The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
Loyola’s MS Data Science Program ranked #12 in Fortune's 2024 Best Online Data Science Programs
Loyola University Maryland’s data science program was named one of the “Best Online Master’s in Data Science Programs for 2024 by Fortune, ranking No. 12 out of 23 universities chosen for the list. Loyola was also recognized on the lists of “Most Affordable Online Master’s in Data Science Programs for 2024” and “Best Online Master’s in Data Science Programs for 2024 – No GRE Required.”
For additional information, read more on the Loyola news site.
Sharon P. O’Neill, DNP, J.D., CRNP, Director, BS in Nursing
Sharon P. O’Neill, DNP, J.D., CRNP, has been named the inaugural director of Loyola University Maryland’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)degree program The first cohort enters in fall 2025. Before joining Loyola, Department of Biology, O’Neill served in administrative and teaching capacities at Johns Hopkins, the University of Southern California, and most recently, New York University. She spent thirteen years as part-time legal counsel to the Kennedy Krieger Office of Professional and Regulatory Affairs. A Baltimore native, O’Neill grew up two blocks from Loyola. She graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame and received a diploma from the Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing and a BSN from what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Pennsylvania, a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Baltimore, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the Catholic University of America. She completed post-graduate work at Johns Hopkins University as a pediatric nurse practitioner and a family nurse practitioner and at California State University Long Beach as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Cassandra Holbert, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Cassandra Holbert joins Loyola from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. She was an affiliate faculty member at Loyola throughout her postdoctoral appointment teaching courses in introductory biology and human pathophysiology. After receiving her BS in Biology from Dickinson College, a small liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she completed a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Dr. Holbert’s research focuses on polyamines, small molecules involved in numerous cellular processes including chromatin remodeling, immune cell modulation, and cell survival. Her current research focuses on modulating polyamine metabolism as a cancer therapeutic in immunologically “cold” tumors such as pancreatic, breast, and ovarian. A major goal of her lab is to identify the immunomodulatory impacts of polyamine analogue therapies and leverage this knowledge to reprogram cold tumors to be more responsive to immunotherapies.
At Loyola, Dr. Holbert will be teaching pathophysiology, immunology, introductory biology, and other courses of interest. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, competitive showjumping, and spending time with her young son and two Dalmatians.
Natalie April van Breukelen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biology
Dr. Natalie April van Breukelen (Dr. VB) received her doctorate in Integrative Biology from Lehigh University and has worked in higher education since 2008 teaching at several undergraduate institutions as well as teaching abroad in Costa Rica and Australia. She teaches a wide variety of courses in biological sciences, developing and implementing innovative teaching pedagogies and utilizing evidence-based teaching including active learning in her courses. Dr. VB’s research focuses on exploring reproductive behavior across fish species using an integrative approach with an emphasis on mentoring undergraduate student researchers. She explores evolutionary, ecological, environmental, and physiological factors which impact behaviors such as parental care, courtship, and territoriality. Her research includes both laboratory and field work research in Costa Rica and Texas. Here at Loyola, Dr. VB will be teaching the Foundations courses as well as teaching Animal Behavior.
"My goal is to create meaningful classroom, lab, and field experiences so that students may engage with content, take responsibility for their learning, and gain a greater appreciation and understanding of biological sciences."
Rhys Williams, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Forensic Science
Rhys Williams, PhD, has joined Loyola as an assistant professor in forensic science, specialising in digital imaging, forensic anthropology and burial location. He earned his PhD on developing soil analysis methods for visualising preservation of archaeological sites at Teesside University, UK, where he was previously a senior lecturer and research advisor. His research focuses on the detection of discreet and trace evidence, and on the visualisation and presentation of archaeological objects. He also leads public engagement projects with the aim to explore how digital technologies enhance learning in the museum environment, bringing him into several international multidisciplinary projects into site analysis and climate change. Rhys is thrilled to be expanding his research and working with faculty and students across Loyola.
Eric Ebert, MS, Assistant Teaching Professor, Computer Science
Eric Ebert is excited to be joining the computer science department at Loyola University. After graduating high school, Eric spent nine years in the Marine Corps working as a radar technician and in computer hardware support. In 2003 he deployed to Saudi Arabia as a part of the run-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Eric pursued an eclectic set of interests that revolve around mathematics, computer science, and history as an undergraduate. He then attended graduate school where he worked on problems at the intersection of modern geometry, the study of symmetry, and algebraic structures. Over the last decade Eric has worked with middle and high school students. He has taught math courses from Algebra I to Linear Algebra and developed computer science curriculum that introduced students to programming, cryptography and data structures. Eric looks forward to teaching Making Sense with Data and Discrete Structures this Fall.
Glenn Georgieff, MS, Assistant Teaching Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Glenn is a new Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, having recently served at Loyola University Maryland as an Affiliate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics for the past 2 years. He holds a MS in Applied and Industrial Mathematics and BS in Mathematics from Towson University. He is a student focused, dedicated teaching, training, and management professional. Glenn has 14+ years of extensive classroom and online mathematics & physics teaching experience at the college and university level. He also has 34 years of experience in operations, engineering, and corporate engineering staff management positions at UPS, having recently retired in 2021. While at UPS, Glenn was a member of the UPS Team that won the 2016 prestigious INFORMS Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences for its proprietary routing software called ORION (On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation). He is passionate about mathematics, mathematics education and the application of mathematics. Glenn is excited and grateful to be a member of the wonderful and welcoming community at Loyola University Maryland.
Brianna Tate, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor, Biology
Dr. Brianna Tate received her B.A (2016) and M.S. (2018) degree in Biology and Cell and Molecular Biology, respectively, from Appalachian State University. She received her Ph.D. in Animal Science from Cornell University in 2022 where she explored the immunomodulatory effects of the lysolipid lysophosphatidylcholine on dairy calf immune function and health. Brianna then moved to Baltimore to work as a T32 postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health from 2022-2024. Dr. Tate is excited to join the Loyola Biology Department full-time in the Fall 2024 semester where she will be teaching Microbiology as well as Foundations of Biology II. Outside of work, Dr. Tate enjoys reading, creative writing, watching anime, and spending time with her dog Jakobe.
Zelalem Jembre Yalew, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor, Computer Science
Zelalem Jembre Yalew received his B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, in 2007; and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Engineering from Ajou University, in 2012 and 2017, respectively. From 2008 to 2010, he worked as a Fixed Line Next Generation Network (FL-NGN) Engineer at a Telecom Company, ZTE (H.K.) Ethiopian Branch. He worked as an Assistant Professor in Daegu, South Korea at Kyungpook National University, from Sep. 2017 to Dec. 2018, and at Keimyung University, from Mar. 2019 to Jan. 2024. Starting Jul. 2024, he became an Assistant Teaching Professor at Loyola University Maryland, MD, USA. As an academic, he published multiple articles in international journals and proceedings. He received the Best Paper Award from the Journal of Communications and Networks, in 2015. His research area is in wireless communication, mainly focusing on IEEE 802.11-based ad-hoc, mesh, cognitive radio, vehicular, and IoT networks. In addition, Dr. Yalew has more than 10 years of experience in software development and engineering. He successfully developed and uploaded Awera and CheQ-In mobile apps in both Google and Apple stores. Furthermore, he designed and developed a prototype of the Injera Printer (IP).
Hossein Aghababa, Ph.D., Engineering Department
Dr. Hossein Aghababa co-authored a research titled XpookyNet: advancement in quantum system analysis through convolutional neural networks for detection of entanglement. Below is the abstract of the research:
Quantum entanglement occurs when the properties of particles, such as photons or electrons, become interconnected, so that the state of one particle instantly influences the state of another, regardless of the distance between them. Detecting entanglement is crucial in quantum information theory but presents a significant computational challenge. In this paper, we introduce XpookyNet, a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model designed to detect entanglement. After optimization, XpookyNet achieved 98.5% accuracy, surpassing previous approaches.
For detailed information about the research, please read the published paper by visiting this journal's website.
Research Resources for Loyola students, faculty, staff, and administrators!
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) announces its upcoming opportunities, events, and deadlines. The mission of the CUR is to support and promote high-quality mentored undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry. It also provides support and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, administrators, and students.
Please check the CUR's calendar of events for more information.
Register for the MS Data Science Virtual Info Session on Wednesday, October 16th!
Join us for an upcoming information session to learn more about Loyola University Maryland's Online Graduate Data Science program. The academic program director and the director of program operations will be present to answer your questions regarding program formats, application requirements, and the admission process.
By attending any of our information sessions, you can save yourself from paying the $60 graduate application fee.
Join us and explore the opportunities that await you! Please register here.