Honoring Culture. Celebrating Legacy. Uplifting Voices.  Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month 2025 from September 15 to October 15, a national observance honoring the vibrant histories, rich cultures, and vital contributions of communities with roots in Latin America and Spain. This month, we reflect on and appreciate the diversity of Hispanic and Latinx experiences. At WPI, we highlight the narratives and accomplishments that continue to shape innovation, community, politics, art, and science. Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month offers a chance to consider how history, identity, and resiliency intersect. The experiences of Hispanic and Latinx people are multifaceted and varied, ranging from Indigenous customs to current campaigns for justice and equity. By listening to these stories, we pay tribute to both the past and the current initiatives that are forming a more inventive and inclusive future. Our university's academic and social fabric is enhanced by the Hispanic and Latinx faculty, staff, and students who provide insightful approaches to engineering, science, technology, and the arts. This month serves as a reminder that multicultural communities foster innovation, increase scientific understanding, and build more inclusive campuses.    Why September 15 to October 15? The celebration begins mid-September to honor the Latin American countries who declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821: Costa Rica  El Salvador  Guatemala  Honduras  Nicaragua  The month-long observance began as a week in 1968 (thanks to CA Rep. George E. Brown) and was officially expanded in 1989 by President George H. W. Bush.  “We must preserve our culture and celebrate our differences, for in diversity lies strength and creativity.” — Ellen Ochoa, astronaut and first Hispanic woman in space  STEM Scholar Spotlights We honor trailblazing Hispanic and Latinx individuals in science and technology:  Pedro Alonso – Spanish physician and epidemiologist, former Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. Severo Ochoa – Spanish-American biochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine (1959) for his work on RNA synthesis. Antonia Novello  – First woman and first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General; physician and public health leader. Luis Alvarez – Nobel Prize-winning physicist and inventor. France Córdova – Astrophysicist and first Latina NASA Center Director Ellen Ochoa – First Hispanic woman in space, engineer and former Johnson Space Center director Mario Molina – Chemist and Nobel Laureate for his work on the ozone layer    Explore, Read, Watch, Listen Explore National Hispanic Heritage Month online    Listen to the Latinos Out Loud Podcast   Watch “La Misma Luna” (2007, Mexican American Drama)  Listen to Yo Más Te Adoro by Morat  Explore PBS Hispanic Heritage Month Documentary collection  Explore the New Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino  Read  Our Voices, Our Images: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by the Inter-American Development Bank Read “National Hispanic Heritage Month Q&A” written by Insight Staff, Insight into Diversity  Read The U.S. Hispanic Manifesto by The Hispanic Star  Explore Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through WGBH and WORLD Channel  Watch Hispanic Heritage Month Movies  Watch The Latino List: Volume 1 and 2 online via Gordon Library, directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders  Watch Retablo online via TubiTV, directed by Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio, written by Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio and Hector Galvez, produced by Enid Campos, Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio, Lasse Scharpen, and Menno Döring, (Lima, Peru: Siri Producciones, Catch of the Day Films, DHF, 2017), 95 minutes  Listen to the Level Up Latina Podcast  Listen to the Latinx On The Rise Podcast  Listen to the Alt Latino Podcast     Take Action Support the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute   Support the TransLatin@ Coalition   Register to Vote -OR- Check Your Voter Registration   Everything you need to vote. Vote.org   Become a Poll Worker      ODIME Logo The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees student-facing learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.    

We are thrilled to announce that Griffin Tabor has joined the Robotics Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as an Assistant Teaching Professor. With his unique blend of academic rigor, innovative robotics research, and steadfast commitment to education, Professor Tabor is poised to make an impactful addition to our community.  Professor Tabor’s journey in robotics began in middle school at a LEGO robotics summer camp, an environment that ignited a lifelong fascination with how mechanical and digital worlds converge. A formative moment unfolded when Professor Tabor spun a motor and watched a microprocessor power up without a battery. “Realizing how generators and motors were the same thing, and how cool that is has stuck with me ever since,” he recalls, capturing the essence of curiosity that has guided his work ever since.  Professor Tabor is a proud WPI alumnus, having earned his Bachelor of Science in Robotics Engineering in 2018. From there, he pursued a PhD in Computing with a Robotics Track from the University of Utah, which he completed in 2024. His doctoral research focused on motion planning, control, and numerical optimization, including groundbreaking work using magnets to manipulate non-magnetic objects—possibilities that extend to futuristic applications like space debris cleanup.  As a teaching scholar, Professor Tabor believes deeply in project-centered learning. He emphasizes a classroom structure where every concept builds toward a meaningful term-long project—instilling clear purpose and contextual relevance in each lesson.  At WPI, he looks forward to guiding Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs), advising the WPI Robotics Club, and supporting students involved in competitive robotics. Professor Tabor strongly encourages students to “join a club and get involved. We have lots of different robotics clubs going on that are applicable to both RBE majors and otherwise.” His thriving interest in mobile robotics and extracurricular engagement reflects his conviction that hands-on experience is transformative in learning.   Professor Tabor’s arrival reinforces WPI’s strengths in project-based education, student-led innovation, and cutting-edge robotics research—all educational pillars he aligns with deeply.  Professor Tabor’s combination of technical expertise, educational insight, and an affinity for robotics competitions positions him as a dynamic mentor for students. He’s excited to foster interest in probabilistic methods in robotics—reflecting a growing trend to better model uncertainty and complexity with today’s computing power.  He playfully notes, “I think our robot overlords are right around the corner. As long as I train students to treat robots with respect, maybe the robots will treat me with respect—even though they’re still tricky and not always cooperative!” 

Upcoming Travel Expense Training Sessions  The Finance Office is excited to offer a new series of training sessions focused on travel expense reporting. These sessions will provide a clear overview of existing travel policies and procedures, with a special focus on the backup documentation required to ensure smooth and timely expense report approvals. Training Webinar Dates: September 24th, 10:30 am:  https://wpi.zoom.us/j/99951194359 October 20th, 2:00 pm: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/99257627999 November 18th, 2:00pm: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/99216402336 Department specific webinars may be scheduled through kmanoogian@wpi.edu. To support your learning, be sure to explore the helpful job aids available in the Finance section of the Halo Knowledge Base at https://help.wpi.edu.

September 2025, by Victoria Yakes '27 The Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Department of Biomedical Engineering celebrates Professor Kristen Billiar, Ph.D., on his election as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS).  The FAHA designation honors premium professional members of the AHA who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and sustained contribution in the areas of scholarship, education, and volunteer service.  Billiar joined the WPI faculty in 2002 after receiving his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania and working as a staff engineer. Previously named John Woodman Higgens Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the former Head of the WPI Department of Biomedical Engineering, Billiar now focuses on education and student engagement. He currently teaches biomechanics courses at all levels, sharing his passion for biology and engineering with students. Beyond the classroom, Prof. Billiar leads the Tissue Mechanics and Mechanobiology laboratory at WPI, which strives to understand how mechanical forces affect the body’s soft tissue cells. During exercise, the soft tissues of the body are subjected to forces from adjacent muscles, blood vessels, and digestive organs. Understanding how cells interpret these forces will aid in the development of treatments for a multitude of diseases, including cardiovascular disease.  The Billiar laboratory embodies a strong commitment to hands-on learning and research excellence. The laboratory hosts dedicated doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students, offering meaningful research and development opportunities at every academic level. Together, the lab pushes the boundaries of scientific innovation, uncovering new insights into the mechanics of the body and paving the way for biomedical breakthroughs such as developing functional microtissue models, studying heart valve cell mechanics, and modifying microfluidic devices.  Professor Billiar’s election as a fellow not only reflects his individual achievements but also highlights his dedication to the quality work conducted at WPI in the fields of cardiovascular science, biomechanics, and biomedical engineering education.  

July 2025, by Victoria Yakes '27 The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) joined Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) this July to celebrate the accomplishment of students graduating from MeDHigh, a four-week biomedical engineering training program offered through the MLSC’s High School Apprenticeship Challenge.  Established in 2007, the MLSC launches funding programs, builds partnerships, and secures investments aimed at supporting opportunities across the Commonwealth. The MLSC has delegated over $1 billion dollars in support of local devotions to research and development, innovation, and scientific advancements, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities benefiting Massachusetts and beyond.  MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD, and members of the MLSC team, toured WPI’s state-of-the-art, MLSC-funded labs and had the opportunity to engage with students participating in MedHigh. The MedHigh program is designed to expose high school students to biomedical engineering, a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and biology. Over the course of four weeks, students gained hands-on learning experience, benefiting from careful mentorship while developing their technical skill sets and gaining exposure to public speaking, scientific writing, and professional development. This year’s focus was on medical devices, with students encouraged to explore device improvements and their impacts on global health, particularly in under-resourced communities. During graduation, students shared their real-world prototypes with faculty and directors, showcasing the products of their hard work and innovative thinking.  “We’re cultivating the next generation of problem-solvers who will drive breakthroughs in medicine, engineering, and global health,” said Solomon Mensah, MedHigh Director and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at WPI.  MedHigh offers an opportunity for students to break into a competitive and innovative field which values early experience and technical skills. Since 2024, MedHigh has celebrated 27 graduates from the program, and will continue to use over $140,000 in investments to promote STEM education for underrepresented communities in Massachusetts. The program hopes to bridge the gap between the technical field of engineering and its accessibility to local communities, bringing a new class of budding scientists and engineers to the forefront of innovation.  

WPI professor Sam Walcott developed a molecular model that explains and accurately predicts muscle force, offering new opportunities for medical innovation.  In honor of our upcoming Arts & Sciences Week, WPI is showcasing research that demonstrates how mathematics is advancing medical science.   A new mathematical model developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) could enhance our understanding and treatment of heart disease. Created by Sam Walcott, director of bioinformatics and computational biology, the model simulates how microscopic structures within muscle cells generate force, using principles from both physics and biology to describe the interaction of individual molecules. It also reveals how subtle changes at the molecular level can lead to serious cardiac conditions. The research could inform the next generation of energy-efficient prosthetics.  Walcott collaborated with Edward (Ned) Debold, professor of kinesiology at UMass Amherst, and Walter Herzog, professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary. Using rabbit muscle tissue, Debold conducted molecular-scale experiments to study how individual muscle proteins respond under different conditions, while Herzog examined how whole muscle cells generate force. Their combined experiments provided data that Walcott then used for his model.  “We have developed a mathematical model that describes how muscle cells generate force by accounting for how the molecules in the cell interact,” Walcott explains. “This connection between the cellular and molecular scale is important because, for example, genetic heart disease often causes subtle changes in one or two types of molecules in the heart muscle, yet drastic changes in heart function.”  Walcott’s research has big potential for the future of medical science. For example, a relatively new discovery in the world of muscle contraction research is thick filament activation, which is a kind of “on/off-switch” for muscle molecules. Walcott’s mathematical models account for this process and suggest how it might affect muscle function.  When you tense your muscle and stretch it (as if you're beginning to lose an arm-wrestling contest), your muscle can produce more force than without the stretch, a phenomenon called force enhancement. Similarly, if you tense your muscle and shorten it (as if you're beginning to win an arm-wrestling contest), your muscle can generate less force, a phenomenon called force depression. These phenomena, discovered in 1952, lack a molecular explanation. Remarkably, though one might expect force depression and   enhancement to arise from the same process, there are differences between them—for example, force enhancement is not associated with an increased number of force-generating muscle molecules, while force depression is associated with a decrease in those molecules.  A leading idea for how force enhancement arises is that a molecular "spring" gets engaged as you activate your muscle. When the muscle is then stretched, the spring is also stretched, thereby generating some extra force in addition to the force-generating molecules in the muscle. Walcott and his collaborators proposed that, when the muscle is shortened, the spring contracts. This then decreases the force in the muscle. Thick filament activation proposes that the force-generating molecules switch "off" when force drops, so this drop in force decreases the number of force-generating molecules. This explains both the drop in force observed in force depression and also why the number of force-generating molecules decreases.  The model, which was originally designed to describe the Herzog lab’s cellular experiments, was also able to successfully predict the results of the Debold lab’s molecular-scale experiments. This suggests that we can, in fact, connect the behavior of molecules with the function of muscle cells.  These discoveries mark an exciting step in the world of medicine and biomechanical design, like heart disease research and prosthetics. “Designing prosthetics requires thinking about how muscles use energy, since one wants the prosthetic to be both functional and efficient,” Walcott explains. “If we understand how muscle molecules interact, we can understand how they use energy and how the muscle overall uses energy.”  Walcott’s research was supported by a $1.4 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), an institute of the NIH. This project also highlights the interdisciplinary focus of WPI’s Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program, where students and faculty use math and data to explore the frontiers of biological research.