HARRISBURG, PA – Welcome to your October 2024 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) Research Roundup! Our talented faculty and alumni have been busy presenting at conferences, publishing boundary-pushing research, and building fruitful partnerships with other schools, agencies, and organizations. It’s been a great month for research and recognition at HU, so let’s get to it!
Chris Condran Joins Panel of Experts at Annual ACAPT Conference
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Dr. Chris Condran, delivered a presentation at the 19th annual Physical Therapy Education Leadership Conference, hosted by the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), on October 19 in Oakland, California. The presentation was entitled, “Upholding Equity and Inclusion in Physical Therapy: Strategies for Addressing Anti-DEI Laws.”
The panelists were all invited professionals who possessed substantial experience with DEI initiatives in academic and clinical settings, including advocacy for disability rights and LGBTQ+ rights. They discussed ways to overcome resistance to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), foster social justice, and create a more cohesive and welcoming environment within the field of physical therapy.
“I was invited because of my work in DEI initiatives and my commitment to advocating for marginalized communities within our profession,” said Dr. Condran. “It’s been rewarding to collaborate with others who share this passion, especially given the current climate surrounding anti-DEI laws.”
His commitment to marginalized communities includes service to the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Leadership and Innovation, and to the executive board of PTProud, which he also serves as incoming chair.
“Being a panelist at the event offered a wonderful opportunity to share insights and connect with others who are passionate about DEI and social justice,” said Dr. Condran. “Together, we shared powerful stories and ideas, and explored strategies to navigate challenges, foster belonging, and empower both academics and clinicians in our profession to create a more inclusive and equitable future.”
LJ Holmes Co-Edits Book on Hybrid Manufacturing
LJ Holmes, Executive Director of HU’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, better known as STORMWERX, has released his first book, Resilient Hybrid Electronics for Extreme/Harsh Environments, alongside co-editors Dr. Eric MacDonald and Dr. Amanda Schrand.
“I’m a fan of all types of manufacturing processes, but my personal favorite research area is hybrid manufacturing,” explained LJ. “At STORMWERX, we have a few different technologies that fit into the hybrid manufacturing category. With some machines, we can print metal structures and machine them to tolerance without having to move the workpiece into different machines; with others, we’re able to print electronics in three dimensions, either onto or within a structure.”
The Hass UMC 750 Hybrid and the DMS Big Metal Additive Machine are examples of the former; the nScrypt 3Dx-700 is an example of the latter.
“I was lucky enough to work on my first book with my friends, Amanda and Eric, who are brilliant scientists in the additive manufacturing and printed electronics communities. The book’s topic may seem niche at first, but it’s actually a very far-reaching subject. In many cases, traditional electronics packaging may not be robust or versatile enough to withstand harsh environments.”
This could mean environments with extreme temperature variations (arctic, desert), extreme pressure (deep-sea or space exploration), and locations that are prone to corrosion. In these cases, it’s advantageous for electronic systems to be incorporated into the structure itself.
“Hypersonics is a key application area. Immense effort has gone into researching and developing materials and processes to create hypersonic vehicles,” LJ said. “It’s very difficult to create electronics packaging, using traditional methods, that can survive the high g-forces of hypersonic operations – in some cases, we’re talking about vehicles that experience 100,000g, which is 100,000 times stronger than ‘normal’ gravity. We set out to create a book that goes well beyond the current state-of-the-art in electronics packaging.”
Ziyuan Huang Addresses Inaugural Alzheimer’s Association International Conference
Ziyuan Huang, Ph.D., an alumnus of the Harrisburg University Data Science doctoral program, presented an original research poster at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, PA. The research – “Utilizing Latent Dirichlet Allocation and Differential Abundance Analysis to Identify Microbial Communities in Both the Oral and Gut Microbiome Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease” – focused on exploring links between gut microbes and Alzheimer’s disease prediction.
“My research combines machine learning, deep learning, and large language models (LLM) to identify key signals in Alzheimer’s disease from a microbiology perspective,” explained Dr. Huang. “Despite years of study, Alzheimer’s remains complex and elusive. By leveraging AI to integrate data from genetics, immune function, and more, we aim to advance treatment options and improve patient outcomes. I believe that opportunities are everywhere, no matter our circumstances. With determination and by consistently challenging our limits, we can unlock the potential for remarkable achievements. In science, the greatest rewards come from our deepest investments in knowledge, hard work, and perseverance.”
Dr. Huang is currently a Post-Doctoral Associate at UMass Chan Medical School, having joined as a member of the Haran Lab in May 2023. This opportunity allowed him to “apply the knowledge and skills I gained during my Ph.D. in Data Sciences at Harrisburg University and contribute to the fight against one of the most devastating diseases affecting humanity.” The lab’s motivating goal, he says, is to “slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in patients and, ultimately, contribute to finding a cure.”
Kevin Huggins Delivers Two Keynote Addresses at Inaugural AI Conference
Kevin Huggins, Ph.D., Professor of Computer and Data Science at HU and recent Fulbright Specialist Program Award recipient, delivered two keynote addresses on artificial intelligence (AI) at the inaugural Congreso Internacional de Investigación en Ingeniería de Sistemas (CI3S Colombia 2024) at the University of Santo Tomás in Tunja, Colombia.
The goal of the conference is to address current opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation broadly, and artificial intelligence specifically, by sharing innovative academic research, fostering discussion and collaboration, promoting the wider use of advanced data analysis among institutions, and growing the economy through new research partnerships, new roles within organizations, and new academic programs.
“It was an honor to provide the keynote addresses for this inaugural conference,” said Dr. Huggins. “The focus of the event was to inspire STEM students by exposing them to the realm of possibilities, with talks from various international speakers on topics of interest. It aligned well with HU’s focus on STEM education and provided another opportunity to expand the University’s name recognition in the region. It’s fair to say we’re making a positive impression, as this wasn’t HU’s first time engaging with the University of Santo Tomás; three HU professors previously contributed to virtual talks hosted by the institution, including Dr. Philip Mann, Dr. Ali Motamedi, and Jillian Yeakel.”
Leena Pattarkine Gives Keynote Presentation at Biotechnology Summit
Mrunalini (“Leena”) Pattarkine, Ph.D., Program Lead for Biotechnology at HU and Director of the Capital Area Biotechnology Partnership (CABP), was invited to deliver the keynote address at an online conference organized by the Institute of Pharmacy at Amity University of Mumbai. The event’s theme was, “Big Wonders of Small: Nanobiotechnology in Healthcare.” Dr. Pattarkine’s address focused on innovative applications throughout the healthcare ecosystem for emerging biotechnology techniques and technologies.
“Point-of care devices such as glucose-monitoring devices for diabetic patients, COVID-19 antigen-based home tests, nanomaterials for prosthetic devices, and the engineering of artificial skin for wound care are just some of the compelling breakthroughs having a dramatic and positive impact on healthcare outcomes for millions of people globally,” explained Dr. Pattarkine.
“And the innovation continues thanks to the efforts of my colleagues at CABP. Industry support in the form of collaboration and critical feedback has been tremendous in helping to align the Harrisburg University Biotechnology curriculum with the industry’s current and future needs. One of the best points of pride from our work-oriented curriculum is our better than 90% placement rates for graduates.”
Lisa Schlosser Publishes Cybersecurity Report for IBM Initiative
Lisa Schlosser, Corporate Faculty for HU’s Cybersecurity Operations & Management BS program, has published a detailed report entitled, “Preparing Governments for Future Shocks: Building Cyber Resilience for Critical Infrastructure Protection.”
The timely report, which coincided with Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024, was created in partnership with IBM’s Center for the Business of Government and supported the “Future Shocks” international roundtable series. Featuring practical and inter-disciplinary discussions with government, business, nonprofit, and technology leaders from across the world, “Future Shocks” is focused on several key priority areas, including Emergency Preparedness and Response, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Workforce Skills, and International Cooperation. Co-authors included IBM’s Cristina Caballe, Daniel Chenok, and David Zaharchuk; and Teresa Gerton of the National Academy of Public Administration.
According to IBM, “the report presents challenges, best practices, and opportunities for strong cyber protections … cyber resilience is crucial for protecting critical infrastructure, which includes essential services from the energy grid to clean water distribution. These systems are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks. Cyber resilience involves not only robust cybersecurity measures to prevent attacks but also the ability to quickly detect, respond to, and recover from incidents.”
“Government leaders increasingly indicate that what were previously viewed as Black Swan events are now becoming more frequent – and more destabilizing – shocks,” the report states. “The past several years saw acceleration toward a connected world where physical goods and digital services are increasingly interdependent. The vulnerability of social and economic well-being has increased due to reliance on connectivity and distributed value chains subject to disruption on multiple fronts.”
The full report is available on IBM’s Business of Government blog.
Joe Tetreault Joins Panel at Annual CEA Conference
Joe Tetreault, Controlled-Environment Agriculture (CEA) Research Scientist and Professor of Environmental Science at HU, attended the Indoor Ag-Con CEA Summit on October 1–2 in Danville, Virginia. “The organizer was familiar with some of our recent publications and asked if I would participate in a Q-and-A panel discussion called Aquaponics Deep Dive,” Professor Tetreault explained.
The 2024 Indoor Ag-Con marked its third year, having drawn attendees from 33 US states, Canada, The Netherlands, and Sweden in 2023. Focused on advancing collaboration in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), the summit explored the benefits and challenges of aquaponics and hydroponics. Professor Tetreault and other experts discussed topics such as system design, water management, and crop optimization. Keynotes, educational sessions, and exhibitions highlighted the ecological and economic advantages of these innovative farming techniques.
In 2023, Professor Tetreault and the HU Aquaponics Team – “H2HU” – was invited to take part in the international Phoenix Contact Xplore Technology Award for a Sustainable World. After 20 months of work, Team H2HU took second place amongst a slate of 25 finalists. You can learn more about HU Aquaponics by visiting HarrisburgU.edu.
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