Illinois Science and Technology Coalition

Today, the opening ceremony marks the beginning of the 2024 Olympic Games, where around 10,500 athletes will showcase their skills. 🏅 Behind each of those athletes are dozens of professionals, from athletic trainers and physical therapists, to marketing specialists and data analysts. The world of sports extends far beyond the athletes, and if you’re a professional who works behind the scenes, come lend your industry expertise to mentorship! 🤝 Whether they’re young athletes themselves or enthusiastic fans, our students love to explore sports through research and could use your help. To learn more or register as a mentor head to https://lnkd.in/g4Kasvy8 #VolunteerOpportunity #VirtualOpportunity #SportsProfessional #Sports #SportsScience #ISTCEducation #ISTCImpact #InclusiveSTEMEducation #Mentorship #MentorshipMatters #ClassroomToRealWorld #MentorMatchingEngine #Paris2024

#Researcher2Know Spotlight! Our feature today is Dr. Ying Diao, Associate Professor, University Scholar and Dow Chemical Company Faculty Scholar in Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Diao group, started in 2015 at Illinois, focuses on understanding assembly of organic functional materials and innovating printing approaches that enable structural control down to the molecular and nanoscale. Dr. Diao has established a vibrant and imaginative research program at the interface of materials chemistry, molecular electronics and biomedical sciences. Her highly creative research draws inspiration from many disciplines to significantly advance molecular electronics technology, which promises to have a transformative impact on electronics, clean energy and healthcare. Diao works in the area of molecular assembly and additive manufacturing. To learn more about Dr. Diao's work, please visit our R2K page! https://hubs.ly/Q02B8Qky0

🎉 IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE! Join us in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition! For 35 years, we’ve been fostering innovation and driving progress in Illinois. Founded in 1989, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition has been a cornerstone in promoting innovation and economic growth in Illinois. Over the past three and half decades, ISTC has achieved numerous milestones and made significant contributions to the state's innovation ecosystem. Stay tuned as we share our journey, impact, and future plans. #ISTC35

Join us at the 2024 Bright Project Showcase! 🌟 For the past six weeks, these Chicago students have been creating solutions to challenges facing the modern health industry. Now we invite our community members to attend the showcase on August 2, where we’ll learn about and celebrate the innovation of the next generation! For more information or to register attendance, please visit https://lnkd.in/g88pZ6Yq! 🔗 The Gray Matter Experience KidAlytics #6x3Project #SummerProgram #ISTCEducation #ISTCImpact #InclusiveSTEMEducation #Mentorship #MentorshipMatters #ClassroomToRealWorld #MentorMatchingEngine

#Researcher2Know Spotlight! Today, we're featuring, Dr. Laura Rice in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Interim Director of the Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration Programs. Dr. Rice is focused on preventing development of secondary impairments for persons with disabilities, the provision of effective education for persons with disabilities, and the community integration of individuals with disabilities. She is currently focused on developing and implementing a mobile health application-based program to provide education on fall prevention and management for people who use wheelchairs and scooters. In addition, Dr. Rice is interested in the development of outcome measures to evaluate functional mobility skills. Building on the theoretical foundations of social cognitive theory and self-efficacy, Rice’s research aims to enhance quality of life and community participation among individuals who experience disability. To learn more about Dr. Rice's work, please visit our R2K page! https://hubs.ly/Q02B8Sj00

Large scale research projects can be challenging, especially the first time around. Mentors like Enrica Bridgewater, who use the power of presence and support through even the toughest moments, help keep students motivated, curious, and confident. 🩵 Having an invested mentor makes for more successful projects, but most importantly a more enriching and enjoyable experience for students. If you’re interested in helping students find joy and passion through research, head to https://lnkd.in/g4Kasvy8 for more information or to register as a mentor! ⭐ #MeaningfulMentorshipMonday #ISTCEducation #ISTCImpact #InclusiveSTEMEducation #Mentorship #MentorshipMatters #ClassroomToRealWorld #MentorMatchingEngine

#Researcher2Know Spotlight! Featured today is Dr. Erik Nelson of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is affiliated with the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cancer Center at Illinois (Urbana), University of Illinois Cancer Center (Chicago), as well as the Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People research theme within the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. Dr. Nelson is an endocrinologist with specific expertise in nuclear receptor pharmacology who has made significant contributions to the fields of reproductive physiology, pharmacology, bone biology and cancer biology. Dr. Nelson has integrated his expertise in physiology, endocrinology and in vivo models to pursue translational breast and ovarian cancer research. The overarching goal of his research is to develop novel chemopreventative, therapeutic and lifestyle strategies aimed at reducing cancer incidence and mortality. To learn more about Dr. Nelson's work and more, visit our R2K page! https://hubs.ly/Q02B8S_N0

#Researcher2Know Spotlight! Today we're highlighting Dr. Viktor Gruev, professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Carle Illinois Medical School at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Gruev’s lab is developing multimodal bioinspired sensors focused to solve problems in two areas: image guided cancer surgery and underwater remote sensing. The visual system of various animals, such as mantis shrimp or morpho butterflies, are able to detect spectral and polarization information with higher acuity compared to state-of-the-art imaging systems. Using combination of CMOS technology and optical nanostructures, they are developing bioinspired spectral and polarization imaging sensors with sensing capabilities exceeding state-of-the-art technologies. To learn more about Dr. Gruev's work, visit our R2K page! https://hubs.ly/Q02B8VGF0

Confidence is key to setting the next goal, taking the next step, and achieving the next dream. Without an ongoing opportunity to nurture that confidence, some students may get stuck. ISTC Education creates spaces designed with intent where, through hands-on experiences and meaningful connections to professionals, young minds can build the confidence necessary to keep moving forward towards success and fulfillment. 🌟 #Impact #ISTCEducation #ISTCImpact #InclusiveSTEMEducation #Mentorship #MentorshipMatters #ClassroomToRealWorld #MentorMatchingEngine

#Researcher2Know Spotlight! Highlighted in today's feature is Dr. Alex Leow, Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry, Biomedical Engineering, and Computer Science at the University of Illinois Chicago and an attending physician at the University of Illinois Hospital. Co-director of the Computational Neuroimaging and Connected Technology (CoNeCt) lab at UIC, Dr. Leow is the principal investigator of the BiAffect study, the first scientific study that seeks to turn smartphones into “brain fitness trackers”, by inferring neuropsychological functioning using entirely passively-collected typing kinematics metadata collected from the virtual keyboard of a smartphone (i.e., not what you type but how you type it). The BiAffect study app now powers the first-ever crowd-sourced research study with an overarching goal of unobtrusively measuring mood and cognition in real-time using iPhones. To learn more about Dr. Leow's work, visit our R2K page! https://hubs.ly/Q02B940x0