Welcome to the School of Science & Technology's fall newsletter. We hope this finds you well in these uncertain times. Please take care and stay safe. |
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Hello,
I am delighted to be starting as your new Dean of the School of Science and Technology. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and have strong roots in Sonoma County, where my father’s family originally settled in 1848. I am very pleased to have the opportunity now to contribute to the many science, health, and technology programs at Sonoma State University.
I join you at a challenging time. Between COVID-19 and the associated enrollment drop and budget reductions, there will be many difficult conversations in the weeks and months ahead. I am hopeful that we can work together collaboratively to find the best possible solutions to these challenges. In normal times, I would be reaching out to faculty and staff to meet you over coffee or lunch, but for the immediate future, I will be meeting people and forming connections via Zoom.
Many people have already welcomed me warmly to Sonoma State University, and I want to thank them for their kind words. I hope to continue in the path of my predecessor, Lynn Stauffer, who has built strong teams of staff and faculty, and done significant strategic planning work that we will continue to build upon.
Again, I look forward to meeting everyone, and will be reaching out to departments when the semester begins. We will also be scheduling a virtual School Meeting following Convocation in August, so look for details on that. If you would like to meet with me before then, please contact Cory Oates to set up an appointment.
Thank you for all that you have done and are doing for Sonoma State,
Elisabeth
Elisabeth Wade
Dean, School of Science and Technology
Sonoma State University
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Statistics major receives prestigious CSU award |
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This article originally appeared on SSU News on September 23, 2020
Rohnert Park, CA — Growing up in a small, rural central California town, Sonoma State University student Therese Azevedo has always defied expectations. While at SSU, the first-generation senior statistics major is helping others do the same, volunteering to mentor middle-grade girls on behalf of STEM programs and conducting research on math anxiety.
“Therese personifies what is best about Sonoma State Students - hard-working, dedicated, and brilliant,” said President Judy K. Sakaki. “That she is interested in pursuing an advanced degree in STEM is a testament to her ongoing curiosity and to the commitment of her SSU faculty.”
As a multiracial student in STEM, Azevedo has prevailed over many stereotypes of what (and who) she should (or could) be. Navigating many cultural and institutional boundaries has informed her passion for data analysis. Azecedo actively supports student engagement as a Learning Community Mentor to statistics students and her research into math anxiety focuses specifically on female and underrepresented college students. [...]
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Four SSU students named PROUD Scholars |
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The CSU- LSAMP Program for Recognition of Undergraduate Distinction (CSU-LSAMP PROUD) is a program designed to recognize and highlight the achievements of outstanding CSU-LSAMP students. These PROUD Scholars are featured in an annual CSU-LSAMP publication. From SSU, the following students were featured in the 2019 publication:
- Valeria Suarez Vega
- Jennifer Juarez Yoc
- Ian Ocampo
- Drew Horton
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2020 Science Symposium award winners |
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While we missed gathering for our annual showcase of research and scholarship this past spring, the Science Symposium 2020 Virtual Research Gallery was an outstanding demonstration of the research many of our students collaborated on last year. The following SST students were named our 2020 award winners:
Science Symposium Awards, awarded by the School of Science & Technology:
Best Poster
Presenter: Fabian Ramirez
Advisor: Dr. Omayra Ortega, Mathematics & Statistics
Big Picture Award
Presenters: Paris Krause and Brieanne Forbes
Advisor: Dr. Lisa Bentley, Biology
Bright Idea Award
Presenters: Tiffany Sem, Gabriel Dantoc, Jack Gable, Fabricio Gomez, Amit Grewal, Jennifer Juarez Yoc, John Molinari, Irene Monico, Alejandra Moreno, Nayana Uluhannan, Brieanne Forbes, Paris Krause
Advisor: Dr. Lisa Bentley, Biology
Science 120 - A Watershed Year – Award
Presenters: Abigail Harr, Kimberly Mercado, Hannah Osowski, and Danielle Rico-Romero
Advisor: Dr. Robin Glas, Geology
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Ongaro Family Greem Science Awards, funded by a generous gift from SSU Physics alumnus Ernest Ongaro and his family’s company, Ongaro and Sons:
Green Science Main Prize
Presenter: Gabriel Quintero Plancarte and Beatriz Chimal
Advisors: Drs. Joseph Lin and Michael Cohen, Biology
Green Champion Prize
Presenters: Joseph McGuire and Jorge Ruiz Gonzales
Advisor: Dr. Martha Shott, Mathematics & Statistics
Graduate Studies Outstanding Research Awards, awarded by the Office of Graduate Studies:
Presenter: David House
Program: Computer Engineering Science, M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mohamed Salem, Engineering Science
Presenters: Paris Krause and Brieanne Forbes
Program: Biology, M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Lisa Bentley, Biology
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New equipment will aid human disease research |
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This article originally appeared on SSU News on September 17, 2020.
At Sonoma State University, a major piece of equipment is coming to campus this fall that will help STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students, and faculty understand the fundamental mechanisms of cell biology, including those in diseases such as cancer.
“We are extremely excited to bring this new capability for modern research instrumentation to SSU,” said Elisabeth Wade, dean of the School of Science and Technology. “We are delighted that we were able to help Dr. Hua expand her research here and to support her in providing more students with opportunities for on campus research experiences. This work will benefit our campus and our students as they move on in their careers beyond SSU.” [...]
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Device aims to aid COVID-19 patients' recovery |
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This article originally appeared on SSU News on July 2, 2020
A friend of Sonoma State University professor Farid Farahmand lay in a hospital bed at the Redwood City Kaiser Permanente Neurology Center in November 2016. Recovering from surgery to treat bleeding in his head, he was instructed to use an incentive spirometer, a handheld breathing device that measures how deeply a patient can inhale, which helps prevent respiratory issues.
Farahmand jokingly asked if he used it, following instructions from his doctor and many others to patients recovering from surgery. “Yes,” his friend said, but clearly lying.
The problem with incentive spirometers, according to Farahmand, chair of the Department of Engineering Science, is that many patients don’t use them or simply forget. “What if I made something that reminded you to use it and even did more than that?” he asked his friend.
Fast forward three and a half years later, and Farahmand’s idea has come to fruition. With the help of the Advanced Internet Technologies in the Interests of Society Laboratory in Sonoma State’s Department of Engineering Science, he has created InSee, a patented prototype device that may help to encourage patient compliance of incentive spirometers, including those recovering from severe cases of COVID-19. [...]
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Article published on teaching chemistry in a pandemic |
The Journal of Chemical Education published an article by Drs. Carmen Works, John Fukuto, Monica Lares, Bogdan Negru, and Jennifer Lillig, Department of Chemistry, in their "Insights Gained While Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19" special edition.
The article, titled, "Teaching Upper Division Chemistry and Biochemistry Capstone Lab Courses During a Pandemic," outlines the lessons learned during the abrupt transition to online learning in spring 2020.
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The spring and fall semesters of 2020 have been unlike any other. We have all had to quickly adapt to working, teaching, and learning remotely. It has not been easy, but we continue to be impressed by the dedication, grace, and compassion shown by our faculty, staff, and students as we continue to navigate an uncertain world.
The School of Science and Technology would like to especially acknowledge the hard work of our staff, not just in our school but across the whole university. We would not be able to achieve what we have without their support. They have approached the many challenges we have faced in 2020 with ingenuity, understanding, and perseverance. Their contributions often go unacknowledged, but they are critical to the success of our faculty, students, school, and university.
In SST, our techs have worked tirelessly to support both in-person and virtual courses. At the beginning of the semester, Kandis Gilmore, Instructional Support Tech in Biology, assembled and mailed well-over 300 lab kits to our students. Sarah Tucker, Administrative Support Coordinator for Math and MESA, has handled the receipt and distribution of all mail and packages for our school, essentially becoming a one-person post office. Additionally, Sshe prepped lab kits for our SCI 120 students. These are just a few of the many ways our staff have been supporting instruction and day-to-day operations, both on campus and remotely.
We want to thank the staff of SST and SSU for their continued hard work and dedication. We appreciate you. We hope everyone takes care and stays safe.
Julie Barnes
Administrative Manager
School of Science & Technology
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A time lapse video of Kandis Gilmore prepping lab kits to be mailed out to students. |
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Starting an internship during a pandemic |
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This summer Joshua Paine, a senior Electrical Engineering and Math major, completed his internship at Keysight Technologies.
"During my summer internship at Keysight Technologies my projects involved automating the calibration process in a handheld analyzer called Fieldfox. In order to accomplish this, I had to learn Lua, a coding language that was completely new to me. I also had to learn more about application programing interface (API), as well as the standard commands for programable instruments (SCPI) commands, both of which were essential to complete the project," explained Joshua.
Considering all the restrictions and limited access to the buildings at Keysight Technologies completing this project initially seemed unthinkable! "Soon I learned that my biggest resource was my team! Everyone in the team was incredibly understanding and helpful. I had great mentors. With their continuous support and assistance I was able to compete my projects before the end of summer!" Joshua recalls.
"Joshua has been an amazing intern this year. This has really not been a typical year for interns and his flexibility and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done has been exceptional," noted Christopher Rich, a Product Support Manager at Keysight Technologies.
So, what is Joshua’s advice to other students seeking summer internship opportunities? "If you are interested in finding an internship position, I recommend being persistent. Expand your network and knowledge and meet more contacts who could help get you. Keysight Technologies does a lot of outreach at SSU; make sure you show up during these events," says Joshua.
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This article originally appeared on SSU News on May 22, 2020
Physics & Astronomy professor Dr. Lynn Cominsky, who has taught at Sonoma State University for more than 30 years, has been recognized by the American Astronomical Society as one of the central historical figures within her industry. The Americans Astronomical Society, the foremost organization for professional astronomers in North America, has named Cominsky as part of its inaugural class of Legacy Fellows for her extraordinary achievements in the field. [...]
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By Prof. Lynn Cominsky and Dr. Laura Peticolas
EdEon STEM Learning has been awarded four new grants since the last SST newsletter. Two are led by Associate Director Dr. Laura Peticolas, one is led by Psychology Prof. Math Paolucci, with Prof. Lynn Cominsky as Co-PI, and Cominsky leads the largest grant, a five-year award from NASA for almost $5 million. [...]
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