News

On the Bridge — December 2022

On the Bridge — December 2022

A compilation of recent news, highlights, and achievements from the College of Information Sciences and Technology community.

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IST student helps make Penn State experience positive through UPUA

IST student helps make Penn State experience positive through UPUA

Serving as a representative and advocate for her fellow Penn State students is a responsibility of which third-year College of Information Sciences and Technology student Nora O’Toole is extremely proud. As speaker of the assembly in the University Park Undergraduate Association, O’Toole oversees the legislative branch of Penn State’s student government and facilitates project execution for its five committees as they work to make the Penn State experience positive for every student.

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Penn State shares more stories of faculty and staff veterans

Penn State shares more stories of faculty and staff veterans

This year's Military Appreciation Week celebrated faculty and staff that have served or are currently serving. These members of the Penn State community are an important part of what makes the University special. Three Penn Staters shared their stories about their time in the service and how their journey led them to where they are today.

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Alumni couple pays Penn State experience forward through endowed IST scholarship

Alumni couple pays Penn State experience forward through endowed IST scholarship

Jason Streeter (class of 2007) and Amanda Brown (class of 2008) have been inspired by their individual Penn State experiences in their motivation to jointly support students at the University. The couple has made a commitment to establish the Jason Streeter and Amanda Brown Dean's Advisory Board Matching Scholarship in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. 

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IST resources, technical skills help student expand nation’s terrorism database

IST resources, technical skills help student expand nation’s terrorism database

For Sean Cicchiello, researching radical crimes in the U.S. and determining whether they are acts of terror is part of his job. Through an internship with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terror (START), where he is assisting with expanding the nation’s terrorism database, Cicchiello applies the skills and education he’s gained at Penn State while blending his interests in national security and political science.

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Penn State and Taipei Tech sign memorandums of understanding

Penn State and Taipei Tech sign memorandums of understanding

Penn State hosted a delegation from the National Taipei University of Technology on Oct. 16-18. During the delegation’s visit, the delegation met with Penn State faculty and administrators, and President Neeli Bendapudi and Taipei Tech President Sea-Fue Wang signed two memoranda of understanding between the two universities.

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Penn State Brandywine’s Andy Landmesser named IST Faculty Member of the Year

Penn State Brandywine’s Andy Landmesser named IST Faculty Member of the Year

Andy Landmesser, assistant teaching professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State Brandywine, was recently named the College of Information Sciences and Technology Statewide Faculty Member of the Year. He was presented with the award at the fall IST faculty meeting on Nov. 7.

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Berks IST professor honored as INFORMS Volunteer Service Award recipient

Berks IST professor honored as INFORMS Volunteer Service Award recipient

Abdullah Konak, distinguished professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State Berks, received the 2022 INFORMS Volunteer Service Award in October during the annual ceremony in Indianapolis.

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World Campus student makes an impact for veterans through IT internship

World Campus student makes an impact for veterans through IT internship

Michelle Wiemer has had the opportunity to explore different lines of work and meet people from all walks of life through her journey as a military spouse. She recently discovered an industry that inspired her to make a career change, and decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in security and risk analysis through Penn State World Campus.

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Penn State employees and staff share ‘Profiles of Service’

Penn State employees and staff share ‘Profiles of Service’

This week at Penn State features a variety of events including the 11th annual military appreciation football game against the University of Maryland on Nov. 12. Both Centre County and State College Borough also have presented proclamations in support of Military Appreciation Week to recognize veterans and active-duty service members. 

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IST Identity Talks series presents ‘Careers in Consulting’ on Nov. 16

IST Identity Talks series presents ‘Careers in Consulting’ on Nov. 16

Members of the Penn State community are invited to join the College of Information Sciences and Technology for “IST Identity Talks – Careers in Consulting,” to be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

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High-tech tool to perform low-cost health screening for newborns and mothers

High-tech tool to perform low-cost health screening for newborns and mothers

A new, $1.9 million grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering will allow Penn State researchers to develop artificial intelligence-based software that can evaluate the health of a newborn and their mother with only a photograph of the baby’s placenta. 

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Grant to explore using computers to help groups make better decisions

Grant to explore using computers to help groups make better decisions

National Science Foundation grants to Penn State and Iowa State could lead to an interactive, computer-aided, decision-support tool that can help groups of people make better choices.

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NSF grant to help reimagine first-year experiences through diverse lens

NSF grant to help reimagine first-year experiences through diverse lens

A Penn State research team aims to meet the unique needs of increasingly diverse student bodies by reimagining first-year learning experiences in technology-related degree programs at U.S. universities, thanks to a new $296,804 grant from the National Science Foundation.  

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New coding tool could aid computer programmers who are blind or have low vision

New coding tool could aid computer programmers who are blind or have low vision

A new tool could help make code reading, navigating and editing more accessible and efficient for blind and low-vision computer programmers, according to Penn State researchers. The tool, called Grid Editor, serves as a modification to traditional code editors that programmers use to add lines of code when updating features and functions in software.

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IST professor to present McMurtry Lecture on Nov. 10

IST professor to present McMurtry Lecture on Nov. 10

William Parquette, professor of practice in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, will present the college’s annual McMurtry Lecture at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, in E202 Westgate Building on the University Park campus.

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IST Q&A: Alumna Mary Ward defines data-driven features for iRobot Home app

IST Q&A: Alumna Mary Ward defines data-driven features for iRobot Home app

As a senior digital product manager for the iRobot organization, Mary Ward defines and drives the strategy and personalized data-driven features for the iRobot Home mobile app. In her role, Ward, who earned a bachelor’s degree in information sciences and technology from Penn State in 2016 and a master’s degree in enterprise architecture and business transformation through Penn State World Campus in 2019, serves to ensure her company’s product meets the desires and needs of customers.

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International consortium to better assess Africa drought risks, boost resilience

International consortium to better assess Africa drought risks, boost resilience

An international, Penn State-led consortium aims to improve drought risk analysis and management and increase societal resilience in Africa, funded by a three-year, $1.1 million grant from the Belmont Forum.

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IST student diversifies wearable tech health data apps through Google internship

IST student diversifies wearable tech health data apps through Google internship

This summer, Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology doctoral student Sahiti Kunchay put her knowledge and skills to the test as a research intern at Google. 

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Researchers to use $1.2 million grant to study early Alzheimer’s detection

Researchers to use $1.2 million grant to study early Alzheimer’s detection

A team of Penn State-led researchers received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to help fund a project to develop a machine learning system for early Alzheimer’s disease detection.

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Witzig new director of Center for Security Research and Education

Witzig new director of Center for Security Research and Education

Lisa Witzig has been appointed director of Penn State’s Center for Security Research and Education. CSRE was created in 2017 to provide an interdisciplinary approach to security-related topics across Penn State and consists of 11 contributing academic and research units from across the University.

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Witzig named director of Penn State's Center for Security Research and Education

Witzig named director of Penn State's Center for Security Research and Education

Lisa Witzig has been appointed director of Penn State’s Center for Security Research and Education. CSRE was created in 2017 to provide an interdisciplinary approach to security-related topics across Penn State and consists of 11 contributing academic and research units from across the University.

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IST students celebrate women in tech at annual Grace Hopper conference

IST students celebrate women in tech at annual Grace Hopper conference

Six Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology students attended the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Orlando, Florida, in late September to learn, network and celebrate the contributions women have made in the technology industry.

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IST skills set technology director, captains up for success at Homecoming

IST skills set technology director, captains up for success at Homecoming

With almost 11 months of planning and preparation, Penn State Homecoming returns this week with a full slate of activities. With tens and hundreds of thousands of users expected to visit the website during Homecoming week, Homecoming Director of Technology Josh Bauer and his team — which includes a number of his fellow students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology — has been working to manage site traffic and ensure users can navigate the site smoothly.

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IST’s Anna Squicciarini named cyberspace program director at NSF

IST’s Anna Squicciarini named cyberspace program director at NSF

Anna Squicciarini, Frymoyer Chair in Information Sciences and Technology, has been named a program director in the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace cluster of the National Science Foundation, effective Sept. 26.

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AI language models show bias against people with disabilities, study finds

AI language models show bias against people with disabilities, study finds

The algorithms that drive natural language processing technology — a type of artificial intelligence that allows machines to use text and spoken words in many different applications — often have tendencies that could be offensive or prejudiced toward individuals with disabilities, according to researchers at the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology.

 

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IST Identity Talks series presents ‘Paving the Way for Change’ on Oct. 19

IST Identity Talks series presents ‘Paving the Way for Change’ on Oct. 19

Members of the Penn State community are invited to join the College of Information Sciences and Technology for “IST Identity Talks — Paving the Way for Change,” to be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19.

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Project aims to use artificial intelligence to turn health data into predictions

Project aims to use artificial intelligence to turn health data into predictions

A $599,883 grant from the National Science Foundation could help scientists use machine learning algorithms to use large amounts of data to guide decisions on a range of issues, from disease spread to economic meltdowns to social unrest.

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Workshop explores artificial intelligence for biomedical, health research

Workshop explores artificial intelligence for biomedical, health research

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Penn State’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) will co-host a workshop, "Harnessing the Power of EHR Data and AI to Advance Biomedical Research," that will focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for biomedical and health record research. The workshop will feature three presentations from Penn State College of Medicine research groups that are applying AI techniques to advance their research.

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Penn State Alumni Fellow offers service and support to alma mater

Penn State Alumni Fellow offers service and support to alma mater

Across more than three decades of service, Penn State graduate Larry Raiman has seized opportunities to mentor students, host internships, volunteer on development campaigns and devise original co-curricular programming — and he backed that service with support for all three imperatives of the University’s recently concluded fundraising campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st -Century Excellence.”

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IST students form meaningful connections, celebrate diversity at Tapia

IST students form meaningful connections, celebrate diversity at Tapia

Fourteen College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students attended the three-day ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in Washington, D.C., in early September to celebrate diversity in computing.

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Nittany AI Alliance preps students for development and leadership roles in AI

Nittany AI Alliance preps students for development and leadership roles in AI

Students advancing solutions in health, education, environment, and humanitarianism are making a difference in the world around them through the work they are advancing as part of the Nittany AI Alliance.

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Center for Socially Responsible AI accepting seed funding proposals

Center for Socially Responsible AI accepting seed funding proposals

Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence is inviting short proposals for its annual seed funding program. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 1, with projects expected to start in spring 2023 and last for up to two years.

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People who distrust fellow humans show greater trust in artificial intelligence

People who distrust fellow humans show greater trust in artificial intelligence

A person’s distrust in humans predicts they will have more trust in artificial intelligence’s ability to moderate content online, according to a recently published study. The findings, the researchers say, have practical implications for both designers and users of AI tools in social media.

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Students encouraged to apply for AI center affiliate status

Students encouraged to apply for AI center affiliate status

Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence is accepting applications for its Student Affiliates Program. Graduate and undergraduate students from all Penn State campuses are eligible to apply. Applications will remain open indefinitely and can be submitted online.

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Bill Parquette earns IST’s McMurtry Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award

Bill Parquette earns IST’s McMurtry Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award

William Parquette, professor of practice in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, was recently named the recipient of the college’s 2022-23 George McMurtry Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award.

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Users trust AI as much as humans for flagging problematic content

Users trust AI as much as humans for flagging problematic content

Social media users may trust artificial intelligence — AI — as much as human editors to flag hate speech and harmful content, according to researchers. 

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IST doctoral student named Scholar of Sexology Fellow by Kinsey Institute

IST doctoral student named Scholar of Sexology Fellow by Kinsey Institute

Mia Hua, a Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology doctoral student, is the recent recipient of a competitive Scholars of Sexology Fellowship from the Kinsey Institute — a renowned source at Indiana University for critical issues in sexuality, gender and reproduction.

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College of IST welcomes 9 new faculty members

College of IST welcomes 9 new faculty members

Nine new full-time faculty members have joined the College of Information Sciences and Technology this year, enhancing the college’s academic programs and strengthening its research portfolio.

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New baseball statistic gauges pitcher's strikeout efficiency

New baseball statistic gauges pitcher's strikeout efficiency

Baseball teams could soon have a better concept of pitcher strikeout efficiency — particularly when an opposing team’s player is on third base at risk of scoring a run — thanks to a new statistic developed by a Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) student.

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Aspiring professor pursues dual IST graduate degrees

Aspiring professor pursues dual IST graduate degrees

By the time Antonio Girona receives his doctorate degree, which he expects to earn in 2025, he will have been a student in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) for more than a decade. After earning a bachelor's degree in information sciences and technology in 2018, Girona is now simultaneously pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in the college with the ultimate goal of one day becoming a professor.

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Duffetts create IST scholarship to open doors for future cybersecurity leaders

Duffetts create IST scholarship to open doors for future cybersecurity leaders

Over two decades ago, when Andy Duffett visited Penn State as a high school student, he was inspired by Jim Thomas, the dean of the then-School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) that opened its doors in 1999.

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A beautiful internship: IST student drives tech design at Estée Lauder Companies

A beautiful internship: IST student drives tech design at Estée Lauder Companies

Since she was a little girl, Lauren Pearl has had a dream to one day live and work in New York City. She came one step closer to making that dream a reality this summer, through a 10-week internship with the Estée Lauder Companies.

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Institute for Computational and Data Sciences opens 2022 Symposium registration

Institute for Computational and Data Sciences opens 2022 Symposium registration

Penn State’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences opened registration for its fall symposium, Oct. 12-14, aimed at exploring the role data science and artificial intelligence plays in creating a sustainable, resilient and equitable future. It will include a judged, industry-sponsored poster session for undergraduate and graduate students working in data science or AI.

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Art history, IST receive grant to continue collaborative research project

Art history, IST receive grant to continue collaborative research project

The collaborative research project conducted by the Department of Art History and the College of Information Sciences and Technology, titled “After Constable’s Clouds,” is Phase 2 of “Seeing Constable’s Clouds,” which was supported by a level 1 National Endowment for the Humanities grant.

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In the 'spirit': IST intern grows tech, interpersonal skills at Bacardi

In the 'spirit': IST intern grows tech, interpersonal skills at Bacardi

Ella Maquito spent the summer helping a major spirits brand increase its global reach. As an information technology intern at Bacardi, Maquito worked with the company’s brand homes software on the digital commerce team to conduct user interface and user experience testing.

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IST intern analyzes data, informs game plans for Giants' Arizona Complex League

IST intern analyzes data, informs game plans for Giants' Arizona Complex League

College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Mojisoluwa Awe spent her summer as a data analyst for two of the Arizona Complex League affiliate teams of the San Francisco Giants. A student studying data sciences, Awe created post-game reports, communicated player development trends with coaches, and generated scouting reports on opposing players.

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IST student gains data privacy training through IAPP internship

IST student gains data privacy training through IAPP internship

This summer, College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Parker Kirby had the opportunity to gain hands-on industry training and gain more experience as a data scientist or analyst through his internship with the International Association of Privacy Professionals — the world’s largest information privacy organization.

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Deepfakes expose vulnerabilities in certain facial recognition technology

Deepfakes expose vulnerabilities in certain facial recognition technology

Mobile devices use facial recognition technology to help users quickly and securely unlock their phones, make a financial transaction or access medical records. But facial recognition technologies that employ a specific user-detection method are highly vulnerable to deepfake-based attacks that could lead to significant security concerns for users and applications, according to new research involving the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology.

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IST intern fosters data science skills in middle- and high-school AI campers

IST intern fosters data science skills in middle- and high-school AI campers

Rising College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Nathan Reilly has taken his data sciences skills and knowledge to summer camp. As an intern and instructor for AI Camp, Reilly has fostered his passion for coding and artificial intelligence in middle and high school students from around the world.

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