College of Science at RIT

.@Independent published a column by André Hudson, dean of @RITScience, explaining how conflict involving Iran could disrupt global oil supplies and affect markets for petroleum-based products such as plastics, fertilizers, and chemicals. brnw.ch/21x0R9q

The @RITscience is pleased to host Dr. Bill Freeman, Thomas and Gerd Perkins Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as part of the College of Science Distinguished Speaker Series. The Support Zipper and Its Applications to Portable Structures and Robotics Date: March 18, 2026 Time: 2:00–3:00 PM Location: Thomas Gosnell Hall, Room A300 Learn more: rit.edu/events/cos-bil…

At the @RITtigers, @RITscience, we believe that science and discovery have their greatest impact when they are accessible and understood. That’s why we are excited to launch our new Science Communication Internship starting in Fall 2026. Strong communication is an essential, yet often overlooked, step of the scientific method. After data are collected and conclusions are drawn, science still needs to be shared, discussed, and understood. Translating complex ideas into clear and engaging stories helps connect research with society, inform decision-making, and inspire the next generation of scientists. This new paid internship supports COS scholars who are interested and passionate about science communication. Interns will work alongside communications professionals and gain experience observing and participating in the entire process, from identifying research stories and conducting interviews to writing, editing, and publishing content, including social media. They will help develop research features and short articles, collaborate with faculty, student researchers, and staff, and help share the incredible work happening across the college. Along the way, interns will build a portfolio of publishable work that can support future opportunities, including graduate school, fellowships, and careers in science communication and media. Huge thank you to our colleagues in Marketing and Communications, especially Mollie Radzinski and Bob @BobFinnerty, for supporting this initiative! Learn more and apply here: rit.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg…

Fantastic article in @ConversationUS by @RITscience and Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science Scholar Sagar Lekhak! Well done, Sagar! Keep up the great work! theconversation.com/researchers-ar…

Prof. Xu and researchers from @PittTweet placed a layer of ions between 2 atom-thick materials, showing they could use voltage to move ions back and forth to “write,” “read,” and “erase” electrical charge patterns onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.100… @RITscience @_RITEngineering @AdvPortfolio

Professor Hubbard and researchers from @ODU @JLab_News & @RITscience created a new type of compact semiconductor laser that can emit continuous ultraviolet-B light at room temperature, bringing practical UV-B lasers closer to real-world use pubs.aip.org/aip/apl/articl… @AIP_Publishing

An @RITscience imaging science Ph.D. student is bringing new insights to photography conservation with support from a @NatlParkService grant. brnw.ch/21x037x

Chaos theory explains how an incredibly small change can lead to a dramatically large, unpredictable change. A team from @RITScience has developed a new tree-based method to predict chaos using less data, fewer parameters, and a more user-friendly format. brnw.ch/21x00Sf

What a tremendous honor! So nice, it was selected twice! A stunning James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) image of the Red Spider Planetary Nebula, studied by @RITscience faculty member Dr. Joel Kastner and his colleagues and students, has been selected as the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 3, 2026. Even more impressively, this same image was previously chosen as Astronomy Photo of the Month in October 2025. This recognition highlights the impact of RIT-led research and the collaborative efforts behind this remarkable work using one of the world’s most powerful space observatories. Learn more in the RIT news release, rit.edu/news/rit-resea… Congratulations to Dr. Kastner, his team, and all involved!

Drs. Preble & Zwickl, along with other @RITtigers researchers built the world’s first chip-scale “quantum light” wafer, making it possible to manufacture the building blocks of quantum communication systems at scale. rit.edu/news/manifesti… @RITscience @RITNEWS

NIH Summer Internship Program! @RITscience Scholars! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ training.nih.gov/research-train… Accepting applications now through February 18th, 2026 at noon ET. The reference letter deadline is February 25th, 2026 at noon ET.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Lea Michel, Professor in the @RITscience, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, and Director of Access and Belonging in the College of Science, on being named a 2026 Fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) (asbmb.org/asbmb-today/pe…). The ASBMB Fellows distinction recognizes members who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained service to the society and a distinguished record of professional accomplishments. Dr. Michel exemplifies this through her interdisciplinary research on bacterial lipoproteins and sepsis diagnostics, as well as her national leadership and mentorship advancing access and belonging in the molecular life sciences. The 2026 ASBMB Fellows will be honored at the ASBMB Annual Meeting in March, where members will celebrate this outstanding class of scientists. Congratulations, Lea! This well-earned and prestigious recognition reflects your remarkable impact on science, mentorship, and community at RIT and beyond.

Please join me in congratulating @RITscience Distinguished Professor Dr. Mark Fairchild on being named the 2026 recipient of the Newton Medal from the Colour Group. Awarded biennially since 1963, the Newton Medal honors individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the field of colour science. This recognition reflects Mark’s decades of transformative teaching, pioneering research, and international leadership, embodying the medal’s inscription, “Teaching Those Things Which Tend to the Perfection of Vision.” As part of this international award, Mark will deliver the Newton Medal Award Lecture on February 4, 2026. More information about the award and lecture is available here: colour.org.uk/newton-medal-2… Congratulations, Mark! This recognition is richly deserved and reflects your tremendous impact on color science, the College of Science, and RIT.

As antibiotic resistance continues to spread, researchers are exploring new approaches to stay ahead of the problem. @washingtonpost highlights @RITscience Dean André Hudson (@HudsonLabRIT), who shares four key advances that offer hope and optimism. brnw.ch/21wZdD2

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting AfterRIT (rit.edu/science/afterr…), a signature @RITscience program designed to help our scholars explore what’s possible after RIT through meaningful connections with alumni, mentors, and professionals across diverse career paths. In addition, the program offers workshops on negotiating offers, networking, wine tasting, and more. It was a resounding success, entirely thanks to our scholars, colleagues, volunteers, alumni, and National Council members who showed up, shared their journeys, and invested in our scholars. Your time, wisdom, and generosity made today truly impactful. A special thank you to the COS Access and Belong Team for creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive experience for everyone involved, under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Lea Michel and Dr. Jacqueline Ludwig. Your commitment continues to strengthen our community and empower our scholars. Well done!

At the @RITscience, our greatest strength is our people. Our faculty and staff form a dynamic community of dedicated teacher-scholars who are deeply committed to student success. Many are nationally and internationally recognized for their achievements through prestigious awards and honors, bringing cutting-edge scholarship, meaningful mentorship, and real-world impact into our classrooms and laboratories. We invite prospective scholars and their families to explore what makes our community exceptional! Learn more about our distinguished faculty here: rit.edu/science/facult…, and visit rit.edu/science/ to discover our academic and research programs and how @RITtigers Science can help shape your future.

All @RITscience Scholars are invited to the Frosted Club Fair! It’s a great way to meet your peers, find your tribe, and gain leadership experience. It is also a great way for our new transfer scholars to learn more and get involved. Hosted by COSSAB, the fair features science and math clubs, winter-themed activities, crafts, free food, and a hot chocolate bar. College of Science Frosted Club Fair Tuesday, January 20 4:00–6:00 PM See more here for information about our clubs: rit.edu/science/rit-co… We hope to see you there!

The @RITscience leadership team held a productive winter retreat on Friday, marked by engaging, lively discussions focused on the strategies we will employ as we enter the spring semester and beyond. Grateful to our academic unit heads and directors from the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, the School of Mathematics and Statistics, the School of Physics and Astronomy, the School of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, the Integrated Sciences Academy, the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, as well as the Director of COS Access and Belonging Initiatives, our Senior Associate Deans, and Senior Assistant Dean. Together, we are aligned, energized, and ready to implement these strategies for a successful and impactful spring semester and beyond. Cheers to all for a fun and productive spring semester ahead! Onward and Upward!

Congratulations to Dr. Ahmad R. Kirmani, PhD, Assistant Professor in the @RITscience School of Chemistry and Materials Science, who has been awarded funding from DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office through the Rads-to-Watts program. This initiative supports the development of innovative technologies that directly convert ionizing radiation into electricity (“radiovoltaics”) to power missions in challenging or denied environments. Building on his colleagues’ and his ongoing work in radiation-hard space power systems, the team will develop defect-tolerant perovskite radiovoltaic devices designed to withstand and harness radiation to generate electrical power. Dr. Kirmani is collaborating with Dr. Jinsong Huang from the University of North Carolina and Dr. Kelly Schutt from the National Lab of Rockies (NRL). This award will support a postdoctoral researcher and provide research and other experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate scholars. Well done, Ahmad! Wishing you and your team all the best with this project!

As we wrap up the semester, I want to extend a huge thank you to our @RITscience Learning Assistants (LAs) for an outstanding semester! Your dedication and genuine care for your peers make a real difference. Because of you, our classrooms are more engaging, supportive, and student-centered. I would be remiss if I did not also thank Drs. Archie Dobaria and Tony Wong for their exceptional leadership! The Learning Assistant (LA) Program hires undergraduate students to collaborate with faculty mentors with the overall goals of transforming courses to be more interactive and enhancing student success. Thank you all for everything you do for our scholars and our community! To learn more about the LA Program, visit: rit.edu/learningassist…