News

First-of-its-kind research addresses impact of virtual work on non-teleworkers  Troy, N.Y. — As telecommuting and other forms of virtual work become increasingly popular, what happens to the workers who are left behind in the office? A new study by a management professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute suggests that the prevalence of telecommuters in an office can adversely impact coworkers who do not telecommute in terms of their job satisfaction and likelihood that they will leave the company. 

Troy, N.Y. — Jacob Fish, the Rosalind and John J. Redfern Chaired Professor of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and director of the university’s Multiscale Science and Engineering Center, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics (AAM).

New professor’s research involves heart and eye modeling, smart satellite imaging Troy, N.Y. — Professor Kim Boyer has joined the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as head of the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering.

Rensselaer among several institutions to receive grant Troy, N.Y. — The National Science Foundation has awarded $3 million over five years to an alliance of upstate colleges and universities, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, to enroll and graduate more minority students from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree programs.

Troy, N.Y. — Five teams of students are being rewarded for imagining innovative ways to make the world a better place, from a low-cost solar water purification system to a “smart badge” for law enforcement officers.

E. Fred Schubert and Brian Schulkin honored for leadership in science and technology

Video of X. George Xu, professor of nuclear and biomedical engineering

Chip could eliminate animal testing in chemicals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals industries Troy, N.Y. — A new biochip technology could eliminate animal testing in the chemicals and cosmetics industries, and drastically curtail its use in the development of new pharmaceuticals, according to new findings from a team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of California at Berkeley, and Solidus Biosciences Inc. 

Troy, N.Y. — James A. Knowlton, a senior administrator at the United States Military Academy, has been named director of athletics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Knowlton succeeds Ken Ralph, who joined Colorado College as athletic director in August.

Troy, N.Y. — Thirty-four middle school teams from around the Capital Region, New York state, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut competed Dec. 9 in the FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) Power Puzzle Challenge at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The global competition has been brought to the region for the third time through a partnership between General Electric (GE) and Rensselaer.