College of Science, Engineering and Technology

In the battle of bugs vs. drugs, Dr. Daisy Savarirajan said bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. So in 2016, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology microbiology professor, alongside biosciences professor Dr. Ramesh Velupillaimani, launched a research study to discover novel antimicrobial products from diverse desert plants. Could these desert plants be the source of the next big antibiotic? Could they be at the center of the next big drug?

“We’re here tonight to hopefully, not only mourn together and remember together, but to celebrate their lives together,” Dr. Tim Griffin, Dean of Students, said at Tuesday night’s Celebration of Life ceremony. The GCU community honored the lives of Christian Applegate, Roy Pietrek, Keisha Nicole Oyola Perales, Dr. Tiffany Mealman and Taylor White.

GoDaddy’s Jason Veiock didn’t get his start in cybersecurity. He was a cop. He spoke to educators and other attendees at a recent Code.org meetup at the GCU-based Arizona Cyber Warfare Range about how he got into cybersecurity, what it’s like to handle security for a company as big as GoDaddy, and what qualities educators should look for in their students when it comes to encouraging the next generation of cyber professionals.

By Jeannette Cruz GCU News Bureau  Isabella Ketcham and Silvana Burgos, two environmental science majors at Grand Canyon University, spent the 2017-18 academic year studying local waters of the Verde River to determine the effects of urbanization on water quality. With the help of their professor and the collaboration with the Verde River Institute, Ketcham and Burgos looked at the biological levels of oxygen demand in the water supply using drone technology to collect water samples. “The drones allow for us to easily access a site of interest, including runoff areas or areas not easily accessible by foot,” Burgos said. “Given that Arizona is a desert and a state that is experiencing a growing population, this is a precious resource.”  Ketcham and Burgos were among hundreds of students in the Honors College and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology who spent Saturday morning sharing their research and business proposals at the 2018 Honors Showcase and CSET Spring Symposium, an annual event that aims to showcase recent student research. The showcase gives students an opportunity to spotlight their drive and ambition, said Breanna Naegeli, Assistant Dean of the Honors College.  “This event is really just a culmination of the work, […]

Dr. Kyle Jones’ biomedical engineering students got a peek at what they might be doing as future biomedical engineers. They recently tested different “recipes” of hydrogels — used in everything from contact lenses to bandages — to gauge their strength. It was an important exercise because, one day, the students might need to design a sturdier replacement for knee cartilage or might need to engineer a stronger bandage.

It’s rare that an undergraduate student has the chance to be involved in putting together a reference book. But that’s what a team of about 70 students are doing as part of the Research and Design Program’s Anatomical Atlas Project. When completed, the atlas – a book that will map out the human body and will include cadaver dissections with photographs, histology, text, clinical pathology cases and more – will help future GCU students learn the anatomy of the human body.

Imagine you’re a video game character trapped in an arcade game, and the only way to get out is to defeat the boss. That was the scenario for hundreds of high school students who dressed as “Pac-Man,” “Legend of Zelda” and “Futurama” characters and brought their 120-pound robots to compete in the 2018 Arizona Regional FIRST Robotics Competition this weekend in Grand Canyon University Arena.

College of Science, Engineering and Technology professor Dr. Zachary Zeigler didn’t tell any “comforting lies” in his weight loss talk Wednesday. The author of “The Weight Loss Bible” shunned often repeated statements, such as the idea that eliminating gluten or carbohydrates will solve your problems. Instead, he talked about why we’re not successful in shedding all those pounds and concentrated on a holistic approach to weight loss.

Only about a third of high school students ever take a physics class, said Dr. Galyna Kufryk, and in many high schools, physics isn’t a required course. So she came up with a solution to help her microbiology students understand the physics concept of radiation and how it can be used to control microbial growth. She paired with Dr. Klaus Mortensen to help her create a physics learning module, and did the same when it came to math by working with Dr. Filippo Posta in the math department. She said she wants to make sure students have the tools they need to make them successful in the classroom.

When it comes to online learning, GCU’s faculty have established a reputation of being some of the most sought-after thought-leaders in presenting and publishing their scholarly work. Between 2012 and 2017, they led 163 presentations, and their work was featured in 138 publications. GCU are the innovators, said Rick Holbeck, Executive Director of Online Full-Time Faculty.