Rochester Rising - University Magazine Spring 2021 - Rochester Institute of Technology
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Tour the new Senior design
cybersecurity results in more
complex than prototypes
University Magazine
Spring 2021
Rochester Rising
RIT is helping make Rochester a next-generation technology hub
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to Rochester:
A renaissance with RIT
our regional economy and quality of life,
where the sector is a source of new knowl-
edge, technology transfer, workforce
RIT University Magazine development, and service to the commu-
Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito
Executive Editors nity. We have an impressive cluster of 19
Phil Castleberry, University Advancement public and private colleges throughout the
Bob Finnerty ’07 MS, Marketing and Communications greater Rochester region. Collectively, we
Vanessa J. Herman,
Government and Community Relations enroll 83,000 students and award 19,000
John Trierweiler, Marketing and Communications degrees each year. We are one of the most
Editor academically productive regions in the
Mindy Mozer, Marketing and Communications country, ranking third in college degrees
I
Art Director
f Chester Carlson, George Eastman, per capita and No. 1 for degrees in STEM
Jeff Arbegast ’93 MS, Marketing and Communications Kate Gleason, and Henry Lomb could fields, according to the U.S. Department of
Photography Editor
see Rochester today, these inventors Education.
Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito ’07, and pioneers would want to invest in our Did the COVID-19 pandemic slow Roch-
Marketing and Communications resurging region. ester down? Quite the opposite. Greater
Assistant Editor More than 70 percent of our 136,000 Rochester Enterprise, the organization
Scott Bureau ’11, ’16 MBA, alumni live away from greater Rochester. responsible for recruiting companies to
Marketing and Communications
Yet they often ask about the economic the area, had a banner year benefitting
Contributing Editors health of the region. Whether our alumni from record capital investments and add-
Jon Rodibaugh ’12 MBA,
live in tech hubs like Silicon Valley or ing thousands of new jobs across various
Advancement and Alumni Relations
Cindy Sobieraj, Advancement and Alumni Relations Boston, or overseas in Croatia or India, business sectors. This includes optics,
they still have a fondness for the Finger photonics and imaging, food and bever-
Photographers
Elizabeth Lamark ’00, Marketing and Communications Lakes region. age, advanced manufacturing, energy
A. Sue Weisler ’93 MS, Marketing and Communications My elevator speech is that Rochester innovation, and e-commerce.
Writers: Marketing and Communications has a new economy and RIT is helping to We also are harnessing this vibrancy
Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS Rich Kiley drive it to new heights. Today, there are for our students. There is a new vision
Scott Bureau ’11, ’16 MBA Greg Livadas more people employed here than were for Rochester’s 30-story former Xerox
Michelle Cometa ’00 Vienna McGrain ’12 MS
Susan Gawlowicz ’95 Shelly Meyer employed by the “Big Three”—Kodak, Tower that will transform the office
Xerox, Bausch & Lomb—combined in complex into student housing and a busi-
Copy Editor
Marie Lang, Marketing and Communications their heyday, up 30,000 to a workforce ness innovation hub. Innovation Square,
Print Production of 537,000. And the local economy is a project recently announced by Gallina
Brenda Monahan, Marketing and Communications more diversified, with 97 percent of the Development, will draw upper-level and
Marketing and Communications Rochester region workforce employed in graduate students from area colleges and
22 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5608
companies of 100 employees or less. universities. Several renovated floors are
Voice: 585-475-5064, Fax: 585-475-5097 When we look back at the past, it expected to open this summer.
Email: umag@rit.edu should be with excitement rather than RIT’s talent is a key ingredient in this
Office of Alumni Relations wistfulness, for we have been given an resurgence. Rochester has the capacity
Crossroads 41 Lomb Memorial Drive amazing legacy that includes everything and resources to surpass its former glory,
Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Voice: 585-475-ALUM, Toll Free: 866-RIT-ALUM necessary for major success in a new era just in a different way. Watch us grow!
TTY: 585-475-2764, Fax: 585-475-5308 that now is in full swing.
Email: ritalum@rit.edu The region has an extraordinary Yours in Tiger and Rochester pride,
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, abundance of assets that position us to
New York, publishes RIT University Magazine. be an entrepreneurial powerhouse. We
RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and
not only have the intellectual talent and
values diversity within its workforce and provides
equal opportunity to all qualified individuals major university partners that forward- David C. Munson Jr., President
regardless of race, color, creed, age, marital status, looking companies require, but we also munson@rit.edu
sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender Twitter: @RITPresident
identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran
have inherited an exceptional quality of
status, or disability. life thanks to an impressive cluster of cul-
tural organizations, unparalleled natural P.S.: The Imagine RIT: Creativity and
Vol. 23, No. 1, 130.6M-P2363-4/2021-LANE-JSA resources, and a resilient and welcoming Innovation Festival is being held virtually
Printer: The Lane Press; Burlington, Vermont
© 2021 Rochester Institute of Technology spirit of community. on Saturday, May 1. View the exhibits the
All rights reserved. Higher education is a major driver in day of or any time after at rit.edu/imagine.
Cover
Move over, SiIicon
Valley. Rochester
can be the
next American
Jim Montanus
technology hub,
and RIT is helping
drive the innovation.
University Magazine
Spring 2021
18
Elizabeth Lamark
Protecting the Future See what's inside the new global cybersecurity complex on campus.
Departments Features
2 On Campus 12 14 26 34
6 About Students
Research Senior Design Rochester Faculty Profile
10 Research
Students discover RIT’s multidis- Rising Meet Joshua
34 Faculty Profile
hidden 15th- ciplinary senior RIT is helping Rashaad
36 Alumni Awards century text design program make Rochester McFadden,
40 Alumni Updates on medieval results in more a next-generation assistant
46 Class Notes manuscripts. than prototypes. technology hub. professor of
54 In Memoriam photography.
On Campus
Dean Yong
“Tai” Wang
looks to grow
the College of
Health Sciences
and Technology
in all directions.
A. Sue Weisler
Meet the new health sciences dean
R IT’s College of Health Sciences
and Technology began the year
under new leadership with Dean
Yong “Tai” Wang.
Wang joined RIT in January from the Uni-
Physical Therapy program and Rochester
Regional Health would like to provide the
clinical site. It is one of the hot programs in
health professions. The American Associa-
tion of Physical Therapy required every
American Journal of Chinese Medicine. It is
one of the most cited Tai Chi studies.
Then I started to develop wheelchair Tai
Chi with funding from Paralyzed Veterans
of America and from the National Institute
versity of Texas at Tyler, where he was dean Master of Physical Therapy program to con- of Disability and Rehabilitative Research.
and endowed chair professor of the Drs. Lee vert to Doctor of Physical Therapy by 2020. I think I am one of the leading persons
Roy and Lucy Mathis College of Nursing and I was a professor of physical therapy doing wheelchair Tai Chi in the United
Health Sciences. for 16 years. I have experience through the States. Then I started to look at Tai Chi
His research focuses on rehabilita- whole process of converting the program for cognitive issues, such as cognitive
tive biomechanics related to wheelchair from BS to Master of Physical Therapy, impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.
locomotion and Tai Chi exercise. Now at then to Doctor of Physical Therapy. I hope
RIT, Wang looks forward to connecting the to develop a similar program at RIT in the What would you like students and
health sciences and technology to create future. The Doctor of Physical Therapy will alumni to know about you?
new health care solutions, and new degree be my first project. I am a dean and also a professor. When I
programs. Here, Wang shares his ideas. was dean at the University of Texas at Tyler,
I understand you are a Tai Chi master. I met with students several times a semester
What excites you about RIT? How does Tai Chi inform your research? to hear what they needed to be supported.
The reputation of RIT and the uniqueness Tai Chi is my passion. It is a mind-body The ultimate goal is student success.
of the college. There are not many colleges exercise and a combination of breathing We talk about student success in terms of
like this in the United States that combine and graceful movement. In Tai Chi, both recruitment, retention, and graduation.
health sciences and technology. I think the hands are moving in opposite directions. I think we should add another one, as we
college has great potential to grow. It’s called the yin and yang balance. did at UT Tyler, called job placement.
Tai Chi is one area of my research in the We had a person in the college called a
The College of Health Sciences and past 20 years. I taught Tai Chi as a therapeu- career success coach to help students pre-
Technology grew from the RIT and tic exercise for Doctor of Physical Therapy pare their résumés, prepare for interviews,
Rochester Regional Health Alliance. students at Georgia State University. and find jobs. I would like to do some simi-
What opportunities do you see through I measured students’ physical and lar things to help students.
this strategic partnership? mental health at the beginning and end of
RIT is interested in developing a Doctor of the semester and published a paper in the Susan Gawlowicz ’95
2 | SPRING 2021
Retired VP leaves indelible mark on university,
Greater Rochester region after 41 years
D ebbie Stendardi, who retired as
vice president of Government and
Community Relations at the end of
2020, leaves an indelible mark on RIT and
the Greater Rochester region.
“She has established and led countless
campus activities that are now signature
functions of the university, including
creation of the RIT University Magazine and
Brick City Homecoming and Family Week-
Stendardi, who began working at RIT end. It is hard to imagine an RIT without
in 1979, stepped down from a university Debbie.”
that has ascended to a world-class research Stendardi also was a vital contributor to
institution and a major economic develop- countless Finger Lakes Regional Economic
ment force during her tenure. Development Council’s activities, Greater
During that time, she built strong, long- Rochester Enterprise, and other economic
term relationships with top political and development entities in the region.
business leaders, who praised Stendardi “I would like to be remembered as a
for her unstinting efforts on behalf of the collaborator who worked well with others
university, RIT students, and beyond. across the university and the community,
Among her many accomplishments, and who looked to bring people together
Stendardi advocated for financial aid pro- to achieve mutual goals,” Stendardi said.
Elizabeth Lamark
grams to enable more students to benefit “The role that RIT plays as an economic
from an RIT education. driver in the region and the respect and
She helped secure funding for ground- esteem it engenders makes me feel truly
breaking initiatives, including Golisano privileged to have had the opportunity to Debbie Stendardi retired as vice president of
Institute for Sustainability, MAGIC Spell serve the university for these 41 years.” Government and Community Relations at the
Studios, the AMPrint Center for Advanced Vanessa J. Herman, a higher education end of 2020.
Technology, and most recently, the Global veteran who was serving as assistant vice
Cybersecurity Institute. president for government and community as what political leaders had to say about
Donald J. Truesdale, chairman of RIT’s relations at Pace University, was chosen to her career, at bit.ly/RITStendardi.
Board of Trustees, called Stendardi “an ever- succeed Stendardi after a national search.
present force of nature in support of RIT.” Read more about Stendardi, as well Rich Kiley
NTID program addresses
need for interpreters of color
A ddressing the need for diverse rep-
resentation in the sign language in-
terpreting profession is the goal of a
highly successful program at RIT’s National
Technical Institute for the Deaf.
Named for Valarie Randleman, the first
Black interpreter in RIT/NTID’s Department
of Access Services, the program strives to
reflect Randleman’s qualities of humility,
service, dedication, and support for others.
The Randleman Program, a two-year “The interpreting field is white-domi-
preceptorship that focuses on intersection- nated at nearly 90 percent, which makes
ality and inclusion of interpreters from experiences like those offered with the
underrepresented minorities, aims to equip Randleman Program unique,” said Kristi
interpreters of color who are newer to the Love, program coordinator. “It is rewarding
field for the demands of interpreting in a and inspiring to see firsthand the personal
Mark Benjamin
postsecondary environment, while simulta- and professional strides participants make,
neously increasing diversity representation. while at the same time contributing to
The program accepted its inaugural advancing the field of interpreting.”
cohort of protégés in January 2019 and con- Valarie Randleman was the first Black interpreter
tinues to expand each year. Vienna McGrain ’12 MS in RIT/NTID’s Department of Access Services.
SPRING 2021 | 3
On Campus
Students learn
supply chain management
by solving
T he impact of COVID-19 on national
and global supply chains has domi-
nated discussions in boardrooms
and at dinner tables since the beginning of
the pandemic. From meat and toilet paper
cal Center (URMC), managing order place-
ment, shipping, and receiving. He is also
part of the effort to streamline PPE ordering
from URMC’s affiliates, including hospitals
and urgent care facilities, with a new
pressures in this market.”
Assistant Professor Steven Carnovale
leads RIT’s graduate supply chain degree
offerings and teaches the undergraduate
supply chain management capstone course,
shortages in grocery stores, to significant web application. which is part of the undergraduate supply
lapses in life-saving personal protective As part of his work, Green keeps current chain degree program, a future-focused
equipment in hospitals and clinics, the with ever-changing guidelines, regulations, new economy major.
world has witnessed how supply-chain and supply-chain constraints, and ensures Together with his colleagues, Carnovale
disruptions halt progress. that URMC clinics and hospital locations has tweaked the curriculum to reflect how
But while this unprecedented global have PPE in the right place, at the right time, to coordinate the balance of inbound and
health crisis has created many challenges, and for the right price. outbound materials, how manufacturers
it has also presented RIT faculty, and “Through my combined classroom and have had to move facility operations to
students like Brendan Green, with oppor- work experiences, I’ve learned that hospi- domestically based operations, and how
tunities to apply theoretical supply-chain tals have been under pressure to manage companies are reconsidering sourcing deci-
scenarios to solve real-world problems. purchasing, inventory, and distribution sions in the midst of COVID-19.
For several months, Green, a graduate of big commodity items like gloves, masks, In fact, RIT’s supply chain graduate
student in RIT’s global supply chain man- and gowns,” said Green, who is from program was recently revised as STEM-
agement program, has been a supply chain Penfield, N.Y. “This project is developing designated degrees using 21st-century data-
specialist for University of Rochester Medi- the platform that will deal with the outside driven techniques and decision making to
4 | SPRING 2021
RIT student Brendan Green,
left, and Assistant Professor
Steven Carnovale discuss the
supply chain management of
PPE at University of Rochester
Medical Center. As part of his
RIT class, Green is using real-
world supply chain issues to
find workable solutions.
real-world problems
A. Sue Weisler
generate practical, managerial results. “We don’t teach sophisticated random world fueled his passion for supply chain.
“At the point when COVID-19 became a guessing. When our students and graduates “This has been a very challenging time
global phenomenon, I was able to relay to speak with their managers, they won’t say, for everyone, including URMC, but it has
our classes how supply chain is the epi- ‘I think we can probably save the company also been a great learning experience at
center when it comes to sourcing, manu- $10,000. Instead, they will be able to say, work and in the classroom,” said Green.
facturing, and distribution. Everything is ‘If we do this, this, and this, we will save “I just love seeing this process go from zero
interrelated,” said Carnovale, who teaches this much. And here’s the proof.’” to where we need it to be. From inventory
Green’s Supply Chain Analytics course. Green is also learning to roll with the to logistics to distribution, I love being in
“COVID-19 has induced a bull-whip supply-chain punches and respond in ways touch with so many areas of supply chain
effect where manufacturing decisions, the that will create solutions. “You think you’re management. It’s a wonder to me.”
demand for supply, and disorganization shored up with a supplier, but they call with As for Carnovale, he believes in the
have resulted in one of the most common a logistics issue. You have to go back to the power of real-world corporate learning.
problems in supply chain management—a drawing board. Then the government comes “This is a program where the rubber
failure to fulfill orders on time, and in full.” up with new guidelines. I’m learning how to meets the road. We are giving our students
Carnovale also said that although Green’s handle a constantly shifting environment.” a toolbox equipped with multiple
real-world example uses PPE as the “goods,” Prior to URMC, Green had worked for a ways to solve the problems that they will
mathematical modeling and analytical local small business and always enjoyed inevitably face. We teach them how to be
techniques allow students to substitute PPE the operational side of the business. His the ‘Ace Hardware’ of supply chain.”
for books, shirts, eggs, milk, or any product fascination with how goods flow from com-
that a supply chain is tasked with fulfilling. pany to company and move throughout the Vienna McGrain ’12 MS
SPRING 2021 | 5
About
Students
Pancy Lwin, a mathematical
modeling Ph.D. student from
Myanmar, received an NSF
INTERN award to work at IBM
Research Almaden developing
models that study the interplay
of structure, statistical
mechanics, and mechanics
in biological systems.
A. Sue Weisler
Ph.D. students complement academic
P ancy Lwin sits about
2,700 miles from IBM
Research Almaden, but
she is helping scientists there
develop methods to model how
retical condensed matter and
statistical physics who leads
theoretical and computational
physics work at IBM Research
Almaden. Lwin’s graduate
only students taking advantage
of RIT’s co-op and internship
program. Across the university,
Ph.D. students are securing
prestigious work experiences
of RIT’s Ph.D. alumni go on to
work in such settings rather
than academia, estimates Twyla
Cummings, RIT’s associate
provost and dean of Graduate
antiviral treatments impact advisor, Associate Professor like Lwin’s to provide important Education.
the spread of flu-like viruses, Moumita Das, has collaborated gateways to careers in industry, “I think our students bring
including COVID-19. with Jones on previous projects foundations, and government. a fresh and interesting perspec-
Lwin, a mathematical model- and made the connection, so Interdisciplinary internships tive to these entities and there’s
ing Ph.D. student from Myan- Lwin seized the opportunity to outside of RIT are a required a clear benefit for both parties,”
mar, received an NSF INTERN complement her academics. component of Lwin’s Ph.D. pro- said Cummings. “It helps our
award to work at IBM Research “Being a part of this project is gram. She began her internship students answer the question,
Almaden, based in San José, awesome, honestly,” said Lwin. in February and will continue ‘Is this really what I want to do?’
Calif., developing models that “It’s a very hot topic and we’re through August. Upon comple- Or they gain some additional
study the interplay of structure, taking a theoretical approach tion, she’s hoping to have a new insight and experience that
statistical mechanics, and me- to solving it. Biophysics is very set of skills to supplement those helps them shape not only their
chanics in biological systems. complicated because you have she is developing while working research for their dissertation,
Although the pandemic interconnected processes in a on her dissertation, as well as but also for their future.”
prevented her from doing the biological system happening a better sense of opportunities Data from the Office of Career
internship in person, she has at micro and macro levels, but that exist in industry. Services and Cooperative Edu-
been working remotely under I’m hoping to help make some Establishing those profes- cation shows that over the past
the guidance of Barbara Jones, important findings.” sional connections is important five years, 84 Ph.D. students
an expert in the area of theo- Undergraduates aren’t the because more than 80 percent have formally reported com-
6 | SPRING 2021
Olivia Kuzio completed
a yearlong co-op at
the Getty Institute for
Conservation and two
summer co-ops at the
Smithsonian Museum
Conservation Institute
while pursuing her Ph.D.
in color science.
Douglass MacLennan
research with internships and co-ops
co-ops and internships were thinking about putting One of her advisors, Professor
are optional for most Ph.D. in shows. Roy Berns, had previously gone
programs. She said one of her favorite on sabbatical and worked with
Olivia Kuzio recently projects she worked on was a the technical studies research
completed her third co-op group of color studies from the team, saw the opening, and
while pursuing her Ph.D. Bauhaus in the early 20th cen- encouraged her to apply.
in color science, a program tury because of its focus on the Kuzio said her co-op experi-
where co-ops are optional. art and science of paint mixing, ences have helped shape her
She previously spent two and how the human visual sys- career aspirations. She hopes to
summers on co-op with the tem interprets color mixtures. continue to work in the field of
Smithsonian Museum Conser- Another highlight was us- conservation science with the
Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito
vation Institute in Washington, ing imaging techniques on a goal of working in a lab or stu-
D.C., and in the fall she finished 16th-century painting by Hans dio affiliated with a museum.
a yearlong co-op at the Getty Holbein the Younger to reveal “I’ve been so fortunate, I’ve
Conservation Institute in Los hidden features in the paint learned a lot, and I feel like my
Angeles. layers beneath the painting’s knowledge speaks for itself,”
Twyla Cummings, RIT’s associate In her co-op at the Getty surface, which provided never- said Kuzio. “I learn so much
provost and dean of Graduate Conservation Institute, Kuzio before-seen details about the here on campus in my research,
Education. used analytical techniques artist’s creative process. but it’s so enriched by the expe-
to answer technical questions Kuzio credited her depart- riences I’ve had at the museums
pleting 161 co-op placements at about artworks that conserva- ment’s faculty with providing I’ve worked at.”
90 employers. But that count is tors were working on restoring Ph.D. students support to ex-
likely lower than reality because or stabilizing and that curators plore opportunities like these. Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS
SPRING 2021 | 7
About Students 8 | SPRING 2021
Recharging and doing good
Students within RIT’s two hospitality clubs and
the Eta Sigma Delta honor society used one
of three Recharge Days to bake and deliver
cookies to first responders in Rochester. The
spring semester featured three recharge days
for students to take a break from classes and
studying. Other activities included a trip to a
maple syrup farm, an e-sports tournament, rock
painting, and hikes. Ndidi Chimah, a second-
year hospitality and tourism management
major from Baltimore, Md., who is pictured
here, hopes the initiative will encourage others
to give back to their communities.
A. Sue WeislerImproving health Toilet seat technology
The smart toilet seat , Equipped to measure the
developed by Casana, electrical and mechanical
Research strives to make it easier activity of the heart, the
for clinicians to monitor smart toilet seat can also
patients with congestive monitor heart rate, blood
heart failure in the comfort pressure, and blood
of their own homes. oxygenation levels.
Alumni join forces to market smart
A lumnus Nick Conn’s vision for a
one-of-a-kind smart toilet seat that
will improve the health of people
around the world has made giant leaps
toward becoming a reality with the help of
at The Villages active adult community in
Florida.
“Right now we are polishing the product,”
Conn said. “I am able to focus on where I
can provide the most value, which is en-
one of RIT’s most generous patrons. hancing the design and capabilities of the
product and tweaking the technology. With
Austin at the helm of our leadership team,
we are able to produce a fantastic product
that will work as intended every single time,
and Austin can focus on continuing to raise
Oliver Thom
capital, building partnerships and connec-
tions, and marketing the toilet seat. We all
Joining the Casana leadership team as CEO is complement each other so well.”
Austin McChord ’09, founder of Datto Inc. McChord first met Conn in 2018 during
an RIT visit and was impressed with the
lutionary product hopes to make it easier toilet seat technology that he developed.
for clinicians to monitor patients with McChord kept up with Conn’s progress, and
the condition in the comfort of their own in 2020, when the world changed due to the
homes, as well as lower hospital readmis- pandemic, he realized that it was the right
sion rates. The toilet seats are equipped time to express his intentions to help bring
to measure the electrical and mechanical the toilet seat to market.
activity of the heart and can monitor heart “Nick is a brilliant scientist and the
Gene Avallone
rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation toilet seat is his life’s work. You cannot find
levels, and stroke volume. anyone in the world more passionate about
Algorithms analyze the data and will toilet seats than Nick,” said McChord. “But
RIT alumnus Nick Conn ’11, '13, ’16 developed notify advanced practice providers of health the process of turning an idea into an actual
the smart toilet seat when he was a student, parameters outside of the set range. A re- industry, into a company that is going to
along with Professor David Borkholder. port, passed along to cardiologists, will help be impactful, is really hard. I’ve been down
determine if intervention is necessary. that road. I knew that I could help him, and
Casana, the company formerly known as According to Conn, who earned three Nick was down for that. We are growing fast
Heart Health Intelligence created by Conn, degrees from RIT—a bachelor’s degree and a and are moving fast to make this a reality.”
received $14 million in funding to further master’s degree in electrical engineering in Following the $14 million investment,
the development of a toilet seat-based 2011 and 2013, respectively, and a doctoral McChord brought on a team of “excellent
cardiovascular monitoring system. Joining degree in microsystems engineering in operators” from his time at General Catalyst
the Casana leadership team as CEO is Austin 2016—the toilet seat will be soon entering and Datto. In a matter of a few months, the
McChord ’09, founder of Datto Inc., who in the clinical trial phase as part of the FDA company grew from four to 25 employees,
2017 donated $50 million to RIT, the largest clearance process. The first human subject including the addition of RIT Professor
gift in the university’s history. testing will be conducted internally at the David Borkholder, a full-time member of
With 1 million new cases of congestive company’s headquarters in Rochester, at the the Casana leadership team. Borkholder was
heart failure diagnosed each year, the revo- University of Rochester Medical Center, and instrumental in helping Conn develop the
10 | SPRING 2021Next steps
The product will soon be
entering the clinical trial
phase, which includes
human subject testing, as
part of the FDA clearance
process. Once cleared,
production begins.
toilet seat
project at RIT.
McChord said the FDA clearance, once
reached, will be the first of its kind since
there are no other smart health monitoring
toilet seats in production in the world.
“We have to prove to the world that our
product does what we say it does,” he said.
“Proving that is very expensive, which is
why we made such a major investment.
But we will have a truly unique position
in the market and we are already several
years ahead of any potential competition.”
McChord said he is drawn to ideas in
“unsexy spaces that no one is paying at-
tention to.” He was interested in this idea
because not many people in the world
are paying attention to toilet seats and
data backup.
“These areas that are overlooked are About the name
actually really fascinating spaces,” he The name Casana,
added. “Outsiders who bring a fresh look according to founder Nick
at an existing space have a good chance
Conn, means “healthy
at disrupting it—and those are the things
that I get most excited about.”
home” in Italian. Casana
Conn, who has wanted to be an electrical was formerly called Heart
engineer and entrepreneur since he was 11 Health Intelligence.
years old, believes that everything in his
life has led to this particular adventure.
“The combination of an invention that
offers huge impact, cool technology, and
a ‘wow factor’ is everything that I’ve ever
dreamt of,” said Conn. “I just thought it
would take a lot longer to get to this point.
I’m so excited that every day I get to work
with a phenomenal team that is here to sup-
port me, which is the wildest part of it all.
I am possibly the most blessed person in
Rochester. My dream is happening and it’s
happening at the highest level possible.”
Vienna McGrain ’12 MS
SPRING 2021 | 11Research
By using ultraviolet-fluorescence imaging, RIT students revealed that a 15th-century manuscript leaf
held in RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection was actually a palimpsest, a manuscript on parchment with
multiple layers of writing. The image on the left shows the document as it appears in visible light, while
the image on the right was produced by the student-built imaging system.
Students discover hidden 15th-century
R IT students discovered lost text on
15th-century manuscript leaves
using an imaging system they devel-
oped as freshmen.
By using ultraviolet-fluorescence imaging,
parchments from the Cary Collection here
at RIT and when we put one of them under
the UV light, it showed this amazing dark
French cursive underneath,” said Zoë
LaLena, a second-year imaging science
Innovative Freshman Experience, a year-
long, project-based course that has the im-
aging science, motion picture science, and
photographic sciences programs combine
their talents to solve a problem.
the students revealed that a manuscript leaf student from Fairport, N.Y., who worked on When RIT switched to remote instruc-
held in RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection the project. “This was amazing because this tion in March 2020 due to the coronavirus
was actually a palimpsest, a manuscript on document has been in the Cary Collection outbreak, the students were unable to finish
parchment with multiple layers of writing. for about a decade now and no one noticed. building it, but thanks to a donation from
At the time the manuscript was written, And because it’s also from the Ege Collection, Jeffrey Harris ’75 (photographic science and
making parchment was expensive, so leaves in which there’s 30 other known pages from instrumentation) and Joyce Pratt, three stu-
were regularly scraped or erased and re-used. this book, it’s really fascinating that the 29 dents received funding to continue to work
While the erased text is invisible to the other pages we know the location of have on the project over the summer.
naked eye, the chemical signature of the the potential to also be palimpsests.” Those three students—LaLena; Lisa Enochs,
initial writing can sometimes be detected The imaging system was originally built a second-year student double majoring in
using other areas of the light spectrum. by 19 students enrolled in the Chester F. motion picture science and imaging science
“Using our system, we borrowed several Carlson Center for Imaging Science’s from Mississauga, Ontario; and Malcom
12 | SPRING 2021A multidisciplinary team of
students, including Zoë LaLena,
created the imaging system
for their Innovative Freshman
Experience class. The team
started the project last fall,
before RIT switched to remote
instruction in March 2020.
Elizabeth Lamark
text on medieval manuscripts
Zale, a second-year motion picture science North America, including to the Cary Col- manuscript leaves from Ege collections
student from Milford, Mass.—finished lection. Galbraith said he’s excited because across the country are palimpsests. They
assembling the system in the fall when it means that other institutions with Ege imaged another Ege Collection leaf at the
classes resumed and began analyzing docu- Collection leaves now may have palimp- Buffalo and Erie County Public Library that
ments from the Cary Collection. sests in their collection to study. turned out to be a palimpsest and are reach-
Steven Galbraith, curator of the Cary “The students have supplied incredibly ing out to other curators across the country.
Graphic Arts Collection, said he was excited important information about at least two of As they begin stitching the lost text back
they discovered the manuscript leaf was our manuscript leaves here in the collection together, paleographers can examine the
a palimpsest because similar leaves have and in a sense have discovered two texts information they contain.
been studied extensively by scholars across that we didn’t know were in the collection,” The students have been selected to share
the country, but never tested with UV light said Galbraith. “Now we have to figure out their results at the 2021 International Con-
or fully imaged. what those texts are, and that’s the power of gress on Medieval Studies. The project also
Collector, educator, and historian Otto spectral imaging in cultural institutions. To was featured in stories by the Daily Mail, Ars
Ege made leaf collections out of medieval fully understand our own collections, we Technica, Smithsonian Magazine, Mashable,
manuscripts that were damaged or incom- need to know the depth of our collections, and more.
plete and sold them or distributed them and imaging science helps reveal that to us.”
to libraries and special collections across The students are interested to see if more Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS
SPRING 2021 | 13Senior Design
Students work on the design process for the Dreadnoughtus tail Students Joseph Samuelson, left, and Ryan Kent adjust the model tail and
with help from James Whritenor, the project team’s faculty guide. the electronic sensor pad to assess the impact of the tail as it moves.
Senior design program
results in more
S tudents in RIT’s Multi
disciplinary Senior Design
program are building
a robotic model of a dinosaur
tail and sustainable water sys
for a company, an individual
in the community, or RIT.
Some teams are even consider
ing filing patent applications.”
Multidisciplinary Senior
RIT colleges.
Ideas for projects come
from companies, community
agencies, faculty-researchers,
alumni, and the students them
Engineering Network (KEEN)
partner school, we are com
mitted to instilling an entre
preneurial mindset within
our students,” said DeBartolo.
tems for developing countries. Design is a required, two selves. Students returning from RIT has been a part of KEEN, a
They are developing a semester, design-based course co-ops have initiated projects national initiative to advance
training system for lacrosse for engineering students. Cur specific to work they did while undergraduate engineering
goalkeepers and collaborating rently, more than 400 students at companies, and companies education, since 2019.
with space engineers on rocket are working on 80-plus projects. in turn sponsor the work. “This capstone experience
launches. The course, which started in A team can spend as many gives our seniors a chance to
“These are more than ‘I’ve 2002 as a pilot program in engi as 1,200 person-hours over two showcase their curiosity and
got an idea for nifty-widget neering, today features innova semesters developing working ability to make interesting
projects,’” said Beth DeBartolo, tive tracks such as sustainable prototypes, ready-to-implement connections in their work,
director of Multidisciplinary designs, assistive technologies, devices, process improvements, while creating value for clients.”
Senior Design. “These projects and aerospace systems, and or system software. Following are a few of their
are creating value, whether includes students from other “As a Kern Entrepreneurial innovations.
14 | SPRING 2021Photos by Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito
Joseph Samuelson, forefront, checks connections for teammates Ryan Kaiya Li adjusts the Dreadnoughtus model tail. Its 3 feet in length is scaled
Kent and Kaiya Li, who make sure the data collection system is working to align with the actual 30-foot-long tail of the dinosaur.
to record tail locomotion.
than prototypes
Robotics zoo This past year, she connect About the tail
expands to dinosaurs ed with a researcher at Rowan
The system simulates the
When Kathleen Lamkin-Kennard, University, who is interested in
associate professor of mechanical applications of high-tech tools swinging motion of the
engineering, began research for paleontology. Dreadnoughtus tail. Sensors
work on soft muscles and Although there is much are embedded to detect
actuators, she used nature evidence about dinosaur move bending and acceleration.
as her model to produce ment based on fossils, there
moving robots. are no real dinosaurs to test
Over the past few years, theories. But being able to assess
she and her student teams tail movement contributes to
have developed otters, fish, and understanding animal
other animal shapes to show biomechanics.
that McKibben muscle systems
can be successfully integrated
into prosthetics and other
biomedical devices.
Elizabeth Lamark
SPRING 2021 | 15Senior Design
Co-op connection
Students like Joseph Even
introduce new projects for their
senior design capstone based
on work they did while on co-op.
His team’s data acquisition
system may one day be on a
Relativity Space mission.
Water treatment for
the developing world
Clean water is taken for grant
ed in some parts of the world,
but for other areas, the need
for this valuable resource is
immeasurable.
Luke Murphy and his team
mates developed a prototype
UV LED water disinfection
Relativity Space
system to meet this crisis.
Joseph Even Bryce Salmi ’13 The affordable system,
which they estimate at just
under $50, is an easy-to-use,
self-contained system expect
Lamkin-Kennard’s team part of the team that designed cally designed for testing and ed to produce nearly 15 liters
built a 3-foot swinging mixed-signal data acquisition characterizing rocket engines. of water a day.
dinosaur tail, modeled on hardware to simulate various Project technology developed “Our product takes ad
the Dreadnoughtus, to help sensors as part of Hardware- will benefit both Relativity vantage of advancing UV
researchers study the way it In-The-Loop for the Terran 1 Space and the RIT Launch technologies, specifically
moves through actuation mod rocket. The Terran 1 is one of Initiative. UV LEDs,” said the fifth-year
els and biomechanics. the company’s low Earth Even and his teammates, industrial engineering student
Their work supports faculty orbit rockets that integrates Jared Bandru, an electrical from Avon, Ind. “By using this
research, provides a collabo 3D printing, artificial intelli engineering major; Ben technology, we are able to san
ration with another universi gence, and robotics. Hebert, a mechanical engi itize water with far less power
ty, and includes a corporate Even, a fourth-year electri neering major; and Anthony
partnership with Lockheed cal engineering student from Bacchetta and Jay Mantini,
Martin. Several of the compa Orchard Park, N.Y., worked both computer engineering
ny’s engineers are mentoring with Bryce Salmi ’13 (electrical majors, are creating two data
the team. engineering), someone with a acquisition systems—one for
similar, enthusiastic interest Relativity Space and one for
Co-op inspires in space technology and travel the RIT Launch Initiative.
rocket project who works for the company. “I always wanted to work
When Joseph Even came to RIT Salmi’s own senior design on the most challenging
four years ago, one of the clubs project on a Cube Sat device thing I could find,” said
he joined was the RIT Launch eventually made it into space Even. “Relativity Space is
Initiative, and he has been and is integrated onto current doing something particularly
A. Sue Weisler
involved in rocket builds and satellites to optimize power special—3D printing rockets
competitions ever since. from spacecraft solar panels. in their entirety. This aspect
Completing a co-op with The deliverable for Even’s of the company adds a slew of Ultraviolet LED lights are an energy
Relativity Space as an avionics project is a high-speed data challenges making the work efficient disinfection method in
intern last summer, he was acquisition system, specifi that much more exciting.” areas with limited electrical power.
16 | SPRING 2021Solving problems Other projects
Students develop projects
that solve a problem, in NASA connections
RIT is fielding two teams
this case training lacrosse this year for the PSYCHE
goaltenders. Mission, a collaboration with
Arizona State University,
which is leading collegiate
design work for the NASA
initiative. The mission is an
up-and-coming exploration
of a unique metal asteroid
that may help scientists un-
derstand planet formation.
RIT’s teams are working
A. Sue Weisler to develop a landing system
that could orbit the asteroid,
send sampling equipment to
Helping others the surface, and return
Michael Smith, left, and samples for eventual
analysis.
Luke Murphy discuss the
“NASA believes the
technology integrated mission overall might give
into a home-based water insight into how the Earth
was formed,” said Beth
filtration system.
DeBartolo, director of
Multidisciplinary Senior
required than before. This allows Design. “The project
us to disinfect water remotely, provides networking
with the use of a solar panel Senior design prototypes start with CAD designs that detail device opportunities for students
dimensions and electronics integration. that they might not
instead of traditional power.”
otherwise have because
RIT’s engineering faculty part of the program includes
members have connections connections to all the
with international organiza collegiate working teams,
tions. Students also can work LAX training system The machine would pitch plus NASA personnel.”
on projects through the col for goaltenders balls at varying speeds and
lege’s Engineering Grand Chal Defending against a ball directions to a goaltender to Robo-Drum
lenges Program and Engineers thrown upwards of 70 test reflexes and techniques. Students have developed a
tech device to help teenag-
for the Developing World. miles per hour in a lacrosse Anticipating a shot
ers with physical disabilities
International projects have game takes agility and guts. during a game means un play instruments. The Ro-
become a regular part of senior Practicing the agility part derstanding range, velocity, bo-Drum team worked with
design and give students the is being made easier with a speed—and the project team teachers and students from
chance to build technology for training system developed had to reverse engineer this Niagara/Orleans Boards of
good. to improve a goaltender’s information when building Cooperative Educational
The challenge for the team technique when facing play the new device. Services this past year, vis-
iting the classroom several
was not only understanding the ers in the fast-paced sport. “We had to acquire
times to meet the teens,
limited resources in the devel “Our goal is to develop motors to move and adjust assess physical capabilities,
oping world, but their need to a new, automated way of components,” Biswas said. and develop user-friendly
understand the intricacies of training lacrosse goalies “The positioning and shoot designs to keep the music
UV LEDs. spanning across different ing mechanism requires six flowing.
“Being a new technolo levels—from youth to col powerful motors.”
gy, there is not a significant legiate players,” said Andrei Teknic Inc., a local engi Dematic Retrotech
amount of prior experience to Biswas, a fifth-year comput neering firm specializing in Students are assisting
go by when designing compo er engineering major from servo motors, drives, and Dematic Retrotech in
designing a model of a smart
nents to work with it. We also New Delhi, India. control systems, supplied
warehouse system. The
had to formulate our own equa He and his project team the equipment, and compa group is looking to develop
tions to measure the disinfec are building a standing de ny engineers mentored the automated storage and
tion rate of the system, which is vice with a shooting mech team in how to install and retrieval systems and using
important to get correct in order anism, similar to pitching calibrate the motors. student expertise to build a
to prevent people from drinking machines used by baseball model prototype for use in
unclean water.” players in a batting cage. Michelle Cometa ’00 trade shows and recruiting.
SPRING 2021 | 17Protecting the Future
Cybersecurity
RIT’s new
52,000-square-foot
Three floors Global Cybersecurity
The three-story Institute (GCI) has
institute is devoted opened on campus.
to cybersecurity
training, education,
and research.
Cybersecurity M ore than one wave of
infections swept across
the globe in 2020.
complex
Cybercriminals used the
COVID-19 pandemic to up their
attacks and create a pandemic of
their own. According to the FBI’s
open for business
Cyber Division, the number
of complaints increased 400
percent from what they were
18 | SPRING 2021Elizabeth Lamark
seeing pre-coronavirus. is on its way to becoming one attack surface,” said Steve for the more than 1 million
This cyber pandemic is just of the best places in the world Hoover, the Katherine Johnson unfilled cybersecurity jobs
one of many cybersecurity issues for cybersecurity education, Executive Director of the GCI. worldwide. RIT is working to
that RIT experts are working training, and research. “At the GCI, we understand that change that.
to address in the new Global “Being able to work remotely and are aiming to make you and In the three-story cyber
Cybersecurity Institute (GCI). and use digital technology in your digital-self safer.” security institute, experts
Late last fall, the GCI opened every aspect of our lives has At the core of the cyberse- are coming together to train
the doors to its 52,000-square- tremendous potential to curity problem is the fact that new professionals and students,
foot state-of-the-art facility on improve the world, but it employers can’t find enough as well as push the frontiers of
campus. With the institute, RIT also really opens up the qualified professionals to hire research.
Photo by Glenn Melvin
SPRING 2021 | 19Protecting the Future
Elizabeth Lamark
Justin Pelletier, director of the GCI Cyber Range and Training Center, is helping prepare businesses for their
next cybersecurity incident. The range will allow RIT to offer immersive simulations of real-world cyberattacks.
1 First floor
Cyber training center
At the heart of the GCI is the Cyber Range
“These experiences will be varied and
customized, so participants will never
know exactly what to expect—just like
real life,” said Pelletier.
used to mimic disaster scenarios, while
temperature controls can literally turn
up the heat of the situation.
Thanks to a more than $3.3 million con-
and Training Center, a virtual and physical For example, participants might have tribution from IBM, the cyber range has also
lab for simulating network cyberattacks and to defend the network of a medical center been equipped with some of the best Secu-
problem-solving scenarios. during a natural disaster or discover a rity Information and Event Management
“When you walk into this room, you can malware attack that could impact millions (SIEM) products on the market.
experience what a cyberattack is really like,” of retail customers. Across from the Cyber Range sits a
said Justin Pelletier, director of the Cyber The range has 30 computer stations large atrium and expansive configurable
Range. “For cybersecurity experts and any- and is capable of hosting more than mini-conference space, where the GCI can
one involved in real-life cyberattacks, this 5,000 virtual machines simultaneously. host competitions, talks, workshops, and
is a giant sandbox where you can prepare It features a video wall with 1080p and hackathons.
and train without getting hurt.” 4K screens, a control room, a conference The first floor also features a section
GCI organizers are currently constructing room, and electrostatic privacy glass walls. for teaching the general public about
immersive incident response experiences LED lights that surround the room cybersecurity. The Cyber Experience Center
for organizations to come in and face off can bring the mood of a training scenario has exhibits on cybersecurity history, cyber
against advanced persistent threats seeking to from a welcoming blue to a stress-inducing hygiene, student and faculty research
steal valuable information and wreak havoc. flashing red. Rumbling speakers can be projects, and hands-on demonstrations.
20 | SPRING 2021Future defenders
More students are studying
computing security than
ever before. That’s a good
thing, because industry
experts say they need more
qualified professionals.
Elizabeth Lamark
2 Second floor
Next generation of cyber defenders
This year, RIT’s undergraduate computing
space for wireless security and networking
equipment, software-defined radios, and
antennas, among other things.”
In addition to the Network Security Lab,
International champs
A team of RIT students beat
Stanford and 13 other colleges
to win the Collegiate Penetration
security program saw its largest incoming the GCI has two new security instructional Testing Competition in January.
class ever. On the second floor of the GCI, labs and is home to the Eaton Cybersecurity The GCI hosted the event virtually.
several new lab spaces have been created SAFE (Security Assessment and Forensic RIT is the founder of CPTC,
which is the premier ethical
to help train this next generation of cyber- Examination) Lab. A new Air Gap Lab in
hacking competition. RIT is
security defenders. the building also gives students the ability also a perennial contender at
Hanif Rahbari, assistant professor of to work with dangerous malware, while the National Collegiate Cyber
computing security, is teaching a wireless staying safely sealed off from the rest of Defense Competition.
security course in the GCI’s new Network campus and the internet.
Security Lab this spring. More than 500 students are currently
“The modern design and state-of-the-art studying computing security at RIT, which
equipment allow for a more diverse set of has been nationally recognized for
lab activities, beyond traditional network- cybersecurity education and research.
ing labs, which helps further enrich the The second floor has dedicated space for
education our students get at RIT,” said the students enrolled in the NSF’s Cyber-
Rahbari. “Now we have a more usable Corps: Scholarship for Service program.
SPRING 2021 | 21Protecting the Future
Elizabeth Lamark
IBM made a more than $3.3 million gift to help enhance computing security capabilities in the GCI,
including state-of-the-art software that uses Watson artificial intelligence to analyze cyberattacks.
These students earn a scholarship covering you toward the right resources and software systems more secure, faster,
their costs at RIT, in exchange for agreeing direction,” said Sharma, who is originally and more reliable.
to work at a government computing from India. “RITSEC has become like a Since joining RIT in 2014, Mirakhorli,
security job for the same number of years. safe space for any student with an interest associate professor of software engineering,
The GCI also has space for students in cybersecurity to be among like-minded has been working to analyze and change the
participating in competitions and the people, to learn from them, and grow— way people create and maintain complex
university’s cybersecurity club RITSEC. not only in the cybersecurity field, but software systems. Today, with more than
Neha Sharma, a computing security as a person as well.” $4 million in support from the National
master’s student, said she is happy to see Science Foundation, Defense Advanced
3
these student spaces in the new building. Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and
As the graduate representative of RIT’s Third floor other organizations, Mirakhorli and his
WiCyS (Women in CyberSecurity) Student Making software more secure team of student researchers are working
Chapter, which is an independent program to change the culture of development.
within RITSEC, and a member of RIT’s The Global Cybersecurity Institute’s third “Fifty percent of vulnerabilities in
Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition floor is devoted to researchers tackling today’s software systems are because of
team, she has seen first-hand how much some of the most pressing cybersecurity design flaws,” said Mirakhorli, who was
these experiences can help students grow. problems of today and tomorrow. named Kodak Endowed Scholar in the
“The club members and competition Mehdi Mirakhorli is one of those Golisano College of Computing and
leaders are always ready to help and guide researchers looking to make large-scale Information Sciences. “Today, we patch
22 | SPRING 2021RITSEC, the student
cybersecurity club, has
dedicated space in the GCI.
Faculty and student cybersecurity
researchers have millions in funding from
government and private organizations.
Cybersecurity
Bootcamp
The GCI is home
to RIT’s Cybersecurity
Bootcamp—a 15-week
immersive training
course that is helping
people switch careers
The GCI has several new cybersecurity and join the cybersecuri-
classrooms, including the Network ty workforce.
Security Lab. Integrating RIT’s world
class Cyber Range and
strength in interactive
games and media, this
innovative offering
integrates classroom and
security bugs, but we don’t get to the root lab work with work
of the problem and identify architectural experience in a simulated
flaws in the software.” real-world cyber
Software architecture goes beyond business. This highly
Mehdi Mirakhorli, an innovative training model
just code, explained Mirakhorli. Whether associate professor prepares professionals
it’s a banking system or electronic medical of software from all backgrounds
records, most software requires reliability, engineering, is (even those with no prior
availability, security, and performance. trying to change coding or IT experience)
However, if the pieces don’t fit together the way people for critical entry-level
maintain complex cybersecurity roles that
perfectly, the whole system can crumble.
software systems. come with an average
“Not all programmers are designers
that understand these important software salary of more than
$50,000 a year.
design principles,” said Mirakhorli.
The bootcamp is being
“However, it takes years of experience to delivered remotely and
become a designer and they are expensive, new cohorts start almost
so we have fewer of them in the industry.” every month. Learn more
That’s why Mirakhorli made it his long- at rit.edu/cybersecurity/
term goal to synthesize software design cybersecurity-
into something more intuitive, particularly bootcamp.
Photos by Elizabeth Lamark
SPRING 2021 | 23You can also read
