The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
September 2023| Issue 59
We trust you had a fantastic summer and are now fully prepared for the Fall 2023 semester! The September issue of "The Synapse" focuses on new beginnings, including exciting new initiatives, additions to our NAS community, and the commencement of the new academic term.
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Share your news, photos, inspiring stories, and upcoming events for a future issue. Please send any feature suggestions to Hizbullah Baryal at hbaryal@loyola.edu
The Science Programs at Loyola Exhibit Ongoing Promise for Future Expansion.
The commencement of the 2023-24 academic year signals an exciting era for Sciences at Loyola, marked by significant advancements. This academic year witnessed the introduction of the Biohealth Degree Program, led by Professors Michael Tangrea, Ph.D., and Christopher Thompson, Ph.D. The Natural and Applied Sciences division has expanded to include the seventh department by establishing the Department of Forensic Science, which offers three academic programs: Forensic Studies (BS), Forensic Pattern Analysis (MS), and a new graduate degree in Biological Forensics (MS), overseen by Professor David Rivers, Ph.D., as the Department Chair. The proposal for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, developed in collaboration with Mercy Medical Center, is currently awaiting approval, thanks to the support from university leadership and the valuable contributions of Maiju Lehmijoki Wetzel, Ph.D., Director of Pre-health programs, and Lisa Scheifele, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Biology. Our STEM programs are poised for a bright future, with substantial growth in recent years, now boasting over 1100 students, and a surge in momentum as evidenced by 34% of the class of 2027 expressing interest in STEM fields. Additionally, we extend a warm welcome to new faculty and staff members joining the Natural and Applied Sciences division this fall or taking on new roles. This is indeed an exciting time to be a part of Loyola's thriving sciences.
Natural and Applied Sciences New Members and New Roles
Nguyen Ho, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Nguyen Ho, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science specializing in Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning. She earned her Ph.D. in Information Technology and Computer Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, complementing her M.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering from the same institution. Her educational journey began with a B.S. in Computer Science from Ho Chi Minh University of Technology, Vietnam. We are delighted to welcome Professor Ho to Loyola, who will enrich the NAS community based on her dedication to educating students and the impact of her research that benefits from his global academic background.
Eric Cui, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Eric Cui, Ph.D., has joined Loyola as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, specializing in Recommender Systems. His expertise encompasses recommendation algorithms, privacy preservation, point of interest recommender systems, and data synthesis, all of which contribute significantly to advancing this critical field. He obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2023 from the University of Kentucky, followed by a Master of Science in Computer Science in 2016 from Kentucky State University. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology in 2013 at Sichuan Normal University in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Professor Cui's academic journey has equipped him with advanced knowledge in computer science and valuable insights from biotechnology. This unique interdisciplinary perspective enriches his contributions at Loyola, where his work reflects a strong commitment to innovation and the development of privacy-aware recommendation algorithms.
Ms. Theresa Allen, Director of Program Operations for Forensic Science Department
Theresa Allen recently became a Director of Program Operations for the new Department of Forensic Science. Terri joined Loyola in 2006 working at the Loyola Clinical Center. Before joining the Department of Forensic Science, she worked as the Program Specialist for the Department of Biology. Terri earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMUC and is currently pursuing her MBA through Loyola. She is looking forward to working with the graduate students in both the Forensic Pattern Analysis and Biological Forensics programs.
Hossein Aghababa, PhD., Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Engineering
Hossein Aghababa is a dynamic and dedicated educator who has recently taken on the role of Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Engineering at Loyola University Maryland. With a passion for both teaching and engineering, Aghababa brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to his academic pursuits.
Aghababa earned his academic credentials from prestigious institutions, including a PhD in Electrical Engineering from University of Tehran and a bachelor's degree in Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering from University of Tehran. His educational journey has equipped him with a solid foundation in the field, allowing him to effectively convey complex engineering concepts to his students.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Aghababa is actively involved in research within his area of expertise, which includes: 1. Quantum Computation and Communication 2- VLSI Circuit and Device Modeling under Process Variation and Microelectronics Reliability Issues 3- Nanoelectronics, Nanostructure Device Modeling, and Nano-Scaled Emerging Technologies and 4- Mathematical Modeling. His scholarly contributions have earned him recognition in the academic community and have the potential to impact the field of engineering in meaningful ways.
Hossein Aghababa's dedication to his students and his passion for engineering make him a valuable addition to Loyola University Maryland's Department of Engineering. His commitment to excellence in education and research promises to inspire and empower the next generation of engineers.
Mr. Jon Fried, Graduate Director and Assistant Teaching Professor
Jon Fried recently became a Graduate Director and Assistant Teaching Professor in the new Department of Forensic Science, after joining the Loyola family in April 2021 as the Director of Program Operations for the Forensic Pattern Analysis Program. Jon earned his MS in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven and spent 20 years working in law enforcement and forensics, initially as a Police Officer, then a Senior Crime Scene Analyst, a Firearms and Tool marks Examiner, and a Training and Development Specialist for agencies in the states of Connecticut and Nevada, as well as the District of Columbia. One of his most rewarding experiences was serving as a technical advisor and mentor for high school and college students in the nation’s first Law Enforcement Explorers - Crime Scene Investigation Post, while working for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He knew then that he wanted to be part of educating future forensic scientists and he's excited to be a part of this unique, challenging, and growing program, which graduated its first cohort earlier this year!
Marion Davidson, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor of Forensics
Marion Davidson is a new Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Forensic Science. She is a biological and forensic anthropologist in her fourth and final year of her PhD at University College London. Her research interests include the professionalism of forensic anthropology and the discussion between academics and forensic practitioners, while her PhD work is focused on the interpretation of forensic evidence and the decision-making process of forensic examiners. During her time at UCL, Marion has presented her research at multiple conferences, twice winning the Best Student Presentation award. In 2021, she was selected to represent UCL at the League of European Research Universities Summer Doctoral School. Additionally, she has been nominated for several UCL student choice awards, including one for Brilliant Research-Based Education, for her work as a teaching assistant. Her most rewarding experience was serving as a forensic anthropologist for CRICC, the Cranfield Recovery and Identification of Conflict Casualties team. With CRICC, Marion assisted in the investigation and excavation of a World War II plane crash site in Italy, in an effort to clarify the state of the missing US pilot. She is thrilled and grateful to be at Loyola, and is excited to have the opportunity to develop her own courses in a new and growing department.
Chloe Garfinkel, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology
Chloe is a Maryland native who grew up in the Takoma Park/Silver Spring area. After attending the University of Maryland College Park for a BS in Biology, she joined the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology for her graduate work. Chloe is an insect community ecologist interested in climate change responses. Her PhD research focused on temperature tolerance and ecological traits (body size, activity patterns, habitat specialization) of carrion beetles across the Colorado mountains. Chloe is very excited to be joining Loyola and teaching in the Biology Department!
John Nweke, Assistant Teaching Professor in Computer Sciences.
John Nweke joined Loyola University Maryland as an Assistant Teaching Professor in Computer Sciences. He earned his M.Sc. in Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2021 and holds a B.A. in Visual Communication from Morgan State University (2016). Mr. Nweke instructs foundational Computer Science courses, including Introduction to Programming with Python and Object-Oriented Data Structures. His expertise lies in Programming, Data Science, Cloud Computing, and Virtual Machines. He thrives on close student engagement, aligning seamlessly with Loyola's educational values.
Marie Lau, Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology
Marie is a Loyola graduate returning to a new role as an Assistant Teaching Professor for the biology department. Maire teaches the undergraduate courses Human Biology, Foundations of Biology, and Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity. Her research and interest areas include effective science literacy and learning strategies for adult learners in Science Education, teaching and mentoring future nurses and vision professionals, vision impairments from microbial infections, pediatric and geriatric low vision, and fostering good vision health.
Ada Maxwell, Program Assistant, Chemistry and Biochemistry & Math and Statistics Departments
Ada Maxwell has recently joined Loyola University Maryland as a Program Assistant for the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as Mathematics and Statistics. Originally from Mount Desert Island, Maine, the locale of Acadia National Park, Ada earned her BA in Communications & Media Studies in 2013 at Goucher College, where she also served as captain of the Women's Tennis team. With six years of experience in grocery store management, including roles at Trader Joe's and MOM's Organic Market, she has honed her strong interpersonal skills. Outside of work, Ada enjoys strolls in Baltimore city, sports, hiking in her hometown, watching movies, and spending quality time with friends. Her favorite culinary indulgence? An Italian cold cut sandwich.
An exciting partnership for FPA and the Forensic Science Department
Loyola University Maryland's Forensics Science department has joined forces with Evidence IQ to integrate Ballistics IQ solution into the Master of Science program in Forensics Pattern Analysis to enrich FPA students' learning experience and to better equip them with essential tools to excel in their future forensic endeavors. The partnership between Evidence IQ and Loyola University Maryland's Master of Forensics Pattern Analysis program is poised to set new standards in forensic education and facilitate breakthroughs in pattern matching methodologies. With the integration of Evidence IQ's Ballistics IQ solution into the program's curriculum, graduates will be better equipped to address the challenges of modern forensic investigations. Read more about this new partnership here.
NAS presence at the 2023 Fall Activities Fair
On Monday, September 11, Loyola University Maryland hosted its traditional Fall Activities Fair from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at The Quad. The event featured various clubs and organizations offering sign-up opportunities for students. Notably, NAS student clubs made a significant showing, with nine dedicated to Pre-Health student organizations and most of the 20+ NAS student clubs taking part. Attendees from Loyola University had the chance to explore and join various campus organizations, enriching their university experience.
SWE Club
Pre-Health Clubs
IEEE Club
Robotics Club
Fall Activities Fair
Data Science Club
Maryland Secretary of Human Services, Raphael López, to speak at Loyola!
Mark Your Calendar, November 7, 2023, Grand Seminar
Tuesday November 7, McGuire Hall:
- NAS Alumni Award & 2023 Hauber Poster presentation 5:00 pm
- Grand Seminar, lecture 6:00 pm
Reminders & Resources
The Bridge
Visit The Bridge for upcoming campus meetings and events.
Training and Development Opportunities for Employees and Students
Academic Calendar
Coronavirus Resources
- Loyola Coronavirus Updates - General university information for all students, faculty, staff including reopening plans, COVID-19 dashboard, FAQs, policies, and resources
Student Support Resources
Employee Support Resources