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- WPI 2024 Research Expenditures Reach Record High of $71.6 MillionWorcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) spent a record $71.6 million on research and development activities during the 2024 academic year, up 8% over the previous year, as expenditures grew on projects funded by federal agencies and nonprofit organizations. University researchers also launched 234 multiyear projects in 2024 and received a record $60 million in public and private awards for research activities. “WPI’s extraordinary faculty, staff, and students are conducting research that tackles some of the world’s most pressing problems, and the awards they have received from government, corporate, and private funders are a testament to their innovative thinking,” said Bogdan Vernescu, WPI vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. WPI’s research growth follows a decade of investment and work by students, faculty, and staff. The university was recently designated an R1 institution, the top tier of American research colleges and universities, based on its 2023 research spending and doctorate degrees. Newer data shows that WPI’s expansion of research and development continued in 2024. Information on research expenditures was recently submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF), and WPI published award data in late 2024. About 83% of all research dollars awarded to WPI during 2024 were provided by the federal government. The Department of Defense sponsored more than $15 million in awards to WPI, followed by the NSF with nearly $14 million in awards, and the Department of Health and Human Services with more than $9 million in awards. Other large federal funders included the Department of Energy and the Department of Education, each with more than $2 million in awards to WPI researchers. State and local governments sponsored about 10% of the research funds awarded to WPI, and the remaining awards were sponsored by corporate, foundation, and other sponsors.
- WPI Develops Innovative Robotic System to Enhance Kidney Transplant ScreeningWorcester Polytechnic Institute researchers believe a new robotic technology they’re developing can help save lives by improving the process of matching kidney donors with people awaiting a transplant. Their approach seeks to advance medical evaluations that determine whether a donated kidney is viable to be transplanted. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 90,000 people in the United States are on a kidney waitlist; each day, 12 die before a transplant can happen. While a shortage of donors is one reason for the long waitlist, another major factor is the number of donated kidneys that get discarded. Assessing a kidney for transplant involves examining the organ after it’s been removed from the donor to ensure the kidney is free of disease or structural anomalies. Current methods for this assessment include either a biopsy, which involves a review of cells taken from a small sample of the kidney, or optical coherence tomography (OCT), a light-based handheld imaging technology that can provide a high-resolution snapshot of a limited section of the organ. Xihan Ma, robotics engineering PhD student, and Haichong (Kai) Zhang, associate professor of robotics engineering and biomedical engineering The assessment process risks wasting the organ because these exams take time and provide information about only a small portion of the kidney; both factors may hamper clinicians’ ability to accurately assess the organ and approve it for transplant while it is still viable. Haichong (Kai) Zhang, associate professor of robotics engineering and biomedical engineering, and Xihan Ma, a robotics engineering PhD student, are using innovations in medical robotics to address this problem. “With our robotic system, we can capture a scan of the whole kidney,” said Zhang. “With current approaches, the area of the kidney that can be assessed is inherently limited by either the size of the biopsy needle or the size of the OCT imaging probe, and thus the assessment of the organ is biased by which small part of the kidney the operator chooses to focus on.” Zhang and Ma have developed a robotic OCT system, which is a fully automated method of imaging an entire donated kidney to help a clinician make an assessment. The system was developed at WPI’s Medical FUSION (Frontier Ultrasound Imaging and Robotic Instrumentation) Lab. “Our motivation is to think about how we can streamline the process used to evaluate the viability of donated kidneys to be more reliable and accurate, and to not waste kidneys that potentially can be used to save lives of patients,” said Zhang. “We are integrating the strengths of medical robots to make imaging of donor kidneys more accessible and less user-dependent and to acquire images over a wider area of the organ, which can provide more concise and direct feedback to clinicians so they can make better clinical decisions.”
- WPI Names Arne Gericke as Dean of Undergraduate StudiesFollowing an internal search for the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, WPI has officially named Arne Gericke to the role he has held ad interim since July 1, 2022. At WPI, the dean of undergraduate studies leads efforts to ensure—and improve the quality and effectiveness of—all dimensions of the university’s undergraduate programs and the student academic experience, including courses, projects, academic advising, and undergraduate research. The dean of undergraduate studies also works to communicate the values of the WPI undergraduate program to both internal and external audiences. “Arne avidly champions undergraduate students and emphasizes the crucial role of faculty in both supporting and challenging them,” said WPI’s Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Andrew Sears. “During the time he has served in an interim capacity, Arne has demonstrated an impressive ability to work with senior leadership, administrators, faculty governance, and faculty from across WPI to ensure that the WPI Plan continues to evolve to meet the needs of our current and future students. Not only is Arne passionate about elevating the value, visibility, and quality of project work and research for undergraduate students at WPI, he is also dedicated to expanding access to a WPI education by creating additional pathways, particularly for students from community colleges.” Gericke spent the year before his assignment as the interim dean of undergraduate studies serving as WPI’s associate dean of undergraduate studies. He joined WPI in 2011 as professor and head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and served in those capacities for 10 years. In his research, Gericke studies signaling pathways at biological membranes and has led a lab of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at WPI focused on the biophysical characterization of lipid-mediated protein functions. Mutations in cell membrane-associated proteins can lead to a broad range of diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and clues to how mutations in certain proteins disrupt the lipid-mediated signaling pathways could lead to new diagnostic techniques and the potential to identify very early signs of disease.
Announcements
- WPI Students Providing Sounds to Go With Sights at Planned EcoTarium ExhibitStudents in Assistant Teaching Professor David Ibbett's Music and Science: Climate Change class recently collaborated with the EcoTarium in Worcester. The group developed prototype audio and visual technology enhancements for the nature and science museum's planned re-imagination of its African Communities exhibit. The technology will help the museum update the space to become more accessible, interactive, and engaging, while educating guests about the impact of climate change on African animal habitats. The work was one of several ongoing partnerships between the university and the EcoTarium. Just last year, the museum went live with a navigational app developed by a student Major Qualifying Project (MQP).
- Graduate Student and Postdoc NewsletterGraduate Student Newsletter March 13, 2025 Edition Announcements Graduate Student Health & Wellness Series: Financial Wellness March 18 4pm – 5pm Unity Hall 420. Join the Office of Financial Aid for a workshop to enhance your financial wellness and provide you resources that will support you with items like protecting yourself from identity theft, buying a home, and building up your credit. Refreshments will be served. Please register here. EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE + INNOVATION - A Life Sciences Career Expo | Worcester Polytechnic Institute For current and aspiring scientists in the field, there’s no better place to advance your career than at the Life Sciences Expo. The life sciences industry is exploding in WPI’s backyard, with big names like AbbVie, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Insulet, UMass Chan Medical School, and more carving out a foothold in Worcester County. Meet with those and other potential employers. Check out Catalyst – WPI Graduate and Professional Studies Blog. Catalyst offers practical tips, professional development tools, and discussions of hot topics in STEM with insights direct from WPI's labs, researchers, and industry experts. Career and Professional Development Grad Student Training and Readiness Sessions (STARS) Grad Alumni/Career Panel March 21. 12-1 PM via Zoom. The panel session will feature several WPI graduate alumni, both Masters and PhDs, and will cover their career paths and provide advice on career advancement. Registration required. WPI students are invited to participate in WPI’s 17th Annual Sustainability Project Showcase, hosted by the Office of Sustainability and Gordon Library! Submissions are open to any student project that tackles a sustainability-related problem, local or global, with consideration to at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Registration opens on March 17th. Find key dates here. 2025 NextProf Nexus Future Faculty Workshop September 8 – 11, 2025 This 3-day workshop is intended for senior-level Ph.D. candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and early career scientists or researchers in the field of Engineering. This preeminent event is designed to give participants the opportunity to explore and prepare for a faculty position in academia. Social, Community, and Wellness Activities Graduate Student Health & Wellness Series: Financial Wellness March 18 4pm – 5pm Unity Hall 420 Join the Office of Financial Aid for a workshop to enhance your financial wellness and provide you resources that will support you with items like protecting yourself from identity theft, buying a home, and building up your credit. Refreshments will be served. Please register here. Energizing Meditations April 8 12pm – 1pm Salisbury Labs Feeling the weight of the semester? Tired? Tough to get motivated? Learn Energizing Meditation practices that will help revive you. Lunch will be served. Please register here. March Wellness Day – March 31, 2025 11am – 12pm: Start your Herb Garden- From Seed to Table, location TBD. Come to pot cilantro, mint or basil. Register here. 3pm – 4pm: Graduate Online Meditation Session – Join other Graduate Students to engage in a short meditation practice followed by a time to meet fellow graduate students. Register here. Registration is still open for D-term Graduate Student ProjectConnect! ProjectConnect is a fun, 6-session peer-led program to help you build community on campus. Questions can be sent to cwb@wpi.edu Registration is still Open for Intro to Mindfulness Meditation in D-Term MIEA Intro to Mindfulness is a four-week evidence-based mindfulness curriculum that runs Mondays, 4:45 to 6:00pm, Mar 17 to Apr 14 (skip Mar 31, wellness day). Internships/Job Opportunities/Employer Info Sessions Heebner Career Development Center Check out upcoming Talent Tabling: Chemtek on March 18th 9am – 2pm, Amazon, March 26th 9am – 3pm and City of Worcester Emergency Community Response Team, April 3rd 10am – 2pm. How to Ace your Interview as a Master’s Student: A webinar by Beyond Graduate School March 19th 2pm – 2:30pm. Whether you’ve already booked your first screening interview, or you’re wondering what to expect, this webinar will help you prepare for your first meeting with an employer. WPI VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR – April 17th 12pm-4pm – Register on Handshake. EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE + INNOVATION - A Life Sciences Career Expo | Worcester Polytechnic Institute For current and aspiring scientists in the field, there’s no better place to advance your career than at the Life Sciences Expo. The life sciences industry is exploding in WPI’s backyard, with big names like AbbVie, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Insulet, UMass Chan Medical School, and more carving out a foothold in Worcester County. Meet with those and other potential employers. Funding Opportunities and Competitions Celdara Medical Fellowship: experiential learning opportunity for student and post doctoral researchers Entrepreneurial skills are critical for many high-impact careers, including academia, biotech, healthcare, private practice, investing, and consulting. Our fellowship program is a 1 day/week commitment for a period of 9 months. This is expected to be in addition to the participants’ current responsibilities in academic research. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter (2 page maximum) and their CV to chef@celdaramedical.com Sigma Xi Virtual Student Research Showcase March 30th – April 13th, 2025. Students compete for awards and recognition of outstanding virtual research presentations. Learn more here. Search Graduate and Postdoc Funding Opportunities at the UCLA GRAPES Database. Over 625 scholarships and fellowships listed. Volunteer and Community Service Opportunities Volunteer for WOMEN in STEM DAY We are excited to announce the 3rd Women in STEM Day will take place at WPI on Saturday, March 29! We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make the day a success as we inspire the next generation of young women in STEM through hands-on workshops, inspirational conversations, and a team design challenge! Volunteer here or contact nmanterni@wpi.edu with any questions! Highlighted Resources Resources If You’re Facing Difficulties Sometimes an unforeseen situation arises, and you need some emergency help. WPI has a few resources that can assist you in times of need. Hull Loan Fund Immediate short-term loan for emergencies and unforeseen situations. The loans are generally $25-$300, 0% interest, and expected to be repaid in 30 days. Emergency Assistance Fund This grant fund can help provide support up to $1,000 for unforeseen medical bills, expenses, or other hardships. The application is available on the Dean of Students’ website. Food Insecurity If you are experiencing hunger issues or food insecurity, reach out to the Dean of Students Office for help. They can offer you both short-term and long-term solutions. Contact the Dean of Students Office staff at dean_of_students@wpi.edu for additional information
- Cybersecurity Careers - SECURE IT March 2025Dive into the dynamic realm of cybersecurity careers in this month’s SECURE IT newsletter, which includes videos, self-paced training, and resources from the Heebner Career Development Center (HCDC). Stay ahead of the curve and unlock new opportunities with information security! Special thanks to Sue Levine in the HCDC for providing several career resources. In this issue: Careers in Cybersecurity Heebner Career Development Center Resources Learning with Laughter From the CISTO Information Security Journey - Webinar Featured Videos By the Numbers Self-Paced Training Diversity in Cybersecurity
VIDEOS
- 7:26How to Make Simple Storytelling Videos That Look and Sound GreatVideo Chapters: 0:18 - Horizontal or Vertical Orientation 0:39 - Camera Quality Settings: HD or 4K 0:56 - Clean Your Lens 1:07 - Audio Quality / Microphone 1:52 - Personal Protective Equipment 2:29 - Storytelling Techniques 3:46 - Shooting Techniques 4:36 - Editing Options 4:51 - Exporting Your Video 5:19 - Final Product / Sample 6:57 - Recap / Final TipsPlease feel free to contact gr-multimedia@wpi.edu with your questions.The Academic Technology Center on campus also offers training, support, and equipment loans for video production projects. https://canvas.wpi.edu/courses/14090/pages/audio-visual-servicesEditing Tutorials:Adobe Premiere Pro Editing Tutorial: https://youtu.be/ihHwLfIg_Dk?si=NTMnfAicOuD0RJCdCanva Video Editing Tutorial: https://youtu.be/AlrC-XaKwew?si=cR346D-fnhEd70DYCapCut Video Editing Tutorial: https://youtu.be/VUMVsGm0xOE?si=-I02THB9Scu2PTzZHow to Edit Videos on Android: https://youtu.be/PzeP8Nl02aw?si=58hbHeJ2WJM7X20VHow to Edit Videos on iPhone: https://youtu.be/xGaUuBqgaMk?si=63WLQDTnpSH2G_FnEquipment Suggestions:DJI Mic Mini for Smartphone: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1858479-REG/dji_cp_rn_00000432_01_mic_mini_compact_wireless.htmlDJI Osmo Mobile 7 Smartphone Gimbal: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1873250-REG/dji_cp_os_00000406_01_osmo_mobile_7_smartphone.html
- 2:50Fire Protection Engineering and Wildfire Research at WPIFire Protection Engineering at WPI is at the forefront of research to better understand wildfires and their impact.00:00 Wildfire Research Funding 01:01 Fire Whirl Demonstration 01:21 Firebrand Research
- 1:54WPI wildfire research headed to International Space StationJames Urban, assistant professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is leading a study that will examine fire spread phenomenon on Earth through experiments on the International Space Station.
- 1:15My Favorite Thing About WPI
- 1:27Welcome to WPI: Talented Students, Endless PossibilitiesFrom solving Rubik's cubes in seconds to building their own houses, our new students are a diverse group of talented individuals. With passions ranging from music and art to engineering and activism, they are poised to make a significant impact on the world. We're excited to welcome them to the WPI community and see what they'll achieve.
- 1:24Students and faculty in WPI’s Fire Protection Engineering program research wildfiresStudents and faculty in WPI’s Fire Protection Engineering program research many aspects of wildfires, with the goal of protecting communities. One example of this research is laboratory experiments studying the parameters that can cause wildfires to damage the electrical components in solar farms. Watch the video to learn more about this research.