Katrina Koehler, PhD., recently contributed research to three chapters of the second edition of the published by Springer. Koehler also received the from Western Michigan University for her exceptional work and contributions to the field of physics.

“One of my proudest accomplishments has been contributing to the second version of the Nondestructive Assay of Nuclear Materials for Safeguards and Security handbook—known as the PANDA manual,” Koehler said about her contributions. “This key resource is a guide to the methods used in the field, and my contributions span both neutron and gamma methods, which are typically pursued as distinct specialties. Making significant contributions to both areas has been incredibly rewarding.”

����ɬ welcomed students and faculty from five regional institutions for the 2024 Penn-York ����ɬ Research Conference. The event, co-chaired by Houghton faculty Mark Borchert, Ph.D. and Laurie Dashnau, Ph.D., demonstrated the University’s ongoing commitment to undergraduate research.

Regional Collaboration

The November gathering brought 35 students and 10 faculty members to Houghton’s campus, representing Alfred University, St. Bonaventure University, PennWest University, St. John Fisher University and University of Pitt-Bradford. Houghton’s Eli Knapp, Ph.D. delivered the keynote address, “Shacking Up with [Aldo] Leopold: Research as the Ultimate Inclusive Sport.”

The presentations showcased the depth and variety of undergraduate research opportunities available at Houghton, where students work closely with faculty mentors to pursue their academic interests.

“Participating in the post-pandemic revival of this conference—which Houghton has been affiliated with since 2005 and which last occurred virtually in 2020—was extremely gratifying,” remarked Dashnau. “We already are looking forward to taking many Houghton students to next year’s conference, which will be hosted at the University of Pennsylvania at Bradford.”

Two ����ɬ physics students have been honored for their poster presentation at the 15th Omega Laser Facility Users Group (OLUG) Workshop. Noah Harley ’25 and Chunsun Lei ’24 were recognized among the top 10 posters at the event.

“Congratulations to Noah and Chunsun,” said Mark Yuly, professor of Physics. “Houghton physics students continue to perform in the top of their class, competing and winning the same awards as students from MIT, RIT, SUNY Geneseo and University of Rochester.”

The workshop, held from April 16 to 18, 2024, at the Bloch Alumni Advancement Center and Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), brought together over 170 participants from 39 institutions. Focusing on fostering collaboration and networking, the annual event provided a platform for students and early-career researchers to showcase their work in an interactive and informal setting. During the workshop, 67 poster presentations were delivered, with an impressive 56 presented by students and postdocs.

Harley and Lei’s presentation, “Coated Li Film Targets for TNSA Light-Ion Reaction Experiments with the MTW Laser,” stood out among their peers, earning them well-deserved recognition among the Ten Best Posters, an excellent example of ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s commitment to excellence in science.

On Monday, April 8, Katrina Koehler ’11, assistant professor of Physics, spoke at Taylor University’s chapel service. Her talk, titled “Stars and the Language of God” integrated science and faith and explored how God uses the physical world to communicate with humanity. Koehler specifically correlated this talk with the solar eclipse as an avenue to discuss how viewing celestial events from a physical perspective limits humanity’s awareness of the ways God communicates with us.

She explained that because we are made of physical matter, God must use the physical world to communicate with us, whether that is by using the five senses, or by manipulating the electrons and circuitry of our brains. When our understanding of the physical world increases, through science, it often cuts off avenues God has historically used to communicate with us, like through a solar eclipse.

During her visit, Koehler also delivered a lecture on the disparities in mission funding, highlighting that 98 percent is allocated to reached people groups, leaving only 2 percent for missions targeting unreached people groups. In her lecture, “A Data-Driven Story of the Great Commission,” Koehler leaned on her experience as a missionary kid to propose six ways to combat this, emphasizing the importance of welcoming unreached people groups into the communities of believers.

Koehler’s interest in this area reflects her passion for integrating physics with her faith. She teaches multiple data science and physics courses and is known for asking students the “big questions” before helping them analyze large sets of data to find answers rooted in Biblical truth.

Outside of the classroom, Koehler’s research focuses on Nuclear Safeguards and Nonproliferation, Nuclear and Atomic Metrology, and Diversity in STEM, with her work appearing in various journals, such as the Journal of Low-Temperature Physics.

Images from top to bottom, left to right: NASA/Getty Images; Partial eclipse; Katrina Koehler with alumni William Slauson ’12 and Ester Slauson ’83, total eclipse, Katrina Koehler and company viewing eclipse on campus lawn.

David Brubaker, M.D., has been chosen as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for the 2024-25 academic year. The , administered by the U.S. Department of State, will allow Brubaker to teach at in southwestern Uganda.

Brubaker, an assistant professor of biology and the director of Health Services at ����ɬ, was drawn to this opportunity to contribute to Bwindi Hospital’s Christ-centered ministry focused on improving the health and dignity of the Batwa people, who were displaced when their forest home was designated as a protected habitat for mountain gorillas in 1991. The invitation to teach at Bwindi came from Dr. Scott Kellermann, co-founder of the Bwindi Community Hospital, during a visit to Houghton in early 2023. “His description of how they are strategically training health care workers to meet medical needs and increase access to care in an underserved area of Uganda was compelling,” said Brubaker. “I was excited by his suggestion that, given my 15 years of teaching Anatomy and Physiology and medical background, I could be involved in that work.”

Brubaker will support the and Uganda College of Health Sciences-Bwindi training programs by teaching Anatomy and Physiology in collaboration with Ugandan faculty. This situation was made possible through the Fulbright award.

“The Fulbright Scholar program has been considered one of the most prestigious scholarship programs in the country since its founding in 1946,” said David Davies, provost at Houghton.

Dr. Brubaker’s selection as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar is a tremendous honor and a testament to his excellence as a scholar and educator. He is a blessing to the ����ɬ community, and I am confident God will use him to bless the people of Uganda in the coming academic year.

David Davies, Provost

The application process for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award was rigorous and involved submitting a project proposal, supplemental essays and letters of recommendation. Brubaker’s application was reviewed by a committee of peers and approved by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Brubaker expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Ugandan colleagues, broadening his understanding of tropical medicine and public health, and learning more about the Batwa story. His dedication to education and commitment to addressing healthcare inequities make him an ideal candidate for this prestigious fellowship.

“My experience has been that any time I have the privilege of engaging in a cross-cultural context, it opens my eyes to the needs and lives of others, broadening my perspective and opening unexpected doors. It makes my world larger and deepens my understanding of others, and in doing so enriches my life, often in ways not easily articulated or even specifically recognized in the moment,” continued Brubaker. “Mostly, I feel grateful–for the honor of being selected, for the chance to share this experience with my family, for supportive and encouraging colleagues both here and in Uganda, for the privilege of collaborating with brothers and sisters in the Lord who are dedicated to seeing and advocating for a people group which has been marginalized over the years, and for the way I can see the Lord’s hand at work in my life through what has been an unconventional career path to prepare me for this particular work.”

David Brubaker, M.D., Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of Health Services at ����ɬ.

����ɬ, New York’s leading evangelical Christian university, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new major in Forensic Science. This innovative program combines the natural sciences with criminal investigation, providing students with a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of science, faith and restorative justice.

“Our new Forensic Science program builds on Houghton’s historic strengths in both the natural and social sciences to offer an education that equips students for success in this exciting and growing field,” said David Davies, provost. “These courses, coupled with our innovative humanities and religion courses, will ensure that our graduates have the skills to combine scientific analysis with moral and ethical reasoning to develop critical and creative responses to the range of forensic science issues encountered in today’s world.”

Under the guidance of experienced professors, students will evaluate physical evidence, develop the ability to use quantitative and qualitative tools and delve into the physical and ethical challenges of the criminal justice system.

“Forensic Science program is a natural outgrowth of Houghton’s focused excellence in the natural sciences in combination with our firm Christian foundational pursuit of truth, righteousness, and justice,” explained Ransom Poythress, associate professor of biology.

By combining amazing lab experiences, deep Biblical discussions, and real-world internship opportunities, it’s a perfect major for our students to demonstrate their already nationally recognized critical analysis abilities, high integrity, excellent communication, and Christ-like love.

Ransom Poythress, Associate Professor of Biology

Located less than an hour away from one of New York State’s few crime labs in Olean, NY, Houghton offers students the chance to not only engage in hands-on labs and experiments but also apply for internships in research and crime labs. This proximity to real-world forensic science facilities enhances practical learning experience and prepares students for future careers in the field.

����ɬ’s Forensic Science program is now accepting applications for the upcoming academic year. Prospective students interested in pursuing a career at the intersection of science and justice are encouraged to visit the university’s website for more information.

����ɬ assistant professor of biology, Daniel Hammers, published a new article with the assistance of student Emily Wahlenmayer ’24. The article, titled “,” was published in the Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. This open-access review article may influence the development of effective treatments for infections caused by Streptococcal bacteria as it explores the relationship between bacterial peptides and their impact on host immune systems.

The research conducted by Hammers and Wahlenmayer sheds new light on the interactions between Streptococcal bacteria and their hosts, particularly humans. By delving into recent literature, the article highlights the significant effects and activities of a class of molecules called peptides. While these peptides are primarily known for their antimicrobial activities, the research reveals several ways bacteria are able to interact with their hosts through the use of these peptides.

This publication is the latest supporting example for Houghton’s reputation for excellence in research and collaboration between faculty and students. Houghton students enjoy these unique opportunities compared with peers from other institutions, ranking 32 percentage points higher than the average at other Christian colleges for working with a faculty member on a research project based on the most recent National Survey of Student Engagement.* This includes recent advancements in Alzheimer’s research, experiments conducted at the Laboratory of Laser Energetics and research at the Los Almos Laboratories in New Mexico. As Houghton continues to make strides in scientific discovery, the University remains committed to its core values of student-centered teaching aimed toward making a positive impact on society.

Hammers and Wahlenmayer’s research and publication were made possible by awards from the ����ɬ Biology department, a grant from the Faculty Development Committee and an award from the Provost’s Office at Houghton.

*Compared to other members of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, NSSE 2023 Snapshot��

Four students from the Physics and Applied Physics majors had the opportunity to conduct a nuclear physics experiment at the this summer. The experiment, proposed, designed and carried out by the Houghton team with collaborators from SUNY Geneseo, was conducted with the Multi-Terawatt (MTW) Laser, one of the highest power lasers in the world.

During the experiment, Professor of Physics Mark Yuly and his students worked with the research team to use the MTW laser to accelerate particles. A custom-made detector, designed and built by Houghton students, allowed the researchers to use the laser as a particle accelerator to create a beam of deuteron particles. This new technique opens doors for new and interesting applications.���� The Houghton team studied the nuclear reactions caused by the deuteron beam striking a lithium target.

“This is a really important experience for students,” said Yuly. “They are working with world-class researchers while making contacts and doing important work that will help them in their future careers as scientists and engineers. Most graduate programs and many employers are looking for just this type of experience as a deciding factor in which students to accept.”

The opportunity for students to collaborate with faculty beyond the traditional classroom is a hallmark of ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Physics programs, in which students work for course credit with a faculty advisor on a long-term research project, starting their sophomore year until they graduate. This particular research project was made possible through a subaward from the Department of Energy. Yuly serves as a co-principal investigator on the grant. In the planning stages of the experiment, students also participated in activities with other faculty-student research teams in the Shannon Summer Research Institute.

Discover ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Physics programs, where you can learn from faculty making significant contributions to the field, and students have the opportunity for hands-on research and internship opportunities that have led to employment opportunities for recent graduates before graduation.

Timothy Ockrin ’24 joined Dr. Katrina Koehler ’11, assistant professor of Physics, for the second year in a row as a paid intern at (LANL).

Recently featured in the latest Christopher Nolan biopic, , the Los Alamos National Laboratory builds on the legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer to research solutions to national security challenges. “Ensuring that all nuclear material globally remains in peaceful activities like nuclear power and nuclear medicine is a multidisciplinary problem that requires constant innovation,” wrote Koehler in summarizing their research using low temperature detectors for nuclear safeguards. Koehler and Ockrin traveled to Los Alamos, NM to develop the Decay Energy Spectroscopy Analyzer (DESA) data analysis tool for the purpose of more accurately identifying the composition of special nuclear material. This software could allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to determine whether nuclear material has the same composition as what is declared.

Research experiences like these prepare Houghton students, including Ockrin, to pursue employment and graduate school opportunities with significant advantages over peers graduating from other institutions. While conducting their research this summer, Koehler and Ockrin reconnected with Adam Brown ’23, a recent graduate of the Physics program who secured a post-undergraduate position with Los Alamos National Laboratories prior to graduation thanks in part to his rich research background gained as a student at Houghton.

Photos from left to right: Ockrin, Brown and Koehler in lab LA-UR-23-29570 and LA-UR-23-27302; Ockrin with statues of Robert Oppenheimer and General Groves; Ockrin and Koehler by Los Alamos sign; Ockrin, Brown and Koehler in lab LA-UR-23-29570 and LA-UR-23-27302.

Dr. Katrina Koehler ’11, assistant professor of Physics, won the����for the����(HXI) as part of her research at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

The detector overcame barriers to provide detailed analysis of the chemical and elemental composition of material at the nanoscal level. This new development by Koehler and the team of researchers from��, the����and the University of Colorado allows for a resolution 20 times greater than currently available technology. Koehler’s contributions focused on interpreting early spectra and making theoretical predictions of spectral shape.

“With the spatial resolution of a scanning electron microscope and the energy resolution of microcalorimeters, the HXI detector is able to do science that has only ever been previously possible at beam lines. For example, now on a particle by particle basis, this instrument can distinguish between various oxidation states of uranium, important for determining whether the uranium particles taken from a given mine are in the usual form of yellow cake or in a pre-enrichment or post-enrichment form. Answering this and similar questions is important for international safeguards.”

This is the second time that Koehler has won the R&D 100, previously in the��. This ultra-high resolution gamma spectrometer allowed for nondestructive assay of nuclear material.

We are so blessed to have Dr. Koehler working here at Houghton while she maintains her connections with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Through Dr. Koehler, current physics students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge summer research projects at LANL, and graduates of the physics program have an inside track on employment opportunities at LANL.

Jill Jordan, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Dean of Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Recently, 41 high school students from homeschool groups and Christian schools attended a Saturday Lab event hosted by ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Sigma Zeta club. Members of Sigma Zeta helped the students perform labs in the areas of chemistry, biology, and physics where they explored pH using a universal indicator and pH meters, identified bacteria through gram staining, and used Geiger counters to examine materials for radioactivity and exponential decay in M&Ms.

At the end of the day, the high schoolers voted on their favorite lab. Although chemistry came out on top, students said they enjoyed getting to eat the extra M&Ms at the end of the physics lab. Karen Torraca, professor of chemistry and faculty advisor for Sigma Zeta, oversaw the lab.

“The Sigma Zeta Lab Saturday was a great experience for students to learn about pH, bacteria, and radioactivity in fun and hands-on ways. It was exciting to see labs full of high school students on a Saturday afternoon, eager to learn about the beauty and wonder of God’s creation.”�� �� ��-Karen Torraca

The Sigma Zeta club is a national honors society that promotes excellence in the natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics at Houghton. Sigma Zeta hosted its first lab event in 2014 as a way for high school students to experience what a college lab is like, and to give members the opportunity to teach some of the interesting labs they have learned during their time at Houghton. The Sigma Zeta students organize the event by setting the date, planning the labs that they want to do, and teaching the labs to the high school students.

Eli Knapp ’00, professor of ecology, contributed to a about the incentives behind elephant poaching in African countries.

In 2017, Knapp co-authored a survey that asked Tanzanians who lived on the perimeter of one of the country’s many national parks why they illegally killed wildlife.

“It’s my own small contribution to help spread the word about two beleaguered populations that need assistance: East Africa’s rural poor and the African elephant,” said Knapp. “We’re in this together, people and wildlife; diminishing one diminishes both. So we have to find a way to coexist. I’ve long agreed with the notion that ultimately conservation is about people. My research—and this article—shows exactly that.”

Houghton Graduate Ronald Lott ‘20 has been recognized as Student Doctor of the Year by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). LECOM recognized Lott to be an outstanding student, serving as a student doctor within his community. He participated in several research projects at LECOM such as COVID-19-induced myocarditis and Arnold Chiari Malformation associated Juvenile Scoliosis. The selection committee also acknowledged Lott as someone who embodies all the great qualities of a future outstanding osteopathic physician, with a positive attitude that brings out the best in everyone.

Lott gained early acceptance into LECOM through an accelerated program at Houghton that enables students early access to medical school by meeting certain academic requirements. While attending Houghton, Lott participated in Science Honors, was part of the Varsity Baseball team, and served as a student leader.

“Ronnie was an exceptionally delightful student. He was exuberant, encouraging, diligent, and cheerful. He was kind and respectful and I think every Professor was thrilled if they looked at their course roster and saw that Ronnie was signed up. He was a real blessing to me, to the Bio department, and to the Institution.”

Ransom Poythress, Associate Professor of Biology

Ronald Lott has also been nominated for National Student Doctor of the Year.

����ɬ student club, Sigma Zeta, hosted a Saturday lab event for high school students on November 19th. Students from homeschool groups, Cuba-Rushford, Fillmore and Cornerstone Christian School completed three different labs in the areas of chemistry, biology, and physics. The labs for this semester’s event were examining the triple point of carbon dioxide using dry ice, dissecting a sheep eyeball, and learning about momentum with carts and tracks. The Sigma Zeta Houghton students guided the high school students through each exercise.��

One student said, “The teachers were wonderful! They were very helpful and friendly. We were kept engaged throughout the labs, and I would come again.”

“The Sigma Zeta Lab Saturday event enables high school students to get hands-on lab experience in a university setting,” said Karen Torraca, professor of chemistry and faculty advisor for Sigma Zeta. “With the help of ����ɬ students who are passionate about science and math, participants are able to connect with science in fun and meaningful ways,”��

The Sigma Zeta club is a national honors society to promote excellence in the natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics at Houghton. Sigma Zeta started putting on these lab events in 2014 as a way to allow high school students to experience what a college lab is like. The Sigma Zeta students organize the event by setting the date, planning the labs that they want to do, and teaching the labs to the high school students. These events give the Sigma Zeta members a great opportunity to teach some of the interesting labs that they have learned, and help high school students get a better understanding of some of the different areas of science.

Blake Eby ’23 and Dr. Paul A. Martino, professor of Biochemistry, represented ����ɬ at the 2022 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. They presented a poster entitled “Drug Repurpose Screening Identifies Regorafenib As Potential Amyloid-Beta Aggregation Inhibitor.” The poster and research presented included contributions�� by Blake Eby and Dr. Paul A. Martino, as well as Skye Chapel ’23, Evan Kasper ’23, Gabriella Mancini ’21, Isaiah Miller ’23, Liam Fisher ’24, and Prof. Carmen McKell, associate professor of Data Science, who were not in attendance at the conference.��

Dr. Martino mentioned how proud he was of the group who worked on the presentation and being able to see the final results saying, “This was the summation of a large effort on our part and it was amazing to see how we fit into the massive effort to study Alzheimer’s Disease.”

This research began in the summer of 2021 as part of the Shannon Summer Research Institute. The project was a collaboration between Biochemistry and Data Science students. The students conducted their research over the course of 10 weeks with the mentorship of Dr. Martino and Professor Mckell, and major support from alumni, Robert Van Dyk.

����ɬ students traveled to Spokane, Washington to attend the largest Plasma Physics conference in the world with about 2,000 researchers from around the globe. The students, Adam Brown ’23, Chunsun Lei ’24, Andrew Martin ’24 and Andrew Hotchkiss ’24, traveled with 15 other students and faculty from SUNY Geneseo.

During the conference, Houghton students met with their collaborators from the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester who received the�� Department of Energy award that has funded their research . They also presented findings from their work with Dr. Mark Yuly last summer at the Shannon Summer Research Institute.

The students presented posters on research that is of real interest to the community of scientists doing high-energy density physics – that is, scientists studying how to create a controlled self-sustaining nuclear fusion chain reaction. The students’ poster sessions were well attended, and I think they were surprised at the enthusiasm their audience had for their work.�� I hope the connections they made will be helpful to them in the future.

Dr. Mark Yuly, Professor of Physics at ����ɬ

Every physics student at Houghton must take on a research project and they all must present at a conference like this one before graduation.�� They each have the opportunity to take on a subject that is unique to Houghton.�� -Dr. Mark Yuly, Professor of Physics

This summer, the Van Dyk Scholars of the Shannon Summer Research Institute, including current ����ɬ students, Isaiah Miller ‘23, Blake Eby ‘23, Evan Kasper ‘23, Liam Fisher ‘23, Skye Chaapel ‘23, and recent graduate Bella Mancini ’21, conducted research on Alzheimer’s disease. This group of undergraduate researchers was overseen by ����ɬ professors Dr. Paul Martino, professor of Biochemistry, and Carmen McKell, associate professor of Data Science and director of ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Center for Data Science Analytics.

Collaboration Leads to Better Research

“Watching this group of students use their data science skills to solve a complex problem like the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease was one of the most rewarding aspects of this research project,” shares Professor Carmen McKell. “Data science is best learned by doing, and these students were deeply engaged and self-directed, using critical thinking skills to decide what to do next to draw insights from a vast amount the data. Through collaboration, the data science students were able to enhance their domain knowledge by learning as much as possible from the biochemistry students. This gave them the context needed to interpret and validate their results. Hands-on collaborative opportunities like this give Houghton students the ability to positively impact people’s lives thereby fulfilling our mission to equip students to lead and labor as scholar-servants in a changing world.”

Real-World Impact

With Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia currently impacting over , research into causes and treatments is vital. Alzheimer’s research has been a specialty of Dr. Martino since 1991, when he began exploring the topic as a graduate student. His expertise in the field made him the ideal candidate to recruit Houghton students to partner with him in this opportunity to have a real-world impact on the scientific body of research and the very real lives that research benefits. Thanks to the generous investment that led to the creation of the Van Dyk Scholars and the Shannon Summer Research Institute, Houghton students gained valuable experience that will benefit them in their future careers while exploring ways to help prevent the devastation diseases like Alzheimer’s can have on families and communities.

Hands-On Preparation for Graduate Studies and Careers

As a part of the Shannon Summer Research Institute and the Van Dyk Scholars program, Houghton students spent the summer on graduate-level research and were able to identify promising drug candidates that may help early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Each student now has the experience of soon-to-be-published graduate-level research that will greatly impact this vital area of study. This experience also provides student researchers with a deeper understanding of what they may want to study in graduate school and prepares them to work in a professional collaborative setting.

“My favorite aspect of this summer was the dynamic that the group shared and the spontaneous conversation that developed from that,” shares Dr. Paul Martino. “Hands-on experience such as this helps Houghton students to accelerate their learning through a Christ-centered education. It promotes career-readiness and allows them to hit the ground running after graduation with a straight trajectory towards their professional and academic goals.”