March 9, 2026
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ photo / J. Adam Fenster
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
A coalition led by the Ģ¹½´«Ã½Â recently reached a key milestone in their quest to make the Rochester and Finger Lakes region a national hub for laser science and development. Organizers of the  hosted officials from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a site visit as a finalist in the .
STELLAR aims to position the US to grow its stake in a $16 trillion global marketplace that depends on lasers for everything from precision manufacturing and quantum to energy and defense. The project is one of 15 nationwide finalists—and the only one in New York State—being considered for the second NSF Engines competition.
The project’s key partners include Ä¢¹½´«Ã½â€™s Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý, ,Ìý, , ,Ìý, and . In addition to the STELLAR organizers, the visit brought other critical public, academic, and industry partners from across the region, state, and the country to participate and voice their support for this important initiative.
Read more about this potentially transformative initiative at the News Center.
NEW HIRE ROCHESTER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHES
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ photo / Taylor Mende
As part of ,ÌýÄ¢¹½´«Ã½ is launching the , which offers paid internship experiences created exclusively for our undergraduates. By pairing financial support with career coaching and professional development and equipping partner organizations with structured guidance, the program transforms internships into career-launching experiences that will expand opportunities for students after graduation.
By the end of the For Ever Better campaign in 2030, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s goal is to support 50 paid Hire Rochester internships every year. The program is made possible through a generous leadership gift from University Trustee Judith Reinsdorf ’86, whose commitment establishes the foundation for the program’s long-term growth. Reinsdorf’s generosity will support five students each year in perpetuity, beginning in summer 2026.
Learn about the program, which is open to Hajim students, at the News Center.
MERGING NEUROSCIENCE AND AI
The fields of artificial intelligence and neuroscience are in a fascinating feedback loop, pushing one another to raise new questions, accelerate technology, and foster discovery. The feature story in the new edition of the NeURoscience Newsletter highlights Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ researchers at the intersection of both fields, including Hajim School researchers like Associate Professor from the and Professor from the .
Chris’s research aims to enable AI models to learn over time—mimicking the brains of humans and other animals, while Doug and his colleagues build machine-learning models of brain fluid flows, measuring the unmeasurable. .
HAJIM SCHOOL STAFF CELEBRATE SERVICE MILESTONES
I’m proud to recognize our Hajim School staff members who have achieved significant service milestones this year. Their dedication and commitment to the Hajim community make meaningful differences every day. Those celebrating milestones of note in 2026 include:
- Jill Morris (ME)—40 years
- Lori Russell (Optics)—25 years
- Kimberly Taylor (ChemSE)—20 years
- Kimanh Phan (ECE)—15 years
- Angela White (ECE)—15 years
- Sara Klinkbeil (Undergraduate Advising)—10 years
- Tal Haring (ChemSE)—10 years
- Mary Rizzo (CS)—5 years
- Bill Mildenberger (Taylor Hall)—5 years
- Kevin Vencatasamy (CMAP)—5 years
Please join me in thanking them for their years of service, their contributions to our shared success, and the time and care they invest in supporting our students, faculty, and wider Hajim community!
REGISTER FOR CELEBRATING RESEARCH WEEK
Celebrating Research Week (CRW) is series of University-wide events in which Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ students at all levels and in all areas of study are invited to present their investigative and creative work. CRW reflects the passion for learning that enlivens the University, professors and students alike, and that finds expression in varied forms, in every area of study. This year, CRW runs from April 10-17. Highlights include:
- The Poster Expo from 1:30-3:30 on Friday, April 10 in the Feldman Ballroom
- Lightning Talks from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the Feldman Ballroom
- The Speakers Symposium from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17 in the Hawkins-Carlson Room
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REMINDER: ENTER THE ED AND BARBARA HAJIM ART OF SCIENCE COMPETITION
The deadline to enter the Ed and Barbara Hajim Art of Science Competition is growing close. Sponsored by the Hajim School and River Campus Libraries, this competition celebrates the artistic side of science, technology, and engineering.
The competition gives consideration to the artistic representation of science, technology, engineering, math, and sustainability themes. Entries with a focus on creativity and uniqueness will be favorably considered.
Submit your high-resolution JPEG entries by March 15, 2026, for a chance to win up to $1,000. Students are eligible for first, second, and third place prizes, and the People’s Choice award is open to students, faculty, and staff. . Email the competition committee with any questions.
REGISTER FOR AWS YOUTHTECH BOOTCAMP
Students interested in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and cloud computing should register for AWS YouthTech Bootcamp, which takes place from 1-5 p.m. on Friday, March 20. This innovative program is designed to empower college students with essential skills and knowledge in cloud computing. Through hands-on learning, participants will explore AWS tools and services, and gain practical experience in areas like cloud infrastructure, data analytics, and machine learning. The bootcamp cultivates creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical expertise, while preparing students for successful careers in the technology sector.
Whether you’re a beginner or have some technical experience, join Amazon for the AWS YouthTech Boot Camp, featuring a cloud fundamentals presentation, domain-specific workshops, an employee panel, and a fun Kahoot activity that will provide three winners with a direct connection to an Amazon recruiter. .
To participate in this bootcamp, you must .
FRIENDLY MECHANICAL ENGINEERING COMPETITION BEFORE BREAK
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ photo / J. Adam Fenster
For a little fun before spring break, mechanical engineering students in the ME 205 Senior Design class taught by Professor designed and built remote-controlled cars mounted with Barbies and put them to the test in a 12-team double elimination contest. Along the way, the students got experience with wind tunnel tests, computational fluid dynamics simulations, and multi-body dynamics analysis.
Congratulations to William Tokar, Sara Wong, Abobakar Miakhel, and Ireland Gable, who took home the top prize. Watch and see .
Have a great spring break!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
