers Earn Travel Grants

dgivens8 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:20:37 +0000

CoS Graduate Researchers Earn Travel Grants dgivens8 Thu, 03/20/2025 - 17:20

Six College of Sciences graduate students were awarded $1,000 in research travel grants after presenting their research at the 16th annual Career, Research, Innovation, and Development Conference (CRIDC) poster competition. The grants will cover expenses related to research trips or travel to other conferences (domestic or international).

Eighty-four graduate students from across the Institute participated in the poster competition, presenting their research to faculty and staff judges.

Congratulations to the poster competition winners from the College of Sciences:

Isabel Berry, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

A second-year Ph.D. student in computational chemistry, Berry works in the Sherrill Group.

“My research focuses on advancing computational quantum mechanical (QM) methods to feasibly model biological systems,” says Berry. “A specialized QM method developed in our group, F-SAPT, has the potential to reveal why certain drug molecules are favored over others, advancing the field of rational drug design. If we can accurately model protein-ligand interactions using quantum mechanics, it could ultimately pave the way for integrating these methods into computer-aided drug discovery workflows.”

Gretchen Johnson, School of Biological Sciences

Johnson is working on a Ph.D. in ocean science, studying how corals respond to environmental stressors as part of the Kubanek Group.

“Corals can't move,” says Johnson. “Instead of hiding when it is hot or bright out, they must respond physiologically. I use a technique called metabolomics to study the cellular physiology of corals and look for metabolic changes over time. Understanding what makes a coral more resistant to stress is useful for protecting and restoring coral reefs."

Shreya Kothari, School of Biological Sciences

Kothari conducts research for the Kubanek Group and is pursuing a Ph.D. in biology. She attempts to discover natural dispersant-like biomolecules helpful for oil spill remediation.

“While some microbes can degrade and clean up oil from the contaminated sites, the process is often slow,” says Kothari. “However, dispersant-like biomolecules can speed up oil degradation by breaking oil into smaller droplets and increasing its availability to oil-degrading microbes. I aim to determine the chemical structure and function of such biomolecules and test their effectiveness in treating real-world environmental spills by applying them in small-scale experiments that mimic oil spill conditions. These biomolecules may offer an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemical dispersants and improve existing bioremediation strategies to mitigate environmental damage caused by oil pollution."

Monica Monge, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

As part of her Ph.D. studies, Monge works in the Garg Lab and focuses on understanding marine bacteria community dynamics.

“I am specifically trying to decipher how disease-causing bacteria (pathogenic) and bacteria that doesn’t harm its host (commensal) communicate with one another via chemical signals and the metabolic changes resulting from those interactions,” says Monge. “My ultimate goal is to identify beneficial traits from commensal bacteria that we can leverage to alleviate coral diseases.”

Sidney Scott-Sharoni, School of Psychology

Scott-Sharoni is earning a Ph.D. in engineering psychology and works in the Sonification Lab.

“My research focuses on human interaction with AI technologies,” says Scott-Sharoni. “Specifically, I examine how different features of AI agents, such as anthropomorphism and social intelligence, impact how people psychologically perceive and behave in collaboration with these agents. This work helps improve the effectiveness of AI systems by aligning them to human social and cognitive expectations, leading to better joint performance and proper trust.”

Maggie Straight, School of Biological Sciences

A third-year Ph.D. student studying ocean science and engineering, Straight conducts research in the Kubanek Group.

“Sometimes I consider myself a microbial spy as I listen in to the chemical conversation between microbes and analyze how each microbe is affected by the interaction,” says Straight. “My current work is focused on the interaction between two types of marine microbes, bacteria and microscopic algae. By understanding how bacteria can be good or bad for algal growth, I hope to shed light on the mechanisms by which bacteria can help algae form algal blooms, including harmful algal blooms. This understanding could help scientists predict the beginning and ending of harmful algal blooms and keep beachgoers and shellfish farms safe from harmful algae.”

Subtitle

CoS Graduate Researchers Earn Travel Grants

Summary sentence

The College of Sciences proudly recognizes the six graduate scholars awarded $1,000 in research travel grants during the Career, Research, Innovation, and Development Conference (CRIDC) poster competition.

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 03/20/2025 - 12:00

laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu

Contact

Laura Segraves Smith, writer

Keywords

cos-community

student honors

graduate student research

College of Sciences

Categories

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Education

Life Sciences and Biology

Research

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Student Honors and Achievements

Student Research

Mercury ID

681260

Source updated

Thu, 03/20/2025 - 17:19

Rising Tide Program Launches for Early Career Scientists

admin — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:47:41 +0000

Rising Tide Program Launches for Early Career Scientists admin Thu, 12/19/2024 - 09:47

Created in partnership with the new Science for Georgia’s Tomorrow initiative, the College of Sciences has launched the Rising Tide Program, which will equip early career scientists with two-year fellowships that are focused on faculty mentoring and skills development to apply for competitive faculty positions.

The inaugural Rising Tide cohort is set to include seven fellows from several institutions — with research interests across nuclear physics, urban climate, resource recovery, machine learning, bioinformatics, and ecology.

Rising Tide is spearheaded by Alex Robel, an associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences who serves as the Program’s inaugural director.

The Program has three primary goals. “We aim to improve our ability to recruit the most promising young scientists and mathematicians to careers at Georgia Tech, to raise the profile of Tech as an institution that develops academic careers in the sciences, and to better align the range of perspectives and lived experiences of faculty with Georgia Tech students,” Robel shares.

Robel adds that the program leverages the strong culture of mentorship in the College.

“Since I have been at Georgia Tech, I have been inspired by the many individual faculty in the College of Sciences who have achieved consistent success in mentoring students and postdocs to gratifying academic careers,” he says. “In designing the Rising Tide Program, my aim was to organize these successful faculty within a program that supports their existing efforts and complements those efforts with professional career development activities.”

The Rising Tide Program is supported by a generous gift from Nathan Meehan (PHYS 1975) and matching funds from the Office of the Provost.

Science for the Southeast

Rising Tide is part of the just-launched Science for Georgia’s Tomorrow Center, which prioritizes research and teaching aligned with Georgia-specific issues — while connecting Georgia communities with that research and teaching. Robel hopes the Program will help provide a pathway to foster this type of local research at the Institute.

“Part of Rising Tide is to bring more faculty to the Institute who can contribute to research and teaching particularly relevant to communities in Georgia,” Robel explains. “We aim to improve the ability of the College to recruit scientists with professional or lived experience in the Southeast — or focused on research with particular relevance to the Southeast.”

Research future

Early career scientists at any institution can be nominated by College of Sciences faculty to participate in Rising Tide. Selected Fellows take part in the two-year program, where they are welcomed into the Georgia Tech community — then mentored virtually by College faculty and supported with ongoing opportunities to develop skills for applying to competitive faculty positions.

Robel emphasizes that, for the College and new Rising Tide Fellows, it’s a win-win.

“I am most excited to see how this first cohort of fellows interact and learn from each other,” Robel says. “I am also looking forward to seeing what new and exciting ideas and perspectives they can bring to the research and teaching mission of the College of Sciences.”

Subtitle

Researchers in the inaugural cohort study nuclear physics, urban climate, resource recovery, machine learning, bioinformatics, and ecology.

Summary sentence

Rising Tide will welcome researchers for two-year fellowships that are focused on faculty mentoring and skills development to apply for competitive faculty positions.

Summary

Created in partnership with the College’s new Science for Georgia’s Tomorrow initiative, Rising Tide will welcome seven researchers for two-year fellowships that are focused on faculty mentoring and skills development to apply for competitive faculty positions.

Dateline

Tue, 12/10/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Written by Selena Langner

Contact: Jess Hunt-Ralston

Keywords

cos-community

cos-research

go-researchnews

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Community

Education

Institute and Campus

Institute Leadership

Research

Student and Faculty

Mercury ID

678799

Source updated

Thu, 12/19/2024 - 09:46

NSF RAPID Grant to Analyze Plume Chemistry

admin — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:26:54 +0000

NSF RAPID Grant to Analyze Plume Chemistry admin Wed, 12/18/2024 - 10:26

On September 29, 2024, a chemical plume of chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds spread across the Atlanta area. The result of a fire at the BioLab pool chemical manufacturing facility in Conyers, Georgia, the plume impacted communities for several weeks, prompting a stay-at-home order and the temporary evacuation of approximately 17,000 people for the surrounding county.

Professor Greg Huey has been awarded an NSF RAPID grant to unravel the chemical composition of the emission plumes. The grant, "Identification and Measurement of Emissions from the Biolab Incident Impacting the Atlanta Urban Area", will support the analysis of air chemistry data collected during a three-week span that the plume impacted the Atlanta area.

During the incident, Huey’s lab collected real-time air chemistry data in two locations — at Georgia Tech in Midtown Atlanta, and near the BioLab facility, in Conyers, GA.

Huey, a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has spent the last fifteen years measuring halogens — including chlorine and bromine — in remote locations like Barrow, Alaska. “Normally, there are no halogens detectable in the Atlanta area,” he says. “But spending the last 15 years making observations in other locations means that we were well-equipped to measure the halogens from the BioLab plume, and untangle some of the plume’s chemistry.”

“Our goal is to understand and report what was in the plume, then establish a website and make the data publicly available,” Huey adds. “We aim to share valuable public knowledge about this incident.”

A rapid response

When the plume first became visible, Huey recognized the ability to collect data in real-time.

“We decided to turn our high resolution mass spectrometer on and start sampling air,” he says. This piece of scientific equipment is capable of capturing and identifying chemical signatures, and is sensitive to measuring levels of specific chemicals, such as chlorine and bromine. “We have a port measure on the roof of our building at Georgia Tech, which allowed us to start observing the first day,” he adds.

However, this kind of data collection also depends on wind direction blowing chemicals to different regions, Huey explains.

Leveraging the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences’ mobile air quality trailer, the team deployed a second mass spectrometer near the BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia. “The City was very supportive,” Huey shares. “We set up the mobile lab in the parking lot of Conyers City Hall with the goal of seeing what we could measure — and if we were seeing high levels of chlorine.”

With both sites established, Huey says the team was able to simultaneously measure in Conyers and in Midtown Atlanta — and began to see that the plume was more chemically complex than initially thought.

A proactive approach

Collected data in tow, the NSF RAPID grant will support Huey and a graduate student in the analysis of those site readings, including calibration and publication of chemical data — to be archived to a publicly accessible site; analysis of mass spectra associated with the plumes and identification of chemical compounds; calibration of the species identified, prioritized based on toxicity; and publication of a report on all species detected in the plumes.

Data from the project will help inform communities potentially impacted by the plume — while helping predict the impacts of similar chemical incidents, enabling a better understanding of how to address accidental chemical emissions in the future.
“We want to have a better idea of what this type of incident can produce for future incidents, and we want to have a better idea of what people may have been exposed to,” Huey says. “While we can’t measure and identify everything, this project will help us become better informed for the future.”

Funding:

NSF AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences #2509330

Summary sentence

Led by School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Greg Huey, the NSF RAPID grant is for analyzing air chemistry data collected during a three-week span when a chemical plume impacted the Atlanta area.

Summary

Dateline

Wed, 12/11/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Written by Selena Langner

Contact: Jess Hunt-Ralston

Associated importer

Keywords

cos-community

cos-climate

go-researchnews

News room topics

Earth and Environment

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Environment

Research

Student and Faculty

Mercury ID

678833

Source updated

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 10:26

College of Sciences Launches New Center: Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow

admin — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:11:37 +0000

College of Sciences Launches New Center: Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow admin Thu, 12/05/2024 - 09:11

The College of Sciences is proud to launch Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow, a new center focused on research that aims to improve life across the state.

“From resilient communities and agriculture, to health and sustainable energy resources, Georgia's Tomorrow will focus on improving the lives of Georgians and their communities,” Dean Susan Lozier says.

An expansion of the College’s strategic plan, the initiative will serve as a statewide fulcrum, fostering research in direct service to Georgia cities, counties, and communities.

The center specifically addresses critical health and climate challenges throughout Georgia, and aims to pave the way for increased public-private partnerships. The initiative will also expand access — broadening participation opportunities for Georgia students and communities to engage with research.

The search for an inaugural faculty director has commenced, and will be followed by a dedicated cluster hire in 2025, funded by the Office of the Provost. Dean Lozier, who also serves as a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has reserved funds from the College of Sciences Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean’s Chair to initiate the center.

People and planet

Selected from a pool of 17 faculty proposals, two dedicated faculty cluster hires will focus on improving the health of Georgians and Georgia’s communities — and the resilience of humans and ecosystems to current and anticipated climate change in the state. Appointments will be sought across the College’s six schools.

“These proposals address themes that are critically important right now for Georgia Tech research growth: sustainability and climate, along with health and well-being,” says Julia Kubanek, Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research at Georgia Tech and a professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “This is an opportunity for Georgia to be a model for the nation on how to solve health disparities.”

“These new cluster hires will strengthen the College’s existing research programs,” Lozier adds. “They will also facilitate large collaborations across campus, and educate the next generation of scientists who will tackle these problems in Georgia and beyond.”

Rising Tide Program

An adjacent effort, the new College of Sciences Rising Tide Program, is selecting promising early-career scientists for a two-year virtual mentorship initiative.

The Rising Tide Program will work in tandem with the Georgia's Tomorrow cluster hire, complementing the strong culture of mentorship in the College, while providing a pathway to support local research at the Institute.

“Rising Tide aims to help the College recruit scientists with professional or lived experiences in the Southeast — or focused on research with particular relevance to the Southeast,” explains Rising Tide Director Alex Robel, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “One of our key goals is to bring more faculty to Georgia Tech who can contribute to research and teaching that’s particularly relevant to communities in Georgia.”

“The reach of Georgia Tech is global,” Lozier adds. “Our fingerprints are on discoveries and innovations that benefit people and their communities around the world. As researchers at a leading public university in the state of Georgia, we are also cognizant of the responsibility and opportunity to focus our efforts more intently here at home.”

Georgia's Tomorrow: Director search

The College has launched an internal leadership search for the Georgia’s Tomorrow center, with an expected appointment to be announced in February 2025. The inaugural director will have the opportunity to shape the direction of this new initiative by:

Formulating a strategic plan for the center in partnership with interested parties across campus
Promoting synergies between faculty within the college, and elsewhere at Georgia Tech, whose work relates to the health of Georgia’s people, its ecosystems, and communities
Fostering collaborations with offices at Georgia Tech that focus on community, government, and industry engagement so as to develop meaningful external partnerships that will advance the work of this center

All faculty who hold a majority appointment within the College of Sciences are eligible and encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply via InfoReady.

Funding

Initial support for Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow is generously provided by the College of Sciences Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean's Chair fund. Cluster hire funding has been awarded by Provost Steven W. McLaughlin.

Georgia's Tomorrow will also seek funding from state, national and international organizations, private foundations, and government agencies to expand impact. Philanthropic support will also be sought in the form of professorships, programmatic support for the center, and seed funding.

2025 update:
Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow initially launched under the working name Science for Georgia's Tomorrow (Sci4GT).
Professor Joel Kostka will serve as the center's inaugural faculty director.

Summary sentence

The College of Sciences has launched Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow, a new center focused on improving the lives of Georgians and their communities.

Summary

The College of Sciences has launched Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow, a new center focused on improving the lives of Georgians and their communities. The center will leverage research and teaching to address critical health and climate challenges across the state.

Dateline

Wed, 12/04/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Written by: Selena Langner

Media contact: Jess Hunt-Ralston

Associated importer

Keywords

cos-community

go-researchnews

go-bio

go-bbiss

cos-research

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Community

Institute and Campus

Institute Leadership

Research

Student and Faculty

Mercury ID

678749

Source updated

Thu, 12/05/2024 - 09:10

Susan Lozier Reappointed as Dean of the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech

admin — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:35:41 +0000

Susan Lozier Reappointed as Dean of the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech admin Mon, 10/07/2024 - 08:35

Dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair Susan Lozier has been reappointed to a five-year term in the College of Sciences.

This decision follows a rigorous review process outlined in the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook, which includes feedback from faculty, staff, and students, and an evaluation of Lozier's performance and accomplishments during her term.

Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences since 2019, has been instrumental in advancing Georgia Tech’s mission of excellence in research, education, and outreach. Under her leadership of more than 3,000 students and 500 faculty members and researchers across six Schools, the Institute has seen the sciences grow and flourish. Increased research funding, the establishment of new interdisciplinary programs, and an upswing in student enrollment are a testament to Lozier’s commitment to the future of the College.

"Susan Lozier has provided exceptional leadership to the College of Sciences," said Steven W. McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. "Her vision and dedication have not only strengthened the College but have elevated Georgia Tech's reputation as a leading institution for scientific research and education. We are excited to see what the future holds under her continued guidance."

Lozier is a distinguished oceanographer whose research focuses on the large-scale circulation of the ocean and its role in the global climate system. She has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to oceanography, including the Henry Stommel Research Medal from the American Meteorological Society and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has also served in leadership roles in several international scientific organizations.

"I am honored to continue serving as the dean of the College of Sciences," said Lozier. "I look forward to building on our successes and working with our talented faculty, staff, and students to further our mission of advancing scientific knowledge and addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today."

The review committee was comprised of the following faculty and administrators:

Ellen Bassett, John Portman Chair and Dean, College of Design

Isaiah Bolden, Assistant Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Marcus Cicerone, Professor, School of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Michael Lacey, Professor, School of Mathematics

Chrissy Spencer, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs and Principal Academic Professional, School of Biological Sciences

Kimberly Stanley, School Administrative Officer, School of Mathematics

Rick Thomas, Professor, School of Psychology

Sabetta Matsumoto, Associate Professor, School of Physics

The reappointment runs through Aug. 31, 2029.

The Georgia Tech community congratulates Lozier on her reappointment and looks forward to her continued leadership and contributions to the College of Sciences.

Summary sentence

Dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair Susan Lozier has been reappointed to a five-year term in the College of Sciences.

Summary

Dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair Susan Lozier has been reappointed to a five-year term in the College of Sciences.

Dateline

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Brittany Aiello
Faculty Communications Program Manager
Organizational and Academic Communications
Institute Communications

Keywords

cos-community

News room topics

Campus and Community

Mercury ID

677289

Source updated

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 08:35

Georgia Tech Chemistry Students Place Second in Competitive VIP Poster Contest

dgivens8 — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:38:41 +0000

Georgia Tech Chemistry Students Place Second in Competitive VIP Poster Contest dgivens8 Wed, 08/14/2024 - 10:38

Students from the College of Sciences competed in the statewide Vertical Integrated Project (VIP) Innovation competition, hosted by the VIP Consortium this spring. The team, made up of two undergraduate students, Diya Godavarti and Waynell Simbafo, and one chemistry graduate student who served as a mentor, John Pederson, placed second overall in the poster category. Their poster on modeling chemical exposure in the workplace focused on socioeconomic disparities in potentially toxic environments.

“Placing second speaks volumes for Georgia Tech and the capabilities and abilities of these students,” says Pamela Pollet, faculty with the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Pollet served as the team’s faculty advisor along with Jenny Houlroyd, manager of Occupational Health Services at Georgia Tech.

Each year, the VIP poster competition challenges undergraduate students from throughout Georgia to use their different majors, mindsets, and abilities to solve a real, universal problem. The goal is to give students experience in a field of study and in working together to solve a seemingly complex problem. Georgia Tech’s team, which was pre-selected by faculty and jury members, was one of approximately 70 teams eligible to participate at the statewide competition held in March.

Pollet says the student’s poster, which combined chemistry, chemical safety, and social justice, was born from their interest in examining chemical exposure dangers for those who are not equipped to recognize such hazards.

“There is some social injustice in this context because the people who are most exposed to chemical dangers are often the people who don’t have the education to recognize the hazards and often are the most socioeconomically vulnerable,” Pollet explains.

Godavarti, a second-year student in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, says the team was proud of the bigger goal of the project — and its alignment with Georgia Tech’s mission. “We wanted to bring awareness about the impact of chemical exposure and what can be done to prevent dangerous levels of exposure. It was interesting to think about this from a business perspective in the idea of how we can apply these models to help people.”

The VIP chemical equity initiative received a Center for Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Sustainability Education Innovation Grant to continue the research this upcoming academic year, and will welcome both new and returning students.

Subtitle

Summary sentence

A Georgia Tech team placed second in the statewide Vertical Integrated Project Innovation competition for a poster modeling chemical exposure and socioeconomic disparities.

Summary

A Georgia Tech team placed second in the statewide Vertical Integrated Project Innovation competition for a poster modeling chemical exposure and socioeconomic disparities.

Dateline

Wed, 08/14/2024 - 12:00

acook304@gatech.edu

Contact

Writer: Amanda Cook
Communications Specialist II
College of Sciences

Keywords

College of Sciences

Georgia Tech Vertically Integrated Projects

3D chemical mapping

computer modeling

cos-community

School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Categories

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Education

Institute and Campus

Research

Student and Faculty

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Student Research

Mercury ID

675799

Source updated

Wed, 08/14/2024 - 10:36

Asthma's New Treatment Frontier

admin — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:45:41 +0000

Asthma's New Treatment Frontier admin Mon, 06/10/2024 - 11:45

Asthma impacts more than 40 million Americans, and 10% of the world’s population. However, current anti-inflammatory treatments only partially control the disease’s symptoms. Now, Liang Han, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a $2.47M grant by the National Institute of Health to study the role our nervous system plays in asthma — and the potential for new treatments. The grant will fund five years of research, with work beginning this spring.

“Asthma is typically considered an allergic inflammatory disease,” Han says, “and so the majority of research has previously focused on immune responses. But there is emerging evidence that the nervous system plays a critical role in the disease.”

Han highlights that our lungs are full of sensory nerves, which help monitor their internal state, and play an important role in regulating our breathing patterns and respiratory system. Vagal sensory neurons help send information from the lungs to the brain. Recent data collected by Yanyan Xing, a former postdoctoral researcher in the Han lab and now a scientist at Empress Therapeutics, suggested that blocking a group of vagal sensory neurons stopped the development of asthma symptoms in mice.

“Since these sensory neurons are responsible for responses like coughing, bronchoconstriction, and mucus secretion, all of which are asthma symptoms, we want to investigate whether blocking these neurons can help inhibit asthma in humans,” Han says. “If so, this might prove a promising treatment avenue for asthma.”

The nervous system connection

In her lab at Georgia Tech, Han’s research team investigates the role the nervous system plays in creating and behavioral responses, and how that contributes to chronic diseases. “We want to understand how the nervous system receives, transmits, and interprets various stimuli to induce physiological and behavioral responses,” she explains.

This year, Han also received a $550k grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate the neural circuit controlling itch sensation. The research has the potential to uncover new treatments for sensory conditions like chronic itch.

Subtitle

Liang Han awarded $2.47M NIH Grant to Study Nervous System's Role in Asthma

Summary sentence

Han will investigate whether blocking specific neurons can help inhibit asthma — which may provide a new avenue for developing treatments.

Summary

Asthma impacts more than 10% of the world’s population, but current anti-inflammatory treatments only partially control the disease. Now, with a $2.47M grant, Liang Han is exploring the role our nervous systems play, potentially leading to new treatments.

Dateline

Tue, 05/21/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Written by Selena Langner

Associated importer

Keywords

go-bio

cos-community

cos-neuro

go-neuro

News room topics

Health and Medicine

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Life Sciences and Biology

Research

Mercury ID

674829

Source updated

Mon, 06/10/2024 - 11:44

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