Research

George �鶹��Ƶ and UVA researchers look into the future of hydrogen sensors

Katarina Benson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:50:07 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ and UVA researchers look into the future of hydrogen sensors Katarina Benson Thu, 12/11/2025 - 09:50

As the use of underwater, aerial, and unmanned ground vehicles continues to grow, it is critical that the fuel cells necessary to power these systems operate safely, while providing durable and optimal performance. High-performance hydrogen sensors, which monitor leakage, energy efficiency, and durability under a wide range of operating conditions, are key to this function.

Pilgyu Kang. Photo provided

Currently, palladium-based electrochemical hydrogen sensors are primarily used; however, they often exhibit low sensitivity, a slow response rate, and mechanical instability. Hybrid materials are emerging as a better solution, but questions remain regarding their efficacy.

That was the crux of the request for 4-VA funding from �鶹��Ƶ’s Pilgyu Kang and Stephen Baek of the University of Virginia. Kang saw an opportunity to explore this new avenue in hydrogen sensing, but also saw the need to integrate Baek’s expertise in scientific machine learning to identify optimal design parameters—including nanoparticle size, distribution, surface coverage, and porosity—that govern the sensor’s sensitivity, response time, and long-term stability. 4-VA funding is designed to support these kinds of collaborations.

Kang, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is pleased with the results. After months of wide-ranging study, the team can now predict with the help of machine learning how changes in material design affect sensor performance. This helps the team quickly test many design possibilities and find the best combinations—something that would take much longer with experiments alone.

“Our research team has made exciting progress in developing advanced materials for next-generation gas sensors,” said Kang, who has a lab on George �鶹��Ƶ’s Science and Technology Campus. “We’ve created and tested nanocomposites made from laser-induced graphene and metal nanoparticles to improve how sensors respond to light and detect gases like hydrogen and methane. The materials we’ve developed show promising photo response behavior, which is a key step toward building compact, highly sensitive sensors for environmental and industrial use.”

Since the initial proposal, Kang has added outside collaborators NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and N5 Sensors, both providing important platforms to explore potential commercialization paths.

NASA GSFC researchers Peter Snapp and Mahmooda Sultana collaborated with the team on the development of a methane gas sensor. They provided expertise in space-relevant sensing technologies and contributed guidance on performance requirements, testing protocols, and potential integration pathways for aerospace applications.

Diego Enrique Colmenarez received the Outstanding Project Award at the College of Engineering and Computing Undergraduate Research Celebration for his work on the 4-VA project. Photo provided

“This collaboration strengthens the translational potential of the 4-VA-supported laser-induced graphene nanocomposite sensing platform for real-world and extreme environment use cases,” said Kang.

N5 Sensors offered industry insight into the commercialization potential of the laser-induced graphene-based sensor platform. Their involvement included feedback on sensor integration strategies, performance metrics relevant to the market, and potential pathways for transitioning the research from lab-scale prototypes to scalable, deployable systems.

Peter Cho of the Department of Mechanical Engineering also worked with the team, volunteering his time to evaluate the hydrogen sensing performance of the developed materials and providing advice on sensors relevant to fuel cell applications.

Kang said the 4-VA funding also helped create valuable hands-on research opportunities for undergraduates. He credits four mechanical engineering majors who made significant contributions to the project:

Philip Acatrinei shared key material and device integration techniques—particularly in the use of laser-induced graphene and nanocomposite fabrication for advanced sensor platforms.
Graham Harper studied laser-induced graphene and nanocomposite materials for optoelectronic sensing applications.
Noemi Lily Umanzor helped to validate the broader versatility and cross-disciplinary potential of the materials and manufacturing approaches developed in the project.
Diego Enrique Colmenarez performed experimental tasks involving the laser manufacturing and characterization of graphene-based nanocomposites. For his work, Colmenarez received the “Outstanding Project Award” at the College of Engineering and Computing Undergraduate Research Celebration. He also presented on the subject at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Undergraduate Research Symposium on Dynamics, Vibration and Acoustics.

The team has already had two published papers on the project in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C and Advanced Science, but Kang sees the 4-VA project as a launching pad for much more.

“The funding provided the essential support needed to launch a high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research project that might not have been possible through traditional funding channels alone,” he said. “Beyond advancing the technical goals, the support from 4-VA has helped position our team for larger external funding, fostered long-term partnerships, and demonstrated how collaborative, cross-institutional work can drive real innovation.”

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Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

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Research

How you eat may be connected to how you sleep

Taylor Thomas — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:22:19 +0000

How you eat may be connected to how you sleep Taylor Thomas Thu, 12/11/2025 - 09:22

In This Story

Raedeh Basiri, PhD, RDN

The average adult should get a minimum of seven hours of sleep daily, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are diagnosed with a sleep disorder (ex., sleep apnea, insomnia) that prevents optimal sleep outcomes, and what we eat may play a role.

A study by �鶹��Ƶ registered dietitian and clinical nutrition researcher Raedeh Basiri showed that blood sugar levels—whether in individuals with or without diabetes—are linked to sleep quality. The research found that blood glucose patterns, diabetes management, and the types of foods people eat all were associated with how well they sleep:

Individuals with diabetes were more likely to have trouble sleeping, be diagnosed with sleep disorders, and have abnormal sleep duration compared to individuals without diabetes. Those with prediabetes showed similar patterns, but not as strongly.
Strict dietary management and diabetes control were associated with more sleep difficulties, suggesting that blood-sugar status and the types of foods you eat may play important roles in how well you sleep.
Low-protein diets, especially when combined with high-fat intake, were most consistently linked to poor sleep across the board. On the other hand, low-carb, high-fat diets were associated with a lower likelihood of short sleep duration in both people with diabetes and those with normal blood sugar.

Basiri’s research highlights the importance of considering both dietary patterns and blood sugar status when developing strategies to improve sleep.

Glycemic status and macronutrient intake as predictors of sleep outcomes: an analysis of NHANES 2007–2020 data was published in October 2025, in Frontiers.

�鶹��Ƶ the researcher

Raedeh Basiri is a registered dietitian and an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health. Basiri is a clinical nutrition researcher specializing in personalized nutrition therapy and the use of emerging technologies, such as continuous glucose monitoring, to improve outcomes in individuals with prediabetes, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Her work combines randomized controlled trials and large-scale data analysis to investigate how whole foods and dietary patterns impact insulin resistance, glycemic control, sleep, and both mental and gut health. Basiri takes a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach and is deeply committed to chronic disease prevention, collaborative research, and mentoring future professionals.

Thumbnail photo by Slaapwijsheid.nl via Unsplash.

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blood glucose control

Research

Fulbright enables tourism professor to share her expertise in Tajikistan

Katarina Benson — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:21:50 +0000

Fulbright enables tourism professor to share her expertise in Tajikistan Katarina Benson Tue, 11/25/2025 - 11:21

Sue Slocum, professor in the Tourism and Events Management Program at �鶹��Ƶ, received a Fulbright Specialist Program award in support of a project on how best to prepare students for jobs in Tajikistan’s tourism economy. She went for a month to advise and collaborate with faculty from the International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan.

As part of this initiative, titled “Enhancing the Level of Competence of University Faculties,” Slocum identified opportunities for enhanced research and partnerships to support increased tourism development in Tajikistan. She also provided training related to teaching pedagogies and outcomes, and educational technologies to support classroom learning.

Students were taught new tourism strategies. Photo provided

The Fulbright Specialist Program is part of the larger Fulbright Program established by the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to pair highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad. Initiatives under this program were short-term projects, ranging in length from two to six weeks. �鶹��Ƶ 400 academic researchers and professionals participate annually in the program.

As a Fulbright Specialist award recipient, Slocum presented a series of lectures for both university faculty and students related to several types of tourism—most notably sustainable tourism, including integrated tourism models and visitor management strategies—and the specific needs and challenges of each. She taught for four hours a day, six days a week. She also presented at two conferences, teaching professionals about tourists’ use of technology for marketing purposes and how “to showcase development [and] accomplishments to the traveling public.”

Slocum took time to travel Tajikstan. Photo provided

“Most of my students were from small villages and had been exposed to tourism,” Slocum said. “The curriculum on sustainable development was very well received, and the students were excited to be able to apply some of what I taught to their home communities.”

She also gave a lecture to support faculties commitment to publishing
in SCOPUS academic journals, which the university was just beginning to explore.

“I also took four days to travel to Haft Kul [in the Pan Mountains] and Pajikent. Not only did it give me an opportunity to be a tourist in a country where I was teaching tourism, it also allowed me to spend time with villagers impacted by tourism. The sights were stunning, and the people were some of the friendliest I have ever met,” Slocum said.

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Fulbright Scholars

Tourism and Events Management Program

College of Education and Human Development

Research

A new era of global growth: George �鶹��Ƶ and Naugen launch international innovation accelerator

Colleen Rich — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:54:56 +0000

A new era of global growth: George �鶹��Ƶ and Naugen launch international innovation accelerator Colleen Rich Tue, 11/18/2025 - 10:54

This month, a new Northern Virginia International Soft-Landing Accelerator (NISA) program, designed to help start-ups from around the globe find guidance, connections, and lab or office spaces at no cost, was launched to help develop new technologies in life sciences.

Participants in the six-month program will have access to George �鶹��Ƶ’s cutting-edge labs. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Applications are now open for the first NISA cohort. Participants in the six-month program will have access to �鶹��Ƶ’s cutting-edge labs, research, and strong business and government network across the region, propelling ideas from lab to market quickly. Selected companies can work from lab or office space at Endeavor234 and Centerfuse while drawing on support from local legal, financial, real estate, and accounting partners to ease their move into the community.

The program is led by George �鶹��Ƶ in partnership with Naugen, a global innovation accelerator recognized for helping ventures enter and grow in untapped markets, at its Science and Technology Campus, located in the heart of the new Innovation District, founded by Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and George �鶹��Ƶ. Naugen and George �鶹��Ƶ are collaborating with regional economic development groups and private-sector partners on the initiative.

“Many international start-ups bring outstanding technologies, but they often face challenges with the U.S. investment landscape and limited networks. NISA exists to bridge that gap,” said Jaehan Park, founder and CEO of Naugen. “By combining Naugen’s global expertise with Northern Virginia’s thriving ecosystem, we are building a launchpad where international innovators can put down U.S. roots and scale into true worldwide enterprises.”

NISA is also partnering with �鶹��Ƶ Korea to help South Korean founders explore opportunities in the United States. At �鶹��Ƶ Korea, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), led by the Costello College of Business, introduces early-stage start-ups to the fundamentals of building and testing their ideas through workshops, pitch events, applied projects, and one-on-one guidance. CIE also works with teams that are beginning to look abroad, helping them understand what it takes to reach the U.S. market and linking them with NISA and contacts in Northern Virginia’s start-up ecosystem.

“We meet talented founders every day in South Korea who are eager to take the next step,” said Joshua Park, campus dean of �鶹��Ƶ Korea. “CIE pushes them to think more deliberately about their idea, their timing, and the direction they want to take.”

From left, Amy Adams, executive director of the Institute for Biohealth Innovation at �鶹��Ƶ; Jaehan Park, founder and CEO of Naugen; and Joshua Park, campus dean of �鶹��Ƶ Korea, at the NISA launch. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“NISA, along with investments in expanding the life science ecosystem and establishing the Innovation District, is helping build a destination for next-generation companies from around the world in Northern Virginia with benefits across the state,” said Christina Winn, executive director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism. “Propelling this sector and bolstering the local entrepreneurial network is creating a vibrant place where industries and communities succeed together.”

Part of NISA’s funding comes from the George �鶹��Ƶ-managed Innovation District grant, a $3.9 million investment from GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of high-wage jobs in strategic industries. Virginia plays a key leadership role as part of the Biohealth Capital Region and is home to the nation’s third-largest biopharma cluster.

“Our goal is not just to attract businesses. We want them to see Manassas as home,” said Patrick Small, economic development director for the City of Manassas. “That means matching founders with the right resources and making sure their employees have access to excellent schools, welcoming neighborhoods, and the amenities that make people want to stay and build their future.”

“NISA participants can take advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s world-class core facilities, including our biocontainment facility and CAP/CLIA-accredited laboratory,” said Amy Adams, executive director of the Innovation District and George �鶹��Ƶ’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation. “George �鶹��Ƶ helps innovators shorten the journey from concept to commercialization through pairing these resources with top-tier expertise.”

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Campus News

Research

Innovation District

Science and Technology Campus

Institute for Biohealth Innovation

entrepreneurship

partnerships

�鶹��Ƶ Korea

Environmental sustainability pays off—but mostly for media-savvy firms

Katelynn C Hipolito — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:42:57 +0000

Environmental sustainability pays off—but mostly for media-savvy firms Katelynn C Hipolito Tue, 11/18/2025 - 09:42

To please both the planet and shareholders at the same time, firms must travel a triangular path.

Whatever else they may be, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives are very often an image-building exercise. Business leaders hope that by being seen to put ethical responsibilities over profits, they will reap profits anyway as a byproduct of reputational gains. It stands to reason, then, that no conversation about the “business case” for ESG would be complete without involving society’s chief reputational brokers—i.e. the media.

Saurabh Mishra. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ.

New published research from Saurabh Mishra, area chair and professor of marketing at the Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ, confirms the media’s pivotal role in influencing ESG profitability.

Forthcoming in the Journal of Business Research, the paper was co-authored by Shekhar Misra at University of Galway, Ireland.

The researchers analyzed ESG performance from the Sustainalytics database, media sentiment from the RavenPack news analytics database, and financial data (including advertising budgets) for 452 firms over the period 2009-2018.

This data-set allowed them to chart the triangular path by which “doing good” (for society and the planet) resulted in “doing well” for the firms in question.

To start with, only the “E” in ESG had any direct positive impact on financial performance—and a muted one at that. Of the three metrics examined—idiosyncratic risk, abnormal returns and Tobin’s Q—only idiosyncratic risk responded favorably to raw, unmediated environmental performance.

The “S” and “G” had either no direct positive effect, or a negative effect upon financial performance.

“You can imagine the E, S, and G would not have the same effect on all stakeholders,” Mishra observes. “Governance, being a little more internal, might have more positive impact on employees, but not necessarily on the outside world. Social kind of falls in the middle—it could be either internal or external.”

With media sentiment, there was a similar disparity. “Greening” efforts tended to drive more positive media coverage for the firm, which translated into higher financial performance. Social and governance initiatives made no significant difference to the media conversation.

But not all eco-conscious firms benefited equally from this media-made halo effect. Those that spent more money on advertising—not necessarily promoting their ESG activity, but advertising in general—saw a greater improvement in media sentiment.

Crucially, Mishra’s data-set included neither specific examples of media coverage nor information about the recipients of advertising spend. The research, therefore, does not suggest the presence of an ethically problematic quid pro quo.

“It’s possible that media simply follow firms [with high advertising budgets] more closely,” Mishra says. “They recognize their efforts more. Everything they do becomes more visible, which kind of magnifies the effect that we’re seeing.”

For Mishra, the findings help clarify contradictions about ESG and its potential payoffs. “If you look at some of the meta-analyses that have been done, the consensus is that ESG’s effect on shareholder wealth is not there, or it’s weakly positive. At the same time, there is a lot of variation. Some firms see a lot of upside and some don’t.”

It’s not, then, that there isn’t a good “business case” for ESG activity. But that case may be more contingent on external factors (such as media sentiment) than many previous researchers believed.

If so, ESG may be most financially successful as part of a diverse strategic portfolio that could encompass advertising spend and possibly other areas ostensibly unrelated to environmental sustainability.

“Advertising researchers talk about a stock effect,” Mishra explains. “Advertising stock builds over time. You have to continually advertise, otherwise that stock starts going down. So if you’re advertising substantially, you get more bang for the buck from investing in the environment.”

But because so much remains unknown about the various factors that help determine ESG’s profitability potential, Mishra cautions against dismissing the “S” and “G” too quickly, despite their apparent irrelevance in this particular study.

“I would hate to say that firms should not invest in social and governance,” Mishra says. “Maybe if you look at some other stakeholder measures—employee productivity measures, for instance—they move the needle there. Because, after all, there is variation in the data, and no one paper can look at every relevant factor. But if your objective is to move media to be more positive towards you, environmental focus is your best bet.”

“I would hate to say that firms should not invest in social and governance. Maybe if you look at some other stakeholder measures—employee productivity measures, for instance—they move the needle there. Because, after all, there is variation in the data, and no one paper can look at every relevant factor. But if your objective is to move media to be more positive towards you, environmental focus is your best bet.”

— Saurabh Mishra, area chair and professor of marketing at the Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ

In This Story

Saurabh Mishra

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Marketing - Costello

Costello Research Brand Management

Costello Research Social Influence

Costello Research Sustainable Operations

Marketing Area

ESG - Costello

Costello College of Business Faculty Research

Costello College of Business News

Research

Concrete possibilities create 4-VA match

Katarina Benson — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:32:15 +0000

Concrete possibilities create 4-VA match Katarina Benson Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:32

In the construction trades, engineers and builders are constantly pursuing concrete mixes that provide greater durability and strength. Moreover, concrete adaptations that are biodegradable and nontoxic with reduced greenhouse gas emissions attract even more attention. The potential cherry on top of both would be if the adaptation could result in lower production costs.

Xijin “Emma” Zhang. Photo provided

It was this proposition that brought Xijin “Emma” Zhang, an assistant professor in �鶹��Ƶ’s Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering together with Bryan Berger, a professor in University of Virginia’s Chemical Engineering Department.

When Zhang, who specializes in fungi-mediated self-healing concrete, found Berger via the National Science Foundation’s search tool, she immediately recognized that Berger’s extensive experience in producing various biosurfactants from fungi would make him the perfect partner for her 4-VA research team.

Zhang’s goal was to test the effect that Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) would have on concrete. SAPs are hydrophilic polymers used to reduce shrinkage and improve durability. Berger was up for the challenge.

To turn the idea into reality, Zhang developed a proposal for 4-VA funding titled “Multifunctional Fungi-Based Biosurfactants for Durable Concrete Structures.” The plan was to do a barrage of experiments injecting a type of biosurfactants known as HFBI, derived from engineered yeast strain, to demonstrate the feasibility of it as a sustainable alternative to conventional air-entraining agents. This research would demand careful study and analysis with particular attention to air content and workability.

Once the proposal was approved, Zhang and Berger assembled a team of students to help deliver the project:

Testing samples. Photo provided

Graduate research assistant Junyi Wang from George �鶹��Ƶ was responsible for experiment design, mortar testing (workability, air content, compressive strength), data analysis, and draft manuscript preparation.

PhD in chemical engineering Mack A. Kinkeade from Berger’s lab at UVA supported biosurfactant extraction and purification.

PhD student Lixin Wang, also from George �鶹��Ƶ, assisted with sample testing.

Two civil engineering undergraduates, Phillip Christovaladi Vasilakopoulos and Rafferty Houghton, volunteered their time on the project, gaining critical research experience. Both graduated in May.

“This 4-VA project provided valuable research opportunities for students at multiple levels. Their involvement not only enriched their academic experiences but also helped build a strong pipeline of future researchers,” said Zhang.

Following a year of lab work, the team did prove their hypothesis—HFBI is a sustainable alternative to established air-entraining agents in concrete.

Zhang was then able to share their results with a variety of interested organizations including the American Concrete Institute, Brookhaven National Lab, and the Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.

Surface morphology and height cloud map of the three groups of samples under a microscope. The blue-purple coloring on the surface indicates pores. Photo provided

“These presentations at conferences and national labs helped us connect with industry partners and broadened the impact of our work,” she said.

Zhang sees the 4-VA experience as a success on many levels, including relationship building.

“The 4-VA@�鶹��Ƶ funding was instrumental in launching a meaningful and sustained collaboration with Dr. Berger at UVA,” Zhang said. “Since the start of this project, we have co-developed and submitted 3-4 research proposals to National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and USDA over the past year, some of which were directly inspired by the findings of this 4-VA initiative.”

Learn more about 4-VA at George �鶹��Ƶ

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Commonwealth Cyber Initiative helps launch new start-ups

Katarina Benson — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:06:56 +0000

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative helps launch new start-ups Katarina Benson Tue, 11/04/2025 - 11:06

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Accelerator (CCI+A) program is a jam-packed, five-month innovation program that’s fueling cybersecurity entrepreneurship across Virginia. It’s teaching professors and start-ups what it takes to bring technology to market, including how to pitch to a panel of investors and industry leaders.

“Supporting cybersecurity start-ups and bringing ideas out of universities and into the marketplace are an essential part of the CCI’s mission,” said Luiz DaSilva, executive director of CCI. “We’re excited to help these start-ups reach their milestones and create new opportunities and jobs in the commonwealth.”

The program began at �鶹��Ƶ and has expanded statewide. It’s co-funded by the CCI Northern Virginia Node and the CCI Hub.

Rui Ning of DeepScan presenting their pitch. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

"Since its launch at �鶹��Ƶ in 2022, CCI+A has accelerated 34 technologies from across Virginia," said Liza Wilson Durant, CCI Northern Virginia Node director, associate dean of strategic initiatives and community engagement at George �鶹��Ƶ, and College of Engineering and Computer professor. "Each year we've seen the teams increase their customer engagement and elevate their competitive pitch performance. It's exciting to see several entities undergo acquisition and see the impact of the program on Virginia economic development."

The CCI+A program works on two tracks—the CATAPULT Fund supports teams emerging from Virginia public research universities and the ASCEND Fund focuses on start-up teams collaborating with faculty subject matter experts. The teams receive up to $75,000 to help them commercialize their technology.

CCI funded 10 projects this year. On October 16, teams from both tracks competed to pitch their start-ups to a panel of investors and industry leaders. The winning team from each category received an additional $5,000 in funding.

The CATAPULT winning team is DeepScan, led by Rui Ning, an assistant professor in computer science at Old Dominion University (ODU). The team also includes Maia Lin and Yao Wang from ODU.
The ASCEND winning team is Glacier21, a start-up led by CEO Ren McEachern, a former FBI agent. Team members include Robert Appleton, Mike Borowski, Neil Alexander, along with George �鶹��Ƶ professor Foteini Baldimsti.

The CCI+A program is coordinated by Gisele Stolz, senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation at George �鶹��Ƶ.

Meet the Winners

DeepScan

While artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a requirement on our smartphones and other devices, security is lagging, said Ning, DeepScan team lead. Hidden triggers can hijack behavior, and many apps ship models that are easy to tamper with. DeepScan promises to protect on-device AI without slowing down performance. First-time winner Ning is a veteran of CCI+A and put what he learned from a past program to good use.

“The program taught me how to communicate technical ideas in a way that connects with broader audiences,” Ning said. “I’ve always been curious about entrepreneurship because it feels like a natural way to translate research into something that can make a difference. It’s another path to extend our impact beyond papers and grants.”

Glacier21

Glacier21 is focusing on combating illicit cryptocurrency activities. The platform integrates data from such sources as social media, data leaks, and the deep/dark web to uncover complex connections between crypto wallets, businesses, and individuals.

Glacier21 presented their platform focused on combating illicit cryptocurrency activities. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

CCI+A helped the team with the execution, McEachern said. “When we were lucky enough to be selected into the CCI+A program, it didn't just open up some resources; it opened up access to people and vast networks that totally changed our strategy and our thinking.”

Foteini Baldimsti, an associate professor of computer science at �鶹��Ƶ, worked with Glacier21 to provide technical expertise. “It's very nice to see how your academic work can help a start-up and give technical knowledge,” Baldimsti said. “But I think it's also very interesting as an academic to learn from this project and from the CCI+A program about how you can bring your own ideas and how you can participate in one of the next cohorts and be on the other side as the founder of the company. I think this experience has been very, very valuable.”

In This Story

Liza Wilson Durant

Foteini Baldimtsi

Learn more about Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square

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Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI)

Why is the “freshmen 15” phenomenon so common?

Taylor Thomas — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:49:18 +0000

Why is the “freshmen 15” phenomenon so common? Taylor Thomas Tue, 11/04/2025 - 09:49

In This Story

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

Hong Xue, PhD

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD

Do not schedule eight AM classes. Communicate with your roommate. Wash your bedding regularly. Incoming college students are offered numerous pieces of advice before stepping onto campus. Arguably, one of the most common is to beware of the “freshman 15.” But why is weight gain among first-year students so universal that it has earned such a notorious reputation?

An �鶹��Ƶ interdisciplinary research team led by Y. Alicia Hong, professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy who studies mobile and wearable technologies, found that the college environment lends itself to habits that increase food intake and subsequent weight gain.

“Social and environmental factors are key determinants of eating behavior,” said Hong. "College students are affected by the eating environment, especially where they eat and whom they eat with. Our research found that they consume more calories when eating in groups or formal dining settings."

Over the course of four weeks, college students self-recorded daily eating behaviors, environment, and mood and stress levels using a mobile app. App-logged responses indicated participants eat more when in groups of two or more and in locations such as dining halls or restaurants. Conversely, food intake was less when alone or at home.

College students are unaware of their eating habits, findings suggest. Analysis revealed that students’ perceptions of their food consumption did not align with the caloric intake logged. Factors related to gender and emotion also contributed to the complex nature of dietary behavior.

“College students’ eating behaviors are complex, with individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors interacting to influence dietary intake. This research underscores the importance of context in dietary intervention and incorporating digital tools for dietary assessment,” said Hong.

The research team included Distinguished University Professor Larry Cheskin in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy Hong Xue, and George �鶹��Ƶ alumna Jo-Vivian Yu, BS Health Adminstration '21, MS Health Informatics '22.

The Dynamics of Eating Behaviors and Eating Environment in College Students: Discrepancies Between App-Tracked Dietary Intake and Self-Perceived Food Consumption was published in mHealth on October 29, 2025. The study was funded by the �鶹��Ƶ College of Public Health Pilot Grant (PI: YAH).

�鶹��Ƶ the researchers

Y. Alicia Hong is a professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy at �鶹��Ƶ. She is an expert in behavioral interventions with a research interest in the intersection of health services delivery and consumer informatics. Her work primarily explores chronic care and self-care solutions through innovative digital technologies, aiming to improve patient-centered outcomes and enhance healthcare accessibility. Hong’s research focuses on implementation and dissemination science, and leveraging digital technologies to enhance health services delivery.

Larry Cheskin is a distinguished university professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies and adjunct professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Cheskin has dedicated his career to research, education, and program building to enhance people’s diets and combat obesity. He founded the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, a multidisciplinary clinical research and treatment program. His work has impacted the problem of obesity through innovative treatment programs, and in community-based participatory research among the underserved in urban areas. He also developed mHealth tailored to the behavioral characteristics of the recipient to combat obesity.

Hong Xue is an associate professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy. He currently serves as the Chair of the Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia. Xue conducts interdisciplinary research in public health and in particular, integrates economics, nutrition, epidemiology, systems science, health informatics and machine learning in studying multilevel mechanisms and factors (e.g., from policy to behavior) related to obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), and tobacco use. Dr. Xue's research has been widely published in top journals and featured in national media, contributing significantly to both domestic and global NCD control efforts.

Jo-Vivian Yu holds a Master of Science in Data Analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics from �鶹��Ƶ. Her academic and research background reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation at the intersection of data science, technology, and public health. She has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed studies focused on health behavior and population health, using digital tools and data analytics to investigate the impact of social and environmental factors on health outcomes.

Thumbnail photo by Rosalind Chang via unsplash.

Topics

College of Public Health

How consumers react when they feel ‘betrayed’ by a brand

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 14:52:41 +0000

How consumers react when they feel ‘betrayed’ by a brand Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 11/03/2025 - 09:52

A pair of �鶹��Ƶ marketing professors have unpacked the surprisingly intense and complicated emotional consequences of brand inauthenticity.

We all know what it’s like to discover—either gradually or all at once—someone else’s insincerity. Jessica Hoppner and Russell Abratt, marketing professors at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ, have found that an encounter with an inauthentic brand produces much the same effect.

Jessica Hoppner. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ.

“Authenticity is defined within the context of the brand-consumer relationship,” Hoppner says. In other words, it’s in the eye of the beholder—or in this case, the consumer. Inauthenticity occurs when a brand behaves in a way that appears to go against its perceived core values, or the consumer’s baseline expectations for that particular brand.

“This kind of inauthenticity causes problems for brand managers because for each person it’s a little bit different, and that makes it really hard to navigate,” Hoppner says.

In their recently published paper in the Journal of Product & Brand Management, Hoppner and Abratt trace the emotional cause-and-effect of brand inauthenticity, offering rare insight into this slippery phenomenon.

The paper was co-authored by Ryan White of Winona State University.

The researchers recruited 218 survey participants using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. Respondents were asked to write about an experience of brand inauthenticity and answer a series of questions about that experience and steps they took afterward. The results were analyzed in light of concepts drawn from psychological research, such as appraisal theory and balance theory.

Surprisingly, participants named a wide range of brands (156 in all), only 25.2 percent of which appeared on Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands List. “It covered large brands, small brands, all different sectors,” says Hoppner. “It’s not constrained to consumer products or the brands that we would normally think about.”

The survey responses showed that customers experienced brand inauthenticity as a betrayal of sorts, with emotional implications comparable to those of human-to-human betrayal.

Brand inauthenticity triggered a complex mix of emotional responses in consumers. Anger, anxiety, and disappointment were the principal motifs across the sample, but individual reactions could include one, two, or even all three. The strength of reactive emotions varied according to the perceived severity of the betrayal.

Further, the researchers found that the three main emotional responses led to different behaviors in consumers.

Abratt and Hoppner describe anger as a “hot emotion,” causing consumers to lash out at brands deemed inauthentic, through retaliation, complaints, and withdrawal of loyalty.

Anxiety inspired a less accusatory and more questioning response, as consumers groped for the deeper truth about this apparently two-faced brand. “Anxiety is very ambiguous,” Hoppner says. “When we’re anxious, it’s often because we don’t really know what happened, why it happened, who’s to blame, etc.” Consumers made anxious by brand inauthenticity actually increased their loyalty to the brand, and sought out more information to resolve the ambiguity.

Finally, disappointment led consumers to lapse into a self-protective passivity. Their central concern became not closure or redress, but rather avoiding further disappointment by turning their back on the offending brand.

Russell Abratt. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ.

Abratt and Hoppner advise brand managers to think twice before launching a rote response in hopes of winning back consumers alienated by perceived inauthenticity. Anger and anxiety show up very differently, and disappointment may not show up at all in any conventionally measurable way. When addressing inauthenticity after the fact, a brand’s best bet may be to ask questions and listen closely before attempting to fix the problem.

Of course, the ideal approach would be to avoid being seen as inauthentic in the first place. That would mean understanding the actual relationships consumers have with the brand, which may differ from how managers view the brand’s value proposition. It may also entail intentional, proactive reshaping of those relationships.

“I think the real issue for firms is to understand who they are,” Abratt says. “In other words, brands have to talk about their identity. And once they have figured that one out, they have to have training amongst their employees and say, ‘this is what we stand for. This is what we do.’ Communicate that to your markets and your community, and make sure that you allow the community and customers to talk back with you.”

“I think the real issue for firms is to understand who they are,” Abratt says. “In other words, brands have to talk about their identity. And once they have figured that one out, they have to have training amongst their employees and say, ‘this is what we stand for. This is what we do.’ Communicate that to your markets and your community, and make sure that you allow the community and customers to talk back with you.”

— Russell Abratt, marketing professor at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ

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New Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ opportunity offers students a pathway to conservation science

Colleen Rich — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:43:54 +0000

New Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ opportunity offers students a pathway to conservation science Colleen Rich Wed, 10/29/2025 - 14:43

From cloning endangered black-footed ferrets to using drone technology to track wildlife to caring for red pandas up close, researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are working at the forefront of conservation science. As a global leader in conservation research, the Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation (SMSC), which is a partnership between �鶹��Ƶ and the Smithsonian, offers hands-on experiences to undergraduate students that few other institutions can match.

Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

Now, students across the country can apply to take part in this kind of hands-on opportunity thanks to a ten-week summer research experience at SMSC through the National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

The 2025 REU Saving Critically Endangered Species and Habitats: Next-Generation Education, Research, and Training for Conservation Biologists is only the second REU awarded to George �鶹��Ƶ. The program is led by College of Science dean and principal investigator Cody W. Edwards, alongside biology professor and co-principal investigator David Luther.

At the Smithsonian’s Front Royal, Virginia, site, 10 participants will take part in field-based conservation projects. These students will work on developing strategies to preserve endangered species and acquire skills applicable to careers in conservation biology.

“One of the best things about George �鶹��Ƶ is the wide range of backgrounds and experiences our students bring, along with the access we provide to top-tier research thanks to our location and partnerships with leading institutions like the Smithsonian,” said Edwards. “Hosting an REU allows us to expand that access nationwide, reaching students who are passionate about conservation and eager to make an impact, but who may not yet be aware of the opportunities available at George �鶹��Ƶ.”

Edwards said the REU will act as an “amplifier,” offering a launchpad for students who have the passion and potential but lack exposure to advanced training in the field.

“This learning opportunity is incredibly difficult to replicate as you get both a world-class education, along with an expanded network of top industry professionals,” said Edwards. “Many students apply to work with Smithsonian scientists and researchers at George �鶹��Ƶ, and now this REU provides a broader pathway to do that.”

Participants will engage with researchers and mentors like Edwards and Luther in a collaborative setting that blends fieldwork and lab-based research. Through these collaborations, students will deepen their research experience, gain critical career skills, grow professional networks, and generate findings with potential to impact conservation efforts globally.

“Everyone I’ve met got their start with the help of a good mentor,” said Luther. “People can do a lot of good work on their own, but having someone to guide you early on, someone who helps shape how you approach problems, work through challenges, and make sound decisions is invaluable. That’s why I think this grant and the research experience it offers undergraduates is so special.”

Students will focus their work in one of three core areas aligned with the school’s expertise: assessing and monitoring wild populations, studying ecological resilience in the face of environmental threats, or improving the care and management of species in human care.

The SMSC is distinguished by its rich history of renowned experts and visionary faculty dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders. Over the years, the school has welcomed some of the most influential figures in environmental science. The late Jane Goodall, a global icon of wildlife conservation, visited the campus in 2017, 2018, and 2019 to share her insights and engage with students. George �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy was also home to the legendary Thomas Lovejoy, often referred to as the “Godfather of Biodiversity,” who mentored some of SMSC’s current faculty.

“What excites me most about the REU is the opportunity it creates, not just for the individual students, but for the broader conservation community,” Edwards said. “Their work can spark new ideas and help drive forward conservation initiatives beyond their own project, and builds networks of individuals who can collaborate to drive big changes.”

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