The Synapse

Happy Valentine's Day! This month’s issue highlights alumni accomplishments, growth changes in NAS in terms of infrastructure, key annual events such as the Loyola's Engineering week, pop-up classes for Spring 2024, and the upcoming Celebration of Science happening in April. We also showcase student and faculty opportunities on campus and beyond. The month of February is also when we celebrate both the Black History Month and Valentine's Day.

"Love is more than a noun - it is a verb; it is more than a feeling - it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing." - William Arthur Ward

Share your news, photos, inspiring stories, and upcoming events for a future issue. Please send any feature suggestions to Sciences@loyola.edu

It has been incredible to witness the significant growth in our Natural and Applied Sciences programs over the past few years. This expansion has not gone unnoticed – our university leaders are fully behind us and are ready to show their support in a tangible way. We are thrilled to share that the Donnelly Science Center is getting a makeover, starting this summer in 2024. With an additional 18,000 square feet of academic space, we are stepping up our game to provide top-notch facilities for all of us.
As we celebrate this growth, we are also focused on making sure your educational journey is the best it can be. We are revamping lab-based courses and adapting to the changing needs of our expanding programs, ensuring that every science major can smoothly sail through to graduation. Take Biochemistry, for example – starting from the 2024-25 academic year, we are adding an extra section. So, whether you need it as a must-have or just want to explore, you will have options to fit your schedule.

But Biochemistry is not the only course we are looking at. We are examining all science courses affected by Loyola's growing science scene, making sure everything you need is available to keep you on track for graduation.

We are pumped about these improvements and are fully committed to creating a supportive and enriching learning environment for each and every one of you in the Natural and Applied Sciences programs. Let us keep the momentum going!

NHGRI recently appointed Adam Phillippy, Ph.D., as the founding director of the CGDSR. Dr. Phillippy, a senior investigator and head of the Genome Informatics Section within the NHGRI IRP, has been at NIH since 2015. Dr. Phillippy is a distinguished 2002 Loyola graduate and one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

Lydell Bowser ('98), a Loyola University alumnus, is being honored with the 2024 Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) for Science Spectrum Trailblazer at the upcoming 38th BEYA STEM DTX Conference. Lydell who graduated with a master’s degree in computer science, has made standout contributions to the engineering field.

Get ready to experience the most thrilling and inspiring week-long event of the year - Loyola Engineering Week 2024! It's the ultimate celebration of the dynamic world of engineering that promises to boost your knowledge and empower you with endless opportunities. You'll get a chance to meet and learn from top engineering alumni, industry professionals, and change-makers who are transforming the world with their innovative ideas. Join us for an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, learning, and endless possibilities! Please visit this link or scan the QR code below for more information.

Join natural and applied sciences for the Celebration of Science on April 2-8. Events will include pop-up classes, student club activities, and more! We will also recognize the achievements of the graduating Haig Scholars, Hauber Fellows, the Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medalists, and CPaMS scholars during the NAS Student Excellence reception on April 5th.

It even includes the Eclipse on April 8th.

Join us for a lecture by Professor John Nolan from the American University, Washington DC on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 3:00p.m., Knott Hall-309. The talk will be accessible to students and will outline areas for possible undergraduate research.

Abstract:

How does one work with shapes inside a computer? Why would one want to work with shapes? We will explain why such questions come up in probability theory, and outline an

approach to defining classes of geometric shapes. Then we will describe some computations

we can do with such shapes - shifts and rotations, joining, intersecting. And then

computations we can do on these shapes - integration, random sampling, and directional histograms.

This semester's pop-up classes will take place virtually and in-person, promising a wide variety of new skills and knowledge! The following pop-up classes are open to the Loyola and Notre Dame communities. If you have any questions, ideas for potential pop-up classes, or would like to teach a future class, contact Clara Love at cmlove@loyola.edu.

Monday, February 19, 2024, 5-6:30 pm (Part of Loyola's Engineering Week)

In Person at LNDL IDEASpace

Instructor: Suzanne Keilson and Youlanda Halterman

Learn about LNDL's laser cutter, get certified to use it, and learn about practical applications of laser cutting in the field of engineering! This class is part of Loyola's Engineering Week programming. Anyone is welcome--you don't need to be a Loyola student or an engineer! All you need is an interest in laser cutting.

Register for Laser Cutting for Engineers

Thursday, March 21, 2024, 4:30-6 pm

In Person at LNDL IDEASpace

Instructor: Jay Dunmore

Learn to use the Adobe Express software platform and how to enhance your Adobe projects with Generative AI!

Register for Adobe Express and Generative AI

Monday, March 25, 2024, 4-5pm

Online via Zoom

Instructor: Clara Love

Learn to use ArcGIS StoryMaps to make scrolling narrative webpages!

Register for ArcGIS StoryMaps

Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 8-9pm

In Person at Outdoors at LNDL

Instructor: John Damond (EPFL)

Explore the night sky and look at the full moon through a telescope!

Register for Telescope Stargazing

Thursday, May 2, 2024, 4-5 pm

In Person at LNDL Front Steps and IDEAspace

Instructor: Nicky McDougal and Youlanda Halterman

Learn about the science behind sublimation printing with a dry ice demo, then customize a mug with sublimation!

Register for Customize a Mug with Sublimation Printing

Join faculty from Loyola University Maryland and Notre Dame of Maryland for a lively moderated panel discussion series about how the rise of artificial intelligence is currently affecting the way we work and how it is expected to change things in the future. The panelists will address how AI is affecting their disciplines, their teaching and research, and the careers their students will be entering.

Artificial Intelligence at Work: Education

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 13, 3-4 pm

Venue: Online via Zoom (registration link)

Panelists:

Marie Heath, Assistant Professor of Educational Technology, Loyola University Maryland

Kelly Keane, Director, Educational Technology Program, Loyola University Maryland

Ryan Schaaf, Associate Professor, School of Education, Notre Dame of Maryland University

Artificial Intelligence at Work: Sciences

Date and Time: Tuesday, March 26, 5-6 pm

Venue: Loyola Notre Dame Library

Panelists:

Sara Collins, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Loyola University Maryland

Marion Davidson, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Loyola University Maryland

Suzanne Keilson, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering, Loyola University Maryland

Meenu Vikram, Assistant Professor, Biology Department, Notre Dame of Maryland University

Artificial Intelligence at Work: Business

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 17, 4-5 pm

Venue: Loyola Notre Dame Library

Panelists:

Elizabeth Kennedy, Professor of Law and Social Responsibility, Loyola University Maryland

Leslie Korb, Associate Professor, Chair, Business & Economics Department, Notre Dame of Maryland University

Jake London, Assistant Professor of Information Systems, Operations, and Law, Loyola University Maryland

Since 1922, the Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) program has provided undergraduate and graduate students with valuable educational experiences. By encouraging close working relationships between students and mentors, the program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning. Sigma Xi strongly encourages applications from women and underrepresented minorities, including Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinx, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, or Native Hawaiians. Click here for more information and to apply.

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and VentureWell have come together to support and expand the Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge, a competition that recognizes undergraduate excellence in biomedical design and innovation.

DEBUT challenges teams of students in undergraduate biomedical education to solve real-world problems in healthcare.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Are you wanting to know more about the impact of AI on undergraduate STEM teaching?…

AAC&U’s Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) invites you to submit a proposal to the upcoming Regional Network Meetings.

The Capital PKAL Regional Network Meeting will be March 15th from 8:30AM until 4:00 PM EST. The theme for this virtual meeting is “Empowering Students and Preserving Critical Thinking in the World of AI.” Proposals related to the following meeting themes are now being accepted.

Meeting themes include the following:

• Using AI for student assessment

• Enhancing STEM student learning outcomes using AI

• Institutional policies for managing AI

• AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

All proposals are due on or before February 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.

Click here to submit a proposal

The North Carolina PKAL Regional Network Meeting will be April 12th from 9:00AM until 4:00 PM EST. The theme for this virtual meeting is Artificial Intelligence in Undergraduate STEM Education. Proposals related to the following meeting themes are now being accepted.

Meeting themes include the following:

Join us for an upcoming information session and learn more about the Graduate Data Science programs offered by Loyola University Maryland. During the session, admission representatives will be available to answer questions about program formats, application requirements, and the admission process. Your attendance to any information session will waive the $60 graduate application fee.

Please register here.

The Bridge

Visit The Bridge for upcoming campus meetings and events.

Training and Development Opportunities for Employees and Students

OUTLoyola SafeZone Training

Green Bandana Brigade

Academic Calendar

• 2023-2024 Academic Calendar
• 2024-2025 Academic Calendar

Coronavirus Resources

• Loyola Coronavirus Updates - General university information for all students, faculty, staff including reopening plans, COVID-19 dashboard, FAQs, policies, and resources

Student Support Resources

• Counseling Center
• Campus Ministry
• Office of Student Life
• Center for Community, Service, and Justice

Employee Support Resources

• Human Resources website
• Employee Assistance Program
• Financial Crisis Assistance Program
• Employee Return to Work on Campus Guidelines & Training