January 2026

A display of Edison Patent Award trophies. (Image: Research & Development Council of New Jersey)

AI method of mapping brain tumor progression wins Edison Patent Award

Nidhal C. Bouaynaya, Rowan University’s associate vice chancellor for artificial intelligence, was honored by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey with the 2025 Edison Patent Award in Medical Diagnostics for a cloud-based AI method that maps and measures glioblastoma progression. Co-invented with Hassan Fathallah-Shaykh, the technology speeds mapping and measurement and enables cloud delivery for consistent, scalable diagnostics. Learn more

Dongmei Dong in Science Hall laboratory.

Targeting PFAS

Dongmei Dong, assistant professor in the College of Science & Mathematics, is developing a portable, low-cost sensor to detect PFAS in water. Her approach combines physics, chemistry and engineering to enable real-time, on-site monitoring of these harmful chemicals at trace levels. Read more

Smarter bridges, safer roads

Researchers in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering are developing an algorithm to analyze inspection images, flag defects, and forecast deterioration, helping New Jersey manage over 6,800 bridges. Backed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the project streamlines data analysis for timely repairs. Read more

Dara LoBuono and a Rowan University student assist a participant in a nutritional education program for older adults.

Helping older adults maintain health with tech

Dara LoBuono, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at the Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions, researches the nutritional needs of older adults. Her GoldenBytes program pairs students with older adults to boost nutrition literacy through tech tools, addressing health and access challenges. Read more

Kevin Dahm stands in front of a scene of Mars designed for game-based learning.

Tools to assess ethics in engineering

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Professor Kevin Dahm leads a National Science Foundation collaboration with three universities to create an assessment tool for a Mars-themed ethics game. Using natural language processing, the project aims to strengthen decision-making skills critical for real-world engineering challenges. Read more

Thanh Nguyen observes conditions at a cranberry bog.

Intelligent drones to improve cranberry yields

College of Science & Mathematics mathematician Thanh Nguyen leads AI-driven, autonomous drone work to spot and precision-spray Carolina redroot, a destructive weed, in South Jersey cranberry bogs. Precision spraying reduces pesticide use, costs and improves yields. Read more

New gene therapy for childhood disease

Paola Leone of the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine led the first gene therapy for Canavan disease, a fatal childhood brain disorder. Published in Nature Medicine, the study shows restored myelin and improved development, marking a major advance in treating rare neurological conditions. Read more

Ranked in top 50 for innovation

The Princeton Review again ranked Rowan University’s entrepreneurship program among the nation’s top 50. Housed in the School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the program offers hands-on opportunities through competitions and accelerators, preparing students to launch ventures and drive innovation across disciplines. Read more

Geology Ph.D. candidate Kelsey Barker doing field work in the Adirondack Mountains.

Student spotlight: Geology Ph.D. traces ice retreat

Rowan’s first School of Earth & Environment Ph.D. candidate, Kelsey Barker, uses cosmogenic-nuclide surface-exposure dating to determine the timing of ice-sheet retreat. Her research helps refine sea-level and natural hazard forecasts, providing clearer context for today’s climate risks. Read more

More Rowan University news

Award highlights

Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences

Hedgehog Signaling Regulation of Postnatal Tongue and Taste Organ Morphogenesis, National Institutes of Health, Archana Kumari, Neuroscience

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

NJDOT Bridge Resource Program-1, BRP1, U.S. Department of Transportation, Subcontract with New Jersey Department of Transportation, Islam Mantawy, Center for Research & Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems

Material-Sparing Workflow for Impurity Rejection Based on Thermodynamic Screening, Pfizer, Inc., Gerard Capellades, Chemical Engineering

Bridging the Gap: Comprehensive Cybersecurity and Career Readiness Training for Critical Infrastructure in NJ/NY Region, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Subcontract with Stevens Institute of Technology, Qianqian Zhang, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Decarbonizing New Jersey Higher Education Institutions with Enhancing Recycling Activities, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Subcontract with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Joseph Stanzione, Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute

NJDOT Safe Routes Resource Center 2025-2026, Federal Highway Administration, Subcontract with New Jersey Department of Transportation and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Mohammad Jalayer, Center for Research & Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems

NJDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration, Subcontract with New Jersey Department of Transportation and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Mohammad Jalayer, Center for Research & Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems

College of Science & Mathematics

Development of an Affordable Vehicle-Mounted Smart Weed Detection and Management System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Subcontract with New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Thanh Nguyen, Mathematics

Mapping Blueberry Flowering and Pollination Using AI and Autonomous Drones for Assessing Duke Decline and Breeding of New Cultivars, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Subcontract with New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Hieu Nguyen, Mathematics

Ric Edelman College of Communication, Humanities & Social Sciences

Transatlantic Trials: Hessian Soldiers, Defeat, and the Human Cost of Revolution, Villanova University, Jennifer Janofsky, History

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