Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

February 21, 2021  Six adjunct professors at Stony Brook University have won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching given by the State University of New York (SUNY). The recipients are:Jennifer Lyons Carter, Department of PhilosophyMichele Giua, Department of European LanguagesLeslie Marino, Department of European LanguagesPatricia Maurides, Department of ArtJessica Mitchell, School of Social WelfareJoanne Souza, Department of BiologyThe Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are system-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of continuous academic excellence.Excellence in Adjunct Teaching is a new award category, which recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level in keeping with the State University’s commitment to providing its students with instruction of the highest quality.     Click here to read the original article 

February 16, 2022 A special event on Wednesday, February 23, will celebrate a unique art installation on view at the Central Reading Room in the Frank Melville Library.     The exhibition, “STEM + Arts = STEAM,” powerfully represents the inherent synergy between the natural sciences and visual arts. The work was co-developed by the interdisciplinary team of SBU professors Ete Chan, from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Nobuho Nagasawa, from the Department of Art, in partnership with Stony Brook University Libraries.     The exhibit will be on view at the Melville Library through March 9 and features three biosignal-driven works that illustrate the influence our bodies have on technology, portrayed artistically.   At the February 23 event, which will be held from 1 pm to 2:20 pm during Campus Life Time, Computer Science Professor I.V. Ramakrishnan and Art History Professor Karen Lloyd will make short presentations on their current STEAM research. The event will conclude with final remarks by College of Arts and Sciences Dean Nicole Sampson and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Jon Longtin.   Click here to read the original article 

February 3, 2022 Adryan Wallace, assistant professor in the Department of Africana Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was recently selected by the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) to present at an upcoming conference on “Africa’s fiscal space, fragility, and conflict.” Wallace, who also has affiliations in the departments of Political Science and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, will present a paper with policy recommendations to representatives of member states and UN entities. Her paper will also appear in a UN-OSAA publication of policies that can be implemented by UN offices and relevant heads of state. The UN-OSAA’s goals include promoting efforts by African countries and development partners to improve the fiscal space for sustainable growth, avoiding the worsening of fragility, and preventing conflict on the continent. Wallace, who holds a PhD in Political Science, an MA in African Studies, and a BS in Psychology, conducts research that combines quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the interactions among gender equality, state fragility, and regional economic integration in Africa. She has served as a member on previous policy panels for the UN and for the U.S. State Department’s U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit for the Obama Administration, as well as a delegate during a meeting with the chair of the African Union, His Excellency Moussa Fake Mahamat, at the African Union Representational Mission to the U.S. in Washington, D.C. The majority of Wallace’s work focuses on how Muslim women in West Africa are able to articulate their development interests within the context of Sharia law and secular political institutions. Her current book project analyzes the ways that Hausa women in Kano, Nigeria and Tamale, Ghana, use their non-governmental (NGO) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to challenge the economic roles ascribed to them by the state and to mobilize politically around gender issues. Click here to read the original article

February 2, 2022     Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis has been named a successor trustee to the Yale Corporation, the governing body for Yale University.     McInnis received her master’s degree and PhD in art history from Yale in the 1990s. Yale University President Peter Salovey announced her appointment as trustee along with that of Marta Lourdes Tellado, president and CEO of Consumer Reports.     “I am delighted and grateful that Maurie and Marta have agreed to share their deep knowledge and expertise as part of Yale’s board of trustees,” Salovey said. “Maurie brings a wealth of vitally relevant experience in higher education, including her work to build research and educational initiatives as provost at the University of Texas-Austin and the vision she’s set for Stony Brook University as its president.”     “It’s an honor to be named a successor trustee to the Yale Corporation,” President McInnis said. “Strong alumni networks, both the one I am part of at Yale and the one we’ve been building at Stony Brook, are an important part of one’s professional and personal life. Yale has been instrumental in many of my successes and I am proud to give back.”     McInnis and Tellado replace the outgoing Gina Raimondo and Lei Zhang, who have completed their time on the Yale board. The Yale Corporation is composed of the president and 16 trustees — 10 successor trustees selected and appointed by the current board and six alumni fellows nominated and elected by eligible alumni.     Click here to read the original article

January 28, 2022 IV Ramakrishnan, associate dean for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), has been named technical director of the SUNY-IBM AI Collaborative Research Alliance program, a strategic partnership between SUNY and IBM aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art in AI. Research and development projects conducted under this alliance focus on AI science, applications and hardware, promoting both scientific outputs and technology commercialization opportunities. This alliance is part of a $2 billion partnership between the State of New York, SUNY and IBM to create a global research hub for developing next-generation AI hardware.   The management and organizational structure of the SUNY-IBM AI Research Alliance is designed to promote collaboration and partnership at all levels of engagement. Alliance activities are overseen by a leadership team of senior representatives from SUNY and IBM. A Scientific Advisory Council of distinguished faculty members and research leaders from the two institutions provides strategic direction and guidance. Research projects are jointly envisioned and conducted by SUNY faculty and IBM researchers. The first set of research projects launched in 2020 span AI applications in healthcare, hardware for next-generation AI systems, and AI-driven modeling and simulation.   Ramakrishnan is a professor in the Department of Computer Science within CEAS. He has a long-standing record of research in AI, machine learning, and computational logic and health IT. In addition to his own active research, Ramakrishnan has excelled in bringing together interdisciplinary teams that use AI and machine learning as an enabling aspect of their work. As associate dean he works with all nine departments within the College to stimulate strategic research initiatives.    In his role as technical director, Ramakrishnan will engage both IBM and SUNY campuses on research topic areas centered on AI that are of interest to both parties for the Alliance.   “IV is an incredibly talented and prolific scholar and is respected by students, faculty and industry partners alike,” said Jon Longtin, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “I especially admire his collaborative approach to multidisciplinary research, and his commitment to ensuring the applications of AI in other domains here at Stony Brook such as healthcare and medicine. I have every confidence IV will make meaningful and lasting contributions for the Alliance.”   Click here to read the original article

January 25, 2022     As virtual learning continues to grow in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, advancements in technology and course design, U.S. News & World Report has issued its annual rankings of the Best Online Programs for 2022, and four of Stony Brook University’s graduate programs made the list.      Making the top 10, the Online Master’s in Nursing ranked at No. 8. The Online Master’s in Nursing Administration ranked No. 13, which marks the first time that this specialization has appeared in the ranking of online programs. U.S. News evaluated several factors to rank the best online nursing degree programs, including faculty credentials, graduation rates and student services and technologies.     “Students taking courses in our online master’s format often work full-time, and going to school in this way benefits them not having to travel to classes every day, especially during this pandemic,” said Annette Wysocki, dean of the School of Nursing. “Furthermore, this platform is not static, as our content and presentations include visuals, graphics and even simulated clinical experiences to enhance the quality of education.”     The Online Master’s in Business (non-MBA) program ranked at No. 82 and the Online Master’s in Education ranked at No. 80. These programs have strong academic foundations based on the excellence of entering students, graduation rates and instructor credentials. They also excel at educating distance learners while offering strong career support.     This year’s edition of the rankings includes more than 1,700 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for those looking to complete or further their education.      U.S. News uses data gathered directly from each institution to compile the rankings. The methodologies are based on factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials, and student services and technology. Only degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions are included.     Click here to read the original article

January 25, 2022     After two decades of excellence on and off the field in the America East Conference, Stony Brook University has accepted an invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) as a full-time member, elevating the university’s profile and enhancing the student-athlete experience.      Stony Brook President Maurie McInnis and Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron made the announcement on Jan. 25. All 18 Stony Brook athletic programs will compete in the CAA, marking the first time in the university’s Division I era that every sport will be a member of the same conference.     “I’m very excited to announce that Stony Brook University will join the Colonial Athletic Association,” McInnis said. “This invitation is a historic step for our institution and a testament to our tremendous growth – both in academics and athletics – over the last two decades. Today would not be possible without the dedication of our student-athletes and coaches, who have paved the way for this moment. Our future is bright, and we look forward to competing for CAA Championships for years to come!”     Stony Brook’s football team has competed in the CAA since 2013. Decisions regarding scheduling formats and championship field sizes are ongoing and will be determined over the coming months.     “Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of Stony Brook Athletics as we announce our transition to the Colonial Athletic Association,” said Heilbron. “The decision to move to the CAA is synchronous with the aspirational nature of our university as well as our department’s vision to positively transform the life of each student-athlete. We took an extremely deliberate approach to this process and believe that the outcome encapsulates the best interests of our entire Stony Brook community.”     Hampton University and Monmouth University joined the CAA along with the Seawolves. Current CAA members include the College of Charleston, University of Delaware, Drexel University, Elon University, Hofstra University, Northeastern University, Towson University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the College of William & Mary.     “We are pleased to welcome Hampton University, Monmouth University, and Stony Brook University as the newest members of the CAA,” said CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio. “All three institutions fit perfectly into the framework of the Conference’s vision that calls for our membership to work together to advance nationally competitive athletic programs – coupled with outstanding academic programs – that empower student-athletes as whole persons to strive at the highest level in every aspect of their lives.”     Stony Brook joined the America East Conference for the 2001-02 academic year following a two-year stint as an independent after ascending to the NCAA Division I level in 1999. Over its Division I history, Stony Brook has collected 38 regular season championships and 44 conference championships. The Seawolves were twice recognized as the strongest athletic program in the America East by claiming the Commissioner’s Cup in 2018-19 and 2020-21.     Over the course of the last two decades, Stony Brook has emerged on the national scene. In March 2012, Lucy Van Dalen became the Seawolves’ first NCAA individual national champion after winning the mile at the indoor track & field championship. In June 2012, the baseball team advanced to the College World Series for the first time in program history, knocking off LSU in the Super Regional.     The men’s basketball team won a conference title for the first time in program history in 2015-16 and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The women’s basketball team has won back-to-back conference championships and earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2021.     SBU football earned NCAA FCS playoff berths in 2017 and 2018, respectively.      The Seawolves’ women’s lacrosse team has become a national power, winning a conference record eight consecutive America East championships. In 2018, Stony Brook earned a No. 1 overall ranking in all major lacrosse polls for the majority of the season and has advanced to three NCAA Tournament quarterfinals since 2017.     Men’s lacrosse program has been a top-tier team in America East, wining three conference championships. In 2010, the Seawolves advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history.     Academic excellence has always been at the forefront for the department. During the 2020-21 academic year, nine Stony Brook athletic programs posted a perfect NCAA APR score of 1,000. Every Stony Brook program scored over 960, which was well above the NCAA standard of 930. APR measures eligibility, graduation, and retention each semester of the academic term and provides a clear picture of academic performance for each team.     Stony Brook’s world-class athletic facilities include Island Federal Arena, the 4,000-seat home of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. LaValle Stadium, the home of the football, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer teams expanded to its current capacity of 12,300 in 2017. The Dubin Family Athletic Performance Center officially opened in 2012, a strength and conditioning facility featuring cutting-edge equipment to aid student-athlete high performance.      In 2020, Stony Brook opened its state-of-the-art indoor practice facility featuring an indoor multi-purpose synthetic turf practice field designed for multi-use, allowing all athletic programs to have a place to practice and train year-round.     Click here to read the original article

January 24, 2022     New York State Governor Kathy Hochul visited Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) on Jan. 21 and toured its new Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure (LBMS), which has conducted game-changing research to overcome the COVID pandemic.     Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis introduced the governor at her press conference following the tour, noting that the lab’s National Synchrotron Light Source II supports the work of more than 100 research groups and 200 Stony Brook faculty and students, who conduct world-class research in partnership with BNL scientists. LBMS is attached to the National Synchrotron Light Source II and was funded with $15 million from Empire State Development.     “Governor, using the Cryo-Electron microscopes at BNL’s Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure, we are proud and deeply grateful to have been able to assist the state and your efforts in finding the answers that now help protect so many people not only here in New York, and throughout our country, but around the world — research and results that have been so desperately needed during this pandemic,” McInnis said. “Whether it be COVID or so many other challenges, including creating sustainable and renewable energy technologies or developing innovative ways to deliver on New York State’s climate goals, our partnership with the state is making a world of difference today and into the future.”     Stony Brook co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities in the country with a role in running a federal research laboratory.     Governor Hochul delivered her weekly COVID update while at the lab, noting that the state’s seven-day average dropped to below 10 percent for the first time since Dec. 20, as cases decline in all regions. “I want to thank New Yorkers for doing the right thing to get where we are in fighting this winter surge,” said Hochul, who also announced 17 new #VaxforKids pop-up vaccination sites aimed at increasing vaccination rates among children and adolescents. A total of 80 sites will be established over a six-week period statewide.     Click here to read the original article

January 19, 2022     Eric Zolov, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of History, was recently awarded the 2021 María Elena Martínez Prize for his 2020 book, The Last Good Neighbor: Mexico in the Global Sixties. This award is bestowed annually by the Conference on Latin American History (CLAH-AHA) for the most significant work on the history of Mexico in the previous year.       “Winning the Martínez Prize for best book in Mexican History is a major feat for Eric Zolov’s most recent book, The Last Good Neighbor,” said Paul Gootenberg, distinguished professor and chair, Department of History. “The Department of History prides itself on the broad significance of its research and has an internationally renowned tradition of research excellence in Latin American history. Professor Zolov’s book exemplifies that.”     Zolov received his PhD from the University of Chicago. His research and teaching interests focus on the interplay between culture, politics and international relations in 20th-century Latin America, with a particular emphasis on the Cold War period, as encompassed by the phrase “Global Sixties.” His research is highly interdisciplinary, seeking to make connections between ideological articulations, consumptive practices and broadly defined notions of power. These ideas are expressed in The Last Good Neighbor: Mexico in the Global Sixties.     During Fall 2019, Zolov was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile. He has a forthcoming book, The Walls of Santiago: Social Revolution and Political Graphics in Contemporary Chile (Berghahn, 2022) with Terri Gordon-Zolov, in which they explore the significance of the 2019 social uprising in Chile viewed through the lens of protest street graphics.     Established in 2009 as the Mexican History Prize, the prize was renamed in 2015 in memoriam of María Elena Martínez. The CLAH is a professional association devoted to encouraging the diffusion of knowledge about Latin America through fostering the study and improving the teaching of Latin American history. The Conference is a non-political, autonomous, incorporated, tax-exempt and non-profit society affiliated with the American Historical Association.     Click here to read the original article

January 14, 2022     Sea level rise and land subsidence have made coastal areas around the world more and more vulnerable to flooding, with an increasing frequency and intensity of storms that has been well documented.     Globally, approximately three billion people — almost half of earth’s population — live within 200 kilometers of a coastline, and 20 percent of them reside in areas less than 10 meters above sea level. In the United States, more than half of the population lives in coastal counties.     Locally, the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 brought the climate crisis literally to the front doorstep of many Long Islanders.     But in the basement of Stony Brook University’s Heavy Engineering building, Ali Farhadzadeh, assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, conducts research in the innovative Coastal and Hydraulic Engineering Research Laboratory (CHERL), which is designed to explore these issues and investigate possible solutions.     “In this lab we study a variety of research topics at the interface of ocean and land that has to do with the wave and storm surge interactions with built or natural environments around communities,” said Farhadzadeh.     The lab examines erosion and scours around beaches and buildings. One example would be bluff erosion, which Farhadzadeh notes is one of the problems Long Island has on both the north and south shores. “We also explore the possibility of nature-based or more environmentally friendly solutions for coastal mitigation.”     The facility was commissioned in Spring 2017 and has been operating ever since, with researchers conducting a variety of studies on the interaction of waves with coastlines, particularly with structures under extreme storm weather conditions.     “We need to project both the direct and indirect physical effects of future sea level changes and intensified storms when considering the engineering and design of coastal projects,” said Farhadzadeh. “Better preparedness against future extreme flooding requires a deeper understanding of coastal phenomena, which leads to novel design procedures and construction of coastal infrastructures.”     The lab features state-of-the-art equipment, highlighted by an 85-foot combined wave and bi-directional current flume. The massive tank is capable of generating combined random waves and reversible currents to simulate a variety of real-world phenomena, including those involving sediment transports. The flume can also be used for marine renewable energy projects, as well as testing and calibrating energy harvesting devices. There is also an instructional, smaller scale flume that shows the processes of sediment erosion and movement.     The wavemaker and pump can be controlled from a computer in the laboratory equipped with software that can produce sine waves and multi-spectral seas, as well as bi-directional currents.     The end result is a lab experience that enables students to witness first-hand the science underlying a critical environmental challenge.     “I was always interested in physics and the environment, and I thought coastal engineering was a great blend of the two,” said senior civil engineering major Ephraim Bryski ’22, who joined CHERL in his freshman year. “Once I started performing tests, it was really neat to be able to recreate what I see at the shore in a controlled setting. Since it’s a small lab, I can work closely with the professor and grad students, and get to see all the parts of the experiments come together, from the initial idea to writing a report on the analysis of our results.”     Farhadzadeh’s current research explores the impact of oyster reefs on the reduction of wave energy and shore mitigation, and erosion reduction or management. He said that there is increased interest in using more environmentally friendly solutions for coastal protection, as opposed to a more conventional approach, which requires the use of hard engineering solutions for shore protection.     This particular project is attempting to optimize engineered oyster reefs to dissipate and reduce more energy as a wave passes the reef. As a result, there will be less erosion if it’s a building, and less force on the building behind it.     “If we can achieve that, oyster reefs can be designed for more energetic wave environment,” said Farhadzadeh. “And that can make these types of shore protections work for many coastal areas in the nation that suffer from erosion and flooding problems.”     One of the driving forces behind the creation of the lab was the consequence and aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and similar weather events that have left a devastating impact across the country, and have facilitated a sense of urgency regarding coastal engineering research.     “The fact that more than 50 percent of the U.S. population lives within the proximity of the shoreline means that there is a great need for research and investment in the field of coastal engineering,” said Farhadzadeh. “We need to be better prepared for the future, and we expect more intensive storms and climate-related anomalies. That’s why we are investing a lot of time and effort in this. It’s critical that we develop the next generation of coastal engineers, and we’re doing everything we can to do that.”     — Robert Emproto     Click here to read the original article

January 6, 2022     In her first State of the State Address on Jan. 5, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the formal designation of Stony Brook University and The University at Buffalo as New York State’s flagship universities as part of her plan for “A New Era for New York.”     A joint statement from the two universities said, “The official recognition of these premier centers of higher education as joint flagships of the State University of New York (SUNY) system reflects the preeminent role that The University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University play statewide, nationally and internationally as models of research and academic excellence. This designation acknowledges the excellence and reputations of our universities and it will further enhance our ability to continue to recruit the world’s most accomplished faculty and attract outstanding students — regardless of their income or socio-economic background — and attract even more highly competitive federal research funding.”     “We are nationally recognized for our ability to produce cutting-edge research at the same time as we offer a world-class education to students from all socio-economic backgrounds, which in turn provides them unmatched social and economic mobility,” said Stony Brook President Maurie McInnis. “Our ambition, as leading public research universities, is to grow our combined annual research expenditures to bring jobs, innovation and renown to New York State. This recognition by the State of New York will strengthen our mission to deliver the benefits of our research, clinical care and education locally, regionally, nationally and globally. We thank Governor Hochul for her decision to designate our campus as one of two SUNY flagships.”     Hochul’s plan includes a number of proposals aimed at higher education in general and Stony Brook specifically, including:     Additional funding to construct a multidisciplinary engineering building on campus Supporting the Stony Brook/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory partnership to launch NeuroAI, an initiative that combines neuroscience and artificial intelligence Expansion of the Stony Brook Center for Clean Water Technology research to include wastewater treatment technology and creation of the Suffolk County Wastewater Management District, both with the goal of protecting Long Island’s aquifer system Funding for the modernization and repair of scientific labs Funding for “Grand Challenges” that will encourage cross-disciplinary research Increased funding to attract world-class faculty and researchers The joint statement noted that across the country, flagship universities are those that provide vital leadership in advancing their home state’s public higher education mission, provide a comprehensive array of professional schools and degree programs, and are proven economic catalysts. “Flagships attract the world’s best and brightest faculty and students and are nationally and internationally recognized for the quality and impact of their research and academic innovation and rigor.”     Stony Brook and Buffalo are both members of the prestigious Association of American Universities, have built reputations as research-intensive institutions with preeminent academic programs, and their combined economic impact on the state exceeds $8.9 billion annually. They enroll nearly 59,000 students, have hundreds of thousands of alumni, have annual research expenditures of over $660 million, and offer more than 700 degree programs across academic disciplines.     Hochul also outlined a healthcare plan aimed at rebuilding and growing the state’s healthcare workforce by 20% over the next five years, with a $10 billion commitment that includes $4 billion to support higher wages and bonuses, and $2 billion for healthcare capital infrastructure and improved lab capacity. The plan also calls for increased training, attracting students by providing financial support for the education of healthcare professionals who work in New York State, supporting career flexibility for direct care workers, investing in digital innovation, making affordable healthcare coverage available to everyone, expanding and improving access to prenatal and postnatal care, establishing a state master plan for aging, and strengthening addiction, suicide, mental health and domestic violence services.     Hochul’s agenda includes nine key components: rebuilding our healthcare economy; protecting public safety and taking strong action against gun violence; investing in New York’s people; investing in New York’s communities; making New York’s housing system more affordable, equitable, and stable; making New York a national leader in climate action and green jobs; rebuilding New York’s teacher workforce and reimagining higher education; advancing New York’s place as a national equity model; and making critical reforms to restore New Yorkers’ faith in their government.     Click here to read the original article

December 13, 2021 Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ) is launching a Master of Science in Journalism program. Students are now able to apply for the program and begin working toward their degrees in the 2022-2023 academic year.     An updated version of a previous program, the new master’s in journalism will offer students a firm grounding in multimedia journalism and ethics, while helping them develop skills that are increasingly important in our divided society: inclusive communication and community engagement, data journalism and visualization, and solutions-based journalism.      “Journalism is vital to democracy, but to fill that role, people need to trust journalism,” said Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the SoCJ and executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. “With this program, the School and its future graduates will help to re-establish trust in journalism by looking critically at data and working alongside communities to find and tell the stories that need to be told. Our graduates, in partnership with the communities they cover, will be able to reflect the reality of individuals’ lived experiences in ways that traditional journalism hasn’t.”     The program is designed for individuals who are new to journalism and early-career media professionals seeking to advance in their careers.     Click here to read the original article

December 14, 2021 Lonnie Wollmuth, professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, was named a recipient of the 2021 Lupus Innovation Award by the Lupus Research Alliance.     Wollmuth’s project, “Diversity of anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies in lupus patients” is among 11 projects selected, representing a wide range of areas of discovery from probing the development and progression of lupus to pointing to potential personalized therapies. Studying the disease from different vantage points can maximize the overall understanding of the disease, which can lead to more viable treatment options. The award offers up to $150,000 per year total costs for up to two years.      Lupus is an autoimmune disorder where individuals produce antibodies against their own body leading to a wide range of symptoms. Prominent symptoms include brain disorders ranging from memory loss to more severe problems such as epilepsy and psychosis. These symptoms negatively impact quality of life, and treatments are limited.     Wollmuth’s lab will develop strategies targeting the NMDA receptor, a molecule that controls communication between nerve cells to prevent or reduce brain disorders in lupus patients. NMDA receptors are involved in numerous brain functions including higher order processes like learning and memory. In some lupus patients, antibodies are produced that target the NMDA receptor, which alters the functioning of the receptor and may be linked to brain disorders.     Using mouse models, Wollmuth’s research team will first look at the damage caused by individual antibodies targeting the NMDA receptor obtained from different lupus patients, and then see if the damage can be blocked by various agents. His study will lay the foundation for personalized medicine for lupus patients experiencing brain disorders by showing how the NMDA receptor is affected, and by identifying potential therapeutic agents.     “We are proud to support fundamental lupus research through these grants in order to encourage the development of novel and/or improved therapeutic options for the lupus patient community,” said Teodora Staeva, chief scientific officer, Lupus Research Alliance.       Wollmuth received his PhD in physiology and biophysics from the University of Washington, Seattle. Before joining the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1998, he was a senior fellow in the Division of Cell Physiology at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research from 1993 to 1998. He is a co-director of the Center for Nervous System Disorders at Stony Brook University and is a member of the Society for Neuroscience and the Biophysical Society.     The Lupus Innovation Award provides support for highly innovative approaches to major challenges in lupus research with a special emphasis on exploring fundamental mechanisms, novel targets for drug development, novel technologies and interdisciplinary approaches.     Click here to read the original article

Brookhaven National Laboratory has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for “Battery500 Phase 2,” which involves research aimed at understanding and improving materials for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Stony Brook is a partner in Brookhaven Science Associates LLC, managing the Laboratory for the DOE.     Enyuan Hu (front) and Peter Khalifah, two of the principal investigators for battery research projects that just received DOE funding, at Brookhaven Lab’s NSLS-II X-ray Powder Diffraction beamline.     “President Biden’s administration wants to make it easier for millions of American families and businesses to make the switch to electric vehicles,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a DOE statement announcing the funding. “By developing smarter vehicle batteries, we can make these technologies cheaper and more accessible, while positioning America to be become a global leader of EV infrastructure production and clean energy jobs.”     As partners in Battery500 Phase 2, which is led by DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a team of scientists — including Peter Khalifah, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University who holds a joint appointment at Brookhaven Lab — will conduct studies to identify battery electrode materials with increased energy density. Such materials could reduce the size and weight of batteries used in electric vehicles and/or extend the vehicle’s driving distance for a given battery weight with better safety characteristics. Identifying lower-cost materials is another primary goal.     The total budget of Battery500 Phase 2 is $75 million for the next five years. It is a renewal of funding for the original Battery500 Consortium, which was established in 2016.     Under the new funding arrangement, Brookhaven Lab will receive $1.3 million per year for the next five years. Khalifah, along with Brookhaven associate chemist Enyuan Hu, will serve as the two leaders of a cross-cutting thrust on materials characterization within the consortium.      In the next five years, the Brookhaven team will continue their efforts to develop and deploy sensitive characterization techniques that can illuminate the changes that occur in lithium metal anodes, metal oxide and sulfur cathodes, and new electrolytes during their use in rechargeable batteries. These efforts will help understand and overcome the factors limiting the performance of this exceptionally high-energy density class of batteries and will accelerate the rate at which this technology can become commercially viable.

On Friday, December 3, musicians from the Stony Brook Department of Music caroled throughout the Children’s Hospital, spreading holiday cheer and joy to the children, families and staff. The Staller Center’s Instrument Petting Zoo is a program that helps the Staller Center for the Arts reach out to the community and share live interactive musical experiences. This program helps inspire an appreciation of music and instruments for young people.      “To be able to spend time at the Children’s Hospital and see the smiles on the kids faces and the tears of joy in the parents eyes as the musicians performed holiday music was emotional, but we’re so happy we were able to come together and collaborate in this way,” said Staller Center’s Outreach Director Paul Newland. “We are grateful to Island Federal who helped provide the support for this initiative, and we’re already planning more musical visits.”