W. Vincent Liu receives $1.5 million from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research
W. Vincent Liu, a professor in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded $1.5 million from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to develop models in orbital physics.
The study of orbital waves — interacting quantum gasses of atoms and molecules in the context of orbital degrees of freedom harnessed by optical lattices under advanced spatiotemporal control — is somewhat analogous to the more familiar study of “spin.” Spin, however, is concerned with an internal symmetry, while an orbital wave relates a particle’s rotational symmetry relative to external space.
As part of the proposed project, Liu and his team will develop new theories and work to push forward the science of orbital physics by developing testable predictions for future projects. If successful, it will lead to the discovery of novel phases of matter with interesting and potentially beneficial properties in fundamental science.
Just as an understanding of spin physics was crucial for the development of magnetic drives, orbital physics and engineering may lead to new tools for manipulating quantum matter.
— Brandie Jefferson, photography by Mike Drazdzinski
Researchers Haines, Langmead 2 win National Endowment for the Humanities grants
Two Pitt researchers were awarded funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in its latest round of grants, announced in August.
Katheryn Haines, head of the Center for American Music in Pitt’s University Library System, received $186,511 for her project. In July 2024, she will teach two weeklong workshops for K-12 teachers on the impact of the 1892 Homestead steel strike and how it contributed to America’s growth as an industrial power.
Alison Langmead, director of the Visual Media Workshop in Pitt’s Department of History of Art and Architecture, won $66,329. The clinical professor, who is jointly appointed by the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Computing and Information, will use the funding for her project Teaching Art History with AI, which will convene college and university educators and develop open education resources on the topic.
NEH awarded $41.3 million to projects nationwide that support research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.
José-Alain Sahel wins International Prize for Translational Neuroscience
José-Alain Sahel, distinguished professor and chairman of Pitt’s Department of Ophthamology, was awarded the International Prize for Translational Neuroscience alongside longtime collaborator Botond Roska. The Gertrud Reemtsma Foundation awards 60,000 euros each year to biomedical scientists and clinicians who make exceptional contributions toward the understanding of neurobiology and neurological diseases.
The researchers were honored for their pioneering work on restoring vision to blind patients using optogenetics, a way of creating light-sensitive cells using genes derived from algae. In the first demonstration of optogenetics in humans, they used optogenetic methods to partially restore vision in patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa in 2021.
Sahel and Roska, a professor at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel and one of the first to apply optogenetics to restore vision in animal models, met in 2001 while working in a lab Sahel directed at Louis Pasteur University. It was the start of a long collaboration: Roska directs lab studies with optogenetic therapies, while Sahel spearheads development and access to patients for clinical trials. By equipping diseased photoreceptors in the eye with light-sensing proteins, the pair hopes to reactivate the cells and restore their functionality.
Ora Weisz will receive 2023 Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award
Ora Weisz, assistant vice chancellor for faculty excellence in Pitt’s schools of the health sciences, will receive the 2023 Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award from the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB).
The annual award is presented to a scientist for outstanding scientific achievements and a record of active leadership in mentoring underrepresented groups. In Pitt’s School of Medicine, Weisz directs the Junior Faculty Scholar Awards program, which provides research support to junior investigators with significant extraprofessional responsibilities.
While at Pitt, Weisz has earned a School of Medicine Distinguished Mentor Award and a Postdoctoral Association Advocate Award. An alumna of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, she is a member of Pitt Medicine’s Academy of Master Educators and director of its career mentoring program.
The professor of medicine and cell biology will receive a $1,000 stipend and will speak at ASCB’s annual meeting, Cell Bio 2023, in December.
Aurora Sharrard named to City & State PA's Energy and Environment Power 100 list
Aurora Sharrard has been included in City & State PA’s Energy and Environment Power 100, a compilation of the most prominent and influential people working within Pennsylvania’s energy and environment sectors.
As the executive director for Pitt’s Office of Sustainability, Sharrard has led the University to multiple landmarks, including the completion of the 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan and subsequent Progress Report and the Pitt Climate Action Plan detailing the University’s roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2037. She also oversaw a partnership with Vesper Energy’s Gaucho Solar Farm that will supply renewable energy to the Pittsburgh campus.
Sophia Choukas-Bradley served on panel focused on adolescent social media use
Sophia Choukas-Bradley, assistant professor of psychology in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, served on an American Psychological Association presidential panel that created the first advisory of its kind for adolescent social media use.
The recommendations, which were endorsed by the U.S. surgeon general, note that platforms can promote healthy socialization, but their use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure youth have skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe and meaningful experiences.
Along with its 10 recommendations, the full report is careful to note that, given the publicly available research, it is not possible to determine if social media is the cause of harmful impacts on youth. In addition, there have been relatively few studies conducted with youth from racial, ethnic, sexual, gender, socioeconomic or differently abled populations, or youth with chronic developmental or health conditions. The panel also called for “a substantial investment in research funding” and access to more data, including data from tech companies.
At Pitt, Choukas-Bradley is the director and principal investigator for the Teen and Young Adult Lab, which studies interpersonal and sociocultural influences on adolescent mental health, with an emphasis on gender, sexuality, social media use, body image, LGBTQ+ youth and intersectionality.
Center for Governance and Markets recognized for refugee work
The Center for Governance and Markets in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Civic Engagement Project Award from the American Political Science Association on Sept. 1 for its continuing work supporting refugees and threatened scholars.
The award comes barely 21 months after the center first launched its Afghan Asylum Project, an effort to help Afghan people who supported American civilian and military efforts in Afghanistan apply for asylum in the United States. This student-led project recruited more than 100 faculty, staff and student volunteers to help more than 6,500 Afghans who approached the center for assistance. Find more details here.
School of Nursing honored as breastfeeding friendly place
The Pitt School of Nursing was recently selected as a recipient of an honorable mention/runner-up for the 27th annual Allegheny County Breastfeeding-Friendly Place Awards for their commitment to providing a designated space and resources for parents in need.
The Allegheny County Health Department Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and the Allegheny County Breastfeeding Coalition host the ceremony in honor of National Breastfeeding Month each year.
Rosemary Capo joins GU LANDInG Academy’s newest cohort
Rosemary Capo, associate professor in Pitt’s Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences, has joined the second-ever cohort of the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Leadership Academy and Network for Diversity and Inclusion in the Geosciences (LANDInG) Academy.
AGU LANDInG Academy is a two-year, cohort-based professional development program for current and aspiring diversity, equity and inclusion leaders in the Earth and space sciences. Fellows from the 2021-2023 cohort reported benefits like a deeper understanding of DEI science, networking with DEI scholars and building a community of support for their own leadership.
An assistant dean for graduate studies and academic integrity officer for the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Capo has over 25 years of experience in the analysis of natural and produced waters and mineral, soil, and environmental samples, including four years as a postdoctoral researcher and research scientist at the California Institute of Technology and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Overacre-Delgoffe earns National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' New Innovator Award
Abby Overacre-Delgoffe, assistant professor in the Pitt School of Medicine’s Department of Immunology, earned a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases New Innovator Award for her project “Microbiota initiation of lymphangiogenesis.”
Overacre-Delgoffe will use the funding, totaling $1.5 million over five years, to research how gut bacteria drive the development of tertiary lymphoid structures, organized immune cell structures that often form at sites of inflammation, including tumors. The presence of tertiary lymphoid structures can predict response to immunotherapy and prognosis, so understanding how they develop could pave the way for new therapies to improve cancer outcomes.
A member of the Tumor Microenvironment Center at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Overacre-Delgoffe is a recipient of the Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist Award from the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. She is currently a member of the Society of Immunotherapy for Cancer Early Career Scientist Committee and the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Women’s Task Force.
Bruce Childers from School of Computing and Information graduates from Leadership Pittsburgh
During a 10-month session, LP provides local leaders with experiences and educational programming that will allow them to develop an enhanced understanding of the challenges facing senior management in the region. The program’s ultimate aim is to furnish leaders with the skills and resources necessary to guide their organizations toward addressing the region’s challenges and making an impact.
“Participating in LP opened my eyes to many issues facing the region in education, the arts, and our local communities. It reinforced that there are many wonderful resources that make this region truly special,” said Childers.
The flagship program of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. — a multidisciplinary organization for leadership enrichment in Western Pennsylvania — has provided opportunities to senior-level leaders in the region for more than 40 years. Each year the size of the cohort ranges between 50 and 60 participants, each of whom are leaders in various industries and civic organizations.
“In addition to learning about education, the arts, the regional economy, health care and communities, we took a road trip to Harrisburg as a culminating experience. We were at the State Capitol on the day that Governor Josh Shapiro signed his first bill, which was passed with bipartisan support,” Childers said. “It was inspiring to learn how committed our state representatives are to working together for the betterment of the Commonwealth. Returning from this experience, I feel more confident and comfortable advocating about issues relevant to computing and information with our local state representatives.”
Karen Bursic elected fellow of American Society for Engineering Education
In recognition of her dedication to excellence in engineering education, Karen Bursic, professor of industrial engineering and undergraduate program director at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, was elected a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
Fellow status is ASEE’s highest honor, bestowed upon individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering education. Bursic was selected for her contributions to the field of engineering education, including her work on curriculum development, faculty development and student success.
Bursic is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and ASEE and has held leadership positions at the division level in both organizations. Since 1994, her work has focused on improving engineering education, with numerous publications in the area. Most recently, she developed an engineering economy concept inventory to provide a neutral assessment to determine students’ learning in engineering economy courses. This work earned her the 2020 ASEE Grant Award.
Elaine Mormer named fellow of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Elaine Mormer, the director of audiology clinical education in Pitt’s Department of Communication Science and Disorders, was named a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
To be named a fellow is among the highest honors ASHA bestows. The professor and vice chair for clinical education in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences was honored with inclusion in the 2023 class for outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.
Mormer received the Provost’s Innovation in Education Award in 2019 and the American Academy of Audiology Outstanding Educator Award in 2020. She researches hearing loss in older adults and is a co-investigator on the Hearing for Communication and Resident Engagement (HearCARE) research project, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Mark DeRuiter takes leadership role in American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Mark DeRuiter, vice chair for academic affairs and professor in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, was elected to serve as vice president for standards and ethics in audiology for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
In his role on the ASHA board of directors, DeRuiter will help plan and coordinate the organization’s educational activities and ensure established standards for certification in audiology. A fellow of ASHA and the American Academy of Audiology, DeRuiter’s research focuses on auditory processing disorders and issues in clinical education.
DeRuiter also directs Pitt’s clinical science doctoral program in speech-language pathology in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.
6 Pitt faculty receive NSF CAREER Awards
Six faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh earned National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, one of the foundation’s most prestigious in support of early-career faculty.
Winners not only serve as principal investigator on a project, but also integrate an education aspect into their research. NSF selects recipients who are role models and can lead advances in their department and at the University.
Here are this year’s recipients from Pitt:
Amir Alavi
The assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering has been working to engineer a new class of intelligent materials that can create the foundation for mechanical computing systems. A $535,120 CAREER award will further his research in self-powered mechanical "metamaterials" that can think for themselves without the need for delicate processors or batteries — materials that will be useful for everything from medical implants to space computing.
Mostafa Bedewy
The assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science in the Swanson School will use his $596,734 award to develop laser-induced nanocarbon (LINC) to expedite and revolutionize flexible device manufacturing processes by creating graphene and related nanomaterials directly
Maria Chikina
The assistant professor of computational and systems biology in Pitt’s School of Medicine received a $749,994 CAREER award to build general and flexible algorithms that can reduce large collections of data into smaller, biologically meaningful representations that are concise enough to be easily manipulated by nonexperts while rich enough to support the originally intended analysis and future data reuse.
Xiaowei Jia
This assistant professor of computer science in the School of Computing and Information wants to know: How can new advances in machine learning impact real-world problems and discoveries? In June 2023, Jia earned $599,987 for his project, “Combining Machine Learning and Physics-based Modeling Approaches for Accelerating Scientific Discovery.”
Lingfei Wu
The assistant professor of informatics and networked systems in Pitt’s School of Computing and Information earned $565,087 for his probe into the distinct roles research teams play in unfolding the advance of science and technology. Wu’s project, “How Does Core Scientific Knowledge Advance Understanding Team Innovation at the Foundations of Sciences,” was funded for a five-year period.
Xiayun Zhao
The assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science in the Swanson School received $657,610 to further her research in photopolymer additive manufacturing (PAM). This technology utilizes two lights to cure photosensitive materials and curb the associated overcuring, allowing for the fabrication of components with higher resolution and greater precision than existing PAM technologies.
— Brandie Jefferson, photography by Aimee Obidzinski
Anthony Dellitto earns University of Buffalo Alumni Achievement Award
Anthony Delitto, dean of Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, earned a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Buffalo, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in physical therapy in 1979.
The professor of physical therapy has expanded the department’s doctoral program and research efforts, which has resulted in a No. 1 ranking from U.S. News and World Report.
Not only has Delitto authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers, but he also treats people with painful musculoskeletal disorders. He conducted one of the first large Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute trials; the $13-million grant for the TARGET study investigated innovative ways to deliver psychologically informed physical therapy.
Delitto’s other honors include a Golden Pen Award, a Steven J. Rose Award for Excellence in Research and a Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy from the American Physical Therapist Association (APTA).
Oscar Marroquin in Division of Cardiology named vice dean for clinical affairs
Oscar C. Marroquin, associate professor in the Division of Cardiology, has been appointed to the role of vice dean for clinical affairs for Pitt’s School of Medicine. Marroquin has also been named senior vice president of UPMC and president of its Physician Services Division, a role in which he will oversee more than 5,000 employed physicians and staff.
A professor in the School of Medicine for two decades, Marroquin also holds secondary appointments in the School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology and Pitt’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute. In his new role as vice dean, Marroquin will work collaboratively with Pitt Med leadership to advance clinical education.
Marroquin earned his medical degree from the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala. He completed an internal medicine residency at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, followed by fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology and a certificate in clinical research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
A member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians, Marroquin’s academic interests focus on outcomes research in interventional cardiology and heart disease in women. He also specializes in turning real-world data into evidence and is currently chief analytics officer at UPMC, where his team works to apply “big data” approaches to measure and predict clinical outcomes. Marroquin is also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions.
Christine McClure awarded by State of Black Learning, Strong Women Strong Girls mentorship organization
Christine McClure, a senior research science in Pitt’s School of Public Health, won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the State of Black Learning.
The award, presented each year at the annual event on educating and engaging with Black students in Pennsylvania, honors a teacher or educational professional who has made a positive difference in the overall learning climate for Black children.
McClure’s (GSPIA ’06G, EDUC ’18G) research seeks to understand the intersectional experiences of women of color in higher education to inform the creation of more equitable spaces for minoritized groups.
McClure received her award at the 2023 State of Black Learning Conference, Aug. 9-11 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel.
Also, in early August, McClure earned an award from Strong Women Strong Girls, a mentorship organization that offers programming for high-school and elementary-aged girls in Pittsburgh and Boston.
McClure (GSPIA ’06, EDUC ’18G) won one of three Strong Awards, in the professional category, for her work mentoring women in higher education. She serves as board chair for When She Thrives, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to equipping single mothers through personal and professional development, education and advocacy.
The accolade was presented at the organization’s ninth annual Strong Awards breakfast ceremony on Aug. 11.
4 Pitt people win Sigma International Awards for Nursing Excellence
Three faculty members and an emeritus dean from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing received with Sigma International Awards for Nursing Excellence.
Each year, the international nursing honors society recognizes superior achievement in developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere. The winners will be honored during Sigma’s 47th Biennial Convention on Nov. 11-15 in San Antonio, Texas.
“Our winners have exemplified the spirit of excellence, innovation, and dedication to mentorship, service, research, and leadership that we strive to cultivate at Pitt Nursing,” said Christine E. Kasper, dean of the School of Nursing. “Their accomplishments not only elevate Pitt Nursing’s reputation, but also inspire and motivate us all to reach new heights in our own pursuits. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments.”
Here are this year’s recipients from Pitt:
Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, a dean emeritus and distinguished service professor of nursing, has been awarded the Mary Tolle Wright Award, which recognizes extraordinary excellence in leadership, visionary and innovative approaches and the development of nursing leaders and leadership. Dunbar-Jacob served as dean of Pitt Nursing for more than 20 years and, under her leadership, it became one of the first schools in the nation to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Throughout her career, Dunbar-Jacob has been a sought-after presenter, mentor, advocate, researcher and educator. Because of her leadership and visionary approach to nursing, Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan selected Pitt to establish the undergraduate nursing curriculum for its newly established medical school. Dunbar-Jacob also received the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research Pathfinder Distinguished Research Award and was a member of the inaugural class of Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.
Professor Richard Henker has been awarded the Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for extraordinary excellence in service. The award celebrates voluntary service projects that address global health disparities, health care, the nursing profession and Sigma. This prestigious accolade acknowledges Dr. Henker’s exceptional contributions and positive impact on a global health disparity of a targeted population, specifically in Laos and Cambodia. Henker was recognized for exceptional contributions and positive impact on a global health disparity, particularly for active projects guiding policy changes with the ministries of health in Laos and Cambodia.
Young Ji Lee, associate professor of nursing and medicine and Pitt Nursing’s vice chair of administration, has been awarded the prestigious Virginia K. Saba Nursing Informatics Leadership Award. This award honors an individual for innovative and cutting-edge work that results in significant development, contributes to advancing nursing informatics and achieves a recognizable and momentous public benefit. In 2018, Lee contributed to the revision of the American Nurses Association’s Core Principals on Telehealth, a guide for health care professionals who use connected health technologies. The results electronically connected clinicians to clinicians, patients to clinicians and even patients to other patients and is considered a breakthrough in the field of informatics.
John O’Donnell, professor and chair of the Department of Nurse Anesthesia and director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, has been awarded the Lucie S. Kelly Mentor Award. A powerhouse in the field of nurse anesthesia and simulation, O’Donnell has gained a national and international reputation for excellence, making him a sought-after mentor and collaborator. In 1994, he accepted a faculty position teaching within the nurse anesthesia program at the School of Nursing. Just one year later, he assumed the role of associate director of the program. Today, 1057 CRNA graduates from Pitt Nursing account for approximately 2% of the nations’ nurse anesthetist workforce.
— Katelyn Kocis
Pittsburgh Quantum Institute appoints Michael Hatridge as new director
The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI) has appointed Michael Hatridge as its new director. The associate professor of physics and director of Pitt’s physics and quantum computing major brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of quantum science and technology to the role.
The PQI is a collaborative initiative between the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University, and continues to be a leading collaborative interdisciplinary organization that advances research, education and training in quantum science and engineering.
“We are very excited that Michael has been named director of PQI,” said Adam Leibovich, dean of Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and College of General Studies. “Michael has proven himself to be a true innovator — in the classroom, in his lab and through the collaborations he’s built with colleagues across disciplines. He has the vision and experience to lead PQI in great new directions. The Dietrich School is looking forward to continuing our strong partnership with PQI.”
Hatridge will be responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing the institute's research programs, fostering collaborations with industry and government partners and furthering the education and training of the next generation of quantum scientists.
“I am honored and excited to lead the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute into its next phase of growth and impact,” said Hatridge. “Quantum science and technology have the potential to revolutionize various fields, from computing and communication to sensing and materials science. I look forward to working with our exceptional faculty, researchers and students to push the boundaries of quantum research and innovation.”
“We are delighted to welcome Michael to this role,” said Rob Cunningham, vice chancellor for research infrastructure at Pitt. “His expertise and leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our position as a global leader in quantum research.”