The MIX

Future inventors and innovators get hands-on with 911��'s summer programs

sholla4 — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:16:02 +0000

Future inventors and innovators get hands-on with 911��'s summer programs sholla4 Fri, 08/21/2026 - 10:16

As new technologies reshape our lives and culture, 911�� aims to be an ambassador of thoughtful collaboration between human and machine. The Grand Challenge Initiative solution of "driving responsible digital innovation and sustainable infrastructure" calls on faculty, researchers, and students to consider technology holistically and in context to help shape a digital future that is as ethical as it is advanced.

This year, both new and established summer camps across 911��'s Virginia campuses let high school students and undergraduates get hands-on experience with emerging technologies while demonstrating the importance of responsible use, paving the path for the next generation of innovators and inventors.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

MIX Maker Academy

On the Fairfax Campus, the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) is a central hub for innovation, exploration, and creativity at 911��, hosting a makerspace, media lab, and entrepreneurship incubator. From developing bio-inspired blimps to helping students jumpstart their start-ups, the MIX is a campus leader of responsible digital innovation and sustainable infrastructure.

This year, the MIX launched its inaugural summer camp program, introducing high school students to interdisciplinary innovation and principles of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) by building an integrated design project from the ground up.

During the two-week program, campers learn about the professional tools and technologies used in engineering, design, robotics, and digital media production, such as 3D printing, sewing and embroidery, woodshop, laser cutting, and studio lighting and camera work. By the end of the program, students have multiple small fabrication projects, integrated design projects, and a multimedia blog portfolio demonstrating their work and the skills developed during camp.

"We guide and encourage students to envision project ideas that would have a positive impact on the world, benefiting people, communities, and our environment," said Max B. Kazemzadeh, MIX makerspace and events manager.

MARC Robotics Academy

Another new opportunity for students this summer came from the College of Engineering and Computing's Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC) Robotics Academy: an ongoing internship program for high school and undergraduates to work alongside 911��'s robotics faculty and graduate students.

"The program is designed to give students firsthand experience with the research process while building technical and professional skills," said Jesse Kirkpatrick, associate research professor and codirector of MARC. "They get hands-on experience in technologies that are shaping the future."

Academy interns support cutting-edge research through hardware platform development, data collection and analysis, testing and coding machine learning, and more. This summer, for example, students who worked with Missy Cummings, professor and codirector of MARC, and Kirkpatrick built a data set to investigate how well large language models can search, retrieve, and identify relevant information within large collections of Freedom of Information Act documents. A team with Cameron Nowzari, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, helped research the design, development, and deployment of robot swarms.

"By developing both technical expertise and an appreciation for responsible innovation, the academy helps prepare future leaders who can contribute to secure, trustworthy, and sustainable technological solutions," said Kirkpatrick.

ACCESS Academy AI summer camp

At Mason Square, the second annual ACCESS Academy AI summer camp also prepared students for the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

Beginner session campers learned to program micro:bit robots to follow a track through Microsoft MakeCode. Advanced sessions campers spent their week learning Python programming and building functional code to make XRP robots autonomously traverse a maze. As these high school students develop machine-learning skills, faculty, staff, and 911�� students lead conversations about AI's real-world applications and regulations.

“We hope that the participants of our camp see the connection between the concepts of coding and the practical implementation of physical AI in real-time applications," said Roberto Pamas, ACCESS Academy director.

ACCESS Academy's AI summer camp exposes students to problem-based learning through real-world challenges as students develop skills in tech tools that boost their creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The camp also gives students a taste of what the College of Education and Human Development's (CEHD) ACCESS Academy—a no-cost alternative educational pathway that expands access to information technology education and skills for any rising 9th-12th grade student in the Commonwealth of Virginia—has to offer.

"ACCESS AI summer camp is demonstrating firsthand how new technologies and learning are shaping education and the world around us," said Christy Hudson of CEHD's Office of Strategic Enrollment. "We are helping shape the digital future."

Bold Solutions for a Changing World

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Missy Cummings

Cameron Nowzari

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Rising senior’s internship steers her in the right direction

sbrown79 — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:57:33 +0000

Rising senior’s internship steers her in the right direction sbrown79 Wed, 08/19/2026 - 10:57

At first glance, it might seem usual for a graphic design major to intern at a car dealership. But for 911�� rising senior Rayna Roades, her role as a marketing operations intern at Pohanka Automotive has revealed a strong connection between the creative skills she’s learned in the classroom and the work she’s doing in the professional world.

One of her major projects with the company has been putting together Pohanka’s annual student yearbook, an assignment she said connects directly to what she learned in her AVT 313 Publication Design course.

“In my publication design course, I learned a lot about how to set up a good book. We did a cookbook and a magazine, both of which were really instrumental in preparing me to set up the yearbook,” said Roades.

Roades (second from left) and her internship colleagues. Photo provided.

At Pohanka Automotive, Roades is gaining hands-on experience in marketing, publication design, and photography. Roades said the internship has strengthened the creative and technical skills she’s developed at 911�� and reinforced one of the biggest lessons she has learned so far: Growth often comes through trial and error.

“It's a lot of hard work, but it’s fun. Now, I'm confident in my ability to do things like set up a media program, quick color grading, and artistically capture a story through a video or one still image,” she said.

Her contributions to the company’s marketing efforts include filming and editing content, auditing websites, and contacting customers.

Roades, who has a minor in studio art, also contributed to event planning for Pohanka, coordinating the company’s Fourth of July parade entry in Leesburg, Virginia. She managed details such as costumes, decorations, vehicle assignments, and communication with parade organizers.

Roades (second from left) working alongside her internship colleagues. Photo provided.

Beyond the technical work, Roades said the internship has given her a better understanding of workplace culture. She travels between dealerships to photograph and interview fellow interns for the company yearbook.

During her breaks, she visits different parts of the company and talks with employees across brands, including Acura, Lexus, and Chevrolet, to better understand the organization and create more authentic content. Interns also meet weekly at the Pohanka Automotive Operations Center to learn from one another and share updates on their work.

Roades said 911�� faculty played an important role in preparing her for the opportunity as she was recommended for the internship by a professor and advisor, who helped her build the foundation she now uses every day.

“Rayna is an exceptional and imaginative student who consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and creativity,” said School of Art adjunct faculty member Peter Kery, who taught Roades’s Publication Design course.

“She approaches every task with careful attention to craft and detail, particularly in image-making and illustration. Based on her performance in class, I believe she has the potential to become a strong leader who can think critically and take initiative,” he said.

Roades also works as a media lab specialist in Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) and hopes to expand her content creation skills by contributing to social media efforts connected to the Makerspace as well as to the Flourish and Bloom Research Lab in the College of Public Health.

“911�� and my professors have done such a great job of making sure that I can transition from college into the work industry,” Roades said.

For other students preparing for internships and careers, Roades offers simple advice: “We have a saying in sales: Selling is 90% emotion and 10% facts. Be nice to people.”

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This student is tasting start-up success with a meal delivery service for seniors

sholla4 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:33:08 +0000

This student is tasting start-up success with a meal delivery service for seniors sholla4 Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:33

Starting a business is a delicate task. Even if you get the measurements just right, without a dash of innovation, a sprinkle of luck, and a heaping spoonful of courage, it’s likely to go straight from the oven to the bin.

Zachary Suh prepares food in the College of Public Health's Nutrition Kitchen. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Zachary Suh, however, is mastering the recipe.

Suh, a marketing major in the Costello College of Business, member of the Honors College, and a University Scholar at 911��, founded HomePlate, formerly Elderly Eats, in his sophomore year. It’s a meal service for seniors that provides medically thoughtful and culturally relevant meals made fresh and delivered right to their doorstep.

The idea first took root during COVID-19 lockdowns, when Suh’s grandmother moved in with the family as her Alzheimer’s reached late-stage. “My mom, who is a 911�� professor, became her full-time caregiver,” he said. "Caregiving takes a huge physical and emotional toll. I wanted to help her in any way I could.”

Leaning into his love for cooking, Suh took over making all the meals for his family: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He discovered that his grandmother was most interested in Korean food. “Even with her cognitive decline, you could tell she enjoyed those meals much more,” he said.

This discovery led him to another: a major gap in senior food delivery. “At one point, we looked into meal service for seniors, but we couldn’t find anything that did culturally relevant meals,” he said.

Suh is familiar with start-ups: his older brother, Jeremy Suh, founded an AI company while in college. “He’s a big inspiration for me, very much my mentor,” Suh said. “We talked about this idea for a food delivery service, about how I could bring this onto a larger scale.”

And from those conversations, Suh was encouraged to apply for the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition, hosted by Costello College of Business. HomePlate won first place in the General Entrepreneurship Track and was selected as a Mason’s Choice Award Prize winner, earning Suh $7,000 to start turning his idea into reality.

“From the very outset, what impressed me most about Zach was his unwavering commitment to helping caregivers and seniors by providing them with nutritious, culturally relevant meals that could be consumed at home,” said Jerry Pierce, MBA ’92, a retired KPMG partner and professor of accounting at Costello. “His passion for helping others is always on full display and was a big reason the audience selected him for the Mason’s Choice Award.”

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Previously, HomePlate provided meal plans with an in-house demonstration of meal prep. Now, they’re transitioning to a fresh meal delivery service. Suh works with a registered dietician to craft meals that meet the variety of dietary and health needs of senior populations, such as diabetic restrictions, sodium control, low cholesterol, and general wellness. During the pilot program in March, HomePlate focused on Korean meals with hopes to expand to other cuisines in late 2026.

For Suh, now a junior at 911��, this shift lets him get back to doing what he loves: cooking. He is making all the meals from scratch in partnership with Kitchen of Purpose in Arlington. “You’ll see me at every stage,” he said. “In the grocery store, in the kitchen, delivering the meals, and then taking the trash out after.”

Being both a student and a business owner is certainly a balancing act. Suh said that it wouldn't be possible without the phenomenal support from 911��. Costello’s Office of Career Services and Jeremy Plotnick, director of minor programs for Costello, have been key supporters. Plotnick mentored Suh and helped him register his work on the business as an internship, allowing him to prepare for the relaunch while earning academic credit toward his degree. Working in the MIX incubator connected him to student and alumni entrepreneurs. Professors have offered advice. Even while studying abroad at Mason Korea, he was able to network and pitch his business through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as well as attend a one-week accelerator program in Australia.

“I don’t think you get this level of care and mentorship at other universities,” Suh said. “Being a 911�� student gives you access to this unparalleled network of professionals who have so much knowledge."

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Inside 911��’s first VR art classroom, students build new worlds

sbrown79 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:38:20 +0000

Inside 911��’s first VR art classroom, students build new worlds sbrown79 Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:38

When students step into AVT 496 Intro to VR for the Artist, they're not just walking into another studio course—they're entering entirely new worlds of their own making. 911��'s School of Art launched the course this spring, marking its first-ever deep dive into virtual reality (VR) as an artistic medium.

AVT 496 student presents their virtual reality world. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

Taught by John von Bergen, assistant professor of sculpture and expanded fields, the class meets inside the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) and previously held workshops in the visualization and virtual reality lab in Research Hall. For many students, it's their first time creating art in a fully immersive digital space.

Von Bergen designed the course to give artists hands-on experience with emerging tools shaping the future of digital art. His students primarily use Open Brush, a VR painting program that lets them draw, sculpt, and animate in 3D space using a wide range of virtual brushes.

"I imagine that there will be way more job opportunities for students who have the diverse skillset that relates to new media and potentially digital art fabrication," von Bergen said. "Exploring these tools in class helps students see what's possible."

There are 16 students in the course, which builds on the work students completed in his fall Aesthetics class, AVT 307. Five students from AVT 307 volunteered to create a pilot VR project titled "The Real Reality," now displayed in video form on the Digital Wall at Fuse at Mason Square.

Digital Wall at Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

The project showcases the students' first experiments with Open Brush—floating landscapes, glowing brushstrokes, and imaginative environments that stretch beyond the limits of traditional studio materials.

For sophomore art and visual technology major Ash Porrata, the course has been transformative. "This course experience has not only made me a better artist, but a better team member," she said. "It was really a group effort making something of this scale. We had to communicate constantly and work with Fuse faculty to keep everything on track."

Porrata, who hopes to become an animation director, said the VR tools opened up new creative possibilities. "Having access to the virtual world and virtual art is really inspiring. Getting to explore another side of visual art will be so helpful in the job market."

Junior transfer student Mason Caporuscio came into the course with no VR experience at all. By the end of the semester, he had built an entire virtual kitchen scene—complete with a fruit basket, a loaf of bread, a bar stool, and a wine glass.

"We each built our own world on the headsets, and the video just rotates through them, kind of like musical chairs," he said. "There was so much variety."

Mason Caporuscio presents his virtual reality world. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

Other students created fantasy forests, amusement park inspired spaces, and surreal environments that could only exist in VR.

Behind the scenes, the course has been supported by several 911�� partners. The Department of Computer Science provided much of the equipment, with faculty member Craig Yu offering guidance. MIX makerspace manager Max Kazemzadeh helped the class set up its own VR lab inside the MIX. Additional funding came from the School of Art, the Research and Teaching Support Fund, and the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research. The course will be offered again in Spring 2027.

"There are a lot of technical aspects that aren't typical for a sculpture class," von Bergen said. "Building good relationships with other colleges has been instrumental."

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The MIX: Where 911�� students turn ideas into impact

ckearney — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:41:10 +0000

The MIX: Where 911�� students turn ideas into impact ckearney Mon, 01/05/2026 - 13:41

At 911��, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a culture. One of the campus spaces championing this culture is the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), a hub where creativity and entrepreneurship intersect.

Computer science student Jagan Yekturi (left) took third place in the student track at the annual Accelerate Investor Conference. Photo provided

MIX programs, such as the MIX Incubator, the Student Innovators Launchpad, and featured programs working with drones, robotics, and other technologies, help 911�� students transform their bold ideas into real-world solutions with guidance from experienced mentors, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities.

In November 2025, 911�� student innovators made waves at the annual Accelerate Investor Conference, a two-day event held at Fuse at Mason Square in Arlington, which brought together investors, founders, and thought leaders. Among 50 start-ups and more than 20 student teams, four teams from the MIX Incubator and its Student Innovator Launchpad program—AccelP3 (bioinformatics and computational biology PhD students Morolake Okanlawon, Yingjie Zhang, and Hsuan Chih Kuo), Aniwear (mechanical engineering student Josh Peterson), Anvil Labs LLC. (electrical engineering students Justin Luckenbach and Chelsea Camacho-Zambrana), and EduVerse (computer science student Jagan Yekturi)—had the opportunity to pitch their ideas in the student track. These teams showcased cutting-edge solutions, from bioinformatics tools to heating and cooling wearable tech.

Yekturi’s EduVerse, earned third place and an $1,000 prize for its platform connecting students and recruiters. “The MIX Incubator strengthened my ability to define a clear Ideal Customer Profile and align my solution directly with customer pain points,” Yekturi said. “The feedback and support accelerated my learning far beyond what I expected.”

“The biggest benefit for us was getting a chance to network with people in our industry who could help us take our business to the next step,” said Luckenbach, co-founder of Anvil Labs LLC.

Doctoral student Morolake Okanlawon (with microphone) presents on behalf of the AccelP3 team at Accelerate Investors Conference. Photo provided

The MIX experience goes beyond competition. Through integration with the National Science Foundation I-Corps program, students gain exposure to lean start-up principles, customer discovery, and commercialization strategies—all essential for scaling a business.

Gisele Stolz, senior director of Entrepreneurship Programs and director and co-PI of 911��’s I-Corps Program; Sampson Addo, program manager of the I-Corps Program; and Minjin Batzorig, the MIX’s program and operations coordinator, manage and provide support for these programs. Mentors like George Siragusa of the Virginia Small Business Development Centers, Adam Phillips of AthletesInnovate, and Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program mentors Elizabeth Pyle and William McPheat provided invaluable guidance throughout the journey.

The MIX Student Innovators Launchpad is designed to help junior and senior undergraduate, masters, and PhD students transform ideas rooted in tech and deep-science research into viable businesses. Participants learn about customer discovery, market evaluation, and commercialization strategies, emphasized through integration with the NSF I-Corps program. The program culminates in a showcase where students pitch to a panel of investors, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs, making the Accelerate Conference a natural extension of their entrepreneurial journey.

Doctoral student Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan took first place for breast cancer screening technology at the Pitch Enterpreneur competition in November. Photo provided

The MIX Launchpad concluded in November with a Pitch Entrepreneur Competition, where AeroHealth, led by civil and infrastructure engineering PhD candidate Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan, won first place for her innovative approach to breast cancer screening.

“The MIX Pitch Entrepreneur Competition showed me that success comes from stepping out of comfort, embracing challenge, and growing through failure,” Shan said.

Looking ahead, the MIX Student Innovators Launchpad is recruiting for its Spring 2026 cohort. Applications are open until mid-January, and accepted teams will kick off on February 6. This program prepares students for opportunities like Patriot Pitch and other funding opportunities. Interested? Apply here.

To learn more about entrepreneurship opportunities at 911��, contact Batzorig at mbatzor@gmu.edu.

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The MIX unlocks innovation in teaching and research

ckearney — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:18:33 +0000

The MIX unlocks innovation in teaching and research ckearney Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:18

The Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) at 911�� is more than a makerspace—it’s a resource for transforming how faculty teach, explore, and conduct research.

MIX staff provides training on all the equipment available at the MIX. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Located on the first floor of Horizon Hall, the MIX is university-wide hub for innovation where faculty across the disciplines can enhance their curriculum, experiment with new technologies, and bring research ideas to life. Whether integrating hands-on prototyping into courses, designing a new research project, or exploring creative approaches to student engagement, the MIX and its team of experts provides the space, tools, and support to bring faculty ideas to fruition.

The MIX is quickly becoming a central hub where teaching, research, and entrepreneurship converge. With nearly 20,000 visitors each year and a dedicated team of 12 to 15 staff members, the MIX ensures that faculty receive the support they need to innovate in both teaching and research.

Building on this foundation, faculty are increasingly using the MIX as both a classroom extension and a research partner. The space is designed to support teaching in ways that go beyond lectures and slides, offering students direct experience with the design process, technical systems, and collaborative project work.

Students from the Aspiring Inventors Club work with 911�� researcher Lance Liotta (in blue) on a project at the MIX. Photo provided

Faculty report that when they bring their courses into the MIX, students leave with more than theory—they leave with portfolios that include prototypes, digital media, research outputs, and even digital badges in emerging technologies. These tangible outcomes make 911�� students more competitive when applying for jobs, internships, and graduate programs.

“The MIX gives faculty a place to extend their courses beyond the classroom and into a space where students can design, prototype, and test ideas in real time,” said Max Kazemzadeh, MIX manager and events coordinator. “The collaborative environment also fosters interdisciplinary connections—engineering students working alongside artists, or business students working with scientists—which mirrors the kind of teamwork graduates will encounter in the professional world.”

The value of space extends to creative work as well. School of Art faculty have used its facilities to collect experimental data, test new ideas, and fabricate art work. For example, Edgar Endress used the computer numerical control router to build a sculpture featured in the 2025 Arts in Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Biennial, while Sue Wrbican leveraged fabrication tools to expand her work in digital photography.

For some faculty, the partnership has been transformative.

“Collaborating with the MIX has been an essential opportunity to develop projects with our students that can grow to the next level,” School of Arts professor John von Bergen said.

As for students, the MIX and its staff assisted with class projects through their wide range of equipment, accompanied by easy-to-follow training. “The MIX helped me stay ahead of trends and technology,” said Audrey Kim, who graduated with a BFA in graphic design in May. “Although it's a learning curve, it’s worth conquering since these machines can be found in many other industries and having experience with them opens so many doors to new opportunities.”

Kim also appreciated how friendly and knowledgeable the MIX staff are. “When it comes to training or problem solving, it’s a team effort to make sure what you're working on meets your expectations.”

The staff provide hands-on workshops, safety training, and one-on-one consultations so faculty and their students can confidently work with the available 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, sewing machines, electronics workstations, and augmented and virtual reality equipment.

“Looking forward, we see the MIX enabling more cross-departmental collaborations, expanding opportunities for student research participation, and shaping innovative course design,” said Kazemzadeh.

He said that the MIX staff are eager to partner on curriculum design, research prototypes, and interdisciplinary projects. Representatives can visit departments, consult on course planning, or co-host workshops and events. To explore how the MIX can enhance teaching or research, contact Gisele Stoltz, senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation.

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A one-woman team puts many eyes in the skies

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:37:27 +0000

A one-woman team puts many eyes in the skies Nathan Kahl Wed, 10/01/2025 - 15:37

Fatima Majid, a 911�� senior majoring in cyber security engineering, was not just the only one-person team in the top 10 award winners at a recent National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) cyber competition, she was the only student team. Majid placed ninth out of 51 teams, most of them comprising industry experts.

“I went in, and they were all professional teams, like from Lockheed Martin. I thought, ‘I want to go home,’” said Majid with a laugh, describing her initial cold feet. “But I told myself I could do it. It helped that it was hosted at 911��, and I had professors there giving me support.”

Her project focused on how the Department of Defense (DoD) can protect critical U.S. infrastructure against low-cost drone attacks at scale, informed by Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb,” which used 117 drones to attack Russian air bases in June 2025.

Majid spent the summer in Richmond during a public policy internship. Photo provided

Majid’s lightbulb moment came with a flash as bright as a Virginia speed camera catching a lead-footed driver. Considering the significant network of traffic cameras in the commonwealth, she conceived SkyEyes. This applies an artificial intelligence (AI) model to the live feed of the Virginia 511 camera network, which provides real-time traffic information to citizens and transportation officials. SkyEyes demonstrated how a low-cost, AI-enabled surveillance layer could differentiate threats from non-threats, employing geofencing logic to define safe versus threat zones around sensitive sites.

“I understand how drones work because of what I’ve done at 911��’s MIX lab—and since I know how to build it, I also know how to jam it. I trained the AI model on a data set provided from a contest sponsor, and that data set had drone imaging and drone prototyping,” she said. “The camera feeds can find objects flying, but what if it’s an Amazon drone, for example? Then I added geofencing and threat analysis to observe the behavior of the drone—if it's a drone at 2 a.m., for example, maybe that's sketchy. So, the model gets smarter.”

Majid said that to access the cameras, all she had to do was make a phone call to the right person and explain her project. She cited time spent this summer at the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in the Undergraduate Policy Program (VASEM UPP) in Richmond as giving her confidence and exposure to how government works.

K. L. Akerlof, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at 911��, said, “The VASEM UPP is a unique opportunity for undergraduates to learn about opportunities in science policy at the state level. The immersive experience of spending a week in Richmond visiting the General Assembly and state agencies, while getting a crash course in how research evidence relates to public policy, can open new doors and career pathways.”

Majid said the strong showing gave her tremendous exposure to influential professional contacts. She fielded several questions about her simulation and future professional plans from a man she only later realized was Retired Brigadier General and NDIA Executive Vice President Guy Walsh.

“Because he showed interest, after he walked away, a crowd of people gathered around to ask me questions. It was very validating.”

She also had a long conversation about her project with Harley Stout, acting chief digital and AI officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Majid is still pleasantly shocked by her top-10 finish. She is working with Mohamed Gebril, an associate professor in Cyber Security Engineering, on expanding the research. She is confident that such a cost-efficient solution for critical infrastructure protection against drone attacks will attract more funding opportunities.

She credited the supportive culture at Mason—and her family—for keeping her grounded and encouraging her throughout, saying their support made the accomplishment even more meaningful.

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911��’s new visualization and virtual reality lab is changing how research is conducted

ckearney — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 18:35:42 +0000

911��’s new visualization and virtual reality lab is changing how research is conducted ckearney Wed, 02/05/2025 - 13:35

The oft-heard phrase “you had to be there” could disappear as the growth of virtual reality (VR) allows individuals to experience the world without ever leaving home. While the pandemic ushered in the era of Zoom classes and meetings—providing the opportunity to participate in classes or meetings with others in different locations—it is VR that creates tangible experiences where people in the same room or thousands of miles away can successfully collaborate.

911�� graduate student works with the virtual construction site in the Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab in Research Hall. Photo provided

With the opening of the new Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab in Research Hall—hosted by the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) and made possible with funds from the Tech Talent Investment Program—911�� has the opportunity to be part of this global movement and to be a leader in transdisciplinary research.

A ‘Cradle’ for Collaboration

The highly anticipated lab, which has been years in the making and serves as the hub of data analysis, visualization, and technology-enabled pedagogy for the university, provides countless opportunities for faculty to combine and advance their interests in new ways. It is also the ideal space to hold demonstrations for sponsoring agencies and partners.

Craig Yu, associate professor of Department of Computer Science, sees the lab as a “cradle for setting up interdisciplinary collaborations” that he believes will enhance the research synergy at 911��. His current work on a simulated construction site set in the future has brought together researchers from the College of Education and Human Development and the College of Engineering and Computing.

In the lab, users have access to five virtual reality pods within two rooms. The smaller of the rooms has two display screens that connect with high-quality headsets, while the larger room has a 24-foot-long, 9-foot-tall screen that is touch activated—allowing users to manipulate and move data.

Once users are inside this VR or augmented reality (AR), they can experience their surroundings and even “feel objects and be part of accidents or disasters without experiencing pain,” Yu said.

Visualizing and Communicating Complex Ideas

Visitors to the Visualization and VR Lab use the VR pods. Photo provided

The lab is also ideal for capturing complex ideas that are difficult to understand if one doesn’t visualize them, Yu said.

In Yu’s simulated construction site, performances are tracked and replayed, allowing researchers to see exactly how people work together and respond to situations. Researchers then analyze user performance using scientific metrics, which can help individuals improve over time through repeated exercises.

“Training through VR/AR is helpful to conduct experiments because we can track performance through state-of-the-art technology and give feedback,” said Yu. “These experiments not only enhance user performance, they can also validate if investments [in training] are effective.”

A major component of 911�� researcher Dave Lattanzi’s research involves the generation and analysis of complex, large-scale 3D virtual model data, which he said is difficult to visualize and communicate.

It requires specialized computing and graphics technologies that are challenging to operate on typical computer hardware, making visualization “fundamental to navigating and assessing 3D data,” said Lattanzi, an associate professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering.

The lab will support communications across project teams like Lattanzi’s by providing a shared space for visualization, as well as providing a place for teams to demonstrate their capabilities or findings to sponsoring agencies and university partners, which can lead to additional collaborations and funding opportunities.

VR and Training

Computer science PhD student Liuchuan Yu, a self-described VR/AR addict who is part of the team working on the simulated construction site project, sees creating simulations as a cost-effective and safe way to train individuals in a variety of jobs.

“I am very glad to have this opportunity because it is giving me the necessary experience to create training applications using VR,” he said. “Real-world training is expensive while VR is technically low-cost. Simulations also allow total control of the environment, which is much safer. But they do create awareness and [generate] real responses from the users.”

While use of the lab is restricted to faculty during the 2024-25 academic year, administrators are already thinking about how to incorporate student instruction and student access to modern geospatial technology applications that are difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate in a traditional classroom environment. Eventually students with ideas for new technologies, applications, or products will be able to use the lab to work on their own projects.

The lab, located in Research Hall, Room 369, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reserved through 25 Live. All faculty are welcome to reserve and use the lab for research purposes, but must receive training prior to lab use. Contact MIX manager Max Kazemzadeh at mkazemza@gmu.edu, MIX operations coordinator Minjin Batzorig at mbatzor@gmu.edu, or visit the MIX website for more information.

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Research

The MIX

Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP)

College of Engineering and Computing

Strategic Direction

Blimps and business collide at the Mason Innovation Exchange

sholla4 — Fri, 24 May 2024 15:01:55 +0000

Blimps and business collide at the Mason Innovation Exchange sholla4 Fri, 05/24/2024 - 11:01

Building a drone and building a business are, at first glance, two very different tasks. Academically, you’d be hard pressed to find a robotics course in a business school, and vice versa. But at the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), all that separates these two is a staircase.

From the fabrication floor to the incubator’s loft, the MIX is demonstrating how principles of entrepreneurship and innovation aren’t so easily siloed with two new courses: BLIMP and Student Innovator Mastermind.

The MIX BLIMP workshop was an outgrowth of an Office of Naval Research-funded Bio-inspired Lighter-than-air Instructional Mechatronics Program, developed to expand unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—or drone—education, with a desire to build a pipeline for students to participate in the biannual Defend the Republic lighter-than-air robotics competition. In this course, students learn introductory concepts of UAVs and, within small interdisciplinary groups, build their own blimps with flapping wing mechanisms.

Daigo Shishika helps students flight test their blimps in the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC). Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“We use organic life as the inspiration for these builds,” said instructor Daigo Shishika, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Students study the biomechanics of fish, insects, and birds, and then use those principles of flight and motion to create their own blimps.”

Each group learns how to build, program, and control flying robots. Using balloons made of mylar films, the students construct the blimp bodies and mount the electronic components—circuitry, motors, and microcontrollers—while ensuring that the blimp is well balanced.

At the end of the course, groups present their design and describe what creatures inspired their works: butterflies, stingrays, tuna, and even dragons were referenced when building.

“This process is meant to be exploratory,” explained Shishika. “I didn’t want to discourage the groups from trying out-of-the-box ideas. The dragon, for example: I wasn’t confident it would work. But they proved me wrong, and demonstrated some technical benefits of that type of wing.”

“As much as we’re teaching them the basics,” Shishika continued, “they’re teaching us new ways of thinking about design and fabrication.”

Along with the microcredential the students earn upon completion of the course, Shishika hopes they leave with a better sense of creative design and confidence in their ability to design, develop, and deploy robotics.

“It’s fun to build something from scratch and see it fly,” he said.

BLIMP flight testing in the MARC aviary. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Student Innovator Mastermind course uses a similar approach: building foundations while allowing space for creativity and innovation. 911�� alum Lisa Shapiro, BA Psychology ’03, Med ’06, is a seasoned business owner and entrepreneur. When she started at Mason as the MIX’s assistant director of entrepreneurship programs, the entrepreneurship incubator on the MIX’s second floor was empty.

“I wanted to reinvigorate the space and provide student innovators with a place to share ideas, develop their businesses, and form a community with other entrepreneurs,” she said.

The Student Innovator Mastermind program is a six-week mastermind group where 10 Mason student innovators and business founders gather for peer-to-peer collaboration and workshops. The inaugural mastermind cohort included students developing video games, a skincare line, mobile applications, and a business that supports the elderly population with nutritional needs—which was one of the finalists in the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition.

A key part of the programming was what Shapiro calls “transformational talks”: presentations from industry professionals that the students can immediately apply to their work. Speakers cover topics such as mindset, marketing and branding, goal setting, customer segment, and advice for business ownership.

“Being able to take what they’ve learned and immediately apply it is super important,” said Shapiro. “Entrepreneurship is super hard. You need the right mindset to be able to handle the ups and downs. I want to get them started off in the right way so they’re better prepared.”

The incubator is also a space for the students to learn from each other. Sharing ideas and challenges is, Shapiro said, a necessary part of the process. “We’ve had a phenomenal response from the students,” she said. “They’re helping each other, recommending professors and other people to meet that could help with their ideas.”

Honors College student Sahil Jagtap, who is majoring in computer science, participated in the Mastermind and the drone-prototyping programs this semester. “I have a passion for building, making, and breaking stuff. I love doing research on new and unique technologies and their potential to solve real-world problems,” he said.

The course offerings at the MIX were an opportunity for Jagtap to get hands-on experience in developing and launching tech-based solutions. “The skills I acquired from both programs, such as project management, teamwork, and technical expertise, are invaluable,” he said. “In addition, the mentorship and networking opportunities have connected me with industry professionals and potential collaborators, which will be beneficial as I continue my career in technology and entrepreneurship.”

Most of all, Shapiro and Shishika both hope that this type of programming keeps students coming back to the MIX.

“Now that they’ve had a taste of the full process,” Shishika said, “they can focus on the aspect they enjoyed the most and dig deeper, whether that’s robotics, electronics, fabrication, or something else.”

“The MIX is a space for prototyping,” Shapiro said. “It’s a place for anyone with an idea to come and try to make it a reality.”

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Create and innovate at The MIX

In This Story

Daigo Shishika

Opportunity Starts Here, Partnerships Grow Here

ckearney — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:54:09 +0000

Opportunity Starts Here, Partnerships Grow Here ckearney Fri, 04/12/2024 - 10:54

When Shrishti Singh, PhD Bioengineering ’22, came to 911�� for her doctoral studies, she had a goal in mind: developing a new technology that would allow the visualization of cancer in deep tissue and perhaps enable earlier diagnoses.

Entrepreneur Shristi Singh in her lab on Mason's Science and Technology Campus.

Read more about Singh's research. >>

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Using a combination of FDA-approved dyes and photoacoustic imaging, Singh created an injectable dye that attaches to tumor cells and increases the contrast of those cells against the background tissue.

During her time at Mason, Singh used all the tools the university provided to bring her discovery to the marketplace. In April 2023, Singh was on one of the 15 teams that competed for $40,000 in prizes at the Costello College of Business Patriot Pitch Competition. She took home first place and the Mason’s Choice Award in the competition’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) track.

In November 2023, Singh was at Mason Square pitching her technology at Mason’s annual Accelerate Investor Conference, which attracts more than 400 entrepreneurs, investors, students, and members of the Washington, D.C., entrepreneurial ecosystem. She was also awarded $75,000 by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund.

Singh, now a postdoctoral fellow at Mason, co-founded her company NIRView Biosciences with her bioengineering faculty mentors Remi Veneziano and Parag Chitnis. Singh and NIRView Biosciences have been designated a 2023 Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Success Story.

Growing Small Businesses

The Virginia SBDC, a part of Mason Enterprise, is an organization of 25 offices across Virginia providing professional advising and resources to help businesses grow. Singh participated in its Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), a no-cost incubator that helps technology start-ups from ideation to initial funding and beyond.

NIRView Biosciences worked with ICAP’s life science business mentors over the course of a year to position their technology for successful commercialization, and in 2023 they were accepted into the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, which provides financial support and experiential education to help university researchers commercialize scientific discoveries.

Singh was one of 30,000 entrepreneurs who participated in a Virginia SBDC workshop, seminar, or training in 2023. Through its 16 programs, the Virginia SBDC helped 10,000 businesses, provided 40,000 hours of one-on-one counseling, offered 1,600 training programs, and incubated more than 550 companies with an impact of $3.36 billion. Of the businesses they served, 61 percent were woman- owned, 46 percent were minority-owned, and 15 percent were veteran-owned.

Paula Sorrell, associate vice president of innovation and economic development, leads Mason Enterprise. This university-based economic development organization focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of Virginians on lab-to-market expansion of university research, new company creation, and small business expansion. Virginia Business magazine recently named Sorrell to its list of 100 Virginians to Meet in 2024: Innovators.

“Mason has used its university position to develop a powerhouse of interwoven federal, state, and local programs,” says Sorrell. “But even more critical are the partnerships among the private and public organizations that help support and codevelop the programs and mentor innovators.”

Through a broad array of activities that include business counseling, workshops, training, and connections to Mason assets—faculty research, classes, and potential interns—Mason Enterprise strengthens the strategy development and operations of businesses, governments, and other institutions throughout Virginia and the region. The Virginia APEX Accelerator (DoD) helps small businesses compete for government contracts, which total more than $1.5 billion annually.

The Virginia SBDC is also part of the larger Mason Virginia Promise, which offers a pathway to a bachelor’s degree or help starting a small business to any Virginian who wants one.

In 2023, Mason also expanded its small business incubator programs to the Town of Herndon, with the aim of empowering more Northern Virginia businesses with high growth potential. Herndon becomes the fifth Northern Virginia locale to partner with Mason Enterprise, joining Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier County, and Springfield.

And the Virginia SBDC is also going global. Its International Business Development Program was a stage one and a stage two winner in the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition from the U.S. Small Business Administration. It received $50,000 and then $150,000 to build strategic partnerships that will support the launch, growth, and scale of STEM and research and development-focused small businesses that target international markets.

Research Impacting Society

Mason Enterprise operates two federal programs in support of all Virginia universities: the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, designed to guide researchers and students on the first steps toward commercializing a technical discovery, and the National Institutes of Health’s REACH program, which funds proof-of-concept research for promising biohealth technologies.

Sorrell and her team are also mentoring entrepreneurs through the annual Accelerate Investor Conference, which is an investor event and start-up business competition held at Mason Square that showcases the mid-Atlantic region as a powerhouse for innovation and business opportunity.

The competition fuels innovation-based business growth by showcasing the best and brightest new tech start-ups to potential investors to foster their development within the region.

Among those angel investors and companies supplying prize money to Accelerate entrepreneurs was Mason alum Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94. A leader in the government IT industry, Shrivastava recently launched the Shrivastava Family Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship (RISE) Program, which focuses on mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs from refugee and immigrant back-grounds. Nanomaterial research and development company NanoBioFAB received the Shrivastava Family RISE Program prize at last fall’s conference.

Mason’s Costello College of Business Patriot Pitch Competition offers support and resources to student-led start-ups. Now in its 23rd year, the competition is open to all Mason students and recent alumni and attracted 50 teams from across the university last year. Powering the success of the student and alumni pitch teams were more than a dozen mentors who are CEOs, consultants, entrepreneurs, start-up coaches, Mason faculty, and alumni. By sharing their real-world experience in launching and managing start-ups, mentors were incredibly valuable to the teams.

The finalists, including Singh, pitched to judging panels of local business leaders whose professional experience included consulting, derivatives exchange, energy consulting, food technology, nonprofits, and venture capital.

The Mason Innovation Exchange, also known as the MIX, is also part of Mason Enterprise and helps student entrepreneurs. With its makerspace and fabrication lab, a digital media lab, and a start-up incubator, the MIX offers creative thinkers everything from metal fabrication to business mentoring. It is open to all members of the Mason community regardless of their major or affiliation. Currently, there are six student start-ups in the MIX’s incubator. Mentors meet individually with student entrepreneurs and provide a range of business advice.

In 2023, the Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) recognized Gisele Stolz, senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation programs at Mason, with an Impact Award for her work with its cyber-security start-up internship program.

“From envisioning the internship program to building out the structure of the Commonwealth Cyber Incubator and Accelerator Program cohort programming, few people within the CCI network have had such a widespread impact as Gisele,” says Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement at Mason and director of the CCI Northern Virginia Node.

Under Stolz’s stewardship, the internship program attracted more than 700 applicants, placing 83 Mason undergraduates with more than 50 companies. Of the students placed, 73 percent received offers for follow-up positions with their host company, including full-time employment.

Beyond this internship program, the CCI Northern Virginia Node, led by Mason and headquartered at Mason Square in Arlington, supported experiential learning opportunities for more than 3,000 students, including more than 100 internships and apprenticeships in cybersecurity.

The MIX's makerspace enables Mason students to create prototypes of their inventions. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Talent Development = Workforce Development

All these Mason opportunities align with the university’s vision of graduating students who can power Northern Virginia’s economic engine and serve in areas of critical need, while also providing a pathway of opportunity to all Virginians.

“Mason is committed to providing novel and varied experiential learning opportunities for our students, preparing our workforce for the future and readying them to compete on a global scale,” says Andre Marshall, vice president of research, innovation, and economic impact at Mason.

The need for well-trained health professionals, across disciplines and among fields, is one of the most critical issues facing communities in Virginia and throughout the nation. The Mason Center for the Health Workforce was established in 2022 to help address the shortage in Virginia. The center supports the development and delivery of public-private strategies to optimize physical and behavioral health career education and postgraduate skill training. It also serves as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, and planning and analysis for government agencies, academic entities, and professional organizations.

Mason’s Center for Community Mental Health in Fairfax is unique in its dual function as both a working clinic and a training facility. Last year, the center helped train 77 undergraduates and 57 graduate students while providing more than 2,100 therapy sessions to the community.

In 2019, Mason joined the commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP). The top TTIP goal is to build and sustain a diverse tech talent pathway, and Mason, as the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, and the largest producer of technology talent among four-year institutions in the state, is poised to lead.

At that time, Mason agreed to educate about 30 percent of the 25,000 additional graduates in tech fields over the next two decades to serve regional and state employers, including Amazon and its HQ2. Mason continues to exceed its goals. In 2023, Mason was 281 percent over its bachelor of science target and 192 percent over its master of science target in terms of graduating students in computing and computing-related majors.

Mason is also working to add faculty members in computer science and related fields to teach and mentor these students. The College of Engineering and Computing will soon expand into Fuse at Mason Square. The college is already working to build robust curricula for students in Arlington and provides ample opportunities to explore skills through research opportunities, state-of-the-art labs, hackathons and competitions, and student organizations.

Computer science student Quang Vo demonstrated virtual reality applications that will be part of the visualization labs at Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

If You Build It…

From Mason Square in Arlington to the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, Mason is building a new economic corridor along Route 66 in Northern Virginia.

Fuse at Mason Square, the university’s LEED Platinum building opening this summer, is a digital innovation center that will house research and development labs, corporate centers, incubators, accelerators, and convening spaces, alongside classrooms and retail spaces.

The SciTech Campus is home to the new outdoor Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory—or “body farm,” one of only eight in the country—and the Biomedical Research Lab, one of 12 biosafety level-3 labs in the nation.

New to this campus is the Nanofabrication Facility, which is the only cleanroom facility and resource of its kind for partners in Northern Virginia and offers hands-on nanofabrication workforce training in research applications that will accelerate the growth of high-tech companies.

“The most powerful asset we offer is opportunity,” says Marshall. “Only through providing opportunity can we educate, inspire, and equip the next generation of leaders to solve the grand challenges of our day.”

Jennifer Anzaldi, Sarah Holland, John Hollis, Katie Maney, and Ryley McGinnis contributed to this feature.

As Virginia's largest public research university, Mason is an economic driver in the region and the state.

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