News by Topic: Alumni

In a study led by RIT researchers, scientists analyzed new measurements showing that the light emitted by stars outside our galaxy is two to three times brighter than the light from known populations of galaxies, challenging assumptions about the number and environment of stars are in the universe.

The National Science Foundation will award Don Figer, director of RIT’s Center for Detectors and the Future Photon Initiative, more than $315,000 over the next year to continue work on a grant to provide the astronomy community with a new family of detectors that have very large formats, very low cost, and state-of-the-art performance.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy features Austin McChord ’09 (bioinformatics), member of RIT's Board of Trustees.

RIT recently became one of the inaugural academic partners in the BrainChip University AI Accelerator Program. As part of the partnership, RIT’s computer engineering program will receive hardware as well as lecture modules for classes detailing how the novel chips can be programmed and used to provide neuromorphic computing solutions to real-world problems.

Forbes has named RIT alumnus Colin McDonald among the top young entrepreneurs helping to make tomorrow a brighter day. McDonald ’22 (computer science) and his software development agency, Moonsworth, were named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2023 in the Games category.

Student Janessa Steenberg’s plant-based Parmesan-style cheese start-up company, Panacheeza, has earned her a spot in Venture Creations’ Ignite initiative, which gives promising entrepreneurs the power they need to become successful business owners.

Plug Power Inc., a leading provider of turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen economy, is partnering with RIT to provide scholarship support to a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in engineering, sustainability, and the sciences. The first Plug Graduate Scholarship was awarded this year to Mamta Choudhary, an industrial and systems engineering MS student from India.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at RIT offers a unique learning program with in-person and online courses, special lectures, events, and trips for those over 50. Peer-led courses form the core of the program.

Linda Tolan built an influential career as a faculty member, academic and workforce consultant, and college administrator during her 42 years at RIT. She retired Dec. 1.

The Today Show features Melissa Keomoungkhoun ’15 (advertising and public relations), ’16 MS (hospitality tourism management) and Victor Montiel ’17 (packaging science) and their experience at the restaurant Tatsu Dallas.

Scientists believe bats first transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to humans in December 2019, and while the virus has since evolved into several variants such as delta and omicron, a new study by scientists at RIT indicates the virus is still highly transmissible between mammals.

The RIT and Saunders College of Business communities are invited early next week to sign the steel beam that will support the 36,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of Lowenthal Hall.