| School of Biological Sciences | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | Georgia Institute of Technology

Join Georgia Tech Space Week, September 22–25, 2026, for a dynamic lineup of sessions highlighting emerging priorities across the space domain. From foundational science to interdisciplinary research, the week features topics such as space policy, hypersonics, space weather, materials in extreme environments, entrepreneurship, and human spaceflight. Bringing together academia, industry, and government, Space Week creates opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share ideas shaping the future of space.

Interested in presenting? Submit your abstract by July 30.

Learn more about events and programming here.

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Bumblebees are only an inch long, but they help power the global food system. Roughly one-third of the food we grow depends on pollinators like bees — and those bees are regularly decimated by pesticides.

Modern pesticides have helped boost crop yields, but they can also harm the insects that make those yields possible. Sulfoxaflor, a next-generation pesticide introduced in 2013, kills sap-feeding pests like aphids in crops, including soybeans and corn. Sulfoxaflor is also known to be toxic to bees. Scientists are still working to understand how low-dose exposure affects bee reproduction at the molecular level.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have found that sulfoxaflor disrupts reproduction and gene expression. In a study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the team exposed groups of worker bumblebees to low doses of the pesticide and analyzed changes in gene activity. They found that ovarian tissues showed the most significant shifts in gene expression. These changes could contribute to reduced reproductive output and, over time, affect bee populations.

In the study, the researchers flash-froze bee tissues and analyzed RNA to track how gene activity shifted after pesticide exposure. The Georgia Tech team used computational models to pinpoint which biological systems were most affected.

“What makes this study exciting is that it connects molecular changes in gene expression to real-world consequences for individual bees and their colonies,” said Michael Goodisman, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences. “That type of connection is rare and gives us a much clearer picture of how pesticides affect bees.”

The implications of the study highlight a pressing challenge in agriculture.

“We need pesticides to control crop pests, but they can also harm essential non-target insects like bumblebees,” said Sarah Orr, who led the research as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech and now works as an assistant professor at the University of Tampa. “As a scientist, my goal is to identify practical solutions that support pest management while also protecting beneficial insects and the food systems that depend on them.”

That balance between pest control and pollinator protection is critical. “We need many bees for successful pollination,” Orr said. “If they’re not producing enough offspring, pollination will decline.”

Pesticides are only one of several threats facing bumblebees. Stressors like heatwaves also play a growing role. By better understanding how chemicals like sulfoxaflor affect bee biology, researchers hope to help farmers protect both their crops and the pollinators that sustain them.

Michael A. Catto, Jixiang Xu, Kayla A. Murray, Emma Leigh M. Bossard, Michael A.D. Goodisman, Sarah E. Orr, Integrative assessment of sulfoxaflor effects on gene expression, reproduction, and behavior in the bumblebee Bombus impatiens, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 315, 15 April 2026, 120101, ISSN 0147-6513.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120101

Scientific American has named Armita Manafzadeh to the inaugural class of Young American Scientists, recognizing a new generation of leaders and innovators in science, technology, and medicine. The 2026 cohort includes 28 early-career scientists based in the United States who are changing the world with their work.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group of scientists,” Manafzadeh says. “I’ve always been motivated by big, fundamental questions, and it’s exciting to see that kind of curiosity-driven research celebrated.”

Manafzadeh will join Georgia Tech in August 2026 as an assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences. Her research investigates how joints function and how they evolved, using advanced technology to create animations of moving skeletons with sub-millimeter precision.

“My research is aimed at understanding how joints work and where they come from,” she explains. “Physicians can repair ACL injuries and perform hip replacements, but we still don’t fully understand joint mechanics at a fundamental level.” Because joints are a shared feature of virtually all vertebrates, she adds, nearly all movement — from slithering to sprinting to soaring — depends on them.

Manafzadeh first applied these methods to pterodactyls, “reanimating” the extinct animals to study how they flew. Now, her research could also open doors to personalized surgical treatments for people and new designs for bio-inspired robots.

Joel Kostka, Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor from the School of Biological Sciences and director of Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow (GT²), will lead a new research project aimed at strengthening coastal marsh restoration efforts along Georgia’s coast.

His project was selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed process involving scientific experts, state and local resource managers, and coastal community stakeholders as part of a biennial research competition sponsored by the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, supported by the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program.

“I am excited to continue to contribute to Sea Grant’s critical mission of research that strengthens the resilience of coastal ecosystems,” says Kostka.

Strengthening Coastal Marsh Restoration

Kostka’s team will examine how locally sourced Spartina plants and beneficial root-associated microbes can improve marsh restoration outcomes. The research will evaluate plant growth, stress tolerance, and field performance to identify practical, scalable strategies for supporting coastal ecosystems.

Selected projects are intended to “advance the understanding, management, and strategic use of Georgia’s coastal and marine resources,” while producing results that address coastal management needs and remain accessible to communities, according to an article from Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. In addition to faculty from Georgia Tech, the 2026 research awards will support investigators from Georgia Southern University and Savannah State University.

College of Sciences alumni and graduate students are among the seventy-five Yellow Jackets awarded Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF) from the National Science Foundation. The fellowships, valued at $159,000, include funding for three years of graduate study and tuition for graduate students pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or STEM education.

The Georgia Tech recipients of the fellowship, which has supported over 70,000 students since its inception in 1952, were selected from a pool of more than 14,000 applicants nationwide. Fellowships are awarded to students “who have demonstrated potential for significant achievements in research.”

Alumni:

Mariah Castillo – Chemical Catalysis
Brandon Choi – Physics and Astronomy - Artificial Intelligence
Brice Bradley Edelman – Comp/IS/Eng - Artificial Intelligence
Marielle Frooman – Chemistry – Chemical Synthesis
Kush Gandhi – Physics and Astronomy - Quantum Information Science
Divya Iyer – Materials Research - Chemistry of Materials
Elizabeth Mone – Physics and Astronomy - Astronomy and Astrophysics
Akash Narayanan – Mathematical Sciences – Topology
Matthew Rohan – Materials Research - Chemistry of Materials
Isaac Sipp-Alpers – Geosciences – Paleoceanography
Skylar Taylor – Life Sciences – Organismal Biology

Graduate Students:

Sierra Paige Bornheim – Life Sciences
Zahria Patrick – Chemistry – Chemical Synthesis
Brendan Michael Shrader – Mathematical Sciences - Mathematical Biology
Yufei Xiao – Physics and Astronomy - Physics of Living Systems

Discover the full list of Georgia Tech awardees.

The Office of Technology Licensing has announced the latest recipients of the Tech Ready Grants, an initiative that helps Georgia Tech faculty advance their innovations toward market readiness. Providing early momentum for promising technologies, the grants help move research toward real-world impact.

“Tech Ready Grants are designed to help researchers take critical steps toward commercialization by supporting early validation and development,” said Mary Albertson, director of Technology Licensing. “These projects represent strong potential for real-world impact across a range of industries.”

This year’s selected projects span areas including advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, medical devices, sustainability, and software systems.

Awardees

Christos Athanasiou
Assistant Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering

Project: A Scalable In-Situ Durability Platform for Rapid Polymer Qualification

Athanasiou is developing a platform to assess material durability under real-world conditions, helping accelerate validation timelines for high-performance applications.

“What began as a lab-based fracture testing instrument became a way to observe failure under real conditions,” Athanasiou said. “Now, we are working to share that capability beyond a single lab.”

Steve Diggle
Professor, School of Biological Sciences

Project: TAILSTRIKE Platform: Modular Chimeric Tailocin Engineering for Programmable Precision Antibacterials

Diggle is developing a programmable antibacterial platform using engineered protein nanomachines to precisely target harmful bacteria. The approach aims to address antibiotic resistance while enabling more targeted therapeutic applications.

“This grant will support the development of the TAILSTRIKE platform, a modular engineering system that repurposes protein nanomachines which bacteria use in warfare against each other, to create next-generation programmable, precision antibacterials,” Diggle said.

Ellen Yi Chen Mazumdar
Assistant Professor and Woodruff Faculty Fellow, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Project: High-Efficiency, Fully 3D-Printed Electric Motors

Mazumdar is developing fully 3D-printed electric motors designed for high efficiency and flexible manufacturing across a range of applications.

“The Tech Ready Grant is an exciting opportunity for us to advance our research toward something that can be commercialized as a real product,” Mazumdar said.

Nathan Meraz
Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute

Project: SCHORTY Technical Document and Market Analysis

Meraz is advancing Scheimpflug Optical Ranging Technology (SCHORTY), a platform that delivers LiDAR-class 3D sensing in a camera-native form factor. The project focuses on identifying high-value commercial applications and validating market opportunities.

“Our platform delivers performance that scales with advances in imaging technology,” Meraz said. “The Tech Ready Grant will support the transition from technical validation to market discovery.”

Carson Meredith
Professor and James Preston Harris Faculty Fellow, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Executive Director, Renewable Bioproducts Institute

Project: Commercialization of Renewable Oxygen and Water Barrier Biodegradable Packaging

Meredith is advancing biodegradable packaging materials that provide strong oxygen and moisture barriers, addressing a key challenge in sustainable packaging.

“My lab carries out research in future packaging materials that can replace problematic single-use plastics,” Meredith said. “This funding will help us translate Georgia Tech developments into practice through prototyping and applied testing.”

William Singhose
Professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Project: Cable Angle Sensing and Control for Improved Crane Safety

Singhose’s team is advancing sensing and control technologies to improve crane safety by monitoring and stabilizing cable angles in real time. The work aims to reduce load swing and enhance operational safety across construction and industrial environments.

“The cable-angle sensing technology we have developed allows crane control systems to detect the early onset of dangerous lifting conditions,” Singhose said. “By identifying when a hoisting cable begins to deviate from vertical, we can take corrective action before uncontrolled swing leads to serious injury or damage.”

Xiaojuan “Judy” Song
Senior Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute

Project: Smart Dressing for Wound Monitoring

Song is advancing a wearable smart dressing that enables continuous, on-patient monitoring of wound healing progress without disturbing the site. The technology is designed for use in chronic wound care, including diabetic foot ulcers and battlefield applications.

“Tech Ready funding will help advance the technology toward real-world application and define a commercialization pathway,” Song said.

Shuichi Takayama
Professor, GRA Eminent Scholar, and Price Gilbert Jr. Chair in Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering

Project: Organoid Alternative to Interstitial Lung Disease Toxicity Testing

Takayama’s team is using lab-grown human lung tissue models to evaluate drug toxicity, offering a more accurate and scalable alternative to traditional primate models.

“This system fills a critical gap where species differences limit the use of traditional models,” Takayama said.

Jun Xu
Professor, School of Computer Science

Project: Research Into Applications and API for METTLE

Xu is advancing METTLE, a novel streaming erasure code designed for high-speed networking systems, with a focus on improving data reliability and efficiency.

“This funding will support the commercialization readiness of METTLE,” Xu said.

About Tech Ready Grants

Tech Ready Grants is an Office of Technology Licensing program that provides early-stage funding to faculty to support prototype development, validation, and market assessment. The program helps position technologies for licensing, startup formation, and industry partnerships.

By supporting these critical early steps, Tech Ready Grants strengthens the pathway from research to real-world impact across Georgia Tech’s innovation ecosystem.

This year, eight Georgia Tech students have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, and four have been named as alternates. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, provides opportunities for students and professionals to study, conduct research, and teach abroad while promoting mutual understanding between the United States and other countries.

Among this year’s recipients are several members of Georgia Tech’s Class of 2026, as well as a doctoral student.

Divya Tadanki, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, expressed her enthusiasm about her future research plans. “Through the Fulbright,” she explained, “I’ll be working in the Netherlands to research the predictors of preterm labor. I’m very excited to delve deeper into my research interests with people from across the globe.”

After double-majoring in biology and Spanish, Sonali Kaluri is headed to Spain to study the health of migrant workers under the digital platform economy. “With the Fulbright Scholarship,” she said, “I will conduct research on the gig economy and its implementation into health systems in Spain at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.”

Having earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Seth Kinoshita will be working with Professor Urszula Stachewicz in the Electrospun Nanofibers group at AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland. “I am excited to connect with my Polish heritage, explore Eastern Europe, and strengthen my research background,” he remarked. “Thank you to Dr. Brunner for their endless support during this process, and I encourage everyone to consider applying for fellowships while at Tech!”

Zachary Beddingfield, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology, will travel to Germany as a Fulbright Research Scholar where he will explore the intersection of his two passions: biology and machine learning. “I will be learning how to implement Protein Language Models to design de novo proteins that are unrelated to any proteins found in nature,” he explained. “I hope to design a de novo protease that degrades a specific protein responsible for most symptoms in human urinary tract infections, as proof of concept that these tools can be used to target a broad range of pathogenic proteins.”

With a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, Diya Chutani will continue her academic journey as a Fulbright Canada recipient, beginning a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Western Ontario’s Music and Neuroscience Lab. “To be able to return to the music cognition community I discovered in Ontario last summer,” she noted, “where there is value in both my musical and scientific background, is a privilege I am so grateful for. I am eager to begin contributing meaningfully to research that can enhance music-based interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.”

Anya Martin, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Interactive Computing, plans to focus on weather and climate forecasting in India. “I plan to use the Fulbright to do social-scientific work with meteorologists in India using AI machine learning (AI/ML) methods for weather and climate forecasting,” she said, reflecting on her selection for the award. “AI/ML methods have a lot of promise for meteorology, but we will see how the methods pan out in practice.”

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 talented and accomplished individuals with the opportunity to exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. More than 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Students — including recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals — pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English in schools abroad each year.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries. In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.

For more information about the Fulbright Program or other nationally competitive awards, visit the Prestigious Fellowships Advising website or contact the team at fellowshipsadvising@gatech.edu.