Hoos in STEM

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mark Esser, the inaugural Chief Scientific Officer of UVA's new Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology. Dr. Esser, a renowned expert in immunology and vaccine development, shares his journey from AstraZeneca to leading this ambitious institute. With a vision to revolutionize healthcare and accelerate the development of life-saving treatments, Mark discusses fostering innovation, attracting biotech companies to Virginia, and the future of personalized medicine.

To celebrate their graduation from UVA, student producers Katie Nichols and Reeya Verma interviewed four exceptional Hoos in STEM. They welcome astrophysicist, historian, and Rhodes Scholar Sam Crowe; neuroscientist and President of the Raven Society, Campbell Coleman; mathematician and Marshall Scholar Catherine Cossaboom; and computational biologist and Davis Prize for Peace awardee Deniz Olgun. Congratulations to these fantastic four and to all of UVA's accomplished Class of 2025!

This Spring, UVA welcomed the Story Collider team back to Charlottesville for the third year running. During a special recording at Carr's Hill, four UVA STEM leaders told personal stories about their lives, their careers, and how personal stories and scientific inquiry intertwine. We hope you'll head over to Story Collider to hear from Scott Acton, Chair of UVA's Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and Stephanie Rowley, Dean of the School of Education and Human Development; and Hoos in STEM is very excited to share the other two stories from some the event. Here's Bill Petri, the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health at UVA, and Kathryn Thornton a retired astronaut and Professor Emerita at UVA in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The Story Collider's mission is to reveal the vibrant role that science plays in all of our lives through the art of personal storytelling. Check out all the Story Collider episodes: https://www.storycollider.org/podcast

In this episode, we're diving into the groundbreaking research of UVA's 2024 Edlich-Henderson Innovators of the Year: Professors Silvia Blemker and Craig Meyer from the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Their award-winning work is revolutionizing the way we analyze MRI data, creating 3D visualizations of musculature and providing insights that could transform athletic recovery. Whether you're recovering from injury or optimizing performance, their work offers a new path to maximize recovery for all.

We are lucky to be joined by yet another one of UVA's own 2025 PECASE recipients, Sally Pusede, an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Environmental Sciences. Although she has been officially honored for advancing the analysis of satellite remote sensing data for the resolution of neighborhood-level pollution across the country, we also discussed her work with political scientist Kim Fields, as co-directors of the Repair Lab, to combat environmental justice issues in local VA communities and ultimately leverage STEM for high social impact.

Three faculty members of the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, James (Jimmy) Burns, Coleen Carrigan, and Liheng Cai, join the show to discuss their research and the path that led them to become honorees of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. The PECASE Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. From studying the culture within engineering, redefining our understanding of biomaterials, to assessing the integrity of space stations, it all has a home at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

How can we ensure that the AI we build is trustworthy? Responsible? An agent of the great and good, even as their rapidly increasing capabilities continue to astonish us?    Thanks to the generous support of UVA Darden alum David LaCross, the LaCross Institute for Ethical AI in Business at Darden has been created to address these very concerns. We invited the Institute's co-directors, Professors of Business Administration Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Rajkumar Venkatesan, to discuss the future of this inspiring new initiative, and how they came from unconventional backgrounds to bear the torch of ethical considerations amidst rapid technological innovation.

Scientists have begun to leverage the power of AI to help us better understand the formation and dynamics of the universe. Paul Torrey is a computational astrophysicist with a research focus on the formation and evolution of our cosmos. Torrey's research group builds, runs, and analyzes large-scale cosmological simulations that allow us to examine in a new way our assumption of the universe.

Only about a decade ago did scientists discover the immense potential of leveraging the immune system to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Professor of Neuroscience John Lukens played an integral part in that movement, and he continues to push the field forward today as the inaugural director of UVA's Harrison Family Translational Research Center in Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

This week, we dive into the heart of UVA's chemistry department with Jill Venton, its chair and the Thomas Jefferson Professor of Chemistry. She tells us about the fascinating study and synthesis of the molecular building blocks of our universe: from star formation to nanoparticles for clean energy applications, and borrowing fluorescent molecules from fireflies to illuminate our own biological processes. We also discuss her lab's research on brain chemistry and the future of neurochemical treatments for disease.

On this episode, we welcome Phil Potter, a professor of politics and public policy in the Batten School. We discuss the past, present, and future of national security, as well as UVA's $20 million contract from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to launch a National Security and Data Policy Institute with Phil Potter as its founding director.

On this episode, we welcome Scott Acton the chair of UVA's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Arriving at UVA in 2000, Scott has worked on countless projects and seen first-hand how the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering has changed over time. We discuss Scott's career and research, as well as that of the department he leads, and the many ways they strive to advance technology.

On this episode, we welcome Madhur Behl and Amar Kulkarni of the Cavalier Autonomous Racing Team. Abbreviated as CAR, the team is a research group at UVA that has been competing in the Indy Autonomous Challenge since 2019. After becoming the first American team to win the Indy Autonomous Challenge, the two have their sights set on the future. We discuss Madhur's role in leading the underdog team to victory, and how this unique opportunity guides Amar's PhD research.

In this panel, four trailblazing academic leaders discuss how their institutions are each boldly taking on the future. UVA President Jim Ryan moderates the conversation with visiting presidents Michael Crow (Arizona State University), Harriet Nembhard (Harvey Mudd College), and Santa Ono (University of Michigan). In this wide-ranging and provocative discussion, the presidents address the future of teaching, how to optimize interdisciplinary collaboration, the role of higher education in addressing global challenges, and more! Held at Old Cabell Hall Auditorium on September 5, 2024, the panel was the first signature event of the Futures Initiative, a pan-University task force charged with exploring how UVA can become the university of the future.

On this episode, we welcome Lori McMahon, UVA's new Vice President for Research. She arrived on Grounds in June, armed with an impressive track record as a neuroscientist, dean, and previous Vice President of Research. We discuss her approach to supporting research at UVA as well as her research as a neuroscientist.

UVA just opened the doors to the nation's first School of Data Science. The new school, funded by an extraordinary $120 million gift from Jaffray and Merrrill Woodriff and the Quantitative Foundation, will offer undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees. On this episode of Hoos in STEM, Data Science professors, Prince Afriyie and Brian Wright, tell us all about the process of designing the curriculum for this industry-leading school, and what their first cohort of undergraduate students can expect when classes start in August.

Back in April, UVA was excited to welcome the Story Collider team to Charlottesville for the second year running. During a special recording at Carr's Hill, four UVA STEM leaders told personal stories about their lives, their careers, and how personal stories and scientific inquiry intertwine. We hope you'll head over to Story Collider to hear from Madhur Behl, head of UVA's Autonomous Racing Team; and Hoos in STEM is very excited to share the other three stories from some familiar guests! Here's the Dean of UVA's Medical School Melina Kibbe, Astrophysicist David Nichols, and Environmental Scientist Karen McGlathery. The Story Collider's mission is to reveal the vibrant role that science plays in all of our lives through the art of personal storytelling. Check out all the Story Collider episodes: https://www.storycollider.org/podcast

Time for HOOS in STEM to celebrate our graduating scientists! In this episode, producers Reeya Verma and Catherine Cossaboom interview fourth-year Hoos Vy Le (a published organic chemist and exemplar of the USOAR program), Grant GianGrassio (a biologist and Rhodes Scholar who founded the Virginia Medical Review), Sam Goldberg (a published mathematician who has proved striking theorems related to prime numbers), and Alex Walsh (a swimming Olympic medalist, world champion, and computer scientist). Join us as we celebrate their pursuits in and out of the classroom — as shining examples of our amazing Class of 2024!

Dr. Scott Doney is a superstar environmental scientist, the Kington Professor in Environmental Change at UVA and Assistant Director of Ocean Climate Science at the White House. In this Earth Day episode, he sits down with host Dr. Ken Ono to discuss the devastating effects of climate change on the world's oceans and our coastal environments, a well as the latest approaches to fight the climate crisis--including the recent U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan, a roadmap to harnessing the power of the ocean to address climate change.

Dr. George Bloom is a renowned cell biologist whose longtime focus has been deciphering the cellular processes at the heart of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, such as the buildup of amyloid-β peptides and tau protein tangles. In this episode, he sits down with host Dr. Ken Ono to discuss our understanding of Alzheimer's mechanisms, the current state of treatment, recent advances in diagnostic technology, and the future of research into neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Mona Sloane is a superstar sociologist studying the intersection of technology and society. She leads the Co-Opting AI series, as well as UVA's Sloane Lab, which studies AI ethics, policy, and transparency. In this episode, she sits down with host Dr. Ken Ono to discuss the ethics of generative AI, the "social infrastructure" being created by AI, and how that infrastructure influences our society. As of release (April 5th, 2024), the Sloane Lab is looking for a postdoc to conduct qualitative research on AI and HR management. Find out more on Dr. Sloane's website.

Dr. Karen Kafadar is a renowned statistician who has worked across the country in government, industry, and academics. In this episode, she sits down with host Ken Ono to discuss her long history of statistics: from early mentors to her work in forensic science and her time growing UVA's Department of Statistics as Chair. They also discuss how UVA's statisticians can be found everywhere --from space travel to medicine to AI--and the role of statistical expertise in a changing world.

This week, Professor Mar Hicks of UVA's School of Data Science and Margot Lee Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures," join host Ken Ono to discuss the remarkable women whose contributions to STEM have been forgotten--from biologists to code-breakers to the "human computers" whose computations helped America win the Space Race. That's why they're announcing the launch of the Human Computer Project Census--an effort to document the names and stories of NASA's human computers. And they're looking for students and faculty to help. Participants will collect oral and recorded history, search through archives, and review primary and secondary sources to recover the names and biographies of the women who worked at NASA from 1935 to 1980. The deadline to apply for this paid internship is Monday, March 11th, 2024. The internship starts in early June. The application can be found here.

UVA third-year Astrophysics major Samuel Crowe holds a distinct honor-- he's one of, if not the only undergraduate Principal Investigator with access to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Last year, his research proposal was accepted as one of just 249 programs selected to make use of the telescope's valuable time. In this episode, Sam sits down with host Ken Ono to discuss his early love for astrophysics and history, his mentors and training at UVA, and what it means to lead a project exploring the origins of massive stars.

Dr. Melina Kibbe is a vascular surgeon, Chief Health Affairs Officer, and the Dean of UVA's School of Medicine. In this episode, she sits down with host Ken Ono to discuss breakthrough technologies coming out of the School of Medicine, including the artificial pancreas and targeted nanofibers meant to prevent scarring. They also talk about her path into medicine and administration, advice for women getting into STEM, and the groundbreaking for the Paul and Dianne Manning Institute for Biotechnology--a game-changer for UVA and for the entire medical community.

How will institutions of higher learning respond to changes in the workforce as a result of AI? What role will universities play in the evolving era of big data and the Internet of Things? How can science and the humanities work together to shape the future, not just react to external challenges? To answer those questions, the University of Virginia has launched its Futures Initiative to help plan for the next 10 years in higher education. The Initiative will draw together an interdisciplinary group of leaders from across the University to examine current drivers of change in academia and chart a path for the next 10 years--a complement to President Ryan's 2030 "Great and Good" Plan. This episode is a conversation featuring the three leaders of UVA's Futures Initiative--Ken Ono, STEM Advisor to the Provost; Christa Acampora, Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences; and Phil Bourne, founding Dean of the School of Data Science.

What's the nature of matter and energy? What would cold fusion mean for our energy systems? What is quantum physics -- and why was Einstein mistaken about it? These are just a few of the questions being asked by UVA's physicists, whose investigations of the universe collectively span from the smallest subatomic particles to the densest neutron stars. This week, Professor Ono is joined by theoretical physicists David Nichols and Marija Vucelja. Dr. Nichols studies the nature of gravity itself--how gravitational waves bend spacetime at the speed of light and the sophisticated equipment required to measure those effects. Dr. Vucelja, an expert in non-equilibrium systems, describes her breakthroughs in studying the Mpemba Effect--a counterintuitive phenomenon where hot liquids actually freeze faster than cold ones. They also explain some hot topics in pop physics, like cold fusion energy generation and the powerful promises of quantum computing.

How does the brain develop, change, and decline over a lifetime? What can we do to fight conditions like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy? Dr. Jaideep Kapur and Dr. Sarah Kucenas, Director and Co-Director of UVA's Brain Institute, are committed to answering these questions. They discuss Dr. Kapur's work with epilepsy patients, Dr. Kucenas' use of zebrafish brain models, and UVA's $75-million investment into a Grand Challenge called Brain and Neuroscience--an interdisciplinary effort pulling together biologists, medical professionals, engineers, and data scientists to pioneer advances in neuroscience and map the workings of the brain.

In this episode of UVA's Data Points Podcast, guest host Professor Ken Ono is joined by three UVA swimmers who are pursuing graduate degrees in data science and statistics while also performing as student-athletes: August Lamb, Kate Douglass, and Will Tenpas. They discuss student life, balancing academics with swimming, and how data science and mathematics are helping them win championships--plus, the growth of data science at UVA and how it helps swimmers improve performance.

How can engineers of vastly different disciplines work together to solve problems in the modern world? By putting them all in one place! This week's guests are Jonathan Goodall and Laura Barnes, the Director and Associate Director of UVA's Link Lab, an interdisciplinary space for faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students across engineering fields to brainstorm and build together. The combined expertise allows them to solve problems in "cyber-physical systems"--the interaction between software, hardware, and the environment, including everything from tracking health data to flood mitigation to building autonomous racecars. Link Lab 2023 Research Day | University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science

What do erosion, urban planning, food insecurity, disaster relief, and the hunt for lost cities have for common? Big data can help identify and solve those problems--that's the domain of our guest this week, UVA Professor Dr. Bill Basener. Dr Basener is a Professor at the School of Data Science and a genuine polymath, with publications in machine learning, signal processing, game theory, ecological economics, evolutionary genetics, and more. In this episode, he discusses how remote sensing techniques--long range images of the Earth taken by satellites and aircrafts--and how he and other scientists use that data to identify what's on the ground and how society can help.

Wouldn't it be magnificent if we could reach back in time to witness the beginning of the universe…back to the Big Bang? What would we see? What would we learn? Well, UVA's Bradley Johnson, Associate Professor of Astronomy is doing just that! He's a world expert on Cosmic Microwave Background, known as CMB. It's the faint glow of the flash of light that burst from the early universe. Tune in to hear about his research and the technologies he's building to peek back over 13 billion years to the origins of the universe.

Back in April, UVA was excited to welcome the Story Collider team to Charlottesville. During a special recording at Carr's Hill, five UVA STEM leaders told stories about their careers, their research and some pretty wild experiences they've had along the way... We hope you'll head over to Story Collider to hear from Sara Maloni and Sarah Kucenas and Hoos in STEM is very excited to share the other three stories! Here's UVA Data Science Dean Phil Bourne, UVA Engineering Dean Jennifer West, and Professor Scott Doney. The Story Collider's mission is to reveal the vibrant role that science plays in all of our lives through the art of personal storytelling. Listen to UVA's Sarah Kucenas on Story Collider! Check out all the Story Collider episodes: https://www.storycollider.org/podcast

Dr. “Ram” Ramasubramanian came to UVA to serve as Vice President for Research in 2017. Prior to that he developed new microneedle technology that was inspired by mosquitos. In this episode he discusses how his upbringing in Chennai, India, influenced his approach to engineering research and shares a little bit about two of his passions, Indian classical music and high-altitude mountaineering.

Big data is everywhere! This week's featured guests, Phil Bourne, founding Dean of the UVA School of Data Science, and Cathy O'Neil, world-famous author, mathematician and UVA Visiting Scholar, talk about the opportunities and concerns in our world of big data.

It's finals week, and we are celebrating our grads! We'll hear from chemist Paul Bean, chemical engineer and swimmer Lexi Cuomo, and artificial intelligence researchers Louisa Edwards and Zach Boner. Join us as we celebrate their pursuits in and out of the classroom — as shining examples of our amazing Class of 2023! 

Happy Earth Day! In celebration, we are talking about the environment with today's guest, Karen McGlathery. McGlathery's work with the Virginia Coast Reserve restored battered seaside ecosystems to thousands of acres of thriving seagrass, and she tells all: why sea grass is so fundamental to climate change, what it's like to snorkel for field work, and how the data is ultimately channeled toward change. She even gives us the opportunity to hear the ocean singing — in music assembled from data!

Once in a blue moon, a scientist comes along who revolutionizes the state of our world. Today's guest, UVA alum Dr. Francis Collins, is one such scientist. After conducting research that isolated the genes that cause disorders like Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis, Dr. Collins went on to lead one of the most audacious projects in the history of science: the Human Genome Project. He also served as the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the Science Advisor to the President. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Collins about his career, as well as his strong beliefs that science and faith come hand-in-hand — and he gives us a surprise musical performance!

These days, technology has enabled us to constantly interact with our cities. Whether by foot, bike, car or phone, our movements and interactions drive important design decisions, from traffic light patterns, to building layouts. Professor Devin Harris uses sensing techniques and data to ensure that the built environment and infrastructure serves the people that use it every day. Tune in to learn more about the research behind our increasingly efficient cityscapes.

Dr. Marc Breton and Dr. Boris Kovatchev both knew they wanted to pursue a career in STEM research from an early age. Dr. Kovatchev was inspired to apply his statistical and mathematical prowess to diabetes after his father was diagnosed with the condition. It took over 40 factors but he was able to describe the body's insulin system mathematically. Dr Breton came to the world of biotechnological engineering from the world of rocketry. In this episode, they talk about their remarkable invention, a device that regulates insulin for diabetics much like a human pancreas. Plus, they bring special guest, UVA third-year student, Benjamin Motta, who joined the clinical trial for their artificial pancreas at age 12.

Hoos in STEM is thrilled to introduce you to polar opposite environmental science professors, Howie Epstein, an ecologist who researches the Arctic, and Lauren Simkins, a geologist who studies the Antarctic Circle. We talk about what it looks like to be in some of the coldest places on Earth and delve into issues surrounding climate change. As always, this episode also features Hoos Making Discoveries, a segment on recent news highlights, alongside Simkins and Epstein's perspectives on their unique paths toward their current careers.

Hoos in STEM is excited to welcome UVA Professor Bethany Teachman, an award-winning psychologist, to the show! Following the tragic events of November 13th here at UVA, we could not think of a more appropriate guest for the first podcast. This episode features HOOS Making Discoveries, a segment on recent news highlights, followed by Professor Teachman's innovative research and philosophy on team science. Mental health resources at UVA: Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP) (https://uvafeap.com/))  Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) (https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/CAPS)

Host Ken Ono, STEM Advisor to the Provost, keeps his finger on the pulse of scientific and technological innovation at UVA. Hoos in STEM showcases the marvelous cornucopia of STEM at UVA, from the latest innovations to growth inside and outside the classroom. The first episode of Hoos in STEM comes out Saturday, February 11th, 2023.