The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
The 2026 Celebration of Science Week
The 2026 Celebration of Science - April 7-13
We invite members of the Natural and Applied Sciences division to support and contribute to the 2026 Celebration of Science. You can participate by organizing department lectures, special events, mentoring and networking sessions, presentations, student club demonstrations and activities, pop-up classes, and related initiatives. Please send your suggestions to sciences@loyola.edu.
STEM Academic Excellence - Friday, April 10, 3-6 pm, McManus Theater
The 2026 STEM Academic Excellence ceremony will take place during Celebration of Science week. During this event, we will present the 2026 NAS Alumni Award and recognize the following graduating students.
- Hauber Fellows
- Haig Scholars
- Hyman Science Scholars
- Choudhury Sarkar-Dey medal recipient and finalists
- Health Outreach Baltimore Advocates
Come for a pizza party!
Join us for delicious pizza and learn about Loyola’s Master of Science in Data Science Accelerated Program!
All Loyola undergrads (Business, Education, Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, or Social Sciences) can pursue MS in Data Science. RSVP by April 6, 2026. The first 20 students to arrive will receive a surprise gift.
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Time: 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Location: CC-113 (near Starbucks)
Team ACC Industries receives grant award!
Congratulations to ACC Industries for receiving a $5000 grant award from VentureWell. Grant funds may be used for expenses related to participation in the E-Team Stage 1 workshop
With the guidance of Loyola University Maryland’s Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, three sophomore Loyola engineering students, Carlos Cardoza, Adrian Lee, and Connor Pavlik, developed a new recyclable battery for electric vehicles. They formed ACC Industries to revolutionize electric vehicle batteries and applied for funding from VentureWell. The grant period runs from April 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
Catherine Newberry, Program Assistant, Department of Forensic Science
Catherine Newberry is the new Program Assistant in the Department of Forensic Science. This is her first position in higher ed and she is excited to contribute to Loyola's warm and supportive community. She has strong organizational and analytical skills with a professional background in wholesale energy, public-sector budgeting, and retail inventory management. She earned her BA in Math and Econ from Rice University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, gardening, reading, and petting cats.
Matthew Spear '23
Congratulations to Matthew Spear, former Honors Program student and Physics & Engineering double major alum, who was awarded a fellowship to the Hertog Foundation's Humanities at Hertog spring seminar program.
Matthew is a member of the Class of 2023 and is currently working full-time as an Associate Professional Staff I in the Applied Chemistry and Physics Group of the Asymmetric Operations Sector at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Simons Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Next Class of Pivot Fellows!
The Simons Foundation is now accepting applications for the next class of Pivot Fellows, offering a unique opportunity for researchers ready to bring their expertise to a new field in mathematics or the natural sciences.
Fellows will receive support for one year of mentored training in their new discipline, followed by the opportunity to apply for up to five years of research funding in their new field.
The fellowships provide salary support and funding for research, travel and professional development. In addition, mentors will receive a $50,000 research fund. At the end of the fellowship year, fellows may be invited to apply for a research award in the new field for up to $1.5 million — plus indirect costs — over five years.
Key Dates
- Application available: March 2, 2026
- Application deadline: 12 p.m. ET, May 14, 2026
For more information and to apply, please visit the Simons Foundation's website
Register for the MS Data Science Virtual Info Session on Wednesday, March 18!
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.
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.