We are at Week 10 @RITscience Scholars! This is a great time to reflect on your progress, assess where you stand, and make adjustments as we head toward the finish line! 3 Ways to Roar this week: Check your grades and upcoming deadlines, take advantage of the Academic Success Center, and respond to any academic alerts. t.e2ma.net/message/8kngsp/cc… Let’s finish the semester strong!

Today, I am filled with tremendous gratitude and pride as I receive the 40 for 40 Award from my beloved alma mater, Virginia Union Uiversity @VAUnion1865 (VUU) in recognition of my contributions to education. There is something truly special about the HBCU experience that simply cannot be replicated or duplicated. VUU holds a very special place in my heart, not simply because it is where I earned my undergraduate degree, but because it helped shape the person, scientist, educator, and leader I am today. It was at Virginia Union that I fell in love with science, discovered my confidence, and learned firsthand the incredible power of mentorship and peer impact. It was where I was truly inoculated with a passion for scientific discovery, a passion that continues to drive me today. And speaking of mentorship, some 30 years later, my undergraduate mentor and I remain in touch, and that individual continues to be a source of encouragement, guidance, and support. That is the power of relationships cultivated at an HBCU. They extend far beyond graduation! VUU is also where I discovered the meaning of brotherhood through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where I met my lifelong best friend, Jonathan Webb and, perhaps most importantly, where my journey became intertwined with that of the love of my life, my wife Candice, who is also a proud VUU alumna! When I reflect on my journey, I realize that so much of what I value today, the importance of education, service, mentorship, community, lifting others as we climb, and creating opportunities for the next generation, was nurtured on those hallowed grounds. To Virginia Union University, thank you for seeing the potential in a young man from Jamaica, for nurturing that potential, and for providing an environment where I could learn, grow, stumble, find my footing, and ultimately discover my purpose. I am forever indebted to the faculty, staff, mentors, classmates, and friends who helped shape my journey. I am deeply humbled to be recognized among the 40 for 40 honorees and proud to represent an institution that has given me and others so much. “Thy hallowed grounds and dear old walls… Union, we still love thee!”

It’s always a pleasure to welcome RITchie the @RITscience! Whether it’s catching up over a cup of java or enjoying a friendly game of chess, there’s never a dull moment when RITchie stops by!

Is AI just a stochastic parrot or an apocalypse waiting to happen? Join us at @RITtigers for the 2026 Fram Signature Lecture featuring Kerrie Holley, renowned technologist, engineer, author, and member of the National Academy of Engineering. Tuesday, November 3, 2026 3:30-5:00 PM Ingle Auditorium Information and registration: rit.edu/events/rit-fram-sign… Reception to follow at RIT's Fireside Lounge. Free and open to the community! We encourage our scholars, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to attend this timely and thought-provoking conversation.

We have a very exciting week ahead in the @RITscience Check it out here: t.e2ma.net/message/06i1rp/cc…

Thank you to our @RITscience alumni, families, and friends who joined us this morning for the College of Science Brick City Science Fair! Special thanks to our faculty, staff, scholars, and student clubs for their time and effort in making the event welcoming, engaging, and fun for everyone. It was great to see our COS community come together to share their passion for science with our visitors. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success! Go Tigers!

One of the best ways to deepen your own learning is by helping others succeed! I encourage our @RITscience scholars to consider becoming a Learning Assistant (rit.edu/learningassistant/) for Spring 2027. This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with faculty mentors, develop leadership and communication skills, and positively impact your peers. All majors are welcome, and there is no GPA requirement! Priority Deadline: November 15 Learn more and apply: t.e2ma.net/message/g7pnrp/cc… Questions? Contact Dr. Archie Dobaria [email protected].

Please join me in welcoming @RITscience scholar Krishna Tangirala to the Hudson Lab and our research team! Krishna is a first-year scholar from Brighton, New York, pursuing a BS/MS in Biotechnology and Molecular Biosciences/Biological Sciences through RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelors/Masters (CABM) program. With a passion for molecular and cellular biology, Krishna aspires to pursue a career in industry research, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. Outside the classroom and laboratory, he enjoys singing and cycling. Krishna will contribute to our ongoing research focused on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic discovery, particularly investigating natural products with potential antibacterial activity against the ESKAPE group of pathogens. We are excited to have Krishna join our team and look forward to supporting his growth as a young scientist while advancing our research on novel antibacterial compounds. Welcome to the Hudson Lab, Krishna!

Calling all @RITscience scholars! Interested in getting involved in research? Join us for the Science & Math Research Mixer! Science and Math Research Mixer Friday, October 23 3:30 - 4:30pm A300 Gosnell Hall & Atrium This is a great opportunity to explore research happening across the College of Science, connect with facultyand staff, and learn how you can get involved in research! Whether you’re just starting your academic journey or looking to expand your research experience, we encourage you to attend! Learn more and RSVP here: t.e2ma.net/message/wnljrp/cc…

We’re excited to welcome @RITscience alumnus, Dr. David Cooper, Vice President of Clinical Immunology at Pfizer, on Monday, October 19, for a seminar and workshop! 1:00–1:50 p.m.-Georgia Gosnell Seminar Series 4:00–5:00 p.m. -Life Science Workshop Both events will be held in Gosnell Hall Rm: A300 Workshop RSVP: brnw.ch/21x6p40

Thank you to all the prospective scholars and families who joined us today for our @RITscience Open House! It was a pleasure meeting and interacting with you! I hope you enjoyed learning about our programs and, of course, our liquid nitrogen ice cream! Special thanks to our COS Student Activities Board Ambassadors for their outstanding leadership and support! Couldn’t join us today? We have two more opportunities this fall: October 24 and November 14! Register: rit.edu/admissions/open-hous… Explore COS: rit.edu/science/

Congratulations to our @RITscience Dean’s List honorees! Your commitment to excellence, perseverance, and hard work inspires us all. You’ve set a high bar for achievement, and your success reflects the spirit of curiosity and discovery that defines RIT Science. Thank you to our academic unit heads for your leadership and dedication in supporting our scholars and fostering a culture of excellence across the college. Well done, scholars. Onward and upward!

We are excited to welcome prospective scholars and their families to our first @RITscience Open House of the fall! We look forward to sharing the incredible academic and research opportunities, experiences, and community that make RIT and COS such special places to learn, discover, and grow! Couldn’t join us? You have two more opportunities: October 24 and November 14! Learn more and register for an Open House: rit.edu/admissions/open-hous… Explore our COS academic and research programs: rit.edu/science/

3 Ways to ROAR This Week! Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend is almost here (October 16–18)! Scholars, take time to connect with family, friends, and alumni while celebrating our RIT community! Don’t miss the @RITscience Science Fair on Saturday, October 17, from 9–11 a.m. in the Gosnell Atrium! Learn more: t.e2ma.net/message/c0l4qp/cc…

Please join me in congratulating @RITscience and Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science faculty member, Dr. Jie Qiao on being named a Fellow of the Laser Institute of America. Dr. Qiao was also named General Chair of ICALEO 2027! Two tremendous and well-deserved recognitions of her scholarship, leadership, and contributions to the field of laser photonics.

What an absolute pleasure and privilege it was to meet Dr. Kip Thorne, Nobel Laureate in Physics, and his wonderful wife, Dr. Carolee Joyce Weinstein, during their visit to RIT! What struck me most about Dr. Thorne was his incredible humility, warmth, and approachability. Here is someone whose groundbreaking contributions have fundamentally shaped our understanding of the universe, yet he was so gracious and down to earth! It was also fascinating to hear about his contributions to science and cinema, particularly Interstellar, and how science can inspire creativity and storytelling. Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Thorne on receiving an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from RIT! A well-deserved honor and recognition of his extraordinary contributions to science and society. We are honored to celebrate this milestone with him. A special thank you to Dr. Lisa (Cauda) Chase, Denise Acton and their team for their tremendous work in coordinating such a memorable visit. Thanks as well to Dr. Ricardo R. Figueroa for moderating an engaging conversation, Dr. Manuela Campanelli, and everyone who helped make this occasion possible. I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to President William H. Sanders and his wife, Emily, for graciously welcoming us into their home for a wonderful dinner and engaging conversation.

RIT announces new biological sciences master’s program rit.edu/news/rit-announces-n… via @RITTigers #RIT