The Synapse

The April issue of The Synapse highlights activities that occurred during the Celebration of Science week. It also features faculty award recipients recognized during Maryland Day and students' accomplishments and participation in off-campus events. Additionally, it showcases faculty scholarly activities and the latest national ranking of the graduate Data Science Program. It also presents various student and faculty opportunities available on campus. We celebrate Earth Day this month.

“Earth rejoices our words, breathing and peaceful steps. Let every breath, every word and every step make the mother earth proud of us.”― Amit Ray

Share your news, photos, inspiring stories, and upcoming events for a future issue. Please send any feature suggestions to sciences@loyola.edu.

Loyola University Maryland’s online Master of Science in Data Science program was ranked No. 3 on TechGuide’s “Best Online Master’s in Data Science Degree Programs for 2025.” Loyola was the top-ranked Maryland school on the list, as well as the highest-ranked Jesuit institution.

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The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has approved three new programs at Loyola University Maryland, which are set to be implemented in Fall 2025. These programs include a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies.

Dr. Nicky McDougal, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department is the 2025 awardee for Excellence in Transformative Teaching. This award recognizes a faculty for achievement in an imaginative teaching practice. This might take the form of a curricular revision, a course redesign, an inventive tradition, a new teaching format, an exemplary project, a new immersive experience, or any number of ways a colleague transforms the learning experience.

Dr. Maiju Lehmijoki Wetzel, Director of the Pre-Health Program is the recipient of the 2025 Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring. This award honors one faculty member who has had a profound impact on the life, career, or direction of students at Loyola.

Ryan Ziegler, BSE Engineering '26 and Alejandro Escorcia, BS Computer Science and Mathematics '27, presented their Hauber research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Pittsburgh from April 7 to April 9, 2025. The NCUR is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of student scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all disciplines. Overall, this conference offers a unique environment for the celebration and promotion of undergraduate student achievement; provides models of exemplary research, scholarship, and creative activity; and offers student career readiness development.

CAPWIC is the ACM Capital Region Celebration of Women in Computing and provides a low-cost, regionally tailored, small conference for women and minorities in computing. The goal of CAPWIC is to bring together female students and allies to promote the recruitment, retention, and progression of women in computing fields.

This year's conference was chaired by Dr. Megan Olsen, Professor in the Computer Science department. The conference was hosted by The George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. on March 29th.

Loyola's Department of Computer Science hosted HackHounds 2025, a collaborative hackaton organized by the Minorities in STEM (MIS) Club, Cybersecurity Club, and the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Club.

The hackathon featured a variety of tracks, including Health, Finance, Art/MultiMedia, AI/Machine Learning, and Computer Vision, providing a platform for both technical and creative minds. The event took place on April 5-6, 2025, at the Fernandez Center.

This year, 35 NAS majors are among the 87 Loyola University students invited to join the Epsilon of Maryland (Loyola) chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious honor society in the United States. Induction into Phi Beta Kappa is an extremely rare honor, as only 10% of U.S. colleges and universities have a chapter, and they invite at most the top 10% of their juniors and seniors to join.

We are thrilled that science majors make up over 40% of this year's Phi Beta Kappa inductees, reflecting the strength and dedication of our students. The Phi Beta Kappa Induction Ceremony took place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11:30 AM in the Alumni Chapel.

Below is the list of NAS majors invited to Phi Beta Kappa this year. Congratulations to all!

1. Grace Acle, BS Biochemistry '25

2. Amanda Belmont, BS Biology '25

3. Michael Berger, BS Biology and History '25

4. Bella Best, BS Biology/Psychology and Spanish '25

5. Jenna Borowy, BS Computer Science and Math, Applied Math '25

6. Kaitlyn Callaghan, BS Biology/Psychology '25

7. Emily Grob, BS Biology '25

8. Emma Heiser, BS Computer Science and Math, Pure Math '25

9. Angelina Karl, BS Biochemistry '25

10. Michele Langowski, Biology and Spanish '25

11. George Lynch, BSE Engineering, Computer Engineering '25

12. Amber Malinowski, BS Mathematics '25

13. Caroline McCarthy, BS Chemistry '25

14. Rose McDermott, BS Biology/Psychology '25

15. Grace Millis, BS Biology/Psychology '25

16. Michael Moseley, BS Chemistry and Philosophy '25

17. Sarah Mullen, BA, English and Forensic Studies '25

18. Clare Noone, BS Chemistry '25

19. Lauren Quinn, BS Biology/Psychology '25

20. Diba Ramezan, BS Biology/Psychology '25

21. Jefferson Rice, BSE Engineering '25

22. Leah Rottler-Gurley, BS Biology '25

23. Angel Scott, BS Mathematics, Pure Math.'25

24. Esha Shinh, BS Data Science and Economics '25

25. Mari Sisco, BS Data Science '25

26. Tyler Stewart, BS Biochemistry '25

27. Bradley Stinnette, BS Biochemistry '25

28. Patrick Turek, BS Statistics and Economics '25

29. Erin Welch, BA Forensic Studies '25

30. Sophie Werner, BS Biology '25

31. Ken Bungalso, BS Biology '26

32. Belle Hartman, BA Forensic Studies and Performing Arts '26

33. Allison Los, BA Forensic Studies '26

34. Hans van Lierop, BS Computer Science '26

35. Ryan Ziegler, BSE Engineering, Mechanical and Materials Engineering '26

The 2025 STEM Academic Excellence event recognized five groups of outstanding graduating NAS Students. The NAS Alumni awardee was also recognized. This event was held on March 14th in McGuire Hall, East.

2025 Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Graduating Medalists:

• Amaya Jones '25 (Biology) - Division Medal recipient
• Grace Acle '25 (Chemistry) - Division Medal finalist
• Kiera McCormick '25 (Engineering) - Division Medal finalist
• Patrick Turek '25 (Mathematics and Statistics) - Division Medal finalist

Professor Bimal Sinha from the University of Maryland Baltimore County delivers a lecture on Introduction to Statistical Meta-Analysis with an application.

Albert Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore A shared Philosophy: A dialogue blending the perspectives of Arts and Sciences, inspired by Einstein's scientific ideas and Tagore's philosophical views, set against a backdrop of classical Indian music.

Professor Molly Robey has been accepted to attend the American Meteorological Society’s Science Policy Colloquium this summer in Washington, D.C. The colloquium selects 30-40 people per year to engage in a career-shaping opportunity for earth and atmospheric scientists and professionals to gain insight into the federal policy process. Professor Robey is a faculty in the Department of Communication and Media, and she's teaching PH 125-Practical Meteorology.

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.

Dr. Hoyeon Kim, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Engineering, co-authored and published the following researches:

1. The development, use, and challenges of electromechanical tissue stimulation systems, Journal: Artificial Organs
2. Autonomous Navigation of Soft Microrobots in Large Workspaces using Image Stitching and Global Path Planning, Journal : IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters

Students interested in weather launched a new segment on WLOY radio called the SkyHound weather forecast. You can listen every Monday and Friday at 12:30 p.m. on WLOY radio. Any student interested in joining SkyHound can reach out to Professor Molly Robey

Reading is DIY: Zinemaking

Thursday, April 24th, 5-6:30 PM, Library Instruction Lab B

Zines (pronounced “zeen”) are small-batch, self-published DIY works that anyone can make – including you! Learn about how zines came to be and how to become a zinester in this workshop with Access Services Librarian Mallory Wareham. You’ll leave this pop-up with a brain full of zine knowledge, as well as your own “master flat” to photocopy and share with the world! No experience is required, but attendees are encouraged to come with big ideas and any paper art supplies.

Reading is Creative: Graduation Cap Decorating

Thursday, May 1st, 4-6 PM, Library IDEASpace

Graduating this semester? Drop in between 4 and 6 to decorate your graduation cap with supplies from the Messy Cart! Feel free to bring your own supplies, too.

Reading is Innovative: Sublimation Notebooks

Friday, May 2nd, 4-5:30 PM, Library IDEASpace

Learn about the science behind sublimation with a dry ice demonstration, then customize a notebook cover with a photo or drawing with the help of the sublimation printer and heat press in the Innovation Station. All materials provided! This class is capped at 10 students.

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.

The Bridge

Visit The Bridge for upcoming campus meetings and events.

Training and Development Opportunities for Employees and Students

OUTLoyola SafeZone Training

Green Bandana Brigade

Academic Calendar

• 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
• 2025-2026 Academic Calendar

Coronavirus Resources

• Loyola Coronavirus Updates - General university information for all students, faculty, staff including reopening plans, COVID-19 dashboard, FAQs, policies, and resources

Student Support Resources

• Counseling Center
• Campus Ministry
• Office of Student Life
• Center for Community, Service, and Justice

Employee Support Resources

• Human Resources website
• Employee Assistance Program
• Financial Crisis Assistance Program
• Employee Return to Work on Campus Guidelines & Training