As interim dean, Collard will represent a college that is home to more than 3,000 students, 500 faculty members, and six internationally ranked schools.

Collard joined the Georgia Tech faculty in 1991. His research program has focused on understanding how interactions between molecules influence the properties of materials, ranging from electrical conductivity to biological responses. As an instructor he has received awards for teaching excellence and outstanding use of educational technology.

“David’s thoughtful approach and deep affinity for the college make him ideally suited to help steward this transition period,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “We are grateful for his willingness to provide continuity of leadership for a college that has achieved tremendous growth in size and reputation over the past seven years.”

A national search for the College’s next dean will commence, led by College of Engineering Dean Mitchell Walker. Information regarding the search committee and key dates will be posted to provost.gatech.edu.

Georgia Tech alumnus and President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough was struck by the beauty and ecological significance of this region during a trip to Cumberland Island. 

The South Georgia native decided to transform his sense of wonder into a multiyear exploration of the coast’s natural history, flora, and fauna. Along the way, he met some of the people studying and working to protect its ecological and cultural heritage.

The result is his new book, The Ever-Changing Georgia Coast: A Natural History of Its Creation, Transformation, and Future. Described as “part travelogue, part natural history, and part nature guide,” the book examines the past, present, and future of Georgia’s coast and reflects on the forces, both human and natural, that continue to shape it. 

Oct. 23 Book Talk at Scheller Tower

Clough will share stories and inspiration from his latest book during a special conversation on Friday, Oct. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the West Lobby of Scheller Tower. Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, will moderate the conversation, which will be followed by an audience Q&A and a book signing reception. 

The event is free and open to the public. Copies of Clough’s new book will be available for purchase and signing.

RSVP to attend and be entered into a drawing for one of 14 signed copies of his book, one for each of Georgia’s major barrier islands. 

Dust-sized meteoroids and solar wind gradually alter lunar soil, producing tiny metallic particles known as nanophase iron. For years, scientists have used sensing data influenced by those particles to estimate the weathering age of the moon’s surface, but they weren’t sure which weather source primarily drives these changes.

To investigate, physics Ph.D. candidate Roshan Trivedi and Advik Vira, a recent Ph.D. graduate, exposed ilmenite, a common mineral on both the Earth and moon, to a synthetic version of solar wind. The experiment produced nanophase iron under controlled conditions, suggesting that solar wind plays a major role in shaping the lunar surface observed today. 

The team presented its findings in “Creation of Lunar-Like Rims in Ilmenite Using Synthetic Solar Wind,” published in The Planetary Science Journal in June. Their work was conducted through the Georgia Tech Center for Lunar Environment and Volatile Exploration Research (CLEVER), a NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) led by Georgia Tech Regents’ Professor Thom Orlando, a co-author of the study. A central aim of CLEVER is to understand the science and effects of space weathering as they pertain to the goals of NASA’s Artemis missions.

By understanding how the moon’s surface morphs on a microscopic level, scientists will be able to better interpret remote sensing data. Soon, we won’t have to rely just on moon missions to learn detailed characteristics of the lunar surface.

The work could also shed light on another longstanding question: how water forms on the moon. 

“Water would be a fantastic resource for humans operating on the moon, but scientifically, we are driven simply by the question of how water gets there in the first place,” said Phillip First, a professor in the School of Physics. “Solar wind is potentially one way, because protons in solar wind provide the hydrogen of H2O molecules while oxygen is present in lunar minerals.”

Using a vacuum chamber in Orlando’s lab to simulate solar wind and high-resolution electron microscopy to analyze the samples, the researchers recreated the effects of thousands of years of solar wind exposure.

“Scientists have been doing laboratory radiation experiments for years, but they haven't been able to characterize the results at this level of detail,” said lead author Trivedi.

The team can now simulate a wide range of exposure ages, which may help explain how water forms. In addition to forming nanophase iron, the experiments created tiny voids within the mineral — potential sites where hydrogen from solar wind could bond with oxygen to form water. 

“Having the ability to recreate the solar wind and having results look so similar to actual lunar samples is excellent,” said co-lead author Vira. 

DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ae6074

Funding: This work was directly supported by the NASA SSERVI under CLEVER. Sample preparation was performed at the Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. Collaborations between the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Georgia Tech for advanced electron microscopy were supported by the Georgia Tech Center for Space Technology and Research. 

The iGEM students are led by Catherine "Kate" Sharer (Chemistry/Biochemistry 1996), who discovered a passion for research as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech. 

“It's a joy to work with these students on real science. Instead of teaching a class, it feels very much like we're running a research lab that also has this competitive aspect to it,” says Sharer. "It's the perfect job I never knew I wanted."

Georgia Tech Beginnings

Sharer’s path to the classroom began in Tech’s chemistry labs. She initially enrolled as a chemical engineering major, before discovering she preferred chemistry and the lab work that went with it.

“I would listen in class and memorize my notes, but I learned the most when I could put chemical theories into practice in the lab,” says Sharer. ”Today, I try to bring that same learning process to my students.”

Summer research positions with Georgia Tech faculty gave her opportunities for hands-on scientific discovery. “Working in labs as a 19-year-old undergraduate made a huge impact on me,” Sharer says. “I absolutely fell in love with research.”

After graduation, she began a Ph.D. program in biochemistry and molecular biology at Emory University and spent about a decade in research labs. During those years, she mentored undergraduate scientists and found her enthusiasm for teaching matched her passion for research.

Realizing she wanted to make teaching a career, she earned a master's degree in secondary education and became a chemistry teacher. Just two years later, iGEM showed her that she didn't have to choose between the classroom and the lab.

Global Acclaim

The iGEM competition brings together students from more than 65 countries to conduct ambitious research aimed at solving real-world problems, culminating in the annual Global Jamboree in Paris.

The Lambert team is internationally recognized. Over the years, they’ve been profiled on 60 Minutes and Georgia Public Broadcasting and earned several competition awards. The 2022 team won the Grand Prize with their project, CADlock, an accessible, early-diagnosis screening test for coronary artery disease that uses microRNA biomarkers.

Nearly 100 students tried out for 10 openings on this year's team. According to Sharer, families move to the Lambert School District to participate. Despite the accolades, Sharer believes the team’s greatest achievement is the growth she sees in her students.

“They gain a lot of soft skills, like being a good team member and an effective communicator,” says Sharer.

Addressing Challenges

Each year the students choose the global issue they’d like to tackle.

The 2025 team developed a Lyme disease diagnostic platform using gene-editing technology, which led to an invitation for students to present their research at a Lyme disease symposium at Johns Hopkins University.

"This wasn’t a competition, this wasn’t on 60 Minutes, this wasn’t for a gold medal. This was my students being part of an important conversation with Lyme disease researchers across the world,” says Sharer. “It really showed them the power of science.”

This year's team is focusing on deformed wing virus in honey bees. Students are exploring synthetic biology approaches that could help protect bee populations critical to agriculture.

“My students are passionate, competitive, and committed to making the world a better place through the research and outreach that they do,” explains Sharer. “They’re wildly creative and ambitious, without any preconceived notions of what they can’t do.”

Beyond the laboratory, Lambert’s iGEM students host a synthetic biology summer camp for middle school students, conduct outreach in local schools, and even deliver virtual lessons to young women in Afghanistan.

All of the iGEM experiences have reinforced Sharer's belief in what young scientists can achieve:

"High school students are capable of independent research, and the more opportunities we can give them for that, the better."

A Georgia Tech Legacy

Like Sharer, the Lambert iGEM team shares strong ties with Georgia Tech.

The team traces its roots to School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor Mark Styczynski, who introduced former Lambert teacher, Janet Standeven, to the competition. Since then, Styczynski has remained a dedicated mentor, supporting Lambert students for more than a decade.

“He treats my high school kids like grad students, asking them great questions that make them think about the research," says Sharer.

Other Georgia Tech professors have also offered research guidance and laboratory space.

This year, the students have been working with Jennifer Leavey, principal academic professional, assistant dean for faculty mentoring, and director of the Georgia Tech Urban Honeybee Project.

“I’ve been very impressed with the Lambert iGEM team members,” says Leavey.  “They are approaching the problem of honey bee health from so many different angles — using molecular biology, protein chemistry, technology, and even education. I hope they all become scientists, but even if they don't, I know they will go on to amazing things!”

Coming Full-Circle 

Sharer sees her own educational experience reflected in the opportunities her students have today.

“Everything I was taught at Georgia Tech, my training at Emory, and all of the pieces of my education, I get to transfer into the classroom,” says Sharer.

Many iGEM students leave Lambert and come to Georgia Tech. Esther Lee, a third-year biomedical engineering major, was a member of the Lambert iGEM team in 2022 and is now a volunteer mentor.

“The endurance built from reading papers, troubleshooting, and collaborating with team members to be creative and solve problems helped me push through challenging courses and team-based projects at Tech,” says Lee. “It also encouraged me to join a research lab and continue experimenting.”

Lee speaks highly of her former advisor:

“Ms. Sharer expertly balances encouraging and pushing students to learn, explore, and ideate challenging topics while also keeping realities and timelines in check,” says Lee.

Sharer’s current iGEM students agree:

“She’s a great teacher,” says Brandon Jimerson, a senior member of Lambert’s iGEM team. “She’s really shaped the way I look at science and how it can positively affect the world.”

“Every living organism runs on chemistry, and metabolomics is the attempt to read that chemistry directly by measuring thousands of small molecules at once: in a drop of blood, a leaf, a microbial colony, and even a single cell,” Fernández says. 

Advances in understanding metabolites could provide new insights for cancer diagnostics, drug development, and environmental monitoring.

“The Metabolomics Society’s members are pushing the field forward and translating metabolomics knowledge into real health benefits for society,” he adds. “Being selected by that group of scientists and students feels like a special kind of honor.”

Fernández joined Georgia Tech in 2004 and also serves as the Vasser-Woolley Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research focuses on developing tools to measure and analyze small-volume samples, tissues, and single cells. He also directs the Systems Mass Spectrometry Core at the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. 

His two-year term on the Metabolomics Society's Board of Directors begins Oct. 1. 

“This year’s honorees are incredible trailblazers who have built remarkable careers, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and continue to inspire those who follow in their footsteps,” says Susan Lozier, dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair of the College of Sciences and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “It is a privilege to recognize these extraordinary individuals and celebrate the many ways they reflect the strength and spirit of the College of Sciences.”

Honorees will be recognized at the second annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel.

Recognition categories include the Distinguished Alumni Awards, honoring one graduate from each school; the Distinguished Young Scientist Award, recognizing early-career excellence; and the College of Sciences Impact Award, honoring transformative contributions to the College’s mission and future.

“The large response to our call for nominations was a powerful reminder of how deeply our alumni contribute to their fields and communities,” says Director of Alumni Relations Leslie Roberts. “We are excited to recognize this year’s amazing honorees and celebrate the lasting influence they have had both within and beyond Georgia Tech.”

2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Tia Williams

B.S. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 1996

School of Biological Sciences

Fred Levin, M.D.

B.S. Applied Biology 1972

School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Belma Erdogan-Haug, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Chemistry 2003

School of Mathematics

Clemmie Whatley, Ph.D.

M.S. Applied Mathematics 1973

School of Physics

Gilbert (Gil) Amelio, Ph.D.

B.S. Physics 1965, M.S. Physics 1967, Ph.D. Physics 1969

School of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Tara Stoinski, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Psychology 2000

Distinguished Young Scientist Award Recipient

Austin Hope

B.S. Psychology 2014 

College of Sciences Impact Award Recipient

Jeffrey Leddy

B.S. Physics 1978

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. 

Georgia Tech’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with the Office of Research Operations, is launching Georgia Tech’s first Sustainable Lab Certification program, which will provide a framework for campus laboratories to implement practical, high-impact sustainability measures. Labs earn recognition for their efforts through tiered certification levels — bronze, silver, or gold — based on the number and results of practices implemented.  

Over the past four years, these grants have supported the transformation of more than 100 courses reaching thousands of Tech students across six colleges and 26 schools. These awards advance the Institute’s commitment to transformative teaching and learning, preparing students to be globally engaged leaders who improve the human condition.

“Beyond all the transformations in individual classrooms, the program has developed a community of scholars who are thinking deeply about how to make sustainability education relevant and valuable for every Tech student,” said Marc Weissburg, upcoming chair of the Sustainability Education and Curriculum Committee. “The range of innovative ideas and the cleverness and thoughtfulness with which they are deployed says a lot about Tech faculty.”

College of Sciences Grant Recipients

Names: Pamela Pollet and Eric Shen
Department: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Organic and Sustainable Chemistry: An Open-Source Textbook

Discover the full list of 2026-27 Undergraduate Sustainability Education Innovation Grant Recipients.

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.

When BRCA Fails

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.

A Clearer Image

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.

Paths to Treatment

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.

Together, they reflect Georgia Tech’s deep commitment to undergraduate research, global engagement, and addressing some of the world’s most pressing scientific and environmental challenges.

From the College of Sciences:

Alysa Jordan

This summer, Alysa Jordan will join the Seib Laboratory at the University of Prince Edward Island to study how maternal antibiotic exposure affects the gut microbiome, placenta, and ultimately fetal neurodevelopment. A neuroscience major, her work integrates immunohistochemistry to identify structural changes in maternal and fetal brain tissue, as well as mass spectrometry to analyze how antibiotics alter the availability of key metabolites. Jordan hopes her research will contribute to a deeper understanding of prenatal health and early developmental outcomes.

“Go after what you’re interested in,” she said, advising future applicants, “and lean on the resources provided by Georgia Tech and the Prestigious Fellowships office.”

Nidhi Shenoy

Biochemistry student Nidhi Shenoy will be conducting her research at Dalhousie University Medical School in Saint John, New Brunswick. She will investigate how transcription factor E3 (TFE3) promotes cellular waste clearance to support mitochondrial and lysosomal health in heart cells under obesity and diabetes. Her work aims to identify targetable pathways to improve cardiac metabolism, survival, and function.

Shenoy expressed how closely the opportunity aligns with both her personal interests and professional goals.

“As someone who loves to travel around the world,” she said, “this opportunity is incredibly exciting and valuable as I can experience research and professional workplace environments globally. International education and experience are so integral to shaping who I am.”

Meet all students here.

View luncheon photos on Flickr, and see recipients from all colleges here.

College of Sciences

The School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Quarter Century Award
Sophia Buettner (ENVS), Daniel Lamprea (AOS), Rowan Ray (ENVS), Claire Riggs (ENVS)

The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Arduengo Award
Arya Akbarshahi (BCHM), Ryan Wiebold (CHEM)

The School of Psychology Moll Davenport Award
Kate Cole (PSYCH)

Metha Phingbodhipakkiya Memorial Scholarship
Nick Elidor (NEUR)

A. Joyce Nickelson and John C. Sutherland Prize
Carlos Marcio De Oliveira E Silva Filho (MATH & PHYS)

Roger M. Wartell and Stephen E. Brossette Award
Sara Dixon (BCHM), Nikhita Subramaniarao (PHYS)

Robert A. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship
Zachary Beddingfield (BIO & BCHM), Kate Cole (PSYCH), Kathleen “Katie” Griffin (BIO & ENVS)

Institute Awards

Georgia Tech Women’s Club Scholarships
From College of Sciences:
Isabel O’Connell (ENVS), Clear Holley (PHYS)

The University System of Georgia (USG) Academic Recognition Award
From College of Sciences:
Elliot Huang (PSYCH & CS)

Provost’s Academic Excellence Award
From College of Sciences:
Elliot Huang (PSYCH & CS)

Love Family Foundation Award
From College of Sciences:
Marielle Frooman (BCHM)

Clanton Awards

Virginia C. and Herschel V. Clanton Jr. Scholarship
Chloe Zhang (BCHM), Maryam Aamir (NEUR)

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) 

Recipients
From College of Sciences:
Matthew Rohan (CHEM), Austin C. Wang (NEUR)

The paper, The Borderlands of Foldability: Lessons from Simplified Proteins, is a meta-analysis of six decades of protein research and reveals that ancient proteins may have been far more complicated and dynamic than previously thought. 

Recently published in the journal Trends in Chemistry, the study includes Georgia Tech researchers Lynn Kamerlin, professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Georgia Research Alliance Vasser-Woolley Chair in Molecular Design, and Quantitative Biosciences Ph.D. candidate Alfie-Louise Brownless.

Co-authors also include Institute of Science Tokyo graduate student Koh Seya and Liam M. Longo, who serves as a specially appointed associate professor at Science Tokyo and as an affiliate research scientist at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science.

The research has implications ranging from the origins of life and the search for life in the universe to cutting-edge medical innovation. “One of the biggest unanswered questions in science is how life first began,” says Kamerlin, who is a corresponding author of the study. “Understanding how the first protein-like molecules formed and what the earliest proteins may have been like is a key part of that puzzle.”

“Proteins power our bodies — and all life on Earth,” she adds. “Simply put, the evolution of proteins is the reason that we’re able to have this conversation at all.”

A Protein Folding Paradox

If proteins are the scaffolding of life, amino acids are the components that make up that scaffolding. “Today, an average protein is constructed from a chain of about 300 amino acids, involving 20 different types of amino acids,” Kamerlin shares. Proteins fold when these chains twist into a specific 3-dimensional shape, creating structures critical for biology.

However, while these folds are essential, exactly how a protein knows which way to fold remains a mystery. “We know that proteins didn’t just fold randomly,” Kamerlin shares, “because randomly trying all possible configurations would take a protein longer than the age of the universe.”

It’s a cornerstone problem in biological science called “Levinthal’s Paradox,” and highlights a fundamental mystery: Proteins fold incredibly quickly into very specific combinations — but like a sheet of paper spontaneously folding into an origami swan, researchers don’t know how proteins “choose” the folds they make.

“We can predict what a protein will look like, but can’t tell you how it got there,” Kamerlin adds. “That’s what we’re interested in exploring: how small early proteins developed into the complex proteins that support every living thing on today’s Earth.”

Simple Letters, Sophisticated Structures

Early proteins likely had access to just half of today’s amino acids. “About 10-12 amino acids were likely available on early Earth,” Kamerlin says. Like writing a story with just the letters “A” through “L,” researchers assumed that the ‘vocabulary’ proteins could build from such a limited amino acid alphabet would also be constrained.

“There is a language to protein folding,” Kamerlin explains. “That language is hidden in their structures. Our research is in trying to understand the rules — the grammar and vocabulary that dictate a protein fold.” 

The grammar they discovered was surprising: with a combination of creative techniques and environmental support, complex structures can arise from limited amino acid alphabets. 

“We found that it is possible to develop complex folds with very simple tools — and certain environments, like salty ones, can help support that,” Kamerlin shares. “Early proteins could also cross-link and associate, interacting like LEGO blocks to create more complex structures.”

Pioneering Proteins

Now, the team is conducting research in environments that could mimic conditions on early Earth — aiming to discover more about how these regions could have given rise to today’s complex proteins. “This aspect of our research also ties into the amazing space research happening at Georgia Tech,” Kamerlin says. “While we’re interested in understanding early life on Earth, our work could help inform where best to look for evidence of life beyond our planet.”

Kamerlin specializes in creating computer models that simulate possible scenarios – creating an opportunity to quickly and efficiently test many theories. The most compelling of these can then be tested by her collaborator and co-author at Science Tokyo, Liam Longo, in lab experiments. 

Protein folding is also at the forefront of medical innovation, ranging from diagnostic tools to cancer treatments and neurodegenerative diseases. “In the broader scope, we’re interested in discovering what we can design, what we can stress test, and what we can reconstruct with AI and other computational tools,” Kamerlin says. “Because if you can understand how proteins fold, you gain the ability to design them.”

Funding: NASA, the Human Frontier Science Program, and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trechm.2026.03.001

The College of Sciences recognized faculty and staff excellence during the 2026 Spring Sciences Celebration. Held each spring on Tech Tower Lawn, this signature event also honors recent retirees.

“Spring Sciences is a time to celebrate exceptional members of our community,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “We thank this year’s honorees for their outstanding contributions and dedication to our mission.” 

The 2026 honorees are:

Faculty Development Awards

The Cullen-Peck Scholar Awards were established by Frank Cullen (Math 1973, M.S. ISyE 1976, Ph.D. ISyE 1984) and Elizabeth Peck (Math 1975, M.S. ISyE 1976) to encourage the development of especially promising mid-career faculty. 

• William Gutekunst, Chemistry and Biochemistry
• D. Zeb Rocklin, Physics
• Minoru “Shino” Shinohara, Biological Sciences 

The Gretzinger Moving the School Forward Award, endowed by Ralph Gretzinger (Math 1970) and named in honor of his late wife, Jewel, recognizes the leadership of a school chair or senior faculty member who has played a pivotal role in advancing equal opportunity in the composition of tenure-track faculty, fostering a family-friendly work environment, and providing a supportive environment for early-career faculty. 

• Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, Psychology 

The Eric R. Immel Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching, endowed by Charles Crawford (Math 1971), recognizes exemplary teaching in foundational undergraduate courses. It honors the late School of Mathematics professor Eric R. Immel, who greatly influenced Crawford’s undergraduate experience at the Institute.

• Zachary Handlos, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 

The CoS Faculty Mentor Awards, established jointly by the College of Sciences and its ADVANCE Professor, recognize the efforts and achievements of faculty members who mentor fellow faculty. 

• Alexander Robel, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Chongchun Zeng, Mathematics 

Research Faculty Awards

The CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award and CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award recognize postdoctoral and non-tenure-track research faculty whose exceptional research contributions have had a significant impact on their fields of study.

CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award 

• Chaebin Kim, Physics 

CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award 

• Brant Jones, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

The CoS Research Faculty Community Trailblazer Award recognizes postdoctoral and non-tenure-track research faculty who have demonstrated and sustained leadership that strengthens the sense of community among research faculty within the College.

• Dustin Huard, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Staff Awards

The College of Sciences Staff Awards are made possible by funding from the Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean’s Chair endowment. These awards include: 

The Leadership in Action Award recognizes a staff member who has made exceptional contributions to the College through innovative and strategic leadership, change management, business process improvement, special project leadership, and similar accomplishments. 

• Leslie Roberts, College of Sciences Dean’s Office 

The Exceptional Staff Award and the Friend of the Sciences Award recognize performance above and beyond the call of duty. The awardees demonstrate high levels of execution in their primary job duties, auxiliary roles, and citizenship, positively impacting the strategic goals of the College.

Exceptional Staff Award 

• Joshua Crowe, Biological Sciences 

Friend of the Sciences Award 

• Eme Anderson, Office of Sponsored Programs 

The Rising Star Award honors a newer staff member who has made a significant impact during their short tenure by contributing to the strategic goals and initiatives of the College, showing passion for their work, and embracing the Institute’s culture and values.

• Drake Lee-Patterson, Biological Sciences 

2026 Retirees 

Faculty 

• Rafael Bras, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Predrag Cvitanović, Physics
• Martin Jarrio, Physics
• Michael Loss, Mathematics 

Staff 

• Judith Taylor, Mathematics

View luncheon photos on Flickr, and see recipients from all colleges here.

Georgia Tech Chapter Sigma Xi Awards

Best Faculty Paper Award

Jiang Zhigang
Professor
School of Physics

Institute Research Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Research Enterprise Enhancement

Anna Österholm
Research Faculty
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award
Human Space Exploration Team

Thomas Orlando — Team Leader
Regents’ Professor
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
School of Physics

Phillip First
Professor
School of Physics

Brant Jones
Senior Research Scientist
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Frances Rivera-Hernandez
Assistant Professor
School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Jiang Zhigang
Professor
School of Physics

Human Space Exploration Team co-recipients from the College of Engineering:

Masatoshi Hirabayashi
Associate Professor

Julie Linsey
Professor

Peter Loutzenhiser
Associate Professor

Alvaro Romero-Calvo
Assistant Professor

Meisha Shofner
Professor

Staff Awards

Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Gender Equity Award 

Susan Lozier
College of Sciences Dean
Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair
Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 

Undergraduate Education Awards 

Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor – Faculty Advisor 

Haley Steele
Academic Professional
School of Biological Sciences 

Center for Teaching and Learning Awards

Curriculum Innovation Award

Mary Peek
Principal Academic Professional
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Undergraduate Educator Award

Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman
Professor of the Practice
School of Psychology

Faculty Honors Committee Awards

Junior Faculty Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award

Farzaneh Najafi
Assistant Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award

Pamela Pollet
Principal Academic Professional
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Released on April 7, the latest U.S. News report features the College's six schools, each of which earned top‑tier placements that reflect academic quality and peer reputation across disciplines.

Georgia Tech College of Sciences rankings

• Biological Sciences: No. 41 (tied)
  Tied with Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Northwestern University; Purdue University–West Lafayette; University of Arizona; University of California, Santa Barbara; and University of California, Santa Cruz.
   
• Chemistry: No. 20 (tied)
  Tied with University of California, San Diego.
   
• Earth Sciences: No. 29 (tied), up four spots
  Tied with Johns Hopkins University; Oregon State University; Texas A&M University–College Station; and Washington University in St. Louis.
   
• Mathematics: No. 26 (tied)
  Tied with Rice University; Rutgers University–New Brunswick; and the University of Washington.
   
• Physics: No. 22 (tied)
  Tied with Brown University; Duke University; Northwestern University; The Ohio State University; and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
   
• Psychology: No. 39 (tied)*
  Tied with Michigan State University; Stony Brook University–SUNY; University of Arizona; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Florida; and University of Iowa.

*Psychology rankings were carried forward from the most recent U.S. News social sciences rankings cycle.

These new rankings — based on peer perception surveys, as well as statistical indicators measuring faculty resources, research activity, and student outcomes — continue to highlight the College of Sciences’ breadth across core scientific disciplines and its role in advancing discovery, training future researchers, and supporting Georgia Tech’s research and mission.

Specialty Rankings: Chemistry and Mathematics

In addition to overall program rankings, Georgia Tech continues to earn national recognition in existing specialty graduate rankings within the College of Sciences, which carry forward from April 2023:

• Chemistry remains consistently ranked among the nation’s top programs, reflecting strength across sub‑disciplines and sustained research impact.
• Mathematics continues to earn recognition for both applied and theoretical strengths, supported by interdisciplinary connections across engineering, computing, and the sciences.

Chemistry specialty graduate programs

• Analytical Chemistry – No. 11
• Inorganic Chemistry – No. 20
• Physical Chemistry — No. 14
• Theoretical Chemistry — No. 18 

 Mathematics specialty graduate programs

• Analysis — No. 20 (tie)
• Applied Math — No. 16 (tie)
• Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics — No. 5 (tie)

Full rankings: gatech.edu/about/rankings

Caleb Adams, a business administration major, and Marielle Frooman, a biochemistry major, have charted their own distinct paths, yet both equally embody the academic excellence, leadership, and impact at the heart of the Love Family Foundation Award.

The winners are selected by the academic associate deans in coordination with the Office of Undergraduate Education and Student Success, and each recipient will receive a $6,000 monetary award.

“The selection committee felt that both finalists exemplified the spirit and intent of this award,” said Steven Girardot, vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success. “From a pool of six outstanding finalists, it was clear that these two students stood apart. Rather than forcing a distinction between equally exceptional individuals whose achievements span very different disciplines, the committee chose to recognize both. Caleb and Marielle represent an exceptional level of achievement, curiosity, and commitment to impact that defines the very best of Georgia Tech undergraduates.”

Building a Business Career

Finance captured Caleb Adams’ attention early, sparked in part by conversations with his father — a Georgia Tech mechanical engineering alumnus — and solidified when Adams bought his first stock at 13. Captivated by the way investing touches everything and everyone in the economy, Adams set his sights on an education in Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business.

A Stamps President’s Scholar, Adams embraced the scholarship’s emphasis on academic excellence, leadership, and service. His academic path was shaped as much by the classroom as by the opportunities he pursued beyond it.

Adams has immersed himself in campus life, seeking experiences that have allowed him to explore finance in academic and extracurricular settings while consistently finding opportunities to give back to his peers. One of the most influential was his role on the Georgia Tech Student Foundation Investments Committee, where he served as technology sector head and managed a $300,000 portfolio. Working with actual money and real stakes, he sharpened his financial modeling and presentation skills while directing funding back to student organizations across campus.

As a Scheller Business Ambassador, Adams welcomed prospective students and families and had the space to share student perspectives with college leadership. That commitment to helping others navigate business and finance also showed up in his participation in the Scheller Mentor Program, hosting personal finance education workshops, and working as a teaching assistant for an accounting course he took as a first-year student. In earlier semesters, Adams explored finance and strategy through the Venture Capital Club, Undergraduate Consulting Club, and Emerging Leaders Advisory Board.

His journey was intentional from the start, and faculty who have worked with him recognize him for his accomplishments and everything it took to get there.

“Even as a first-year student, Caleb wasn’t just chasing the next opportunity,” noted Craig Womack, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Scheller. “He was thoughtful about how each experience connected to the kind of person and leader he wanted to become.”

Womack was instrumental in Adams’ decision to attend Georgia Tech, providing guidance before Adams began as a first-year and helping connect him with professors and organizations that would influence his academic and professional journeys.

Adams’ intentionality extended beyond the classroom, and when finance wasn’t capturing his attention, travel offered another way for him to feed his curiosity of how the world works. In 2025, Adams helped organize the Academic Search for Knowledge trip to Japan for fellow Stamps President’s Scholars, which helped his goal of visiting every continent and further broadened his global perspective.

The focus and discipline characterizing Adams’ academic journey has also guided him through a demanding slate of internships, including roles at Capital One, Airbnb, AeroVect, and ultimately Morgan Stanley, where he earned a full-time offer and will begin his career as an investment banking analyst in New York City after graduation. Working for Morgan Stanley had been his goal long before his first day of college.

“It’s definitely an intense job,” he acknowledged, “but it’s incredibly interesting, high-value work. The exposure you get, the training you get, the skills and networks — they’re unbeatable and unmatched.”

As he prepares to graduate and step into the fast pace of Wall Street, Adams sees the award less as a finish line and more of a reminder of where he started and the community that shaped him along the way.

“More than anything, it’s solidified how connected I feel to Tech,” he said. “I want to stay involved and give back so future students have the same kind of support and opportunity I did.”

Finding Joy — and Purpose — in the Lab

Where Adams found his footing in finance, Marielle Frooman discovered hers in the lab, driven by an insatiable curiosity and infectious enthusiasm for chemistry.

Frooman was drawn to Georgia Tech by its research culture and the energy of its student community. She joined her first lab early in her undergraduate career, unsure of exactly where that path would lead, but eager to get hands-on experience as soon as possible.

For two years, Frooman conducted biochemistry and structural biology research in the McShan Lab, working under Andrew McShan, assistant professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Frooman’s time in the McShan Lab was foundational in shaping her technical abilities and preparing her for a research-intensive career.

“I had never done research before, and I wasn’t equipped to handle the amount of failure that comes with it,” Frooman said, reflecting on the formative experience. “Professor McShan really helped me change my outlook, to see failure as a learning experience and to use it to push a project forward.”

McShan described Frooman as an exceptional undergraduate researcher and peer leader.

“Marielle is not only an extremely talented researcher, but also a caring mentor and motivated future leader who wants to change the world,” they said. “She is the best undergraduate researcher I have ever worked with, and I guarantee she will make a big impact in whatever field she chooses to pursue.”

That strong biochemistry foundation gave Frooman the confidence to follow where her curiosity led next. After falling in love with organic chemistry through coursework and serving as a synthesis lab Teaching Assistant and organic chemistry peer tutor, she transitioned into researching with Will Gutekunst, associate professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The shift built directly on the skills she developed in the McShan Lab while clarifying her long-term goals of pursuing graduate study and eventually contributing to the synthetic field as an academic researcher.

That trajectory has already earned her national recognition. Frooman is a 2026 recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for chemical synthesis and was also named one of the year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Biochemistry or Chemical Biology Students by the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Division of Biochemistry and Chemical Biology.

Outside of research, Frooman’s energy spills into nearly every corner of campus life. She has served as president of the Student Affiliates of the ACS, president of Cleanup Crew, president of public relations for the GT tour guides, and an active member of Greek life — all while pursuing research and mentoring fellow students.

“Everything I do, I do because I love it,” she said. “If I wasn’t this busy, I’d feel like I was missing out on something that really matters to me.”

As Frooman heads toward graduation and prepares to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Michigan, receiving the Love Award feels deeply validating, both personally and for those who helped get her here.

“It’s invigorating,” Frooman said, reflecting on the honor. “It’s a culmination of my undergraduate work, but even more, it’s a testament to how supportive this community has been over my four years here. I would not be receiving this award without everyone who was right next to me along the way.”

A Shared Recognition

Adams and Frooman took different routes at Georgia Tech, but each approached their time here with intention. While one followed markets and global finance and the other immersed herself in scientific discovery, their stories converge in the values the Love Family Foundation Award was created to recognize: academic excellence and a commitment to making a difference.

Academic Faculty

Faculty members newly awarded tenure are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Promoted to Professor

• André Brock - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Hailong Chen – George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Sonia Chernova – School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
• Elizabeth Cherry – School of Computational Science and Engineering, College of Computing
• Seung-Kyum Choi – George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• John A. Christian – Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Jonathan E. Clarke - Scheller College of Business
• Alex Endert – School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
• Joshua P. Kacher – School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Neha Kumar – School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
• Suzanne S. Lee - Scheller College of Business
• Patrick T. McGrath - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Cecilia Montes-Alcala - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Susana M. Morris - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Marius Florin Niculescu - Scheller College of Business
• Ameet J. Pinto - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Christopher Thomas Reinhard – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences
• Lawrence Peter Rubin - Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Minoru 'Shino' Shinohara - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Mark Zachary Taylor - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Iris Tien - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Jingfeng Wang - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Aaron J. Young – George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

Professors Awarded Tenure

• Antonio Facchetti – School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Larry P. Heck – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Karthikeyan Sundaresan – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Promoted to Associate Professor

• Leila Aflatoony - School of Industrial Design, College of Design*
• Brian AN - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Dylan Brewer - School of Economics, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Christopher E. Carr – Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Hannah Choi - School of Mathematics, College of Sciences*
• Winnie Chu – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences*
• Paige Clayton - School of City and Regional Planning, College of Design*
• Lelia Glass - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Sehoon Ha - School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing*
• Itamar Kimchi - School of Physics, College of Sciences*
• Srijan Kumar - School of Computational Science and Engineering, College of Computing*
• Pan Li - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Shaolan Li - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Frank Li - School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, College of Computing*
• Pengfei Liu – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences*
• Nikki Mackenzie - Scheller College of Business*
• Christopher J. MacLellan - School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing*
• Cheng Mao - School of Mathematics, College of Sciences*
• Anirban Mazumdar - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering*
• David Alan Muchlinski - Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Samer Naif – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences*
• Hyun Joo Oh - School of Industrial Design, College of Design*
• Juergen Rauleder - Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Sourabh K. Saha - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Hongchen Wu - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Xueqing Yan - School of Economics, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*

Associate Professors Awarded Tenure

• Alberto Dainotti – School of Computer Science, College of Computing
• Leandro Miletto Tonetto – School of Industrial Design, College of Design

Promoted to Principal Academic Professional

• Shannon P. Dobranski - AS&A, ProvEVP-AA
• Michael J. Evans – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Melissa Foulger - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Diley Hernandez - Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, Office of the Provost
• Jillann Hertel - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Jennifer Lynn Hirsch - SCRE, ProvEVP-AA
• Kenyetta Alicia Johnson Taylor – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Amanda Nolen - CTL, ProvEVP-AA
• Matthew Nusnbaum - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Christopher Wayne Reaves - EEL, ProvEVP-AA
• Carol Subino Sullivan - CTL, ProvEVP-AA
• Catherine E. Thomas - EEL, ProvEVP-AA
• Kate Williams - CTL, ProvEVP-AA
• C. Andrew Helm - EI2-RI, ProvEVP-AA

Promoted to Principal Lecturer

• Kathrin Koppe - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Robert William Myers - Scheller College of Business
• Michele L. Rosbruck - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Tatiana Rudchenko - Scheller College of Business
• Yonathan S. Thio - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering 

Promoted to Senior Academic Professional

• Sybrina Y. Atwaters - OOSA, ProvEVP-AA
• Meghan J. Babcock - School of Psychology, College of Sciences
• Brian Michael Beck - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Onur Birol - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Benjamin T. Galfond - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Mioy T. Huynh  – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Gregory Stuart Mayer - School of Mathematics, College of Sciences
• Rachael S. Pitts Hall - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Gaeun (Gwenn) Seo - VPGE&FD, ProvEVP-AA
• Kevin D. Shankwiler - School of Industrial Design, College of Design
• William Stern - School of Psychology, College of Sciences

Promoted to Senior Lecturer

• Nivedita Bhattacharya - College of Engineering
• Aibek Musaev - College of Computing
• Melanie S. Ruefli - GTPE-Lang, College of Lifetime Learning

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist IV

• Charlie  Bennett – Georgia Tech Library
• Heather Leigh Jeffcoat – Georgia Tech Library
• Aisha M. Johnson – Georgia Tech Library

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist III

• John Mack Freeman  – Georgia Tech Library

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist II

• Justin Ellis – Georgia Tech Library
• Stephanie Galipeau – Georgia Tech Library

Research Faculty

Promoted to Principal Research Scientist

• Ira C. Benoy - GTRI-CIPHR
• David A. Gaul – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Jessica Inman - GTRI-CIPHR
• Laura O'Farrell - DepAnimRsc-EVPR
• Peter W. Presti - IMTC-EVPR
• Wesley Daniel Robertson - GTRI-CIPHR
• Paige O'Neil Rohrig - EI2-EVPR
• Daniel Elliot Sabo - GTRI-ATAS
• Robert W. Wright - GTRI-CIPHR
• Hongwei Wu – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences

Promoted to Principal Research Engineer

• Daniel Joseph Clancy - GTRI-SEAL
• Christopher Robert Clark - GTRI-CIPHR
• Christopher Timothy Coen - GTRI-ACL
• Austin William Foote - GTRI-SEAL
• Don David Fullmer - GTRI-ELSYS
• Kyle W. Harrigan - GTRI-EOSL
• Mark Johnson - GTRI-ELSYS
• Olga G. Kemenova - GTRI-ATAS
• Kyle Christopher Keppler - GTRI-ASL
• Jeong Woo Lee - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Michael J. Macdonald - GTRI-CIPHR
• Milad Navaei - GTRI-CIPHR
• Thomas William Norris - GTRI-ELSYS
• David Joyner Pate - GTRI-SEAL
• Michael Edward Shearin - GTRI-ELSYS
• Michael Houston Spratley - GTRI-ASL
• Joel Glen Vinson - GTRI-EOSL
• Jason Paul Zutty - GTRI-EOSL

Promoted to Principal Research Technologist

• Hezekiah Barge, Jr. – CIPHR, ICSD (GTRI)

Promoted to Principal Research Associate

• Matthew Sandberg – CIPHR, ICSD (GTRI)

Promoted to Principal Extension Professional

• Donna M. Ennis – Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Juli Golemi – Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Damon C. Nix – Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Wendy White – Enterprise Innovation Institute

Promoted to Senior Research Scientist

• Ahmaad A. Adesola - GTRI-ACL
• Sankaraleengam Alagapan - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Gulcin Arslan Azizoglu - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Erkan Azizoglu - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Mark McLain Bolding - GTRI-ICL
• Lori A. Burns - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Wei-Wen Chen - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Jonathan Scott Ciak - GTRI-CIPHR
• Karim Farhat - School of Public Policy, Ivan Allen
• Sarah Katherine Farmer - CACP, Ivan Allen
• Charity Anne Hilton - GTRI-ICL
• Adam Jacobs - GTRI-SEAL
• Jeffrey David Krug - GTRI-ICL
• David La Mantia - GTRI-CIPHR
• Soojung Lee - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Anthony Lien - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Miroslav Malesevic - GeoInfoSys, College of Design
• Ryan Lee Mueller - GTRI-CIPHR
• Julie Niklas - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Zerrin Ondin-Fraser - CATEA-RC, College of Design
• James B. Parson - GTRI-CIPHR
• Carlo Andrea Riccardo Perini - School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Oliver Clements Pierson - GTRI-EOSL
• Noah Posner - IMTC-EVPR
• Ronald O. Rahaman - OIT-PACE
• Abeera P. Rehmat - CEISMC, College of Lifetime Learning
• Rachel A. Schneider - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Richard Thomas Starr - IPT-EVPR
• Ploy Thajchayapong - IDSE-EVPR
• Gretchen Wyland - GTRI-ASL 

Promoted to Senior Research Associate

• Sara Blevins - GTRI-CSO
• Benjamin Clough - GTRI-ACL
• Kelly Creasy - GTRI-PMO
• Theodore Avery Evans - VPRIARSIA-EVPR
• Katherine Boice King - CEISMC, College of Lifetime Learning
• Haley May - GTRI-PMO
• Shivon A. Scott - GTRI-ICL

Promoted to Senior Research Engineer

• Jai Sanjay Ahuja - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Daniel S. Bennett - GTRI-SEAL
• Eric A. Brown - GTRI-EOSL
• Jack Casey - GTRI-SEAL
• Richard Seth Cohen - GTRI-ELSYS
• Ken Curtis - GTRI-CIPHR
• Shaun J. Hoyt - GTRI-SEAL
• Yongwon Lee - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Dan Lev - Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Daniel Ellis Levy - GTRI-ASL
• Christian Perron - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Thomas O. Pettet - GTRI-ASL
• Joel D. Rasmussen - GTRI-ATAS
• Gershom M. Richards - GTRI-ELSYS
• Shamaria Rivers - GTRI-CIPHR
• Kyle S. Saleeby - GTMI-EVPR
• Humaira Shah - GTRI-CIPHR
• Michael Jaewoo Son - GTRI-ELSYS
• Woong Je Sung - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Laura Katherine Morgan Vinson - GTRI-EOSL
• Thomas Williamson - GTRI-SEAL

Promoted to Senior Research Technologist

• Trever C. Nightingale - OIT-PACE

Promoted to Senior Extension Professional

• Clarence Edward Anthony - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Allison L. Bridges - Scheller College of Business
• Sean P. Castillo - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Melissa B. Heffner - VP-Commercialization-EVPR
• Viviana  Montenegro - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Brandon Jamal Philpot - Enterprise Innovation Institute 

Promoted to Research Scientist II

• Spencer Clifton Brown - GTRI-CIPHR
• Steven J. Crow - GTRI-ICL
• Raven M. Davis - Georgia Tech Library
• Kenneth Eaton - GTRI-CIPHR
• Lauren Michelle Fowler - GTRI-SEAL
• Charles Hoff - GTRI-ELSYS
• Kala V. Jordan - IMTC- EVPR
• Hannah D. Mahon - GTRI-CIPHR
• Ryan McGill - GTRI-CIPHR
• Ritheshkumar S. Neelamagam - GTRI-CPHR
• Brenna M. Phelps - CACP, Ivan Allen
• Eric Conrad Schneider - GTRI-ELSYS
• Giuseppe P. Scoppino - GTRI-ELSYS
• Rebecca Graham Sheiner - CACP, Ivan Allen
• Marco Sun - GTRI-SEAL
• Samuel Adam Sutter - GTRI-ELSYS
• Joshua S. Valdez - GTRI-CIPHR
• Yu Wu - IMS-EVPR
• Andrew H. Zhao - IPT-EVPR

Promoted to Research Associate II

• Travis Merritt Meeks - GTRI-ACL
• Carolyn Sims - VPRIARSIA-EVPR

Promoted to Research Engineer II

• Stefan Abi-Karam - GTRI-CIPHR
• Thomas Boyle - GTRI-SEAL
• Zachary D. Brunson - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Alexander William Bustos - GTRI-ELSYS
• Roger Anthony Campbell - GTRI-EOSL
• Alex Carney - GTRI-ELSYS
• Larry Davis - GTRI-SEAL
• Jacob C. Faile - GTRI-EOSL
• Paul Andrew Farmer - GTRI-ELSYS
• Brianna A. Faulkenberry - GTRI-ELSYS
• Jeffrey Filkins - GTRI-CIPHR
• Austin Forgey - GTRI-ATAS
• James N. Foshee - GTRI-ELSYS
• Hunter Lewis Gallahair - GTRI-ELSYS
• Keegan L. George - GTRI-ATAS
• Niko Giannakakos - GTRI-ELSYS
• Eric M. Glunn - GTRI-ATAS
• Taryn Harvey - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Sadi D. Johnson - GTRI-ASL
• Kevin Lee Kamperman - GTRI-ATAS
• Grace Kaylor - GTRI-ELSYS
• James D. Kenny Jr - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Mary Elizabeth Lichtenwalner - GTRI-SEAL
• Viviana G. Lopez - GTRI-ELSYS
• Parth Mandrekar - GTRI-ATAS
• David S. Maye - GTRI-ELSYS
• Jeffrey T. McNabb - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Pawel Michalski - GTRI-EOSL
• Michael Rousseau Molder - GTRI-ELSYS
• David T. Murphy - GTRI-SEAL
• Thangam Natarajan - BME
• Brooke A. Oden - GTRI-ELSYS
• Edward Abraham Paz - GTRI-ICL
• Nam Phan - GTRI-SEAL
• Tyler Christian Rhodes - GTRI-SEAL
• John Roberson - GTRI-SEAL
• William Robertson - GTRI-ELSYS
• Stephen D. Ruigh - GTRI-SEAL
• Tyler K. Russell - GTRI-ATAS
• Edward Steven Stevens - GTRI-ATAS
• Brennan Tyler Stewart - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Jonah W. Urquhart - GTRI-ASL
• Rebecca Jane Volk - GTRI-ATAS
• Abigail Williams - GTRI-ELSYS
• Daniel R. Wygant - GTRI-ELSYS
• Maxwell Yarter - GTRI-CIPHR

Promoted to Research Technologist II

• Larissa O. Doudy - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Drew Lunceford - GTRI-ACL
• Andrew Mcneil - GTRI-HAC
• Moi Reilly - GTRI-ELSYS

Promoted to Extension Professional II

• Grace Barrett - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Doreen Kincaid - Enterprise Innovation Institute

Georgia Tech's 11th annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition took place on Tuesday, April 7th, where 12 scholars presented their innovative research in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience. After five preliminary rounds and Tuesday’s climactic competition, five graduate students were named winners and awarded research travel grants. 

“There is incredible power in alumni stories,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. “It’s inspiring for students to speak with alumni in the workforce, hear how they landed their first jobs, and learn from their successes — and their setbacks.”

Claire Haskell (Mathematics 2025) recently obtained her first job with Deloitte and attended the dinner to offer perspective to current students.

“I want to reassure students still in school that, even in today’s uncertain times, getting a job is still really doable and not as out of reach as it seems. Meeting Tech alumni is a great first step.”

A Night of Networking

College of Sciences Career Educator Program Manager James Stringfellow and Director of Alumni Relations Leslie Roberts organized the annual signature career event.

“We put on events like this because we want all of our students ready for their next opportunity,” says Stringfellow.

Second-year psychology major Aleena Sange attended the event for the first time, and says she will be back next year. “The alumni were really helpful and reassuring,” says Sange. “I learned what employers look for in a resume and even received advice about contract negotiations and retirement.”

First-year astrophysics student Shannon Callahan agrees. “What struck me the most was hearing how well Georgia Tech prepares you for the workforce. It gave me a lot of confidence to hear that Tech alumni hit the ground running because they’re used to learning quickly.”

The evening included casual and more structured networking, with students rotating between tables on topics such as “Using AI in the Workplace,” “Handling Conflict,” and “How to Get Hired in the Real World.”

Janessa Rowland (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2014) works as an operations program manager for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She encouraged students to think beyond their major

“Sometimes an internship or class outside your major can open up the door for what you can do after Georgia Tech.”

Morgan Foreman (Psychology 2017), a technical product manager at IBM, offered encouraging insight: “People often tell you college is the best years of your life. Georgia Tech also sets you up for your dream life after college.”

2026 Internship Employer of the Year

During the festivities, Stringfellow announced Boehringer Ingelheim as the Internship Employer of the Year. The award honors a company that provides a high-quality learning environment for student interns. 

Arya Akbarshahi, a biochemistry major who spent a semester doing a co-op job at the company, presented the award, thanking the biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health for the learning experience provided.

“Co-oping at Boehringer Ingelheim was one of the most formative experiences in my training. From day one, I was trusted as a scientist, which allowed me to formulate hypotheses and execute experiments with direct implications for drug development strategy and decisions,”  says Akbarshahi. 

After presenting the award to Boehringer Ingelheim Senior Scientist Marc Sprouse, Akbarshahi also presented a surprise mentorship award to Sprouse.

“Marc was an exceptional mentor,” says Akbarshahi. “He challenged me to think critically about the biology, not just the assay, and consistently created space for me to take ownership and operate at a higher level.”

Sprouse accepted both awards and spoke of the benefits of working while still in school: “Getting real-world work experience while in school sets students up for success. I encourage all College of Science students to check out our website and apply for future co-ops and internships."

This Thursday, April 2, the College of Sciences is hosting an inspiring look at the future of space exploration and life beyond Earth. Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration will convene leading scientists, engineers, policy experts, and thought leaders from across Georgia Tech and beyond to share research that’s guiding discovery and innovation. 

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.

CLEVER research

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. 

A new window into old rocks

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.

Amino acids also play a critical role commercially where they are manufactured and added to pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, cosmetics, animal feeds, and industrial chemicals — an energy-intensive process leading to greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and pollution.

A landmark new system developed at Georgia Tech could lead to an alternative: a commercially scalable, environmentally sustainable method for amino acid production that is carbon negative, using more carbon than it emits.

The breakthrough builds on a method that the team pioneered in 2024 and solves a key issue – increasing efficiency to an unprecedented 97% and reducing the bioprocess cost by over 40%. It’s the highest reported conversion of CO2 equivalents into amino acids using any synthetic biology system to date.

Published in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, the study, “Cell-Free-Based Thermophilic Biocatalyst for the Synthesis of Amino Acids From One-Carbon Feedstocks,” was led by Bioengineering Ph.D. student Ray Westenberg and Professor Pamela Peralta-Yahya, who holds joint appointments in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The team also included Shaafique Chowdhury (Ph.D. ChBE 25) and Kimberly Wennerholm (ChBE 23); alongside University of Washington collaborators Ryan Cardiff, then a Ph.D. student and now a Chain Reaction Innovations Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, and Charles W. H. Matthaei Endowed Professor in Chemical Engineering James M. Carothers; in addition to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Synthetic Biology Team Leader Alexander S. Beliaev.

"This work shifts the narrative from simply reducing carbon emissions to actually consuming them to create value,” says Peralta-Yahya. “We are taking low-cost carbon sources and building essential ingredients in a truly carbon-negative process that is efficient, effective, and scalable.”

Heat-Loving Organisms

The work builds on the cell-free technology the team used in their earlier study. “Previously, we discovered that a system that uses the machinery of cells, without using actual living cells, could be used to create amino acids from carbon dioxide,” Peralta-Yahya explains. “But to create a commercially viable system, we needed to increase the system’s efficiency and reduce the cost.”

The team discovered that bits of leftover cells were consuming starting materials, and — like a machine with unnecessary gears or parts — this limited the system’s efficiency. To optimize their “machine,” the team would need to remove the extra background machinery.

"Leftover cell parts were using key resources without helping produce the amino acids we were looking for,” says Peralta-Yahya. “We knew that heating the system could be one way to purify it because heat can denature these components.”

The challenge was in how to protect the essential system components from the high temperatures, she adds. “We wondered if introducing enzymes produced by a heat-loving bacterium, Moorella thermoacetica, might protect our system, while still allowing us to denature and remove that inefficient background machinery.”

The results were astounding: after introducing the enzymes, heating and “cleaning” the system, and letting it cool to room temperature, synthesis of the amino acids serine and glycine leaped to 97% yield — nearly three times that of the team’s previous system.

Scaling for Sustainability

To make the system viable for large-scale use, the team also needed to reduce costs. “One of the most costly components in this system is the cofactor tetrahydrofolate (THF),” Peralta-Yahya shares. “Reducing the amount of THF needed to start the process was one way to make the system more inexpensive and ultimately more commercially viable.”

By linking reaction steps so waste from one step fueled the next, the team devised a method to recycle THF within the system that reduces the amount of THF needed by five-fold — lowering bioprocessing costs by 42%.

“This decrease in cost and increase in yield is a critical step forward in creating a method with real potential for use in industry and manufacturing,” Peralta-Yahya says. “This system could pave the way for moving this carbon-negative technology out of the lab and onto the continuous, industrial scale."

Funding: The Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E); U.S. Department of Energy; and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.5c00352

“I’m thrilled to see Professor Sherrill tackle this role for the coming 5 years. He understands the rapidly evolving opportunities to apply AI and data science approaches to the diversity of research conducted by Georgia Tech faculty and students, and has a strong agenda to help our researchers make the most of this explosive change in the research landscape.” Said V.P. of Interdisciplinary Research, Julia Kubanek. “He also has deep experience with team building and management which will position IDEaS favorably.”

As executive director, Sherrill will guide IDEaS’ current initiatives, which include the Microsoft CloudHub program that supports innovative applications in Generative Artificial Intelligence, and provide oversight and support for the joint College of Computing / IDEaS Center for Artificial Intelligence in Science and Engineering (ARTISAN), which provides  Georgia Tech faculty and research engineers expert support staff, needed cyberinfrastructure, software resources, and advice to assist faculty with projects using large data sets or using AI and machine learning to drive discovery.

Sherrill will also the lead the launch of a new strategic vision, emphasizing the Georgia Tech research community’s expertise in the development of AI and ML techniques and their application to problems in science and engineering, high performance computing, and academic software. Sherrill will focus on internal and external partnerships at IDEaS, creating new collaborative efforts in areas such as economics, policy, and the arts and humanities. He will also work to strengthen current connections across Georgia Tech’s Colleges, Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs), and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).

“It’s a great honor to be named the next executive director of IDEaS,” said Sherrill.  “Georgia Tech has world-class faculty and students, and an unparalleled spirit of collaboration.  By bringing together faculty from across campus and working together with some of the amazing student groups, we can leverage the power of AI to accelerate our research and maximize our impact.  IDEaS will continue to run upskilling workshops to help our campus keep pace with the rapid changes in AI.”

Sherrill is an active promoter of education in computational quantum chemistry, as well as a strong voice for the benefits of open-source software for research acceleration. He was named Outreach Volunteer of the Year by the Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society in 2017, and he is the lead principal investigator of the Psi open-source quantum chemistry program.

Sherrill earned a B.S. in chemistry from MIT in 1992 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Georgia in 1996. From 1996-1999 Sherril was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

Sherrill is Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Chemical Society, and the American Physical Society, and he has been Associate Editor of the Journal of Chemical Physics since 2009. Sherrill has received a Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award, the International Journal of Quantum Chemistry Young Investigator Award, an NSF CAREER Award, and Georgia Tech's W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award. In 2023, he received the Herty Medal from the Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society, and in 2024, he was elected to the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science.

- Christa M. Ernst

Georgia’s forest industry has long been a pillar of the state’s rural economy. But in recent years, mill closures and shifting markets have put pressure on landowners, workers, and entire communities, particularly in south Georgia. A recently approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative will help chart a new path forward, creating more value from Georgia’s abundant forest resources and expanding opportunities for the people and regions depending on them. 

“This year’s class is a truly impressive cohort,” said Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, president of NAI. “I commend them on their incredible pursuits, and I’m honored to welcome them to the Academy.”

Recognizing NAI Senior Member Chandra S. Raman

Raman is a physicist, inventor, and technology entrepreneur whose work is helping shape the future of quantum sensing. As the Dunn Family Professor of Physics, he studies how atoms behave at extremely low temperatures and uses that knowledge to build new kinds of ultra-precise measurement devices.

Best known for the co-invention of chip‑scale atomic beam technology — a breakthrough that makes it possible to build tiny quantum sensors for navigation and timing — Raman and his team’s patented devices can operate where GPS fails. These inventions form the foundation for a new generation of manufactured quantum hardware, offering new capabilities for autonomous vehicles, aerospace systems, and national security.

To bring these technologies from the lab to real-world use, he founded 8Seven8, Inc.:

“By launching 8Seven8 as the first quantum hardware company in Georgia, we are creating high-tech jobs, building a skilled workforce pipeline, and seeding a quantum ecosystem in the Southeast that will see lasting economic benefits,” explains Raman. “We seek to establish the region as a player in the rapidly expanding quantum technology economy.”

He is the principal investigator for the Raman Lab, a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a frequent invited speaker at international conferences, and an advisor to national and space-based quantum initiatives. Raman holds six patents, including three issued U.S. patents and two licensed patents. Through his research, mentorship, and entrepreneurial leadership, he is working to advance scientific discovery and the development of practical technologies with lasting impact.

“This award is the culmination of years of effort in developing innovative approaches to bringing quantum sensing out of the lab,” says Raman. “The NAI is chock-full of wonderful inventors, and I am privileged to be among them. Through this award, I hope to bring useful inventions out of the lab and promote Georgia as a great place to be an entrepreneur.”

Recognizing NAI Senior Member Jason Azoulay

Azoulay is the Georgia Research Alliance Vasser-Woolley Distinguished Investigator in Optoelectronics and the principal investigator for the Azoulay Group. His research has pioneered the development of new classes of functional materials and made field-leading advancements in core areas spanning:

· Homogeneous catalysis applied to polymer synthesis

· Electronic, photonic, spin, magnetic, and quantum materials

· Device fabrication and engineering

· Chemical sensing for environmental monitoring

· Synthesis, application, and engineering of high-performance polymers across multiple technology platforms.

Azoulay has demonstrated new classes of organic semiconductors with infrared functionality by exploiting new light-matter interactions, analyzing emergent transport phenomena, and understanding device physics, functionality, and engineering considerations. His work has resulted in nine issued patents and many additional applications.

Additionally, he is the principal investigator for two multi-million-dollar National Science Foundation (NSF) grants. The first grant harnesses an underused part of the electromagnetic spectrum for energy sensing, manufacturing, and more. His team creates organic polymers that can efficiently convert infrared radiation into electrical signals and develop the materials into functional devices. The initiative is the NSF’s principal vehicle to continue the momentum of the decade-long Materials Genome Initiative and takes advantage of the power of machine learning and chemical synthesis to develop new functional materials.

The second NSF-funded program develops CP-based optical and electrical sensing platforms that operate in complex aqueous environments and enable the detection and discrimination of challenging analytes known to negatively impact human, biota, and ecosystem health.

Azoulay holds a joint appointment in the School of Materials Science and Engineering and leads Georgia Tech’s Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE). COPE-affiliated faculty create flexible organic photonic and electronic materials and devices that serve the information technology, telecommunications, energy, and defense sectors.

"The IOP has a long and distinguished history as the primary learned society and professional body for physicists in the U.K., Ireland, and beyond,” says Kamerlin, who completed both a Master of Natural Sciences and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Organic Chemistry from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. “As a society, it plays an important role in building community, promoting science, advancing advocacy for our discipline, and supporting the next generation of physicists.”

Kamerlin joins a list of distinguished Fellows that includes legendary physicists such as Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, a preeminent astrophysicist responsible for the discovery of pulsars (a previously unknown type of star) and the first female president of the IOP.

“It is a great honor to be awarded Fellowship of the IOP, particularly as women more broadly remain vastly underrepresented in physics,” Kamerlin says. “I look forward to giving back to the physics community, supporting the mission of the society, and working to remind the next generation that physics is for everyone."

About Lynn Kamerlin

Kamerlin’s research in computational biophysics is at the intersection of chemistry and biology, where she focuses on investigating fundamental physical chemistry and using computational tools to understand complex biomolecular problems. Currently, she is interested in leveraging machine learning tools to design new enzymes and in predicting protein structures and behaviors using large language models.

In addition to her roles at Georgia Tech, Kamerlin is a senior editor of Protein Science, the editor-in-chief of Electronic Structure, and was named a 2025-27 visiting professor at Lund University. She was also named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, received the 2026 Inspiration and Resilience Award from the Biochemical Society, and was the 2023 Biophysical Society Theory & Computation Subgroup Mid-Career Award Winner.

“Support from the RCSA is much appreciated right now to maintain our research productivity and pedagogic service to our student body,” says Agarwal. “The focus of RCSA extends beyond scientific research to include student success, which is in excellent concert with Georgia Tech’s mission.”

Agarwal, who joined Georgia Tech in 2017, holds joint appointments in the Schools of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Sciences. His research group studies natural products — small molecules created by living organisms — to understand how they are made and explore potential uses. In 2021, Agarwal was named an RCSA Cottrell Scholar in recognition of his study of natural products found in oceans and his efforts to develop new curricula for undergraduates related to this research.

His additional professional recognitions include the NSF CAREER Award, the American Society of Pharmacognosy Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award, the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, and the Sloan Research Fellowship.

The new initiative was sparked by ongoing research at Georgia Tech — and a Yellow Jacket connection: when Postdoctoral Research Fellow Hannah Youngblood’s work on exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) was featured by the BrightFocus Foundation, it caught the attention of Jennifer Rucker, an Alabama resident who was diagnosed with XFG several years ago.

Excited that the research could change outcomes for people like her — and proud that it’s happening at her husband Philip Rucker’s, EE 72, alma mater — Jennifer Rucker reached out to Youngblood and her advisor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor and Kelly Sepcic Pfeil, Ph.D. Chair Raquel Lieberman. 

“As the wife of a Georgia Tech graduate and an individual with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, I was inspired to support the scientists whose efforts may help me and others,” Jennifer Rucker says. What followed was a meaningful dialogue and a shared sense of purpose — and the creation of the Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund (Wreck Glaucoma! Fund). 

“It meant so much that Jennifer took the initiative to reach out to learn more about our research,” says Lieberman. “Moments like this remind me how deeply meaningful it is to connect with people in the broader community who are navigating glaucoma. Opportunities for such personal connections are rare, but they inspire and further motivate us to achieve our lab’s mission to improve the lives of individuals suffering from blindness diseases.”

A Personal Connection

Youngblood’s interest in glaucoma research also stems from a personal connection: her father was diagnosed with glaucoma as a young adult. Now, Youngblood studies the genetic and molecular factors behind XFG in the Lieberman research lab. 

“XFG is an aggressive form of the disease with no known cure,” Youngblood says. While scientists know that XFG is the result of abnormal accumulation of proteins in the eye, current treatments only address symptoms rather than treating the root cause of the disease.

“We know XFG is driven by protein buildup, but we still don’t know why it happens,” she explains. “My work studying specific genetic variants aims to uncover this.” 

The Genetics of Glaucoma

In particular, Youngblood is researching the role of LOXL1, a protein that plays a role in soft tissue throughout the body, including the eyes.

“Research has shown that people with variants in the genes responsible for this protein are more likely to have XFG,” she says. “That made me curious to see if the variants might be impacting the structure of the LOXL1 protein itself and how those variants might lead to disease.”

Youngblood is currently testing her theory in the lab. “My hope is that new insight into proteins like LOXL1 will bring us closer to treatments that address XFG at its source,” she says. “The new Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund is a tremendous step forward in making that hope a reality.”

Support the Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund

Please visit the Glaucoma Research Fund support page to give to this specific program. To discuss additional philanthropic opportunities, please contact the College of Sciences Development Team: development@cos.gatech.edu

Your investment ensures that these scholars and researchers have world-class resources, facilities, and mentors to excel in this critical work. Thank you for helping us shape the future.

The project, inspired by an Atlanta Science Festival event hosted by School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Assistant Professor Andrew McShan, develops an innovative outreach and teaching module around nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, and is designed for easy adoption in introductory chemistry and biochemistry courses. 

Published earlier this year in the Journal of Chemical Education, the study, “Automated Chemical Profiling of Wine by Solution NMR Spectroscopy: A Demonstration for Outreach and Education” was led by a team from the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry including lead author McShan, Ph.D. students Lily Capeci, Elizabeth A. Corbin, Ruoqing Jia, Miriam K. Simma, and F. N. U. Vidya, Academic Professional Mary E. Peek, and Georgia Tech NMR Center Co-Directors Johannes E. Leisen and Hongwei Wu.

“NMR is one of the most widely used analytical tools in chemistry and the life sciences, and Georgia Tech hosts one of the most cutting-edge NMR centers in the world,” McShan says. “Our study shows that you don’t need advanced training to appreciate how powerful tools like NMR work and how those tools are used in research.”

All materials, tutorials, and data are freely available via online tutorials and a YouTube video, enabling educators to replicate or adapt the activity even in settings with limited access to NMR facilities.

Wine sleuthing at the Atlanta Science Festival

From families with K-12 students to undergraduates to adults with no prior chemistry experience, nearly 130 visitors explored wine chemistry at the Georgia Tech NMR Center during the Atlanta Science Festival event. With McShan’s guidance, they identified and quantified more than 70 chemical components that influence wine taste, aroma, and quality by analyzing the chemical composition, structure, and dynamics of molecules.

Taking on the role of wine investigators (a real-world application of NMR), the group investigated examples of wine fraud, learning to identify harmful additives like methanol, antifreeze, and lead acetate – additives that played roles in both historical and modern wine scandals.

“By connecting the science to something familiar like wine, we were able to spark curiosity and excitement across age groups,” says McShan. “This a framework for how complex analytical techniques can be made inclusive, interactive, and inspiring whether in the classroom or at a science festival.”

Science for all

The study underscores the potential of NMR and other powerful technologies as outreach opportunities – from engaging the public to better teaching undergraduate students.

“After the event, adults said they learned how chemical composition affects wine characteristics and how NMR is used in research and industry,” McShan says. “Younger participants learned key concepts about wine composition and found benefits from the sensory elements, like watching the spectrometer in action.”

They aim to use these takeaways to continue developing outreach tools. “My end goal is to develop NMR into a practical teaching tool by grounding the technique in real-world examples,” adds McShan. “Using this approach is a clear avenue to introducing the general public to the world-class instruments used by researchers at Georgia Tech and exposing undergraduate students to the powerful analytical techniques they are likely to encounter throughout their careers.”

Funding: National Science Foundation

“It’s literally life or death sometimes,” says Brandon Brigner, a fall 2025 biochemistry graduate now pursuing a master’s in chemistry.

Four Georgia Tech students share their experiences on the front lines of medicine as EMTs, including Brigner; Lianna Homrich, a fourth-year biology major; Daeun “Esther” Lee, a third-year biomedical engineering major; and Krishna Monroe, a third-year neuroscience major. Brigner, Homrich, and Monroe work as EMTs on ambulances while Lee serves as a technician at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Each plans a career in medicine and serves on the leadership team for EMS at Tech, a student organization dedicated to expanding access to and knowledge of emergency medical services on campus.

Why become an EMT?

All four agree that EMT work offers unmatched medical experience.

“You can show up on someone’s worst day and immediately make a difference,” says Lee.

Homrich started exploring EMT work after realizing she needed clinical hours for the pre-health track. “The adrenaline and lifesaving aspect appealed to me. I knew I’d learn so much from living the hands-on side of medicine.”

Brigner began working as an EMT in high school. “I wanted to get started on my pre-med journey,” he explains. “Becoming an EMT is one of the most powerful medical experiences you can have — and it’s definitely solidified my decision to pursue medicine as a career.”

What’s the job like?

Monroe first joined an ambulance crew with American Medical Response in DeKalb County and now works for Grady Health System. “At a basic level, our job is to stabilize patients and get them to the hospital safely,” says Monroe.

Brigner explains that most ambulance EMTs split time between emergency calls, special events, and transfers. “It can be intense,” he says. “When everything goes well, you can seriously change someone’s life trajectory.”

Monroe adds that there is no typical shift on an ambulance. “We’ve had anything from people shot in the chest to someone struggling to breathe to someone experiencing abdominal pain because they are hungry. You respond where the public needs you.”

What do you like best about being an EMT?

Homrich appreciates the people. “You’re on a truck for 12 hours with career paramedics who spend their lives saving others. Many are former military; I learn something new every shift. They’re heroes.”

Lee values the teamwork she finds at the hospital. “Usually when something very high acuity comes in, like a cardiac arrest, you have everyone in the emergency room acting as a team. We’re doing chest compressions, checking in with each other, and switching out when needed. Everyone is there in this very stressful time, working together to save someone’s life.”

How does EMT work prepare you for careers in medicine?

EMT work offers solid medical experience and critical soft skills. “You’re making decisions about real patients,” says Monroe. “You have your own patient, sometimes with no help for 30-45 minutes, depending on how long it takes to get to the hospital. It’s the best clinical experience you can get.”

Lee adds, “It teaches creativity, problem solving, and composure under pressure — skills you can’t learn from a textbook. You learn to stay composed in chaos.”

How do you balance school and work?

All four agree that it takes a lot of organization and discipline. “Having a good calendar system is key, and strategically scheduling classes really helps,” says Homrich. “I’ve definitely fallen into traps where I get really into EMS — picking up cool events or overnight shifts for bonuses — but I’ve learned to make schoolwork a priority. Academics come first.”

Lee primarily works weekends to accommodate her school schedule. “I work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays,” she says. “I get most of my studying done during the week.”

What kind of training does it take to become an EMT?

Monroe is an Advanced EMT while Brigner, Homrich, and Lee hold the EMT Basic designation. Training includes coursework, skills testing, and clinical ride-alongs. To become an EMT, students must complete training, earn National Registry EMT certification, and apply for a state license.

“The real learning happens during clinicals or ‘third rides,’ where you ride along as the third person on the truck,” says Homrich.

Monroe estimates that he has spent more than 600 hours studying and training to earn both certifications.

Can you describe a meaningful moment in your EMT career?

Beyond the life-saving thrills, these students encounter moments that stay with them forever.

Brigdon remembers an incident from his very first day as an EMT:

“We were transporting a patient up from the depths of the D.C. subway. After putting him on the gurney, we took the escalator instead of the elevator. The fire crew saw us and immediately let us know that wasn’t the right move. Listening to their angry feedback put into perspective how serious this job is and the life-changing implications of doing it right. That moment taught me that every decision matters.”

Homrich remembers leading an “honor walk,” a ceremony to honor organ donors and support their families, for a deceased teenage patient being transferred for organ donation:
“At 19 years old, I wheeled a son away from his mother for the last time, knowing she’d never see him again. It was heavy but also meaningful because his sacrifice would create so much life. That moment reminded me how much trust people place in us — and the importance of what we do.”

What is Emergency Medical Services at Tech (EMS at Tech)?

A student organization dedicated to improving emergency medical care on campus, the club partners with Grady EMS and the Georgia Tech Police Department to respond to medical emergencies, lead CPR and first aid classes, and provide clinical opportunities for members.

“EMS at Tech is a community where you can nerd out and share your passion for emergency medicine,” says Homrich, the club’s vice president. “When you’re with friends at lunch, no one wants to hear about applying a tourniquet for an arterial bleed. But at EMS at Tech, everyone is an emergency medicine enthusiast who wants to share experiences.”

Last semester, the group trained more than 160 students, faculty, and staff in CPR/AED and supported campus events like Homecoming and Halloween. EMS at Tech also guides students pursuing EMS certifications and helps administer the Todd Family Fund EMS Scholarship, which covers tuition for Grady EMS Academy classes.

“The selection committee received more than a dozen proposals that push the boundaries of AI-enabled science and encourage collaboration across units. I look forward to seeing the great science, strong results, and successful future external funding enabled by these seed grants,” says Dimitrios Psaltis, professor in the School of Physics and director of the AI4Science Center. 

Launched earlier this semester, the center promotes cross-disciplinary research on AI tools that address scientific challenges. The following three proposals were selected by the center based on their scientific goals, extent of interdisciplinary collaboration, and potential for outside funding: 

Spring 2026 AI4Science Center Seed Grant Recipients  

Graph Foundation Models for Protein Conformational Dynamics | School of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

• PIs: Professor Peter Kasson, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Professor JC Gumbart, School of Physics; Assistant Professor Amirali Aghazadeh, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Graduate student: Jeffy Jeffy
• Team statement: “The AI4Science Center’s seed funding will allow us to complete and test a prototype of our new deep learning architecture for protein dynamics. We're super excited about the project and happy that this gives us support to pursue our new idea.”

Combinations of Verified AI and Domain Knowledge for New Insights in Theoretical Physics | School of Physics

• PIs: Assistant Professor Aishik Ghosh, School of Physics; Professor Vijay Ganesh, School of Computer Science
• Graduate student: Piyush Jha
• Team statement: “This seed funding gives us an opportunity to connect two fields in a way that could transform our approach to certain problems in theoretical physics.”

Harnessing the Manifold Geometry of Neural Representations for Robust LLM Safety | School of Psychology 

• PIs: Assistant Professor Audrey Sederberg, School of Psychology; Assistant Professor Pan Li, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Graduate student: Ruixuan Deng
• Team statement: “Our project injects insights from human neuroscience directly into AI safety algorithm design, allowing us to move beyond black-box approaches toward more interpretable and principled safety mechanisms. By closing the loop, these computational models will also provide new feedback and insights for neuroscience.”

“The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry is thrilled to see that Neha Garg is included in the current WCC Rising Star cohort,” says School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Chair and Professor Vicki Wysocki. “She is richly deserving of this award, given her excellent work on the interactions between eukaryotes (e.g., humans) and the microbiome.”

Garg obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and conducted postdoctoral research at UC San Diego (UCSD)'s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She has been at Georgia Tech since 2017.

“This award is a tremendous source of personal pride as it acknowledges my lab’s hard work in the field of microbial chemistry,” says Garg. “It’s especially meaningful that it's a WCC award because it serves as a powerful platform for me to inspire young women.”

She adds that visibility remains essential for advancing women in STEM.

“Imposter syndrome is real, so awards like this are important for women in science,” explains Garg. “I’m grateful this recognition exists, and I’m proud and happy to be honored.”

As part of the Rising Star Award, Garg will be honored at a WCC luncheon and deliver a scientific talk highlighting her career path and current research at the ACS Spring 2026 Meeting in March.

Chemical communication and connection

Garg’s lab studies the chemistry that underlies crosstalk between the human microbiome and its host. The microbiome includes vast communities of bacteria living on and inside the body — from the skin and mouth to the gut, reproductive system, and lungs. Her group examines how these microbes and human tissues exchange information through small molecules.

“Our work aims to understand the chemistry of collaboration between the microbiome and its host,” says Garg. “We focus on the lungs and airways, studying how epithelial cells and microbial communities interact through nutrients and microbial compounds. These molecules form a chemical dialogue, and my lab builds models to decode and investigate it.”

By mapping this communication network, Garg hopes to shape future therapeutic strategies.

“Understanding collaboration between the microbiome and the host will help develop microbiome-targeted therapies,” she explains. “These therapeutics could prevent respiratory infections, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, limit harmful bacteria, or influence host tissues in ways that improve health.”

Her work also extends to marine systems. Garg’s team studies similar chemical interactions between microbes and corals, offering insight into ecosystem resilience and ocean health.

Garg was co-nominated by Pieter Dorrestein, professor at UCSD’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Bradley Moore, distinguished professor of marine chemical biology and director of the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine at UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Moore also serves as a distinguished professor at the UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

“She’s a multidisciplinary wizard leading a revolution in functional metabolomics,” says Moore. “Neha gives me great hope for a better tomorrow in science.”

“Neha is a remarkable scientist taking on deeply compelling questions in metabolic communication,” adds Dorrestein. “Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to mentorship make her a true role model for emerging scientists.”

Awards and accolades

Garg has earned numerous honors throughout her career, including the Royal Society of Chemistry's 2024 Natural Product Reports Emerging Investigator Lectureship Award, the 2023 ACS Academic Young Investigator Award from the Division of Organic Chemistry, Georgia Tech’s 2022 Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, and a 2021 NSF CAREER Award. While working on her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she received the Anne A. Johnson Work Award for Excellence in Biochemistry, which recognizes one female student per year for excellence in Ph.D. thesis research.

Culture and community at Georgia Tech

Garg credits her experience at Georgia Tech — and the Institute’s strong support of women in STEM — for shaping her path as a scientist and mentor. She praises the collaborative environment, helpful colleagues, and the number of women in leadership roles. Garg also appreciates the work of Georgia Tech organizations such as Women+ in Chemistry and the Center for the Study of Women, Science, and Technology.

“Georgia Tech provides a supportive, collegial, and respectful environment where women in STEM can thrive and truly make a difference,” says Garg.

“We are thrilled to have an official Ambassador Program featuring a group of students ready to help with special events and recruiting activities,” says Academic Program Manager Ashley Edwards, who created the program. “Events become much more meaningful when alumni and prospective students can speak with actual students who provide a real-world perspective about life at Georgia Tech.”

The ambassadors will be busy, says Edwards. They will play a key role in recruitment activities, including the bi-weekly It’s All About Science and Math event where prospective students visit campus for an overview of the College, enjoy lunch with faculty and students, and even sit in on a class. Ambassadors will also help host admitted student events, such as the Explore Science and Math Open House, participate in alumni engagement events, and assist with career education programs. 

“Being an ambassador is a chance to share my experiences and help others find their place here,” says Meghan Hamrick, a third-year chemistry major on the pre-health track. “I want to give back to the Institute that has given so much to me.”

Ambassadors will serve as a direct link for prospective students seeking personalized insight.

“Talking with a current student who participates in things they are interested in, like marching band, intramural soccer, or living in our Explore Living Learning Community, makes it real for prospective students. It’s a powerful connection,” explains Edwards.

“I hope I can be a useful resource. I think my experiences with neuroscience, study abroad, and working in the Housley Lab will resonate with future students,” says Inara Sheeraz, a third-year neuroscience major.  

Anja Govednik, a second-year physics major, looks forward to talking up her major. “I’d love to answer questions about physics — there’s so much more than most people realize!”

Representing the College

The ambassadors were selected based on GPA, short essay questions, campus involvement, and, for the finalists, a one-minute video introduction.

“We had more than 85 amazing students apply, so choosing was hard,” says Edwards. “We wanted a broad array of students, including transfer students, undergraduate researchers, student leaders, athletes, work-study students, and students from each major.”

She adds, “Most importantly, we looked for students who want to help, are passionate about science and math, really love Georgia Tech and the College of Sciences, and are excited to get other people to love the Institute as much as they do.”

Edwards is pleased to have the program up and running. “It’s a win-win. Not only will it showcase our strengths and the human side of the College of Sciences, but it will also help our student ambassadors. They’ll gain resume-worthy experience, connect with alumni, and engage with prospective students and parents. Plus, ambassadors will have opportunities to work closely with our deans and learn more about the College beyond academics.”

Meet the 2025 College of Sciences ambassadors: 

Ameera Alam, Psychology; Agastya Arora, Mathematics; Walker Bailey, Mathematics/Economics; Jayanna Baptiste, Biology; Alison Bolaños, Neuroscience; Laurel Bourg, Physics; Giuli Capparelli Sanabria, Biology; Pallavi Dokka, Neuroscience; Anjali Ganapathiraju, Biology; Anja Govednik, Physics; Meghan Hamrick, Chemistry; Britney Huynh, Biology; Ava-Elizabeth Jacoby, Psychology; Meghana Kesari, Neuroscience; Melody Lee, Computer Science/Mathematics; Larissa Martin, Astrophysics; Andrea Ninh, Biology; Malavika Niverthi, Neuroscience; Lea Setton, Psychology; Inara Sheeraz, Neuroscience; Nidhi Shenoy; Biochemistry; Deandra Smith, Neuroscience; J’Avani Stinson, Biology; Ishita Sukul, Biology; and Ria Vittal, Biochemistry.