WPI Announcements RSS Feed

Sharon Robsky named EDUCAUSE Ambassador to WPI

srobsky — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Sharon Robsky, Technical Communications Specialist in Information Technology, has been named the EDUCAUSE Ambassador to WPI.

A nonprofit association, EDUCAUSE is the largest community of technology, academic, industry, and campus leaders advancing higher education through the use of IT. Highly collaborative, they offer resources on trending topics, research, professional learning, mentoring, and more. These are available to faculty, staff, and students through WPI鈥檚 membership, many at low or no cost.

As Ambassador, Sharon is the point of contact for all EDUCAUSE questions and to support their programs and services to all the stakeholders here at WPI. She is also a point of contact for their affiliate, NERCOMP, which provides similar services but focuses exclusively on the Northeast.

You may contact her at srobsky@wpi.edu to research any topics or questions for WPI students, faculty and staff.

PBL Fall 2025 Newsletter Now Available

mverma — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Project-Based Learning in Higher Ed: Era of AI

In the current issue of the PBL newsletter, we are excited to kick off the academic year with new, innovative tools to help jump-start your PBL initiatives. Whether you鈥檙e new to PBL or looking to advance your existing PBL activities, we hope these resources will help you to achieve your goals. Email subscribers received the newsletter in their inboxes on Thursday, September 25.

Check out the fall 2025 issue鈥攁nd become a subscriber so you don't miss the next one!

Dean of The Global School, Mimi Sheller wraps up speaking tour in Asia and at home

dfarmer — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On September 9th-11th, Dean of The Global School Mimi Sheller was a keynote speaker at the 2025 Global Mobility Conference in Seoul, South Korea. She addressed the plenary session 鈥淢obility Innovation as a Catalyst for Inclusive Societies鈥?with a talk on mobility justice.

The Global Mobility Conference convenes leaders, experts, policymakers, innovators and researchers who seek to advance the innovation strategies for future mobility within an inclusive, resilient, safe and accessible transportation system. It included not only discussion of the latest autonomous cars, artificial intelligence applied to transport systems, and new aerial vehicles, but also mobility rights, mobility justice, and social inclusion, which are core foci of WPI鈥檚 Mobility Justice Lab. You can view international news coverage of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfOJnOe3Qcg

While in Seoul, Sheller was also appointed as Distinguished Advisor of the Academy of Mobility Humanities (AMH) at Konkuk University, a group responsible for translating her book Mobility Justice: The Politics of Movement in an Age of Extremes (2018) into Korean in 2024. Sheller also served as discussant for a conference panel organized by the AMH, experienced a ride on the GTX-A express subway train (175 km/hr), and visited the Hyundai Expo Center to view the latest hydrogen fuel-cell cars and interactive exhibits on the future of mobility automation and aerial transport.

Before arriving in Seoul, Sheller also gave an invited lecture on September 8th at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where two faculty members plan to translate Sheller鈥檚 book Advanced Introduction to Mobilities (2021) into Japanese in 2026.

Sheller (center) with faculty and students at Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, holding two of her books (in the front row) which have been widely read in Japan.

Sheller also was invited to speak at the conference 鈥淣ew Territorialities of Governance in the Anthropocene",September 12-13th at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University.

WPI Breakthrough in Sustainable Magnesium Manufacturing Recognized with $50,000 Award

cbwamback — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

A company spun off from WPI-developed technology captured the top prize at the second annual Massachusetts Climatetech Studio Showcase, held during Startup Boston Week, Sept. 8鈥?2, 2025. Thalon Materials is built on a clean, cost-competitive magnesium metal production process developed by Adam Powell, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

The showcase, hosted by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and FedTech, paired entrepreneurial teams with patented climate-related technologies to explore commercialization opportunities. Thalon Materials, founded by entrepreneurs Nuha Abousam and Travis Hampton and based on Powell鈥檚 breakthrough magnesium metal production process, distinguished itself for its strong market potential and its ability to advance the Massachusetts clean energy economy.

Magnesium metal is about one-third less dense than aluminum, with better stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios than aluminum or steel, making it ideal for lightweight vehicles, aerospace components, and other critical applications. However, high costs and China鈥檚 dominance of the industry have limited its widespread use in the United States. Using Powell鈥檚 patented electrolysis process, Thalon Materials could produce magnesium at lower cost while also reducing by more than fivefold the toxic by-products that result from the process used by the industry in China.

鈥淚t was a privilege to be selected for the Climatetech Studio program and matched with Nuha and Travis, who are sprinting ahead with this project,鈥?said Powell. 鈥淭hey did a terrific job advancing this work, and this generous award from MassCEC and FedTech will help the company to start on the journey toward realizing the potential of this work.鈥?lt;/span>

As the first-place team, Thalon Materials received a $50,000 award and is now eligible for MassCEC and FedTech鈥檚 alumni services, which will provide ongoing mentorship, resources, and industry connections.

Professor Nitin Sanket Wins $705K NSF Grant to Advance Bio-Inspired Sound Navigation for Tiny Robots

klola — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

When Professor Nitin Sanket watches birds dart through dense forests or bats spiral effortlessly in complete darkness, he doesn鈥檛 just marvel at their flight 鈥?he sees blueprints for the future of robotics.

That fascination has now earned him a significant milestone: his first National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, awarded through the highly competitive Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program. Beginning September 1, 2025, Professor Sanket鈥檚 project titled 鈥淪ound Navigation: Enabling Tiny Robots to Find Their Way Through Smoke, Dust, and Darkness,鈥?will be supported with $704,908 over three years.

This is one of NSF鈥檚 toughest programs, with high scrutiny and very high standards. Professor Sanket said. 鈥淕enerally this is approached as a team. I was determined to go for this grant alone since the fit seemed perfect. Receiving this grant, I feel very accomplished and re-energized to push the boundaries of bio-inspired robot perception forward.鈥?lt;/span>

Professor Sanket鈥檚 inspiration traces back to a simple but powerful question: How do natural flyers succeed where machines fail?

鈥淚 have always been fascinated by how nature鈥檚 expert flyers like insects and birds are able to effortlessly weave through tough obstacle courses while hunting prey.鈥?he said. 鈥淥ur robots, though very complex are no match for these biological flyers. This led me to ponder how we can draw inspiration from nature to build better autonomous aerial robots.鈥?lt;/span>

For more than a decade, Professor Sanket worked with vision-based systems, the standard in aerial autonomy. However, vision has its limits. Darkness, fog, smoke, snow, or dust render cameras nearly useless. 鈥淟ight鈥檚 penetration power is extremely limited 鈥?you see this every day when driving through fog or at night,鈥?Professor Sanket explained. Sound, on the other hand, doesn鈥檛 suffer from these problems. Bats use ultrasound to navigate complex environments, and that inspired Professor Sanket to explore how robots might do the same.

The project focuses on enabling tiny aerial robots, smaller than 100 millimeters and weighing less than 100 grams, to navigate without relying on vision. Instead, Professor Sanket鈥檚 team will develop sound-based sensing systems which essentially gives drones a form of bat-inspired echolocation.

However, using ultrasound in air is far from simple. The whir of robot propellers produces significant noise, and ultrasound struggles to distinguish small features. Professor Sanket鈥檚 approach tackles these challenges on multiple fronts:

Hardware design: using metamaterials to reduce noise interference.
Software innovation: applying physics-informed deep learning to filter and interpret ultrasonic signals.
Sensor fusion: combining sound with other modalities like inertial data to improve reliability.
Learning systems: implementing a hierarchical reinforcement learning navigation stack that teaches robots how to move toward goals while avoiding obstacles.

Through this combination of robot perception, bio-inspired AI, and robot learning, Professor Sanket aims to build inexpensive, power-efficient drones that can succeed where vision-based systems fail.

The implications reach far beyond the lab. 鈥淭his work will enable real-world in-the-wild fast deployment of robots in disaster zones, search and rescue, or hazardous environment monitoring with harsh conditions not possible today,鈥?Professor Sanket said. 鈥淭his will help in protection, prevention and preservation efforts though a cost-effective, scalable and easily-deployable manner.鈥?lt;/span>

The broader principles of sound-based navigation could also impact fields as diverse as self-driving cars, coral reef preservation, and volcano exploration. 鈥淭he collaboration opportunities are endless,鈥?Professor Sanket said.

For Professor Sanket, the excitement isn鈥檛 only about technology. It鈥檚 about people. He says the most rewarding part of his research journey is, 鈥渨orking with students, finding things no one has done before and solving hard problems in a creative way.鈥?amp;nbsp;

His advice to early-career researchers echoes his own path: 鈥淕o for a grant that you really believe in. That will show in your writing. Do not let anyone tell you something is not possible.鈥?lt;/span>

As he looks ahead, Professor Sanket envisions a future where aerial robots become everyday partners in human life 鈥?tools that can save lives, protect the environment, and expand our reach into places too dangerous or inaccessible for people.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to keep learning from nature,鈥?Professor Sanket reflects. The more we understand how the natural world solves problems, the more we can build robots that aren鈥檛 just machines, but partners in making life safer and better.

Advancing Safe and Trustworthy Robotics: Introducing Professor Wei Xiao

klola — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Robotics Engineering Department is pleased to welcome Assistant Professor Wei Xiao, whose research lies at the intersection of robotics, control theory, and artificial intelligence.

For Professor Xiao, robotics is more than just technology鈥攊t is an interdisciplinary field with the potential to transform everyday life. Inspired by the possibilities of AI-enabled robots that can safely and efficiently assist humans with both physical and cognitive tasks, he has dedicated his career to advancing safe and trustworthy robotics. A pivotal spark came from watching I, Robot, a film that deepened his fascination with science fiction and the promise of intelligent machines.

Professor Xiao鈥檚 academic journey reflects a steady progression toward this vision. He began with quadruped robot hardware design and control algorithms, pursued his PhD in safety-critical control theory, and then expanded his expertise as a postdoctoral researcher in trustworthy machine learning. Now, as Professor Xiao joins the faculty, he brings these powerful tools together to push robotics research forward.

His work specializes in safe control theory and trustworthy AI鈥攆ields critical to ensuring that robotic systems are not only intelligent, but also reliable and safe for real-world deployment.

Professor Xiao is equally passionate about teaching and mentoring. He believes that research and education go hand in hand, and his approach emphasizes grounding students in fundamental principles of robotics before engaging them directly with real-world systems. By involving students in hands-on projects, he hopes to cultivate both technical skills and creative motivation.

Looking ahead, Professor Xiao envisions a future where robots are seamlessly integrated into daily life, assisting people across a wide range of tasks. His role, he says, is to design the safety principles that ensure these technologies can be trusted. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration鈥攎erging control theory, machine learning, and robotics鈥攈e is particularly excited about emerging trends in AI-driven robotics and is dedicated to developing trustworthy systems that advance the field responsibly.

His advice for aspiring roboticists is simple but powerful: 鈥?lt;/span>Start with a good motivation, and then put effort on it.鈥?lt;/span>

Please join us in welcoming Assistant Professor Wei Xiao to our department as he continues his upward path in robotics research and education.

Microsoft 365 Storage Events (October 2025)

srobsky — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Come attend one of our Microsoft 365 events for tips on how to better manage your OneDrive and Outlook storage. The drop in sessions will be your chance to ask questions or get assistance with your OneDrive and Outlook accounts. All events are in Eastern Time.

Virtual (Zoom)

October 1 - 11:00am - 12:00pm - Outlook Clean Up! Webinar
October 2 - 3:00pm - 4:00pm - OneDrive Clean Up! Webinar
October 6 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm - Microsoft 365 Storage Drop-In Session
October 15 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm - Microsoft 365 Storage Drop-In Session
October 23 - 9:00am - 11:00am - Microsoft 365 Storage Drop-In Session
October 27 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm - Microsoft 365 Storage Drop-In Session
October 28 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm - Outlook Clean Up! Webinar
October 29 - 9:00am - 10:00am - OneDrive Clean Up! Webinar

If you're unable to attend these sessions, then please fill out the Data Storage Management form to request assistance.

If you would like to have an in-person meeting with someone in ITS, please contact 508-831-5888 or its@wpi.edu to make an appointment.

Microsoft 365 Storage Resources:

These resources will help you get started on managing your Outlook and OneDrive storage.

Storage Management FAQs
Exploring Outlook
The Inbox Cleanup Journey of an Email Hoarder by Mike Hamilton
Exploring OneDrive
OneDrive Cleanup Companion by Mike Hamilton

Where in the World Are WPI Students in A-Term 2025?聽

jaquinnszcesuil — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Nearly 120 students started the year with off-campus project work at one of WPI鈥檚 more than 50 global project centers. Whether overseas in countries like Switzerland or Japan or in closer-to-home locations like New Hampshire鈥檚 White Mountains or Boston, students say the impact of working on an鈥?lt;/span>Interactive Qualifying Project鈥?IQP) or a鈥?lt;/span>Major Qualifying Project鈥?MQP) is much more than academic.

Some say project work closer to the WPI campus brings its own special benefits. At the Boston Project Center, for example, students experience the kind of immersive work that brings so much professional and personal growth. Boston is a world-class city that is less than 50 miles from Worcester.

鈥淥ne of the reasons that the Boston Project Center is attractive to students, who for various reasons don鈥檛 want to go far away, is that it offers the opportunity to spend time in a large, vibrant city and get off campus,鈥?says Seth Tuler, associate professor in the Global School, who co-directs the project center with Paul Mathisen, director of sustainability at WPI and associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Any project, whether it requires a plane ride or not, introduces valuable, real-world problems to solve. Students at the Boston Project Center generally live on campus and navigate the commute to Boston with their teammates two to three days per week. The experience provides a bit of insight into what the working world is like and can help as students think about their future career choices.

Just as many project center directors and project advisors do, Mathisen and Tuler work closely to give students a memorable term. 鈥淚 love the city of Boston, and it has so much to offer,鈥?says Mathisen. 鈥淲hen the students in the project center appreciate that, it鈥檚 fun to see.鈥?The Boston-based projects allow students to get out into the city and its surroundings to work on regional challenges that require consideration of engineering and the social-economic-political issues to inform how communities, organizations, and government can address pressing challenges, says Tuler.

Past projects have included analyzing Boston鈥檚 parking inventory, working on the city鈥檚 landscape architecture, promoting wellness and positive mental health among tenants in subsidized housing, and even assessing components of Boston鈥檚 famed Harborwalk鈥攁nd they can be quite different from projects based in less urban areas.

Recently, a Lumina Foundation article highlighted WPI鈥檚 project-based approach and showcased a Boston project that assessed green spaces in an urban housing complex. The students spoke of the importance of a project with real-world impact and how the in-state location still required them to develop a perspective different from what they might have already had.

In A-Term 2025, the Global Projects Program is hosting projects in these locations:

IQP

Boston, Massachusetts, with advisors Courtney Kurlanska (Department of Integrative and Global Studies) and Caitlin Ferrarini (DIGS)

Panama City, Panama, with advisors Grant Burrier (DIGS) and Alejandro Manga (contingent)

Reykjavik, Iceland, with advisors Fran Leahy (adjunct) and Lorraine Higgins (DIGS)

White Mountains, New Hampshire, with advisors Corey Dehner (DIGS) and Marc Trudeau (adjunct)

Zurich, Switzerland, with advisors Guillermo Salazar (adjunct) and Mehul Bhatia (Mechanical and Materials Engineering)

MQP

MIT Lincoln Laboratory-Lexington, Massachusetts, with advisor George Heineman (Computer Science)

Osaka (Ritsu), Japan, with advisor Ralph Sutter (Interactive Media and Game Development)

Switzerland (Fribourg) with advisor Jianyu Liang (MME)

Switzerland Project Center with advisors Sarah Wodin-Schwartz (MME) and Zoe Reidinger (Biomedical Engineering)

Research @ WPI | September 2025 Newsletter

jferguson — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Research @ WPI September 2025 Newsletter has arrived in inboxes. It's the first one of the academic year, back after a summer hiatus.

In This Issue

Battery breakthrough: recycling lithium-ion tech that鈥檚 cleaner, cheaper, and equally powerful
Fibrosis focus: NSF CAREER Award fuels new lab models for better treatment pathways
Robotics in care: imaging and automation driving safer, more precise healthcare
Behavioral insight: study shows TV (not smartphones) drives overeating
Faculty in the spotlight: Forbes, NPR, The Times of London, and MIT Tech Review on AI, energy, and the future of games

View the entire issue online here. If you missed it and you would like to sign up for the next newsletter, you can fill out this form.

Homecoming 2025 Parking & On-Campus Shuttle

avalley — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Homecoming 2025 will be celebrated Thursday, September 25 through Sunday, September 28. Below is information regarding parking, on-campus shuttle transportation, and tailgating.

Parking On Campus

All WPI parking lots will be open throughout Homecoming Weekend. Handicap parking is available in most lots. Please click here for campus parking information. Please note that there will be no vehicle access to the Quad during Homecoming Weekend, with the exception of our on-campus shuttle service.

On-Campus Shuttle Transportation

A shuttle service will be provided to transport guests around campus. The shuttle will be available from 2 to 9 PM on Friday and 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM on Saturday. The shuttle will make stops at the following campus locations throughout the day:

Bartlett Center
Unity Hall / Boynton Street
Higgins House Parking Lot / Park Avenue Garage
Sports & Recreation Center Circle
Hackfeld Parking Lot
West Street Parking Lot

Shuttle service to the Bartlett Center will be temporarily suspended from 3 to 4 PM on Saturday during The Homecoming Parade.

Off-campus service to local hotels will not be available. A number of Worcester hotels provide their own local shuttle transportation.

Tailgaiting

Tailgating is not permitted on the WPI campus at any time and as noted above, camper vehicles and trailers are not permitted on campus unless pre-authorized by the Director of Public Safety.

Questions? Check out the FAQ page on the Homecoming website, or contact us at alumni-office@wpi.edu or 508-831-5600.

Research Solutions Institute A Term 2025 Newsletter

svijayanagaram — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

A-term Issue

Happy A-Term! In this issue, we highlight a variety of exciting funding opportunities available to researchers, innovators, and educators across a wide range of disciplines. Whether you're working in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, or humanities, there are new avenues for advancing your work with the support of federal grants and cooperative agreements. This newsletter provides a curated list of upcoming federal and state funding opportunities, and RSI and sponsor events related to grantsmanship training and funding opportunity discussions, helping you stay informed and competitive in securing vital research funding.

Funding Opportunity Spotlight

Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH): Jointly funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, the purpose of this interagency program solicitation is to support the development of transformative high-risk, high-reward advances in computer and information science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, behavioral and/or cognitive research to address pressing questions in the biomedical and public health communities. Transformations hinge on scientific and engineering innovations by interdisciplinary teams that develop novel methods to intuitively and intelligently collect, sense, connect, analyze, and interpret data from individuals, devices, and systems to enable discovery and optimize health. Solutions to these complex biomedical or public health problems demand the formation of interdisciplinary teams that are ready to address these issues while advancing fundamental science and engineering. Applications are due Oct. 8, 2025. For more information about this call, please check the link above. Please reach out to rsi@wpi.edu for proposal development help.

Curated Funding Opportunities

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Robotics: Funding from federal agencies to support research in the areas of, and in the intersection between AI, data science, and robotics.

Advanced, Sustainable Materials, and Manufacturing: Funding from federal agencies to support research in the areas of, and in the intersection between, advanced, sustainable materials, and manufacturing.

Early Career Funding Opportunities: Funding from federal agencies to support research by early-career researchers.

MA State Funding Opportunities: Open funding opportunities from Massachusetts state agencies.

Life Sciences and Biotechnology: Funding from federal agencies to support research in the areas of life sciences and biotechnology.

Limited Submissions

Limited Submission opportunities are funding opportunities where the funder limits the number of applications from a single institution. WPI's RSI conducts an internal competition for these Federal/State opportunities. Faculty who come across such opportunities in their search are encouraged to please reach out to rsi@wpi.edu to indicate your interest and to open the limited submission process for the opportunity.

Events

RSI Events

SOAR Series: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center | September 24, 12-1 pm | BETC Classroom

Drs. Carla Reimold and Audrey Medieros, Program Directors at the MLSC, will discuss new funding opportunities, and WPI faculty will talk about their success with MLSC funding. Register here.

Resources for Proposal Development | October 8, 12-1 pm | Zoom

Meet representatives from different WPI research resources offices to learn more about how they can help you identify appropriate funding opportunities and put together a winning proposal for extramural funds. Registration will open on September 25.

External Events

DARPAConnect Pop-up | September 24

DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is the U.S. Department of Defense鈥檚 premier R&D agency, relentlessly pursuing groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and more. Renowned for turning bold ideas into field-ready capabilities, DARPA continues to push the boundaries of possibility.

Register Here for September 24 with DARPA

DARPA Program Managers, Contract Management, Small Business Programs Office & more will share how to engage with the agency -- and funding pathways to bring your most innovative ideas forward.

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Time: Program: 8:30am - 4pm MT | Networking Reception 4pm - 5pm MT
Location: Montana State University -- and virtually!
Register: https://events.bizzabo.com/Bozeman-DARPAConnect-Pop-Up/home

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Ph: +1-508-831-5000
wpi.edu

Who's Coming to Homecoming?

jlewis2 — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We know that it's the people that make WPI so special, and we're so excited to share some of the amazing students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are part of this year's Homecoming.

Looking for the registrant list? You'll find that here.

Staff Council Update September 2025

sahappy — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome Back to a New Academic Year!
We hope you had the opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge over the summer. As we are in the full swing of A-Term, we鈥檙e excited to share some updates from the Staff Council.

Reflecting on Our Journey So Far
Last year was a big year for Staff Council, we feel like we really found our groove. After spending time getting established, we focused on making sure staff voices are heard and pushing for changes that matter to staff.

We're excited to share some highlights from our year-end report, like the wins from our PTO Task Force, getting more staff involved in campus-wide decisions, and hosting events that brought people together, from all-staff meetings to listening sessions where we could hear what's really on everyone's mind. Check out our full end of year report to see what we accomplished together.

Thank You to Our Departing Members
As we move into our fourth year, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the five dedicated members whose two-year terms have come to an end. Thank you for your invaluable contributions:

Lusine Baghsarian, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Nicole Caligiuri, Research
Pat Howe, School of Engineering
Alesia Lesane, Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education
Nicole Luiz, Campus Planning & Facilities
Elena Morganelli, Undergrad Enrollment

Looking Ahead

We鈥檙e excited for what lies ahead, guided by our strategic plan, we remain committed to ensuring that staff voices are heard. Your feedback over the past 18 months has been instrumental in shaping our direction鈥攑lease continue to share your thoughts!

Save the Dates

All-Staff Meetings: If you have ideas for topics you would like to hear about at our all-staff meetings, please reach out to let us know.

October 14th 9:00鈥?0:30 AM | Olin 107
December 16th 9:00鈥?0:30 AM | Olin 107
March 10th, 2026, 9:00鈥?0:30 AM | Olin 107
May 19th, 2026, 2:00鈥?:00 PM | Odeum

Special Events:

November 24th, 2025, 2:00鈥?:00 PM | Harvest of Thanks | Odeum
April TBD Staff Award Ceremony | Odeum
May 19th, 2026, 3:00鈥?:00 PM | End of Year Social | Odeum

Meet Our New Members
We鈥檙e pleased to introduce seven new members to the Staff Council:

Elizabeth Chirico, Advancement, Jaime Dillon, Student Affairs, Matt Foster, Student Affairs, Stanley Horton, Talent & Inclusion, Shawn Needham, Marketing & Communications, Jessica Sabourin, Undergraduate Enrollment, Carrie West, School of Arts & Sciences

Meet Our Executive Committee
Mike Hamilton, Chair; Sarah Miles, Vice-Chair; Caitlin Neer, Secretary; Lauren Martunas, Treasurer; and Stacey Happy, Public Relations

Meet Our Committee Leadership
Amy Curran, Feedback; Matt Foster, Engagement; Elizabeth Jacoby, Recognition; and Jaime Dillon, FBC Vice-Chair

Your input is crucial鈥攆eel free to reach out to any Staff Council member, fill out our feedback form, recognize a fellow staff member with a Goat Note, or email us at staffcouncil@wpi.edu.

Have a great rest of your week!

Mike Hamilton, Staff Council Chair, on behalf of Staff Council

OneDrive Clean Up Webinar Next Week

srobsky — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Next week, ITS will be hosting a OneDrive Clean Up webinar as part of the Microsoft365 Storage Management project.

Come join us on Tuesday, September 23 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT for a live tutorial and tips on how to clean up your OneDrive storage.

Please register on this Microsoft Form to attend the webinar or receive the recording.

Microsoft 365 Storage Resources:

These resources will help you get started on managing your Outlook and OneDrive storage.

Storage Management FAQs
Exploring Outlook
Outlook Clean Up Resources
Exploring OneDrive

New Leadership for WPI's Archives & Special Collections

akgold — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that, effective September 1, Digital Collections Archivist Emily Ping O鈥橞rien has taken on additional new responsibilities as Department Head for Archives & Special Collections, while Access and Outreach Archivist Gillian McCuistion has added new responsibilities as WPI鈥檚 Institute Archivist.

With this experienced team at the helm, we can assure long-term continuity and innovative leadership for the essential work of the Institute鈥檚 archives and unique collections of books and artwork:

Emily Ping O鈥橞rien joined WPI in 2017, rapidly building her technical expertise in digital archives and digital exhibits as a key member of the joint Library-IT Digital WPI steering group. Digital WPI is an innovative and unique open-source university repository. It provides global access to over 25,000 digital items created by the WPI student & faculty community, in addition to another 25,000 digital assets that document and share WPI鈥檚 history and unique cultural assets. Emily has been active in regional and national professional digital archiving communities, frequently presenting and leading programs; she was one of the inaugural participants in WPI鈥檚 self-leadership program (2024-2025). In her new role as Head of Archives & Special Collections Emily will serve as the administrative lead for this Department in its many relationships with the campus community, donors, and scholars. She will also be joining the library鈥檚 leadership team. She will also continue her work on Digital Collections and digital exhibits.

Gillian McCuistion joined WPI in 2023 from the University of North Carolina, where she helped direct the Student Health Coalition archive project, documenting collaborative efforts between college students and underserved communities to increase access to healthcare in the rural American South from the 1960s-1980s. Since joining WPI, Gillian has been spearheading efforts to create a more inclusive institutional memory, namely as it relates to partnering with student organizations to expand collecting practices. Gillian has also designed and produced annual exhibits in the Archives鈥?Gladwin Gallery, each telling the story of different departments or programs in WPI's vibrant and creative technical community. This year's exhibit, 鈥?lt;/span>Currents of Change: Electrical & Computer Engineering at WPI from the Dawn of the Electric Age to Present Day鈥?features the history and progress of the ECE department. As Institute and Outreach Initiatives Archivist, Gillian will work closely with the WPI community to document our history and to ensure access to our archives, whether for our alumni, university offices, or our students and other researchers.

Emily and Gillian are excited to continue their work with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and all others who help us create a lively, open, and meaningful archive of WPI鈥檚 people and shared community. They can both be reached at: archives@wpi.edu

Human Firewalls - SECURE IT September 2025

srobsky — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Your assumptions about cyber criminals could be your biggest vulnerability. Challenge them now by reading this month's SECURE IT newsletter about social engineering. Learn how people are able to act as a firewall in thwarting attackers.

In this issue:

From WPI's CISTO: Local Storage Is Not Backed Up
Social Engineering Psychology & Strategies, including AI
Prevent Social Engineering
Learning with Laughter
Secrets of Social Engineering Video
Meet Jeff Eaton!
Featured Videos
Statistics and In the News
Diversity in Cybersecurity
WPI Resources

Finance & Operations September Newsletter

cushinski — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Finance & Operations Newsletter contains important information for the WPI Community related to finance due dates, policies, procedures, and trainings.

To view the September Newsletter click here.

Celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month 2025!

lfeldman — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Honoring Culture. Celebrating Legacy. Uplifting Voices.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month 2025 from September 15 to October 15, a national observance honoring the vibrant histories, rich cultures, and vital contributions of communities with roots in Latin America and Spain.

This month, we reflect on and appreciate the diversity of Hispanic and Latinx experiences. At WPI, we highlight the narratives and accomplishments that continue to shape innovation, community, politics, art, and science.

Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month offers a chance to consider how history, identity, and resiliency intersect. The experiences of Hispanic and Latinx people are multifaceted and varied, ranging from Indigenous customs to current campaigns for justice and equity. By listening to these stories, we pay tribute to both the past and the current initiatives that are forming a more inventive and inclusive future.

Our university's academic and social fabric is enhanced by the Hispanic and Latinx faculty, staff, and students who provide insightful approaches to engineering, science, technology, and the arts. This month serves as a reminder that multicultural communities foster innovation, increase scientific understanding, and build more inclusive campuses.

Why September 15 to October 15?

The celebration begins mid-September to honor the Latin American countries who declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821:
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua

The month-long observance began as a week in 1968 (thanks to CA Rep. George E. Brown) and was officially expanded in 1989 by President George H. W. Bush.

鈥淲e must preserve our culture and celebrate our differences, for in diversity lies strength and creativity.鈥?lt;/span>
鈥?Ellen Ochoa, astronaut and first Hispanic woman in space

STEM Scholar Spotlights

We honor trailblazing Hispanic and Latinx individuals in science and technology:

Pedro Alonso 鈥?Spanish physician and epidemiologist, former Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme.
Severo Ochoa 鈥?Spanish-American biochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine (1959) for his work on RNA synthesis.
Antonia Novello 鈥?First woman and first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General; physician and public health leader.
Luis Alvarez 鈥?Nobel Prize-winning physicist and inventor.
France C贸rdova 鈥?Astrophysicist and first Latina NASA Center Director
Ellen Ochoa 鈥?First Hispanic woman in space, engineer and former Johnson Space Center director
Mario Molina 鈥?Chemist and Nobel Laureate for his work on the ozone layer

Explore, Read, Watch, Listen

Explore鈥?lt;/span>National Hispanic Heritage Month鈥痮nline鈥€?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>
Listen to the鈥?lt;/span>Latinos Out Loud Podcast鈥?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>
Watch 鈥淟a Misma Luna鈥?(2007, Mexican American Drama)鈥?lt;/span>
Listen to鈥?lt;/span>Yo M谩s Te Adoro鈥痓y Morat鈥?lt;/span>
Explore PBS鈥?lt;/span>Hispanic Heritage Month Documentary鈥痗ollection鈥?lt;/span>
Explore the New鈥?lt;/span>Smithsonian Institution鈥檚 National Museum of the American Latino鈥?lt;/span>
Read鈥€?lt;/span>Our Voices, Our Images: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month鈥痓y the Inter-American Development Bank
Read 鈥?lt;/span>National Hispanic Heritage Month Q&A鈥?written by Insight Staff, Insight into Diversity鈥?lt;/span>
Read鈥?lt;/span>The U.S. Hispanic Manifesto鈥痓y鈥?lt;/span>The Hispanic Star鈥?lt;/span>
Explore鈥?lt;/span>Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month鈥痶hrough鈥?lt;/span>WGBH and WORLD Channel鈥?lt;/span>
Watch鈥?lt;/span>Hispanic Heritage Month Movies鈥?lt;/span>
Watch鈥?lt;/span>The Latino List: Volume 1 and 2鈥痮nline via鈥?lt;/span>Gordon Library, directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders鈥?lt;/span>
Watch鈥?lt;/span>Retablo鈥痮nline via TubiTV, directed by Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio, written by Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio and Hector Galvez, produced by Enid Campos, Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio, Lasse Scharpen, and Menno D枚ring, (Lima, Peru: Siri Producciones, Catch of the Day Films, DHF, 2017), 95 minutes鈥?lt;/span>
Listen to the鈥?lt;/span>Level Up Latina Podcast鈥?lt;/span>
Listen to the鈥?lt;/span>Latinx On The Rise Podcast鈥?lt;/span>
Listen to the鈥?lt;/span>Alt Latino Podcast鈥?lt;/span>

Take Action

Support the鈥?lt;/span>Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute鈥?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>
Support the鈥?lt;/span>TransLatin@ Coalition鈥?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>
Register to Vote鈥?OR-鈥?lt;/span>Check Your Voter Registration鈥?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>
Everything you need to vote.鈥?lt;/span>Vote.org鈥?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>
Become a鈥?lt;/span>Poll Worker鈥?lt;/span>鈥?lt;/span>

ODIME Logo

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees student-facing learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.鈥?lt;/span>

Upcoming Travel Expense Training Sessions

cushinski — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Upcoming Travel Expense Training Sessions

The Finance Office is excited to offer a new series of training sessions focused on travel expense reporting. These sessions will provide a clear overview of existing travel policies and procedures, with a special focus on the backup documentation required to ensure smooth and timely expense report approvals.

Training Webinar Dates:

September 24, 10:30 to 11:30 am: Zoom link
October 20, 2 to 3 pm: Zoom link
November 18, 2 to 3 pm: Zoom link

Department specific webinars may be scheduled through kmanoogian@wpi.edu.

To support your learning, be sure to explore the helpful job aids available in the Finance section of the Halo Knowledge Base at https://help.wpi.edu.

Guiding Students, Respecting Robots: Welcoming Assistant Teaching Professor Griffin Tabor to Robotics Engineering

klola — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Griffin Tabor has joined the Robotics Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as an Assistant Teaching Professor. With his unique blend of academic rigor, innovative robotics research, and steadfast commitment to education, Professor Tabor is poised to make an impactful addition to our community.

Professor Tabor鈥檚 journey in robotics began in middle school at a LEGO robotics summer camp, an environment that ignited a lifelong fascination with how mechanical and digital worlds converge. A formative moment unfolded when Professor Tabor spun a motor and watched a microprocessor power up without a battery. 鈥淩ealizing how generators and motors were the same thing, and how cool that is has stuck with me ever since,鈥?he recalls, capturing the essence of curiosity that has guided his work ever since.

Professor Tabor is a proud WPI alumnus, having earned his Bachelor of Science in Robotics Engineering in 2018. From there, he pursued a PhD in Computing with a Robotics Track from the University of Utah, which he completed in 2024. His doctoral research focused on motion planning, control, and numerical optimization, including groundbreaking work using magnets to manipulate non-magnetic objects鈥攑ossibilities that extend to futuristic applications like space debris cleanup.

As a teaching scholar, Professor Tabor believes deeply in project-centered learning. He emphasizes a classroom structure where every concept builds toward a meaningful term-long project鈥攊nstilling clear purpose and contextual relevance in each lesson.

At WPI, he looks forward to guiding Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs), advising the WPI Robotics Club, and supporting students involved in competitive robotics. Professor Tabor strongly encourages students to 鈥渏oin a club and get involved. We have lots of different robotics clubs going on that are applicable to both RBE majors and otherwise.鈥?His thriving interest in mobile robotics and extracurricular engagement reflects his conviction that hands-on experience is transformative in learning.

Professor Tabor鈥檚 arrival reinforces WPI鈥檚 strengths in project-based education, student-led innovation, and cutting-edge robotics research鈥攁ll educational pillars he aligns with deeply.

Professor Tabor鈥檚 combination of technical expertise, educational insight, and an affinity for robotics competitions positions him as a dynamic mentor for students. He鈥檚 excited to foster interest in probabilistic methods in robotics鈥攔eflecting a growing trend to better model uncertainty and complexity with today鈥檚 computing power.

He playfully notes, 鈥淚 think our robot overlords are right around the corner. As long as I train students to treat robots with respect, maybe the robots will treat me with respect鈥攅ven though they鈥檙e still tricky and not always cooperative!鈥?lt;/span>

WPI Biomedical Engineering鈥檚 Dr. Kristen Billiar Named Fellow of the American Heart Association

lrafferty — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

September 2025, by Victoria Yakes '27

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Department of Biomedical Engineering celebrates Professor Kristen Billiar, Ph.D., on his election as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS).

The FAHA designation honors premium professional members of the AHA who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and sustained contribution in the areas of scholarship, education, and volunteer service.

Billiar joined the WPI faculty in 2002 after receiving his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania and working as a staff engineer. Previously named John Woodman Higgens Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the former Head of the WPI Department of Biomedical Engineering, Billiar now focuses on education and student engagement. He currently teaches biomechanics courses at all levels, sharing his passion for biology and engineering with students. Beyond the classroom, Prof. Billiar leads the Tissue Mechanics and Mechanobiology laboratory at WPI, which strives to understand how mechanical forces affect the body鈥檚 soft tissue cells. During exercise, the soft tissues of the body are subjected to forces from adjacent muscles, blood vessels, and digestive organs. Understanding how cells interpret these forces will aid in the development of treatments for a multitude of diseases, including cardiovascular disease.

The Billiar laboratory embodies a strong commitment to hands-on learning and research excellence. The laboratory hosts dedicated doctoral, master鈥檚, and undergraduate students, offering meaningful research and development opportunities at every academic level. Together, the lab pushes the boundaries of scientific innovation, uncovering new insights into the mechanics of the body and paving the way for biomedical breakthroughs such as developing functional microtissue models, studying heart valve cell mechanics, and modifying microfluidic devices.

Professor Billiar鈥檚 election as a fellow not only reflects his individual achievements but also highlights his dedication to the quality work conducted at WPI in the fields of cardiovascular science, biomechanics, and biomedical engineering education.

Engineering the Future: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Celebrates Young Innovators at WPI

lrafferty — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

July 2025, by Victoria Yakes '27

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) joined Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) this July to celebrate the accomplishment of students graduating from MeDHigh, a four-week biomedical engineering training program offered through the MLSC鈥檚 High School Apprenticeship Challenge.

Established in 2007, the MLSC launches funding programs, builds partnerships, and secures investments aimed at supporting opportunities across the Commonwealth. The MLSC has delegated over $1 billion dollars in support of local devotions to research and development, innovation, and scientific advancements, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities benefiting Massachusetts and beyond.

MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD, and members of the MLSC team, toured WPI鈥檚 state-of-the-art, MLSC-funded labs and had the opportunity to engage with students participating in MedHigh. The MedHigh program is designed to expose high school students to biomedical engineering, a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and biology.

Over the course of four weeks, students gained hands-on learning experience, benefiting from careful mentorship while developing their technical skill sets and gaining exposure to public speaking, scientific writing, and professional development. This year鈥檚 focus was on medical devices, with students encouraged to explore device improvements and their impacts on global health, particularly in under-resourced communities. During graduation, students shared their real-world prototypes with faculty and directors, showcasing the products of their hard work and innovative thinking.

鈥淲e鈥檙e cultivating the next generation of problem-solvers who will drive breakthroughs in medicine, engineering, and global health,鈥?said Solomon Mensah, MedHigh Director and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at WPI.

MedHigh offers an opportunity for students to break into a competitive and innovative field which values early experience and technical skills. Since 2024, MedHigh has celebrated 27 graduates from the program, and will continue to use over $140,000 in investments to promote STEM education for underrepresented communities in Massachusetts. The program hopes to bridge the gap between the technical field of engineering and its accessibility to local communities, bringing a new class of budding scientists and engineers to the forefront of innovation.

How Math at WPI Is Solving a 70-Year-Old Mystery in Muscle Science聽

sturecek — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

WPI professor Sam Walcott developed a molecular model that explains and accurately predicts muscle force, offering new opportunities for medical innovation.

In honor of our upcoming Arts & Sciences Week, WPI is showcasing research that demonstrates how mathematics is advancing medical science.

A new mathematical model developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) could enhance our understanding and treatment of heart disease. Created by Sam Walcott, director of bioinformatics and computational biology, the model simulates how microscopic structures within muscle cells generate force, using principles from both physics and biology to describe the interaction of individual molecules. It also reveals how subtle changes at the molecular level can lead to serious cardiac conditions. The research could inform the next generation of energy-efficient prosthetics.

Walcott collaborated with Edward (Ned) Debold, professor of kinesiology at UMass Amherst, and Walter Herzog, professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary. Using rabbit muscle tissue, Debold conducted molecular-scale experiments to study how individual muscle proteins respond under different conditions, while Herzog examined how whole muscle cells generate force. Their combined experiments provided data that Walcott then used for his model.

鈥淲e have developed a mathematical model that describes how muscle cells generate force by accounting for how the molecules in the cell interact,鈥?Walcott explains. 鈥淭his connection between the cellular and molecular scale is important because, for example, genetic heart disease often causes subtle changes in one or two types of molecules in the heart muscle, yet drastic changes in heart function.鈥?lt;/span>

Walcott鈥檚 research has big potential for the future of medical science. For example, a relatively new discovery in the world of muscle contraction research is thick filament activation, which is a kind of 鈥渙n/off-switch鈥?for muscle molecules. Walcott鈥檚 mathematical models account for this process and suggest how it might affect muscle function.

When you tense your muscle and stretch it (as if you're beginning to lose an arm-wrestling contest), your muscle can produce more force than without the stretch, a phenomenon called force enhancement. Similarly, if you tense your muscle and shorten it (as if you're beginning to win an arm-wrestling contest), your muscle can generate less force, a phenomenon called force depression. These phenomena, discovered in 1952, lack a molecular explanation. Remarkably, though one might expect force depression and

enhancement to arise from the same process, there are differences between them鈥攆or example, force enhancement is not associated with an increased number of force-generating muscle molecules, while force depression is associated with a decrease in those molecules.

A leading idea for how force enhancement arises is that a molecular "spring" gets engaged as you activate your muscle. When the muscle is then stretched, the spring is also stretched, thereby generating some extra force in addition to the force-generating molecules in the muscle. Walcott and his collaborators proposed that, when the muscle is shortened, the spring contracts. This then decreases the force in the muscle. Thick filament activation proposes that the force-generating molecules switch "off" when force drops, so this drop in force decreases the number of force-generating molecules. This explains both the drop in force observed in force depression and also why the number of force-generating molecules decreases.

The model, which was originally designed to describe the Herzog lab鈥檚 cellular experiments, was also able to successfully predict the results of the Debold lab鈥檚 molecular-scale experiments. This suggests that we can, in fact, connect the behavior of molecules with the function of muscle cells.

These discoveries mark an exciting step in the world of medicine and biomechanical design, like heart disease research and prosthetics. 鈥淒esigning prosthetics requires thinking about how muscles use energy, since one wants the prosthetic to be both functional and efficient,鈥?Walcott explains. 鈥淚f we understand how muscle molecules interact, we can understand how they use energy and how the muscle overall uses energy.鈥?lt;/span>

Walcott鈥檚 research was supported by a $1.4 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), an institute of the NIH. This project also highlights the interdisciplinary focus of WPI鈥檚 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program, where students and faculty use math and data to explore the frontiers of biological research.

The Power of Our Collective Work: A Thank You to WPI Faculty and Staff

kmongeau — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

As the fall season approaches and A term is underway, we in University Advancement want to express our gratitude to WPI鈥檚 faculty and staff. Your commitment and care are central to the experiences of our students and the strength of our community.

Thank you for sharing your time, your expertise, and your ideas. Whether you鈥檙e collaborating with donors, mentoring students, supporting campus life, or engaging in community -your work and your partnership matter deeply.

We know that the impact of our efforts is greatest when we work together. As we look ahead, we are grateful for your partnership鈥攁nd we look forward to deepening our shared efforts to ensure that WPI continues to be a place where innovation, belonging, and student success are possible for all.

With appreciation,
University Advancement

Last Day to Submit Wellness Day Events for 9/19!

gheinsohn — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Today is the last day to submit Wellness Day events for approval! Requests received after today will not be approved.

Submit your event request here.