March 16, 2026
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
Artificial intelligence is poised to disrupt and present new opportunities in nearly every aspect of human life, including music. A cross-disciplinary team is building an AI-powered music production ecosystem that supports open collaboration and distribution.
The initiative, called , is backed by a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation and encompasses researchers from the Hajim School, Eastman School of Music, Warner School of Education & Human Development, and School of Arts & Sciences, along with Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering. TEAMuP also aims to fine-tune music education at every level, from youth orchestras to conservatory students.
In a new video, the four principal investigators of TEAMuP—including Professor from the —discuss questions surrounding AI and music and the future of AI as a “creative co-worker.” Watch the discussion at the News Center.
FIVE SMART STRATEGIES FOR GETTING A JOB AFTER COLLEGE
Ģą˝´«Ă˝ photo / Matt Wittmeyer
With many students on the hunt for jobs in a competitive and evolving market, Jodyi Wren, executive director of the , recently provided the News Center five smart strategies for securing a job after college.
The advice is not just for seniors—Jodyi encourages students to tackle their job search over several semesters, and not just as a project for senior spring. Her tips include ways to use AI wisely, resources to tap into from the Real Readers initiative to the newly launched Rochester Connects program, and ways to improve your networking skills.
Read Jodyi’s advice at the News Center.
GRAND CHALLENGES SCHOLARS SPOTLIGHT: NYASHA GWAZA
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 Nyasha Gwaza ’26 (electrical and computer engineering).
“My Grand Challenge is centered on sustainability,” says Nyasha. “I pursued this through education by running a Project for Peace that taught sewing skills as an alternative to illegal mining, volunteering with the Congo Path to the Future program, and tutoring for the TRIO Upward Bound program. I also engaged in sustainability through entrepreneurship by running a chicken farming project in Zimbabwe to provide affordable protein. Additionally, I approached sustainability through research on advancing electronic devices. Framing my work through the Grand Challenge Scholars Program helped me bring together my extracurricular activities into one cohesive story.”
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GRACING THE BACK COVER OF ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
Illustration by Felix Wong
Research led by PhD student Felix Wong and Assistant Professor from the is featured on the back cover of a recent edition of Advanced Optical Materials. Their paper, titled “,” is capturing attention for its potential applications in neural networks and neuromorphic computing and for Felix’s . Well done!
ENTER THE UR HEALTH LAB PITCH COMPETITION
Getty Images photo
The UR Health Lab is an incubator where innovators from across the institution connect to create tech- driven healthcare solutions, and we want to hear your ideas! Hajim School students, faculty, and staff with project ideas related to healthcare, technology, and innovation are invited to participate in the UR Health Lab Pitch Competition.
Form a team, develop your concept, receive mentorship from UR Health Lab leaders, and compete for seed funding to bring your solution to life. The winning team receives $1,000 along with resources from the UR Health Lab to build proof of concept/minimum viable product to pilot at Ģą˝´«Ă˝ and the Ģą˝´«Ă˝ Medical Center.
Applications are due Friday, March 20 and the final pitch takes place Friday, May 22. .
ENTER THE 2026 FORBES ENTREPRENURIAL PITCH COMPETITION
Are you working on an engineering project that could become something bigger? The Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition is your opportunity to turn a technical idea into a real venture. It challenges engineering students to think beyond the lab and explore how their designs could become products, companies, and real solutions in the world.
Students develop a business plan around their design work, exploring the financial, marketing, and production aspects needed to launch a company. Whether your project is a prototype, a design concept, or something you have been building in class, the Forbes Competition can help you take the next step.
Submissions are due Friday, April 10 at midnight. There will be a Practice Pitch Day at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 3 at the Lam bizHub. The final pitch event takes place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 at G318/418, where finalists will pitch to live judges and compete for the Forbes Award. Learn more at the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation website.
JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AS WE LAUNCH THE FOR EVER BETTER CAMPAIGN
The University publicly launched —its largest and most ambitious fundraising and engagement initiative ever—last fall and now President Sarah Mangelsdorf is taking the campaign on the road.
In April, the University will host a campaign regional launch event in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, April 29. . I hope to see a strong turnout of Hajim School alumni, parents, and friends there!
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
