In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Purvi Shah, associate professor in The Business School, explains the marketing strategies behind what you’re seeing in stores and online during the holidays. From advertising and early-season deals to nostalgia and artificial intelligence, the holidays provide a master class in marketing. Understanding it all can make you an empowered shopper with knowledge to tackle gift buying with ease. The conversation explores trends including AI tools shoppers can use to save time and money, the role of influencers, and the emotional pull of nostalgia that influences what we buy. This holiday-themed episode is the second of two during the 2025 season designed to help you shop with confidence. Our previous episode focused on the research behind gift giving. Related links: The Business School Shah explains AI tools to empower shoppers on NBC Boston Shah explains nostalgic brand love in Food Navigator USA

Have you ever wondered if a gift you gave someone was something they wanted and actually would use? Have you felt the joy of receiving a gift that showed the giver really cares about and knows you? There’s a lot of emotion around gift giving and, thankfully, there’s research about it as well. In this episode of The WPI Podcast, Farnoush Reshadi, assistant professor in The Business School, discusses her research on consumer behavior and how people make gift-giving decisions. The discussion explores the research that helps explain why gift givers and gift recipients are sometimes on different pages.  This holiday-themed episode is the first of two during the 2025 holiday season to empower you when you give and when you shop. Our next episode will explore holiday marketing and the strategies you see in stores and online retail sites. Related links: The Business School Reshadi discusses gift giving research in USA Today Reshadi discusses wealth and gift giving in Yahoo!Finance

The tiny opaque tube that Yonghui Ding holds up to the light in his laboratory looks like a bit of debris from a dismantled ball point pen. Just 1 centimeter long and about 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter, the biodegradable tube is too small for the grooves and channels on its surfaces to be easily visible. Yet those microscopic textures represent an advance that Ding, an assistant professor in WPI’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, thinks may someday lead to big improvements in heart bypass surgeries. In a new paper in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, Ding and research collaborators from Northwestern University reported that they developed a rapid 3D-printing process using biodegradable “ink” and light to produce tubular implantable scaffolds with grooves and channels. The textures created pathways for cells to migrate across the implant’s surfaces and line up with each other, a critical step in regenerating blood vessels to the heart. “The goal of this research is to regenerate arteries, not just replace them,” says Ding. “To achieve that goal, it will be important to develop grafts that temporarily provide the structure for tissue growth and enable new cells to grow into healthy and functional blood vessels.” The research aims to improve surgical treatment for one of the nation’s leading public health challenges—heart disease. The leading cause of heart attacks is blockage in the vessels supplying blood to the heart. A common surgical treatment is coronary artery bypass grafting, which involves attaching a vein or synthetic tube to reroute circulation around a blockage to restore healthy blood flow to the heart. To improve grafting procedures, the researchers have focused on building better temporary grafts. Their work has revolved around a novel process of multiscale microscopic 3D printing. Using a specialized 3D printer built in the Ding Lab, the researchers deposited layers of liquid polymer onto a flat plate to carefully build a tube, layer by layer. They also used ultraviolet light to project patterns onto the tube as it took shape. The citrate-based polymer was then cured into a flexible and biodegradable material. Patterns on the tube surfaces created routes for endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, which are found in blood vessels, to move and line up with each other on the tube surfaces. In a head-to-head comparison, the researchers found that endothelial cells migrated and lined up better on textured scaffolds than on smooth scaffolds. In addition to Ding, WPI authors on the paper were PhD student Rao Fu; postdoctoral fellow Ni Chen; research scientist Biao Si; and Zhenglun Alan Wei, assistant professor in the WPI Department of Biomedical Engineering and an adjunct faculty member at UMass Chan Medical School. Authors at Northwestern were Guillermo Ameer, professor and director of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering; Professor of Mechanical Engineering Cheng Sun; PhD student Evan Jones; and master’s degree student Boyuan Sun. The research reflects Ding’s focus on the design and manufacturing of biomaterial scaffolds for the regeneration of tissues, such as vascular and musculoskeletal tissues. He joined the WPI faculty in 2023 after serving as a research assistant professor at Northwestern, and his research has been funded by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health. “I’m really excited about translational research that breaks ground scientifically but also has the potential to improve peoples’ lives,” Ding says. “Many people need bypass surgery, and our research could result in better grafts that lead to better health outcomes for patients.”

Imagine you’re on a roller coaster at 20,000 feet in the sky, or higher, and repeatedly enduring the sensation of your stomach dropping, all while overseeing a scientific experiment. That was the experience PhD candidate Regan Krizan had on Oct. 28 in Bordeaux, France. Krizan, a student in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, flew on a parabolic flight, sometimes known by the nickname “vomit comet,” to conduct a materials science experiment in zero gravity. “I always wanted to be an astronaut growing up, and this is about as close as I can get,” says Krizan. “I am very excited that I had this opportunity so early in my research career.” The parabolic flight travels up and down several times on a trajectory resembling an arch, providing 22 seconds of zero gravity at the apex, creating a critical element for scientific research that can’t be achieved on Earth. The experiment, which seeks to understand what happens when metal is melted, was conducted in an on-board electromagnetic levitator. Essentially, by sending electrical currents through copper coils to create an electromagnetic field, a metal sample can be made to levitate inside a chamber in zero gravity while the metal is heated to melt. This allowed Krizan and Gwendolyn Bracker, an assistant research professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and one of Krizan’s faculty advisors, to observe how an iron-copper alloy separates into two distinct liquids when melted, similar to how oil and water don’t mix. “We are investigating a rare case in which the fluid flow can be visually observed due to a two-phase liquid separation in the iron-copper system,” says Krizan. “Microgravity makes isolating thermophysical properties of a liquid sample possible. These conditions can only be met on the International Space Station or on a parabolic flight.” The experiment provided Krizan and Bracker with high-speed video and temperature data that will help the researchers better understand fluid flow. The pair hopes their study will lead to improved fluid flow models that can simulate how liquids flow and solidify. “The experiments on the parabolic flight are integral to validating fluid flow models to aid in data analysis for electromagnetic levitation and applying the results to the manufacturing industry,” added Krizan. For example, the models can allow for reduced trial and error and improved efficiency in making molds for casting. “Understanding how metallic melts behave is critical for manufacturing, casting, and additive manufacturing,” says Bracker, who traveled with Krizan to France and watched from the ground as her advisee and the experiment were on the flight. “Many metallurgical processes originated in historical processing and require a greater understanding of the fundamentals to improve. By building better models we can support the development of more efficient processing and production.” Krizan and Bracker’s research, in conjunction with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), was one of more than a dozen experiments on board the parabolic flight, which the European Space Agency makes available to scientific researchers. Krizan is co-advised by Bracker and Robert Hyers, the George I. Alden Chair of Engineering and head of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. In addition to the feeling of weightlessness, Krizan and others on board experienced hypergravity during the climb and descent. “I wasn’t that scared about how the flight would affect me going into it,” adds Krizan. “I handled the physical challenge well, and it was a great experience that is so meaningful to my research.”

In this special episode of Time To StartUp, the conversation takes a meaningful turn as we sit down with Ardian Preci, the host of the podcast. For the first time, Ardian steps into the guest seat to share the story behind his entrepreneurial journey and the experiences that shaped who he is today. Throughout the episode, Ardian reflects on his early influences, the challenges he has navigated, and the key moments that pushed him toward innovation and leadership. His perspective offers a grounded, honest look at what it takes to grow as an entrepreneur — from developing resilience to embracing uncertainty and learning from every step along the way. Listeners will gain insight into:How Ardian discovered his passion for entrepreneurship The personal journey that shaped his mindset and ambitions Lessons learned from setbacks, opportunities, and community His vision for Time To StartUp and the stories he hopes to bring forwardThis episode provides an inspiring and thoughtful look at the person now guiding future conversations on the podcast. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a student, or simply interested in hearing a compelling journey, Ardian’s story offers real value and motivation.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researchers have created a new carbon-negative building material that could transform sustainable construction. The breakthrough, published in the high-impact journal Matter, details the development of enzymatic structural material (ESM), a strong, durable, and recyclable construction material produced through a low-energy, bioinspired process. Led by Nima Rahbar, the Ralph H. White Family Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, the research team engineered ESM by using an enzyme that helps convert carbon dioxide into solid mineral particles. These particles were then bound together and cured under mild conditions, enabling the resulting material to be molded into structural forms within hours. Unlike traditional concrete, which requires high temperatures and weeks of curing, ESM is created rapidly and with a dramatically lower environmental impact. “Concrete is the most widely used construction material on the planet, and its production accounts for nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions,” said Rahbar. “What our team has developed is a practical, scalable alternative that doesn’t just reduce emissions—it actually captures carbon. Producing a single cubic meter of ESM sequesters more than 6 kilograms of CO2, compared to the 330 kilograms emitted by conventional concrete.” ESM’s rapid curing, tunable strength, and recyclability make it especially promising for real-world applications such as roof decks, wall panels, and modular building components. Its repairability could cut long-term construction costs and drastically reduce the volume of material sent to landfills each year. “If even a fraction of global construction shifts toward carbon-negative materials like ESM, the impact could be enormous,” added Rahbar. This innovation has potential value for industries ranging from affordable housing and climate-resilient construction to disaster relief, where lightweight, quickly produced structural materials can accelerate rebuilding efforts. Because ESM is produced with low energy and renewable biological inputs, it also aligns with global goals for carbon-neutral infrastructure and circular manufacturing.

Leveling up the college look: new WPI quarter zip, fresh LinkedIn profile pic, and a matcha to seal the deal. #WPI #FitCheck

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (W.P.I.) has launched a new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program to prepare students to design, analyze, and secure modern computing systems across industries. The new degree builds upon W.P.I.’s nationally recognized strengths in computer science (CS), electrical and computer engineering (ECE), and cybersecurity research. Its unique integration of C.S. and E.C.E. prepares students to understand and secure systems from the hardware circuits to the software that runs on them.Designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research, W.P.I. has been contributing to this vital field for nearly three decades, conducting cutting-edge research and training professionals who have shaped secure computing. Today, W.P.I. continues to advance cybersecurity research and education in hardware and software security, cryptography, analysis of security policies and protocols, network and embedded systems security, and online privacy.“With cyber threats evolving faster than most organizations can respond and targeting both software and hardware vulnerabilities, preparing a workforce of creative, ethical, and highly skilled cybersecurity professionals is essential,” said Grace Wang, President of W.P.I. “Through this new degree, W.P.I. continues to strengthen its leadership in cybersecurity education and research—advancing our mission to use science, engineering, and technology for the greater good.”According to a report cited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there were more than 514,000 open cybersecurity positions in the U.S. in 2023, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 35% job growth in the field—much faster than the national average. Globally today’s cybersecurity talent shortage is estimated at more than four million professionals.“The shortage of security experts is not merely an issue of headcount; it’s a critical mismatch in skills,” said Craig Shue, professor and head of the Department of Computer Science. “Organizations report significant gaps in the expertise needed to manage increasingly sophisticated threats, leaving businesses, governments, and institutions more vulnerable to data breaches, financial fraud, and other cyberattacks. This is detail-oriented work where security experts have to get everything right to successfully protect people.”The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity will prepare students for a range of professional roles, including security analysts, penetration testers, security architects, incident responders, malware analysts, cyber-risk analysts, and data privacy officers.The program integrates coursework from computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and mathematical sciences. Students will gain experience in both software and hardware security, network and cryptographic systems, organizational and societal security, and human factors in technology design.“Cybersecurity today demands architects, not just defenders. Our students will learn to design secure systems from first principles, anticipate emerging threats, and communicate complex ideas clearly,” said Robert Walls, associate professor of computer science and director of W.P.I.’s cybersecurity program. “These are essential skills for safeguarding the digital infrastructure our society depends on.”The new bachelor’s degree also builds on W.P.I.’s leading role in national workforce development initiatives to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity and AI capacity. The university is one of a select group of academic institutions spearheading the DRiving Automotive Industry WorkForce Transformation (DRIFT) program, supported by a $2.5 million grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (N.C.A.E.-C). DRIFT focuses on upskilling professionals to secure connected vehicle systems and strengthen the cybersecurity and AI infrastructure of the U.S. automotive industry.In addition, W.P.I. is part of a coalition of universities, colleges, and cybersecurity organizations offering education through the Strengthen Workforce Education for Excellence in Programming Securely (SWEEPS) program—also funded by a $2.5 million N.C.A.E.-C grant—to train software developers nationwide in secure coding practices through online courses, bootcamps, and certificates.Further bolstering its leadership, W.P.I. is home to one of only two academics research microscopes in the U.S. dedicated to semiconductor cybersecurity—and the only one of its kind in New England. This specialized equipment, funded by the National Science Foundation, supports research into hardware-level vulnerabilities and defenses that are critical to national technology security.The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity will begin enrolling students in fall 2026.

Winter came early on campus ❄️ #FirstSnow