College of Engineering and Computing

Learning to fly

Martha Bushong — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:42:05 +0000

Learning to fly Martha Bushong Wed, 10/21/2026 - 13:42

When 911�� alumna Doreen Joseph, BS Cyber Security Engineering ’19, wants to clear her mind, she flies.

Earlier this year, she earned her private pilot's license while completing a PhD in computer science at the University of California, Davis. It might seem like an unusual pairing, but for Joseph, flying reflects the same mindset that has guided her education and career: embracing challenges before she feels completely ready.

"Don't count yourself out," she said. "Do the hard thing."

It's advice she often shares with students, but it's also a philosophy she lives by which she lives.

Doreen Joseph took up flying while working on her PhD at the University of California, Davis. Photo provided

As a student at 911��, Joseph found both challenge and support through the Honors College and a series of internships that helped shape her future. The Honors College introduced her to graduate-level scholarship while providing the advising and encouragement that helped her navigate fellowships, research opportunities, and graduate school applications.

Internships allowed her to see how ideas from the classroom could be applied to real-world problems. One of the most memorable was a summer research internship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado.

"It was my first time living out of state," she said. "I met great people, saw exciting research, and got to experience a completely different environment."

Those events solidified her interest in cybersecurity research. After completing her bachelor's degree at 911��, Joseph went on to earn a PhD in computer science at UC Davis, where her research focused on cybersecurity and binary analysis.

If you ask Joseph how she got to this point, she pivots to talking about the mentors who guided her along the way.

As an undergraduate, she had planned to remain in information technology until an Honors College advisor encouraged her to consider cybersecurity instead. That conversation changed the course of her academic career.

"I was fortunate to have people who saw me as a leader and an engineer before I saw it myself," she said.

Today, Joseph works at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, investigating complex systems and identifying cybersecurity vulnerabilities. For now, she says, she’ll concentrate on learning as much as she can and deepening her expertise.

While these are her professional goals, another important goal is helping others recognize their own potential.

Throughout her academic and professional career, Joseph often finds herself the only person in the room who looks like her. “There aren’t many Black women engineers or computer scientists,” she said. Rather than seeing that as a barrier, she sees it as an opportunity to make the path easier for those coming behind her.

"As I continue to access rooms that may not have people who look like me, my job is to take what I learn and help open the door for other people," she said. "I may be the first, but I want to make sure I'm not the last."

That belief shapes the advice she gives students who may be unsure whether they belong in engineering, research, or leadership roles.

"Have the courage to do what looks impossible or what looks hard," she said. "You'll probably discover you're more resilient than you think."

The same willingness to embrace challenge led her to aviation. What began as a reward after passing her doctoral qualifying exams became a passion. Flying offered a welcome balance to research and reinforced a lesson she had already learned.

Sometimes, the only way to find out what you're capable of is to take off.

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Alexandre Barreto selected for national EM-FUEL leadership program

Martha Bushong — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:07:36 +0000

Alexandre Barreto selected for national EM-FUEL leadership program Martha Bushong Mon, 10/19/2026 - 14:07

The Department of Cyber Security Engineering celebrated a national honor for Associate Professor Alexandre Barreto, who was selected for the inaugural 2027 cohort of EM-FUEL (Entrepreneurial Mindset for Future University Engineering Leaders), a leadership-development program supported by KEEN and Engineering Unleashed. Designed for emerging leaders in engineering and computing, the year-long program helps faculty develop the skills and networks needed to drive innovation and institutional impact.

Alex Barreto, an associate professor int he Department of Cyber Security Engineering is committed to providing engaging learning experiences for students. Photo provided.

Barreto earned the distinction through his commitment to creating engaging, real-world learning experiences for students. At 911��, he has championed entrepreneurial mindset learning in cybersecurity education, including innovative “Shark Tank” projects that encourage master's and doctoral students to tackle complex challenges while working alongside industry, government, and academic partners. 

“I look forward to bringing this experience back to further strengthen our ‘Shark Tank’ projects, which connect students to real-world challenges through partnerships with industry, government, and academia,” Barreto said. 

His selection reflects both his dedication to student success and 911��'s commitment to preparing future cybersecurity leaders who can translate technical expertise into meaningful impact. The knowledge and connections gained through EM-FUEL will help create even more opportunities for students to engage with real-world problems, build professional networks, and develop the entrepreneurial skills that today's workforce demands. 

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NSF grants to support novel space weather prediction models and cybersecurity that could help further non-terrestrial infrastructure

sholla4 — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:08:43 +0000

NSF grants to support novel space weather prediction models and cybersecurity that could help further non-terrestrial infrastructure sholla4 Thu, 10/15/2026 - 14:08

Our modern world relies on satellite networks, from television broadcasts, internet connectivity, cell phone service, GPS, defense, weather forecasting, and more. So, what happens when a major space weather event hits one of these satellites, such as a geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection? And how can we forecast if these types of events are coming?

Edward Oughton. Photo provided

Edward Oughton, associate professor of geography and geoinformation science in the College of Science at 911��, was recently awarded two grants from the National Science Foundation: $499,837 for "AI-enabled, Uncertainty-Aware Space Weather Risk Characterization and Mitigation for Satellite Operations," and $49,357 as co-PI with Alexander Sprintson, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computing, for "NSF Workshop on Security Challenges and Research Directions for Space and Non-Terrestrial Networks."

Impacts of space weather vary from minor signal interference to catastrophic satellite damage. But even signal interference, depending on severity, can have major ramifications for society. Disruptions to GPS satellites, for example, can cause inaccuracies in applications that require centimeter-level accuracy, like precision agriculture, or cause critical infrastructure systems that require GPS timing and synchronization signals to malfunction, like power grids or defense systems. Space weather can burn out key satellite components and knock satellites off their trajectories, costing their respective companies upwards of hundreds of millions of dollars.

“When you don’t have reliable forecasts, the critical infrastructure operators are going to take every forecast with a pinch of salt,” said Oughton. “We need to be able to predict and provide decent forecasts for these companies to be able to design systems that can withstand these space weather impacts.” Especially, he notes, as we increase space exploration. “With humans wanting to go back to the moon and then go beyond that, this is going to keep becoming more and more of an issue.”

The nearly $500,000 in funding supports the development of the first end-to-end framework for translating uncertainty in space weather forecasts into actionable risk information for satellite operations, and potential socio-economic impacts, similar to terrestrial weather prediction and risk assessment. This foundational research will combine multiple data sets into machine learning and physics-based models to narrow predictions of geomagnetic storm occurrence, timing, and severity, and their predicted impacts on the nation’s space infrastructure, the economy and society.

“We’re trying to move away from just using crude modeling assumptions to make estimated impacts, toward trying to do integrated scientific engineering modeling where we use the best methods and link them to impacts on the population and businesses,” explained Oughton.

Edward Oughton (top left) and Dennies Bor (bottom left) with ASSIP students. Photo provided.

Along with developing these novel tools, the grant’s education component ensures that the next generation of aspiring scientists and engineers have a hand in learning and creating this critical foundation. Each summer, Oughton takes on a group of high school students as part of the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP).

“This is one thing 911�� does an amazing job with,” he said. Oughton had 25 ASSIP students this summer, working in groups led by his PhD students. “There’s a whole ecosystem of keen scientists coming from these local, high-quality high schools. They develop research projects. They produce research papers: I have examples of students getting first author on papers in peer-reviewed research journals. There’s so much magic happening there.”

Dennies Bor, PhD student in earth systems and geoinformation sciences, has worked with Oughton on previous NSF grants and expects to support this project as well. "Working with Professor Oughton has strengthened my technical skills in modeling, programming, and data analysis, as well as my ability to communicate research...these experiences are helping prepare me for a career as a research scientist," he said.

The second NSF grant will support a workshop convening researchers from academia, industry, and government to identify critical gaps and develop an agenda to improve cybersecurity of space and nonterrestrial networks.

“We’re seeing increased frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks on satellites, partially because the attack surface has massively expanded in recent years due to the huge expansion of global satellite constellations,” said Oughton. “It’s a rapidly evolving field, so we need to come together to sketch out what challenges these companies and organizations are facing and what are possible solutions for long-term security.”

Between these two grants, Oughton and his team are demonstrating the importance of interdisciplinary thinking when it comes to non-terrestrial challenges. “As geography and geo-information scientists, we bring something different to the party, quantitatively tying together different disciplines to support decisions in industry and government” he said. “And I believe both of these grants are great examples of what 911�� can do.”

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Statistical sleuthing strengthens medical records

Nathan Kahl — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:23:13 +0000

Statistical sleuthing strengthens medical records Nathan Kahl Mon, 10/12/2026 - 12:23

Accurate records are key to a safe, well-run health care system. But getting databases to communicate well even within the same system can be an uphill battle. And when they do talk, there must be processes in place to ensure that the entry for a “John Q. Public” in one database is the same as the “John Q. Public” in another. Otherwise, medical mistakes can happen, and John Quincy might get the drug meant for John Quentin.

That challenging problem is the focus of a new project led by Brenda Betancourt, an associate professor in 911��'s Department of Statistics. Funded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the project will examine how researchers assess and report the uncertainty that arises when records from different sources are linked.

Betancourt will apply Bayesian statistical models, her research focus, for the project. Photo provided

In the FDA's case, that could mean combining electronic health records from medical providers with Medicare claims, pharmacy records, and other sources. Linking those sources can give researchers richer information about a patient's experience with a drug, medical device, or treatment.

But doing that accurately can be difficult, and small details can make a big difference. For example, a person's first and middle names might appear in one database but only a first name in another. An address may change. Other identifying information may be missing or inconsistent. Two people, such as a father and son, could even share the same name.

“You have a high probability when names appear to match, that those are the same person, but there is no way to confirm,” Betancourt said. “If important information, such as date of birth, is missing, you cannot distinguish between them. What I want to do is evaluate how the linkage quality and the uncertainty that comes with it is evaluated, reported, and incorporated into regulatory inference.”

Record linkage was included in an FDA announcement seeking proposals because the issue cuts across many of the agency's responsibilities, from medical devices to rare diseases. The FDA was interested in data linked by outside sponsors, such as pharmaceutical companies conducting post-market surveillance of their products.

Betancourt said the agency wants the resulting framework to help those organizations understand what information they should report and what potential problems they should consider when conducting linkage studies.

“We want to share it with sponsors to guide them through what they need to be reporting. It will tell them what to take into consideration when they are doing their linkage studies,” she said. It would also provide FDA reviewers with a way to evaluate those studies and determine whether uncertainty in the linkage could affect their conclusions.

The problem extends well beyond any single type of medical data. Health care providers themselves may use different electronic record systems at different locations, making it difficult to connect information even within the same health system.

“Sometimes each location even has a different electronic health record system that is not standardized,” Betancourt said. “You can go to the same big umbrella health system, go to two different locations, and your data is not going to be synced.”

A universal identifier across databases would make matching records far easier, but often no such identifier exists. That leaves researchers piecing together records using information that may itself be incomplete or inconsistent.

Betancourt will begin the FDA project by examining the record-linkage methods currently being used in studies submitted by sponsors. That review will help determine the statistical approaches she uses later in the project.

Which approach proves most useful will depend on what Betancourt finds when she digs into those records. When medical decisions depend on getting John Quincy's records rather than John Quentin's, the devil, as they say, is in the details.

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Twenty 911�� researchers receive 4-VA funding for collaborative research

Katarina Benson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:11:33 +0000

Twenty 911�� researchers receive 4-VA funding for collaborative research Katarina Benson Thu, 10/08/2026 - 12:11

4-VA@Mason, part of the 4-VA state network, has announced 20 collaborative research awards for 911�� faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year. The selected proposals were chosen from the largest number of submissions received since the program’s inception more than a decade ago.

4-VA is a statewide consortium of nine Virginia higher education institutions that encourages collaboration and relationship-building across the humanities and sciences and provides seed funding for novel research projects. The program provides a foundation that builds on the strengths of each institution, reduces the redundancies of working in silos, and affords opportunities for student experiential research.

Robotics are a vital part of the 4-VA projects this year. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“Our 4-VA program is a wonderful example of how supporting cross-institutional efforts can improve higher education and boost faculty and student research, which benefits our state and beyond,” said Janette Muir, 4-VA@Mason campus coordinator and vice provost for academic affairs.

In addition to 911��, the other members of the 4-VA consortium are Christopher Newport University (CNU), the College of William and Mary (W&M), James Madison University (JMU), Old Dominion University (ODU), Radford University (RU), University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech (VT).

Listed below are 911�� faculty acting as lead principal investigator (PI) for collaborative research grants this cycle and collaborating institutions:

Breana Bayraktar, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, A Cross-Institutional Study of AI-Influenced Feedback Practices (UVA, JMU, W&M)
Sungsoo Ray Hong, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), Multi-Robot Video Sensemaking for Urban Missing Person Search in Public Safety Operations (VT)
Emily Ihara, College of Public Health (CPH), Opening Minds Through Art in Virginia (JMU)
Jennifer Salerno, Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), Characterizing the influence of the coral microbiome on coral resilience and restoration potential of American Samoa’s reefs (ODU)
Daniel W. Smith, CEC, Disinfection Byproduct Formation Mechanisms and Toxicity at the Solid-Liquid Interface of Chlorocyanurate Tablets (VT)
Monique van Hoek, College of Science, Breaking Down Silicate Like Sea Sponges: Using Bacteria to Produce a Biocatalyst for Rare Earth Element Extraction (VT)
Allison Ward, College of Education and Human Development, Virginia Coaching Collaborative: Improving Clinical Practicum Experiences for Reading Specialist Candidates (JMU, RU, UVA)
Xuesu Xiao, CEC, Agile, Proactive, and Autonomous First Responder Robots (UVA)

Additionally, partner 4-VA institutions have called on 911�� faculty for their expertise and experience in a wide variety of areas to act as co-PI in research efforts at other schools. These faculty members have received supplemental funding known as complementary grants:

Lab work in action. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Tanvir Arafin, CEC, ANCHOR: Analog–Cyber Sensing for Secure Energy Infrastructure (UVA)
Karen Grace, CPH, Sexual Violence and Reproductive Coercion Among College Students with Disabilities (UVA)
Moinul Hossain, CEC, Machine Learning-Driven Predictive Secure Beamforming for NextG UAV Networks (JMU)
Brittany Johnson-Matthews, CEC, Beyond Chat: Generative User Interfaces (UI) for AI-Guided Developer Onboarding in Large-Scale Codebases (VT)
Mirae Kim, Schar School of Policy and Government, Leading Change Conference 2027: Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Leadership Studies (JMU) and Scaling Up Nonprofit Health and Resiliency Assessment in Virginia Funding Proposal (JMU)
Yi-Ching Lee, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Understanding Autistic Adults’ Needs with Executive Functioning Support Apps (UVA)
Cynthia Smith, PEREC, EcoQuests: Reconnecting Youth with Nature through Digital Exploration of Urban Greenspace (VT)
Chaowei Yang, COS, AI-Enabled, Stakeholder-Integrated, Context-Sensitive Data Center Planning Framework (VT)
Ziyu Yao, CEC, Improving Safety in Large Language Model Responses Targeted at Youth (UVA)
Xiaokuan Zhang, CEC, Building Trustworthy Audit Systems via Hardware Security Primitives (UVA)

Additionally, 4-VA@Mason will be supporting an extension of a 2025-26 project:

Quentin Saunders, CEC, Restoring Functional Grasp in Stroke Survivors: A Semi-Autonomous Hand Exoskeleton with Coordinated Thumb-Finger Sequencing (UVA).

“Quentin and his team have made exciting advances in the development of a hand exoskeleton for stroke victims, which has been very well received in testing. However, with just a little more work, they believe the exoskeleton can be expanded for a much broader range of tasks for use in activities of daily living,” Muir said. “It’s just this type of project that 4-VA can bring to life.”

The next cycle of proposals for the academic year 2027-28 will open mid-December 2026 and will be found on the 4-VA@Mason website. Questions can be directed to mason4va@gmu.edu.

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New educational wind tunnel gives 911��'s aerospace program wings

sholla4 — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:33:30 +0000

New educational wind tunnel gives 911��'s aerospace program wings sholla4 Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:33

"And that's Aeronautics 101." Robert Gallo, adjunct professor of aeronautics in the College of Engineering and Computing, clicks the cap back on the whiteboard marker. He opens a box of various objects: golf balls, plastic models, and airfoils. With an airfoil in hand, he prepares the tabletop Matrix wind tunnel. This, he says, is the fun part. "Now, let's fire up the fan and see what we can do."

In 911��'s wind tunnel lab, located in the Life Sciences and Engineering Building on 911��'s Science and Technology Campus, the next generation of mechanical engineers learn the foundations of aeronautics and aerospace engineering. Supported by Gallo, the lab was envisioned to permit students to get hands-on experience with aero technology. This summer, the lab installed 911��'s first large-scale educational wind tunnel (EWT), funded by a GO Virginia grant supporting the Nexus234 Innovation District.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“The addition of this wind tunnel is a strong example of how 911�� and Nexus234 are aligning education and research infrastructure with real industry demand in a growing aerospace and defense sector,” said Amy Adams, executive director of the Nexus234 Innovation District. “Hands-on assets like this help prepare students for high-demand careers, strengthen connections with industry partners, and reinforce the region’s position as a place where innovation, talent, and economic growth come together.”

"We've seen a huge increase in mechanical engineering students over the past 10 years," explained Gallo. "I think it's because students can see it. They can touch it. It affects so many things in their lives. Airplanes, automobiles, complex machines: If it moves, it's mechanical engineering. They're excited about it. And my goal for the class is to feed excitement."

Upon opening in 2025, the lab was equipped with three Matrix wind tunnels, each just over 5.5 feet long. Within the glass test section, students place test articles such as drag force models and wing sections of various shapes. Users can adjust the air speed as well as the angle of the object relative to the wind. Sensors detect lift, drag, and pressure. By introducing harmless smoke into the tunnel, students can see how the air flow moves above and below the objects.

The new EWT measures about seven feet tall, five and a half feet wide, and 18 feet long. Students will use the smaller Matrix wind tunnels to learn the basics of practical experimentation and aerodynamic testing and then apply their knowledge to extended experiments at higher speeds and larger sizes in the Aerolab EWT.

“The new large wind tunnel will be incredibly impactful, providing students real, hands-on experience that we haven't had before, even with the existing smaller tunnels,” said Morgan-Rose Coltrain, a current mechanical engineering student in Gallo’s course this semester.

And it’s not just students in-class that can benefit from this new technology. Phillip Cunio, professor of practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and leader in developing 911��’s aerospace program, noted that the EWT provides further opportunities for engaging with student organizations and industry partners. “I’m looking forward to the ways the Aerolab wind tunnel may benefit some of our registered student organizations—such as the High-Powered Rocketry team or the Formula SAE team—that test and operate fast-moving vehicles,” he said.

Cunio and Gallo are of the same mind in their belief that introducing students to this technology and providing hands-on experience gives students pursuing jobs in aerodynamics a competitive advantage. This EWT, for example, is manufactured by Aerolab, whose extensive client list includes the Navy, Lockheed, NASA, Boeing, and dozens of other clients. "If we want our students to represent 911�� well, they need to bring as much to that industry partner as they possibly can," said Gallo.

Experiential learning is the foundation of Gallo's pedagogy. One of his efforts has students 3D-print and test propellers, then compare their results to store-bought propellers. Even with nearly identical dimensions, the performance results of the homemade propellers are substantially different that the theoretical values or the store-bought propeller performance. It's a lesson in how there's more to aerodynamics than the equation: What a wing is made of and how it's fabricated are important in gauging performance.

"That's the engineering process: design, analyze, build, test, break, fix, and do it again," he said. "I think they're much better prepared to go into the industry if they've had the opportunity to have practical experience with both failure and success."

The lab has space for an additional EWT, which Gallo hopes can be added in the future. But this first one, Gallo said, is a huge step in raising the university's profile in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

"911�� has a reputation that keeps growing, and this is going to be a piece of it."

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

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Unlocking value from silicon-rich waste with help from biology

tdonnel — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:20:34 +0000

Unlocking value from silicon-rich waste with help from biology tdonnel Mon, 10/05/2026 - 13:20

Mine tailings and other silicon-rich wastes may look like materials with little value left. But locked within their tough mineral structures can be valuable elements and resources that are difficult—and often energy-intensive—to recover.

Mine tailings, one of the silicon-rich waste streams being considered in the project. Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain.

As part of a newly funded National Science Foundation collaborative research project, 911�� researchers are exploring whether nature can offer a different way to unlock those resources.

“Many of these materials still contain valuable resources, but they are locked inside very stable silicate structures,” said Xijin (Emma) Zhang, an assistant professor in 911��’s Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering. "We would like to explore alternative and sustainable ways to break down these materials and recover what is valuable from them."

Silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth’s crust and is a major component of minerals in rocks, mine tailings, concrete, and many industrial materials. Yet breaking down these stable silicate structures can require high temperatures, substantial energy, or highly corrosive chemicals. Zhang and her collaborators are investigating whether biological processes can accomplish some of these transformations under much milder conditions.

Xijin (Emma) Zhang. Photo provided.

The effort brings together researchers from five institutions, including 911��, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Maryland, the University of California San Diego, and University of Massachusetts Amherst. By combining expertise in engineering, biology, geochemistry, and materials science, the researchers hope not only to develop new approaches for processing silicon-rich materials, but also to establish a new interdisciplinary field they call “Si-X TechnoBioGeoChemistry.”

At 911��, Zhang is working with Monique Van Hoek, a professor in the School of Systems Biology in the College of Science, to explore how microorganisms and the molecules they produce interact with silicate minerals. The collaboration brings together biological and engineering perspectives to better understand how natural processes can be harnessed to transform materials that are otherwise difficult to break down.

Monique Van Hoek. Photo: Creative Services, Office of University Branding.

The project builds on Zhang’s years of research in biomineralization. After studying calcium-based biomineralization during her PhD work, Zhang expanded her work to silicon-rich materials while continuing to explore how biological systems can reshape materials in sustainable ways.

The researchers are especially interested in waste streams such as mining residues, demolished concrete, and industrial byproducts. Rather than viewing these materials simply as waste to be managed, the team sees them as potential resources. According to Zhang, these materials often contain valuable elements trapped within strong silicate matrices, while the silicon-rich material itself may also have potential for reuse.

"We can turn these waste resources into useful material, and that can first create new value, and second, reduce some waste and reduce some management cost associated with the waste," she said.

Zhang's lab is developing bio-enabled methods to break down and transform silicate materials under mild conditions. They are investigating how microorganisms, biological molecules, and other nature-inspired processes can replace or complement conventional approaches that rely on extreme temperatures and harsh chemicals.

"We're focusing on how to use sustainable and bio-enabled pathways to break these waste materials down in a low-energy and low carbon–emission way,” Zhang said. “At the same time, we want to understand how we can release valuable components and make the remaining materials useful again."

Silica-based skeletons in glass sponges. Photo: Randolph Femmer/USGS, Public Domain.

The approach could open new pathways for using resources recovered from silicon-rich waste. Silicon-containing materials produced through these processes could potentially be reused in a wide range of applications, including new cement and concrete materials, glass products, electronic technologies, while valuable elements released from the silicate matrix could contribute to the recovery of critical minerals. During the initial two-year phase, researchers will investigate the fundamental biological, chemical, and geological processes that control these transformations and evaluate the feasibility of the overall approach. Those findings will help the team identify the most promising directions for future development.

Beyond the scientific advances, the initiative will provide interdisciplinary training opportunities for graduate students and researchers working across traditional disciplinary boundaries. By bringing together biology, geology, and engineering, Zhang and her collaborators aim to rethink how society extracts value from secondary resources and how materials now considered waste might become resources for the next generation of technologies.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of building a more climate-resilient society.

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911�� is one of the first 14 institutions to receive Carnegie's new classification for sustainability. Read More >>

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Microgrids meet the market

Nathan Kahl — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:47:36 +0000

Microgrids meet the market Nathan Kahl Fri, 10/02/2026 - 08:47

For a large organization, cutting the electric bill isn't necessarily as simple as using less electricity. In fact, avoiding one brief spike in demand can save far more money than reducing overall consumption.

Alex Brodsky, a professor in the Department of Computer Science. Photo provided

Alex Brodsky, a professor in the 911�� Department of Computer Science, and his research team developed technology that can help organizations make complex decisions about how to manage energy resources and evaluate potential investments.

A $50,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through its Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program is helping Brodsky explore how to move that technology from research to market. I-Corps teaches researchers to evaluate the commercial potential of technologies developed through academic research. Participants identify possible markets and customers and conduct at least 100 interviews with those potential customers.

“The interviews are instrumental,” Brodsky said. “Some of your hypotheses turn out to be false, while other things you hadn't considered turn out to be true.”

Much of this I-Corps work is being led by Xu (Ethan) Han, a former PhD student of Brodsky's who is now a faculty member in 911��'s Department of Computer Science. Han serves as an entrepreneurial lead for the project, called Microgrid Optima.

Microgrids coordinate multiple energy resources within a local energy system. They can integrate electricity from the power grid with on-site generation, energy storage, building systems, and other energy resources.

Microgrid Optima helps determine how those resources should work together. Instead of relying primarily on preset operating schedules, the system can recommend what individual components should do at intervals throughout the day. It can also help organizations decide which new energy resources make financial sense before making potentially expensive investments. Many commercial and industrial customers’ electric bills are determined not by just how much electricity they use, but also by what their peak demand is; a short period of unusually high demand can significantly affect future bills.

An organization might thus choose to use a battery during a demand spike and recharge it later. “Energy storage by itself doesn't save the total amount of energy you use,” Brodsky said, but this strategy may reduce peak usage enough to produce substantial savings. As a result, investing in an expensive battery can sometimes quickly pay for itself.

The challenge is figuring out when such an investment makes sense and how it interacts with everything else in the system. “Thinking of how you invest in each component in isolation is a bad approach, because the components have a very strong operational interaction,” he said.

The team is exploring a range of potential markets for the technology, with the I-Corps interviews helping identify which types of organizations and energy environments present the strongest opportunities. One seemingly obvious market, data centers, is less promising because their operators place a much higher priority on securing enough electrical capacity than on reducing costs.

Microgrid Optima draws on decision-guidance technology Brodsky's research group developed over many years and applied to problems ranging from energy and autonomous vehicles to pandemic response. During the COVID pandemic, Brodsky worked with 911�� epidemiologist Amira Roess in the College of Public Health to develop a system for evaluating combinations of testing, contact tracing, symptom reporting, and other mitigation measures. The university adopted many of the team's recommendations.

The I-Corps program could be an early step toward bringing the latest application of that technology to customers. After the team's interviews help identify its most promising market, Brodsky said, other federal programs, including Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer funding, could provide routes toward commercialization.

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From conservation to clean energy, summer programming helps students learn to build climate-resilient societies

sholla4 — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:24:40 +0000

From conservation to clean energy, summer programming helps students learn to build climate-resilient societies sholla4 Thu, 09/24/2026 - 10:24

From solving climate challenges through research to preparing the next climate leaders, 911�� is applying science, policy, and innovation to safeguard communities and ecosystems. And that commitment includes developing leadership and talent to produce solutions for our global community.

These interdisciplinary summer programs are helping the next generation of conservationists, environmentalists, and sustainability experts develop the critical skills needed to help build a climate-resilient society and a more resilient future.

Participant explores a nuclear reactor through virtual reality at the 2026 Constellation Small Modular Reactor Summer Academy. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

In Front Royal, Virginia, the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) opened its doors over the summer for high school students to gain college credit while exploring conservation through different but complementary perspectives: CONS 100 Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology and CONS 110 Natural History Illustration.

Students in CONS 100 participated in field investigations, testing research questions in a guided pilot study. In CONS 110, an online course, students learned to accurately observe and document the natural world through scientific illustration, with sketching practice, anatomical study, and lessons in different artistic mediums. Through both courses, students engaged in immersive, hands-on learning experiences that emphasize scientific inquiry, conservation, and observation.

“Whether they’re collecting field data or illustrating flora and fauna, we want the students to realize that observation is a powerful scientific skill,” said Robert Barrett, assistant director of recruitment and outreach for SMSC. “If they remember that conservation begins with paying close attention and that they have the ability to contribute through critical thinking and creativity, then they’ll carry something valuable with them long after the course ends.”

Together, these programs prepare the next generation of conservation leaders by teaching them the power of combining arts and sciences in observation, documentation, communication, and research to help communities adapt to environmental change and protect biodiversity. “By empowering students to translate observation into action, these courses contribute to the university's goal of building a more sustainable and climate-resilient society,” said Barrett.

Constellation Small Modular Reactor Summer Academy

Moving east from the mountains to Arlington, the inaugural Constellation Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Summer Academy at Fuse at Mason Square tackled questions of climate resilience through sustainable energy.

“The academy directly explores the challenge of providing reliable, resilient, and low-carbon electricity as demand continues to grow,” explained Liling Huang. During the week-long program, students participated in hands-on activities involving the NuScale SMR simulator at 911��’s E2 Center, built Lego-based SMR applications, and took virtual reality tours of a nuclear power plant and renewable energy facilities. The camp concluded with a poster presentation competition attended by industry professionals.

“We want students to see the breadth of educational and career opportunities available in the energy industry,” said Huang.

By exploring potential solutions to the challenges of providing reliable, resilient, and low-carbon electricity, students began to develop the necessary skills to create a more resilient energy future.

“They can be a part of solving some of the most important energy challenges facing society,” said Huang. “They do not have to wait until they graduate from college to start thinking creatively, conducting research, and contributing ideas.”

Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

Across the Potomac River, the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) immersed students in the world of environmental conservation and sustainability. Over the course of one week, rising juniors and seniors in high school explored careers and developed the skillsets required to create actionable solutions, foster resilient communities, and ensure a sustainable future.

Led by faculty with expertise in environmental science, conservation, policy, law, and engineering, the youth delegates met with states’ U.S. Congressional Representatives and Senators; explored national and state parks, caverns, and waterways; toured the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute; and heard from industry professionals such as conservation photographers, environmental project managers, animal keepers, marine biologists, and many more.

A tentpole of the youth delegate experience was roleplaying exercises, such as an intensive problem-solving water quality simulation. These sessions allow students to apply what they’ve learned to real-world problems and develop solutions.

“These high school students learn tangible skills and connect on a human level, with a goal of being impactful, empowered, and trustworthy citizens at home and abroad,” said Dawn Aponte.

Constellation Small Modular Reactor Summer Academy at Fuse in Mason Square campus. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

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Patriot parking predictions putting students in the proper spot

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:30:56 +0000

Patriot parking predictions putting students in the proper spot Nathan Kahl Wed, 09/23/2026 - 18:30

College students are already under a load of stress with classes, tests, and presentations. So when something as “easy” as finding a parking spot is anything but, it can cause a bad start to an already challenging day.

With that in mind, a team of 911�� students developed an app that uses data and artificial intelligence (AI) to remove the guesswork and save students from those interminable trips to the top of a parking garage, only to find it’s completely full.

Parkeye predicts parking availability, helps users find lots that match their permits, and provides information about parking changes and closures. The app was created by computer science students Tona Otoro and Sami Saleh, with support from computer science students Shabeer Manalai, Trong-Tin Mai, and Rafsan Islam, and Aayusha Sapkota from the Costello College of Business.

The idea grew out of a familiar student experience: arriving on campus without knowing where to park. “Everyone's kind of having this similar problem,” Manalai said. The team did market research by surveying students around campus and found that many students struggled with everything from finding open spaces to understanding parking regulations.

The team then approached 911��'s Parking and Transportation office, which provided five years of parking data that became a foundation for the app.

“We frequently partner with students on class projects and what made the Parkeye team unique was that they pursued this project independently, outside of a formal class or research program,” said Josh Cantor, director of Parking and Transportation. “We applaud the students' initiative and innovative approach; their crowdsourcing model reflects the kind of creative thinking that can contribute to future parking technology solutions. We are evaluating a variety of approaches, including crowdsourcing, camera-based technologies, and space sensors to help improve the parking experience for our campus community."

The app considers about two dozen factors when predicting parking availability, including historical data, class schedules, weather, the distance between lots and buildings, and the number of classes taking place during particular time periods. As more people use the app, the team can incorporate additional data and retrain its models.

Saleh said the initial model achieved approximately 91% accuracy against the parking data provided by the university. The developers also have testers visit parking areas to compare actual availability with the app's predictions, using those results to continue refining the model.

And the app does more than predict whether a lot is crowded. Users can filter parking by space type, including electric vehicle charging spaces, and receive updates about lot closures and other changes that could affect parking.

Users appear interested. The app launched September 2 and has around 600 users as of this writing. Much of that early growth came through social media, including an Instagram video with more than 30,000 views.

The team is already looking beyond Fairfax. The app includes parking information for James Madison University and Virginia Tech, and the students are reaching out to other universities about potential partnerships.

They are also beginning to think like entrepreneurs. The students registered an LLC and are working toward becoming a Virginia vendor, which could eventually allow them to establish a formal partnership with 911��. They have also met with leadership of 911��'s MIX Incubator about joining its entrepreneurship program.

“Meeting Sami and Tona underscored the energy and determination they bring to their parking‑prediction app,” said Gisele Stolz, senior director, entrepreneurship programs. “We are thrilled to support students with this level of motivation and vision, and we hope their journey mirrors the successes achieved by other standout MIX teams.”

Stolz explained that through the MIX Innovators Launchpad, students receive mentoring, structured entrepreneurial guidance, some funding to support early discovery work, and the opportunity to compete for prize money as they advance their ideas. Paired with the NSF I‑Corps short course, the program teaches teams how to translate technical insights into market‑ready solutions with the help of seasoned mentors.

Eventually, Saleh sees applications well beyond college campuses, including hospitals, malls, stadiums and other places where drivers face the same basic question. “It's not just being able to see where parking is, it's being able to see the right parking spot for each user.”

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