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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.For faculty researchers at the 51精品视频 at Johnstown, progress is always in progress. 聽From getting vaccines in citizens鈥 arms to creating the next generation of heating technology, 51精品视频-Johnstown professors鈥 work makes an impact locally and beyond.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 51精品视频-Johnstown became a leader in public health promotion. Jill Henning, professor of biology, in collaboration with medical communication researcher Susan Wieczorek, associate professor of communication, played a critical role in translating COVID-19 research into public health actions. Henning became the area鈥檚 go-to media source, writing a column in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat and hosting regular public meetings.
鈥淗enning took her research to the community in a way I鈥檝e never seen,鈥 said Jem Spectar, president of 51精品视频-Johnstown. 鈥淪he found a way to make the science accessible to people who may not have taken precautions or the vaccine, and those people did not feel alienated or talked down to. Without question, the work she did saved lives.鈥
[Learn more about Jill Henning鈥檚 COVID-19 education efforts.]
Henning鈥檚 work is just one example of research living within the community. Fiona Knoster (UPJ 鈥23) 鈥 with support from Wieczorek, her communication capstone professor 鈥 recently organized Rise and Share: The Message of Recovery Through Art, an evening-long program of speakers, art-making, dance and theater dedicated to creating a space of healing and hope for students and community members affected by addiction. Their collaboration is emblematic of the robust culture of undergraduate research and scholarship on campus.
鈥淥ur faculty are excellent teacher-scholars, committed to scholarly engagement, research and publication,鈥 said Spectar.
Chemistry and chemical engineering are also standout disciplines, with an emphasis on and projects turning biomass into fuel. 51精品视频-Johnstown is one of a handful of schools in the state certified by the green chemistry advocacy group Beyond Benign, which seeks to make chemistry labs less environmentally toxic and safer for those who work in them. Other researchers are focusing on reclaiming brownfield sites in the former industrial and mining region.
Two 51精品视频-Johnstown researchers recently won 51精品视频 Momentum Funds to support their innovative work. Hui Liu, associate professor in chemical engineering, models heat generation using biomass and plastic waste; Ryan Kerrigan, associate professor of energy and earth resources, examines rock massifs for insight into mountain formation.
The size of the campus promotes an ethos of collaboration and interdisciplinary work, said Spectar. 鈥淎 small college inevitably brings faculty together. We have no silos. Silos are less important than solutions. Indeed, with all the collaborative engagement across boundaries, UPJ is a dynamic community of researchers in motion, application and action to improve our communities.鈥
Students play a key role in UPJ research efforts, too. In addition to teaching, faculty typically mentor many students each year. Undergraduates routinely can receive credit on research papers and present at conferences.
鈥淥ur community is our lab,鈥 said Spectar. 鈥淥ur research engages with the quality of life here. We are facing the human condition and trying to make it better. 51精品视频-Johnstown faculty scholars take on the pressing issues in our world, often moving from theory to practice and application.鈥
Get involved
51精品视频-Johnstown faculty are currently accepting students interested in supporting laboratory or field-based research. Supporting faculty research is an opportunity for students to explore their major, said Matthew Tracey, assistant professor of chemistry.
鈥淪tudents gain not only more practice in their hands-on lab skills, but the ability to ask unique questions,鈥 he said. 鈥淲orking in a faculty lab is an amazing way to learn through organic curiosity instead of just being told what鈥檚 going to happen.鈥
Here are just a few of the projects you could join:
- Perform field data collection to assess the environmental impacts of sea level rise in Saxis, Virginia, in partnership with the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission. To get involved or learn more, contact lead researcher , assistant professor and director of environmental studies.
- Explore the reduction of alkenes using biomimetic reducing agents in a multiweek laboratory activity for organic chemistry labs. Contact lead researcher , assistant professor of chemistry.
- Design and analyze systems to increase road traffic safety and reduce congestion on roads. Contact lead researcher , associate professor of electrical engineering.
- Characterize and delineate the extent of pollution found in former steel manufacturing sites and formulate remediation plans to assist with cleanup efforts. Contact lead researcher , associate professor of energy and earth resources.
鈥 Brian Connelly and Nichole Faina, cover photo by Alex Mowrey