The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
October 2020 | Issue 25
In this month's issue, meet the newest NAS faculty to join the division and a few familiar faces, get ready for some exciting events including this week's STEM Career Fair, and learn about two engineering students' summer internship experiences. And much more!
Share your news, photos, inspiring stories and upcoming virtual events for a future issue. We are always looking to highlight student and faculty accomplishments and we are excited to share the ways you are connecting this semester. Please send any feature suggestions to Jen Sullivan at jlsullivan4@loyola.edu.
HIGHLIGHTS & GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meet the Faculty
Faculty Faces of NAS
Dr. Gary Kapilevich, Physics
My name is Gary Kapilevich, and I’m part of the Physics faculty! I was born in NYC to immigrant parents from the former USSR, and grew up in New Jersey. I attended Rutgers University for my BA, Temple University for my MS, and finally the City University of New York for my physics PhD. I’ve published in quantum field theory, specifically in quantum chromodynamics and color glass condensate, where I’ve worked with “biased ensembles” to model nuclear modification factors and angular anisotropy data coming from RHIC and the LHC. More broadly, I’m interested in any sort of theoretical physics!
Dr. Yanko Kranov, Engineering
My name is Yanko Kranov and I am excited to step into my new role as a full-time NTT faculty here at the engineering department at Loyola University Maryland. My previous experience includes laboratory management and teaching at undergraduate level. I have enjoyed tremendously the years spent getting my MS degree in Physics, ME in Electrical Engineering and My PhD in Materials Science. Prior to coming to Baltimore, I have worked at University of Idaho as the laboratory manager of their physics department.
In my new role my focus will be the enhancement of the teaching process for delivering solid understanding of engineering and scientific concepts, laws and fundamentals. I see this being done through exposing students to more practical applications and opportunities for implementation of their conceptual product designs and development ideas. I am looking to realizing our student’s full potential by making them real, true thinkers and problem solvers. In my opinion the best way to succeeding in this rapidly changing world is by being part of the change and directing the way things are going. Providing students with the tools of excellent theoretical preparation and exposure to the most advanced practices and techniques can successfully navigate through uncharted territories with confidence and enthusiasm. I will not hesitate to put all the energy, time and effort needed to make this happen.
Dr. Edwin Lo, Physics
Edwin Lo joined the Physics Department as lecturer this fall. After spending an extended time homeschooling his child, he is glad to be back teaching physics at Loyola full time. Prior to that, he had taught physics part-time at McDaniel College; and for the last 3+ years, he has been teaching data science classes part-time at George Washington University in DC.
Dr. Sarika Rajeev, Computer Science
Dr. Sarika Rajeev has received D.Sc. in Computer Science from Bowie State University. She has published many papers with Dr. Sharma, Director of the Virtual Reality Laboratory, at the College of Arts and Science at Bowie State University. The Virtual Reality Laboratory applies virtual reality and augmented reality as a tool for learning, training, and education. Sarika’s research focus is on virtual reality, instructional modules, software development, SDLC, and Data Science. Her work is motivated by the need for research in game theme-based instructional modules to teach introductory programming.
Mr. Melvin Rayappa, S.J., Engineering
Mr. Melvin Rayappa, S.J. was born and raised in Queens, NY. He attended a Jesuit high school, Regis High School, in New York. After high school, Melvin went to Carnegie Mellon University where he earned a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy as well as a M.S. in Robotics. After working for a tech startup company for two years, Melvin entered the Society of Jesus in 2015. After 2 years of novitiate at St. Andrew Hall in Syracuse, NY, Melvin was missioned to St. Louis. There, he spent the last 3 years at St. Louis University and earned an MA in Philosophy. Melvin teaches in the Engineering Department at Loyola University and also helps out with Campus Ministry.
Dr. Alan Thoms-Chesley, Biology
I began my career at Loyola in 2013 and have taught an introductory course in forensic science in the Biology Department since then. I consider myself fortunate to teach BL101 because of the wide variety of topics I can present to my students, topics that encompass many disciplines within and out of science. I really enjoy seeing my students succeed and foster this through collaboration, communication, and encouraging analytical/critical thinking skills. These skills are not only essential in science, but in all walks of life. I firmly believe that students must be exposed to more than just theory, so I try to emphasize applications of it through lab experiences, mock crime scenes and real case studies. I have also tried to temper this pragmatic approach with content that shows how forensic science has succeeded and how it has failed and where it needs reform. This is especially important in a time where social justice needs strong advocates for righting wrongs.
Summer Internship Reflections
Will Stann, '22, mechanical and materials engineering major
Internships are an integral part of the Loyola experience. Engineering student, Will Stann obtained an internship last summer in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the NIST Engineering Laboratory.
Even though the NIST campus program was postponed, Will was offered a remote research position with his mentor for the summer. Will conducted research on CNC machine modeling and the relative uncertainty that exists in our current 3D modeling systems. He also conducted research on STEP protocol (ISO 10303) which is a modeling format that allows for a simple conversion of CAD models from one vendor-specific program such as Creo and Siemens NX, to another program.
This fall Will and his mentor are planning to publish a research paper on their work.
Will shared, “I am so grateful for this amazing experience and to have gotten the opportunity to work with such brilliant individuals. I would highly recommend this program to any student who wants to have professional research experience with some of the best scientists and engineers in the world."
Julia Giampiccolo, '22, mechanical engineering major
Over the past two summers Julia Giampiccolo has interned for Case Medical in Bergen County, New Jersey. Case Medical is a biomedical engineering firm that produces both medical instrument reprocessing solutions (Case Solutions®), SteriTite® container systems, SteriTite® case cart systems and an instrument tracking system called CaseTrak360.
During her first year of interning, she worked closely with both design engineers and quality engineers shadowing their tasks. Julia’s capstone-like project regarded research and generating an Ultrasonic Cleaner prototype that would test how the medical instrument reprocessing solutions were working.
The second project she performed was collecting and analyzing parameters for a machine used during manufacturing. Every day she would record the data and fill in a table she generated to organize information for the updated standard operating procedure (SOP) form. Throughout Julia’s in-person experience, she participated in quality and engineering meetings, preformed chemical experiments, and learned and practiced SolidWorks for basic product design.
Julia’s second summer interning for Case Medical was mostly remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Working remotely, she completed validation forms for the machines in their two buildings. Process validation, installation qualification, operational qualification and performance qualification forms all represent quality assurance protocols for each phase of the manufacturing process. Case Medical is mostly an in-house manufacturing facility, so she was able to perform some IQ tests on the machines. In addition, Julia continued research concerning Medical Device Regulations (MDR).
Julia explained, “Interning for Case Medical provided a new perspective in understanding how engineering tasks take place in a working environment and I confirmed my interest for biomedical engineering.”
Employee Assistance Program Resources
Loyola's Human Resources website also offers a comprehensive list of employee support resources.
STUDENT & FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES
STEM Career Fair - Wednesday, October 7
Employers attending include:
- AP Ventures
- Allegis Group
- BKM (Burdette, Koehler, Murphy & Associates, Inc.)
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- ClearEdge IT Solutions
- Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (DC HQ)
- Fulton Bank
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Leach Wallace Associates, Inc./ Member of WSP
- Loyola University Maryland (Data Science master's program)
- Prudential Advisors
- Space Telescope Science Institute
- Stanley Black & Decker
- T. Rowe Price
- The Baltimore Orioles
- U.S. Army CCDC C51SR
- Ultra Electronics
- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- WBFF-TV
- Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
- WW Foundation
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will host a panel presentation this Wednesday to hear about innovation careers, and answer your questions about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Register in advance to receive Zoom link.
Fall Pop-Up Class Series
October Pop-Up Classes
- Tuesday, Oct. 6 @ 12 pm: Creating Digital Maps in ArcGIS
- Tuesday, Oct. 7 @ 12:30 pm: Designing for Social Media with Adobe Spark
- Tuesday, Oct. 13 @ 12 pm: ArcGIS StoryMaps
- Tuesday, Oct. 20 @ 12:15 pm: Pandemic Pizza: Because it's better than frozen!
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 @ 12 pm: Getting Started with RDWorks and Laser Cutting
- Tuesday, Oct. 27 @ 6 pm: Create a Dancing Robot with the Society of Women Engineers
VentureWell E-Team Grant Program
VentureWell's E-Team grant program supports student science and tech startups who are on the path to launching innovations with a social, health, or environmental impact.
Why apply?
- Up to $25,000 in grant funding
- Sponsored training
- Networking and mentorship
- National exposure and recognition
Learn more here: https://venturewell.org/e-team-grant-program/
Key Dates
Stage 1 & Stage 2 application period
September 1 – October 7
Pioneer workshop
January 3 – 7, 2021
Propel workshop
January 17 – 21, 2021
Lecture today - Scientists talk religion
"Why Scientists Need to Talk About Religion to Address Race and Gender Disparities in Science”
In this lecture, Elaine Howard Ecklund from Rice University, along with Brandon Vaidyanathan and David R. Johnson, will discuss core findings from their study, the largest and most comprehensive international study of scientists’ attitudes toward religion, gender, and ethics ever undertaken, including a survey of 20,000 scientists and in-depth interviews with over 600 of them. They will explore ways that scientists can engage with and understand the impact of religion on society to increase racial and gender representation in science. The lecture will also include an opportunity for speakers to answer questions submitted by attendees.
The lecture will take place virtually today, Monday, October 5, 2020, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Details and registration can be found at http://bit.ly/science-religion-diversity.
Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Upcoming Events
October 13, 2020 @ 2PM ET
This informal discussion will revolve around our theme, The Evolving Climate of Undergraduate Research, and focus in on the topic of Virtual Research Skill Building. Hosted by CUR and facilitated by Ashley Hagler, Gaston College.
CUR Conversations: The Evolving Climate of UR - Ethics in Virtual Research
October 20, 2020 @ 2PM ET
This informal discussion will revolve around our theme, The Evolving Climate of Undergraduate Research, and focus in on the topic of Ethics in Virtual Research. Hosted by CUR and facilitated by Julio F. Turrens and Michael S. Springer, authors of How to Train Undergraduates in Research Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research.
CUR Conversations: The Evolving Climate of UR - Offering UR to Diverse Groups in a Virtual World | October 27, 2020 @ 2PM ET
This informal discussion will revolve around our theme, The Evolving Climate of Undergraduate Research, and focus in on the topic of Offering UR to Diverse Groups in a Virtual World. Hosted by CUR and facilitated by Jennifer Thorington-Springer, Co-Chair of CUR's Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Looking ahead...
National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) | April 12 - 14, 2021
NCUR is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of student scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all disciplines.