April 8, 2025 Volume 71 Issue 30

All members of the Penn community are invited to a reception honoring the recipients of the 2025 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Awards for Distinguished Teaching, the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence by Non-Standing Faculty, and the Provost’s Award for Distinguished PhD Teaching and Mentoring on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 5 p.m. in the Hall of Flags, Houston Hall. 

Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching

Health Schools

Non-Health Schools

Provost’s Teaching Awards

Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching

Health Schools

• Lillian R. Aronson, Professor of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine
• Arupa Ganguly, Professor, Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine
• Scott E. Kasner, Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr. President’s Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine
• Nandita Mitra, Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine

Non-Health Schools

• Sarah E. Light, Mitchell J. Blutt and Margo Krody Blutt Presidential Professor; Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, Wharton School
• Thomas E. Mallouk, Vagelos Professor in Energy Research, Department of Chemistry, School of Arts & Sciences
• Philip Nelson, Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, School of Arts & Sciences
• Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, Golkin Family Professor; Professor of Psychology, Penn Carey Law

Provost’s Award for Distinguished PhD Teaching and Mentoring (Non-Health Schools)

• Kostas Daniilidis, Ruth Yalom Stone Professor, Department of Computer and Information Science, School of Engineering & Applied Science
• Guy David, Alan B. Miller Professor, Professor of Health Care Management, Wharton School; Professor, Health Policy and Medical Ethics, Perelman School of Medicine

Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence by Non-Standing Faculty

• Robert Johnson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• Flint Wang, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine

Penn Engineering has announced the faculty recipients of the 2025 Student Choice Awards. Each year, the Penn Engineering undergraduate student body selects the recipients of these awards for their dedication in teaching, mentorship and student advocacy.

Ford Motor Company Award for Faculty Advising

Jonathan Smith, the Olga and Alberico Pompa Professor of Computer and Information Science, has been awarded the Ford Motor Company Award for Faculty Advising, which recognizes dedication to helping students realize their educational, career, and personal goals.

Dr. Smith’s students noted that he is very generous with his time and energy as an advisor and mentor, with one student in particular saying, “He spoke with me for an hour about his experiences … and I found our conversation to be highly informative and helpful.”

Dr. Smith’s research is in the creation of useful distributed computing systems. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Boston College in 1981 and a PhD in computer science from Columbia University in 1989.

Reid Warren, Jr. Award

Deep Jariwala, the Peter and Susanne Armstrong Distinguished Scholar and an associate professor in electrical and systems engineering, is this year’s recipient of the S. Reid Warren, Jr. Award. Presented in conjunction with the Penn Engineering Alumni Society, this award recognizes outstanding service in stimulating and guiding the intellectual and professional development of undergraduate students in the school.

Students in Dr. Jariwala’s courses commented on his engaging lectures and his sense of humor, saying, “what makes Professor Jariwala so deserving of this award is his dedication to teaching students. He always emphasized the importance of learning and understanding the material, rather than solely worrying about grades.”

Dr. Jariwala’s research lies at the intersection of solid-state opto-electronics and emerging low-dimensional materials. He received his undergraduate degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institutes of Technology in 2010 and went on to earn a PhD in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University in 2015.

Michael L. Barrett (ENG’89) and Traci Barrett (W’91) Faculty Award for Student Advocacy

Robert Carpick, the John Henry Towne Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, is the 2025 recipient of the Michael L. Barrett (ENG’89) and Traci Barrett (W’91) Faculty Award for Student Advocacy. This award is presented to a member of the faculty by the Underrepresented Students Advisory Board in Engineering (USABE) in recognition of their exceptional support of undergraduate students in Penn Engineering and their outstanding commitment to building community.

Students note Dr. Carpick’s deep dedication to students, with comments such as, “Dr. Carpick’s commitment to student advocacy is without question.” Students also say that he “has been a great mentor and has encouraged and guided me to pursue big goals.”

Dr. Carpick’s research studies the fundamental origins and the important applications of friction, adhesion, wear and lubrication at the nanoscale. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Toronto in 1991, then went on to earn a master’s degree and PhD in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1994 and 1997, respectively.

Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award

Russell Composto, the Howell Family Faculty Fellow and a professor of materials science and engineering, has received the Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award. Presented in conjunction with the Penn Engineering Alumni Society, this award recognizes outstanding research mentorship of undergraduate students through the fostering of creativity and independent thought through all facets of academic research, which embodies Penn’s missions of inquiry and discovery.

Students celebrated Dr. Carpick’s efforts in ensuring that all students feel valued and supported, noting that “he fosters an environment where undergraduates have the independence to design their own projects while benefiting from his guidance and extensive network” and that “his commitment to mentorship extends beyond the lab, helping students navigate academia and pursue ambitious goals.”

Dr. Composto’s research spans all facets of polymer science, from polymer physics to biopolymers. He received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Gettysburg College in 1982, then attended Cornell University, where he earned a master’s degree in materials science in 1984 and a PhD in materials science and engineering in 1987.

Hatfield Award for Excellence in Teaching for Faculty in the Lecturer/Practice Professor Track

Dustyn Roberts, a practice associate professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, is the recipient of the Hatfield Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Lecturer and Practice Professor Track. Presented to a lecturer, senior lecturer, or practice professor in Penn Engineering, the award recognizes outstanding teaching ability, dedication to innovative undergraduate instruction, and exemplary service to the school in inspiring students in the engineering and scientific fields.

Dr. Roberts is widely praised by her students, who note that she “brings a unique level of engagement and enthusiasm to her lectures. She has an impressive ability to make complex material accessible and memorable.” Another student said that “her impact on my education is profound, and I am confident that many other students share this sentiment.”

Dr. Roberts is the engineer in residence for Penn Health-Tech, Penn’s hub for health technology innovation. She received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003, after which she went on to earn a master’s degree in biomechanics and movement science from the University of Delaware in 2004 and a PhD in mechanical engineering from New York University in 2014.

Christopher Madl, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering in Penn Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for Early Stage Investigators (MIRA) National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to advance his pioneering research on the role of mechanical signals in cellular behavior. The $2 million grant will fund the next five years of Dr. Madl’s work in developing novel biomaterials platforms that mimic the mechanical properties of native tissues, offering new insights into how cells respond to the physical cues within their environments.

The project, titled Leveraging Protein-Engineered Biomaterials and Bioorthogonal Chemistries to Elucidate the Role of Non-Elastic Matrix Properties in Regulating Cell Fate, is set to significantly impact the fields of materials science, medicine, and biology. Dr. Madl’s work has the potential to inform the development of cutting-edge therapeutic strategies for a wide array of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis and age-related disorders.

“This funding from the NIH provides the opportunity to develop new cell-interactive materials that capture the dynamic complexity of living systems,” said Dr. Madl. “This work will provide unprecedented insight into how cells sense their surroundings and how the changing cellular environment contributes to tissue dysfunction in disease and aging.”

Cell behavior is strongly influenced by the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the dynamic polymeric network surrounding cells. These mechanical signals are essential for directing cellular processes such as adhesion, migration, division and differentiation. However, when the ECM is disrupted, as in diseases like cancer and fibrosis, it can lead to abnormal cellular behavior. While much research has focused on how the stiffness, or elasticity, of the ECM affects cells, there is still much to be understood about other mechanical cues, including force dissipation, plastic deformation, and microstructure, and how they influence cellular processes.

“This grant will allow us to address these gaps by developing innovative biomaterials and engineered systems that allow for the independent and dynamic control of multiple mechanical parameters,” said Dr. Madl. “Our new platform will enable precise exploration of how different mechanical cues regulate cellular behavior and contribute to disease progression. We will also explore how mechanical changes in the ECM are involved in aging and age-related diseases, advancing our understanding of how these forces can either facilitate or hinder tissue regeneration.”

A major innovation in Dr. Madl’s project will be the use of bioorthogonal chemistries, molecules that do not interact with the natural biology of an organism but that can track biological processes in action, and protein-engineered materials to enable on-demand manipulation of matrix stiffness, force dissipation and adhesion cues in 3D cell culture models. These advances will provide new insights into how cells generate and respond to mechanical forces in environments that more closely resemble the natural conditions found in tissues. Additionally, the development of improved cellular force measurement techniques will deepen scientific understanding of how these mechanical signals influence cellular behavior in both health and disease.

Dr. Madl’s research promises to pave the way for groundbreaking advances in regenerative medicine, cancer therapies, and the treatment of age-related diseases, providing a foundation for new therapeutic strategies that can better restore tissue function and homeostasis.

Doylestown Health officially joined the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) on April 1, strengthening the two organizations’ shared commitment to delivering the most advanced, convenient and compassionate care to patients and families across Philadelphia’s northern suburbs.

UPHS and Doylestown Health leaders and employees celebrated the milestone during a public event on Doylestown Hospital’s flagship campus, following reviews and approvals by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission.

Doylestown Health and its affiliates will now be known as Penn Medicine Doylestown Health (PMDH).

The new integration brings together UPHS, one of the nation’s top academic health systems, world-renowned for its clinical and research excellence, with Doylestown Health,a regional health system known for clinical excellence and high-quality, compassionate care.

“Doylestown Health’s integration into Penn Medicine is a key part of our strategy to re-imagine care,” said UPHS CEO Kevin B. Mahoney. “Our goal is to transform healthcare into a source of ease and reassurance—simplifying care delivery, making it more accessible for patients, and creating a seamless, supportive experience at every step. By combining trusted community care with the resources and expertise available through Penn Medicine, we ensure that high-quality, compassionate treatment is always within reach of patients in Bucks County and beyond.”

Doylestown Hospital, founded more than 100 years ago and located 30 miles north of Philadelphia, provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient hospital care, including advanced surgical procedures, comprehensive specialty services, and wellness education programs. The 245-bed community teaching hospital has a medical staff of 600 providers in more than 50 specialties.

“In joining with Penn Medicine, we are writing the next chapter in our storied history that began more than 100 years ago,” said PMDH CEO Jim Brexler. “Doylestown Hospital was founded with the principal mission to bring quality healthcare close to home for the patients we serve, and I can think of no better way to do that than by joining our region’s leading academic health system, which will allow for patients in our community to receive even more advanced care options.”

As part of the integration, two members of the PMDH board will be appointed by Penn Medicine, and likewise, two Doylestown trustees will join Penn Medicine’s Board of Trustees.

The integration will build upon successful existing collaborations between the two organizations. These include Penn Radiation Oncology Doylestown, which has served more than 400 patients annually since opening in 2011, and Doylestown Hospital’s decade-long participation in the Penn Cancer Network, which provides patients with expanded access to advanced treatments and clinical trials through the Abramson Cancer Center.

Doylestown Hospital becomes the seventh Penn Medicine hospital. In addition to Penn Medicine’s three Philadelphia hospitals—the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and Pennsylvania Hospital—Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, and Princeton Health are part of UPHS, having joined in 2013, 2015, and 2018 respectively.

Penn’s Benefits Open Enrollment is fast approaching. This year’s Open Enrollment will be Monday, April 21 through Friday, May 9.

Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to make changes to your health plans, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. While Open Enrollment is still a few weeks away, we want to give faculty, staff, and postdocs plenty of time to learn about the upcoming 2025-2026 plan changes, on-campus Open Enrollment Benefits Fair, virtual and on-campus benefits presentations, and other available resources.

The Division of Human Resources will host an on-campus Open Enrollment Benefits Fair and virtual and on-campus benefits presentations. For more information about your benefits, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/openenrollment. You’ll have access to benefit comparison charts, contribution charts, and more.

What’s New for the 2025-2026 Plan Year

Re-elect to Continue Participating in Flexible Spending Accounts—Effective July 1, 2025, you will need to re-elect your Health Care and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts to continue coverage in the new plan year.

• Unlike your medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, which rolls over to the next plan year if you don’t make changes, you must re-elect your Flexible Spending Account this year if you wish to continue participation in the plan.
• If you do not re-elect the coverage for the upcoming plan year, your goal amount from the current plan year will not roll over to the new plan year. You will be defaulted with a $0 annual goal amount, and you will not be able to enroll in the plan until the next Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event.
• Please log in to Workday to review and re-elect your FSA. If you need assistance, please contact Health Advocate at 1-866-799-2329.
• Note: NRSA Fellows are not eligible to participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts. 

Contribution and Rollover Amounts Increase for Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts—The maximum contribution you can make to your Health Care FSA is increasing from $3,200 to $3,300. The rollover amount will also increase from $640 to $660. You have until June 30, 2026 (end of the plan year) to incur expenses and until September 30, 2026, to submit eligible claims for services you received before June 30. Any remaining balance you have over $660 will be forfeited.

Revisions to Prescription Drug Coverage—The prescription drug plan, administered by CVS/caremark for all medical plans, will provide a preferred formulary to help manage costs and keep coverage affordable. A preferred formulary is an updated list of generic, brand, and specialty medications, covered by your prescription plan. The drugs in the formulary are determined by judgment of physicians and pharmacists, based on existing medical evidence. Drugs not included in the preferred formulary will be replaced with a clinical equivalent alternative under the preferred formulary. Participants using medications impacted by this change, as well as providers prescribing medications impacted, will be contacted 60 days prior to their next fill, so they can work with CVS/caremark to avoid any interruptions. Work with your provider to ensure that the medication being prescribed is on the approved formulary list.

• If you are clinically unable to use one of the alternatives selected, your provider can request an exception.
• If you and your provider do not select an alternative, or an exception is not approved, the medication will not be covered.

New Voluntary Benefits Offering with Corestream—Penn will offer a new voluntary benefits program called Penn Benefit Extras, administered by Corestream. The benefits include critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, pet healthcare options, and identity theft protection. When you purchase one of the plans, and experience an accident, illness, or hospitalization, the plan will pay a lump sum to assist with out-of-pocket costs.

• You can choose multiple products and have just one payroll deduction.
• You must elect critical illness, accident insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance during Open Enrollment, but you can sign up for pet healthcare options and identity theft protection anytime throughout the year.

New Wellness Platform Partner, WebMD—Effective July 1, 2025, Penn and Be in the Know welcome a new wellness platform partner, WebMD. Kickoff Be in the Know 2025-2026 with fresh programs and resources to engage in your health and enhance your overall well-being. WebMD brings wellness brand recognition and an easy-to-use platform and mobile app, plus an abundance of learning content in various formats and health-enhancing tools like Daily Habits, challenges, coaching, and more. Continue to enjoy Penn’s current platform partner, Personify Health (formerly Virgin Pulse) and their programs, through June 30, 2025, earning you points for Be in the Know 2024-2025, and be sure to spend all earned Rewards Cash by June 30, 2025.

Medical Plan Rates, Dental Rates, and Copays—For medical, dental, and vision rates, review the Medical, Dental, and Vision rates for 2025-2026 chart in the Benefits Enrollment Guide or visit the Open Enrollment webpage.

• PennCare/Personal Choice PPO, Aetna Choice POS II, and Keystone/AmeriHealth HMO will have a $5 increase in copays for primary care and specialty care. For a list of new copays, check the individual health plan charts in the Benefits Enrollment Guide.
• Copays for behavioral health and substance abuse will remain the same.

Aetna High Deductible Health Plan Raises Deductibles—Due to IRS guidelines, the Aetna High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) will increase its deductible for individuals from $1,600 to $1,650 and for families from $3,200 to $3,300.

All changes are effective July 1, 2025.

Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs and Presentations

The Open Enrollment Benefits Fair will be held on campus on Tuesday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall. Penn HR staff, representatives from Penn’s healthcare providers, and wellness partners will be there to answer your questions. A benefits fair will also be held at New Bolton Center on April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

Virtual and on-campus Open Enrollment presentations will be held on the following dates.

Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/openenrollment for login links for the virtual sessions and other information session details.

Workday@Penn Features

During Open Enrollment, you can make changes to your benefits coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub via Workday@Penn at http://www.myworkday.com/upenn/login.html.

To access the hub, click on “View All Apps” or “Menu” from your homepage, then select “Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub” from the Apps menu. Please remember to print a confirmation statement for your records. Read the Self-Service: Manage, View and Change Your Benefits Workday tip sheet for instructions.

While in Workday, you can also check out the Model My Pay feature. This tool can help you see how making hypothetical changes to your pre-tax and post-tax deductions and federal and state tax elections may impact your net, or take home, pay. Read the Self-Service: Model My Pay tip sheet for step-by-step instructions as well as information on performing self-service changes to your actual pay. Model My Pay should be used for informational purposes only.

Update Your Beneficiary

Please review and update your life insurance beneficiary information in the Benefits, Comp and Pay Hubin Workday@Penn. To update your retirement plan beneficiaries, log in to your retirement planning account through Penn’s TIAA.org SSO link.

Additional Resources

• To find out more about Benefits Open Enrollment:
• Review the 2025-2026 Benefits Enrollment Guide coming soon to your home address.
• Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/openenrollment for details and useful tools.
• Contact Health Advocate at answers@HealthAdvocate.com or call 1-866-799-2329, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Health Care Rates for Eligible Full-time Faculty and Staff 2025–2026

Medical, Dental and Vision Rates for Part-time and ACA Eligible Employees 2025–2026

Medical, Dental and Vision Rates for Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows 2025–2026

The following is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives.  Please communicate your comments to Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate Office, by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions
Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Tri-Chairs’ Report. Faculty Senate chair Eric Feldman reminded Faculty Senate members that the third of three spring 2025 colloquia on “The Future of American Universities” is on April 9 at 4:30 p.m. and will focus on “Higher Education Under Siege: The Future of the Four-Year Degree.” Attendance is open to the public, and Penn faculty and students are especially encouraged to participate. Recordings of the first two colloquia, “Higher Education and the State: Are Politicians Reshaping America’s Great Universities?” and “The Price of Knowledge: Is a College Degree Worth the Cost?,” are available on the Faculty Senate website.

2025 Senate Nominating Committee. A slate of proposed members of the 2025 Senate Nominating Committee was unanimously adopted.

Proposed Resolution on Shared Governance and Graduate Admissions. Seven SEC members submitted via email and with sufficient notice in advance of the meeting a proposed “Resolution on Shared Governance and Graduate Admissions.” Upon motion and second made, SEC members debated the proposal. Following debate, the proposal will be revised and resubmitted to SEC for its further consideration.

Discussion with Ramanan Raghavendran, Chair of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. Penn Trustees chair Ramanan Raghavendran responded to questions posed by SEC members. 

Update from the Office of the President. President J. Larry Jameson offered remarks on several topics, including the new Quaker Commitment financial aid initiative, advocacy efforts for Penn and for higher education, and the ways in which Penn is monitoring federal policy changes affecting higher education institutions and academic health systems. President Jameson also responded to questions from SEC members.

The University Council met on April 2, 2025 in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall. After a greeting from President J. Larry Jameson, Provost John L. Jackson, Jr. introduced Michael Mann, who gave a presentation called “Penn: An Institution Founded on Principles and Practices of Environmental Stewardship.” Dr. Mann is the inaugural vice provost for climate science, policy, and action; a presidential distinguished professor of Earth and environmental science; and director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media.

Dr. Mann talked about Penn’s legacy in climate and sustainability, which dates as far back as its founder. Benjamin Franklin’s scientific accomplishments and environmental activism included a fight against manufacturing pollution, the invention of a cleaner burning stove, and the first depiction of the gulf stream.

Many different schools, centers, and institutions contain different components of climate and sustainability science, policy, action, mitigation, or adaption/resilience. Work is underway to synthesize and synergize those components to create a whole that is greater than its individual parts.

Those components include:

• Climate change, extreme weather, and human health
• Artificial intelligence, big data, and climate change: the promise and the peril
• Bridging the partisan divide
• Public engagement and action

Dr. Mann elaborated that AI can be used for research, but cautioned that AI-driven computers are linked to greater energy usage. AI is also weaponized to generate misinformation and disinformation. He also related each discussion point back to Penn’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, emphasizing that it is not too late to take action and prevent truly catastrophic climate change. “The antidote to doom is doing,” Dr. Mann said.

Shelbi Long, director of campus recreation, gave a focus issue presentation entitled, “Promoting Wellness with Penn Campus Recreation.” Ms. Long discussed the programs available at Penn’s recreation facilities, including fitness and well-being classes, competitive sports, adventure, and aquatics, and the link between this programming and various other Penn initiatives. Current membership includes 9,685 undergraduates, 11,445 graduate students, 1,205 faculty/staff, and 816 other Penn affiliates. Human Resources offers discounted memberships to eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs.

Recently, Penn Campus Recreation has undergone several facility enhancements and hired an adventure coordinator, and will launch a campaign called “More than Just a Gym” during the fall 2025 semester.

Associate Vice President and Associate University Secretary Lizann Boyle Rode addressed topics presented during the open forum and new business portions of the March 5 meeting (Almanac March 18, 2025). The concerns have been shared with the relevant campus resources.

During the new business portion of the meeting, topics raised included:

• A call for the revision of the process for reappointing lecturers
• A call for a show of unity from University Council
• A call for support for Weingarten Center staff members
• An invitation for all to attend the Take Back the Night rally and march on April 3
• Increasing the number of undergraduate seats on University Council

The next meeting of the University Council is scheduled for April 30, 2025.

Five faculty members from the School of Arts & Sciences, Perelman School of Medicine, and School of Engineering & Applied Science have been elected 2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. They are among 471 researchers being honored this year across 24 scientific disciplines.

AAAS, a society with a mission to “advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all,” has named a class of fellows each year since 1874. This year’s honorees will be celebrated at a forum in Washington, D.C., in June.

Penn’s new AAAS Fellows are:

Marlyse Baptista is the President’s Distinguished Professor of Linguistics, director of the Language Contact and Cognition Lab, and MindCORE faculty affiliate in the School of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in language contact, the morphosyntax of Pidgin and Creole languages, and theories of Creole genesis. Her research focuses on the cognitive processes involved in the emergence and development of Creole languages. She has developed a theoretical model of language convergence in multilingual settings and has conducted interdisciplinary collaborations investigating Creole languages, using empirical, theoretical, experimental, and computational methods. She collaborated with geneticists to unveil the founding populations of Cabo Verde and to identify the source languages that contributed to Cabo Verdean Creole. She has published in Language, Cognition, the Annual Review of Anthropology, Lingua, Frontiers in Language Sciences, and Current Biology. She has served as president of the Linguistic Society of America and the Society for Pidgin and Creole Linguistics, and she has been named a fellow of the Linguistic Society of America and of the University of Michigan Society of Fellows. Dr. Baptista is recognized “for distinguished contributions to the field of linguistics, particularly for theoretical and cognitive modeling of Creole languages, language contact, and language emergence.”

Jinbo Chen is a professor of biostatistics in the department of biostatistics, epidemiology & informatics in the Perelman School of Medicine. Her research focuses on statistical methods for risk prediction, innovative analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data, and the development of efficient sampling designs under resource constraints. Dr. Chen’s recent work has addressed practically important analytical challenges in risk modeling using EHR data, including the development of robust methods to account for EHR phenotyping inaccuracies; assessing and improving the fairness of statistical models and machine learning/AI algorithms; monitoring the temporal performance of machine learning/AI algorithms; enhancing risk modeling through data integration; and inferring individual and group variable importance. Her methods have been applied to advanced research in various scientific fields, including breast cancer risk prediction, health services research, and cardiovascular health. Dr. Chen is recognized for “distinguished contributions to breast cancer risk prediction models, gene-environment interactions, and integrating prediction models in electronic health records, and for highly impactful leadership in research and services to the profession of statistics.”

George Cotsarelis is the Milton Bixler Hartzell Professor of Dermatology in the Perelman School of Medicine and has served as the chair of the department of dermatology since 2010. He has been a member of AAAS since 1990. His research focuses on epithelial stem cells and has impacted two distinct areas of medicine: ophthalmology and dermatology. Dr. Cotsarelis discovered epithelial stem cells of the cornea, leading to the routine use of limbal cells for corneal transplantation. He also launched the hair follicle stem cell field, and his work resulted in a wider understanding of the pathogenesis of alopecias. He is recognized for “the identification of epithelial stem cells in skin hair follicles and in the cornea, how they drive tissue homeostasis and regeneration in the adult, and their therapeutic applications.”

M. Susan Lindee is the Janice and Julian Bers Professor of History and Sociology of Science in the School of Arts & Sciences. Her work explores the history of genetics, radiation and nuclear risk, and militarized science and technology in the 20th century. Her books include Rational Fog: Science and Technology in Modern War; Suffering Made Real: American Science and the Survivors at Hiroshima, and The DNA Mystique. She has brought students to Hiroshima and Tokyo as part of her course Global Radiation History: Living in the Atomic Age 1945-Present—a Penn Global Seminar—and participated in Penn’s Galápagos Education and Research Alliance as an instructor in the Galápagos Islands. Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship and the History of Science Society’s Schuman Prize, and she has served as a visiting professor at universities in China, Singapore, and Japan. She is now working on the history of the complex roles of the Army Corps of Engineers in the management of the Atchafalaya River, a Louisiana swamp. Dr. Lindee is recognized “for historical scholarship that grapples with the thorny challenges of modern science—genetics, radiation, and the technologies of war—and invites ethical action.”

Christopher B. Murray is the Richard Perry University Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering and a Penn Integrates Knowledge professor with appointments in the School of Arts & Sciences and School of Engineering & Applied Science. His research focuses on innovative methods to tackle critical challenges in energy sustainability, environmental protection, information processing, and human health. By bridging disciplines, he develops novel chemical techniques that create tiny building blocks measuring just 1 to 100 nanometers—about 100,000 times smaller than the width of a sheet of paper. At this nanoscale, materials exhibit unique quantum mechanical properties, leading to breakthroughs in electrical, optical, magnetic, and catalytic capabilities. Dr. Murray holds 26 current patents, with four additional patents pending, related to these nanoscale inventions. He is recognized “for distinguished service to the field of nanochemistry, particularly for the synthesis of nanocrystals with precisely controlled dimensions and nanocrystal self-assembly, enabling the development of nanocrystal thin films and devices.”

The McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology, housed in the department of landscape architecture in the Weitzman School of Design, announces the selection of the 2025-2026 McHarg Fellow, Tami Banh.

Ms. Banh is an architect and landscape architect based in New York City. Her work explores ways of restructuring relationships between people and the environment through design, building, writing, and making. Focused on critical representation, climate resilience, and human/more-than-human cohabitation, her research and practice engage with landscapes at the intersection of ecology, infrastructure, and community resilience.

Ms. Banh’s current research project, “Shared Waters, Divided Landscapes,” explores how cultural landscapes, governance frameworks, and ecological practices shape East Asia’s Mekong River across national boundaries, examining how policies, traditional knowledge, and representations of the river influence its physical and cultural transformations. Through field and archival research, comparative study, and community engagement, this project explores alternative frameworks for understanding and designing within contested and dynamic waterscapes.

Previously, as an associate at SCAPE Landscape Architecture, Ms. Banh led and supported public landscape infrastructure projects that integrated placemaking, ecological design, and social impact, such as Living Breakwaters and the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail. She also served as an associate adjunct professor in the urban design program at Columbia University and has worked at SHoP and ZGF Architects. Ms. Banh holds a bachelor of architecture from the University of Southern California and a master of architecture and master of landscape architecture with distinction from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

The McHarg Fellowship is a teaching and research award given by the McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology to an emerging voice in landscape architecture. The purpose of the fellowship is to create a unique opportunity for an emerging professional and/or academic who would benefit most from support to conduct research, to teach, and to be mentored by faculty during the term of the fellowship. The fellowship is awarded competitively on an annual basis and the selected fellow is expected to be in residence at Penn full-time for one academic year.

On March 28, 2025, students and faculty mentors were highlighted at Penn Vet’s 2025 Student Research Day, an annual symposium at Penn Vet that has been held for nearly 20 years. Veterinary students John Bullock, Jasmine He, Elizabeth Taylor, Abigail Hamilton, and Elissa Williams and VMD-PhD student Tiffany Wu gave oral presentations on their research. In addition to the oral presentations, over 30 VMD and VMD-PhD students, who have performed research in Penn Vet’s academic departments and research centers and throughout the University, including the Perelman School of Medicine, and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, shared their findings during the poster session.

Chosen by a faculty panel through a competitive judging process, the Richard O. Davies Awards for Oral Presenters were:

• John Bullock, Identifying Regulators of Ribosomal RNA levels in Hematopoiesis
• Jasmine He, Evaluation of a CD19-Targeted Monoclonal Antibody to Deplete Canine B Cells Via Immunological Mechanisms
• Elizabeth Taylor, Lameness in Conventional Compared to Organic Swine Finishing Facilities
• Abigail Hamilton, Lamellar Epithelial Cell Death and Proliferation in Naturally Occurring Supporting Limb Laminitis
• Elissa Williams, FOG2S657G Increases ADRB1 Expression, Promoting Increased Contractility and Leading to Coronary Microvascular Disease (CMVD), and
• Tiffany Wu, Type III Collagen Alters Anabolic and Catabolic Responses in Murine Cartilage.

Poster awardees were:

• Raegan Petch, Mutations That Positively Affect Bandavirus Glycoprotein Function on VSV
• Audrey Griffith, Determining the Role of Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Genes in Adipocyte Differentiation and Function
• Emmalyn Tavani, Comparative Genome Synteny as a Tool to Identify Important Copy-Number Alterations in Canine Mammary Cancer
• Yasmeen Samar, Poster Slam Category, Most Creative, Factors Influencing Flank, Tail, and Ear Lesions in Conventionally Housed Finishing Pigs
• Avery Munster, Poster Slam Category, Most Concise, Optimization, Comparison, and Validation of Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversation of PRPCWD to Detect Chronic Wasting Disease in Wild White-Tailed Deet from Frozen, Formamlin Fixed, and Formalin Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes, and
• Lola Uliano, Poster Slam Category, Crowd Favorite, Studying the Effects of Collagen Coatings on Implantable Biomaterials and Synthetic Implants.

Shu Yang, the Joseph Bordogna Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in Penn Engineering, has been recognized as one of National Geographic’s 33 Extraordinary Changemakers who are creating a better future for the planet. Fellow honorees include actress Michelle Yeoh, endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, Africa’s first chief heat officer in Sierra Leone Eugenia Kargbo, and more.

On March 18, National Geographic announced the launch of the National Geographic 33, a prestigious new list celebrating 33 extraordinary individuals whose transformative ideas and relentless determination are creating a more sustainable future for our planet. The inaugural list includes a diverse group of changemakers—scientists, innovators, artists, entrepreneurs and advocates—whose collective efforts span various fields from environmental conservation and climate action to social justice and public health. The honorees have displayed exceptional leadership, offering fresh solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Dr. Yang has been named to the list for her pioneering work in biomimicry, a field dedicated to finding innovative solutions to global problems by studying and emulating patterns in the natural world. Dr. Yang’s research has provided groundbreaking approaches to sustainable technologies, materials and processes, all aimed at addressing environmental and societal issues. Her recognition is also a reflection of her commitment to mentoring the next generation of innovators. Award recipients were selected through an extensive nomination and vetting process by National Geographic’s editors, contributors and staff.

“Achievements such as these testify to the innovative, interdisciplinary research our faculty at Penn Engineering pursue every day,” said Vijay Kumar, the Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering and a professor in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics. “Shu has been a changemaker in her field from the moment she joined Penn. She is pushing the boundaries of materials science and chemistry to create new products by combining her ingenious engineering mindset with her passion to contribute to more sustainable practices in energy sourcing and storing. I am thrilled to see her breakthrough recognized by National Geographic in this way.”    

“It is an incredible honor to be one of the very few scientists recognized on this prestigious list,” said Dr. Yang. “As an engineer, it is my dream to make a meaningful impact on the world, and as a teacher and mentor, there is nothing more rewarding than inspiring my students to uncover nature’s wonders and synthesize new knowledge to solve real-world problems.”

“For more than 137 years, National Geographic has been driven by the belief that bold thinking and collective action can change the world,” said Courteney Monroe, president of National Geographic Content. “Since then and across all our platforms, National Geographic has believed in the power of visual storytelling to spark curiosity and inspire a deeper connection to our world. National Geographic 33 represents an exciting milestone for us, as it embodies the very essence of our brand—sharing the stories of extraordinary individuals whose work is making a meaningful impact in the hope of inspiring others to help shape a better future.”

“With the National Geographic 33, we’re honoring a diverse group of changemakers, from all over the world and different walks of life, who aren’t just recognizing the urgent challenges of our time; they are taking action to address them,” said Nathan Lump, SVP and editor-in-chief of National Geographic. “In shining a light on them and their contributions, we hope to elevate their work and showcase to a wide audience the positive impact they’re making.”

Ayaan Jeraj, a freshman student in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and in business in the Wharton School, from Vancouver, Canada, has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Commemorating the coronation of King Charles III as King of Canada, the medal recognizes Canadians who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region, or community, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada. Mr. Jeraj, one of the youngest recipients of the award, was recognized for his volunteer and community service work and his dedication to youth initiatives.

While in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Jeraj created the first virtual model UN conference in British Columbia. The conference included students from more than 10 countries and featured several distinguished elected officials and parliamentarians as keynote speakers. During his third year of high school, Mr. Jeraj transformed the session into an in-person event that became the largest in-person day conference in British Columbia. The Premier of British Columbia served as the keynote speaker. In his fourth year, Mr. Jeraj worked diligently to mentor the younger students so the event could continue, and it endures today.

Mr. Jeraj has been involved with the scouting community since he was five years old. During the pandemic, he organized a drive to deliver more than 1,500 masks to various food banks and shelters in his community and led several food drives for homeless people. He also organized an effort to collect used cell phones and donate them to individuals in need in Africa to provide them with essential technology and to reduce e-waste.

Mr. Jeraj was also involved in the British Columbia Premier’s Youth Council. He worked with the Premier throughout high school, providing consultation and a young person’s perspective on policy issues and youth initiatives. He is passionate about model UN because it provides an opportunity to meet like-minded people who want to discuss and solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.

“I was very humbled and honored to receive this award because it highlights my involvement and commitment to youth in the community,” he said. “I really hope that it serves as an inspiration for other youth in the community, that you really can achieve anything, and you can make a difference.”

This article is adapted from a Penn Today story.

Conferences

11       Towards Our Collective Liberation Symposium; will explore how Asian American communities subvert stereotypes, transcend identity politics, and reimagine themselves outside the structures that have defined them; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; PSC Commons; register: https://tinyurl.com/asam-conf-apr-11 (Asian American Studies).

           CURF Spring Research Symposium; an engaging day of undergraduate research during a poster session and five-minute flash talks with students; 1:30-5 p.m.; game room and Ben Franklin Room, Houston Hall (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).

14        The Impact of AI on (Mis)Information; will convene a standout lineup of scholars to discuss how AI is transforming the information environment and how we can analyze (and anticipate) the consequences of that transformation; 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Annenberg School; register: https://www.asc.upenn.edu/cind2025 (Center for Information Networks and Democracy). Also April 15, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Fitness & Learning

10        Fellowships Information Session; learn about opportunities such as the Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, Thouron Award, Fulbright Award, and many other fellowships; 4 p.m.; room G08/9, College Hall; register: https://forms.gle/W8h1iJ7usMQWFFzY8 (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).

            Money Talks: A Dinner Dialogue; a transformative, shame-free conversation about how we all experience wealth, varying levels of social class, and shifting access to money and power at Penn; 5:30 p.m.; room 108, the ARCH; register: https://snfpaideia.upenn.edu/engage/events/ (SNF Paideia Program).

12        The Art of Mending in Fractured Times: An Introduction to Kintsugi; an introduction and opportunity to practice kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics, guided by facilitator Ann Phelps, who was trained in Makoto and Haejin Fujimura’s Academy Kintsugi; 1 p.m.; Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library; register: https://tinyurl.com/arg-kintsugi-apr-12 (Arthur Ross Gallery).

14        Introduction to Geospatial Data Analysis in the Social Sciences; workshop hosted by Risto Conte Keivabu, Max Planck Institute of Demographic Research; 9 a.m.-noon; room 367, McNeil Building (Population Studies Center).

Graduate School of Education

Info: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/news/events-calendar.

9          Global Higher Education Management (Online) MSEd Information Session; 8 p.m.; online webinar.

Morris Arboretum & Gardens

In-person events at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Info and to register: https://www.morrisarboretum.org/.

14        Walking with the Seasons; curated walk as winter recedes and signs of spring begin to emerge all around; 11 a.m.; tickets: $30/general, $25/members.

Penn Libraries

Various locations. Info and to register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events.

10        Death Café; a judgment-free environment where participants, often strangers, can openly engage in discussion on the topic of death and dying; noon; Design Thinking Studio, Holman Biotech Commons.

11        Bookbinding: Case Binding; participants will make a multi-section, paper case hardcover binding, using techniques adapted from 17th and 18th European binding traditions; noon-3 p.m.; Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library.

            Lunch and Learn: Author Contracts; will discuss common author contract provisions, especially as they relate to copyright and the rights you may retain after signing; 12:15 p.m.; room 241, Van Pelt Library.

Music

11        Quaker Notes Presents "Gossip Girl: XOXO, Quaker Notes"; the Quaker Notes bring the drama to their annual spring show; 5:30 p.m.; Harold Prince Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $8-$12 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also April 12, 8:30 p.m.

            The Menagerie Presents "Through the Looking Glass"; pop and rock ensemble perform a set where music warps, rhythms shift, and nothing stays steady for long; 7 p.m.; lobby, Platt House; tickets: $8-$12 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also April 12, 7 p.m.

            The Pennchants Present: Dunder Rifflin; an acapella extravaganza that blends the world of The Office with pitch-perfect vocal talent; 9:30 p.m.; Iron Gate Theater; tickets: $9-$15 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also April 12, 8:30 p.m.

12        Penn Jazz Presents "Swing For The Fences"; hear the Penn Jazz Big Band Ensemble perform live, featuring some of the best musicians and vocalists the University of Pennsylvania has to offer; 1 p.m.; multipurpose room, Gutmann College House; tickets: $7-$10 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also April 13, 1 p.m.

            West African Vibe (WAVe) Presents "AFCCON 2025: Winner Takes All"; Penn’s contemporary African dance group presents an ultimate showdown, as teams from across the country go head-to-head, showcasing their unique style and fierce pride in their countries; 5 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $8-$10 (Platt Performing Arts House).

On Stage

10        iNtuitons Experimental Theatre Presents "Richard II"; as his supporters abandon him and his power trickles away, Richard reflects with startling eloquence on the disintegration of his status and identity; 8 p.m.; Class of 1949 Auditorium, Houston Hall; tickets: $5-$6 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also April 11, 7 p.m.; April 12, 1 and 6 p.m.

11        Penn Dance Presents "Golden: Celebrating 50 Years of Penn Dance"; join Penn Dance in honoring the past five decades of the company through a multimodal milestone performance, each piece of which will reflect a journey through the company’s evolution; 7 p.m.; Iron Gate Theater; tickets: $10-$15 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also April 12, 5:30 p.m.

12        Penn Dhamaka Presents "Dha-Bachelorette"; Penn’s only all-male dance troupe tries to woo you with their sultry smiles, their happy hearts, and their magic moves; 8 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $10-$12 (Platt Performing Arts House).

Readings & Signings

Kelly Writers House

In-person events at Arts Café, Kelly Writers House. Info and to register: https://writing.upenn.edu/wh/calendar/0425.php.

15        A Conversation about Writing, Mentoring, and Teaching; Kathleen DeMarco Van Cleve, English; Kate Myers, author; noon.

Special Events

QPENN

Unless noted, in-person events at LGBT Center. Info: https://ulife.vpul.upenn.edu/calendar/host/LGBT-Center/24.

8          Lunch & Learn: Intersections of Queerness & Sobriety; a conversation about the unique experiences at the crossroads of queerness and sobriety; noon.

            LEAP Mixer; learn about LGBTQ+ Employees at Penn (LEAP), a group dedicated to the retention and edification of Penn’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees; 4 p.m.

9          Book Club; discussion about Holding Space For: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado; 3 p.m.; living room, Penn Women’s Center.

10        Lunch & Learn: Disability, Race, and Gender; Sami Schalk, University of Wisconsin-Madison, will discuss  disability, race, and gender in contemporary American literature and culture; noon.

            Conversations on Asexuality and Aromanticism with Penn Aces & Aros; join Penn's Aces & Aros as they discuss asexuality and aromanticism; snacks and beverages provided; 6 p.m.

            DuBois House Presents a Hip Hop Workshop; join the DuBois House residence assistants and QBlack as they collaborate to host a queer performance and hip-hop styles workshop with Ct. Monae; 7 p.m.; Sonia Elliot Recreation Room, DuBois College House.

11        Penn Farm Tour & Volunteering; a tour of the farm followed by an afternoon of planting, weeding, mulching, and more; 2 p.m.; Penn Farm, 3000 Walnut Street.

            Drag Show; drag show open to all members of the Penn community; 7 p.m.; rooftop lounge, Harrison College House.

12        QPENN Marqet; flea market open to all members of the Penn community; 2-5 p.m.; MPR, Du Bois College House.

Talks

8          Noho Mai: Tarry with Me; Hiʻilei Hobart, Yale University; 3:30 p.m.; room 135, Fisher-Bennett Hall (English).

            2025 Stephen A. Levin Family Dean's Forum; Nate Silver, author and pundit; 4:30 p.m.; Harrison Auditorium, Penn Museum; register: https://pennsas.events.alumniq.com/go/deansforum25 (Penn Alumni).

9          Alignment and Control with Representation Engineering; Matt Frederickson, Carnegie Mellon University; noon; room 414, Amy Gutmann Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/95869536469 (SEAS ASSET Center).

            Policing, Democracy, and Criminology; Lawrence Sherman, Benchmark Cambridge; 1:45 p.m. room 110, Annenberg School; RSVP: breyanam@upenn.edu (Criminology).

            Interpreting Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: Greek, Latin, Vernacular in the Renaissance; David Lines, University of Warwick; 4:45 p.m.; room 241, Van Pelt Library Francophone, Italian, and Germanic Studies).

            America’s Geography of Poverty; Matt Black, Magnum photographer; 6 p.m.; Public Trust, 4017 Walnut Street; register: https://publictrust.org/americas-geography-of-poverty (SNF Paideia Program).

10        Converting Scientific Discovery and Disruptive Ideas Into Impactful Energy Technologies with ARPA-E; Laurent Pilon, ARPA-E; 10:30 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Materials Science and Engineering).

            60-Second Lectures at Quaker Days; various speakers; 11:45 a.m.; Penn Commons (School of Arts & Sciences). Also April 11, 12.

            What We Get Wrong About Archaeology When We Ignore Archaeological Labor; Allison Mickel, Lehigh University; 12:30 p.m.; Penn Museum (Penn Cultural Heritage Center).

            Democratizing Methods; Jennifer Hill, New York University; 1 p.m.; room 701, Blockley Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://tinyurl.com/hill-talk-apr-10 (Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics).

            Physical and Chemical Models for the Emergence of Biological Homochirality; Donna Blackmond, Scripps Research; 4 p.m.; Carolyn Hoff Lynch Lecture Hall, 1973 Chemistry Building (Chemistry).

            Making Roman Youths at Pompeii: The Ethics of Appropriation from Guglielmo Plüschow to Matteo Della Corte; Evan Jewell, Rutgers University-Camden; 4:45 p.m.; room 402, Cohen Hall (Classical Studies).

11        Executive Power and the Courts: Judicial Authority in Constitutional Crises; Richard H. Pildes, New York University; Emily Zackin, Johns Hopkins University; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/zackin-talk-apr-11 (SNF Paideia Program).

            Agents of Scientific Uncertainty: Understanding Conflicts over Gender-Affirming Care Bans; Joanna Wuest, Stony Brook University; 3 p.m.; room 203, PCPSE (Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies).

            Contemporary African Art in a Global Context; Imani Roach, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Odili Donald Odita, Temple University; Vanicléia Silva Santos, Penn Museum; 3:30 p.m.; Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library; register: https://tinyurl.com/arg-talk-apr-11 (Arthur Ross Gallery).

15        What Does AI Tell Us about What It Means to Be Human; Camillo Jose Taylor, computer & information science; Chris Callison Burch, computer & information science; Charles Yang, linguistics and computer science; Carlos Gray Santana, philosophy; noon; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall; register: https://pennengdean.wufoo.com/forms/r1m9r92z0bv3rqd/ (Penn Engineering).

            Harold J. Haskins Lecture Series; Ruth Simmons, Harvard University; 6 p.m.; auditorium, Cohen Hall; register: https://bit.ly/RuthJSimmons (African-American Resource Center).

Economics

In-person events. Info: https://economics.sas.upenn.edu/events.

9          Growing Together: Overcoming Financial Frictions Through R&D Collaborations; Juan Cruz Llambias, economics; noon; room 100, PCPSE.

            Oligopsony and Collective Bargaining; Allan Collard-Wexler, Duke University; 3:30 p.m.; room 100, PCPSE.

            Transformative and Subsistence Entrepreneurs: Origins and Impacts on Economic Growth; Ufuk Akcigit, University of Chicago; 4 p.m.; room 101, PCPSE.

Mathematics

Info: https://www.math.upenn.edu/events.

9          How (Not) to Solve an Algebraic Equation; Benson Farb, University of Chicago; 3:30 p.m.; room A6, DRL.

10        Crystal Skeletons: Combinatorics and Axioms; Sarah Brauner, Brown University; 3:30 p.m.; room 4C6, DRL.

15        3D Mirror Symmetry in Positive Characteristic; Shaoyun Bai, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 3:30 p.m.; room 4C4, DRL.

Penn Libraries

Unless noted, in-person events at Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library. Info and to register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events.

11        1789: Revolution and Erasure in Jubert's Almanac; Roger Chartier, history; noon; online webinar.

            Rethinking Archives on Afghanistan; panel of speakers; 1 p.m.

Physics & Astronomy

Info: https://www.physics.upenn.edu/events/.

9          Measuring Cosmic Sound with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument; Daniel Eisenstein, Harvard University; 3:30 p.m.; room A8, DRL.

This is an update to the April AT PENN calendar, which is online now. To submit events for the monthly AT PENN calendar or weekly calendar updates, email almanac@upenn.edu.

In an era defined by rapid technological transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a central force reshaping nearly every facet of human life—from healthcare and education to ethics and social justice. As society grapples with the implications of AI-driven systems, understanding their impact on human well-being becomes ever more critical.

This month, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science presents the 2025 AI Month, an expansive series of interdisciplinary events, discussions, and workshops across multiple Penn schools united under the theme “AI and Human Well-Being.”

This month-long initiative will convene leading scholars, industry experts, policymakers, and the broader Penn community to examine how AI technologies can enhance human potential while responsibly addressing ethical considerations and societal challenges.

“The impact of AI is widespread and goes beyond engineering. As innovators, we are not only building the future of AI but also ensuring that it serves humanity responsibly,” said Vijay Kumar, the Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering. “Artificial intelligence has brought about a call to action for collaboration. The events of AI Month @ Penn invite experts in diverse disciplines from the University and beyond to come together and explore the immense possibilities and challenges presented by AI and related technologies.”

AI Month events include:

Friday, April 11, 10:30-11:30 a.m., in person: Generative AI Panel. Penn Engineering Entrepreneurship, which is celebrating 25 years of operations, will host a panel of industry leaders to discuss breakthroughs and opportunities in generative AI and how Penn is contributing to this rapidly evolving field. Panelists include Elizabeth “Liz” Golden (CEO & co-founder of Wavelet Medical), Mel Tang (founding operating partner & CFO at Matter Venture Partners, and former CFO of Ring), Nat Trask (associate professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics in Penn Engineering), and Mark Weber (director’s fellow at MIT Media Lab and former strategy lead at the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab). These experts will share insights on entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation in the era of large AI models. Location: Amy Gutmann Hall (Stavis Family Auditorium).

Thursday, April 17, 5:30-7 p.m., in person and virtual: A Fireside Chat with Yann LeCun: “The Future of AI.” A special highlight of AI Month, this event features Yann LeCun, chief AI scientist at Meta and an ACM Turing Award Laureate (often called “the Nobel Prize of computing”), in an open conversation about the future of AI. Dr. LeCun, who is also a professor at New York University who is known for his pioneering work in deep learning, will discuss the next frontiers in AI research and responsible deployment. The fireside chat will be hosted by Michael Kearns, the National Center Professor of Management & Technology in the department of computer and information science in Penn Engineering and founding director of Penn’s Warren Center for Network & Data Sciences. Location: Amy Gutmann Hall (Stavis Family Auditorium, with a Zoom option).

Thursday, May 1, 1-2:30 p.m., in person: Energy-Efficient AI–Franklin Institute Laureate Symposium. In conjunction with the Franklin Institute’s 2025 Awards Week, Penn Engineering will host William “Bill” Dally, chief scientist and senior VP of Research at NVIDIA, who is the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal awardee in Computer and Cognitive Science. This symposium, Energy-Efficient AI, will honor Dr. Dally’s contributions to computer architecture and efficient AI computing and features a panel of experts discussing how to make AI systems more energy-efficient and sustainable. Joseph Devietti (Penn Engineering) will moderate the panel. The event will feature research talks by Yakun Sophia Shao (UC Berkeley), Margaret Martonosi (Princeton University), and Benjamin C. Lee (Penn Engineering). They will explore advances in low-power AI chips, green computing, and the future of high-performance AI with reduced energy footprints.

The full roster of events is online at https://ai.seas.upenn.edu/ai-month-2025/

Adapted from a Penn Today article by Nathi Magubane. 

Division of Public Safety

University of Pennsylvania Police Department Crime Report

About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons and/or Crimes Against Property from the campus report for March 24-30, 2025. The Crime Reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes. Prior weeks’ reports are also online. –Eds.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety (DPS) and contains all criminal incidents reported and made known to the Penn Police, including those reported to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) that occurred within our patrol zone, for the dates of March 24-30, 2025. The Penn Police actively patrol from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police.

In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call DPS at (215) 898-7297. You may view the daily crime log on the DPS website.

Penn Police Patrol Zone
Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street

Philadelphia Police 18th District
Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 3 incidents were reported for March 24-30, 2025 by the 18^th District, covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

The Division of Public Safety offers resources and support to the Penn community. DPS developed a few helpful risk reduction strategies outlined below. Know that it is never the fault of the person impacted (victim/survivor) by crime.

• See something concerning? Connect with Penn Public Safety 24/7 at (215) -573-3333.
• Worried about a friend’s or colleague’s mental or physical health? Get 24/7 connection to appropriate resources at (215) 898-HELP (4357).
• Seeking support after experiencing a crime? Call Special Services - Support and Advocacy resources at (215) 898-4481 or email an advocate at specialservices@publicsafety.upenn.edu
• Use the Walking Escort and Riding services available to you free of charge.
• Take a moment to update your cellphone information for the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System
• Download the Penn Guardian App which can help Police better find your location when you call in an emergency.
• Access free self-empowerment and defense courses through Penn DPS.
• Stay alert and reduce distractions; using cellphones, ear buds, etc. may limit your awareness.
• Orient yourself to your surroundings. (Identify your location, nearby exits, etc.)
• Keep your valuables out of sight and only carry necessary documents.

The Penn Bookstore is now collecting course material information for fall 2025 classes. Faculty are encouraged to submit their requests through the Adoptions & Insights Portal by April 25, 2025, to ensure timely delivery of course material orders. On the portal, you will find easy-to-use features that offer:

• A single click “re-adopt” course material button if you are requiring course-related materials used for prior semesters.
• A pre-populated Penn 2025 Fall Semester Course Catalog to locate your course(s) menu and a search feature to locate your selection, if new or different materials are required.
• An option to indicate “no course materials required.” This is important information for the University’s compliance with Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) course material reporting requirements.

For any questions or assistance, please contact the Penn Bookstore’s course materials manager, April Batinsey, by email at batinsey@upenn.edu or phone at (215) 898-4500.