Go Cougs !
Jeannine Burke received a Crimson Spirit Award.
A new study from Susmita Bose and Amit Bandyopadhyay demonstrates that compounds from turmeric and ginger can be effective supplements to cutting-edge medical treatment.
Researchers led by Xinghui Zhao and graduate assistant Ishparsh Uprety demonstrated that a small, affordable “edge” computer running a compressed large-language model could enable self-driving cars to make real-time decisions in rural areas with limited connectivity.
Emeritus professor Paul Hirzel received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Inland Northwest Architectural Foundation.
A research team developed a highly accurate plastic-sorting method using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning, with key contributions from lead author Maria Paula Garcia-Tovar and co-authors Macy Christianson, Luis de la Torre, and John Miller, offering a promising path to improve recycling efficiency and reduce landfill waste.
VCEA Attention Grabbers
Fernanda Amaral, Kate Barnes, Elena Gentry, and Nicole Leavitt recently received recognition from their colleagues.
Nominate a Voiland College peer who has gone above and beyond in their work to create a positive culture! Nominees will be entered in a drawing for Ferdinand’s Grabbers!
Events
Wednesday, Apr. 15
#CougsGive: Since 2015, supporters of #CougsGive – WSU’s annual day of giving – has generously contributed $5.6 million in support of scholarships, research, programs, innovative learning, leadership development, student activities, and more.
Friday, Apr. 17 @ 10:30 AM
The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Seminar Series, “The Untapped and Rapidly Approaching Opportunities for AI enabled Manufacturing in a new Digital and Cyberphysical World” Presented by Dr. Thomas R. Kurfess
Monday, Apr. 20 @ 4:10 PM
CHE 598 Seminar: Pushing Actinides to the Limit: Bonding and Reactivity at Extreme Oxidation StatesSpark
Tuesday, Apr. 21 @ 1:10 PM
CySER Virtual Seminar: Hardware IP Protection & Reliability Solutions in a Fully Transparent World
Friday, Apr. 24 @ 5:30 PM
Engineering and Technology Management Spring 2026 Tri-Cities Handshake Reception
Monday, Apr. 27 @ 4:10 PM
CHE 598 Seminar: Alkane Oxidation on IrO2(110): Mechanistic Insights and Surface Tuning
Tuesday, Apr. 28 @ 10:30 AM
2026 ENSOR Lectureship: presented by Dr. James J. Collins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Upcoming Events
Full listing of Voiland College events.
Event Promotion
Putting on an Event?
VCEA Communications has some event promotion tips on how to utilize college resources and get people to your event.
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Opportunities
AI Workship May 11-13
The VCEA 3-day faculty workshop focused on teaching, research and the effective use of AI in academic settings. This workshop is designed to provide practical strategies and tools that you can immediately apply to strengthen your teaching, enhance your research productivity, and integrate AI into your work.
Location: WSU Pullman campus (Zoom option available)
- May 11: Teaching
- May 12: Research
- May 13: AI Foundations & GenAI for Research and Daily Tasks
Faculty and staff may register for individual days (morning, afternoon, or full day) or attend all three days. However, you are strongly encouraged to attend the full workshop to gain the greatest benefit.
Each day will include interactive sessions, hands-on components, and opportunities to engage with colleagues across VCEA. We request that you complete your registration by April 29 to assist in space planning and catering.
Apply by Apr. 15: Summer Program in AI Research, Education, and Mentoring
The Computational Intelligence for Materials and Process Innovation (CIMPI) Lab at Washington State University is offering the Summer Program in Research, Education, and Mentoring (SUPREME). Apply now for a free, 2-week summer course on AI in Manufacturing. Designed for undergraduate students, this program provides hands-on tutorials, project-based learning, small class sizes, and expert mentorship.
Apr. 17: WAZZU Car Reveal
Wazzu Racing is one of the largest engineering clubs at the WSU Pullman campus. Each year, members of the team design and build a formula-style race car, which is then taken to international competitions to compete against other universities. On Friday, April 17, from 5–7 p.m. in the CUB Junior Ballroom, the club will host an event showcasing the new race car for this year.
Digital Accessibility
All WSU employees who create and publish digital content (such as email, documents, multimedia, and websites) are responsible for making sure their digital content is accessible and provides an inclusive experience. WSU’s Digital Accessibility website provides assessment, resources, and support to help make your digital content and technology accessible to everyone.
Nominate a Colleague for the Crimson Spirit Award
Do you know a WSU employee who is exceptionally creative in problem-solving or who consistently goes above and beyond? Nominate that WSU employee for the Crimson Spirit Award today!
Send Us Your News
Include your kudos, opportunities, events, and more in the Voiland College This Week newsletter for employees.
DEADLINE: Submit items by 12 pm Thursday for inclusion in the following Tuesday newsletter.