Art has always been a part of Jesse Wilson’s history. And he has designs to keep it that way.

After two years of juggling work and graduate school, Wilson, the son of a photographer and art teacher, earned his master’s degree in user experience design from Carnegie Mellon’s School of Design. He received his degree last week during CMU’s Commencement Weekend.

Earning the degree was the logical next step for Wilson, a desktop publishing coordinator who “does a little bit of everything” in the History Department, including creating websites and posters to promote events. He also serves as the department’s photographer and social media manager.

“I thought this would be a cool progression in my career,” he said. “I’m doing things I like with design, but I could do things to solve real-world problems. I could come up with a solution to help someone.”

One solution could help homeowners. Wilson’s final team project, “Orion,” is a smart home device that monitors energy and water usage.

“If you were using a lot of water or energy, it would notify and encourage you to use less. It also might connect you to information about where your water and power come from in order to increase your awareness and knowledge of the whole energy process,” he said.

Wilson is grateful to the History Department for enabling him to pursue his advanced degree. His daytime classes took place Monday through Thursday, so he came to work a little early, took two to three hours in the middle of the day for class, and then returned to work and stayed late. He never missed a class in two years.

“I was here for 10 hours every day. And we had some late nights for project work,” he said. “One time in the fall, I left at 5:30 in the morning, and came back at 9 a.m. to present the project. It was manageable, but a little uncomfortable. It pushed me.”

Wilson said he won’t miss the workload but will miss the learning, the professors and his classmates.

“It was a great experience and great exposure to a lot of people and a lot of really smart minds,” he said.

One of those smart minds was Molly Wright Steenson, who taught a seminar on the current state of design. Steenson was recently named the K&L Gates Career Development Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies.

“She was the professor in my very first class. I was a little nervous and she walked us into grad school very well. She made a big impression on me,” Wilson said.

Prior to joining CMU in 2006, Wilson earned his bachelor’s degree in multimedia and web design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

When he’s not designing, Wilson likes to hike the trails in city parks and travel.

"With my new free time, I’m looking forward to visiting more of the world,” he said. “A friend who graduated with me is Turkish and has offered to show me around Istanbul this summer. That sounds amazing!”

Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.

Carnegie Mellon University's five Fulbright Award winners for 2018 will conduct research and teach in Israel, Germany, Japan, Serbia and South Korea.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsors the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries." Winners are selected based on a number of factors, including their proposal, called a "Statement of Grant Purpose," academic record and personal qualifications.

This year's winners are:

Isabel Bleimeister, who earned her bachelor's degree in cognitive neuroscience with a minor in biomedical engineering this year, has been awarded a Fulbright Study/Research Grant. She will work with Associate Professor Ilan Dinstein at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel, on autism spectrum disorder research. Bleimeister said she will study autistic children's pupil dilations and eye movements to differentiate between subcategories of autism. Bleimeister is from Los Angeles.

Zhiwan Cheung, who earned his master's degree in fine arts in 2016, will study the 1960s international art movement, Fluxus, as part of his Fulbright Study/Research Grant. In Germany, Cheung will study the art movement's origins and impact on German artists. By investigating Fluxus' visual, verbal and performative languages through archival research and workshops, he expects his work will enrich his understanding of the complexities of cultural identity within an international art context. Cheung is from Hanover, New Hampshire.

Amal Nanavati, who earned his bachelor's degree in computer science and global studies this year, will be traveling to Kyoto, Japan, for his Fulbright Study/Research Grant. He will be conducting research in human-robot interaction under the supervision of Professor Takayuki Kanda at Kyoto University. Nanavati's research will investigate how robots can learn to work and communicate with humans in smooth, natural ways by observing human to human interactions. Nanavati of Fremont, California, also has received the inaugural $5,000 K&L Gates Prize, supported by the K&L Gates Endowment for Ethics and Computational Technologies. He earned the prize for inspiring fellow students to love learning through a combination of intellect, high scholarly achievement, engagement with others and character.

Theodore Teichman, a 2018 graduate of the Bachelor of Science and Arts program with concentrations in neurobiology and music composition, will study music composition at the University of Arts and the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Belgrade, Serbia, as part of his Fulbright Study/Research Grant. His work will focus on the Balkan epic poetry tradition. Teichman will investigate the metaphorical connections between landscape, biological systems and mythology, and the human experience of coping and memory. Teichman hails from Loma Linda, California.

Louise Zhou, who earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and human-computer interaction in 2017, will be traveling to South Korea for her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Following orientation in Seoul, Zhou will teach English to middle school or high school students in a city outside of Seoul. She also plans to work with the Korean-American Educational Commission to help teach English to North Korean defector students looking to study abroad. Zhou is from Cupertino, California.



Students Build Ice-Drilling Robot To Find Water on Mars

A team from Carnegie Mellon will compete against nine other institutions June 5-7 at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in an attempt to build and use robots to extract water from simulated Martian subsurface ice.

NASA's Mars Ice Challenge is part of an effort by NASA to enable a sustained human presence in other worlds by taking advantage of the habitat's resources. This will be a focus for NASA over the next few decades, and the challenge offers a unique way to engage students and faculty as partners in the efforts to send humans farther into space than ever before.

The Tartan Ice Drilling System team comprises 15 students from the College of Engineering. The team is advised by Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Aaron Johnson, who shares his expertise in robomechanics. Ph.D. candidate Catherine Pavlov also advises the team, drawing from her research experience at NASA.

Find out more.

NPR's "Science Friday" Features CMU Experts; Show Airs Tomorrow

Robots who converse, provide empathy and play music were among the reasons NPR's "Science Friday" visited the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall last week to build a show about Pittsburgh scientists and roboticists. The special live event had the theme "No Assembly Required" and included interviews with Carnegie Mellon faculty and alumni, including Justine Cassell, Madeline Gannon, Henny Admoni, Roger Dannenberg, Eric Singer and Lining Yao. The show will air from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, May 25.

Find out more.

Parking Waitlist Open May 28 - June 8

New applicants wishing to obtain parking on campus, current permit holders wishing to move to a different parking location, and students interested in parking on campus for the 2018-19 year can add their name to the parking waitlist beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, May 28 through Friday, June 8. If you are faculty or staff and wish to retain your current parking assignment, no further action is required.

If you wish to be added to the waitlist, please visit https://parking.campusservices.cmu.edu beginning May 28. Click “login” on the left-hand side of the screen. Once you are logged in, click “order permit” and follow the instructions. You will be able to select up to three locations.

Please note, waitlist assignments are not guaranteed. Please refer to the FAQ page on the Parking and Transportation website for additional information. Contact Michelle Porter at mporter@andrew.cmu.edu with questions.

CMU Offers Employee Perks and Discounts

Did you know Staff Council has negotiated special discounts for CMU faculty and staff? Check out the latest summer discounts to:

• Kennywood;
• Hershey Park;
• Idlewild and Soak Zone;
• Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival;
• Pittsburgh Passion;
• PPG Paints Arena; and
• Sandcastle.

And be sure to check out the anytime discounts as well to:

• Pittsburgh Cultural District;
• Bob O’Connor Golf Course;
• Equalli Jewelry; and
• MobilityWorks.

EH&S To Conduct Building Evacuation Drills this Summer

The Environmental Health and Safety Department will be conducting several building evacuation drills this summer between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, beginning Tuesday, June 12. The schedule follows.

June 12: Doherty Hall, Wean Hall, Scott Hall, Hamerschlag Hall, FMS-Physical Plant Building, Collaboration Innovation Center, Hamburg Hall and Smith Hall

June 18: Skibo Gym, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, GSIA, College of Fine Arts, Hunt Library, Porter Hall, Baker Hall, Scaife Hall and Roberts Hall

July 11: Bramer House, Alumni House, Cohon University Center, Warner Hall, Cyert Hall, Purnell Center for the Arts, Miller Gallery, Gates and Hillman Center, Newell-Simon Hall

July 19: Pittsburgh Technology Center, Information Networking Institute, Software Engineering Institute, UTDC, Mellon Institute, Whitfield Hall and 4721 Fifth Ave.

July 27: GATF, Integrated Innovation Institute, 205 S. Craig, 300 S. Craig, 311 S. Craig, 407 S. Craig, 417 S. Craig, 6555 Penn Ave. and the National Robotics Engineering Center

Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions.

Join the Let’s Ride Summer Fitness Challenge

Students, faculty and staff are invited to join CMU’s Let’s Ride Summer Fitness Challenge, five one-hour bicycle sessions from noon to 1 p.m., beginning Wednesday, May 30.

• May 30: Bike Handling Skills in Wiegand Gym, Cohon Center
• June 6: Campus Vacation – ride to Upper Panther Hollow
• June 13: Basic Bike Repairs in Wiegand Gym, Cohon Center
• June 20: City Cycling and Campus Loop
• June 27: Ride to South Side and Back (special time: 5 p.m.)

All rides will be a casual pace and Bike Share bikes will be available. To register, contact Pattye  Stragar at pls@andrew.cmu.edu or Karen Brooks at kbr00ks@andrew.cmu.edu.

Kennywood Park Community Day is June 9

Carnegie Mellon's Community Day at Kennywood Park is Saturday, June 9. Tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, May 23. CMU employees can purchase two Funday tickets for $15 each (valid only on June 9) and additional Funday tickets for $23 each. Pavilion 7 will be reserved for the CMU attendees. A prize giveaway for children (ages 10 & under) and ice cream distribution will begin in Pavilion 7 (behind Skyrocket) at 1 p.m.

Ticket sale times and dates are as follows:

• May 23, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
• May 24, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.
• May 30, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.
• May 31, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m -1 p.m.
• June 5, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• June 6, Mellon Institute, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• June 7, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. & 4-5 p.m.
• June 8, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

You must have your own CMU ID to purchase tickets. Cash only. No refunds or exchanges.

Updates to University Policies Seek Your Feedback

Two University Policies have been updated and will be open for comment from the university community for the next 30 days. The policies are:

Business Travel and Expense Policy
The current Business & Travel Expense (BTE) Policy went into effect on March 14, 2011. The 2018 Policy refresh reflects changes to the travel industry landscape, updates to university procurement policies and requirements, and feedback from campus stakeholders regarding opportunities to enhance Policy understanding and compliance. The revised Policy is now an abbreviated version that has removed redundancies and procedures to be more concise as recommended by university leadership. However, the core content and allowable/unallowable expenses in the current version of the Policy has not significantly changed.

Financial Records Retention Policy
The current Financial Records Retention Policy went into effect on Jan. 14, 1997. The proposed Policy update reflects expansion to the categories and descriptions of Financial Records, updates to retention time period requirements, updates to the administration of the Policy to support university compliance with legal and other regulatory retention requirements, and feedback from stakeholders regarding opportunities to enhance the understanding of and compliance to the Policy.

To provide comments, please go to the Policies website.



As a child, Steven Rosenberg avidly read books on astronomy and the history of the cosmos. Today, his travels in space continue at the NASA Ames Research Park in Mountain View, California, as senior director of operations for CMU’s Silicon Valley campus.

“It’s a very dynamic and exciting place to be,” said Rosenberg, who connects CMU researchers with NASA scientists to work on projects, such as building smart habitats for missions to the moon and Mars.

In addition to supporting space missions, Rosenberg helps keep the campus running smoothly by ensuring the students, faculty and staff have what they need, from overseeing IT support and classroom renovations to preparing the campus’s accreditation report for the College of Engineering, the campus’s home school. He is a manager, strategist and liaison for CMU’s partnerships in Silicon Valley and Pittsburgh.

Rosenberg enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit at CMU Silicon Valley, where the global tech scene plays a major role in the academic experience. Google, Apple and Facebook headquarters are a few miles from campus, where each year more than 330 master’s degree and Ph.D. students
specialize in areas of study including software, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship.

“Tech has a big impact on the university culture here. Students have ample opportunities to interact with leading companies both in and outside of the classroom,” he said.

Rosenberg earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at CMU, studying under Nobel laureate Herbert Simon. After earning his doctorate, he had an extensive 29-year career at Hewlett Packard Laboratories, managing research and launching partner labs with several top-tier universities. He joined the Silicon Valley campus in 2009 as a visiting scientist.

“It was refreshing to come back to a university setting,” Rosenberg said. “After being at a Fortune 50 company, it was really nice to rejoin the CMU community and return to working alongside our talented faculty and students.”

When he’s not at campus, Rosenberg enjoys hiking with this family and practicing magic.

“As a cognitive scientist, I am always interested in how people think,” Rosenberg said. “I find it fascinating how simple magic tricks shed light on how we perceive and understand. It’s both fun and illuminating to fool people by ‘tricking’ their perceptions and understanding.”

Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.

Kennywood Park Community Day is Saturday, June 9

Carnegie Mellon's Community Day at Kennywood Park is Saturday, June 9. CMU employees can purchase two Funday tickets for $15 each (valid only on June 9) and additional Funday tickets for $23 each. Pavilion 7 will be reserved for CMU attendees. A prize giveaway for children (ages 10 & under) and ice cream distribution will begin in Pavilion 7 (behind Skyrocket) at 1 p.m.

Ticket sale dates and times are as follows:

• June 5, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• June 6, Mellon Institute, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• June 7, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. & 4-5 p.m.
• June 8, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

You must have your own CMU ID to purchase tickets. Cash only. No refunds or exchanges.

RoadBotics Wins Innovation Award

RoadBotics, a Robotics Institute spinoff that uses smartphone and artificial intelligence technology to monitor the condition of concrete and asphalt surfaces, received the Overall Greatest Impact Award in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) annual Innovation Contest.

The company received several additional citations, including Most Feasible, Most Innovative and Best Value in the Internet of Things category, and Most Feasible in the Sustainable Engineering category.

Christoph Mertz, Robotics Institute principal project scientist, has spent years developing a smartphone-enabled road inspection tool. He co-founded RoadBotics in 2016, along with Mark DeSantis, Benjamin Schmidt and Courtney Ehrlichman, to bring the technology to market.

This year's winners will be recognized June 27­–28 in Reston, Virginia. Learn more about RoadBotics.

Phi Beta Kappa Honors More Than 50 Seniors

Fifty-four seniors were inducted into Carnegie Mellon University’s chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society (PBK) this spring. Only about 10 percent of college students across the United States are invited to join PBK.

“You, I hope, will be a part of a mission that we trace back a quarter of a millennium, to be part of the advocacy for the arts and humanities, to be a champion for free speech and academic freedom,” said PBK Secretary and CEO Frederick Lawrence at the induction ceremony. “That is the radical idea the founders committed themselves to 241 years ago. And now, 500,000 members, 17 presidents, 40 Supreme Court Justices, 130 Nobel Prize laureates later, you take your place with them. You are most welcome in this society of ours.”

Dietrich College seniors Maria Navarro-Gutierrez and Mikaela Wolf-Sorokin, who were inducted into PBK in fall 2017, gave a joint speech at the induction ceremony on their time at CMU and the community around PBK.

See the list of inductees.

Soccer Field To Close for Resurfacing

The Carnegie Mellon soccer field and walkway at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Margaret Morrison Street will close June 4 for resurfacing. The work is expected to take about four weeks. 

Parking Waitlist Open Through June 8

New applicants wishing to obtain parking on campus, current permit holders wishing to move to a different parking location, and students interested in parking on campus for the 2018-19 year can add their name to the parking waitlist now through Friday, June 8. If you are faculty or staff and wish to retain your current parking assignment, no further action is required.

If you wish to be added to the waitlist, please visit https://parking.campusservices.cmu.edu. Click “login” on the left-hand side of the screen. Once you are logged in, click “order permit” and follow the instructions. You will be able to select up to three locations.

Please note, waitlist assignments are not guaranteed. Please refer to the FAQ page on the Parking and Transportation website for additional information. Contact Michelle Porter at mporter@andrew.cmu.edu with questions.

EH&S To Conduct Building Evacuation Drills this Summer

The Environmental Health and Safety Department will be conducting several building evacuation drills this summer between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, beginning Tuesday, June 12. The schedule follows.

June 12: Doherty Hall, Wean Hall, Scott Hall, Hamerschlag Hall, FMS-Physical Plant Building, Collaboration Innovation Center, Hamburg Hall and Smith Hall

June 18: Skibo Gym, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, GSIA, College of Fine Arts, Hunt Library, Porter Hall, Baker Hall, Scaife Hall and Roberts Hall

July 11: Bramer House, Alumni House, Cohon University Center, Warner Hall, Cyert Hall, Purnell Center for the Arts, Miller Gallery, Gates and Hillman Center, Newell-Simon Hall

July 19: Pittsburgh Technology Center, Information Networking Institute, Software Engineering Institute, UTDC, Mellon Institute, Whitfield Hall and 4721 Fifth Ave.

July 27: GATF, Integrated Innovation Institute, 205 S. Craig, 300 S. Craig, 311 S. Craig, 407 S. Craig, 417 S. Craig, 6555 Penn Ave. and the National Robotics Engineering Center

Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions.



Professor of Biological Sciences Alison Barth wrote a chapter in the newly published book, "Think Tank: Forty Scientists Explore the Biological Roots of Human Experience." For the book, 40 leading brain researchers were each asked the same question: "What idea about brain function would you most like to explain to the world?" Barth's essay looked at how our brains change when we use tools. Barth’s research focuses on how the brain changes in response to learning through tactile sensation, the physical way that we interact with the world through touch. In her essay, she explores how our physical perception of self can be rapidly — almost instantly — altered by the things we touch, a form of neural plasticity. Find out more.

Teaching Professor of Information Systems Raja Sooriamurthi has been named the recipient of the Heinz College’s Martcia Wade Teaching Award, an annual honor recognizing excellence in teaching. Sooriamurthi was praised for his “unmatched energy, intellectualism and dedication to student learning.” He received the award at the Heinz College diploma ceremony, where he addressed the graduates and their families. Sooriamurthi teaches a range of classes in using data for decision-making. He is co-author of the book “Guide to Teaching Puzzle-based Learning.” He also holds a faculty appointment in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Jim Daniels, the Thomas Stockham Baker University Professor of English, wrote a piece for PublicSource titled "I’m a slow learner when it comes to race, but I’m trying." Daniels, who has taught at CMU since 1981, founded CMU's Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Awards program in 1999  to give students a safe creative space to write about race and discrimination. "Given my background, I know how easy it is to spout platitudes about unity while safely ignoring personal complicity and complications. When it comes to writing about minorities in America, us white folks quickly become the minority. We have the choice about whether we want to write about race or not, and many of us choose not to wake up those slumbering ghosts in our closets or wherever we've conveniently hid them,” Daniels wrote.

Alex John London, a prominent bioethicist, co-authored a viewpoint article in "PLOS: Neglected Tropical Disease" on the ethics of clinical research during public health emergencies. The paper describes key findings and conclusions by a committee established by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to assess the clinical trials conducted in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. “The latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a tragic reminder that public health emergencies are often unpredictable, complex situations. It is critical that stakeholders recognize the lessons that we have learned from the 2014-2015 outbreak,” London said. London is the Clara L. West Professor of Ethics and Philosophy in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Find out more.

A new study published in "JAMA Pediatrics" and co-authored by Statistics and Data Science Professor Joel Greenhouse shows that racial disparities in suicide rates are age-related. Specifically, suicide rates for black children between the ages of 5 and 12 were roughly two times higher than those of similarly aged white children. “It is important not to lose sight that very young children of all races are at risk of suicide,” Greenhouse said. “Descriptive studies like this are important for identifying trends in suicide rates. However, they leave open the question as to why there are differences.”  Learn more. 

Rudy Schutzeus is in the business of making copies, but when it comes to customer service, he’s an original.

A four-time Andy Award nominee for customer satisfaction, Schutzeus — known to everyone as just “Rudy”— is Tartan Ink’s copy center coordinator for the Tepper School of Business.

Amid a room full of color copiers, printers, scanners, and boxes and boxes of paper, he and his colleague, Scott Wilson, produce Tepper School course booklets and event programs; copies of exams, quizzes and course materials; and flyers, handouts and posters. Their steady customers include Tepper Academic Services, Tepper Executive Education, the Carnegie Bosch Institute, and the many program coordinators, administrative assistants and student organizations in the business school.

A 25-year veteran under Tartan Ink Director Patricia Herbster, Schutzeus also is called upon by other departments on campus.

“I just did jobs for Computer Science and Chemistry. They call me and come over here because they know me,” he said.

“I love the people here. And the students are a blast. Students pick up their course packets here and I joke around with them. I make it fun. It makes me want to come to work every morning.”

Schutzeus also is an original when it comes to his passion — listening to his vinyl records and albums from the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. An avid record collector, his fascination and love for music began as a child when his parents bought him a Red Raven Magic Mirror record player. Today, he plays his singles and LPs on a Technics 1350 turntable with a record changer adapter. He also has a restored Philco 1201 he found on Craigslist.

“I’ve been collecting for years. I have everything from Abba to ZZ Top,” said Schutzeus, who lists The Beach Boys, The Platters, Jan and Dean, The Everly Brothers and Chuck Berry among his favorite artists.

Schutzeus keeps his record collection on shelving in his living room.

“My walls are covered in vinyl. I’m a nostalgic kind of guy,” he said.

Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.

James Garrett Jr. has been reappointed dean of the College of Engineering. In announcing the reappointment to engineering faculty and staff, Interim Provost Laurie Weingart praised Garrett for demonstrating his strengths and accomplishments as dean with his leadership of a number of initiatives, including the establishment of new College of Engineering buildings and infrastructure, such as the ANSYS Building, the Maker Ecosystem and the TCS Building. She also cited Garrett’s leadership of the strategic branding and launch of the CMU Africa campus and his support of important new research initiatives, including the NextManufacturing Center and Laboratory, the Bioengineered Organs Initiative and the Metro21 Smart Cities Institute. Weingart called him a “collaborative and inclusive leader.” In addition to dean, Garrett is the Thomas Lord Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He earned his bachelor’s (1982), master’s (1983) and doctoral (1986) degrees in civil and environmental engineering from CMU.

Kim Hochstedler, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and statistics last month, has received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for excelling in academics and athletics. A member of the Tartans’ swimming team, she is the 12th from CMU to receive the $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2007. Hochstedler was a straight-A-student who received numerous awards this year, including the William Brown Academic Athletic Achievement Award, which is given to the male and female student-athlete who earned the highest grade-point average while participating in intercollegiate athletics for four years. In the pool, she earned All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships this year. She set four school records, while leading the team to its best NCAA finish (15th). Hochstedler plans to use the scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in biostatistics at the University of Michigan. Find out more.

Amanda Thiele, a setter on the women’s volleyball team and a member of the Class of 2018, received the Department of Athletics’ Michael C. Murphy Citizenship Award, given to a senior student-athlete who has demonstrated character, sportsmanship, service and impact. Thiele was a volunteer with the Hospital Elder Life Program at UPMC Shadyside and with Global Public Health Brigades, for which she traveled to Nicaragua to build bathrooms and concrete floors for families in Estelí. She also helped to dig trenches for water piping for a rural village and traveled to Ghana to work in Volta Regional Hospital. On campus, Thiele has served as a residence assistant, secretary of Plaidvocates and has been instrumental in many initiatives.

Bryan Jangro, a quarterback on the football team and member of the Class of 2018, received the William Brown Academic Athletic Achievement Award, which is given to the male and female student-athlete who earned the highest grade-point average while participating in intercollegiate athletics for four years. Jangro maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned his bachelor's degree in business analytics. He will be working for Lazard in Chicago as an investment banking analyst.

Last Call for Kennywood Community Day Tickets

Carnegie Mellon's Community Day at Kennywood Park is Saturday, June 9. CMU employees can purchase two Funday tickets for $15 each (valid only on June 9) and additional Funday tickets for $23 each. Pavilion 7 will be reserved for CMU attendees. A prize giveaway for children (ages 10 & under) and ice cream distribution will begin in Pavilion 7 (behind Skyrocket) at 1 p.m.

Remaining ticket sale dates and times are as follows:

• June 7, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. & 4-5 p.m.
• June 8, Cohon University Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m

You must have your own CMU ID to purchase tickets. Cash only. No refunds or exchanges.

Summer Program Features Bicycling to Schenley Park, South Side

Campus Bike Consultant Karen Brooks (above, left) gives a bicyclist tips on braking, turning, and starting and stopping in an urban context.

“Just Ride!” That’s the theme of Carnegie Mellon’s Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation Department’s Fitness Challenge this summer, which encourages faculty, staff and students to enjoy the exercise and fun of bicycling.

The challenge debuted at the end of May with a workshop on bike handling skills. Taught by campus Bike Consultant Karen Brooks, the workshop introduced beginning handling skills to encourage confident bike riding on campus and around Pittsburgh. Participants were given tips on braking, turning, and starting and stopping in an urban context.

“The first step to having fun on a bike is knowing how to control it,” Brooks said. “We went over some basic moves to help participants ride in their comfort zone and enjoy themselves.”

Campus community members can participate even if they don’t have a bike.

“For those who don’t have their own bike, we will have bikes available to borrow, for free, generously supplied by Healthy Ride bike share,” Brooks said. “It will be a nice way to get introduced to Pittsburgh’s bike share system, which will soon be expanding with more stations around campus."

Future sessions of “Just Ride!” will involve group bike rides to Schenley Park and the South Side, as well as a bike repair workshop. The rides will be “no-drop,” traveling at a casual pace so that everyone can keep up. Interested campus community members can sign up at the Equipment Desk across from Wiegand Gym or the Fitness Center Desk in the Cohon University Center.

The Summer Fitness Challenge is a series of free workshops, clinics, and community bike ride sessions intended for campus bike riders of all skill levels. The program will be held every Wednesday this summer. Participants will meet at either Wiegand Gym (for workshops) or at the Walking to the Sky sculpture (for community bike rides) for hour-long sessions starting at either noon or 5 p.m.

For a full schedule of the sessions, please contact Karen Brooks at kbr00ks@andrew.cmu.edu.

Nominations Now Open for 2018 Andy Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Andy Awards, the university-wide staff recognition program that honors individuals and teams for outstanding performance in five categories. The categories are: Commitment to Excellence; Commitment to Students; Innovative and Creative Contributions; Spirit; and Teamwork and Collaboration.

The nomination deadline is July 13. For more information, including how to submit a nomination, go to the Andy Awards website.

Celebration Pays Tribute to Carnegie and Heroes

The four Carnegie institutions in Pittsburgh — the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University — will play host to a celebration of their founder, Andrew Carnegie, at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh on June 12. The event is not open to the public.

“The Power of One — A Tribute to the Power of the Individual” is the second event in a year-long series to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Carnegie’s death in 1919. It will include a program that celebrates Carnegie’s philanthropy in Pittsburgh and his focus on civilian heroes with the 1904 founding of the Carnegie Hero Fund. The Hero Fund will present the Carnegie Medal to its 10,000th and 10,001st heroes at the event.

Pittsburgh-born actor Michael Keaton, who received an honorary degree from CMU in 2017, will be the keynote speaker. Keaton is well known for his role as Batman and as the star of the Oscar-wining film "Birdman," for which he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award. He also starred in “Spotlight,” making him one of the few actors whose films won the Oscar for Best Picture in consecutive years.

Vickie Tillman of Baton Rouge, La., and Jimmy Rhodes of Lumberton, N.C., have been named the commission’s 10,000th and 10,001st Carnegie Heroes, respectively. Last winter, Tillman, a 56-year-old school cafeteria clerk, stopped her car to rescue a wounded police officer struggling to take a man into custody. In July 2015, Rhodes, a 38-year-old radiographic technologist, rushed to the scene of a fiery helicopter crash to rescue the pilot.

Academic Success in College: Start Your Student Off on the Right Foot, June 26-27

Carnegie Mellon’s Office of Academic Development is offering a free workshop for your graduating high school student that will help them adapt to the rigor of the college classroom and help to prepare them for their college career. Workshop topics include:

• Time Management and Productivity Strategies;
• Ways to Effectively Use (and not use) Technology on Campus;
• How to Manage Stress, Combat Procrastination and Develop a Workflow;
• How and Why to Utilize Campus Resources and Talk to Your Professors;
• Setting Long-term and Short-term Goals (and how to reach them!); and
• Understanding Meaningful Note-taking and Exam Preparation Techniques.

Topics will be covered through collaborative activities, group work and discussions. Lunch is included (please specify any dietary restrictions on registration page). Register your student.

Updated Purchasing Policy Now In Effect

The university’s updated Purchasing Policy was posted on May 31, 2018, to address changes to the federal "Uniform Guidance Procurement Standards." The university must be fully compliant with these UG changes by July 1, 2018.

Prior to launching, the updated policy completed the University Policy on Policy Development requirements, which include a vetting process with university leadership and campus stakeholders, a 30-day comment period open to the university community and approval from the president of the university. Several training sessions were offered to the university buying community to highlight impacts and changes resulting from the updated policy.

Additional information about the policy updates is available on the Finance Division news website. For questions, contact Procurement Services at procurement-inbox@andrew.cmu.edu.

EH&S To Conduct Building Evacuation Drills this Summer

The Environmental Health and Safety Department will be conducting building evacuation drills this summer between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, beginning Monday, June 11. The revised schedule follows.

June 11: 9:30 a.m., Warner Hall

June 12: 7:30 a.m., Hamburg Hall; 8 a.m., Wean Hall; 8:30 a.m., Doherty Hall; 8:30 a.m. - Noon, Hamerschlag Hall, Scott Hall, FMS-Physical Plant Building, Collaboration Innovation Center and Smith Hall

June 18: 8 a.m., Porter/Baker halls; 8:30 a.m., Scaife Hall; 9 a.m., Roberts Hall; 9 a.m. - Noon, College of Fine Arts, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, GSIA, Hunt Library and Skibo Gym

July 11: 8 a.m., Gates/Hillman Center; 8:30 a.m., Newell-Simon Hall; 9 a.m., Purnell Center and Miller Gallery; 9 a.m. - Noon, Cyert Hall, Cohon University Center, Bramer House and Alumni House

July 19: 8 a.m. - Noon, Pittsburgh Technology Center, Information Networking Institute, Software Engineering Institute, UTDC, Whitfield Hall and 4721 Fifth Ave.

July 27: 8 a.m. - Noon, Integrated Innovation Institute, 205 S. Craig, 300 S. Craig, 311 S. Craig, 407 S. Craig, 417 S. Craig, 6555 Penn Ave., National Robotics Engineering Center and GATF

Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions.

Scheduled Power Outage in Baker/Porter Halls Saturday

The power to Baker and Porter halls will be off from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, June 9, in order to continue work on the two circuits for those buildings. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Lenny Libbon at LL1R@andrew.cmu.edu.

Whether he is writing or singing, Douglas McIntyre aims to be heard.

As senior manager of the marketing team at the Tepper School of Business, McIntyre crafts news stories and features, and provides editorial support for the school’s website and various publications. He’s been a member of the Tepper team for the past five years.

“Professional writing is a great way to use writing for a purpose,” said McIntyre, who earned a master’s degree in professional writing at CMU. While pursuing his degree, he worked part-time in the Cohon University Center, developing informational brochures and managing web content.

Away from the office, McIntyre’s voice is heard as a tenor and as a member of the board of directors for the Renaissance City Choir.

“I started singing in high school. I didn’t think I had much of a voice, but I wanted to be in the musical during my junior year. So, I got involved and never looked back,” he said.

The Renaissance City Choir advocates for diversity and inclusion through the unifying power of music. This past weekend, the choir marched in the Equality Parade, one of two parades celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

“Our organization finds value in participating in a pride march, particularly in the Delta Foundation’s events because they’ve been doing pride for at least a dozen years, and their events are so well attended,” McIntyre said. “There is no better way to get seen, get noticed, and get people interested in who you are and what you do as an organization.”

Not limited to a single genre, the choir has performed traditional music, classical, acapella, jazz, pop and Broadway tunes.

“Our mission is to spread empowerment and advocacy through music, so we sing whatever songs fit under the theme of the message we’re trying to convey,” McIntyre said.

As the parade made its way through the city streets on Sunday, the choir could be heard singing the Captain & Tenille hit, “Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Sing" by Pentatonix.

Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.

Roni Rosenfeld, an expert in epidemiological forecasting and spoken dialogue technologies, has been named head of the School of Computer Science's Machine Learning Department, effective July 1. He succeeds Manuela Veloso, who is taking a leave of absence. Rosenfeld, a professor in both the Language Technologies Institute and the Machine Learning Department, joined Carnegie Mellon in 1994. As head of CMU's Delphi Research Group, Rosenfeld aims to make forecasting disease as universally accepted and useful as forecasting the weather. His group has forecasted the flu using two methods. The first relies on artificial intelligence — in particular, machine learning — to make predictions based on past patterns and input from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's domestic influenza surveillance system. The other method relies on the so-called "wisdom of the crowd," basing its forecasts on the judgments of a number of volunteers who submit their own weekly predictions. Last fall, the CDC reported that for the third year in a row these two models proved to be the most accurate among all forecasting systems the CDC evaluated. Find out more.

Mike Smith and Rahul Telang, professors of information systems in the Heinz College, co-authored an op-ed yesterday in the Wall Street Journal on the AT&T and Time Warner merger. In their piece, “Godspeed to AT&T-Time Warner,” they support the federal district court’s ruling in favor of the merger. The initial suit against the merger argued that it would enable AT&T-Time Warner to dominate the cable TV market and raise prices. However, the professors believe the merger is actually about competing for customers in the growing online entertainment industry. “These companies aren’t trying to join forces because they want to take control of a dying industry; they want to be allowed to compete in a new one. … We have no idea who will win this battle for the future of America’s living rooms. But we do know one thing for certain: In a market with more choices, customers will win,” they wrote. Smith and Telang, are co-directors of the Initiative for Digital Entertainment Analytics at Heinz College and co-authors of “Streaming, Sharing, Stealing: Big Data on the Future of Entertainment.” Read the op-ed.

Lenore Blum, Distinguished Career Professor of Computer Science, received the Alumnae Lifetime Achievement Award from Simmons College, where she graduated in 1963 after starting her undergraduate studies at Carnegie Tech. The award cited Blum for her extensive work in encouraging more women and girls to study in math and science fields. Earlier this year, she also received Carlow University’s Women of Spirit Award for her efforts to increase the representation of women in computer science. Blum helped transform the culture of Carnegie Mellon, creating the Women@SCS program to provide support for women in what was once a male-dominated computer science program. CMU's School of Computer Science has since become a leader in gender diversity, with the last two incoming undergraduate computer science classes comprising nearly half women. Blum also is co-faculty director of the Swartz Center for Entreperneurship and founding director of Project Olympus.

Dan Smyers, a 2010 Carnegie Mellon graduate, and his partner Shay Mooney, known as Dan and Shay, won the CMT Music Award for Best Duo Video of the Year last week at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville. They performed “Tequila,” the song behind their winning video, during the awards show at the Bridgestone Arena. As an undergraduate, Smyers studied finance at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. Dan and Shay have been nominated for 10 country music awards — five times for Vocal Duo of the Year — since 2014.

Chemistry Ph.D. candidate Zoe Wright received the Best Presentation Award at the International Symposium on Biorelated Polymers: Innovation in Biomedical Polymers during the 255th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition. Wright was picked by a panel of judges for her presentation titled "Hydrolysis-Driven Drug Delivery and Tunable Adhesive Properties: Bioactive Medical Adhesives." Wright's research focuses on synthesizing new methacrylate-based monomers to act as additives to existing medical adhesives. She works in a research group at Carnegie Mellon run by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Stefanie Sydlik. Wright's prize, sponsored by Polymer International, comes with a book credit from Wiley. Find out more.

Chemistry Ph.D. candidate Logan Plath received the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Graduate Student Travel Award to attend the society's 66th annual Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics. At the conference this week in San Diego, Plath will be presenting a poster titled "Next Generation Superconducting Tunnel Junction Cryodetection for Heavy Ion Mass Spectrometry." Plath works in the research group of Chemistry Research Professor Mark Bier, who also serves as director of CMU's Center for Molecular Analysis. In Bier's lab, Plath primarily works on studying large macromolecules, such as viruses, polymers and protein complexes through mass spectrometry.

Students Propose Ways To Reduce Lead Levels in Homes

Students in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Engineering joined forces to come up with a plan to decrease the levels of lead in homes in Allegheny County.

Students Patrick Dykiert, Connor Cipp and Nick Chmielewski broke down the issue of lead levels into several areas: identifying high-risk zones for lead exposure; determining the accessibility and effectiveness of test kits; assessing the public’s awareness of lead risks and where knowledge can be improved; and the physical mitigation and policy strategies to implement lead abatement and reduce an individual’s risk of exposure.

As part of their project, the students built a cost-benefit model and merged that with knowledge from the exposure and mitigation research to develop a decision-making tool for homeowners in Allegheny County. The tool allows homeowners to assess the paint, soil and water lead hazards in their home.

Find out more.

Neurohackathon Contestants Analyze Brain Data in New Ways

Five Carnegie Mellon students won the third annual BrainHub Neurohackathon with their analysis of the interactions between two regions in the brains of mice as they reached for and moved a joystick. The findings could help pave the way for accurately using neural activity to control a video game or computer.

The hackathon, organized by Alison Barth, professor of biological sciences and BrainHub's interim director, challenges students from CMU's neuroscience, statistics, machine learning and computer science programs to take existing datasets and make novel interpretations of them in just one day. This year, 55 students on 13 teams entered the contest, with several teams participating from CMU's campuses in Qatar and Rwanda.

The winning team, The Deep Nets, looked at data collected by Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Eric Yttri. Yttri's research focuses on how thought is turned into action in the brain. The dataset he offered to contestants was neural activity collected as two trained mice moved a joystick to collect a reward of sweetened water. The Deep Nets plotted how the data from the motor cortex and striatum brain regions compared to how the joystick ended up being moved.

Find out more.

Nominations Now Open for 2018 Andy Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Andy Awards, the university-wide staff recognition program that honors individuals and teams for outstanding performance in five categories. The categories are: Commitment to Excellence; Commitment to Students; Innovative and Creative Contributions; Spirit; and Teamwork and Collaboration.

The nomination deadline is July 13. For more information, including how to submit a nomination, go to the Andy Awards website.

Academic Success in College: Start Your Student Off on the Right Foot, June 26-27

Carnegie Mellon’s Office of Academic Development is offering a free workshop for your graduating high school student that will help them adapt to the rigor of the college classroom and help to prepare them for their college career. Workshop topics include:

• Time Management and Productivity Strategies;
• Ways to Effectively Use (and not use) Technology on Campus;
• How to Manage Stress, Combat Procrastination and Develop a Workflow;
• How and Why to Utilize Campus Resources and Talk to Your Professors;
• Setting Long-term and Short-term Goals (and how to reach them!); and
• Understanding Meaningful Note-taking and Exam Preparation Techniques.

Topics will be covered through collaborative activities, group work and discussions. Lunch is included (please specify any dietary restrictions on registration page). Register your student.

EH&S To Conduct Building Evacuation Drills this Summer

The Environmental Health and Safety Department will be conducting building evacuation drills this summer between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. The schedule follows.

June 18: 8 a.m., Porter/Baker halls; 8:30 a.m., Scaife Hall; 9 a.m., Roberts Hall; 9 a.m. - Noon, College of Fine Arts, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, GSIA, Hunt Library and Skibo Gym

July 11: 8 a.m., Gates/Hillman Center; 8:30 a.m., Newell-Simon Hall; 9 a.m., Purnell Center and Miller Gallery; 9 a.m. - Noon, Cyert Hall, Cohon University Center, Bramer House and Alumni House

July 19: 8 a.m. - Noon, Pittsburgh Technology Center, Information Networking Institute, Software Engineering Institute, UTDC, Whitfield Hall and 4721 Fifth Ave.

July 27: 8 a.m. - Noon, Integrated Innovation Institute, 205 S. Craig, 300 S. Craig, 311 S. Craig, 407 S. Craig, 417 S. Craig, 6555 Penn Ave., National Robotics Engineering Center and GATF

Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions.

Professors Stefanie Sydlik and Shawn Litster won the Pennsylvania State Elite Bicycle Championship on Sunday, June 10, at the Brew32 Road Race in Pulaski, Pennsylvania, in Lawrence County. 

Sydlik, an assistant professor of chemistry and biomedical engineering, won the women’s division, pedaling the 60-mile course in 2 hours and 55 minutes. Litster, a mechanical engineering professor, won the 80-mile men’s race in 3 hours and 21 minutes.

"My race finished first, so I was able to watch Shawn come across the line. Honestly, I was even more excited to see him win," said Sydlik, who rode the last 20 miles ahead of the field. "Shawn has been a great friend and mentor to me. We started riding together during my first semester at CMU — fall 2015 — and train together almost every Sunday. His wisdom has been so valuable to me as I encountered all of the trials of being a new assistant professor. To know that I shared the championship with Shawn was a very happy moment."

Sydlik, who has been racing since 2013, is no stranger to competing against the best. As a graduate student at MIT, she was a member of the U.S. rowing team, which won a bronze medal at the world championships. A shoulder injury led her to cycling and renewed her interest in research.

“The injury also catalyzed my interest in biomaterials, which is the current focus of my research group,” she said.

The Sydlik group works at the interface of chemistry, biomedical engineering and materials science.

Litster, who started racing in 1993, was a Canadian national champion in track racing in the under 18 category and a member of the Canadian national downhill mountain biking team in 1997.

“The racing I was doing as a teenager got me involved with the R&D mechanical engineers at a bike company in Canada, which was what led me to doing my studies in that field,” Litster said.

Litster said cycling is a team sport and credited his teammates for playing important roles in his victory, which became even better when he learned Sydlik, his friend, colleague and training partner, had won the women's race.

"It was great seeing our 5-hour winter weekend training rides in the snow and ice paying off," he said.

Litster’s research focuses on sustainable energy conversion technologies. He is particularly interested in research that combines electrochemistry and electrokinetics with the mechanical engineering fundamentals of fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, and design.

Stefanie Sydlik (center) celebrates her victory atop the podium.

Marygrace Antkowski loves the diversity and work/life balance in the Materials Science and Engineering Department.

An administrative assistant who supports a dozen faculty members and technical staff, and about 40 Ph.D. candidates, Antkowski feels respected, valued and understood.

“I like interacting with the professors and graduate students,” she said. “They’re young people from all over the world and they’re doing great things. I feel like I’m doing something important for people who are doing important things.”

A 20-year member of the CMU community, Antkowski feels at home in MSE.

“This is the kind of place where I’ve always wanted to work. Everyone is very understanding and so nice. My boss, Suzanne Smith, is super fantastic. You want to please people like that,” she said.

When she’s away from work, Antkowski, who has degrees in web design and interior design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, is an illustrator, photographer, painter and gardener.

Her pastel illustrations have been published in a three-part book series of Bible stories. A City Paper newspaper box in Lawrenceville is decorated with her checkered city chickens. And she has painted a life-sized bear, called “Red Raspbearry,” for “Pandamania,” a public art exhibit in Washington, D.C., to benefit the National Zoo.

“A guy in Virginia bought my bear and keeps it under his carport. He rubs its nose every time he gets in his car,” she said.

Antkowski also likes to travel. Her Roberts Hall office is decorated with her photographs from Germany, Poland, Italy and China. To help support her travels, she has taken language classes at CMU in German and Chinese.

“Language classes are very difficult,” she said, “and I was abysmal. I guess someone had to be the worst in the class.”

Of all the places in the world she’s been, her favorite is her backyard.

“I have an adorable little garden with an 8-by-15 feet mosaic, flowers, a stream and a pond. This is my outdoor canvas,” she said.

Carnegie Mellon University will once again host a dynamic and family friendly July 4 Celebration on campus.

The activities, from 5 to 10:15 p.m. on the College of Fine Arts Lawn and Mall, will include a BBQ, live music, Rita's Italian Ice and fireworks. Here's what's on tap:

• 5 -8 p.m. - BBQ in Merson Courtyard (included with student meal plan, or available for purchase to the public with cash or credit)
• 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Live music
• 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Rita's Italian Ice
• 9:35 p.m. - Fireworks

The celebration is sponsored by Pre-College programs, Conference & Event Services, the Graduate Student Assembly, Go Research! and the Office of the AVP for Graduate Education, and the Summer Academy for Math and Science.

Alan Waggoner, the Maxwell H. and Gloria C. Connan Professor in the Life Sciences, received the 2018 Mack Fulwyler Award for Innovative Excellence from the International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC). Waggoner accepted the award at the society’s annual congress in Prague this spring. The Fulwyler Award is the ISAC’s highest award and recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding innovation by invention, or in a career of innovative science. Waggoner was recognized for his fundamental contributions to the development of fluorescent-based detection systems for biology and biotechnology, which have advanced research worldwide. Waggoner invented cyanine-based dyes called CyDyes, which are used to detect macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids in cells and tissues. His dyes have greatly contributed to our understanding of how gene and cellular functions are regulated. Find out more.

In a new study published in Nature Genetics, Kathryn Roeder and a team of researchers established a computationally integrated approach to investigate the functional impact of missense mutations in DNA. Their approach analyzed genetic structures of individuals with autism spectrum disorder who had mutations as well as their siblings who did not have the mutations. They found that the framework successfully identified and prioritized missense mutations that contribute to disease or disorder risk. "Identifying genetic mutations that increase the likelihood of disease is a major challenge to progress for personalized medicine. Using a machine learning model that predicts which mutations are likely to perturb the human interactome network, we showed that these mutations are much more likely to occur in autistic children than their siblings,” Roeder said. "This result extends to several other mental disorders suggesting that our finding may have even broader applicability.” Roeder is the UPMC Professor of Statistics and Life Sciences in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Learn more.

Selected from more than 1,000 proposals, four faculty members from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute have received 2017 Google Faculty Research Awards. Google hopes these collaborative relationships with world-class computer science faculty researchers will impact how future generations use technology, benefiting both the researchers and Google. HCII faculty award winners and their proposals are:

Jodi Forlizzi, the Charles M. Geschke Director and professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, earned a research award for her proposal, “Collaborating with Ubiquitous Intelligent Agents and Robots.” This proposal looks to the near future, one full of ubiquitous agent-robots, where robots and intelligent agents interact with people across many different physical settings.

Aniket Kittur, the Cooper-Siegel Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, received an award for her proposal, “Supporting Complex Search on Mobile Devices.” In this proposal, Kittur re-frames complex information-seeking challenges in a mobile context as an opportunity for rethinking the way users navigate and manage online information.

Brad A. Myers, professor, earned a Google award for “Studies and Tools for Improving the Usability of Google’s APIs.” Myers began a close collaboration with Google through a faculty research award last year to better understand how to evaluate and improve the usability of APIs. This collaboration, which has already generated two co-authored papers and significant new shared knowledge, will now continue for a second year and further investigate how APIs can be improved.

Carolyn P. Rose, a professor in the Language Technologies Institute and Human-Computer Interaction Institute, received an award for her proposal, “Collaborative Physics in the Google Study Buddy Network.” Discussions with Google’s Central EDU team are ongoing to explore how research in computer-supported collaborative learning might enhance social aspects of using Google products more broadly, especially for learning and teaching. Rose recently visited Google in New York to give a talk about her research and discuss with a variety of project teams about potential connections.

Find out more about their proposals.

CMU Hosts July 4 Campus Celebration

Carnegie Mellon will once again host a dynamic and family friendly July 4 Celebration on campus. The activities, from 5 to 10:15 p.m. on the College of Fine Arts Lawn and Mall, will include a BBQ, live music, Rita's Italian Ice and fireworks. Find out more.

CMU Wins Two CASE Awards

Carnegie Mellon has received two Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence awards. CMU won a silver award in the Special Events – Multiday category for the 50th Anniversary at Homecoming Weekend in November and a bronze award in the Design – Books category for the 50th Anniversary commemorative book.

The international awards program honors outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing at colleges, universities, independent schools and affiliated nonprofits. CMU’s entries were among 3,204 submissions in nearly 100 categories from 676 higher education institutions, independent schools and affiliated organizations located worldwide.

Community Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride

Carnegie Mellon students, staff, faculty and alumni showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community on Sunday, June 10, in the People's Pride March 2k18 and the EQT Equality March in Pittsburgh. Dozens from the CMU community and Allies Grad marched together in the parades, which traveled through uptown and downtown Pittsburgh. Allies Grad formed five years ago to help provide a sense of community for LGBTQ+ graduate students, foster professional networking and leadership development opportunities, and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues on campus.

See the slideshow.

CMU Offers Employee Perks and Discounts

Did you know Staff Council has negotiated special discounts for CMU faculty and staff? Check out the latest summer discounts to:

• Kennywood;
• Hershey Park;
• Idlewild and Soak Zone;
• Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival;
• Pittsburgh Passion;
• PPG Paints Arena; and
• Sandcastle.

And be sure to check out the anytime discounts as well to:

• Pittsburgh Cultural District;
• Bob O’Connor Golf Course;
• Equalli Jewelry; and
• MobilityWorks.

Nominations Now Open for 2018 Andy Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Andy Awards, the university-wide staff recognition program that honors individuals and teams for outstanding performance in five categories. The categories are: Commitment to Excellence; Commitment to Students; Innovative and Creative Contributions; Spirit; and Teamwork and Collaboration.

The nomination deadline is July 13. For more information, including how to submit a nomination, go to the Andy Awards website.

Academic Success in College: Start Your Student Off on the Right Foot, June 26-27

Carnegie Mellon’s Office of Academic Development is offering a free workshop for your graduating high school student that will help them adapt to the rigor of the college classroom and help to prepare them for their college career. Workshop topics include:

• Time Management and Productivity Strategies;
• Ways to Effectively Use (and not use) Technology on Campus;
• How to Manage Stress, Combat Procrastination and Develop a Workflow;
• How and Why to Utilize Campus Resources and Talk to Your Professors;
• Setting Long-term and Short-term Goals (and how to reach them!); and
• Understanding Meaningful Note-taking and Exam Preparation Techniques.

Topics will be covered through collaborative activities, group work and discussions. Lunch is included (please specify any dietary restrictions on registration page). Register your student.

EH&S To Continue Building Evacuation Drills this Summer

The Environmental Health and Safety Department is conducting building evacuation drills this summer between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. The remaining schedule follows.

July 11: 8 a.m., Gates/Hillman Center; 8:30 a.m., Newell-Simon Hall; 9 a.m., Purnell Center and Miller Gallery; 9 a.m. - Noon, Cyert Hall, Cohon University Center, Bramer House and Alumni House

July 19: 8 a.m. - Noon, Pittsburgh Technology Center, Information Networking Institute, Software Engineering Institute, UTDC, Whitfield Hall and 4721 Fifth Ave.

July 27: 8 a.m. - Noon, Integrated Innovation Institute, 205 S. Craig, 300 S. Craig, 311 S. Craig, 407 S. Craig, 417 S. Craig, 6555 Penn Ave., National Robotics Engineering Center and GATF

Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions

CMU Hosts July 4 Campus Celebration

Carnegie Mellon will once again host a dynamic and family friendly July 4 Celebration on campus. The activities, from 5 to 10:15 p.m. on the College of Fine Arts Lawn and Mall, will include a BBQ, live music, Rita's Italian Ice and fireworks. Find out more.

CMU Wins Two CASE Awards

Carnegie Mellon has received two Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence awards. CMU won a silver award in the Special Events – Multiday category for the 50th Anniversary at Homecoming Weekend in November and a bronze award in the Design – Books category for the 50th Anniversary commemorative book.

The international awards program honors outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing at colleges, universities, independent schools and affiliated nonprofits. CMU’s entries were among 3,204 submissions in nearly 100 categories from 676 higher education institutions, independent schools and affiliated organizations located worldwide.

Community Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride

Carnegie Mellon students, staff, faculty and alumni showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community on Sunday, June 10, in the People's Pride March 2k18 and the EQT Equality March in Pittsburgh. Dozens from the CMU community and Allies Grad marched together in the parades, which traveled through uptown and downtown Pittsburgh. Allies Grad formed five years ago to help provide a sense of community for LGBTQ+ graduate students, foster professional networking and leadership development opportunities, and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues on campus.

See the slideshow.

CMU Offers Employee Perks and Discounts

Did you know Staff Council has negotiated special discounts for CMU faculty and staff? Check out the latest summer discounts to:

• Kennywood;
• Hershey Park;
• Idlewild and Soak Zone;
• Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival;
• Pittsburgh Passion;
• PPG Paints Arena; and
• Sandcastle.

And be sure to check out the anytime discounts as well to:

• Pittsburgh Cultural District;
• Bob O’Connor Golf Course;
• Equalli Jewelry; and
• MobilityWorks.

Nominations Now Open for 2018 Andy Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Andy Awards, the university-wide staff recognition program that honors individuals and teams for outstanding performance in five categories. The categories are: Commitment to Excellence; Commitment to Students; Innovative and Creative Contributions; Spirit; and Teamwork and Collaboration.

The nomination deadline is July 13. For more information, including how to submit a nomination, go to the Andy Awards website.

Academic Success in College: Start Your Student Off on the Right Foot, June 26-27

Carnegie Mellon’s Office of Academic Development is offering a free workshop for your graduating high school student that will help them adapt to the rigor of the college classroom and help to prepare them for their college career. Workshop topics include:

• Time Management and Productivity Strategies;
• Ways to Effectively Use (and not use) Technology on Campus;
• How to Manage Stress, Combat Procrastination and Develop a Workflow;
• How and Why to Utilize Campus Resources and Talk to Your Professors;
• Setting Long-term and Short-term Goals (and how to reach them!); and
• Understanding Meaningful Note-taking and Exam Preparation Techniques.

Topics will be covered through collaborative activities, group work and discussions. Lunch is included (please specify any dietary restrictions on registration page). Register your student.

EH&S To Continue Building Evacuation Drills this Summer

The Environmental Health and Safety Department is conducting building evacuation drills this summer between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. The remaining schedule follows.

July 11: 8 a.m., Gates/Hillman Center; 8:30 a.m., Newell-Simon Hall; 9 a.m., Purnell Center and Miller Gallery; 9 a.m. - Noon, Cyert Hall, Cohon University Center, Bramer House and Alumni House

July 19: 8 a.m. - Noon, Pittsburgh Technology Center, Information Networking Institute, Software Engineering Institute, UTDC, Whitfield Hall and 4721 Fifth Ave.

July 27: 8 a.m. - Noon, Integrated Innovation Institute, 205 S. Craig, 300 S. Craig, 311 S. Craig, 407 S. Craig, 417 S. Craig, 6555 Penn Ave., National Robotics Engineering Center and GATF

Dates are subject to change due to weather conditions

Seven High-Achieving Students Receive CMWA Scholarships

A swimming champion, actor and three founders and leaders of student organizations, are among this year’s Carnegie Mellon Women's Association (CMWA) scholarship winners.

The CMWA annually presents seven outstanding graduating women from each of the university's seven schools and colleges with a $1,000 scholarship. CMWA Honorary President Tris Jahanian presented the awards at the April 25 reception.

The CMWA consults with deans and department heads to select extraordinary students who have had many academic and extracurricular achievements during their four years at CMU. Each recipient is committed to helping women and making the world a better place.

"The Women’s Association scholarships are unique in that they are given to graduating students coming to the end of their Carnegie Mellon experiences, recognizing their unique accomplishments and seeking to support them in their next phases of life after graduation,” said Christa Cardone, CMWA president. "Every year, I am awed by the accomplishments of these extraordinary women and am delighted that our membership has supported us in continuing to offer seven scholarships, one for each of the seven schools."

Pictured with Tris Jahanian (far left) are this year's CMWA scholarship recipients (l-r): Maitreyee Joshi, School of Computer Science; Mira Shukla, Heinz College; Nikita Gupta, Tepper School of Business; Aubyn Heglie, College of Fine Arts; Bethany Wang, College of Engineering; and Yasmene Elhady, Mellon College of Science. Not pictured is Kimberly Hochstedler, Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

Learn more about the recipients.

Commencement Parking Restrictions and Stadium Closure

Parking will be restricted on Margaret Morrison Street starting Wednesday, May 9 through Friday, May 25 due to commencement preparation and post-ceremony activities. Barricades and signage will be placed on Margaret Morrison to indicate restricted areas. On Sunday, May 20, Margaret Morrison will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate commencement shuttles.

Also note, Gesling Stadium (including the track) will be closed starting Thursday, May 10 through Friday, May 25 for commencement activities. For more information on commencement, visit www.cmu.edu/commencement.

Questions? Contact University Events at 412-268-5052 or commencement@andrew.cmu.edu.

Framework Assesses, Optimizes Economic Value of Lithium-ion Batteries

Renewable-based power systems that have zero or low carbon emissions require on-demand energy storage like lithium-ion batteries. But, the degradation of these batteries is a major concern operationally and economically.

In a new paper, "An intertemporal decision framework for electrochemical energy storage management," published in Nature Energy, Carnegie Mellon University and Tsinghua University researchers propose a new framework that addresses the degradation of lithium-ion batteries — also known as electrochemical energy storage (EES). They do this by deriving, implementing and optimizing new metrics.

Carnegie Mellon researchers Guannan He, Panayiotis Moutis, Soummya Kar and Jay Whitacre, collaborated with Qixin Chen from Tsinghua University. The work was conducted, in part, at CMU's Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.

Learn more.

Updates to University Policies Seek Your Feedback

Two University Policies have been updated and will be open for comment from the university community for the next 30 days. The policies are:

Business Travel and Expense Policy
The current Business & Travel Expense (BTE) Policy went into effect on March 14, 2011. The 2018 Policy refresh reflects changes to the travel industry landscape, updates to university procurement policies and requirements, and feedback from campus stakeholders regarding opportunities to enhance Policy understanding and compliance. The revised Policy is now an abbreviated version that has removed redundancies and procedures to be more concise as recommended by university leadership. However, the core content and allowable/unallowable expenses in the current version of the Policy has not significantly changed.

Financial Records Retention Policy
The current Financial Records Retention Policy went into effect on Jan. 14, 1997. The proposed Policy update reflects expansion to the categories and descriptions of Financial Records, updates to retention time period requirements, updates to the administration of the Policy to support university compliance with legal and other regulatory retention requirements, and feedback from stakeholders regarding opportunities to enhance the understanding of and compliance to the Policy.

To provide comments, please go to the Policies website.

Last Call To Register for Alumni Awards Ceremony

Join a dozen of CMU’s brightest stars as their professional achievements and selfless service to Carnegie Mellon are celebrated at the 2018 Alumni Awards at 6 p.m., Friday, May 18 in CMU’s Purnell Center for the Arts. Alumni and faculty are being honored in several award categories. The recipients are:

• Founders Medal: Jim Swartz
• Alumni Achievement Awards: Njema Frazier, Mark Gelfand, Tommy Oliver, William Strecker
• Outstanding Recent Alumni Award: Ashley Kilp Godisart
• Alumni Service Awards: Antoinette Sapet Ungaretti, Robert Ungaretti,  Andres Webster Henestrosa,  Andrew Widdowson, Thomas Yeung
• Faculty and Staff Impact Award: Jay Devine

First presented in 1950, the Alumni Awards pay tribute to individuals distinguished by their service to the university and outstanding accomplishments in the arts, humanities, sciences, technology and business. To date, nearly 900 alumni, faculty and students have been honored with these awards.

The evening will include an inspirational ceremony, student performances, tapas-style dinner and drinks, and a chance to engage with alumni, faculty and staff, guests and university leaders.

Learn more about the award winners. Registration for the event closes on Friday, May 11.

University Libraries Excellence Awards Now Accepting Nominations

The University Libraries Excellence Awards Committee is accepting nominations from the CMU community through May 25. The annual Excellence Awards recognize library employees for exceptional performance in any of five categories: citizenship, customer satisfaction, innovation, outreach and productivity.

Taking the time to nominate a person or team is one of the best ways to recognize superior performance and to thank the individuals or teams whose work you value most. Nominations for Excellence Awards may be submitted by any member of the Carnegie Mellon community, helping to ensure that those who most deserve special recognition are publicly acknowledged.

Nominate a University Libraries employee or team.