October 6, 2025
Ģý photo / J. Adam Fenster
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
Our 110-year-old chemical engineering department recently changed its name to the , signaling a commitment to shaping the future of the field. The name change shows our faculty and students are forward-thinking and focused on developing solutions to meet growing global demands for innovations in green technologies, advances in energy efficiency, product and materials designed for circularity (meaning they can be reused or recycled), and improvements in sustainable manufacturing.
Our faculty’s research and teaching interests are already rooted in catalysis, sustainable fuels, environmental remediation, energy storage, biochemical engineering, life‑cycle analysis, and related areas. As Professor notes, “This change represents a rebirth of one of America’s first chemical engineering departments at a time when half of our 12 tenure-track faculty are new in the last 2.5 years.”
Read about the department’s vision at the News Center.
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER LAUNCHES REFRESHED BRAND IDENTITY
The University has introduced a refreshed brand identity, one that reflects the institution’s growth and momentum as it marks its 175th anniversary.
The University’s last major brand update took place more than 20 years ago. Since then, Ģý has evolved significantly—academically, culturally, and institutionally. The refreshed brand builds on that progress and aligns with , the University’s strategic plan, to strengthen its global reputation.
Learn more about the update at the News Center.
ATTEND FREE SESSIONS AT SOUNDTRAX
With the inaugural Soundtrax Film Music Festival less than two weeks away, I want to encourage the entire Hajim School community to attend this unique event that is perfect for anyone interested in music, movies, video games, and emerging audio technology.
The festival’s eight daytime sessions are free to attend and range from conversations with Emmy-winning composers to technology-focused talks about AI in music production with speakers from SONY, Yamaha, and Adobe. The festival’s evenings feature exhilarating (ticketed) film-music concerts including John Williams Reimagined, “Interstellar” in Concert, and “The Red Violin” in Concert.To Ի, visit Eastman’s Box Office , in person (433 East Main Street), or by calling 585-274-3000.
BAJA TEAM COMPETES AT SAE EVENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA
On the heels of a strong showing at an SAE competition in Arizona last spring, the University’s pushed to compete in the Baja SAE Carolina event last weekend against 65 teams from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. I’m happy to share that the team improved across the board, coming in 14th in the design competition, 18th in acceleration, 14th in hill climb, 33rd in suspension and traction, and 22nd in the endurance race.
Professor from the says that despite coming off the track of couple of times for repairs, “the team worked well together and finished strong at the end and ‘sent it’ for the last few laps to pick up some places. They blew out the rear half shafts in the last couple of minutes, but it didn’t have a significant effect on their overall position. It was good to push the car to its limits. The students always walk away from competition with great ideas on how to improve in the coming year.”
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FOOTBALL 101 WITH PROFESSOR JOHN LAMBROPOULOS
In another entertaining explainer about the mechanics of football, Professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering explains what happens when the pressure inside the ball changes. .
SUPPORT THE NSF-OPAL PROJECT
The NSF OPAL project aims to build the most powerful and flexible laser user facility in the world and the facility could be built at the (LLE) upon completion of the design project. NSF OPAL will use ultrahigh-peak-power lasers to explore the most extreme states of matter and radiation, ushering in a new era of discovery in frontier science. The facility would house two 25-petawatt lasers using chirped-pulse amplification, a technique invented in Rochester and recognized by the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics.
The NSF OPAL team needs your help showing the project has broad support from the science community and the American public at large. .
ED HAJIM ’58 DELIVERING VIRTUAL TALK TO STUDENTS OCTOBER 20
Students can get important advice from the Hajim School’s namesake during a virtual event titled, “Lessons on How to Chart Your Path.” Ed Hajim ’58 will share his perspective on how to embrace curiosity early in your academic journey, build relationships, and begin to explore pathways that align with your interests and values.
Ed is a URochester trustee emeritus, author of On the Road Less Traveled and Island of the Four Ps, and previous chairman of the Ģý board. In recognition of his generosity, the University named the Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences in his honor in 2009. His message of exploration, connecting with others, and discovering your path is powerful and I encourage students from all class years to attend.
The event takes place from 4-5 p.m. on Monday, October 20 on Zoom. .
APPLY FOR TAKE 5 AND E5 PROGRAMS
The fall 2025 application cycles for the Ի programs are now open. For the Take Five Scholars Program, a program recommender form must be submitted by Friday, October 10, at 5 p.m. to stay eligible to apply during the semester. The final deadline for both applications is Sunday, November 2, at 11:59 p.m., when all materials and both recommendation letters must be submitted through their respective portals. Visit the links above for details.
FOR EVER BETTER CAMPAIGN LAUNCH REGIONAL EVENTS
The University publicly launched —its largest and most ambitious fundraising and engagement initiative ever—during Meliora Weekend and now President Sarah Mangelsdorf is taking the campaign on the road.
The University is hosting campaign regional launch events across the country this fall and spring. Registration is now available for events in on October 16 and on November 20. Registration for 2026 events will be opening soon.
GEAR STUDENT BREAKFAST
Richard Colon
The Hajim School recently held a breakfast for students in our GEAR program, a program in which students are assured admission to the Hajim School in one of nine master’s programs.
Students in GEAR may receive a 50% tuition scholarship and may be asked to TA during their final year as part of the GEAR program. The program also provides advising by GEAR mentors, opportunities for research and internships, and access to first-rate research facilities. .
UR VENTURES PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Join UR Ventures, the University technology transfer office, for a morning seminar with Kirk Macolini of InteliSpark to learn how the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs work. Sessions cover who is eligible and what resources are available at the University to support competitive proposals.
Whether you’re currently involved with a University startup or simply exploring future startup possibilities, this session will give you valuable insights and practical tips to better prepare you for applying.
The program takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 20 at the Center for Experiential Learning (CEL) at the Medical Center room 2-7520. to attend in-person or virtually. The Zoom link will be sent after registration. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Kate Jordon.
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
