The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
Loyola joins MACo Summer Conference!
Loyola University Maryland participated in the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) 2025 Summer Conference as an exhibitor to promote its graduate programs. The event took place at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City from August 13 to 15, 2025. Delegates representing Loyola included Jonathan Lillie, Chair of the Communication & Media Department; Fahad Khan, Director of Graduate Business Recruitment; Julieta Guerra, Director of Program Operations for Graduate Data Science; and Anita Major, Executive Assistant to the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences.
This conference focused on the pressing issues that impact Maryland's counties and the innovative solutions that can support their success in the future. Key topics included sustainable road funding, addressing energy challenges, aligning with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and utilizing next-generation tools to improve service delivery and support informed decision-making.
Julieta Guerra, Jonathan Lillie, and Fahad Khan
Julieta Guerra, Anita Major, Jonathan Lillie, and Fahad Khan
BioHealth Student completes summer internship at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
This summer, Shudan Jew '27 completed an internship conducting research at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) in Downtown Baltimore. Shudan was mentored by UMCES professor Dr. Tsvetan Bachvaroff and PhD student Anne Baldino in the world of bioinformatics over the course of two months. Using a reference genome assembled by a team of researchers from the University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science (UMCES), her project focused on discovering and annotating genes responsible for innate immunity in the Atlantic blue crab. In doing so, Shudan discovered 6 genes that may help improve crab population recovery and aquaculture conditions. Over the course of the summer, IMET interns also participated in community service events such as magnet fishing for scooters in the harbor as well as water quality testing along the docks!
Research in the lab
Research at Inner Harbor
Mr. Dave Kiskis of W.R.Grace with the Hauber fellows and mentors (L-R Bahram Roughani, Dave Kiskis, Cassie Holbert, Andres Socarras, Michael Moseley, Craig Myrum)
Mr. Jim Owens of Whiting-Turner with the Hauber fellows and mentors (L-R Hoyeon Kim, Bahram Roughani, David Ogunbanjo, Anthony Kallab, Jim Owens, David Hoe)
Maeve Walsh (Mentored by Prof. Richard Auer): A Statistical-Based, N.F.L. Game Simulator in R Incorporating Actual Team Characteristics and Monte Carlo Techniques.
Oscar Roat (Mentored by Dr. Prince Chidyagwai): Numerical approximations of time dependent multi-physics flows.
Hameed Zandi (Mentored by Dr. Hossein Aghababa): Bidirectional Quantum Controlled Teleportation
Andres Socarras (Mentored by Dr. Craig Myrum): Orexin-A induction of Arc protein expression
Michael Moseley (Mentored by Dr. Cassandra Holbert): Differentiation and Cytokine Production of Polyamine Depleted CD4+ T Cells
Elizabeth Ogletree (Mentored by Prof. Marion Davidson and Dr. Rhys Williams): Investigating the rate of scavenging activity to identify taphonomic animal markings.
Jeymar Fernandez-Guirado (Mentored by Dr. Sudeshna Basu): Hadamard Equivalence Classes and their relation to Hadamard Products
Jamie Cashour (Mentored by Dr. Cassandra Holbert): The impact of polyamine depletion on macrophage polarization and phagocytic ability
Lauren Imasa (Mentored by Dr. Cassandra Holbert): The impact of polyamine depletion on macrophage polarization and phagocytic ability
David Ogunbanjo (Mentored by Dr. Hoyeon Kim): Analytical Studying for Machine Learning for detection of Road Hazards
Anthony Kallab (Mentored by Drs. David Hoe & Hoyeon Kim): Turtlebot and further investigations for SLAM
Yuri Singh (Mentored by Dr. Cassandra Holbert): Potential Disruption of Cytokine Production in Polyamine-Induced CD4+ T-Cell Lineages
Zaira Rehman (Mentored by Dr. Craig Myrum): Investigating Arc Expression in the Hippocampus Across the Sleep-Wake Cycle
Joshua Player (Mentored by Dr. Craig Myrum): Comparing Estradiol and Estrone Arc-Expression
Hoyeon Kim, Ph.D., Engineering Department
Professor Hoyeon Kim, an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Department co-authored a research titled Enhancing Microrobot Swarm Stability and Adaptation by Autonomous Field-of-View Planning. Below is the abstract of the research.
Automatic navigation of microrobot swarms driven by magnetic fields has attracted considerable attention due to potential applications in biomedical fields. However, achieving minimal loss and maintaining swarm cohesion while traversing heterogeneous landscapes over long distances remains a challenge. This article introduces a control strategy based on autonomous field-of-view (FOV) planning for navigating microrobot swarms across large workspaces that span multiple FOVs. High-resolution global images of the workspace are obtained using an image stitching method that combines phase correlation and template matching. Global path planning is accomplished with the A* algorithm, followed by local path planning utilizes the optimized informed rapidly-exploring random tree star (OI-RRT*) algorithm in each FOV to ensure swarm adaptation. The strategy also incorporates an FOV planning algorithm to optimize FOV positioning, along with a displacement platform to ensure smooth transitions between FOVs. A real-time visual feedback control system monitors both channel width and swarm position. This strategy improves swarm navigation efficiency and stability, as demonstrated through experimental validation, and holds significant potential for targeted drug delivery and other biomedical applications.
For detailed information about the research, please read the published paper by visiting this journal's website.
Sudeshna Basu, Ph.D., Mathematics and Statistics Department
Dr. Sudeshna Basu, an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Mathematics and Statistics department, delivered a talk at the RKMVERI , Kolkata, India, on August 19, 2025. The title of the talk is Duality between Ideals and Diameter two properties vin Banach Spaces.
Once in a lifetime experience to do independent research with the guidance and mentorship of incredible faculty who excel in their field and care about us both as students and researchers. Knowing how impactful research is living with a health condition that needs more research and being able to contribute research to other under researched health conditions. - JAMIE CASHOUR '26
I greatly enjoy the forensics program and I knew I wanted to engage in scientific research to further my forensics knowledge. - ELIZABETH OGLETREE '27
The research experience and because it’s fun. - ANTHONY KALLAB '26
The work I'm doing is very unique, and because of the type of work I'm doing, I get work done when I want. That very free schedule is the best part of my fellowship. - OSCAR ROAT '26
Hauber allowed me to pursue my interests in immunology, more specifically, on a project that I can connect with my plan to study autoimmune diseases after Loyola. - YURI SINGH '26
New experiences in field - HAMEED ZANDI '26
The Hauber Research Program will give me hands on learning experience directly under a professor with so much expertise. It will give me an invaluable experience that can help strengthen many skills for the professional workplace. -MAEVE WALSH '26
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, August 20th!
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.