Dear members of the Hajim School community,

URochester will expand research on quantum matter under extreme conditions thanks to $3 million in new funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. The award enables researchers to explore new ways that crushing pressure can unlock quantum behavior at temperatures far higher than scientists would ordinarily expect.

Led by Rip Collins, the Tracy Hyde Harris Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Physics and Astronomy and the Associate Director of Science, Technology and Academics at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, the team will squeeze materials to extraordinary densities, where electrons (and ions) coherently interact to produce new states and properties of matter.

The funding brings total DOE support for the URochester-led effort to more than $9 million. It will support a postdoctoral scholar and three graduate students at URochester each year, as well as students and postdoctoral researchers at partnering institutions, giving them opportunities to work across experiments, theory, and computation.

Read more about the initiative.

ALUMNI OFFICE HOURS WITH DIVY GANDHI ‘19, SOFTWARE ENGINEER AT SHIELD AI

Join Divyanshu Gandhi ’19 (computer science), Software Engineer at Shield AI, for an engaging small-group discussion on career paths and industry trends in software engineering, forward-deployed engineering, robotics, and physical AI. Shield AI, a leader in cutting-edge technology, is actively recruiting summer interns and junior engineers. Students will have the chance to explore the company, gain valuable insights, and stand out as a potential candidate for exciting opportunities. The event takes place from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21 in Douglass 401.

Register on Handshake.

THE COMPLETE ENGINEER: SKILLS LAB WITH OPTIMAX

At an upcoming event at the Greene Center for Career Education & Connections, students will learn more about the engineering hiring landscape from real-world professionals at Optimax, gain practical skills to succeed in technical interviews and in securing engineering opportunities, and network with their peers and industry experts. The event takes place from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, October 23.

Learn more and register.

RESEARCH SECURITY: GUIDELINES FOR COLLABORATING IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

URochester’s Research Security Officer, Export Control Officer, and members of the Cybersecurity team will host an event to explain the evolving research security landscape, including federal policy and sponsor requirements, disclosure obligations, export control compliance, cybersecurity, and foreign talent recruitment programs. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage directly with the University’s research security experts.

The hybrid event takes place from 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28 in the Humanities Conference Room D located on the 2nd floor of Rush Rhees Library. All members of the University community are welcome, including faculty, staff, students, and researchers at all career stages. The session may be particularly useful for individuals funded by or applying for NIH, NSF, or other awards with research security or responsible conduct of research training requirements.

Register on Eventbrite.

NEWLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Congratulations to the following faculty who received new sponsored research awards:

• Nick Vamivakas, the Marie C. Wilson and Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Optical Physics, received $449,012 from the Air Force Research Lab for a project titled “Quantum nonlinear twisted polaritonics in engineered nanophotonic environments.”
• Xi-Cheng Zhang, the M. Parker Givens Professor of Optics, received $249,997 from the National Science Foundation for a project titled “Exploring Extreme THz Photonics with Quantum Fluids.”

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman