August 18, 2025

Chunlei Guo hovering over a simulator to test sunlight absorption of a solar thermoelectric generator device he holds.

University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Researchers from the Institute of Optics just took a big step toward making solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) a more promising source of solar electricity generation. Unlike the photovoltaics currently used in most solar panels, STEGs can harness all kinds of thermal energy in addition to sunlight, but current STEGs have major efficiency limitations preventing them from being more widely adopted.

A team led by Chunlei Guo, a professor of optics and of physics and a senior scientist at Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics, used unique spectral engineering and thermal management methods to create a STEG device that generates 15 times more power than previous devices.

Read about this fascinating research on the News Center and at Gizmodo.

FROM SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT TO AUDIO PRODUCTION TOOL BUSINESS

Ben Schmitz and Daniel Fine, founders of Aberrant DSP, in their Brooklyn-based apartment.

Audio and music engineering alumni Daniel Fine ’19 and Ben Schmitz ’19 took what they started as a senior design project and have turned it into a successful company, Aberrant DSP. Specializing in creative mixing and audio production tools, the now Brooklyn-based Aberrant DSP sells plug-ins that offer a range of sounds uncommon in today’s digital audio workflows. Its signature product, SketchCassette II, allows users to add wow, flutters, warbles, and other lo-fi effects associated with four-track cassette tapes to their musical tracks.

You may have heard their handiwork without even realizing it as it’s been used by tens of thousands of musicians ranging from amateur hobbyists to big-name producers. Billie Eilish’s brother and producer, Finneas O’Connell, describes discovering “this crazy toy called SketchCassette” that he used on Eilish’s Grammy- and Oscar-winning song “What Was I Made For?”

Learn more about Derek and Ben’s remarkable success at the News Center.

IN MEMORIUM: MARK AIN

A headshot of Mark Ain beside white text on a blue background that says "A legacy of innovation and impact, Mark Ain 1943-2025. Thank you for believing in the founders of tomorrow."

I’m sad to share that University Trustee Emeritus Mark Ain ’67S (MBA) died July 25. The founder of Kronos, Inc., Mark’s passion for entrepreneurship inspired the creation of the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which gives aspiring entrepreneurs the tools, mentorship, and space to experiment, take risks, and turn ideas into real ventures. His legacy also continues to endure through the Mark Ain Business Model Competition, an annual event that has become a cornerstone of the student startup ecosystem at Rochester.

FALL WELCOME WEEK BEGINS TODAY

Students push and pull large bins filled with their belongings outside the residence halls on move-in day.

More than 1,200 new undergraduate students in the Hajim School and School of Arts and Sciences, as well as their families, will arrive on the River Campus today and tomorrow. Following move-in and check-in, more than 100 Welcome Week events and activities will take place from now through Saturday, August 23, planned by the Office of Orientation and New Student Programs. You can see the full event schedule by downloading the Guidebook app or viewing the web version.

I’m looking forward to meeting the incoming class of Hajim School students at 4 p.m. on Wednesday during our welcome event in the Hubble Auditorium.

REMINDER: REGISTER FOR MELIORA WEEKEND 2025

A dark blue graphic promoting "Meliora Weekend, September 18-21, 2025" with headshots of the three headlining performers.

We are one month away from the start of Meliora Weekend and I’d like to remind you to for an exciting packed event with unforgettable alumni reunions, inspiring academic lectures, thrilling athletic competitions, and family-friendly fun. This year’s Meliora Weekend is extra special as we proudly mark the University’s 175th anniversary, the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence’s 10^th anniversary, and the Department of Chemical Engineering’s 110^th anniversary. Register today.

STEADMAN AWARDS PRESENTATIONS FOR POSTDOCS

University postdoctoral associates and fellows from all areas and in any discipline are encouraged to apply to present their work during National Postdoc Appreciation Week on September 15. Finalists will be selected to give a four-minute oral presentation to a panel of judges and compete for multiple monetary prizes as part of the Steadman Family Postdoctoral Associate Prize. Apply by August 22 and visit the Steadman Awards website for more information.

FOR FACULTY: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER SYLLABUS TEMPLATE

The Office of Academic Excellence has developed a syllabus template to assist University of Rochester instructors. Items required by the New York State Education Department are clearly marked, and the template contains embedded instructions and sample language. Access the template here.

NEWLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Side-by-side headshots of Yanan Guo and Nick Vamivakas.

Congratulations to two faculty members who recently secured funding for new sponsored research projects:

Assistant Professor Yanan Guo from the Department of Computer Science received $599,943 from the National Science Foundation for a project titled “Securing GPU Computing for AI-Driven Scientific Workflows.”
Nickolas Vamivakas, the Marie C. Wilson and Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Optical Physics, received $389,845 from the National Science Foundation for a project titled “Synthesizing Nonlinearities for Quantum Sensing in Levitated Optomechanics.”

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman