cos-research

Ocean ‘Greening’ at Poles Could Spell Changes for Fisheries

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:16:41 +0000

Ocean ‘Greening’ at Poles Could Spell Changes for Fisheries admin Thu, 06/19/2025 - 14:16

Ocean waters are getting greener at the poles and bluer toward the equator, according to an analysis of satellite data published in Science on June 19. The change reflects shifting concentrations of a green pigment called chlorophyll made by phytoplankton, photosynthetic marine organisms at the base of the ocean food chain. If the trend continues, marine food webs could be affected, with potential repercussions for global fisheries.

“In the ocean, what we see based on satellite measurements is that the tropics and the subtropics are generally losing chlorophyll, whereas the polar regions — the high-latitude regions — are greening,” says first author Haipeng Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgia Tech working with Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Sutherland Chair at Georgia Tech and Nicolas Cassar, the Lee Hill Snowdon Bass Chair at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Since the 1990s, many studies have documented enhanced greening on land, where global average leaf cover is increasing due to rising temperatures and other factors. But documenting photosynthesis across the ocean has been more difficult, according to the team. Although satellite images can provide data on chlorophyll production at the ocean’s surface, the picture is incomplete.

The study analyzed satellite data collected from 2003 to 2022 by a NASA instrument that combs the entire Earth every two days, measuring light wavelength. The researchers were looking for changes in chlorophyll concentration, a proxy for phytoplankton biomass. For consistency, they focused on the open ocean and excluded data from coastal waters.

“There are more suspended sediments in coastal waters, so optical properties are different than in the open ocean,” Zhao explains.

The satellite data revealed broad trends in color, indicating that chlorophyll is decreasing in subtropical and tropical regions and increasing toward the poles. Building on that finding, the team examined how chlorophyll concentration is changing at specific latitudes. To work around background noise and gaps in data, they had to get creative.

“We borrowed concepts from economics called the Lorenz curve and the Gini index, which together show how wealth is distributed in a society. So, we thought, let’s apply these to see whether the proportion of the ocean that holds the most chlorophyll has changed over time,” Cassar says.

They found similar but opposing trends in chlorophyll concentration over the two-decade period. Green areas became greener, particularly in the northern hemisphere, while blue regions got even bluer.

“It’s like rich people getting richer and the poor getting poorer,” Zhao says.

Next, the team examined how the patterns they observed were affected by several variables, including sea surface temperature, wind speed, light availability and mixed layer depth — a measure that reflects mixing in the ocean’s top layer by wind, waves and surface currents. Warming seas correlated with changes in chlorophyll concentration, but the other variables showed no significant associations.

The authors cautioned that their findings cannot be attributed to climate change.

“The study period was too short to rule out the influence of recurring climate phenomena such as El Niño,” Lozier says. “Having measurements for the next several decades will be important for determining influences beyond climate oscillations.”

If poleward shifts in phytoplankton continue, however, they could affect the global carbon cycle. During photosynthesis, phytoplankton act like sponges, soaking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When these organisms die and sink to the ocean bottom, carbon goes down with them. The location and depth of that stored carbon can influence climate warming.

“If carbon sinks deeper or in places where water doesn’t resurface for a long time, it stays stored much longer. In contrast, shallow carbon can return to the atmosphere more quickly, reducing the effect of phytoplankton on carbon storage,” Cassar says.

Additionally, a persistent decline in phytoplankton in equatorial regions could alter fisheries that many low- and middle-income nations, such as those in the Pacific Islands, rely on for food and economic development — especially if that decline carries over to coastal regions, according to the authors.

“Phytoplankton are at the base of the marine food chain. If they are reduced, then the upper levels of the food chain could also be impacted, which could mean a potential redistribution of fisheries,” Cassar says.

Funding: National Science Foundation and NASA.

Citation: “Greener green and bluer blue: Ocean poleward greening over the past two decades,” Zhao H., Manizza M., Lozier S.M. and Cassar N. Science, June 19, 2025, DOI: 10.1126/science.adr9715

This story by Julie Leibach is shared with the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment newsroom.

Summary sentence

Ocean waters are getting greener at the poles and bluer toward the equator, according to an analysis of satellite data published in Science on June 19.

Summary

Ocean waters are getting greener at the poles and bluer toward the equator, according to an analysis of satellite data published in Science. The change reflects shifting concentrations of chlorophyll made by phytoplankton. If the trend continues, marine food webs could be affected, with potential impacts on fisheries near the equator and carbon sequestration near the poles.

Dateline

Thu, 06/19/2025 - 12:00

jess@cos.gatech.edu

Contact

Media Contacts:

Jess Hunt-Ralston
Director of Communications
College of Sciences
Georgia Tech

Julie Leibach
Senior Science Writer
Nicholas School of the Environment
Duke University

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Susan Lozier

Haipeng Zhao

School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

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682820

Source updated

Thu, 06/19/2025 - 14:16

Rising Tide Program Launches for Early Career Scientists

admin — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:47:41 +0000

Rising Tide Program Launches for Early Career Scientists admin Thu, 12/19/2024 - 09:47

Created in partnership with the new Science for Georgia’s Tomorrow initiative, the College of Sciences has launched the Rising Tide Program, which will equip early career scientists with two-year fellowships that are focused on faculty mentoring and skills development to apply for competitive faculty positions.

The inaugural Rising Tide cohort is set to include seven fellows from several institutions — with research interests across nuclear physics, urban climate, resource recovery, machine learning, bioinformatics, and ecology.

Rising Tide is spearheaded by Alex Robel, an associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences who serves as the Program’s inaugural director.

The Program has three primary goals. “We aim to improve our ability to recruit the most promising young scientists and mathematicians to careers at Georgia Tech, to raise the profile of Tech as an institution that develops academic careers in the sciences, and to better align the range of perspectives and lived experiences of faculty with Georgia Tech students,” Robel shares.

Robel adds that the program leverages the strong culture of mentorship in the College.

“Since I have been at Georgia Tech, I have been inspired by the many individual faculty in the College of Sciences who have achieved consistent success in mentoring students and postdocs to gratifying academic careers,” he says. “In designing the Rising Tide Program, my aim was to organize these successful faculty within a program that supports their existing efforts and complements those efforts with professional career development activities.”

The Rising Tide Program is supported by a generous gift from Nathan Meehan (PHYS 1975) and matching funds from the Office of the Provost.

Science for the Southeast

Rising Tide is part of the just-launched Science for Georgia’s Tomorrow Center, which prioritizes research and teaching aligned with Georgia-specific issues — while connecting Georgia communities with that research and teaching. Robel hopes the Program will help provide a pathway to foster this type of local research at the Institute.

“Part of Rising Tide is to bring more faculty to the Institute who can contribute to research and teaching particularly relevant to communities in Georgia,” Robel explains. “We aim to improve the ability of the College to recruit scientists with professional or lived experience in the Southeast — or focused on research with particular relevance to the Southeast.”

Research future

Early career scientists at any institution can be nominated by College of Sciences faculty to participate in Rising Tide. Selected Fellows take part in the two-year program, where they are welcomed into the Georgia Tech community — then mentored virtually by College faculty and supported with ongoing opportunities to develop skills for applying to competitive faculty positions.

Robel emphasizes that, for the College and new Rising Tide Fellows, it’s a win-win.

“I am most excited to see how this first cohort of fellows interact and learn from each other,” Robel says. “I am also looking forward to seeing what new and exciting ideas and perspectives they can bring to the research and teaching mission of the College of Sciences.”

Subtitle

Researchers in the inaugural cohort study nuclear physics, urban climate, resource recovery, machine learning, bioinformatics, and ecology.

Summary sentence

Rising Tide will welcome researchers for two-year fellowships that are focused on faculty mentoring and skills development to apply for competitive faculty positions.

Summary

Created in partnership with the College’s new Science for Georgia’s Tomorrow initiative, Rising Tide will welcome seven researchers for two-year fellowships that are focused on faculty mentoring and skills development to apply for competitive faculty positions.

Dateline

Tue, 12/10/2024 - 12:00

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Written by Selena Langner

Contact: Jess Hunt-Ralston

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678799

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Thu, 12/19/2024 - 09:46

College of Sciences Launches New Center: Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow

admin — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:11:37 +0000

College of Sciences Launches New Center: Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow admin Thu, 12/05/2024 - 09:11

The College of Sciences is proud to launch Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow, a new center focused on research that aims to improve life across the state.

“From resilient communities and agriculture, to health and sustainable energy resources, Georgia's Tomorrow will focus on improving the lives of Georgians and their communities,” Dean Susan Lozier says.

An expansion of the College’s strategic plan, the initiative will serve as a statewide fulcrum, fostering research in direct service to Georgia cities, counties, and communities.

The center specifically addresses critical health and climate challenges throughout Georgia, and aims to pave the way for increased public-private partnerships. The initiative will also expand access — broadening participation opportunities for Georgia students and communities to engage with research.

The search for an inaugural faculty director has commenced, and will be followed by a dedicated cluster hire in 2025, funded by the Office of the Provost. Dean Lozier, who also serves as a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has reserved funds from the College of Sciences Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean’s Chair to initiate the center.

People and planet

Selected from a pool of 17 faculty proposals, two dedicated faculty cluster hires will focus on improving the health of Georgians and Georgia’s communities — and the resilience of humans and ecosystems to current and anticipated climate change in the state. Appointments will be sought across the College’s six schools.

“These proposals address themes that are critically important right now for Georgia Tech research growth: sustainability and climate, along with health and well-being,” says Julia Kubanek, Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research at Georgia Tech and a professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “This is an opportunity for Georgia to be a model for the nation on how to solve health disparities.”

“These new cluster hires will strengthen the College’s existing research programs,” Lozier adds. “They will also facilitate large collaborations across campus, and educate the next generation of scientists who will tackle these problems in Georgia and beyond.”

Rising Tide Program

An adjacent effort, the new College of Sciences Rising Tide Program, is selecting promising early-career scientists for a two-year virtual mentorship initiative.

The Rising Tide Program will work in tandem with the Georgia's Tomorrow cluster hire, complementing the strong culture of mentorship in the College, while providing a pathway to support local research at the Institute.

“Rising Tide aims to help the College recruit scientists with professional or lived experiences in the Southeast — or focused on research with particular relevance to the Southeast,” explains Rising Tide Director Alex Robel, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “One of our key goals is to bring more faculty to Georgia Tech who can contribute to research and teaching that’s particularly relevant to communities in Georgia.”

“The reach of Georgia Tech is global,” Lozier adds. “Our fingerprints are on discoveries and innovations that benefit people and their communities around the world. As researchers at a leading public university in the state of Georgia, we are also cognizant of the responsibility and opportunity to focus our efforts more intently here at home.”

Georgia's Tomorrow: Director search

The College has launched an internal leadership search for the Georgia’s Tomorrow center, with an expected appointment to be announced in February 2025. The inaugural director will have the opportunity to shape the direction of this new initiative by:

Formulating a strategic plan for the center in partnership with interested parties across campus
Promoting synergies between faculty within the college, and elsewhere at Georgia Tech, whose work relates to the health of Georgia’s people, its ecosystems, and communities
Fostering collaborations with offices at Georgia Tech that focus on community, government, and industry engagement so as to develop meaningful external partnerships that will advance the work of this center

All faculty who hold a majority appointment within the College of Sciences are eligible and encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply via InfoReady.

Funding

Initial support for Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow is generously provided by the College of Sciences Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean's Chair fund. Cluster hire funding has been awarded by Provost Steven W. McLaughlin.

Georgia's Tomorrow will also seek funding from state, national and international organizations, private foundations, and government agencies to expand impact. Philanthropic support will also be sought in the form of professorships, programmatic support for the center, and seed funding.

2025 update:
Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow initially launched under the working name Science for Georgia's Tomorrow (Sci4GT).
Professor Joel Kostka will serve as the center's inaugural faculty director.

Summary sentence

The College of Sciences has launched Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow, a new center focused on improving the lives of Georgians and their communities.

Summary

The College of Sciences has launched Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow, a new center focused on improving the lives of Georgians and their communities. The center will leverage research and teaching to address critical health and climate challenges across the state.

Dateline

Wed, 12/04/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Written by: Selena Langner

Media contact: Jess Hunt-Ralston

Associated importer

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678749

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Thu, 12/05/2024 - 09:10

Cellular Study Uncovers 'Whole-Body' Impacts of Endurance Exercise

admin — Thu, 02 May 2024 20:45:41 +0000

Cellular Study Uncovers 'Whole-Body' Impacts of Endurance Exercise admin Thu, 05/02/2024 - 16:45

In a group of papers released May 1 in the journal Nature, scientists are one step closer to a whole-body map of the body’s cellular responses to endurance exercise — identifying striking “all tissue effects” of training, even in tissues from organs not normally associated with movement.

The findings are the latest product of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), a ten-year effort launched in 2016 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to uncover how exercise improves and maintains our health at the molecular level.

Georgia Institute of Technology bioanalytical chemist Facundo Fernández and Emory University biochemist Eric Ortlund lead one of the Consortium’s Chemical Analysis Sites, joining researchers across the country to collect and translate data from animals and more than 2,000 volunteers into comprehensive maps of the cellular changes throughout the body in response to exercise.

The $226 million MoTrPAC NIH Common Fund investment also hopes to help people with chronic illnesses identify specific physical activities to improve individual health, and to potentially unearth therapeutic targets — medicines that might mimic the positive effects of exercise.

MoTrPAC’s latest group of papers details data from studies in rats, uncovering how endurance exercise affects biological molecules and “all tissues of the body,” as well as tissues and gene expression, along with striking tissue differences between male and female organisms.

Read more:

Facundo M. Fernandez, is Regents’ Professor and Vasser Woolley Foundation Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry at Georgia Tech. He also serves as associate editor of the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (JASMS).

Eric Ortlund is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Emory University and a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute.

Study co-authors from Georgia Tech also include David A. Gaul (School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, along with Samuel G. Moore (Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences). Emory University co-authors also include Tiantian Zhang and Zhenxin Hou (Department of Biochemistry).

Funding: The MoTrPAC Study is supported by multiple NIH grants and institutes, as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and NORC at the University of Chicago.

NIH grants include: U24OD026629 (Bioinformatics Center), U24DK112349, U24DK112342, U24DK112340, U24DK112341, U24DK112326, U24DK112331, U24DK112348 (Chemical Analysis Sites), U01AR071133, U01AR071130, U01AR071124, U01AR071128, U01AR071150, U01AR071160, U01AR071158 (Clinical Centers), U24AR071113 (Consortium Coordinating Center), U01AG055133, U01AG055137 and U01AG055135 (PASS/Animal Sites); as well as NHGRI Institutional Training Grant in Genome Science 5T32HG000044; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institute of Health F32 postdoctoral fellowship award F32HL154711; National Institute on Aging P30AG044271 and P30AG003319.

Subtitle

MoTrPAC scientists are creating a whole-body map of molecular responses to endurance training — finding striking “all tissue effects” in a new set of studies

Summary sentence

Exercise is good for you. To understand why, MoTrPAC scientists are creating a whole-body map of molecular responses to endurance training — finding striking “all tissue effects” in a new set of studies, featured on the May cover of the journal Nature.

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:00

jess@cos.gatech.edu

Contact

Press Contacts:

Jess Hunt-Ralston
Director of Communications
College of Sciences
Georgia Tech

Anthony (Tony) Van Witsen
Health Sciences Writer
Woodruff Health Sciences Center
Emory University

Andréa Harris, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., S.C.P.M.
Health Science Policy Analyst
Office of Strategic Coordination – The Common Fund
Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
Office of the Director, NIH

Keywords

cos-research

cos-data

go-researchnews

go-bio

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Health and Medicine

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

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Mercury ID

674494

Source updated

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 16:44

Physicists Pioneer New Quantum Sensing Platform

admin — Thu, 02 May 2024 20:24:41 +0000

Physicists Pioneer New Quantum Sensing Platform admin Thu, 05/02/2024 - 16:24

Quantum sensors detect the smallest of environmental changes — for example, an atom reacting to a magnetic field. As these sensors “read” the unique behaviors of subatomic particles, they also dramatically improve scientists’ ability to measure and detect changes in our wider environment.

Monitoring these tiny changes results in a wide range of applications — from improving navigation and natural disaster forecasting, to smarter medical imaging and detection of biomarkers of disease, gravitational wave detection, and even better quantum communication for secure data sharing.

Georgia Tech physicists are pioneering new quantum sensing platforms to aid in these efforts. The research team’s latest study, “Sensing Spin Wave Excitations by Spin Defects in Few-Layer Thick Hexagonal Boron Nitride” was published in Science Advances this week.

The research team includes School of Physics Assistant Professors Chunhui (Rita) Du and Hailong Wang (corresponding authors) alongside fellow Georgia Tech researchers Jingcheng Zhou, Mengqi Huang, Faris Al-matouq, Jiu Chang, Dziga Djugba, and Professor Zhigang Jiang and their collaborators.

An ultra-sensitive platform

The new research investigates quantum sensing by leveraging color centers — small defects within crystals (Du’s team uses diamonds and other 2D layered materials) that allow light to be absorbed and emitted, which also give the crystal unique electronic properties.

By embedding these color centers into a material called hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), the team hoped to create an extremely sensitive quantum sensor — a new resource for developing next-generation, transformative sensing devices.

For its part, hBN is particularly attractive for quantum sensing and computing because it could contain defects that can be manipulated with light — also known as "optically active spin qubits."

The quantum spin defects in hBN are also very magnetically sensitive, and allow scientists to “see” or “sense” in more detail than other conventional techniques. In addition, the sheet-like structure of hBN is compatible with ultra-sensitive tools like nanodevices, making it a particularly intriguing resource for investigation.

The team’s research has resulted in a critical breakthrough in sensing spin waves, Du says, explaining that “in this study, we were able to detect spin excitations that were simply unattainable in previous studies.”

Detecting spin waves is a fundamental component of quantum sensing, because these phenomena can travel for long distances, making them an ideal candidate for energy-efficient information control, communication, and processing.

The future of quantum

“For the first time, we experimentally demonstrated two-dimensional van der Waals quantum sensing — using few-layer thick hBN in a real-world environment,” Du explains, underscoring the potential the material holds for precise quantum sensing. “Further research could make it possible to sense electromagnetic features at the atomic scale using color centers in thin layers of hBN.”

Du also emphasizes the collaborative nature of the research, highlighting the diverse skill sets and resources of researchers within Georgia Tech.

“Within the School of Physics, Professor Zhigang Jiang's research group provided the team with high-quality hBN crystals. Jingcheng Zhou, who is a member of both Professor Hailong Wang’s and my research teams, performed the cutting-edge quantum sensing measurements,” she says. “Many incredible students also helped with this project.”

Du is a leading scientist in the field of quantum sensing — this year, she received a new grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, along with a Sloan Research Fellowship for her pioneering work on developing state-of-the-art quantum sensing techniques for quantum information technology applications. The prestigious Sloan award recognizes researchers whose “creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments make them stand out as the next-generation of leaders in the fields.”

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk8495

This work is supported by the U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF) under award No. DMR-2342569, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award No. FA9550-20-1-0319 and its Young Investigator Program under award No. FA9550-21-1-0125, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under grant No. N00014-23-1-2146, NASA-REVEALS SSERVI (CAN No. NNA17BF68A), and NASA-CLEVER SSERVI (CAN No. 80NSSC23M0229).

Summary sentence

The researchers’ results have created a new resource for developing next-generation, ultra-sensitive quantum electronic devices.

Summary

Georgia Tech physicists are investigating quantum sensing and leveraging cutting-edge techniques — embedding color centers in a 2D layered material called hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The researchers’ results have created a new resource for developing next-generation, ultra-sensitive quantum electronic devices.

Dateline

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Written by Selena Langner

Contact: Jess Hunt-Raston
Director of Communications
College of Sciences at Georgia Tech

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674486

Source updated

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 16:24

Georgia Tech to Offer Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, New Minor

admin — Thu, 02 May 2024 20:21:41 +0000

Georgia Tech to Offer Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, New Minor admin Thu, 05/02/2024 - 16:21

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has approved a new Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Ph.D. Program at Georgia Tech.

The interdisciplinary degree is a joint effort across the Colleges of Sciences, Computing, and Engineering. The program expects to enroll its first graduate students in Fall 2025, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Institute Curriculum Committee has also approved a new Minor in Neuroscience, set to become available in the Georgia Tech 2024-2025 Catalog.

B.S. in Neuroscience

The Ph.D. and Minor offerings build on the recently launched Neuro Next Initiative in Research, and the established Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, respectively.

Approved by the Board of Regents in 2017, the interdisciplinary B.S. in Neuroscience degree in the College of Sciences enrolled more than 400 undergraduate students in 2022, and has been the fastest growing undergraduate major at Georgia Tech.

The B.S. in Neuroscience is also key to a strong ecosystem of undergraduate neuroscience education across the state, which includes peer programs at Mercer University, Augusta University, Georgia State University, Agnes Scott College, and Emory University.

Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology

The new doctoral degree will provide a path for the rapidly growing pipeline of in-state neuroscience undergraduate students and young alumni — while also welcoming a wider slate of graduate researchers to campus.

The Ph.D. Program’s mission is focused on educating students to advance the field of neuroscience through an interdisciplinary approach, with scientists and engineers of different backgrounds — ultimately integrating neuroscience research and technological development to study all levels of nervous system function.

Biological Sciences Professor Lewis A. Wheaton, who chaired the Ph.D. Program Planning Committee, shares that a cohort model will fuse “experimental and quantitative skill development, creating opportunities for students to work in science and engineering labs to promote collaborations, while also fostering a program and community that’s unique to the state and against national peer offerings.”

Expanding innovation — and impact

Wheaton explains that the new Ph.D. aims to equip graduates for a wide range of employment opportunities and growing specializations, including computational neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, cultural and social neuroscience, neuroimaging, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, and neurolinguistics.

The new degree will also help meet the country’s growing demand for a neuro-centric workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for medical scientists (including neuroscientists) tracked around 13% between 2012 and 2022, faster than the average for all tracked occupations.

Wheaton adds that the program will equip neuroscientists to conduct research that can significantly improve lives.

Seeking students

The Planning Committee anticipates a tentative February 1, 2025 application deadline for Fall 2025 enrollments — and encourages students with the following interests to learn more and apply in the coming school year:

Developing deeper quantitative, computing and/or engineering skills to make scientific discoveries that support innovations in neuroscience
A clear, comprehensive understanding of the nervous system at all scales from molecular to systems
Understanding how to use and innovate new tools and approaches to investigate the nervous system at all levels
Becoming uniquely qualified to translate knowledge across neuroscience and related disciplines to create new knowledge in their professional pursuits

Director search

The participating Colleges will soon conduct a search for a program director, engaging a tenured member of the Georgia Tech faculty to serve as the new program’s administrator. A graduate program committee composed of five faculty members and mentors across the Colleges of Sciences, Computing, and Engineering, will also be created.

During their April 2024 meeting, Regents also announced budget approvals and tuition changes for Georgia's 26 member institutions.

The Ph.D. Program Planning Committee included the following faculty:

Lewis Wheaton (Committee Chair, Biological Sciences)
Constantine Dovrolis (Computer Science)
Christopher Rozell (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Eric Schumacher (Psychology)
Garrett Stanley (Biomedical Engineering)
David Collard (College of Sciences Office of the Dean)

Subtitle

The new interdisciplinary Ph.D. is expected to enroll its first graduate students in Fall 2025. Sciences will also offer a new Minor in Neuroscience, beginning Fall 2024.

Summary sentence

The new interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology is expected to enroll its first graduate students in Fall 2025. Sciences will also offer a new Minor in Neuroscience, beginning Fall 2024.

Summary

The new Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology is expected to enroll its first graduate students in Fall 2025. The interdisciplinary degree is a joint effort with the Colleges of Sciences, Computing, and Engineering. Sciences will also offer a new Minor in Neuroscience, beginning Fall 2024.

Dateline

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:00

jess@cos.gatech.edu

Contact

Programs:

Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
Contact Professor Lewis Wheaton, Planning Committee Chair
Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience
Minor in Neuroscience
Georgia Tech Neuro and Neuro Next

Press Contact:
Jess Hunt-Ralston
Director of Communications
College of Sciences at Georgia Tech

Neuro Next Initiative:

Sarah Peterson
Program Manager
GT Neuro

Audra Davidson
Research Communications Program Manager
Neuro Next Initiative at Georgia Tech

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cos-neuro

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go-neuro

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

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Institute and Campus

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Mercury ID

674493

Source updated

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 16:20

Science Square Ushers in New Era of Research

admin — Thu, 02 May 2024 14:03:41 +0000

Science Square Ushers in New Era of Research admin Thu, 05/02/2024 - 10:03

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Midtown, Georgia Tech recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Science Square's first phase. In collaboration with its partner, Trammell Crow Company (TCC), the Institute celebrated the opening of this cutting-edge space dedicated to scientific discovery.

Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera underscored the transformative power of partnerships like the one with TCC that has enabled Tech to create this space for innovation and collaboration, declaring, “Talent alone is not sufficient. We need to create spaces where ideas and talent can translate into solutions, businesses, startups, and economic opportunity!”

The purpose-built tower stands ready to welcome science and medical researchers. It’s a new dawn for Atlanta, said Katherine Lynch, TCC’s vice president, who emphasized the importance of this being the city’s first innovation district: “Today, we celebrate an important milestone: the opening of Science Square — the premier innovation district in the Southeast!” Lynch also spoke of Science Square’s pivotal role of providing Atlanta with the unique opportunity to “attract and retain these companies that would otherwise seek commercial lab space in other cities and states.”

The ceremony also paid tribute to the legacy of Professor Robert Nerem, a trailblazer in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech. His vision led to the establishment of Project ENGAGES, which focuses on supporting high school students from underserved communities who are underrepresented in STEM. In a grand gesture of commitment to education, TCC presented a generous donation to the high school science education program. Lakeita Servance, assistant director of Outreach Initiatives at Georgia Tech, expressed gratitude for the endowment, saying, "We are immensely thankful that the Trammell Crow Company has decided to provide an endowment to Project ENGAGES to ensure the legacy of the program continues for many more years.”

In bringing the ceremony to a close, Atlanta City Councilman Byron Amos highlighted Science Square’s numerous benefits, including the development of an environment conducive to both work and recreation, funds allocated for community training initiatives, and the potential creation of 3,000 jobs. Noting that his District 3 is home to Science Square, Amos said, “Science Square has been what the relationship between the institution, a community, state and local elected leaders, and a developer really should look like. It has set the bar high for future plans".

Summary sentence

First phase of innovation district promises to encourage medical advances, drive economic growth, and inspire future generations

Summary

Georgia Tech recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Science Square's first phase. In collaboration with its partner, Trammell Crow Company (TCC), the Institute celebrated the opening of this cutting-edge space dedicated to scientific discovery.

Dateline

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:00

aisles3@gatech.edu

Contact

Ayana Isles

Senior Media Relations Representative

Keywords

science square

Biotech

biomedical research

cos-community

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Health and Medicine

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Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Building Construction

Research

Mercury ID

674484

Source updated

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 10:03

James Stroud Named Early Career Fellow by Ecological Society of America

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:34:41 +0000

James Stroud Named Early Career Fellow by Ecological Society of America admin Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:34

James T. Stroud has been named an Early Career Fellow by the Ecological Society of America.

He joins the ranks of nine newly appointed ESA Fellows and ten 2024-2028 ESA Early Career Fellows, elected for "advancing the science of ecology and showing promise for continuing contributions" and recently confirmed by the organization's Governing Board.

Stroud, an Elizabeth Smithgall Watts Early Career Assistant Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, is an integrative evolutionary ecologist who investigates how ecological and evolutionary processes may underlie patterns of biological diversity at the macro-scale.

He primarily studies lizards and his research is highly multidisciplinary, combining field studies with macro-ecological and evolutionary comparative analyses. Stroud’s current interests are particularly focused on measuring natural selection in the wild, often taking advantage of non-native lizards as natural experiments in ecology and evolution.

Earlier this month, Stroud presented his recent work at the inaugural College of Sciences Frontiers in Science: Climate Action Conference and Symposium, joining more than 20 faculty experts and 100 stakeholders from across all six colleges at Georgia Tech to discuss climate change, challenges, and solutions.

Stroud joined the Georgia Tech faculty in August 2023. He earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Florida International University.

"I am thrilled to recognize the exceptional contributions of our newly selected Fellows and Early Career Fellows,” says ESA President Shahid Naeem. “Their groundbreaking research, unwavering commitment to mentoring and teaching and advocacy for sound science in management and policy decisions have not only advanced ecological science but also inspired positive change within our community and beyond. We celebrate their achievements and eagerly anticipate the profound impacts they will continue to make in their careers."

ESA will formally acknowledge and celebrate its new Fellows for their exceptional achievements during a ceremony at ESA’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California.

About ESA Fellowships

ESA established its Fellows program in 2012 with the goal of honoring its members and supporting their competitiveness and advancement to leadership positions in the Society, at their institutions, and in broader society. Past ESA Fellows and Early Career Fellows are listed on the ESA Fellows page.

About ESA

The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 8,000 member Society publishes six journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives. The Society’s Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at https://www.esa.org.

Summary sentence

Stroud joins nine newly appointed Fellows and ten ESA Early Career Fellows, elected for "advancing the science of ecology and showing promise for continuing contributions" in the field.

Summary

Stroud, an Elizabeth Smithgall Watts Early Career Assistant Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, joins nine newly appointed Fellows and ten Early Career Fellows, elected for "advancing the science of ecology and showing promise for continuing contributions" in the field.

Dateline

Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:00

jess@cos.gatech.edu

Contact

Jess Hunt-Ralston
Director of Communications
College of Sciences at Georgia Tech

Mayda Nathan
Ecological Society of America

Keywords

cos-research

cos-community

go-researchnews

ecology

climate

evolution

News room topics

Earth and Environment

Categories

Environment

Life Sciences and Biology

Research

Mercury ID

674443

Source updated

Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:32

Faculty, Staff Honored for Outstanding Work

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:34:41 +0000

Faculty, Staff Honored for Outstanding Work admin Sun, 04/28/2024 - 20:34

The following members of the Tech community were honored at the 2024 Faculty and Staff Honors Luncheon on Friday, April 26.

Georgia Tech Chapter Sigma Xi Awards

Best Faculty Paper Award

Christopher Rozell
Julian T. Hightower Chair and Professor
Electrical and Computing Engineering

Sankaraleengam Alagapan
Research Scientist II
Electrical and Computing Engineering

Shu Jia
Associate Professor
Biomedical Engineering

Young Faculty Award

Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena
Assistant Professor
Materials Science and Engineering

Yue Chen
Assistant Professor
Biomedical Engineering

Sustained Research Award

Facundo Fernandez
Regents’ and Vasser-Wooley Professor
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Institute Research Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Research Enterprise Enhancement

Anton Bryksin
Regents’ Professor
Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences

Outstanding Achievement in Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Research

Mary Frank Fox
Dean’s Distinguished Professor
Public Policy

Outstanding Achievement in Early Career Research Award

Lindsey Rose Bullinger
Assistant Professor
Public Policy

Outstanding Achievement in Research Innovation Award

Emmanouil (Manos) M. Tentzeris
Ed and Pat Joy Chair in Antennas
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Advisor Award

Moinuddin Qureshi
Professor
Computer Science

Outstanding Faculty Research Author Award

Feryal Özel
Chair and Professor
Physics

Outstanding Achievement in Research Engagement and Outreach Award

Shreyes N. Melkote
Professor
Mechanical Engineering

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award

UNCAGE-ME

Ryan P. Lively
Professor
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Krista Walton
Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Infrastructure
Research

David Sholl
Professor
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Leslie Schlag
Grants Administrator Lead
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Christopher W. Jones
Professor and John F. Brock III School Chair
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Rochelle Moses
Program and Operations Manager
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact Award

Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory

Dimitri Mavris
Regents' Professor and Director
Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory

Michelle R. Kirby
Senior Research Engineer
Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory

Elena Garcia
Advanced Methods Division Chief
Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory

Olivia J. Pinon Fischer
Principal Research Engineer
Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory

ANAK Awards

Outstanding Faculty ANAK Award

Jacqueline Garner
Senior Lecturer
Scheller College of Business

Outstanding Staff ANAK Award

Carolina Amero
Senior Director – Auxiliary Services
Campus Services

Staff Performance Awards

Acting With Ethics First Award

Library Finance

Verstell Agee
Financial Analyst
Library

Cheryl Parker
Financial Manager II
Library

Embracing All Voices Award

Monica Jackson
Employer Connections Coordinator
Career Center

One Giant Leap Award

Brent O’Guin
Tech Strategist and Architect Senior
OIT – Enterprise App and Data

One Small Step Award

Andrew James George
Public Services Associate II
Library

Rachel Watts
Training Generalist Senior
Workplace Learning and Professional Development

Service to the Community Award

Melody Foster
Unit Administrative Officer
Mechanical Engineering

Cultivate Well-Being Award

Jamaal D. Taylor
General Safety Manager
Environmental Health and Safety

Leading By Example in Sustainability Award

Ashley E. Carr
Finance and Operations Specialist
Procurement and Business Services

Putting Students First Award

Marc Ebelhar
Graduate Student Success Specialist
Office of Graduate Education

Rising Wreck Award

Casey Hayes
Systems Development Engineer Senior
OIT – Enterprise App and Data

Karena Ha Nguyen
Assistant Director of Postdoctoral Services
Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education

Naima Barton
Assistant Director of Administrative Operations
Office of the Provost

Leadership in Action Award

Brittany McCormick
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Scheller College of Business

Monifa Skelton-Wells
Academic Program Manager
Mechanical Engineering

Excellence Award

Michelle Powell
Director
Strategic Consulting

Capstone Design Expo

Nichelle Compton
Event Coordinator II
Mechanical Engineering

Andrea Dominguez
Program Support Coordinator
Mechanical Engineering

Amit S. Jariwala
Senior Academic Professional
Mechanical Engineering

Cary Ogletree
Building and Delivery Service Manager
Mechanical Engineering

Ashley Ritchie
Communications Manager
Mechanical Engineering

Spirit of Georgia Tech Award

Peter Lee
Creative Services Manager
Scheller College of Business

Laxminarayanan Krishnan
Laboratory Manager I
Bioengineering and Biosciences

Sherree King
Store Clerk III
Housing and Residence Life

Sarah Collins
Graphic Designer Senior
College of Engineering

Center for Teaching and Learning Awards

Junior Faculty Teaching Award

Anirban Mazumdar
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering

Daniel Molzahn
Assistant Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lindsey Rose Bullinger
Assistant Professor
Public Policy

Curriculum Innovation Awards

Francesco Fedele
Associate Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Geoffrey G. Eichholz Faculty Teaching Award

Christopher Stanzione
Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies
Psychology

Mary Hudachek-Buswell
Associate Chair and Senior Lecturer
Computing Instruction

Innovation and Excellence in Laboratory Instruction Award

Anh Le
Academic Professional
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Innovation in Co-Curricular Education Award

Carla Gerona
Associate Professor
History and Sociology

GTDC

Lawrence Rubin
Co-Director of GTDC and Associate Professor
International Affairs

Zachary Taylor
Co-Director of GTDC and Associate Professor
Public Policy

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award

Colin Harrison
Senior Academic Professional
Biological Sciences

Teaching Excellence Award in Online Teaching

A.J. Medford
Associate Professor
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Undergraduate Educator Award

Michael Evans
Senior Academic Professional
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Education Partnership Award

Saad Bhamla
Assistant Professor
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Janet Standeven
Assistant Professor
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Elio Challita
Postdoctoral Researcher
Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University

International Initiatives Award

Steven A. Denning Faculty Award for Global Engagement

Shuichi Takayama
Price Gilbert Jr. Chair
Biomedical Engineering

Faculty Honors Committee Awards

Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award

Junior Faculty

Saad Bhamla
Assistant Professor
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Senior Faculty

Ravi Kane
Garry Betty/ V Foundation Chair and GRA Eminent Scholar
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Class of 1934 Outstanding Service Award

Susan Margulies
Professor
Biomedical Engineering

Outstanding Professional Education

Shalu Suri
Co-Director of NSF Cell Manufacturing Technologies ERC Engineering Workforce Development
Biomedical Engineering

Class of 1934 Outstanding Interdisciplinary Activities Award

Bruce Walker
Professor
Psychology

Class of 1934 Outstanding Innovative Use of Education Technology Award

Pamela Pollet
Senior Research Scientist
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Class of 1940 W. Roane Beard Outstanding Teacher Award

Daniel Molzahn
Assistant Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award

Faisal M. Alamgir
Professor
Materials Science and Engineering

Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award

Dimitri Mavris
Regents' Professor, Boeing Professor of Advanced Aerospace Systems Analysis, and Langley Distinguished Professor in Advanced Aerospace Systems Architecture
Aerospace Engineering

Summary sentence

The annual Faculty and Staff Honors Luncheon took place Friday, April 26.

Summary

The annual Faculty and Staff Honors Luncheon took place Friday, April 26.

Dateline

Sun, 04/28/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Kristen Bailey

Institute Communications

Keywords

cos-community

cos-research

News room topics

Campus and Community

Mercury ID

674296

Source updated

Sun, 04/28/2024 - 20:32

New Science and Medical Research Hub Opens in Atlanta

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:36:41 +0000

New Science and Medical Research Hub Opens in Atlanta admin Thu, 04/25/2024 - 15:36

Georgia Institute of Technology and the Trammell Crow Company are transforming Atlanta’s booming skyline with the launch of the first phase of Science Square, a pioneering mixed-use development dedicated to biological sciences and medical research and the technology to advance those fields. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for April 25.

“The opening of Science Square’s first phase represents one of the most exciting developments to come to Atlanta in recent years,” said Ángel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. “The greatest advances in innovation often emerge from dense technological ecosystems, and Science Square provides our city with its first biomedical research district, which will help innovators develop and scale their ideas into marketable solutions.”

Science Square’s first phase includes Science Square Labs, a 13-story purpose-built tower with state-of-the-art infrastructure to accommodate wet and dry labs and clean room space. To promote overall energy efficiency as well as sustainability, the complex houses a massive 38,000-square-foot solar panel. The solar panel system is in addition to an energy recovery system that extracts energy from the building’s exhaust air and returns it to the building’s HVAC system, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Electrochromic windows, which tint during the day to block ultraviolet rays and steady the temperature while also controlling the environment — key in research labs — are also featured throughout the building.

Equipped with technologically advanced amenities and infrastructure, Science Square Labs serves as a nexus for groundbreaking research, enabling collaboration between academia, industry, and startup ventures. Portal Innovations, a company specializing in life sciences venture development, is among the first tenants to establish operations at Science Square, as Atlanta takes center stage as the country’s top city for research and development employment growth.

The opening of the complex’s first phase, just south of Georgia Tech’s campus and totaling 18 acres, also features retail space and The Grace Residences developed by High Street Residential, TCC's residential subsidiary. The 280-unit multifamily tower, already welcoming tenants, is named in honor of renowned Atlanta leader and Georgia State Representative Grace Towns Hamilton who spent many years championing this community.

Beyond its scientific endeavors, Science Square embodies Georgia Tech’s commitment to uplifting the local community. By collaborating with organizations like Westside Works, Science Square aims to empower residents through targeted workforce development initiatives and economic opportunities.

“This mixed-use development adds immense value to Atlanta’s west side and will lead the development of pioneering medical advances with the power to improve and save lives,” President Cabrera added.

Subtitle

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is taking place on April 25

Summary sentence

Trammell Crow Company delivers first phase of Georgia Tech district devoted to advancing sciences that improve the human condition

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Angela Barajas Prendiville

Director, Media Relations

Georgia Institute of Technology

Ayana Isles

Senior Media Relations Representative

Keywords

go-researchnews

cos-research

cos-community

News room topics

Campus and Community

Health and Medicine

Categories

Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics

Institute and Campus

Research

Mercury ID

674386

Source updated

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 15:36

cos-research

Ocean ‘Greening’ at Poles Could Spell Changes for Fisheries

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Rising Tide Program Launches for Early Career Scientists

Science for the Southeast

Research future

Related links

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College of Sciences Launches New Center: Georgia Tech for Georgia's Tomorrow

People and planet

Rising Tide Program

Georgia's Tomorrow: Director search

Funding

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Categories

Cellular Study Uncovers 'Whole-Body' Impacts of Endurance Exercise

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Physicists Pioneer New Quantum Sensing Platform

An ultra-sensitive platform

The future of quantum

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Georgia Tech to Offer Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, New Minor

B.S. in Neuroscience

Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology

Expanding innovation — and impact

Seeking students

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Categories

Science Square Ushers in New Era of Research

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James Stroud Named Early Career Fellow by Ecological Society of America

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Faculty, Staff Honored for Outstanding Work

Georgia Tech Chapter Sigma Xi Awards

Best Faculty Paper Award

Young Faculty Award

Sustained Research Award

Institute Research Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Research Enterprise Enhancement

Outstanding Achievement in Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Research

Outstanding Achievement in Early Career Research Award

Outstanding Achievement in Research Innovation Award

Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Advisor Award

Outstanding Faculty Research Author Award

Outstanding Achievement in Research Engagement and Outreach Award

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award

UNCAGE-ME

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact Award

Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory

ANAK Awards

Outstanding Faculty ANAK Award

Outstanding Staff ANAK Award

Staff Performance Awards

Acting With Ethics First Award

Library Finance

Embracing All Voices Award

One Giant Leap Award

One Small Step Award

Service to the Community Award

Cultivate Well-Being Award

Leading By Example in Sustainability Award

Putting Students First Award

Rising Wreck Award