Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer today announced the appointment of as the inaugural Provost’s Innovation Fellow at Íř±¬ĂĹ.

In this role, Horn will develop a Universitywide academic-industry strategy and support faculty in creating industry partnerships that provide experiential learning opportunities and professional connections for students. He will also work to develop new revenue streams through academic-industry initiatives and regularly assess their progress and success.

“I am excited to welcome Professor Horn into this role and know he is the perfect person to lead this important initiative,” Agnew says. “He has already demonstrated an exceptional ability to build meaningful bridges between academic and industry partners, creating opportunities that benefit our students and bolster experiential inquiry. I can think of no one better positioned to shape this strategy from the ground up and ensure that Syracuse remains at the forefront of academic-industry collaboration.”

The two-year appointment begins Aug.Ěý15, 2026,Ěýand runs through June 15, 2028. Horn will report to Agnew and work closely with the academic affairs leadership team, the Division of Communications, deans and associate deans and faculty and career advisors across campus.

Horn has served as associate dean of strategic initiatives for the since July 2022, and as a professor of practice in public relations since August 2018. Over the last four years, Horn has led the development of numerous academic-industry partnerships for the Newhouse School, ranging from executive education immersion programs for corporations—including Delta Air Lines and Lockheed Martin—to creating collaborative student-focused partnerships with Sony, Spectrum News, CBS News and Stations, Advance Local and American Airlines.

As a professor of practice, Horn has forged partnerships with several global sport organizations and communications firms, resulting in student-supported industry research and international projects. Each June, Horn leads a short-term study abroad course to Switzerland to foster hands-on, experiential learning for students with global organizations.

“Connecting students with innovative industry experiences has been the uniting passion of my work since joining the Newhouse faculty in 2018,” Horn says. “I’m thankful to Provost Agnew for this high honor of serving as the inaugural Provost’s Innovation Fellow, as I’m thrilled to expand on the work we’ve built at Newhouse, thanks to Dean Mark Lodato and his vision. I’m particularly looking forward to developing new relationships across the University to help unlock the potential for unique, meaningful and distinctive experiences for students across industries.”

Prior to joining the Newhouse faculty, Horn spent more than 20 years in communications leadership roles in Major League Baseball and Olympic sport, most notably serving as vice president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and as head of communications for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Horn earned a master’s degree in communications management from the Newhouse School.

recently announced the spring 2026 recipients of the Orange Innovation Fund, awarding $5,000 grants to a cohort of student inventors and entrepreneurs advancing high-potential ventures across health care, financial technology, consumer products and enterprise software.

The Orange Innovation Fund is designed to accelerate student-led startups beyond the idea stage, supporting founders who have demonstrated meaningful progress through customer discovery, prototyping and early validation.

The fund emphasizes deep research and development work, along with comprehensive proposal development, and recognizes ventures that show strong execution, real-world traction and a clear path toward commercialization. Funding supports critical next steps such as product development, regulatory readiness, pilot testing and go-to-market strategy.

“The Orange Innovation Fund plays a critical role in SU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling student founders to move beyond concept and into execution,” says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “By supporting ventures at a pivotal stage of development, the fund helps transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact.”

Spring 2026 Winners

Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies) for SecondWave

SecondWave is a financial wellness platform that helps users build personalized roadmaps to manage and grow their finances. The platform combines education, tools and vetted resources to guide users toward financial independence. Funding will support minimum viable product (MVP) completion, user testing, cloud infrastructure and trademark registration, as well as continued customer discovery.

Jayson Bromley (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) for Bromley Bio Med LLC – InDeazy

InDeazy is an integrated incision and drainage device designed to improve efficiency, control and safety in urgent care and emergency settings. Funding will support final design refinement and pilot manufacturing, including engineering updates, simulated workflow testing and Food and Drug Administration pre-submission readiness.

Nicholas Davis ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science [ECS]) for Ethyra

Ethyra is an AI-native auto-grading and classroom analytics platform that helps educators save time and better understand student performance. Funding will support MVP completion, a version 1.0 launch and pilot testing at Íř±¬ĂĹ, the University of Washington and Eastside Preparatory School, along with learning management system integration and a study on grading efficiency.

Haley Greene ’26 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Miirror

Miirror is a clinically guided, peer-led, tech-enabled platform redefining eating disorder recovery. Offering free, inclusive and stigma-free tools, support circles, crisis resources and therapy matching, the platform connects underserved communities with accessible recovery pathways. Funding will support completion of the MVP, regulatory compliance, technical infrastructure and a campus pilot at Íř±¬ĂĹ.

Ronan Hussar ’26 (Whitman School) for MacroFlow

MacroFlow is an Excel add-in that automates macro creation, saving users significant time and increasing productivity. Funding will support development of secure AI implementation, full local functionality and enterprise-grade validation of macro generation capabilities.

Yasmin Madmoune G ’27 (Whitman School) for Yas Apothecary

Yas Apothecary is a Moroccan-inspired body care brand with a long-term vision of building a cooperative-based production infrastructure. Funding will support equipment upgrades, production scaling, wholesale market entry and supply chain development.

Nathan Brekke ’26 (ECS), G ’27 (Whitman School) and Joshua Varkey ’26 (ECS) for Phloat

Phloat is a magnetically attachable flotation device that deploys to bring a submerged phone back to the surface. Funding will support the first commercial-grade production run, field testing with beta users and development of a scalable manufacturing supply chain. The company has recently filed for a patent.

Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies) for WingStat

WingStat is a business-to-business platform for aircraft transaction data in the pre-owned business jet market. Funding will support the transition from a no-code MVP to a production-ready platform, including backend infrastructure, authentication systems and automated data workflows.

About the Orange Innovation Fund

The Orange Innovation Fund was initially established through a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, an alumna, a member of the Board of Trustees and an operating partner at Silicon Valley Quad (an angel investing syndicate). The program is administered through Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries as a Universitywide initiative, run in collaboration with multiple campus innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Proposal reviewers include entrepreneurial faculty and staff, along with alumni who have come through the ecosystem and are venture founders or in C-Suite roles at leading innovation companies.

Íř±¬ĂĹ undergraduates are getting their moment to shine this spring, presenting original research and creative work to peers, faculty and the broader campus community across a series of symposia and showcase events running through the end of the semester.

“For a researcher, learning how to effectively present their work is a crucial part of the research process. Whether a student is sharing a completed project with conclusions, or a work-in-progress still in development, the dialogue and conversation with a broader audience is always clarifying,” says Kate Hanson, director of the (SOURCE). “Our undergraduates do incredible research, guided by dedicated faculty mentors, and our campus community is warmly welcomed to engage with and celebrate this work.”

The SOURCE Spring Showcase includes the following:

Thursday, March 26

Lundgren Room, 106 Life Sciences Complex, 4-6 p.m.
The event will feature four “TED-style” student research talks and a presentation of SOURCE and Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) awards.

Friday, March 27

Life Sciences Complex Atrium, 2-4 p.m.
This interdisciplinary event will feature more than 100 students presenting research and creative activity.

The entire campus community is invited to attend the events.

A complete list of programs in March, April and May with event and registration details can be found on (check back for updated information).

Other symposia and research-related events this spring include:

• , Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center
• , Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Life Sciences Complex Atrium
• , Friday, April 3, 9:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 608 Bird Library
• , Friday, April 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Collegian Hotel and Suites, 1060 E. Genesee St.
• , Thursday, April 16, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Nancy Cantor Warehouse, Auditorium, Room 100A
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Complex
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m., 101 Newhouse 1
• , Tuesday, April 28, 3-5 p.m., 220 Eggers Hall
• , Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hall of Languages, multiple locations (complete schedule will be available on the after April 8)

The officially launched the Whitman Experiential Center this week, marking a major milestone in the school’s Transformation 2030 strategic plan and its commitment to preparing students through hands-on,ĚýrelevantĚýand appliedĚýlearning.

The Experiential Center brings together the high-impact programs that define a Whitman education.ĚýGlobalĚýimmersions, case competitions, study away programs, class projects with companies, the Goodman IMPRESS professional development program and the Orange Business Angel Network are now aligned under one coordinated team andĚýoffice.

As a central hub, the Experiential Center also works in close partnership with Whitman’s centers and institutes to expand access to high-quality experiential learning across all programs and levels.

TheĚýExperiential CenterĚýis built around four pillars that reflect what it means to be a WhitmanĚýstudent: Be Global, Be Innovative, BeĚýCollaborativeĚýand Be Prepared. Together, these pillars ensure that every student, regardless of major or background, has access to experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

“What we’re launching is not simply a new program or office,” says Whitman Interim Dean . “This is a defining commitmentĚýto theĚýculture of WhitmanĚýand how we prepare students.ĚýExperiential learning is central to how we develop the skills,ĚýjudgmentĚýand perspective our students need to lead.ĚýItĚýis Transformation 2030 in action.”

is Whitman’sĚýfive-year strategic plan to elevate the school into the Top 25 undergraduate business programsĚýrankingsĚýby 2030. Experiential learning sits at the center of that visionĚýand constitutes a major area of investment.ĚýExperiential educationĚýis not an added feature of the student experience—it’sĚýan essential centerpiece ofĚýhow students learn to applyĚýand practiceĚýtheir skills in realisticĚýand meaningfulĚýsettingsĚýat Whitman.

Director ofĚýtheĚýExperientialĚýCenterĚý, who led the development of the center, says the four-pillar framework is designed to create a progression of experiences throughout a student’s time at Whitman.

“A student might begin with our first-year experiential AI course and use virtual reality in their sophomore management course to develop communication skills. From there, they might attend an immersion program in a major U.S. or global market, compete in a national case competition, work on a semester-long consulting project for a company, and later conduct due diligence on a new venture through the Orange Business Angel Network,” Draper says. “Each of those experiences builds on the last. Students aren’t just collecting experiences. They are building a track record of excellence and relevance.”

Whitman’s alumni and employer networkĚýplaysĚýa critical role in bringing these opportunities to life. Industry partners and alumni mentors help shape projects, coach studentĚýteamsĚýand open doors to new possibilities. As a result, students leave these experiences with more than skills. They leave with relationships, including mentors, collaborators and champions invested in their success.

To learn more about the Whitman Experiential Center and its programs, visit theĚý or email whitexp@syr.edu.

Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries is now accepting applications for the Spring 2026 round of the Intelligence++ Ventures initiative, a funding program that supports student innovators working to develop and commercialize solutions that improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

The initiative was launched through a generous gift from Gianfranco Zaccai ’70, H’09 and the Zaccai Foundation for Augmented Intelligence. It is designed to help promising student-led ideas move from early-stage concepts toward real-world impact.

“This competitive program is a valuable tool for student innovators to help commercialize products, services and technologies that will help people with intellectual disabilities,” says Zaccai. “It is intended to accelerate the transfer of inclusive and entrepreneurial design research to the marketplace. It will help students create innovations that can be used by early customers, to gather real-world feedback and to accelerate solutions for people who will benefit from their ingenuity. Our goal is to attract students from a wide range of disciplines who are working in multidisciplinary teams.”

Intelligence++ Ventures builds on the success of the that began in fall 2020 at the . The program was created in partnership with the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education’s and the (VPA). Since its launch, Intelligence++ has encouraged students across disciplines to apply inclusive design principles to create products, technologies and services that support individuals with intellectual disabilities.

A cornerstone of the program is the inclusive design research course, which invites students from across campus to imagine and build solutions for people with intellectual disabilities.

The course introduces students to inclusive design and entrepreneurial thinking and provides a framework for developing innovations that are both functional and meaningful to the communities they are intended to serve. Registration for the course is currently open (contact Professor ) for the fall 2026 semester. While participation in the course is recommended for students interested in applying for the Intelligence++ Ventures grants, it is not required.

Submit an Intelligence++ Ventures Proposal

“The Intelligence++ Ventures grants assist student research and entrepreneurial initiatives emerging from the Intelligence++ program in collaboration with other campus innovation partners,” says , Dean of Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries and University Librarian. “The program helps move student research in this important area to proof of concept and commercialization.”

Eligible projects may include technological, educational, organizational or other creative innovations designed to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as their families and communities.

Students applying for the grants must identify a specific need related to the discovery, testing, development or launch of a product, service, technology or creative work. Projects may originate from coursework, research labs, independent studiesĚý or other innovation-focused programs across the University.

Applicants are asked to submit a proposal as a single PDF that includes a cover letter outlining the funding request, use of funds, timeline and project milestones. In addition, proposals must include an executive summary describing the problem or opportunity being addressed, the proposed solution and how it works and the customer discovery research that supports the concept.

Proposals should also outline the project’s target market, particularly how the innovation will benefit people with intellectual disabilities or their families, along with any traction achieved to date, the team and advisors involved and the partners needed to move the idea forward.

Students are encouraged to clearly describe the scope of the project they are proposing, including details about any prototype they plan to build, how it will be tested, who will participate in the evaluation process and how results will be measured. Applicants should also outline potential next steps if the prototype and testing prove successful.

Submissions will be reviewed based on several key criteria. Successful proposals will demonstrate innovative research or entrepreneurial projects that have moved beyond the idea stage and show strong potential to become a commercial product, service or technology capable of making a meaningful impact. Reviewers will also evaluate the feasibility of the proposal, the strength of the research and development plan and the quality of the written submission.

In addition, proposals will be assessed on the strength of their commercialization strategy, including a clear product development roadmap and expected outcomes such as prototype development, early sales, additional investment or licensing opportunities. Budgets should be realistic and well researched, demonstrating that grant funding will meaningfully advance the project.

The grant program is administered through Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries in collaboration with the VPA School of Design and InclusiveU. Additional collaborators include the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, the College of Engineering and Computer Science and partners throughout the University’s broader research and commercialization ecosystem.

To submit your proposal or request additional information, contact orangeInnovation@syr.edu.

Six Central New York businesses that are working to advance semiconductor manufacturing capabilities have received funding of more than $350,000 through the new .

“Íř±¬ĂĹ is an economic engine in Central New York due to our strategic focus on strengthening partnerships, meeting the emerging needs of regional employers and preparing our students for the future,” saysĚý, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “The NY THRIVE awards administered by the Collaboration and Commercialization Center are a prime example of how the University is stepping up to build the innovation economy of tomorrow in our community.”

The program provides companies with access to academic research capabilities, specialized equipment and faculty expertise to accelerate the development and commercialization of semiconductor technologies. It’s administered by the Íř±¬ĂĹ-led NY SMART I-Corridor’s , and includes partners Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and University at Buffalo.

“The NY THRIVE awards exemplify the power of industry-academic partnerships in advancing semiconductor manufacturing innovation,” says , vice president for research and principal investigator of C3. “Íř±¬ĂĹ is proud to serve as a catalyst for technological advancement in New York’s growing semiconductor ecosystem. By connecting companies with world-class research facilities and faculty expertise, we’re helping to build the next generation of manufacturing capabilities that will strengthen our regional economy and position New York as a global leader in semiconductor innovation.”

NY THRIVE recipients are:

TTM Technologies Inc. (Syracuse) will collaborate with the research group led by , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), to evaluate sintering interface processing for printed circuit board manufacturing, investigating the effects on post-process state to improve interconnect reliability between adjacent layers.

TunaBotics (Syracuse) is leveraging R&D resources (space, equipment and personnel) at Íř±¬ĂĹ through the research group led by , associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS, to test prototypes of compliant robotic grippers for advanced electronics manufacturing applications.

IBEX Materials (Buffalo) will demonstrate the feasibility and effects of repurposing silicon waste from the semiconductor industry as a core feedstock for advanced lithium-ion battery anodes, addressing environmental impact reduction in semiconductor manufacturing.

Menlo Micro (Ithaca) will establish next-generation through-glass via (TGV) solutions for its microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches, which are already in significant commercial use in RF, high-speed digital, quantum compute and AC/DC power applications, including AI data centers, industrial automation and building infrastructure. This award strengthens Menlo Micro’s market leadership and ongoing scaling efforts to advance glass substrate technologies critical for next-generation MEMS and microelectronic solutions.

OWiC Technologies (Ithaca) will scale up manufacturing of small photoelectronic electrochemical synthesizers (SPECS), breakthrough millimeter-scale wireless semiconductor devices for high-throughput electrosynthesis.

Photonect Interconnect Solutions Inc. (Rochester) will review and fabricate components for their prototype PIX-Attach, a first-of-its-kind, laser splicing system for high-volume photonic integration. The project will directly support prototyping, production-level V1 development and testing to enhance durability, precision and thermal stability.

“This first round of THRIVE Innovation Vouchers marks another important step in translating the NY SMART I-Corridor’s vision into tangible results for businesses across Upstate New York,” says Joseph Stefko, regional innovation officer for NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub. “By giving companies direct access to world-class research facilities, advanced equipment and technical expertise, we’re lowering barriers to commercialization and accelerating the growth of a stronger, more competitive semiconductor ecosystem. These vouchers don’t just support individual firms; they strengthen the entire innovation pipeline that is positioning Upstate New York as a national leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and supply chain.”

About NY SMART I-Corridor

The NY SMART I-Corridor is a federally designated Tech Hub with a coalition of over 100 organizations—spanning businesses, higher education, economic development groups and community-based organizations. Together, they are positioning Upstate New York as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and workforce development.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) , authorized by the , provides funding for regional technology development with matching support from the Empire State Development .

Íř±¬ĂĹ is accepting through Wednesday, Jan. 28, for its I-Corps Regional Course for Startups, a month-long virtual program designed to help research-driven teams accelerate the commercialization of their tech innovations. The virtual course runs from Feb. 23 through March 25, and is targeted at teams affiliated with community-based incubators or innovation ecosystems.

Teams that want to collaborate with the University or other National Science Foundation I-Corps Northeast Interior Hub partner institutions or other regional universities are strongly encouraged to apply. This program is ideal for teams already working with university researchers in community-based or university-based incubators. University faculty and student researchers who are commercializing technology are encouraged to apply. Space is limited.

NSF I-Corps courses are designed for teams from academic institutions, research organizations and innovation hubs to empower researchers with the tools, skills and strategies needed to bring technological innovations to market. Eligible projects must be beyond the idea stage and can range from validated scientific discoveries to prototype or early manufacturing efforts.

Íř±¬ĂĹ’s program is part of the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps ecosystem, a nationally recognized network that helps researchers bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications. Through hands-on activities, live virtual sessions and one-on-one mentoring, participants engage in intensive customer discovery, learning how to identify the strongest product–market fit for their technology or research project. Teams will test assumptions, refine their value propositions, assess the commercial potential of their technologies and receive feedback and guidance from NSF-trained instructors.

Participation in the program positions eligible teams for potential nomination to the national I-Corps Teams program and for NSF I-Corps lineage. It can also serve as a pathway to federal grant opportunities such as NSF SBIR/STTR, which provide up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding to help bring research-based innovations to market, as well as to private investment.

The Íř±¬ĂĹ–hosted course is offered through the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), funded by the NSF and led by Cornell University in collaboration with partner institutions including Dartmouth College, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Rochester, the University of Vermont and West Virginia University. The NSF I-Corps program at Syracuse is led through a cross-campus collaboration by Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries, the Whitman School of Management and the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE).

Students transformed lived experience, empathy and emerging technology into inclusive solutions at the Innovation Showcase, hosted at Bird Library on Dec. 9.

The event marked the culmination of a semester-long interdisciplinary design course offered through theĚý School of Education’s Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education-, the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ and .

Open to undergraduate and graduate students across campus, including students with intellectual disability, the Intelligence++ program brings together teams to co-design products solutions to challenges that people with disabilities face in daily life.

The initiative, funded by the , encourages teams to learn universal design principles, conduct deep user research, learn the basic principles of entrepreneurship and deliver functional prototypes and pitch presentations by semester’s end.

Four student teams received enthusiastic feedback from judges across business, accessibility and technology sectors.

Detecting Dairy Allergens: Zero React

The first team, Zero React, asked: What if people with dairy allergies could eat without fear? Inspired by personal family experiences, the six-person team created a portable strip that detects dairy proteins, especially milk and casein, in everyday foods. Like a rapid test, users apply a food sample and get clear results in under a minute.

The students used 3D modeling and tools to build the prototype and developed branding, instructions and a go-to-market strategy. Extensive interviews, ranging from caregivers to allergists, identified their primary customer as parents of children with severe allergies, who constantly navigate hidden ingredients and unclear labels.

Zero React proposed multiple sales channels, including pharmacies and allergist offices, and emphasized fully accessible instructions and displays. Judges noted strong product-market fit and encouraged the team to move toward regulatory testing and commercialization.

Making Meal Planning Inclusive: Accessible Appetite

Accessible Appetite addressed a universal frustration: deciding what to eat. For neurodivergent individuals, the mental load of planning meals, managing nutrition and staying on budget can be exhausting.

Their application combines three tasks typically siloed in other apps, including recipes, grocery lists and nutrition, in one clean, accessible interface. Key features include:

• Smart Plate Builder for visual portioning
• Smart Substitutions tailored to sensory preferences
• Allergy Filters that automatically replace trigger foods
• Machine-Learning Suggestions personalized over time

A built-in chatbot provides step-by-step support. Judges noted the tool’s broad appeal and praised the inclusive design that could ease stress for many households.

Navigating Grocery Stores With Calm: Ease Cart

One the premise that bright lights, noise and crowded aisles can make grocery shopping overwhelming, Ease Cart set out to create a calmer experience.

Interviews revealed that sensory overload leads many students to avoid stores or rely solely on delivery. The two-person team developed a soothing navigation app that reduces time in high-stimulation environments. Lavender tones reinforce calming intent and features include:

• Minimal-distraction visual modes
• Audio read-aloud assistance
• Budget tracking and receipt organization
• Quick list templates for routine shopping

Judges applauded the team’s focus on a real barrier that can limit independence and noted that the design could benefit nearly anyone seeking a quicker, lower-stress trip to the store.

Phones for Emergencies Only: Every Second Counts

With more K–12 schools, now including those in New York state, banning student phones during the day to reduce distraction, a safety concern has emerged, What happens when a student needs immediate help?

Every Second Counts designed a solution that keeps students off their phones while preserving emergency access. Their VPN-based “emergency-only mode” automatically activates on school Wi-Fi, replacing apps with a single button to call for help.

The team consulted teachers, administrators, parents and students to understand implementation and concerns. The University’s Senior Vice President for Digital Transformation and Chief Digital Officer Jeff Rubin advised on technical feasibility. Judges encouraged the team to continue development as policies evolve.

A Program Designed for Impact

Throughout the showcase, judges emphasized how advanced the work felt, less like class projects and more like early-stage startups. That outcome reflects the program’s purpose, said Gianfranco Zaccai ’70, H’09, who founded and funded Intelligence++.

“That is exactly the vision of Intelligence++,” says Zaccai. “It is designed to empower students to design together, while exploring entrepreneurship as a tool for inclusion. The program invites students from engineering, design, business, communications, and the arts to collaborate, as it partners with stakeholders and community organizations to ensure that lived experience leads the process. Students learn how rigorous discovery leads to better products and how accessible design helps everyone.”

Attendees left impressed by the students’ creativity and professionalism. “These could be real companies solving real problems,” one attendee remarked. For students, and for the thousands of people who could benefit from their ideas, this showcase is just the beginning.

Story by Linda Dickerson Hartsock

A significant expansion in structure, programming and community outreachĚý is paving the way for the (CHB) to help position Íř±¬ĂĹ as a national leader in research, education and practice.

An initiative of the (A&S), the and the (IVMF), CHB has a particular focus on the study and promotion of health, well-being and resilience among veterans and military-connected individuals.

Since launching its website and affiliate portal this past summer, have joined CHB—researchers, educators and clinical practitioners from across the University and from area health institutions. have been launched and the student research cohort has been formed.

CHB has hired a dedicated to support affiliate projects. It has also established a for staff who coordinate research initiatives and plans to implement student awards. Additional workshops and research showcases are scheduled for spring.

Building an Ecosystem

CHB is designed to advance translational health behavior research, education and training and provide a collaborative ecosystem for professionals working in the health behavior field, says , A&S professor of psychology, licensed clinical psychologist and CHB director.

Health behavior is a broad, interdisciplinary area that examines the many factors, choices and conditions that influence physical and mental health across the lifespan. The center’s purposeful cross-campus, cross-institutional structure makes it a hub for affiliates to share interests, findings and treatments and engage in academic and professional collaborations. Affiliates conduct basic laboratory studies, field research, clinical trials, digital health intervention work, qualitative studies and implement projects.

Veteran Focus

While CHB operates across a wide range of health behavior fields, a specialized focus on veterans and military-connected individuals complements the University’s commitment to that population, according to Ditre.

“Íř±¬ĂĹ has a national reputation as the best university for veterans and military-connected students. The University has worked with the Syracuse VA for about 30 years, beginning with faculty research collaborations and later expanding to co-mentored training and student placements. Building on that reputation and three decades of partnership, we should also strive to be the best place to learn how to serve veterans,” he says.

Veterans experience higher rates of suicide risk, trauma-related concerns, sleep problems, chronic health conditions and substance use compared to civilian peers. Many also face barriers tied to geography, stigma and complex transitions between military and civilian systems.

“These gaps have real consequences for individuals, families and communities. The University and this center, in collaboration with the IVMF, are uniquely positioned to address them,” Ditre says.

Digital Innovation

Digital innovation is a high priority because technologies like mobile devices, biometric monitoring and virtual reality help researchers collect real-time data from participants and capture their moment-to-moment experiences as well as indicators of health and behavior.

Affiliates have built mobile tools, tested them in trials and worked with community partners to implement check-in platforms and digital interventions that deliver guided exercises or personalized feedback.

“These tools let us reach people who may not engage with traditional services and connect with participants as they go about their daily routines or in settings where traditional care is harder to access. These technologies also help us understand behavior, tailor information to individual needs and deliver support in ways that fit people’s circumstances. For many of the populations we serve, this kind of flexibility is essential,” Ditre says.

Assuring health equity is another key focal point. That means designing studies and programs that are flexible, accessible and attentive to actual conditions and making sure that research benefits and outcomes reach the communities that need them most.

Grant and Award Applications

Application portals for the new pilot grant programs open Jan. 20, 2026, and close Feb. 12, 2026.

The supports cross-departmental and cross-campus projects with external institutional partners. The supports new or expanded Íř±¬ĂĹ and Veterans Affairs collaborations.

The grants range from $500 to $10,000 and the total pool of $50,000 is funded by A&S.

The funds give teams a way to test ideas, build a partnership or generate early data for larger external grant submissions. They also lower the barrier for new investigators who want to connect their work with campus priorities, according to Ditre.

Nominations for the , which cites excellence in research coordination work, are ongoing.

Future Activities

Future plans include more workshops with VA partners and collaboration with University Academic Affairs and the IVMF on a “Voices of Service” showcase where faculty, staff, students and community partners share veteran-focused research, courses and applied programs.

A neuroscience and health behavior research day, new working groups regarding sleep, substance use, trauma and digital health issues, awards for student work and additional community engagement activities are also planned.

The Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad) held its annual Impact Prize competition on Nov. 19 at Bird Library, commemorating Global Entrepreneurship Week. Seven student startup companies were awarded a total of $15,000 in cash prizes for ventures that create meaningful change.

The event featured a keynote from Carl Schramm, University Professor in the School of Information Studies and an internationally recognized leader in entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth.Ěý An economist, serial entrepreneur and author of the book “Burn the Business Plan: What Great Entrepreneurs Really Do,” Schramm was namedĚý “the evangelist of entrepreneurship” by The Economist.

This year’s winners are:

• First place ($5,000): Haley Greene ’26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Miirror, a free, peer-led digital platform providing inclusive eating-disorder recovery support and crisis tools, making treatment accessible for underserved communities.
• Second place (tie) ($4,000): Dylan Bardsley ’26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Clarity, an AI-powered credit card discovery tool that gives students personalized, unbiased recommendations to avoid debt and build credit.
• Second place (tie) ($4,000): Jacob Kaplan ’28 (School of Information Studies), founder of The OtherGlasses, adjustable prescription glasses using tunable liquid-crystal lenses that fit normal frames, allowing real-time vision changes without multiple pairs.
• Runner up ($500): Carolina Aguayo-Pla ’27 (School of Information Studies/Whitman School), founder of Frutecho, a modular cooling retrofit for non-refrigerated trucks that reduces produce spoilage and helps small farmers access premium markets.
• Runner up ($500): Ava Lubkemann ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), founder of Revamped, a mobile thrift and textile-recovery model that collects, refurbishes and resells donated clothing to cut waste and expand affordable access.
• Runner up ($500): Rajdeep Chatterjee G’26 (Whitman School), founder of TradeBridge, a blue-collar ed-tech platform offering mobile-first vocational training, integrated tool purchasing and job placement.
• ĚýRunner up ($500): Samantha Kurland ’26 (Newhouse School), founder of AcellsĂ©, a high-fashion brand using medical cell imagery to create ethical, purpose-driven apparel that funds medical research.

During this year’s competition, the LaunchPad pilot tested new accessibility technology from Sign-Speak, a local upstate New York startup, which provided real-time American Sign Language translation during the competition.

This year’s 2025 Impact Prize competition judging panel includedĚý Suli Abdul Sabor, fashion designer and owner of By Suli; Lee Carman, chief commercial banking officer for Broadview Federal Credit Union; Corinne Sartori, Libraries’ inclusion and accessibility specialist; Alice Maggiore, media strategist at Strategic Communications LLC;Ěý Ibou Ithior, senior HIV prevention technical advisor at PATH; Meghan Durso, senior human capital manager at TDO; Janice Harvey, founder of JJR Strategies LLC; Emad Rahim, CenterState CEO Syracuse Surge entrepreneurship manager; Hailee Greene, chief everything officer at Green Acres Processing; Peter Wohl, chief performance officer at Broadview Federal Credit Union; Rina Corigliano-Hart, director of client engagement and outreach at OneGroup; and Vicente Cuevas, program coordinator at the Lerner Center in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Story by Sawyer Tardie ’27, Whitman School

Two faculty members in the (·ˇ°äł§)—, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and , associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science—recently reached a remarkable milestone: their respective works have been cited 10,000 times. This achievement underscores the widespread impact and scholarly importance of their research across the global scientific community.

“Ten thousand of anything is a lot, but for Professor Qin and Professor Zafarani to hit 10,000 citations in the scientific literature is absolutely outstanding! It demonstrates the outsized impact of their research to the community at large,” says ECS Interim Dean . “Further, these researchers incorporate students into their programs holistically, giving our students access to the most cutting-edge technological research in the world.”

Zhao Qin: Multiscale Modeling and Bio-Inspired Materials

Qin develops multi-scale, high-throughput computational modeling methods that allow for the investigation of materials across different scales, particularly the nano- and bio-scales. He applies these tools to reveal new mechanisms hidden in complex biological structures, with findings contributing to a fundamental understanding of diseases and ways to combat them.

His work on understanding biomaterials also includes the creation of better, stronger composite materials using smart choices and careful planning, so they work well but don’t cost as much energy or harm the planet. A core part of his work involves “learning from nature” to discover bio-inspired ideas for creating and designing living materials with innovative and advanced mechanical functions. This includes studying the structure and mechanics of natural materials—like mussel glue and insect wings—to inform the prototyping and optimization of new synthetic composite materials for efficient usage in engineering.

Reza Zafarani: Data Science, Social Media Mining and Networks

Zafarani is an expert at the intersection of data mining, machine learning and AI, focusing on applications and theory. His research centers on collecting and analyzing large-scale data to discover actionable patterns, often employing theories from the social sciences alongside advanced mathematical and machine learning techniques.

His primary interests include big data analytics, social media mining and network/graph mining. His research has helped shed light on human behavior online, including the early detection of “fake news” and the design of techniques to detect it using content or link information. His work also focuses on realistic modeling of human behavior using digital traces, which has implications for information verification and security.

Through millions of years of evolution, geckos and anoles have developed curved claws and sticky toepads that make them expert climbers.

A team of researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences has been examining how those physical traits could inspire innovations such as new super adhesives and robotic climbing technologies, research that has the potential to not only help humans, but also contribute to the conservation of the lizard species.

Postdoctoral scholar and a group of biology student research assistants have been putting a group of anoles and geckos through their paces—having the animals run, jump and climb on various surfaces and at differing inclines.

The group has included doctoral student ’29;Ěý former research assistant Sierra Weill ’24; former undergraduate student researcher ’25; and Maya Philips ’26, who is currently using the research to write her undergraduate thesis.

Working in the lab of , assistant professor of biology, Wasiljew and researchers have been assessing how surfaces affect movement, speeds and exertion levels. They have also examined how the animals’ claws and sticky toepads work together to produce results. Previous research mainly focused only on toepads.

Impressive Climbers

“We are testing their clinging ability on various surfaces and inclines, which helps explain what combination of toepads and claws work best on different surfaces,” Wasiljew says. “We believe adhesive toepads are more effective on smooth surfaces like leaves or glass windows, whereas claws perform better on rough surfaces like tree bark or concrete walls. Anoles and geckos encounter all those types of surfaces depending on whether they live in urban or natural settings. Combining the abilities that both claws and toepads provide is likely what makes geckos and anoles such impressive climbers,” he says.

The research provides a better understanding of how clinging and climbing are handled in nature. Wasiljew believes that knowledge could be used to build physical models based on gecko and anole feet that could lead to new types of climbing equipment, robotic climbing technologies or other innovations.

These new developments could provide better access to hard-to-explore terrains and assist search and rescue efforts when people are trapped in challenging or remote geographic locations or stranded during hurricanes and earthquakes, he says.

Wasiljew and the Garner Lab team work with Íř±¬ĂĹ engineers to discuss ways to implement their biological findings into bio-inspired adhesives and robots. They also collaborate Ěýwith biology professor and researchers at her . Her group is studying how to build better biologging tags that adhere to the skin of endangered whales to improve tracking and protection.

A Role in Conservation

Understanding how geckos and anoles function in their various habitats is crucial to their conservation, Wasiljew says, because urbanization can threaten their existence. Urban habitats can cause some species to be unfamiliar with how to dwell and move in natural settings that have flexible twigs and branches, versus the concrete and glass materials they encounter in urban areas. Some species don’t adapt well toĚý habitat changes, which could lead to their eventual extinction, Wasiljew explains. Other species may adapt so well to urban settings that they can come to be regarded as pests.

“Our findings are important because they show how different surfaces affect tree-dwelling lizards and how urban environments can change how lizards behave and how their surroundings can shape their bodies and abilities. It’s research that can both help protect endangered species and limit their negative impacts in urban locations. Understanding how animals respond to human influence or habitat disturbance is crucial to their conservation.”

Photo Gallery

Scroll through the numbered slides to see more images of anoles in action.

Jumping Experiments

The researchers discovered that all groups of anoles are negatively affected by having a flexible springboard from which to jump. Urban brown anoles are better jumpers than the naturally-dwelling green anoles and jump further and faster than the brown anole species.

That difference is largest when jumps are made from a stiff springboard and smallest when jumps are made from a very flexible springboard. Surface flexibility affects brown anoles more than the green anoles because the brown urban anoles are more accustomed to the rigid surfaces of urban life than the green species.

Watch: Lizards in Action

The first video shows a flexible surface jump of a brown anole. When a highly flexible springboard was used, jump distance and velocity for both brown and green anole species were almost the same.

The second video demonstrates a rigid surface jump of a brown anole. When jumping from a rigid surface, tests showed that brown anoles take off faster but move at a lower angle than green anoles do.

(Videos by Sierra Weill)