Kamran Kardel, Ph.D., associate professor of manufacturing engineering in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, is leading a multidisciplinary research team to help regional logistics companies increase efficiency.

Funded through the college鈥檚 Remotely Operated Warehouse Services (ROWS) Laboratory, with seed money from , the team is composed of Kardel, Ryan Florin, Ph.D, assistant professor of computer science and students. 

Kardel and his team are using the software to build simulations, known as 鈥渄igital twins,鈥� that replicate warehouse operations like picking, packing and shipping. The ROWS Laboratory will serve as a development site, allowing the simulations to be thoroughly tested and validated before being presented to third parties.  

To ensure optimal accuracy and responsiveness, the simulations will include IoT data. The IoT refers to a network of physical devices located within and around the warehouse, such as mobile robots, sensors and cameras, that collect and share real-time data over the internet.

The ultimate goal is to provide industry partners with simulation capabilities using AnyLogic Software and Internet of Things (IoT) integration.

This industry collaboration also provides important professional development for the students working on the project. 

鈥淚 have a few students, both undergraduate and graduate, who are going to be involved in this project from beginning to end,鈥� said Kardel. 鈥淪everal of them have mentioned to me that this is their first time with direct access to the industry and potential employers.鈥�

Continuing the theme of collaboration, the project could result in shared postdoctoral positions with Ireland鈥檚 South East Technological University in its . While still in its early stages, Kardel hopes this partnership will give this research an even larger scope.

鈥淭he Lean Industry 4.0 Lab has a lot of experience in IoT,鈥� Kardel explained. 鈥淏y joining Ph.D. programs, hopefully we can work together and improve logistics here in our region and in Ireland.鈥�

Ultimately, Kardel hopes this research can give companies a leg up in an increasingly digitized world.

鈥淎s far as automation, for companies in southeast Georgia and South Carolina, I would say it鈥檚 becoming more common,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still a mixed bag, though some warehouses are fully automated, some are not. The work we are doing can help companies remain competitive.鈥�

Twelve outstanding active faculty members from 糖心Vlog were featured on . This annual list features scientists whose work has had the highest citation count and citation impact in their fields within a given year.

This year鈥檚 Georgia Southern honorees represent a diverse range of disciplines, from physics and chemistry to epidemiology and business. Ten of the 12 faculty members were also featured on last year鈥檚 list. 

Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Weindorf, Ph.D, P.G., is among them and takes pride in seeing so many familiar names, and a couple of new ones, included. 

鈥淪eeing names from so many different disciplines, both old and new, speaks volumes about our growth and consistency,鈥� said Weindorf. 鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful for these faculty who relentlessly pursue excellence and truly embody growing ourselves to grow others in research.鈥�

The complete list of Georgia Southern faculty featured includes the following:

Xiao-jun Wang, Ph.D., professor of physics, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淢y work centers on creating advanced luminescent materials for energy-efficient lighting and sensing technologies,鈥� Wang explained. 鈥淲hat drives me is the excitement of uncovering how materials behave 鈥� and finding logical, scientific explanations for what we observe.鈥� He added that he has always loved Albert Einstein鈥檚 quote, 鈥淭he most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.鈥� . 

Arda Yenipazarli, Ph.D., professor of operations management, Parker College of Business

鈥淚鈥檝e always been drawn to complex, high-stakes corporate scenarios where decisions leave lasting societal and environmental footprints,鈥� said Yenipazarli. 鈥淢y research helps firms make more strategic, profitable and responsible choices about their supply chains and operations鈥搃n environments defined by volatility, competition, regulation and shifting market forces. I believe that thoughtful, analytically grounded research can empower better decisions and drive meaningful, lasting impact鈥揻or business, for society, and for the planet.鈥� .

Allen Amason, Ph.D., professor of management, Parker College of Business

鈥淚 study the connections between strategy, strategic decision-making and organizational performance,鈥� Amason explained. 鈥淚 wanted to understand why some firms succeed where others do not. My motivation remains the same today as it was then 鈥� to help organizations and managers perform better.鈥� .

Isaac Chun-Hai Fung, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

鈥淚t is my great privilege to work with a network of excellent students, colleagues and collaborators,鈥� Fung said. 鈥淲e study how to mitigate the impact of epidemics on human societies and harness the advances of digital technologies to promote health.鈥� .

Lance Durden, Ph.D, professor emeritus of biology, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淚 study ectoparasites (lice, fleas, ticks and parasitic mites) of humans and animals, including species of medical and veterinary importance and the pathogens they can transmit,鈥� said Durden. 鈥淚 have authored about 400 peer-reviewed publications, including eight books or monographs and 29 invited book chapters. I am currently working on the 4th edition of a widely used textbook in North America and Europe entitled Medical and Veterinary Entomology and am driven by a fascination with the natural world and a desire to improve human and animal health.” .

David C. Weindorf, Ph.D, P.G., vice president for research and economic development, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淚 study and classify soils to better understand how we can use and protect them,鈥� Weindorf said. 鈥� My research is mostly centered on applications for proximal and remote sensors for soil characterization; I鈥檝e been involved in everything from taxonomic soil classification to environmental soil science and disaster response work, ensuring that soil is safe and healthy. What drives me is helping people help the land 鈥� because a healthy world starts with healthy soil.鈥� .

Jos茅 A. Jim茅nez, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical and materials chemistry, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淢y research interests are mainly in glass science, nanomaterials, optical materials, thin films, and energy-relevant materials such as solar cells and Li-ion batteries鈥�, Jim茅nez noted. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about learning through experimentation and gaining insights into the physical principles that explain material properties.鈥� .

Masoud Davari, Ph.D., interim associate dean for research and professor of electrical and computer engineering, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about innovating power and energy systems,鈥� Davari shared. 鈥淢y research focuses on designing control methods based on artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning to enhance performance under challenging conditions and on developing resilient-by-design systems to strengthen cybersecurity. The National Science Foundation has continuously supported this research through multiple projects totaling nearly $1.2 million.鈥� .

Haijun Gong, Ph.D., associate professor of manufacturing engineering, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

鈥淢y research focuses on 3D printing metals and high-performance polymers for lightweight design and optimization,鈥� Gong said. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about advancing cost-effective additive manufacturing technologies and materials that drive the next generation of advanced manufacturing.鈥� .

Dmitry Apanaskevich, Ph.D., professor of biology and entomology, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淢y major research interest is the systematics of hard ticks (family Ixodidae),鈥� Apanaskevich said. 鈥淭his includes their taxonomy, phylogenetics, host-parasite relationships and geographic distribution. I love discovering new species and solving complex, often confusing questions along the way. That鈥檚 what drives my passion.鈥� .

Bryan Riemann, Ph.D., professor of sports medicine, Waters College of Health Professions

鈥淢y research examines how biomechanical and neuromuscular factors shape human movement, with the goal of improving performance and developing more effective approaches for injury prevention and rehabilitation,鈥� Riemann explained. 鈥淭his work spans diverse populations, including both trained and untrained, across the lifespan.鈥�

The late James E. Keirans, Ph.D, former curator of the U.S. National Tick Collection at the Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology at 糖心Vlog

Keirans earned his doctorate in medical entomology in 1966 and devoted his career to the study of ectoparasites. He became one of the world鈥檚 foremost experts on tick biology and taxonomy. In 1990, he became curator of the U.S. National Tick Collection at the then newly formed Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology at Georgia Southern in Statesboro. He retired in 2005. .

鈥淪ee a gap, fill a gap.鈥� That鈥檚 how Jeffrey Klibert, Ph.D., associate director of clinical training in 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), described the inspiration behind a project designed to extend behavioral health services in rural areas.

Filling gaps is something Klibert said has always been a challenge in behavioral health care. This challenge became steeper in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淲hen COVID hit, we saw some really alarming rates of people seeking services, and there just weren鈥檛 enough providers to meet that need,鈥� Klibert said. 鈥淲e saw waitlists that were six months, eight months, sometimes a year long.鈥�

Waitlists of this length are a common occurrence in Georgia鈥檚 rural areas, where resources are scarce and reported health outcomes are among the worst in the state.

Klibert, along with colleagues Lindsey Stone, Ph.D., and Thresha Yancey, Ph.D., and students, is working to improve the situation across 14 rural counties in Georgia, thanks to the renewal of a research and training grant from the .

Stone and Yancey will supervise the trainees, while Klibert will oversee the entire program.

The grant enables quantitative and qualitative research to increase access to behavioral health care in rural areas, while also providing Georgia Southern鈥檚 fourth-year PsyD students with hands-on training through local care providers. The ultimate goal is to develop more efficient and effective models for interprofessional, team-based care in areas of the state where it is most needed.

鈥淓verybody sees the need. We just need the glue to link everybody together,鈥� Klibert said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what the program is trying to be. It鈥檚 trying to build those bridges to create a more comprehensive system of care.鈥�

Students will provide a range of services in collaboration with local care providers, including psychological assessments and therapy for individuals and families.

Alex Cudd, a fourth-year PsyD student who joined the program in August, calls the experience 鈥渋nvaluable鈥� and hopes to join the 94% of program alumni who currently provide care in rural settings.

鈥淚n just a few months, I鈥檝e learned so much about providing well-rounded care,鈥� Cudd said. 鈥淚 know I鈥檒l carry this training into my career.鈥�

, a resiliency- and recovery-based behavioral health agency serving Bulloch, Candler and Emanuel counties, is among the local providers partnering with Georgia Southern.

鈥淎ll the interns we鈥檝e had from Georgia Southern understand the concept of recovery, are trauma-informed and very effective at delivering services,鈥� said CPGA CEO David Crooke. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been mutually beneficial. We are helping them further their education, and they quickly become important members of our team due to the breadth and depth of their knowledge.鈥�

Klibert notes that the grant鈥檚 initial four-year term brought significant improvements in local healthcare networks and enhanced communication between providers, something he sees as an investment in lasting success.

鈥淲e鈥檙e doing some exciting stuff, but at the end of the day, we are very aware of making sure what we鈥檙e doing sticks and that we have the resources to continue care after the grant ends,鈥� Klibert said.

Eagle Nation is working with NASA to soar to the moon and beyond!

Students at 糖心Vlog’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing have been tapped by the space agency to develop new technology for use in future space missions thanks to a grant secured by Allen E. Paulson Distinguished Chair Valentin Soloiu, Ph.D.

Georgia Southern is one of 12 universities selected to participate in NASA’s . The competition brings senior and graduate college students to the factory floor to design equipment supporting space habitats and exploration missions. 

“I worked over seven years to secure this grant,” said Soloiu. “I’m proud of my students for participating in developing this technology for NASA. It shows how invested 糖心Vlog is when it comes to our research efforts.”

Soloiu’s undergraduate mechanical engineering students are developing a rover and an autonomous charging station for surface vehicles using LiDAR a light detection and ranging, technology that uses laser light to measure distance. The data will guide vehicles to their charging stations, where a robotic arm developed by Soloiu鈥檚 team will connect them.

Graduate student project leads Tim Sutton and Shaen Mehrzed are working with Soloiu to guide development and implementation of the technology.

“Right now, we’re focusing on bringing an inductive charging system into the mix,” explained Sutton. “It would function exactly like a wireless phone charger.”

“That would help us develop a charging system that could function regardless of the environmental conditions,” says Mehrzed. “We’re trying to simulate that environment and make sure our technology is capable of operating in it.” 

The goal is to have the product ready to blast off by May 2026. But these students are sending more than their inventions to the stars. 

鈥淭hese are dreams and goals my students have had their entire life,” said Soloiu. “糖心Vlog is helping us make those dreams a reality.”

Proteins, often called the building blocks of life, play a central role in drug development. When scientists develop new treatments, they must understand how drugs interact with proteins involved in disease mechanisms and with proteins in the human body that influence drug response.

Scientists commonly use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) 3D imaging data to study proteins. While recent advances have enabled higher-resolution images that are easier to analyze, medium-resolution images鈥攚hich are more difficult to interpret鈥攁re still the most common for larger protein complexes.

Salim Sazzed, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the computer science department of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, has been awarded a two-year National Science Foundation grant of about $175,000 to lead a groundbreaking project to develop novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques for determining protein secondary structures from medium-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) images.

Improved modeling from medium-resolution images will help researchers study more proteins efficiently, giving new insights into diseases and potentially guiding the development of new treatments and future drugs.

At its core, this research will combine biology and machine learning to study protein structures. The multidisciplinary approach and potential impacts on public health are what most excite Sazzed.

鈥淭he impetus behind this research is the positive impact on public health and possibly contributing to the biomedical workforce,鈥� he said. 鈥淪eeing biology and computer science combine for that kind of impact is incredibly moving.鈥�

As the Principal Investigator (PI) for the project, Sazzed will use his expertise in deep learning computer models to focus on a major challenge in structural biology: identifying the two main secondary structures of proteins鈥攖he alpha helix and the beta sheet. These structures are critical for a protein鈥檚 overall shape and function, but in medium-resolution cryo-EM images they often appear indistinct or lack clear detail, making them particularly difficult to analyze.

Sazzed鈥檚 research will focus on two main goals. First, he will quantify the variability of alpha helices and beta sheets in medium-resolution images, comparing them to idealized structures. Second, by integrating this structural variability with the image data in a deep learning model, he will aim to generate more precise and accurate representations of protein secondary structures.

鈥淲hen we feed this information into a deep learning model along with the image data, the model should be able to determine protein secondary structures more precisely,鈥� Sazzed elaborated.

Sazzed believes students will greatly benefit from this multi-disciplinary approach. In addition to a Ph.D. student, several undergraduate students will be directly engaged in the research. A full-day workshop will also be organized, allowing Georgia Southern students from diverse disciplines to participate. This initiative will build on Georgia Southern鈥檚 strong tradition of involving undergraduates in research and will support the University鈥檚 recent focus on biomedical and health sciences.

鈥淭here are many different knowledge areas coming together in this work,鈥� Sazzed said. 鈥淚t involves computer science, biology, chemistry, and even public health. I look forward to students following the research and exploring these different fields themselves.鈥�

Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing Interim Associate Dean of Research, Masoud Davari, Ph.D., echoes this sentiment and emphasizes its importance to the University鈥檚 research profile.

鈥淪azzed鈥檚 interdisciplinary research, which bridges the gap between biology and computer science, will foster multidisciplinary research in our college鈥攁s it is cutting-edge and potentially groundbreaking in drug development to impact people鈥檚 lives nationally and globally,鈥� Davari said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also well aligned with the college鈥檚 strategic research plan鈥攁s we make the move to R1 status to be aligned with 鈥楽oaring to R1,鈥� which is among the transformational initiatives for the University.鈥�

When Professor Worlanyo Eric Gato, Ph.D., watches his students walk through the iron gates of Cape Coast Castle for the first time, he doesn鈥檛 say much. He doesn鈥檛 have to.

鈥淭hey feel it,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou can see it in their faces.鈥�

That moment 鈥� walking the same stone floors where generations of enslaved Africans once stood 鈥� is just one of many that define 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Study Abroad Program in Ghana, a three-week immersive experience blending public health research, cultural engagement and emotional growth. Led by a multidisciplinary team of faculty from the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH), the College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) and the Institute for Water and Health (IWH), the program gives students more than academic insight. It gives them perspective.

Originally founded by the late Evans Afriyie-Gyawu, Ph.D., the Ghana Study Abroad Program has evolved into a high-impact educational model under the direction of JPHCOPH faculty members Bettye Apenteng, Ph.D., and Samuel Opoku, Ph.D., along with Gato. Their shared mission is clear: foster cultural awareness and empower students to address complex global health challenges 鈥� starting with those rooted in Ghana鈥檚 communities.

Real research, real impact

The program’s 2025 cohort took part in a collaborative research project centered on occupational and environmental exposures, particularly in illegal mining zones in Ghana鈥檚 Ashanti Region. Funded by Georgia Southern鈥檚 Internal Seed Funds, the IWH and the Office of Research and Economic Development, the project explored the relationship between water and soil-borne contaminants and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.

鈥淭his wasn鈥檛 a simulation, this was the real thing,鈥� said Nick Guerra, a graduate student studying public health. 鈥淲e were in the field, collecting water samples, interviewing residents and working side by side with Ghanaian students.鈥�

Their findings were sobering. Water samples from community wells revealed contamination by fecal bacteria. Soil tests uncovered dangerously high levels of heavy metals 鈥� arsenic, lead, copper, mercury 鈥� linked to illegal mining activities. And medical surveys showed widespread hypertension, often undiagnosed or untreated.

What made the work even more meaningful was its collaborative nature. Georgia Southern students were paired with their counterparts at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), building not only research teams but friendships.

鈥淲e taught each other,鈥� said Tia Taylor, another graduate student in the public health program. 鈥淲e shared techniques, ideas and stories. They were just as curious about us as we were about them.鈥�

For Gato, the partnerships are central to the program鈥檚 success. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about coming to Ghana and collecting data,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about mutual exchange 鈥� of knowledge, of culture, of purpose.鈥�

Learning beyond the classroom

Beyond the data and research, the students鈥� most lasting lessons often came from unexpected places: dinner tables, prayer circles and dirt roads deep in rural Ghana.

One night, when their van got stuck on an unpaved road, a group of local young men came to the rescue. 

鈥淭here was no tow truck, no roadside assistance,鈥� Gato recalled. 鈥淛ust kindness. The kind of kindness that stays with you.鈥�

Hospitality became a theme. Students dined with host families, learned about traditional dishes and participated in household prayer rituals. They shared laughs, tears and silent moments of awe.

鈥淭hese interactions humanized the experience,鈥� Gato said. 鈥淕hana became more than a destination 鈥� it became a network of relationships.鈥�

Taylor agreed. 

鈥淭heir warmth was overwhelming,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir faith, constant. It made me want to pray more, to be more grounded. It changed the way I see people 鈥� and myself.鈥�

Cultural immersion meets academic rigor

In classrooms and research sites alike, students embraced a multidisciplinary lens. Their work spanned biochemistry, environmental science and public health 鈥� and was guided by faculty from three academic units. Each stop on the itinerary was carefully chosen, from university campuses to cultural landmarks, to create a holistic picture of health in Ghana.

Aslan, who led the environmental assessment and coordinated teams of students from both KNUST and Georgia Southern during the research leg, carried both personal and scientific aspirations into the study.

鈥淭hirteen years ago, when I began my journey at Georgia Southern as a new faculty member, we launched a water quality and health assessment with the late Dr. Afriyie-Gyawu,鈥� Aslan said. 鈥淭hat project produced an impactful research paper with students 鈥� one that still receives high citations today. Now, years later, to be collaborating with an exceptional team of new research partners from KNUST on such a cutting-edge project is beyond exciting. This project is a testament to IWH鈥檚 commitment to advancing global water initiatives, as our center continues to make a meaningful impact in Georgia and around the world.鈥�

For Guerra, that meant recognizing how social and economic conditions shape public health outcomes. 

鈥淪ome of the people we interviewed looked decades older than they were,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t hit me 鈥� poverty and limited access to health care age you.鈥�

Taylor, whose background is in health leadership, said the trip helped her mature both personally and professionally. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to read about global health challenges in a textbook,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 another to sit with someone, hold their hand and ask about their blood pressure.鈥�

Growing the pipeline

The program鈥檚 future is just as ambitious as its present.

In its next phase, the Ghana Study Abroad Program plans to expand its reach to students from Georgia Southern鈥檚 Africana Studies Program and institutions across south Georgia, broadening access to underrepresented populations. New research partnerships with the University of Cape Coast and the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana, will allow for more geographically diverse studies. The goal, according to Gato, is to build a sustainable pipeline for interdisciplinary, international collaboration.

鈥淭his is more than a trip. It鈥檚 a launchpad,鈥� he said.

With strong institutional support from the Director of the IWH and faculty member within JPHCOPH Asli Aslan, Ph.D., the Dean of JPHCOPH Stuart Tedders, Ph.D., and Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Weindorf, Ph.D., the program exemplifies Georgia Southern鈥檚 commitment to global engagement. Even the logistical hiccups 鈥� missed flights, shifting hotel reservations, slow internet 鈥� became part of the learning process.

鈥淲e adapted,鈥� Gato said. 鈥淲e smiled through it. And we came back stronger.鈥�

Advice for other faculty

When asked what he鈥檇 tell faculty thinking about launching their own global experiential learning program, Gato鈥檚 answer is simple: know your 鈥渨hy,鈥� build your team and lead with gratitude.

鈥淟et your local partners lead,鈥� he said. 鈥淟isten more than you speak. And always thank the people who make the experience possible 鈥� from bus drivers to tour guides to the students themselves.鈥�

A lasting legacy

For some, like Taylor, the trip was a connection to ancestral roots. For others, like Guerra, it was a journey into a future career in global health. And for faculty like Gato, it was another step in a long walk toward transformative education 鈥� one that transcends borders, disciplines and expectations.

鈥淓verything we teach in a lecture hall comes alive in Ghana,鈥� he said. 

Two students from the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing have been recognized for their work on a new kind of turbine seal design at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Brenton Hall and Tyrus Carter, both mechanical engineering majors, won an engineering video competition award for developing a new seal for supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) turbomachinery.

An alternative to traditional steam turbines, sCO₂ turbines can be more efficient, occupy less space, use less water and fuel, and have lower operating costs. Several challenges remain before the technology can be fully developed. Hall and Carter’s research, funded in part by a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, led them to create an elastohydrodynamic (EHD) seal design to mitigate these issues.

鈥淐urrent seals have limitations that keep sCO₂ power generation from reaching its full potential,鈥� said Carter. “Our proposed EHD seal solution would limit leakage, wear and drag, allowing sCO₂ turbomachinery to compare more favorably to steam engine turbines.鈥�

Steam turbines are the backbone of most power plants, playing a crucial role in electricity generation. Transitioning to sCO₂ turbines would result in significant energy savings.

Hall, a freshman, and Carter, a sophomore, say the project allowed them to grow as researchers.

鈥淚t gave me the skills and confidence to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world,鈥� Hall said. 

Carter said the experience improved his skills and allowed him to engage in hands-on work outside the classroom鈥攁n exciting opportunity for underclassmen鈥攐ne he credits his mentor, Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., for giving him.

鈥淲orking under Dr. Cesmeci for his research was a valuable experience that prepared me for both the research process and the conference,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淗e has fostered an environment emphasizing critical thinking, attention to detail, and collaboration. His guidance has helped refine my presentation skills and develop a deeper understanding of our research.鈥�

Hall agreed that Cesmeci, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, was critical to his success in research and at the conference.

鈥淗e’s been instrumental in helping me be successful from the classroom all the way to the conferences,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淗e has supported and guided me along the way and has given me all the tools and resources I need to succeed.鈥�

But Cesmeci, principal investigator on the project, is quick to credit his students.

“It鈥檚 fascinating to see these junior scholars get their hands dirty in the machine shop before presenting at conferences and representing Georgia Southern on a national stage,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am very proud of them.鈥� 

Cesmeci says a supportive culture in the laboratory also contributes to their success.

鈥淲e have a strong mentorship structure in our lab,” said Cesmeci, “I want to thank Mohammad Fuad Hassan, my Ph.D. student, for his help in mentoring these bright researchers.鈥�

More than 150 student-led teams competed in the 2025 Research Symposium Poster Competition hosted by the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing at 糖心Vlog.

“Events like these are really important because they give students a chance to showcase what they’ve learned and created during their projects,” said Reinhold Gerbsch, DSc, director of Industrial Relations for the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing.

The students presented their research on topics including structural and civil engineering, robotics and automation, and environmental and sustainable studies. 

“These events help connect their projects to practical applications,” said Gerbsch. “They learn how to explain their ideas clearly and professionally.” 

As part of the symposium, students also had a chance to attend a career fair and connect with sponsors of the event like Gulfstream, Rolls-Royce, Georgia Power and more. 

“Corporate sponsors help make the event happen, but they also bring real-world experience to the table,鈥� Gerbsch said. 鈥淏y talking with students and serving as judges or mentors, they offer advice and often spot future interns or employees. Their support helps students see how their work fits into industry needs.”

Team and individual awards were presented to undergraduate and graduate students. These included: 

UNDERGRADUATE

Paulson College of Engineering and Computing Top Eagle undergraduate award 

• Nichole Christian 
• Zachary Davis 
• Autin Nobis 
• Coleman Norton

Crider Foods Manufacturing Engineering undergraduate award

• Elsie Lappin 
• Austin Marley 
• Ina Purvis 
• Abigail Richard 
• Haley Romie 

Georgia Department of Transportation Civil Engineering and Construction undergraduate award 

• Rosemarie Gante

Georgia Power Innovation undergraduate  

• Yuzhung Mei 

Gulfstream Aerospace Business Technology Computer Science undergraduate award

• William Durrence
• Hari Patel 
• Karan Patel 
• Gonzalo Rincon 
• Iyaira Rodriguez 
• Jocely Varghese

Gulfstream Aerospace Completions Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduate award

• Peyton Coleman 
• Griffin Frame 
• Omar Luna 
• Chase Phillips 

Gulfstream Aerospace Business Technology Information Technology undergraduate award

• Ori Respler

Gulfstream Aerospace Innovation, Engineering and Flight Excellence undergraduate award 

• Mason Scarbrough 

Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, Computing undergraduate award 

• Luke Blevins 
• Jessica Zumbach

Rolls-Royce Mechanical Engineering undergraduate award 

• Ayooluwa Oyerinde 
• Madison Winters 

GRADUATE

Paulson College of Engineering and Computing Top Eagle graduate award 

• Kavonte Brown
• Kellen White

Crider Manufacturing Engineering graduate award

• Chowdhury Md Irtiza 

Georgia Department of Transportation Civil Engineering and Construction graduate award 

• Md Moshiur Rahman Tushar 

Georgia Power Innovation graduate  

• Cade Layser 

Gulfstream Aerospace Innovation, Engineering and Flight Excellence graduate award 

• Isaac Otchere 

Gulfstream Aerospace Business Technology Computer Science graduate award

• Mary Dufie Afrane 

Gulfstream Aerospace Business Technology Information Technology graduate award

• Azeezat Akinola

Gulfstream Aerospace Completions Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate award

• Md Didarul Alam 
• Sumayya Rahman 

Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, Computing graduate award 

• Ifeoluwa Elegbe
• Robert Dopson 

Rolls-Royce Mechanical Engineering graduate award 

• Stevens Hill 

鈥淲hat if our surroundings could heal us instead of stressing us out?鈥� 

This is a question that Oluwaseun Ipede, a graduate student in the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability at 糖心Vlog, is trying to answer through his research on the possibilities and potential inherent in urban spaces. 

His research examines how urban green spaces (parks, forests, and natural reserves) and blue spaces (lakes, rivers, and other water bodies) contribute to mental well-being. Using geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques, he analyzes the correlation between these natural spaces and mental health trends across major U.S. cities.

He found a complex relationship between the physical environment and mental health, often intersecting with socio-economic factors like median income and education level. However, he says there is enough evidence for urban planners to take note.

鈥淭his research highlights the vital role of urban green and blue spaces in fostering mental health,鈥� said Ipede. 鈥淔indings from this study reveal that in several cities, as these green and blue spaces increase, there鈥檚 a drop in the number of mental health issues, reinforcing the need for urban planning strategies that integrate natural environments.鈥�

Ipede presented his paper, 鈥淯rban Oases: the Critical Role of Green and Blue Spaces in Mental Wellbeing,鈥� during the 2025 American Association of Geographers annual meeting in Detroit, Michigan.

The meeting featured over 1,000 sessions, panels, and workshops, bringing together luminaries from the field from around the world.

Ipede, who is earning his master’s in applied geography, was thrilled to showcase his work at what he referred to as the 鈥淪uper Bowl鈥� of spatial science.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a global stage where the sharpest minds in geography, geographic information systems, and environmental research collide,鈥� he said. Presenting my research here was a chance to shape the conversation on how geospatial science can revolutionize public health.鈥�

He emphasized that this experience was far more than academic. It was about having an open dialogue on physical spaces and all the expected and unexpected ways they can be used for the greater good.

鈥淪eeing professionals from geographers to health experts nod, question, and engage was surreal,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just about maps and data; it was about how location shapes well-being.鈥�

This year鈥檚 AAG meeting was just the beginning for Ipede, who aspires to use his academic background to promote health and wellness in construction and urban planning.

While his training in geospatial science is his primary tool, the well-being of people is his driving force. 

鈥淚n the end, good city planning isn鈥檛 just about infrastructure, it鈥檚 about healthier, happier people,鈥� he said.

糖心Vlog鈥檚 College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSM) has launched the Emerging Researchers Program, a new initiative offering undergraduate students the opportunity to be paid for hands-on research.

Many COSM students would jump at the chance to participate in research but either don鈥檛 know about assisting opportunities or can鈥檛 afford to spend their free time in the lab. Leadership at COSM identified these barriers to student participation and created a dynamic solution through the Emerging Researchers Program.

Collaborating with Georgia Southern鈥檚 Financial Aid Office, the college secured 25 federal work-study positions to provide time and funds for aspiring researchers. With the positions ready to be filled in time for the Spring 2025 semester, Heather Joesting, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and administrative fellow for undergraduate research at COSM, stepped in to find qualified students.

To qualify for the program, the students had to:

• a) be in at least the second semester of their major within COSM,
• b) maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and
• c) meet federal work-study requirements.

Qualified students were invited to apply for the program and identify their research interests, after which Joesting paired them with the 20 participating COSM faculty members to assist for up to 15 hours each week.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e being paid as federal work-study students, but they鈥檙e also gaining research experience and learning skills that will be important throughout their careers,鈥� Joesting emphasized. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just washing lab dishes, they鈥檙e getting real skills and learning how science really works.鈥�

The emerging researchers range from first-year students to seniors with majors in biology, biochemistry, geoscience and sustainability science. They assist with 26 projects that include evaluating anti-tumor properties in organic compounds, designing and creating environmentally friendly solvents and recycling catalysts, developing physics theories and assessing marine ecology, among others. Faculty in each of these fields appreciate the extra help, but Joesting says the personal gratification is far more rewarding.

鈥淚 thoroughly enjoy mentoring students,鈥� Joesting said. 鈥淚 find it important that they get the whole experience, so I involve them in all aspects [of the research], from experimental design to data collection and analysis. It really helps them with their careers, not only with the skills, but the experience and knowledge of how things work.鈥�

The Emerging Researchers Program is something of a pilot study itself: If the program continues to make a positive impact, other colleges may be able to benefit from work-study research positions for their students as well.

鈥淭here are students out there who are hungry for this experience,鈥� Joesting concluded. 鈥淚 love seeing them become future scientists.鈥�