ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« faculty are conducting groundbreaking research that solves problems, improves our lives, and enhances our understanding of the world. This new video series provides a glimpse into the research being done at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« and introduces us to the diverse faculty at the forefront.
Tracking Human Rights Around the Globe
David Cingranelli is a professor of political science and co-director of the Human Rights Institute at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«. He co-directed the groundbreaking Cingranelli and Richards (CIRI) Human Rights Data Project – the world's largest and most influential human rights dataset. Today, his collaborative efforts are dedicated to the 'Rights' data project, aimed at building upon CIRI's legacy. Both initiatives are devoted to meticulously tracking and analyzing human rights worldwide, contributing significantly to the comprehensive global understanding and documentation of human rights advancements.
Advanced Mechanical Energy Harvesters Will Power Smart Knee Replacements
Shahrzad "Sherry" Towfighian is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and is creating the next generation of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). These new systems are being developed with innovative technology that allows these MEMS devices to be self-powered, greatly enhancing their utility. Using this technology, Towfighian is helping to develop smart knee replacements that will provide valuable pressure-sensing data for patients and doctors.
Preventing Future Atrocities By Understanding the Cycles Of Genocide
Assistant Professor Kerry Whigham teaches Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«. His research focuses on the mechanisms behind genocide and how prevention requires a better understanding of the lingering effects genocide caused throughout history. Whigham has identified these lingering effects as ‘resonant violence’ to describe how the impacts of genocide continue long after physical violence has stopped.
Engaging Children in STEM Through Tinkering and Exploration
Amber Simpson is an Associate Professor of mathematics education and studies ways to provide children with enriching activities that engage them in STEM topics and principles. She currently provides MakeEngineering Kits to local schools to help students learn about STEM topics outside of the classroom in fun and creative ways.
How Personality Impacts Stress Mindset and Stress Management
Jennifer Wegmann is a lecturer at the ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« Decker College of Nursing, where she teaches Health and Wellness Studies. Wegmann conducts research on stress and stress mindset and focuses on how personality can affect stress mindset and a person’s ability to manage stress.
Local Government Resilience to Pandemic and Disaster Response
Komla Dzigbede is an associate professor at ÑÇÖÞÇéɫ’s College of Community and Public Affairs, where he conducts research into public sector financial management. Dzigbede recently examined local government disaster resilience, comparing their responses to the pandemic. He has also examined how developing countries have financially responded to the pandemic, looking into how these responses may affect long-term economic growth.
How Leadership Improves Business Success and Virtual Work Environments
Chou-yu ‘Joey’ Tsai is an assistant professor at ÑÇÖÞÇéɫ’s School of Management, where he specializes in leadership research. Joey’s research into leadership looks to find ways organizations can cultivate impactful leadership that meets the organization's needs and helps build team success.
Anthropology Reveals The Past To Better Understand The Present
Elizabeth DiGangi is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s Harpur College. DiGangi specializes in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Through her research, DiGangi seeks to learn from skeletal remains to better inform our present about the stressors that can affect a person's biology. DiGangi was also instrumental in identifying remains at The Carlisle Indian Industrial School, helping to reunite Native American tribes with lost family members.
Using Telehealth to Increase Access to Underserved Populations
Ann Fronczek is an associate professor at the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the director of the Ph.D. program. Fronczek specializes in educational and research initiatives into Telehealth and mHealth services, which can provide much-needed care for underserved and rural populations. Her advocacy for incorporating these technologies has gained increased adoption among healthcare professionals with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Building a Smarter and More Resilient Power Grid
Ning Zhou is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering who researches power grid systems, signal processing, integration of renewable generation and smart appliances. One of Ning’s primary research focuses is developing ways to increase situational awareness for power grid operators, which will help to predict power grid behavior and ensure the resilience and reliability of power generation.
Addressing Stigma and Opioid Use Disorder
In this first episode of the Faculty Focus series, William Eggleston — an assistant professor at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences — discusses the stigmas associated with opioid use disorder and its impacts on the opioid crisis. Eggleston also discusses the poisonous and medicinal plant garden he helped develop in the E.W. Heier Teaching and Research Greenhouses. The goal of the garden is to teach students about the many poisonous and medicinal plants that grow around us and how to identify them.
Soviet Urban Planners and the Struggle for the Soviet Cityscape
Heather DeHaan, professor of history and director of the Russian and Eastern European Program at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«, explores the hidden challenges of Soviet urban planners and architects. Her research reveals how their visions for the future clashed with political realities and Stalin's authoritarian regime, hindering their ability to build the Soviet city of the future.
How Representations of Mass Violence Can Shape Collective Identities
Howard G. Brown is a professor of history at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«, specializing in French history from the 16th to the 19th centuries. His research centers on the representations of mass violence within French history, focusing on the impact these evolving representations had on collective identity and helped to provoke major collective traumas and stimulate the psychological processes of the self.
How Diet Impacts Your Mental Health and Brain Function
Lina Begdache, a registered dietitian-nutritionist and associate professor at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, discusses the ways in which the food you eat impacts your mental health and brain functioning and how that differs from gender to gender.
Creating Heart Cells from Human Skin Cells
Professor Tracy Hookway is a biomedical engineer at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s Watson College who specializes in research on cardiovascular cells in the heart. Key to her research is creating cardiovascular cells from human skin cells in her lab to investigate the complex interplay of cells within the heart.
Targeting Proteins to Fight Cancer
Tracy Brooks is an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences whose research has centered on oncology, anti-cancer therapeutics and the development of new targets for drugs through a focus on DNA and the proteins that it controls.
Teaching Students to Avoid Crypto Scams and Meme Stocks
Dan McKeever is an assistant professor of finance at ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s School of Management. McKeever was an economist at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission(CFTC) following the 2008 Financial Crash. Having worked as a regulator, he provides his students with a grounded understanding of finance to help them avoid digital and crypto scams rife within the increasingly gamified financial markets.
This Sweet College Class Explores Maple Syrup and Honey Production
Explore the fascinating world of maple syrup and honey production in ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s unique environmental studies course, ENVI 336 - Sweet Harvest: Bees & Maple. This immersive class offers students a hands-on experience, from tapping maple trees to harvesting honey from ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s own beehives. Beyond the practical skills, students delve into the social, environmental, and cultural aspects of these harvesting techniques. But sweetest of all, the students get to taste the products of their study!
This Hands-On College Class Makes Students Feel Like Real Pharmacists
From dispensing prescriptions to talking to patients, students in this interactive class learn the important concepts and patient care skills necessary to become a pharmacist. Using a modern classroom filled with useful technology and tools, students learn the ins and outs of pharmacy practice firsthand by practicing the skills and concepts pharmacists use every day.
Nursing Students Prep for Disaster During Intense Tornado Simulation
Watch as senior nursing students from ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« pull from all they have learned and manage the complexities of emergency response, from triaging patients to dealing with chaotic scenarios. This capstone to the class helps students prepare for real-life challenges they may encounter.
This Spooky Class Examines the Ghost Stories and Local Legends of America
In this class, ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« students dive into the eerie and fascinating world of ghost stories, both on campus and within the local community. From haunted mansions to campus folklore, the course explores spooky stories across the country, revealing hidden layers of the American experience.
This College Class Turns the Great Outdoors into a Living Lab
Put on your boots and open your eyes to the numbers all around you in this data-driven environmental studies course, ENVI 382 - Measuring the Natural World. Using the natural space available in ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«'s Nuthatch Hollow, students can explore diverse ecosystems, collect and make measurements, and analyze field data in this hands-on class.
Ghosting, Zombieing & Soft Launching: Decoding Modern Dating Trends
In this class, ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« students dive into the eerie and fascinating world of ghost stories, both on campus and within the local community. From haunted mansions to campus folklore, the course explores spooky stories across the country, revealing hidden layers of the American experience.
New Study Reveals Butterflies Are Disappearing Across the U.S.
Butterflies are disappearing at an alarming rate in the U.S. ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« conservation biologist Eliza Grames was part of a new study tracking the decline in butterfly populations across the country -- the results of which could hopefully drive conservation efforts to save these precious insects.
Severance Explained: Could You Really Separate Your Memories?
In AppleTV's "Severance," characters separate their work memories from their personal memories -- but could that really happen? ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« psychologist Ian McDonough breaks down what the show gets right and wrong about memory.
Romero to HBO: Why Do Zombies Still Scare Us?
Zombies have stalked our nightmares for decades and seem to terrify us more than any other monster. What's up with our pop-culture fascination—and fear—of the undead? According to ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« cinema professor Andrea Gyenge, zombie shows and movies like The Last of Us reflect society’s deepest fears and anxieties.