ATLANTA (Sept. 18, 2026) — Georgia Tech today celebrated the completion of George Tower | Scheller Tower, a new home for industrial engineering and business education designed to prepare future leaders and strengthen Georgia’s innovation economy.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the completion of a project years in the making. The event brings together the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Scheller College of Business in a shared environment designed to encourage collaboration among students, faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners.
The building reflects Georgia Tech’s belief that many of the challenges facing Georgia and the nation require expertise from multiple fields. From advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence to healthcare, supply chains, and entrepreneurship, the next generation of leaders must understand both technology and business — and know how to work across disciplines.
The project was made possible through support from the state of Georgia and the extraordinary generosity of Georgia Tech alumni and their families: Bill and Penny George, Ernest “Ernie” Scheller, and H. Milton “Milt” Stewart and Carolyn Stewart. Their leadership investments, along with the support of many other donors who contributed to the facility, reflect a shared commitment to generations of engineers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who will help shape Georgia’s future.
“People will notice the striking architecture, the classrooms, and the technology inside the new towers,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “What matters most is what that design enables — the learning and exchange of ideas between students, the multidisciplinary collaborations between engineering and business faculty, and the support of innovation and entrepreneurship at the heart of Tech Square. We are grateful to the Georges, the Schellers, the Stewarts, and all our donors for their truly transformative investment, which will make our signature innovation district even more vibrant.”
Located in the heart of Tech Square, George Tower | Scheller Tower strengthens connections between Georgia Tech and the companies, startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs that make Atlanta one of the nation’s leading innovation communities. By bringing education, research, and industry closer together, the building creates more opportunities for ideas to move into the marketplace and benefit communities across Georgia and beyond.
The building also reflects the kind of engineering Georgia Tech teaches. Designed for the next 50 years, George Tower | Scheller Tower incorporates advanced systems and sustainable design strategies that significantly reduce energy and water use, lower environmental impact, and create efficient, flexible spaces for learning and collaboration. The project recently earned LEED Platinum certification, the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, and a 4 Peach rating, the highest rating through the Georgia Peach Green Building Rating System administered by the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. The Georgia Peach Program recognizes state-owned and state-managed buildings that demonstrate excellence in energy efficiency, sustainable construction, environmental stewardship, and resource conservation.
George Tower | Scheller Tower represents more than an investment in Georgia Tech. It is an investment in Georgia — one that will pay dividends through the talent, discoveries, and partnerships created here for generations to come.
The internship provided Burnett with valuable insight into national laboratory research and reinforced skills he developed through his studies at Georgia Tech. When he returned to campus, we asked Burnett to share more about his internship and what he learned.
Research Interests: Fusion energy, computational plasma physics, high-performance computing, and structure-preserving machine learning
Degree Program: Ph.D. in Computational Science and Engineering
Faculty Advisor: School of CSE Assistant Professor Qi Tang
2026 Internship: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Many people are unfamiliar with national laboratories, like ORNL. Could you explain the purpose of these institutions and why they are important?
The Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories are responsible for moving forward science and technology in the United States and solving high-consequence challenges in science, energy, and national security. They work on both applied and theoretical research with both short-term and long-term returns. ORNL has eight core research areas: biology and environment, energy science, fusion and fission, isotopes, physical sciences, national security, neutron science, and supercomputing. I was an intern in the supercomputing division.
How well did coursework and experience at Georgia Tech prepare you for your ORNL internship?
My coursework at Georgia Tech was vital in my preparation for this internship. I wrote highly parallel code where I leaned heavily on what I learned in CSE 6220: High-Performance Computing. I also worked on numerical methods which required an understanding of partial differential equations and numerical linear algebra which I also learned at Georgia Tech from classes like CSE 6643: Numerical Linear Algebra and a space plasma physics course.
What did you work on while interning at ORNL?
At ORNL, I was a developer on the Adaptive Sparse Grid Discretization (ASGarD) codebase. The code uses adaptive sparse grids and the Discontinuous Galerkin method to beat the curse of dimensionality and solve high-dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs). The code is designed to simulate fully kinetic plasmas in up to 6-dimensional phase space. My project was to implement an iterative method to solve the efficiently solve the Poisson equation within the codebase. This project gave me hands on experience with linear algebra, numerical PDEs, parallel computing and software engineering which was invaluable to my development as a CSE researcher.
Do you have a favorite memory or remarkable achievement from your internship?
My favorite memory from my internship was spending time with the other ORNL interns outside of work. There was an amazing group of interns at ORNL, and it was great getting to know them. One particularly good memory was when we went out to a restaurant with live music and played laser tag during our last week of the internship to celebrate our time at ORNL. The achievement I am most proud of was getting a working, highly efficient version of the Poisson solver into ASGarD. The ASGarD codebase is open source, so I hope other plasma physics researchers will use the code and find it helpful for their research.
While interning, you were selected for a GEM Fellowship, which Georgia Tech and ORNL nominated you for. What does this fellowship mean to you and is there anything you would like to say to your supporters?
To me, receiving the GEM Fellowship indicates that other people recognize the hard work I am doing, and they believe in my ability to meaningfully contribute to the field. Having this support from GEM, ORNL, and Georgia Tech gives me greater confidence in myself and my potential and inspires me to put my all into my work. I would like all my supporters to know that I am so grateful for the opportunity you have given me to be a part of the excellent community of researchers within GEM, ORNL, and Georgia Tech. I will do my very best to make your support worthwhile!
Overall, how helpful was this internship toward your studies at Georgia Tech and career as an aspiring researcher?
The internship was extremely important to both my studies at Georgia Tech and my career as a researcher. The hands-on experience I gained is irreplaceable and it helped me to apply all the skills I have developed throughout my education. I am also optimistic that the internship will open doors for me when I am seeking a job post-graduation.
]]>The internship provided Burnett valuable insight into national laboratory research and reinforced skills he developed through his studies at Georgia Tech. When he returned to campus, we asked Burnett to share more about his internship and what he learned.
]]>Ahmadi and Brown find that neighborhoods with higher shares of Black residents experience higher energy burdens, even after accounting for factors such as income, renter status, and housing characteristics. In this study, energy burden refers mainly to the share of household income spent on electricity, gas, and water. The authors estimate that an approximately 11 percentage-point increase in a neighborhood’s Black population share is associated with about a 1 percentage-point increase in household energy burden, equal to an average annual increase of about $785 in utility costs. These findings suggest that unequal energy burdens are tied not only to household finances, but also to the lasting effects of segregation and discrimination.
Read Full Story on the EPIcenter Page
]]>Reliable energy is required to keep safe in cold winters and hot summers, making it a matter of national security. There are also vying economic policies to consider, political and financial incentives to navigate, and questions of social and economic inequality.
Experts in Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts examine the challenges we face with the U.S. energy transition, and work to help make it safe, fair, and effective for all.
Read the article on the Ivan Allen College website.
]]>When Chevron reported its highest quarterly profit in six years on July 31, 2026, it was just one detail in a larger picture: Analyst firm Wood Mackenzie estimates the global oil and gas industry is on course for a cash windfall of US$495 billion in 2026. That’s profit above and beyond what the industry expected before the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began.
Three separate bills seeking to tax those profits are now in Congress, and President Donald Trump has even said the oil companies are “making too much money.”
As an applied microeconomist, I am often asked how taxes affect economic activity. Economists have long held a more nuanced view of windfall taxes than either side of the current debate suggests. Advocates often make overly optimistic revenue projections, and opponents often overstate how much such a tax might discourage investment. A 1980s U.S. windfall-tax experiment is instructive on both counts.
Read Full Story on The Conversation
]]>Three separate bills seeking to tax those profits are now in Congress, and President Donald Trump has even said the oil companies are “making too much money.”
As an applied microeconomist, I am often asked how taxes affect economic activity. Economists have long held a more nuanced view of windfall taxes than either side of the current debate suggests. Advocates often make overly optimistic revenue projections, and opponents often overstate how much such a tax might discourage investment. A 1980s U.S. windfall-tax experiment is instructive on both counts.
]]>Continuing to earn distinction for its academic strength and providing a strong return on investment, Georgia Tech is the No. 5 public school (No. 27 overall) on Forbes’ 2027 list of America’s Best Colleges.
Tuition at Tech is the lowest among the top 30 schools on the list. In his recent Institute Address, President Ángel Cabrera outlined that, adjusted for inflation, attending Georgia Tech this year is nearly $4,400 cheaper for Georgia residents than it was in 2019 — a 27% cost reduction.
In addition to affordability, Forbes’ methodology factors in graduation rates, alumni earnings, and overall ROI. Ten years after graduation, the median salary for Tech graduates exceeds the national average for other four-year institutions by 73%. Graduation rates remain well above the national average, with 94% of students graduating in six years and 75% graduating within four.
“A Georgia Tech education is one of the smartest investments a family can make,” Cabrera said. The Princeton Review has named Tech the top value college in the country for three consecutive years.
Forbes highlights artificial intelligence’s role in the future of higher education, noting that “it is forcing schools to reconsider how students learn and are assessed, how professors teach, and which skills graduates need to succeed academically and in their careers.” Tech’s approach to incorporating AI into its curriculum and preparing students for the workforce partly contributed to its place on Forbes’ New Ivies list and its highest C-suite rating.
The Institute has also received an A+ grade from Niche.com and has been ranked the No. 4 public university in the U.S. Niche compiles its list based on an analysis of statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and public reviews.
Despite decades of research, the chaotic nature of turbulence makes it difficult to predict and control. This challenge impedes more than smoother air travel. Solving the turbulence problem could lead to advances in areas ranging from sustainable energy to training a smarter workforce for the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
To advance understanding of turbulence, the National Science Foundation is establishing a new, $30 million Science and Technology Center (STC) at Michigan State University. Georgia Tech is among eight universities supporting the center.
Assistant Professor Qi Tang will join the STC for Transformative Explorations in Multi-Physics and Engineering of Scientific Turbulence (TEMPEST). TEMPEST, launching on Sept. 1, aims to build trustworthy, predictive models of real-world turbulence.
Tang will lead TEMPEST’s modeling and scientific machine learning (ML) efforts. NSF will fund Tang and Georgia Tech with over $1 million from the center’s five-year, $30 million award.
By understanding and predicting turbulence, TEMPEST can unlock new applications, with a focus on fusion energy and national security. The center will also generate long-term research projects with applications in air and space flight, manufacturing, chemistry, and broaden science education and AI fluency.
“Turbulence has resisted prediction for a century,” said Tang, a faculty member in the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE).
“STC TEMPEST aims to develop a unified, predictive science that advances fusion energy, improves hypersonic technologies, and deepens our understanding of how stars created the elements that make up our world and ourselves. For everyday people, the center points toward abundant clean energy and faster, more efficient flight."
Turbulence is the motion of a fluid characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and speed. Turbulent flows can occur across all scales, from interactions between subatomic particles to astrophysical scales, including supernovas, black holes, and cosmic rays.
While turbulent flows are common and occur naturally, scientists still do not fully understand them. Small changes in a turbulent flow can produce dramatically different outcomes. Combined with the countless interactions across multiple scales of time and space, this makes turbulence extraordinarily difficult to predict.
“Rather than studying individual pieces of this enormously complex problem in isolation, we are bringing together theory, experimentation, computation and artificial intelligence to develop a deeper understanding of turbulence across scales,” said Michael Murillo, an MSU professor and the director of TEMPEST.
“Our goal is not simply to understand turbulence better, but to make it predictable and controllable in ways that will enable new technologies and scientific discoveries.”
The NSF TEMPEST award supports students and researchers at Michigan State University, Auburn University, Baylor University, Georgia Tech, San José State University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, University of Rochester, and Yale University to combine theory, computation, AI techniques, and experimentation to build trustworthy predictive models of real-world turbulence for high-consequence applications.
Additional partners include Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Pacific Fusion, and General Atomics.
Together, TEMPEST researchers will build more accurate and reliable physics-grounded models. The center will test new ideas against real-world observations, then use those results to refine the models.
Tang contributes expertise in ML, scientific computing, and plasma physics to STC TEMPEST.
Earlier this year, Tang received an Early Career Research award from the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. He is using the award to build ML and data science tools that help scientists analyze massive datasets from fusion experiments and simulations.
This interdisciplinary approach is intended to move science from understanding why turbulence behaves as it does to predicting how it will behave. Through prediction and simulation, scientists could eventually engineer solutions to control turbulence in real-world scenarios.
The center will make its data and software broadly available and engage the public through museum exhibitions, immersive media, and educational programs that are expected to reach more than 10,000 K-12 students annually. TEMPEST will also help train an AI-fluent scientific workforce prepared to tackle complex problems across disciplines.
“One reason I am excited to work in TEMPEST is because it aligns perfectly with our School of CSE mission. As a discipline, CSE complements theory and experimentation as a mode of scientific discovery,” Tang said.
“We build computational models to simulate scientific and engineering concepts, like turbulence in this case, so that we can test theories that are too difficult, expensive, or risky for physical experiments.”
]]>Maintaining campus buildings often means identifying problems before they become visible. Georgia Tech’s Planning, Design, and Construction department is piloting an innovative building envelope assessment at Lyman Hall that uses drone-mounted infrared technology to detect hidden moisture intrusion and potential building performance issues.
The study is being conducted with Copeland Building Envelope Consulting serving as the engineering consultant and Lamarr.ai, a Georgia Tech-affiliated startup, providing the technology, which was originally developed through research in the College of Design.
Using drones equipped with thermal imaging sensors, the team can safely and efficiently scan building exteriors to identify areas where moisture may be entering walls, roofs, and other building systems. The technology provides campus architects, project managers, and facilities teams with valuable data to help target repairs early, potentially reducing future maintenance costs and extending the life of campus buildings.
"This started because of a leak in Lyman, and there were patches to temporarily address the problem. When a similar problem occurred in the J.S Coon Building, there was a wider conversation about addressing leaks and flooding in these older buildings," said Planning, Design, and Construction architect Bill Oswell.
Among the project partners is Arjun Bir, a 2018 Georgia Tech civil engineering alumnus. Bir graduated with highest honors and has since earned numerous accolades, including the MIT Water Innovation Prize, Georgia Tech's Dean's Impact Award, and recognition as a member of Georgia Tech's 40 Under 40.
“This project was especially meaningful because it was my first project on Georgia Tech's campus,” Bir said. “Working on the buildings that helped shape my own career was incredibly rewarding.”
Since starting at Copeland's Atlanta office in 2025, Bir has supported partnerships with other institutions including Emory University, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Public Schools, and Cobb County Schools.
The Lyman Hall assessment is also significant for Lamarr.ai, marking the startup's first project on Georgia Tech's campus. The company traces its roots to research and technology development conducted at Georgia Tech and demonstrates how Institute-driven innovation can create real-world solutions that benefit the campus community.
The project aligns with Georgia Tech's ongoing commitment to using data-driven technologies to improve campus operations and stewardship of its facilities. Drone-based infrared scanning offers a faster, safer, and more comprehensive way to evaluate building conditions than traditional inspection methods. Facilities leaders see this approach as an important tool for the future of campus building maintenance.
The Lyman Hall project highlights a Georgia Tech success story bridging alumni expertise, startup innovation, and campus operations to preserve the buildings that support teaching, learning, and research every day.
Cathy Brim
Institute Communications
As Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera delivered his final Institute Address from the Walter G. Ehmer Theater inside the John Lewis Student Center, he emphasized that the end of his tenure is not the end of a race but rather the next leg of a relay. As he prepares to pass the baton to the next president, he outlined Tech’s unprecedented momentum.
“Here’s what I’ve learned about relays: The best handoffs happen at full speed. Not when a team is limping and not when it’s regrouping, but rather when the momentum is strong, the baton is secure, and the next runner is already moving,” he said.
Since 2019, when Cabrera took office as the Institute’s 12th president, Tech has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing universities, delivering a strong return on investment for students, life-changing research, and record economic impact for Georgia.
Cabrera outlined how Tech is bucking national trends to achieve the goals outlined in its strategic plan.
He noted that, as the No. 2 university in federally sponsored research, Tech continues to conduct life-changing research that addresses real-world challenges. His examples included a cancer-screening breath test, skin patches that deliver vaccines and medicines without needles, stronger and more sustainable batteries, new methods of mining critical minerals, and pioneering innovative aircraft solutions for the next generation of flight.
Tech students fill the job openings of Georgia and the nation’s most critical industries, and funds invested in the Institute become a crucial part of the state’s economic engine. As a hub for innovation, Tech has risen from No. 48 to No. 19 worldwide in patents issued to faculty. Last year, faculty and students launched 179 startups, compared to 57 in 2019.
“Demand for a Georgia Tech degree is at an all-time high because the value of a Georgia Tech degree has never been greater,” he said. “State and philanthropic support are at all-time highs because our quality, scale, and impact have never been greater. Our research enterprise has never been stronger because our research has never done more to make this state and this nation safer, healthier, and more competitive. The public’s confidence in higher education is not something we can lecture our way back into. It has to be earned. Georgia Tech is earning it every day.”
For the second consecutive year, Georgia Tech set a new fundraising record. The Institute raised more than $415 million in fiscal year 2026, exceeding the previous record by more than $100 million and pushing Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech past the $2 billion mark with 18 months remaining.
A $30 million donation has established the Michael E. Tennenbaum Family Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership, a new interdisciplinary institute designed to prepare students to navigate the intersection of technology, civic life, and leadership. It is an integral part of Tech’s efforts to foster open inquiry, civil discourse, and responsible problem-solving through teaching, research, and public engagement.
As he prepares to depart from his alma mater at the end of October, Cabrera sees an opportunity for a smooth transition with a leadership team ready to hit the ground running.
“Look at where we are. Enrollment, research, state support, philanthropy, and economic impact are all at record levels,” he said. “We are several years into a strategic plan that is working and that our community believes in. Our newest leaders are in place and past the learning curve. The executive leadership team is in lockstep. Students want to come here. Companies want to move here to work with us and hire from us. Government agencies bring us their hardest problems. Donors want in on all the amazing work being done here every day.”
Concluding his final Institute Address, Cabrera reflected on the role that Tech has played in his life and his wife Beth’s life.
“I got something almost nobody gets: the chance to come back and lead the place that made me. Serving as your 12th president has been the honor of my career,” he said, becoming visibly emotional. “I’ve had the enormously good fortune to spend seven years working alongside some of the best people in higher education anywhere — to do work that truly matters and makes a huge difference in the lives of countless thousands — at the institution that set the course of my own life.”
On Beth’s role as Tech’s first lady, Cabrera praised the passion and generosity that she has shown since the couple arrived on campus.
“A lot of what people describe as the warmth of this community, or my own, has come from Beth. She’s poured more of herself into Georgia Tech than most people will ever know, and she did it with great joy, without expecting anything in return,” he said.
Georgia Tech researchers spent two years helping to answer that question through DARPA’s AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), a competition designed to test whether AI could identify and fix security vulnerabilities in real-world software.
Now, they are sharing what they learned with the cybersecurity community.
Their paper, SoK: DARPA’s AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC): Competition Design, Architectures, and Lessons Learned, was presented at USENIX Security 2026, one of the world's leading cybersecurity conferences. The paper was selected as a runner-up for the conference’s distinguished paper award, placing it among 36 recognized papers from 362 accepted papers out of 3,028 submissions.
The paper examines how the seven finalist teams approached the competition and what the results reveal about the future of AI-powered cybersecurity.
AIxCC challenged teams to build Cyber Reasoning Systems (CRSs) that could operate with minimal human assistance to identify software vulnerabilities, develop fixes, and determine whether security alerts were real threats.
The teams had 143 hours to analyze 53 software projects during the final competition.
Georgia Tech’s Team Atlanta, which won the competition, used an approach that combined multiple AI agents with traditional security tools. Other teams used different approaches, including applying AI for specific tasks or building highly autonomous AI agents.
The variety of systems provided researchers with a rare opportunity to compare different approaches to AI-powered cybersecurity.
One of the biggest lessons was that reliability matters as much as intelligence.
Some systems were highly capable but struggled to remain operational while analyzing large, complicated software projects. The strongest systems were often those that could work reliably throughout the competition.
The researchers also found that AI and traditional security tools have different strengths. Traditional tools were still effective at finding common bugs, while AI performed better at reasoning through more complex problems.
However, AI-generated fixes remain a major challenge.
Researchers found that 38% to 46% of AI-generated patches were semantically incorrect. This means a patch might stop a security problem but also break a feature or create another problem.
The results show that AI can play an important role in cybersecurity, but human experts are still needed to verify the safety of AI-generated fixes.
Cen Zhang, the paper’s first author, said the research offers a unique look at the competition by combining lessons from the finalist teams, organizers, and DARPA’s data.
“This paper provides a unique angle on how AIxCC was designed, the techniques teams used, and what the scores reveal and conceal,” Zhang said.
Jiho Kim presented the paper at USENIX Security 2026. He said the presentation was an opportunity to share lessons from two years of work with the broader cybersecurity community.
“Seeing the strong interest and thoughtful questions from the audience made the experience particularly rewarding,” Kim said.
The researchers say they hope the lessons from AIxCC will help guide the next generation of cybersecurity tools.
]]>Georgia Tech researchers spent two years helping to answer that question through DARPA’s AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), a competition designed to test whether AI could identify and fix security vulnerabilities in real-world software.
Now, they are sharing what they learned with the cybersecurity community.
]]>Communications Officer for the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy
]]>Georgia Tech is hosting the 2026 MFEM (Modular Finite Element Methods) Community Workshop, Sept. 22-25. MFEM supports research in computational physics, earth systems modeling, engineering, energy, and other fields.
The four-day workshop is being held at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center and will focus on improving software for scientific computing and discovery. Participants can also attend online. Registration for the workshop is open through Sept. 11.
“We're very excited and grateful for the opportunity to have this workshop at Georgia Tech,” said Tzanio Kolev, a computational mathematician at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
“Georgia Tech has a great reputation in our field, and hosting at universities is a great way to connect with students. We see students as our future colleagues who will improve MFEM for generations to come.”
MFEM is an open-source software library for solving equations in computational models. Scientists and engineers use it to build and test virtual designs on some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers before creating real-world prototypes.
In fact, MFEM powered a tsunami early-warning model that ran on El Capitan, the world’s second-fastest supercomputer. The framework completed a simulation in a fraction of a second, 10 billion times faster than conventional algorithms. Kolev was part of the team that won the 2025 Gordon Bell Prize for the project.
MFEM’s impact extends beyond its original developers. The AWS Center for Quantum Computing uses the software as the foundation for a tool called Palace. This project runs 3D electromagnetic simulations to aid in the design of quantum computing hardware.
“These workshops have been very beneficial for both the broader user community and also for MFEM developers,” said Kolev.
“Every workshop, we are surprised by the ways people are building on our work, seeing what incredible, interesting, amazing things they do with it.”
Next month’s workshop at Georgia Tech will connect MFEM users and developers from national laboratories, academia, government, and industry.
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority joins LLNL and Georgia Tech in sponsoring this year’s workshop. Nearly 20 scientists from Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories are attending in person. They represent LLNL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and the Naval Nuclear Laboratory.
The workshop’s first day features a free, hybrid tutorial. LLNL’s High Performance Computing Innovation Center will lead the tutorial, helping new users get started with MFEM and learn what the software can do. The tutorial requires separate registration for virtual participants.
The workshop will also host a simulation and visualization contest. Participants can submit images and videos of simulations using MFEM, which will be posted in a gallery. The workshop organizers will select an overall winner.
Further workshop activities include:
The MFEM workshop highlights the role open-source software plays in scientific discovery.
By making tools freely available, researchers can build on each other’s work rather than starting from scratch. This shared approach can accelerate innovation, improve software, and make advanced computing tools accessible to a wider community.
Georgia Tech hosts a Center for Scientific Software Engineering and an Open-Source Program Office. This year’s workshop connects these units with the MFEM community to help put the software into the hands of more researchers across science and engineering.
“The MFEM workshop aims to foster collaboration among all MFEM users and developers,” said Qi Tang, a workshop organizer and assistant professor in the School of Computational Science and Engineering.
“Hosting its annual community workshop brings researchers from DOE laboratories, universities, and industry to campus, giving Georgia Tech faculty and students direct access to experts from the field.”
]]>Georgia Tech is hosting the 2026 MFEM (Modular Finite Element Methods) Community Workshop, Sept. 22-25. MFEM supports research in computational physics, earth systems modeling, engineering, energy, and other fields.
The four-day workshop is being held at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center and will focus on improving software for scientific computing and discovery. Participants can also attend online. Registration for the workshop is open through Sept. 11.
]]>Angus Wilkinson, associate chair and professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of Materials Science and Engineering, has been elected chair of Georgia Tech's Faculty Executive Board.
Wilkinson brings extensive experience to the role. Since joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 1993, he has contributed to the Institute as a researcher, educator, and administrator. He currently serves as associate chair for undergraduate programs in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
“Angus has earned the respect of colleagues across Georgia Tech through his thoughtful leadership, institutional knowledge, and commitment to academic excellence,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “His collaborative approach and dedication to shared governance make him well-suited to lead the Faculty Executive Board. I look forward to working with him as we continue advancing Georgia Tech’s mission of education, research, and service.”
As an institution of the University System of Georgia, Georgia Tech operates under a model of shared governance. This model empowers faculty to fulfill responsibilities related to their own governance, the governance of students, and the maintenance of high educational standards. Through this process, faculty play an important role in shaping the academic experience across the Institute.
As chair of the Faculty Executive Board, Wilkinson will help lead the faculty in governance of itself, the curriculum, and Georgia Tech students. The Faculty Executive Board serves a central role in shared governance, representing faculty perspectives and working with Institute leadership on issues that shape the academic experience. Wilkinson will work closely with Secretary of the Faculty Adam Steinberg to oversee governance processes and amplify faculty voices.
“Georgia Tech’s strength has always been rooted in the talent and dedication of its faculty,” Wilkinson said. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as chair of the Faculty Executive Board and to work with faculty colleagues and Institute leadership to ensure that faculty perspectives help inform decisions that affect our students, our research enterprise, and our academic community.”
Wilkinson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford and completed graduate studies in chemical crystallography and inorganic chemistry at Oxford. Before joining Georgia Tech, he conducted research in the Materials Research Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At Georgia Tech, he received tenure in 1999 and was promoted to full professor in 2004.
Over the course of his career, Wilkinson has led research efforts spanning inorganic materials chemistry, cement science, low and negative thermal expansion materials, and advanced characterization techniques. His work has addressed both fundamental scientific questions and practical challenges, contributing to advances in energy, environmental, and infrastructure-related materials.
Wilkinson succeeds Dima Nazzal, associate chair for academic administration in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and director of Education and Projects with the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, who has served as chair since 2024. During her tenure, Nazzal provided thoughtful leadership and strong advocacy for faculty perspectives while helping guide the Institute through a period of continued growth and change.
The Office of the Provost extends its appreciation to Nazzal for her dedicated service as chair of the Faculty Executive Board and for her longstanding commitment to Georgia Tech’s faculty, students, and shared governance processes. Her leadership strengthened collaboration between faculty and administration and contributed meaningfully to the advancement of the Institute’s academic mission.
Writer: Brittany Aiello, Faculty Communications Manager, Institute Communications
In time for the fall semester, the ribbon has been cut, and students will soon move into Georgia Tech’s newest traditional residence hall — the Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall.
Located along Northside Drive between Eighth and Ninth streets, the 191,000-square-foot facility offers approximately 862 beds in double-occupancy rooms. The first traditional residence hall constructed on campus since 1969, Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall features collaborative learning areas, an esports lounge, a fitness room, community lounges, a kitchen on the first floor of each wing, and a 24/7 cashierless market.
The opening of the new residence hall allows Tech to keep pace with enrollment as the Institute continues to grow. This fall, over 4,100 first-year students will enroll at the Institute, along with 1,400 transfer students in the fall and spring. With growth comes the need for new infrastructure, as Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera said during Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It turns out that more unbelievable students from every county in Georgia, from every corner of our country and countries around the world, want to have the learning experience here. It’s our duty to figure out creative solutions, not just to house them, but to provide them with a transformative experience,” he said. “The transformation of our students happens right here. It happens in the residence halls. It happens in the friendships that you make, the study groups, the activities, and when you’re learning to be independent and to grow up. This is not just a dorm where you come to sleep.”
The residence hall is named in honor of Georgia Tech’s 11th president and first lady. During Peterson’s tenure from 2009 to 2019, Tech enhanced student programs and grew enrollment; increased collaboration and built strategic partnerships in Atlanta and Georgia; expanded its global reach, with a focus on innovation; executed Campaign Georgia Tech, which raised $1.8 billion for the Institute; and more than doubled new research awards, exceeding $1 billion for the first time in 2019. As president, Peterson launched the Online Master of Science in Computer Science program, which has since become a global model for accessible education.
He has remained involved with the Institute as president emeritus, a Regents’ Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and a member of the steering committee for Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech.
In his remarks, Peterson recounted his first time visiting Tech, the feeling he got when he was on campus, and his path to eventually becoming Tech’s next president, succeeding President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough, who was in attendance at the ceremony.
Becoming a candidate for the job of president was “one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my professional career,” Peterson said. “This is a remarkable place with remarkable people doing remarkable things. Val and I are enormously honored to be recognized in this fashion.”
As first lady, Val Peterson was a dedicated presence on campus and an ardent supporter of students and faculty. She served as the chief spokesperson for the Tech Ends Suicide Together initiative when it launched in 2016 and mentored students and campus organizations. Val Peterson holds two bachelor’s degrees and a teaching certificate from Kansas State University and a master’s degree from Texas A&M. She has been recognized as an honorary alumna by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association for her devotion to the greater good of the Institute. Nicknamed the “Queen Bee” of Georgia Tech, she found it “quite fitting” that the new hall bears the couple’s names, because they lived together in a dorm room at KSU when they were first married.
“That’s where it all began. Those two towers, like us, together forever,” she said. “My hope for the students who live in Peterson Hall is that their experience parallels our paths, not only in school but in life.”
Each space in the new residence hall is designed to encourage students to interact and develop shared experiences, a mindset that Kasey Helton, associate vice president of Campus Services, says was fostered during Peterson’s tenure.
“We weren't trying to create 860 places to sleep. We were trying to create 860 opportunities to belong. That sense of belonging is exactly what Bud and Val spent a decade here building. They championed living-learning communities, expanded opportunities for students to develop global perspectives, strengthened support for student well-being, and helped make a Georgia Tech education accessible to all students. That same spirit is built into this hall,” Helton said.
The opening of the Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall brings the Institute’s capacity to more than 9,600 bed spaces across nearly 50 residence halls. Move-in for the fall semester begins Aug. 15, including the first group of students who will call Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall home.
Georgia Tech’s Itamar Kolvin is aiming to solve that problem using molecular motors powered by tiny chemical reactions, giving researchers a new way to guide how fibers assemble into larger structures in the lab. The work could open the door to advances in wound healing, artificial tissues, and organ repair.
Now, Kolvin, an assistant professor in the School of Physics, has been awarded a $747,000 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support this research.
The NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program is a five-year grant designed to help promising researchers establish a foundation for a lifetime of leadership in their field. Known as CAREER awards, the grants are NSF’s most prestigious funding for early-career faculty.
“The CAREER award is a crucial opportunity to push this research forward,” says Kolvin. “NSF plays a critical role in advancing science, and we wouldn’t be able to do our work without their support. I’m incredibly grateful for their commitment to advancing science.”
While the body naturally assembles these fibers, their small size makes protein filaments difficult to control in a lab setting. Without guidance, the materials grow randomly, creating weak and disorganized structures. But Kolvin has found that exposing the filaments to controlled fluid flows can help them grow in predictable ways.
That’s where Kolvin’s molecular motors come in. He attaches the motors to rod-shaped particles called microtubules, transforming the otherwise inert particles into microscopic motorboats. Powered by chemical reactions, the microtubules move through the fluid and generate tiny currents. Those currents guide the suspended protein filaments, directing how they align and assemble.
Like sticks in a stream, the current helps the protein filaments align with the flow around them. When millions of filaments interact in this way, they can form bundles, clusters, and large-scale networks.
“How do these rods align, when do they tangle, and when do they form networks?” Kolvin asks. “I’m interested in learning how we may be able to predict and ultimately control that behavior in order to direct the ways these structures can grow.”
Kolvin’s earlier work has already shown success with actin, the filaments responsible for building muscles. When suspended in fluid, the molecular motors helped actin fibers bundle together and form a membrane-like structure.
While that work demonstrated that molecular motors could influence assembly, Kolvin now aims to create a more dynamic, tunable system. Actin is limited, he explains, because of its simple rod-like shape, lack of rigidity, and because its bonds become permanent once the fibers bundle together.
He believes the more rigid, helix-shaped flagella in this new work will offer a wider range of opportunities. “The shape and rigidity of flagella expand the variety of patterns they can form,” he explains. “These new structures could have different applications.”
Through molecular engineering, the Kolvin Lab creates flagella that are temperature-sensitive, meaning that they can make and unmake bonds at different temperatures. This property might be key in creating a system that could be assembled and disassembled on demand.
“This could make it possible to tune materials in real-time by warming or cooling the system," Kolvin explains.
By combining molecular motors with temperature-sensitive protein fibers, Kolvin aims to create systems that can be predictably shaped, assembled, and disassembled on demand, opening the door to new possibilities for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The work could also help answer long-standing problems in physics about active matter and collective behavior, revealing how flow and shape influence the way millions of microscopic building blocks align, pack, and assemble into complex materials.
“This CAREER award provides an exciting opportunity to pursue new ideas and tackle difficult, far-reaching questions,” Kolvin says. “I’m looking forward to seeing where this research leads in the years ahead.”
]]>When students return to campus this fall, they will find a variety of new additions and improvements to their Tech Dining experience. Perhaps the largest of these is the return of Brittain Dining Hall. Closed for renovation in 2024, Brittain reopened on Aug. 17. The dining hall features seven full-service stations and will be open from Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Beginning this fall, five second-floor retail concepts in the John Lewis Student Center will be operated by Craveworthy Brands, replacing the following existing concepts:
The introduction of Craveworthy Brands will extend many of the concepts’ evening hours until 11:30 p.m. during the week, as well as introduce weekend hours from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving students and campus visitors more dinner options. In addition, a new concept called Blendz Bowls will replace the former Food Popup location.
In early September, Tech It To Go will transition to a cashierless, AI-powered operation. It will operate according to building hours, expanding food availability for students studying late into the night. Tech It To Go will also open a cashierless micromarket in the newly opened Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall.
For students in the Library looking for convenient food options, California Pizza Kitchen is planning to install a vending machine on the first floor of the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons.
The West Village Dining Hall has expanded seating and updated some second-floor stations. The first floor now features an expanded salad bar and dessert station, including soft serve ice cream and Dole Whip. Both West Village and Brittain dining halls now have a made-to-order deli featuring Boar’s Head products.
Illy Coffee is expanding to both West Village and Carnegie Kitchen, which will also be expanding the micromarket to include a fresh salad bar. The Illy Coffee in West Village is expected to open in late August, followed by Carnegie Kitchen later in the fall. Until Carnegie’s opening, several food trucks will be operating in Harrison Square. And, while Tech Dining currently hosts a community market on Wednesdays in Tech Green, this fall they will be expanding to host a market in Tech Square once a month.
Following the departure of Starship robots from campus, robot delivery is returning, with Avride serving as Tech’s new autonomous food delivery provider. Tech Dining will integrate Avride with Grubhub to create a more seamless ordering and delivery experience on campus.
As the semester begins, exciting new dining options are available around campus.
]]>"One of the goals of the program is to give students the time and support needed to make meaningful progress on their dissertation research while helping them understand the broader policy, economic, and societal implications of their work," said Laura Taylor, director of EPIcenter.
The stipends enable participants to focus exclusively on clearly defined research goals. The program also supports peer discussions, communication training, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to strengthen both their research and professional development.
This year's cohort explored topics ranging from electricity markets and air pollution to critical mineral supply chains and grid modernization, highlighting the breadth of energy-related research taking place across Georgia Tech.
Exploring Complex Energy Challenges
Ana Mazmishvili, who studies environmental and energy economics, used the summer to examine how climate policies affect communities across state lines.
"My research measures who is actually exposed to pollution from power plants when some states adopt climate regulations to cut emissions while neighboring regions do not," Mazmishvili said. "Because air doesn't stop at state borders, the key question is what happens once the pollution is emitted, and who ends up breathing it."
Her work focuses on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program in the Northeast, and investigates whether the benefits and burdens of emissions reductions are distributed equitably between regulated and neighboring states.
Mazmishvili said the program provided valuable time to focus on her job-market paper, a central component of her dissertation.
"The regular meetings with the program director and other fellows create useful accountability checkpoints and let me hear perspectives from people in very different fields," she said. "We're also learning how to make academic research understandable to a general audience, a skill I expect to use well past this summer."
Industrial and systems engineering doctoral student Faeze Fahimi Aghda spent the summer developing an optimization model for the U.S. gallium supply chain, a critical component of many advanced technologies.
Her research uses mathematical modeling to examine where and when domestic gallium processing facilities should be established under the threat of supply disruptions.
"Working on my research through EPIcenter has taught me to look at my problem from a policy point of view rather than focusing only on the math," Fahimi Aghda said. "The feedback within the meetings helped me improve my model."
Ryan Anthony, in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, explored how one of the largest oil shocks in U.S. history affected electricity customers and whether utility ownership influenced the impact on consumers.
"So far, my research suggests that it mattered a lot,” Anthony said. “Municipal utilities held rates down and absorbed many of the costs, while private, investor-owned utilities passed more costs through to their customers."
Anthony said the program provided critical support for the archival research required for the project.
"My project depends on data that only exists in old government reports, and that kind of archival work is difficult to fund," he said. "EPIcenter gave me the time and space to do it properly."
Connecting Research to Real-World Impact
For Samin Alipour, the summer provided an opportunity to explore how electric grids can adapt to growing numbers of distributed energy resources.
"Most electric distribution systems were built like one-way roads, carrying power from a substation to homes and businesses," Alipour said. "Rooftop solar, batteries, and electric vehicles are turning those roads into two-way systems."
Her research examines how these emerging technologies can be coordinated to increase grid flexibility and clean energy adoption while maintaining safety and reliability and ensuring that costs and benefits are distributed fairly.
With support from EPIcenter, Alipour focused on the economic and policy dimensions of those challenges. "I did not want my research to remain only a technical model," she said. "The program has helped me connect the technical results of my dissertation to economic value, reliability, equity and compensation policy."
One study developed during the summer was accepted for presentation at a specialized power systems conference, an achievement Alipour credits in part to the opportunity to focus on the broader implications of her work.
Building the Next Generation of Energy Scholars
Beyond advancing individual research projects, the Summer Research Program encourages students to engage with colleagues from different disciplines and develop skills for communicating complex ideas to broader audiences.
“Through regular cohort meetings, participants build a community of accountability, discuss research challenges, explore interdisciplinary energy topics, and develop communication skills,” said Gil Gonzalez, program support coordinator for EPIcenter. “Students also write a research-focused blog post for EPIcenter and present their work at the program's fall workshop, which allows them to share their research with the broader Georgia Tech energy community.”
As EPIcenter continues to support interdisciplinary energy scholarship at Georgia Tech, the Summer Research Program equips future leaders with the tools to address complex energy challenges through technological innovation, informed policy, and economic analysis.
]]>"One of the goals of the program is to give students the time and support needed to make meaningful progress on their dissertation research while helping them understand the broader policy, economic, and societal implications of their work," said Laura Taylor, director of EPIcenter.
The stipends enable participants to focus exclusively on clearly defined research goals. The program also supports peer discussions, communication training, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to strengthen both their research and professional development.
This year's cohort explored topics ranging from electricity markets and air pollution to critical mineral supply chains and grid modernization, highlighting the breadth of energy-related research taking place across Georgia Tech.
]]>As a new semester dawns and thousands of new Yellow Jackets arrive, Week of Welcome is a chance for students new to campus to learn their surroundings, meet new people, and have fun before classes begin.
Week of Welcome began in 2020 and has grown each year. For 2026, the weeklong celebration features more than 300 events, offering experiences and opportunities for all first-year, graduate, and transfer students.
“This week is an opportunity for students to connect and explore campus, get connected to culture and to their peers, but also just an opportunity to have fun before the stress of coursework begins,” said Chrissonia McCall, senior project support specialist in Housing and Residence Life.
Signature events like New Student Convocation bring thousands together to share in the start of their Tech journey, but Week of Welcome features plenty of smaller-scale events that allow students to connect and get to know their peers.
“Many of our events are 30 students or fewer, and those are great chances to find an organization that piques your interest or to find something completely new to you. This week is all about exploring the breadth of what is available at Tech and bringing down those barriers for students to engage with their new surroundings. Everyone is new and figuring things out at the same time, so this is a time when you can learn it all together,” Tegra Myanna, director of engagement and program operations in Housing and Residence Life, said.
To expedite the Week of Welcome experience, students should fill out the waiver form.
All Week of Welcome events can be found on Engage, but here are some you may want to mark on your calendar.
When: Monday, Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Exhibition Hall and John Lewis Student Center
Hosted by the Student and Campus Event Centers, Housing and Residence Life, and Tech Dining, this high-energy event is your chance to meet fellow Yellow Jackets, enjoy food, explore the John Lewis Student Center, and experience fun, music-themed activities.
When: Monday, Aug. 17, 7 – 9 p.m.
Where: Tech Green
Hosted by the Center for Student Engagement, which includes Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Media, Student Organizations, Civic Engagement, and John Lewis Student Leadership Pathways, the Yellow Jacket Mega Mixer is a chance to meet new friends, engage with student leaders, and immerse yourself in campus life.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Midtown Ballroom, Exhibition Hall
Kick off your Georgia Tech journey by discovering the people, places, and programs designed to support your success. The fair connects students with a wide range of campus resources and organizations committed to well-being and growth — both in and out of the classroom. Explore interactive tables; meet peers, faculty, and staff; and learn how to make the most of the Tech experience.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Where: Couch Park
Join Women's and Men's Club Volleyball out on the grass to play volleyball and make new friends along the way. Volleyball courts will be set up on the grass to play in a casual pickup style for people of all skill levels to participate.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 5 – 9 p.m.
Where: Tech Square
Experience a place that's unmistakably Georgia Tech. Taste of Tech Square is an immersive food festival just steps from campus, serving up delicious bites, lively entertainment, and a glimpse into the future of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Stamps Field
RecFest is Georgia Tech Campus Recreation’s signature annual kickoff event designed to welcome students to campus and connect them with the wide range of recreation programs, services, and clubs available at the CRC.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Where: Esports and Gaming Lounge, Campus Recreation Center
Hosted by Georgia Tech Esports, this event will feature a tour of the new space and provide an overview of the organization before an open, free-play session for students in the gaming lounge.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Paper & Clay
This event is an opportunity to explore Paper & Clay's crafts by making dorm decor and friendship bracelets.
When: Thursday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Midtown Ballroom, Exhibition Ballroom
Held in conjunction with Graduate Institute Orientation, GradExpo connects new graduate students with over 50 campus units and student organizations, showcasing the many resources and services available to support graduate students at Tech.
When: Thursday, Aug. 20, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Georgia Tech Library
Take over the Library for a night of fun, filled with entertainment, snacks, video games, trivia, arts and crafts, and free giveaways.
When: Friday, Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Room C456, Van Leer Building
Beginners and pros alike are invited to attend this open workshop hosted by Magicians @ GT to pick up some cool new tricks to impress your friends.
When: Friday, Aug. 21, 1 – 3 p.m.
Where: McAuley Aquatic Center, Campus Recreation Center
Watch and cheer teams on as they have 60 minutes to build a canoe out of cardboard, duct tape, and other supplies before they must paddle their boat across the McAuley Aquatic Center pool.
When: Friday, Aug. 21, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field
Georgia Tech Athletics is hosting a House Party to welcome students back to campus. Enjoy inflatables, on-field activities, a live DJ, a gaming truck, and food trucks. The event will have a clear bag policy, and students are allowed to bring empty, non-metal, reusable water bottles into the stadium.
When: Sunday, Aug. 23, 4 – 5 p.m.
Where: McCamish Pavilion
Get your RAT cap, T-Book, and Georgia Tech pin at this year’s New Student Convocation. The event is a welcome ceremony for incoming students, and more information can be found on the New Student Convocation website. Connect with peers beforehand at the New Transfer and Commuter Student Pre-Convocation Mixer at the John Lewis Student Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Generating $6.3 billion in economic impact for Georgia’s economy in fiscal year 2025, Georgia Tech surpassed its own record and continues to lead all state public universities, according to a University System of Georgia (USG) study.
Tech’s contribution is an 8.8% increase over fiscal year 2024 and accounts for more than 25% of the $25.1 billion economic activity created by the 25 USG colleges and universities — $16.3 billion in direct spending by students and by institutions, and an additional $8.8 billion generated in local communities as those dollars circulate through the economy.
The study, conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, also measures the value of a USG degree, projecting that graduates will boost their work-life earnings in Georgia by 80% and earn $1.4 million more than those who receive a high school diploma.
"Serving Georgia is core to our mission as a public university,” said Ángel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. “Our $6.3 billion contribution to the economy is one of the many important ways we create value for our state. Together with the talent we develop, the businesses we help create and grow, and the innovation we drive, we are proud to deliver best-in-kind return on the significant investment the state makes in our work year after year."
The Institute conferred 13,096 degrees in fiscal year 2025, with the study estimating total work-life earnings of more than $48.6 billion for the class of 2025. Through reductions in in-state tuition and fees, increased access to need-based scholarships, and commitments to preparing graduates for the jobs of the future, Tech continues to be ranked among the top universities for return on investment and career placement.
In addition to the value it offers to students, Georgia Tech directly employs 12,288 people on campus, and the study finds that an additional 25,100 off-campus jobs have been created due to Institute-related spending — the highest among all USG institutions.
What started as concern about food waste has grown into a campuswide effort to help food-insecure Georgia Tech students while keeping thousands of meals out of the waste stream. Since launching in 2024, Green Forks has transformed surplus food from catered events into a valuable resource for students in need.
Green Forks was founded by Renee Alnoubani, CE 2025, who is currently pursuing a master's in city and regional planning, and Ivy Xue, Neuroscience 2023, with support from Danielle Ismirle Dunigan of Tech Dining, Steven Fazenbaker of Student Life, and Steve Place of the Office of Sustainability, after students raised concerns about the amount of food being discarded after campus events. Recognizing an opportunity to address both food waste and food insecurity, the founding team partnered with Klemis Kitchen to develop a simple, scalable solution that directs surplus food to students who can benefit from it.
The process is straightforward. When a catered event ends with surplus food, the event coordinator or catering team submits a brief form. Students registered through Klemis Kitchen receive notifications when food is available, allowing them to pick up meals during a designated collection period. The model is designed to align with food safety requirements while minimizing additional work for event organizers.
Director of Dining Services Danielle Ismirle Dunigan said, “The students who proposed the idea were passionate about helping divert the many leftovers after catering events. Green Forks is basically a communication tool, and it has effectively diverted food waste while feeding hungry Yellow Jackets. Each Green Forks alert makes my day, knowing we are making a difference in many ways.”
In just two years, Green Forks has made a significant impact across campus. The program has supported 526 events and provided an estimated 4,750 meals to students. These numbers represent thousands of opportunities for students experiencing food insecurity to access nutritious food that otherwise may have been discarded.
Student Life Program Director Steve Fazenbaker added, "The idea that drives my work is that everything a student needs to thrive and flourish at Georgia Tech can be found somewhere at Georgia Tech. Green Forks brings that idea to life in a powerful way. Through Green Forks, students are made aware almost daily of the abundance of food on campus, and they are reminded that they never need to miss a meal.”
Beyond the numbers, students say the program has provided both practical support and a sense of community. One student said that Green Forks helped them "worry less about paying for food and living costs," while another described the program as a reminder of the generosity and care that exists across the Georgia Tech community.
Steve Place, campus sustainability project manager for the Office of Sustainability, said, "Green Forks is the perfect example of different units working together to meet a common goal. Each partner brought what they do best, and the result was a terrific collaboration that serves campus and makes us incredibly proud."
Green Forks also advances Georgia Tech's sustainability goals by reducing food waste. Rather than sending edible leftovers to the landfill, the program diverts food to students who can use it immediately, maximizing the value of meals already prepared for campus events.
The program's success has attracted attention beyond Georgia Tech. Team members have worked with other institutions to share the model, including Missouri State University and North Carolina State University, helping expand the impact of a program that began with a simple student idea.
Faculty and staff can help continue that success by using Green Forks for catered events, allowing extra time for food collection, and submitting surplus food through the program. Every event has the potential to reduce waste, strengthen community, and help ensure that no Georgia Tech student goes hungry.
For event coordinators and students who want to participate in and learn more about Green Forks and other temporary assistance programs at Georgia Tech, visit the Green Forks webpage
Communications Officer II
Institute Communications
Infrastructure and Operations | Planning, Design, and Construction | Office of Sustainability
]]>The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures how clean or polluted the air is. A healthy AQI is between zero and 50, but when wildfire smoke blows in and settles over cities, the AQI can reach levels of 500 or more. Poor air quality changes where and how people spend their time and money, reduces productivity (even for those working indoors), and increases healthcare costs.
“Environmental regulations like the Clean Air Act dramatically improved our air quality over the past 40 years, but as wildfire season becomes the new normal, wildfire smoke is eroding those gains,” Wichman said. According to recent research, wildfire smoke has erased about a quarter of the progress made over previous decades, and more than half in many western states.
Read Full Story on the IAC News Page
]]>The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures how clean or polluted the air is. A healthy AQI is between zero and 50, but when wildfire smoke blows in and settles over cities, the AQI can reach levels of 500 or more. Poor air quality changes where and how people spend their time and money, reduces productivity (even for those working indoors), and increases healthcare costs.
“Environmental regulations like the Clean Air Act dramatically improved our air quality over the past 40 years, but as wildfire season becomes the new normal, wildfire smoke is eroding those gains,” Wichman said. According to recent research, wildfire smoke has erased about a quarter of the progress made over previous decades, and more than half in many western states.
]]>As many organizations and businesses are turning to AI to improve workplace efficiency, risk remains high. Between overlooked footnotes and misread graphics, small mistakes can have expensive consequences.
To address this challenge, researchers from Georgia Tech and J.P. Morgan developed SlideAgent. The new framework helps large language models (LLMs) better understand complex visual documents like presentation slide decks, brochures, and reports.
SlideAgent works by breaking documents into multiple levels, allowing the model to analyze both the big picture and the fine details. This human-inspired approach leads to more accurate and reliable interpretation than existing systems.
Beyond improving workplace tools, SlideAgent also points to a broader shift in AI. Instead of building only larger and more powerful models, the work shows how smarter design and more efficient reasoning can improve performance.
“Multimodal LLMs such as GPT, Gemini, and Claude, can save people time and reduce the mental effort required to understand these documents, but they remain imperfect,” said Yiqiao (Ahren) Jin, a Ph.D. candidate in Georgia Tech’s School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE).
“In high-stakes fields such as finance, for example, misreading a number, overlooking a footnote, or making an incorrect comparison across pages could affect reporting, risk assessment, or strategic decisions.”
The researchers tested SlideAgent on a wide range of real-world documents, including financial presentations, technical slides, and visual question-answering datasets.
The system consistently outperformed leading commercial models and open-source tools throughout the evaluation. In some cases, it improved accuracy by up to 10%. The gains were especially strong on more complex tasks, such as comparing information across slides or understanding how visuals relate to each other on a page.
“We found the results very encouraging. SlideAgent reaches an improvement of 7.9% over its proprietary base model and 9.8% over the evaluated open-source base models,” said Jin, the project’s lead researcher.
“These are meaningful gains given the strength of the underlying multimodal models and the difficulty of the tasks.”
Current multimodal AI systems often process entire pages at once. This approach can lead to mistakes, such as miscounting items in a chart or overlooking important details in dense visuals.
SlideAgent addresses this by mimicking how people read documents. Instead of treating each page as a single unit, the system looks at information at three levels: the full document, individual pages, and specific elements like charts, tables, and text blocks.
A network of agents, each specialized for a specific level, divides and coordinates analysis. Then, SlideAgent combines outputs to build a structured understanding of the overall document. This allows it to answer questions more accurately and reason across multiple pages.
“The central inspiration was how people naturally read a long presentation,” Jin said.
“We first develop an understanding of the overall narrative, then identify the relevant pages or sections, and finally zoom in on individual charts, tables, or text blocks when precise evidence is needed.”
The work highlights a growing challenge with AI. As systems become more popular and more powerful, users increasingly discover the technology’s limitations. This is especially true for real-world tasks that require structured reasoning and contextual understanding.
SlideAgent shows that better performance does not always come from building bigger models. Instead, it points to smarter ways of organizing how AI processes information that can lead to improvement.
The Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) accepted SlideAgent for presentation at its annual meeting. The 64th ACL 2026 meeting took place July 2-7 in San Diego.
ACL is a scientific and professional organization for researchers in natural language processing (NLP). Its namesake conference is one of the world’s leading venues for presenting NLP research.
ACL 2026 followed a year after Jin completed an internship at J.P. Morgan AI Research, where he worked on SlideAgent. He interned under Rachneet Kaur, Zhen Zeng, and Sumitra Ganesh, all co-authors of the paper. School of CSE Associate Professor Srijan Kumar advises Jin at Georgia Tech.
Along with SlideAgent, Jin authored two other papers accepted at ACL 2026.
“Conferences such as ACL are valuable not only for sharing results, but also for refining future project ideas with the broader community. Discussions across institutions and research areas can reveal limitations, suggest new evaluations, and spark collaborations that are difficult to develop in isolation,” Jin said.
“For SlideAgent, I was particularly interested in feedback on how we can make the framework more computationally efficient without sacrificing accuracy or interpretability.”
]]>As many organizations and businesses are turning to AI to improve workplace efficiency, risk remains high. Between overlooked footnotes and misread graphics, small mistakes can have expensive consequences.
To address this challenge, researchers from Georgia Tech and J.P. Morgan developed SlideAgent. The new framework helps large language models (LLMs) better understand complex visual documents like presentation slide decks, brochures, and reports.
SlideAgent works by breaking documents into multiple levels, allowing the model to analyze both the big picture and the fine details. This human-inspired approach leads to more accurate and reliable interpretation than existing systems.
Beyond improving workplace tools, SlideAgent also points to a broader shift in AI. Instead of building only larger and more powerful models, the work shows how smarter design and more efficient reasoning can improve performance.
]]>Most members of the Georgia Tech community rarely think about campus utilities, and that's exactly how Jermaine Clonts likes it.
As associate director of Utilities Management within Infrastructure and Operations, Clonts and his team work around the clock to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and researchers have reliable access to electricity, heating, cooling, and water. While much of that work happens out of sight, it plays a critical role in supporting every aspect of campus life.
"In the utilities business, no news is usually good news," said Clonts. "Most people don't think about heating, cooling, electricity, or water until something stops working."
Keeping Campus Running
Clonts oversees the utility infrastructure that helps keep Georgia Tech operating every day. His responsibilities include managing the Institute's district energy systems, which generate heating and cooling for buildings across campus, as well as overseeing relationships with utility providers and vendors.
His team also tracks energy consumption, benchmarks building performance, identifies conservation opportunities, and supports both Georgia Tech's Climate Action Plan and long-term utility planning efforts.
While many assume that universities simply purchase utilities from outside providers, Clonts says Georgia Tech's operation is much more complex.
Tech operates two central district energy plants that generate heating and cooling for a large portion of campus. Beneath the sidewalks, roads, and green spaces lies an extensive network of underground pipes that distribute chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to campus buildings.
"It's infrastructure that works every day to keep campus comfortable and operational," Clonts said.
No Such Thing as a Typical Day
Because Georgia Tech operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is no ordinary day in utilities management.
Clonts usually begins each morning by reviewing the status of utility systems and district energy plants to ensure they are meeting campus demands. Any equipment issues, outages, or operational concerns immediately become top priorities.
Once critical operations are addressed, his work shifts toward long-term improvements.
"Whether we're responding to an emergency, making campus more resilient, identifying ways to operate more efficiently, advancing sustainability goals, or planning infrastructure that will support Georgia Tech for the next decade, there's always something new to tackle," he said.
Supporting Every Corner of Campus
From residence halls and classrooms to research laboratories, athletic facilities, and offices, reliable utility systems make teaching, learning, research, and campus experiences possible.
Managing those services comes with unique challenges.
One of the largest is the diversity of campus facilities, where each building, lab, or athletic facility comes with different operational needs. The age of campus infrastructure adds another layer of complexity, with some buildings featuring modern, energy-efficient systems while others have served the Institute for decades.
The need to maintain uninterrupted service for critical operations makes planning and maintenance even more important.
Advancing Sustainability Through Energy
Many of Georgia Tech's sustainability goals are directly connected to the work of utilities management.
"Our greenhouse gas inventory is heavily influenced by two key areas: the natural gas we use for heating and the electricity we purchase to power campus operations," Clonts said.
One initiative he is especially excited about is the electrification of heating systems and transportation.
The Institute is working to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning building heating systems to technologies such as heat-recovery chillers and expanding the use of electric vehicles across campus. Infrastructure and Operations also regularly invests in energy efficiency improvements, including lighting upgrades and HVAC system optimization.
"This transition supports Georgia Tech's Climate Action goals, improves efficiency, and helps reduce local air pollutants," Clonts said.
Technology is also changing the way utility systems are managed. Smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure now provide real-time utility data, allowing Clonts' team to monitor building performance more closely, identify unusual usage patterns, and make better-informed decisions.
"We're also seeing significant innovation in heat pump and heat recovery chiller technologies," he said. "These systems can simultaneously provide heating and cooling while recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted."
Letting Data Drive Decisions
Data and analytics have become essential tools for Utilities Management.
By analyzing utility consumption and building performance, the team can identify trends, prioritize projects, and maximize the impact of investments. "Instead of relying on assumptions, we use real data to help prioritize projects and investments that will have the greatest impact," Clonts said.
Smart meters, building automation systems, and automated alerts also allow the team to quickly detect equipment issues and respond before they become larger problems.
The Importance of Water Conservation
While energy often dominates sustainability conversations, Clonts believes water conservation deserves more attention.
Atlanta's history of drought challenges and the city's relatively high water and sewer costs make conservation efforts both environmentally and financially important. Residence halls are among the largest water users on campus outside of district energy plants, creating a significant opportunity for students to help make a difference.
Simple actions, such as taking shorter showers, reporting leaks, and being mindful of daily water use, can have a meaningful impact when multiplied across thousands of students.
"Water conservation is a sustainability effort where small individual actions can add up quickly," Clonts said.
A Living Campus
For students interested in careers related to infrastructure, energy, engineering, or sustainability, Clonts encourages curiosity and hands-on learning. "Georgia Tech is a mini city," he said. "Every day you're surrounded by a diverse range of buildings, transportation networks, and utility infrastructure."
He believes that understanding how campus infrastructure works helps people recognize how much goes on behind the scenes and how individual actions contribute to a more sustainable campus. Ultimately, that behind-the-scenes work is what motivates him and his team every day.
"What many people don't see is all the planning, monitoring, maintenance, and coordination that happens every day to keep problems from occurring in the first place," Clonts said. "When everything is working as it should, people can focus on teaching, learning, research, and campus life."
Communications Officer II
Institute Communications
Infrastructure & Operations | Planning, Design, and Construction | Office of Sustainability
]]>Georgia Tech is one of America’s best colleges, according to Money magazine.
The Institute is one of 17 public schools to receive a five-star ranking and the only institution in the state to receive the designation. To compile its list for 2026 and to “help families find schools that deliver strong value,” the publication evaluated more than 700 four-year colleges on 25 metrics, including graduation rates, costs, financial aid, student debt, and alumni salaries.
In its breakdown, Money declares, “Georgia Tech gets results.”
Cementing its status as a national leader in outcomes and value for all students remains a top priority in the Institute’s strategic plan. Since 2019, as in-state tuition has risen nationwide by an average of $2,200, Tech has reduced its in-state tuition and fees by nearly 25%. Georgia Tech students continue to outpace the national average with a 93% graduation rate, 75% of whom finish in four years or less.
Tech recently completed its most successful fundraising year in history, including millions of dollars for need-based scholarships, advancing opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
The recognition from Money is the latest accolade Tech has received for its value creation and return on investment. The Princeton Review has named Georgia Tech a best value public college for three consecutive years, and this year, Tech retained its place on Forbes’ list of New Ivies, receiving the highest C-suite rating of any university.
This press release is shared jointly with the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) newsroom. Georgia Tech faculty Martha Grover and Maggie Kosal also serve as SRNL Joint Appointees.
The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Savannah River National Laboratory announced the joint appointment of Facundo M. Fernández to collaborate in research around mass spectrometry, an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions for research.
“Our partnership with Facundo will deepen SRNL’s innovative research in mass spectrometry and its groundbreaking applications,” said Tammy Taylor, SRNL’s deputy director of Science and Technology. “His expertise and collaboration will undoubtedly accelerate our lab’s drive for scientific excellence and impactful discoveries.”
Fernández is renowned internationally for his work in bioanalytical chemistry. His research focuses on developing tools to analyze small-volume samples, tissues and single cells, with applications in understanding diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and inflammatory bowel disease. He has published 234 peer-reviewed papers, given over 230 invited lectures, and supervised 35 doctoral and master’s degree students.
He also directs the Systems Mass Spectrometry Core (SyMS-C) at Georgia Tech’s Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, managing more than 15 mass spectrometers.
“Being appointed as a joint faculty member with SRNL opens many new opportunities for collaborative research at the intersection of biology, chemistry and engineering,” said Fernández. “This type of collaborative research is what Georgia Tech is renowned for. We aim to address societal questions with global impact. I have been incredibly impressed with the quality of science at SRNL, and I look forward to many joint discoveries in the future.”
Fernández is a Regents’ Professor and the Vasser-Woolley Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry at Georgia Tech’s School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees (Licenciatura) in chemistry from the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, in 1995, and his doctorate in analytical chemistry from the same university in 1999. From 2000 to 2001, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University’s Department of Chemistry. He served as a senior postdoctoral researcher and later as a research scientist between 2002 and 2003 with a research group at the University of Arizona.
“Professor Fernández is a renowned expert in the field of mass spectrometry, and it has been a privilege to already have him as a collaborator involved in our Laboratory Directed Research and Development program,” said SRNL’s Christopher Orton, division director for Nuclear Nonproliferation. “This joint appointment will strengthen the relationship between SRNL and Georgia Tech as we continue to work together to improve our understanding of the environmental fate of chemical contaminants in complex matrices.”
SRNL’s Joint Appointment Program provides university faculty opportunities to engage in research and development addressing the nation’s energy related challenges. SRNL staff and joint appointees help ensure America’s security and prosperity through transformative science and technology solutions, and joint appointees serve as a bridge between their university and SRNL researchers to deliver the future workforce for the Department of Energy.
Savannah River National Laboratory is a multi-program federally funded research and development center managed and operated by Battelle Savannah River Alliance for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. EM transforms the nation’s environmental liabilities into opportunities for innovation, job creation, and economic growth, while ensuring safe, secure and prosperous communities across America. For more information, visit energy.gov/em.
Through a major investment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Georgia Tech is helping accelerate the development of domestic critical minerals from unconventional and secondary resources. The $7.5 million award positions the Institute to advance supply chain solutions that span resource discovery, processing, recycling, and circular materials management.
Selected by DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, Georgia Tech will lead the Critical Minerals in the Atlantic Seaboard Plain (CM-MAP) project. The regional effort builds on DOE’s Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) initiative and will examine potential resources across the Atlantic coastal plain.
The CM-MAP project will focus on sedimentary deposits, including kaolin, bauxite, heavy mineral sands, and phosphates, as well as legacy mining residues, coal combustion byproducts, and other unconventional and secondary resources that could support future recycling and circular economy opportunities.
Drawing on existing infrastructure, regional assets, industry bases, and scientific expertise, CM-MAP will establish a regional innovation ecosystem that supports domestic critical mineral production, recycling, and advanced manufacturing, while fostering new economic opportunities throughout the Southeast.
“This is a powerful example of how Georgia Tech brings together leading research capabilities and partnerships from industry, government, nonprofits, and national labs to address complex national challenges,” said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research. “By identifying and domestically sourcing critical minerals, we are helping secure essential supply chains, while enabling the next generation of energy and materials technologies.”
The DOE award builds on a growing network of research, industry, regional, and international partnerships led by Georgia Tech to translate scientific discovery into real-world supply chain solutions, including:
As part of CM-MAP, researchers will analyze materials collected from natural deposits and industrial sites throughout the Southeast to identify their critical mineral content. The resulting large datasets will be combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to better understand and predict where resources exist, optimize extraction pathways, and inform future recovery and recycling strategies.
“This project brings together a highly collaborative team from Georgia Tech, national labs, industry partners, and research institutions across the region,” said Yuanzhi Tang, the principal investigator and Georgia Power Professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, with a courtesy appointment in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Tang is also the founding director of the Center for Critical Mineral Solutions and executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute.
“Through this award, we are working to build secure and resilient critical materials supply chains, from resource discovery and characterization to processing, recovery, recycling, and advanced manufacturing, while also developing the skilled workforce needed to support these emerging industries,” Tang said. “Our vision is to create a regional innovation ecosystem that embraces both unconventional resources and circular economy approaches to maximize the value of materials already in use.”
Learn more about critical materials research and workforce development efforts at Georgia Tech by visiting the Center for Critical Mineral Solutions webpage.
]]>Georgia Tech’s commitment to transforming waste into a valuable campus resource has earned national recognition. The Institute recently received the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award, honoring the Office of Sustainability’s pioneering in-vessel composting program, which is helping Georgia Tech reduce waste, lower emissions, and create a more sustainable campus.
The award is presented by APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, an international association that serves more than 1,300 educational institutions and facilities professionals. APPA’s Sustainability Innovation Award recognizes educational institutions that implement transformative programs or processes that enhance service delivery, improve environmental performance, reduce costs, and support student success through environmental stewardship. Recipients are selected based on innovation, sustainability impact, adaptability to other institutions, and measurable benefits to their campus communities.
Turning Food Waste Into a Campus Resource
Georgia Tech’s award-winning in-vessel composting program exemplifies how innovative infrastructure can support ambitious sustainability goals.
The Office of Sustainability received a Recycling and Waste Diversion grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in 2024 to implement the composter, which arrived on campus last year. A student-staffed collection program (using e-bikes and an electric golf cart) captures food scraps and compostable materials from campus housing and dining facilities, and processes them on-site using a specialized in-vessel composting system. This reduces the weight of material by approximately 80%, decreasing the demand for off-campus hauling.
Unlike traditional composting methods, the enclosed system carefully controls temperature, airflow, and moisture, accelerating decomposition while minimizing odors and reducing the space required for processing. In just over six months, three student assistants have collected more than 5 tons (10,000 pounds) of materials from various campus locations.
“Georgia Tech has grown a strong composting program thanks to high levels of commitment from Tech Dining, Housing, and Campus Services, plus a strong hauling partner,” said Abby Bower, program and portfolio manager in the Office of Sustainability. “The in-vessel composter has added an exciting new layer to our composting services. It’s been fun to see our students embrace the technology and share their ideas for how to improve campus operations.”
By processing organic waste on campus, Georgia Tech diverts significant amounts of material from landfills, where food waste would otherwise generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The program supports the Institute’s broader sustainability and circular economy objectives by keeping resources in use and reducing environmental impacts.
Why Georgia Tech Stood Out
According to APPA, Sustainability Innovation Award recipients demonstrate creativity, measurable environmental and economic benefits, community impact, and the ability to serve as a model for other institutions.
Georgia Tech’s in-vessel composting initiative stood out because it:
The program reflects the collaborative work of the Office of Sustainability and campus partners to create practical, measurable solutions that advance Georgia Tech’s sustainability commitments.
A Model for the Future
Receiving the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award highlights Georgia Tech’s role as a leader in sustainable campus operations and environmental stewardship. As institutions across the country seek innovative ways to reduce waste and meet climate goals, Georgia Tech’s in-vessel composting program demonstrates how thoughtful investments in infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits for both the campus community and the environment.
Communications Officer II
Institute Communications
Infrastructure and Operations | Office of Sustainability | Planning, Design, and Construction
]]>Fueled by the generosity of thousands of alumni, donors, corporations, foundations, and friends, this defining moment builds on the strongest two-year fundraising performance in Georgia Tech’s history and reflects extraordinary engagement across the Institute. Recent milestones underscore the breadth of support behind Transforming Tomorrow, including the 79th Roll Call, which raised $8.8 million, and Georgia Tech Athletics’ Full Steam Ahead initiative, which led to more than $100 million in gifts and commitments.
The collective support of donors, including gifts from first-time donors, is already making a difference across campus — in the experiences of students, the work of faculty, and the spaces that shape learning and discovery.
Donor support has fueled major projects such as the Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center, which opened in May, and George Tower | Scheller Tower, which will open in September. Scheller Tower will house MBA and executive education programs for the Ernest Scheller Jr. College of Business, while George Tower will become the new home of the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. These facilities are designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success.
This momentum continues as Georgia Tech advances new capital projects, including the Aerospace Engineering Building, Medical Innovation Building, Creative Quarter, and Alumni Welcome Center — each critical to the Institute’s future growth.
At the same time, philanthropy is transforming access to education. Donors have contributed more than $513 million to expand scholarship and fellowship support, opening doors for talented students and ensuring that financial barriers do not limit opportunity.
Support for students extends from undergraduate access to graduate-level research and discovery. Graduate fellowships funded through the campaign are enabling students to pursue advanced study, contribute to research labs, and play a central role in Georgia Tech’s academic mission.
At the faculty level, donor investment continues to strengthen Georgia Tech’s ability to attract and retain world-class educators and researchers. A landmark example is the $100 million bequest from the estate of alumnus John W. Durstine, the largest gift in the Institute’s history, supporting faculty excellence in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.
In health research, a significant commitment has established the Parker H. Petit Center for AI-Driven Health Innovation, a new research hub focused on using artificial intelligence to model diseases, identify treatment paths, and move discoveries closer to patient care.
Philanthropy is also fueling new interdisciplinary initiatives that reflect Georgia Tech’s collaborative, forward-looking approach. The Tony Kepano Joint Center for Real Estate brings together the Ernest Scheller Jr. College of Business and the College of Design to create a multidisciplinary platform for education, research, and industry engagement.
Corporate and foundation partnerships are accelerating progress in key areas. The Delta Air Lines Foundation’s $5 million commitment is helping fund the new Aerospace Engineering Building. This facility will elevate one of the nation’s top-ranked aerospace programs, fuel the state’s economy, and accelerate innovation across the aviation industry.
Georgia Tech’s multidecade partnership with Hyundai Motor Company is advancing research and education in sustainable mobility, hydrogen technologies, and workforce development, while strengthening the Institute’s role in driving innovation and economic growth.
The campaign’s success reflects the collective efforts of alumni, donors, volunteers, faculty, staff, students, and partners who have advanced Georgia Tech's mission and strengthened its impact. The momentum created through their generosity will help shape the Institute’s future for years to come.
“Behind every gift is someone who believes in Georgia Tech’s mission and wants to help us amplify our impact,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “Their generous support has expanded access to education, strengthened research and innovation, and strengthened our Institute to make sure it keeps creating value for generations to come. I am profoundly grateful to each of our donors for investing in Georgia Tech.
I’m equally grateful to our deans, faculty, Campaign Steering Committee volunteers, and every member of our Development team for opening doors, carrying our message everywhere, and persuading others to participate in this campaign. Congratulations to all of them on reaching the most ambitious philanthropic goals in Institute history.”
]]>Ayana Isles
Senior Media Relations Representative
Institute Communications
Researchers at Georgia Tech play a key role in the international collaboration. The Georgia Tech-LIGO research group includes School of Physics Professor Laura Cadonati, Assistant Professor Surabhi Sachdev, Research Scientist Margaret Millhouse, Postdoctoral Scholar Prathamesh Joshi, eight graduate students, and multiple undergraduates.
The LVK network detects gravitational waves when a massive cosmic event — like the collision of two black holes — creates invisible ripples in the fabric of space-time. Waves ripple out at the speed of light, and millions of years after the events that first created them, they reach the LVK detectors.
But detecting gravitational waves does not simply mean capturing a signal — clues first need to be untangled from background noise.
“Identifying gravitational-wave signals requires carefully separating real astrophysical events from random fluctuations in the data,” says School of Physics graduate student Urja Shah, whose work to quickly identify phenomena supports rapid follow-up by the broader astronomical community.
To support the identification of phenomena, School of Physics graduate student Megan Arogeti conducts consistency tests between waveforms, checking results to find unexpected or unusual features. “Tests like this give us confidence in our models as we continue to observe gravitational waves with increasing sensitivity,” she explains. “They support new observations and help identify exciting new physics.”
“These efforts help ensure that gravitational-wave signals are robustly identified and accurately characterized, turning each detection into a precise measurement,” adds Shah. “In turn, these measurements deepen our understanding of some of the most massive and dense objects in the universe and the fundamental laws governing the cosmos.”
When a sensor detects a gravitational wave, it produces a distinctive response, says School of Physics graduate student Shobhit Ranjan. “Those signals encode a wealth of information we can analyze to learn about their sources — their masses, spins, distance, and location.” But in order to detect these chirps, the detectors must be carefully calibrated, and if calibration is not optimal, the signals can be compromised.
Now, a new tool is helping the LVK collaboration recalibrate less optimal signals. The technique is already showing promise: In an article recently accepted in Physical Review Letters, LVK researchers successfully applied it to two interesting signals. The first signal served as a testing opportunity for the method. The team used astrocalibration to recover the data and check it against secondary independent calibration data that was available. They then put the technique to use, recovering information from a second event where no secondary calibration data were available.
“Like autotune in the music industry, the new research shows that theoretical models can be used as guides, similar to how sheet music can help a studio shift off-key music to its correct tone,” Ranjan explains. “These theoretical models suggest the shape of the signal, and together with data from other detectors, we can adjust the data and read it correctly.”
“The fact that these detectors can now not only sense cosmic events, but leverage them to improve the data being collected marks a new era in gravitational wave science,” he adds.
The LVK Collaboration also published their fifth catalog of gravitational wave events this spring. The findings include an updated estimate of how fast the universe is expanding, evidence for the existence of second-generation black holes, the most precise sky localization ever achieved for a gravitational wave source, and the first measurement of three vibrational modes of a black hole.
“Our group helped enable 140 detections out of the 161 reported in this catalog,” says Joshi, who contributed to one of the flagship searches and designed a specialized search focused on detecting especially heavy black hole mergers.
Joshi also worked on determining precise locations of where the gravitational waves originated from in the universe — research that he says will allow astronomers around the world to perform long-term follow-up observations of interesting events.
One record-setting detection showed two black holes that had violently collided more than 3 billion light-years from Earth. Researchers were able to pinpoint its location in the sky more precisely than any other gravitational wave event observed before.
Improvements in the LVK network’s ability to localize events along with the large number of detections allowed for a better estimate of the Hubble constant, which measures the rate at which the universe is expanding. The new measurement is over 25% more precise than previous estimates.
The new catalog also includes the “clearest” gravitational wave signal ever detected. The clarity of the signal led to the most accurate test of general relativity ever performed and confirmation of Stephen Hawking’s black hole area theorem.
“This catalog provides not just the largest number of black hole detections, it marks a new era of rapid progress,” Sachdev says. “This is just the beginning of what these observations will allow us to uncover.”
]]>Beginning July 6, Techwood Drive will be fully closed to vehicular traffic between Bobby Dodd Way and North Avenue to support utility work associated with the renovation of the Smith and Howell residence halls. The sidewalk next to Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field will be closed to pedestrians. The eastern sidewalk, in front of the residence halls, will be open on either side of the project entrance.
What to Expect:
This work is part of a broader renovation of the Smith and Howell residence halls, which includes upgrades to building systems, enhanced interior spaces, and improved ADA accessibility. The addition of a new connecting structure will link the two buildings and create a welcoming central entrance.
See the attached logistics and detour map for further details. Thank you for your patience as we make improvements to our campus residence halls.
Project Manager
Planning, Design, and Construction
]]>It’s a role she knows well.
For more than 11 years, Stoinski has served as president, CEO, and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, leading efforts to help the world better understand and protect Rwanda’s mountain gorillas — a species with only about 1,000 left in the wild.
Although she now oversees a multimillion-dollar budget and 400 employees worldwide, she never planned to be a CEO.
“I’m a scientist at my core,” says Stoinski. “Day to day, I function more as a leader and executive, but I still think of myself as a scientist first.”
Her job covers a wide range of responsibilities, including fundraising, public speaking, budgeting, and strategy. One week, she might find herself observing gorilla behavior in Rwanda; the next, she’s back in the U.S., discussing conservation on the popular Armchair Expert podcast.
“I love my job,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like work; it’s a passion.”
One of the reasons Stoinski chose Georgia Tech for her Ph.D. was its connection to Zoo Atlanta.
Her doctoral advisor, the late Terry Maple, emeritus professor in the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences, served as director of Zoo Atlanta, giving students rare access to conservation-focused research.
“The zoo was our lab. I studied elephants, lemurs, gorillas, and golden lion tamarins, both in the zoo and in the wild in Brazil and Africa,” says Stoinski.
She appreciates how Georgia Tech prepared her for the challenges of her career.
“The rigor of a Georgia Tech education is something you need as a scientist,” she says. “I also had the opportunity to do a lot of public speaking and teaching, which are huge parts of my job now.”
After earning her Ph.D., Stoinski spent 14 years with Zoo Atlanta while also working with the Atlanta-based Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. She became CEO in 2014 and now oversees conservation and research programs in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Under her leadership, the Fossey Fund has expanded its footprint, including opening its Ellen DeGeneres Campus in 2022, a 12-acre research and education center in Rwanda.
The site includes labs, classrooms, and a restored landscape, where roughly 250,000 plants from 110 species have been planted to reestablish native ecosystems.
“We host hundreds of students — including groups from Georgia Tech, and support dozens of graduate and postdoctoral researchers, from countries all over the world including many from Africa,” she explains. “Seeing their excitement and commitment gives me lots of hope for the future.”
A Gorilla Story follows the Pablo family of mountain gorillas living on the slopes of Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda.
“The Pablo group goes back to Dian Fossey’s time,” explains Stoinski. “It’s the largest group of gorillas ever recorded, at one point reaching 65 individuals. An average gorilla family is about 10.”
Due to Rwandan regulations, filming could take place for just one hour each day. Filmmakers and scientists would often have to hike for five to six hours to reach the gorillas.
Because Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund researchers have followed these gorilla families for decades, they were already familiar with the individual gorillas, including six generations of family history, which “makes the story incredibly rich,” says Stoinski.
“You see grief, relationships, alliances — all of it,” she says. “Ultimately, I hope that connection leads people to care and to take action.”
Stoinski’s career is all about taking action — and inspiring others to do the same.
“We need people on the ground doing this work, but we also need people outside of our field to support and be aware of what’s happening to gorillas and the planet’s biodiversity,” she says.
She encourages Tech students to stay informed:
“Even if you’re not going into conservation, take a class, listen, learn,” she says. “Unfortunately, there are real challenges facing the next generation.”
She frequently points out that by helping gorillas, we’re saving ourselves, sharing that gorillas live in the Congo Basin, one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. By dispersing seeds and maintaining forest structure, they help sustain environments critical for climate stability and planetary health.
“Protecting gorillas means protecting those ecosystems, which ultimately support human survival.”
Stoinski maintains strong ties to Georgia Tech through research collaborations and student engagement. Projects over the years have included helping to establish the Center for Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing at the University of Rwanda, geospatial mapping, and architectural design and planning.
She invites alumni and students to engage with the work firsthand.
“I encourage more Georgia Tech alumni and students to work with us or come see us. And if you want to meet with a Georgia Tech grad, I lead tours: we can put on our Tech gear and take a photo with the gorillas!”
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Housing and transportation are top priorities for many city mayors, policymakers and public policy researchers—including Brian An, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. But in February 2021, soon after Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc in Texas, an eight-hour power outage at his Atlanta home became an epiphany.
“While housing stability had long been on my mind, losing power drove home the importance of another piece of urban infrastructure: reliable access to electricity,” says An, an EPIcenter faculty affiliate and co-director of the Center for Urban Research. “It sparked my interest in studying the intersection of energy and urban policy to help make cities and communities not only socially equitable but also resilient to extreme weather.”
Read Full Story on the EPIcenter News Page
]]>Housing and transportation are top priorities for many city mayors, policymakers and public policy researchers—including Brian An, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. But in February 2021, soon after Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc in Texas, an eight-hour power outage at his Atlanta home became an epiphany.
“While housing stability had long been on my mind, losing power drove home the importance of another piece of urban infrastructure: reliable access to electricity,” says An, an EPIcenter faculty affiliate and co-director of the Center for Urban Research. “It sparked my interest in studying the intersection of energy and urban policy to help make cities and communities not only socially equitable but also resilient to extreme weather.”
]]>News Contact: Priya Devarajan, Research Communications Program Manager
]]>Communities across Georgia and the nation are navigating a range of economic and energy-related pressures. Gas prices, inflation, and the rapid growth of data centers are shaping the cost of goods and services, influencing everyday household financial decisions.
At the same time, ongoing geopolitical tensions are driving fluctuations in global oil markets and fuel prices. The expansion of AI data centers is also increasing demand for land, power, and water resources. And conflicts involving energy infrastructure in parts of the Middle East and Europe have affected supply stability.
Responding to these challenges requires careful analysis of emerging trends, supported by strong research in policy and economics. Faculty Affiliates of Georgia Tech’s Energy Policy and Innovation Center study these complex, interconnected issues affecting energy systems, costs, and access. They analyze emerging trends, evaluate policy options, and identify practical pathways forward.
Read Full Story on the EPIcenter News Page
]]>Communities across Georgia and the nation are navigating a range of economic and energy-related pressures. Gas prices, inflation, and the rapid growth of data centers are shaping the cost of goods and services, influencing everyday household financial decisions.
]]>Georgia Tech has appointed the College of Computing’s David Joyner as interim vice provost for AI in Education, effective July 1. In this role, Joyner will lead implementation of the Institute’s academic artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. He will coordinate efforts across Colleges and administrative units and seek to expand access to resources, partnerships, and opportunities that support AI fluency, faculty innovation, and student success.
“David has been an important contributor to Georgia Tech’s academic AI strategy from the beginning,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “With expertise in AI use in the classroom, a commitment to instructional innovation, and a deep appreciation for and understanding of faculty perspectives, David is exceptionally well-positioned to lead this work.”
Joyner’s appointment kicks off the next phase of the academic AI strategy, which was developed with input from faculty, staff, students, and academic leaders from across the Institute. The strategy is organized around three goals: advancing AI-driven teaching and learning, equipping faculty and students to build and integrate AI tools effectively and responsibly, and strengthening Georgia Tech’s impact and leadership through responsible AI innovation and engagement.
As interim vice provost for AI in Education, Joyner will work closely with faculty governance leaders, academic leadership, and campus partners to coordinate implementation efforts, support strategic initiatives, expand access to AI resources, and help align activities across the Institute.
Joyner currently serves in the College of Computing as associate dean for Off-Campus and Special Initiatives and executive director of Online Education and the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program. He will continue to serve as executive director of OMSCS while stepping down from his associate dean responsibilities to assume the role of interim vice provost for AI Strategy.
Joyner is a recognized leader in online learning, educational technology, and AI-enabled education. His research focuses on learning at scale, online instruction, and the use of AI to support student success and teaching innovation. Through his leadership of OMSCS and his work as a researcher and instructor, he has helped shape how Georgia Tech and higher education approach technology-enhanced learning.
“I am thrilled to take on this role at such a pivotal time for AI and education,” said Joyner. “Georgia Tech’s faculty, staff, and students are already making incredible strides in this area, and I can’t wait to highlight and empower what they’re doing while helping us all articulate how we both use and address AI responsibly, in every sense of the word.”
Faculty expertise and shared governance will remain central to the implementation of the academic AI strategy. Faculty interested in contributing to pilot projects, sharing effective practices, or helping inform future AI initiatives will have opportunities to participate as the work continues.
Logically this makes sense and has been backed up by past security research. However, researchers at Georgia Tech have found hidden paths in cyber-physical systems that attackers can use to disrupt or even destroy them.
To find these hidden paths before an attacker does, the researchers built a testing tool called ICSFlux. This new tool leans on the physics used by the industrial process and maps out the system to find new threats that were once thought impossible.
ICSFlux was deployed across 11 different programmable logic controllers in six industrial sectors, including chemical manufacturing, water treatment, power grids, aircraft, desalination, and waste processing. The process uncovered twenty genuine safety violations.
In one case drawn from a chemical-plant simulation, an attack path uncovered by the tool drove a reactor past its safe pressure limit and into a simulated explosion. By using nothing but valid operator commands, the team took the reactor from a completely normal and stable state to critical territory.
Because the method relies only on the physics of a process and not on the details of any one controller, the same tool worked across all six sectors without being rebuilt, and it reduced the search space by roughly 50%.
Burak Sahin, a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech and the study's lead author, found that by sending a series of perfectly normal, fully authorized commands, intruders can slowly nudge a physical process toward a dangerous state.
“These systems are usually judged safe as long as nobody hacks into them,'' Sahin said. “What we found is that an attacker who can send everyday commands, the same ones a normal operator sends, can patiently steer the process toward a failure. No single command looks wrong, which is exactly why the usual defenses miss it.''
Most existing tools assume an attacker can rewire the controller or change the software inside it. In the real world, those controllers are locked down and cannot be touched. ICSFlux takes the opposite and more realistic view. It treats the controller as a sealed box that cannot be opened and works only with the commands an operator is normally allowed to send.
Rather than measuring how much of a controller's software it has exercised, the usual yardstick for this kind of testing, ICSFlux measures how close the physical system is getting to an unsafe limit and steers its testing in that direction.
“Two different sensor readings can run through the exact same code and still send a reactor in completely different directions,'' Sahin said. “Looking only at the software tells you nothing about whether the physical system is safe. We had to follow the physics, not the code.''
One of the study's most important takeaways emerged when the researchers tightened the safety margins to see whether caution alone would help. Even when every command stayed within approved limits, the way the controller reacted to a steady stream of small adjustments could still cause pressure to overshoot and the reactor to fail. In other words, staying inside the rules was not always enough.
All of the team's experiments were carried out on secured, controlled test beds. The work was conducted with Georgia Tech's Cyber-Physical Systems Security Lab, whose research spans the security of cyber-physical systems from industrial programmable logic controllers to marine, automotive, and drone platforms. Georgia Tech's Cyber Forensics Innovation Laboratory, a team of researchers who work together to further the investigation of advanced cyber crimes and the analysis and prevention of next-generation malware attacks, also contributed to the paper.
The labs are a collaboration between the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Fuzzing the Physical Space: Physics-Aware Testing of Black-Box Industrial Control Systems' was accepted to the 2026 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. In addition to Sahin, the team includes Ph.D. students David Oygenblik, Mingxuan Yao, and Yizhi Huang as well as Associate Professors Brendan Saltaformaggio, and Saman Zonouz.
]]>Logically this makes sense and has been backed up by past security research. However, researchers at Georgia Tech have found hidden paths in cyber-physical systems that attackers can use to disrupt or even destroy them.
To find these hidden paths before an attacker does, the researchers built a testing tool called ICSFlux. This new tool leans on the physics used by the industrial process and maps out the system to find new threats that were once thought impossible.
]]>Communications Officer II at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy
]]>Georgia Tech Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is helping prepare the next generation of safety leaders through a newly launched Lab and Workplace Safety Certificate Program, a yearlong initiative designed to strengthen laboratory safety culture and promote proactive, people‑centered approaches to risk management.
As part of the pilot program, Georgia Tech graduate students Megan Yutthasaksunthorn, Calib Lanier, and Youngsu Shin recently took a behind‑the‑scenes tour of Georgia Aquarium, gaining insight into how safety principles are applied in complex operational environments. The experience highlighted best practices in water quality monitoring, laboratory and workplace safety, and, most importantly, the role of a strong safety culture.
A Program Rooted in Industry Best Practices
The Lab and Workplace Safety Certificate Program was developed in collaboration with ExxonMobil’s laboratory safety program in Houston, Texas, bringing industry‑tested practices into an academic framework. Georgia Tech is participating alongside peer institutions, including Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Florida, and the University of Texas, reflecting a growing, cross-institutional commitment to advancing lab safety education.
The certificate is designed primarily for graduate students pursuing careers with a focus on chemical and process safety, though qualified undergraduate students may also be considered. Over the course of the year, participants complete both online and hands-on learning components, blending foundational knowledge with applied experience.
The goal of the program is twofold: to develop safer laboratory practices and to equip participants with the skills to train and influence others in lab settings. Rather than focusing solely on compliance, the program emphasizes leadership, communication, and systems thinking — key elements of a sustainable safety culture.
Hands‑On Learning Beyond the Campus Lab
The Georgia Aquarium visit was part of the program’s experiential component and offered a powerful example of safety in action beyond the traditional academic laboratory. Through a detailed presentation and tour, students learned how safety principles translate into daily operations in an environment where human performance, high‑risk activities, and complex systems intersect.
The visit was facilitated by EH&S Lab and Chemical Safety Officer Alicia Wood-Jones, who coordinated with an assistant dive manager of operations at the aquarium. The session included an in‑depth discussion on human factors and safety, an approach that asks a critical question: How do we design systems so mistakes don’t lead to injury?
This perspective resonated with students and reinforced one of the program’s central themes: Effective safety programs anticipate human error and build layers of protection through planning, communication, and shared responsibility.
Building Leadership and Safety Culture
Throughout the certificate program, participants engage in activities that strengthen both technical understanding and leadership capability. Hands-on components include:
By examining safety culture across different environments, students gain a broader understanding of how values, behaviors, and systems come together to support safe work practices.
EH&S Leadership and Support
EH&S plays a pivotal role in supporting the certificate program and ensuring students have access to meaningful learning experiences that align with campus safety priorities. The initiative was spearheaded by Rebecca Graham, EH&S laboratory and chemical safety specialist, whose leadership and coordination helped bring the program and field experience to fruition. “It’s an honor to help lead this program and bring industry-informed practices, including those shaped through ExxonMobil’s safety framework, into an academic setting,” she said. “Our goal is to equip students not only with technical knowledge, but with the leadership skills needed to build and sustain a proactive safety culture wherever their careers take them.”
Through programs like this, EH&S continues its mission of fostering a culture where safety is proactive, collaborative, and embedded in everything we do.
For additional information about the certificate program, contact Laboratory and Chemical Safety Specialist Rebecca Graham.
Communications Officer II
Institute Communications
Infrastructure and Operations | Planning, Design, and Construction | Office of Sustainability
]]>See a curated list of Georgia Tech experts available to comment on the World Cup here.
As Atlanta welcomes the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the promises are familiar: millions of visitors, global attention, economic growth, and a chance to showcase the city on one of the biggest stages in sports.
But Georgia Tech experts say the real question is not whether the tournament will generate activity — it is who benefits from it and what remains after the final match is played.
Mega-events have long been sold as catalysts for transformation. The 1996 Olympics reshaped Atlanta’s physical landscape and helped position the city as a global destination. Thirty years later, the World Cup arrives at a very different moment.
“There are similarities,” said Emily Barrett, assistant professor in the School of City and Regional Planning. “Like the Olympics, the World Cup is an accelerator for infrastructure upgrades and public and private investment alike.”
Atlanta is seeing significant public investment in transportation improvements and billions of dollars in private development downtown. But today’s Atlanta is very different from Atlanta in the 1990s.
“Atlanta is no longer a city seeking recognition on the world stage,” Barrett said. “We are a thriving and growing city.”
That shifts the conversation from visibility to value.
“The open question is whether hosting mega-events makes the city work better for the people who live here,” Barrett added.
Assessing that value becomes more complicated when economic forecasts enter the conversation.
Large projections often dominate headlines, but Declan Abernethy, lecturer in the School of History and Sociology, cautions that economic impact estimates rarely tell the whole story.
“It is far easier to put out an economic impact projection compared to the difficulty of measuring impact,” Abernethy said.
While visitors will spend money on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment, he notes that much of that spending may not reach the community.
“When we look closely at that spending, we can see that much of the profit will be taken in by large corporations or FIFA in the immediate vicinity of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and not as much by Atlanta residents or small businesses,” he said.
According to Barrett, economic studies often overlook a critical question: What could alternative investments have accomplished?
“Economic studies rarely account for displacement costs, or whether the same public dollars could have generated similar or better outcomes if invested elsewhere,” she said.
The World Cup’s impact extends beyond economics; it will also test Atlanta’s infrastructure at a scale few events can match.
Michael Hunter, professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, says the biggest challenge may be the volume of people moving through the city.
“There will be a number of pressure points. However, one of the most significant will be just the number of people,” Hunter said. “This event will attract significant crowds.”
Atlanta’s transportation agencies have spent years preparing, drawing on lessons learned from events including the Super Bowl, World Series, and major concerts. Still, capacity limits are unavoidable.
“There is only so much traffic that MARTA or any transit agency can handle,” Hunter said. “People need to understand that there will be congestion and longer wait times. The key is to be patient.”
The concern is whether those investments result in lasting improvements or merely support a few weeks of activity.
Abernethy argues that the World Cup should be viewed as part of a broader vision for Atlanta rather than a standalone catalyst.
“We are seeing the World Cup as a part of a longer-running and more cohesive vision for sport and economic development downtown,” he said. “Atlanta may not be repeating the same cycle nor cracking downtown’s development problem with the World Cup itself.”
Infrastructure challenges extend beyond transportation. Feeding hundreds of thousands of visitors while minimizing waste requires its own network of logistics, coordination, and planning.
Nicole Kennard, a research scientist at Georgia Tech’s Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, views the tournament as an opportunity to strengthen how food moves throughout the city.
“These large events are a really big opportunity for us to coordinate and test our infrastructure,” Kennard said. “We have to think critically about how to improve the infrastructure and ensure its resilience and efficiency.”
Working with organizations such as Second Helpings Atlanta, the official food rescue partner for the World Cup, Georgia Tech researchers are building technologies and tools to improve coordination among food rescue groups. The effort aims to keep surplus food out of landfills by quickly moving it from stadiums and vendors to local food organizations.
“It’s really a logistics problem, a data problem, and a coordination problem,” Kennard said. “The faster you can move food from the point of surplus directly to a pantry, the more likely it is to reach people who need it.”
Ultimately, Atlanta’s World Cup legacy may not be measured by attendance figures or visitor spending alone.
“How we evaluate success depends on what we choose to measure, and too often we focus on headline numbers instead of who actually benefits,” said Abernethy.
Kennard sees the tournament as a chance to build systems that outlast the event itself. “What we build for the World Cup could become critical infrastructure for future emergencies and disasters,” she said.
Atlanta already knows how to host a global event. Whether the investments, partnerships, and infrastructure created for the World Cup leave the city stronger after the crowds leave remains to be seen.
]]>Scientists have captured the most detailed structural images to date of a specific type of protein’s DNA repair process. The research could reveal ways to inhibit the effects of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations that heighten the risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers.
“This work lets us see, step by step, one mechanism by which cancer cells could manage to repair their DNA when BRCA genes mutate and fail,” says study co-author Vicki Wysocki, who is chair of the Georgia Tech School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “By capturing this process in detail, this study opens the door to understanding how those cancerous cells survive and how treatments might disrupt that mechanism.”
Designated as a Breakthrough Article, the study Mechanism of single-strand annealing from native mass spectrometry and cryo-EM structures of RAD52 homolog Mgm101 was recently published in Nucleic Acids Research.
In addition to Wysocki, who is a professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a professor emerita at Ohio State University, the Georgia Tech research team included co-first author Zihao Qi, a Ph.D. candidate in the Wysocki Lab.
They were joined by Ohio State researchers co-first author Carter Wheat and senior author Charles Bell, who is a professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology in the College of Medicine. Additional authors include Metro High School student Miqdad Hussain and CAS researcher Katerina Zakharova.
Normally, BRCA genes help prevent cancer by acting as tumor suppressors — producing proteins that help repair broken DNA. When cancer cells lack the tumor-suppression function of normal BRCA genes, research has shown that a protein called RAD52 performs DNA repair.
Since RAD52 allows cancer cells to survive and replicate without tumor suppression, researchers have wondered if blocking it would kill the cancerous cells. Blocking RAD52, however, requires fully understanding its repair activities, which have been difficult to capture with even the most sophisticated techniques.
DNA strands break every day in cells, which is why proteins exist to fix the breaks and keep cellular processes running smoothly, the team says. But because repairs must happen quickly and human proteins are often more complex than their ancestral counterparts, even the most advanced imaging equipment can’t capture every step in the process.
In order to understand RAD52 better, the research team turned to its ancestral protein, Mgm101, to observe several key steps in its DNA repair process.
The team decided to leverage multiple types of imaging. Wysocki’s lab at Georgia Tech conducted native mass spectrometry and mass photometry, using light to measure masses of protein-DNA complexes. The results showed that the ancestral protein Mgm101 assembled from a single copy of itself into a large multi-unit ring composed of 19 copies of the protein.
“This ring is essentially a template,” Wysocki explains. “The first strand of DNA can come down, and then the second strand comes on and starts being annealed to the first strand.” Annealing occurs when two single strands of DNA come together to form the characteristic double helix structure.
The findings were supported by what Bell’s lab determined using cryogenic electron microscopy, observing structures floating in solution and frozen in a thin layer of ice.
“RAD52 high-resolution structures have been determined with single-stranded DNA, but not with the two DNAs that it’s trying to anneal,” Bell says. “Its job is to bind single-stranded DNA and anneal it to its complement sequence. It’s been captured structurally, but only in a few states relevant to the reaction.”
“Here, we have more of the states along the full pathway from substrate, to intermediate and product. And the duplex intermediate is a conformation that’s never been seen before.”
Previously, researchers were unsure if this DNA repair process used one protein ring or two rings working together, the team says. Their findings show that just one ring is used — and that this is likely consistent across different species.
Next, the team plans to try capturing the same phases of the DNA repair process with RAD52 from humans. A clearer understanding of how this family of proteins binds to DNA strands and coaxes them back together after a break provides insights for drug targets that could halt the process in cancer cells empowered by mutated BRCA genes, they say.
“It’s still a proposed mechanism: Just because we see these snapshots of the process doesn’t mean we know all the details, but we do have the best snapshots for any protein that does this single-strand annealing,” says Bell. “This focuses our strategies for drug development.”
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkag320
Funding: This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The cryo-EM data were collected at Ohio State’s Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis and processed using the Ohio Supercomputer Center.
]]>Research Writer / Editor
Georgia Tech College of Sciences
]]>As an energy economist, I am often asked about what contributes to gas prices and what different policies can do to affect them.
The price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes.
In nationwide figures from January 2026, crude oil accounted for about 51% of the pump price, refining roughly 20%, distribution and marketing about 11% and taxes about 18%. That mix shifts with conditions: When crude oil prices spike, that can drive more than 60% of the price; when the price drops, taxes and logistics are larger shares of the cost.
Because the price of crude oil is the largest element, most of the price at the pump is derived from the global oil market.
Usually, big swings in crude prices come mainly from shifts in global demand and expectations – not from supply disruptions, according to widely cited research in 2009 by the economist Lutz Kilian.
But what is happening in early 2026 with the war in Iran is one of the exceptions: a classic supply shock. Severe disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle East oil infrastructure have taken millions of barrels a day off the global market.
Most drivers generally can’t quickly reduce how much they drive or how much gas they use when prices rise, so gasoline demand doesn’t change much in the short run. That means a jump in crude costs tends to result in people paying more rather than driving less.
Refining turns crude into gasoline at industrial scale. The U.S. doesn’t have a single gasoline market, though. Roughly a quarter of U.S. gasoline is a cleaner-burning blend of petroleum-derived chemicals called “reformulated gasoline,” which is required in urban areas across 17 states and the District of Columbia to reduce smog.
California uses an even stricter formulation that few out-of-state refineries make. California is also geographically isolated: No pipelines bring gasoline in from other U.S. refining regions.
California’s gasoline prices have long run above the national average, explained in part by higher state taxes and stricter environmental rules. But since a refinery fire in Torrance, California, in 2015 reduced production capacity, the state’s prices have been about 20 to 30 cents a gallon higher than what those factors would indicate.
Energy economist and University of California, Berkeley, professor Severin Borenstein has called this the “mystery gasoline surcharge” and attributes it to the fact that there isn’t as much competition between refineries or gas stations in California as in other states. California’s own Division of Petroleum Market Oversight says the surcharge cost the state’s drivers about $59 billion from 2015 to 2024. It’s not exactly clear who is getting that money, but it could be gas stations themselves or refineries, through complex contracts with gas stations.
The distribution and marketing category covers the costs of everything involved in getting the gasoline from the refinery gate to your tank.
Gasoline moves by pipeline, ship, rail and truck to wholesale terminals, and then by local delivery truck to service stations.
At the retailer’s end, the key factors are station rent and labor, the cost to buy gasoline in bulk to be able to sell it, credit card fees of as much as 6 to 10 cents a gallon at current prices, and franchise fees paid to the national brand, such as Sunoco or ExxonMobil, for permission to put their branding on the gas station.
Most gas station operators net only a few cents per gallon on fuel itself – which is why many gas stations are really convenience stores with pumps out front. Borenstein and some of his collaborators have also documented that retail gas prices rise quickly when wholesale costs climb but fall slowly when wholesale costs drop.
The federal government charges a tax on fuel, of 18.4 cents a gallon for gasoline and 24.3 cents a gallon for diesel. States charge their own taxes, ranging from 70.9 cents a gallon for gas in California to 8.95 cents in Alaska.
When gas prices rise, many politicians start talking about temporarily suspending their state’s gas tax. That does reduce prices, but not as much as politicians – or consumers – might hope. Research on past gas tax holidays has found that consumers get about 79% of the reduction in gas taxes. That means oil companies and fuel retailers keep about one-fifth of the tax cut for themselves rather than passing that savings to the public.
Gas tax holidays also reduce funding for what the taxes are designed to pay for, typically roads and bridges. That pushes road and bridge upkeep costs onto future drivers and general taxpayers.
There is an additional problem, too: Taxes on gasoline are supposed to charge drivers for some of the costs their driving imposes on everyone else – carbon emissions, local air pollution, congestion and crashes. But Borenstein has found that U.S. fuel tax levels are already far below the true cost to society. Removing the tax on drivers effectively raises the costs for everyone else.
The 1920 Jones Act is a federal law that requires cargo moving between U.S. ports to travel on vessels built and registered in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed primarily by U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Of the world’s 7,500 oil tankers, only 54 meet this requirement. Only 43 of these can transport refined fuels such as gasoline.
So, despite significant refining capacity on the Gulf Coast, some U.S. gasoline is exported overseas even as the Northeast imports fuel, in part reflecting the relatively high cost of moving fuel between U.S. ports.
Economists Ryan Kellogg and Rich Sweeney estimate that the law raises East Coast gasoline prices by about a penny and a half per gallon on average, costing drivers roughly $770 million a year. In light of the war’s effect on gas prices, the Trump administration has temporarily suspended the Jones Act requirements – an action more commonly taken when hurricanes knock out Gulf Coast refineries and pipeline networks.
The result of all these factors is that the price that drivers see at the pump mostly reflects the global price of crude, plus a stack of domestic costs, only some of which are inefficient.
Tax holidays give a partial, short-lived rebate. Jones Act waivers trim pennies, though permanent repeal may cause more fundamental changes, such as reduced rail and truck transport of all goods, which could lower costs, emissions and infrastructure damage associated with cargo transportation. Harmonizing fuel blends across states and seasons may lower prices somewhat, but likely at the expense of increased emissions.
Ultimately, the best protection against oil price shocks is a more efficient gas-burning vehicle, or one that doesn’t burn gasoline at all. In the meantime, the best I can offer as an economist is clarity about what that $4.30 actually buys.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
]]>Assistant Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Shelley Wunder-Smith
Director of Research Communications
Georgia Institute of Technology
Walker has been a member of the Guggenheim School faculty since 2005 and has held several leadership positions, including associate chair for graduate studies. Prior to his appointment as chair, he served in the dean’s office as the College’s associate dean for academic affairs.
“Mitchell’s leadership and achievements reflect the excellence and innovation that define Georgia Tech,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “As a longtime member of our faculty, he brings a deep understanding of the Institute’s values and aspirations to this new role. I am confident he will build on the College of Engineering’s extraordinary legacy and elevate its global impact.”
Walker is known for his ability to bring together expertise and partners across schools and colleges to develop high-impact programming, including the interdisciplinary Minor in Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
He played a pivotal role in advancing the sustained advocacy that led to Georgia Tech securing $88 million in state funding for a new Aerospace Engineering Building. Under his leadership, the nation’s top-ranked public aerospace program built a compelling case through years of coordinated effort among faculty, staff, alumni, advisory board members, and past leaders. This momentum reflects Walker’s contributions to aligning academic excellence with strategic institutional advocacy to achieve a landmark investment for the Institute.
“Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering represents the very best in innovation, impact, and collaboration,” Walker said. “I am honored to lead such an accomplished community of faculty, staff, and students and look forward to building on its strong foundation. Together, we will continue to advance research, education, and partnerships that address the world’s most pressing challenges and improve lives.”
Walker is a respected leader in advanced propulsion research, focusing on experimental and theoretical studies of plasma propulsion concepts for spacecraft, including Hall thrusters, gridded ion engines, and vacuum facility effects. He directs Georgia Tech’s High-Power-Electric Propulsion Laboratory and is principal investigator and director of the $15 million Joint Advanced Propulsion Institute (JANUS), a multi-university NASA Space Technology Research Institute. JANUS develops strategies to overcome limitations in ground testing of high-power electric propulsion systems, enabling and expanding their use in flight.
Walker is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and serves as a member of the organization’s Electric Propulsion Technical Committee. He is also an associate editor of the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and serves on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Physics and Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences – Plasma Physics. In addition, he has delivered expert witness testimony to the Space Subcommittee of the House of Representatives to help guide national investments in space propulsion technology.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program Award, the AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award, the AIAA Sustained Service Award, and the Georgia Power Professor of Excellence Award.
As dean, Walker will lead the College’s academic and research enterprise, which includes more than 21,000 students, 50 degree tracks, and nearly 500 faculty members. Its undergraduate program is ranked No. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and the graduate program is No. 4. All 11 of its programs are consistently ranked in the top 10.
Walker succeeds Beyah, who began his term as provost last November.
“I would like to thank Doug Williams for his steady leadership and service as interim dean during this important transition,” Beyah said. “Since November, he has provided critical stability for the College, and we are deeply grateful for his support of our faculty, staff, and students. I would also like to thank the search committee and their chair, Dean Vivek Sarkar. Vivek and the committee brought world-class candidates forward during this process, and their work has resulted in an exceptional new dean.”
Writer: Brittany Aiello, Faculty Communications Program Manager, Executive Communications, Institute Communications
]]>With more than 150 attendees from industry, academia, and research organizations, the event’s high-level engagement underscored the urgency of critical issues facing the energy sector today, including the surging electricity demand, resiliency of the grid, and evolving supply chains, as well as the value of a dedicated space for candid, solutions-oriented dialogue.
“INTERSECT 2026 demonstrated the power of bringing together leaders who are actively shaping the future of energy,” said Laura Taylor, director of EPIcenter. “What began as a forum to explore emerging ideas has grown into a critical platform for aligning perspectives and advancing actionable solutions across the Southeast.”
This year’s program focused on real-world implementation challenges, including managing large-scale load growth and coordinating infrastructure investments to meet demand reliably and affordably. Panels featuring leaders from utilities, global energy corporations, and research organizations emphasized the importance of aligning strategy across sectors to ensure that the Southeast remains competitive and resilient.
Chris Womack, chairman, president, and CEO of Southern Company, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the unprecedented scale of current energy demands.
“Meeting this moment requires us to think differently — serving growth while ensuring reliability, resilience, and long-term value for our customers and communities,” said Womack.
Launched in 2017, the inaugural INTERSECT conference marked the launch of EPIcenter itself and established Georgia Tech’s commitment to connecting research, industry insight, and policy development. It focused on the need to bridge the gap between rapidly advancing technologies and slower-moving regulatory and market frameworks, a theme that continues to shape its mission today.
As INTERSECT 2026 concluded, participants pointed to a shared takeaway: With its industrial base, growing population, and integrated energy systems, the Southeast is uniquely positioned to lead in the next phase of the energy transition. With AI-driven power demand and grid infrastructure playing a significant role going forward, it is imperative to bring together the right voices to shape policies and strategies that will connect ideas to action.
]]>The highly competitive Laboratory Placement program is a paid opportunity offered through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships. It provides students from a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at leading facilities, including Argonne National Laboratory, Ames National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Laboratory of the Rockies, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and Savannah River National Laboratory.
The program’s 2026 cohort includes 16 Georgia Tech students from disciplines such as artificial intelligence, materials science, aerospace engineering, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics. Their research placements reflect the interdisciplinary nature of today’s scientific challenges, with projects covering bioinformatics, high-energy and condensed matter physics, accelerator science, environmental management, and advanced materials.
Many of the internships are closely aligned with national energy priorities, with students working in research areas including nuclear energy, hydrogen and chemical systems, materials for energy applications, plasma and fusion sciences, and complex engineered systems.
“Georgia Tech’s deep engagement with the national laboratory system creates unparalleled opportunities for our students to contribute to the future of energy,” said Yuanzhi Tang, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute. “By connecting interdisciplinary talent with world-class research environments, we are not only advancing discovery but also shaping the next generation of leaders who will drive secure, sustainable, and resilient energy systems.”
Working alongside national lab scientists, students will not only gain access to world-class facilities but benefit from mentorship and professional networks, while contributing to research critical to national security, economic competitiveness, and a more sustainable energy future.
“These internships demonstrate the strength of Georgia Tech’s relationships across the federal research ecosystem,” said Robert Knotts, executive director of Federal Relations in the Office of Institute Relations. “They provide a direct pathway for students to engage in public service through mission-driven research at national laboratories — while strengthening connections that are vital to advancing national priorities in energy, security, and innovation.”
]]>The highly competitive Laboratory Placement program is a paid opportunity offered through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships. It provides students from a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at leading facilities, including Argonne National Laboratory, Ames National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Laboratory of the Rockies, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and Savannah River National Laboratory.
]]>Omar Garcia Urdiales, CREATE‑X’s associate director of Learn, brings a global entrepreneurial experience to Georgia Tech: founder and CEO of a startup operating in the AWS Accelerator Loft, longtime startup coach in Europe’s major innovation hubs, lecturer across multiple universities, and an external doctoral researcher in entrepreneurship and digitalization. He brings this background to his teaching of Startup Lab’s latest iteration – a significant redesign developed by VentureLab’s Director Keith McGreggor. McGreggor created the course and has evolved it over many years, building on its initial success.
“This new iteration of Startup Lab allows us to meet students exactly where they are,” said McGreggor. “By doing this, we give them the strongest foundation possible, providing them with the tools to grapple with uncertainty and build their confidence.”
Startup Lab has long anchored the Institute’s entrepreneurial pathway with clearer structure, a unified language, and a deeper focus on reflective growth, so more Georgia Tech students can discover (and trust) their own entrepreneurial judgment.
Startup Lab is expanding responsibly, with six sections in Atlanta and additional global sections in France and Asia-Pacific taught by faculty trained in the curriculum. Students here benefit from a program that’s learning across borders and bringing that learning back to campus.
“Startup Lab is not about becoming an entrepreneur, but about engaging in the unknown and adopting entrepreneurial behavior, which can be applied to all career paths,” Urdiales said. “Students become better equipped to identify problem spaces and solve them through evidence-based building.”
Urdiales emphasized that Startup Lab is built for students who are still exploring, uncertain, or are simply curious.
“Many students tell us they’re curious about entrepreneurship but feel not ready,” he said. “They worry they’re too introverted for customer interviews or assume Startup Lab is only for people with fully formed ideas. In fact, those are the most common misconceptions.”
The course’s first few weeks focus on training students to see struggles and patterns in the world. Then, they apply those skills on a team, exploring, designing, and testing a concept with real people. The nonnegotiable outcome isn’t the best idea; it’s a more confident, evidence-driven version of you.
“Startup Lab is strengthening that self-awareness. All of us who are entrepreneurs, we don’t grow linearly. We have various iterations of how we see things,” Urdiales said. “This ability to see patterns or to see problems with customer discovery, it’s a learning process and a growth process.”
Urdiales said that students won’t have a passive experience in the lab.
“To become an entrepreneur, you need to do it. You need to engage with customers. You need to get out of the building,” he said. “It gives you the ability to incorporate theoretical frameworks into practical solutions and then understand these more practical outcomes.”
Aligning with CREATE-X’s culture of continuous iteration, Startup Lab is tightening the hands-on core of the course around four simple, repeatable tools so that entrepreneurial thinking becomes muscle memory, not a one-off assignment. The new iteration of the curriculum, developed by McGreggor, helps students learn to:
“What we have is a frontier model in entrepreneurial education,” said McGreggor. “The result is a course that teaches sound decision making and builds entrepreneurial confidence that rewards authentic discovery and iteration over performative polish. It creates a more solid foundation for entrepreneurial thinking and sets students up to engage more deeply with everything that follows in their CREATE-X pathway.”
As a part of Startup Lab, instructors integrate reflection throughout the semester, which helps students notice patterns of work, make small experiments, and adjust based on what’s learned. Students often worry they’re not the founder type or that their introversion will hold them back; Startup Lab reframes those worries as raw material for growth, including communication skill building and one-on-one interactions you won’t always get in higher-level courses.
Startup Lab integrates HaradaLite — McGreggor's adaptation of the Japanese Harada Method — as a weekly reflection practice in which students keep a reflection log, helping them notice patterns of work, run small experiments, and adjust based on what's learned. With this approach, educators are able to measure the growth of entrepreneurial confidence by self-report, leading to a more quantitative approach to teaching.
There’s no mandated order for CREATE-X courses. Startup Lab simply makes the next steps clearer by providing a shared language and milestone structure across sections and instructors, so whatever comes next (I2P, Capstone, Launch, or an internship), you can carry forward a coherent, evidence- aware story of your work.
“All CREATE‑X Learn sections will work with the same milestone objectives,” Urdiales said. “Students trained in Startup Lab are already trained in the muscles of entrepreneurship. They’re more equipped to go into Make and Launch or be a leader within their industry.”
Startup Lab is about becoming the kind of person who can see opportunities, reason from evidence, and make better decisions when the path isn’t obvious.
“Startup Lab helps students see the world’s problems and fill the gaps with fresh ideas, teaching them to see and understand the important difference between evidence and inference,” said McGreggor. “This lays the foundation that leads to good founders, and builds the entrepreneurial confidence needed to succeed.”
Students in Startup Lab can expect a workshop-heavy, conversation-rich semester with weekly artifacts, scenario-based decision prompts, startup reports, and quizzes that keep you honest about what you’re learning. You’ll assemble a Continuity Pack near the end: a compact bundle of your best discovery evidence, decisions, MVEs, economics, and final story slides so your future self (or your I2P/Launch application) can pick up right where you left off.
The course also sets norms for modern tool use. AI is welcomed as a coach and organizer, after your own baseline thinking and research, and as an enhancement of the real conversations you have. That matters because Startup Lab’s promise is that you build solid judgment under the test of uncertainty, critical to the world of today and the future that is being built.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. If you’re a first-year student still exploring, a junior craving real-world projects, or a senior looking to stand out in interviews, Startup Lab is for you.
Seats fill quickly across all sections — and for good reason.
This course gives you the clearest, most supportive on‑ramp into CREATE‑X, with a global methodology, a unified curriculum, and instructors who believe deeply in your potential to grow. Learn how to think entrepreneurially. See the world differently. Build the confidence that will follow you long after the semester ends.
Register for Startup Lab for Fall 2026.
Marketing Strategist
]]>Christopher Zuo never thought of himself as someone mosquitoes singled out. They bit him from time to time, he said, but no more than anyone else who spent a lot of time outdoors.
“I don’t know if I would say I’m prone,” Zuo said. “I do get bitten, but I also think that’s partly because I’m just outside a lot more.”
However, that assumption did not hold up once he stepped inside a sealed mosquito chamber as part of a Georgia Tech research study.
Zuo, a Georgia Tech alum and co-author on the study, worked alongside Georgia Tech faculty member David Hu and researchers in Hu’s fluid dynamics lab — and co-authors Chenyi Fei, Alex Cohen, Jorn Dunkel from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — on a multi-year effort to understand how mosquitoes locate people. Using high-speed cameras, careful controls, and mathematical modeling, the research examined how mosquitoes respond to carbon dioxide and visual cues. To confirm whether the data reflected real-world behavior, the team needed a human subject.
Zuo volunteered.
Before entering the chamber, he knew the mosquitoes were safe. They had been raised in a laboratory environment and were carefully controlled, making the experiment safer than being outdoors during peak mosquito activity.
“We knew exactly how all of these mosquitoes were reared, so we knew they’re disease-free,” he said. “Honestly, even if I got bitten 100 plus times, the actual danger that I was in was very little.”
Wearing a mesh suit, Zuo stood nearly motionless inside the chamber while mosquitoes were released and flew freely around him. Any movement could disrupt the data, so remaining still was critical even as mosquitoes gathered close to his face and upper body.
The response was immediate.
“You release the mosquitoes, and they’re already on top of you,” Zuo said. “Almost felt like it was instant.”
What surprised him most was not the bites but the sound.
“I didn’t realize how loud they were,” he said. “When they’re flying around your head, it’s that annoying buzzing sound. I didn’t realize how annoying it can get with just enough mosquitoes flying around.”
The experience was not limited to a single trial. Zuo entered the chamber multiple times as the research progressed, testing different variables including posture, clothing, and body positioning. In some experiments, he was required to hold his arms extended so cameras could capture a consistent silhouette.
“It felt more like an exercise at the gym,” Zuo said. “I was very much more focused on keeping my arms up and being as still as possible.”
Across those repeated interactions, patterns emerged that closely matched what the data predicted. Mosquitoes found him quickly, clustered in specific areas, and lingered only when certain conditions aligned.
“And once the conditions were right,” Zuo said, “they stayed.”
Zuo’s role helped bridge the gap between abstract modeling and human experience. It also challenged common assumptions about mosquito behavior that many people take for granted.
What follows are some of the most common mosquito myths, and what the Georgia Tech research and Zuo’s firsthand experience actually showed.
Myth: Mosquitoes swarm because they are following each other.
Reality: Mosquitoes respond independently to the same cues, which creates the appearance of swarming.
Trajectory data collected during the experiments showed no evidence that mosquitoes were coordinating or communicating with one another. Zuo explained that what people often describe as swarming is the result of multiple mosquitoes responding simultaneously to the same environmental signals. When carbon dioxide and a clear visual target are present, many mosquitoes converge on the same area independently. Zuo compared it to people arriving separately at the same crowded place because something there is attractive, not because they are following the crowd.
Myth: Mosquitoes randomly target different parts of the body.
Reality: In this study, mosquitoes concentrated near the head and shoulders, but only for the species observed, which is present in parts of the Southeast.
The Georgia Tech experiments focused on Aedes aegypti (dengue or yellow fever mosquito), a species found in parts of Georgia and other areas of the southeastern United States. Within that species, both trajectory data and Zuo’s experience inside the chamber showed mosquitoes repeatedly clustering near the head and shoulders rather than distributing evenly across the body. Zuo observed this pattern while standing still in the mesh suit, as mosquitoes returned again and again to his upper body. The study also confirmed previous biting studies showing that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes target the upper body, while other mosquitoes might focus on other areas. Researchers linked the behavior to carbon dioxide released through breathing near the mouth and nose, paired with a strong visual target. Zuo emphasized that other mosquito species behave differently and that these findings should not be applied to all mosquitoes.
Myth: Carbon dioxide alone explains why mosquitoes find people.
Reality: Carbon dioxide and visual cues work together, and neither is enough on its own.
Zuo described experiments that isolated carbon dioxide using inanimate objects before introducing a human subject. Carbon dioxide alone helped mosquitoes locate the general area of a target but did not consistently keep them there. Visual cues alone helped mosquitoes recognize an object but did not hold their attention. When both signals were combined, mosquito behavior changed significantly. The research showed the response was nonlinear, meaning the combined effect was stronger than simply adding the two cues together.
Myth: Once mosquitoes find a target, they always stay nearby.
Reality: Mosquitoes do not linger unless conditions align.
The data showed that mosquitoes often passed by targets unless both carbon dioxide and visual signals were present at the same time. Zuo observed that once those conditions aligned during the mesh suit experiments, mosquitoes stayed close and returned repeatedly to the same areas. Without the full set of cues, they were less likely to remain focused on a target.
Myth: All mosquitoes behave the same way.
Reality: Mosquito behavior varies by species and environmental conditions.
Aedes aegypti, Zuo described, are capable of feeding in well-lit conditions rather than relying solely on dusk. He contrasted this with Anopheles (marsh) mosquitoes, which require darker conditions and are closely tied to light and dark cycles during experiments. Zuo emphasized that the findings reflect the behavior of a single species and that different mosquito species respond to different cues.
While the Georgia Tech research explains how mosquitoes locate people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines steps people can take during mosquito season to reduce the risk of bites.
The CDC recommends using Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents on exposed skin and wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Clothing and gear can also be treated with permethrin, which is designed for use on fabrics and not directly on skin. The agency also advises controlling mosquitoes indoors and outdoors by eliminating standing water and keeping window and door screens in good repair. The CDC notes that mosquitoes can bite during the day or night, depending on the species, and encourages precautions whenever mosquitoes are active.
Institute Communications
]]>Mizan Rahman knows there’s much that academia and industry can learn from each other.
He’s living proof of it.
The 52-year-old entrepreneur will receive his Ph.D. in human-centered computing (HCC) as he walks across the stage on Thursday at Georgia Tech’s Spring 2026 Ph.D. Commencement.
When Rahman was accepted into the HCC Ph.D. program, he’d already founded three successful tech startups and was an angel investor in numerous others. He also earned a master’s in computational science and engineering from Georgia Tech in 2013.
Rahman took on the challenge of a Ph.D. because he’s always been in pursuit of a holistic view of technology. One perspective he said he needed to understand was that of the end user.
“I’d already done computer science and computational science and engineering, so I wanted to look at the human dimension, the user’s perspectives, and society,” Rahman said. “You’ve got to build technology that fits into our human dynamics.”
Rahman’s journey began as an undergraduate in chemical engineering at Miami Dade College and Florida Atlantic University. He switched to computer science after his roommate, also a CS major, showed him some programming he had been working on.
“I couldn’t sleep after that,” Rahman said. “I was writing software all night. I loved solving problems through technology.”
Early Success
Rahman invented BayBuilder, a strategic sourcing automation technology, in 1999. The software was adopted by major Fortune 500 companies. Rahman estimates it has saved these companies $1 billion in procurement spending.
Baybuilder was acquired by a NASDAQ-listed firm in 2001, and he was ready to start his next company.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur as far back as I can remember,” Rahman said. “I was born with it. If I saw something that didn’t exist, I created it.”
After relocating to Atlanta, Rahman founded a new company, M2SYS Technology. Governments around the world used the company’s innovative identity technology to automate processes and deliver efficient services to citizens. M2SYS also worked with the CDC to treat HIV in Haiti and Zambia, as well as many U.S. hospitals, including Grady Memorial in Atlanta, to protect patients from fraud and receiving the wrong treatment.
Rahman’s most recent startup, CloudApper AI, introduced a new system architecture that generates secure software requiring minimal ongoing maintenance. His non-biased algorithm, which he created during his Ph.D. for CloudApper, is now used by major companies to streamline automated resume analysis and candidate scoring.
Living in Two Worlds
Rahman began his Ph.D. in 2021, but he kept his new venture to himself and his family. He didn’t tell his employees he was pursuing a Ph.D., and he didn’t disclose his industry background to his fellow doctoral students.
“I kept the other side of me far away,” he said. “The people who knew, they knew, but I purposefully didn’t discuss my outside activities and experience. I wanted to fit in, and I think I was able to do that.”
When Rahman was at his company, he was a CEO and entrepreneur, and when he was at Georgia Tech, he was a researcher. But what he was learning as a researcher began to change how he perceived his business.
“I wanted to be a researcher and think like a researcher and not just always think about sales and marketing,” he said. “I started bringing in more ideas about how the user should be thought of in our products. I’m sure they were wondering why I was emphasizing that so much, but it was because I was applying what I was learning in my Ph.D.
“Now I’ve been on both sides, I want to be connected to both in the future, applying research principles and practices in product development and innovation.”
Building Community Through Makerspaces
When it came time for Rahman to choose a subject for his dissertation, he returned to his roots and looked for ways technology can support young entrepreneurs and their startups. That’s when he began conducting research in makerspaces.
“I wanted to find out how we can bring innovation to a scale where anybody can participate,” he said. “I saw this happening in makerspaces where regular people learn, collaborate, and build products and companies from scratch. I saw that the community at large is facing a sustainability crisis.”
Rahman argued in his dissertation that makerspaces can play a significant role in local innovation. When people struggle to survive, it disrupts communities in numerous ways.
Rahman details four studies conducted over three-and-a-half years that show how socio-technical factors drive organizational sustainability in makerspaces and how AI tools can foster an innovative culture within them.
“The compelling thing about his research is that he shows that people come to makerspaces for the tools, but they stay for the people,” said Rosa Arriaga, associate professor and Rahman’s advisor.
“He has plenty of work from his ethnographic research that shows that a makerspace can have all the tech and resources, but if there isn’t cohesion among the people, there’s a problem.”
It Takes a Village
Rahman is the first to admit that it’s not possible for one man to run a company while pursuing a Ph.D. He needed a community. This starts with his family. His wife, Mohu Sultana, now serves as interim CEO of M2SYS and has supported Rahman throughout his Ph.D. research.
The Georgia Tech community has been part of Rahman’s life in some way since he started his career.
Sultana holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Tech, and their daughter, Malisha Rahman, is graduating this week with a bachelor’s in economics and international affairs. Malisha Rahman has also been accepted into the HCC program and will begin her Ph.D. in the fall.
Rahman said that any student who wants to create a tech startup will have an advantage from access to Georgia Tech’s network.
“The Georgia Tech startup community is fantastic,” he said. “There is a tremendous amount of knowledge here, and the research community can help shape the next big thing. We have CREATE-X, a place where you can find mentorship from faculty who started in industry. You’ll learn things I wish I knew before I started.”
]]>Mizan Rahman, a 52-year-old entrepreneur with three successful tech startups, is completing his Ph.D. in human-centered computing. Driven by a desire to understand the human dimension of technology, his dissertation focused on makerspaces as hubs for community-driven innovation, arguing that social cohesion — not just tools and resources — is key to their sustainability. Rahman credits his academic journey with transforming how he approaches product development, and he now aims to bridge industry and research going forward.
As an energy economist and an international trade economist, we field a lot of questions during such episodes, because when oil prices go up, manufacturers, businesses and ultimately consumers pay more.
Crude oil may be the most important commodity in the global economic system.
It’s a literal fuel for the industrial economy. It powers the engines that drive transportation and paves the roads vehicles drive on. It’s a source for plastics from which the world’s products get made and packaged, and a key ingredient at some point in almost every supply chain. Even fertilizers that boost the food supply are made from it. In short, it is difficult to imagine modern life without oil and its derivatives.
And when its supply changes, its price changes. Economists explain this using a fundamental model of our field: the supply-demand diagram. When there’s less of something to go around, competition among consumers who want it and companies that need it can drive the price up.
Sometimes this process can play out over time, allowing people to adjust their purchasing or activities to dampen price shocks. But when a significant source of the world’s oil is effectively blocked without much advance notice, such as when the the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, prices can rise sharply in a short period of time.
A natural question many people ask when oil prices spike is: Where does all that additional money go, and who benefits from it?
Some people have written entire books dissecting all the places that money goes when it leaves consumers’ pockets. But ultimately, the bulk of the money heads in the direction of the source of the oil itself – the oil companies.
What they do with the money varies widely, depending on where in the world an oil company is operating and who owns it. What also matters is the business environment – the set of laws and regulations – in which the company operates.
Oil producers in the Middle East face significant new risk because of the war in Iran, including threats to production, processing locations and shipping routes. These risks raise their costs for insurance, security and transportation.
But production costs in the region are relatively low, so higher global oil prices typically still translate into strong profits.
For a major exporter such as Saudi Arabia, the government owns and controls nearly all oil production, so high prices generally benefit the government’s finances and investments, even during a war. In Saudi Arabia, oil revenue has historically been used to fund public spending.
The Permian Basin, the largest oil field in the U.S., is a long way from the Persian Gulf. When global oil prices rise because of the war in Iran, oil companies operating in West Texas effectively get a windfall gain: Prices rise more quickly than costs, at least in the short run.
The immediate effect is more income from higher prices. The money largely goes to company owners – meaning shareholders – through dividends, debt reduction, company-backed purchases of its own stock, and reinvestment in drilling and production. Over time, companies may decide to spend some of that windfall on building more production capacity or pipelines to get more oil and gas to market.
In the North Sea, between the island of Great Britain and Scandinavia, a mix of multinational and government-owned companies produce most of the oil.
In the U.K., private shareholders are the primary beneficiaries of higher profits from increased oil prices, though an additional tax on oil and gas companies’ profits means the government also collects a significant share of the money, which it uses to help pay public expenses.
In Norway, oil revenues flow into the Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $2 trillion. Laws govern how much, and for what purposes, money can be withdrawn from the fund, supporting public spending and preserving wealth for future generations. This is a similar model to Alaska’s state-owned program, funded by oil revenue, that pays for government services and sends an annual dividend to every permanent resident.
Russian oil is subject to stringent economic sanctions imposed by major industrial countries as a response to the Russian invasion and occupation of parts of Ukraine. While the U.S. cannot control how much Russia charges for its oil, it can control services needed to move Russian oil around the world. Under current price sanctions, Western shipping, insurance and financing can be used to ship and sell Russian crude oil only if the price is below $60 per barrel.
Russia’s oil industry is dominated by government-controlled companies whose leaders maintain close ties to President Vladimir Putin. The dealings of those shadowy figures are often shrouded in secrecy, but it is likely that they and Putin’s military-industrial complex – not the Russian people – are the main beneficiaries of high oil prices.
Everyday U.S. consumers may not like the idea of their hard-earned cash going into the already deep pockets of any of these groups. But in the short run, there’s not much to do but pay the price. For the long run, however, people around the world are already thinking and talking about, and opting for, sources of energy that don’t depend on fossil fuels.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
]]>As an energy economist and an international trade economist, we field a lot of questions during such episodes, because when oil prices go up, manufacturers, businesses and ultimately consumers pay more.
Everyday U.S. consumers may not like the idea of their hard-earned cash going into the already deep pockets of any of the oil-producing groups. But in the short run, there’s not much to do but pay the price. For the long run, however, people around the world are already thinking and talking about, and opting for, sources of energy that don’t depend on fossil fuels.
]]>
Matthew E. Oliver
Associate Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Tibor Besedeš
Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Shelley Wunder-Smith
shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu
Eight faculty members received funding for projects that advance Georgia Tech energy research by generating early insights, expanding shared research tools, and exploring solutions related to energy policy, grid reliability, clean energy incentives, and industry‑driven innovation shaping Georgia’s energy future.
By supporting timely, policy-relevant research and engagement that connect Georgia Tech expertise with pressing regional energy challenges, the ACCELERATE program encourages collaboration across the Institute and with external partners, supports graduate student involvement, and amplifies research outputs that inform policy, regulatory, and market decisions.
“ACCELERATE is designed to help early- and mid-career faculty move quickly on ideas that can shape energy policy and practice,” said Laura Taylor, director of EPIcenter. “By supporting both early‑stage collaboration and more developed policy research, the program enables Georgia Tech researchers to engage decision‑makers and stakeholders when it matters most.”
Proposals considered for funding were grounded in policy and behavioral research, including studies that examined how past or potential policies and regulations worked, and analyses of current market and behavioral outcomes that revealed management, policy, or regulatory gaps and opportunities.
Funded projects span a range of disciplines and policy‑focused topics aligned with EPIcenter’s mission, with a strong emphasis on challenges facing Georgia and the Southeast. Collectively, the awards support research development, data creation, stakeholder engagement, and public-facing thought leadership intended to inform energy policy and implementation.
"As electricity demand grows, it is increasingly important to understand how industrial processes could use energy flexibly to enable efficient use of renewable resources like solar and wind,” said Micah Ziegler, assistant professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. “Support from the EPIcenter ACCELERATE program enables us to ask fundamental questions about how to design flexible systems and supply chains."
Awards ranged from $5,000 to $75,000. Projects that received ACCELERATE funding include:
Measuring the Alignment Between Legislators’ Energy Bill Votes and Their District Characteristics in the Georgia House of Representatives
Faculty Researcher: Clio Andris, Associate Professor, School of City and Regional Planning and School of Interactive Computing
Strengthening Georgia Tech’s National Energy Modeling of Priority Research Areas
Faculty Researcher: Marilyn Brown, Regents' Professor and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy
Protecting Consumers From Price Volatility: Evidence and Policy Lessons From Georgia's Natural Gas Market
Faculty Researcher: Dylan Brewer, Assistant Professor, School of Economics
Can Place-Based Incentives Accelerate the Energy Transition?
Faculty Researcher: Gaurav Doshi, Assistant Professor, School of Economics
The Revolving Door in Utility Regulation
Faculty Researcher: Michelle Graff, Assistant Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy
How Do Data Centers Affect Tradeoffs Between Reliability and Decarbonization?
Faculty Researchers: Tony Harding, Assistant Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, and Brian An, Assistant Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy
Calculating the Emissions Cost of the Solar Rebound for the United States
Faculty Researcher: Matt Oliver, Associate Professor, School of Economics
Evaluating Long-Duration Flexibility of Industrial Demand in Electric Power Systems
Faculty Researchers: Micah Ziegler, assistant professor, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, and Constance Crozier, Assistant Professor, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering
ACCELERATE is an annual program open to all Georgia Tech faculty, focusing on policy‑ and decision‑relevant research that advances energy affordability, reliability, resilience, and decarbonization in the region.
More information about EPIcenter’s research areas and programs is available at epicenter.energy.gatech.edu.
]]>Eight faculty members received funding for projects that advance Georgia Tech energy research by generating early insights, expanding shared research tools, and exploring solutions related to energy policy, grid reliability, clean energy incentives, and industry‑driven innovation shaping Georgia’s energy future.
]]>EPIcenter ACCELERATE Program Recipients: Top (Left to Right) - Clio Andris, Marilyn Brown, Dylan Brewer, Gaurav Doshi, Michelle Graff; Bottom (Left to Right) - Tony Harding, Brian An, Matt Oliver, Micah Ziegler, Constance Crozier
But powering devices is only part of the challenge. Enabling those same systems to communicate at modern data rates is a much harder. That’s the leap the team is now making. The same lens-based approach is being used to unlock high-speed communication once considered out of reach for ultra-low-power systems.
In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers in Professor Manos (Emmanouil) Tentzeris’ Agile Technologies for High-performance Electromagnetic Novel Applications (ATHENA) lab demonstrated a first-of-its-kind lens-enabled backscatter system capable of multi-gigabit data rates, reaching up to 4 gigabits per second (Gbps). At the same time, it operates using only a fraction of the power required by conventional wireless devices — bringing high-speed connectivity to systems that were never meant to support it.
For years, backscatter has been treated as a tradeoff: extremely low power, but extremely limited performance. Rather than generating its own radio signal, a backscatter device modulates and reflects existing wireless transmissions to communicate, allowing it to operate with minimal energy.
As a result, backscatter has typically been used only to send small amounts of data, most often in simple identification and sensing systems.
“What we’ve shown is that backscatter doesn’t have to be slow,” said Marvin Joshi, the research lead and Ph.D. candidate in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “With the right architecture, it can operate at gigabit‑per‑second speeds while remaining ultra‑low power.”
The Georgia Tech team’s dielectric lens — similar in spirit to an optical lens — focuses incoming millimeter-wave energy onto an array of tiny antenna elements, enabling both wireless energy capture and high‑speed backscatter communication within the same system.
The system reshapes and reflects existing wireless signals, with each element modulating the reflected signal to enable high-speed data transmission without requiring a traditional transmitter.
At millimeter-wave frequencies, used by 5G and future 6G systems, there is plenty of available bandwidth, but signals at these frequencies are highly directional and sensitive to alignment.
In practice, that means even small misalignment can break the link. This has been a major limitation for real-world deployment. The lens overcomes that constraint by enabling high gain and wide angular coverage simultaneously, without the need for active beam steering.
“Think of it like a camera lens for wireless signals,” Tentzeris said, who is a Ed and Pat Joy Chair Professor in ECE. “It captures energy coming from many different directions and focuses it efficiently onto the device.”
The result is a system that can communicate over a ±55-degree field of view, maintaining strong performance even when the device and the reader are not perfectly aligned.
In controlled experiments, the researchers achieved data rates of up to four Gbps, with sustained gigabit communication at distances of up to 20 meters, using high-order modulation schemes like those used in modern cellular networks.
For a system that doesn’t generate its own signal, those numbers are unexpectedly efficient. The system operates at just 0.08 picojoules per bit — approaching million-fold improvements compared to conventional wireless radios.
“To put that in perspective,” Tentzeris said, “a typical wireless transmitter burns milliwatts of power. This system operates at essentially near-zero power while pushing the data rates 1,000 times higher than what traditional backscatter could do.”
Taken together, the results point to a fundamentally different class of wireless system, according to Tentzeris, one that combines high data rates with ultra-low power in a way that hasn’t been demonstrated before.
Based on standard wireless modeling, the team estimates the technology could support Gbps communication over distances of kilometers when paired with existing 5G millimeter-wave infrastructure, extending high-speed, ultra-low-power links far beyond what has been achievable with backscatter systems.
“That combination is exactly what future wireless networks are moving toward. This capability aligns naturally with next‑generation 6G systems,” said Tentzeris, pointing to the growing importance of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS) frameworks that require simultaneous communication, sensing, and localization.
But speed and efficiency are only part of the story. Because the devices are low-cost, lightweight, and printable, they could be deployed at massive scale on buildings, roads, vehicles, drones, or wearable systems.
In a smart city, thousands of these tags could continuously exchange information about traffic, air quality, or structural health without ever needing batteries. That means dense, always-on sensing and communication without worrying about power or upkeep.
In disaster zones, temporary high-speed networks could be set up almost instantly, without cables or power infrastructure.
“Imagine an ambulance transmitting high-resolution medical images in real time, or first responders building a live digital map of a disaster area,” Joshi said. “You get fiber-like performance, but completely wireless and energy-efficient.”
The architecture also lends itself to intelligent optimization, where AI-based control can be enabled to dynamically enhance signal capture and system efficiency, further expanding performance in large-scale deployments.
“This is really about adding intelligence to anything, anywhere,” Tentzeris said. “When communication becomes this fast, efficient, and scalable, entirely new applications become possible.”
With the core architecture now demonstrated, the ATHENA Lab team is shifting focus from proof‑of‑concept to deployment. That means moving out of the lab and into real-world environments. The next phase includes testing the system outdoors, integrating it onto drones and mobile platforms, and exploring flatter, more compact lens designs that could be easier to mount on real-world infrastructure.
“We’re thinking about how this fits into the broader wireless ecosystem,” Joshi said. “We’ve shown what’s possible. Now the question is how far we can push it in the real world."
Professor Emmanouil “Manos” Tentzeris and Ph.D. student Marvin Joshi hold a lens‑enabled backscatter system that could support battery‑free wireless communication across future smart city infrastructure.
Building upon a multifaceted relationship, the two are bringing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and fueling infrastructure to campus — turning Georgia Tech into one of the nation’s most prominent campus-based examples for hydrogen mobility.
“Hyundai Motor Group is proud to strengthen our collaboration with Georgia Tech as we work together to accelerate the future of clean mobility. Georgia Tech’s leadership in innovation and its commitment to developing the next generation of problem-solvers make it a natural partner in advancing technologies,” said Ken Ramírez, executive vice president and head of Global Energy and Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Group. “By combining the university’s excellent research with Hyundai’s global experience, we are creating the foundation for real-world solutions that will help drive the energy transition and inspire future mobility leaders.”
Ramírez is also a 1991 Georgia Tech graduate and a member of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board.
“It’s very fulfilling to donate a handful of our NEXO fuel cell SUVs as part of our expanding relationship with Georgia Tech. Hydrogen-powered NEXO fuel cell vehicles will immediately serve to expand the clean mobility footprint on campus while providing real-world experiences with the cutting edge of zero-emissions transportation technology,” said Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America.
“Georgia Tech has a long history of working with industry to move breakthrough technologies from the lab into the real world. By expanding our work with Hyundai, we’re advancing hydrogen research, reducing emissions on our campus, and strengthening Georgia’s role in the future of clean mobility," Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera said.
The partnership includes the donation of four Hyundai NEXO fuel cell electric SUVs by Hyundai Motor North America and a hydrogen electrolyzer project, which will be installed at Georgia Tech’s North Avenue Research Area, positioning Tech as one of the most visible real-world test beds for hydrogen mobility in the U.S.
The vehicles and infrastructure will support campus operations and interdisciplinary research. Key areas of focus include:
This initiative connects Georgia Tech’s research enterprise with campus operations, using the Institute as a living laboratory for clean transportation technologies. Faculty and students will study:
Insights gathered from this initiative aim to inform and accelerate the widespread use of hydrogen technology in campuses, fleets, cities, and freight corridors. The initiative also supports Georgia Tech’s strategic plan, which includes the goal of expanding the use of zero-emissions vehicles powered by sustainable energy sources.
The collaboration between Hyundai and Georgia Tech is a testament to the power of aligning academic expertise with corporate innovation. Beyond hydrogen energy, the partnership seeks to advance innovation in the areas of:
In addition, Hyundai’s presence in Georgia underscores its commitment to the region. Georgia is home to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America and also serves as a hub for zero-emissions transportation through HTWO Logistics, a clean logistics partnership that operates Hyundai XCIENT fuel cell heavy-duty trucks in logistics operations near Savannah. The collaboration with Georgia Tech builds on this regional foundation, reinforcing the link between education, research, and Hyundai's long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
The partnership between Hyundai and Georgia Tech represents more than an investment in research. It’s a shared effort to lead the next generation of mobility advancements. Additional announcements about the partnership’s research projects, educational programs, and vehicle deployment are expected in the coming months.
]]>You hear a lot of chatter in the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) — “All the weight machines are full!” “Where is the swimming pool?” “I exceeded my one-rep max today!” — but one sentence you don’t expect to hear is, “Do you want to go play video games?”
Georgia Tech’s Esports and Gaming Lounge recently opened its doors after several months of construction and has been met with great enthusiasm from gamers and newcomers alike.
The facility is outfitted with 22 Alienware computers for CRC members to use. Each computer has a time limit of two and a half hours per person, and it resets every five hours. Through GGCircut, users have access to a wide variety of games that update automatically. Some of the most popular games include Marvel Rivals, Rainbow Six Siege, and Minecraft. There are also two console stations, each with a PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S — games included.
“I think there’s been a little bit of amazement that we were going to pull something like this off,” said Brian Smith, senior director of Campus Recreation, who spearheaded much of the project. “There's been a lot of joy from students' faces, and a lot of excitement. I think people love the idea of having a place to come in and do something they have a passion for and enjoy.”
During the lounge’s construction, Smith made it a priority to seek out student perspectives.
“Students needed it,” he said, “Students wanted it, and we had the right leadership in place to make it all happen. I'm really proud of the students who have stepped up to want to be in the space and want to run the space, and for us to have the opportunity to create it for them.”
Most pivotal to the project was Georgia Tech Esports, a student-run club that participates in a variety of collegiate esports competitions. Members provided key insights into the kind of equipment the lounge needed and will be the main users of the broadcasting and competition rooms. The competition room will be used for future esports events and has 12 Alienware Area 51 computers.
“What I think a lot of people don't understand about the esports and gaming industries is that they rely on each other in more ways than is intuitive,” said D.J. Fratt, president of Georgia Tech Esports. “While I consulted on several design aspects for the space as a whole, I actually advocated on the esports side of things for a casual space to be included and accessible with a project like this; that advocacy existed long before our discussions with the CRC.”
While the esports lounge is still booting up, the future of the space is bright.
“For me,” Smith said, “it's an opportunity to engage with students who maybe wouldn't come into the CRC, and then also introduce them to all the things that we have going on.”
Georgia Tech Esports is particularly excited about the benefits to the campus community, and “continuing to find collaborations between the esports organization and other on-campus entities, especially those that help develop students' professional skills or highlight Georgia Tech's focus on innovation,” Fratt said.
From experienced competitors to fledgling gamers, the Esports and Gaming Lounge provides a space for experimentation and free creative expression — plus, most importantly, fun. The lounge is open Monday through Thursday, 3 – 9 p.m.; Friday, 3 – 8 p.m.; and Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.
Georgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language.
Transformer Explainer is easy to use and runs on any web browser. It quickly went viral after its debut, reaching 150,000 users in its first three months. More than 563,000 people worldwide have used the tool so far.
Global interest in Transformer Explainer continues when the team presents the tool at the 2026 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2026). CHI, the world’s most prestigious conference on human-computer interaction, will take place in Barcelona, April 13-17.
“There are moments when LLMs can seem almost like a person with their own will and personality, and that misperception has real consequences. For example, there have been cases where teenagers have made poor decisions based on conversations with LLMs,” said Ph.D. student Aeree Cho.
“Understanding that an LLM is fundamentally a model that predicts the probability distribution of the next token helps users avoid taking its outputs as absolute. What you put in shapes what comes out, and that understanding helps people engage with AI more carefully and critically.”
A transformer is a neural network architecture that changes data input sequence into an output. Text, audio, and images are forms of processed data, which is why transformers are common in generative AI models. They do this by learning context and tracking mathematical relationships between sequence components.
Transformer Explainer demystifies how transformers work. The platform uses visualization and interaction to show, step by step, how text flows through a model and produces predictions.
Using this approach, Transformer Explainer impacts the AI landscape in four main ways:
“When I first learned about transformers, I felt overwhelmed. A transformer model has many parts, each with its own complex math. Existing resources typically present all this information at once, making it difficult to see how everything fits together,” said Grace Kim, a dual B.S./M.S. computer science student.
“By leveraging interactive visualization, we use levels of abstraction to first show the big picture of the entire model. Then users click into individual parts to reveal the underlying details and math. This way, Transformer Explainer makes learning far less intimidating.”
Many users don’t know what transformers are or how they work. The Georgia Tech team found that people often misunderstand AI. Some label AI with human-like characteristics, such as creativity. Others even describe it as working like magic.
Furthermore, barriers make it hard for students interested in transformers to start learning. Tutorials tend to be too technical and overwhelm beginners with math and code. While visualization tools exist, these often target more advanced AI experts.
Transformer Explainer overcomes these obstacles through its interactive, user-focused platform. It runs a familiar GPT model directly in any web browser, requiring no installation or special hardware.
Users can enter their own text and watch the model predict the next word in real time. Sankey-style diagrams show how information moves through embeddings, attention heads, and transformer blocks.
The platform also lets users switch between high-level concepts and detailed math. By adjusting temperature settings, users can see how randomness affects predictions. This reveals how probabilities drive AI outputs, rather than creativity.
“Millions of people around the world interact with transformer-driven AI. We believe that it is crucial to bridge the gap between day-to-day user experience and the models' technical reality, ensuring these tools are not misinterpreted as human-like or seen as sentient,” said Ph.D. student Alex Karpekov.
“Explaining the architecture helps users recognize that language generated by models is a product of computation, leading to a more grounded engagement with the technology.”
Cho, Karpekov, and Kim led the development of Transformer Explainer. Ph.D. students Alec Helbling, Seongmin Lee, Ben Hoover, and alumni Zijie (Jay) Wang (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) and Minsuk Kahng (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2019) assisted on the project.
Professor Polo Chau supervised the group and their work. His lab focuses on data science, human-centered AI, and visualization for social good.
Acceptance at CHI 2026 stems from the team winning the best poster award at the 2024 IEEE Visualization Conference. This recognition from one of the top venues in visualization research highlights Transformer Explainer’s effectiveness in teaching how transformers work.
“Transformer Explainer has reached over half a million learners worldwide,” said Chau, a faculty member in the School of Computational Science and Engineering.
“I'm thrilled to see it extend Georgia Tech's mission of expanding access to higher education, now to anyone with a web browser.”
]]>They would normally get this in their natural habitats while foraging for food and staying alert to predators that might target calves.
However, the four elephants reside at Zoo Atlanta, so they don’t have to worry about these things.
That’s why zoo caretakers are always on the lookout for better ways to help their elephants exercise their brains.
The caretakers at Zoo Atlanta found one when they met Arianna Mastali, a Ph.D. student in Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing. Mastali designed an audio enrichment wall to help stimulate Zoo Atlanta’s elephants.
Many zoos build concrete enrichment walls to foster elephant problem-solving and critical thinking. The walls usually have holes for the elephants to reach through with their trunks as they search for food, treats, or playful objects on the other side.
Mastali enhanced Zoo Atlanta’s enrichment wall by adding an interactive audio component. A nearby speaker system emits distinctive low-frequency tones when an elephant sticks its trunk into a hole.
“They’re intelligent creatures that require a lot of complexity in their habitat,” Mastali said. “We wanted to add to that complexity while giving them more control.”
Mastali’s system uses cameras and computer vision to detect when an elephant’s trunk is inside a hole and then sends a signal to the speakers to play a sound.
Mastali is a member of the Georgia Tech Animal Lab, directed by School of IC professor Melody Jackson. The lab often uses sensing technology to enhance animal wellness.
Mastali said she tried incorporating sensing devices into her project several times. She constructed an insert made of PVC pipe and attached a sensor to its base that used infrared beams to detect the elephant’s trunk.
However, she said it was difficult to account for the elephants’ strength. Their trunks would break the insert after a day or two.
She pivoted toward computer vision to remove the risk of damage and keep the enrichment wall as close to natural as possible.
“A big lesson we learned was that using existing materials the elephants are already familiar with was the best way to do things, and it simplified our design process,” she said.
Shane Rosse, a student in Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program, assisted Mastali with the computer vision component.
Mastali observed the elephants’ behavior at the wall seven days before and seven days after the installation of the audio enrichment system.
The number of times the elephants approached the wall after installation increased by 176%, and time spent at the wall increased by 71%
“We weren’t sure at first if they would care that much, so it was great to see how much time they spent at the wall, especially our less dominant females,” said Kirby Miller, senior elephant caretaker at Zoo Atlanta. “They seem to like it the most.”
Miller said the elephants used to only approach the wall when they knew there was food behind it. That started to change after the audio enrichment system was installed.
“We would be off somewhere else, and we’d hear the speaker playing the sounds, and we knew there wasn’t any food back there,” Miller said. “Tara had her trunk in one of the holes, just listening to the sound. That let us know they do like it, and they’re very curious about it.”
Miller said because elephants have sharp memories and acute senses of hearing and smell, their habitats must be designed with that in mind.
Zoo Atlanta’s African Savanna elephant habitat was redesigned in 2019. In addition to the enrichment wall, it includes a bathing pond, two waterfalls, and swing boom devices that hold hay for elephants to eat as they would in the wild.
Miller said elephants sheltered at any zoo or conservation would benefit from enrichment devices enhanced by technology.
“I think anything they can participate in that gives them choice and control is great for all zoo elephants,” she said. “It depends on the elephants, but with our elephants, they can hear much higher frequencies than we can. That noise isn’t that loud for us, but for them, they’re feeling that noise, and they can hear much more, which makes it more stimulating for them.”
]]>The elephant enrichment wall at Zoo Atlanta recently received an upgrade thanks to a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student. Arianna Mastali designed an audio enrichment system that uses computer vision to detect when an elephant sticks its trunk into the enrichment wall as it searches for food. The system then sends a signal to play a unique tone from a nearby speaker that corresponds to each hole. So far, Mastali has found that elephant wall interactions have increased by 176%, and the elephants are visiting the wall even when there isn't food behind it.
]]>Interior design in higher education goes far beyond aesthetics. At Georgia Tech, it plays a critical role in shaping how students learn, collaborate, live, and feel on campus. From classrooms and labs to student centers, offices, and shared spaces, thoughtfully designed interiors quietly support the Institute’s mission every day.
That impact is driven by a talented team of interior designers — Christie Berkowitz , Reagan Donley, Alexandra Gutierrez, Stacy Laux , Polly Patton, Sarah Vaillancourt, and Becky Williams — whose combined experience spans decades and whose work touches nearly every corner of campus. While their backgrounds and approaches vary, they are united by a shared commitment to people, collaboration, and meaningful design in higher education.
Across campus, interior design is often shaped by historic buildings, fixed timelines, tight budgets, or sometimes, small footprints. Rather than limiting creativity, these constraints often elevate it.
For Sarah Vaillancourt, those challenges sharpen her design thinking. One of her favorite projects, a graduate student space designed to foster creativity and collaboration, used flexible seating, modular furniture, bright accents, and natural elements to support multiple ways of working. “The offices and spaces can sometimes be a constraint,” she said. “That pushes creativity.” More importantly, the project reinforced her belief in design’s influence on mindset and behavior. “I wanted to design a space that not only looked appealing but also supported students’ creativity and productivity.”
That focus on everyday impact resonates with Christie Berkowitz, who joined the Institute in 2023. Her favorite projects have been classroom renovations — spaces that may not stand out visually but make an immediate difference. “While they might not be the flashiest spaces on campus, they have an immediate, profound impact on the student experience,” she said. Transforming older classrooms into modern, active‑learning environments embodies her belief that good design is grounded in function.
Reagan Donley, who has been at Georgia Tech for more than 11 years, approaches every project with the same philosophy. “When I’m designing or managing the design of a project, I always try to make sure a space functions like the users need it to and is the best design solution to meet those needs,” she said. Her work balances form, function, long-term institutional goals, maintenance considerations, and historic preservation, often simultaneously.
Interior design in higher education is inherently collaborative, and every designer emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and trust.
For Alexandra Gutierrez, communication is foundational. “Starting conversations with the right stakeholders and understanding the scope and budget early on helps keep the project moving smoothly,” she said. That approach guided her favorite projects, the Skiles and A. French breakrooms, where she was able to design the spaces from start to finish.
Becky Williams, who previously worked at a design firm with Georgia Tech as her client for almost a decade, enjoys being on the other side of the table. She views design as a collective effort. “I’ve always viewed a project as a ‘we’ effort, we’re all working toward the same goal, and we get there faster and better when we support each other,” she said. Her favorite project, Tech Square 3 (George Tower | Scheller Tower), stood out for its scale and complexity and for the opportunity to help guide the project from the owner’s side.
That spirit of coordination defined one of Donley’s most meaningful projects, a renovation for the Office of Undergraduate Education in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons. With rigid funding and scheduling constraints, success depended on collaboration across campus. “We had to pull all the strings to get the project finished in time,” she said. “It was a privilege to help them meet their goals.”
While collaboration shapes the process, people remain at the center of every design decision.
For Stacy Laux, design begins with listening. “A workspace should feel like the person who uses it—not the designer behind it,” she said. Her favorite project, Science Square, stood out because “everything clicked.” The success of the project came not just from the outcome, but from a team aligned around a shared vision.
Her greatest inspiration comes from witnessing user connections firsthand. She tries to understand how the user moves through their day, what gives them energy, and what helps them unwind. She observes little habits and routines, which then inform her design process. “There’s nothing better than seeing someone walk into a finished space and instantly feel like, ‘Yep ... this is me,’” she said. That moment, she explained, is why design matters.
Polly Patton’s nearly 19 years at Georgia Tech make her one of the team’s longest-tenured designers. For her, that user connection begins face‑to‑face. “I like to meet in person with my end‑user clients and listen to their needs before starting to formulate a design,” she said. Her favorite project, the John Lewis Student Center renovation, reflects that philosophy at the largest scale. “It’s the heart of the campus and is used by all students,” she noted, making it especially meaningful.
For these designers, inspiration comes from many places: the campus community, the design process itself, and sometimes it’s personal.
“First and foremost, the students,” Patton said. “Designing spaces to make their time here at Georgia Tech more enjoyable inspires me to work harder.”
Donley finds inspiration in color and in helping users solve challenges—whether through furniture, layout, or budgets. She enjoyed the Clough project because of the challenge of it being a significant change to the organization of the space.
Berkowitz is “driven by building the strong structural foundations that allow us to execute our jobs at a higher level,” finding inspiration in systems and processes, building tools, and standards that allow the team to work more effectively.
For Gutierrez, inspiration is personal. “My dad inspires me not to give up, and my faith pushes me to be better in everything I do.”
Growing up in a family of educators, Williams also draws creative energy from her family. She realized at a young age that drawing floor plans and rearranging her room was more fun than lesson plans. Additionally, the variety of work appeals to her. One week she could be designing a lab, the next, a collaborative space, then followed by something that feels more like a corporate office.
Thoughtful design fosters a sense of community and creates engaging learning and work environments.
“Higher ed allows me to turn ideas into environments that support creativity, productivity, and well-being,” Vaillancourt said.
For Berkowitz, it’s about shared purpose. “Being able to tangibly support the day-to-day success of the campus community is what makes higher education special.”
Donley points to how campuses have evolved. “Now campuses are about the whole experience of the students,” she said. “Furniture and AV components have become the main characters of these experiences.”
Patton echoed that variety and impact. “Higher education is a great mix of lots of different types of design,” she said — from housing to learning to dining, plus athletics, and even retail — offering endless opportunities to shape experience.
“When a team is this strong, it becomes its own creative ecosystem,” Laux said. “You’re not just designing spaces anymore. You’re shaping experiences together. And when you’re surrounded by people who lift your ideas higher, challenge you in the best possible ways, and celebrate every win right alongside you, your own creativity just expands. It’s the kind of environment that keeps you energized and excited to show up every day.”
At Georgia Tech, that ecosystem is one built on collaboration, purpose, and a shared belief that design has the power to elevate the entire campus experience.
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Infrastructure and Sustainability
]]>There is no official Commencement dress code, but for those who are still scrambling for picture-perfect attire, here are some practical tips to help dress and prep for the big day.
Spring 2026 Commencement is a rain or shine event. Graduates and guests are advised to monitor the weather forecast and dress as needed. Each ceremony is expected to last between one to two and a half hours. For directions between venues throughout the weekend, visit the Georgia Tech map.
Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony Schedule
Leave bags at home. If you must have a bag, make it clear. Commencement events at both Bobby Dodd Stadium and McCamish Pavilion are subject to the venue’s clear bag policy. See the full policy at ramblinwreck.com/clearbag.
Travel light. This will save you the hassle of carrying a bag at all or leaving your bag at bag valet. If you’re wearing a dress or skirt, try to find one with pockets to carry small items such as keys or your phone.
Dress comfortably. You may be at the event for up to three and a half hours. The event will be a combination of standing and sitting, so make sure you’re dressed comfortably enough for both. Consider light layers depending on the weather.
Bachelor’s and Ph.D. graduates will process in front of the stage as their names are called, so be sure you can walk in your shoes. If you’re wearing pants, consider lighter colors to contrast with your regalia. If you’re planning to wear heels, consult the “Don’t wear new shoes” section, and consider a low heel (and that you’ll be walking on uneven turf or flooring).
Suggest that your guests dress business casual. Although there is no dress code, many guests like to dress up for this special day. Parents and alumni can often be seen donning Tech colors and gear, and sometimes international guests wear their country’s traditional dress clothes. Tell them about the clear bag entry policy so they, too, can plan accordingly.
Whatever you choose to wear, the photos you take will be around for a while, so pick something you won’t mind seeing a few years down the road. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with white and gold.
Don’t think that because you’re wearing a robe, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing underneath. Throughout the day, you’ll be taking numerous photos, and you may at some point want to take off your regalia.
Don’t wear new shoes. Commencement is not the day to break in new shoes. Another tip: Don’t wear high heels if you are not used to walking in them. On your walk across the stage, you should be focusing on the moment you’ve been waiting for during the past four (or five) years, not worrying about tripping.
Don’t spend too much time styling your hair. Keep in mind you’ll be wearing a graduation cap for a few hours. If you’re planning an elaborate hairstyle, try it out with your cap before graduation day to make sure that the cap still sits properly. Bobby pins can help to secure your cap if it feels loose.
Don’t make your mortarboard too epic. Remember that someone has to sit behind you, and if you adorn your cap with anything 3D, try to keep it no more than an inch or two off the board.
Don’t forget your regalia. Make sure you have your cap, gown, tassel, cords, and stole (and hood, for graduate students). There will not be extras at the venue, and regalia is required for participating in Commencement. And, don’t wait until Commencement day to unwrap it. Take it out of the plastic, make sure you have it all, and hang it up to let some of the wrinkles fall out. If you’re feeling ambitious, give it a steam.
Set an alarm, especially for morning ceremonies. Doors will open one hour before the start of the ceremony. Graduates should report to the venue 45 minutes before the ceremony starts. Set your alarm and have a buddy system to make sure you wake up. (See the full Commencement schedule.)
Charge your phone. Bachelor’s and Ph.D. graduates will scan a virtual name card (StagePass) as they walk to the stage to have their names called, and you will want to find family members after the ceremony. Master’s graduates will scan their StagePass during their college ceremony. Bring a phone with a full charge. Pro tip: Take a screenshot of your StagePass before you arrive. Better yet, print your StagePass and never worry about your phone’s battery life.
Stay hydrated and take a bathroom break before you arrive. Try to be well-rested, fed, hydrated, and prepared to sit through the ceremony.
Plan where to meet your guests after the ceremony. For bachelor’s and master’s graduates, there is no formal procession in or out of the venue. Suggest a specific meeting spot beforehand, ideally a bit away from the venue, to ensure you are not lost in the crowd and can find family members to reunite easily.
Send your guests parking information. Note available parking areas at commencement.gatech.edu/venue-parking.
Most importantly, remember to enjoy the day and reflect on all that you’ve achieved at Georgia Tech. Congratulations, graduates!
]]>Special Events
events@comm.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech researchers have created a new AI model for decision-focused learning (DFL), called Diffusion-DFL. Recent tests showed it makes more accurate decisions than current approaches.
Along with optimizing industrial output, Diffusion-DFL lowers costs and reduces risk. Experiments also showed it performs across different fields.
Diffusion-DFL doesn’t just surpass current methods; it also predicts more accurately as problem sizes grow. The model requires less computing power despite these high-performance marks, making it more accessible to smaller enterprises.
Diffusion-DFL runs on diffusion models, the same technology that powers DALL-E and other AI image generators. It is the first DFL framework based on diffusion models.
“Anyone who makes high-stakes decisions under uncertainty, including supply chain managers, energy operators, and financial planners, benefits from Diffusion-DFL,” said Zihao Zhao, a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student who led the project.
“Instead of optimizing around a single forecast, the model evaluates many possible scenarios, so decisions account for real-world risk and become more robust.”
To test Diffusion-DFL, the team ran experiments based on real-world settings, including:
In each case, Diffusion-DFL made more accurate decisions than current methods. It also performed better as problems became larger and more complex. These results confirm the model’s ability to make important decisions in real-world scenarios with noisy data and uncertainty.
The experiments also show that Diffusion-DFL is practical, not just accurate. Training diffusion models is expensive, so the team developed a way to reduce memory use. This cut training costs by more than 99.7%. As a result, Diffusion-DFL can reach more researchers and practitioners.
“Our score-function estimator cuts GPU memory from over 60 gigabytes to 0.13 with almost no loss in decision quality, reducing the requirement for massive computing resources,” Zhao said. “I hope this expands Diffusion-DFL into other domains, like healthcare, where decisions must be made quickly under complex uncertainty."
Beyond decision-making applications, Diffusion-DFL marks a shift in DFL techniques and in the broader use of generative AI models.
In supply chain management, planners estimate future demand before deciding how much product to stock. In this DFL problem, engineers align ML models with predetermined decision objectives, like minimizing risk or reducing costs.
One flaw of DFL methods is that they optimize around a single, deterministic prediction in an uncertain future.
Diffusion-DFL takes a different approach. Instead of making a single guess, it determines a range of possible outcomes. This leads to decisions based on many likely scenarios, rather than on a single assumed future.
To do this, the framework uses diffusion models. These generative AI models create high-quality data from images, text, and audio.
The forward diffusion process involves adding noise to data until it becomes pure noise. Models trained via forward diffusion can reverse diffusion. This means they can start with noisy data and then produce meaningful insights from training examples.
Real-world data is often noisy and uncertain. Traditional DFL methods struggle in these conditions, but diffusion models are designed to handle them.
Because of this, Diffusion-DFL can explore many possible outcomes and choose better actions. Like image-generation AI, the model works well with complex data from different sources. This enables its use across different industries.
“Diffusion models have achieved significant success in generative AI and image synthesis, but our work shows their potential extends far beyond that,” said Kai Wang, an assistant professor in the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE).
“What makes Diffusion-DFL unique is that the specific downstream application guides how the model learns to handle uncertainty.
“Whether we are scheduling energy for power grids, balancing risk in financial portfolios, or developing early warning systems in healthcare, we can explicitly train these highly expressive models to navigate the unique complexities of each domain.”
Zhao and Wang collaborated with Caltech Ph.D. candidate Christopher Yeh and Harvard University postdoctoral fellow Lingkai Kong on Diffusion-DFL. Kong earned his Ph.D. in CSE from Georgia Tech in 2024.
Wang will present Diffusion-DFL on behalf of the group at the upcoming International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR 2026). Occurring April 23-27 in Rio de Janeiro, ICLR is one of the world’s most prestigious conferences dedicated to artificial intelligence research.
“ICLR is the perfect stage for Diffusion-DFL because it brings together the exact community that needs to see the bridge between generative modeling and high-stakes decision-making for real-world applications,” Wang said.
“Presenting Diffusion-DFL allows us to challenge the traditional training framework of diffusion models. It’s about sparking a broader conversation on how we can align the training objectives of generative AI directly with actual, downstream decision-making needs.”
]]>Georgia Tech researchers have created a new AI model for decision-focused learning (DFL), called Diffusion-DFL. Recent tests showed it makes more accurate decisions than current approaches.
Along with optimizing industrial output, Diffusion-DFL lowers costs and reduces risk. Experiments also showed it performs across different fields.
Diffusion-DFL doesn’t just surpass current methods; it also predicts more accurately as problem sizes grow. The model requires less computing power despite these high-performance marks, making it more accessible to smaller enterprises.
Diffusion-DFL runs on diffusion models, the same technology that powers DALL-E and other AI image generators. It is the first DFL framework based on diffusion models.
]]>For many Georgia Tech students, a ride in the Ramblin’ Wreck is a bucket-list item before graduation.
Tech’s mechanical mascot, a 1930 Ford Model A Sports Coupe, has been a fixture on campus and in the hearts of Yellow Jackets alike since 1961, and with the Ramblin’ Reck Club’s Ride Out in Style program, more students will have an opportunity to cruise through campus in the iconic car before Commencement.
The club, which is charged with maintaining the vehicle and sharing its history with the Tech community, will facilitate the program. Through a Sign-Up Genius form, graduating students get an exclusive chance to ride through campus, cruising from the Reck Garage to the Campus Recreation Center before swinging by another staple of campus, Tech Tower.
Sof Zambrano Molina, the current student driver, is behind the wheel wearing a silver heart-shaped locket with a photo of the vehicle inside. She relishes her role in turning a student’s wish into reality.
“It’s always been said by drivers that the Wreck is owned by the student body, and we’re just the ones who get the car from point A to point B,” Molina said. “Since the Wreck is a symbol of Georgia Tech, students deserve the chance to be able to interact with it in that way.”
In addition to Ride Out in Style, this semester also saw the launch of the new Bucket List Ride program. Before Ride Out in Style begins toward the semester’s end, bucket list rides are open to all students, staff, and faculty members — along with up to two of their friends — and give the community a chance to take a ride and learn more about the car.
“I think interacting with the Wreck should be a formative part of every Tech student's journey,” Molina said. “From my experience — from watching people inside the car and seeing how happy they are, or even just seeing how happy students are whenever you drive past them — it's like the car inherently spreads joy.”
For some, seeing the car on campus is the memory they hold onto, Molina says, but for others, it’s a sound they’ll never forget.
“I had someone ask me today, ‘Hey, can I blow the horn?’ and she was so excited. And that’s the part a lot of people recognize,” she said.
As Commencement nears, for any students who find a Wreck-shaped hole in their heart, don’t miss your chance to cross this ride off your Georgia Tech bucket list.
For Georgia Tech, the campus arboretum is more than a designated area of trees. It is the entire campus. Walkways, quads, greens, and streetscapes are all part of a curated landscape carefully selected to thrive in an urban environment. It is also a place where memories are made, from everyday gatherings under the canopy to photos that capture an important milestone.
“It would be great if the trees could talk, if our arboretum could tell stories,” Georgia Tech landscape architect Jason Gregory says. With trees on campus that are more than 100 years old, those stories could be history lessons about the Institute.
Tech’s campus arboretum was recently recertified by ArbNet, the global network of tree professionals and tree collections organized for knowledge sharing, resources, and conservation. With more than 15,000 trees and over 130 species across campus — including two palm trees — the arboretum supports research, education, and preservation and provides public enjoyment. Environmental benefits include reducing heat, managing stormwater, improving air quality, increasing soil porosity, sequestering carbon, and supporting campus wildlife.
Georgia Tech’s designation as a Level II Arboretum reflects its commitment to biodiversity and documenting its tree species, offering advanced educational and public programs, and maintaining policies for the inventory and care of its trees. This year marks a decade since Georgia Tech first earned arboretum certification.
In 2023, Tech also received the Professional Grounds Management Society’s Green Star Grand Award with a 23% campus tree canopy. Today, nearly 30% of the campus is covered by tree canopy, creating a greener, cooler, and more welcoming environment while underscoring the Institute’s commitment to responsible landscape stewardship.
“We have an interactive map online that allows users to explore the genus, species, height, and diameter of every tree on campus. The inventory process is a five-year cycle in which one zone of campus is inventoried each year,” says Annabelle Manville, a Living Campus Fellow for the Office of Sustainability. Gregory says the inventory data helps inform campus planning and support sustainability goals.
As Georgia Tech looks to the future, the campus arboretum will serve as both a living laboratory and a shared campus treasure that connects people to place, past to present, and sustainability to daily life. Through thoughtful stewardship, ongoing research, and intentional care, the Institute’s trees will continue to shape the campus environment and the experiences of those who study, work, and gather beneath their canopy. Each tree adds another chapter to Georgia Tech’s story — one rooted in history, resilience, and a long-term commitment to a greener campus.
Infrastructure and Sustainability
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Catherine Brim
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Communications Officer II
]]>In 2017, faculty conversations began circulating about a new kind of capstone experience, one driven by student discovery and entrepreneurial thinking rather than predetermined client requirements. The idea intrigued Omojokun.
“I remember thinking, this is really different from anything I’ve ever taught,” he said.
In his previous courses, Omojokun took pride in providing the structured, rigorous framework students needed to master complex concepts. While those interactions were dynamic, the curriculum required a specific, focused trajectory. CREATE-X offered a different kind of challenge: the "X" of the program, representing undefined, endless potential.
“CREATE-X is full of unknowns. You don’t know what industry the students are diving into, what roadblocks they’ll run into and navigate out of, or what small- to large-scale successes they’ll achieve throughout the semester. It really had my blood pumping,” he said. As someone who loves the challenge of academia, it was an invigorating way to help the next generation apply what they’ve learned in a new context.
Omojokun co-taught the first CREATE-X Capstone section with College of Computing students in fall 2018 alongside Craig Forest, associate director of the Invention Studio. While the initial computer science cohort was small, the experience was immediately powerful.
“It was humble beginnings but deeply eye-opening,” he said.
In this new environment, students weren't just solving problems; they were seeking them and sometimes pivoting. Traditional client-driven capstones offer students invaluable experiences in delivering high-quality products, responding to clients’ often evolving needs, and adhering to professional standards. CREATE-X added a layer of venture-validation, requiring students to identify a gap in the market and build something with commercial viability.
As the semesters continued, CREATE-X grew from a program with an interesting capstone course Omojokun enthusiastically co-taught to a professional inflection point for him. He found himself talking about it frequently, with colleagues, with students, even with prospective undergraduates who may not see a capstone for years.
He began encouraging prospective and incoming students to take CREATE-X pathways.
“I would tell students, down to first-year students, when you get that opportunity to engage with CREATE-X, take it. You don’t even have to wait until capstone, as there are multiple pathways; in fact, Startup Lab has no prerequisites. Whatever path you take, you’ll remember it for years to come. Whether you officially take a problem solution to market or not, the entrepreneurial confidence gained is priceless.”
By 2020, when the first Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship cohort opened, applying felt natural. He had already become an unofficial ambassador for CREATE-X, helping students navigate options, promoting programs in classes, and rallying colleagues to engage.
“It was an opportunity to become more connected to this thing that I felt was changing the game on campus,” he said. “It cemented my affiliation with CREATE-X.”
The fellowship gave name and weight to the work he was already doing, while also expanding what was possible.
The Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship provides faculty with $15,000 in discretionary funding, which can support a one-semester break from teaching, along with structured training in evidence‑based entrepreneurship, dedicated mentorship, and the opportunity to work closely with students launching startups.
The fellowship also equips faculty to become entrepreneurial instructors and mentors through the CREATE‑X ecosystem, giving them tools to integrate entrepreneurship into their coursework and curricula. Each cohort of fellows is trained to embed entrepreneurial methods, develop new innovation‑focused assignments, and serve as advisors within programs like Startup Lab, Idea‑to‑Prototype, and Startup Launch.
For faculty across Georgia Tech, the fellowship offers something rare: institutional backing, resources, and formal recognition for bringing entrepreneurship into their teaching and shaping how students learn to become problem‑solvers.
Omojokun said he sees CREATE-X as the apex of applying technical fundamentals.
As part of the fellowship, Omojokun brought the program’s ethos into his courses, even a foundational course like CS 1331: Introduction to Object Oriented Programming, where he created a CREATE-X–branded final project. Students built a “problem database” application as their final homework assignment, cataloging real issues they encountered in daily life, assessing their skills to solve them, evaluating markets and metrics, and then deciding potential pathways forward.
“It’s an innovation diary,” he said. “A tool that can get them closer to thinking like a founder.”
The response from students, including many non-computing majors who take his section each semester, has been overwhelmingly positive. While the project is challenging, the open-ended nature and real-world relevance motivate deeper engagement.
“When students believe their work will solve a meaningful problem for a meaningful population, they bring passion to it,” he said. “They start observing the world differently.”
The more Omojokun saw, the deeper his enthusiasm grew.
Even as he stepped into the role of inaugural chair of the School of Computing Instruction in 2022, CREATE-X remained at the forefront of Omojokun’s conversations. Interest in the program continued to grow significantly. Students stopped him in the hallways to talk about their ideas. Faculty reached out to ask about mentorship opportunities. And he continued championing the program in the many settings he entered.
“It turns out that the most engaged group of students in CREATE-X is computing undergraduates,” Omojokun said. “I wanted to make sure that high involvement continued, no matter what size we are,” he said.
Over time, Omojokun strengthened the partnership between the College of Computing and CREATE-X, weaving entrepreneurship deeper into the College's curricular fabric.
Last January, Omojokun was appointed as the associate dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Computing. One of his priorities was highlighting CREATE-X’s curricular impact. In coordination with key stakeholders — including Kelly Ann Fitzpatrick (computing), Craig Forest (mechanical engineering), and Raul Saxena (CREATE-X) — he nominated the program for the ABET Innovation Award. The award honors programs that challenge the status quo in technical education and demonstrate a measurable impact on student learning in ABET-accredited disciplines, such as natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. CREATE-X won.
When faculty are considering something like the Jim Pope Fellowship, Omojokun said the biggest barrier he hears about from them is time. With courses that can enroll 300 students per section and extensive responsibilities beyond the classroom, time is a scarce resource.
He could relate.
“There are always lots of things on my physical and virtual desktop. I always warn people before they enter my office,” he said.
However, Omojokun argued that participating in the fellowship program was time well spent because it helps them rediscover the most exciting parts of teaching.
“It’s worth the time. One of the goals of teaching is to see students passionate about what they’re learning, and CREATE-X makes that happen consistently,” he said.
As AI reshapes industries, Omojokun believes that CREATE-X equips students to navigate the unknown and forge new paths as existing ones shift, providing a versatile skill set that transfers to employment, potentially self-employment, and beyond.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty with AI in the workspace, but CREATE-X gives students the confidence and skills to succeed at whatever comes,” he said. “We are putting students through this process of finding a problem that’s meaningful and matters to the world; mastering that allows them to lead in any environment.”
The 2026 Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship is now accepting applications. For faculty who want to explore integrating entrepreneurship into their teaching, mentoring student founders, and helping shape a culture of innovation across campus, this fellowship offers resources and a supported pathway to begin. Faculty from all disciplines are encouraged to apply to the Jim Pope Fellowship. Priority deadline: July 1; final deadline: Aug. 11.
]]>Coca-Cola, a neighbor to Georgia Tech since 1920, expects to sell a building and adjacent land in a transaction valued at $31.3 million. The company chose to work directly with Georgia Tech on the planned transaction, reflecting the long-standing relationship between the two organizations and a shared commitment to Atlanta’s continued growth and innovation.
The expected sale includes a two-story brick building, part of Coca-Cola’s holdings since 1988, and an adjoining two-acre park along North Avenue.
“This strategic addition to our core campus will support our growth in enrollment and research activity for years to come,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “I appreciate our long relationship with The Coca-Cola Company that allowed us to pursue this opportunity as we continue to invest in our campus, our neighborhood, and Atlanta’s innovation ecosystem.”
James Quincey, Coca-Cola’s executive chair and Georgia Tech’s 2020 Commencement speaker, said the company wanted the property to continue contributing to Atlanta’s innovation ecosystem.
“When we decided this space was no longer needed for our corporate campus, our goal was to work with Georgia Tech, as this site offers a great opportunity for them to expand,” Quincey said. “Coca-Cola has a long legacy of involvement and partnership with Georgia Tech, and we are excited to see them redevelop this important area in Atlanta.”
Georgia Tech will evaluate how the property can best support academic, research, and student needs as part of its long-term campus planning efforts. The acquisition represents a strategic step in ensuring Georgia Tech has the space needed to educate future leaders and advance research that strengthens Georgia’s economy.
About Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is one of the top public research universities in the U.S., developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.
The Institute offers business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, and sciences degrees, as well as professional development and K-12 programs for fostering success at every stage of life. Its more than 56,000 undergraduate and graduate students represent 54 U.S. states and territories and more than 146 countries. They study at the main campus in Atlanta, at instructional sites around the world, and through distance and online learning.
As a leading technological university, Georgia Tech is an engine of economic development for Georgia, the Southeast, and the nation, conducting more than $1 billion in research annually for government, industry, and society.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee, and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak, and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife, and Santa Clara. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities, and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices, and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
]]>The two‑day event took place Feb. 4 – 5, coinciding with the Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, which brought together more than 50 nations to strengthen and diversify global critical mineral supply chains. During this ministerial, U.K. Minister Seema Malhotra and U.S. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg signed a Critical Minerals Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening bilateral cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom on critical mineral supply chains.
These broad efforts are supported by White House Executive Order 14363, which defines the Genesis Mission and aims to accelerate scientific discovery through AI. The order identifies critical minerals supply chain resilience as a national security imperative.
In Atlanta, these themes were brought to life in real time. The GEMs-4 workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, national labs, industry leaders, and workforce organizations from both the U.S. and the U.K. to address shared challenges in technology translation, permitting, investment, and talent development.
The state of Georgia’s integrated ecosystem, linking research universities, legacy industries, technical colleges, national labs, and public‑private partnerships, served as a case study. Presenters highlighted how existing industrial assets in the Southeast are being incorporated into emerging clean energy and critical minerals supply chains, offering a model for other regions seeking to build capabilities around extraction, processing, and manufacturing.
A U.K. member of Parliament representing Cornwall, where the U.K. has lithium reserves and deep critical mineral expertise, joined the convening, as well as representatives from the U.K. Critical Mineral Association, Camborne School of Mines, and the University of Kent. Together, they explored opportunities and challenges, from a fundamental science to a commercialization perspective grounded in real-world experience.
The alignment between the ministerial in Washington and the expertise present in Atlanta demonstrated the value of state-level engagement and how national agreements translate into practical collaboration on the ground.
“The Southeast has the research depth, industrial footprint, and collaborative spirit needed to lead in critical minerals innovation,” said Yuanzhi Tang, Georgia Power Professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute, and founding director of the Center for Critical Mineral Solutions at Georgia Tech. “GEMs‑4 showed what’s possible when universities, industry, and government partners align around shared priorities.”
Day one featured strategic dialogue on critical mineral resources, innovation pathways, and partnership models. A recurring theme was the co-production of critical minerals alongside major mineral commodities. “Many critical minerals are produced as byproducts of larger mining operations, making it essential to integrate recovery strategies into existing mineral industries rather than developing entirely new extraction systems,” noted Crawford Elliott, professor of geosciences at Georgia State University.
Day two transitioned to field‑based learning, led by Paul Schroeder, professor of geology at the University of Georgia. Participants visited active operations to better understand how regional industrial strengths can support national and international supply chain goals. Schroeder said, “Connecting people to the long-standing mineral extraction economy at the mining and plant sites, where the work gets done with an amazingly skilled workforce, underscores the unique role of Georgia’s place‑based capacity in advancing national and transatlantic supply chain goals.”
Organizers emphasized that resilient supply chains rely on regional capabilities built over time through university collaboration, industry partnerships, and community engagement. With three years of inter‑university coordination now underpinning the GEMS platform, the 2026 workshop demonstrated how the Southeast is contributing actionable models for U.S.-U.K. cooperation.
“Ecosystem-building at this scale requires participation from every part of the value chain, and we are encouraged by the model GEMs presents,” said Rachel Galloway, Consul General at British Consulate General Atlanta. “The collaboration across universities, industry, and government is exactly what enables long‑term impact on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Through focused dialogue and partnership-building, the symposium strengthened transatlantic collaboration, highlighted regional strengths, and accelerated innovation and translation across the critical minerals value chain, from resource characterization and processing to recycling, manufacturing, and deployment.
For more information about the GEMS initiative, visit: https://gems.research.gatech.edu/.
]]>Artificial intelligence has been touted as the most transformative technology of our time. With only a few years of mainstream use, it’s changed how we work and communicate, generated billions of dollars in investments, and sparked global debate. But according to leading neuroethics expert Karen Rommelfanger, the race isn’t over yet.
“Can you think of a more transformative technology than one that intervenes with the fundamental organ that drives your experience in the world?”
That fundamental organ is the brain.
Technologies interfacing directly with the brain have been reserved for treating severe injury or disease for decades. Now, neurotechnology is expanding into brain-responsive wearables meant to enhance, augment, and monitor everyday life. As these technologies accelerate and AI is incorporated, the question is no longer if neurotechnology will transform society, but how — and who will shape the boundaries.
These are some of the questions on which Karen Rommelfanger has built her career. Trained as a biomedical researcher and neuroscientist, Rommelfanger went on to found the Institute for Neuroethics, the world’s first think and do tank devoted entirely to neuroethics, public engagement, and policy implementation.
“The brain is special; it’s central to who we are,” says Rommelfanger, who was also an inaugural recipient of the Dana Foundation Neuroscience and Society Award. “And that means when you intervene with the brain, there are unique responsibilities. The field of neuroethics addresses things like: How do you ensure mental privacy? How do you protect free will? How do you ensure that people have the power to be narrators of their own lives and their cognitive experience?”
Now, Rommelfanger is joining Georgia Tech’s Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS) as a professor of the practice, where she will work to further embed neuroethics into Georgia Tech’s research and technology development ecosystem.
“Georgia Tech is producing the next generation of neurotechnologists, and Karen’s expertise will help ensure we’re preparing them to think about societal impact as deeply as they think about the technical and scientific aspects of their work,” says Christopher Rozell, executive director of INNS. “Her leadership strengthens the Institute in exactly the way this moment in neurotechnology demands.”
“Georgia Tech has many, many ways that it leads in the technology ecosystem. But one of the powerful, unique ways it can lead is through neurotechnology,” says Rommelfanger. “I hope that the INNS, given its unique mandate for neuroscience, neurotechnology, and society, can be a lighthouse for these types of conversations.”
From institutional review boards to mandatory responsible research conduct training, ethics are a foundational part of scientific research. But designing neurotechnologies raises ethical challenges beyond the scope of typical training. What happens when discoveries leave the lab and enter people’s lives?
That question sits at the core of Rommelfanger’s work. She argues it’s a neurotechnologist’s responsibility to recognize and proactively address the need for unique safeguards for privacy, autonomy, and long-term responsibility. Her solution is to move neuroethics upstream, embedding it directly into the research, design, and deployment of neurotechnology through an approach she calls “neuroethics by design.”
“Neuroethics by design considers ethics as a core criterion where principles can drive innovation with more of a lens toward societal outcomes,” she says — an approach informed by years of advising national-level brain research initiatives and her experience at the intersection of clinical practice and ethics scholarship.
Rather than treating ethics as a compliance checklist or a post hoc review, neuroethics by design integrates ethical thinking throughout the entire innovation lifecycle, from early ideation and research questions to product requirements, governance strategies, and long-term sustainability. She has used the approach for years as an embedded partner for neurotechnology startups in her neuroethics consultancy, Ningen Co-Lab.
After decades as a traditional academic professor and then years advising companies and policymakers with this philosophy, Rommelfanger says Georgia Tech is the right place to scale this work. With its strength in neurotechnology and INNS’s rare focus on neuroscience and society, “I could not think of a better place to launch and pilot this neuroethics by design scaling effort.”
She will work with INNS to help equip researchers, students, and industry partners with practical tools for ethical decision-making. Her vision is not to create neuroethicists as a standalone profession, but to cultivate ethically engaged neurotechnologists and engineers.
Central to her plans at INNS are hands-on training programs that bring ethics out of the abstract and into practice. “I wanted to be a professor of the practice because, while the field does need more scholars, what it really needs most at this point are practitioners.”
Rommelfanger is exploring modular content that can be embedded into existing courses across disciplines, as well as immersive training — such as neuroethics boot camps and problem-solving hackathons — that bring together students, faculty, and professionals to tackle real-world challenges collaboratively.
“No one discipline can solve all the ethical challenges ahead,” says Rommelfanger. She is particularly interested in creating spaces where experts from across science and engineering, policy and law, design and the arts, and philosophy can work side by side with people with lived experience of neurological conditions. “The onus is not on scientists alone, but is a shared responsibility that benefits immensely from dialogue, accountability, and action across diverse communities.”
By situating neuroethics within Georgia Tech’s broader research ecosystem, Rommelfanger hopes INNS can help shift how the field evolves globally.
“It's really difficult to get your arms around something once it's out of the gate,” she says, citing the rapid adoption of AI without proper ethical or policy guidelines. “With neurotechnology, we still have a little bit of time, but not that much time. We are at that moment where we could change the course of global history.”
For the third consecutive year, Georgia Tech has secured a spot on Forbes’ list of New Ivies, showcasing the Institute’s strong reputation among employers.
Receiving the highest C-suite rating of any university this year, Tech has been included on the list each year since it started in 2024. This year’s survey polled more than 100 C-suite and hiring executives, who were asked to rate schools and detail how artificial intelligence has changed their hiring of new graduates.
According to Forbes, each institution on the list is considered a leader in AI adoption, innovating and integrating the emerging technology into its curriculum.
AI fluency is a valued trait among employers, and one executive said that the ideal job candidate has completed an education that exemplifies “complex emotional intelligence, radical adaptability, and visionary creativity to orchestrate AI tools rather than compete with them.” Emphasizing the importance of equipping graduates with these skills, 60% of respondents say AI has changed their staffing needs, and nearly 25% say it has reduced their need for entry-level college graduates.
“At Georgia Tech, our students don’t just learn AI. They apply it in real-world contexts across fields like finance, medical innovation, and manufacturing,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “They graduate with both technical depth and domain expertise, shaped through hands-on experience and close partnerships with industry, so they’re ready to step in and create value on day one.”
Outside of the classroom, providing students access to an AI supercomputer, the launch of Tech AI, and researchers leading multiple National Science Foundation AI institutes have cemented Tech’s status as a leader in AI innovation.
Return on investment remains a critical factor in today’s conversations about higher education as well, and Tech continues to rank highly in that area. In 2025, the Institute was named the best-value public college by The Princeton Review, and the Department of Education’s College Scorecard ranked Georgia Tech first among public universities in measuring ROI 15, 20, and 30 years after graduation.
On April 2, Georgia Tech launched its new Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership with a symposium built around a simple idea. Society benefits when people are willing to listen, especially to those who disagree with them.
“The Institute will serve as a space to share ideas, learn from one another, and discover common ground,” said Amanda Murdie, dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
“This is especially important in a moment when technology is rapidly altering how we encounter information, form beliefs, and relate to one another.”
“The Institute creates opportunities for students to examine the civic and social implications of technological innovation,” said Aaron Levine, associate dean for research and outreach in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and interim executive director of the Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership.
“It will support leaders who can approach difficult questions thoughtfully, drawing on evidence, expertise, and an understanding of diverse perspectives.”
That focus was reflected in the symposium’s keynote dialogue between Robert George and Cornel West, eminent scholars, longtime friends, and coauthors of Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division.
The keynote conversation modeled the kind of thoughtful dialogue across deep differences that the new Institute aims to cultivate. George and West do not expect to change each other’s minds.For them, persuasion isn’t the point.
“We don’t often completely change each other’s minds about things, but that’s not the goal,” said George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.
“You can have 100% agreement and be wrong. My goal isn’t to persuade him, but to learn what I can from him.”
Listening with care and humility to someone who is coming from a very different place, George added, can offer new ways of seeing an issue.
For West, that process begins with resisting easy labels.
“We don’t look at the world through the lens of -isms,” said West, who is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary.
“You try to listen to a particular argument, put forward by a specific person, and to stay in contact with their humanity. Embrace their humanity.”
The two-day event also included panel discussions featuring insights from peer institutions and breakout sessions inviting the campus community to contribute feedback and ideas about the new institute.
The new Institute aims to give students the chance to explore a broad range of ideas about how innovation shapes communities, the economy, and public life. It aims to be a place where people can exchange ideas freely, learn from one another and find common ground — all anchored in open debate, scientific inquiry and evidence-based problem-solving.
It will also serve as a hub for bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia and other sectors to tackle pressing challenges and pursue science- and data-driven solutions.
Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering remained among the nation’s elite, ranking No. 4 overall in Best Engineering Schools and maintaining its position among the top institutions nationwide.
Several engineering disciplines continued to rank among the nation’s best, with multiple programs placing in the top five. The College’s consistent performance reflects its leadership in research, innovation, and graduate training that closely aligns with industry and global challenges.
Top engineering rankings include:
Georgia Tech continued to demonstrate national strength in computing, ranking No. 7 overall among Best Computer Science Schools in the 2026 rankings.
Notable computing rankings include:
These rankings reflect Georgia Tech’s leadership in emerging and foundational computing technologies, as well as its role in applying computation across disciplines to address real‑world challenges and strengthen industries.
Graduate programs at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy earned strong national placements in the 2026 rankings, highlighting the school’s growing visibility at the intersection of technology, policy, and governance.
Highlights include:
The Scheller College of Business continued its momentum in the 2026 rankings, earning a No. 9 national ranking in Best Part-Time MBA Programs, rising from No. 10 last year.
Scheller also received recognition across a range of graduate business disciplines, with several programs newly ranked in 2026.
Notable Scheller rankings include:
Georgia Tech’s graduate programs in the physical sciences earned continued national recognition, reflecting strength in foundational research areas that support advances in engineering, computing, sustainability, and health.
Science program rankings include:
*Please note that this summary includes the latest rankings issued by U.S. News & World Report for 2026. Not all Georgia Tech Colleges, Schools, and subjects are ranked every year by this organization.
]]>April is Earth Month at Georgia Tech. Coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and organized by partners across campus, Earth Month extends the Institute’s observance of Earth Day on April 22 by showcasing campus sustainability efforts and providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn and engage throughout the month. Campus organizations are encouraged to share and promote their sustainability-focused events via the Earth Month event form.
Wednesday, April 22, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
The Kendeda Building’s patio and atrium on Wednesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will feature and celebrate sustainability efforts across the Georgia Tech community. From student organizations to campus operations departments like Environmental Health & Safety, Custodial green cleaning, and Landscape Services earth-friendly practices, community efforts are shared and supported.
Sign up here to table.
STEM Activity Kit Assembly
Thursday, April 2, 7 – 8 p.m.
Room 154, Skiles Building
Join the Little Einsteins Organization in assembling STEM activity kits to share with students at the Fulton County Libraries.
Community Garden Workday
Friday, April 3, 9 – 11 a.m. (Repeats every Friday)
Community Garden, Instructional Center Lawn
Join the Students Organizing for Sustainability as they harvest, plant, and maintain plots in the garden. Workdays run every week, and everyone is welcome — no experience needed.
Fossil Fridays
Friday, April 3, 3 – 5 p.m. (Repeats every Friday)
Room L1125, Ford ES&T Building
Become a fossil hunter and help discover how vertebrate communities have changed over time. Experience firsthand what it is like to be a paleontologist, finding and identifying new specimens.
Plant Library
Friday, April 3, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Repeats every Friday)
Room 357, Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons
The Plant Library is an opportunity for the Georgia Tech community to take a break and soak up some green vibes. Bring plants and cuttings, pick up a plant to take home, or help maintain the growing plants. Whether or not you want to get your hands dirty, there is something for everyone.
Shirley Clarke Franklin Park Cleanup
Saturday, April 4, 1 – 3 p.m.
Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, 1660 Johnson Road NW, Atlanta
Join the Center for Student Engagement and Georgia Tech Athletics at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park to help preserve and beautify the landscape.
Energy Chat: Southwire
Tuesday, April 7, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Suite 440, Southwire Spark
Experts from Southwire will talk about Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Renewable Energy Integration and provide an overview of BESS fundamentals, key components, and real‑world engineering applications.
Kendeda Building Tour
Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m. – noon
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
Join The Kendeda Building Fellows for an Earth Month tour of The Kendeda Building to learn about Georgia's first fully certified Living Building.
Fieldwork²: Science Studies on Farms and Gardens
Friday, April 10, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Room 7130, Crosland Tower
Participate in a free workshop for anyone interested in science studies and related disciplines, featuring three presentations and networking with colleagues from across metro Atlanta institutions. Breakfast and lunch provided.
Office Hours With a Sustainability Alum: Aki Manda
Friday, April 10, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Online
Sign up for a personal chat with affiliated MBA alumnus Akihiro “Aki” Manda, venture manager at the Innovation Incubation Office.
Tech Beautification Day
Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kessler Campanile
Join SGA for a bit of spring cleaning on campus and in our local community. Activities range from clearing invasive species to spreading pine straw. Breakfast will be served at the event kickoff.
Spring Perennial Planting
Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Outside MRDC
Urban Agriculture and Campus Services will plant perennials and build trellises.
Hanging Flower Lamp Workshop
Saturday, April 11, 5 – 7 p.m. (Repeats every day, April 11 – April 15)
MRDC
Learn how to make your own hanging flower lights in this workshop. Celebrate the spring season with a flower light — a perfect gift for your family, friends, or yourself.
Energy Chat With Shell
Tuesday, April 14, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Van Leer Building
The Georgia Tech Energy Club is hosting a chat with industry professionals from Shell.
Coffee and Compost: In-Vessel Composter Tours
Friday, April 17, 9 – 11 a.m. (Tours start at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.)
In-Vessel Composter in the Resource Recovery Yard (Across from the rear of the Campus Recreation Center on Tech Parkway)
Join the Office of Sustainability and student assistants to learn more about our campus in-vessel composter and innovations in campus waste management. Coffee and pastries will be provided.
Fashion of the Future
Friday, April 17, 5 – 7 p.m.
Atrium, Marcus Nanotechnology Building
Join the Textiles Team for a fashion show showcasing the unique, skilled work of their designers. Fashion of the Future includes predicting future fashion trends, solving modern problems with advanced textile solutions, and integrating complex systems in textiles. Come by for free tote bags, snacks, and a great show.
Join MOVE in Conserving the 4-0-Forest
Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m. – noon
Center for Student Engagement, John Lewis Student Center
Partner with Trees Atlanta and MOVE to protect and restore the 4-0-Forest. Volunteers will work to remove invasive plant species and help preserve native ecosystems. This event is perfect for anyone interested in environmental stewardship, conservation, or outdoor service.
Communications Student Assistant
Infrastructure and Sustainability
]]>The paper examines various strategies for enhancing the flexibility of data center energy use. One approach is to use backup power systems, such as uninterruptible power supplies, to support the grid during emergencies. Another method involves rerouting computing jobs to different data centers in other locations to balance energy demand. The authors also discuss implementing smart scheduling techniques that shift workloads to off-peak hours, reducing strain on the grid. Additionally, they highlight adjusting processor speeds by lowering CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) clock rates to limit power consumption when needed. Finally, the paper suggests pre-cooling data center equipment to limit the energy required for cooling during peak demand periods. Notably, experimental evidence shows that underclocking GPUs can cut power consumption by 40% with only a 22% performance loss, suggesting technical feasibility for demand-response interventions.
Despite these technical options, the authors find that real-world cost considerations and reliability concerns limit widespread adoption. Data center operators generally do not change their behavior in response to electricity prices, as job revenue far outweighs energy costs under normal conditions. For example, a GPU rented at $2 per hour consumes only $0.04 worth of electricity at average prices, making curtailment unattractive except during extreme price spikes. Surveys indicate that operators are reluctant to compromise reliability or deploy backup systems for ancillary services. Consequently, price-based incentives alone are unlikely to drive meaningful flexibility.
Read more on the EPIcenter Webpage
Listen to a podcast on the research here
As vice provost for Enrollment Management, Rick Clark develops strategies to expand access to Georgia Tech and help students find their path here. As an ultra trail runner, Clark understands that, while there may be twists and turns along the way, perseverance and a steady approach are vital when the path ahead seems daunting.
He started running as conditioning for soccer, but as he looked for new challenges, he discovered ultra trail running — any course longer than a traditional marathon. The longest race he’s completed was a 60-mile trek in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, in a torrential downpour. Not concerned with the leaderboards, Clark says he runs to test his limits and reach new personal highs.
“Sometimes you find yourself far from the finish line, wondering if you can keep going, but that’s when you know you really have to dig deep. In those moments, I put my hands on my knees, look at the ground, count to three, and go again. Eventually, you’ll have this moment where one second you’re wondering ‘Why am I doing this?’ or thinking you won’t do it again, and then a day later you’re looking at what races are coming up and asking yourself, ‘What can I do next?’”
Whether it’s training for his next race or working toward Institute-wide goals — becoming a top university for return on investment, enrolling students from all 159 Georgia counties, or expanding access through need-based scholarships — Clark is energized by the work that precedes the payoff and sees that mindset on the trail and at Tech.
“What I love about being at Georgia Tech is that nobody’s satisfied with the status quo. Nobody is satisfied with what we’ve done. There’s always this ambition among our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to ask how we can get better.”
Clark has worked in various roles during his 25 years in higher education, including more than 20 years at Tech. Noting the parallel between his work and his hobby, Clark says that neither running 60 miles nor paying off a ‘big bet’ happens all at once, and that it’s important to celebrate small victories along the way.
“Higher education is an ultramarathon,” he said. “In trail running, there are aid stations along the course. You might go miles between them, but when you reach an intersection, and there’s a group willing to share a snack and a drink by the fire, that’s a point to celebrate that you’ve made it that far. And that’s higher education, too. We keep the end goals in mind, but it’s a long course, and you’re never going to just sprint to the end.”
Clark also stresses that both on the trail and on campus, nothing is achieved alone. He says that his support system — family, friends, and fellow trail runners — is with him every step of the way during races, and that same level of support and collaboration is also critical to shared success at Tech.
Finding time to train can be challenging, but having learned from his experience co-authoring a book — The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together — Clark takes any opportunity to fit a “therapeutic” run into his daily schedule, even if it’s at 4 a.m. or 11 p.m. Training and planning for any hurdle that may arise are what Clark says keeps him calm, even when adversity hits.
“Even success can create new challenges, and with that comes some long days and tough decisions where you don’t know if you’re taking the right path. With trail running, you may end up a mile off course sometimes, and while that can be discouraging, you know it’s a chance to trust your training, not lose your composure, stay resilient, and keep going until the end,” Clark said.
Acceptance to Georgia Tech can feel like the beginning of a race, and Clark and the enrollment management team want to ensure that every student has the opportunity to run it.
“We believe strongly in the idea that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not, and that's what we're focused on: expanding that opportunity. For a student who has the ability, we need to be a place that gives them the chance to come here, and then support them when they are here, to ensure they can take advantage of all the resources Tech has to offer.”
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]]>Published today in the journal Nature Communications, the paper “Trivalent Titanium in High-Titanium Lunar Ilmenite” confirms titanium in a reduced, trivalent state in a black, metal-rich lunar mineral called ilmenite. It’s a state only possible in low-oxygen environments, conditions researchers refer to as “reducing.”
“Models have suggested that these reducing conditions may have varied at different locations and times across the surface of the Moon,” says lead author Advik Vira, a graduate student in the School of Physics who recently earned his doctoral degree. “We hope our microscopy technique can be a valuable step in mapping and understanding the Moon’s 4.5-billion-year history.”
The team anticipates that their technique could be used on many of the lunar samples collected more than 50 years ago by the Apollo missions in addition to the Apollo Next Generation Samples — a group of lunar samples that have been stored under pristine conditions — and new samples from the planned Artemis missions, with Artemis II slated for launch this spring. The technique might also be applicable to samples collected from the far side of the Moon and returned in 2024 by the Chang’e-6 mission.
“The Moon holds clues not only to its own past, but also to the earliest eras of Earth’s evolution — history that has long since been erased from our planet,” Vira says. “This study is a step toward understanding the history of both and a reminder that there is still so much left to learn from the lunar rocks we’ve brought back to Earth.”
The School of Physics research team included corresponding authors Vira and Professor Phillip First; in addition to graduate student Roshan Trivedi; undergraduate students Gabriella Dotson, Keyes Eames, Dean Kim, and Emma Livernois; and Professor Zhigang Jiang, along with Institute for Matter and Systems Materials Characterization Facility Senior Research Scientist Mengkun Tian; School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Senior Research Scientist Brant Jones and Thom Orlando, Regents' Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry with a joint appointment in the School of Physics.
The Georgia Tech team was joined by Addis Energy Senior Geochemist Katherine Burgess; Macalester College Assistant Professor of Geology Emily First; along with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Research Scientist Harrison Lisabeth, Senior Scientist Nobumichi Tamura, and Postdoctoral Fellow Tyler Farr, who recently earned a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.
The investigation began with a dark gray rock called a lunar basalt. Formed when ancient magma erupted on the Moon’s surface, minerals crystallized as it cooled — preserving key information in their structures. Billions of years later, the rock was brought to Earth by the 1972 Apollo 17 mission, where a small piece is now stored at Georgia Tech’s Center for Lunar Environment and Volatile Exploration Research (CLEVER), a NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) center led by Orlando.
As a NASA virtual institute, CLEVER supports researchers exploring lunar conditions and developing tools for the upcoming crewed Artemis missions, and provided the lunar samples for this research. The SSERVI also plays a critical role in training the next generation of planetary researchers: both Vira and Farr earned their Ph.D.s while on the CLEVER team.
“At CLEVER, we are very interested in understanding the impacts of space weathering,” Vira says. “We implemented modern sample preparation and advanced microscopy techniques to image samples at the atomic level, and were curious to apply it more broadly to the collection of Apollo rocks in the Orlando Lab. This sample caught our attention.”
“When we imaged an ilmenite crystal from the lunar basalt, what struck us first was how uniform and perfect the crystal structure was,” he recalls. “We found no defects from space weathering and instead saw an undamaged, pristine crystal — undisturbed for 3.8 billion years.”
To investigate further, the team analyzed small chips of the rock with Burgess, a member of the RISE2 SSERVI team and then a geologist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Using state-of-the-art electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, Vira determined the oxidation state of the elements in the ilmenite present.
In spectroscopy measurements, each element leaves a distinct ‘signature,’ Vira explains. “When we brought our results back to Georgia Tech’s Materials Characterization Facility, Mengkun (Tian) noticed something unusual: the signature showed titanium might be present in the trivalent state.”
The presence of trivalent titanium had long been suspected in this lunar mineral. The team was intrigued.
With funding from Georgia Tech’s Center for Space Technology and Research (CSTAR), Vira returned to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to analyze additional samples. The results confirmed that more titanium was present than the mineral’s formula (FeTiO₃) predicts — indicating a portion of the titanium present was trivalent.
“That led me to place our measurements in terms of the broader geological context,” Vira shares. Working with First, Vira explored how ilmenite with trivalent titanium could help reconstruct the nature of ancient magmas from the Moon, especially the chemical availability of oxygen.
“Because its location on the Moon was noted during the Apollo mission, we know exactly where this rock is from, and we can determine how old the rock is,” he explains. “When coupled with our trivalent titanium measurements, we can use that information to estimate the reducing conditions for this specific region at the specific time our rock formed.”
If the upcoming Artemis missions return samples suitable for the team’s technique, these rocks could provide a new window into ancient lunar geology. The research also highlights that many lunar samples already on Earth could be reexamined to look for trivalent titanium.
“There is still so much to learn from the lunar samples we have already brought to Earth,” Vira says. “It’s a testament to the long-term value of each sample return mission. As technology continues to advance, this type of work will continue to give us critical insights into our planet and our place in the universe for years to come.”
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69770-w
Funding: This work was directly supported by the NASA SSERVI under CLEVER. Researchers were also supported by the NASA RISE2 SSERVI and the Heising-Simons Foundation. Funding for collaborations between the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Georgia Tech for the investigation of lunar minerals was provided by the Georgia Tech Center for Space Technology and Research. Sample preparation was performed at the Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. This work utilized the resources of the Advanced Light Source, a user facility supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, and was supported in part by previous breakthroughs obtained through the Laboratory Direct.
]]>Selena Langner
College of Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium (GSCS) held its annual meeting on February 21 in Athens. Since 2009, the event has hosted researchers from across the Peach State to showcase homegrown advances in scientific computing.
The symposium highlighted Georgia’s reputation as a computing innovation hub. People from around the world come to Georgia universities to lead computing research. By advancing science, engineering, medicine, and technology, their work improves communities at home and abroad.
Faculty and students from Georgia Tech, UGA, Georgia State University, and Emory University presented at the symposium. Georgia Tech participants came from the colleges of Computing, Engineering, and Sciences.
This year’s organizers agreed to meet in Atlanta for the 2027 symposium. Georgia Tech’s School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) will host the 19th GSCS.
“From healthcare to computer chip design, scientific computing underpins many of the technological advances we see in our lives,” said Professor Edmond Chow, associate chair of the School of CSE.
“Scientific computing provides the mathematical models, simulations, and data‑driven tools that make modern innovation possible. It allows people to analyze complex systems, test ideas virtually before building them, and make faster, more accurate decisions across nearly every sector of society.”
Professor Haomin Zhou and Assistant Professor Helen Xu delivered two of the symposium’s five plenary talks.
Zhou presented a new method for solving the Schrödinger equation, a landmark equation in quantum mechanics. Drawing inspiration from the mathematics used in generative artificial intelligence models, his approach develops an algorithm that more effectively simulates waves, particle motion, and other physical systems.
Xu focused on improving how computers move and organize data during complex calculations. Her work uses “cache-friendly” layouts that help computers access data more efficiently, boosting performance for scientific and engineering applications.
“Speaking at GSCS was a great opportunity,” Xu said. “The symposium fostered connections within the scientific computing community and gave us a chance to share exciting research.”
The symposium showcased student work through a poster blitz and a poster session. During the blitz, 36 students each had one minute to introduce their research to the full audience. They then shared more details about their research during the poster session.
The student projects showed the range of fields supported by scientific computing. The session also provided attendees with an opportunity to connect and expand their professional networks, helping grow the field’s future impact.
“As an aerospace engineer by training and aspiring computational scientist, GSCS gave me the platform to network with other researchers in the field while showcasing my own research,” said M.S. student Kashvi Mundra.
“I was able to connect with scientists across different disciplines whose work intersects with my own in unexpected ways. Those conversations pushed my thinking beyond my own lab's perspective, helping me see my work on physics-informed machine learning for inverse problems in a broader scientific computing context.”
Georgia Tech students who presented posters included:
Abir Haque (CSE), Massively Parallel Random Phase Approximation Correlation Energy via Lanczos Quadrature
Antonio Varagnolo (CSE), Physics-Enhanced Deep Surrogates for the Phonon Boltzmann Transport Equation
Ben Burns (CSE), Infinite-Dimensional Stein Variational Inference with Derivative-Informed Neural Operators
Ben Wilfong (CSE), Shocks without Shock Capturing; Compressible Flow at 1 quadrillion Degrees of Freedom without Loss of Accuracy
Daniel Vickers (CSE), Highly-Parallel Fluid-Solid Interactions for Compressible Flows
Eric Fowler (CSE), High-Performance Tensor Contractions in Computational Chemistry
Haoran Yan (Math), Understanding Denoising Autoencoders through the Manifold Hypothesis: A Geometric Perspective
Kashvi Mundra (CSE), Autoregressive Multifidelity Neural Surrogate Modeling under Scarce Data Regimes
Sebastián Gutiérrez Hernández (Math/CSE), PDPO: Parametric Density Path Optimization
Vivian Zhang (AE), Multifidelity Operator Inference: Non-Intrusive Reduced Order Modeling from Scarce Data
Xian Mae Hadia (CSE), Data Efficiency of Surrogate Models: Learning Physics Data from Full Field Data vs. Inductive Bias from Approximate PDE Solvers
Xiangming Huang (CSE), Neural Operator Accelerated Evolutionary Strategies for PDE-Constraint Optimization
Zhaiming Shen (Math), Understanding In-Context Learning on Structured Manifolds: Bridging Attention to Kernel Methods
Zhongjie Shi (Math), Towards Understanding Generalization in DP-GD: A Case Study in Training Two-Layer CNNs
]]>The Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium (GSCS) held its annual meeting on February 21 in Athens. Since 2009, the event has hosted researchers from across the Peach State to showcase homegrown advances in scientific computing.
The symposium highlighted Georgia’s reputation as a computing innovation hub. People from around the world come to Georgia universities to lead computing research. By advancing science, engineering, medicine, and technology, their work improves communities at home and abroad.
]]>New cybersecurity research from the Georgia Institute of Technology, however, revealed that crews aboard commercial vessels were often not adequately prepared to manage cyberattacks effectively due to systemic training gaps.
The findings are based on interviews conducted by researchers with more than 20 officer-level mariners to assess the maritime industry’s readiness to handle cybersecurity attacks at sea.
"Historically, cybersecurity research has focused heavily on cyber-physical systems like cars, factories, and industrial plants, but ships have largely been overlooked,” said Anna Raymaker, Ph.D. student and lead researcher.
“That gap is concerning when more than 90% of the world’s goods travel by sea. Recent incidents, from GPS spoofing to ships linked to subsea cable disruptions, show that maritime systems are increasingly part of the global cyber threat landscape.”
The researchers proposed four practical strategies to strengthen maritime cyber defenses and close the training gaps. Their findings were presented recently at the ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS).
Many of those interviewed for the study described current cybersecurity training as “boilerplate” — generic modules that don’t reflect real shipboard risks.
Researchers recommend:
At sea, crews can’t simply escalate a cyber incident to a shore-based IT department and wait. Operational resilience requires onboard readiness.
Researchers recommend:
Related Article: When GPS lies at sea: How electronic warfare is threatening ships and their crews by Anna Raymaker
Maritime cybersecurity regulations are often reactive and fragmented. Researchers argue the industry needs a cohesive, domain-specific framework.
Key recommendations include:
Finally, the researchers stress that long-term resilience requires deeper technical research focused on maritime systems.
Priority areas include:
Cyber threats at sea are no longer hypothetical. Mariners report real-world incidents ranging from GPS spoofing to ransomware that disrupts global trade.
“Through our interviews with mariners, I saw firsthand how much dedication and pride they take in their work,” said Raymaker. “Our goal is for this research to serve as a call to action for researchers, policymakers, and industry to invest more attention in maritime cybersecurity and support the people who risk their lives every day to keep global trade, food, and energy moving."
A Sea of Cyber Threats: Maritime Cybersecurity from the Perspective of Mariners was presented at CCS 2025. It was written by Raymaker and her colleagues, Ph.D. students Akshaya Kumar, Miuyin Yong Wong, and Ryan Pickren; Research Scientist Animesh Chhotaray, Associate Professor Frank Li, Associate Professor Saman Zonouz, and Georgia Tech Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Raheem Beyah.
]]>Communications Officer II School of Cybersecurity and Privacy
]]>The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) in Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization announced two of its health technology (HealthTech) portfolio companies, Nephrodite and OrthoPreserve, earned the designation.
Achieving this rare milestone underscores the caliber of founders, science, and support in ATDC’s 30-company HealthTech portfolio, the incubator’s largest focus area. It’s also a win for Georgia because it reflects the strength of the state’s health innovation ecosystem.
“This designation is one of the strongest signals the FDA gives that a technology could change the standard of care,” said Greg Jungles, HealthTech catalyst at ATDC. “For ATDC to have two in the same year is remarkable.”
The Breakthrough Device Program doesn’t waive evidence requirements, but it accelerates learning with the FDA, ATDC’s Jungles said. “That means shorter response times, more frequent meetings, and prioritized review. Teams avoid dead ends and align earlier on study designs and endpoints.”
For the founders of both startups, their technologies come one step closer to moving their innovations to market. Nephrodite’s technology improves the lives of dialysis patients. OrthoPreserve’s device addresses challenges faced by those who suffer from chronic knee pain.
Nephrodite: Advancing Continuous Artificial Kidney Technology
Dr. Nikhil Shah and Dr. Hiep Nguyen, cofounders of Nephrodite, aim to improve care for dialysis patients with end-stage kidney disease who need transplants. These patients often spend three to four hours in a dialysis clinic up to three times a week. Being tethered to stationary machines with needles drawing blood via arm grafts complicates everyday activities — from work tasks to the ability to travel.
Dialysis addresses chronic kidney disease, which means kidneys no longer work properly. The treatments filter out toxins, waste, and other fluids in the blood. Kidney disease costs Medicare $124.5 billion every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And those costs are expected to rise because of increasing rates of kidney failure and chronic kidney disease.
“Dialysis, while lifesaving when it was pioneered in 1952, is incredibly burdensome,” Shah said. Besides being a long process that keeps the patient in a fixed location, it’s physically tiring. “Taking out your blood continually many, many times over, and over the course of four hours is the equivalent of running the Boston Marathon, hitting the finish line, and then someone saying, ‘You're not done; go do it again,’ ” he said.
A surgeon by training, with expertise in transplantation and oncology, Shah is also an adjunct associate professor in Tech’s School of Interactive Computing. He worked with Nguyen to develop a continuously functioning mechanical artificial kidney, leading to Nephrodite’s formation.
The FDA’s breakthrough designation on its artificial kidney allows the company to pursue approvals to begin tests in human trials.
The company traces its beginnings to a German aerospace facility outside Munich, where Nguyen and Shah watched engineers demonstrate a pediatric artificial heart — the Berlin Heart.
“That’s how we got started,” Shah said. “Seeing an artificial heart that led us to think about doing this for kidneys — because the kidney space has been largely ignored for 70 years.”
Backed by a German federal grant, Nephrodite grew, moving from Germany to Boston, Massachusetts, then to Austin, Texas, before calling Atlanta home. The company joined ATDC and tapped into other Georgia Tech programs. This included the Center for MedTech Excellence and the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Nephrodite also drew on student talent as the researchers quietly worked on their continuous mechanical artificial kidney.
Nephrodite began interviewing patients to find out what they wanted the artificial kidney needed to solve.
They learned patients want the ability to be mobile. Patients also desire an alternative therapy to large needles being inserted into arm grafts because the injection sites are prone to infection and the grafts can fail. In addition, the process can be painful and disfiguring. Finally, patients want a quality of life independent of machines.
“Those quality-of-life needs, especially being free and mobile, were absolutely universal,” Shah said.
Nephrodite began developing the technology to build its device — a filter surgically implanted in the pelvis area.
“We developed an implant designed to run constantly, connected to larger blood vessels in the pelvis to avoid arm graft failures, and paired with an external interface that lets patients sleep at night while the system removes toxins and excess fluid,” Shah explained.
The device also has built-in sensors, with data uploaded to the cloud, enabling medical care teams to remotely monitor their patients while freeing patients from frequent in-clinic visits.
Shah said Nephrodite’s device could restore everyday independence, while potentially lowering infection risk.
“It's like having an actual kidney, but without all the issues of an unhealthy one,” Shah said.
OrthoPreserve: Innovating a Minimally Invasive Meniscus Implant
OrthoPreserve’s technology aims to address issues from people have with their meniscus, the C‑shaped piece of cartilage in a knee joint that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone and shin bone.
Though patients undergo a now-routine surgery to address it, incomplete recoveries are also common. An estimated quarter of patients later experience recurring knee pain. No FDA-approved implant currently exists for this population. Now, OrthoPreserveis developing a minimally invasive, artificial meniscus implant to restore cushioning, relieve pain, and delay — or even prevent — knee replacement for some patients.
“There are a million meniscus surgeries every year, and 25% of those patients still live with recurring pain,” said Jonathan Schwartz, OrthoPreserve’s founder and CEO.
Patients can face daily pain from ordinary activities, such as prolonged standing or walking a dog. Other activities like jogging and recreational sports can trigger flares that can lead to swelling and prolonged discomfort, Schwartz said. “Those patients have no reliable options today,” he said. “We’re building a minimally invasive implant to restore cushioning and help people get back to the activities they love.”
OrhoPreserve’s durable implant restores cushioning, and it could help people return to normal activities and delay invasive knee replacement. Along with this comes potential cost and recovery benefits for the healthcare system.
Schwartz created the implant as his Georgia Tech master’s thesis in the lab of David Ku in the Lawrence P. Huang Endowed Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Regents' Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. After industry experience, Schwartz returned to further develop the technology, building on Georgia Tech’s translational expertise
OrthoPreserve has completed mechanical testing and a successful study. The company is raising a $2 million seed to complete validations and begin human trials, which Schwartz expects to start in 18 months.
“The FDA breakthrough designation validates that nothing like this technology exists, and that it has the potential to disrupt the standard of care,” Schwartz said, adding the U.S.’ market opportunity is roughly $1.5 billion. “We finally have a minimally invasive option to bridge the gap between meniscus surgery and knee replacement.”
What FDA Breakthrough Designation Means for ATDC’s HealthTech Startups
Having a faster and clearer path is a derisking milestone for investors who are evaluating capital intensive medical device technologies, Jungles said.
“This breakthrough device designation is a really big deal for medical device companies,” Jungles said, adding that startups often fear navigating the FDA approval process. “But this designation adds to the legitimacy of their technologies and the problemsthey are solving. The designation will help them get to market faster, assuming their data continues to meet expectations.”
ATDC launched its HealthTech vertical in 2018, which is now sponsored by Catalyst by Wellstar ATDC’s HealthTech portfoilo companies include medical devices, biotech, and digital health, among other segments.
ATDC’s Role in Accelerating HealthTech Innovation
Nephrodite and OrthoPreserve’s founders noted ATDC’s coaching and programming as critical in navigating fundraising and regulatory milestones. Another factor, they said, was ATDC’s connection to Georgia Tech’s labs and facilities and prototyping support and clinical advisors from across metro Atlanta.
“We meet with ATDC coaches every two to four weeks to troubleshoot and plan,” Schwartz said. “Having that level of seasoned guidance, all without consultant-level costs, has been huge.”
Jungles added that two Breakthrough device designations in the same year reflects ATDC’s selection rigor, noting he’s evaluated hundreds of technologies since the HealthTech vertical launched.
“It reflects the caliber of the companies in ATDC, specifically in the medical device space,” Jungles said. “It’s the strength of their teams, the persistence of the founders, and the collaboration of the ecosystem in Georgia and Atlanta.”
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