Engineering and... News: November 2025

Dear Engineering Colleagues, 

It’s an exciting time for our GW Engineering community, as we welcome the holiday season and celebrate the incredible achievements of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni this semester. 

I’m thrilled to share that GW Engineering has received a generous, groundbreaking $11 million investment from 

the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation to expand our Clark Scholars Program, which provides our students with financial assistance, leadership experience, and professional development opportunities. I am so grateful to the Clark Foundation for their generosity and investment in our revolutionary students, and I look forward to seeing the expanded resources, experiences, and community that come as a result. 

This semester has been a busy and productive one for our school, with the Biomedical Engineering Department attending the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting in October, Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Professor John Helveston being published in Science, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering PhD student Guru Sankar Duppada achieving an unprecedented micropopulsion research milestone, and so much more. 

In addition to our departments’ innovative work on the school level, our alumni are excelling and accomplishing incredible feats, taking on critical leadership roles in industry and being recognized with prestigious awards for their contributions to their fields. 

You can read more about our student, faculty, alumni, department, and university news below, and stay up-to-date on our GW Engineering News & Events page.

As we celebrate this season of giving, I am grateful for the contributions of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to our vibrant, one-of-a-kind GW Engineering community. I look forward to celebrating with you all at our many different end-of-year festivities!

Raise High

Jason Zara

Interim Dean, GW Engineering

Associate Professor of Computer Science Adam Aviv is collaborating with Associate Professor Eran Toch from Tel Aviv University and Assistant Professor Oshrat Ayalon from the University of Haifa to explore how particular streams of ultra-orthodox Jewish communities understand and perceive security and privacy of technology and how it functions based on their communities’ standards.

December 4 from 12pm-1pm: Work with Data: Research Support at GW

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December 4 from 6pm-8pm: The Future in Focus: AI's Influence on Power, People, and Progress

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December 5 from 12pm-1pm: Careers in Patents for Engineers and Scientists

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December 9 from 11:30am-1pm: FLIP the Script: The Free, Local, Immediate, and Persuasive Co-Benefits of Climate Action

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December 11 at 5pm: Rice Business Plan Competition Info Session

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December 19 from 12pm-1:15pm: Intro to Lean Innovation Webinar

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Showcasing Research to Bridge Healthcare Gaps at BMES 2025

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Developing a Smart City in the Heart of the Nation’s Capital

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Documenting the Untold History of British Computer Systems

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Zeyu Fang Builds Solutions for Next-Generation Networks at Nokia Bell Labs

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Professor Helveston Published a Policy Article in Science on Revitalizing the US Automotive Industry

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15 Million Pulses and Counting: PhD Student Achieves Micro-Propulsion Milestone

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In the article, "New Study: Twitter's COVID-19 Misinformation Efforts Fell Short," David Broniatowski, professor of engineering management and systems engineering, examines Twitter's COVID-19 misinformation efforts and how the platform's design influenced its spread. His team found that the platform's efforts to curb vaccine misinformation may have unintentionally amplified it. 

Diyora Shodmonova is a key member of the administrative team within the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). This team is essential to the department’s operations, acting as the backbone that keeps the BME community running smoothly. From coordinating events to managing academic processes and ensuring resources are available, BME team members like Dioyra play a crucial role in these efforts, thereby ensuring a seamless experience for everyone in the department.

Q: How long have you been working at GW, and what is your position?

A: I’ve been working at GW for about 2 years, and I currently serve as the Operations Assistant in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. In this role, I support faculty, students, and staff with a variety of administrative and academic processes, from coordinating events and scheduling to helping the department run smoothly day-to-day.

Q: What led you to this career?

A: I’ve always been passionate about helping people and creating organized, welcoming environments where others can succeed. My background in psychology and my interest in management made operations work a natural fit. It allows me to combine interpersonal understanding with problem-solving and structure.

Q: Why did you choose GW?

A: I completed my undergraduate studies here and saw firsthand how dedicated the university is to excellence, innovation, and community. During my time as a student, I experienced the supportive and collaborative environment that makes GW special, so when the opportunity came to contribute as a staff member, it felt like a natural next step.

On November 11, the GW community came together for an annual celebration honoring veterans in the University Student Center. GW Veterans Co-President Anthony Gutierrez, a senior engineering student and former avionics technician with the U.S. Navy, delivered remarks during the ceremony.

From handmade clothes to baked goods, the GW Innovation Center turned Tompkins M06 into a marketplace for student artists to sell their creations on November 15. 50% of each student's profits were donated to Ward 2 Mutual Aid to support our unhoused neighbors in D.C.

The GWU-PREP is a collaboration with GWU in Washington, DC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. GWU-PREP provides research opportunities at NIST to students, faculty, research staff, and postdoctoral researchers at GW as well as researchers at SURA-affiliated universities.

We support your ambitions by offering financial support to eligible GW community members, including a monthly stipend, hourly wage, or full tuition reimbursement for qualifying undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.