February 16, 2026
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
The federal government is providing researchers at the Hajim School and RIT funding to advance the future of sharing quantum information and further develop an experimental quantum network connecting our campuses. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is providing theĢýand RIT $2 million to build new capabilities for the Rochester Quantum Network (RoQNET). This new funding is a direct result of Congressional support from Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Representative Morelle as part of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill.
Ģý and RIT installed RoQNET in 2024, and last year theydemonstratedthat they can securely transmit single photons from one campus to another over 11 miles of fiber-optic telecommunications lines. Sending communications using individual particles of light offers unprecedented levels of security, making them impregnable from being cloned or intercepted without detection and preventing bad actors from accessing sensitive data.
Now, the researchers are preparing for experiments to share entangled photons across the network, leveraging the strange and surprising principles of quantum mechanics that defy the laws of conventional physics.
Read more about what lies ahead for this exciting project at the News Center.
EVER WONDER: WHAT CAN WE DO WITH LASERS?
Ģý’s(LLE) is home to the largest, and some of the most powerful, lasers in academia. Here, scientists, engineers, and students use light and matter to model the interiors of distant planets, keep our nation secure, and work toward fusion energy for the future.
In an entertaining video, Dave Canning, Facility Manager for the Omega EP Laser at LLE, discusses how lasers work, the role of light and electrons, how laser technology has evolved over time, and some of the incredible discoveries taking place currently at LLE.
Watch the video and read more at the News Center.
IN THE NEWS: GUO LAB RESEARCH COVERED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES
Ģý photo / J. Adam Fenster
The unsinkable metal tubes developed in the lab of Professor continue to capture the public’s imagination. Yesterday, the New York Times published a story about the technology and it has also been covered by ,,, and elsewhere.
.
GRAND CHALLENGES SCHOLARS SPOTLIGHT: ZHI (MONICA) QU
The Hajim School’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) empowers students to tackle one of 14 major global engineering challenges across sustainability, health, security, and quality of life through interdisciplinary study and reflection, culminating in a capstone reflection or presentation and recognition at graduation. GCSP is an interdisciplinary capstone project open to all majors. Throughout the semester, we’ll highlight GCSP students in Hajim Highlights and . This week we feature Zhi (Monica) Qu ’26 (biology).
“My GCSP project explores sustainability through two paths: detecting microplastics through research and advancing sustainable agriculture through both hands-on farming and plant science,” says Monica. “Framing my work within the Grand Challenges showed me how science and service can work together to address global issues like pollution and food security.”
.
STUDENT COURSE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SHOWCASE
Photo courtesy of Rachel Remmel
The Teaching Center recently held its inaugural showcase for the . In this program, an instructor applies for a Teaching Center grant to hire a student for six weeks in the summer to work on improvements to a course that will be taught the subsequent year.The Teaching Center pays the student for six weeks of full-time work, summer housing (if needed), and up to $500 for project materials.This year’s Hajim projects included:
- AME 141: Fundamentals of Digital Audio: Sarah Smith and Theresa Karp
- BME 216/LING 216/BCS 266: Speech on the Brain: Laurel Carney, Joyce McDonough and Daniel Pyskaty
- CSC 171: Introduction to Computer Science: Eustrat Zhupa and Sylvia Liu
- ECE 112: Logic Design: Nyasha Gwaza and Selçuk Köse
- ECE 241: Signals: Irving Barron and Junyi Wang
Congratulations to all who participated! The deadline for summer 2026 applications is March 23.
SKILLS LABS HOSTED BY THE GREENE CENTER
The Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education & Connections is hosting a series of workshops to equip students with tools for success in the job marketplace. Spring skill labs include:
- Principles of Scientific Communication, 6-7 p.m. on Monday, March 2 (virtual)
- Navigating Conflict with Confidence, 7-8 p.m. on Monday, March 16 (virtual)
- AWS YouthTech Bootcamp, 1-5 p.m. on Friday, March 20 (Gowen Room)
- From Offer to Onboarding, 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31 (virtual)
- The Unspoken Rules of Succeeding in Research, 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 (virtual)
.
FULBRIGHT 101 SESSIONS
Join the Fellowships Office for a Fulbright 101 information session to learn the basics of the Fulbright US Student Program and leave with the tools you need to start seriously thinking about it. This State Department sponsored opportunity lets US citizens study, teach, or conduct research abroad while serving as cultural ambassadors. Current juniors, seniors, grad students, and alumni are eligible to apply, but any interested students may attend these sessions. Questions? Contact us atfellowships@rochester.edu.
Sessions to help you prepare to apply in 2026 and get ready to teach, research, or study abroad in 2027-28 take place on the following dates:
- 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 16, at the Career Center Conference Room 4-131
- 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, via ZOOM. .
- 3:30-4:30 on Thursday, February 26, at the Douglass 401 Meeting Room
- 1-2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, at the Genesee Hall 321 Meeting Room
- 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at the Career Center Conference Room 4-131
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
