Education (Colleges & Universities)
Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
State's investment in cancer research has helped draw top talent to UTSW
DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 24 -- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center posted the following news release:* * *
State's investment in cancer research has helped draw top talent to UTSW
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DALLAS - Dec. 19, 2025 - Early in his career, Ralf Kittler, Ph.D., attracted the attention of academic leaders at UT Southwestern Medical Center with his studies of DNA transcription factors and their role in tumor growth and suppression. His promising cancer research earned him an invitation to relocate to Dallas, where a $2 million grant from the state-funded Cancer Prevention and Research Institute ... Show Full Article DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 24 -- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center posted the following news release: * * * State's investment in cancer research has helped draw top talent to UTSW * DALLAS - Dec. 19, 2025 - Early in his career, Ralf Kittler, Ph.D., attracted the attention of academic leaders at UT Southwestern Medical Center with his studies of DNA transcription factors and their role in tumor growth and suppression. His promising cancer research earned him an invitation to relocate to Dallas, where a $2 million grant from the state-funded Cancer Prevention and Research Instituteof Texas (CPRIT) would help create his own lab at UTSW and turbocharge his scientific investigations.
Arriving from the University of Chicago in 2009, Dr. Kittler was the first of more than 300 highly sought-after scientists who have been recruited to Texas through the state's multimillion-dollar program to advance the understanding and treatment of cancer.
In the more than 15 years since then, Dr. Kittler has become an Associate Professor at UT Southwestern's Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center as well as in the Department of Pharmacology. And CPRIT has provided more than $250 million in financial support to add faculty at UT Southwestern, giving it a competitive edge to attract some of the world's most dynamic and in-demand cancer researchers.
Ralf Kittler, Ph.D., (left) Associate Professor at UT Southwestern's Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, and Robert Bachoo, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology, have studied ways to treat glioblastoma, a tumor that affects the brain and spinal cord.
This investment also has contributed to the foundational growth and success of Simmons Cancer Center, one of 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country and the only one in North Texas. Today, Simmons Cancer Center has 277 faculty members across 37 academic departments, runs hundreds of active clinical trials, and supports five research programs and 14 disease-oriented teams. UT Southwestern is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 20 hospitals for cancer care in the nation.
"It was clear from the start that CPRIT would be transformative for cancer research at UT Southwestern," Dr. Kittler said.
Statewide, CPRIT's impact has been equally profound. It has funneled nearly $1 billion to academic institutions, research organizations, and biomedical companies to bring the best and brightest scientists and clinical investigators to Texas. And it was all done with one bold mission in mind: to make the state a global leader in the fight against cancer.
Steering the future of cancer therapy
Created with voter approval in 2007, CPRIT began with a $3 billion investment to accelerate cancer research, support screening and preventive services, develop therapies, and recruit top talent to make it all possible. In 2019, Texans overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment to continue CPRIT's work and infuse another $3 billion into the program. CPRIT has since become the largest state cancer research investment in U.S. history and the second-largest cancer research and prevention program anywhere.
"CPRIT has invested millions of dollars in our effort to screen for, prevent, and fight cancer, moving us closer every day to breakthrough therapies and life-changing medicines," said Carlos L. Arteaga, M.D., Director of the Simmons Cancer Center and Associate Dean of Oncology Programs at UT Southwestern. Dr. Arteaga, who joined UTSW as the Center's director in 2017 with a $6 million CPRIT recruitment grant, is an internationally renowned physician-scientist who has led the development and approval of molecularly targeted therapies for breast cancer. In 2024, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.
Academic institutions across the state have successfully pursued some of the most accomplished researchers to bring to Texas. Investigators have come from every corner of the U.S. and abroad, including countries in Europe, South America, and Asia. And the grants are awarded to scientists of all levels, from first-time, tenure-track junior faculty to mid-level associate professors to established senior researchers.
Among the most recent high-profile hires at UT Southwestern is Stefan Gloeggler, Ph.D., Professor in the Advanced Imaging Research Center and of Biomedical Engineering, who was recruited from the Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences in Gottingen, Germany. Dr. Gloeggler is a pioneer in hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, which can be applied in studies of cancer metabolism to improve disease detection and treatment.
Daniel Addison, M.D., former Director of the Cardio-Oncology Program at The Ohio State University, also joined the faculty at UT Southwestern through a CPRIT Rising Star recruitment award. Dr. Addison is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of Translational Research in the Division of Cardiology, and Associate Director for Survivorship and Outcomes Research in the Simmons Cancer Center. His research on the link between cancer treatments and cardiovascular disease has led to multicenter clinical trials that aim to eliminate or reduce such heart complications.
Most recently, Shixuan Liu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neuroscience in the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, was recruited to UT Southwestern this year from Stanford University with the help of a $2 million CPRIT Scholar grant. Her lab's research focuses on decoding the molecular mechanisms of the seasonal clock and its cross-talk with circadian rhythms.
Many early-career researchers who were brought to UT Southwestern through CPRIT have continued their path to great academic success.
Matteo Ligorio, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and in the Simmons Cancer Center, arrived at UT Southwestern in 2020 from Harvard after he was awarded a CPRIT First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Member grant. In October 2025, Nature Medicine published a one-of-a-kind study he co-led that shifted the paradigm on the understanding of how cancer kills. His findings suggest the ultimate cause of cancer death is not metastatic disease, but the invasion of tumors into major blood vessels that lead to blood clots and multi-organ failure. With this new discovery, he and his co-author Kelley Newcomer, M.D., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern, are now collaborating with other researchers from around the world to design clinical trials that can test potentially more effective cancer therapies.
Just this month, the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology (TAMEST) named Yunsun Nam, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UT Southwestern, as the winner of the prestigious 2026 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Biological Sciences for her scientific achievements. Dr. Nam was also recruited to UT Southwestern as a first-time, tenure-track faculty member. Arriving in Dallas in 2012, Dr. Nam is widely recognized for her research on the molecular interactions of RNA and modifying proteins.
Financially backed by CPRIT and UTSW, these impactful researchers have the funding they need to purchase leading-edge lab equipment and hire the necessary staff to continue their pursuit of cancer breakthroughs.
"The resources you have when you start your career as a principal investigator are vitally important," Dr. Kittler said.
Since his arrival, UT Southwestern has recruited more than 90 other experts with CPRIT support specializing in a variety of cancers - from liver cancer to ocular cancer to breast cancer to leukemia as well as biomedical engineers and stem cell researchers, all of whom have made significant contributions to science.
Dr. Kittler himself was the co-leader of an investigation into how lentiviruses can mutate oncoproteins and render cancer cells resistant to drug therapy. By understanding the mechanisms at play and how to manipulate them, Dr. Kittler's findings may unlock the development of more effective and targeted cancer treatments.
"CPRIT triggered a rapid growth of resources, talent, and collaboration soon after its start," Dr. Kittler said. "It has been a massive stimulus to our university and exceeded expectations."
Discoveries that have a lasting impact
Sean J. Morrison, Ph.D., (left) founding director of Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, works with Julia Phan, Ph.D., a former graduate student researcher and current student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UT Southwestern.
In 2011, Sean J. Morrison, Ph.D., was recruited with a $10 million CPRIT grant to become the founding director of Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI).
The nonprofit institute is focused on pioneering research at the intersection of stem cells, cancer, and metabolism. Since CRI's inception, the internationally recognized team of scientists has made significant discoveries that improved the understanding of the biological basis of diseases, including cancer.
Dr. Morrison's research has redefined strategies for cancer treatment. His studies in melanoma showed that antioxidants can promote disease progression and led to studies that are attempting to develop new pro-oxidant therapies. His work also uncovered the role of the bone marrow microenvironment, where blood-forming stem cells are located, leading to new insights that improved the safety of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation.
"CPRIT has profoundly strengthened cancer research in Texas because it accelerates medical science in a way that is not replicated in other parts of the country, where funding is difficult to obtain," said Dr. Morrison, Professor in CRI and of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the European Molecular Biology Organization. Since 2000, he has also been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. "Texas is the only state, aside from California, to make a multibillion-dollar commitment to science and to renew that investment after the initial term," he said.
Exceptional reputation and vision drive progress
At the core of UT Southwestern's mission is the commitment to enhance lives by developing better treatments, cures, and preventive care - a common goal shared by all CPRIT scholars.
Joshua T. Mendell, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, studies how microRNAs contribute to oncogenesis and tumor suppression.
Joshua T. Mendell, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern, member of the Cellular Networks in Cancer Research Program in the Simmons Cancer Center, and an HHMI Investigator, was also recruited with CPRIT support in 2011, after discovering that microRNAs can be modulated to inhibit liver cancer in mouse models. At UT Southwestern, Dr. Mendell and his lab continue to investigate how these noncoding molecules contribute to oncogenesis and tumor suppression.
"Our goal is to advance our understanding of RNA biology and to discover new functions for RNAs, because these molecules play critical roles in normal biology and often go awry in cancer and other diseases," said Dr. Mendell, who, in October 2025, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. "Because of this, there is a strong interest in developing medicines based on RNA - the most famous and successful example, in recent times, being the COVID-19 vaccine."
In fact, it is the same field of research that was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in both 2023 and 2024.
"UT Southwestern has always recognized the value of basic science," Dr. Mendell said. "The research conducted on this campus has repeatedly demonstrated how fundamental scientific discoveries can lead to new clinical innovations that impact the lives of patients. While UT Southwestern has grown since my arrival here, the institutional commitment to bold and collaborative research has also continued."
Recent CPRIT grants support AI research, lung and cervical cancer prevention programs
CPRIT awards grants not only to recruit scientists to Texas but also to fund research and cancer prevention efforts. In November, CPRIT announced its latest round of awards, including nearly $15 million in grants to UT Southwestern faculty members for programs ranging from lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation to research related to artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced imaging. In addition, recruitment grants for the year totaled $10 million to attract tenure-track faculty members to UTSW.
A sampling of significant CPRIT grants funded to UTSW in 2025 include:
* Nearly $3 million to Kevin Dean, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, to establish the Cancer Cell Imaging Core (CCIC), a facility to visualize and analyze cancer cells in unprecedented detail.
* Nearly $3 million to Guanghua Xiao, Ph.D., Professor in the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, to establish a Data Science and AI Core for Population Research (DAICOR) in Texas.
* Nearly $2.5 million to Keith Argenbright, M.D., Director of the Moncrief Cancer Institute, Professor and member of the Population Science and Cancer Control Research Program in the Simmons Cancer Center, and Professor in the O'Donnell School of Public Health, to implement a cervical cancer screening program in North Texas.
* Nearly $2.5 million to David Gerber, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Co-Director of the Simmons Cancer Center's Office of Education and Training, to advance existing integrated lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation programs - with efforts focused on populations in southern Dallas County.
Dr. Addison holds the Audre and Bernard Rapoport Chair in Cardiovascular Research.
Dr. Argenbright is a Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Dr. Arteaga holds the Annette Simmons Distinguished University Chair in Breast Cancer Research.
Dr. Gerber holds the David Bruton, Jr. Professorship in Clinical Cancer Research.
Dr. Kittler is the John L. Roach Scholar in Biomedical Research.
Dr. Mendell holds the Charles Cameron Sprague, M.D. Chair in Medical Science.
Dr. Morrison holds the Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research at Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics.
Dr. Nam holds the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science and is a Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research and a UT Southwestern Presidential Scholar.
Dr. Xiao holds the Mary Dees McDermott Hicks Chair in Medical Science.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,200 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 140,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.1 million outpatient visits a year.
Related Stories
UT Southwestern cell biologist to receive Maddox Award from TAMEST
UT Southwestern biochemist to receive O'Donnell Award from TAMEST
Key protein behind necroptotic cell death could drive new treatment strategies
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Original text here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2025/dec-cprit-recruitment-grants-cancer-research.html
Yale's Top Innovation Stories 2025
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Dec. 23 -- Yale University issued the following statement on Dec. 22, 2025:* * *
Yale's Top Innovation Stories 2025
"Behind every headline is years of experimentation, risk-taking, and persistence. We're proud to support innovators at every stage, from the earliest spark of an idea to companies making an impact in the world."
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As the year comes to a close, it's a pleasure to reflect on the incredible momentum across Yale's innovation community. Every day, discoveries at Yale are moving from lab to launch, from campus to community, and from New Haven to the world.
This ... Show Full Article NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Dec. 23 -- Yale University issued the following statement on Dec. 22, 2025: * * * Yale's Top Innovation Stories 2025 "Behind every headline is years of experimentation, risk-taking, and persistence. We're proud to support innovators at every stage, from the earliest spark of an idea to companies making an impact in the world." * As the year comes to a close, it's a pleasure to reflect on the incredible momentum across Yale's innovation community. Every day, discoveries at Yale are moving from lab to launch, from campus to community, and from New Haven to the world. Thisyear's highlights include the State of Connecticut's pledging $121M to help establish our state a hub of innovation for quantum technology. We've seen acquisitions of several Yale student, alumni, and faculty-founded ventures including Halda Therapeutics, Innozyme, and Prepared as well as significant funding rounds for startups including Bexorg, Metri Bio, Normunity, Symbrosia, Revalia, Verustruct, and Quarry Thera. These milestones reflect solutions reaching patients, communities, and markets, and jobs and opportunities across our region.
Yale Ventures is grateful for philanthropic gifts that enabled us to expand our accelerator funds, adding Planetary Solutions and Health Tech to our existing portfolio that includes Biotech, Autoimmunity and Engineering.
While these stories are meaningful, they represent only the visible edge of what's happening every day across campus. We know many of you are working quietly on something that may show up in this newsletter next year--or in the next decade. We salute your persistence, creativity, and belief that the work is worth it.
Whether you've shared your expertise as a mentor, taken a bold step as a first-time founder, collaborated as a student innovator, partnered as an investor, or connected with us through events, your contributions fuel a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurship and discovery here at Yale and throughout our region.
Thank you for your partnership, energy, and shared belief in what's possible. We look forward to building even greater impact together in the year ahead.
- Josh Geballe, Managing Director, Yale Ventures, Senior Associate Provost for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Yale University
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Original text here: https://ventures.yale.edu/news/yales-top-innovation-stories-2025
University of Connecticut: Federal EITC Has Unexpected Result, Researchers Say - It Decreases Domestic Violence
STORRS, Connecticut, Dec. 23 -- The University of Connecticut issued the following news:* * *
Federal EITC Has Unexpected Result, Researchers Say - It Decreases Domestic Violence
'Even if you don't care about the human value of reducing this, there are efficiency gains in handling it more effectively - and I think most of us do care about the human element'
By Kimberly Phillips
Fifty years since the federal earned income tax credit went into effect and a team of researchers from UConn and City University of New York have identified an unintended benefit of the antipoverty program - a significant ... Show Full Article STORRS, Connecticut, Dec. 23 -- The University of Connecticut issued the following news: * * * Federal EITC Has Unexpected Result, Researchers Say - It Decreases Domestic Violence 'Even if you don't care about the human value of reducing this, there are efficiency gains in handling it more effectively - and I think most of us do care about the human element' By Kimberly Phillips Fifty years since the federal earned income tax credit went into effect and a team of researchers from UConn and City University of New York have identified an unintended benefit of the antipoverty program - a significantreduction in rates of intimate partner violence among unmarried women.
"There's been enough literature to show that good things happen because of the earned income tax credit, but what was surprising to us is the relatively large effect it has on intimate partner violence," says UConn's David Simon, an associate professor of economics and study co-author. "To a low-income family, $1,000 a year is a lot."
Simon and his colleagues - UConn finance professor Resul Cesur, and Nuria Rodriguez-Planas and Jennifer Roff from City University of New York - specifically looked at rates of intimate partner violence, or IPV, since the 1993 expansion of the federal earned income tax credit using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey from 1992 to 2000.
In "Intimate Partner Violence and Income: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit," published last month in the University of Chicago's Journal of Law and Economics, they found the credit decreased the prevalence of physical and sexual violence among unmarried, low-educated women by 9.73%. Further, it decreased the counts of such violence by 21%.
"Most policymakers, when they look at the earned income tax credit, they're thinking about two things: reducing poverty and incentivizing work. It's very effective at both of those things, but I don't think decreasing intimate partner violence was on their mind," Simon says.
The earned income tax credit, or EITC, is a credit for taxpayers who fall below certain income levels and meet certain employment requirements. President Gerald Ford signed it into law in March 1975, and it was significantly expanded under President Bill Clinton as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
Generally, it offers $1,000 off a tax payment to the IRS or, in most cases, a refund directly to the taxpayer. Those with children receive higher amounts depending on the number they claim as dependents.
Many states have their own EITC programs, which affect people's state tax liabilities, but researchers looked only at the federal credit in this study. State programs result in a much smaller financial benefit to the taxpayer, although a person often qualifies for both simultaneously.
Roff and Rodriguez-Planas brought the UConn team into the project after they started thinking about how income levels affect domestic violence. But they knew it wasn't enough to just look at the relationship between income and IPV, Roff says.
In developing countries, higher income among women can increase rates of domestic violence, as a perpetrator extracts those extra resources from their victim to rebalance power in the home, Roff notes.
Conversely, in other places, a woman's higher income can bring down the prevalence of domestic violence simply because moving up the socioeconomic ladder includes more education, stable family environments, and other nonmonetary resources that are more accessible, Simon adds.
To strip away those influences, the team settled on using the EITC as a benchmark, which meant their initial query grew into a study of the effects on IPV of employment and income as they relate to the tax credit.
"It's an established fact that during COVID, there was a big increase in domestic violence: Everybody was stuck at home in one small space and there was the stress of COVID," Roff says. "So, we started thinking that if the earned income tax credit increases employment, then women simply are outside of the house and not exposed to it anymore, much like the period before and after COVID."
Couple that with decreased financial stress from the tax credit, in addition to the higher paycheck from the requisite employment to qualify for it, and they noticed measurable declines in IPV, which, according to the study, affects a quarter of women at some point in their lives.
"That's a huge percent," Simon says. "We probably all know multiple people who we care about who've been through this."
Ten million women annually are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking, the paper says, noting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the cost amounts to $3.6 trillion, or $103,767 per victimized woman, including the price of medical care, lost productivity, and the criminal justice system.
Researchers estimate that since the EITC's expansion in 1993, nearly 42,000 fewer women have experienced IPV, a benefit of $4.3 billion in 2003 dollars, the study says.
"Intimate partner violence is a widespread and costly social phenomenon," Simon says. "Even if you don't care about the human value of reducing this, there are efficiency gains in handling it more effectively - and I think most of us do care about the human element."
Roff say she and Rodriguez-Planas now are looking at the success of policies specifically targeting IPV, like the national Lethality Assessment Protocol, and are finding they don't make significantly more gains than what the EITC has done.
"It's an added bonus of this tax policy," Roff says of its effect on IPV. "It's really nice that this has had other beneficial effects outside of its direct targeted plan, which was to reduce poverty and improve family incomes."
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Original text here: https://today.uconn.edu/2025/12/federal-eitc-has-unexpected-result-researchers-say-it-decreases-domestic-violence/
Over 5 Million Euros Awarded to SISSA by the Italian Science Fund
TRIESTE, Italy, Dec. 23 -- The International School for Advanced Studies (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati) issued the following news:* * *
Over 5 million euros awarded to SISSA by the Italian Science Fund
The three awarded projects are led by Giovanni Bussi, Nicola Gigli, and Gianluigi Rozza
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Three grants for a total of nearly Euros5.5 million. This is the remarkable result achieved by SISSA through the Italian Science Fund (FIS) of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), which awarded funding to the projects led by Giovanni Bussi, Nicola Gigli, and Gianluigi ... Show Full Article TRIESTE, Italy, Dec. 23 -- The International School for Advanced Studies (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati) issued the following news: * * * Over 5 million euros awarded to SISSA by the Italian Science Fund The three awarded projects are led by Giovanni Bussi, Nicola Gigli, and Gianluigi Rozza * Three grants for a total of nearly Euros5.5 million. This is the remarkable result achieved by SISSA through the Italian Science Fund (FIS) of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), which awarded funding to the projects led by Giovanni Bussi, Nicola Gigli, and GianluigiRozza in the fields of biophysics, geometric analysis, and scientific computing, respectively.
Due to the strictness of its selection process and the size of the grants awarded, the FIS is modelled on the European Research Council (ERC), the most important European funding program for scientific research, aimed at supporting scientists engaged in fundamental research. Now in its third edition, FIS 3 funded 326 excellence projects selected from more than 5,000 applications across the areas of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities.
The result obtained by SISSA is one of outstanding prestige, rewarding the excellence of its research and standing out even more in light of the School's extremely small faculty, which numbers fewer than one hundred members. In addition to the three projects starting in 2026, SISSA also secured a project launched in 2025 and awarded to neuroscientist Alessia Soldano under FIS 2.
Commenting on the result, SISSA Director Andrea Romanino saiys: "This recognition rewards the talent of our researchers and clearly demonstrates the quality of the research carried out at SISSA. Securing three FIS grants in a single call, given the very small size of our faculty, confirms the School's ability to make a decisive contribution to advancing the frontiers of both fundamental and applied research."
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Original text here: https://www.sissa.it/news/over-eu5-million-awarded-sissa-italian-science-fund
New Interim Policy for Prevention of Discrimination
BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania, Dec. 23 -- Bryn Mawr College posted the following news:* * *
New Interim Policy for Prevention of Discrimination
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The below message was sent to the Bryn Mawr community on Dec. 22, 2025.
Dear Bryn Mawr Community,
We write to put in place an Interim Policy for the Prevention of Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Retaliation as part of our continuing commitment to the wellbeing of all community members and to ensure prompt compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy enables us to continue to foster an environment of equity ... Show Full Article BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania, Dec. 23 -- Bryn Mawr College posted the following news: * * * New Interim Policy for Prevention of Discrimination * The below message was sent to the Bryn Mawr community on Dec. 22, 2025. Dear Bryn Mawr Community, We write to put in place an Interim Policy for the Prevention of Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Retaliation as part of our continuing commitment to the wellbeing of all community members and to ensure prompt compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy enables us to continue to foster an environment of equityand inclusion, and is effective as of today, December 22, 2025. This policy supersedes and replaces all policies and procedures concerning discrimination and harassment outlined in the faculty, staff, and student handbooks.
This interim policy establishes clear standards of conduct for all members of our community as well as procedures for addressing concerns related to discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation. It covers discrimination in both access to educational opportunities and employment and addresses discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived protected characteristics, including age, citizenship status, color, disability, gender identity/expression, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy or related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status. This policy also describes the College's response to reports and outlines resolution procedures.
Policies of this length and detail are the norm at institutions like ours and are consistent with the requirements of federal, state, and local laws that cover students and employees of the College. We welcome feedback from our community on this interim policy through April 1, 2026, using this online feedback form. The College will review all feedback and make any needed revisions by the end of the spring 2026 semester to finalize the policy.
The College's Office of Civil Rights and Title IX will offer education on the policy and its associated procedures and provide opportunities to receive feedback from community members. The first two of these opportunities will be general sessions open to the community, which will be held on:
* Thursday, January 22 from 4-5pm in Old Library (Room 224)
* Wednesday, January 28 from 12-1pm in Carpenter Library (Room B21)
Individuals can sign up for these general sessions in advance using this form. There will be continued educational opportunities throughout the semester, as well as open office hours with Cary Carr, Director of the College's Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. Dates, times, and locations for additional sessions will be announced through the Daily Digest newsletter. If you wish to request individual training or group training, please contact Cary Carr at ccarr1@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7863.
If you experience or witness discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation, you can make a report using the online reporting form or by contacting Cary Carr directly. Please note that, with the exception of roles on campus considered confidential resources (e.g., healthcare practitioners, therapists, and chaplains), all employees are mandatory reporters and are required by Bryn Mawr policy to make a report when they witness or learn of incidents of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual misconduct. Employees of the College are required to complete annual training, which covers these and other topics. Please see the email from Jill Walsh, Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, on November 25, 2025, for instructions to access and complete required training, or simply navigate to the United Educators Learning Portal.
Sincerely,
Cary Carr
Associate Director of Civil Rights and Bias Response and Title IX Coordinator
David Karen
Interim Provost and Professor of Sociology
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Original text here: https://www.brynmawr.edu/news/new-interim-policy-prevention-discrimination
McGill University: Mosquitoes' Feeding Tubes Make Ultrafine 3D-printing Nozzles
MONTREAL, Quebec, Dec. 23 (TNSjou) -- McGill University issued the following news release:* * *
Mosquitoes' feeding tubes make ultrafine 3D-printing nozzles
The environmentally friendly technology paves the way for advances in manufacturing and biomedical engineering
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Researchers in McGill's Department of Mechanical Engineering and at Drexel University have developed an innovative manufacturing technique that makes female mosquito proboscides, or feeding tubes, into high-resolution 3D-printing nozzles. With its unique geometry, structure and mechanics, the proboscis enables printed line ... Show Full Article MONTREAL, Quebec, Dec. 23 (TNSjou) -- McGill University issued the following news release: * * * Mosquitoes' feeding tubes make ultrafine 3D-printing nozzles The environmentally friendly technology paves the way for advances in manufacturing and biomedical engineering * Researchers in McGill's Department of Mechanical Engineering and at Drexel University have developed an innovative manufacturing technique that makes female mosquito proboscides, or feeding tubes, into high-resolution 3D-printing nozzles. With its unique geometry, structure and mechanics, the proboscis enables printed linewidths as fine as 20 microns, or a little smaller than a white blood cell. This is roughly twice as fine as what commercially available printing nozzles can currently produce.
The researchers named the process "3D necroprinting," where a non-living biological microstructure is directly used as an advanced manufacturing tool. Potential applications include producing tiny scaffolds for cell growth or tissue engineering, printing cell-laden gels, as well as the delicate transfer of microscopic objects like semiconductor chips.
"High-resolution 3D printing and microdispensing rely on ultrafine nozzles, typically made from specialized metal or glass," said study co-author Jianyu Li, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Tissue Repair and Regeneration at McGill. "These nozzles are expensive, difficult to manufacture and generate environmental waste and health concerns."
"Mosquito proboscides let us print extremely small, precise structures that are difficult or very expensive to produce with conventional tools. Since biological nozzles are biodegradable, we can repurpose materials that would otherwise be discarded," added Changhong Cao of McGill, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Small-Scale Materials and Manufacturing and study co-author.
The study was led by McGill graduate student Justin Puma. He was involved in a previous study using a mosquito proboscis for biomimetic purposes that established a foundation for this research.
Biodegradable and reusable
To develop the nozzles, the researchers examined insect-derived micronozzles and identified the mosquito proboscis - a tiny, naturally evolved microneedle about half of the width of a human hair - as the optimal candidate. The proboscides were harvested from euthanized mosquitoes, sourced from ethically approved laboratory colonies used for biological research at partner institution Drexel University.
Under a microscope, the researchers carefully removed the mosquito's feeding tube. They then attached this biological needle to a standard plastic dispenser tip using a small amount of resin. The researchers characterized the tips' geometry and mechanical strength, measured their pressure tolerance and integrated them into a custom 3D-printing setup.
Once connected, the proboscis becomes the final opening through which the 3D printer emits material. The researchers have successfully printed high-resolution complex structures, including a honeycomb, a maple leaf and bioscaffolds that encapsulate cancer cells and red blood cells.
The idea of using biotic materials in advanced manufacturing was inspired by necrobotics research at Rice University. While searching for micronozzles, Cao was also in discussions with Drexel University researchers Megan Creighton and Ali Afify on a separate mosquito-related project. These conversations led the team to explore proboscides for 3D printing.
"Evolutions in bioprinting are helping medical researchers develop unique approaches to treatment. As we look to improve technology, we must also strive to innovate," said Creighton, study co-author and Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Drexel.
"We found the mosquito proboscis can withstand repeated printing cycles as long as the pressures stay within safe limits. With proper handling and cleaning, a nozzle can be reused many times," Cao said.
"By introducing biotic materials as viable substitutes to complex engineered components, this work paves the way for sustainable and innovative solutions in advanced manufacturing and microengineering," Li added.
About the study
"3D Necroprinting: Leveraging biotic material as the nozzle for 3D printing," by Justin Puma, Megan Creighton, Ali Afify, Jianyu Li, Changhong Cao et al, was published in Science Advances.
Funding was received from the New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery program, Fonds de recherche du Quebec Nature and Technologies. (FRQNT) New Academics program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation John Evans Leaders Fund, the Canada Research Chair Program and an NSERC-FRQNT Nova grant.
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Original text here: https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/channels/news/mosquitoes-feeding-tubes-make-ultrafine-3d-printing-nozzles-369957
Lehigh's Research Highlights of 2025
BETHLEHEM, Pennsylania, Dec. 23 -- Lehigh University issued the following news:* * *
Lehigh's Research Highlights of 2025
Take a look back at some of the top research stories at the university in 2025.
As 2025 comes to a close and we reflect on the university's progress over the past year, below is a selection of standout research stories that capture the momentum of Lehigh's scholarly achievements. This year brought the launch of innovative research centers, interdisciplinary breakthroughs, the milestone of an R1 designation, and collaborations that are translating science and technology ... Show Full Article BETHLEHEM, Pennsylania, Dec. 23 -- Lehigh University issued the following news: * * * Lehigh's Research Highlights of 2025 Take a look back at some of the top research stories at the university in 2025. As 2025 comes to a close and we reflect on the university's progress over the past year, below is a selection of standout research stories that capture the momentum of Lehigh's scholarly achievements. This year brought the launch of innovative research centers, interdisciplinary breakthroughs, the milestone of an R1 designation, and collaborations that are translating science and technologyinto real-world solutions for communities, industries and global challenges.
Lehigh Designated R1 Research University
Lehigh was designated an R1 university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2025. This denotes the highest levels of research activity and classifies Lehigh as a top-tier research university. As the only R1 school in the Lehigh Valley (and one of seven in Pennsylvania), this recognition helps to attract and retain top faculty and enhance opportunities for students.
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Two New University Research Centers Established
Lehigh launched two new University Research Centers (URCs) in 2025: the Center for Community Driven Assistive Technologies (CDAT) and the Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES). CDAT explores existing and emerging assistive and adaptive technologies to improve mobility, daily living, education and more for people with physical, cognitive, sensory or developmental disabilities. ACES focuses on sustainable, efficient community-scale electrification, transforming how communities power buildings, transportation and water systems while promoting energy security, independence and lower costs. Together, the centers reflect Lehigh's commitment to interdisciplinary research that addresses social, health and energy challenges.
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Developing Energy-Efficient Solutions for AI Data Centers
Lehigh's Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES) is working to make AI data centers more energy- and water-efficient, addressing growing concerns about their heavy power and cooling demands. Researchers are exploring innovations such as direct-to-chip cooling, microgrids for managing interconnected AI data centers, waste heat recovery and demand-response models to reduce grid strain and resource use. Their work combines lab experiments, real-time data from Lehigh's computing facilities and interdisciplinary collaboration, potentially shaping how future AI infrastructure is built nationwide.
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New Material Gives Copper Superalloy-like Strength
Researchers at Lehigh and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory developed a groundbreaking new nanostructured copper alloy (Cu Ta Li alloy) combining copper's conductivity with strength and thermal stability comparable to nickel based superalloys. The alloy holds its shape under extreme, long-term thermal exposure and mechanical stress and resists deformation near its melting point, which is promising for aerospace, defense and industrial heat intense applications. Martin Harmer, Alcoa Foundation Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at Lehigh, co-authored the study, published in the journal Science.
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Lehigh Student Earns Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for Rubrene Research
Saimonth Munoz '26 was awarded a 2025 Goldwater Scholarship, one of only 441 recipients nationwide, for his research on rubrene, an organic semiconductor that transmits information via light. Munoz, a double major in electrical engineering and physics, explores rubrene's quantum properties under mentor Ivan Biaggio, professor and Joseph A. Waldschmitt Chair in Physics. The honor highlights Munoz's commitment to research and underscores Lehigh's strength in fostering undergraduate innovation.
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Lehigh, Rice Launch Consortium for Enhancing Resilience and Catastrophe Modeling
Lehigh and Rice University have launched a new research initiative, Consortium for Enhancing Resilience and Catastrophe Modeling (CERCat), to improve disaster risk modeling and community resilience. CERCat unites academic researchers, industry experts and public sector innovators to build more realistic, multihazard models that account for overlapping threats and to deploy tools like AI for faster post disaster damage assessment. With 18 interdisciplinary faculty across civil engineering, Earth sciences, statistics, mathematics, public policy, computer science and social sciences, plus students and industry partners, the consortium aims to translate cutting edge research into concrete applications.
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Pioneering Turbo Equalized Acoustic System to Improve Underwater Communication
Yahong Rosa Zheng, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and her team developed a high frequency acoustic system using "turbo equalization" that dramatically improves underwater communication speed and reliability. Their prototype sends multiple data streams simultaneously and untangles echo and Doppler distorted signals in real time, enabling potential underwater video, image and data transmission. Their work has earned four U.S. patents and powered the launch of Zheng's startup, Sea Gal Technologies, aimed at commercializing the technology for applications like marine research, infrastructure monitoring and military operations.
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Report Shows Lehigh's Research Positively Impacts Local Economy and Community
Released in July, Lehigh's 2023-2024 Community and Economic Impact Report found that the university contributed $1.4 billion to the regional economy. Notably, the university's research activities alone contributed $48.1 million, supporting innovation that led to 30 inventions, 35 patents and a license. Moreover, nearly $797 million came from startup and spin-off companies and manufacturers connected with the university, underscoring how academic research and entrepreneurship are directly fueling regional economic growth and job creation.
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Lehigh, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Partner to Advance Disability Health Equity
Lehigh established a partnership with Good Shepherd Rehabilitation in September, advancing the university's commitment to health-focused collaboration, research and education. The partnership is grounded in a shared vision to improve the lives of people living with disability and represents Lehigh's first formal partnership with a leading rehabilitation network. The bold university-wide partnership will drive innovation through joint faculty appointments, interdisciplinary research and more.
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Lehigh Hosts Symposium to Highlight Work of Research Community
Lehigh celebrated its growing research enterprise at the 2025 Lehigh University Research Symposium. Faculty, staff and partners from academia, industry and government convened to hear faculty share fast paced "lightning talks" about their research spanning diverse fields from climate science to AI to community health, showcasing the depth and breadth of research conducted at Lehigh.
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Inaugural Small Cities Lab Co-Lab Brings Together Researchers, Community Leaders
The Small Cities Lab at Lehigh held its inaugural "Co-Lab" in September, convening researchers and community leaders. The two-day event featured sessions, talks and workshops meant to shape a common definition of "small city," surface community needs and help guide the Lab's future priorities and research agenda. The event marked an important step in connecting academic insight with local stakeholders and laying groundwork for action-oriented solutions to challenges facing small cities.
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Lehigh Convenes Experts to Tackle Challenges for AI Data Centers
Lehigh hosted a day-long Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES) Symposium in October, bringing together over 130 leaders from academia, industry and government to address energy and water challenges for AI data centers. The event featured keynote talks and panels on infrastructure needs, including power, water use and grid resiliency, as well as discussion of forming a university-industry consortium to build sustainable solutions. University leaders emphasized the urgency of rapid, interdisciplinary research and collaboration to meet future energy and sustainability demands.
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Original text here: https://news.lehigh.edu/lehighs-research-highlights-of-2025