The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
Save the date for the Grand Seminar - Wednesday, October 29, 2025!
The Natural and Applied Sciences is pleased to announce that this year's Grand Seminar is on Wednesday, October 29th at 6 PM, McGuire Hall, and will also be accessible via Zoom.
Our keynote speaker is Dr. Kim Cobb, Director, Institute at Brown for Environment and Society and Professor, Environment and Society & Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Brown University.
Please register here to attend the 2025 Grand Seminar.
STEM program at Loyola secures 2M grant from the NSF!
The Empowering STEM Scholars for Success project, proposed by Dr. Armina Kazi as the Principal Investigator (PI), has received approval from the National Science Foundation. The 2M project will launch from February 2026 until January 2032.
Dr. Kazi is collaborating with fellow NAS faculty members, who are serving as Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Bahram Roughani, Dr. Robert Bailey, Dr. Rhys Williams, and Dr. Kyle Lunsford.
Undergraduate Quantum Computing Program receives grant from NSF
Congratulations to Dr. David Hoe, Associate Professor of the Engineering Department and Dr. Mary Lowe, Professor of the Physics Department, for securing a nearly $400,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation that will be used to improve the undergraduate STEM program at Loyola.
The three-year grant will support the development of active learning instructional materials for two courses offered in quantum computing: Introduction to Quantum Computing and Quantum Computing II, which will focus on quantum machine learning and quantum computing applied to quantum chemistry. The courses are targeted at undergraduates majoring in physics, engineering, computer science, data science, math, and chemistry.
Prof. Mike Tangrea receives award from Baltimore Innovation Initiative
TEDCO Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the first round of the Baltimore Innovation Initiative (BII) Pilot Program awardees, marking an important milestone for the organization. The BII Pilot Program falls under the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII), fueling innovation and economic impact in the Baltimore region.
The Technology Advancement Grant offers recipients support to commercialize a new or existing technology at an eligible institution. Prof. Mike Tangrea, professor in the biology department, is among the eight Technology Advancement awardees for his project advancing precision medicine through commercialization of the micropurification technology.
Read more on TEDCO’s Maryland Innovation Initiative Announces First Round of Baltimore Innovation Initiative Awardees | TEDCO
Professor Yanko Kranov receives 2025 Engineering Unleashed Fellowship
Dr. Yanko Kranov, Assistant Teaching Professor of the Engineering department, was selected by the Engineering Unleashed community as 2025 Engineering Unleashed Fellow, He is one of twenty-nine engineering faculty from twenty-three institutions across the US to receive this honor.
The fellowship is recognition of a commitment to developing engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset (EM). It is awarded as part of the Engineering Unleashed initiative, which is a community of engineering faculty and staff who are bringing EM to undergraduate engineering programs throughout the nation. This community is powered by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), which is a partnership of 70 colleges and universities dedicated to graduating engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset so they can create personal, economic, and societal value through a lifetime of meaningful work.
The Fellowship is accompanied by an institutional award amounting to $10,000 grant from the Kern Family Foundation, with the recipient as Principal Investigator, to advance the impact of his project.
Loyola participates in the Maryland Data Center Summit 2025
The 2nd Annual Maryland Data Center Summit 2025 was organized by the Maryland Tech Council (MTC). The event took place at Maryland Live Casino in Arundel Mills, Hanover, MD, on August 28, 2025, from 7:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
As a member of the MTC, Loyola participated as an exhibitor to promote the three graduate programs- PMBA in SSBM, and Emerging Media, and Data Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. Loyola was represented by Julieta Guerra, Director of Program Operations for the Graduate Data Science program.
The objective of the event was to explore the future of data centers in Maryland, featuring discussions with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators. Topics included data center growth, sustainability, workforce development, and Maryland's strategic advantages for the industry. The event also aimed to facilitate networking and contribute to shaping the future of data centers.
Julieta Guerra with Ms. Pam Lubel, Vice President, MTC Membership
Lecture Session
Biology students present research during the Animal Behavior Society Annual Meeting
Sarah and Hannah presented their poster "Investigating the Impact of Predator Exposure on Shoaling Behavior in Juvenile Convict Cichlids" to researchers and students from across the world.
Hyman Science Scholars class of 2029
The Hyman Science Scholars with Dr. Sibren Isaacman and Dr. Prince Chidyagwai
Did you know that Loyola has an enhanced membership with CUR?
This means you can join the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) at no cost to you. Simply follow the link below, create an account and link Loyola. After your account has been created, you will have automatic access to membership benefits that will give you the opportunity to:
- Collaborate with nearly 14,000 members to discuss issues, ideas, and share resources on undergraduate research.
- Gain access to a Member Resource Library of over 100 resources, tips and tricks for virtual learning and teaching, and other valuable content to strengthen your undergraduate research programs.
- A digital subscription to the CUR scholarly journal, Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research.
- Exclusive member-only programs such as CUR Conversations on evolving hot topics.
- Discounts for event registration and publication purchases.
- and more!
Please contact CURMember@CUR.org with any questions.
Loyola celebrates the life of Gregory N. Derry, Ph.D., professor emeritus of physics
Gregory N. Derry, Ph.D., professor emeritus of physics, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. He was 73.
Derry joined the faculty at what is now Loyola University Maryland in 1986 as an assistant professor of physics. He earned tenure in 1990 and was promoted to professor in 2001. He retired in 2020 but remained actively involved with Loyola’s academic community as professor emeritus.
Charlotte Connolly, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Physics
Dr. Charlotte Connolly joins Loyola University Maryland as an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in Physics and Environmental Studies/Sciences. She earned her B.A. (2020) in Meteorology from Ohio University before earning both her M.S. (2022) and Ph.D. (2025) in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University, where her research centered on leveraging data science methods to better understand what future climates may look like depending on societal decisions. At Loyola University Maryland, Dr. Connolly looks forward to continuing her work studying a range of possible climate futures and exploring how they might be experienced by communities around the world.
Malinda Iluppangama, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
My name is Malinda Iluppangama and I earned my Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of South Florida. I received my master’s in Mathematics from South Dakota State University and my master's in Statistics from the University of South Florida. My research focuses on applying statistical and machine learning methodologies to tackle real-world problems in the life and social sciences. Specifically, my work spans health sciences, and finance, aiming to make data-driven decisions that address pressing challenges in these fields.
Steve Kutos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Steve Kutos is a new Assistant Professor in the Biology department starting Fall 2025. He spent three years at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute as a postdoctoral researcher exploring the ecological and microbiological dynamics of coffee farms in Central and Latin America. Just after completing his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Fordham University in 2021, he spent a year in New Mexico on a USDA funded project exploring the ecological health impacts of organic matter additions to dry rangeland ecosystems. His research that he will explore at Loyola University Maryland will be focused on the complex dynamic relationships between plants, soils, the microbiome, and shifts in environmental patterns.
Rachael Best, Ph.D. Assistant Teaching Professor, Biology
As a Maryland native, I am excited to move back to the Baltimore area! I completed my MS in College STEM Teaching and my PhD in Biological Science at Florida State University. My dissertation investigated mechanisms of intraspecific variation in response to variable environments in tropical octocoral species from the US Virgin Islands, as well as a temperate octocoral species from the Gulf of Mexico. I investigated intraspecific variation in polyp morphology and utilized carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses to quantify trophic strategy differences through shifts in reliance on heterotrophic feeding and autotrophic endosymbionts in relation to polyp tentacle lengths. Then, to isolate intraspecific variation of the host in response to environmental variation, independent from autotrophic endosymbionts, I studied phenotypic plasticity in a temperate, heterotrophic octocoral species in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. After defending, I spent a year as a SPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the Biology Department. At UNC, I worked on both a cyanobacteria mat system in the Caribbean as well as lab-based freshwater hydra to investigate mechanisms influencing community dynamics and intraspecific variation. My training and experience in the classroom fostered and propelled my love of teaching and mentoring, which I am excited to continue as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Loyola. Outside of academia, I enjoy reading, music, hiking, and scuba diving. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone in the Loyola community!
Dr. Katelyn Quarry, Assistant Clinical Professor, Nursing Program
Dr. Katelyn Quarry is a new Assistant Clinical Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Loyola. Katelyn's background is critical care nursing, specifically neurotrauma and neurovascular ICU, most recently at University of Maryland Shock Trauma. She transitioned to academia in 2018 but still practices in the ICU as able and maintains her critical care certification. Katelyn is also a Certified Nurse Educator and has taught in community college/ADN, undergraduate, and graduate nursing education programs. She brings a wealth of experience in classroom teaching as well as student-facing program management, program assessment, and program accreditation.
Katie Garisto, Program Assistant, Mathematics & Statistics and Chemistry and Biochemistry Departments
Katie Garisto is excited to be supporting Loyola's Natural and Applied Sciences as a Program Assistant with the Chemistry and Math & Stats departments! As a former greyhound, Katie looks forward to contributing to the strong sense of community that Loyola has always fostered. She is known for her operational and organizational skills and enjoys working closely with faculty, staff, and students to make sure tasks are done efficiently and with care.
Sudeshna Basu, Ph.D., Mathematics and Statistics Department
Dr. Sudeshna Basu, an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Mathematics and Statistics department, moderated a plenary session during the workshop on teaching enhancement on Wednesday, August 27, with the theme Innovation through Community Engagement. Dr. Suzanne Keilson, Chair and Associate Professor of Engineering, is one of the resource speakers.
Donnelly Science Center Addition & Construction Livestream
The Donnelly Science Center has been the hub for Loyola’s science programs since 1978. As part of the University’s strategic plan Together We Rise: Loyola University Maryland's Strategic Plan for 2030, we aim at enhancing our STEM offerings, thus, university is making significant investments to strengthen STEM and health programs including extensive renovation and expansion of Donnelly Science Center.
More info and to view the Donnelly Science Center Addition & Construction Livestream.
Interested to support our Growth: To learn about making a gift to the Donnelly Science Center project, contact Mary Lineburger, '99, assistant vice president for major gifts, at mlmazzuca@loyola.edu or 410-617-2797.
Register for the MS Data Science Virtual Info Session on Wednesday, October 15th!
Join us for an upcoming information session to learn more about Loyola University Maryland's Online Graduate Data Science program. The academic program director and the director of program operations will be present to answer your questions regarding program formats, application requirements, and the admission process.
By attending any of our information sessions, you can save yourself from paying the $60 graduate application fee.
Join us and explore the opportunities that await you! Please register here.