Dear members of the Hajim School community,

I’m delighted to share that two Hajim School faculty are being recognized by the University for their strong and innovative teaching. Professor Laurel Carney from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Professor Thomas Howard from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering earned Goergen Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the University’s highest award for teaching.

While these outstanding faculty come from different disciplines and have distinct teaching styles, you’ll notice several similar trends in the way they both approach their craft: they forge strong connections with their students on an interpersonal level, have rigorous standards, and embrace ways technology reshapes the classroom experience. Please join me in congratulating them for their achievements in and out of the classroom.

Read how Laurel stacks her deck for undergraduate success.

Read how Tom encourages students to find big problems that will keep them challenged.

EDGE CONSORTIUM STUDENTS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AT NY CREATES TECHNICAL WORKSHOP

Photo by Capri O’Hara, Director of Workforce Development at NY Creates

The EDGE Consortium brought 13 students—including Hajim School students Salsabel Al-Ani ’27 (electrical and computer engineering) and Eileen Phan ’27 (mechanical engineering)—to NY Creates in Albany for an immersive technical workshop on semiconductor manufacturing, facilities, and workforce pathways.

Hosted by NY Creates, led by Capri O’Hara, Director of Workforce Development, and her team, the workshop gave students direct exposure to the technologies and careers behind the semiconductor industry. Over three days, participants toured NY Creates’ research and manufacturing facilities, put on full cleanroom apparel to observe active fabrication areas, and worked through hands-on labs in electrical systems and controls, vacuum and plasma systems, and virtual reality cleanroom simulation. Students also visited the Applied Materials Advanced Training Center to learn how a leading global equipment supplier trains service engineers and technicians.

“My time with the EDGE Consortium actually began when I was a freshman, and now that I’m a senior, I’ve been to multiple sites, this one being NY Creates, I’m getting to see just how expansive the semiconductor industry is, where I fit in as a mechanical engineer, and where the paths may take me,” says Eileen. “I am so grateful for all of the hands-on experience that I got as well as being able to network with a plethora of workers here.”

URochester students interested in participating in the EDGE Consortium should watch the info session and register as a scholar on the EDGE Consortium website.

LESSONS FOR TRANSLATING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Please join UR Ventures for a special guest seminar by academic researcher and biotech entrepreneur Matthew Shair ’90 (chemistry). The event takes place from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, November 13 at the URMC K-307 Auditorium (3-6408).

Matthew Shair is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University, an associate of the Broad Institute and an affiliate of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. The Shair lab develops novel small molecule therapeutics, and using chemical probes discovered in the lab, they study human disease biology. His lab discovered the dependency of CDK8/19 in acute myeloid leukemia and then licensed to Merck potential therapeutics in this space in the largest upfront payment ever received by Harvard. He co-founded Infinity Pharmaceuticals in 2001 and founded Nuvalent in 2017, where he was also head scientific advisor and a member of the board of directors from 2017 to 2025. Nuvalent has one approved drug in non-small cell lung cancer with another up for FDA review. In June 2026, Nuvalent was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline for $10.6 billion.

Register online.

BOOST YOUR DAILY PRODUCTIVITY WITH MICROSOFT COPILOT

“Microsoft Copilot: Practical Skills for Everyday Work” is a four-part learning series designed to transform your workday. Discover how to manage information, prepare for meetings, draft documents, and automate workflows. Each session, open to all University employees regardless of AI experience, offers 30 minutes of live demonstrations, followed by optional office hours for personalized support.

Learn more and sign up (University network connection required).

THANK YOU TO THE HAJIM NATIONAL COUNCIL

I want to thank the members of the Hajim School National Council (HNC), a group of passionate and committed University of Rochester alumni, trustees, and supporters who met with me last week on the West Coast to provide counsel on key aspects of the school’s management.

Twice a year, the group meets with me to offer insight and guidance on curricular initiatives, capital needs, trends in admissions and retention, career and internship services, critical issues facing engineering, and networking skills for students. The HNC’s advice is invaluable and helps ensure the Hajim School continues to thrive as one of the nation’s top engineering schools.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman