Faculty Mentors
Dr. Susan Agolini has been a member of the Marymount University faculty for over 8 years. She is trained as a Cell and Molecular Biologist and has a primary area of interest in the eukaryotic intracellular transport pathway. Dr. Agolini’s research was instrumental in the initial identification and characterization of the SCAMP family of proteins. She is currently investigating the role that these ubiquitous proteins may play in muscle cell development, disease, and repair. Dr. Agolini is also committed to inclusive teaching and has investigated and instituted strategies for creating an inclusive active learning environment for STEM education.
Dr Eric Bubar is an Applied Physicist and Astronomer by training and is currently a Professor of Engineering. His lab conducts projects using modern digital fabrication tools (3D design, 3D printing, hobbyist microcontrollers, virtual-reality and AI/ML software) to create open-source assistive tools. Projects have included making prosthetic hands and arms, creating bionic limbs, creating customized virtual reality exercise games and designing computer-vision-based exercise recognition systems. He is the PI on Project DREAM, an NSF-funded grant to design an inclusive year-long introductory engineering course supplying students that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM with the skills necessary to succeed through rigorous engineering curricula. He is excited to push his research skills into a new (and delicious!) direction by 3D printing chocolate as a baseline for learning how to print with biocompatible materials and cement.
Dr. Deana Jaber is an organic chemist by training and an innovative educator by passion. The Jaber research group conducts research in the field of Chemical Education (CE). They design and develop pedagogical tools that have been shown to enhance the students’ learning experience. Examples of these tools are, but not limited to, card games in three formats (physical, virtual, and smart applications) and case studies. Dr. Jaber is an advocate of undergraduate research experience and has mentored several students on research projects that have gained them authorships on peer-reviewed articles and a book chapter! She is a Co- Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant leveraging citizen science to grow and diversify the science, engineering, and technology workforce of the future. In recognition of Dr. Jaber’s research and teaching endeavors, she was awarded the 2020 Faculty Scholarship Award and the 2023 Innovative Excellence in Teaching Award, respectively. Dr. Jaber is originally from Nablus, Palestine and she hopes one day to be able to implement the pedagogical tools she began developing in her home county.
Dr. Diane Murphy is a chemist and information scientist who specializes in research areas such as the use of emerging technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve the lives of everyone. She is a recognized expert in the field of cybersecurity, to protect the digital world, including our national security. She is the principal investigator (PI) and Co-PI on several grants for the National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is excited to work with students for the STEM jobs of the future, including the handling of more and more data. She is originally from the UK and was the first in her family to go to college. Contact her at dmurphy@marymount.edu, 703 284 5958 or in Ballston Room 4074 or 2025.
Dr. Amanda Wright’s is a biochemist whose primary research interest include exploring drug-resistant bacteria and the diminishing supply of antibiotics. The WHO anticipates 300 million deaths worldwide by the year 2050 as a result of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Undergraduate students in Dr. Wright’s lab investigate the biochemical and microbial diversity of soil for the presence of antimicrobial agents. Dr. Wright believes strongly in the value of undergraduate research and studies the importance of this high impact practice in her laboratory. She is the principal investigator (PI) on a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the impacts of citizen science on the STEM workforce.
