College of Arts & Sciences, University of Memphis

SAMANTHA DREWRY, graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences lead an Herbarium workshop this week at the University of Memphis. Students learned how to press and mount specimen, produce labels, and enter specimen into the SERNEC herbarium consortium data portal. They created specimens for an endangered sunflower, increasing resources for this rare species for future research and scientific use. 🌻🌻

Our 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 series spotlights some of the most active and accomplished researchers across various disciplines at the UofM.

Dr. Vasile Rus’ research focuses on transforming the learning ecosystem through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science to better understand how students learn. The overall goal is to improve learning environments that use technologies such as intelligent learning systems.

📰 | lnk.bio/uofmemphis

LANDSLIDE INVESTIGATION IN TENNESSEE RIVER GORGE
Could a landslide have caused a prehistoric megaflood in the Tennessee River Gorge?
DR. RACHEL (RAY) LOMBARDI, assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, was recently awarded a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority to investigate potential flood mechanisms of a pre-historic megaflood on the Tennessee River.
Full details can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/25yjgwm5

Congrats on finishing summer classes, Tigers! 🐯 Starting Saturday, August 3, our hours will change for the interim period in August. Longer hours return on the first day of classes, Monday, August 26. For hours at all University Libraries locations, go to https://libcal.memphis.edu/hours

UOFM POSTS STRONG PERFORMANCE AT SETCA
Chemistry students won at poster sessions and presented an oral talk during annual meeting
Four faculty members, two postdoctoral workers, and six graduate students from the UM Department of Chemistry attended the 2024 SETCA meeting, possibly the largest number of representatives from UM in the storied history of the conference. UM attendees also had their strongest ever performance in the SETCA poster sessions. DR. DOMINIQUE WAPPETT (postdoc in the DeYonker group) and TJ SUHAGIA (fifth year graduate student in the DeYonker group) each won a poster session award. BRINTON ELDRIDGE (second year graduate student in the Wang group) was one of only three grad students selected to give a contributed oral talk during the meeting and then also won a poster session award!
Full details can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/2b67sv7a

MEMPHIS COLLABORATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM
The Center for Community Research and Evaluation received $225k as a sub-recipient from the City of Memphis Police Department
In 2024, The Center for Community Research and Evaluation (CCRE) received a $225,000 award as a sub-recipient from the City of Memphis Police Department’s grant “Collaborative Crisis Response Training Program”. The grant is funded by the U.S Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to support local police jurisdictions, community partners, and other stakeholders to promote public safety for those involved in mental and behavioral health crisis situations.
Full details can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/28tgwvks

OPPORTUNITIES TO REVITALIZE THE REGIONAL AG ECONOMY

Growing agricultural diversity, production & prosperity in the Mid-South Mississippi Delta. For more information on this initiative, contact Dr. Jennifer Mandel, director of ACRE: Agricultural & Conservation Research & Education and associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, at [email protected]. Media Release: https://tinyurl.com/29hppsee

REMEMBERING LUTHER C. MCCLELLAN AS FIRST MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY AFRICAN AMERICAN GRADUATE

The University of Memphis is honoring the life and legacy of a trailblazer, Memphis State Eight member Luther C. McClellan, upon the news of his passing July 12. McClellan was 83.

McClellan was the first Black person to graduate from Memphis State University, in 1962. As a member of the Memphis State Eight — the first group of African American students admitted to the University in 1959 — he helped integrate Memphis State University.
Full Details at: https://tinyurl.com/27c4v7at

NASA AWARD RECEIVED FOR PROJECT: "GA-MER"
Citizen science-based classification of galaxy mergers using the two-dimensional stellar kinematics of nearby galaxies observed with MaNGA
A recent award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was given for the project “GA-MER: Citizen science-based classification of galaxy mergers using the two-dimensional stellar kinematics of nearby galaxies observed with MaNGA,” to the University of Memphis and Dr. Francisco Muller-Sanchez, assistant professor of Physics and Materials Sciences. Muller-Sanchez will serve as PI.
https://tinyurl.com/29jf6u4l

MAJOR PUSH INTO NEXT GENERATION SUPPLY CHAIN
FedEx Institute of Technology funds eight projects in inaugural technologies/innovation challenge. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/25hxrtyl

NSF FUNDS EV / AUTOMATED TRUCKING CENTER
UofM receives NSF IUCRC award to establish Center for Electrified and Automated Trucking (CEAT). Full Details: https://tinyurl.com/2xo7eyxm

Congratulations, Noah! 👏👏👏

Please join us in congratulating Noah Molder, a 2024 honors graduate, for winning an $8,500 Phi Kappa Phi graduate fellowship to support his graduate study in mathematical sciences at the University of Memphis. Noah received many awards during his senior year, including the Dean's Outstanding Senior Award from the College of Arts & Sciences, University of Memphis. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4cV7gGk

RESEARCHERS FIND EVIDENCE OF LONG-LOST NILE TRIBUTARY
University of Memphis professor of Egyptology part of the Interdisciplinary Discovery Trio. Details: https://tinyurl.com/2g62bhem

Fall semester is right around the corner! Don’t miss out on funding for your education by waiting to submit your 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Get started at fafsa.gov 𝗡𝗢𝗪!

The University of Memphis will establish the Center for Electrified and Automated Trucking (CEAT) in collaboration with Purdue University after receiving an award from the National Science Foundation’s Industry-University Cooperative Research Center.

CEAT will be a premier research center dedicated to the future of automation, electrification and workforce development in the trucking and transit industries.

Full Article: lnk.bio/uofmemphis

Today, we remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage will never be forgotten.

🇺🇸

Happy 𝟮𝟬𝟱𝘁𝗵 birthday, Memphis 〽️ 🎉

The Egyptian pyramid chain was built along the now abandoned Ahramat Nile Branch - Communications Earth & Environment The pyramids of the Western desert in Egypt were built alongside a now extinct branch of the Nile River named as the Ahramat Branch and identified using a combination of radar satellite imagery, geophysical data and deep soil coring.

Department of Chemistry WINS BIG at SETCA
The largest cohort of students and faculty members in the department attended the 52nd meeting of the Southeastern Theoretical Chemistry Association. Postdoc DOMINIQUE WAPPETT and graduate student TJ SUHAGIA won poster session awards. BRINTON ELDRIDGE was selected to give an oral talk and won for his poster session. Very Impressive!
(photo l to r: Domi Wappett, Brinton Eldridge and TJ Suhagia)
Drs. Qianyi Cheng, Nathan DeYonker and Daniel Nascimento will organize SETCA in 2025 at the UofM.

Our 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 series spotlights some of the most active and accomplished researchers across various disciplines at the UofM.

Dr. Xiaohua Huang's research focuses on the development of advanced nanomaterials and related technologies for cancer detection and laser treatment, particularly blood-based early cancer detection and metastasis prediction.

To learn more about Huang, visit lnk.bio/uofmemphis.

Sites of Power / Sites of Death Study Abroad

DRS. CHRYSTAL GOUDSOUZIAN and BEN GRAHAM, Department of History currently with 23 students in Italy. Pictured is half the group at the Coliseum. Off to Greece tomorrow! Have FUN!
Learn More: https://www.memphis.edu/history/undergraduate/study_abroad.php

Don’t miss out on funding for your education by waiting to submit your 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Get started at fafsa.gov 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬!

The Kohlmeier lab (Mira Umarova, Allie Abbott, and Dr. Philip Kohlmeier) at the for ant collections. Always the best time of the year! Read more about the work in the Kohlmeier lab at https://kohlmeierlab.com/

Scene from Saturday's graduation. Faculty present were Drs. Emily Pucket, Leigh Boardman (all fancy in her red regalia) Matthew Parris, Amy Abell, Carlos Estraño, and David Freeman. Congratulations to all our graduates!

The College of Arts and Sciences is seeking candidates for a Web Specialist II. If you know someone who might be a great fit, please feel free to share the posting!

https://workforum.memphis.edu/postings/40446