Laura Powers / en George Mason students learn to tackle complex problems and engage with Virginia state senator /news/2025-03/george-mason-students-learn-tackle-complex-problems-and-engage-virginia-state-senator <span>George Mason students learn to tackle complex problems and engage with Virginia state senator</span> <span><span>Katarina Benson</span></span> <span>Fri, 03/14/2025 - 13:06</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Students trickle into the classroom, a mix of excitement and nervous energy in the air, as they prepare to present their policy recommendations. For the past few weeks, these George Mason 鶹 students developed policy memos based on various socioeconomic and environmental issues facing Northern Virginia and together worked in groups to develop recommendations for addressing them. But today is different from the usual classroom discussion where ideas are shared with peers and professors. Now their audience is far more formidable: Virginia State Senator Stella Pekarsky.</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0 intro-text"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">EVPP 336 Tackling Wicked Problems in Society and the Environment, a course offered in fall 2024 by the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW29004921 BCX0" href="//C:/Users/tmason11/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/0GBZ2ZXI/scicience.gmu.edu/esp" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Department of Environmental Science and Policy</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"> at George Mason’s College of Science, takes a problem-based learning approach, immersing students in complex public issues that require input from a variety of stakeholders. Unlike traditional lecture-based courses, it offers students the unique opportunity to develop potential solutions and present their recommendations to elected officials and university administrators. The feedback from these decision-makers provides valuable insights into the real-world implications of their proposals.</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2025-03/evp_336_31.jpg?itok=O-MgEOgJ" width="560" height="362" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>State Senator Stella Pekarsky (right) gives feedback on student presentations. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">“Learning how to use a systems thinking approach, students build the skills to better understand the complexity of the ‘wicked’ problems that we face and co-create approaches that </span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">take into account</span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"> people’s differing perspectives,” said </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/k-l-akerlof"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">K.L. Akerlof</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">, environmental science and policy professor. The course, EVPP 336, is part of the Mason Community Engagement and Civic Learning experience. </span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0">  </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">“A wicked problem describes multifaceted issues,” said junior environmental science major Mihika </span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Bangarbale</span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">. “Take climate change—we often think about the science around this problem, but there are economic and social aspects to the issue that must also be considered when forming any sort of policy recommendation.” </span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">The group presentations covered a variety of issues including sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and microplastic pollution in drinking water. All proposals were sent to Senator Pekarsky ahead of time, and students presented their ideas and answered questions when the senator visited their class in December.</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">“I’ve had policy writing assignments before, but this class provided tools to think more critically about who the key actors are in a system, how resources are managed, and who holds responsibility for them,” said environmental and sustainability studies major Maceo Franks. “It was incredible to present our ideas to someone actively involved in these matters and [who] could provide immediate feedback.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0">  </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Franks added that the presentation gave him a taste for what he hopes will be a long-term career. “The experience gave me the confidence to present my ideas effectively, which is exactly what I hope to do in the future.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0">  </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">“Senator Pekarsky was so nice and easy to talk to,” said senior environmental science major Terrionna Cuthrell. “She was so engaged with not only my project, but with everyone’s project. And she also read the projects ahead of time, which I didn’t expect her to do.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <figure role="group"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/extra_large_content_image/public/2025-03/evp_336_1.jpg?itok=dOs9ts6L" width="1000" height="314" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>State Senator and George Mason alumna Stella Pekarsky met with students from a Department of Environmental Science and Policy. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">During class, Senator Pekarsky, a George Mason alumna with a BA in government and politics and a </span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">master of education</span><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">, briefly spoke to the students after their presentations, noting her own memories of sitting where they are now. “It’s not easy to find solutions that will bring about progress in a way that brings together as many people as possible. But you all hit upon some great recommendations,” she said.  </span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Akerlof, who is also a George Mason alum, said she hopes the experience of presenting recommendations is empowering and that it will inspire students to do it again. “I hope that makes them more engaged citizens, and it may open doors to them that may not have thought of for their careers,” she said</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">This is the case for Cuthrell, who thought her interest in environmental epidemiology pointed toward a career in the for-profit sector rather than politics. “After taking this class, I realized I want to be more involved in politics,” she said. “We learned about several issues, how it works when government agencies try to tackle them, and how I can make my voice heard. It’s really inspired me to rethink where I may be able to make the most impact.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0">  </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW29004921 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW29004921 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">"Many of my previous classes have addressed environmental issues, but they’ve primarily focused on the science behind the problems," shared Julia Belvin, a senior majoring in environmental and sustainability studies. "What I appreciate about this course is that it goes beyond just understanding the issues—it challenges you to think about practical solutions and how you can make a real difference for people."</span><span class="EOP SCXW29004921 BCX0"> </span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="702ac210-b3e6-406a-99d1-1ae04d642ffa"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://science.gmu.edu/"> <h4 class="cta__title">Discover more from the College of Science <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="863b2a44-35c4-4f67-ae7a-a18e9ddbfd11" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="9d312d78-9661-4084-8aae-ab06112aa409" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-2f68386bdd214d4eac6d1452f4b9343e6e1572774ac2541debda2c730b2d7509"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/announcing-recipients-2025-presidential-awards-faculty-excellence" hreflang="en">Announcing the recipients of the 2025 Presidential Awards for Faculty Excellence</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 16, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/chemistry-phd-receives-us-department-defense-smart-scholarship" hreflang="en">Chemistry PhD receives U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 14, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/muddy-turtle-rescue-potomac-science-center-slow-and-steady-wins-race" hreflang="en">In a muddy turtle rescue at the Potomac Science Center, slow and steady wins the race</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 4, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/new-art-course-teaches-students-how-think-differently-about-design" hreflang="en">New art course teaches students how to think differently about design </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 2, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/cody-w-edwards-appointed-dean-college-science" hreflang="en">Cody W. Edwards appointed as dean of the College of Science</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 31, 2025</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/166" hreflang="en">innovative classes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17696" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:06:36 +0000 Katarina Benson 116121 at George Mason scientist leads $1.8M NSF grant to address mobility challenges from urban flooding /news/2025-02/george-mason-scientist-leads-18m-nsf-grant-address-mobility-challenges-urban-flooding <span>George Mason scientist leads $1.8M NSF grant to address mobility challenges from urban flooding</span> <span><span>Katarina Benson</span></span> <span>Fri, 02/21/2025 - 14:36</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="TextRun SCXW148566103 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">George Mason 鶹 researcher </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW148566103 BCX0" href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/alireza-ermagun" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun SCXW148566103 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Alireza Ermagun</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW148566103 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"> has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address mobility challenges caused by nuisance flooding. The project, a collaboration with Villanova 鶹 and the 鶹 of South Carolina, centers on understanding how frequent, low-level flooding disrupts daily transportation systems and devising equitable solutions.</span><span class="EOP SCXW148566103 BCX0 intro-text"> </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2024-03/6-1.jpg?itok=KlpmqX2z" width="320" height="320" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Alireza Ermagun. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p>Nuisance flooding frequently inundates roads and overwhelms stormwater systems, creating widespread transportation challenges. Ermagun emphasizes that such flooding disproportionately affects vulnerable populations who depend on public transit, walking, or biking. “These frequent but seemingly minor floods accumulate to create major disruptions, particularly for those already facing socioeconomic and mobility barriers,” said Ermagun, the director of Mobility Observatory and Data Analytics Lab and an assistant professor in the <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/geography-geoinformation-science">Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science</a>. “This project aims to ensure that every resident has access to reliable transportation, regardless of the challenges posed by flooding.”</p> <p>The research focuses on three neighborhoods in Philadelphia—Kensington, Manayunk, and Germantown—and involves close partnerships with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), the Delaware Valley River Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA). The team will examine the spatial and temporal extent of flooding in these areas and develop strategic green infrastructure solutions to address mobility barriers.</p> <p>“Nuisance flooding is common but difficult to assess,” said Virginia Smith, a water resource scientist at Villanova 鶹. “These events, however, disrupt people’s lives and their ability to move around their communities. By identifying where flooding occurs and its impact, we can develop meaningful solutions to improve daily life and beyond.”</p> <p>The project places a strong emphasis on engaging communities directly impacted by nuisance flooding. Peleg Kremer, a social-ecological systems scientist at Villanova 鶹, explained, “this project brings community voices into planning, translating their lived experiences into equitable, actionable solutions.”</p> <p>“Many individuals rely on stable, predictable transportation patterns in their daily lives, and disruptions can be especially harmful for the most residents. Understanding the roots of these</p> <p>impacts is key to creating effective solutions,” said Brian Levy, a social scientist at the 鶹 of South Carolina.</p> <p>The project also aims to innovate in green infrastructure and mobility planning, ensuring that proposed solutions are not just functional but equitable. “By reducing mobility barriers through strategic infrastructure planning, we can promote resilience in urban transportation,” said Chenfeng Xiong, a transportation scientist at Villanova 鶹.</p> <p>Reflecting on the broader vision of the project, Ermagun emphasized the importance of combining data-driven approaches with community insight. “Some solutions, like flexible pick-up and drop-off stations or subsidies for ride sharing, show promise,” he said. “But to truly address the scale of the problem, we need to explore more transformative changes, potentially redesigning urban infrastructure, from roads to sewer systems. 鶹 research aims to provide the data and strategies necessary to identify the most effective interventions while centering the voices of those most impacted.”</p> <p>With a timeline extending through August 2028, this initiative offers unique opportunities for graduate students, researchers, and community members to collaborate on cutting-edge research while contributing to lasting, positive change in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.</p> <p>“鶹 ultimate goal is to not only mitigate the impacts of nuisance flooding,” said Ermagun, “but also to empower communities to adapt and thrive in the face of increasing climate challenges.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/aermagun" hreflang="en">Alireza Ermagun</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="c7677799-971e-41be-a16b-06d6a53a6666" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="68ea9923-00c3-4acb-9c3b-4fc30eac967e"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/research"> <h4 class="cta__title">Explore more Research from George Mason <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="a7e2155d-2f55-40d8-98cd-5fae3a98fb03" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="dac8258c-d0d0-434b-8a8b-11bf9cabe969" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-32e1384fb06826ad1a587fd14cbd461323c90cb22eb8c412588a025c23b6d118"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/announcing-recipients-2025-presidential-awards-faculty-excellence" hreflang="en">Announcing the recipients of the 2025 Presidential Awards for Faculty Excellence</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 16, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/chemistry-phd-receives-us-department-defense-smart-scholarship" hreflang="en">Chemistry PhD receives U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 14, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/muddy-turtle-rescue-potomac-science-center-slow-and-steady-wins-race" hreflang="en">In a muddy turtle rescue at the Potomac Science Center, slow and steady wins the race</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 4, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/cody-w-edwards-appointed-dean-college-science" hreflang="en">Cody W. Edwards appointed as dean of the College of Science</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 31, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/george-masons-new-life-sciences-and-engineering-building-stocked-potential-energy" hreflang="en">George Mason’s new Life Sciences and Engineering Building is stocked with potential energy for students and the region</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 27, 2025</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1161" hreflang="en">National Science Foundation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:36:52 +0000 Katarina Benson 115871 at $1.2M NSF-funded fellowship aims to foster diversity in quantum science workforce /news/2024-10/12m-nsf-funded-fellowship-aims-foster-diversity-quantum-science-workforce <span>$1.2M NSF-funded fellowship aims to foster diversity in quantum science workforce</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Mon, 10/28/2024 - 10:09</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">George Mason 鶹 received a $1.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a postdoctoral fellowship program that will prepare recent PhD graduates to be leaders in quantum education and workforce development research. The program focuses on addressing challenges in quantum education, particularly in building an inclusive and equitable workforce.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2024-10/180912069.jpg" width="320" height="320" alt="Jessica Rosenberg" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Jessica Rosenberg. Photo by Office of 鶹 Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The George Mason 鶹 Quantum Education Research Postdoctoral Fellowship will be led by </span></span><span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/jessica-rosenberg"><span><span>Jessica Rosenberg</span></span></a>, an </span><span><span>associate professor in the <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/physics-and-astronomy-department">Department of Physics and Astronomy</a> and director of education for the <a href="https://qsec.gmu.edu/">Quantum Science and Engineering Center</a>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“It’s an opportunity to bring together recent PhDs from different disciplines to think about the problem of building a diverse and equitable workforce from varying angles while also providing an environment for them to build and strengthen their careers in STEM education research,” said Rosenberg. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>She will work alongside co-principal investigators </span></span><span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/paula-danquah-brobby"><span><span>Paula Danquah-Brobby</span></span></a></span><span><span>, associate dean of access, belonging, and community engagement in the <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/">College of Science</a>; </span></span><span><a href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/jnelson"><span><span>Jill Nelson</span></span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span><span><span> an associate professor in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC); and </span></span><span><a href="https://cehd.gmu.edu/people/faculty/nholinch/"><span><span>Nancy Holincheck</span></span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span><span><span> an assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), to engage with fellows, provide mentorship, and assist in research projects. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>According to Rosenberg, postdoctoral researchers occupy a unique and sometimes challenging phase in career development, where the level of support can vary significantly. They are learning to lead their own projects and take responsibility for forging their future careers, but they still need to develop additional skills. In the program, postdoctoral fellows will receive essential mentorship and networking opportunities and encouragement to develop their own projects and collaborate on existing ones. By working in a small cohort, participants will receive the guidance necessary to make the most of this critical stage in their careers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“George Mason is a leading institution in the quantum education space,” said Rosenberg. “We are positioned well to provide a meaningful fellowship like this, to bring in folks and help them to really think through challenges and start their careers.” </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Fostering an inclusive and equitable workforce starts in the classroom,” said Danquah-Brobby. “It has been well established that diversity of thoughts, perspectives, lived experiences, disciplinarity, among others, is positively associated with scientific discovery, innovation, and achievement. To successfully rise to the myriad 21st-century challenges, centering diversity, inclusion, and equity throughout and across the STEM ecosystem is absolutely essential.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The quantum field is rapidly evolving and expected to make significant impacts in the coming years, driven by initiatives like the National Quantum Act, which aims to accelerate quantum research and development. The U.S. government is increasing investments in quantum technologies that, Rosenberg explained, are poised to enhance various applications including communications through quantum cryptography and advanced sensing techniques. Notably, quantum sensing has already shown substantial progress, with potential uses in oil prospecting and military positioning, especially where GPS is unavailable. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Additional support of the grant will come from CEHD faculty members Supriya Baily, Sujin Kim, Shekila Melchior, and Lisa Tullo; Shá Norman, College of Visual and Performing Arts’ director of diversity; Erikca Brown, associate director for inclusive education; Christi Wilcox, CEC’s director of programs and research; Weiwen Jiang, CEC postdoctoral research associate; and Benjamin Dreyfus, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:feature_image" data-inline-block-uuid="5adb83bf-1cba-43a3-98b9-9ca08c043cda" class="block block-feature-image block-layout-builder block-inline-blockfeature-image text-overlaid"> <div class="feature-image"> <div class="narrow-overlaid-image"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2023-08/IMG_6445.jpg?itok=xn8aBzCE" srcset="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_small/public/2023-08/IMG_6445.jpg?itok=GjQx6BWd 768w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2023-08/IMG_6445.jpg?itok=xn8aBzCE 1024w, /sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_large/public/2023-08/IMG_6445.jpg?itok=qkMK51fX 1280w, " sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 80vw,100vw" alt="" /></div> <div class="headline-text"> <div class="feature-image-caption"> <div class="field field--name-field-feature-image-caption field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>During July 2023, Jessica Rosenberg coordinated the Pathways to Quantum Immersion Program, which helped high school students learn about the promise of quantum technologies.</p></div> </div> <div class="feature-image-caption feature-image-photo-credit">Photo credit: <div class="field field--name-field-photo-credit field--type-string field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Photo credit</div> <div class="field__item">College of Science</div> </div> </div> <div class="feature-image-link"> <div class="field field--name-field-feature-image-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/news/2023-08/mason-led-immersion-program-presents-quantum-pathways-high-school-students">Read more about this program</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="c9597619-112b-46d7-b35b-d807b6e9452c"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://qsec.gmu.edu/"> <h4 class="cta__title">Discover the Quantum Science & Engineering Center <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="54210348-6116-434f-a72d-60b81ca5679b" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="e64b5ba1-2b7b-4a62-b87e-28206bd577c8" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-c4627a5f100522bf85986f5910230315f9da1eb89f0cf0247da524f09cff98cf"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-02/george-mason-researcher-gets-career-award-quantum-leaps-computing-help-ai" hreflang="en">George Mason researcher gets CAREER award for quantum leaps in computing, with the help of AI</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">February 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-10/12m-nsf-funded-fellowship-aims-foster-diversity-quantum-science-workforce" hreflang="en">$1.2M NSF-funded fellowship aims to foster diversity in quantum science workforce</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 28, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-08/george-mason-physicist-receives-nsf-career-award-topological-quantum-computing" hreflang="en">George Mason physicist receives NSF CAREER award for topological quantum computing research</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 20, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2023-10/mason-physicist-receives-universitys-first-doe-early-career-award" hreflang="en">Mason physicist receives university’s first DOE Early Career Award </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 25, 2023</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2023-08/quantum-conundrums-navigating-noise-and-enhancing-expertise" hreflang="en">Quantum conundrums: Navigating noise and enhancing expertise </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 23, 2023</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17566" hreflang="en">Quantum Science and Engineering Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/191" hreflang="en">College of Education and Human Development</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1161" hreflang="en">National Science Foundation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15126" hreflang="en">workforce</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:09:11 +0000 Colleen Rich 114411 at George Mason scientist secures $1.4M DTRA grant to study viruses’ impact on organ health /news/2024-10/george-mason-scientist-secures-14m-dtra-grant-study-viruses-impact-organ-health <span>George Mason scientist secures $1.4M DTRA grant to study viruses’ impact on organ health</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Mon, 10/14/2024 - 12:30</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">George Mason 鶹 researcher <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/aarthi-narayanan">Aarthi Narayanan </a> recently secured a $1.4M grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to investigate how an infection spreads between organs, and how a therapeutic will impact connected organs. The work will initially focus on mosquito-transmitted viruses while Narayanan hopes to expand the implications from these studies to other human disease states. </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2023-01/221131003.jpg?itok=W_GSR38U" width="400" height="430" alt="Aarthi in her lab" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Aarthi Narayan. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of 鶹 Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>The study will utilize the organ on a chip platform—an emerging technology that more closely replicates human organ-based parameters—to understand how disease affects the body. The focus of this multiorgan effort will be to explore the interactions between the brain, the lung, and liver.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“When you look at an infection like West Nile Virus, for example, it affects the brain early. But that does not mean it only impacts the brain,” said Narayanan, a professor in the Department of Biology in the College of Science. “There is often multiorgan involvement in later states of disease, but we still don’t have a full understanding of how one organ reacts to another’s infection to then know how to provide more effective treatments.” This research seeks to better understand to what extent inflammation from one infected organ will affect another organ that is perhaps not infected. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The recent COVID-19 pandemic underscored how diseases affecting specific organs can disseminate throughout the body, leading to multiorgan failure at various states of disease progression. However, developing specific treatments for each emerging virus takes time, and there is an intense push toward finding broadly applicable solutions that may be used to treat different infections. This study will also explore repositioning existing FDA-approved medications as treatment options for several mosquito-transmitted viruses that do not have treatment strategies at this time. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Narayan will utilize CN-Bio’s organ on a chip platform at George Mason’s Biomedical Research Laboratory to investigate questions that are directly relevant to human disease caused by these mosquito-transmitted viruses. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“This approach will also help us position our therapeutic strategies better and hopefully decrease points of failure down the road, as we strive to come up with rapidly deployable solutions to address the national and global needs for pandemic preparedness,” said Narayanan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“While technology is expanding in the biomedical field, one of the important differentiators that puts George Mason and its Biomedical Research Laboratory (BRL) at the forefront of this research venture is our ability to ask these globally impactful questions in high containment settings, specifically biosafety level 3 conditions,” said Cody W. Edwards, George Mason <a href="\Users\ckearney\Downloads\science.gmu.edu">College of Science</a> interim dean.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Established through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the <a href="https://brl.gmu.edu/">George Mason BRL</a> is one of 12 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories in the United States that offer Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) facilities. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The study, “Development of human-based, connected multiorgan microphysiological system <em>in vitro</em> models to study alphavirus infection and support countermeasure development,” will take place over the next five years.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="a1884427-1aa3-4641-b874-71757300dde1"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/research"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about research at George Mason 鶹 <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="3c0317d4-387a-4313-bf32-a264fd3ac0d7" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="b636dc7f-a522-400b-b08c-4c375ba3e169" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-feaee51d74be0e20782e70404f1cca16a0217fe1601f63a87bcb12f2a383e531"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/announcing-recipients-2025-presidential-awards-faculty-excellence" hreflang="en">Announcing the recipients of the 2025 Presidential Awards for Faculty Excellence</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 16, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/chemistry-phd-receives-us-department-defense-smart-scholarship" hreflang="en">Chemistry PhD receives U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 14, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/muddy-turtle-rescue-potomac-science-center-slow-and-steady-wins-race" hreflang="en">In a muddy turtle rescue at the Potomac Science Center, slow and steady wins the race</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 4, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/cody-w-edwards-appointed-dean-college-science" hreflang="en">Cody W. Edwards appointed as dean of the College of Science</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 31, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/george-masons-new-life-sciences-and-engineering-building-stocked-potential-energy" hreflang="en">George Mason’s new Life Sciences and Engineering Building is stocked with potential energy for students and the region</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 27, 2025</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20206" hreflang="en">Defense and Security</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15581" hreflang="en">Biomedical Research Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7096" hreflang="en">Mason Momentum</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:30:04 +0000 Colleen Rich 114201 at George Mason physicist receives NSF CAREER award for topological quantum computing research /news/2024-08/george-mason-physicist-receives-nsf-career-award-topological-quantum-computing <span>George Mason physicist receives NSF CAREER award for topological quantum computing research</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Tue, 08/20/2024 - 14:41</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text"><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/fereshte-ghahari-kermani">Fereshte Ghahari Kermani</a>, assistant professor in physics and astronomy in George Mason 鶹’s College of Science, received the prestigious Early Career Development (CAREER) Program grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue her research on the complex quantum phases in graphene materials.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2023-10/231012202%281%29.jpg" width="350" height="369" alt="Kermani" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Fereshte Ghahari Kermani. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of 鶹 Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>In 2023, Ghahari was the first faculty member at George Mason to receive the competitive <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/news/mason-physicist-receives-universitys-first-doe-early-career-award-advance-quantum-technologies">U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Early Career Award</a> to advance quantum technologies, and now she is the first to receive CAREER awards from both the DOE and NSF.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Ghahari’s study “Topological order and edge states in fractional quantum Hall systems” will focus on the complex quantum phases in graphene materials, which could be utilized in the development of future quantum technologies. For this project, Ghahari will investigate a specific topological phase of matter known as the fractional quantum Hall effect, which she first discovered in graphene in 2009. This phenomenon that appears in two-dimensional electron systems under high magnetic fields and ultra-low temperatures can support new particles that serve as the building blocks for topological quantum computers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“By looking at how the charges flow and the heat they carry in response to a temperature gradient, we can measure entropy, or the degree of randomness, which can reveal the topological properties of these new particles and if they can be used in future topological quantum computers,” she explained. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Topological quantum computers allow for complex calculations out of reach of standard computing schemes. Quantum bits (qubits), which are used in conventional quantum computing, are more susceptible to errors due to environmental noise and other factors. Topological qubits, however, are prone to these types of errors. </span></span></span></p> <p><span class="intro-text">“Studying these specific phases may also provide valuable insights into one of the long-standing problems in cosmology known as the “blackhole paradox” that addresses the loss of information in blackholes,” Ghahari said.</span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Ghahari’s research and programmatic efforts continue to receive well-deserved attention,” said Department of Physics and Astronomy Chair <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/ernest-barreto">Ernest Barreto</a>. “鶹 quantum computing and materials academic offerings and research support continue to grow, thanks to such innovative research, outreach, and partnerships,” Barreto said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Students working on Ghahari’s research team will create tiny graphene heterostructures on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, and subsequently use nanofabrication equipment at a nearby project collaborator, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), to integrate the quantum nanodevices. Finally, they will use a low temperature cryostat located at Ghahari’s lab at George Mason to measure these devices at extremely low temperatures and high magnetic fields. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>As part of this award, Ghahari will design an education plan to educate George Mason community on quantum nanoscience research by leveraging her unique expertise and established collaborations, which can enhance and expand the existing infrastructure.  This plan also includes promoting outreach and educational opportunities for students and underrepresented groups by offering seminars and additional quantum courses. She seeks to introduce quantum concepts to high school students to foster awareness and cultivate interest at an earlier age. According to Ghahari, mentorship plays an essential role in a student’s academic experience. </span></span></span></p> <p><span class="intro-text">“Mentoring is crucial,” Ghahari said. “As a student, I often sought inspiration. Now, I strive to share my passion and interest in the subject as I work with students.”</span></p> <p><span><span><span>With the NSF support, Ghahari’s study will receive $564,695 over the course of five years. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="97a9ffb8-3f69-4215-8ecb-ddcab1e9c34b" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="a5b89ba3-a951-4677-bb0b-bb77750c0d20"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/physics-and-astronomy-department"> <h4 class="cta__title">Delve more into Research at the Physics & Astronomy Department <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" 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<div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18691" hreflang="en">quantum</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:41:33 +0000 Colleen Rich 113466 at FOCUS summer program marks a decade of engaging middle-school girls in STEM /news/2024-08/focus-summer-program-marks-decade-engaging-middle-school-girls-stem <span>FOCUS summer program marks a decade of engaging middle-school girls in STEM</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Wed, 08/14/2024 - 16:36</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">George Mason 鶹’s popular FOCUS outreach program marks its 10th anniversary this summer and continues to expand its science and tech immersion programs.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2024-08/240802005.jpg?itok=F6b8EMgs" width="560" height="410" alt="Focus group shot" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>From left, FOCUS Camp founders Danielle Craddock, Kelly Knight, and Padmanabhan Seshaiyer with the 2024 campers. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of 鶹 Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>FOCUS stands for Females of Color and those Underrepresented in STEM, and when the camp is in session, the middle schoolers and their counselors can be seen moving around George Mason’s Fairfax Campus in their brightly colored t-shirts as they immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities from coding and building a robotic arm to viewing distant planets at the Observatory. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>For the past decade, FOCUS Camp day programs have invited rising sixth- through eighth-graders to participate in interactive and hands-on workshops. The first year brought 18 girls to campus, with support from donors including the Business Women’s Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia. Since then, the program has served more than 460 campers—filling to capacity each year within hours of opening admission. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The program’s founders include George Mason mathematics professor </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/padmanabhan-seshaiyer"><span><span>Padmanabhan Seshaiyer</span></span></a><span>, forensic science professor </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/kelly-knight"><span><span>Kelly Knight</span></span></a><span>, former biology professor Claudette Davis, and George Mason alumna Danielle Craddock, MAIS ’11, the founder of Girls Inspired and Ready to Lead Inc. (GIRL). Knight now leads planning efforts on behalf of the College of Science’s STEM Accelerator Program and has remained steadfast in the FOCUS mission to introduce young women of color to STEM fields and nurture their scientific curiosities. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“We always assess participants the day they begin camp and the day they leave, and it’s truly rewarding to see how much their interest in STEM spikes,” Knight said. “On average, interest rises about 30%, which is huge.”</span></span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-08/240731012.jpg?itok=yfygDN_B" width="350" height="234" alt="FOCUS Camp " loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Professor Karen Sauer and Kelly Knight work with campers to create their own spectrometers. <em>Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of 鶹 Branding </em></figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>With the program’s success and an interest from camp alumni wanting to return, organizers expanded in 2018 to also offer the George Mason College of Science FOCUS Academy—a more advanced and immersive college experience for high school students that further expands STEM topics and incorporates college prep, goal setting, and other classes designed to build their confidence, enhance their leadership skills, and support their social and physical wellness. These workshops cover forensic science, chemistry, bioinformatics, mathematics, and astronomy, which also happen to be </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units"><span><span>areas of specialization</span></span></a><span> for George Mason. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I’ve had participants tell me that being around other young girls of color affected the way they felt about attending a STEM program and helped them feel more comfortable when participating,” said Knight. “It helps them gain the skills and confidence they need when they move on to less inclusive spaces, to know that they can be successful.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>And it’s not only the FOCUS attendees who feel the impact. Knight said the George Mason undergraduate students who serve as counselors feel it too. Some have moved on to teaching careers in STEM subjects, while others have launched their own nonprofits for young girls in STEM. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>George Mason alumna Jade Kirkland said the FOCUS camp is the highlight of her summer. Kirkland had just finished her first year at George Mason as a forensic science major when she received the email about volunteering at FOCUS. Since then, she’s graduated from George Mason with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forensic science and now works in a biotechnology lab in Manassas, Virginia. She said she saves her personal time off  each year so she can take one week off to come back to George Mason to serve as a FOCUS counselor. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“What brings me back every year is the fact that I get to have an impact on these girls at a young age and let them know that STEM isn’t just for the boys,” said Kirkland, who has worked as a FOCUS counselor since the beginning. “It’s something I didn’t have when I was that age.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>As a FOCUS counselor, Kirkland makes sure each camp participant gets as much out of the week as possible. That includes answering questions in workshops, sharing her own experiences as a forensic scientist, guiding them across the college campus, and ensuring a safe space for them to learn. </span></span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-08/eduardo_macedo.jpg?itok=DZseJBJy" width="350" height="234" alt="FOCUS Camp" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>FOCUS participants viewed microfossils under a microscope and learned how they are used to investigate past climates and reconstruct ancient ocean conditions. <em>Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of 鶹 Branding</em></figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>“I have as much fun participating in the activities as they do, and it’s amazing to watch how they think through things,” said Kirkland, describing a lab she and the campers participated in last year to explore chemistry topics. Each made their own small bottle of perfume. “I get a new perspective of STEM every year through these girls, and it makes me fall in love with science all over again.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>In 2021, the program expanded further to offer FOCUS MOST, led by Seshaiyer, a professional development program for K-12 STEM teachers that encourages the design of STEM workshops for camp participants that can then be brought back to their schools. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“It’s not just the 50 girls coming each summer who are impacted,” said Knight. “It’s these teachers who are now taking methods back to their own schools. Along with the counselors mentoring these young girls who choose to continue to work even after they leave George Mason.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>So, what comes next? Knight said that there is still work to be done. While efforts to increase an interest in STEM for middle school and high school students have been effective, she said more needs to happen to influence representation at the college and early-career levels. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“We need to expand the ecosystem of support for students so that they can continue to thrive in STEM even when they’re in college or at the professional level,” she said. “We’re not seeing enough change in the numbers because there’s not enough support once students approach graduation and enter the workforce.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The next FOCUS program expansion will consider ways to support women of color at the college level as they navigate the STEM fields and choose what they want to do after they graduate. And Knight said she also wants to extend the program’s reach. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Thinking bigger about what it means to have impact on not just students local to Virginia, but on a national and international level, I think is going be another next phase for us for sure.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13011" hreflang="en">inclusive excellence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2831" hreflang="en">Summer Camps</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 14 Aug 2024 20:36:39 +0000 Colleen Rich 113381 at PhD student’s research on COVID-19 transmission leads to discovery of a major model gap /news/2024-08/phd-students-research-covid-19-transmission-leads-discovery-major-model-gap <span>PhD student’s research on COVID-19 transmission leads to discovery of a major model gap</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Fri, 08/09/2024 - 16:52</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">Scientists have long studied the spread of diseases, but the emergence of COVID-19 and its profound impact on society have underscored the critical need to understand where and how diseases spread. As George Mason 鶹 doctoral student Jericho McLeod reviewed literature on disease transmission as part of his work toward a <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/computational-data-sciences/computational-sciences-and-informatics-phd">PhD in computational science and informatics</a>, he and George Mason professor <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/eduardo-lopez">Eduardo López</a> noticed a gap in the models and now seek to correct it. </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2024-08/jericho_award_3.jpg?itok=4iGHTLsU" width="560" height="317" alt="McLeod and Lopez at conference with poster" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>From left, PhD student and George Mason alum Jericho McLeod with Professor Eduardo López in front of their research poster at the International Pandemic Sciences Conference at Oxford 鶹. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>In trying to understand why disease transmissions were worse in some areas over others, McLeod and López dove into COVID-19 data looking specifically at extended family ties—meaning family members beyond the nuclear family of parents and children, such as cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandparents. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“According to research on social networks in the United States, individuals during crises like COVID-19, contract their social circles yet become more active with them,” said McLeod. “During lockdown, you saw your friends less, but may have still delivered groceries to your grandmother regularly.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Studies by McLeod, López, and George Mason PhD student Unchitta Kan previously confirmed that </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03020-6"><span><span>people migrated closer to family</span></span></a><span> more frequently after the pandemic began and that </span><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.07944"><span><span>availability of extended family plays a primary factor</span></span></a><span> in influencing face-to-face interaction, laying the groundwork for this research. Now, McLeod and López wanted to know if these extended family ties played a role in the spread of COVID-19. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>With the help of Kan and doctoral students Bryan Adams, Valentin Vergara Hidd, and Mailun (Alan) Zhang, they aimed to confirm that these networks mattered enough to warrant future research and updates to disease modeling.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The team gathered obituaries in the Unites States between 2020 to 2022 to examine familial relationships with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on deaths by geography, age, and gender. They found that during COVID-19, there were more instances of multiple family members dying within short periods (e.g., 60 days) compared to 2018 and 2019, where such cases were less common. This rise in deaths aligns with CDC data on excess deaths but is more noticeable between different waves of the pandemic. So, should these relationships be considered in models demonstrating the spread of disease? McLeod says yes. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>In July, McLeod presented his research at the <a href="https://web.cvent.com/event/2e7cb90c-63a3-4d13-8d0d-5235c08cc02a/websitePage:f26dccf9-ad89-4a51-b145-3b70736dee3f"><span><span>International Pandemic Sciences Conference at Oxford 鶹</span></span></a> and was awarded best poster presentation in the epidemiology, data and analytics category. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I am very proud of our work, and it has been collaborative in every way,” said López, who is an </span>associate professor of computational data sciences<span>. “Jericho has a strong ability to work through the data engineering portion of a problem, but also has the intuition necessary to make this research happen. We were optimistic that we would see the effects that we did, and now we have this great opportunity to study something that people have just completely overlooked.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>McLeod earned a degree in accounting from the 鶹 of South Alabama before attending George Mason to earn an MBA. In one of his business courses at the Costello College of Business taught by </span><a href="https://business.gmu.edu/profiles/psanyal"><span><span>Pallab Sanyal</span></span></a><span>, professor of information systems and operations management, McLeod was introduced to data analytics and machine learning—and found it fascinating. He went on complete a graduate certificate in data analytics at George Mason before deciding to pursue a PhD. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Attending the [Oxford] conference was so energizing,” McLeod said. “It brought together a collection of top minds, and Dr. López knew the right people to introduce me to, which led to additional conversations, ideation, and thoughts on future directions for this research.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em><span>George Mason’s <a href="https://gapsa.gmu.edu/resources/gstf/"><span>Graduate Student Travel Fund</span></a>, offered by the Office of the Provost, supported McLeod’s trip to the Oxford-based conference. </span></em></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="6bde2683-1b35-4caa-bb55-ece5a13763c3"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" 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in NYC with Met fellowship</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">February 19, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-02/george-mason-phd-student-looks-deception-and-human-robot-interactions" hreflang="en">George Mason PhD student looks at deception and human-robot interactions</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">February 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-01/physics-phd-student-using-machine-learning-techniques-unlock-key-predicting-solar" hreflang="en">Physics PhD student is using machine learning techniques to unlock the key to predicting solar flares</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">January 28, 2025</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/436" hreflang="en">doctoral students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12501" hreflang="en">Costello College of Business News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7911" hreflang="en">MBA Program</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 09 Aug 2024 20:52:40 +0000 Colleen Rich 113321 at George Mason researchers lead breakthrough study to find functional cure for HIV /news/2024-07/george-mason-researchers-lead-breakthrough-study-find-functional-cure-hiv <span>George Mason researchers lead breakthrough study to find functional cure for HIV</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Thu, 07/25/2024 - 16:04</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">Researchers in George Mason 鶹’s </span><a href="https://cidr.science.gmu.edu/"><span class="intro-text">Center for Infectious Disease Research</span></a><span class="intro-text"> (CIDR) and Tulane National Primate Research Center conducted a breakthrough proof-of-concept </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41434-024-00467-9"><span class="intro-text">study, published in</span><em><span class="intro-text"> Nature’s Gene Therapy,</span></em></a><span class="intro-text"> that found a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-like virus particle that could cease the need for lifelong medications. Scientists have made great strides in the treatment of HIV over the past few decades, yet those with the virus must still take antiretroviral therapy for life as the disease is difficult to eradicate. </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-07/1404030011_copy.jpeg?itok=HILUbrX0" width="325" height="350" alt="yuntao wu in his lab" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Yuntao Wu. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of 鶹 Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span>CIDR researchers led by </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/yuntao-wu"><span>Yuntao Wu</span></a><span>, a professor in George Mason’s School of Systems Biology and the principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded study, developed a special HIV-like virus particle, called HIV Rev-dependent lentiviral vector, that uses an HIV protein, Rev, as a trigger to selectively target and activate therapeutic genes in HIV-infected cells.</span></p> <p><span>The Mason team, including Brian Hetrick, Mark Spear, Jia Guo, Huizhi Liang, Yajing Fu, Zhijun Yang, and Ali Andalibi, has been developing the HIV Rev-dependent vector technology since 2002. </span></p> <p><span>According to Wu, patients need to take medications for the rest of their lives because of the persistence of HIV reservoirs, which are infected immune cells harboring the virus. Currently, antiretroviral therapy used by patients can effectively block the virus but cannot eliminate the viral reservoirs. Experimental approaches such as “shock and kill” and “block and lock” of the reservoirs have been in development to either eliminate or silence viral reservoirs.</span></p> <p><span>Wu said the HIV Rev-dependent lentiviral vector technology that his team has been developing uses a different approach, which relies on the HIV Rev protein to selectively target reservoirs for killing or for inactivation. </span></p> <p><span class="intro-text">“鶹 approach shows signs of not only reducing viral reservoirs but also boosting the immune system to produce antiviral neutralizing antibodies,” said Wu. “Think about turning a bad guy into a good one.” </span></p> <p><span>The reservoir cells can be targeted by the Rev-dependent vector and be turned into releasing defective viruses that can act as a vaccine to stimulate neutralizing antibodies. Wu’s team named this new approach “rehab and redeem” of the HIV reservoirs.</span></p> <p><span>Scientists at Tulane National Primate Research Center, including Summer Siddiqui, Lara Doyle-Meyers, Bapi Pahar, Ronald S. Veazey, Jason Dufour, and Binhua Ling, collaborated with Wu’s team to test this technology on monkeys infected with SIVmac239 (a virus similar to HIV), finding in one monkey that the virus levels in the blood and brain have been reduced to undetectable most of the time for over two years after ceasing antiretroviral therapy. </span></p> <p><span>According to Hetrick, this approach shows promise in controlling the presence of virus in the blood and opens new avenues for developing effective treatments for HIV without relying on daily antiretrovirals. “鶹 proof-of-concept animal studies demonstrate a step forward in the fight against this virus, bringing us closer to innovative and potentially transformative therapies for HIV patients,” said Hetrick. </span></p> <p><span>This proof-of-concept study signals what technologies could come for the </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/director-letters/cdc-publishes-new-hiv-surveillance-reports.html#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%201.2,from%2086%25%20to%2087%25."><span>1.2 million people</span></a><span> in the United States and </span><a href="https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/hiv-aids#:~:text=Globally%2C%2039.0%20million%20%5B33.1%E2%80%93,considerably%20between%20countries%20and%20regions."><span>39 million worldwide</span></a><span> (as of 2022) with HIV who depend on medications to keep the virus under control. Additional funded studies are needed to expand and optimize the animal studies, followed by human clinical trials serving as the next pivotal steps for the development of the new treatment. </span></p> <p><span>Wu thanked the NYCDC AIDS Ride organized by Marty Rosen that raised funding to keep his team going in early years, leading to the more recent NIH-supported animal trial. </span></p> <p><span>“It took us 20 years to walk the first step, we will certainly keep going,” Wu said.</span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="3deade64-b0cc-4181-8df0-5f9a256bce3f" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="ad137b8e-734e-4fbd-a810-6cafb88db870" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="a9c39f4d-f22f-4ecc-b7cd-4a2c7c9faab7"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/systems-biology"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about George Mason's School of Systems Biology <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="f33e1a1c-c6ab-4b1c-b8c0-0147c4b8d7fd" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="c3395bf7-fcfc-4b90-976e-a1687fe71308" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="a9cfb5e2-e572-42ba-9e26-3d90a7c31dfa" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-3865826a60185ef5e1c7ca8dd52bd8638bcee733767b4c7ed5383249627fc741"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-07/george-mason-researchers-lead-breakthrough-study-find-functional-cure-hiv" hreflang="en">George Mason researchers lead breakthrough study to find functional cure for HIV</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">July 25, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-01/new-mason-nanofabrication-facility-will-help-drive-innovation-commonwealth" hreflang="en">New Mason Nanofabrication Facility will help drive innovation in the commonwealth</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">January 17, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2023-08/wextons-visit-science-and-technology-campus-explores-research-and-economic-impact" hreflang="en">Wexton’s visit to Science and Technology Campus explores research and economic impact</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 30, 2023</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2023-04/study-finds-probiotics-are-not-only-good-gut-they-affect-other-organs-too" hreflang="en">Study finds probiotics are not only good for the gut, they affect other organs too</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 17, 2023</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2023-03/mason-leads-planning-study-position-northern-virginia-premier-location-life-science" hreflang="en">Mason leads planning study to position Northern Virginia as a premier location for the life science industry</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 20, 2023</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5086" hreflang="en">HIV treatment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1046" hreflang="en">Institute for Biohealth Innovation</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 25 Jul 2024 20:04:51 +0000 Colleen Rich 113111 at George Mason partners with the Shenandoah Valley educational institutions to launch lab school focused on data literacy /news/2024-07/george-mason-partners-shenandoah-valley-educational-institutions-launch-lab-school <span>George Mason partners with the Shenandoah Valley educational institutions to launch lab school focused on data literacy</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Sun, 07/14/2024 - 08:43</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">The Virginia Board of Education approved funding for George Mason 鶹 to launch the Shenandoah Valley Rural Regional College Partnership Laboratory School for Data Science, Computing, and Applications (DSCA). </span></p> <p><span><span><span>This is a collaborative partnership between the university and Frederick County Public Schools, as well as six rural and rural-fringe school districts in the Shenandoah Valley including Clarke County, Fauquier County, Page County, Shenandoah County, Warren County, and Winchester Public Schools, along with Mountain Vista Governor’s School and Laurel Ridge Community College.</span></span></span></p> <div alt="Prof Seishayer talks about plans for the Shenandoah Lab School" style="min-width: 50%;"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-video-embed-field field--type-video-embed-field field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g64ACEXRYAg?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <p><span><span><span>This recently approved Virginia Lab School, one of 14 in the state and the second for George Mason, will support 10th through 12th grade students through academic programming that fosters data literacy and showcases the latest innovations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Programming will cover data science and computing, research opportunities, apprenticeships and internships, experiential and project-based learning, certifications and microcredentials in data analytics, opportunities to earn an associate’s degree and college credits, as well as work-based learning opportunities. Students begin preparing for the lab-school during their sophomore year, with programming starting in their junior and senior years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span class="intro-text">“The vision is to create a data literate workforce empowered with skills, knowledge, and the mindset necessary to solve problems in a data driven world,” said George Mason mathematical sciences professor Padhu Seshaiyer who will lead the effort. </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-07/padhu_seshaiyer.png?itok=-GvgHPaG" width="262" height="350" alt="Padhu Seshaiyer" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Padhu Seshaiyer. Photo by Office of 鶹 Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><em><span>But how do you foster data literacy?</span></em></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Seshaiyer said that traditionally courses start by teaching students key STEM theories and models, followed by guidance on applying these concepts to problem-solving. In contrast, the DSCA lab school will reverse this approach by guiding students through identifying the initial question they wish to address motivated by a real-world problem and then navigating the data to find solutions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“If you want to know the best place to swim in the Shenandoah River, what data do you need to determine the answer?” Seshaiyer gave as an example. “Students might first collect samples to measure bacteria upstream versus downstream or look up information on public databases.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>This, he explained, would be followed by students cleaning and processing the collected data before interpreting the numbers. “This is a very powerful step where students would be able to visualize the data so they can better understand and explain the process,” he said. “It helps build their competencies of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.”    </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Seshaiyer emphasized that project-based learning will be a large part of DSCA lab school. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The school’s physical location will be in Frederick County and run by George Mason in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education and Frederick County Public Schools. George Mason will offer programming for students, teachers, and parents from all partnering divisions. Courses will take place online through George Mason, Laurel Ridge Community College, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), beyond the students’ regular coursework within their respective districts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Seshaiyer brings invaluable leadership to the lab school as a member of two boards appointed by the state—the Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board and the Virginia Board of Workforce Development—that host important conversations about closing the gaps between the educational enterprise and workforce development. He also currently serves as the chair of the U.S. National Academies Commission on Mathematics Instruction and has been selected to represent the United States at the General Assembly at the </span><a href="https://Users/l23-n05147-exp/Desktop/International%20Congress%20on%20Mathematics%20Education"><span>International Congress on Mathematics Education</span></a><span>. He also served as the higher ed lead for the implementation of the first-ever Virginia high school data science standards, course and curriculum. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“We need to be thinking about data in the age of artificial intelligence,” said Seshaiyer. “While there are algorithms that can help clean and analyze data, they also can come with certain biases.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“This information fuels innovation, decision making, and the digital landscape,” said Cody W. Edwards, the interim dean of George Mason’s College of Science and SMSC executive director, who is collaborating on the project. “It’s therefore important to have a handle on the reliability of this data. Without reliable data, we cannot acquire meaningful insights.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Providing students at the DSCA lab school options to enhance their data science experience will greatly enhance Virginia’s STEM workforce,” said Edwards.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The DSCA lab school will officially begin fall 2025 with online offerings starting in the 2024-25 academic year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>George Mason is also working with Northern Virginia Community College and Loudoun County Public Schools  to launch the <a href="/news/2024-04/george-mason-universitys-college-education-and-human-development-partners-nova-and">Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy</a>, which will incorporate employability skills, innovative teaching and learning methods, and experiences co-designed with industry partners, researchers, and instructional faculty.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="1ef93796-15fd-4376-91f7-0b178bbb3954" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="35135738-3883-4984-81b7-4e4ed24c7b33" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="e0e4be33-2b62-40ae-97dc-e19b6b1546ee" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-42f93833c0f235b553a8c56e88d5f88d6172c740a6127ed3a6661809fceee598"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/mason-korea-and-us-embassy-seoul-host-young-trilateral-leaders-workshop" hreflang="en">Mason Korea and U.S. Embassy Seoul host Young Trilateral Leaders workshop </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 29, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/generous-gift-will-name-school-computing-support-scholarships" hreflang="en">Generous gift will name School of Computing, support scholarships</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 28, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/spring-2025-degree-celebration-speakers" hreflang="en">Spring 2025 Degree Celebration speakers </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 28, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/campus-greenhouse-powered-sun-and-student-innovation" hreflang="en">This campus greenhouse is powered by the sun—and student innovation</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 25, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/george-mason-highlighted-one-carnegies-opportunity-colleges-and-universities" hreflang="en">George Mason highlighted as one of Carnegie’s Opportunity Colleges and Universities </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 24, 2025</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Sun, 14 Jul 2024 12:43:24 +0000 Colleen Rich 112961 at George Mason scientists explore adhesives to advance preservation of historical texts /news/2024-07/george-mason-scientists-explore-adhesives-advance-preservation-historical-texts <span>George Mason scientists explore adhesives to advance preservation of historical texts</span> <span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Thu, 07/11/2024 - 14:49</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">What does science have to do with the conservation of historical texts? Everything. </span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-07/rocio5.jpg?itok=iPOtyu3F" width="299" height="350" alt="Doctoral student Rocío Prisby" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Doctoral student Rocío Prisby. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>Rocío Prisby, a biosciences doctoral student at </span><a href="/"><span><span>George Mason 鶹</span></span></a><span>, led the first comprehensive analysis of proteins found within wheat starch-based and flour-based pastes used in historic texts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00804"><span><span>This study</span></span></a><span> produced a working database for historians to cross-reference for their own samples that will ultimately result in greater understanding of the evolution of adhesives, while also providing a starting point to determine the best conservation practices for bookbinding and paper conservation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Each sample tells a story—someone in the 1500s mixing flour, water, and milk in a large bowl to create a paste that binds paper; another in the 1600s hoping to improve their glue’s viscosity with a dash of egg. But each story is different, and the uncertainty in these mixtures reinforces the need for a central database to aid in historical research. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“We still don’t know when in human history people stopped mixing flour and water and shifted to starches,” said Prisby, who also has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from George Mason. “So, you can’t make any assumptions for what a book’s glue makeup might be.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Prisby worked alongside George Mason researchers </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/alessandra-luchini"><span><span>Alessandra Luchini</span></span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/lance-liotta"><span><span>Lance Liotta</span></span></a><span> of the </span></span></span></span><a href="https://capmm.science.gmu.edu/">Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine</a><span><span><span><span>, as well as Caroline Solazzo from the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute. Their study, published in the </span></span></span></span><em>Journal of Proteome Research</em><span><span><span><span>, involved extracting wheat proteins from three small leather cover samples obtained from the National Library of Medicine. </span></span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-07/gettyimages-1365789845_copy.jpeg?itok=G_F_hPTA" width="349" height="350" alt="getty images of antique book binding" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Photo by Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span>Their methodology sought to establish a protocol capable of identifying wheat proteins, along with collagen and other proteins commonly found in leather and adhesives. The results were then compared to a database containing collagen proteins from various sources like cattle, sheep, goats, and chicken eggs, as well as wheat proteins from common wheat. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Analysis of historical samples indicates a shift away from using whole wheat for glue production towards the use of starch-based glues. This transition has led to a noticeable decrease in protein content, as the starch extraction process significantly reduces the protein levels in the final product. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Consequently, samples containing starch-based glue exhibit considerably lower protein concentrations compared to those containing traditional wheat-based glue. Environmental conditions and extraction techniques also influence protein composition. Prisby said understanding the chemical changes in wheat-based adhesives is crucial for conservation and restoration practices, particularly in comprehending the degradation of samples over time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The study’s researchers suggest that further investigation into wheat pastes and other plant-based adhesives should consider a diverse array of factors, including preparation methods, additives, aging processes, and the extensive variety and composition of the raw materials used.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>A native of Argentina, Prisby (formerly Cornero) began her chemistry studies at a local university before moving to the United States. She continued her studies at Northern Virginia Community College and was in the </span><a href="/news/2020-12/masons-advance-program-celebrates-first-graduates"><span><span>first ADVANCE cohort</span></span></a><span> to transfer to George Mason.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Prisby began researching proteins as an undergraduate in the College of Science’s </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/assip"><span><span>Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program</span></span></a><span> (ASSIP). In that early research, she studied the proteins in honey to monitor the health of the local environment while also seeking to identify a biomarker that might detect and diagnose diseases in honey bees. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>It was through that project that Prisby met Luchini and became interested in her lab’s work in proteomics. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Dr. Luchini is a great mentor. She dedicates so much time to her students,” said Prisby. “It doesn’t matter what knowledge or experience level you’re at, she meets you where you are.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>When Prisby graduated from George Mason with her undergraduate degree in chemistry, it was Luchini who encouraged her to pursue a </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/systems-biology/biosciences-phd"><span><span>PhD in Biosciences</span></span></a><span>. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="2e3daf78-aab3-422f-82c1-e328c810d656"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/admissions-aid"> <h4 class="cta__title">Join the Mason Nation <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="3e4b0304-8c35-46fa-9abd-2f87e448ffba" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="207ab733-20d3-4a7f-8a8f-c32fe9941db3" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-71187d6f53e0e22ec1daddd541c4e1af8820c8a7e50c71f9677dd4b93a2c3d8e"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-04/criminology-law-and-society-researcher-studies-impact-high-school-principal-led" hreflang="en">Criminology, Law and Society researcher studies impact of high school principal-led interrogations </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 7, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-03/chefs-kiss-statistics-phd-candidate-creates-new-recipe-complex-spatial-data-analysis" hreflang="en">Chef’s KISS: Statistics PhD candidate creates new recipe for complex spatial data analysis </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 6, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-02/george-mason-phd-living-dream-nyc-met-fellowship" hreflang="en">George Mason PhD is living the dream in NYC with Met fellowship</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">February 19, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-02/george-mason-phd-student-looks-deception-and-human-robot-interactions" hreflang="en">George Mason PhD student looks at deception and human-robot interactions</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">February 13, 2025</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2025-01/physics-phd-student-using-machine-learning-techniques-unlock-key-predicting-solar" hreflang="en">Physics PhD student is using machine learning techniques to unlock the key to predicting solar flares</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">January 28, 2025</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/436" hreflang="en">doctoral students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1926" hreflang="en">ADVANCE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2246" hreflang="en">Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:49:44 +0000 Colleen Rich 112926 at