When Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home on Feb. 1, investigators turned to the tools of forensic science—fingerprints, DNA and digital evidence from her cell phone and Ring doorbell camera.

More than two months later, the case remains unsolved, but it has put a spotlight on the pivotal role forensic science plays in active investigations, says , executive director of the (FNSSI) in the .

“Everyone wants to be their own forensic scientist, but it’s a very difficult job,” says Corrado, who co-founded the Onondaga County Cold Case Task Force and was director of the Onondaga County Crime Laboratory for more than 20 years. “You’re looking at minutiae for a long time, and you don’t always get that exciting result, something that can help solve the case.”

In the highly technical, ever-evolving field of forensic science, here are five things you may not have known about the work.

1. You Can’t Rush Forensic Science

Thirty years ago, when Corrado first entered the field, she says most people didn’t know about forensic science until the rise of fictional TV shows like “Quincy,” “CSI” and “NCIS,” which brought widespread interest to the field.

Now, with more people listening to true crime podcasts and watching true crime shows, Corrado says the public can feel a misplaced sense of frustration when a case isn’t immediately solved.

“The public may wonder why it takes investigators so long to get back DNA tests or toxicology results, but these things take a while,” Corrado says. “There’s a lot of pressure on forensic scientists to get things done faster, but we need to work meticulously and document everything. The last thing you want to do is rush and make a mistake.”

2. New Advancements Help Solve Cold Cases

New technological advancements have allowed investigators to obtain a profile from a very small amount of DNA. Instead of relying on blood or saliva, Corrado says investigators can gather DNA from items of clothing worn by a suspect or through something they touched.

Corrado says forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) is taking on a larger role, comparing collected DNA samples with publicly available databases on genealogy websites. FIGG has helped crack such high-profile cold cases as the Golden State Killer attacks, and Corrado says FIGG can be used in active investigations like the Nancy Guthrie case.

“Law enforcement can search these commercially available genealogy databases to expand their search,” Corrado says. “Instead of just looking at convicted individuals in the CODIS national DNA database; we can also search anyone who has contributed DNA to the genealogy database. Once there is a close match in the database which could be a distant relative of the perpetrator, genealogists can build family trees using public records to narrow down a list of candidates. The technology has been a real game changer.”

3. It’s About More Than Connecting a Suspect to a Crime

One of the most common misconceptions she encounters is that forensic scientists are only there to connect a suspect to a crime. Their job is to factually observe evidence, determine what it reveals and present findings to both sides in a criminal or civil case.

“It’s not our job to determine someone’s guilt or innocence,” Corrado says. “While a large amount of the work done by crime labs results in tying someone to the scene of a crime, many times the work we do excludes someone. It’s not just about tying people to a crime; it’s also helping to ensure that people aren’t wrongfully convicted.”

4. Classroom Experiences Range From Crime Scenes to the Courtroom

FNSSI courses include a crime scene analysis class, where students learn how to document potential sources of evidence, including crime scene photography. The class culminates with students examining a mock crime scene.

In the forensic DNA classes, students analyze biological evidence and identify different body fluids. Some courses provide students with experience testifying as a key witness in a mock trial before a prosecutor and defense attorney.

Students also explore the legal issues facing forensic scientists and learn how to maintain quality control when examining potential evidence.

“Forensic science changes rapidly,” Corrado says. “We give our students the foundational knowledge to understand what is going on now in the field, and then we tell them it’s on them to stay up to date on the latest trends by reading journal articles and attending conferences.”

5. Taught by Those Who Do the Work

Many of the full-time and adjunct faculty are either former forensic scientists or currently work as practitioners for agencies like the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Science, the New York State Police Department and the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Other faculty members work with forensic science companies to conduct biological, human and microbial DNA and forensic chemistry research, creating an opportunity for students to learn the most current procedures and technologies while also making connections in the field.

Students are also encouraged to intern with a local crime lab, medical examiner’s office or a federal agency.

“Receiving that exposure to current technologies while making connections is the best way for students to ensure they’re staying current in the field. It can really help them with their future career,” Corrado says.

The FNSSI also collaborates with DNA analysts from crime labs and coroners from across the state, training practitioners on the latest technological advancements in the field.

“These agencies need help bringing new technologies into the field, someone to make sure it works before the crime labs start implementing it,” Corrado says. “We collaborate with these organizations to help further the progress of forensic science.”

OlaRose Ndubuisi ’29 knows from experience that disability looks different for everyone and the challenges a person is facing privately may not always be readily visible to those around them.

The first-year student, who is dual majoring in biology and journalism, has spent the last several years transforming some of the hardest experiences of her life into poetry, advocacy and community. Her poetry, which documented her own journey with scoliosis with raw honesty and hope, earned her the title of New York State Youth Poet Laureate for 2024-2025.

Ndubuisi, who is a Coronat Scholar and in the , is passionate about encouraging others to use creative outlets to positively express their own emotions and challenges. That will be the focus of an April 17 event hosted by the Disability Cultural Center,

Ndubuisi will discuss navigating her own experiences as a student with disabilities, including being born as a one-pound premature infant, having unilateral hearing loss and being diagnosed with severe scoliosis.

Ndubuisi says it means a lot to her to speak during Disability Pride Month.

“After reading a poem about my own scoliosis journey, I’m going to show students how to use creative outlets to positively express themselves, their emotions and how we all can face our own invisible challenges by leading a fun writing and art workshop,” she says.

Resiliency and Creativity After a Diagnosis

As a kid, Ndubuisi thought the medical challenges she experienced from being born prematurely, including unilateral hearing loss in her right ear, a perforated esophagus and weak muscles, would be the hardest experiences of her life.

“Despite all of that, I played the piano and I was able to play tennis despite my hearing loss,” she says. “I’m able to recite poetry, compose my own music.”

But when Ndubuisi was 14, she says her world turned upside down when she went to the doctor for a routine checkup. She wanted to get cleared to play on her school’s tennis team, but when she mentioned to a stand-in doctor that she had been experiencing bursts of pain and that she felt she was shorter than her peers, the pediatrician decided to screen her for scoliosis and ordered an X-ray.

The results showed severe scoliosis—an S-shaped curvature of the spine, with her lower curve measuring in the surgical range. For the next year and a half, she wore a brace 22 to 23 hours a day and attended physical therapy and yoga every week. The pain was constant, and she often felt isolated from her peers.

“I was able to use writing, art and music to positively express my emotions and cope with my pain, turning my pain into something beautiful and relatable,” she says.

At the age of 15, Ndubuisi underwent vertebral body tethering surgery, but complications left her with more pain than before. She used a wheelchair for five months as she recovered from the surgery, and she had to miss the second half of her 10th grade year.

“I’m proud of my resilience and that I was able to work really hard and maintain all A’s, and I was able to go back to school for 11th grade and the rest of high school,” Ndubuisi says.

An occupational therapist recommended a music therapist, who introduced Ndubuisi to music composition software during those difficult times. She now has more than 100 original compositions and has released several on Spotify.

From Personal Pain to Public Advocacy

Her experience with scoliosis inspired her to establish the (FiSK) Project, a nonprofit focused on awareness, education and support. Ndubuisi created an educational survey that has reached more than 25 states and 19 countries, and a T-shirt fundraiser featuring her artwork and lines from her poetry raised more than $5,000 to support free scoliosis screening in underserved communities.

Back home in the Rochester, New York, area, she founded a FiSK Club at her high school, running writing and art workshops, organizing music concerts and creating space for students to talk openly about invisible struggles.

The work Ndubuisi does with FiSK has dovetailed with her advocacy as New York State Youth Poet Laureate. In that role, she has led workshops for young people across the greater Rochester area and has been a featured reader at literary events statewide, including a headlining appearance at a poetry reading tied to artist at the Guggenheim Museum.

She also hopes people learn from her own experiences that the challenges or difficulties you face “don’t have to negatively affect the trajectory of your life.”

“Scoliosis has been a really difficult and painful challenge for me, but it’s also shaped me into who I am,” she says. “It’s definitely made me even more resilient and strong, even more compassionate through meeting other kids with scoliosis and being able to share my story.”

takes place April 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Barner-McDuffie House.

Mike Tirico ’88, acclaimed NBC Sports broadcaster and dedicated alumnus, will deliver Syracuse University’s address Sunday, May 10, in the JMA Wireless Dome. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Tirico, who serves as vice chair of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, has built a career at the center of American sports broadcasting, calling play-by-play for “Sunday Night Football” and “NBA on NBC” and serving as the primetime host for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympics.

In February 2026, he became the first U.S. broadcaster ever to call the Super Bowl and host a Winter Olympics in the same year—a milestone that capped more than three decades in the profession he first pursued in the studios of WAER-FM, Syracuse University’s public radio station.

“Mike Tirico is the definition of an Orange success story,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He began his career right here on campus, and has gone on to become one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting. His deep and lasting commitment to Syracuse University reflects the same values of excellence we hope to inspire in every graduate. We are honored and proud to welcome him home for this milestone celebration.”

“There is no place that has meant more to me than Syracuse University,” says Tirico. “Personally and professionally so much of what has defined my life traces back to SU. It is an incredible honor to be asked to address the Class of 2026 and welcome them to our proud family of Orange alums. I can’t wait to share this special day with the next group that joins our Forever Orange family.”

Broadcast Start

Tirico earned a dual bachelor’s degree in 1988 in political science from the and the and in broadcast journalism from the . He launched his broadcasting career at WAER-FM before joining WTVH-TV in Syracuse as sports director and serving as the play-by-play voice for Syracuse University basketball, football, lacrosse and volleyball.

Tirico joined ESPN as a “SportsCenter” anchor in 1991, eventually becoming the voice of “Monday Night Football” from 2006-15, one of only four play-by-play announcers to call primetime NFL games for at least 10 seasons. Over 25 years at ESPN and ABC Sports, he called the NBA, college football, college basketball, golf’s Masters and The Open, the FIFA World Cup and tennis championships, the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. In July 2016, he joined NBC Sports.

At NBC, Tirico is the play-by-play voice of “Sunday Night Football,” primetime television’s most-watched show for an unprecedented 15 consecutive years, and has served as the network’s primetime host for the PyeongChang, Tokyo, Beijing, Paris and Milan Cortina Olympics. In February 2026, he called Super Bowl LX and then immediately shifted to host the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, an unmatched broadcasting double that drew widespread acclaim. He was named the 2010 Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and has won five Sports Emmy Awards. In the summer of 2025, he was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame by a vote of his peers.

Dedication to the University

Tirico has remained closely connected to the University throughout his career. Elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016, he was elected vice chair in 2025 and serves on the board’s Executive, Advancement and External Affairs and Student Experience Committees. He has served on the board’s search committees, including for the dean of the Newhouse School, the athletics director and, most recently, the chancellor. His University service also includes membership on the Newhouse Advisory Board and the Advisory Board.

He has been recognized with the George Arents Award, the University’s highest alumni honor, in 2005; the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1996; and the Newhouse School’s Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media in 2017. He and his wife, Deborah Gibaratz Tirico ’89 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), established the Mike Tirico Scholarship Endowment and supported initiatives across the Maxwell, Newhouse and Whitman schools, WAER and Syracuse University Athletics.

The (CHB) in the (A&S) has awarded its first round of competitive grants for interdisciplinary and cross-institutional health and behavioral science research projects.

A total of $33,000 in seed funding has been awarded to six separate projects through the and the . The grants are intended to catalyze cross-university collaboration and position investigators for larger external grant submissions.

“The selected proposals span researchers from six Syracuse University colleges and institutes and eight departments, schools and centers, truly reflecting broad institutional engagement and collaboration,” says , director of the CHB and professor in the Department of Psychology in A&S. “The grants also illustrate CHB’s strategic role in seeding interdisciplinary research, strengthening university-Veterans Affairs partnerships, accelerating development of competitive external grant submissions and advancing impactful work across health and behavioral science domains.”

Projects include research on intimate partner violence among veterans, alcohol reduction messaging in Veterans Affairs primary care, heart rate training for entrepreneurs, healthy eating tools for young children, AI support readiness for family caregivers and virtual reality-based voice therapy for pre-service (student) teachers.

Several external partners are also included. Those projects involve researchers at , , and , as well as and industry partner .

Pilot funds were provided to CHB by the College of Arts and Sciences with direct support from Dean , Ditre says. The funds can be used for participant compensation, core facility access, data acquisition, study materials, software and other costs of launching new collaborative research. Projects begin this month and cover a 12-month period.

Researchers receiving grants and their projects are:

Understanding and Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Among Veterans: A Mixed Methods Study of Risk Factors, Experiences and Treatment Preferences

• , assistant professor of psychology, A&S
• , clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow, VA Center for Integrated Healthcare,

Nudge Messaging to Promote Alcohol-Related Behavior Change Among Veterans in Primary Care

• , research assistant professor, CHB/IVMF and clinical research program director, VA Center for Integrated Healthcare
• , research professor and professor emeritus of psychology, A&S

Family Caregiver Well-Being and Readiness for AI-Based Support

• , associate professor of senior research associate, ,
• assistant professor of faculty associate, , Maxwell School

Virtual Reality-Based Voice Therapy for Pre-Service Teachers: Initial Design of a VR Voice Intervention

• , assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, A&S
• , associate professor of industrial and interaction design, ,

A Sweet Texts Add-On to Identify Tailoring Variables and Decision Points for Reducing Energy-Dense Food Intake in Preschool Children

• , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies,
• , assistant professor of psychology, A&S

Physiological Self-Regulation as a Foundation of Entrepreneurial Functioning

• , assistant professor of entrepreneurship,
• , associate professor of entrepreneurship and academic director of the , Whitman School

Three Syracuse University students—one researching proteins, one mapping geothermal heat beneath Greenland’s ice sheet and one engineering bacteria-fighting surfaces for medical implants—are recipients of the 2026 Goldwater Scholarship.

They are the following:

• Mallory Brown ’27, a neuroscience and statistics major in the (A&S) and a member of the ;
• Kenna Cummings ’27, a geology major in A&S; and
• Khuong Pham ’27, a biomedical engineering major in the (ECS) and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

�ճ���� was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The program provides a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields. The Goldwater Foundation received 1,485 nominations this year from around the country and 454 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each Syracuse University Goldwater Scholarship nominee worked with the (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by, professor of chemistry in A&S, selected Syracuse’s nominees for the national competition.

“We are so proud of Kenna, Khuong and Mallory. They each stand to make significant contributions to their respective fields, and society, throughout their scientific careers, and it is exciting to see them honored with this award,” says Melissa Welshans, assistant director of CFSA. “The selection of three Syracuse students this year is a testament to the robust support for undergraduate research and excellent faculty mentorship students receive here.”

Mallory Brown

Pursuing a statistics major turned out to be the decision that defined Brown’s research career. That mathematical foundation gave her an edge in the lab, and she has put it to use across two distinct research environments.

In the lab of , associate professor of biology and chemistry in A&S, Brown works with intrinsically disordered proteins, working to understand their  behavior in live cells and under heat stress. She worked to experimentally quantify the chemical structure of RTL8, a protein known to interact with the UBQLN2 protein.

Brown also performed research with Amanda Cremone-Caira at the BRAiN Lab at Merrimack College, where she applied her statistical skills to a child development study, uncovering meaningful patterns of disagreement between caregiver and teacher assessments of preschool behavior, patterns previously unreported in literature.

Brown is drawn to large, complex data sets and the hidden stories within them. But she is equally motivated by the knowledge that her findings could reshape how researchers understand ALS and early childhood development. In the future, she hopes to conduct research and teach at a university, paying forward the mentorship that shaped her own path.

Kenna Cummings

Cummings came to geophysics with a goal already in mind: a career in geothermal energy. That clarity of purpose led her to the Geophysics Computing Lab of, assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences in A&S, where she found her research question. Scanning the seismology literature on geothermal gradients beneath Greenland, she noticed that paper after paper overlooked the ice sheet itself, despite its potential as a surficial indicator of ground temperature.

Now, guided by Russell and graduate student Isaac Rotimi, Cummings uses the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method to constrain shallow layers like the ice sheet and investigate how elevated geothermal temperatures affect basal conditions that drive melting, icequakes and sliding. The work matters beyond Greenland since accurately distinguishing geothermal from climate-driven ice loss is essential for building better climate models.

For Cummings, the research is inseparable from its real-world stakes. She envisions leading a lab at a geothermal energy company, working at the intersection of science, industry and policy to make geothermal systems more efficient and more widespread. She is equally focused on the risks, such as induced seismicity, heat pollution and impacts on water resources. Earth systems, she says, are complex and interconnected, and responsible innovation demands that researchers understand them fully before intervening.

Khuong Pham

Pham’s research sits at the intersection of chemistry, biology and engineering. Working to design antimicrobial peptoids—synthetic molecules that mimic the infection-fighting proteins our bodies naturally produce–he is helping develop “self-defensive” surfaces for implanted medical devices like joint replacements. His challenge is to engineer peptoids that cluster just enough to withstand the body’s environment yet remain ready to deploy against invading bacteria on contact.

This work builds on a strong computational foundation developed through his research with , Milton and Ann Stevenson Endowed Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and chair of biomedical and chemical engineering in ECS, where he has honed skills in molecular simulation, Python scripting and high-performance computing, tools that have proven transferable across every research environment he has entered. He has also conducted research at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany, in Alena Khmelinskaia’s Protein Design and Self-Assembly Group through the support of a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates.

Pham hopes to one day lead his own research lab as a professor, applying computational tools to design responsive proteins and biomaterial systems that address problems in medicine and biotechnology.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at cfsa@syr.edu.

When Tyler Neary ’27and Orion Goodman ’27 scattered flyers across campus last spring advertising a new AI club, they saw a critical need: students needed to be included in conversations about a technology that would fundamentally reshape their futures.

“AI was at the point where it could help people in every single major, in every single profession, in every single job,” says Neary, a civil engineering major who co-founded United AI with Goodman, a biomedical engineering major, both in the (ECS). “We realized this was no longer just a computer science thing.”

What started as a room of 10 people has grown into , a recognized student organization (RSO) with more than 100 members representing every single school and college and most majors. Since its fall semester launch, the club’s focus has been democratizing AI literacy and ensuring students from all disciplines have a seat at the table as this technology transforms society.

The group will host a on Saturday, April 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, featuring industry speakers, demonstrations and faculty research showcases.

Why Students Need Leadership in AI Development

For Goodman, the urgency became clear watching rapid AI development. “When I’m going through college, watching AI capabilities escalate, it can be disempowering—and I figured my peers may be feeling the same way,” he says. “It felt threatening because there’s a small group of people making decisions about how the technology is being used, and others feel like they’re being left behind.”

That sense of being sidelined drove the co-founders to create what Neary describes as an empowerment space. “Something that we say a lot in the club is: don’t get used by AI, use AI to your benefit,” he says. “We’re the ones who are going into the workforce leading the charge and determining how we will use this technology now and into the future.”

The message resonated. Within weeks of tabling at campus events, students from ECS, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Newhouse School of Public Communications, the Whitman School of Management and the College of Visual and Performing Arts were showing up to meetings, eager to understand how AI would affect their fields and futures.

Bringing Humanities and STEM Into Conversation

When Alex Kahn ’27, a junior studying citizenship and civic engagement and political philosophy in the | , discovered United AI, he wasn’t looking for coding or technical skills, but was compelled by the policy implications of AI that were dominating news headlines. “AI was in every story, across every industry, and it felt like there was no escaping it and how it will affect you,” Kahn says.

As United AI’s recruitment director last fall, Kahn became instrumental in broadening the organization beyond its engineering roots. His approach focused on relevance rather than technical expertise. The interdisciplinary composition has transformed conversations within the club.

“Having people from different majors and disciplines means having that understanding that everyone’s mind works differently,” Kahn says. “The people who are writing code are not thinking the same way as the person majoring in fine arts, and having that creativity along with those technical skills, you’re able to build and think much differently.”

Goodman appreciates what non-engineering perspectives bring to the table. “As conversations around AI progressed, I began asking, ‘Where are the artists? Where are the policymakers? Where are the humanities majors?’” he says. “A lot of the population was not behind building this technology and still isn’t—but how do we provide a space for them to learn and join the conversation?”

From Concept to Creation: Student Projects Take Shape

United AI goes beyond theoretical discussion to hands-on application. Through four-week project cycles, students receive funding, access to premium AI tools and mentorship to develop their ideas.

Paige Siciliano ’29, a computer engineering major, led a second-place winning project during her first semester on campus. Her team’s AI-powered schedule builder, still under development, helps students manage their time by generating personalized daily plans based on individual learning styles, fixed commitments and flexible tasks.

For Siciliano and her teammates—Neha Redda ’29 and Ria Yagielski ’29—the project provided more than AI experience. “It really helped us find a way into the community of Syracuse, and it helped us feel like we belonged,” she says.

Building Community Around Shared Curiosity

Beyond projects and programs, United AI has cultivated what Kahn describes as “a school of thought on campus.” During a debate night last semester, members discussed everything from business applications to environmental impacts to personal usage philosophy, with some participants there simply to understand the technology rather than use it. “Being surrounded by club members and in this community of lifelong learners, we focus our educational efforts to not just learn the technical side, but also on practical application,” Kahn says.

Siciliano emphasizes the club’s welcoming atmosphere. “We came in as first-semester freshmen, two weeks into school. It didn’t matter if we had no background knowledge in AI or all the knowledge in the world—they create an atmosphere that makes you want to learn about it and continue to grow.”

To join United AI, . To learn more, follow the organization on or .

Editor’s note: This is the first in a five-part series spotlighting ‘s global centers.

Fish and chips. Red double-deckers. A rooftop garden with Thames views. Nash Newton ’27 went to London for a semester abroad and came back with something far harder to fit in a suitcase: a completely new perspective on the world.

Newton, a resident of Portland, Oregon, is a policy studies major in the | with a focus on citizenship and community engagement. He studied abroad for the fall 2025 semester through Syracuse Abroad, and now serves as an Abroad global ambassador.

Newton took classes in marketing, politics and environmental sustainability efforts, among others. Through trips, he performed field studies and explored historic locations throughout the city of London and various parts of the UK such as Liverpool, Cornwall, Lockerbie, Scotland, and Cardiff, Wales.

Syracuse London organized a trip to Lockerbie, the site of the Pan Am 103 bombing in 1988 in which 270 people, including 35 students studying through Syracuse’s Division of International Programs Abroad were lost. He heard personal stories from residents and met this year’s 10 Lockerbie Fellows. The trip also included a visit to Glasgow, where participants attended a play titled “Small Acts of Love,” inspired by the stories surrounding the tragedy and the experiences faced by those after the event.

“Studying abroad at Syracuse truly shifts your perspective,” Newton says. “Embrace both the challenges and positive experiences, as they will create lasting memories and stories—whether you’re exploring solo or traveling with a group, attending classes or navigating an unfamiliar location.”

Here are his recommendations, in his own words, of five things to do to get the most out of your London study abroad experience.

Explore a Museum

“Visiting the V&A East Storehouse Museum was a remarkable experience, as it showcases between 250,000 and 500,000 art pieces spread over three levels. This museum stands out for its unique presentation of many recognizable artworks. Many museums offer character and rare pieces, Additionally, visiting museums is usually free and provides a valuable opportunity to learn about history in an engaging way.

“I also visited the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the Banksy Limitless Museum, showcasing the artist’s works and their significance in making points about political issues that were present at the time. There’s a course called Who’s Collecting Who that teaches students about object collection, often including weekly museum visits around the city. The London Transport Museum stood out as my favorite. I loved its layout, showcasing the evolution of transport from early vehicles to modern buses, taxis and Tube trains.”

Explore a New City or Town

“Exploring Chester and cities like Liverpool; Brighton; Cardiff, Wales; and Dublin, Ireland, revealed rich history to me. Traveling by train near London offered new opportunities to test my independence and step out of my comfort zone. Charming towns scattered throughout England are just a quick train ride away, each with its own unique character waiting to be discovered. Traveling by train makes the experience more inviting and can connect you to many more places than ever before.

“Participating in field study trips for courses like Sustainability on Trial (GEO 304) and Green Britain (GEO 300) was a transformative experience for me. Those opportunities deepened my understanding of sustainable resources and their potential to reduce carbon footprints. As a policy major, I am uncertain about my career direction after graduation, but I am eager to explore opportunities in this field to see whether they align with my interests. I traveled to Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Finland and Norway and visited urban planning offices and parliament buildings in Stockholm, Sweden and Ivalo, Finland, among others.”

Find Hidden Spots in London

“The Garden at 120 rooftop offers greenery and views of the River Thames, providing a unique perspective on London. Many rooftop spaces are free, allowing residents and visitors to see the city from different angles. Hidden parks throughout the city offer calm escapes for lunch breaks and people-watching, often just a short walk from central streets like Oxford Circus. I recommend exploring neighborhoods outside central London, such as Shoreditch, Hampstead Heath, Hackney and Greenwich, where locals shop, eat and live.”

Enjoy New Cuisine and Engage in a New Culture

“Explore various markets in the city, including Spitalfields Market in East London, which features two sections: one for clothing, jewelry and local artists, and another food section with numerous vendors offering bakery items and foods representing many different cultures. During my time in London, I indulged in Japanese, Chinese, Ethiopian, Indian and British cuisine, including the traditional full English breakfast.

“On Nov. 5 and throughout the whole week, the main cultural event that happened was a holiday in England called Bonfire night (Guy Fawkes Day). The holiday commemorates a failed mission in 1605 to blow up Parliament. Throughout the week there are fireworks and bonfires in small towns around England and Scotland. There are festivals and fireworks in different parks throughout London.

“Syracuse London offers students cultural opportunities including attending West End shows as well as a Premier League match (West Ham vs. Burnley) and a rugby match. They also organized events like ABBA Voyage, an immersive concert featuring digital versions of the ABBA band. One class allowed us to visit city farms and gardens, such as Kentish Town Farm, which has various animals.”

Take a Unique Course

“Taking courses abroad offers new insights. Green Britain included field studies, as we examined how Earth-life system processes shaped Britain’s environmental resources and the impact of political devolution on human interactions with these resources. The course involved ecological investigations of arable land, fossil fuels and marine habitats, as well as policy analysis. It also fostered connections with classmates and the professor, providing a richer experience than traditional lectures. Such trips uniquely address unspoken questions and deepen understanding through direct engagement with the environment.

“The Syracuse London Center campus is centrally located for commuting. The student well-being staff provided valuable recommendations, particularly during fall breaks. They organized two weekend trips for fall 2025, one to Dublin and another to Paris. I chose Dublin, where we visited the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College and Howth Bay, fostering connections with fellow students and staff. Though locations change each semester, they remain rewarding to visit as a group.”

Check Out More of Newton’s Photos Below

Stephen Kuusisto, Urayoán Noel and OlaRose Ndubuisi—three poets whose work embody resilience, identity and the radical possibilities of language—will present their work at the annual poetry reading on

The event, produced by Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact, takes place at the , where the “” spring exhibition, which recognizes artists who live with disabilities, is currently displayed.

“This unique setting provides  much excitement for our Cruel April series this year,” says , the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community and Point of Contact director. “Just as the exhibition’s artistic expressions expand on ideas of creativity shaped by body, mind, culture and history, the works of the three poets enter into a dialogue across cultures and disciplines. Both forums offer varied perspectives on how artists navigate the world on their own terms.”

The poetry program begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Poet and essayist is a University Professor and director of the . Blind since birth, Kuusisto has built a celebrated body of work that redefines understandings of perception and beauty. His poetry collections, “Only Bread, Only Light” (2000) and “Letters to Borges” (2013), along with memoirs including “Planet of the Blind” and “Have Dog, Will Travel,” have established him as one of the most compelling disability voices in American letters. His work has appeared in Harper’s, Poetry and The New York Times Magazine.

is an internationally recognized poet and scholar, an associate professor of English and Spanish at New York University and a defining voice in Latinx and Nuyorican literary traditions. He is the author of the landmark study “In Visible Movement: Nuyorican Poetry from the Sixties to Slam” (2014) and the poetry collections “Buzzing Hemisphere/Rumor Hemisférico” (2015) and “Transversal” (2021), which was a New York Public Library Book of the Year. He is also the winner of the LASA Latino Studies Book Award. His work explores neurodivergence, migration and the politics of language. Cruel April is presented in partnership with the , , , and the .

’29, the 2024–25 New York State Youth Poet Laureate, is a Syracuse student pursuing dual majors in biology and journalism. She is also a Coronat Scholar and Renée Crown honors student and is enrolled in SUNY Upstate Medical University’s B.S./M.D. program. Her poetry draws on her experience with scoliosis, her Nigerian heritage and her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities. A premature birth survivor, she is the founder of The Finding Scoliosis Kindly Project and a Prudential Emerging Visionaries award winner.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to understand cultures beyond our own has never been more important. One of the most powerful ways to achieve that knowledge is through literature and cultural work. Accessing the stories, texts and art that reflect the daily lives and values of people across the globe makes one world legible to another and offers the potential to bridge divides.

Enter the translator, an artist who makes creative yet critical judgement calls. Something misunderstood is that translation involves more interpretation rather than a one-to-one exchange of words. It requires an interdisciplinary approach and deep cultural knowledge, whether that be immersing yourself in Caribbean Spanish sociolinguistics, researching 19th-century whaling vocabulary or delving into Greek mythology to translate a passage about the Milky Way Galaxy. Such answers can’t be found in the dictionary or Google Translate.

Experts’ Invisible Artistry

College of Arts and Sciences faculty members , and work across different languages, time periods and forms—literary fiction, opera, Renaissance scholarship— but each demonstrates that translation is among the most important yet underappreciated intellectual arts in the humanities in the world today. They agree that, if done well, this invisible work is rarely recognized for what it actually involves.

Surovi put it another way, borrowing a quote from Israeli writer Etgar Keret: “Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, they’re no good.”

A Prisoner’s Story

Türkkan, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, did not set out to publish a translation. She began translating “The Stone Building and Other Places,” a collection of three short stories by the Turkish author and human rights activist Aslı Erdoğan out of curiosity. She had no contract, no publisher and no deadline, but was teaching Erdoğan’s fiction and wanted to make it accessible to her students.

That all changed when the Turkish government arrested Erdoğan in 2016 and imprisoned her.

“I went out of my way to talk to publishers and say, this work is important,” Türkkan says. “Nobody will know about this writer if we don’t get it into English.”

 publishers accepted the translation. When “The Stone Building and Other Places” appeared on shelves in 2018, it was a finalist for the . Erdoğan, still under a travel ban, could not travel to Amsterdam to accept a European Cultural Foundation award the book had earned. Türkkan went in her place and read Erdoğan’s acceptance letter before the audience.

“As the translator, I really was also her agent,” Türkkan says. “Working on her behalf, advocating on her behalf, receiving awards and reading her acceptance letter.”

The translation itself required months and months of intense work and careful thought around every decision—three months to produce a single version of the book followed by an eight-month revision. Sometimes, a successful day meant translating a single paragraph.

For example, Turkish uses a single third-person pronoun—“o”—where English requires he, she, it or they. In Erdoğan’s novella, that ambiguity is intentional. Türkkan had to decide, sentence by sentence, whether to clarify or preserve it. In another instance, she opted to leave “abla,” the Turkish word for “sister” in place as “a little reminder that this is an English translation from the Turkish language.”

A passage involving the Milky Way and the zodiac resisted every direct approach. Eventually, Türkkan turned to Greek mythology to find English language capable of matching the original’s poetry. Erdoğan later told her the English translation was the most poetic version of her books.

“I was like, ‘I passed the test,’” she says. “I see the translation as the metaphor of the original. I never claim that my translation is the last word on this book. I would like to see more translations of it. The sum total of multiple translations can help us understand the original better.”

Türkkan advocates for broader recognition of translators’ contributions and says translators should be credited as co-writers of the books they translate. She notes that translations account for roughly 2.7% of all books published in the U.S. each year. In Turkey, that figure is 85%. Unfortunately, she notes, only a small handful of colleges in the U.S. offer programs to train translators.

Türkkan was born in Bulgaria and moved to Turkey with her family when she was 11. Growing up, she was caught between two languages. In Bulgaria, her parents spoke Turkish to her at home to counter the Bulgarian she was absorbing everywhere else. When the family moved to Turkey, they switched and started speaking Bulgarian at home.

She never felt fully comfortable in either language. She spoke Turkish with a Bulgarian accent and Bulgarian with a Turkish accent, while her Turkish name marked her as an outsider in Bulgaria.

Türkkan started learning English at age 7 in Bulgaria, ironically from a French instructor her mother hired. She describes this as her “mom’s legacy,” as her mother believed that “language meant life” and wanted her children to have “multiple lives.” Later, Türkkan lived in Germany during her graduate program, picking up yet another “life.”

and the hosted students, researchers, industry leaders and government officials this week for the , putting Central New York’s rapidly expanding semiconductor and quantum technology ecosystem on display.

Held under the theme, “New York State Talent and Technology—Shaping the Future,” the daylong event at Goldstein Auditorium drew participants from NNN partner institutions across the state and from sponsors including , , , , and .

The University has made significant investments to anchor the region’s semiconductor and nanotechnology future. It also leads the for the , a federally designated consortium accelerating semiconductor innovation across Central New York. Together with , the University invested $20 million to build the (CASM) to train the next generation of semiconductor technicians and engineers.

Through the University’s , nearly 500 veterans have enrolled in semiconductor workforce training programs. The University also holds a $1 million NSF ExLENT grant providing adult learners, including mid-career professionals and veterans, with hands-on exposure to semiconductor, quantum and optical technologies. And the University’s now includes 18 faculty across three departments, with the 8,000-square-foot Quantum Technology Center expected to open this summer.

A Major Partner 

“The investments Syracuse has made in facilities and faculty have positioned us to be a major partner to industry,” says University Vice President for Research . “Our faculty and labs allow our students to gain the skills that employers need. Events like the NNN Symposium are where students meet the people who will hire them, where faculty learn what industry needs and where the connections are made that turn research training into careers.”

Keynote addresses came from , chief business officer of GlobalFoundries and a Syracuse University engineering alumnus; , senior vice president and executive director of and , senior director of U.S. expansion programs for Micron. A workforce development panel brought together representatives from , , , and . Student researchers from NNN partner universities across the state presented their work in oral and poster formats, followed by a career fair connecting students directly with hiring companies.

Forefront Future

“The innovation and collaboration on display shows that Central New York is at the forefront of America’s nanotechnology and semiconductor future,” says  innovation concierge, NY SMART I-Corridor, workforce development pillar lead for the Upstate NY Energy Storage Engine and director of strategic partnerships for Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. He and Yoanna Ferrara, director of technology innovation in the Office of Research, organized the symposium. “We will carry this momentum forward by continuing to deepen partnerships between upstate New York universities, industry leaders and government to strengthen New York’s semiconductor ecosystem.”

Three Syracuse University faculty members—, and —have been named fellows of the (AAAS). The highly prestigious designation recognizes extraordinary achievements and contributions to the advancement of science.

Fifteen Syracuse faculty members have been named AAAS Fellows since 2004. This is the first time the honor has gone to three professors in a single year.

“This is one of the most distinguished honors a researcher can receive, and I am incredibly proud that three of our exceptional faculty members have earned this recognition,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “Their work reflects Syracuse University’s deep commitment to advancing knowledge that matters, both within our fields and for the world at large. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor and look forward to the continued impact of their scholarship.”

Duncan Brown

Brown, the Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics in the (A&S), has served as the University’s vice president for research since 2022. An internationally recognized leader in gravitational-wave astronomy, he was a founding member of the search for merging black holes that led to the discovery of gravitational waves with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

His current research focuses on the development of Cosmic Explorer, a proposed next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory, and the use of gravitational-wave observations to explore the nuclear equation of state.

AAAS recognized Brown for “foundational contributions enabling the search for and discovery of gravitational waves from black hole and neutron star coalescences, and for leadership in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Cosmic Explorer.”

Kevin Crowston

Crowston is a distinguished professor of information science in the . His research explores how information and communication technology—particularly the internet and artificial intelligence—changes the way people work. He and his colleagues have explored Free/Libre Open Source Software development, citizen science, data science teamwork and the future of journalism, using a mix of observation, theory-building and tool design. His most recent project, supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, examines the impact of generative AI on human skill development and retention, particularly in programming.

AAAS recognized Crowston for “distinguished contributions to information science through groundbreaking research on coordination theory and virtual organizations, exceptional editorial leadership and dedicated service building interdisciplinary communities studying technology-mediated work.”

Lisa Manning

Manning is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics in A&S. Her research uses computer modeling and physics-based theory to understand how groups of cells behave in living tissue and how materials like glass or sand deform and break down.

Her work has real-world implications for cancer, wound healing, embryonic development and asthma. In 2019, she was named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), an honor given to just half of 1% of the professional organization’s membership. She served as founding director of the from 2019-23.

AAAS recognized Manning for “distinguished contributions to the theory of mechanical response and adaptation in biological materials.”

Distinguished Group

Brown, Crowston and Manning join 12 other Syracuse faculty members previously named AAAS Fellows: , distinguished professor of physics (2024); , professor of physics and interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (2023); , associate professor of biology (2023); , professor of electrical engineering and computer science (2018); , University Professor of Environmental Systems and Distinguished Professor, civil and environmental engineering (2017); , professor of physics and A&S interim associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research (2016); , dean emeritus and professor emeritus of biology (2013); , professor emerita of physics (2013); , professor emeritus of Earth and environmental sciences (2012); , professor emeritus of biology (2011); , professor of biology (2007); and , professor emeritus of political science (2004).

The way society talks about autism is changing — and for Syracuse University researcher , that shift carries real consequences for science, diagnosis and daily life.

“The move from awareness to acceptance has been welcome,” says Russo, an associate professor of psychology in the and director of the . “It has led to a bigger focus on accepting differences and working with people’s strengths, rather than expecting everyone to learn or function in the same ways.”

But Russo cautions that the “autism as superpower” narrative, while helpful in reducing stigma, can create a skewed public image that doesn’t reflect the full range of autistic experiences—particularly for those who require significant daily support. As the diagnostic criteria have broadened over time to include more individuals with subtler presentations, she notes that research attention has drifted toward those with lower support needs, leaving a gap for autistic people whose daily lives require more intensive care.

The CARE Lab studies how autistic individuals process and integrate sensory information—work that has identified distinct brain signatures underlying those differences. Autistic people consistently show earlier and sometimes stronger neural responses to what they hear and see, responses that are linked to a range of sensory and behavioral characteristics.

Sensory differences are now part of autism’s official diagnostic criteria, and they vary widely: some individuals are hypersensitive to sound or touch, while others actively seek out sensory experiences. Russo encourages those wanting to understand the day-to-day reality of autistic life to seek out first-person accounts written by autistic people themselves.

The diagnostic picture is also more complicated than many realize. “If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism,” Russo says—a reminder that variability between autistic individuals is vast. Autism presents differently across age, gender and cognitive ability, and co-occurring conditions like ADHD, anxiety and depression are common. Researchers found that girls and women are often diagnosed later, and that clinicians may need to look for different behavioral patterns within the same diagnostic categories when evaluating female patients.

On a broader level, Russo urges the public to be mindful of the unconscious biases that can shape how autistic people are perceived and treated.

“Autism is a disability, but part of that has to do with social and systemic barriers that make it hard for autistic people to flourish,” she says. “Be aware of your biases. How you treat people has an impact.”

World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on April 2.

’ paintings line the walls of her studio in Anchorage, Alaska. From “icon portraits” to landscapes, her artwork holds a palpable verve—carrying a panorama of stories, ideas and interpretations with them, often centered on Alutiiq culture and identity.

From April 6-17, Infante Lyons will bring her visual and academic storytelling to Syracuse University as the 2026 . Her two-week residency is organized around the theme of “Visions of Resilience: Sacred Art and Storied Landscapes.” Humanities Center Director Vivian May says she is excited about the many different ways Infante Lyons will engage the community through dialogues, lectures and seminars focused on her art, Indigenous cultural resilience, approaches to environmentalism and environmental activism, storytelling and more. Infante Lyons’ work, says May, “immerses us in a sense of place and asks us to build relationships across boundaries. Infante Lyons visualizes the sacred, imagines the environment and builds stories in ways that invite us to come together and imagine a more just future for all.”

All are welcome to meet Infante Lyons and experience her work in person at an at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in Eggers Hall and at other .

Infante Lyons, a painter and multimedia artist whose work engages themes of Indigenous sovereignty, cultural resilience and environmental sustainability, was raised in Anchorage. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Whitman College, she studied at the Viña del Mar Escuela de Bellas Artes and spent 18 years in Chile. Her maternal family is from Kodiak Island—a large island in the Gulf of Alaska and the ancestral homeland of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people—where her grandparents were commercial salmon fishers. She is a registered Alutiiq Alaska Native and has tribal affiliation with the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq corporation, Koniag.

“I’m looking forward to conversations about learning from different cultures: the importance of a diverse mindset, the richness of looking at Indigenous cultures, how they see the world,” says Infante Lyons. Turning to the future, she asks: “And then, how can you apply that to a conversation [about] where we go forward? It could be applied to sustainability, or how we get along as human beings, or how we get along with the rest of the world.”

Notably, two new paintings by Infante Lyons will find a permanent home in the Syracuse University Art Museum. Melissa Yuen, curator at the museum, says Infante Lyons’ potrtaits “invite interdisciplinary conversation, highlighting humanity’s relationship with the environment, disrupting Eurocentric worldviews and celebrating the role women play in Alutiiq culture as connectors with the world.”

These as-yet unnamed pieces, to be unveiled on April 7, each depict Alaskan Native women dressed in kuspuks. The works incorporate traditional and contemporary Indigenous designs, and each woman cradles an animal central to Alutiiq culture: a seal pup in one painting, an otter in the other. The compositions echo a “Madonna and Child” style painting, complete with halos and other visual symbols of reverence.

In portraying animals in the style of sacred Orthodox paintings and iconography, Infante Lyons emphasizes an intimate relationship between humans and the natural world—one that opposes Western models of extraction and domination. Relatedly, some of her upcoming events on campus will highlight how Indigenous mindsets forge new pathways for understanding and caring for the environment.

Chie Sakakibara, associate professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies and geography and the environment, says when she came across one of Infante Lyons’ icon portraits, “” she was speechless.

“I was immediately struck by the work’s powerful expressivity, as Linda brings together multiple elements—ancestral presences and sacred, spiritual words—into the present, rather than relegating them to a past that no longer exists,” says Sakakibara.

Sakakibara invites the campus and broader Syracuse community into a shared encounter with Infante Lyons’ artistic wisdom, and hopes the residency will spark some of the same kinds of connections she cultivates with students around traditional and land-based knowledge, cultural resilience, multi-species relations and the continuity of Indigenous storytelling.

For co-host Timur Hammond, associate professor of geography and the environment, Infante Lyons’ residency opens up new points of academic connection, particularly for his Spring 2026 course, ‘Geography of Memory,’ and for strengthening his ongoing collaborations with the (EHN). One of EHN’s projects includes an , developed with Infante Lyons, to help spark discussion and activity in the classroom and community.

While Infante Lyons’ work carries many layers of meaning, her creative process begins without a preconceived agenda. Referencing Syracuse creative writing professor and author George Saunders, Infante Lyons subscribes to the idea that “the muse finds you.” A blank canvas is an invitation for her to explore meaning, and to see her life experiences naturally flow out onto the canvas.

“You come to the studio, you start something, and you may try to have a concept or an idea or a composition, but that will change,” she says. In being open to spontaneous inspiration during this creative process, “you end up with a better piece of artwork,” says Infante Lyons.

She hopes to inspire the same approach in those who come across her art. Her paintings—and the conversations that arise around them—need not uphold a rigid, absolute message. Rather, her work invites an opportunity for thought, exploration and emotion.

Story by Colette Goldstein G’25

When two black holes collide and merge, they don’t go quietly. Instead, the resulting mega black hole rings like a struck bell, radiating energy outward through space-time in the form of gravitational waves.

The gravitational wave signal produced when two black holes merge is called the ringdown, and for physicist ’05, G’11, and his doctoral student Alex Correia, studying the ringdown may hold the key to rewriting our understanding of the universe.

Capano, research associate professor in the , and Correia, a third-year Ph.D. student, are part of a growing field of gravitational wave astronomy, a discipline that was barely possible a decade ago and is now producing results that could one day surpass even Einstein’s greatest work.

“We’re hoping to prove that Einstein was wrong,” says Capano, whose research has been funded by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). “We’re hoping to find some deviation from Einstein’s theory of general relativity, because that would point the way to a better, deeper understanding of our universe.”

Through black hole spectroscopy, a technique for analyzing how black holes merge, Capano and Correia want to learn if there are any discoverable abnormalities that could lead to significant breakthroughs.

Helping Us ‘Hear’ the Universe Better

Gravitational waves are invisible, high-speed ripples in the fabric of spacetime, and they were first recorded on Sept. 14, 2015, a landmark moment that confirmed Einstein’s prediction, made within his theory of general relativity, that gravitational waves exist.

But Einstein’s theories don’t just predict that black holes exist. They describe black holes with specific properties that can essentially be “heard,” detected through the damping energy produced when a black hole rings. That ringing, Capano explains, produces distinct modes or notes, much like striking a key on a piano.

“The question is, can you see more than one of these frequencies, or more than one of these notes, in the ringdown?” Capano says. “Is there a C note and an E note, or is there just a C note? That’s an important question because if you can see more than one note, then you can do some of these advanced tests of general relativity to see if the signal is consistent with it or if something could point to some new physics.”

Searching for an Answer in the Noise

The ringdown signal Capano and Correia are tracking fades almost instantly, swallowed by noise in milliseconds. Extracting meaningful measurements requires cutting-edge computational methods.

“A lot of what I’m working on is trying to figure out efficient ways of cutting out the earlier part of the signal because we’re only interested in the ending part, the ringdown,” says Correia, who has published several papers with Capano highlighting their findings. “We have a signal and we want to extract the actual parameters of the black holes merging, their masses, their angular momentums and their frequency.”

Capano and Correia developed a method to explore whether these colliding black holes were producing one note or multiple notes. Initially, their findings couldn’t prove either outcome conclusively, but then, last year, there was a detection that was three times stronger than the initial discovery of gravitational waves.

Before the results were made public, Capano and Correia ran simulations to project what the ringdown waveform would look like, and when the findings were released six months later, they matched what Capano and Correia had predicted.

“We found strong evidence in favor of seeing at least one of those notes in the signal,” Correia says. “With that strong signal, it seems to suggest that yes, you can clearly see more than one note; you can see two notes in the ringdown.”

Strong Bond Forged Between Mentor and Mentee

For Correia, the path to Syracuse ran through the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, where he first began working with Capano as a master’s student.

When Capano joined the Syracuse faculty, Correia followed along, drawn by both continuing to work with his mentor and the strength of the gravitational waves research at the University.

“Alex is a very good student and he’s methodical with his research,” Capano says. “He has a good handle on both the theories and the computational, day-to-day work that drives this research forward.”

The work behind their research can be grueling, spending month after month “grinding away at problems without knowing why they happen,” Correia says.

That dedication earned Correia a trip to Scotland for the preeminent gathering of scientists working in relativity and gravitational waves, the combined International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation and Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves.

“That’s the most rewarding part, sharing this groundbreaking research with people and getting insight from other researchers,” says Correia, whose trip was funded by Capano’s NSF grant.

Every major physics breakthrough began with an experiment that revealed a crack in the prevailing theory. Capano and Correia are hunting for that crack.

“We’re hoping gravitational waves will turn up experimental evidence that shows the current paradigm doesn’t explain everything,” Capano says. “Once we have that experimental evidence, someone will be able to turn that into new theories, which is exciting.”