Three ������ faculty members—, and —have been named fellows of the (AAAS). The highly prestigious designation recognizes extraordinary achievements and contributions to the advancement of science.

Fifteen Syracuse faculty members have been named AAAS Fellows since 2004. This is the first time the honor has gone to three professors in a single year.

“This is one of the most distinguished honors a researcher can receive, and I am incredibly proud that three of our exceptional faculty members have earned this recognition,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “Their work reflects ������’s deep commitment to advancing knowledge that matters, both within our fields and for the world at large. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor and look forward to the continued impact of their scholarship.”

Duncan Brown

Brown, the Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics in the (A&S), has served as the University’s vice president for research since 2022. An internationally recognized leader in gravitational-wave astronomy, he was a founding member of the search for merging black holes that led to the discovery of gravitational waves with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

His current research focuses on the development of Cosmic Explorer, a proposed next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory, and the use of gravitational-wave observations to explore the nuclear equation of state.

AAAS recognized Brown for “foundational contributions enabling the search for and discovery of gravitational waves from black hole and neutron star coalescences, and for leadership in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Cosmic Explorer.”

Kevin Crowston

Crowston is a distinguished professor of information science in the . His research explores how information and communication technology—particularly the internet and artificial intelligence—changes the way people work. He and his colleagues have explored Free/Libre Open Source Software development, citizen science, data science teamwork and the future of journalism, using a mix of observation, theory-building and tool design. His most recent project, supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, examines the impact of generative AI on human skill development and retention, particularly in programming.

AAAS recognized Crowston for “distinguished contributions to information science through groundbreaking research on coordination theory and virtual organizations, exceptional editorial leadership and dedicated service building interdisciplinary communities studying technology-mediated work.”

Lisa Manning

Manning is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics in A&S. Her research uses computer modeling and physics-based theory to understand how groups of cells behave in living tissue and how materials like glass or sand deform and break down.

Her work has real-world implications for cancer, wound healing, embryonic development and asthma. In 2019, she was named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), an honor given to just half of 1% of the professional organization’s membership. She served as founding director of the from 2019-23.

AAAS recognized Manning for “distinguished contributions to the theory of mechanical response and adaptation in biological materials.”

Distinguished Group

Brown, Crowston and Manning join 12 other Syracuse faculty members previously named AAAS Fellows: , distinguished professor of physics (2024); , professor of physics and interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (2023); , associate professor of biology (2023); , professor of electrical engineering and computer science (2018); , University Professor of Environmental Systems and Distinguished Professor, civil and environmental engineering (2017); , professor of physics and A&S interim associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research (2016); , dean emeritus and professor emeritus of biology (2013); , professor emerita of physics (2013); , professor emeritus of Earth and environmental sciences (2012); , professor emeritus of biology (2011); , professor of biology (2007); and , professor emeritus of political science (2004).

������ has been selected as a 2026 awardee by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, one of just 14 institutions nationwide to earn the prestigious recognition. The award provides funding to support six scholar-mentor pairs over three years, with two undergraduate Beckman Scholars named each year beginning this spring.

The Beckman Scholars Program provides 15-month mentored research experiences for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry and life sciences. Each scholar receives comprehensive support during two full summers and an academic year of intensive research engagement, professional development opportunities and preparation for graduate or medical school.

, professor of physics�� in the and interim dean of the , is principal investigator. “The Beckman Scholars Program will provide transformative research experiences for students who demonstrate exceptional promise in science and engineering working with our outstanding faculty from the ,” she says. “This award recognizes the University’s deep commitment to undergraduate research and our proven track record of offering experiential training in interdisciplinary fields.”

Fourteen faculty members, all of whom are affiliated with BioInspired, will serve as Beckman Mentors. They are (chemistry and biology), (chemistry), (physics), (biomedical and chemical engineering), (biology), (biomedical and chemical engineering), (biology), (chemistry), (biomedical and chemical engineering), (biology), Ross (physics), (physics), (chemistry) and (biomedical and chemical engineering).

Scholars will participate in BioInspired’s annual symposium, present at national conferences and receive mentoring support from the .

Application Process

The will handle student recruitment and selection, onboarding and ongoing support.

The Beckman Scholars Program is open to sophomores working on research in one of the Beckman Mentor labs. Scholars must commit to 15 months of continuous research and be interested in pursuing a graduate degree and leadership roles in their field of study. The 2026 cohort of Beckman Scholars will be funded through summer 2027.

Applications will be handled through the process. Interested students should submit an intent to apply form by Thursday, Feb. 12, with final applications due Thursday, Feb. 26.

Information sessions for first-year students interested in future Beckman Scholar opportunities will be held in February and March.

For more information about eligibility and the application process, visit the SOURCE website at or contact SOURCE Director Kate Hanson at 315.443.2091 or khanso01@syr.edu.

A growing cohort of University faculty members from diverse disciplines is engaged in complementary research that bridges molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, neuroscience and aging and has implications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Recently bolstered by new hires who are focused on neuroscience and disordered proteins, the group of researchers exemplifies a key strength of the higher education environment, where a diverse range of experts can come together in a holistic way to work on tackling society’s most pressing issues.

“This is what universities do,” says , vice president for research. “Universities are the only places that have this kind of breadth and depth of expertise, where individuals can work to find causes, effects and cures for diseases that are affecting everyday Americans and their families.”

Conversations Across Disciplines

The University has long had a solid portfolio of aging-related research, as evidenced by the work of faculty affiliates at the . There, scholars focus on population aging and health and functioning across the life course, among other areas.

“From the aging studies perspective, we’re interested in understanding aging ‘from cells to society,’ and I think we are known for being particularly been strong on the society side,” says , director of the institute and a professor of sociology in the .

Now, she says, the recent strategic hires position the University to further advance understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that might contribute to degenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and related dementias, that affect aging populations.

“This is really enabling us to build some synergies that will be helpful moving forward,” Wilmoth says. “We’re working to increase conversations across the disciplines so that the people in physical sciences and neurosciences and social sciences are talking to one another.”

Much of that molecular and cellular work is happening at the University’s , where some researchers are studying the role of disordered proteins—flexible cellular molecules that lack a fixed structure—in neurodegenerative disease. Among those researchers is , interim dean of the ��and professor of physics in the (A&S) (who was associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research in A&S at the time this interview was conducted). Like Wilmoth, she sees the potential for synergies across disciplines.

“At BioInspired, we have a lot of the molecular to cellular to tissue [expertise], but we don’t have as much on the human subject side,” Ross says. “There are some opportunities to make that bridge across.”

New Faculty Members

Three of the new faculty members are part of a research cohort led by , associate professor of biology and chemistry, whose work focuses on proteins associated with neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, particularly ALS. “[Hiring] this cohort was a grass-roots effort and would not have been possible without cross-University support,”�� Castañeda says. “We have a tremendous opportunity here to set the University and the broader Syracuse area as a national hub for new ways to study disordered proteins and their role in disease.”

, an assistant professor of chemistry, studies how proteins interact with their surroundings, with a particular focus on disordered proteins. He aims to understand how these proteins work in different situations, both inside and outside the cell, and how they contribute to both health and disease.

, an associate professor of biology, studies the development of centrosomes, which serve to organize cells and are key to cell division. Jao explores the process by which centrosomes are built, how they transport proteins within cells and how centrosome dysfunction contributes to human disease.

, an assistant professor of biology, is a plant molecular and cell biologist who examines how plants sense and respond to their environment, especially through the behavior of disordered proteins. Because plants are similar to humans at the cellular and protein level, her work contributes to an understanding of human disease and has potential to inform the development of new or improved medicines.

Another plant molecular and cell biologist who recently joined the University is , assistant professor of biology. She investigates how genes, behaviors and environmental factors can cause cellular change, particularly in stem cells. She also studies how environment and behavior contribute to age-related diseases.

Two of the new faculty members, whose research focuses on neuroscience, work together in a joint lab, where they create biomaterials and nano-scale drug delivery systems to remove toxins from proteins.

, assistant professor of biology, studies molecular-level mechanisms related to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. He investigates how intrinsically disordered proteins are related to nervous system deterioration and also examines how inflammation and metabolic dysfunctions affect�� body-brain interaction and how obesity affects nervous system functions.

, assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, studies how insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation and the recycling and repairing of damaged cells is related to Parkinson’s, some liver disease and metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Rounding out the cohort is , who joined the University last year as an associate professor of economics. Her research looks at labor, aging and health, with a focus on the economics of caregiving. She is a faculty associate at the Aging Studies Institute and a faculty affiliate at the Center for Aging and Policy Studies.

‘Always Send Out the Team’

Ross says this kind of diversity of expertise that spans multiple disciplines and angles of inquiry is required for the pursuit of new knowledge.

“Fundamental research is like looking for a lost child in the woods,” she says. “You would never send out one person; you would always send out the team.”

She says each researcher will make new discoveries, even discoveries not necessarily related to the initial inquiry. For example, work on Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative disease may inadvertently lead to new ways of fighting physically degenerative disease.

“The pathway that we use to get to the end point is the important part, because that’s the pathway that allows every single researcher to be covering all the ground that needs to be covered to make all of the technological pushes for the future,” Ross says.

Adds Wilmoth: “Syracuse is uniquely positioned to come at this from different angles and maybe offer a different perspective. Having faculty who have complimentary interests and skillsets enables the sort of creativity that is only possible when you have a critical mass of faculty.”

Eleven awards recognizing excellence in research innovation were presented at s annual symposium last week.

More than 100 undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty members from , and presented their research at the event. Leaders from regional businesses and industry partners also attended.

Winners were selected in five categories:

Sensing, Actuation, Intelligence and BioInspired Systems

First Place: Rohit Jakkula
Graduate researcher, (ECS)
, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, adviser
“Transformable Modular Robots”

Second Place: Silverio Johnson
Postdoctoral scholar, (A&S)
, assistant professor of physics, adviser
“Quenching Variability of Drosophila Larval Behavior Using Multi-Sensory Stimulation”

Development and Disease

First Place: Anthony Watt
Graduate researcher, ECS
, associate professor, Samuel and Carol Nappi Research Scholar and biomedical and chemical engineering graduate program director, adviser
“Machine Learning Analysis of Multimodal Waveforms and Synthetic Data Augmentation for Predicting Cardiotoxicity in Single Cell hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes”

Second Place: Anton Jayakodiarachchige
Doctoral student, A&S
, assistant professor of biology, adviser
“Investigating the Dual Role of Mediterraneibacter Gnavus in the Small Intestine: Friend or Foe?”

Honorable Mention: Arpan Banerjee
Doctoral student, SUNY Upstate Medical University
, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology and cell and developmental biology, adviser
“The Role of USP10 in Corneal Angiogenesis via YAP/TAZ Signaling”

Designer Biology

First Place: Daniel Fougnier
Doctoral student, A&S
, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, adviser
“Voxelated Assembly of Large-Scale Tissue Constructs”

Second Place: Paul Sagoe
Doctoral student, ECS
, assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, adviser
“Tailoring Polymeric Nanoparticles Properties for Enhanced Targeted Delivery to Macrophage Subpopulation”

Function Without Form

First Place: Nirbhik Acharya
Postdoctoral scholar, A&S
, associate professor of biology and chemistry, adviser
“STI1 Domain Engages Transient Helices to Drive Phase Separation of Yeast Ubiquilin”

Second Place: Jess Niblo
Postdoctoral scholar, A&S
, assistant professor of chemistry, adviser
“Profiling Structural Sensitivity Across Human Transcription Factor”

Adaptive Energy and Infrastructure Materials

First Place: Vanshika Vanshika
Doctoral student, A&S
, associate professor of chemistry, adviser
“Turn on the Lanthanide NIR Emission of Non-Fluorescent Lanthanide-Based Double Perovskite Nanocrystals by Incorporating a Fluorescent Sensitizer”

Second Place: Ruosi (Joyce) Qiao
Doctoral student, ECS
, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, adviser
“Binder-Free Dry-Processed Electrode Enabled by a Porous Carbon Current Collector for Lithium-Ion Batteries”

BioInspired supports research on complex biological systems and the development and design of programmable smart materials to address global challenges in health, medicine and materials innovation. ��Associated faculty come from life sciences, engineering, physics and chemistry.

National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for ������ faculty research projects totaled $19.7 million in fiscal year 2025, an increase of $5.8 million over last year’s total, according to the .

NSF also recognized four faculty members with prestigious.

Duncan Brown, vice president for research, says expanded NSF funding and the selection of four faculty for CAREER recognition is a testament to the strength, quality and innovativeness of research taking place across campus. “Such positive outcomes show how important it is that our researchers continue to apply for federal grants. Doing so helps assure that continuing projects can maintain their momentum without interruption and that new research ideas have the support they need to realize societal impact,” says Brown.

CAREER Awards

CAREER Awards are NSF’s highest recognition for early-career academic professionals. The awards are designed to help recipients build the foundation for a lifetime of leadership and integration of education and research. Receiving the awards this year are:

• , assistant professor of chemistry in the
• , assistant professor of electrical engineering in the
• , assistant professor of physics in the
• , Maxwell Dean Associate Professor of the Politics of AI��in the

Hu works on that are super sensitive to mechanical forces and that can show visible signs, like changing color, when they are deformed or damaged. This helps materials report damage on their own and makes it possible to study how subtle force moves through complex systems, such as synthetic plastics and biological materials. He also designs smart materials that adapt their behavior or properties in response to other triggers, such as ultrasound, light or chemicals.

Kim aims to bridge the information gap between software systems and hardware devices by embedding implicit hints between systems and devices. The research helps��improve data storage performance and data retrieval reliability while maintaining compatibility. It supports complex, large-scale computing needs of modern businesses and technologies such as artificial intelligence and big-data analytics.

Mansell builds and fine tunes , the tools that detect the tiny ripples in space caused by cosmic events such as black hole mergers. She also works with a special kind of light called “squeezed light” that helps make the detectors more precise.

Zhang uses quantitative methods to study how the interests of citizens and technical experts could shape the. She explores the politics of digital technologies regarding AI governance; the international political economy in the age of advanced automation and quantitative social science methods.

Record Year for NSF Funding

The $19.7 million in awards is the highest amount since 2022, according to Chetna Chianese, senior director in the (ORD). She says the success highlights the faculty’s continued striving for research success regardless of a shifting federal funding landscape.

The NSF funding supports dozens of projects across five schools and colleges in multiple research areas, including:

• An for doctoral students in emergent intelligence biological and bio-inspired systems for the
• A cluster of three projects to support the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and Astrophysics
• One new and two renewed Research Experiences for Undergraduates projects
• A project to further explore new physics at the LHCb experiment at , the European center for nuclear research
• A training program for upskilling photonics technicians in advanced optics and quantum research-enabled technologies
• A project to explore the science of social-psychological processes and AI companionship

Support for Proposals

The Office of Research offers broad support for faculty pursuing sponsored funding, including through , departmental research administrators and ORD. Faculty beginning to pursue external funding and resources to support their research and creative activities can start by working with , who bring deep knowledge of external funders and stakeholders to provide strategic consultations.��The Office of Research additionally supports faculty through the , which helps them plan, draft and complete their proposals. That program will resume in the spring semester ahead of the summer 2026 deadline.

ORD also provides guidance regarding the ongoing changes to federal funding, the changing federal funding landscape, updates on new executive orders and adjusted administrative policies and regulatory requirements. “We are keeping faculty updated via email and an internal SharePoint, but our team can also provide project-specific guidance to principal investigators who reach out to us,” Chianese says.

Faculty��interested in applying for NSF and other grants can contact the ORD staff at resdev@syr.edu.

When we are young and healthy, our cells successfully monitor and manage our worn-out or damaged proteins, keeping things working properly. But as we age, this cleanup system can falter, leading to protein clumps linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

Now ������ scientists are diving deep to understand how these tiny, temporary droplets—known as condensates—work, which could lead to new ways of treating or preventing several brain disorders.

Aging is tough on protein management in our cells. “The mechanisms that we call protein quality control do not work as well anymore,” says , associate professor of biology and chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Castañeda has been awarded a five-year, $2 million National Institutes of Health R35 MIRA award to study the link between protein quality control and “biomolecular condensates.”

“Losing protein quality control is related to some neurodegenerative disorders,” says Castañeda. “We are trying to understand those mechanisms so we can see why cells are not able to take care of proteins as they did earlier in life.”

Storage Closets and Trash Dumps

Scientists are discovering that cells contain tiny droplets that function like liquid storage closets, gathering, fixing, recycling or removing dysfunctional proteins. But as we age or respond to stress, our cells can lose effectiveness in cleaning up and managing these proteins.

When repair and recycling systems are lacking, damaged proteins can accumulate, forming clumps that may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. The droplets themselves can harden into sticky protein clumps, leaving long-term trash dumps in the brain.

In recent years, scientists have learned that droplet compartments are not rigid, permanent parts of the cell. Instead, they are membrane-less gatherings of specialized proteins that cluster together under certain conditions. These droplets appear and disappear when needed, helping cells adapt. Droplets gather and disperse based on stress, temperature and cellular signals.

The Castañeda team aims to learn more about what causes droplets to form, what droplets are made of and how droplets decide which proteins are problematic and need fixing, recycling or removing.

Forces at Work

The research team will use a dual approach. They will perform molecular experiments to learn about changes to protein structure and dynamics, and cell biology-based approaches to observe living processes.

In molecular work, they will construct artificial droplets outside of cells to watch how changes in protein combinations or stress signals change their behavior, such as their ability to recruit different proteins or mediate different downstream outcomes (protein degradation or not).

The team will also perform studies of living cells. The researchers want to know more about how droplets manage damaged proteins when cells are stressed. They will study cellular signals that form these droplets and how different protein combinations can affect droplet behavior.

“We make a droplet in a test tube to see how the organization of these components change with different conditions and take components apart so we can understand how they come together,” says Castañeda. “Think of it as understanding a car engine by both building and dismantling it.”

These basic scientific investigations could have transformative long-term impacts, such as identifying critical points where intervention might prevent or treat protein clumps. It could potentially illuminate similar mechanisms across different neurodegenerative disorders and other diseases such as cancer.

The University’s collaborative and supportive research ecosystem (e.g., the BioInspired Institute, the Bioimaging Center, high-field NMR at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) has been crucial to the development of this study, allowing scientists in different fields to share techniques and insights, access specialized equipment and develop more comprehensive research strategies, Castañeda notes.

“This field requires scientists from multiple fields—biology, chemistry, physics and engineering—working together,” says Castañeda. “This work would not have been possible without the many talented postdocs, graduate students, undergraduates and high school students that have gone through our lab. A special thanks to our lab manager and senior scientist Dr. Thuy Dao. I am deeply appreciative of our key collaborators at SU (e.g., Heidi Hehnly, Shahar Sukenik, Heather Meyer, Li-En Jao) and beyond (Dan Kraut at Villanova, Jeroen Roelofs at KUMC). Finally, I am very grateful to A&S and the VPR office for their support over the years.”

Story by John Tibbetts

This spring, Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) held its annual Norma Slepecky Memorial Lecture and Award Ceremony. WiSE was honored to host distinguished guest speaker Joan-Emma Shea, who presented “Self-Assembly of the Tau Protein: Computational Insights Into Neurodegeneration.” Shea is professor of chemistry, biochemistry and physics at UC Santa Barbara. She is a fellow of the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society and the American Academy for Arts and Sciences. She serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Physical Chemistry A/B/C, and is the first woman in this position in the 124-year history of the journal. Shea highlighted how her team, which includes undergraduate researchers, has used computer simulations to uncover key molecular mechanisms behind Tau aggregation.

The event also celebrated student achievement with the presentation of the , recognizing exceptional contributions to research.

Tessa DeCicco ’25, a biomedical engineering student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, is this year’s recipient. Her paper, titled “Defining Anatomical Relationships of the Tibial Tubercle to Inform Execution of Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy in Revision of Total Knees,” received unanimous approval from the review committee.

DeCicco was co-nominated by Era Jain, assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, and Dr. Timothy Damron, an orthopedic physician and the David G. Murray Endowed Professor with Upstate Medical Center.

DiCicco has worked for the past three years with Damron. Her winning paper, accepted to the 2025 annual meeting of the Orthopedic Research Society, aims to define pertinent anatomical relationships in the proximal tibia to inform fixation device design and provide data that may be considered when performing and securing a tibial tubercle osteotomy. The project involved collecting precise anatomical measurements to inform the development of a novel orthopedic fixation device. She played a central role in pinpointing critical anatomical and radiographic reference points. These foundational metrics directly shaped the planning and implementation of the project from start to finish. DeCicco submitted this paper as her primary research project.

Jain has also worked closely with DeCicco in her lab. “What sets Tessa apart is her enthusiasm for research, her ability to grasp complex scientific concepts quickly and her persistence in pursuing new challenges,” she says.

The Norma Slepecky Undergraduate Research Prize and Memorial Lecture honors the memory of ������ Professor Norma Slepecky, a distinguished auditory neuroanatomist and member of the Institute for Sensory Research. A founding member of WiSE, this award was endowed in hopes that her legacy for undergraduate research mentorship would continue. The annual prize is awarded to undergraduate researchers in their junior or senior year who demonstrate excellence in research based in the full range of applied biological and engineering sciences.

Since 1999, ������’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) has championed the success and advancement of women in STEM and their allies of any gender, sex or other identity through inclusive, research-based programming and mentorship. Serving 18 departments across six schools and colleges, WiSE fosters a supportive community that empowers undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and faculty alike to persist and excel in their academic and professional journeys. Led by experienced faculty and staff, WiSE promotes equity, builds networks and equips participants with tools for leadership, resilience and success in STEM fields.

To learn more about WiSE and Norma Slepecky, . Stay up to date with our social media @TheSUwise on and .

On a wave-battered rock in the Northern Pacific Ocean, a fish called the sculpin grips the surface firmly to maintain stability in its harsh environment. Unlike sea urchins, which use their glue-secreting tube feet to adhere to their surroundings, sculpins manage to grip without a specialized adhesive organ like tube feet or the suction cups of octopuses.

So, why is this significant and why are scientists so keen to understand it? Marine organisms thriving in high-energy environments serve as excellent natural models for designing more efficient and effective human-engineered devices, such as robots, grippers and adhesives. Improved adhesives could have wide-ranging impacts, from enhancing medical devices to creating tires with better road grip.

A team of researchers from ������ and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who specialize in functional morphology—how the shape and structure of an organism helps it function—recently uncovered a new and surprising traction trait in sculpins. They found microscopic features on their fins, potentially allowing them to adhere strongly to surfaces underwater to fight currents and waves. Their results were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

“In order to prevent being swept away, these sculpins need another way to keep themselves in position,” says Emily Kane, professor of biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who co-authored the study with Austin Garner, a biology professor in the at ������. “One feature that sets this group apart is the modification of their pectoral fins such that the bottom portion has reduced webbing that allows the fin rays to poke out further than the fin. They can use these for holding onto rocks or other substrates, but some species have further modifications that allow for walking and sensory functions.”

Previous research has shown that sculpins use hydrodynamic mechanisms—like having a small, streamlined body and using their fins to create negative lift—to maintain balance and grip. Additionally, physical mechanisms, such as gripping the substrate with flexible fin rays on the bottom part of the fin (similar to having fingers), have been described. This study documents a new surface texture, suggesting that these bottom fin rays might also create friction or adhesion at a microscopic level, enhancing their grip even further.

Kane and her team first discovered these features during fieldwork in summer 2022 in Friday Harbor, Washington. While observing fins at a microscopic level using a scanning electron microscope, she immediately recognized the similarity between the sculpins’ features and the fine hairs on gecko feet. She then reached out to Garner, who is an expert in animal adhesion and attachment.

“My lab is interested in how animals interface with surfaces in their environment during both stationary and locomotory behaviors, particularly in those organisms that take advantage of adhesive or frictional interactions using specialized attachment organs,” says Garner, who is also a member of the at Syracuse, where researchers collaborate to develop and design smart materials to address global challenges. “Using a very similar framework to studies I have conducted in lizards and sea urchins, we worked together to design and execute this study.”

The team focused on traits such as density, area and length to outline the texture of the skin on the fin rays.

“We compared these measures to values in other animals with similar features that are known to produce a friction gripping force, like having sandpaper on the fins,” says Kane. “There are some similarities in sculpins that make us think they could be doing something similar.”

Garner notes that their work is the first description of these microstructures on the fin rays of sculpins. “We not only described the form and configuration of these structures in this work but also generated testable hypotheses that serve as strong intellectual foundations for us to continue probing in our future work on this topic,” he says.

So, what will this forthcoming research involve, and could studying these structures lead to the development of new bio-inspired adhesives for societal use?

Garner suggests that the form and function of sculpin fins could be effectively integrated into bio-inspired robots or grippers for underwater navigation and exploration. As the research progresses, their team anticipates that understanding the microstructures on sculpin fins will offer new possibilities for designing synthetic attachment devices that can attach securely yet detach easily, even underwater.

Who knows, maybe one day an underwater robot with sculpin-inspired grippers will be exploring the ocean depths and making waves in the world of bio-inspired technology.

While many of her peers were enjoying the time off between high school graduation and starting college, Luiza Owuor ’26 was participating in the University’s (CAREER) program, which introduces students to the research opportunities available to them on campus.

The program helps students like Owuor become involved with research efforts early on in their academic careers, and for Owuor, the experience, especially a presentation from and Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering , ignited her passion for biochemical engineering.

Once Owuor officially embarked on her journey in the , she wanted to contribute to the , which strives to improve treatments for individuals living with an injury or disease. Through experimental and computational approaches, lab researchers study and apply mechanobiology in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

“I remember being especially drawn to Dr. Henderson’s presentation, and his work really sparked my interest in this field,” says Owuor, president of the Society of Women Engineers and a mentor with Catalyst Scholars, a new program for first-generation students.

“Being involved in his lab has been one of the most defining parts of my academic journey. I’ve co-authored two published papers through BioInspired [which examines complex biological systems], and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see our research make a real contribution to the field,” Owuor says. “I’ve built a strong, family-like bond with my lab members and that sense of support and collaboration has made the experience truly special.”

Owuor, a native of Kisumu, Kenya, was recently named as a 2025-26 ������ Remembrance Scholar. She sat down with SU News to discuss her passion for biomedical engineering, her career goals, the important role of mentoring and how her time on campus has fueled her holistic development.

What sparked your interest in biomedical engineering and the STEM field?

I’ve always wanted to be part of the health care space, but not necessarily on the front lines. Biomedical engineering drew me in because it offers a way to make a real impact from behind the scenes, whether that’s through designing medical devices, developing therapeutic technologies or conducting research that leads to breakthroughs.

Once I got involved in research at Syracuse, I saw how engineering could be used to solve complex biological problems, and that solidified my passion for this field. I love that I get to blend innovation with purpose every day.

What are your career goals and ambitions?

To become a medical scientist and contribute to the development of innovative therapies that improve patient outcomes. I’m especially interested in translational research, taking discoveries from the lab and turning them into real solutions for people. Pursuing a Ph.D. is part of that path, and I hope to work at the intersection of research and innovation to help address some of the biggest challenges in health care.

What role has mentoring played in your development?

Mentorship has shaped so much of my growth. From research mentors in the to peer leaders in student organizations like the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), I’ve been guided and supported by people who believed in my potential. Mentoring others—whether through Academic Excellence Workshops or Catalyst Scholar mentoring—feels like a full-circle moment. It’s my way of paying it forward.

How has your time at ������ helped fuel your development?

Syracuse has been instrumental in my growth—academically, professionally and personally. Through leadership roles like serving as president of the Society of Women Engineers and alumni relations chair for NSBE, I’ve developed strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.

The (SOURCE) program has been a major support system, funding my research projects and giving me the platform to present my work. Syracuse has also connected me with the resources and guidance I needed to secure meaningful internships, including one for this upcoming summer. On top of that, my classes have equipped me with technical lab skills and data analysis that will directly apply to my field and my future career goals.

Professor in the has developed molecules that undergo mechanochemical transformations, which could be used to report nanoscale stress in plastics and help scientists study mechanobiology processes.

Plastic components are commonly used in infrastructure and transportation that we depend on—from water and sewer pipes to planes, trains and automobiles. But plastic materials experience stresses that degrade them over time. That’s why plastics in many critical applications are replaced on pre-set schedules, which is expensive but crucial for maintenance and public safety.

“When mechanical forces cause stress and deformation that go unnoticed in the plastic engineered parts of an airplane, for instance, it can cause significant consequences that we want to avoid,” says Xiaoran Hu, assistant professor of chemistry and member of the .

Supported by the University and the American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund, Hu and his team have created new molecules that someday could cut down on these risks and expenses. Mechanophores are molecules that respond to mechanical stress by changing characteristics such as their colors, and their incorporation into plastic components could enable visualization of mechanical stress. Hu’s team developed exceptionally sensitive mechanophore molecules—called “configurational mechanophores,”—that undergo mechanochemical isomerization reactions. The activated material can exhibit a color to indicate that a mechanical event has happened in a component. This visible signal would be useful in applications such as autonomous damage monitoring of materials.

“These new molecules could enable research into previously unobservable mechanical events in different materials, including synthetic plastics and biomaterials,” Hu says.

The Syracuse team’s mechanophores are unique. According to a new study in the Journal of the ACS, their chemical transformation is triggered by minus mechanical forces as low as 131 piconewtons, which is below what is required to trigger any other mechanochemical reactions known up to date. For comparison, mechanochemical reactions involving carbon-carbon bond scission typically require nanonewton scale of forces (1 nanonewton = 1000 piconewton). Hu’s mechanophores, on the other hand, are more sensitive than the tiny forces relevant in many biological molecules, such as the unzipping of DNA strands (~300 pN), the unfolding of protein domains, and the breaking of antibody-antigen bonds (~150-300 pN). The new mechanophores could be effective tools in biology, allowing scientists to study stress changes at the nanoscale that were previously unobservable or difficult to measure. This could lead to a better understanding of how mechanical forces influence and regulate various processes in biology.

Additionally, unlike most traditional mechanophores, which are prone to damage by heat or light, the new molecules are stable upon thermal and light exposure, and therefore are well suited for applications in different complex environments.

Hu’s research on configurational mechanophores paves the way for the development of mechano-responsive materials with unprecedented mechanosensitivity. These materials could enable the study of previously unobservable nanoscale mechanical behaviors, playing a crucial role in advancing our understanding across scientific disciplines ranging from polymer physics, materials science, to mechanobiology.

“Our lab is developing the next-generation molecular force sensors with further enhanced mechanosensitivity and capable of exhibiting fluorescence signals or other functional responses,” Hu says. “We also aim to apply our mechanophores to different materials platforms such as mechanosensitive elastomers and paints to develop safer and smarter plastics that autonomously monitor and report mechanical damage. Additionally, we will explore the potential of these molecular force sensors to investigate cellular processes in the future.”

Story by John H. Tibbetts

The ’s third annual was held Oct. 24-25, bringing together undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty from ������, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, along with other regional research and industry partners.

The event featured poster presentations by 79 undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Several researchers presented “lightning talks” on topics such as how and how the human body reacts; fabricating and creating and new technologies to address��problems from clean energy to robotics to medicine. Guest speakers from several universities made special presentations. Awards were presented to recognize researchers in multiple ways.

Three recipients were chosen in the Best Overall Poster category:

• ’25, a dual mathematics and physics major in the (A&S), for “.” (Principal investigators are , physics professor, and Antun Skanata, research assistant professor of physics.)
• , a doctoral student in physics in A&S, for “.” (Principal investigator is , William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics.)
• , an M.D./Ph.D. student in cell and developmental biology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, for “.” (Principal investigator is , associate research professor of biology.)

Two presenters were recognized as Stevenson Biomaterials Poster Award winners:

• , a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in the (ECS), for her work on “.” (Principal investigator is , associate professor of .)
• G’21, a mechanical and aerospace engineering doctoral student in ECS, for “.” (Principal investigator is , associate professor of .)

Two researchers received awards recognizing Best Lightning Talks:

• , a doctoral student in chemistry in A&S, whose topic was “.” Her work involves testing to find an improved diagnostic biomarker��for prostate and other cancers. (Principal investigator is , professor and director of biochemistry.)
• , a doctoral student in biomedical and chemical engineering in ECS, for her research on bone tissue, described in “.”(Principal investigator is , professor of biomedical and chemical engineering.)

A project by , “,” was recognized as having the best commercialization potential. Can is a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in ECS. (Principal investigator is Mary Beth Monroe.)

Receiving honors for her “social impact” initiative was , G ‘22, an assistant teaching professor in the , for her work, “ The project explored an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University’s Departments of Chemistry and Architecture that aimed to foster societal impact through sustainable innovation in architectural materials.��(Her collaborator was , associate professor of chemistry in A&S.)

Winner of the People’s Choice Award was , a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in ECS. His project, “”

His research examines how hemostatic materials with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties can reduce infection rates and enhance the healing of traumatic wounds. (Principal investigator is Mary Beth Monroe.)

Best Publication Awards went to:

• G’22, a graduate of the applied data science program who is now a doctoral student in bioengineering and biomedical engineering in ECS. He is exploring the use of hiPSC-CMs to study and understand cardiomyocyte biology through biology with artificial intelligence. His paper, “,” published in Cell Reports Methods in June, presented new methods for investigating the physiological functioning of cardiac organoids using machine learning algorithms.

• , a doctoral student in bioengineering at ECS, studies wound healing and tissue regeneration. His paper, “,” was published in the journal ACS Applied Biomaterials in February.
• , a doctoral student in bioengineering at ECS, received an honorable mention. His paper, “” was published in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering in June.

How do cells take the shape they do and perform their functions? The enzymes and molecules that make them up are not themselves living—and yet they are able to adapt to their environment and circumstances, come together and interact, and ultimately, create life. How exactly all of that happens involves some very big questions, the answers to which will be crucial in paving the way for new biotechnologies and other advancements.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a private, nonprofit grantmaking organization, started its to begin to answer some of them. The program’s stated goal is “To sharpen our scientific understanding of the physical principles and mechanisms that distinguish living systems from inanimate matter, and to explore the conditions under which physical principles and mechanisms guide the complexification of matter towards life.”

To that end, the program awarded (left) and (right), professors in the in the and members of the BioInspired Institute, a three-year grant to explore what they’ve described as a fundamental unanswered question about the functionality of cells and the energy and entropy landscape of cell interiors.

“There is a lack of quantitative understanding of the principles governing the non-equilibrium control knobs inside the cell,” Ross and Schwarz explained in their proposal. “Without this knowledge, we will never understand how cells work, or how we can replicate them in synthetic materials systems.”

They’ve chosen to focus their work on one very particular aspect of the biology of cells, the concentrations of protein molecules within them known as protein condensates, and specifically their liquid-liquid phase separation, which they describe as the “killer app” for the sculpting of energy and entropy in the cell.

“Liquid-liquid phase separation is when two liquids separate, like oil and water,” Ross says. “The proteins separate out [into droplets] and make what we think of as membrane-less organelles. We’re interested in how both energy-using systems and entropy-controlling systems can help to shape those organelles.”

They’re hoping to gain an understanding of how cells self-organize without a “manager”—in this case, a membrane to act as a physical containment system—as well as how they react and adapt to their environment.

“This droplet formation is so sensitive to temperature and its surroundings,” says Schwarz. “The cell knows, ‘A ha!’ The temperature is increasing, so the environment is slightly different. So…I’m going to adapt.”

Ross is serving as principal investigator, and with graduate student assistance, will be performing reconstitution experiments to explore these processes, while co-principal investigator Schwarz and her team will be delving into the theoretical side of the science using predictive simulations. The three-year grant will also fund a paid undergraduate and two local high school students through summer programs.

The hope is that a better understanding of cell behavior at this level could ultimately lead to breakthroughs in the development of smart synthetic materials. “Imagine a road-paving material that could identify when a pothole develops and heal itself,” Ross says.

It’s just one example of countless possibilities for learning from biological systems.

Story by Laura Wallis

The creator of the term “bio art,” an expressive form that interprets scientific principles and concepts through artistic installations, exhibitions and performances, is the keynote speaker for the University’s annual in the Sciences and Humanities.

, an internationally recognized contemporary artist and poet, will speak on��, at 4:30 p.m. in the Life Sciences Complex atrium. His talk, “Rockets for the Sake of Poetry,” will feature highlights of his 40-year artistic career, his development of bio art and insights about his space artworks. This year’s lecture is hosted by the and its research focus group.

‘Bio Art’ Developer

Kac uses biotechnology and genetics to create and explore scientific techniques. In the early 1980s he created digital, holographic and online works that anticipated today’s global culture of information that is constantly in flux. In 1997, he coined the term “bio art,” which launched a new art form.

Among his famous works are the transgenic rabbit , for which he used and a jellyfish protein to create a live rabbit that glows a fluorescent green color under blue light.��In “,” he combined his own��DNA with that of a petunia flower to form a new “plantimal.”

His pieces have been shown around the world and, in one��instance, out of this world: his , “,” was . Kac’s “” was also realized in outer space with assistance from French astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

His career also spans poetry, performance, drawing, printmaking, photography, artist’s books, early digital and online works, holography, telepresence and space art. He is a professor of art and technology at the and a Ph.D. research fellow at the Centre for Advanced Inquiry in Interactive Arts at the University of Wales in Newport, Wales.

BioInspired Focus

As an institute for material and living systems, BioInspired hosts researchers who examine topics in complex biological systems and develop and design programmable smart materials to address global challenges in health, medicine and materials innovation. They include faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars from life sciences, engineering, physics and chemistry who work in three focus areas: �� and��

Last year, the institute added a fourth focus area, Posthumanities: Arts and Sciences, to push the boundaries of traditional scientific inquiry through activities and collaborations between the arts and humanities and the science-based disciplines.

The Posthumanities’ focus area coleaders, Boryana Rossa, of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and G. Douglas Barrett, of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, spearheaded the proposal to invite Kac as the 2024 Wali Lecture keynote. They worked with BioInspired leaders Jay Henderson, institute director; Heidi Hehnly-Chang, associate director, and Jeremy Steinbacher, operations director.

The Wali Lecture represents a partnership of the Department of and the ������ . It is part of the 2024-25 Syracuse Symposium “.”

The lecture was established in 2008 by his daughters to commemorate Wali’s vision and leadership to recognize their parents’ dedication and contributions to the University and the greater community. Wali was the Steele Professor of Physics Emeritus in the College of Arts and Sciences and internationally recognized as a theorist for research on the symmetry properties of fundamental particles and their interactions, as well as for his work as an author. He joined the University in 1969. He previously was at Harvard and Northwestern Universities, the University of Chicago, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in France and the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Italy. As a fellow of the American Physical Society, whose India Chapter named him Scientist of the Year in 2022, he received Syracuse’s Chancellor’s Citation for exceptional academic achievement and was one of the founding members of the .