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Jnauary 24, 2025

Jessica Rosenberg

This #FacultyFriday, we congratulate Jessica Rosenberg, Associate Professor and Director of Education, Quantum Science and Engineering Center for earning the Dean’s Creative Educator Award. Rosenberg joined Physics & Astronomy Department in 2007, initially focusing on extragalactic astronomy. After her NSF Fellowship and a leadership role as acting director of the STEM Accelerator, she became the director of education for the Quantum Science and Engineering Center in 2018. Since then, Rosenberg has redefined her academic career, pivoting to physics education research (PER). She pioneered the PER program at George Mason University, forging strong partnerships with College of Engineering and Computing.

Rosenberg's work addresses key issues in STEM education, particularly the challenges leading to attrition among women and minority groups. Her research focuses on mentorship, leadership, and active learning strategies. She has published extensively, secured more than $4.2M in funding, and delivered talks at major conferences, including the Quantum World Congress. Rosenberg improved and expanded our courses, especially the introductory Physics sequence, and significantly impacted how we teach at every level. Her efforts in quantum workforce development and curriculum improvement have made her a national leader in the field of physics education.
 

Jessica Rosenberg

January 17, 2025

Monique van Hoek

This #FacultyFriday congratulates Monique van Hoek, a professor in the School of Systems Biology, for earning the Dean’s Big Challenge Award!  van Hoek pioneers innovative solutions to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria using antimicrobial peptides. Her latest discovery, GATR-3 derived from an alligator peptide has shown remarkable effectiveness in killing some of the most resistant bacteria responsible for chronic wound infections. This breakthrough holds significant promise for patients with conditions like diabetes and soldiers with severe wounds, offering new treatment options for difficult-to-treat infections. 

In collaboration with Barney Bishop from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, van Hoek has advanced GATR-3 through pre-clinical testing with support from the Joint Warfighter Program. With more than 60 publications and five patents, she is a recognized leader in her field. Van Hoek also mentors 15 to 20 graduate students annually in her lab at the Center for Infectious Disease Research. Recently, she and her collaborators received a Virginia Catalyst grant to develop a hydrogel for delivering antibiotics to surgical and orthopedic infections, further expanding her impact in the fight against bacterial resistance. 

 

Monique van Hoek

January 14, 2025

Genevieve McKenna

Today's #StaffShoutout goes to Genevieve McKenna for earning the Dean’s Creating Unity Award!  McKenna is the trusted communications anchor for the Department of Biology, known for her innovative efforts to improve communication effectiveness and enhance the department’s digital presence. She has created dynamic campaigns that engage students with courses, programs, and clubs through social media, digital newsletters, and lobby slideshows. These initiatives have boosted enrollment in under-enrolled courses and increased the visibility of department events. 

McKenna also fosters a strong sense of community within the department by designing collaborative social media video campaigns that bring together student groups, faculty, and staff. Her development of standard operating procedures for scheduling and training has streamlined operations, earning her recognition as a subject matter expert in scheduling for the College of Science. Beyond communications, McKenna plays a pivotal role in organizing major departmental events, including the End-of-Year Multi-Department Award Celebration. Her dedication and expertise have made her an invaluable asset to the department and the wider university community.

Genevieve McKenna

January 10, 2025

Alireza Ermagun

This #FacultyFriday celebrates Alireza Ermagun, assistant professor in the Geography & Geoinformation Science Department , for earning the Dean's Early Career Excellence Award. Ermagun is a leading researcher at the intersection of access, resilience, and urban science, whose groundbreaking work has advanced both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Since joining the our college in Fall 2022, he has secured $2.9 million in research funding, including two competitive NSF grants. Ermagun's impressive publication record includes 77 peer-reviewed articles in 38 high-impact journals, with 42 as first author, and 3,198 citations, establishing him as a recognized expert in his field. 

Beyond research, Ermagun is an exceptional educator, teaching four to five courses at George Mason in rotation with an average student evaluation score of 4.7. He has also been a passionate advocate for underrepresented groups in STEM, securing nearly $175,000 for K-12 outreach programs. Through innovative, textbook-free course designs, Alireza has saved students over $100,000 in educational expenses. As a mentor, he has guided 34 student presentations at international conferences, supervised dozens of high school students in our Aspiring Scientist Summer Internships Program, and provided invaluable support to both graduate and undergraduate students in their research pursuits.

Alireza Ermagun

January 3, 2025

Bob Sachs

For the first #FacultyFriday of the year, we honor Mathematical Science Professor Bob Sachs, an extraordinary educator, researcher, and mentor, who will be retiring at the end of this academic year. Sachs' impact on George Mason Univeristy has been profound, particularly through his innovative work in active learning and inclusive pedagogy. His efforts transformed mathematics instruction, closing gender and socio-economic gaps while engaging students through hands-on learning.

Maria Emelienanko, his department Chair, shared: “Bob spearheaded pedagogical innovation at Mason for decades. His work, from leading active learning spaces to co-PI on NSF grants, has reshaped how we teach mathematics.”
 

Bob Sachs

December 13, 2024

R. Christian Jones

This #FacultyFriday, we congratulate Environmental Science & Policy Department Professor and Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC) Director R. Christian Jones on receiving the Environmental Science Award at the Virginia Academy of Science's 2024 Scientists Awards Program. This honor celebrates his outstanding contributions to environmental science that have benefited the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jones' current research focuses on long-term ecological studies of Gunston Cove and Hunting Creek on the tidal Potomac River. He leads efforts in continuous water quality monitoring and benthic algal productivity, particularly cyanobacteria.

R. Christian Jones

December 6, 2024

Paul Dirmeyer

This #FacultyFriday features Paul Dirmeyer, who has recently been named a Distinguished University Professor, George Mason University. Dirmeyer is a leading expert in climate dynamics, focusing on the critical role of land-air interactions. His pioneering work in this field has greatly improved the predictability of weather, particularly in relation to soil moisture and its impact on rainfall.

As leader of the Global Land-Atmosphere Coupling Experiment (GLACE), Dirmeyer identified “hot spots” where soil moisture is key to predicting summer rainfall. His work shows that accurate moisture estimates improve both rainfall and air temperature forecasts—crucial for farmers, water managers, and scientists. 

With over 200 papers, 25,000+ citations, and an h-index of 79, Dirmeyer’s contributions to climate science are vast. His leadership continues to shape the future of weather and seasonal predictions.

Paul Dirmeyer.

November 22,2024

Anamaria Berea

Today's #FacultyFriday highlights Computational & Data Sciences Department associate professor, Anamaria Berea, who was recently featured on George Mason University's Access to Excellence podcast. In this episode, Berea discusses her research on Mars settlements and Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) as she and President Gregory Washington debate the question on everyone’s mind: is there life beyond Earth? 

Her work combines data analysis and the study of complex systems to explore the search for extraterrestrial life and understand the challenges of finding life in outer space. By analyzing biosignatures, Berea works on identifying potential signs of life on exoplanets, contributing to the broader scientific efforts to explore the unknowns of the universe.
 

Anamaria Berea

November 15, 2024

Jennifer Sklarew

Today's #FacultyFriday highlights Jennifer Sklarew, assistant professor in Environmental Science & Policy Department. Sklarew leads innovative projects at Mason and beyond. She was recently featured in the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure's Energy Month series, where she shared insights on clean energy challenges, focusing on the role of smaller hydropower systems in supporting local communities while managing flood risks. Her ongoing micro-turbine project at Mason is a prime example of this technology in action.

Sklarew is also empowering students to create food security solutions. In collaboration with partners from Kenya, last semester her EVPP 480 class built multistory gardens designed to combat food insecurity with sustainable, space-saving agriculture.

Jennifer Sklarew

November 8, 2024

Alireza Ermagun

This #FacultyFriday spotlights Alireza Ermagun, Assistant Professor Geography & Geoinformation Science Department. Ermagun is making waves in urban freight transportation, studying the impact of the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse on freight flow and supply chains. His work, backed by National Science Foundation(NSF) RAPID grants, is helping us understand how such disruptions ripple through local and global logistics networks. From trucking companies to maritime shipping, Ermagun’s research is vital in shaping more resilient infrastructure.

Alireza Ermagun

November 1, 2024

Kathleen Hunt

This #FacultyFriday highlights Kathleen Hunt, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, who recently earned funding for the project, "From Stress To Health: Evaluating Linkages From Comprehensive Physiological Stress Panels to Cetacean Health." 

Hunt is a dedicated physiologist and endocrinologist whose research focuses on the effects of environmental stress on wildlife health and reproduction. From whales and seabirds to sea turtles, Hunt’s innovative hormone assays offer noninvasive ways to monitor species across the globe.

Her work spans diverse ecosystems—from bowhead whales in Alaska to endangered birds in Hawaii—paving the way for crucial conservation efforts worldwide.
 

Kathleen Hunt

October 25, 2024

Ziheng Sun

Today's FacultyFriday highlights Ziheng Sun, research assistant professor, Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems (CSISS), Department of Geography & Geoinformation Science. Sun's research falls at the intersection of AI and geoscience. He, alongside College of Engineering and Computing professors Mingrui Liu and Keren Zhou, are breaking new ground in snow water equivalent (SWE) forecasting—essential for sustainable water resource management. Funded by a $518K National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, this project uses advanced graph neural network models with physics-based constraints to improve SWE forecasts and leverages the GeoWeaver platform to make AI workflows accessible and reusable. From interdisciplinary workshops to hands-on AI learning, Sun and his team are fostering collaboration and tackling climate challenges one snowflake at a time. 

Ziheng Sun

October 18, 2024

Tyrus Berry

Today's #FacultyFriday spotlights Tyrus Berry, Associate Professor in the Mathematical Sciences Department. Recently, Berry earned funding for his latest project, "Nitrogen Vacancy Diamond Metrology for Temperature and Pressure Sensing: Data Assimilation." 

Berry's research tackles the challenges of modern complex systems by developing model-free and semi-parametric methods that integrate prior knowledge and existing models to avoid the curse of dimensionality. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and mentorship of graduate and advanced undergraduate students, Berry is driving innovation in applied sciences and shaping the next generation of researchers.

Tyrus Berry

October 11,2024

Younsung Kim

This #FacultyFriday highlights Younsung Kim a professor in Environmental Science & Policy Department. Kim's research lies in collaborative governance and self-regulatory policy tools designed to address today’s complex environmental and sustainability challenges. Recently, Kim was invited to the 14th UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT in South Korea, sharing insights on corporate climate strategies and the importance of genuine climate action. Her session, “Why Do Companies Strategize Their Responses to Climate Change?” helped experts from 27 developing countries understand how businesses can drive change and meet Paris Agreementgoals. 
 

Younsung Kim

October 4, 2024

Karen Sauer

#FacultyFriday highlights Karen Sauer, Professor of Physics & Astronomy Department and Director of the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (MRL), who received $125K from SRI International for a project on developing a Tunable RF Atomic Magnetometer. Sauer’s MRL research explores spin-dynamics in systems like nuclear quadrupole resonance and optically pumped atoms, pushing noise to its fundamental limit for contraband detection. This quantum sensor could revolutionize detection in uncontrolled environments by compensating for stray magnetic fields in real time.

Karen Sauer

September 27, 2024

Gad Perry

Today's #FacultyFriday highlights the newly appointed Chair of Environmental Science & Policy Department Professor Gad Perry.

Perry's general research interests center on ecology, with a large emphasis on conservation issues and the increasingly profound impacts of humans on the environment, especially in urban ecosystems, in the U.S. and abroad. Much of his work is carried out on reptiles and amphibians, with invasive species as a common focus. His research is primarily conducted in the field and typically focuses on the whole organism and its interactions with its biotic (including human) and a-biotic environment.

Gad Perry

September 20, 2024

Mikell Paige

This #FacultyFriday highlights Mikell Paige, the newly appointed chair for Chemistry & Biochemistry Department .

Paige's lab focuses on drug discovery, employing medicinal chemistry strategies to design and synthesize small molecule modulators of dysfunctional enzymes. Structural biology and computational chemistry are integrated with kinetic assays to study enzyme mechanisms. Additionally, his lab specializes in designing, synthesizing, and characterizing peptidomimetic inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. Some of his current research includes lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), along with viral infections, gram-negative bacterial infections, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Mikell Paige

September 13, 2024

Ernest Barreto

Today's #FacultyFriday highlights Ernest Barreto, the newly appointed chair of Physics & Astronomy Department. Barreto works at the convergence of physics, mathematics, and biology. Originally trained in nonlinear dynamics and chaos, he later trained in experimental and theoretical neuroscience. Some of his current interests include the study of synchronization in populations of coupled oscillators, the individual and collective dynamics of neurons in the brain, and the fundamental dynamical mechanisms that underlie normal cognitive processing and pathological conditions such as epilepsy.
 

Ernest Barreto

September 6, 2024

Arie Croitoru

Today's #FacultyFriday highlights Arie Croitoru, the recently named acting chair for Computational & Data Sciences Department.

Croitoru's current research focuses on spatio-temporal data processing and analysis, driven by the increasing availability of location sensors like GPS, video, and RFID. He aims to develop algorithms for utilizing multi-dimensional trajectory data for tasks such as indexing, clustering, classification, and summarization. His work also spans image processing, digital photogrammetry, remote sensing, and spatial statistics in GIS
 

Arie Croitoru

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