Research Renewal

collage of images from research development events

Research Renewal

Date: April 29, 2026

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (View map)

Learn about discovery making a difference as researchers share a behind-the-scenes look into their cutting-edge work, network with fellow faculty members and engage with student and postdoc posters at the Division of Research annual Research Renewal.

Agenda

7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Bus travel from Boca Raton campus to HBOI (optional)
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Welcome

Adam Hasner, J.D.
President, Florida Atlantic University

Gregg B. Fields, Ph.D.
FNAI, Vice President for Research, Executive Director, Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-Health), Co-Director, MCI-FAU FDOH Cancer Center of Excellence, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University

James M. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

10 – 10:30 a.m.
Research and Scholarship Highlights From the Colleges

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Stacey Balkan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Environmental Humanities, Department of English

Gretchen Suarez-Peña, MFA
Assistant Professor of Stage and Screen Writing, Department of Theatre and Dance

College of Social Work and Criminal Justice

Ebow T. Nketsiah, Ph.D., MSW
Assistant Professor, Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work

Gabriel T. Cesar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Viewing
11:15 a.m. – Noon
Research and Scholarship Highlights From the Colleges

College of Education

Sangbeak (Sam) Ye, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Research Methodology, Department of Education Leadership and Research

Bryan Nichols, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Science and Environmental Education

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Xingquan (Hill) Zhu, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Arslan Munir, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Sondra Bickham Washington, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of American Literature

Tracy Mincer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology, Chair of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Noon - 12:45 p.m.
Lunch
12:45 - 1:30 p.m.
Research and Scholarship Highlights From the Colleges

Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Lea Sacca, Ph.D., MPH
Assistant Professor, Structures, Systems, and Society Thread Director, Department of Population Health

Claudia Rodrigues, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biomedical Science

Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

Tarsha Jones, Ph.D., MSN, RN, PHNA-BC
Associate Professor

Beth King, Ph.D., APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Professor

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

William Hahn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Simon Pieraut, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.
Boat or Tram Tour
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Research and Scholarship Highlights From Florida Atlantic's Institutes

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Megan Davis, Ph.D.
Research Professor and Director, Queen Conch Lab

Annie Page, DVM, Ph.D.
Associate Research Professor and Clinical Veterinarian

Institute for Human Health & Disease Intervention

Beth Pratt, Ph.D., RN
Assistant Professor, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Faculty Fellow, Associate Director, C-PAWW

Ania Knapinska, Ph.D.
Research Professor, Associate Director, Cancer Center of Excellence

Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE)

Jordon Beckler, Ph.D.
Associate Research Professor, Geochemistry and Geochemical Sensing Lab

Luke Rosedahl, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, I-SENSE Fellow

Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (SNBI)

Lucia Carvelli, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Wilkes Honors College, SNBI Investigator

Srinivasa Subramaniam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

3:15 – 4 p.m.
Reception
Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Viewing
4 – 6 p.m.
Bus travel from HBOI to Boca Raton campus (optional)