July 7, 2025
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
I’m immensely proud of the tight-knit culture at the Hajim School, where students, alumni, faculty, and staff support one another in their personal journeys to make the world ever better. That culture was on display when recent optical engineering graduate Farhan Ejaz ’25 interviewed fellow Institute of Optics alumna Sarah Bjornland ’17 about her career path and professional development advice.
Sarah is an assembly manager at Rochester Precision Optics and adjunct faculty member for Monroe Community College’s optics systems technology program. She recalls how the Institute of Optics faculty helped her find and embrace her strengths and how the Industrial Associates (IA) Program provided her the connections to kickstart her career.
Go to the News Center to read more about Sarah and watch her conversation with Farhan.
EVER WONDER: ARE PLASTICS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH?
Plastic containers and utensils are staples in many kitchens—but could they be affecting your health?
University of Rochester researchers are at the forefront of efforts to understand the complex role that plastics play in human health. They include Katrina Korfmacher, the co-director of the Lake Ontario MicroPlastics Center (LOMP) and a professor of environmental medicine, a collaboration between the University and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and Jane van Dis, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical Center.
In an informative new video, Katrina explains how plastics enter our environments, bodies, and how they may be impacting our health. She notes that one of the key tools for studying microplastics are ultrathin silicone nano membranes developed in the lab of Jim McGrath, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Watch the video on YouTube and read more about Katrina’s research on the News Center.
INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION SEMINAR FOR GRAD STUDENTS AND POSTDOCS
The Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will host an upcoming seminar for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are curious about turning their research into real-world solutions.
UR Resources for Innovation and Commercialization will take place Wednesday, July 9 from 3:30–4:30 p.m. in Goergen 108. This seminar will show how to leverage campus resources to explore entrepreneurship and innovation. Hear from Professor Roberto Colangelo about launching ventures through the Ain Center, Professor Jim Zavislan from the Institute of Optics about getting started with research commercialization and the NSF I-Corps program, and Dr. Dina Uzri from UR Ventures about tech transfer and startup support. No registration is needed and refreshments will be provided.
FACULTY RESOURCES FOR BLACKBOARD ULTRA
The Teaching and Learning Support Services team put together a series of newsletters with tips, tricks, and other helpful reminders about Blackboard to help faculty brush up on their skills and prep for fall courses. Here are highlights from the first four issues:
- Issue 1 provides quick tips for those new to Blackboard Ultra.
- Issue 2 lists three steps faculty can take to make more interactive courses.
- Issue 3 offers a peek into the student side of Blackboard.
- Issue 4 gives advice about assignments, tests, and making the right assessments for your course objectives.
NEWLY FUNDED RESEARCH
Congratulations to two faculty members who recently secured funding for new sponsored research projects:
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
