The MIX

This student is tasting start-up success with a meal delivery service for seniors

Sarah Holland — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:33:08 +0000

This student is tasting start-up success with a meal delivery service for seniors Sarah Holland Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:33

Starting a business is a delicate task. Even if you get the measurements just right, without a dash of innovation, a sprinkle of luck, and a heaping spoonful of courage, it’s likely to go straight from the oven to the bin.

Zachary Suh prepares food in the College of Public Health's Nutrition Kitchen. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Zachary Suh, however, is mastering the recipe.

Suh, a marketing major in the Costello College of Business and member of the Honors College at �鶹��Ƶ, founded HomePlate, formerly Elderly Eats, in his sophomore year. It’s a meal service for seniors that provides medically thoughtful and culturally relevant meals made fresh and delivered right to their doorstep.

The idea first took root during COVID-19 lockdowns, when Suh’s grandmother moved in with the family as her Alzheimer’s reached late-stage. “My mom, who is a George �鶹��Ƶ professor, became her full-time caregiver,” he said. "Caregiving takes a huge physical and emotional toll. I wanted to help her in any way I could.”

Leaning into his love for cooking, Suh took over making all the meals for his family: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He discovered that his grandmother was most interested in Korean food. “Even with her cognitive decline, you could tell she enjoyed those meals much more,” he said.

This discovery led him to another: a major gap in senior food delivery. “At one point, we looked into meal service for seniors, but we couldn’t find anything that did culturally relevant meals,” he said.

Suh is familiar with start-ups: his older brother, Jeremy Suh, founded an AI company while in college. “He’s a big inspiration for me, very much my mentor,” Suh said. “We talked about this idea for a food delivery service, about how I could bring this onto a larger scale.”

And from those conversations, Suh was encouraged to apply for the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition, hosted by Costello College of Business. HomePlate won first place in the General Entrepreneurship Track and was selected as a �鶹��Ƶ’s Choice Award Prize winner, earning Suh $7,000 to start turning his idea into reality.

“From the very outset, what impressed me most about Zach was his unwavering commitment to helping caregivers and seniors by providing them with nutritious, culturally relevant meals that could be consumed at home,” said Jerry Pierce, MBA ’92, a retired KPMG partner and professor of accounting at Costello. “His passion for helping others is always on full display and was a big reason the audience selected him for the �鶹��Ƶ’s Choice Award.”

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Previously, HomePlate provided meal plans with an in-house demonstration of meal prep. Now, they’re transitioning to a fresh meal delivery service. Suh works with a registered dietician to craft meals that meet the variety of dietary and health needs of senior populations, such as diabetic restrictions, sodium control, low cholesterol, and general wellness. During the pilot program in March, HomePlate focused on Korean meals with hopes to expand to other cuisines in late 2026.

For Suh, now a junior at George �鶹��Ƶ, this shift lets him get back to doing what he loves: cooking. He is making all the meals from scratch in partnership with Kitchen of Purpose in Arlington. “You’ll see me at every stage,” he said. “In the grocery store, in the kitchen, delivering the meals, and then taking the trash out after.”

Being both a student and a business owner is certainly a balancing act. Suh said that it wouldn't be possible without the phenomenal support from George �鶹��Ƶ. Costello’s Office of Career Services and Jeremy Plotnick, director of minor programs for Costello, have been key supporters. Plotnick mentored Suh and helped him register his work on the business as an internship, allowing him to prepare for the relaunch while earning academic credit toward his degree. Working in the MIX incubator connected him to student and alumni entrepreneurs. Professors have offered advice. Even while studying abroad at �鶹��Ƶ Korea, he was able to network and pitch his business through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as well as attend a one-week accelerator program in Australia.

“I don’t think you get this level of care and mentorship at other universities,” Suh said. “Being a George �鶹��Ƶ student gives you access to this unparalleled network of professionals who have so much knowledge."

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Inside George �鶹��Ƶ’s first VR art classroom, students build new worlds

Shayla Brown — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:38:20 +0000

Inside George �鶹��Ƶ’s first VR art classroom, students build new worlds Shayla Brown Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:38

When students step into AVT 496 Intro to VR for the Artist, they're not just walking into another studio course—they're entering entirely new worlds of their own making. �鶹��Ƶ's School of Art launched the course this spring, marking its first-ever deep dive into virtual reality (VR) as an artistic medium.

AVT 496 student presents their virtual reality world. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

Taught by John von Bergen, assistant professor of sculpture and expanded fields, the class meets inside the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX) and previously held workshops in the visualization and virtual reality lab in Research Hall. For many students, it's their first time creating art in a fully immersive digital space.

Von Bergen designed the course to give artists hands-on experience with emerging tools shaping the future of digital art. His students primarily use Open Brush, a VR painting program that lets them draw, sculpt, and animate in 3D space using a wide range of virtual brushes.

"I imagine that there will be way more job opportunities for students who have the diverse skillset that relates to new media and potentially digital art fabrication," von Bergen said. "Exploring these tools in class helps students see what's possible."

There are 16 students in the course, which builds on the work students completed in his fall Aesthetics class, AVT 307. Five students from AVT 307 volunteered to create a pilot VR project titled "The Real Reality," now displayed in video form on the Digital Wall at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square.

Digital Wall at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

The project showcases the students' first experiments with Open Brush—floating landscapes, glowing brushstrokes, and imaginative environments that stretch beyond the limits of traditional studio materials.

For sophomore art and visual technology major Ash Porrata, the course has been transformative. "This course experience has not only made me a better artist, but a better team member," she said. "It was really a group effort making something of this scale. We had to communicate constantly and work with Fuse faculty to keep everything on track."

Porrata, who hopes to become an animation director, said the VR tools opened up new creative possibilities. "Having access to the virtual world and virtual art is really inspiring. Getting to explore another side of visual art will be so helpful in the job market."

Junior transfer student �鶹��Ƶ Caporuscio came into the course with no VR experience at all. By the end of the semester, he had built an entire virtual kitchen scene—complete with a fruit basket, a loaf of bread, a bar stool, and a wine glass.

"We each built our own world on the headsets, and the video just rotates through them, kind of like musical chairs," he said. "There was so much variety."

�鶹��Ƶ Caporuscio presents his virtual reality world. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

Other students created fantasy forests, amusement park inspired spaces, and surreal environments that could only exist in VR.

Behind the scenes, the course has been supported by several George �鶹��Ƶ partners. The Department of Computer Science provided much of the equipment, with faculty member Craig Yu offering guidance. MIX makerspace manager Max Kazemzadeh helped the class set up its own VR lab inside the MIX. Additional funding came from the School of Art, the Research and Teaching Support Fund, and the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research. The course will be offered again in Spring 2027.

"There are a lot of technical aspects that aren't typical for a sculpture class," von Bergen said. "Building good relationships with other colleges has been instrumental."

Learn about George �鶹��Ƶ's Grand Challenge Initiative

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The MIX: Where George �鶹��Ƶ students turn ideas into impact

ckearney — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:41:10 +0000

The MIX: Where George �鶹��Ƶ students turn ideas into impact ckearney Mon, 01/05/2026 - 13:41

At �鶹��Ƶ, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a culture. One of the campus spaces championing this culture is the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), a hub where creativity and entrepreneurship intersect.

Computer science student Jagan Yekturi (left) took third place in the student track at the annual Accelerate Investor Conference. Photo provided

MIX programs, such as the MIX Incubator, the Student Innovators Launchpad, and featured programs working with drones, robotics, and other technologies, help George �鶹��Ƶ students transform their bold ideas into real-world solutions with guidance from experienced mentors, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities.

In November 2025, George �鶹��Ƶ student innovators made waves at the annual Accelerate Investor Conference, a two-day event held at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington, which brought together investors, founders, and thought leaders. Among 50 start-ups and more than 20 student teams, four teams from the MIX Incubator and its Student Innovator Launchpad program—AccelP3 (bioinformatics and computational biology PhD students Morolake Okanlawon, Yingjie Zhang, and Hsuan Chih Kuo), Aniwear (mechanical engineering student Josh Peterson), Anvil Labs LLC. (electrical engineering students Justin Luckenbach and Chelsea Camacho-Zambrana), and EduVerse (computer science student Jagan Yekturi)—had the opportunity to pitch their ideas in the student track. These teams showcased cutting-edge solutions, from bioinformatics tools to heating and cooling wearable tech.

Yekturi’s EduVerse, earned third place and an $1,000 prize for its platform connecting students and recruiters. “The MIX Incubator strengthened my ability to define a clear Ideal Customer Profile and align my solution directly with customer pain points,” Yekturi said. “The feedback and support accelerated my learning far beyond what I expected.”

“The biggest benefit for us was getting a chance to network with people in our industry who could help us take our business to the next step,” said Luckenbach, co-founder of Anvil Labs LLC.

Doctoral student Morolake Okanlawon (with microphone) presents on behalf of the AccelP3 team at Accelerate Investors Conference. Photo provided

The MIX experience goes beyond competition. Through integration with the National Science Foundation I-Corps program, students gain exposure to lean start-up principles, customer discovery, and commercialization strategies—all essential for scaling a business.

Gisele Stolz, senior director of Entrepreneurship Programs and director and co-PI of George �鶹��Ƶ’s I-Corps Program; Sampson Addo, program manager of the I-Corps Program; and Minjin Batzorig, the MIX’s program and operations coordinator, manage and provide support for these programs. Mentors like George Siragusa of the Virginia Small Business Development Centers, Adam Phillips of AthletesInnovate, and Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program mentors Elizabeth Pyle and William McPheat provided invaluable guidance throughout the journey.

The MIX Student Innovators Launchpad is designed to help junior and senior undergraduate, masters, and PhD students transform ideas rooted in tech and deep-science research into viable businesses. Participants learn about customer discovery, market evaluation, and commercialization strategies, emphasized through integration with the NSF I-Corps program. The program culminates in a showcase where students pitch to a panel of investors, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs, making the Accelerate Conference a natural extension of their entrepreneurial journey.

Doctoral student Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan took first place for breast cancer screening technology at the Pitch Enterpreneur competition in November. Photo provided

The MIX Launchpad concluded in November with a Pitch Entrepreneur Competition, where AeroHealth, led by civil and infrastructure engineering PhD candidate Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan, won first place for her innovative approach to breast cancer screening.

“The MIX Pitch Entrepreneur Competition showed me that success comes from stepping out of comfort, embracing challenge, and growing through failure,” Shan said.

Looking ahead, the MIX Student Innovators Launchpad is recruiting for its Spring 2026 cohort. Applications are open until mid-January, and accepted teams will kick off on February 6. This program prepares students for opportunities like Patriot Pitch and other funding opportunities. Interested? Apply here.

To learn more about entrepreneurship opportunities at George �鶹��Ƶ, contact Batzorig at mbatzor@gmu.edu.

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The MIX unlocks innovation in teaching and research

ckearney — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:18:33 +0000

The MIX unlocks innovation in teaching and research ckearney Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:18

The �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX) at �鶹��Ƶ is more than a makerspace—it’s a resource for transforming how faculty teach, explore, and conduct research.

MIX staff provides training on all the equipment available at the MIX. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Located on the first floor of Horizon Hall, the MIX is university-wide hub for innovation where faculty across the disciplines can enhance their curriculum, experiment with new technologies, and bring research ideas to life. Whether integrating hands-on prototyping into courses, designing a new research project, or exploring creative approaches to student engagement, the MIX and its team of experts provides the space, tools, and support to bring faculty ideas to fruition.

The MIX is quickly becoming a central hub where teaching, research, and entrepreneurship converge. With nearly 20,000 visitors each year and a dedicated team of 12 to 15 staff members, the MIX ensures that faculty receive the support they need to innovate in both teaching and research.

Building on this foundation, faculty are increasingly using the MIX as both a classroom extension and a research partner. The space is designed to support teaching in ways that go beyond lectures and slides, offering students direct experience with the design process, technical systems, and collaborative project work.

Students from the Aspiring Inventors Club work with George �鶹��Ƶ researcher Lance Liotta (in blue) on a project at the MIX. Photo provided

Faculty report that when they bring their courses into the MIX, students leave with more than theory—they leave with portfolios that include prototypes, digital media, research outputs, and even digital badges in emerging technologies. These tangible outcomes make George �鶹��Ƶ students more competitive when applying for jobs, internships, and graduate programs.

“The MIX gives faculty a place to extend their courses beyond the classroom and into a space where students can design, prototype, and test ideas in real time,” said Max Kazemzadeh, MIX manager and events coordinator. “The collaborative environment also fosters interdisciplinary connections—engineering students working alongside artists, or business students working with scientists—which mirrors the kind of teamwork graduates will encounter in the professional world.”

The value of space extends to creative work as well. School of Art faculty have used its facilities to collect experimental data, test new ideas, and fabricate art work. For example, Edgar Endress used the computer numerical control router to build a sculpture featured in the 2025 Arts in Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Biennial, while Sue Wrbican leveraged fabrication tools to expand her work in digital photography.

For some faculty, the partnership has been transformative.

“Collaborating with the MIX has been an essential opportunity to develop projects with our students that can grow to the next level,” School of Arts professor John von Bergen said.

As for students, the MIX and its staff assisted with class projects through their wide range of equipment, accompanied by easy-to-follow training. “The MIX helped me stay ahead of trends and technology,” said Audrey Kim, who graduated with a BFA in graphic design in May. “Although it's a learning curve, it’s worth conquering since these machines can be found in many other industries and having experience with them opens so many doors to new opportunities.”

Kim also appreciated how friendly and knowledgeable the MIX staff are. “When it comes to training or problem solving, it’s a team effort to make sure what you're working on meets your expectations.”

The staff provide hands-on workshops, safety training, and one-on-one consultations so faculty and their students can confidently work with the available 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, sewing machines, electronics workstations, and augmented and virtual reality equipment.

“Looking forward, we see the MIX enabling more cross-departmental collaborations, expanding opportunities for student research participation, and shaping innovative course design,” said Kazemzadeh.

He said that the MIX staff are eager to partner on curriculum design, research prototypes, and interdisciplinary projects. Representatives can visit departments, consult on course planning, or co-host workshops and events. To explore how the MIX can enhance teaching or research, contact Gisele Stoltz, senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation.

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A one-woman team puts many eyes in the skies

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:37:27 +0000

A one-woman team puts many eyes in the skies Nathan Kahl Wed, 10/01/2025 - 15:37

Fatima Majid, a �鶹��Ƶ senior majoring in cyber security engineering, was not just the only one-person team in the top 10 award winners at a recent National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) cyber competition, she was the only student team. Majid placed ninth out of 51 teams, most of them comprising industry experts.

“I went in, and they were all professional teams, like from Lockheed Martin. I thought, ‘I want to go home,’” said Majid with a laugh, describing her initial cold feet. “But I told myself I could do it. It helped that it was hosted at George �鶹��Ƶ, and I had professors there giving me support.”

Her project focused on how the Department of Defense (DoD) can protect critical U.S. infrastructure against low-cost drone attacks at scale, informed by Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb,” which used 117 drones to attack Russian air bases in June 2025.

Majid spent the summer in Richmond during a public policy internship. Photo provided

Majid’s lightbulb moment came with a flash as bright as a Virginia speed camera catching a lead-footed driver. Considering the significant network of traffic cameras in the commonwealth, she conceived SkyEyes. This applies an artificial intelligence (AI) model to the live feed of the Virginia 511 camera network, which provides real-time traffic information to citizens and transportation officials. SkyEyes demonstrated how a low-cost, AI-enabled surveillance layer could differentiate threats from non-threats, employing geofencing logic to define safe versus threat zones around sensitive sites.

“I understand how drones work because of what I’ve done at George �鶹��Ƶ’s MIX lab—and since I know how to build it, I also know how to jam it. I trained the AI model on a data set provided from a contest sponsor, and that data set had drone imaging and drone prototyping,” she said. “The camera feeds can find objects flying, but what if it’s an Amazon drone, for example? Then I added geofencing and threat analysis to observe the behavior of the drone—if it's a drone at 2 a.m., for example, maybe that's sketchy. So, the model gets smarter.”

Majid said that to access the cameras, all she had to do was make a phone call to the right person and explain her project. She cited time spent this summer at the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in the Undergraduate Policy Program (VASEM UPP) in Richmond as giving her confidence and exposure to how government works.

K. L. Akerlof, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at George �鶹��Ƶ, said, “The VASEM UPP is a unique opportunity for undergraduates to learn about opportunities in science policy at the state level. The immersive experience of spending a week in Richmond visiting the General Assembly and state agencies, while getting a crash course in how research evidence relates to public policy, can open new doors and career pathways.”

Majid said the strong showing gave her tremendous exposure to influential professional contacts. She fielded several questions about her simulation and future professional plans from a man she only later realized was Retired Brigadier General and NDIA Executive Vice President Guy Walsh.

“Because he showed interest, after he walked away, a crowd of people gathered around to ask me questions. It was very validating.”

She also had a long conversation about her project with Harley Stout, acting chief digital and AI officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Majid is still pleasantly shocked by her top-10 finish. She is working with Mohamed Gebril, an associate professor in Cyber Security Engineering, on expanding the research. She is confident that such a cost-efficient solution for critical infrastructure protection against drone attacks will attract more funding opportunities.

She credited the supportive culture at �鶹��Ƶ—and her family—for keeping her grounded and encouraging her throughout, saying their support made the accomplishment even more meaningful.

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s new visualization and virtual reality lab is changing how research is conducted

ckearney — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 18:35:42 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s new visualization and virtual reality lab is changing how research is conducted ckearney Wed, 02/05/2025 - 13:35

The oft-heard phrase “you had to be there” could disappear as the growth of virtual reality (VR) allows individuals to experience the world without ever leaving home. While the pandemic ushered in the era of Zoom classes and meetings—providing the opportunity to participate in classes or meetings with others in different locations—it is VR that creates tangible experiences where people in the same room or thousands of miles away can successfully collaborate.

George �鶹��Ƶ graduate student works with the virtual construction site in the Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab in Research Hall. Photo provided

With the opening of the new Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab in Research Hall—hosted by the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX) and made possible with funds from the Tech Talent Investment Program—�鶹��Ƶ has the opportunity to be part of this global movement and to be a leader in transdisciplinary research.

A ‘Cradle’ for Collaboration

The highly anticipated lab, which has been years in the making and serves as the hub of data analysis, visualization, and technology-enabled pedagogy for the university, provides countless opportunities for faculty to combine and advance their interests in new ways. It is also the ideal space to hold demonstrations for sponsoring agencies and partners.

Craig Yu, associate professor of Department of Computer Science, sees the lab as a “cradle for setting up interdisciplinary collaborations” that he believes will enhance the research synergy at George �鶹��Ƶ. His current work on a simulated construction site set in the future has brought together researchers from the College of Education and Human Development and the College of Engineering and Computing.

In the lab, users have access to five virtual reality pods within two rooms. The smaller of the rooms has two display screens that connect with high-quality headsets, while the larger room has a 24-foot-long, 9-foot-tall screen that is touch activated—allowing users to manipulate and move data.

Once users are inside this VR or augmented reality (AR), they can experience their surroundings and even “feel objects and be part of accidents or disasters without experiencing pain,” Yu said.

Visualizing and Communicating Complex Ideas

Visitors to the Visualization and VR Lab use the VR pods. Photo provided

The lab is also ideal for capturing complex ideas that are difficult to understand if one doesn’t visualize them, Yu said.

In Yu’s simulated construction site, performances are tracked and replayed, allowing researchers to see exactly how people work together and respond to situations. Researchers then analyze user performance using scientific metrics, which can help individuals improve over time through repeated exercises.

“Training through VR/AR is helpful to conduct experiments because we can track performance through state-of-the-art technology and give feedback,” said Yu. “These experiments not only enhance user performance, they can also validate if investments [in training] are effective.”

A major component of George �鶹��Ƶ researcher Dave Lattanzi’s research involves the generation and analysis of complex, large-scale 3D virtual model data, which he said is difficult to visualize and communicate.

It requires specialized computing and graphics technologies that are challenging to operate on typical computer hardware, making visualization “fundamental to navigating and assessing 3D data,” said Lattanzi, an associate professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering.

The lab will support communications across project teams like Lattanzi’s by providing a shared space for visualization, as well as providing a place for teams to demonstrate their capabilities or findings to sponsoring agencies and university partners, which can lead to additional collaborations and funding opportunities.

VR and Training

Computer science PhD student Liuchuan Yu, a self-described VR/AR addict who is part of the team working on the simulated construction site project, sees creating simulations as a cost-effective and safe way to train individuals in a variety of jobs.

“I am very glad to have this opportunity because it is giving me the necessary experience to create training applications using VR,” he said. “Real-world training is expensive while VR is technically low-cost. Simulations also allow total control of the environment, which is much safer. But they do create awareness and [generate] real responses from the users.”

While use of the lab is restricted to faculty during the 2024-25 academic year, administrators are already thinking about how to incorporate student instruction and student access to modern geospatial technology applications that are difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate in a traditional classroom environment. Eventually students with ideas for new technologies, applications, or products will be able to use the lab to work on their own projects.

The lab, located in Research Hall, Room 369, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reserved through 25 Live. All faculty are welcome to reserve and use the lab for research purposes, but must receive training prior to lab use. Contact MIX manager Max Kazemzadeh at mkazemza@gmu.edu, MIX operations coordinator Minjin Batzorig at mbatzor@gmu.edu, or visit the MIX website for more information.

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Blimps and business collide at the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange

Sarah Holland — Fri, 24 May 2024 15:01:55 +0000

Blimps and business collide at the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange Sarah Holland Fri, 05/24/2024 - 11:01

Building a drone and building a business are, at first glance, two very different tasks. Academically, you’d be hard pressed to find a robotics course in a business school, and vice versa. But at the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), all that separates these two is a staircase.

From the fabrication floor to the incubator’s loft, the MIX is demonstrating how principles of entrepreneurship and innovation aren’t so easily siloed with two new courses: BLIMP and Student Innovator Mastermind.

The MIX BLIMP workshop was an outgrowth of an Office of Naval Research-funded Bio-inspired Lighter-than-air Instructional Mechatronics Program, developed to expand unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—or drone—education, with a desire to build a pipeline for students to participate in the biannual Defend the Republic lighter-than-air robotics competition. In this course, students learn introductory concepts of UAVs and, within small interdisciplinary groups, build their own blimps with flapping wing mechanisms.

Daigo Shishika helps students flight test their blimps in the �鶹��Ƶ Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC). Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“We use organic life as the inspiration for these builds,” said instructor Daigo Shishika, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Students study the biomechanics of fish, insects, and birds, and then use those principles of flight and motion to create their own blimps.”

Each group learns how to build, program, and control flying robots. Using balloons made of mylar films, the students construct the blimp bodies and mount the electronic components—circuitry, motors, and microcontrollers—while ensuring that the blimp is well balanced.

At the end of the course, groups present their design and describe what creatures inspired their works: butterflies, stingrays, tuna, and even dragons were referenced when building.

“This process is meant to be exploratory,” explained Shishika. “I didn’t want to discourage the groups from trying out-of-the-box ideas. The dragon, for example: I wasn’t confident it would work. But they proved me wrong, and demonstrated some technical benefits of that type of wing.”

“As much as we’re teaching them the basics,” Shishika continued, “they’re teaching us new ways of thinking about design and fabrication.”

Along with the microcredential the students earn upon completion of the course, Shishika hopes they leave with a better sense of creative design and confidence in their ability to design, develop, and deploy robotics.

“It’s fun to build something from scratch and see it fly,” he said.

BLIMP flight testing in the MARC aviary. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Student Innovator Mastermind course uses a similar approach: building foundations while allowing space for creativity and innovation. George �鶹��Ƶ alum Lisa Shapiro, BA Psychology ’03, Med ’06, is a seasoned business owner and entrepreneur. When she started at �鶹��Ƶ as the MIX’s assistant director of entrepreneurship programs, the entrepreneurship incubator on the MIX’s second floor was empty.

“I wanted to reinvigorate the space and provide student innovators with a place to share ideas, develop their businesses, and form a community with other entrepreneurs,” she said.

The Student Innovator Mastermind program is a six-week mastermind group where 10 �鶹��Ƶ student innovators and business founders gather for peer-to-peer collaboration and workshops. The inaugural mastermind cohort included students developing video games, a skincare line, mobile applications, and a business that supports the elderly population with nutritional needs—which was one of the finalists in the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition.

A key part of the programming was what Shapiro calls “transformational talks”: presentations from industry professionals that the students can immediately apply to their work. Speakers cover topics such as mindset, marketing and branding, goal setting, customer segment, and advice for business ownership.

“Being able to take what they’ve learned and immediately apply it is super important,” said Shapiro. “Entrepreneurship is super hard. You need the right mindset to be able to handle the ups and downs. I want to get them started off in the right way so they’re better prepared.”

The incubator is also a space for the students to learn from each other. Sharing ideas and challenges is, Shapiro said, a necessary part of the process. “We’ve had a phenomenal response from the students,” she said. “They’re helping each other, recommending professors and other people to meet that could help with their ideas.”

Honors College student Sahil Jagtap, who is majoring in computer science, participated in the Mastermind and the drone-prototyping programs this semester. “I have a passion for building, making, and breaking stuff. I love doing research on new and unique technologies and their potential to solve real-world problems,” he said.

The course offerings at the MIX were an opportunity for Jagtap to get hands-on experience in developing and launching tech-based solutions. “The skills I acquired from both programs, such as project management, teamwork, and technical expertise, are invaluable,” he said. “In addition, the mentorship and networking opportunities have connected me with industry professionals and potential collaborators, which will be beneficial as I continue my career in technology and entrepreneurship.”

Most of all, Shapiro and Shishika both hope that this type of programming keeps students coming back to the MIX.

“Now that they’ve had a taste of the full process,” Shishika said, “they can focus on the aspect they enjoyed the most and dig deeper, whether that’s robotics, electronics, fabrication, or something else.”

“The MIX is a space for prototyping,” Shapiro said. “It’s a place for anyone with an idea to come and try to make it a reality.”

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Create and innovate at The MIX

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Opportunity Starts Here, Partnerships Grow Here

ckearney — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:54:09 +0000

Opportunity Starts Here, Partnerships Grow Here ckearney Fri, 04/12/2024 - 10:54

When Shrishti Singh, PhD Bioengineering ’22, came to �鶹��Ƶ for her doctoral studies, she had a goal in mind: developing a new technology that would allow the visualization of cancer in deep tissue and perhaps enable earlier diagnoses.

Entrepreneur Shristi Singh in her lab on �鶹��Ƶ's Science and Technology Campus.

Read more about Singh's research. >>

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Using a combination of FDA-approved dyes and photoacoustic imaging, Singh created an injectable dye that attaches to tumor cells and increases the contrast of those cells against the background tissue.

During her time at �鶹��Ƶ, Singh used all the tools the university provided to bring her discovery to the marketplace. In April 2023, Singh was on one of the 15 teams that competed for $40,000 in prizes at the Costello College of Business Patriot Pitch Competition. She took home first place and the �鶹��Ƶ’s Choice Award in the competition’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) track.

In November 2023, Singh was at �鶹��Ƶ Square pitching her technology at �鶹��Ƶ’s annual Accelerate Investor Conference, which attracts more than 400 entrepreneurs, investors, students, and members of the Washington, D.C., entrepreneurial ecosystem. She was also awarded $75,000 by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund.

Singh, now a postdoctoral fellow at �鶹��Ƶ, co-founded her company NIRView Biosciences with her bioengineering faculty mentors Remi Veneziano and Parag Chitnis. Singh and NIRView Biosciences have been designated a 2023 Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Success Story.

Growing Small Businesses

The Virginia SBDC, a part of �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise, is an organization of 25 offices across Virginia providing professional advising and resources to help businesses grow. Singh participated in its Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), a no-cost incubator that helps technology start-ups from ideation to initial funding and beyond.

NIRView Biosciences worked with ICAP’s life science business mentors over the course of a year to position their technology for successful commercialization, and in 2023 they were accepted into the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, which provides financial support and experiential education to help university researchers commercialize scientific discoveries.

Singh was one of 30,000 entrepreneurs who participated in a Virginia SBDC workshop, seminar, or training in 2023. Through its 16 programs, the Virginia SBDC helped 10,000 businesses, provided 40,000 hours of one-on-one counseling, offered 1,600 training programs, and incubated more than 550 companies with an impact of $3.36 billion. Of the businesses they served, 61 percent were woman- owned, 46 percent were minority-owned, and 15 percent were veteran-owned.

Paula Sorrell, associate vice president of innovation and economic development, leads �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise. This university-based economic development organization focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of Virginians on lab-to-market expansion of university research, new company creation, and small business expansion. Virginia Business magazine recently named Sorrell to its list of 100 Virginians to Meet in 2024: Innovators.

“�鶹��Ƶ has used its university position to develop a powerhouse of interwoven federal, state, and local programs,” says Sorrell. “But even more critical are the partnerships among the private and public organizations that help support and codevelop the programs and mentor innovators.”

Through a broad array of activities that include business counseling, workshops, training, and connections to �鶹��Ƶ assets—faculty research, classes, and potential interns—�鶹��Ƶ Enterprise strengthens the strategy development and operations of businesses, governments, and other institutions throughout Virginia and the region. The Virginia APEX Accelerator (DoD) helps small businesses compete for government contracts, which total more than $1.5 billion annually.

The Virginia SBDC is also part of the larger �鶹��Ƶ Virginia Promise, which offers a pathway to a bachelor’s degree or help starting a small business to any Virginian who wants one.

In 2023, �鶹��Ƶ also expanded its small business incubator programs to the Town of Herndon, with the aim of empowering more Northern Virginia businesses with high growth potential. Herndon becomes the fifth Northern Virginia locale to partner with �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise, joining Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier County, and Springfield.

And the Virginia SBDC is also going global. Its International Business Development Program was a stage one and a stage two winner in the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition from the U.S. Small Business Administration. It received $50,000 and then $150,000 to build strategic partnerships that will support the launch, growth, and scale of STEM and research and development-focused small businesses that target international markets.

Research Impacting Society

�鶹��Ƶ Enterprise operates two federal programs in support of all Virginia universities: the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, designed to guide researchers and students on the first steps toward commercializing a technical discovery, and the National Institutes of Health’s REACH program, which funds proof-of-concept research for promising biohealth technologies.

Sorrell and her team are also mentoring entrepreneurs through the annual Accelerate Investor Conference, which is an investor event and start-up business competition held at �鶹��Ƶ Square that showcases the mid-Atlantic region as a powerhouse for innovation and business opportunity.

The competition fuels innovation-based business growth by showcasing the best and brightest new tech start-ups to potential investors to foster their development within the region.

Among those angel investors and companies supplying prize money to Accelerate entrepreneurs was �鶹��Ƶ alum Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94. A leader in the government IT industry, Shrivastava recently launched the Shrivastava Family Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship (RISE) Program, which focuses on mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs from refugee and immigrant back-grounds. Nanomaterial research and development company NanoBioFAB received the Shrivastava Family RISE Program prize at last fall’s conference.

�鶹��Ƶ’s Costello College of Business Patriot Pitch Competition offers support and resources to student-led start-ups. Now in its 23rd year, the competition is open to all �鶹��Ƶ students and recent alumni and attracted 50 teams from across the university last year. Powering the success of the student and alumni pitch teams were more than a dozen mentors who are CEOs, consultants, entrepreneurs, start-up coaches, �鶹��Ƶ faculty, and alumni. By sharing their real-world experience in launching and managing start-ups, mentors were incredibly valuable to the teams.

The finalists, including Singh, pitched to judging panels of local business leaders whose professional experience included consulting, derivatives exchange, energy consulting, food technology, nonprofits, and venture capital.

The �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange, also known as the MIX, is also part of �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise and helps student entrepreneurs. With its makerspace and fabrication lab, a digital media lab, and a start-up incubator, the MIX offers creative thinkers everything from metal fabrication to business mentoring. It is open to all members of the �鶹��Ƶ community regardless of their major or affiliation. Currently, there are six student start-ups in the MIX’s incubator. Mentors meet individually with student entrepreneurs and provide a range of business advice.

In 2023, the Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) recognized Gisele Stolz, senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation programs at �鶹��Ƶ, with an Impact Award for her work with its cyber-security start-up internship program.

“From envisioning the internship program to building out the structure of the Commonwealth Cyber Incubator and Accelerator Program cohort programming, few people within the CCI network have had such a widespread impact as Gisele,” says Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement at �鶹��Ƶ and director of the CCI Northern Virginia Node.

Under Stolz’s stewardship, the internship program attracted more than 700 applicants, placing 83 �鶹��Ƶ undergraduates with more than 50 companies. Of the students placed, 73 percent received offers for follow-up positions with their host company, including full-time employment.

Beyond this internship program, the CCI Northern Virginia Node, led by �鶹��Ƶ and headquartered at �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington, supported experiential learning opportunities for more than 3,000 students, including more than 100 internships and apprenticeships in cybersecurity.

The MIX's makerspace enables �鶹��Ƶ students to create prototypes of their inventions. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Talent Development = Workforce Development

All these �鶹��Ƶ opportunities align with the university’s vision of graduating students who can power Northern Virginia’s economic engine and serve in areas of critical need, while also providing a pathway of opportunity to all Virginians.

“�鶹��Ƶ is committed to providing novel and varied experiential learning opportunities for our students, preparing our workforce for the future and readying them to compete on a global scale,” says Andre Marshall, vice president of research, innovation, and economic impact at �鶹��Ƶ.

The need for well-trained health professionals, across disciplines and among fields, is one of the most critical issues facing communities in Virginia and throughout the nation. The �鶹��Ƶ Center for the Health Workforce was established in 2022 to help address the shortage in Virginia. The center supports the development and delivery of public-private strategies to optimize physical and behavioral health career education and postgraduate skill training. It also serves as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, and planning and analysis for government agencies, academic entities, and professional organizations.

�鶹��Ƶ’s Center for Community Mental Health in Fairfax is unique in its dual function as both a working clinic and a training facility. Last year, the center helped train 77 undergraduates and 57 graduate students while providing more than 2,100 therapy sessions to the community.

In 2019, �鶹��Ƶ joined the commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP). The top TTIP goal is to build and sustain a diverse tech talent pathway, and �鶹��Ƶ, as the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, and the largest producer of technology talent among four-year institutions in the state, is poised to lead.

At that time, �鶹��Ƶ agreed to educate about 30 percent of the 25,000 additional graduates in tech fields over the next two decades to serve regional and state employers, including Amazon and its HQ2. �鶹��Ƶ continues to exceed its goals. In 2023, �鶹��Ƶ was 281 percent over its bachelor of science target and 192 percent over its master of science target in terms of graduating students in computing and computing-related majors.

�鶹��Ƶ is also working to add faculty members in computer science and related fields to teach and mentor these students. The College of Engineering and Computing will soon expand into Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square. The college is already working to build robust curricula for students in Arlington and provides ample opportunities to explore skills through research opportunities, state-of-the-art labs, hackathons and competitions, and student organizations.

Computer science student Quang Vo demonstrated virtual reality applications that will be part of the visualization labs at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

If You Build It…

From �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington to the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, �鶹��Ƶ is building a new economic corridor along Route 66 in Northern Virginia.

Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square, the university’s LEED Platinum building opening this summer, is a digital innovation center that will house research and development labs, corporate centers, incubators, accelerators, and convening spaces, alongside classrooms and retail spaces.

The SciTech Campus is home to the new outdoor Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory—or “body farm,” one of only eight in the country—and the Biomedical Research Lab, one of 12 biosafety level-3 labs in the nation.

New to this campus is the Nanofabrication Facility, which is the only cleanroom facility and resource of its kind for partners in Northern Virginia and offers hands-on nanofabrication workforce training in research applications that will accelerate the growth of high-tech companies.

“The most powerful asset we offer is opportunity,” says Marshall. “Only through providing opportunity can we educate, inspire, and equip the next generation of leaders to solve the grand challenges of our day.”

Jennifer Anzaldi, Sarah Holland, John Hollis, Katie Maney, and Ryley McGinnis contributed to this feature.

As Virginia's largest public research university, �鶹��Ƶ is an economic driver in the region and the state.

Learn more about Tech Talent at �鶹��Ƶ

In This Story

Drone masterclass helps students explore real-world problems for first responders

Sarah Holland — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:29:01 +0000

Drone masterclass helps students explore real-world problems for first responders Sarah Holland Mon, 12/04/2023 - 13:29

“Imagine a time when hearing the buzz of a drone is not a sound of fear, or annoyance, but instead a sound of hope,” said Dallia Laban, an electrical engineering major at �鶹��Ƶ.

Dallia Laban opens her group's presentation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/�鶹��Ƶ

Laban provided the opening to her team’s proposed drone innovation: a CPR drone they’ve named Skylife Support. This drone, they explained, could be deployed by first responders to reach patients and provide emergency CPR while an ambulance is enroute. After their four-minute presentation, a panel of judges asked them about growth projections and certification requirements. The audience applauded, the team returned to their seats, and the next team began their presentation on a drone system that could filter air to combat post-wildfire pollution.

Christopher Vo calls this a “Shark-Tank style pitch competition,” which closes out his Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping course. The Fall 2023 course marks the third successful semester of the course’s programming.

Vo is a two-time �鶹��Ƶ alum, receiving both his MS in Computer Science ’07 and PhD in Computer Science ’14. After graduating with his PhD, Vo co-founded Sentian Robotics and served as its chief scientist until earlier this year. Sentian Robotics develops novel drone technology, such as the Hive—a drone fleet aircraft carrier.

In addition to being an accomplished robotics scientist, Vo also has a passion for teaching. “I’ve always wanted to bring drones and other new technologies out of the labs and into the real world,” he said. This course allows him to get back into the classroom and bring his knowledge as a start-up owner and robotics professional to a new cohort of students each semester. This kind of partnership is a hallmark of �鶹��Ƶ’s entrepreneurial approach, which earned it the top ranking among public universities for research performance in entrepreneurship.

The masterclass, hosted by the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), is an eight-week program that meets every Thursday evening throughout October and November. Out of 300 applicants, only 30 students are selected to participate. They represent a wide range of degree programs and education levels, from first-semester freshmen in the Global Affairs Program to graduating PhDs in mechanical engineering. While the course is noncredit, students earn a microcredential upon completion.

Of course, the appeal of a course like this is in the drones. Building a drone and learning to pilot the drones is what inspires most students to apply. But Vo emphasizes that drone construction and piloting is only a small part of the overall course.

“The program is more about how you can use this technology in the real world, so the course is built around our students developing a solution to a real-world problem in first response and law enforcement using drone technology and pitching that solution to stakeholders.”

Students are put into teams based on their degree programs—Vo ensures an equal distribution of engineers and humanities students, as well as diversity of degree level amongst each team. While learning the technology and building a drone, teams must decide on a problem to tackle, theorize a solution, develop a prototype, and pitch their idea to stakeholders.

While learning the nuances of drone building and piloting, students heard from Steve Burmeister of �鶹��Ƶ’s Forensic Science Program on emergency preparedness, and Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon, the director of educational and career pathways in the College of Science, on microcredentialing.

A student shows his group's miniature prototype during their presentation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/�鶹��Ƶ.

Before the pitch competition, students learn the foundations of pitching from Lisa Shapiro, assistant director of entrepreneurship programs in the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact; Fred Briggs, founder and CEO of Applied Impact Robotics; and Gisele Stolz, senior director of entrepreneurship programs and business incubators in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.

The top two groups in the pitch competition receive a monetary prize to be split among team members; the third prize goes to the “People’s Choice.” Students are not allowed to vote for their own design.

This year’s judges include Jordan Higgins, adjunct faculty in �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Art and lead human-centered engineer at MITRE; Mike Koontz, MS Computer Engineering ’08 and director of mission technologies at Raytheon; and Kuzeyhan Ozdemir, a seasoned start-up mentor and one of the MIX’s in-house mentors.

Because the course incorporates elements of programming, engineering, creative problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, diversity of thought and skill on each team is critical to teams’ success.

“It’s a unique opportunity for our students to work with truly interdisciplinary teams. They don’t often get the chance to cross-pollinate in standard coursework,” Vo explained. “This course really emphasizes the importance and value of collaboration, cooperation, and learning from other disciplines.”

As of now, the projects end with the conclusion of the course. But Vo hopes to see teams carry on after the course to fully develop their solutions into marketable products.

“We can solve wicked problems through interdisciplinary innovation,” he said. “And that’s what I’m hoping our students take away from this course.”

Learn more about The MIX

Topics

Unmanned Aerial Systems drones

The MIX

Forensic Science Program

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

Toy-building event at �鶹��Ƶ's MIX marks marvelous start to Innovation Week

Tama Moni — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:43:42 +0000

Toy-building event at �鶹��Ƶ's MIX marks marvelous start to Innovation Week Tama Moni Fri, 02/24/2023 - 16:43

In 1951, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) founded Engineers Week—a week-long event held every February that highlights the influence of STEM education and practice. During Engineers Week, NSPE advocates for diversity and inclusion in the engineering workforce by supporting outreach to children and young adults hoping to inspire the next generation of engineers. The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at �鶹��Ƶ joined this event by hosting Innovation Week. This year’s theme, ‘Creating the Future: Innovating in Solidarity,’ aims to match these NSPE goals by presenting activities that show how engineers and computing professionals can improve the world.

Kicking off the week, the CEC’s Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning (DOIL) partnered with the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX) by inviting the community to build toys that will be donated to the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project. Mercadi Crawford, a diversity associate at DOIL, said her team formed a committee with CEC faculty and staff to create this event.

“We wanted to make sure that we were helping the community in some way. So, we reached out to the playtime nonprofit organization, which is an organization that provides recess and play spaces for unhoused youth,” Mercadi Crawford, diversity associate, College of Engineering and Computing

CEC Maker Space Day at the MIX - students and faculty design, build, and create custom toys in the MIX for the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

This event was free, interactive, and publicly accessible, and offered participants a chance to make a difference in the community. Yuta Sugiyama, a senior computational data science major in the College of Science, works at the MIX and came up with the idea for the toy project.

“Part of my job at the MIX is to assist or get on board with projects from other departments and students by offering my skills and talents. Knowing that the cause was homeless children, I wanted to assist by designing a toy that would inspire homeless children to become engineers and hopefully get them out of their situation," Sugiyama said.

Tim Nielsen, the manager for the MIX, said Sugiyama suggested the idea of building interactive toys that the children would play with. He said he wanted to transform the toy into Mr. Potato Head to add an “element of play” to the toy. “We wanted something that was designed from scratch. We wanted it to be something that’s good,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen explained how the MIX provides a creative outlet for students, organizations, and the public.

“I want the folks who are here to not just be doing an activity, but doing an activity that is engaging with the space so they kinda see what’s available here,” he said.

Students built the toys using multiple pre-made laser-cut wood pieces, pipettes, and googly eyes. They bonded the pieces together with glue. This interactive activity resembled building a puzzle, with participants using mathematical perspective and creativity to make art.

Brittany Johnson-Matthews, assistant professor in the computer science department, served on the event’s organizing committee. “These types of activities I find to be important to kind of bring balance to STEM education and STEM training. As well as to make people realize that it can be fun to do technical and stimulating things," she said.

To generate interest in the event, flyers, and social media posts were distributed on the CEC digital and print platforms. Perhaps the best way was word of mouth, as Theo Zamani, a junior mechanical engineering major, learned about it. Zamani, the president of the �鶹��Ƶ American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) chapter, promoted the event with ASME members.

“I took this project on and promoted it to help the cause. It was the first time this was done, and this was a great way for people to give back to the community.”

She said having fellow students participate in activities like this can be beneficial in many ways. “It’s a great way to give back. It’s also nice as a hands-on activity. I hope we have events like this in the future.”

�鶹��Ƶ the MIX

The MIX which is located on the ground floor of Horizon Hall on the �鶹��Ƶ Fairfax Campus. This collaborative space hosts workshops, competitions, and accelerator programs for the public and provides opportunities for them to build creative projects.

Topics

The MIX

Diversity and Inclusive Learning

Community Engagement

College of Engineering and Computing

Students

The MIX

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