College of Science

This George �鶹��Ƶ alum mapped her future

Katarina Benson — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:21:58 +0000

This George �鶹��Ƶ alum mapped her future Katarina Benson Thu, 11/20/2025 - 16:21

In 1998, Brennan Collier, nee Snyder, graduated from �鶹��Ƶ—and used it as a springboard for everything that came next. She walked off campus with two BA degrees: one in geology, a tried-and-true science path, and the other in environmental science, a program she built herself when the existing offerings didn’t quite match her ambitions.

Collier wasn’t chasing diplomas—she was focused on impact. That same year, she locked down a certificate in environmental management, a fast track to the tools and know-how she’d need in the field. Internships and agency employment followed, giving her a front-row seat to the evolving world of environmental protection—exactly where she wanted to be.

Collier. Photo provided

After increasingly successful positions with public agencies, Collier is now senior vice president of strategic sales and part owner of ATCS, a Virgina-based engineering consulting firm that works with regional public and private clients in transportation planning and roadway design, traffic engineering studies, construction management, and other aspects of transportation infrastructure. You have probably traveled on a roadway in Northern Virginia whose route was determined by her research.

The Chantilly, Virginia, native began her journey in higher education at North Carolina State University, transferring closer to home to George �鶹��Ƶ as a sophomore to enroll in the geology program.

"I fell in love with earth sciences in ninth grade,” she said. “And I wanted to do something in environmental science, which was emerging at the time.”

With no environmental science bachelor’s program available—it is now—she worked with counselors in the Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program to select courses across the campus to satisfy her goals.

Two of her professors were particularly inspiring: Geology professors Julia Nord and Richard Diecchio, both now retired. “They really helped me fall in love with what I was doing,” she said.

Also inspirational was a 1998 winter break to the Caribbean, where she performed geological field work at the Bahamas Environmental Research Center on Andros Island. The university was then a partner with facility located on a largely undeveloped island.

“The experience has definitely stuck with me,” she said, “and I appreciate how George �鶹��Ƶ was giving back to the community there, especially the young children that would follow us around curious as to what we were doing and why.”

In addition, she was “really lucky to be able to find some internships and part-time positions by just being in the Washington, D.C., area while I was in school,” she said, referencing George �鶹��Ƶ’s proximity and access to key institutions in the nation’s capital.

She landed a paid position with Reston, Virginia’s U.S. Geological Survey, where she worked on one of the very first Geographic Information Systems. “I actually digitized the state geological map of Virginia [while a student].”

She also worked with the Environmental Protection Agency in environmental compliance and, as she was finishing up her degree programs, she found a part-time position with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Northern Virginia District. That experience turned into a full-time job after graduation.

Each of these positions equipped Collier with the skills she continues to use today.

“[VDOT] is where I learned to study the environmental impacts of road and bridge projects, from wetland delineations to obtaining permits to looking at endangered species that might be at risk.”

Collier was the consultant deputy project manager for the Environmental Impact Statement required for the widening of Interstate 64 from Richmond to Hampton in Virginia, a popular highway leading to military bases and beach destinations along the Chesapeake Bay. It’s been 14 years since she started the environmental study and the project, currently under construction in segments, is valued at around $1.3 billion.

“I remind myself as an environmentalist that I’m doing good in the industry in trying to shape some of the decision making so that roads are placed where they need to be,” she said. “We’re not going down the middle of farms like we used to in the early 1950s and ‘60s when they built the original interstate.”

In fact, she frequents the I-64 corridor as she travels from her home in Richmond to her beach house in Cape Charles, Virginia.

“I annoy my 14-year-old daughter all the time because I point out things,” she said. “I say, ‘Hey, you see Camp Peary over there? Do you know the historic significance? [It was a CIA spy school.] Do you know why they felled the trees to widen the road and just left them there? That’s because of the time-of-year restrictions for tree clearing to protect threatened and endangered bats.’

“It’s nice to drive through that and know I had a piece of it, even though it was a small piece.”

Topics

Alumni

College of Science

Bachelor of Individualized Study

George �鶹��Ƶ's Virginia Climate Center releases first-ever statewide climate assessment

Colleen Rich — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:33:34 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ's Virginia Climate Center releases first-ever statewide climate assessment Colleen Rich Wed, 11/19/2025 - 15:33

�鶹��Ƶ’s Virginia Climate Center (VCC) has unveiled the commonwealth’s first comprehensive, peer-reviewed climate assessment—a landmark report that provides science-based insights into Virginia’s changing climate and its impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the economy.

The First Virginia State Climate Assessment (VCA) synthesizes decades of research into a single, accessible resource for policymakers, businesses, educators, and the public. Developed by a multidisciplinary team across the commonwealth and the region, this report establishes a critical baseline for understanding how past, present, and future climate conditions will shape life in Virginia.

“This groundbreaking statewide assessment gives us what we've never had before: comprehensive, science-based evidence of the risks we face and the information we need to protect our communities, economy, and natural heritage for generations to come,” said Jim Kinter, VCC director and coordinating author of the assessment.

“The Virginia Climate Center brought together the commonwealth's leading scientists and experts to tackle one of the defining challenges of our time. This assessment represents unprecedented collaboration across disciplines and institutions—because a problem this complex demands our best minds working together to deliver rigorous, actionable science that serves all Virginians.”

Why Virginia Needs a State-Level Climate Assessment

While national and global climate reports provide broad trends, they cannot capture Virginia’s unique vulnerabilities. The commonwealth’s geographic diversity—from coastal plains to mountainous terrain—combined with rapid population growth and economic expansion creates region-specific risks that require localized solutions.

The VCA addresses these needs by organizing findings across six climate divisions: Tidewater, Eastern Piedmont, Western Piedmont, Southwestern Mountain, Central Mountain, and Northern Virginia. Each VCA chapter includes key messages and traceable accounts, offering clear, actionable insights backed by scientific evidence and confidence assessments.

“Global reports are essential for understanding broad climate trends, but they do not capture how those trends manifest at regional—or local—scales,” said Viviana Maggioni, chapter lead author and professor in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering. “Virginia’s wide variation in topography, precipitation regimes, and land-use creates highly localized climate risks. A state climate assessment accounts for such variability and provides insights needed for effective decision-making.”

Three Critical Climate Hazards for Virginia

The report identifies three primary hazards of particular concern for Virginia in the 21st century:

Extreme Heat and Rising Temperatures
Increasing temperatures and more frequent heatwaves pose significant health risks, disrupt labor productivity, and stress agricultural systems.
Extreme Precipitation and Shifting Seasons
Wetter falls and springs increase flood risks, while drier summers and winters heighten drought and wildfire danger. These changes threaten infrastructure and can lead to power grid disruptions and economic losses.
Accelerated Sea Level Rise
Virginia is experiencing faster-than-average sea level rise, compounded by land subsidence and erosion. Coastal flooding and infrastructure damage are growing concerns for Tidewater and other low-lying regions.

“Climate change is already affecting Virginia—from our coastlines to our mountains,” said Kinter. “This assessment empowers every Virginian, from local planners to business leaders to families, with the knowledge to make informed decisions. And as we continue to update and expand this work, we're building a lasting framework for protecting Virginia's future.”

Implications for Virginia’s Economy and Communities

The report underscores the urgent need for integrating climate projections into infrastructure design, land-use planning, and policy development. From transportation networks to energy systems, Virginia’s critical infrastructure must be resilient to evolving climate conditions.

“Weather patterns impact key sectors of the Virginia economy,” said Terry Clower, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar School of Policy and Government. “Having data that shows changing patterns of rainfall and temperature is essential for industry leaders—from small-hold farmers to those managing billions in international commerce. This landmark achievement will hopefully spark awareness that consistent, dependable, and localized weather data will give Virginia farmers, businesses, and government entities the ability to better compete and succeed.”

The assessment is dedicated to the late Representative Gerry Connolly, whose visionary leadership made it possible. “He understood that investing in climate science isn't partisan—it's pragmatic,” Kinter said. “His commitment to evidence-based solutions and his unwavering support for the Virginia Climate Center helped make this critical work a reality, and his legacy will benefit Virginians for years to come.”

According to Michael Allen, associate professor of climatology at Towson University and contributing author, “The climate challenges outlined in this report transcend geopolitical borders and disciplinary silos. From the hollers of western Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore, the assessment meets the needs of the commonwealth—but it also fills a void for the nation, drawing attention to the science of climate change and the vast impacts it has on communities, our economy, and our well-being.”

Looking Ahead: Future Assessments and the Grand Challenge Initiative

This inaugural report is the first in a planned series of VCC-led assessments that will incorporate finer-scale geographic detail, expand coverage of climate impacts across sectors, and evaluate adaptation effectiveness over time. Future editions will integrate stakeholder input to ensure relevance and applicability.

The VCA also highlights the urgent need for a Virginia State Climate Office, a centralized resource for climate services, data collection, and expert assessment. “This role is typically filled by a state climate office that provides accessible, no-cost climate information essential to a state’s most vital sectors,” Kinter explained. “However, Virginia is one of only two states in the U.S. currently without a functioning state climate office.”

Marking an important new chapter in the history of research and scholarship at George �鶹��Ƶ, this effort is part of the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative, which aims to address the greatest threats to humanity’s ability to live a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, and just existence. Through multidisciplinary research strengths in education, public health, space exploration, climate resilience, cybersecurity and digital innovation, and peace and democracy, the initiative aligns talent, infrastructure, resources, and partnerships with new ideas to deliver real-world solutions and prepare the next generation of changemakers.

For more information or to request interviews with experts, contact VAclim@gmu.edu or tmason11@gmu.edu.

Grand Challenge Initiative

Explore George �鶹��Ƶ’s Grand Challenge Initiative addressing the greatest threats to humanity’s ability to live a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, and just existence.

Read the Virginia Climate Assessment

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Campus News

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Virginia Climate Center

College of Science

Schar School of Policy and Government

Air Force veteran finds new mission in environmental science

Katarina Benson — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 19:13:04 +0000

Air Force veteran finds new mission in environmental science Katarina Benson Tue, 11/11/2025 - 14:13

In �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Science—where nearly 16% of students are connected to the military—Air Force veteran Rylee Ledoux is using her public health experience and passion for the environment to support fellow veterans and pursue a future in environmental science. A former Air Force public health technician, she now serves as the senior military transition coordinator in �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Military Services while completing her bachelor of science in environmental science and policy.

After graduating high school, Ledoux joined the military after seeing her sister’s experience in the Army and the opportunities it offered to see the world. “The Air Force felt like a good way to learn, grow, and set myself up for something meaningful,” she said.

Ledoux worked in several public health sectors in the U.S. Air Force. Photo provided

That decision led her to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, where she rotated through several areas of public health, including occupational health, deployment medicine, and communicable disease.

Then COVID-19 hit.

“Overnight the workload exploded,” she recalled. “I was assigned to a mission in Washington, D.C., for COVID operations, and that set the tone for the rest of my Air Force experience. I spent the remainder of my service in communicable disease, and it shaped a lot of how I see public health and the environment today.”

That experience became the foundation for Ledoux’s next chapter after completing four years in the Air Force. Drawn to the intersection of science and policy, she chose George �鶹��Ƶ for its strong environmental programs, proximity to the nation’s capital, and reputation as a leading research institution.

“Working in communicable disease shows you really quickly how connected environmental health is to human health,” she said. “I wanted to study the root causes instead of only reacting to symptoms.”

Now, as part of Environmental Science and Policy professor Changwoo Ahn’s wetland ecology lab, Ledoux is learning to design and conduct research focused on restoration and ecosystem resilience. “I’m learning how to be precise in the field and how to understand ecological systems in a more meaningful way,” she said. “My goal after my master’s is to become a wetland ecologist and hopefully do restoration work.”

Ledoux works in the wetland ecology lab and hopes to do restoration work in her career. Photo provided

Ledoux will graduate this fall with her bachelor’s degree and, through George �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s-to-Accelerated-Master’s pathway, will continue into the environmental science and policy master’s program.

Her commitment to community extends beyond the lab. She serves on the College of Science Dean’s Student Advisory Council and, through her work in the Office of Military Services, supports military-affiliated students as they transition to academic life.

“My biggest advice for veterans is to ask questions early and reach out to the Office of Military Services,” she said. “Community is everything at George �鶹��Ƶ, especially for veterans. Once you lean into that community and participate in it, it gives you support, connection, and direction.”

That same sense of community and curiosity continues to guide her own journey. Beyond academics, Ledoux encourages others to embrace opportunities like studying abroad. She has participated programs in both Nepal and New Zealand.

“Seeing different cultures and ecosystems changed how I think about the world and my work,” she said. “I always tell people to take any chance they have to study abroad because it genuinely broadens your horizons.”

Looking back, Ledoux credits her military service with shaping both her resilience and sense of purpose. “It grounded me,” she said. “It taught me how to manage tough situations without losing focus. It was challenging, but it made me more disciplined, resilient, and goal oriented. I’m a better person because of it.”

Connect with the Office of Military Services

Topics

College of Science

Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)

Office of Military Services

Veterans

Students

Meet the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: Amanda Haymond Still

Katarina Benson — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:31:35 +0000

Meet the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: Amanda Haymond Still Katarina Benson Mon, 11/10/2025 - 09:31

Amanda Haymond Still

Job: Director of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internships, College of Science

Amanda Haymond Still, BS Chemistry ’13, PhD Biochemistry ’17. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Amanda Haymond Still, BS Chemistry ’13, PhD Biochemistry ’17, came to �鶹��Ƶ in 2009 as a University Scholar in the Honors College and never left. There are many reasons why she stayed, but she now has a new one: She’s leading the College of Science’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). “As a postdoc and faculty member, I really enjoyed the mentoring process, so when a position opened up to do that full time, I decided to put my name in the hat.”

Founded in 2007, ASSIP provides opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers across many disciplines. In summer 2025, nearly 400 students participated in person and remotely in the eight-week program. They came from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and about 17 states, including California, Texas, New York, and Washington State.

Embracing Online Access: Still said ASSIP’s pivoting to online during the pandemic had a plus side—they realized that, for certain types of research projects, remote works great. Now that people can participate from anywhere, applications have exploded—this year they received more than 3,300—and they have had interns from as far away as Hungary, Kazakhstan, and �鶹��Ƶ Korea. “It's administratively challenging but also very exciting.”

Opportunity for Further Expansion: The number of participants each year is driven by researchers’ needs and capacity. When students apply to ASSIP, they read through a list of researchers and projects and rank who they would like to work with. Then those researchers go through the applications and make decisions. “Even with remote participants, there are only so many hours in a day,” she said. “The best way to grow the program is to involve more George �鶹��Ƶ faculty.” Currently 23 academic departments at George �鶹��Ƶ participate.

All in a Day’s Work: During those eight weeks, Still said she is tied her email, solving problems as they arise. There are also safety trainings and paperwork as many interns are working in labs. As director, Still conducts a weekly seminar for the interns where they learn how to be a scientist. Most of the topics she covers are basic research information like how to write an abstract or prepare a scientific poster, which interns do before the summer is over. Each session ends with a poster presentation where they present their findings. “They get very excited,” Still said. “And it's fun to see how much students can get done in eight weeks.”

Try and Try Again: Still also talks to the aspiring scientists about failure, “which they always love to hear,” she jokes. But the reality is, in research, you never know how things are going to go. She said week 5 is a critical point in the program. That’s when the students realize things aren’t working the way that they thought they would, and their resilience kicks in. “If you're working on something at the cutting edge of science, it might not go well, and that's okay,” Still said. “This is part of learning how real discovery and inquiry works.”

Not a Summer Camp: Still emphasizes that “internship” is an important part of the ASSIP title. “These aren't demonstration projects. This is real independent research,” she said. And hard work does pay off. Many participants have had their names included when the work is published in scientific journals and presented at research conferences. Some have even been named on patents.

Joining the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: For the past two years, Still has run a pilot program in which students can get college credit for their ASSIP participation. �鶹��Ƶ 10% participate. “Part of the reason we do this program is we hope that some of the students stay with us and come to �鶹��Ƶ,” she said. “They're on campus, they’re getting credit, they are George �鶹��Ƶ students for a little while.”

Inquiring Minds: Still’s research career started like many of the students she’s mentoring. There was an option in the chemistry major to do undergraduate research for course credit, which Still wanted to do but didn’t know anyone. So she consulted the department directory. “I was literally cold emailing all of the professors with research groups,” she said. When she got to the C’s, she connected to her mentor and dissertation director Robin Couch of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Aiming for ‘Targets’: Still spent her George �鶹��Ƶ career pursuing scientific questions in enzymology. “I was looking at enzymes found in bacteria that are not found in us, with the goal of using those as new antibiotic drug targets,” she said. “The field of antimicrobial drug discovery is really exciting. It's very much like you versus ‘the invaders.’” When Still was defending her dissertation, one of the people in the audience was Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine codirector Lance Liotta. “He offered me a postdoc on the spot.”

An Inventor in Her Own Right: Through her work at George �鶹��Ƶ, Still has garnered a few patents over the years. Her most recent application is for DNA protein hybrid molecules that Still built with Rémi Veneziano in the College of Engineering and Computing. “We built these really cool hybrid molecules for cancer drugs.”

Best Part of the Job: Still said one of the things she loves about running ASSIP is getting to see “kids get the bug for scientific research.” She also has never doubted her decision to remain at George �鶹��Ƶ. “It doesn't grow old, no matter how many years you're here,” she said. “There's always something new happening.”

Learn more about ASSIP

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.”

Topics

National Science Foundation

Students

College of Science

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Research

Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey

Katarina Benson — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:35:51 +0000

Environmental science major lands internship with U.S. Geological Survey Katarina Benson Wed, 10/15/2025 - 15:35

�鶹��Ƶ Environmental Science and Policy major Melanie Medrano has long aspired to work in the federal government, ideally on the front lines of creating meaningful environmental change. She took a major step toward that goal by starting an internship with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), where she will assist in their communication efforts through December 2025.

USGS provides a range of data and expertise on earth sciences, water, biology, and mapping to aid decisions on environmental and public safety issues. At USGS’s National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Medrano supports two principal investigators working on the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework. This decision-making tool helps resource managers develop informed strategies for responding to ecological transformations within landscapes caused by climate change.

Melanie Medrano (center) with her mentors Abby Lynch (left) and Jackson Valler (right) at the Reston office. Photo provided

In her communications role, Medrano is helping expand the reach of the RAD framework beyond the USGS by supporting the launch of newsletters, producing case studies that highlight real-world applications of the RAD framework in different transforming landscapes, and interviewing scientists and managers who are implementing or researching RAD.

Although her internship, which started in February, is fully remote—which Medrano said aids in the balancing of her workload with coursework—she met the team in-person this past summer at the USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Medrano said her mentors have taught her a great deal about the importance of engaging in interagency conversations and how to communicate science in ways that are both clear and meaningful. Her experience with USGS has so far reinforced a key lesson: learning never stops.

One of the most significant takeaways, she noted, is the greater understanding of how science informs decision-making across various branches of the federal government, including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of War. Medrano’s work with the USGS, combined with her environmental studies, offers her a comprehensive view of what’s possible when classroom learning is applied to real-world challenges.

Medrano said Department of Environmental Science and Policy professor Younsung Kim played a central role in securing her internship, helping with the application process and facilitating communications between her and USGS.

“It was definitely an opportunity I couldn’t miss,” Medrano said. “Dr. Kim always pushes students to gain real-world experience. She would constantly share opportunities with us, and one of those opportunities was the USGS program.”

Just as impactful, she said, was the encouragement she received from a close friend and fellow George �鶹��Ƶ student already in the program. “She gave me the push I needed to apply,” Medrano said. “That kind of peer support reflects the culture at �鶹��Ƶ.”

A first-generation college student, Medrano chose to study at George �鶹��Ƶ because of its diversity and proximity to Washington, D.C. She is actively involved on campus, serving as the multimedia director of the Hispanic Latina Leadership Alliance, handling outreach to Hispanic students on campus.

She is also the social media director for the Sycamore Institute branch at George �鶹��Ƶ, the first undergraduate Think Tank run entirely by undergraduate students, focused on foreign policy and issues of international security.

When reflecting on her experience with USGS, the only regret Medrano has is the doubt she had for herself before applying to the internship. Her advice for others who are applying for internships is not to self-restrain based on the skills you feel you might be lacking.

“It’s important to network, especially with your professors,” Medrano said. “Let them know what you’re interested in, because you never know what opportunities might be out there.”

Medrano hopes to gain additional field experience and further her research before completing her undergraduate degree this fall. She is eager to continue her work within the federal government, with a particular interest in remaining with the USGS.

“I love what I do right now,” she said.

Since beginning her internship, Medrano has published member profiles for RADish and written a case study on applying the RAD framework to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

Explore Internships at George �鶹��Ƶ

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internships

Students

Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)

George �鶹��Ƶ faculty awarded 14 grants from 4-VA

Katarina Benson — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:32:04 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ faculty awarded 14 grants from 4-VA Katarina Benson Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:32

Faculty across �鶹��Ƶ are leading or participating in innovative new projects to further research and education this academic year, thanks to grants recently awarded by 4-VA, a statewide consortium of nine higher education institutions in Virginia.

“The core purpose of 4-VA is to improve efficiencies in higher education and launch novel research via collaborations that leverage the strengths of each university,” said Janette Muir, 4-VA @ �鶹��Ƶ campus coordinator and vice provost of academic affairs. “Through 4-VA, we encourage teamwork to bring great ideas to fruition.”

4-VA is funding four Collaborative Research Grants led by George �鶹��Ƶ faculty with partners from other institutions.

Younsung Kim in the College of Science (COS) received funding for a project titled “Designing Experiential Learning Modules for Stormwater Management and Climate Adaptation via Spatial Analysis Tools.” She is working with faculty at the University of Virginia (UVA) and Virginia Tech (VT).
Quentin Sanders of College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) is working on “Enhancing Daily Living Activities in Stroke Survivors Through Semi-Autonomous Hand Exoskeletons with Multi-Modal Sensing” with faculty at UVA.
Shaghayegh (Shay) Bagheri, also of CEC, is working on a project titled “Bio-Inspired Metamaterials: Design for Additive Manufacturing” with collaborators at VT and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Yanika Kowitlawakul of the College of Public Health received a grant for her project titled “Development and integration of Escape Room games to enhance undergraduate nursing students’ collaboration, problem-solving skills, and academic performance.” She is working with collaborators at UVA and VCU.

The following researchers have received 4-VA Complementary Grants to support projects managed at partner schools (listed in parentheses).

Silvia Danielak of the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is working on “Environmental peacebuilding as an approach for promoting just and sustainable data center governance in Virginia” (James Madison University [JMU]).
David Luther, COS, for “Sound Ecology: Acoustic Niche Partitioning and the effects of 17-year cicadas on avian communities across an urban gradient” (JMU).
Armita Kar, COS, for “Safe Streets: AI-Powered Digital Twin Framework for Enhancing Urban Pedestrian Safety” (VT).
Ziwei Zhu, CEC, for “Towards Fair Decision Systems: Augmenting LLMs with Causual Graph Discovery” (UVA).
Ethan Ahn, CEC, for “CMOS-CIM Collaboration on CMOS+Xarrays for Compute-in-Memory” (UVA).
Xijin “Emma” Zhang, CEC, for “Safety Machine Learning-Driven Bio-Upcycling of Waste Concrete into High-Value Materials” (VT).
Tamara A. Maddox, CEC, for “Designing a Classroom Platform for Accountable Use of Generative AI in Writing” (VT).
Gregory Stein, CEC, for “Leveraging Digital Twin Environments and AI-Embodied Reasoning Models for Human–Robot Collaboration in Construction Tasks” (VT).

Additionally, George �鶹��Ƶ faculty members were awarded grants to support course redesign and bring updated and relevant materials to students in a cost-efficient manner.

Tammy Stitz of University Libraries (assisted by George �鶹��Ƶ faculty James Baldo, Bernard Schmidt, and Susan Lawrence) is updating the course DAEN 690 Data Analytics Engineering.

Sara-Lynn Gopalkrishna of CEC is renovating the course CS 108 Introduction to Computer Programming.

Topics

4-VA at �鶹��Ƶ

College of Science

College of Engineering and Computing

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Research

From persistence to pandas: How one George �鶹��Ƶ alumna found her dream job

Colleen Rich — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:06:57 +0000

From persistence to pandas: How one George �鶹��Ƶ alumna found her dream job Colleen Rich Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:06

When Trish Jarvis, BS Biology ’10, tells people what she does for a living, their eyes usually light up. As an employee at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C., Jarvis has one of the most coveted—and adorable—jobs around: She’s a panda keeper.

Trish Jarvis (right) accompanying the crated pandas to their new home at the National Zoo. Photo by Rosh Patel/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Jarvis was on the zoo team in November 2023 that helped prepare the zoo’s giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji for their return to China. She was also on the flight in October 2024 that brought the panda pair, Qing Bao and Bao Li, to their new home in the United States.

“It’s literally everything career-wise you would want as a keeper—except maybe holding a panda baby,” Jarvis said. And yes, she’s done that too—holding baby Xiao Qi Ji during vet exams in 2020.

“If I hadn't already been totally into pandas that probably would've been the moment for me,” added Jarvis.

Pandas are her thing, but the journey to her dream job wasn’t an easy one. It took a lot of hard work and initiative. After graduating from �鶹��Ƶ in 2010, Jarvis accepted a job in government contracting and quickly realized it wasn’t for her. That revelation pushed her to volunteer at the National Zoo, where she took on internships working with red pandas and gorillas. “That’s when it all kind of fell into place for me,” she said.

Observing animals up close, designing enrichment activities for them, and managing their environments sparked something in Jarvis. She learned as much as she could about the field, made some connections, and asked professionals for advice.

Trish Jarvis works with a red panda named Asa. Photo by Mariel Lally/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

“And I got some really good advice,” she said. “I decided that I would volunteer and intern until I could apply for the job and be qualified for it. I wanted people to see that I put in the work, and that I'm good.”

In 2018, her persistence paid off, and she landed a two-year appointment at the National Zoo, where she assisted several units and got some quality time working with the giant pandas. At the end of her appointment, a panda keeper position opened up at Zoo Atlanta, and Jarvis was ready. In that position, she was able to further hone her skills. When the opportunity to return to the National Zoo team presented itself, however, she jumped at the chance. “This is home for me,” she said.

Jarvis lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Christopher Jarvis, BA Economics ’10, who she met at George �鶹��Ƶ in a classical music course, and their young daughter—also an animal lover.

Jarvis’s love for pandas is both professional and personal. She said saying goodbye to Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji was hard and bittersweet. “I knew them. I learned how to be a keeper with them,” she said. “It breaks your heart [to have to say goodbye], but if anyone was going to help make that transition easy for them, I’m glad I got to be part of the team to do it.

In her work, Jarvis also advocates for red pandas. She currently serves on the steering committee for Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE): Red Panda. One of the group’s projects involves testing canopy connectors at zoos to inform conservation efforts in red pandas’ native habitats like Nepal and Bhutan where deforestation is posing a threat. “It’s incredibly meaningful to see how our zoo-based work can help wild populations,” she said.

To students hoping to follow a similar path, Jarvis offers this advice: “Take every opportunity. Volunteer. Intern. Even if it’s not with your ‘dream’ animal, give it your all. If you stay committed, the dream job can come.”

Learn more about the Smithsonian �鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation

George �鶹��Ƶ pathways program introduces high schoolers to quantum

Katarina Benson — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:01:23 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ pathways program introduces high schoolers to quantum Katarina Benson Fri, 10/03/2025 - 15:01

Quantum science may operate at the tiniest scales of the universe, but its potential to reshape our world is anything but small. This summer, �鶹��Ƶ hosted the Pathways to Quantum Immersion Program, preparing high school students for careers in the rapidly emerging field of quantum science.

The program welcomed rising seniors from across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and Virginia for an immersive, two-part experience consisting of a two-week virtual course covering the fundamentals of quantum science, followed by an in-person week centered at the George �鶹��Ƶ Fairfax Campus. During the in-person experience students engaged with hands-on learning and saw how quantum concepts are already shaping the world around them. They also visited leading institutions in research, technology, and policy.

Program leads Nancy Holincheck and Jessica Rosenberg. Photo by Zander Leon/College of Science

“Before this experience, I always associated 'quantum' with quantum physics,” said participant Benjamin Fu. “But I’ve learned that quantum technologies power many of the applications and systems we rely on every day.”

The program is led by Jessica Rosenberg, professor of Physics and Astronomy and director of education at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center, and Nancy Holincheck, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development and associate director of the Center for Social Equity Through Science Education.

"We want to give the students a feel for why it is interesting and important so that they consider taking that next step in a field that can be challenging," said Rosenberg. "If we can get these students interested, there will be plenty of time for them to dive into the math and other details that you need to really pursue the field. We also make sure to introduce them to a lot of people with a lot of different backgrounds and experiences to show them the variety of ways they can engage with and make an impact in the field."

Both Rosenberg and Holincheck guided students this summer through interactive sessions and field experiences, with many participants citing the visits as a highlight of their experience. For Fu, the visit to the MITRE Corporation, an organization that manages federally funded research and development, left a lasting impression.

“I met so many working professionals, and I admire their curiosity and how well they communicate their expertise,” he said. “They have to work closely with government agencies and serve as a bridge between academic research and real-world policy, and I could definitely see myself doing something like that in the future.”

2025 Quantum Pathways Program participants. Photo by Zander Leon/College of Science

Fellow participant Laura De also liked visiting MITRE. “I’m interested in industry-based applications of quantum and so seeing how people in the workforce implement the technologies, outside of academia, was the coolest thing. I think seeing that helped me envision doing that in the future.”

Participant Colette Cookson described the visit to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as the highlight of the program, where she witnessed aerospace engineering in action and saw the massive machinery used in final-stage rocket testing. The students were shown how the facility uses vibration, sound, and extreme temperatures to ensure a rocket is sound before sending it to space. “I didn’t realize how many people were involved in making a single launch possible and that each step had its own specialist come in to do their part. There’s a lot of collaboration and interdisciplinary work,” she said.

Rosenberg and Holincheck also took participants through George �鶹��Ƶ’s labs and let them see some of the work being done by current George �鶹��Ƶ students.

Participant Horayn Gibson uses a handheld spectrometer to look at the different light waves that make up helium. Photo by Kimberly Cruz-Cruz

“I had no idea George �鶹��Ƶ had so many resources or was investing this much in STEM,” said Cookson. “Every lab we visited was amazing, and it was cool to hear the postdocs talk about their research. One was working on something they said they hoped could cure cancer.”

For Avanthika Thodupunuri, the most exciting part was meeting current George �鶹��Ƶ students whose research connected with her own interests. “I want to know how quantum can be applied to the stock market, and one student was working on a physics-based study in that area,” she said. “This program was incredible. I was surrounded by people who were not only incredibly smart, but also genuinely curious, asking thoughtful questions and interested in the subject.”

The Quantum Pathways Immersion program is part of QSEC’s K12 Quantum Workforce Development Project, which was funded by an appropriation sponsored by former U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton and aims to inspire the next generation of students to pursue the field while simultaneously preparing a diverse quantum workforce in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region.

“As the next generation, I think everyone is going to want to at least have some basic understanding [of quantum], and this program definitely gives you a head start on it,” said Thodupunuri.

Discover the Quantum Science and Engineering Center

Four George �鶹��Ƶ faculty members inducted into the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine

Katarina Benson — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:39:19 +0000

Four George �鶹��Ƶ faculty members inducted into the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Katarina Benson Fri, 10/03/2025 - 11:39

Four �鶹��Ƶ faculty members have been elected to the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) and were recognized at the 2025 VASEM’s annual summit held at the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, Virginia.

Since 1863, the National Academies have tapped the expertise of the country’s most accomplished and innovative leaders in science, engineering, and medicine, and tasked them with providing nonpartisan, objective guidance to decision-makers across the nation.

In 2013, with the support of Senator Mark Warner, National Academy members and other key individuals from Virginia formed a similar group to serve the commonwealth by providing nonpartisan, objective guidance to decision-makers in Virginia. According to its website, the VASEM is charged with informing and educating the state’s executive branch agencies, as well as its residents, on issues related to policy, the economy, and quality of life. The organization also promotes research, the application of knowledge, and engagement of future generations.

The 2025 elected class includes two College of Science professors and two College of Engineering and Computing professors.

Missy Cummings. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Missy Cummings

Professor, College of Engineering and Computing, Director of the Responsible AI Program and �鶹��Ƶ Autonomy and Robotics Center

Cummings’ research interests include the application of artificial intelligence to safety-critical systems, assured autonomy, human-systems engineering, and the ethical and social impact of technology. She holds faculty appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. A naval officer and military pilot from 1988 to 1999, she was one of the U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and recently served as the senior safety advisor to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Lance Liotta. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Lance Liotta, MD

Distinguished University Professor, College of Science, School of Systems Biology

Prior to joining George �鶹��Ƶ in 2005 as the codirector of the Center For Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, Liotta served in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute as chief of the Laboratory of Pathology, chief of the Section of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, and NIH deputy director of intramural research. As a highly cited ISI investigator, he is recognized internationally for his pioneering work in the molecular mechanisms of cancer invasion and metastasis, and as an inventor of medical research analytical tools in the fields of laser microdissection, proteomics, biomarker discovery, and personalized therapy. He received the NIH PHS Distinguished Service Award and Commendation Medal, and the U.S. Surgeons General Medallion. He received the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Outstanding Faculty Award in 2015, the George �鶹��Ƶ Dean’s Challenge Award in 2021, and George �鶹��Ƶ’s Lifetime Innovation Award in 2023. He is a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering.

Elise Miller-Hooks. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Elise Miller-Hooks

Professor, College of Engineering and Computing, Bill and Eleanor Hazel Endowed Chair in Infrastructure Engineering, Chair of the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering

Miller-Hooks was a program director at the National Science Foundation and is a former faculty member at the University of Maryland, Pennsylvania State University, and Duke University. Her research applies operations research concepts to transportation and infrastructure, with emphasis on disaster protection and resilience. Miller-Hooks served on the U.S. Congress-initiated Transportation Resilience Metrics Committee for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and as chair for the 2023 Roundtable on Transport System Resilience at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s International Transport Forum. She is founding editor-in-chief of Sustainability Analytics and Modeling and has advised the World Bank.

Jagadish Shukla. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Office of University Branding

Jagadish Shukla

Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, College of Science, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Science

During his time at George �鶹��Ƶ, Shukla founded the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Science and the Climate Dynamics Doctoral Program. His research on monsoons, deforestation, and climate predictability led to the concept of predictability in the midst of chaos, and he contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Shukla has authored more than 250 scientific papers and received honors including India’s Padma Shri Award, the Walker Gold Medal, NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal of the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS), the Rossby Medal, and the International Meteorological Prize. He serves as a fellow of the IMS and an associate fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and the Indian Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. Shukla and his wife, Anastasia, founded Gandhi Degree College in his home village in India to empower rural students, especially women, through education.

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