Lunch & Such: Faculty Research, Creativity, and Community at NYIT

Motion capture technology and a wearable wireless device stirred up conversation on Feb. 4 as nearly 70 NYIT faculty and staff members gathered for the Provost Discovery Luncheon in Old Westbury and Manhattan to learn about the latest research and accomplishments of their colleagues. Hosted by NYIT Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rahmat Shoureshi, Ph.D., the luncheon has become a spring and fall tradition since its inception in 2011.

Presentations included a motion capture demo and discussion by Terry Nauheim and Matthew Cornelius (College of Arts and Sciences) and an exploration of how a wireless implantable device can be used to study and manage gastric disorders by Aydin Farajidavar, Ph.D. (School of Engineering and Computing Sciences). Nauheim is an associate professor and chair of NYIT Department of Fine Arts; Cornelius is director of NYIT Art Media Lab and HIVE (Home for Innovation, Visualization, and Exploration); and Farajidavar is an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering.

"The collaborations between our faculty members and students from different disciplines and schools are exemplary and build pride in NYIT's supportive interdisciplinary academic community," said Shoureshi. "Through these cross-disciplinary scholarship and educational efforts, NYIT faculty members and students are able to address complex and emerging global challenges, and develop unique and innovative solutions to serve the public good."

Artistry for All Disciplines

Video: Cornelius describes motion capture techniques as he did with Nauheim in their presentation "Motion Capture as a Tool for Interdisciplinary Partnership and Collaboration" at the spring 2016 Provost Discovery Luncheon.

Nauheim and Cornelius showed how motion capture (the process of recording movement and mapping it as a digital model) can be used across disciplines and integrated with virtual reality software and 3-D scanning and printing technologies. The duo called out several fall 2015 interdisciplinary projects that benefited from these resources, including the Viscardi Industry Project course and the CITYarts digital peace ornaments project (both previously featured on The Box). 

These technologies also connect our campuses regionally and globally. For example, NYIT's motion capture lab in Old Westbury has remote directing software that transmits to Beijing, Manhattan, or any other campus, enabling students in different locations to work on a motion capture shoot. "Simply speaking, it's videoconferencing technology that is installed specifically to facilitate directing actors in the motion capture studio," said Cornelius. "Directors who are miles away can guide actors in the studio. NYIT students in Beijing are able to direct students in New York from afar."

Industry partners are in on the action, too. "Our partners and tools allow us to give our students some amazing real-world opportunities in the classroom and internships in our studios," said Nauheim.

Since joining NYIT, Cornelius has connected NYIT students with his professional network of clients. For example, Cornelius and students are currently partnering with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to work on interacting with robots. Previously, they worked on the motion capture elements for design and animation studio The Mill (see video).

OFFF St. Petersburg 2014 Main Titles by The Mill from OFFF, let's feed the future on Vimeo.

Tiny Device, Big Impact for Engineering

Video: Farajidavar shares his teaching philosophy and perspective on research at NYIT, ideas he emphasized in his talk "Integrated Wireless Solutions for Studying and Managing Gastrointestinal Disorders" at the spring 2016 Provost Discovery Luncheon.

For his presentation, Farajidavar shared progress on his research: making a miniature implant that acquires data from patients with gastric disorders. A $457,000 National Institutes of Health grant funds his effort.

"More than one-third of U.S. adults are obese," said Farajidavar. "Obesity causes heart disease, strokes, Type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer." Obese people are also more prone to gastrointestinal problems.

Farajidavar explained that gastroparesis—caused by damages to the nerves controlling the stomach muscles—is common in diabetics. Electrophysiological activity taken directly from the stomach provides the most reliable and descriptive data on the status of diabetes. However, to monitor this activity doctors must perform surgery on patients to insert lead wires that traverse the abdominal wall or a natural orifice. These wires connect to bulky acquisition systems that restrict patients' mobility and can act as a conduit for infection and cause discomfort. Farajidavar seeks to change this. His wireless implant (see photo) offers a less invasive route and is being developed with students in NYIT's Integrated Medical Systems (IMS) Lab.

Diagram: Work-in-progress schematic of wireless implant

During a Q&A session following Farajidavar's presentation, Shoureshi asked about the makeup of students in the IMS Lab. 

"Sixty to seventy percent of the lab researchers are graduate students and about 30 percent are undergraduates," said Farajidavar. "I'm lucky to have these students and other collaborators who are all contributing to advance this research."

Farajidavar's sentiment resonated with the audience. As faculty members team up on more research endeavors, they offer vibrant possibilities to our students.

Know Before You Go: Provost Discovery Luncheon

Location: NYIT's Manhattan and Old Westbury campuses. Videoconferencing technology is used to broadcast the event between campuses. 

Food: Boxed lunch from Panera Bread, including a variety of sandwich and salad options. Pictured is the Greek salad boxed lunch served with French bread, a large chocolate chip cookie, and water or soda. Participants at both campuses enjoy lunch.

Price: Free, but be sure to R.S.V.P. in advance.

Lunch scene: Casual, friendly, and open to all NYIT faculty and staff members.

There are more provost events coming up in spring 2016. Save the date for Shoureshi's Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Networking Event on Thursday, March 10, 3:30-5 p.m. at NYIT de Seversky Mansion, Old Westbury campus.