Inventing the Impossible - A Bug s Life Advancing the Fight Against COVID-19 - SPRING 2021 - Illinois Institute of Technology
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SPRING 2021 Inventing the Impossible A Bug′s Life Advancing the Fight Against COVID-19
GREETINGS FROM THE DEAN
DEAN, LEWIS COLLEGE OF Lewis College of Science and Letters
SCIENCE AND LETTERS plays an integral role in the mission of
Christine L. Himes the university.
EDITOR We provide the basic foundations in
Linsey Maughan communications, the sciences, critical
thinking, and global citizenship necessary
DESIGNER for success in today’s society. At the same
Joe Goforth time, our faculty and students are engaged
PHOTOGRAPHY in cutting-edge research addressing
Olivia Dimmer and David Ettinger pressing problems of the world, be it pest
control in Michigan, the mysteries of the
BOARD OF ADVISORS universe, or our ongoing pandemic.
William C. Bartholomay The year 2021 marks the 20th
Deborah Crown (M.S. REHB ’88) anniversary of Professor of Chemistry
Judy Erwin Rong Wang’s career at Illinois Tech,
Bridget M. Gibbons where she has developed an active lab
Terrence J. Koller (Ph.D. PSYC ’75) with several health-related projects on
Robert L. Kruse the frontier of scientific advancement,
Daniel V. Lezotte (M.S. PSYC ’83, Ph.D. ’89) including the development of technology for a smart toothbrush and the utilization
William J. Pizzi (Ph.D. PSYC ’72) of silk cocoons from silkworms to restore pelvic floor tissue in women. The
Guy F. Summers (M.B.A. ’78) Department of Physics has this year built upon its close working relationships
Stephen C. Urrutia to the area’s quantum science laboratories through its hire of our newest faculty
David J. Vitale member, Assistant Professor Rakshya Khatiwada, who holds a joint appointment
with the physics department and FermiLab and is developing Illinois Tech’s first-
SEND ALUMNI NEWS ever quantum computing course for undergraduates. In the humanities, Associate
and other correspondence Professor of History Mar Hicks has been recognized for their contributions to the
to lcsl@iit.edu national discussion of ethical considerations in artificial intelligence, landing on a
list of “100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics,” and has just published their second book.
Informing the future: New worlds And in social sciences, Associate Professor of Political Science Daniel Bliss is taking
of possibility at the intersection of science, advantage of our fertile backyard—the city of Chicago— for his studies through his
humanity, and technology contribution to an upcoming book on the successes and failures of our city’s mayors.
Our students and alumni have also been hard at work. Their research projects
Lewis College of Science and Letters was range from the mitigation of cutworms devouring corn and dry bean plants in
the Midwest, to body image differences in women, and from gut microbiomes to
formed on June 1, 2020, and houses the
bioanalytics and dreams of NASA. Looking at our alumni, we see that this wide range
departments of Biology, Chemistry, Food Science
of interests and skills carries on after graduation, into careers in the food industry,
and Nutrition, Humanities, Physics, Psychology,
nuclear safety, communications, and emergency management.
and Social Sciences.
Of course, the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic created a need for research
Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as on various fronts, and Lewis College remains engaged through multiple projects.
Illinois Tech, is a private, technology-focused Leading advancements in COVID-19 treatment, Professor of Biology David
research university offering undergraduate McCormick has developed a drug now on its way to FDA approval. Psychology
and graduate degrees in engineering, science, professors Nicole Legate and Arlen Moller, meanwhile, have focused on attitudes
architecture, business, design, human sciences, toward social distancing in an international context.
applied technology, and law. As I sat down to write this letter I realized that it was a year ago today that the
World Health Organization declared that the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19,
was officially a pandemic. On March 23, 2020, Illinois Tech moved classes online,
and most of our instruction has been virtual since. It has been a challenging year
for our country and our world in many ways. We have dealt with sickness and
loss, social isolation, and uncertainty. Financial resources have been stretched
to the breaking point. Children have had their educations disrupted, and parents
have coped with balancing work and caregiving. For me, it has made even clearer
the relevance of the education and research we carry out at Illinois Tech. Now,
Like us on Facebook: with spring, I believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I wish for all of you a
facebook.com/IITSciLetters happier and healthier year in 2021.
Follow us on Twitter:
twitter.com/iitsci_letters
Christine L. Himes
Dean, Lewis College of Science and Letters
SPRING 2021
2 Publication News
New research findings on the gut microbiome composition of
adults with prediabetes, on the activities of the western bean
cutworm in Michigan, and on inequalities and marginalization
within the field of computing.
4 Students on the Rise
Clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate Talissa Dorsaint explores body
image differences between Black and white women, and analytical
chemistry third-year Diana Csercse, the first student in her major,
discusses some key experiences shaping her education.
5 Inventing the Impossible
Twenty years into her career at Illinois Tech, Professor of
Chemistry Rong Wang is at work with student researchers on
several innovative and interdisciplinary projects with the potential
to improve health outcomes.
8 Faculty Updates
A new inhaled therapy to treat COVID-19 infection, an international
study into attitudes around social distancing, an analysis of Rahm
Emanuel’s performance as mayor of Chicago, and a new assistant
professor of physics.
10 Alumni Successes
Liang Bennett (BCHM ’15, M.S. FST ’16) rocks the meat industry;
Brook Bell (HUM ’16) builds brand awareness for one of Canada’s
fastest growing companies; Sandor Demeter (M.S. HP ’16) publishes
and practices in the field of health physics; and Olurotimi “Timi”
Akindele (PS ’15) grows his career federal government.
ON THE COVER
Professor of Chemistry Rong
Wang extracts and purifies
the protein fibroin from the
cocoons of silkworms, which
are used to generate silk-
carbon nanotube composite
fibers that help restore pelvic
floor tissue in women.
Photo: Olivia Dimmer
BIG PICTURE | 1
PUBLICATION NEWS
GUT CHECK
A study led by Illinois organic compounds],
Institute of Technology and [whether their gut
researcher and alumna microbiota profiles correlate]
Xuhuiqun “Sissi” Zhang with impaired metabolic
(Ph.D. FDSN ’20) has found biomarkers,” Zhang says.
that young and middle-aged The researchers used a
adults with prediabetes process called whole genome
have an altered gut shotgun metagenomic
microbiome composition, sequencing to characterize
which is associated with the gut microbiome
reduced concentrations of composition of young
select bioactive microbial Xuhuiqun “Sissi” Zhang works with a human plasma sample like those
and middle-aged adults used in her study in the Center for Nutrition Research.
metabolites and impaired with prediabetes and
metabolic health, as well as insulin resistance, as well
potential risk for diseases. participants’ consumption that helps maintain gut
as metabolically healthy
of a (poly)phenol-rich red homeostasis. Individuals with
Zhang, who works as a study participants. They
raspberry test drink. prediabetes have also been
research scientist at Illinois measured fasting glucose
found to have impaired gut
Tech’s Center for Nutrition and insulin, fasting lipids The most significant feature
microbiome function.
Research, published a paper profile, blood pressure, and of the altered gut microbiome
on her team’s findings in the body composition of 36 composition present in “In the next step [of our
journal Nutrients in 2020. participants to assess their adults with prediabetes research], we would like to
metabolic health status. was enriched Ruminococcus explore if nutritional strategy
“We aimed to understand
Targeted quantitative gnavus, a proinflammatory would improve cardio-
if adults with prediabetes
metabolomic analysis of bacterial species associated metabolic health through
have specific gut microbiota
blood and urine samples with Crohn’s disease. The shaping the gut microbiome,”
profiles that may affect
collected over 24 hours were researchers also found Zhang says.
the [ability] to metabolize
used to examine microbial evidence of depleted
bioactive (poly)phenols,
(poly)phenolic metabolites Bifidobacterium bifidum, a
[which are naturally occurring
in response to study common probiotic species
CATCHING FIRE
Associate Professor of History research focuses on questions “[The book] trains a Hicks’s first book,
Mar Hicks has recently been of socially responsible AI and spotlight on the inequities Programmed Inequality:
named one of the 100 Brilliant ethical technology.” and marginalization that our How Britain Discarded
Women in AI Ethics and has Hicks collaborated with technological infrastructures Women Technologists and
also just published their have taken for granted—and Lost Its Edge in Computing
three other scholars of
second book. intensified—as they’ve scaled,” (MIT Press, 2018), received
information studies and the
Hicks says. “The essays in it several awards including the
The “brilliant women” history of technology to co-
help us understand how we prestigious Herbert Baxter
recognition came from edit Your Computer Is on Fire
can learn from this history to Adams Prize from the American
Women in AI Ethics, “a global (MIT Press, March 2021), a
avoid replicating destructive Historical Association.
initiative with a mission collection of essays.
patterns over and over again.”
to increase recognition, Hicks is now at work on a
representation, and book about the “hidden histories”
empowerment of women in of electronic computing.
[Artificial Intelligence] Ethics,” “It teaches us new historical
according to its website. lessons by illuminating
The initiative is sponsored histories that have not
by the Social Good Fund, a yet been told,” Hicks says.
California-based nonprofit. “These examples give us
“It’s a great honor to be new conceptual tools for
named to this list, which understanding how we got
includes both women and into some of the technological
nonbinary people this year,” messes we’re currently
Hicks says. “The people on this dealing with, as well as how
list are luminaries in STEM we can get out.”
and humanities fields whose
2 | BIG PICTURE
New research from Illinois Institute
of Technology biology Ph.D. student
A BUG’S LIFE
Dakota Bunn (Ph.D. BIOL Candidate)
is providing insight into the habits of
the western bean cutworm, a pest to
(IN MICHIGAN) corn and dry beans that is native to
the western Great Plains but has found
its way to Michigan. Bunn published
his research on the activities of the
cutworm in the February 2021 issue
of Environmental Entomology, in a
paper titled “Contribution of Larvae
Developing on Corn and Dry Beans to
the Adult Population of Western Bean
Cutworm in Michigan.”
The cutworm, which is actually a
type of moth, is now present in 25 states
and four Canadian provinces. Corn
and dry bean farmers in Michigan have
separate methods of pest management
for dealing with the cutworm: a naturally
occurring soil bacterium called Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) is used to alter the
genetic makeup of corn, helping the crop
to develop its own insecticidal properties,
while a liquid insecticide is applied to the
leaves of the dry bean plants.
“When using these techniques, we
have to be conscious of resistance
development, so normally a portion
of each field is not treated to keep
treatment susceptibility in the pest
population,” Bunn says. “We wanted to
know if the moths that fed on beans as
larvae were interacting with the moths
that fed on corn as larvae, and if these
crops could be used as a type of co-refuge
for each other.”
Bunn and his colleagues captured
moths over two summers in central
Michigan, froze them, and then conduced
a stable carbon isotope analysis on
their wings and heads, which revealed
whether the adult moths fed on corn
beans in the larval state.
“Overall, we found that very few moths
that we captured developed on dry beans,
and almost all moths that we captured
developed on corn,” Bunn says. “We were
able to determine that corn and beans
are not suitable as co-refuges, and that
mainly adults that developed on corn are
contributing to the next generation of
western bean cutworm in Michigan.”
Dakota Bunn uses phase
contrast microscopy to Bunn says the findings underscore the
examine Nosema spores, need to continue to closely monitor the
a type of spore-forming cutworms’ resistance to the insecticide
unicellular parasite, in the used for corn.
western bean cutworm. He
hopes to better understand
the frequency of the
infection in the moths and
how it could affect them
and their general biology.
BIG PICTURE | 3
STUDENTS ON THE RISE
RESEARCHING BODY IMAGE IN
BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN
Now on the brink of defending though, culturally speaking, fit [Black women’s]
her dissertation, Illinois in Western society we’ve experiences so as
Institute of Technology stepped away from the thin to explain what’s
clinical psychology Ph.D. body ideal. We can see that in been happening
candidate Talissa Dorsaint celebrity culture, specifically in the research for
is preparing to share her with athletes such as the last few years.”
findings on the body image Serena Williams in a classic Dorsaint is
experiences of Black and athletic body. We also see still processing
white women. Dorsaint, a changes in bodies in a more the data from
graduate student researcher curvaceous way—thinking her study, but
in Associate Professor of about your Kim Kardashians hypothesizes that
Psychology Alissa Haedt- and Beyoncés, and even Black women
Matt’s Eating Behaviors considering how beauty exposed to a
Lab, collected data from standards have changed in curvy body ideal
400 United States women terms of plastic surgery. We’re will report larger
online, 200 Black and 200 noticing that there’s more of a increases in body
white. Participants completed desire for that body type.” dissatisfaction
questionnaires pertaining Dorsaint says existing than white women
to body dissatisfaction and research has tended to show exposed to the
disordered eating, and were 2020 after founding both
that Black women experience same ideal. Going
randomly exposed to either the program’s student-led
body dissatisfaction with forward, she hopes to publish
10 images of thin Black and diversity committee and
limited explanation as to why. this research in an academic
white bodies or 10 images of the Chicagoland Diversity
journal. As a student in the
curvy Black and white bodies. “That was always compared
clinical psychology Ph.D. Committee Network, which
against the thin ideal, which
“Our research is showing program, Dorsaint has also brings clinical psychology
comes from sort of a white
that body ideals have changed been recognized for her Ph.D. students in Illinois
societal standard of what it
drastically in the last 10 years, commitment to diversity together to discuss best
means to be thin,” she says. “I
and that’s why I’m focusing and inclusion; she received practices for their programs’
thought it would be a good
on curvaceous body ideals,” the program’s inaugural diversity committees.
idea to look into additional
Dorsaint says. “It seems as Social Justice Award in
body ideals that might better
SKY’S THE LIMIT
Third-year student Diana gas chromatography, it was possible to be a
Csercse is the first- high-performance liquid chemist and work for NASA. I
ever Illinois Institute of chromatography, ultraviolet- should’ve known, but it was
Technology student to visible spectrometry, and almost an unreachable goal
enroll in the new Bachelor atomic spectrometry in my brain. When we spoke,
of Science in Bioanalytical machines. We write she not only gave me her
Chemistry program, which extensive reports to finish email to connect with her, but
itself is the first program off the experience.” she applauded me. She said,
of its kind in the United Csercse is also making
‘NASA looks for people like
States. A native of Brasov, you: someone who will make
valuable connections at
Romania, Csercse is now their way up and introduce
Illinois Tech, including with
gaining hands-on experience industry experts who visit themselves. She showed me it
in an Analytical Method her classes as guest speakers. is possible.”
Development Lab course. One guest in particular—a Csercse says she plans to
“This is an important bioanalytical chemist find a laboratory job upon
lab because we are able working at NASA—made a graduation and work her way
to directly experience potentially life-changing up in the field.
the equipment and impression on Csercse. “I do dream big, with one
work through the data “[The fact that she worked ultimate goal, and that is to
analysis,” Csercse says. for NASA] gave me chills,” work for NASA,” she says.
“We have worked with Csercse says. “I didn’t know
4 | BIG PICTURE
FEATURE
INVENTING THE
IMPOSSIBLE
By Linsey Maughan
What if
your toothbrush could detect a
gum infection, helping to prevent
the need for dental surgery? Or if
cocoons from silkworms could help
restore vital tissue in the female
body? These are just two of the
latest scientific advancements
underway in Professor of Chemistry
Rong Wang’s research lab.
BIG PICTURE | 5
FEATURE
A clinical sample of thin-sectioned pelvic floor tissue is fixed on a
glass surface for the nanoscopic study of collagen fibrils’ structure
and biomechanics to determine the stage of prolapse.
“We make basic science useful in practical applications for serious gum infection that can result in dental surgery for a
improving the quality of life,” says Wang, who is celebrating patient if not treated early. The Centers for Disease Control and
20 years of teaching and research at Illinois Institute of Prevention reports that nearly 50 percent of adults have some
Technology this year. “I always tell my students that I partner form of periodontal disease.
with them to explore new areas and find solutions by invention. “Periodontitis often progresses without noticeable symptoms,
I love to see the sparkles in my students’ eyes. Seeing them leaving patients to seek professional care only after the
defend their thesis with great confidence is fulfilling.” periodontium is considerably destroyed,” Wang says. “Due to
Originally from China, Wang studied physics as an its multifactorial nature, periodontitis cannot be effectively
undergraduate at Jilin University in Changchun, China, and diagnosed by a single biomarker or a set of markers in one
then studied chemistry as a doctoral student at the University category. Therefore, there is a clinical need to develop a sensor
of Tokyo. After completing her Ph.D., Wang conducted biology device that measures an array of periodontitis-associated
research as a post-doc at Los Alamos National Laboratory in biomarkers in saliva for frequent and longitudinal monitoring.”
New Mexico. Her diverse roots remain evident in the broad Wang and her colleagues will work to develop novel sensor
perspective she brings to the research projects taking place in modalities capable of detecting a variety of chemicals in
her lab today. saliva. The sensors will be placed in a microfluidic device—
“I love the idea of tackling a biological problem with also referred to as a “lab-on-a-chip”—that will be placed
chemical and physical approaches, so my research is quite inside a toothbrush that will send low-power signals and
interdisciplinary,” Wang says. “I am particularly excited about communication to clinicians using technologies such as
learning from natural biological processes, then tailoring Bluetooth and Linux. Data collected from human subjects
functional materials and inventing new methods for early will inform how machine-learning models are built. The team
disease diagnosis, prevention of disease progression, and has received funding support from the Pritzker Institute
effective treatments.” of Biomedical Science and Engineering via the Exploratory
Initiative Program, enabling researchers to begin the work
THE FUTURE OF TOOTHBRUSHING
of developing sensor modalities. It continues to develop
proposals for additional funding from the federal government
In 2020 Wang, along with a multidisciplinary team of 15 other and other sources.
faculty members from Illinois Tech and the University of “By integrating research advances in sensing elements,
Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, began work toward microfluidics, communications, data analysis, and artificial
the development of a saliva-based point-of-care sensor device intelligence, we would ultimately like to develop a Smart
that will enable the detection of early signs of periodontitis, a Total Oral Care system that can be used for unobtrusive,
6 | BIG PICTURE
accurate, and real-time saliva-based “effectively avoiding complications in Sammarco at Rush University Medical
self-monitoring for health care,” Wang other approaches, such as immunological Center and Margot Damaser at Cleveland
says. “Such a device will assist in the rejection of cells derived from other Clinic Lerner Research Institute.
modern clinical advancements, such individuals; complicated control of The team is also developing flexible,
as teledentistry and telemedicine, by isolation, expansion, and differentiation transparent silk films for potential use as
which the number or duration of onsite conditions of stem cells; or heterogeneity corneal scaffolds, contact lens material,
clinical visits will be reduced with between cells of the same type but from and scaffolds for gum healing.
such quantitative data in hand. New different origin.” Beyond smart toothbrushes and
commercial products can be developed silk-inspired tissue rejuvenation,
based on the biosensor, such as smart Wang and her student researchers
toothbrushes and wearable oral devices “I am particularly are also collaborating on a project
similar to nightguards.” with the United States Food and Drug
Additional Illinois Tech faculty
excited about Administration aimed at understanding
members involved in the project learning from natural foodborne virus adhesion to different
include Assistant Professor of surfaces. FDA Staff Scientist Carol Shieh
Biomedical Engineering Abhinav biological processes, is the principal investigator; Wang is the
Bhushan; Gladwin Development Chair then tailoring co-PI. They received a $50,000 grant from
Assistant Professor of Computer the FDA through October 2021. Wang and
Science Yan Yan; Industry Associate functional materials her lab have so far supported the project
Professor of Information Technology and inventing new through research determining the design
and Management Jeremy Hajek; and of a surface’s chemical composition and
from the Department of Chemistry, methods for early nanostructure, which she says helped
professors Richard Guan, Ishaque Khan, informed options for ways to control
and Yuanbing Mao, Research Professor
disease diagnosis, viral adhesion and transmission to and
John Green, and Associate Professor of prevention of disease from food contact surfaces.
Chemistry David Minh.
progression, and Research reported in this publication
was supported by the Eunice Kennedy
PELVIC FLOOR effective treatments.” Shriver National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development of
RESTORATION—WITH –Rong Wang the National Institutes of Health under
SOME HELP FROM Award Number R15HD096410. The
content is solely the responsibility of
SILKWORMS The project began with the use of
the authors and does not necessarily
represent the official views of the
Additional research ongoing in spider silk proteins, but the team later National Institutes of Health. Additional
Wang’s lab includes a project utilizing replaced them with silkworm silk research reported in this article was
cocoons from silkworms to support proteins, which Wang says are “abundant
supported by a grant from the U.S. Food
the regeneration and restoration of and cheap” and have proven effective
and Drug Administration under award
pelvic floor tissue in women to help for use in cell stimulation. The cocoon number FDA-CFSAN-CARTS IF01673.
treat pelvic organ prolapse. Prolapse research is funded by a $440,000 grant The content is solely the responsibility
occurs when muscles and tissue in the from the National Institutes of Health; of the authors and does not necessarily
female body weaken and can no longer collaborators on the project include Anne
represent the official views of the FDA.
hold pelvic organs including the
uterus, bladder, and rectum in
place. Wang says the silk material Chemistry Ph.D. fourth-year student Elwin Clutter
can help revive the function of examines cell response to aligned fibers and
fibroblasts—cells that help make electrical stimulation through a microscope.
up the structural framework
of tissue—through an in vitro
electrical stimulation process. A
cell-imbedded fiber matrix can be
injected or applied as an internal
bandage or implant, and can
be repeatedly used to stimulate
the cells’ renewal through a
medicated electrical-stimulation
process. The matrices degrade in
approximately 20 days and should
be replaced by native tissue.
“The use of autologous [patient’s
own healthy] cells to treat, for
example, connective tissue
wounds or disorders, is relatively
safe and simple,” Wang says,
BIG PICTURE | 7
FACULTY UPDATES
ADVANCING THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
Since fall 2020, IIT Research Institute virus to the cell will reduce viral
(IITRI) has performed preclinical infectivity and disease severity.”
efficacy and safety studies of several McCormick and his team
dozen novel agents designed to prevent conducted two safety assessments
or treat COVID-19—among them, an of inhaled ACE2 in fall 2020.
inhaled recombinant protein to prevent Endpoint evaluations in both
COVID-19 infection. The inhaled therapy studies have been completed, and
will soon advance to the United States final study reports were submitted
Food and Drug Administration for to the NCI in March. These reports
approval and, if approved, will advance will become part of a larger
to clinical trials led by the National submission to the FDA to support
Institutes of Health. approval of the clinical trial, which
David McCormick, a professor of could begin within 30 working
biology and president and director of days of submission.
IITRI, is leading the project. In September, Since October 1, 2020, IITRI
McCormick received $597,893 from the has been awarded more than
National Cancer Institute to perform $7.8 million in funding for other people have not been vaccinated and
a research project titled “Inhalation COVID-19 research projects. Funders remain at risk of the disease,” he says.
Studies of Recombinant Human include the U.S. Department of Defense, “Development of safe and effective agents
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2.” the U.S. Department of Health and to prevent and/or treat COVID-19 has the
“Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 Human Services Biomedical Advanced potential to save thousands of lives.”
(ACE2) is the receptor molecule to Research and Development Authority,
which SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus and nearly 30 biotechnology and small Funding for the inhalation study
responsible for COVID-19, binds in pharma companies. McCormick says the reported in this article was supported
human cells,” McCormick says. “The idea work involves evaluation of the efficacy by National Cancer Institute contract
is that administration of this molecule of biotherapeutics and small-molecule 75N91019D00013 (Task Order
by inhalation will provide non-cellular therapeutics, as well as preclinical 75N91020F00002). The content is solely
targets in the respiratory tract to which toxicology and pharmacology studies. the responsibility of the authors and does
the virus will bind, thereby reducing not necessarily represent the official views
“Although the rollout of COVID-19 of the NCI.
virus binding to ACE2 on the surface vaccines has begun, many millions of
of lung cells. Reduced binding of the
UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL DISTANCING DEFIANCE
New research from associate 2020, inspired by a call Study participants a top peer-reviewed journal in
professors of psychology for projects from the were randomly assigned the next couple of months.
Nikki Legate and Arlen Psychological Science one of three conditions: “Informing more effective
Moller has engaged 27,190 Accelerator, a network of an autonomy-supportive public health messaging can
people from 89 different labs around the world, to use message that inspired save lives, not just in the
countries to explore the psychological science to help reflective choices, a context of social distancing,
motivation behind social- solve global problems related controlling message about but for promoting lots of
distancing practices. Legate to COVID-19. Legate and social distancing that was other health behaviors, too,”
and Moller collected data Moller’s study participants forceful and shaming, or no Moller says.
from April to September included members of the labs message at all. Afterward,
as well as individuals those participants were asked
labs recruited. about their intentions to
socially distance, or not, as
“The mission of this project
well as their motivations.
is to find universally effective
Legate and Moller found
ways of motivating people to
that the controlling message
engage in social distancing
increased likelihood of
around the world, and to see
defiance as well as controlled
whether there are unintended
motivation, or a feeling
costs of using common
of social distancing only
motivational strategies like
because one has to. They aim
shaming and pressuring
to publish this research with
people,” Legate says.
8 | BIG PICTUREEVALUATING RAHM EMANUEL
Associate Professor of Political Science finances and infrastructure than his
Daniel Bliss is co-authoring a book predecessor had been, and also much
chapter about former Chicago mayor more clued in on trends of economic
Rahm Emanuel for a new book on development,” Bliss says. “But at
Chicago’s mayors, forthcoming from the same time, he had very serious
University of Illinois Press in early difficulty with the human resources
2023, titled Modern Mayors of Chicago: side of the city, with some very
From Harold Washington to Lori significant personnel failures and
Lightfoot. Bliss, whose first book is very low morale with both the police
Economic Development and Governance department and the teachers, [and]
in Small Town America: Paths to significant cuts in city spending that
Growth (Routledge, 2018), says his new fell disproportionately on severely is editing the book. Bliss’s co-author
research points to a complex mix of disadvantaged people, such as sharp for the chapter on Emanuel is Kari
strengths and weaknesses in Emanuel’s cutbacks in mental health provision.” Lydersen, author of the Emanuel-themed
performance as mayor. book Mayor 1%: Rahm Emanuel and the
Dick Simpson, a professor of political
Rise of Chicago’s 99% and a journalism
“What you have is a mayor who was science at the University of Illinois at
instructor at Northwestern University.
certainly a more adept manager of Chicago and a former Chicago alderman,
HEAD IN THE STARS
As young girls growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal, Rakshya fundamental science and quantum computing. Fermilab is a
Khatiwada and her sister would climb atop the roof of their partner in the Quantum Science Center.
family home, gaze up into the night sky full of stars, and
“The project’s goal is to use state-of-the-art electronics
“formulate ideas about how the universe worked,” Khatiwada
developed at Fermilab to control and read out a large array of
says. The two preferred this activity over watching television.
novel quantum sensors and devices, which have application in
They also both grew up to earn doctorates in physics.
quantum computing and detector development for dark matter
Khatiwada is now the newest faculty hire in the Department physics, among other areas,” Khatiwada says. “Right now, we
of Physics, having joined Illinois Institute of Technology in are in the process of finalizing the specifications of a cryostat,
August 2020 with a joint appointment as an assistant professor a dilution refrigerator, which is the test-stand that will house
at Illinois Tech and an associate scientist at Fermilab. She holds the large array of quantum sensors and devices. We are also
bachelor’s degrees in physics trying to design the details of
and mathematics from Linfield the interesting novel sensors we
University and a Ph.D. in physics Rakshya Khatiwada works on a want to work with.”
from Purdue University. She dilution refrigerator at Fermilab.
Khatiwada’s additional
completed a postdoc at the
research involves ultra-low-noise
University of Washington in
particle detectors and the use
Seattle before joining Fermilab
of quantum sensors and devices
for her second postdoc.
for the detection of dark matter,
Today, Khatiwada is engaged which makes up more than five
in quantum information science times the matter content of the
research, an area Illinois Tech known universe.
is expanding into with her help.
“This is not ordinary matter
Quantum information science
like you, me, people, planets, and
combines computing and sensing
stars are made of,” Khatiwada
with quantum mechanics, a core
says. “Mostly this research is
physics theory regarding the
motivated by the fundamental
physical properties of atoms and
question of trying to understand
subatomic particles. Khatiwada
the universe.”
is serving as a principal
investigator on a $4.5 million, Khatiwada has several Illinois
five-year project under the Tech undergraduate and graduate
Quantum Science Center led by students working on her projects
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, at Fermilab and looks forward to
one of five national quantum working with more. She is also
initiative centers funded by leading the effort to develop a
the Department of Energy to new quantum computing course
bring together national labs, that will be offered to Illinois
industries, and academia to work Tech’s undergraduates in the
on quantum science research. spring of 2022.
The project involves quantum
sensors that are used for both
BIG PICTURE | 9ALUMNI SUCCESSES
MEAT INDUSTRY ROCK STAR
In a facility located in Chicago’s historic stockyards
district, Liang Bennett (BCHM ’15, M.S. FST ’16)
is putting her Illinois Institute of Technology
food safety training to good use, overseeing all
regulatory compliance for Chicago Meat Authority
(CMA), a meat-processing company working with
hundreds of meat buyers and producers. With
the title “technical assurance manager,” Bennett
supervises quality assurance and food safety and
serves as a liaison to the federal government.
“I am the main point of contact for government
agencies such as the United States Department
of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection
Service,” Bennett says. “I also oversee our
research and development team for any new
product development.”
Prior to joining CMA in 2018, Bennett worked
with raw and ready-to-eat foods, bakery
operations, coffee, confections, and the beverage industry. In 2019
she was recognized by the North American Meat Institute (NAMI)
and the International Production & Processing Expo as one of 30
people under age 30 demonstrating exceptional leadership in the
meat industry. She was also named one of 10 Leaders of Tomorrow
by the Food Marketing Institute and NAMI during their Annual Meat
Conference in 2020.
“I love what I do,” Bennett says. “The meat industry is incredibly
fast-paced, and there are so many learning opportunities here. I
enjoy seeing a project through from start to finish and being able to
walk across all of the processing steps, from examining raw material
integrity, determining quality and food safety parameters, and scaling
up pilot plant trials to full-blown plant runs, to finished product
packaging and testing. Being able to hold the finished product and Liang Bennett uses a caliper to measure the thickness of a steak
understand I had a part in its inception is pretty incredible.” per Chicago Meat Authority’s quality inspection procedures.
BUILDING BRAND AWARENESS
As a communications specialist at who they follow, who they find to be
GoodMorning.com, one of Canada’s influential to make meaningful content
largest independent online mattress and messaging that they connect with,”
retailers and fastest-growing companies, he says. “I will forever pursue the
Brook Bell (HUM ’16) says every day is challenge to build brand awareness, trust,
an adventure. and a brand’s reputation with consumers
in the ever-changing media landscape,
“As an independent company, we built
regardless of the medium (traditional,
everything from the ground up,” he says.
web, social media, etc.).”
“We are constantly researching, testing,
and vetting the latest trends and figuring Bell plans to continue on in
out what our own best practices are.” communications and hopes to advance
to a manager or director position in
Bell, who now lives in Edmonton,
the future. Outside of work, he says he
Alberta, Canada, handles offsite review
enjoys going for runs and spending time
management, onsite review moderation,
with his girlfriend and his dog, a shorkie
moderation of social media profiles, and
named Jenny.
more in his current role.
“I am passionate about understanding
our brand’s audience—what they love,
10 | BIG PICTURERADIATION SAFETY PRO
Since graduating with his master’s and nuclear safety, including the
degree in health physics, Sandor Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Demeter (M.S. HP ’16) has applied his and the International Commission on
subject matter expertise to his work in Radiological Protection.
multiple areas. An associate professor of Demeter says he loves that the field
radiology at the University of Manitoba of health physics offers a blend of both
in Winnipeg, Canada, he has published physics and biology.
academic research related to health
physics, including studies on economics “From subatomic particle physics to
and radiation protection in medical policies to protect workers, the public,
settings, the effects of radiation, and and the environment, health physics
more. He also runs his own nuclear offers a stimulating and rewarding
medicine clinical practice and serves on career path,” he says.
multiple committees related to radiation
Olurotimi “Timi” Akindele (PS ’15) got his first taste of
DEDICATED TO PUBLIC
public service work while serving as president of the Student
Government Association and the African Student Association
SERVICE
at Harold Washington College, where he attended college
before transferring to Illinois Institute of Technology.
“That experience shaped and developed my keen interest
and admiration for public administration, public policy, and
political science,” he says. “So when I applied for admission
to Illinois Tech, I already had a major to target and a degree of
choice to earn.”
Akindele was born in Jos, Nigeria, and spent his childhood
there; then his family moved to Chicago, where Akindele
attended high school and college. After graduating with his
B.S. in political science in 2015, Akindele earned a master’s in
communication and management at Northwestern University.
He worked in consulting before joining the Federal Reserve
Bank of Chicago, where he helped advance industry relations
and stakeholder engagement, and then the United States
Department of Commerce, where he managed a U.S. Census
Bureau recruitment team and helped recruit, organize, and
develop census workers.
Today, Akindele works as an emergency management
specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he
implements disaster plans, policies, guidance, and initiatives.
“The workload specifically covers communicating and
collaborating with other federal, state, and local agencies,
volunteer organizations, and faith-based organizations to
assist communities and disaster survivors with emergency
recovery planning, disaster-assistance programs, and case
status updates,” he says.
In terms of future plans, learning is at the core of
Akindele’s priorities.
“I was taught the advantage of knowledge—that the most
successful people are the ones who have the best information,”
he says. “So my future career goal is to become more
knowledgeable—to evolve in the right direction and become the
best version of myself.”
BIG PICTURE | 11iit.edu/science-letters
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