The Beckman Scholars Program award provides funding for six scholar-mentor pairs over three years; two scholars will be named this spring.
Professor Mirna Skanata (center) is one of 14 faculty members who will serve as mentors for the first cohort of Beckman Scholars. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)
Syracuse University has been selected as a 2026 Beckman Scholars Program awardee by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, one of just 14 institutions nationwide to earn the prestigious recognition. The award provides funding to support six scholar-mentor pairs over three years, with two undergraduate Beckman Scholars named each year beginning this spring.
The Beckman Scholars Program provides 15-month mentored research experiences for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry and life sciences. Each scholar receives comprehensive support during two full summers and an academic year of intensive research engagement, professional development opportunities and preparation for graduate or medical school.
Jennifer Ross, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences and interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, is principal investigator. “The Beckman Scholars Program will provide transformative research experiences for students who demonstrate exceptional promise in science and engineering working with our outstanding faculty from the BioInspired Institute,” she says. “This award recognizes the University’s deep commitment to undergraduate research and our proven track record of offering experiential training in interdisciplinary fields.”
The Beckman Scholars Program is open to sophomores working on research in one of the Beckman Mentor labs. Scholars must commit to 15 months of continuous research and be interested in pursuing a graduate degree and leadership roles in their field of study. The 2026 cohort of Beckman Scholars will be funded through summer 2027.
Applications will be handled through the SOURCE Fellowship Award process. Interested students should submit an intent to apply form by Thursday, Feb. 12, with final applications due Thursday, Feb. 26.
Information sessions for first-year students interested in future Beckman Scholar opportunities will be held in February and March.
For more information about eligibility and the application process, visit the SOURCE website at undergraduateresearch.syracuse.edu or contact SOURCE Director Kate Hanson at 315.443.2091 or khanso01@syr.edu.
A College of Arts and Sciences researcher is working to develop models to predict whale behavior and prevent ship collisions.
A sei whale surfacing while researchers use a drone to gather data about their behavior off the coast of Massachusetts. (Photo by Laura Howes, NMFS Permit 18059)
When colossal cargo vessels and whales navigate the same waters, their encounters can end in tragedy. In May 2024, a cruise ship arrived at a New York City port with a 44-foot endangered sei whale draped across its bow—fatally struck during the voyage. Such collisions pose a catastrophic threat to endangered whale populations, including North Atlantic right whales and sei whales, which frequently feed near busy shipping lanes like those off the coasts of Massachusetts.
For massive cruise and cargo ships, changing course quickly isn’t an option. If a whale appears in their path, collisions are often unavoidable. That’s why predicting whale locations in advance is critical—allowing vessels to chart safer routes from the very beginning of their journey. This is where biologists from the College of Arts and Sciences come in.
Pinpointing when and where these collisions are most likely to occur is the focus of a research project led by Dana Cusano, a research assistant professor in the Department of Biology and member of professor Susan Parks’Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab. The project is a collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Stony Brook University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Cusano recently received grant funding from the National Science Foundation and Allen Family Philanthropies to lead a four-year study focused on two endangered whale species: the North Atlantic right whale—of which only about 372 individuals remain—and the sei whale, classified as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Both species share a risky feeding behavior that puts them in the path of maritime traffic: they hunt near the ocean’s surface, making them especially vulnerable to ship strikes.
Feeding Forecast
Traditional approaches to preventing ship strikes have relied on tracking whales in real time. Cusano is taking a fundamentally different approach by developing predictive models that anticipate where whales will go next. The research combines detailed studies of whale movement patterns, both at the surface and underwater, with advanced satellite imagery that can identify concentrations of zooplankton prey from space.
A female North Atlantic right whale swimming at the surface with her calf close to shore. (Photo by H. Foley, NMFS Permit 14809-02)
“We’re essentially creating a forecasting system for whale behavior,” Cusano says. By understanding the conditions that drive feeding behavior and mapping prey hotspots from satellite data, the models aim to provide early warning systems for areas where whales are likely to congregate.
“The technology represents a significant advancement in marine conservation,” Cusano says. “Current methods often involve detecting whales after they’ve already arrived in shipping lanes, leaving little time for vessels to adjust their routes.”
The new predictive approach could provide hours or even days of advance notice, giving mariners sufficient time to implement safety measures.
The research will focus specifically on Massachusetts Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, areas known for both heavy shipping traffic and important whale feeding grounds. These waters serve as a natural laboratory where researchers can study the complex interactions between whale behavior, prey availability and shipping patterns.
The project’s immediate applications could transform maritime safety protocols. When models predict high probability feeding areas, shipping companies could receive automated alerts recommending reduced speeds or alternate routes. Slower vessel speeds significantly reduce the likelihood of strikes, the severity of injuries and damage to the vessel when collisions do occur.
The timing of this research proves particularly crucial for North Atlantic right whales. Recent population assessments suggest the species may be experiencing a reproductive crisis, with fewer calves born each year and increased mortality from human activities. Every individual whale lost to ship strikes represents a significant blow to the species’ survival prospects.
Conservation at a Critical Moment
The sei whale faces different but equally serious challenges. As one of the least studied large whale species, basic information about their behavior, population size and habitat requirements remains limited. They also experience ship collisions at rates higher than expected. This research will contribute essential data about sei whale ecology while developing tools to protect them from collisions with ships.
Cusano’s approach reflects a new generation of conservation science that combines traditional biological research with cutting-edge technology. The integration of satellite remote sensing, behavioral ecology and predictive modeling represents the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration necessary to address complex environmental challenges.
Building Conservation Strategies
The project’s success could establish a model for protecting marine mammals in high-traffic areas worldwide. Shipping lanes intersect with critical habitat for numerous whale species across the globe, from blue whales off California to humpback whales in Australian waters.
The research will also contribute to training the next generation of marine conservation scientists at the University. Graduate students and early-career researchers working on the project will gain experience with advanced analytical techniques and collaborative approaches that define modern conservation biology.
The over $2 million investment represents more than funding for a single research project—it’s an investment in developing the scientific tools necessary to safeguard marine mammals in an increasingly crowded ocean.
“For whales hovering on the edge of extinction, this research represents an important opportunity to develop effective protection strategies,” says Cusano. “As global shipping traffic increases, the need for proactive conservation measures becomes ever more urgent.”
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Professor Wanliang Shan has recently received a series of competitive awards for his deep-tech startup, TunaBotics LLC. Shan is currently on a one-year leave from the University to serve as CEO of TunaBotics, leading the company’s efforts to commercialize innovative robotic gripping technologies developed through his academic research.
TunaBotics, which aims to revolutionize robotic gripping and handling, was established in 2024 by Shan and his co-founders: Kevin T. Turner, Professor and John Henry Towne Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania, and recent Penn graduate, Chris Stabile. Turner serves as TunaBotics Scientific Advisor, and Stabile is Chief Technology Officer.
TunaBotics has been awarded a $305,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to support the prototype development and performance validation of a new class of soft-shell robotic grippers. These grippers are designed to handle small, delicate, and curved objects that are difficult to manipulate with conventional robotic systems.
This NSF SBIR award builds on a decade-long research collaboration between Shan and Turner, spanning fundamental studies to applied innovation in interfaces with switchable adhesion. Their partnership began in 2016 with pioneering research on dynamically tunable adhesion, which was later supported by multiple NSF programs, including the National Robotics Initiative 2.0, I-Corps, and Partnerships for Innovation (PFI). The I-Corps and PFI programs, which emphasize customer discovery and prototype development, helped lay the foundation for TunaBotics’ launch.
TunaBotics’ proprietary soft-shell gripper technology addresses a longstanding challenge in robotic manipulation, in which existing grippers, including suction-based devices and gecko-inspired adhesives, often struggle to reliably pick up small, delicate, or irregularly shaped objects without causing damage or leaving residue. TunaBotics’ grippers overcome these limitations through low-pressure actuation and highly tunable dry adhesion, allowing them to operate effectively even on curved or contaminated surfaces.
The technology has potential applications in electronics assembly, agriculture, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, where precision, speed, and safety are essential.
“Our soft-shell grippers offer highly tunable adhesion through low-pressure actuation to achieve gentle and reliable handling of delicate objects,” says Stabile. “This technology brings us closer to universal manipulation of objects with various shapes, stiffnesses, and weights.”
“This NSF SBIR grant enables us to translate our university research into real-world robotic solutions,” Shan adds. “We hope this work will enhance U.S. leadership in robotics and open new opportunities for soft-robotic technologies in industry.”
The NSF award aligns with New York State’s broader efforts to support innovation and advanced manufacturing. TunaBotics also receives R&D support from the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub, which provides access to research and prototyping facilities at Syracuse University and Cornell University.
On October 30, 2025, TunaBotics was named one of the winners of the New York State Innovation Summit Commercialization Competition, organized by the FuzeHub Foundation. The competition recognizes promising early-stage companies developing transformative technologies across the state. TunaBotics earned a $60,000 award for its soft-shell gripper technology and commercialization plan, underscoring the company’s potential to advance next-generation manufacturing and automation within New York’s innovation ecosystem. FuzeHub will continue to work with TunaBotics in the coming year to offer guidance and assistance in commercialization.
MAE Department Interim Chair and Executive Director of SyracuseCoE Jensen Zhang, TunaBotics CEO Wanliang Shan, CTO Chris Stabile, and FuzeHub Innovation Fund Manager Patty Rechberger at FuzeHub Commercialization Competition Award Ceremony held at NY Innovation Summit in Rochester, NY. Oct. 29-30, 2025.
TunaBotics was also accepted into and is currently participating in a year-long global accelerator program with the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) – Seattle Manufacturing Stream. Through CDL, CEO Shan and CTO Stabile are engaging with mentors, industry experts, and investors to refine TunaBotics’ commercialization and growth strategy. In addition, TunaBotics is sponsoring a capstone project within the MAE department of Syracuse University, where a team of four seniors are working with CTO Stabile on R&D for the shell gripping technology.
“It is exciting and gratifying to see a faculty member’s success in developing an innovation from fundamental research and making great strides in transferring it to the marketplace! TunaBotics’ gripping technology enables ‘human touch’ in robots and handles delicate objects, significantly advancing the soft-robotics manufacturing industry,” says Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, MAE Interim Department Chair and Executive Director of SyracuseCoE. “I am also grateful for TunaBotics’ support of our senior capstone project, a signature program in the department that enhances experiential learning for our students. SyracuseCoE also strongly supports innovation and collaborations between start-ups, faculty, and students.”
Shan notes that Syracuse University has been very supportive of his efforts to commercialize technologies from his lab. “From the MAE Department to the ECS Dean’s office, from the office of academic affairs to the office of sponsored programs, the launch of TunaBotics would not have been possible without the University’s support,” says Shan.
Researchers from diverse disciplines are collaborating to advance the understanding of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Heather Meyer, assistant professor of biology, works with a student in the lab.
A growing cohort of University faculty members from diverse disciplines is engaged in complementary research that bridges molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, neuroscience and aging and has implications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Recently bolstered by new hires who are focused on neuroscience and disordered proteins, the group of researchers exemplifies a key strength of the higher education environment, where a diverse range of experts can come together in a holistic way to work on tackling society’s most pressing issues.
“This is what universities do,” says Duncan Brown, vice president for research. “Universities are the only places that have this kind of breadth and depth of expertise, where individuals can work to find causes, effects and cures for diseases that are affecting everyday Americans and their families.”
Conversations Across Disciplines
The University has long had a solid portfolio of aging-related research, as evidenced by the work of faculty affiliates at the Aging Studies Institute. There, scholars focus on population aging and health and functioning across the life course, among other areas.
“From the aging studies perspective, we’re interested in understanding aging ‘from cells to society,’ and I think we are known for being particularly been strong on the society side,” says Janet Wilmoth, director of the institute and a professor of sociology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Now, she says, the recent strategic hires position the University to further advance understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that might contribute to degenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and related dementias, that affect aging populations.
“This is really enabling us to build some synergies that will be helpful moving forward,” Wilmoth says. “We’re working to increase conversations across the disciplines so that the people in physical sciences and neurosciences and social sciences are talking to one another.”
Much of that molecular and cellular work is happening at the University’s BioInspired Institute, where some researchers are studying the role of disordered proteins—flexible cellular molecules that lack a fixed structure—in neurodegenerative disease. Among those researchers is Jennifer Ross, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) (who was associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research in A&S at the time this interview was conducted). Like Wilmoth, she sees the potential for synergies across disciplines.
“At BioInspired, we have a lot of the molecular to cellular to tissue [expertise], but we don’t have as much on the human subject side,” Ross says. “There are some opportunities to make that bridge across.”
New Faculty Members
Three of the new faculty members are part of a research cohort led by Carlos Castañeda, associate professor of biology and chemistry, whose work focuses on proteins associated with neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, particularly ALS. “[Hiring] this cohort was a grass-roots effort and would not have been possible without cross-University support,” Castañeda says. “We have a tremendous opportunity here to set the University and the broader Syracuse area as a national hub for new ways to study disordered proteins and their role in disease.”
Shahar Sukenik, an assistant professor of chemistry, studies how proteins interact with their surroundings, with a particular focus on disordered proteins. He aims to understand how these proteins work in different situations, both inside and outside the cell, and how they contribute to both health and disease.
Li-En Jao, an associate professor of biology, studies the development of centrosomes, which serve to organize cells and are key to cell division. Jao explores the process by which centrosomes are built, how they transport proteins within cells and how centrosome dysfunction contributes to human disease.
Heather Meyer, an assistant professor of biology, is a plant molecular and cell biologist who examines how plants sense and respond to their environment, especially through the behavior of disordered proteins. Because plants are similar to humans at the cellular and protein level, her work contributes to an understanding of human disease and has potential to inform the development of new or improved medicines.
Another plant molecular and cell biologist who recently joined the University is Eun-deok Kim, assistant professor of biology. She investigates how genes, behaviors and environmental factors can cause cellular change, particularly in stem cells. She also studies how environment and behavior contribute to age-related diseases.
Two of the new faculty members, whose research focuses on neuroscience, work together in a joint lab, where they create biomaterials and nano-scale drug delivery systems to remove toxins from proteins.
Chih Hung Lo, assistant professor of biology, studies molecular-level mechanisms related to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. He investigates how intrinsically disordered proteins are related to nervous system deterioration and also examines how inflammation and metabolic dysfunctions affect body-brain interaction and how obesity affects nervous system functions.
Jialiu Zeng, assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, studies how insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation and the recycling and repairing of damaged cells is related to Parkinson’s, some liver disease and metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Rounding out the cohort is Yulya Truskinovsky, who joined the University last year as an associate professor of economics. Her research looks at labor, aging and health, with a focus on the economics of caregiving. She is a faculty associate at the Aging Studies Institute and a faculty affiliate at the Center for Aging and Policy Studies.
‘Always Send Out the Team’
Ross says this kind of diversity of expertise that spans multiple disciplines and angles of inquiry is required for the pursuit of new knowledge.
“Fundamental research is like looking for a lost child in the woods,” she says. “You would never send out one person; you would always send out the team.”
She says each researcher will make new discoveries, even discoveries not necessarily related to the initial inquiry. For example, work on Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative disease may inadvertently lead to new ways of fighting physically degenerative disease.
“The pathway that we use to get to the end point is the important part, because that’s the pathway that allows every single researcher to be covering all the ground that needs to be covered to make all of the technological pushes for the future,” Ross says.
Adds Wilmoth: “Syracuse is uniquely positioned to come at this from different angles and maybe offer a different perspective. Having faculty who have complimentary interests and skillsets enables the sort of creativity that is only possible when you have a critical mass of faculty.”
University chemists are testing a novel method of using sound waves to activate chemotherapy drugs precisely where they’re needed while sparing healthy cells.
Chemotherapy has long been a cornerstone of cancer treatment, but its effectiveness comes at a cost. The powerful drugs used to kill cancer cells often damage healthy tissues as well, leading to side effects ranging from nausea and fatigue to organ damage. In the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and BioInspired Institute, a team of researchers is working to change that.
Xioaran Hu
Xiaoran Hu, assistant professor of chemistry in A&S, has developed a method that could allow cancer-fighting drugs to be triggered precisely where they’re needed—inside tumors—while sparing the rest of the body. Hu and his team, which includes researchers from the Department of Chemistry, recently published their findings in the journal Chemical Science. Their paper explores how ultrasound waves can be used to activate chemotherapy drugs only in targeted areas, offering a new path toward safer, more effective cancer treatment.
“As an initial step toward developing a generally applicable platform, this approach holds promise for spatially controlled release of cytotoxic drugs in ultrasound-irradiated tissue regions, minimizing off-target side effects. To put it simply, if a handheld ultrasound instrument or tool at the bedside can be used to guide or activate drugs, many patients could benefit in the future,” says Hu.
Turning Sound Waves into a Solution
At the heart of their research is the concept of a prodrug—a compound that remains inactive until it’s triggered to unmask its therapeutic effects. Traditionally, prodrugs are activated by internal conditions like low pH or specific enzymes found in tumors. However, these triggers can also be present in healthy tissues, leading to unintended side effects.
Hu’s team is taking a different approach. Instead of relying on internal triggers, they’re using ultrasound, a safe and non-invasive technology commonly used in medical imaging. Unlike light-based activation methods, which struggle to penetrate deep tissues, ultrasound can reach tumors located deep within the body and be precisely targeted.
Controlling Chemistry with Ultrasound
The process begins with a specially designed prodrug that remains inactive as it circulates through the body. When ultrasound is applied to a specific area—such as a tumor site—it generates hydroxyl radicals, short-lived reactive species that trigger a chemical transformation in the prodrug. This transformation releases the active drug precisely where it’s needed, restoring its cancer-fighting power while minimizing toxicity to healthy cells.
“Ultrasound is a widely used imaging technology, but its chemical effects remain largely unexplored in biomedical contexts. Our team aims to harness ultrasound to drive beneficial chemical reactions in biology and medicine. The strategy in our newest publication allows for externally controlled release of drugs in ultrasound-irradiated regions,” says Hu. “It holds promise to minimize side effects while enhancing treatment precision.”
The implications for cancer care could be significant. Oncologists could use existing ultrasound equipment not only for diagnosis but also to activate chemotherapy drugs during treatment. This dual use could streamline care and improve outcomes.
“Ultrasound is already integral to oncology procedures, such as breast cancer diagnosis and interventions,” Hu notes. “Our platform leverages this trajectory and is potentially translatable with existing ultrasound infrastructure.”
From Lab to Clinic
While the technology is still in its early stages, Hu and his team are optimistic about its future. They’re now working to refine how the ultrasound activates the drugs, making the release process even more efficient. They’re also collaborating with other researchers to move this technology closer to potential use in patients.
Another key aspect of this project is the valuable training it has provided. Xuancheng Fu, a postdoctoral scholar in Hu’s lab, helped lead the project from material synthesis to chemical characterization and cell-based experiments. Graduate students Bowen Xu, Hirusha Liyanage and others contributed by optimizing experimental conditions and collecting data. Undergraduate research assistants, including Luke Westbrook, Seth Brown and Tatum DeMarco also gained valuable research experience through this project.
“This kind of hands-on experience is invaluable,” says Hu. “It prepares students to tackle real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully to the future of medicine.”
The potential impact of Hu’s research extends far beyond the lab. By enabling more precise drug delivery, the technology could one day reduce the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy, improve patient outcomes and lower health care costs.
As the team continues to refine their method and moves toward further testing, their work exemplifies the kind of innovative, interdisciplinary research happening at A&S—research that not only pushes the boundaries of science but also holds the promise of improving lives.
Yuming Jiang ’25 turns undergraduate math-based research into a published physics breakthrough that could transform how scientists predict drug-protein interactions.
When Yuming Jiang ’25 came to Syracuse University from Nanjing, China, he was drawn by the school’s vibrant orange color and its poetic Chinese nickname— “Snow City University.” But it was the opportunity to dive into scientific research as an undergraduate that would define his Syracuse experience and launch his career in physics.
Now a first-year Ph.D. student in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Physics, Jiang has achieved what many researchers spend years working toward: publishing groundbreaking research in the prestigious Journal of Physical Chemistry. The fundamental research has broad applicability to biochemical processes, protein analytics and drug development. The remarkable part? He completed this work as an undergraduate, demonstrating how Syracuse empowers students to conduct graduate-level research with genuine real-world implications.
Yuming Jiang
Initially a mathematics major in A&S as an undergrad, Jiang’s interest in physics was sparked by an entry level course. He reached out to physics professor John Laiho and began assisting with computational work and coding on high-energy particle physics research. It also turned his primary interest from mathematics to physics, adding a double major.
Two years later, professor Liviu Movileanu recognized Jiang’s exceptional performance in a thermodynamics course and invited him to join his biophysics research program and collaborate with a theoretical biophysicist, assistant teaching professor Antun Skanata.
Throughout summer 2024, Jiang immersed himself in the project—developing theoretical frameworks, creating diagrams and performing complex calculations. The work focused on understanding how proteins interact with cell receptors, a fundamental process that controls countless biological functions.
“As an undergraduate researcher, Yuming did superbly well working on a complex issue involving competitive interactions in modern molecular biology, which can be addressed through theoretical and computational physics,” says Movileanu. “He put in relentless effort to overcome any challenges during this research, and he possesses all the personal qualities necessary to achieve great success as a graduate student as well.”
Solving a Complex Puzzle
Cells rely on proteins to communicate and control what happens both inside and outside their boundaries. At the cell surface, “hub” proteins called receptors act like docking stations, connecting with numerous other proteins called ligands that deliver different signals or trigger various cellular actions.
The challenge? These protein interactions are constantly in flux—attaching, detaching and competing with one another based on concentration levels and binding strength. The goal was to predict how different types of ligands compete for the receptor—for example, which ligand has the advantage, and how that advantage shifts as each ligand’s concentration changes.
Jiang and his collaborators applied an innovative solution: queuing theory, a mathematical approach originally developed to study waiting lines. By modeling how proteins “take turns” binding to receptors, they created a system that can calculate receptor occupancy based on the rate at which each protein binds and unbinds, and its concentration.
Their findings revealed surprising complexity. Even in a simple system with just three proteins competing for the same receptor, changing the amount of one protein dramatically affects how the other two interact—similar to how one person cutting in line changes everyone else’s wait time.
For more complex systems involving many competing proteins, the team developed a simplified “coarse-grained” model that groups similar proteins together, making the calculations more manageable while maintaining accuracy.
By providing a quantitative tool to predict receptor behavior when multiple signaling molecules compete for binding sites, this research could help scientists better understand how cells process complex signals and how disruptions in these interactions might lead to disease. For pharmaceutical development, the ability to predict drug-protein interactions could accelerate development while reducing the need for certain human trials. “We might be able to predict how a drug is acting on a target protein, target cells,” Jiang says. ” I think that’s the most profound implication.”
A Pattern of Excellence
The research publication was not an isolated success. Jiang won the mathematics department’s Euclid Prize for promising math majors as a junior and the Erdős Prize for Excellence in Mathematical Problem-Solving for his performance in the Putnam Competition, one of the most prestigious mathematics competitions in the United States. He was also named a 2025 Syracuse University Scholar, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows.
Jiang’s story illustrates the University’s distinctive approach to undergraduate education—one where students don’t simply learn about science from textbooks, but actively contribute to advancing human knowledge. By connecting talented undergraduates with faculty conducting cutting-edge research, Syracuse creates opportunities for discoveries that resonate beyond campus.
“Working with undergraduates like Yuming is a very rewarding experience,” says Skanata, one of Jiang’s faculty mentors. “It was a joy to see him succeed and I look forward to his future contributions as he taps into the immense potential that he carries within.”
For Jiang, research was an essential component to his undergraduate experience. “Doing research as an undergrad allows you to experience more than your peers,” he says. “Undergraduate research allows you to explore different fields without the intense pressure graduate students face, providing freedom to discover genuine interests and build skills.”
As he continues his Ph.D. studies in physics, building the knowledge foundation needed for theoretical physics, Jiang carries forward the skills and confidence gained through his undergraduate work. “I love the process,” he says. “Being lost in a tough problem and working through solutions in an organized way to find what’s true and what can advance science.”
How geckos and anoles use sticky toepads and claws to run, climb and jump is providing clues for innovations to help humans, and is also aiding in efforts to conserve the animals’ species.
Through millions of years of evolution, geckos and anoles have developed curved claws and sticky toepads that make them expert climbers.
A team of researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences has been examining how those physical traits could inspire innovations such as new super adhesives and robotic climbing technologies, research that has the potential to not only help humans, but also contribute to the conservation of the lizard species.
Postdoctoral scholar Benjamin Wasiljew and a group of biology student research assistants have been putting a group of anoles and geckos through their paces—having the animals run, jump and climb on various surfaces and at differing inclines.
The group has included doctoral student Aaliyah Roberts ’29; former research assistant Sierra Weill ’24; former undergraduate student researcher Natalie Robinson ’25; and Maya Philips ’26, who is currently using the research to write her undergraduate thesis.
Working in the lab of Austin Garner, assistant professor of biology, Wasiljew and researchers have been assessing how surfaces affect movement, speeds and exertion levels. They have also examined how the animals’ claws and sticky toepads work together to produce results. Previous research mainly focused only on toepads.
Foot structure, Tokay gecko (Photo by Austin Garner)
Impressive Climbers
“We are testing their clinging ability on various surfaces and inclines, which helps explain what combination of toepads and claws work best on different surfaces,” Wasiljew says. “We believe adhesive toepads are more effective on smooth surfaces like leaves or glass windows, whereas claws perform better on rough surfaces like tree bark or concrete walls. Anoles and geckos encounter all those types of surfaces depending on whether they live in urban or natural settings. Combining the abilities that both claws and toepads provide is likely what makes geckos and anoles such impressive climbers,” he says.
Benjamin Wasiljew
The research provides a better understanding of how clinging and climbing are handled in nature. Wasiljew believes that knowledge could be used to build physical models based on gecko and anole feet that could lead to new types of climbing equipment, robotic climbing technologies or other innovations.
These new developments could provide better access to hard-to-explore terrains and assist search and rescue efforts when people are trapped in challenging or remote geographic locations or stranded during hurricanes and earthquakes, he says.
Wasiljew and the Garner Lab team work with Syracuse University engineers to discuss ways to implement their biological findings into bio-inspired adhesives and robots. They also collaborate with biology professor Susan Parks and researchers at her Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab. Her group is studying how to build better biologging tags that adhere to the skin of endangered whales to improve tracking and protection.
A Role in Conservation
Understanding how geckos and anoles function in their various habitats is crucial to their conservation, Wasiljew says, because urbanization can threaten their existence. Urban habitats can cause some species to be unfamiliar with how to dwell and move in natural settings that have flexible twigs and branches, versus the concrete and glass materials they encounter in urban areas. Some species don’t adapt well to habitat changes, which could lead to their eventual extinction, Wasiljew explains. Other species may adapt so well to urban settings that they can come to be regarded as pests.
“Our findings are important because they show how different surfaces affect tree-dwelling lizards and how urban environments can change how lizards behave and how their surroundings can shape their bodies and abilities. It’s research that can both help protect endangered species and limit their negative impacts in urban locations. Understanding how animals respond to human influence or habitat disturbance is crucial to their conservation.”
Photo Gallery
Researchers worked with urban brown anoles, urban green anoles and natural habitat-dwelling green anoles, having them jump from springboards of various flexibility. All three groups jumped better from rigid surfaces than from flexible ones. The image above shows a brown anole. (Photo by Austin Garner)
Geckos and anole lizards can easily climb smooth, vertical glass panes or even hang upside down from the ceiling by a single toe. Together, their curved, pointed claws and adhesive toepads provide striking movement capabilities. It’s generally believed that adhesive toepads are more effective on smooth surfaces like leaves or glass windows while claws perform better on rough surfaces like tree bark or concrete walls. The Garner Lab is testing those concepts. (Photo of a gargoyle gecko by Austin Garner)
A closeup of the claws and toepad structures (Photo by Austin Garner)Gecko and anole toepads are comprised of millions of hair-like filaments (setae) that increase the surface area of the toe exponentially, letting the animals stick to smooth surfaces without any glue or suction. In certain geckos, sticking forces are so powerful that the toepads can support up to 100 times a gecko’s body weight. This photo shows the setae at 300 times magnification. (Photo by Austin Garner)Another view of the toepad adhesive structure at 850 times magnification. Since setae measure about one-tenth of a millimeter, they are invisible to the naked eye. (Photo by Austin Garner)Geckos and anoles that live on trees have deep, pointed, sturdy claws that are tightly curved (like those illustrated here). That shape helps them puncture and interlock to rough surfaces, such as tree bark, while climbing. (Photo by Benjamin Wasiljew)In contrast, ground-dwelling species have long, thin, straighter claws (like the one above) that are more beneficial for running on the ground. (Photo by Benjamin Wasiljew)Differences in the roughness texture and incline of various surfaces impact how well a lizard can cling to and effectively move in various environments. One study showed that the roughness of a surface and its degree of incline influenced how long a green anole could maintain maximum exertion capacity. Increasing the roughness of the surface did not substantially increase the length of time until the anoles were exhausted from running. (Crested gecko photo by Austin Garner)Although the anoles could cling approximately five times better on an intermediate surface and 10 times better on a rough surface (versus smooth surfaces), surface structure did not make a significant difference in the animals’ exertion capacity. What changed the time to exhaustion was the degree of a surface’s incline. Researchers found that animals who ran at a 70-degree incline (as opposed to a zero-degree incline) experienced exertion capacity that was reduced by an average of 30 seconds. (Green anole photo by Austin Garner)
Andrea Joseph’s goal is to use nanotechnology to optimize the vaginal microbiome in order to prevent and treat preterm birth and fetal brain injury. She leads an independent research group bridging engineering and reproductive biology. Her team studies reproductive health and disease and creates nanoparticles to target vaginal infection and inflammation.
Education
Bachelor of Arts/Science, Johns Hopkins University
More than 100 undergraduate and graduate researchers, postdoctoral scholars and faculty presented updates about their research at BioInspired’s annual event.
Eleven awards recognizing excellence in research innovation were presented at BioInspired Institute’s annual symposium last week.
Second Place:Silverio Johnson Postdoctoral scholar, College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) Mirna Skanata, assistant professor of physics, adviser “Quenching Variability of Drosophila Larval Behavior Using Multi-Sensory Stimulation”
Development and Disease
First Place:Anthony Watt Graduate researcher, ECS Zhen Ma, associate professor, Samuel and Carol Nappi Research Scholar and biomedical and chemical engineering graduate program director, adviser “Machine Learning Analysis of Multimodal Waveforms and Synthetic Data Augmentation for Predicting Cardiotoxicity in Single Cell hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes”
Second Place:Anton Jayakodiarachchige Doctoral student, A&S Sarah Lucas, assistant professor of biology, adviser “Investigating the Dual Role of Mediterraneibacter Gnavus in the Small Intestine: Friend or Foe?”
Honorable Mention:Arpan Banerjee Doctoral student, SUNY Upstate Medical University Audrey Bernstein, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, biochemistry and molecular biology and cell and developmental biology, adviser “The Role of USP10 in Corneal Angiogenesis via YAP/TAZ Signaling”
Designer Biology
First Place:Daniel Fougnier Doctoral student, A&S Pranav Soman, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, adviser “Voxelated Assembly of Large-Scale Tissue Constructs”
Second Place: Paul Sagoe Doctoral student, ECS Era Jain, assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, adviser “Tailoring Polymeric Nanoparticles Properties for Enhanced Targeted Delivery to Macrophage Subpopulation”
Function Without Form
First Place:Nirbhik Acharya Postdoctoral scholar, A&S Carlos Castañeda, associate professor of biology and chemistry, adviser “STI1 Domain Engages Transient Helices to Drive Phase Separation of Yeast Ubiquilin”
Second Place:Jess Niblo Postdoctoral scholar, A&S Shahar Sukenik, assistant professor of chemistry, adviser “Profiling Structural Sensitivity Across Human Transcription Factor”
Adaptive Energy and Infrastructure Materials
First Place:Vanshika Vanshika Doctoral student, A&S Weiwei Zheng, associate professor of chemistry, adviser “Turn on the Lanthanide NIR Emission of Non-Fluorescent Lanthanide-Based Double Perovskite Nanocrystals by Incorporating a Fluorescent Sensitizer”
Second Place:(Ruosi) Joyce Qiao Doctoral student, ECS Changmin Shi, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, adviser “Binder-Free Dry-Processed Electrode Enabled by a Porous Carbon Current Collector for Lithium-Ion Batteries”
Between morning and afternoon poster sessions and multiple talks throughout the day, more than 100 research initiatives were showcased at the 2025 event. (Photo by Amy Manley)
Postdoctoral researcher Ileana Márquez studies the meiotic spindle, a tiny, machine-like organ made of protein fibers that has a crucial job—correctly sorting chromosomes inside a maturing mammalian egg. (Photo by Belal Menbari)
A microscopic structure in mammalian egg cells called a meiotic spindle has one crucial job—and during egg maturation, it has only a few hours to do it properly.
What happens in those few hours has important implications for the health and viability of a pregnancy. And the work of researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences may improve our understanding and treatment of infertility, miscarriage, genetic disorders and other pregnancy complications.
Márquez began her postdoctoral research at the University in May. She works from a newly established lab in the Physics Department. (Photo by Belal Menbari)
The meiotic spindle is a tiny, machine-like organ made of protein fibers inside a developing egg. It acts as a sorting system so genetic information is correctly distributed to prepare egg cells for fertilization. This process is critical to ensure that each egg receives the right number of chromosomes; too many or too few can prevent an egg cell (oocyte) from maturing.
Extra or missing chromosomes are also a common cause of miscarriages and genetic disorders, and errors in egg cell maturation are a leading cause of infertility and pregnancy complications that increase with maternal age.
While the structure of a mammalian meiotic spindle is stable, its composition is not fixed, she says.
“Everything inside it is moving, organizing and rearranging. Its elements are being pulled and dragged. We study its functional properties as well as its physical attributes. Is it rigid or is it squishy? Does it have enough energy to meet the molecular requirements to do its job? Studying these things lets us gain more insight into egg cell development.”
An Error-Prone Process
The work is also important in an era when many women delay having children, according to Márquez. Fertility rates decrease with age, and even in young people, “this process is very prone to error. For women and also for men, so many things can affect fertility. We can try to address those issues by studying this spindle structure.”
Márquez says her guiding vision is to better understand how the spindle functions as the “machinery” that guides cell maturation. She hopes her work will provide deeper insights into the spindle’s chromosome-sorting functions and believes those discoveries could lead to new therapies or pharmaceutical applications for egg cells and human patients.
“We have the right tools: state-of-the-art advanced microscopy, quantitative data analysis and soft matter and liquid crystal physics theory frameworks,” she says. “At this point we don’t know what therapies might look like or how they might be administered, but we believe understanding the basic principles will help us advance knowledge and lead to better fertility treatments and healthier pregnancies.”
Márquez studied and conducted research in physics for much of her academic career, then shifted her focus and earned advanced biophysics degrees. “When I switched to biophysics, I started seeing the world with a new pair of eyes. What drove me to biophysics is that the work is directly related to health solutions for people and is relevant for human health.”
