Rochester Institute of Technology Science and Mathematics News

RIT alumni are building professions in fields that were unthinkable a generation ago. Meet eight alumni, from across the university, who are shaping new careers.

Professor Karin Wuertz-Kozak is developing gene and cell therapies that may be the next step in tissue regeneration, a type of noninvasive treatment that could control the molecular mechanisms contributing to pain, mostly inflammation.

RIT graduate and undergraduate students helped Associate Professor Jie Qiao turn a research vision more than a decade in the making into a breakthrough that could change how advanced optical components are made.

Hema Madaka provides clients with suggestions to redesign supply chains, set goals with their suppliers, and helps clients build supplier engagement programs around renewable energy.

As a service engineer for Abbott in Detroit, Michael Kormos provides electrical anatomical mapping to locate and navigate heart arrhythmias and tissue damage.

Olivia Svrchek has followed a career path outside of traditional healthcare. She is reframing her profession in an era of unprecedented health technology, remote nursing opportunities, and personalized healthcare options for aging well.

Food scientist Lauren Tamburro is making sure cannabis gummies live up to their marketing tag line of being soft, bouncy, and delicious.

As a 3D-workflow and technology specialist, Malcolm Zale tests and integrates new technology and software into the company’s workflows and rolodex of offerings.

Pano Spiliotis ’99, ’01 MBA turned his RIT foundation in imaging science and business into a fast-growing company advancing AI-enabled imaging.

For RIT alumna Liz Spry ’09, work-life balance comes with a chainsaw. The high school science teacher channels her love of science and creativity into a small business crafting intricate animal sculptures.

RIT biomedical sciences student Cassandra Kehler used her CPR skills to save a neighbor in distress.