College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at The University of Toledo

Tuesday Testimonial ? “This is what really won my son over. He loved the experiment they did and LOVED the interaction with the professors. Hearing that he will get to work with the equipment, and in fact it is very much pushed, was huge. The research base that the undergraduate program provides was gigantic to him as he learns best that way. This was the part of the trip that truly was the best for him.” – R.S. ? A campus visit is the best way to find out if The University of Toledo is a great fit for you. Add an academic appointment to meet personally with your program of interest. This one-on-one visit in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is available Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:15 p.m. You'll meet personally with a faculty member in your academic program of interest for a short department tour and have plenty of time to ask questions about studying abroad, research opportunities, future careers, etc.! ? Schedule a campus visit at UToledo today! > bit.ly/42BDqEW ? #UToledo #UToledoRocketScience #ThePowerToDo #FutureRockets #TuesdayTestimonial #CareerEverywhere Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Toledo Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization The UToledo Alumni Association

Shout out to Dr. Todd Crail, Distinguished University Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences at The University of Toledo, who was the Keynote Speaker at the 38th Annual Michigan Native Plant Conference held March 1-2, 2025, at the Kellogg Convention Center in East Lansing, Mich.? ? Dr. Crail presented, “Plants, People and Perseverance: Incorporating Native Plantings in Urban Environments - Greening Toledo Through Service”. Greening UToledo Through Service (GUTS) is a student-led project that works to increase native plantings on the Main Campus of the University of Toledo. Student employees convert turf to prairie, implement formal garden projects, and support these efforts through greenhouse cultivation of plant material. Much of the work is facilitated through service-learning opportunities where students experience real-life applications of what they have covered in class. In 2022-2024, GUTS facilitated 1000 student volunteer hours (600 for credit, 400 completely voluntary each year) to grow and plant ~20,000 native plant plugs.? ? Current and past undergraduate students also participated at the conference during the poster session: Caleb Lawrence, a sophomore seeking a B.S. in Environmental Sciences; Emma Heslop, a senior seeking a B.A. in Environmental Studies; Emily Brach, a junior seeking a B.S. in Environmental Sciences; and Brock Hochanadel, a fall 2024 graduate who earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies and graduated Magna Cum Laude and with departmental honors. The UToledo Alumni Association ? Congrats Dr. Crail, Caleb, Emma, Emily and Brock on the great research taking place at UToledo! ? #ThePowerToDo #GUTS #UToledo #UToledoNSM

Saturday Morning Science The University of Toledo kicks off for Spring 2025 this weekend! ? “This semester we’re exploring a wide range of topics,” said Dr. Micha? Marszewski, a co-organizer and assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Toledo. “There’s something for everyone, from cancer to color theory to climate change. Whether attendees join us for one lecture or the entire series, they’re sure to discover something new. We’re especially excited to offer complimentary activities after select lectures, such as a tour of the Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory, highlighting how #UToledo is powering opportunities for learning and research.” ? Our first public talk is on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Wolfe Hall Room 1205 on Main Campus! ? “Cancer: From its Origins to Developing Targeted Therapy” will be presented by Dr. Mara Livezey, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Detroit Mercy. Dr. Livezey's lab uses the tools of biochemistry and molecular biology to better understand cancer using small molecule anti-cancer drugs. ? Free parking is available in Lot 13, right next to Wolfe Hall. The program is sponsored by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Office of the Dean. ? All talks are FREE and open to the public! ? Saturday Morning Science is a great way to learn about cutting edge as well as everyday science topics. Enjoy a complimentary, light breakfast prior to the program and learn about recent discoveries and STEM careers. ? For more information, read the full #UTNews story: bit.ly/4kF3QMs ? #SaturdayMorningScience #UToledoNSM #EngagingToledo #Biochemistry #CancerResearch #MolecularBiology The UToledo Alumni Association UToledo Research & Sponsored Programs UToledo Health City of Toledo

Congratulations to Dr. Randall Ellingson, the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, one of three faculty members recently bestowed with the honorary title of Distinguished University Professor at The University of Toledo in recognition of his exemplary achievements in teaching, research, scholarship and professional service! ? Ellingson has been awarded six patents related to his work in intracavity-doubled tunable optical parametric oscillators and solar cell materials science, has received millions of dollars in grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of State, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Department of Energy, and his impressive publication record has resulted in over 20,000 citations. ? “My growth as an educator and research scientist has derived from numerous key elements — including Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s long-standing support for UToledo and for renewable energy; PVIC’s highly collaborative approach to research and education; strong student commitment at the graduate and undergraduate level; a uniquely beneficial sabbatical opportunity with EPFL’s PV-Lab (directed by Christophe Ballif) in 2015; a growing partnership with First Solar (a national treasure in the field of solar energy); and an opportunity for community engagement through Glass City Community Solar (led by John Kiely), a charitable nonprofit working to bring the knowledge and benefits of solar energy to Toledo’s low income community. I look forward to continued engagement, as I work to grow along with our students through society’s transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources.” ? Full #UTNews article: bit.ly/3Dnbk62 ? Congrats Professor Ellingson, our #RocketPride is shining bright! ? #UToledoNSM #UToledoRocketScience #DistinguishedUniversityProfessor #PVIC #MaterialsScience #Photovoltaics #SolarEnergy #ThePowerToDo

When Pi is an irrational never ending number, the best thing to do with it is round it to 3.14 and celebrate that conclusion by eating a slice of pie! ? Monday, March 10, stop by the Eberly Center table in Wolfe Hall, DNA hallway, The University of Toledo, from 12:00-2:00pm to: ? ·???????Take a cool photo with our STEMM backdrop to be promoted on our social media!? ? ·???????Spin the wheel and learn about Pi specific information! ? ·???????Enjoy a slice of delicious pie! ??? InvoNet: bit.ly/41LzL6s ? #PiDay #EberlyCenter #UToledo #STEMMUnity

Thank you to all of the donors that helped make Day of Giving 2025 an incredible achievement! #RocketForward #ThePowerToDo

Save the Date! ? Please join the Ritter Astrophysical Research Center and Department of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Toledo for the 2025 Excellence in Astronomy Talk! ? “The Terrestrial Worlds of Other Stars” ? Guest speaker: Dr. David Charbonneau Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics, Department of Astronomy, Harvard University ? Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 7:15 p.m. UToledo Main Campus Wolfe Hall, #1205 ? David Charbonneau is the Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University. He enjoys working with students and postdoctoral fellows to develop novel methods and instruments for the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars, and studies how the life cycles of the parent stars affect the presence and properties of the atmospheres of any orbiting worlds. He recently co-chaired the National Academies consensus study outlining the national strategy for exoplanet research, including the search for life on planets orbiting other stars. In September 2024, he was awarded the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics from the King of Norway at a ceremony in Oslo. ? “This is the second talk in an ‘Excellence in Astronomy’ series focusing on astronomers who, through their vision, persistence and teamwork, have made extraordinary leaps in our understanding of the universe. It builds on our own astronomy program being recognized as an Area of Research Excellence at UToledo,” said Dr. Thomas Megeath, event organizer and Distinguished University Professor. ? This is a public lecture, FREE and open to the community, as well as all faculty, staff and students at UToledo! Note: Parking will be free in Areas 12 and 12S from 6:30pm-9pm. ? For Dr. Charbonneau’s talk abstract, visit the NSM Events Calendar: bit.ly/4bob5V4 ? #UToledoRocketScience #UToledo #UToledoNSM #BlackHoles #ExoplanetResearch #Astrophysics #KavliPrize #ThePowerToDo Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization The UToledo Alumni Association

Dr. Nikolas Podraza, NEG Endowed Chair for Silicate Science and Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has received research support from Obsidian Sensors, Inc. College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at The University of Toledo

This week we spotlight a recent PVIC publication:?"Optical and Electronic Properties of (InxGa1-x)2O3 Alloys", led by PVIC researcher Bishal Shrestha, and Prof. Nik Podraza, in collaboration with Prof. Adam Phillips, Prof. Michael Heben, and many more from PVIC. This work was funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Amorphous (InxGa1-x)2O3 alloys have emerged as promising materials for advanced semiconductor applications due to their tunable optical and electronic properties. However, a comprehensive understanding of how composition influences these properties is essential for optimizing their use in device simulations and performance evaluations. This study utilizes spectroscopy ellipsometry analysis to explore complex dielectric function spectra, shedding light on key parameters such as optical band edges, vibrational modes, and charge carrier transport characteristics. Key Takeaways: - Optical and electronic properties of amorphous (InxGa1-x)2O3 alloys are strongly composition-dependent. - Higher gallium content in (InxGa1-x)2O3 thin films leads to increased optical transition energies and decreased charge carrier concentration, attributed to reduced oxygen vacancies. - Carrier mobilities, effective masses, and resistivities for alloys with 0.28 ≤ x ≤ 0.71 range from 10.6 to 11.7 cm2V?1s?1, 0.308 to 0.397 m?, and 2.3 to 47.1 Ωcm, respectively. Potential Future Impact: The identified optical and electronic parameters of (InxGa1-x)2O3 alloys are essential for understanding thin film properties and can significantly enhance semiconductor device simulations, paving the way for performance improvements in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dUtVFKkS

Have you made your Day of Giving contribution yet? Help make life changing differences in the lives of our students in The University of Toledo College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics! ? Make your donation and designate the fund you’d like to support by 6 p.m. today: bit.ly/43e4Q3Z ? #RocketForward #UToledoRocketScience #UToledo #UToledoNSM #ThePowerToDo