Intro to Quantum Seminar for the Northeastern Community
2026-04-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Spring 2026, West Village H Room 366, Fridays 10-11am, Weekly
Gregory A. Fiete, Professor of Physics, College of Science, Northeastern University
Purpose and Synopsis: Curious about quantum physics but not a physicist or physics major? This seminar series is your chance to learn the fundamentals of quantum physics, quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum cryptography, and quantum communication in an informal atmosphere without the need to register for a class. The seminar, open to all in the Northeastern community, will begin from basics assuming no prior knowledge of quantum mechanics and build through key concepts relevant to quantum technologies. The first weeks of the seminar will feature tutorial lectures and then the seminar will host experts from across campus who will give accessible talks on their quantum research. The aim is to bring together the entire Northeastern community in a single setting for establishing multi-disciplinary ties across the university for all who have an interest in quantum. Students, postdocs, staff and faculty at all levels are welcome. Questions and interactive discussions during the seminar are encouraged.
Topics Covered: Entanglement, Measurement Disturbance of Quantum Systems, Logic Gates, Quantum Advantage, No Cloning Theorem, Quantum Teleportation, EPR Paradox, Spin, Hilbert Spaces, Basic Mathematical Structure of Quantum Mechanics, Heisenberg Uncertainty Relations.
Speaker/Instructor Bio: Greg is a theoretical physicist specializing in the study of exotic quantum properties of materials. He received his PhD in physics from Harvard University and did postdoctoral work at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara. He was a Lee A. DuBridge Prize Fellow in Theoretical Physics at Caltech. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, a DARPA Director’s Fellowship, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), a Simons Fellowship in Theoretical Physics, and a Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society. Greg is a core and founding member of the Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute (QMSI) at Northeastern University.
Schedule of seminars

ChE MS Thesis Defense: Daniel Sekyere
2026-04-01 10:00 - 11:00
Name: Daniel Sekyere
Title: Integrating Direct Air Capture with Bicarbonate Electrolysis
Date: 04/01/2026
Time: 10:00:00 AM
Committee Members:
Prof. Magda Barecka (Advisor)
Prof. Richard West
Prof. Damilola Daramola
Prof. Aaron Stubbins
Location: Snell Library 013
Abstract:
Bicarbonate electrolysis offers a compelling pathway to integrate direct air capture (DAC) with electrochemical CO₂ reduction, bypassing the energy-intensive thermal regeneration that is a bottleneck in alkaline solvent-based DAC. Yet a critical flaw undermines most laboratory studies: the electrolytes used do not accurately reflect solvents produced from real atmospheric CO₂ capture. This thesis investigates quantification of carbon speciation during CO₂ absorption in 0.1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium bicarbonate (KHCO₃), and potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) under pure CO₂, 1000 ppm CO₂ in N₂, and ambient air (~430 ppm), using a non-destructive real-time DIC quantification method based on inline pH and conductivity measurements.
The central finding is that fresh KHCO₃, typically used for bicarbonate electrolysis, off-gases a substantial amount of CO₂ and therefore should not be used in bicarbonate
electrolysis studies. Using Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, it is demonstrated that 0.1 M KHCO₃ equilibrates with ~14,700 ppm dissolved CO₂, 34 times above ambient air, driving desorption by Le Chatelier’s principle. Measured DIC losses of 1,400 mg/L (air) and 1,046 mg/L (CO₂+N₂), alongside pH increases from 8.65 to ~10.12, confirm this mechanism. By contrast, KOH retains 87–91% of its pure CO₂ absorption capacity under dilute conditions and produces authentic DAC effluent of bicarbonate-carbonate mixtures (54-65% HCO₃⁻, 35-46% CO₃²⁻) with negligible dissolved CO₂, unlike the CO₂-saturated solvent. Equilibration times extended 35-161-fold under dilute CO₂, marking a transition from kinetic to mass-transfer control with direct implications for contactor design.
These findings challenge the validity of performance metrics reported across a substantial body of bicarbonate electrolysis research and provide a rigorous experimental framework for electrolyte preparation that accurately reflects integrated DAC-electrolysis systems.

Daniel is a Chemical Engineering graduate student at Northeastern University, where he is completing his Master of Science thesis titled Integrating Direct Air Capture with Bicarbonate Electrolysis. His research examines whether common laboratory electrolytes used in bicarbonate electrolysis studies accurately represent real direct air capture (DAC) solvents – a question with significant implications for how the field designs and interprets experiments. In doing so, his work challenges a foundational assumption in the bicarbonate electrolysis literature and offers a methodological corrective with broad relevance to carbon capture research. His findings are being prepared for journal submission alongside his thesis, expected April 2026. Beyond the laboratory, Daniel is an active member of the African Graduate Student Association at Northeastern, where he contributes to a community that supports and uplifts African scholars in graduate education. He has also presented his research at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), engaging a broader professional audience with his work on DAC-electrolysis integration. With strong competencies in carbonate equilibrium chemistry, electrochemical systems, and system modeling, Daniel is driven by the goal of developing rigorous, scalable pathways for carbon dioxide removal.

JOINT SPECIAL COLLOQUIUM: Scalable Quantum Applications: Synergies in Control, Learning and Co-design
2026-04-01 11:30 - 12:30
JOINT SPECIAL COLLOQUIUM
College of Science, College of Engineering & Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute (QMSI)
Scalable Quantum Applications: Synergies in Control, Learning and Co-design
Dr. Hong-Ye Hu
Harvard University
Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026; 11:30am to 12:30pm
Hosts: Prof. Arun Bansil & Prof. Kin Chung Fong
Venue: Elliott Hall – Room 130C, 147 S. Bedford St, Burlington, MA
Remote: MS Teams Link
Abstract
The rapid advancement of quantum science and technology has ushered in a new era where analog simulators can now control thousands of qubits and digital processors are approaching break-even points for error correction. However, bridging the gap to large-scale quantum applications demands synergistic innovation across hardware-aware control, rigorous learning protocols, and algorithm-hardware co-design. In this talk, I will demonstrate the utility of this full-stack approach, focusing first on the untapped potential of analog platforms. I will show that globally controlled systems can exhibit universal quantum dynamics even without local addressability.
By leveraging a novel direct optimal control technique, we experimentally realized effective three-body interactions in a globally driven Rydberg atom array, a critical resource for simulating exotic quantum phases. As system sizes scale, the ability to efficiently learn and benchmark devices also becomes critical. Traditional methods like quantum process tomography are exponentially expensive, while scalable alternatives, such as Hamiltonian learning, typically rely on structural ansätze that induce bias. To address this, we introduced the first Hamiltonian learning algorithm that functions without any structural ansatz while retaining optimal experimental scaling. This paradigm shift enables the rigorous, in-situ benchmarking of large-scale devices, allowing us to characterize unknown interactions and noise sources without preconceptions. Finally, I will conclude with perspectives on the future of scalable quantum systems, specifically focusing on AI-assisted quantum control and fault-tolerant architectural designs.
Biography
Hong-Ye Hu is a Harvard Quantum Initiative (HQI) Fellow working at the intersection of quantum information theory, quantum many body physics and machine learning. His research focuses on developing scalable methods for quantum control, verification, and learning in complex quantum systems, with applications to quantum simulation, early fault-tolerant quantum computation and quantum error correction, as well as modern deep-learning approaches for quantum physics.

Bioengineering Spring Seminar Series
2026-04-01 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00
BIOE 7390 – Spring 2026
Bioengineering Seminar Series Schedule
Internal and external faculty seminar speakers, weekly 12-1pm on Wednesdays in Richards Hall 300
JANUARY
1/7 – Jonathan Weissman, PhD
Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Whitehead Institute
1/14 – Joey Davis, PhD
Associate Professor Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1/21 – David Cronin, MBA
*Industry Seminar, Industrial Advisory Board Member
Chief Executive Officer, Cognition Corporation
1/28 – Amir Vahabikashi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Northeastern University
FEBRUARY
2/4 – Wilson Wong, PhD
*Collab with CHME
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University
2/11 – Christopher Evans, PhD
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic
2/18 – None
2/25 – None
MARCH
3/4 – None, spring break
3/11 – Vijay Vedula, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
3/18 – Ibraheem Badejo, PhD
*Industry Seminar, Industrial Advisory Board Member
Senior Director, External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson Innovation
3/25 – Tao Sun, PhD
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Northeastern University
APRIL
4/1 – Marsha Rolle, PhD
*Collab with CHME
Director, Advancement, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives
4/8 – Era Jain, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University
4/15 – Meghan Rebuli, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Chemical Engineering Spring Seminar Series: Marsha Rolle
2026-04-01 12:00 - 13:00
Exploring new paths: a career in progress
Location: 108 Snell Engineering Center
Abstract: For decades, graduate trainees have framed their career trajectories as a binary choice between “academia” and “industry”. However, there is a breadth of opportunity and need for life science and engineering talent across a variety of sectors. This talk will cover one person’s technology and discovery journey and a series of pivots along an ongoing life sciences career path.

Marsha Rolle, PhD is Director of Advancement at Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), a non-profit founded to build a globally-competitive life science cluster in Central Massachusetts through economic and workforce development and business incubation. She joined MBI following 3 years as Associate Director of Life Science Programs at the Roux Institute in Portland, ME and Research Professor of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University. At the Roux Institute, she built “BioPILOT” a membership-based mixed use lab facility that supported faculty research, biotechnology instruction, and early-stage life science companies. Prior to joining NU, she was a tenured Professor of Biomedical Engineering at WPI where, over her 16-year faculty career, she built a research program focused on vascular tissue engineering and extracellular matrix-based biomaterials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Manufacturing USA institutes. She holds 10 issued U.S. patents and over 50 peer-reviewed publications with industry and international co-authors.

Oral Presentations: CommLab Drop-In Workshops
2026-04-02 11:00 - 12:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z5yCbd9WQ_OvtJoYqYSsMA
The NU CommLab is hosting a weekly hybrid Oral Presentation Drop-in practice for graduate students. Drop-in virtually or in-person any week to practice for your upcoming presentations whether it is for your oral exams, proposals, thesis, dissertation or conference. Receive and implement feedback on your verbal and non-verbal public speaking skills. Drop-in any Thursday from 11-12 pm ET in 334 Curry Student Center or on Zoom.

MGEN Speaker Series: Connecting with Impact – Networking, Communication, and Your Professional Brand
2026-04-02 12:00 - 14:00
MGEN Speaker Series: Connecting with Impact – Networking, Communication, and Your Professional Brand
You are invited to join the MGEN Speaker Series for a workshop session featuring Elena Raileanu, a former journalist turned HR professional with over 15 years of experience working closely with leaders, teams, and job seekers.
Elena brings a practical, human-centered approach to communication and professional growth. In this session, she will share insights on how to build meaningful connections, communicate effectively, and develop your professional brand. She will also discuss real-world experiences from her career and offer guidance on finding your voice in the workplace—making this a valuable opportunity for students preparing to enter or grow within their careers.
Event Details
📅 Date: Thursday, April 2nd
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Hastings 211, Boston Campus
🍕 Pizza will be provided!
We encourage you to register early and take advantage of this opportunity to learn from an experienced professional, gain actionable insights, and connect with your peers.

Video Understanding AI Hackathon at Northeastern
2026-04-03 09:00 - 19:00 | Raytheon Amphitheater (240 Egan), 360 Huntington Ave, 240 Egan, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Join our in-person AI Hackathon focused on video understanding using the FiftyOne open-source ecosystem and TwelveLabs’ models and APIs.
Register

Time and Location

9 AM – 4:30 PM – Raytheon Auditorium
5-7 PM – Second Floor Suites (demos, prizes)

Schedule

10:00 AM – Welcome
10:15 AM – Find teammates
10:30 AM – Introduction to the hackathon
10:45 AM – Introduction to FiftyOne
11:00 AM – Using TwelveLabs Models
11:15 AM – Hands on with TwelveLabs + FiftyOne
11:45 AM – Define your use case
12:00 PM – Catered Lunch
12:30 PM – Hacking!
3:00 PM – First push to GitHub
5:00 PM – Final push to GitHub & judging begins

Prerequisites Checklist

Check out this GitHub repo for details
Register for a TwelveLabs account and get an API key
Set up your environment: Install FiftyOne and TwelveLabs
View example video datasets at Hugging Face Hub
Enablement Asset in GitHub
Additional resources

Awards
Projects will be judged across fun, hackathon-style categories.

🏆 Grand Prize — Overall Champion
🧹 Best Data Curation Plugin
🚀 Most Deployable
🤡 Least Useful (But Hilarious)

JOINT SPECIAL COLLOQUIUM: AI-Optimized Advanced Packaging for Next-Generation Computing
2026-04-03 11:30 - 12:30
JOINT SPECIAL COLLOQUIUM
College of Science, College of Engineering & Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute (QMSI)
AI-Optimized Advanced Packaging for Next-Generation Computing
Dr. Rabindra Das
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Friday, Apr 3, 2026; 11:30am to 12:30pm
Hosts: Prof. Arun Bansil & Prof. Kin Chung Fong
Venue: Elliott Hall – Room 130C, 147 S. Bedford St, Burlington, MA
Remote: MS Teams Link
Abstract
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and data-intensive sensing systems is creating unprecedented demands for computational capability, energy efficiency, and system integration. Applications such as autonomous sensing platforms, satellites, and unmanned aerial and underwater vehicles increasingly require powerful onboard processing to analyze large volumes of data in real time. As conventional transistor scaling slows, advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration are emerging as critical technologies for enabling next-generation computing systems.
This talk presents a research vision for AI-optimized advanced packaging, where artificial intelligence techniques—particularly decision-tree-based optimization—are used to guide the design and fabrication of complex heterogeneous microsystems. AI-driven approaches enable optimization of substrate fabrication, chiplet placement, interconnect routing, power delivery, and thermal management across multi-chip systems. A central focus is the development of heterogeneous System-on-Wafer (SoW) architectures, integrating tens to hundreds of chiplets on a single wafer substrate to achieve extraordinary computing density. A case study on superconducting wafer-scale multi-chip modules with ultra-fine-pitch micro-bump interconnects demonstrates how advanced packaging can address key challenges in scalability, interconnect density, and system performance for future AI, HPC, and quantum computing platforms.
Biography
Rabindra N. Das, Ph.D. is a Member of the Technical Staff in the Advanced Technology Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA. Previously, he served as a Principal Engineer at Endicott Interconnect Technologies (formerly IBM Endicott). Dr. Das has more than 23 years of experience in microelectronics packaging and heterogeneous integration, spanning high-performance computing, medical electronics, and superconducting quantum hardware systems. He has authored 135+ technical publications and holds 51 patents in microelectronics packaging technologies. He has been recognized for four consecutive years (2020–2023) in Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists.

Chemical Engineering Spring Capstone Poster Session
2026-04-03 12:00 - 14:00 | McLeod Suites, 360 Huntington Ave, 318-322 CSC, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Come join us in celebrating our students’ capstone projects! Explore our graduating seniors’ incredible posters and groundbreaking research.

Chemical Engineering 2026 Annual Awards Ceremony
2026-04-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Alumni Center, 716 Columbus Ave, 6th Floor, Boston, MA, 02120, United States
This is the annual event for our community to celebrate the department, College, University, and external awards and achievements given over the past year.
**Parking is available for a fee at Gainsborough and Renaissance Park Garages. There are also meters on Columbus Ave. Lyft and Uber are also suggested. MBTA commuters can take the Orange Line to the Ruggles stop.**

Wonder Week: MS in Robotics Program Overview
2026-04-06 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Register for a variety of program-specific webinars throughout the week tailored to your career aspirations and get direct insights from faculty members and current students. Each session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session, allowing you to directly connect with panelists and presenters.

Wonder Week: Electrical and Computer Engineering
2026-04-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include electrical and computer engineering and data science.

Wonder Week: Internet of Things and Wireless and Network
2026-04-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include AI, extended realities, Internet of Things, and wireless and network engineering.

Building Team Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Vanessa Druskat
2026-04-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join us for an insightful discussion with Dr. Vanessa Druskat on Building Team Emotional Intelligence. An award-winning researcher and creator of the Team Emotional Intelligence model, Dr. Druskat has spent 30+ years helping leaders around the world build stronger, higher-performing teams by fostering emotionally intelligent team cultures.
Host: Colonel Michael Manning, Professor, Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership
Guest: Dr. Vanessa Druskat, Author of “The Emotionally Intelligent Team”, Global Speaker, Award-Winning Scholar, Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire
Register now: https://bit.ly/4sNHs71

COE Distinguished Lecture: Aerosol Reaction Engineering: Sustainable Synthesis of Advanced Materials
2026-04-06 12:00 - 13:00
COE DISTINGUISHED LECTURE: Aerosol Reaction Engineering: Sustainable Synthesis of Advanced Materials
Prof. Pratim Biswas
University of Miami
Tuesday, April 6
12:00-1:00 PM (ET)
201 EXP
What can seaweed and wood pulp waste have to do with supercapacitors, water purification, and CO₂ capture? Prof. Biswas will show how aerosol reaction engineering offers a cleaner, scalable path to synthesizing advanced nanomaterials—turning industrial byproducts into high-performance carbons for next-generation applications.
About the speaker: A pioneer in aerosol science and engineering, Prof. Biswas is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Fuchs Memorial Award. With ~500 publications and 65 PhD graduates, his work spans air quality, energy, environmental nanotechnology, and medicine.

Wonder Week: Civil and Environmental Engineering
2026-04-07 08:00 - 09:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include civil engineering, climate science and engineering, engineering and public policy, environmental engineering, and sustainable building systems.

Wonder Week: Bioengineering
2026-04-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.

Crafting Data Visuals to Tell a Scientific Story: CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/99770601100?pwd=[REDACTED]
Looking to illustrate your data? Join our Data Visualization Drop-In sessions Tuesdays from 10-11am on Zoom to discuss strategies or receive feedback on your data visualization process.

Wonder Week: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include advanced and intelligent manufacturing, data analytics engineering, energy systems, engineering management, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, product development, and product management.

CV/LinkedIn/Resume CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-04-07 11:00 - 12:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEof-quqzwiGNCi3nAuNVzIyX1jgXA03KYO
Graduate students, do you need to increase your on-line presence or update your CV or Resume? Join the CommLab’s LinkedIn, CV, and Resume drop-in hours any Tuesday from 11 am to 12 pm ET. This collaborative space offers valuable advice and peer feedback to enhance your online profile and professional presence. Join this drop-in workshop in person in room 334 CSC or through Zoom.

Wonder Week: MS in Sustainability Engineering Leadership Overview with University College Dublin
2026-04-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combined with the University College Dublin and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern MS in Sustainability Engineering Leadership Program Overview

ChE MS Thesis Defense: Richard Gyamfi Atta
2026-04-07 15:30 - 16:30
Name: Richard Gyamfi Atta
Title: Understanding Mucus-Bile Salt/ Phospholipid Mixed Micelle Interactions
Date: 04/07/2026
Time: 03:30:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Steve Lustig (Advisor)
Prof. Rebecca Carrier
Prof. Srirupa Chakraborty
Dennis Leung
Location: Forsyth 128
Abstract:
Bile salt–phospholipid mixed micelles play a central role in gastrointestinal transport of lipids and poorly water-soluble drugs, yet their interactions with mucin networks remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we combine time-resolved ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, two-dimensional correlation analysis, diffusion modeling, and isothermal titration calorimetry to resolve the sequence, energetics, and transport behavior of micelle–mucin interactions. The mucin network is first shown to relax into an equilibrium state governed by a glycan-dominated structural hierarchy. Upon exposure to mixed micelles, this equilibrated network undergoes a distinct sequence of reorganization initiated by perturbation of hydrogen-bonding interactions, followed by peptide backbone rearrangement and eventual glycan decoupling. Diffusion analysis reveals that micellar assemblies penetrate the mucin network with effective diffusivities on the order of 10⁻⁶ cm²/s despite ongoing structural evolution. Notably, the ability of a constant-diffusivity Fickian model to accurately describe transport under these conditions indicates that molecular-scale reorganization does not substantially alter the effective transport resistance over the measurement timescale, establishing a direct connection between spectroscopic dynamics and macroscopic transport behavior.
Calorimetric measurements further demonstrate a concentration-dependent transition from localized, enthalpy-driven binding at low micelle concentrations to cooperative, entropy-dominated network disruption at higher loadings associated with higher-order micellar aggregates. Together, these results show that bile salt micelles actively remodel mucin networks rather than traversing a static barrier, while maintaining effective diffusive transport. This work provides a molecular-level framework for understanding mucus- mediated transport and its implications for physiological processes and drug delivery.

Richard Gyamfi Atta is a Master’s candidate in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, where he conducts research in the Carrier and Lustig laboratories on transport phenomena across biological barriers. His work focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing interactions between bile salt–phospholipid assemblies and mucin networks, with the goal of improving drug transport across the gastrointestinal mucus layer. By integrating time-resolved ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, diffusion modeling, and calorimetry, he develops mechanistic frameworks that connect molecular-scale interactions to macroscopic transport behavior in complex biopolymer systems. In addition to his academic research, Richard has industry experience in gene therapy process development, where he contributed to downstream purification strategies for adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, including optimization of chromatography and filtration processes to improve product recovery and quality. His research interests are centered on pharmaceutical drug delivery, particularly the design of biomaterials and carrier systems that enhance the transport of poorly soluble drugs and biologics across mucosal and other physiological barriers. He aims to develop mechanistically driven approaches that bridge molecular interactions, material design, and transport phenomena to enable more effective and predictable drug delivery systems.

MIE Seminar: Engineering Design as a Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
2026-04-07 15:30 - 16:30
Engineering Design as a Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Sundar Krishnamurty, Ronnie & Eugene Isenberg Distinguished Professor in Engineering
Vice Provost for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 358 Snell Engineering | 3:30 pm—4:30 pm
Abstract: This talk highlights how core engineering design principles—problem framing, systems thinking, prototyping, and validation—underpin fundamental and translational research, as well as an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. My research in design decision-making, ontology, and predictive analytics, as Site Director of the Center for e-Design at UMass Amherst, has enabled me to apply these principles across multiple projects, notably pressure vests for children with autism and retrofit seatbelt systems for motorcoaches. Those experiences naturally led me to take on a leadership role in the New England NSF I-Corps Hub program, a structured pathway for translating design-led research into real-world impact, and now to champion our campus’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity ecosystem.
The talk introduces NSF I-Corps and the UMass I-Corps Hub as experiential mechanisms for researchers to assess the real-world impact and commercial potential of their innovations. Practical benefits include evidence to refine research direction, stronger grant and translational proposals, expanded career pathways, and sustained connections to the innovation ecosystem. Importantly, the primary goal is learning and translation—not necessarily company formation—and the program provides concrete strategies for framing scholarly impact and moving research toward societal benefit.
Bio: Sundar Krishnamurty is Vice Provost for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has been the Ronnie & Eugene Isenberg Distinguished Professor in Engineering since 2020. In his current university leadership roles, he contributes to the Economic Development Leadership Team and serves as Lead Faculty at UMass Amherst as well as Tech Scout Lead for the NSF I-Corps Hub Northeast Region. His prior leadership appointments include Principal Investigator for NSF I-Corps @ UMass (2021–2025), Site Director for the NSF I/UCRC Center for e-Design (2012–2023), and Department Head of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (2015–2025), following earlier service as Interim and Associate Department Head. From 2015 to 2020 he was Associate Director of the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring and Director of the Advanced Design and Fabrication (ADDFab) Lab. Krishnamurty is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, was inducted into the 2024 class of Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors, and received the 2022 Excellence in Research Award from ASME’s Computers and Information in Engineering Division.
Hosted by: Department Chair & Professor, Yingzi Lin in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Wonder Week: Information and Software Programs Co-op
2026-04-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include data architecture and management, information systems, information systems—(Bridge), and software engineering systems

Wonder Week: Information and Software Engineering Programs
2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
During Wonder Week, you’ll have the chance to learn how the top-ranked Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and convergent research. You’ll also see how our unique learning model better prepares the next generation of engineering leaders to address the complex challenges of global society.
Programs discussed in this webinar include data architecture and management, information systems, information systems—(Bridge), and software engineering systems.

Wonder Week: MS in Semiconductor Engineering Program Overview
2026-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual

ChE MS Thesis Defense: Sofia Roger
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00
Name: Sofia Roger
Title: Development and Evaluation of Learning Tool for a Global Review of Mineral Commodities
Date: 04/08/2026
Time: 12:00:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Luke Landherr (Advisor)
Prof. Joshua Gallaway
Prof. Alexis Prybutok
Location: Ryder 205
Abstract:
Engineering is a highly collaborative, intersectional practice that depends on transforming raw materials. Despite this relationship, it is difficult to explain how engineers’ decisions in industrial settings affect the rest of the world. The consequences of sourcing materials for technological advancement may not always be explicit. The effects of engineers consuming material can have cascading consequences or be so removed that they fall outside design concerns. To promote discussion of the socioeconomic effects of raw material consumption in engineering, this work aimed to develop a website-based learning tool, www.wherematerialscomefrom.com. The tool provides context on the mining processes used to obtain raw materials. Through survey data collection, the tool was evaluated for its ability to help users understand how raw materials are acquired.

Sofia Roger completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University and has since decided to pursue her master’s also in Chemical Engineering as part of Northeastern’s plus one program. She completed two co-ops, during which she participated in the research and design of solid-state sulfur-chalcogen batteries at Avanti Battery Co. and the development of conductive ceramic for high-temperature reactor design at Lydian Labs. Her experience in materials engineering for sustainable technology motivated her to explore which environmentally sound raw materials can be used to innovate. This motivation gave rise to the educational tool developed in her thesis work.
