Researcher Angela Incollingo Rodriguez was home with a newborn in 2019 when, during a quiet moment, she made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch, took out her smartphone, and started scrolling. She remembers all of that. What she doesn’t remember is eating the sandwich.  “I’d eaten the whole sandwich while I was looking at my phone and didn’t even enjoy it,” says Incollingo Rodriguez, assistant professor in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies. “Researchers have long known that people eat more while watching television, but there is conflicting research on whether people eat more while using a smartphone. I wondered whether this distraction that I experienced while using my phone might signal a broader trend in eating behavior.” The question prompted the first study that Incollingo Rodriguez, a health psychologist and behavioral scientist, launched in her Stigma, Eating, and Endocrinology Dynamics (SEED) Lab after joining the WPI faculty. Beginning in fall 2019, she and her student researchers enrolled 118 WPI student volunteers in an experiment that was disguised as taste-testing research and divided them into groups. All participants snacked while using technology and while not using technology. When using technology, some participants used smartphones, and others watched television. The paper, recently published in the journal Physiology & Behavior by Incollingo Rodriguez and co-authors Mira S. Kirschner ’24, MS ’25 and Lorena S. Nunes ’24, MS ’25, revealed some expected results:  Participants who snacked while watching television ate more than participants who ate without TV.  Other results, however, were surprising: Participants who snacked while using their phones did not eat more than participants who snacked without phones. “This was a very interesting finding,” Rodriguez says. “We know that smartphones are distracting, and we also know that when people are distracted, they eat more and their memory of eating fades, making them likely to eat more at later meals. It’s possible, though, that as people use their hands with a smartphone, their pace of eating slows. This research raises many questions about smartphones, memory, and eating.”

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has recognized two WPI faculty members as recipients of the department's Educator Award to celebrate their decade of work in upholding the department’s mission to ensure a clean environment and enhance natural resources in the state. During an event at WPI in June, the MassDEP announced the recipients of the award: Corey Denenberg Dehner, associate professor of teaching in The Global School, and Paul Mathisen, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering and WPI’s director of sustainability.  Dehner and Mathisen co-direct WPI’s Massachusetts Water Resource Outreach Center (WROC), a project center that allows student teams to partner with municipalities, local government agencies, and watershed organizations to work on water resource challenges. Dehner and Mathisen co-founded the center in 2015 with a goal of exposing students to the inner workings of state and local government and tackling water resource issues in Central and Eastern Massachusetts.  Leaders with the MassDEP cited the pair’s work at the center as a main reason they were selected to receive the award. The department gives the honor to recognize educators who inspire and empower students to protect the planet; who incorporate environmental themes into curriculum; and who are committed to fostering environmental awareness in the community. MassDEP leaders said the project center has exposed students to environmental challenges through work on water issues such as nitrogen reduction and emerging contaminants and has provided students with the chance to learn about careers in the environmental field. “For 50 years, MassDEP has been protecting our natural resources and working with local communities to ensure the water we drink is safe and healthy,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “And since its founding, WPI’s Massachusetts Water Resource Outreach Center has shared this commitment to safeguarding our vital water resources. Students are gaining hands-on experience to address the many challenges facing our drinking water today, including lead, PFAS, and a changing climate. We are grateful to have partners like WROC to ensure the next generation of water specialists are well equipped to take on these challenges and maintain Massachusetts’ drinking water as some of the cleanest in the nation.” Dehner accepts award and governor's citation from John Beling, deputy commissioner of policy and planning for MassDEP Dehner expressed gratitude for everyone at the MassDEP and for their efforts and collaboration with the WROC. “I think the award is a recognition of this effective partnership,” she said. “Through collaboration with the MassDEP, our project center is able to help WPI students understand the value of being civically engaged and the interplay between federal and state environmental agencies, local communities, industry, and organizations.” Dehner credited Andrea Briggs, deputy director of MassDEP’s central region, with helping her and Mathisen bring the evolving goals of the WROC to fruition. For example, in the spring Dehner, Mathisen, and Briggs worked with students to develop a comprehensive immersion program to intentionally and thoughtfully expose students to the breadth of water resource career opportunities and to help students understand the complex relationship between state, federal, and local governance. During a single project term, for example, students may tour a water treatment plant and a town’s stormwater infrastructure facilities, conduct hands-on activities such as water quality testing and participate in a MassDEP roundtable with employees from different water-related divisions.  Also starting this spring, WROC began publishing student projects on QUBES Hub, an open educational resource site. This gives residents, organizations, and municipal officials an additional way to access the resources students develop. These materials can also be found on the WROC website. Through the center and WPI’s commitment to delivering project-based learning, students have had the opportunity to complete more than 40 projects directly with MassDEP or other sponsors, including local municipalities and the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition.  WROC student team learning about the requirements for completing culvert assessment in Sutton Those projects have included creating educational campaigns to alert the public to the dangers of PFAS chemical contamination in drinking water; conducting outreach to inform private well owners about groundwater contamination; producing a manual to help cities and towns consider establishing funding mechanisms to manage the impacts of stormwater runoff; and helping the City of Worcester develop guidelines for monitoring bacteria levels in ponds and lakes. In many cases, towns and cities have chosen to partner with WPI students to help tackle important water issues that demand resources and staff beyond what they can dedicate. Mathisen said the projects give students the chance to make an impact in communities by doing hands-on work in partnership with others. The projects also help the students learn how water resource policy is created and implemented and provide opportunities to receive mentorship from professionals working in water management and environmental protection. “One of the goals of the WROC is to help our students gain leadership experience and the perspective to make a difference and have a positive impact on sustainability in their future careers,” said Mathisen. “The projects not only help to educate students and the public, they also show students the importance of bringing together people with different experiences, perspectives, and talents to address an issue, whether it’s a water resources challenge or a problem in a different area.” Students learn about the water protection work of MassDEP employees in the department's Central Regional Office The WROC is one of more than 50 WPI project centers on six continents where students conduct term-long projects required for graduation. At this specific center, students can complete their Interactive Qualifying Project, a signature WPI project that places students in interdisciplinary teams to work in partnership with a community-based sponsor on a challenge at the intersection of science, technology, and the needs of society. Dehner accepted the award on behalf of herself and Mathisen during a MassDEP 50th anniversary celebration at Rubin Campus Center. John Beling, the department’s deputy commissioner of policy and planning, read a citation from Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in recognition of the WPI educators and WROC’s 10th anniversary, stating, “Massachusetts commends your ongoing efforts addressing municipal water resource challenges through this hands-on community engagement and partnership.”  Beling added that the state’s partnership with the project center provides benefits both to students and the MassDEP. “It’s so important that we expose students to the work we do and to help them understand what we do,” he said. “We get a lot out of it. Hopefully they get a lot out of it. I hope this relationship continues and is as beneficial as it has been for the last 10 years.” 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) announced today that Matthew Thaler has been named vice president and general counsel of the university following an impactful tenure as deputy general counsel and interim general counsel.  A trusted advisor and accomplished legal professional, Thaler has more than two decades of legal experience spanning private practice, industry leadership, and higher education. He has served WPI since 2018, offering strategic legal guidance on a wide range of matters and, most recently, providing steady leadership as interim general counsel since October 2024.  “Matt’s deep understanding of higher education law, his principled leadership, and his unwavering commitment to WPI’s mission have made him an invaluable asset to our community,” said WPI President Grace Wang. “I am confident he will continue to serve WPI well as our vice president and general counsel at a time when the legal and regulatory challenges facing universities are increasingly complex.”  As general counsel, Thaler will be the university’s chief legal officer, advising the president, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership. His portfolio includes oversight of litigation and dispute resolution, enterprise risk management, policy compliance, research compliance and innovation, employment and faculty affairs, contract negotiations, and institutional governance.  “I’m honored to serve WPI in this new role,” said Thaler. “This is a university that fosters innovation and purpose-driven research, and I look forward to supporting that mission and helping WPI navigate today’s legal challenges with integrity, clarity, and foresight.”  During his time at WPI, Thaler has successfully led initiatives that advanced the university’s risk management program, supported the commercialization of research and intellectual property, and ensured compliance with complex federal and state regulations.   Prior to joining WPI in 2018, Thaler served in the in-house legal office of a NASDAQ-listed software company, holding increasing levels of responsibility and ultimately serving as the general counsel.  Earlier in his career, Thaler practiced law in two leading global law firms, Goodwin Procter LLP and Proskauer Rose LLP. He earned a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law and a bachelor of arts from Bates College. 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will host the third annual WAFFLE (WPI Annual FIRST LEGO League Event), an international celebration of youth robotics and innovation. The event will welcome 108 FIRST LEGO League® teams from 40 U.S. states and 30 countries, including some of the top-ranked teams in the world. Designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving through robotics, WAFFLE showcases the future of STEM through high-energy matches, team projects, and global camaraderie.  Who:  Over 1,000 student participants, ages 9–16 Special guest: Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST and WPI alum WPI faculty, staff, and student volunteers Attendees from across the U.S. and around the globe  When:  Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15, 2025  Key media opportunities include:  Friday, June 13, 6–8 p.m.—Opening ceremonies, featuring Dean Kamen; Arne Gerike, WPI dean of undergraduate studies; and a parade of nations Sunday, June 14, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.—Official robot matches Sunday, June 15, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 3:30–5:30 p.m.—Awards ceremony  Where:  Worcester Polytechnic Institute   100 Institute Road, Worcester, Mass.   Events held in Harrington Auditorium, Sports and Recreation Center, and Alden Memorial  Why Cover WAFFLE:  WAFFLE is a visually dynamic, inspiring event highlighting the power of STEM education and international collaboration. Media will find compelling photo, video, and interview opportunities with young innovators, global teams, and robotics leaders. Here’s a glimpse of last year’s fun.  

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has been awarded $6.3 million for a groundbreaking initiative that could transform additive manufacturing by enabling the rapid production of high-quality components from scrap metal. This innovative approach to additive manufacturing, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), aims to ensure that essential components can be produced even in the most resource-limited environments, including where access to traditional supply chains is limited, such as battlefields or remote search-and-rescue locations. The initiative, called “Rubble to Rockets,” applies a machine learning approach to identify materials—like scrap metal and mixed alloys—and understand how they react and bond together before being melted, mixed, and 3D-printed to form new parts that are strong and reliable. Traditional 3D-printing methods require carefully controlled materials and repeated testing and adjusting, something that’s not always possible in real-world settings.  “This work is crucial as it allows us to build high-quality components from unknown source materials with new confidence,” said Associate Professor Danielle Cote, Harold L. Jurist ’61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean’s Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and the lead researcher on the project. “Our goal is not just to build a single solution but to create a framework that guides future innovations. By improving our predictions and understanding of material performance, we can pave the way for new advancements in additive manufacturing from diverse and unpredictable sources.” The team will use artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed by Citrine Informatics to predict material behavior at various compositions, optimizing and automating the characterization processes. By streamlining the procedure, the product can be manufactured at a rapid pace but not at the expense of durability and strength.  Researchers will design a proof-of-concept sounding rocket to test the structural integrity of mixed metals and measure performance and reliability.

April brought so much excitement to WPI’s campus. As the flowers started to bloom and the academic year entered its last full month, students presented their research projects and cheered each other’s creativity and achievements. The campus showed its very best to next year’s accepted students. See what else our staff photographers captured in April.