Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Education (Colleges & Universities)
Featured Stories
Yale: Red Marks the Spot - Network of Complex Microbes Discovered at Mysterious Blood Falls
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Aug. 6 (TNSjou) -- Yale University issued the following news:
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Red marks the spot: Network of complex microbes discovered at mysterious Blood Falls
A research team co-led by a Yale scientist has identified complex organisms near the Blood Falls area of the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica -- a discovery that offers new implications for how microbial life adapts to harsh environmental conditions.
By Jim Shelton
Blood Falls, a mysterious, red-colored waterfall that flows from the edge of an Antarctic glacier, has finally revealed some of its biological secrets, more ... Show Full Article NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Aug. 6 (TNSjou) -- Yale University issued the following news: * * * Red marks the spot: Network of complex microbes discovered at mysterious Blood Falls A research team co-led by a Yale scientist has identified complex organisms near the Blood Falls area of the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica -- a discovery that offers new implications for how microbial life adapts to harsh environmental conditions. By Jim Shelton Blood Falls, a mysterious, red-colored waterfall that flows from the edge of an Antarctic glacier, has finally revealed some of its biological secrets, morethan a century after its discovery.
A research team led by Yale University, the University of California at San Diego, and the J. Craig Venter Institute in California has found a community of complex microbes at the foot of the Taylor Glacier, an ice sheet in the Victoria Land region of eastern Antarctica. The microbial discovery has implications for the resilience of complex cells under extreme environmental conditions, and for the mechanisms by which microbial life adapted to climate change in the distant past.
"This potentially brings us to a new understanding of microbial resilience," said Angela Zoumplis, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and first author of a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. "It tells us something very exciting about how certain organisms can adapt to new conditions and persist in extraordinarily harsh environments."
Blood Falls -- discovered in 1911 by Australian geologist Griffith Taylor -- looks something like an open wound at one end of the 35-mile-long Taylor Glacier. Bright red water sometimes spews from the interior depths of the glacier onto the snow and rocks below. The water is red because of its high iron content, which oxidizes on contact with open air.
For decades, scientists have attempted to learn Blood Falls' secrets.
Previous studies by various researchers implied that marine brine -- salt water -- was likely trapped inside an encroaching glacier during the Pliocene era, about 2.5 million years ago. Researchers have also speculated that simpler microbes in the brine, such as bacteria, may have continued to reproduce within a pocket of flowing water inside the glacier.
For the new study, Zoumplis and her co-authors -- including researchers from the J. Craig Venter Institute, the University of California at San Diego, Florida Gulf Coast University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder -- extracted 167 water, sediment, and aeolian (sediments transported by erosion or wind) samples from Blood Falls and its surrounding area.
"We sampled red mud, red ice -- anything that was red," Zoumplis said. "Anything that was potentially coming from the brine."
The shock and surprise of what they found left her and her team gobsmacked.
Yes, there were microbes. But not just simple bacteria. They found a wealth of complex eukaryotic microorganism, which are complex microbes that have a nucleus enclosed within a membrane. There were diatoms, haptophytes, dinoflagellates, and ciliates -- a grab bag of tiny organisms.
"It was a whole community," she said. "It blew our minds. How could anything more complex than bacteria possibly survive in these conditions?"
The researchers are careful not to definitively say that their newly identified microbes originated from the brine trapped beneath the Taylor Glacier more than 2 million years ago. They can speculate, however.
In addition to the Blood Falls samples, the researchers also collected samples of the sea ice and seawater communities several miles away and then compared microbes from both areas via gene sequencing. They found a positive genetic connection -- the microbes were clearly related -- and are in the process of investigating how the genetics match, as well as when they started to diverge.
For now, whether the new microbes are direct descendants of Pliocene-era microbes or not, the findings signal a heightened ability of microbes to transition across new environments, the researchers say.
"It suggests a new level of adaptation, to be able to survive after being taken from the ocean and put in the driest part of the world, under constant shock," Zoumplis said. "Next, we'd like to assess whether these data are tied to past warming events. If so, it may improve our prediction of dispersal processes and adaptive strategies during future warming events, as well."
Andrew Allen, a professor at the J. Craig Venter Institute and the University of California at San Diego, is corresponding author of the new study.
Funding for the study came from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
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Original text here: https://news.yale.edu/2026/08/04/red-marks-spot-network-complex-microbes-discovered-mysterious-blood-falls
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Red marks the spot: Network of complex microbes discovered at mysterious Blood Falls
A research team co-led by a Yale scientist has identified complex organisms near the Blood Falls area of the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica -- a discovery that offers new implications for how microbial life adapts to harsh environmental conditions.
By Jim Shelton
Blood Falls, a mysterious, red-colored waterfall that flows from the edge of an Antarctic glacier, has finally revealed some of its biological secrets, more ... Show Full Article NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Aug. 6 (TNSjou) -- Yale University issued the following news: * * * Red marks the spot: Network of complex microbes discovered at mysterious Blood Falls A research team co-led by a Yale scientist has identified complex organisms near the Blood Falls area of the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica -- a discovery that offers new implications for how microbial life adapts to harsh environmental conditions. By Jim Shelton Blood Falls, a mysterious, red-colored waterfall that flows from the edge of an Antarctic glacier, has finally revealed some of its biological secrets, morethan a century after its discovery.
A research team led by Yale University, the University of California at San Diego, and the J. Craig Venter Institute in California has found a community of complex microbes at the foot of the Taylor Glacier, an ice sheet in the Victoria Land region of eastern Antarctica. The microbial discovery has implications for the resilience of complex cells under extreme environmental conditions, and for the mechanisms by which microbial life adapted to climate change in the distant past.
"This potentially brings us to a new understanding of microbial resilience," said Angela Zoumplis, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and first author of a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. "It tells us something very exciting about how certain organisms can adapt to new conditions and persist in extraordinarily harsh environments."
Blood Falls -- discovered in 1911 by Australian geologist Griffith Taylor -- looks something like an open wound at one end of the 35-mile-long Taylor Glacier. Bright red water sometimes spews from the interior depths of the glacier onto the snow and rocks below. The water is red because of its high iron content, which oxidizes on contact with open air.
For decades, scientists have attempted to learn Blood Falls' secrets.
Previous studies by various researchers implied that marine brine -- salt water -- was likely trapped inside an encroaching glacier during the Pliocene era, about 2.5 million years ago. Researchers have also speculated that simpler microbes in the brine, such as bacteria, may have continued to reproduce within a pocket of flowing water inside the glacier.
For the new study, Zoumplis and her co-authors -- including researchers from the J. Craig Venter Institute, the University of California at San Diego, Florida Gulf Coast University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder -- extracted 167 water, sediment, and aeolian (sediments transported by erosion or wind) samples from Blood Falls and its surrounding area.
"We sampled red mud, red ice -- anything that was red," Zoumplis said. "Anything that was potentially coming from the brine."
The shock and surprise of what they found left her and her team gobsmacked.
Yes, there were microbes. But not just simple bacteria. They found a wealth of complex eukaryotic microorganism, which are complex microbes that have a nucleus enclosed within a membrane. There were diatoms, haptophytes, dinoflagellates, and ciliates -- a grab bag of tiny organisms.
"It was a whole community," she said. "It blew our minds. How could anything more complex than bacteria possibly survive in these conditions?"
The researchers are careful not to definitively say that their newly identified microbes originated from the brine trapped beneath the Taylor Glacier more than 2 million years ago. They can speculate, however.
In addition to the Blood Falls samples, the researchers also collected samples of the sea ice and seawater communities several miles away and then compared microbes from both areas via gene sequencing. They found a positive genetic connection -- the microbes were clearly related -- and are in the process of investigating how the genetics match, as well as when they started to diverge.
For now, whether the new microbes are direct descendants of Pliocene-era microbes or not, the findings signal a heightened ability of microbes to transition across new environments, the researchers say.
"It suggests a new level of adaptation, to be able to survive after being taken from the ocean and put in the driest part of the world, under constant shock," Zoumplis said. "Next, we'd like to assess whether these data are tied to past warming events. If so, it may improve our prediction of dispersal processes and adaptive strategies during future warming events, as well."
Andrew Allen, a professor at the J. Craig Venter Institute and the University of California at San Diego, is corresponding author of the new study.
Funding for the study came from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
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Original text here: https://news.yale.edu/2026/08/04/red-marks-spot-network-complex-microbes-discovered-mysterious-blood-falls
UVA Law School: U.S. Judge Jasmine Yoon '06 To Address New Students
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Aug. 6 -- The University of Virginia School of Law issued the following news:
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U.S. Judge Jasmine Yoon '06 To Address New Students
Ahead of Orientation, Trailblazing Jurist Discusses Her Career, Offers Advice
Mike Fox
Double Hoo Jasmine Yoon, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, will welcome the Class of 2029 during orientation Aug. 14 at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Yoon, a 2006 graduate of the Law School, became Virginia's first Asian American federal judge following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate in ... Show Full Article CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Aug. 6 -- The University of Virginia School of Law issued the following news: * * * U.S. Judge Jasmine Yoon '06 To Address New Students Ahead of Orientation, Trailblazing Jurist Discusses Her Career, Offers Advice Mike Fox Double Hoo Jasmine Yoon, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, will welcome the Class of 2029 during orientation Aug. 14 at the University of Virginia School of Law. Yoon, a 2006 graduate of the Law School, became Virginia's first Asian American federal judge following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate inMarch 2024.
She formerly worked as vice president for corporate integrity, ethics and investigations at Capital One Financial Corp. She also served as UVA's interim University counsel and associate counsel from 2019 to 2022, as well as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
She earned her undergraduate degree as a Jefferson Scholar in 2003 and was a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar at UVA Law. After law school, Yoon clerked for U.S. Judge James C. Cacheris for the Eastern District of Virginia.
What inspired you to go to law school?
Growing up in an immigrant family, my parents instilled in me the value of education, hard work and public service. Over time, I was inspired by the idea that lawyers are problem solvers who can make our system of justice work properly and fairly, which eventually led me to law school and a career as a lawyer.
What was your most meaningful experience learning the law?
My clerkship experience with Judge Cacheris was one of the most formative experiences I had learning the law. I learned how thorough preparation, credibility with the court, and civility toward your clients and opponent mattered deeply. I also saw firsthand how the law tangibly impacted people's lives. It was one of the best legal experiences and training I received as a young lawyer.
What's a typical day like for you as a federal judge?
No day is alike in my chambers. But on a typical day, there is a fair amount of reading, researching, writing and editing. There are also days I preside over criminal case proceedings like plea, sentencing, supervised-release violation hearings, and civil status conferences or motions hearings. Much of my work is about preparation and decision-making, and I work closely with my wonderful law clerks to manage my docket.
What's one piece of advice for 1Ls that you couldn't fit into your orientation address?
Be kind to yourself. It is easy to judge yourself by how overwhelmed you feel during your 1L year. Your tough days in law school will not and should not define your career down the road. But your career will be defined by how you learn from those moments and continue to push forward. Please give yourself permission to be present and enjoy every moment. It will go by quickly.
Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
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Original text here: https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202608/us-judge-jasmine-yoon-06-address-new-students
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U.S. Judge Jasmine Yoon '06 To Address New Students
Ahead of Orientation, Trailblazing Jurist Discusses Her Career, Offers Advice
Mike Fox
Double Hoo Jasmine Yoon, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, will welcome the Class of 2029 during orientation Aug. 14 at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Yoon, a 2006 graduate of the Law School, became Virginia's first Asian American federal judge following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate in ... Show Full Article CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Aug. 6 -- The University of Virginia School of Law issued the following news: * * * U.S. Judge Jasmine Yoon '06 To Address New Students Ahead of Orientation, Trailblazing Jurist Discusses Her Career, Offers Advice Mike Fox Double Hoo Jasmine Yoon, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, will welcome the Class of 2029 during orientation Aug. 14 at the University of Virginia School of Law. Yoon, a 2006 graduate of the Law School, became Virginia's first Asian American federal judge following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate inMarch 2024.
She formerly worked as vice president for corporate integrity, ethics and investigations at Capital One Financial Corp. She also served as UVA's interim University counsel and associate counsel from 2019 to 2022, as well as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
She earned her undergraduate degree as a Jefferson Scholar in 2003 and was a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar at UVA Law. After law school, Yoon clerked for U.S. Judge James C. Cacheris for the Eastern District of Virginia.
What inspired you to go to law school?
Growing up in an immigrant family, my parents instilled in me the value of education, hard work and public service. Over time, I was inspired by the idea that lawyers are problem solvers who can make our system of justice work properly and fairly, which eventually led me to law school and a career as a lawyer.
What was your most meaningful experience learning the law?
My clerkship experience with Judge Cacheris was one of the most formative experiences I had learning the law. I learned how thorough preparation, credibility with the court, and civility toward your clients and opponent mattered deeply. I also saw firsthand how the law tangibly impacted people's lives. It was one of the best legal experiences and training I received as a young lawyer.
What's a typical day like for you as a federal judge?
No day is alike in my chambers. But on a typical day, there is a fair amount of reading, researching, writing and editing. There are also days I preside over criminal case proceedings like plea, sentencing, supervised-release violation hearings, and civil status conferences or motions hearings. Much of my work is about preparation and decision-making, and I work closely with my wonderful law clerks to manage my docket.
What's one piece of advice for 1Ls that you couldn't fit into your orientation address?
Be kind to yourself. It is easy to judge yourself by how overwhelmed you feel during your 1L year. Your tough days in law school will not and should not define your career down the road. But your career will be defined by how you learn from those moments and continue to push forward. Please give yourself permission to be present and enjoy every moment. It will go by quickly.
Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
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Original text here: https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202608/us-judge-jasmine-yoon-06-address-new-students
UMass-Dartmouth: Professor Mary McCurry Earns Fulbright Scholar Award to Advance Compassionate Nursing Care
DARTMOUTH, Massachusetts, Aug. 6 -- The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus issued the following news:
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Professor Mary McCurry earns Fulbright Scholar award to advance compassionate nursing care
McCurry will collaborate with Edinburgh Napier University to reduce stigma around drug use and improve care
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UMass Dartmouth Professor of Nursing Mary McCurry has received a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct international research aimed at reducing stigma and improving health care for people who use drugs. Through the award, McCurry will collaborate with faculty and researchers ... Show Full Article DARTMOUTH, Massachusetts, Aug. 6 -- The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus issued the following news: * * * Professor Mary McCurry earns Fulbright Scholar award to advance compassionate nursing care McCurry will collaborate with Edinburgh Napier University to reduce stigma around drug use and improve care - UMass Dartmouth Professor of Nursing Mary McCurry has received a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct international research aimed at reducing stigma and improving health care for people who use drugs. Through the award, McCurry will collaborate with faculty and researchersat Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland to examine how nursing education can better prepare students worldwide to provide knowledgeable, evidence-based, and empathetic care to patients affected by substance use and opioid use disorder.
"A Fulbright Scholar Award has always been one of my professional goals, and I am truly honored to receive this award," McCurry said. "As a Fulbright Scholar, I will have the opportunity to partner with faculty and researchers to develop relationships that will promote understanding, improve patient care for people who use drugs, and benefit the universities and the communities they serve."
McCurry's research project, "Simulations to Challenge Stigma and Improve Nurse Empathy When Caring for People Who Use Drugs," will build upon her work with the University's NO STIGMA research team. Supported by funding from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), the simulations were designed to help nursing students recognize stigma, examine personal biases, and strengthen their ability to communicate therapeutically with patients who use drugs.
Developed with input from members of the local community and piloted with UMass Dartmouth nursing students, the simulations were found to reduce stigma and increase empathy among participants significantly.
"Professor McCurry's Fulbright is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the impact of her work as an educator, researcher, and clinician," said UMass Dartmouth Provost Ramprasad Balasubramanian. "Her international collaboration will enrich the education of our nursing students, strengthen UMass Dartmouth's global partnerships, and advance more compassionate, evidence-based care for people affected by substance use. We are incredibly proud of Mary and the distinction she brings to our university."
In Scotland, McCurry will work with Edinburgh Napier University Professor Inga Weyman, as well as faculty members, clinicians and community stakeholders, to adapt the simulations for the country's health care system. The novel scenarios will reflect the experiences and forms of stigma encountered by people seeking care for substance use in Scotland. The tailored simulations will then be evaluated with Scottish nursing students to determine whether they produce similar improvements in knowledge, attitudes and empathy.
"The international partnership is especially relevant because Scotland and the United States face similar challenges with opioid use, overdose deaths, access to compassionate care, and the stigma patients often encounter when seeking treatment," McCurry said. "I believe nurses are uniquely positioned to identify health care challenges, advocate for change and develop innovative approaches to address unmet needs."
A central goal of the project is to strengthen nursing curricula internationally. By making the simulations adaptable and widely accessible, the project has the potential to strengthen the capacity of nurses and nurse practitioners to provide high-quality care without judgment or stigma.
Ultimately, McCurry's Fulbright project reflects the essential role nurses can play in improving the experiences of people who use drugs.
"Educating nurses on the positive impact they can have in the care of people who use drugs is essential," she said. "The scalability of this work has the potential to have considerable impact on the capacity of the nursing workforce to provide high-quality, empathetic care that is devoid of stigma."
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Original text here: https://www.umassd.edu/news/2026/mary-mccurry-fulbright-scholar-nursing-care.html
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Professor Mary McCurry earns Fulbright Scholar award to advance compassionate nursing care
McCurry will collaborate with Edinburgh Napier University to reduce stigma around drug use and improve care
-
UMass Dartmouth Professor of Nursing Mary McCurry has received a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct international research aimed at reducing stigma and improving health care for people who use drugs. Through the award, McCurry will collaborate with faculty and researchers ... Show Full Article DARTMOUTH, Massachusetts, Aug. 6 -- The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus issued the following news: * * * Professor Mary McCurry earns Fulbright Scholar award to advance compassionate nursing care McCurry will collaborate with Edinburgh Napier University to reduce stigma around drug use and improve care - UMass Dartmouth Professor of Nursing Mary McCurry has received a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct international research aimed at reducing stigma and improving health care for people who use drugs. Through the award, McCurry will collaborate with faculty and researchersat Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland to examine how nursing education can better prepare students worldwide to provide knowledgeable, evidence-based, and empathetic care to patients affected by substance use and opioid use disorder.
"A Fulbright Scholar Award has always been one of my professional goals, and I am truly honored to receive this award," McCurry said. "As a Fulbright Scholar, I will have the opportunity to partner with faculty and researchers to develop relationships that will promote understanding, improve patient care for people who use drugs, and benefit the universities and the communities they serve."
McCurry's research project, "Simulations to Challenge Stigma and Improve Nurse Empathy When Caring for People Who Use Drugs," will build upon her work with the University's NO STIGMA research team. Supported by funding from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), the simulations were designed to help nursing students recognize stigma, examine personal biases, and strengthen their ability to communicate therapeutically with patients who use drugs.
Developed with input from members of the local community and piloted with UMass Dartmouth nursing students, the simulations were found to reduce stigma and increase empathy among participants significantly.
"Professor McCurry's Fulbright is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the impact of her work as an educator, researcher, and clinician," said UMass Dartmouth Provost Ramprasad Balasubramanian. "Her international collaboration will enrich the education of our nursing students, strengthen UMass Dartmouth's global partnerships, and advance more compassionate, evidence-based care for people affected by substance use. We are incredibly proud of Mary and the distinction she brings to our university."
In Scotland, McCurry will work with Edinburgh Napier University Professor Inga Weyman, as well as faculty members, clinicians and community stakeholders, to adapt the simulations for the country's health care system. The novel scenarios will reflect the experiences and forms of stigma encountered by people seeking care for substance use in Scotland. The tailored simulations will then be evaluated with Scottish nursing students to determine whether they produce similar improvements in knowledge, attitudes and empathy.
"The international partnership is especially relevant because Scotland and the United States face similar challenges with opioid use, overdose deaths, access to compassionate care, and the stigma patients often encounter when seeking treatment," McCurry said. "I believe nurses are uniquely positioned to identify health care challenges, advocate for change and develop innovative approaches to address unmet needs."
A central goal of the project is to strengthen nursing curricula internationally. By making the simulations adaptable and widely accessible, the project has the potential to strengthen the capacity of nurses and nurse practitioners to provide high-quality care without judgment or stigma.
Ultimately, McCurry's Fulbright project reflects the essential role nurses can play in improving the experiences of people who use drugs.
"Educating nurses on the positive impact they can have in the care of people who use drugs is essential," she said. "The scalability of this work has the potential to have considerable impact on the capacity of the nursing workforce to provide high-quality, empathetic care that is devoid of stigma."
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Original text here: https://www.umassd.edu/news/2026/mary-mccurry-fulbright-scholar-nursing-care.html
Syracuse University: Where the World's Researchers Come to Learn Their Craft
SYRACUSE, New York, Aug. 6 -- Syracuse University issued the following news:
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Where the World's Researchers Come to Learn Their Craft
The Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research draws graduate students and scholars from around the globe to the Maxwell School.
Jessica Youngman
This summer, 162 researchers from Yale, Oxford, the London School of Economics, Princeton, Columbia and dozens of other leading institutions from every continent except Antarctica traveled to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs for the Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research.
The ... Show Full Article SYRACUSE, New York, Aug. 6 -- Syracuse University issued the following news: * * * Where the World's Researchers Come to Learn Their Craft The Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research draws graduate students and scholars from around the globe to the Maxwell School. Jessica Youngman This summer, 162 researchers from Yale, Oxford, the London School of Economics, Princeton, Columbia and dozens of other leading institutions from every continent except Antarctica traveled to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs for the Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research. Theinstitute, referred to as IQMR by attendees and alumni, wrapped its 24th year and its 16th at Maxwell in late June.
"The institute's annual presence at Maxwell shows the school's stature as a leading place for social science research and training," says event organizer Sebastian Karcher, a research associate professor of political science at Maxwell. "And the fact that this year saw one of the highest attendance signals how much social scientists around the globe value the training and opportunities provided by the institute."
Karcher says that qualitative and multi-method research is vital to understanding critical dynamics in the U.S. and around the world. Qualitative data can be almost anything that isn't a number--interview transcripts, historical documents, photographs and even a researcher's own field notes from watching an event unfold. The real skill, taught at IQMR, lies in checking that material against itself, comparing sources and revisiting them over time so the conclusions hold up. Researchers learn to leverage and triangulate different forms of qualitative data to build findings that have validity and reliability.
The annual institute meets a need: While most researchers and Ph.D. students have ample access to training in quantitative methods, which includes statistical analysis and correlation research of large data sets, exposure to qualitative research methods, techniques and expertise is scarcer.
"From political parties to populism and policymaking and protest, qualitative methods help people understand not only the why but also the how of foundational social, economic and political processes," Karcher says. "IQMR trains researchers to investigate those mechanisms rigorously."
The institute is hosted at Maxwell by the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry (CQMI), which Karcher directs along with the related Qualitative Data Repository--a first-of-its-kind archive that stores and shares the data underlying qualitative and multi-method research worldwide.
Since its founding in 2002, IQMR has trained more than 3,500 researchers. Karcher estimates that almost 3,000 of them have attended the institute at Maxwell.
Attendees chose from more than a dozen module sequences led by leading scholars in the social sciences. This year's topics ranged from ethnographic methods and comparative historical analysis to geographic information systems, research ethics and approaches that blend qualitative insight with machine learning. Additionally, the institute offered sessions where participants put their own research designs on the table and heard frank feedback from peers and faculty.
"IQMR alumni form a global community," says fellow organizer Christiane Page, associate director of CQMI. "They maintain friendships and collaborations decades after the institute and are represented on the faculty of many of the leading political science departments in the world. And whenever they return to Maxwell, be it for an invited talk, as IQMR instructor or as Maxwell faculty member, it's a little bit like a homecoming."
Eleven current Maxwell faculty members are institute alumni, including Seth Jolly, chair of the Political Science Department. He says IQMR was a pivotal experience during his graduate studies. "I met amazing instructors from all over, whose work I had read in classes," he says. "The peer networking was just as important. Intellectually, it was transformative for my dissertation project and my future research and, socially, it expanded my peer network immensely."
For many, the institute has shaped how they think about research--not just the methods they use, but the questions they ask.
The institute's influence extends well beyond the two weeks on campus. Doctoral students who met at IQMR have gone on to become long-term research collaborators, most recently contributing to Doing Research as a Native: A Guide for Fieldwork in Illiberal and Repressive States (Oxford University Press), a volume addressing one of the most urgent challenges in contemporary field research, edited by Kira Jumet of Hamilton College and Merouan Mekouar of Canada's York University; they met at IQMR in 2011.
"Sixteen straight years of researchers from major institutions choosing to come train at Maxwell says something about where this school stands," says Shana Gadarian, associate dean for research and professor of political science. "IQMR gives them the training to do rigorous work on pressing questions about political institutions, democracy and public policy."
Gadarian and Maxwell faculty colleague Brian Taylor gave remarks at this year's institute.
One of the highlights of this year's lineup was an evening event that had participants gather with faculty over mocktails for informal, one-on-one conversations about their thorniest methodological questions. These informal exchanges between faculty and participants leave some of the most lasting memories.
"I came in hoping to learn more about qualitative methods, but I left with much more than that: many wonderful friends, meaningful feedback on my research, and so much inspiration to do better research," says Kaniz Fatema, graduate student in sociology at the University of Kansas.
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Original text here: https://news.syr.edu/2026/08/05/where-the-worlds-researchers-come-to-learn-their-craft/
* * *
Where the World's Researchers Come to Learn Their Craft
The Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research draws graduate students and scholars from around the globe to the Maxwell School.
Jessica Youngman
This summer, 162 researchers from Yale, Oxford, the London School of Economics, Princeton, Columbia and dozens of other leading institutions from every continent except Antarctica traveled to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs for the Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research.
The ... Show Full Article SYRACUSE, New York, Aug. 6 -- Syracuse University issued the following news: * * * Where the World's Researchers Come to Learn Their Craft The Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research draws graduate students and scholars from around the globe to the Maxwell School. Jessica Youngman This summer, 162 researchers from Yale, Oxford, the London School of Economics, Princeton, Columbia and dozens of other leading institutions from every continent except Antarctica traveled to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs for the Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research. Theinstitute, referred to as IQMR by attendees and alumni, wrapped its 24th year and its 16th at Maxwell in late June.
"The institute's annual presence at Maxwell shows the school's stature as a leading place for social science research and training," says event organizer Sebastian Karcher, a research associate professor of political science at Maxwell. "And the fact that this year saw one of the highest attendance signals how much social scientists around the globe value the training and opportunities provided by the institute."
Karcher says that qualitative and multi-method research is vital to understanding critical dynamics in the U.S. and around the world. Qualitative data can be almost anything that isn't a number--interview transcripts, historical documents, photographs and even a researcher's own field notes from watching an event unfold. The real skill, taught at IQMR, lies in checking that material against itself, comparing sources and revisiting them over time so the conclusions hold up. Researchers learn to leverage and triangulate different forms of qualitative data to build findings that have validity and reliability.
The annual institute meets a need: While most researchers and Ph.D. students have ample access to training in quantitative methods, which includes statistical analysis and correlation research of large data sets, exposure to qualitative research methods, techniques and expertise is scarcer.
"From political parties to populism and policymaking and protest, qualitative methods help people understand not only the why but also the how of foundational social, economic and political processes," Karcher says. "IQMR trains researchers to investigate those mechanisms rigorously."
The institute is hosted at Maxwell by the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry (CQMI), which Karcher directs along with the related Qualitative Data Repository--a first-of-its-kind archive that stores and shares the data underlying qualitative and multi-method research worldwide.
Since its founding in 2002, IQMR has trained more than 3,500 researchers. Karcher estimates that almost 3,000 of them have attended the institute at Maxwell.
Attendees chose from more than a dozen module sequences led by leading scholars in the social sciences. This year's topics ranged from ethnographic methods and comparative historical analysis to geographic information systems, research ethics and approaches that blend qualitative insight with machine learning. Additionally, the institute offered sessions where participants put their own research designs on the table and heard frank feedback from peers and faculty.
"IQMR alumni form a global community," says fellow organizer Christiane Page, associate director of CQMI. "They maintain friendships and collaborations decades after the institute and are represented on the faculty of many of the leading political science departments in the world. And whenever they return to Maxwell, be it for an invited talk, as IQMR instructor or as Maxwell faculty member, it's a little bit like a homecoming."
Eleven current Maxwell faculty members are institute alumni, including Seth Jolly, chair of the Political Science Department. He says IQMR was a pivotal experience during his graduate studies. "I met amazing instructors from all over, whose work I had read in classes," he says. "The peer networking was just as important. Intellectually, it was transformative for my dissertation project and my future research and, socially, it expanded my peer network immensely."
For many, the institute has shaped how they think about research--not just the methods they use, but the questions they ask.
The institute's influence extends well beyond the two weeks on campus. Doctoral students who met at IQMR have gone on to become long-term research collaborators, most recently contributing to Doing Research as a Native: A Guide for Fieldwork in Illiberal and Repressive States (Oxford University Press), a volume addressing one of the most urgent challenges in contemporary field research, edited by Kira Jumet of Hamilton College and Merouan Mekouar of Canada's York University; they met at IQMR in 2011.
"Sixteen straight years of researchers from major institutions choosing to come train at Maxwell says something about where this school stands," says Shana Gadarian, associate dean for research and professor of political science. "IQMR gives them the training to do rigorous work on pressing questions about political institutions, democracy and public policy."
Gadarian and Maxwell faculty colleague Brian Taylor gave remarks at this year's institute.
One of the highlights of this year's lineup was an evening event that had participants gather with faculty over mocktails for informal, one-on-one conversations about their thorniest methodological questions. These informal exchanges between faculty and participants leave some of the most lasting memories.
"I came in hoping to learn more about qualitative methods, but I left with much more than that: many wonderful friends, meaningful feedback on my research, and so much inspiration to do better research," says Kaniz Fatema, graduate student in sociology at the University of Kansas.
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Original text here: https://news.syr.edu/2026/08/05/where-the-worlds-researchers-come-to-learn-their-craft/
Stanford Medicine Researchers Awarded $20 Million for AI-guided Research Facilities
STANFORD, California, Aug. 6 -- Stanford University School of Medicine issued the following news:
* * *
Stanford Medicine researchers awarded $20 million for AI-guided research facilities
Stanford Medicine researchers are developing standards to enable programmable cloud laboratories to implement experimental protocols originally written by and for humans.
By Adam Hadhazy
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $20 million grant to a collaboration led by Mark Musen, MD, PhD, professor of computational medicine, to help develop a network of artificial intelligence-driven, remotely operated ... Show Full Article STANFORD, California, Aug. 6 -- Stanford University School of Medicine issued the following news: * * * Stanford Medicine researchers awarded $20 million for AI-guided research facilities Stanford Medicine researchers are developing standards to enable programmable cloud laboratories to implement experimental protocols originally written by and for humans. By Adam Hadhazy The National Science Foundation has awarded a $20 million grant to a collaboration led by Mark Musen, MD, PhD, professor of computational medicine, to help develop a network of artificial intelligence-driven, remotely operatedlabs.
The award is part of a $400 million endeavor to build a national network of 20 such facilities, known as programmable cloud laboratories. Able to run autonomously based on instructions sent remotely from scientists and engineers, these laboratories could expedite research and innovation while also accomplishing something else unique: the democratization of access to high-end lab equipment, ultimately lowering costs and redundancy while improving the reliability and reproducibility of experiments.
"The way we have set up labs in the life sciences, chemistry, materials science and other fields is that everybody needed to have one of everything, basically, to do significant research," said Musen, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research. "That's like saying every astronomer needs their own telescope to look at the sky."
"Through this initiative," Musen added, "we're looking to efficiently transform how a vast swath of science is done, and we are proud to be a part of the effort."
Known formally as the NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed), the initiative is funding awardees to test, scale and demonstrate new methods and tools. The goal is for the initiative to empower PCLs to conduct automated hypothesis generation and experimentation, thus serving as "self-driving laboratories," Musen said. The NSF PCL Test Bed supports the Genesis Mission, a U.S. government program to leverage AI for promoting scientific discovery.
A critical element of the PCL enterprise will be translating laboratory methods intended for human technicians into clear instructions that machines can follow. On behalf of all 20 NSF-funded groups, Musen's team is spearheading the crafting of shared standards that will enable networked PCLs to seamlessly accept input from human users.
"We want to do natural language analysis of descriptions of research protocols and translate them into the kinds of procedures that can then be executed by a cloud lab," Musen said. "The problem is that natural language is inherently ambiguous. When you read a protocol, it'll say things like 'stir thoroughly.' What does that mean exactly? How do you quantify that?"
The team has christened their project GEMSTONE, for generalizable experimental methods and standards for transparent, open, networked execution. Project collaborators hail from Purdue University, Morehouse College and Emerald Cloud Lab, which operates a remote laboratory in Texas.
"We think there's a great possibility here to unify what people do in cloud labs with a common language," Musen said. "PCLs show an immense level of promise, and we look forward to helping them deliver on that promise."
* * *
About Stanford Medicine
Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2026/08/ai-laboratories-award.html
* * *
Stanford Medicine researchers awarded $20 million for AI-guided research facilities
Stanford Medicine researchers are developing standards to enable programmable cloud laboratories to implement experimental protocols originally written by and for humans.
By Adam Hadhazy
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $20 million grant to a collaboration led by Mark Musen, MD, PhD, professor of computational medicine, to help develop a network of artificial intelligence-driven, remotely operated ... Show Full Article STANFORD, California, Aug. 6 -- Stanford University School of Medicine issued the following news: * * * Stanford Medicine researchers awarded $20 million for AI-guided research facilities Stanford Medicine researchers are developing standards to enable programmable cloud laboratories to implement experimental protocols originally written by and for humans. By Adam Hadhazy The National Science Foundation has awarded a $20 million grant to a collaboration led by Mark Musen, MD, PhD, professor of computational medicine, to help develop a network of artificial intelligence-driven, remotely operatedlabs.
The award is part of a $400 million endeavor to build a national network of 20 such facilities, known as programmable cloud laboratories. Able to run autonomously based on instructions sent remotely from scientists and engineers, these laboratories could expedite research and innovation while also accomplishing something else unique: the democratization of access to high-end lab equipment, ultimately lowering costs and redundancy while improving the reliability and reproducibility of experiments.
"The way we have set up labs in the life sciences, chemistry, materials science and other fields is that everybody needed to have one of everything, basically, to do significant research," said Musen, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research. "That's like saying every astronomer needs their own telescope to look at the sky."
"Through this initiative," Musen added, "we're looking to efficiently transform how a vast swath of science is done, and we are proud to be a part of the effort."
Known formally as the NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed), the initiative is funding awardees to test, scale and demonstrate new methods and tools. The goal is for the initiative to empower PCLs to conduct automated hypothesis generation and experimentation, thus serving as "self-driving laboratories," Musen said. The NSF PCL Test Bed supports the Genesis Mission, a U.S. government program to leverage AI for promoting scientific discovery.
A critical element of the PCL enterprise will be translating laboratory methods intended for human technicians into clear instructions that machines can follow. On behalf of all 20 NSF-funded groups, Musen's team is spearheading the crafting of shared standards that will enable networked PCLs to seamlessly accept input from human users.
"We want to do natural language analysis of descriptions of research protocols and translate them into the kinds of procedures that can then be executed by a cloud lab," Musen said. "The problem is that natural language is inherently ambiguous. When you read a protocol, it'll say things like 'stir thoroughly.' What does that mean exactly? How do you quantify that?"
The team has christened their project GEMSTONE, for generalizable experimental methods and standards for transparent, open, networked execution. Project collaborators hail from Purdue University, Morehouse College and Emerald Cloud Lab, which operates a remote laboratory in Texas.
"We think there's a great possibility here to unify what people do in cloud labs with a common language," Musen said. "PCLs show an immense level of promise, and we look forward to helping them deliver on that promise."
* * *
About Stanford Medicine
Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2026/08/ai-laboratories-award.html
SUNY: Chancellor King Highlights Undergraduate Summer Research Programs for Educational Opportunity Program Students During Research Symposium
ALBANY, New York, Aug. 6 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release:
* * *
Chancellor King Highlights Undergraduate Summer Research Programs for Educational Opportunity Program Students During Research Symposium
Symposium Brought Together Students to Present Research Conducted with Faculty and Staff During Summer Programs
Two Summer Research Programs Serve EOP Students Interested in Exploring Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or the Humanities and Social Sciences
-
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted undergraduate ... Show Full Article ALBANY, New York, Aug. 6 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release: * * * Chancellor King Highlights Undergraduate Summer Research Programs for Educational Opportunity Program Students During Research Symposium Symposium Brought Together Students to Present Research Conducted with Faculty and Staff During Summer Programs Two Summer Research Programs Serve EOP Students Interested in Exploring Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or the Humanities and Social Sciences - State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted undergraduatesummer research programs for students in SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) during a research symposium. The two programs, the STEM Summer Research Program and the EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program, are tailored to EOP students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), or the humanities and social sciences. During the symposium, held at the SUNY System Administration Building in Albany, students presented the research they conducted with faculty and research staff during the summer programs.
"SUNY is committed to expanding access to internships that empower our students to explore career paths that interest them," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The Educational Opportunity Program has made higher education more accessible for thousands of New Yorkers, and we are proud to continue to open the doors to upward mobility and success through initiatives like our undergraduate summer research programs. These programs provide our EOP students with vital opportunities to work with SUNY's outstanding faculty to advance our research excellence while also preparing them for their future careers."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "The Educational Opportunity Program has enabled students throughout New York State to pursue their dreams. Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY can invest in programs that provide our EOP students with vital opportunities to participate in hands-on learning opportunities and gain real-world career skills."
The SUNY Undergraduate EOP Summer Research Program started last summer with 30 students at five SUNY campuses. This year, SUNY has doubled the program participants to 62 students and 10 campus host sites.
The STEM Summer Research Program targets students pursuing or exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. This year's program involved 42 students, up from 19 students last summer, 17 faculty, and eight different SUNY campuses including the State University of New York at Albany, the State University of New York at Binghamton, SUNY Brockport, the State University of New York at Buffalo, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
The program consists of three different areas, including a six-week STEM research program in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and psychology a nine-week STEM research program in computer science, information technology, and imaging, and a 10-week STEM research program for students interested in pre-med. Students enrolled in the STEM research programs participated in daily lab or field work with faculty and research staff, as well as community building and professional development activities.
The EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program is designed for students interested in the humanities and social sciences and took place at Erie Community College and Hudson Valley Community College. The research program focused on reading, writing, and library research, and featured writing intensive courses, professional development activities, and provided 20 EOP students, up from 11 students last summer, with the opportunity to work with and be mentored by faculty members.
During the research symposium, over 60 students who participated in the two summer research programs presented their research to attendees.
SUNY's goal is that every undergraduate student will complete a paid internship or other experiential learning opportunity before they earn their degree. Nationally, students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students are less likely to participate in paid internships than their peers. Nearly 66 percent of EOP students who graduated in 2024-2025 participated in a credit-bearing internship or other high impact applied learning experience, and SUNY has committed to increasing that percentage to 100 percent beginning with the Fall 2025 cohort. To date, SUNY has funded 860 internships for EOP students at State agencies, non-profits, and other organizations.
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "The EOP Summer Research Program has proven the impact on students when they are given the chance to do serious work alongside faculty who believe in them. EOP students from our SUNY institutions throughout the state are spending this summer in labs, in the field, and in the library producing real research. Doubling this program from 30 students to 62 in a single year is a meaningful investment in New York's future scientists, scholars, and educators. This program inspires students to stay in New York and contribute to cutting-edge research and development in growing industries. I thank Chancellor King and the Board of Regents for their continued commitment to EOP and to the students it serves."
State Senator Robert Jackson said, "Knowledge is one of democracy's greatest equalizers. Every breakthrough in science and every new understanding of the human experience reminds us that education is not merely about preparing students for careers--it is about preparing society for progress. The Educational Opportunity Program affirms what history has always shown: talent flourishes in every community when opportunity is placed within reach. When government invests in human potential, it does more than expand opportunity. It strengthens the democratic promise that every New Yorker can help shape our shared future."
State Senator Lea Webb said, "As a former EOP student at SUNY schools studying neuroscience, I understand firsthand how important research opportunities are. Accessible, affordable higher education opens up a new world of possibilities for students who may have otherwise been unable to attend college. I am pleased that SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. is highlighting these talented student presentations and the program they belong to."
State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program continues to serve our students with its STEM and Liberal Arts Summer Research Programs. These programs are career builders, and the fact that host campus participation has doubled and student participation has more than doubled, speaks to the importance of this work."
State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, said, "The growth of each SUNY EOP Summer Research Program proves that when given the opportunity to succeed, students will rise to the challenge. When the summer comes to a close, these young scholars will gain practical skills that have enriched them and prepared them for their future careers. New York State's investment in SUNY EOP yields dividends for years to come."
State Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest said, "I am so proud of the 62 amazing students from 10 campus host sites who participated in this wonderful summer research program. I am also grateful to SUNY for creating these hands-on opportunities for their students to expand their knowledge in a variety of fields. We look forward to the program being expanded in the future, and for participating students to continue their hard work by using this experience to reach greater heights."
State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos, MSW, said, "Programs such as SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program Summer Research initiative are vital because they expand access to opportunities that too often remain out of reach. This program equips students with the mentorship, experience, and support necessary to translate their potential into discovery and meaningful career pathways. The exceptional research presented across STEM, the humanities, and the social sciences underscores what can be achieved when we invest in students and remove barriers to success. I commend Chancellor King, the participating faculty, and staff, and especially the 62 EOP students whose dedication and innovation are helping to shape New York's future."
State Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, "The State University of New York offers so many tremendous opportunities for students who participate in the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program. The STEM Summer Research Program and the EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program are certainly among them. It is critical for students from underserved communities to have the chance to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. These are doors that for too long have been closed to people who come from low-income communities. I'm excited that the summer programs - including those related to the humanities and social services -- are growing. I am confident that the participating students will be well equipped to compete for promising careers."
The FY2026-27 Enacted State Budget includes a historic $10.7 million increase in State funding for EOP. Recently, SUNY announced the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program, which provides comprehensive academic, financial, and mentoring support to ensure student success, to support students in fields including computer science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI). The EOP Scholars Program was also expanded in February to support students in nursing and teaching degree programs focused on shortage areas, as well as in 2024 to include mental health fields and engineering. In 2021, SUNY launched the pre-medical Educational Opportunity Program to provide EOP students with additional support and mentoring towards their path to medical school.
To further support EOP students, SUNY launched a partnership with Kaplan to offer EOP students free access to comprehensive test preparation resources over the next three years, including practice tests, for graduate-level admissions exams and professional licensure exams. In February 2025, Chancellor King announced an EOP Career Development Internship Program in partnership with state agencies to provide students with real-world professional experience and skill development within a field that aligns both with their academic pursuit and personal interests.
Since its inception in 1967, SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from low-income backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 59-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. More information about SUNY's EOP can be found here.
* * *
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country's oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/8-26/8-5-26/eop-research.html
* * *
Chancellor King Highlights Undergraduate Summer Research Programs for Educational Opportunity Program Students During Research Symposium
Symposium Brought Together Students to Present Research Conducted with Faculty and Staff During Summer Programs
Two Summer Research Programs Serve EOP Students Interested in Exploring Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or the Humanities and Social Sciences
-
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted undergraduate ... Show Full Article ALBANY, New York, Aug. 6 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release: * * * Chancellor King Highlights Undergraduate Summer Research Programs for Educational Opportunity Program Students During Research Symposium Symposium Brought Together Students to Present Research Conducted with Faculty and Staff During Summer Programs Two Summer Research Programs Serve EOP Students Interested in Exploring Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or the Humanities and Social Sciences - State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted undergraduatesummer research programs for students in SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) during a research symposium. The two programs, the STEM Summer Research Program and the EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program, are tailored to EOP students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), or the humanities and social sciences. During the symposium, held at the SUNY System Administration Building in Albany, students presented the research they conducted with faculty and research staff during the summer programs.
"SUNY is committed to expanding access to internships that empower our students to explore career paths that interest them," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The Educational Opportunity Program has made higher education more accessible for thousands of New Yorkers, and we are proud to continue to open the doors to upward mobility and success through initiatives like our undergraduate summer research programs. These programs provide our EOP students with vital opportunities to work with SUNY's outstanding faculty to advance our research excellence while also preparing them for their future careers."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "The Educational Opportunity Program has enabled students throughout New York State to pursue their dreams. Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY can invest in programs that provide our EOP students with vital opportunities to participate in hands-on learning opportunities and gain real-world career skills."
The SUNY Undergraduate EOP Summer Research Program started last summer with 30 students at five SUNY campuses. This year, SUNY has doubled the program participants to 62 students and 10 campus host sites.
The STEM Summer Research Program targets students pursuing or exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. This year's program involved 42 students, up from 19 students last summer, 17 faculty, and eight different SUNY campuses including the State University of New York at Albany, the State University of New York at Binghamton, SUNY Brockport, the State University of New York at Buffalo, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
The program consists of three different areas, including a six-week STEM research program in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and psychology a nine-week STEM research program in computer science, information technology, and imaging, and a 10-week STEM research program for students interested in pre-med. Students enrolled in the STEM research programs participated in daily lab or field work with faculty and research staff, as well as community building and professional development activities.
The EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program is designed for students interested in the humanities and social sciences and took place at Erie Community College and Hudson Valley Community College. The research program focused on reading, writing, and library research, and featured writing intensive courses, professional development activities, and provided 20 EOP students, up from 11 students last summer, with the opportunity to work with and be mentored by faculty members.
During the research symposium, over 60 students who participated in the two summer research programs presented their research to attendees.
SUNY's goal is that every undergraduate student will complete a paid internship or other experiential learning opportunity before they earn their degree. Nationally, students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students are less likely to participate in paid internships than their peers. Nearly 66 percent of EOP students who graduated in 2024-2025 participated in a credit-bearing internship or other high impact applied learning experience, and SUNY has committed to increasing that percentage to 100 percent beginning with the Fall 2025 cohort. To date, SUNY has funded 860 internships for EOP students at State agencies, non-profits, and other organizations.
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "The EOP Summer Research Program has proven the impact on students when they are given the chance to do serious work alongside faculty who believe in them. EOP students from our SUNY institutions throughout the state are spending this summer in labs, in the field, and in the library producing real research. Doubling this program from 30 students to 62 in a single year is a meaningful investment in New York's future scientists, scholars, and educators. This program inspires students to stay in New York and contribute to cutting-edge research and development in growing industries. I thank Chancellor King and the Board of Regents for their continued commitment to EOP and to the students it serves."
State Senator Robert Jackson said, "Knowledge is one of democracy's greatest equalizers. Every breakthrough in science and every new understanding of the human experience reminds us that education is not merely about preparing students for careers--it is about preparing society for progress. The Educational Opportunity Program affirms what history has always shown: talent flourishes in every community when opportunity is placed within reach. When government invests in human potential, it does more than expand opportunity. It strengthens the democratic promise that every New Yorker can help shape our shared future."
State Senator Lea Webb said, "As a former EOP student at SUNY schools studying neuroscience, I understand firsthand how important research opportunities are. Accessible, affordable higher education opens up a new world of possibilities for students who may have otherwise been unable to attend college. I am pleased that SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. is highlighting these talented student presentations and the program they belong to."
State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program continues to serve our students with its STEM and Liberal Arts Summer Research Programs. These programs are career builders, and the fact that host campus participation has doubled and student participation has more than doubled, speaks to the importance of this work."
State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, said, "The growth of each SUNY EOP Summer Research Program proves that when given the opportunity to succeed, students will rise to the challenge. When the summer comes to a close, these young scholars will gain practical skills that have enriched them and prepared them for their future careers. New York State's investment in SUNY EOP yields dividends for years to come."
State Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest said, "I am so proud of the 62 amazing students from 10 campus host sites who participated in this wonderful summer research program. I am also grateful to SUNY for creating these hands-on opportunities for their students to expand their knowledge in a variety of fields. We look forward to the program being expanded in the future, and for participating students to continue their hard work by using this experience to reach greater heights."
State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos, MSW, said, "Programs such as SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program Summer Research initiative are vital because they expand access to opportunities that too often remain out of reach. This program equips students with the mentorship, experience, and support necessary to translate their potential into discovery and meaningful career pathways. The exceptional research presented across STEM, the humanities, and the social sciences underscores what can be achieved when we invest in students and remove barriers to success. I commend Chancellor King, the participating faculty, and staff, and especially the 62 EOP students whose dedication and innovation are helping to shape New York's future."
State Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, "The State University of New York offers so many tremendous opportunities for students who participate in the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program. The STEM Summer Research Program and the EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program are certainly among them. It is critical for students from underserved communities to have the chance to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. These are doors that for too long have been closed to people who come from low-income communities. I'm excited that the summer programs - including those related to the humanities and social services -- are growing. I am confident that the participating students will be well equipped to compete for promising careers."
The FY2026-27 Enacted State Budget includes a historic $10.7 million increase in State funding for EOP. Recently, SUNY announced the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program, which provides comprehensive academic, financial, and mentoring support to ensure student success, to support students in fields including computer science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI). The EOP Scholars Program was also expanded in February to support students in nursing and teaching degree programs focused on shortage areas, as well as in 2024 to include mental health fields and engineering. In 2021, SUNY launched the pre-medical Educational Opportunity Program to provide EOP students with additional support and mentoring towards their path to medical school.
To further support EOP students, SUNY launched a partnership with Kaplan to offer EOP students free access to comprehensive test preparation resources over the next three years, including practice tests, for graduate-level admissions exams and professional licensure exams. In February 2025, Chancellor King announced an EOP Career Development Internship Program in partnership with state agencies to provide students with real-world professional experience and skill development within a field that aligns both with their academic pursuit and personal interests.
Since its inception in 1967, SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from low-income backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 59-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. More information about SUNY's EOP can be found here.
* * *
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country's oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/8-26/8-5-26/eop-research.html
Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University Hosts AI Skills Training for Local Government Leaders
MALIBU, California, Aug. 6 -- Pepperdine University issued the following news:
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Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University Hosts AI Skills Training for Local Government Leaders
Pepperdine University's Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership hosted an immersive, two-day Applied AI in Local Government: Practical Skills for Public Sector Leaders workshop on July 28-29 at Pepperdine's Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu.
Through this workshop, local government professionals were trained to responsibly integrate AI into everyday public-sector operations. Through intensive ... Show Full Article MALIBU, California, Aug. 6 -- Pepperdine University issued the following news: * * * Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University Hosts AI Skills Training for Local Government Leaders Pepperdine University's Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership hosted an immersive, two-day Applied AI in Local Government: Practical Skills for Public Sector Leaders workshop on July 28-29 at Pepperdine's Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu. Through this workshop, local government professionals were trained to responsibly integrate AI into everyday public-sector operations. Through intensivelab sessions and guest panels, participants built confidence with leading AI platforms such as Claude, Google Gemini, and ChatGPT--and each left having learned the tools that can be used across all platforms that can be implemented with the platform their agency chooses to use.
Peter Pirnejad, ICMA-CM, executive director of the Davenport Institute, hosted the workshop alongside two industry experts: Jonathan Reichental, founder of Human Future, a global business and technology advisory, investment, and education firm; and Chris Shepard, communications officer for the City of Folsom and founder of Herding Labs, an independent studio creating consumer iOS apps that put AI to practical use.
"AI is expanding what is possible in public service, from deeper research and better decision-making to greater efficiency and responsiveness, but it also raises new questions around trust, transparency, ethics, and security," Pirnejad said. "Now more than ever, we need to equip local government leaders to use AI responsibly and effectively so they can meet rising service demands while protecting the public trust."
Over the course of two days, attendees were guided through real local government examples, including how AI can help organize council materials, draft first versions of staff reports and presentations, support data analysis, improve public-facing communications, and create more efficient workflows for city staff.
To close the program, the workshop's hosts discussed industry insights on the future of AI and shared best practices for responsibly adopting emerging technologies, so these public sector leaders are best prepared to serve their constituents well. In addition to methods they could repeat on Monday morning, attendees left with a network of peers navigating the same transition, and the judgment to know what still requires a human being's presence.
Josh Boudreaux, human resources director for the city of Lynwood, expressed that the two-day workshop provided valuable insight into cutting-edge AI practices. As the leader responsible for meeting the personnel needs of the city's departments, Boudreaux said he especially valued the dedicated time to build customized AI tools designed to align with the unique requirements and regulatory framework of California local government. Furthermore, he expressed that the workshop served as valuable intel for an upcoming public address he will deliver about the intersection of AI and employment relations.
"Though I am familiar with AI platforms, I wanted to ensure that my understanding of the compliance piece was sound. I also wanted to gauge what level our colleagues across the nation are at regarding AI usage," Boudreaux said. "The program successfully provided this information."
Boudreaux's colleague in the city of Lynwood, Shanell Shipe, assistant to the city manager, agreed with his overall sentiments. She further shared appreciation that the workshop equipped her with knowledge and practical tools that she could immediately put to work.
"I came to this workshop to learn how I could use AI to have a more productive day, and take what I learn back to my team," Shipe said. "I've been saying this over and over again, but the custom ChatGPT specialist is going to really support the creation of thorough staff reports to present to our council so that they can make sound decisions for our city. I look forward to taking that straight back to the office."
The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, housed within the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, is dedicated to advancing effective public engagement and civic education. Since its founding in 2005, the institute has worked with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to strengthen democratic governance through meaningful public participation.
Under Pirnejad's direction the Institute continues to expand its international leadership in artificial intelligence, democratic governance, and public trust through new global research supported by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The ICMA fellowship will advance the institute's leadership on how emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, can improve public service delivery while preserving the principles of democratic accountability, ethical leadership, and institutional trust.
The Davenport Institute has two more training opportunities this year; its signature Virtual Professional Certificate in Public Engagement for Local Government on Thursdays from October 15 to November 19, and its next Applied AI in Local Government: Practical Skills for Public Sector Leaders on December 2 and 3 at the Malibu campus.
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Original text here: https://www.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/articles/davenport-institute-at-pepperdine-university-hosts-ai-skills-training-for-local-government-leadership.htm
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Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University Hosts AI Skills Training for Local Government Leaders
Pepperdine University's Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership hosted an immersive, two-day Applied AI in Local Government: Practical Skills for Public Sector Leaders workshop on July 28-29 at Pepperdine's Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu.
Through this workshop, local government professionals were trained to responsibly integrate AI into everyday public-sector operations. Through intensive ... Show Full Article MALIBU, California, Aug. 6 -- Pepperdine University issued the following news: * * * Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University Hosts AI Skills Training for Local Government Leaders Pepperdine University's Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership hosted an immersive, two-day Applied AI in Local Government: Practical Skills for Public Sector Leaders workshop on July 28-29 at Pepperdine's Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu. Through this workshop, local government professionals were trained to responsibly integrate AI into everyday public-sector operations. Through intensivelab sessions and guest panels, participants built confidence with leading AI platforms such as Claude, Google Gemini, and ChatGPT--and each left having learned the tools that can be used across all platforms that can be implemented with the platform their agency chooses to use.
Peter Pirnejad, ICMA-CM, executive director of the Davenport Institute, hosted the workshop alongside two industry experts: Jonathan Reichental, founder of Human Future, a global business and technology advisory, investment, and education firm; and Chris Shepard, communications officer for the City of Folsom and founder of Herding Labs, an independent studio creating consumer iOS apps that put AI to practical use.
"AI is expanding what is possible in public service, from deeper research and better decision-making to greater efficiency and responsiveness, but it also raises new questions around trust, transparency, ethics, and security," Pirnejad said. "Now more than ever, we need to equip local government leaders to use AI responsibly and effectively so they can meet rising service demands while protecting the public trust."
Over the course of two days, attendees were guided through real local government examples, including how AI can help organize council materials, draft first versions of staff reports and presentations, support data analysis, improve public-facing communications, and create more efficient workflows for city staff.
To close the program, the workshop's hosts discussed industry insights on the future of AI and shared best practices for responsibly adopting emerging technologies, so these public sector leaders are best prepared to serve their constituents well. In addition to methods they could repeat on Monday morning, attendees left with a network of peers navigating the same transition, and the judgment to know what still requires a human being's presence.
Josh Boudreaux, human resources director for the city of Lynwood, expressed that the two-day workshop provided valuable insight into cutting-edge AI practices. As the leader responsible for meeting the personnel needs of the city's departments, Boudreaux said he especially valued the dedicated time to build customized AI tools designed to align with the unique requirements and regulatory framework of California local government. Furthermore, he expressed that the workshop served as valuable intel for an upcoming public address he will deliver about the intersection of AI and employment relations.
"Though I am familiar with AI platforms, I wanted to ensure that my understanding of the compliance piece was sound. I also wanted to gauge what level our colleagues across the nation are at regarding AI usage," Boudreaux said. "The program successfully provided this information."
Boudreaux's colleague in the city of Lynwood, Shanell Shipe, assistant to the city manager, agreed with his overall sentiments. She further shared appreciation that the workshop equipped her with knowledge and practical tools that she could immediately put to work.
"I came to this workshop to learn how I could use AI to have a more productive day, and take what I learn back to my team," Shipe said. "I've been saying this over and over again, but the custom ChatGPT specialist is going to really support the creation of thorough staff reports to present to our council so that they can make sound decisions for our city. I look forward to taking that straight back to the office."
The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, housed within the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, is dedicated to advancing effective public engagement and civic education. Since its founding in 2005, the institute has worked with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to strengthen democratic governance through meaningful public participation.
Under Pirnejad's direction the Institute continues to expand its international leadership in artificial intelligence, democratic governance, and public trust through new global research supported by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The ICMA fellowship will advance the institute's leadership on how emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, can improve public service delivery while preserving the principles of democratic accountability, ethical leadership, and institutional trust.
The Davenport Institute has two more training opportunities this year; its signature Virtual Professional Certificate in Public Engagement for Local Government on Thursdays from October 15 to November 19, and its next Applied AI in Local Government: Practical Skills for Public Sector Leaders on December 2 and 3 at the Malibu campus.
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Original text here: https://www.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/articles/davenport-institute-at-pepperdine-university-hosts-ai-skills-training-for-local-government-leadership.htm