All events

Art exhibit highlighting creative the creative talent of UConn Health Employees from across the organization.

"Expressions in Multimedia" by Martha G. Trask "Secondary Effects" by Jeff Ostergren Join us for a reception Thursday, May 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Celeste LeWitt Gallery. (north side of the food court)Martha G. Trask is an expressive mixed media artist who happens to work in our library.Jeff Ostergren infuses his paint with actual medications to tell stories about the intertwined histories of pharmaceuticals and color.

The exhibiting artists are Marsha Borden, Helena Chastel, Kathryn Frund, Phoebe Godfrey, Hugh MacDonald, Bob Pavlik, Dan Potter, and R. Douglass Rice. Open Air 2025 is open daily and will remain on view through October 6, 2025. June 19, 2025 iis the last day to visit indoor art exhibitions. Exhibitions inside the AVS Gallery will resume on September 11, 2025

The UConn Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (i.e., UConn Pepper Center), plans to submit an application for competitive renewal to the National Institute on Aging at NIH. At this time, the UConn Pepper Center Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) seeks letters of intent (LOIs) for studies to be included in the application. Studies selected for inclusion in the application will be funded contingent upon continued funding of the UConn Pepper Center. We are seeking Letters of Intent (LOIs) for 1-year pilot and exploratory studies that focus on enhancing function and independence in older adults while also advancing knowledge in the UConn Pepper Center theme of Precision Gerontology, and that will support future grant applications. We welcome a variety of research approaches, ranging from biological to clinical/behavioral to health services/community-based research. Projects focusing on cognition and behavior, host defense and immunity, voiding and continence, and mobility and falls are of particular interest. For proposed studies involving human subjects research, secondary data analysis-based projects are encouraged. Projects involving primary data collection are allowed but must be sufficiently feasible to complete within 1 year. LOIs are due by September 10, 2025 Full-time UConn and JAX faculty are eligible to apply for PESC funding. Priority will be given to junior faculty/early-stage investigators as well as established investigators pursuing aging-related research (relevant to Precision Gerontology) as a new area of research. Investigators may request up to $50,000 (direct costs) for a 1-year pilot project. Those interested in submitting an LOI are strongly encouraged to contact the PESC Co-Leaders Dr. Lisa Barry (libarry@uchc.edu) Dr. Blanka Rogina (rogina@uchc.edu) and to visit the UConn Pepper Center website to learn more about the theme of Precision Gerontology and the UConn Pepper Center Research Resource Cores. https://health.uconn.edu/pepper-center/ Those seeking to apply for UConn PESC funding must submit the following by September 10, 2025: 1. A 1-page Letter of Intent (LOI) that includes:Brief description of the Specific Aims, Significance, and Approach; Statement as to how the proposed study aligns with the UConn Pepper Center theme of Precision Gerontology; Statement of how the proposed study will utilize applicable UConn Pepper Center Research Resource Cores. 2. On a separate page, a brief budget and timeline 3. NIH Biosketch for Principal Investigator. Please send LOIs to Ms. Laura Masi (masi@uchc.edu) Individuals selected to submit full proposals will be notified by the PESC Co-Leaders.

Doctoral Dissertation Oral Defense of (Yi Huang) Major Advisor: Alexander Jackson, Ph.D. Associate Advisor: Natale Sciolino, Ph.D. Daniel Mulkey, Ph.D. Anastasios Tzingounis, Ph.D. Randall Walikonis, Ph.D. Title: Neuroanatomical and Functional Analysis of a Lateral Hypothalamic Inhibitory Projection to the Dorsal Pons and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Will take place on: Monday, Aug 4th, 2025 10:00am-11:00am TLS 111 Storrs Campus All interested faculty and students are invited to attend.

Doctoral Dissertation Oral Defense of (Yi Huang) Major Advisor: Alexander Jackson, Ph.D. Associate Advisor: Natale Sciolino, Ph.D. Daniel Mulkey, Ph.D. Anastasios Tzingounis, Ph.D. Randall Walikonis, Ph.D. Title: Neuroanatomical and Functional Analysis of a Lateral Hypothalamic Inhibitory Projection to the Dorsal Pons and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Will take place on: Monday, Aug 4th, 2025 10:00am-11:00am TLS 111 Storrs Campus All interested faculty and students are invited to attend.

A Dissertation Defense in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry: Development and manipulation of two dimensional networks using scanning probe microscopy and engineered deposition methods.

A Dissertation Defense in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry: Development and manipulation of two dimensional networks using scanning probe microscopy and engineered deposition methods.

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

Remote Sensing of Potato Leafhopper Infestation and Nitrogen Deficiency in Beans Remote sensing has emerged as an innovative method for detecting plant stress and is increasingly utilized in integrated pest management (IPM) applications. Numerous studies have validated the effectiveness of spectral imaging in scouting agricultural crops for nutrient stress and pest infestations. However, its potential for detecting nitrogen (N) deficiency and potato leafhopper (PLH; Empoasca fabae Harris) feeding stress in beans has not yet been explored. PLH is a significant pest known for its wide host range and high damage potential. Conventional monitoring methods for PLH and laboratory techniques for diagnosing nitrogen deficiency are both time-consuming and do not provide full field coverage. Remote sensing offers a promising, efficient alternative for monitoring these stressors. To address this gap, a study was conducted to evaluate the capability of spectral reflectance sensing in detecting PLH stress and nitrogen deficiency in beans. Greenhouse experiments were carried out using three bean varieties—Provider (Phaseolus vulgaris), Henderson's Bush Lima (Phaseolus lunatus), and Tiger's Eye (Phaseolus vulgaris)—where hyperspectral reflectance from bean leaves was analyzed to identify spectral regions (500–1000 nm) with significant differences between healthy leaves and those infested with varying densities and durations of PLH feeding. Complementary multi-year (2021–2024) field trials were conducted where multispectral data were collected using a drone-mounted sensor. The study identified multiple wavelengths within the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum where reflectance reliably distinguished between infested and healthy plants. Field-based multispectral analysis further identified two robust vegetation indices—NDRE and GNDVI—that effectively differentiated bean canopies under PLH pressure (as low as one PLH per plant), and even in the presence of additional stressor- nitrogen deficiency. These findings provide the first evidence that drone-based imaging can simultaneously detect both nitrogen deficiency and PLH-induced feeding damage in green beans, offering a novel approach for rapid and scalable crop stress detection.

Remote Sensing of Potato Leafhopper Infestation and Nitrogen Deficiency in Beans Remote sensing has emerged as an innovative method for detecting plant stress and is increasingly utilized in integrated pest management (IPM) applications. Numerous studies have validated the effectiveness of spectral imaging in scouting agricultural crops for nutrient stress and pest infestations. However, its potential for detecting nitrogen (N) deficiency and potato leafhopper (PLH; Empoasca fabae Harris) feeding stress in beans has not yet been explored. PLH is a significant pest known for its wide host range and high damage potential. Conventional monitoring methods for PLH and laboratory techniques for diagnosing nitrogen deficiency are both time-consuming and do not provide full field coverage. Remote sensing offers a promising, efficient alternative for monitoring these stressors. To address this gap, a study was conducted to evaluate the capability of spectral reflectance sensing in detecting PLH stress and nitrogen deficiency in beans. Greenhouse experiments were carried out using three bean varieties—Provider (Phaseolus vulgaris), Henderson's Bush Lima (Phaseolus lunatus), and Tiger's Eye (Phaseolus vulgaris)—where hyperspectral reflectance from bean leaves was analyzed to identify spectral regions (500–1000 nm) with significant differences between healthy leaves and those infested with varying densities and durations of PLH feeding. Complementary multi-year (2021–2024) field trials were conducted where multispectral data were collected using a drone-mounted sensor. The study identified multiple wavelengths within the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum where reflectance reliably distinguished between infested and healthy plants. Field-based multispectral analysis further identified two robust vegetation indices—NDRE and GNDVI—that effectively differentiated bean canopies under PLH pressure (as low as one PLH per plant), and even in the presence of additional stressor- nitrogen deficiency. These findings provide the first evidence that drone-based imaging can simultaneously detect both nitrogen deficiency and PLH-induced feeding damage in green beans, offering a novel approach for rapid and scalable crop stress detection.

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

Doctoral Dissertation Defense of Sara Ailshire Major Advisors: Dr. César Abadía-Barrero Associate Advisors: Dr. Pamela Erickson, Dr. Richard Wilson Title: "Birth Professionals, Human Rights, and Efforts to Improve Childbirth Care In India." Monday, August 4, 2025, 1pm ONLINE To attend virtually via WebEx please use the following link: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/meet/cea14002

Doctoral Dissertation Defense of Sara Ailshire Major Advisors: Dr. César Abadía-Barrero Associate Advisors: Dr. Pamela Erickson, Dr. Richard Wilson Title: "Birth Professionals, Human Rights, and Efforts to Improve Childbirth Care In India." Monday, August 4, 2025, 1pm ONLINE To attend virtually via WebEx please use the following link: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/meet/cea14002

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).