Ever since Jason Ogbebor set foot in a chemistry classroom in high school, he knew he was destined to conduct high-level, impactful research. Looking to science legends — Mendeleev, Bohr, Einstein — Ogbebor is realizing his dreams and is on his way to pursue a Ph.D. at MIT. “I wanted to be a pioneer in making discoveries like the historical scientists did. I always romanticized what those scientists in Europe would do. They had the time, like Newton, to sit in their sheds and work out their observations,” Ogbebor said, recalling his early passion for research. “I wanted to do that, to solve…

In her second year at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Samantha Augustin made the difficult decision to switch majors. Biomedical engineering gave way to computer engineering, and now Augustin is poised to pursue a master’s in cybersecurity at New York University. But without the help of an academic advisor “who patiently explained how to do it and helped me transfer and organize my courses,” the major switch could have set her back. Building a network Augustin — who attended NJIT with her twin sister, Samara, both as part of the first cohort of Mayor’s Honors Scholars from Newark — is…

New Jersey Institute of Technology served up waves of fanfare as its advanced degree graduates walked across the stage in the Wellness and Events Center in three commencement ceremonies on May 16. The 2023 class, composed of more than 1,300 graduates, is the largest in five years and reflects the larger growth and upward trajectory of the institution. President Teik C. Lim, in his first commencement leading NJIT, praised the Class of 2023’s resilience. “You persevered through challenging and unprecedented circumstances that included a global pandemic, social unrest, and much more,” said Lim…

NJBIZ recognized two professors from New Jersey Institute of Technology and a division of the university’s New Jersey Innovation Institute in its latest lists of Healthcare Heroes. The annual recognition salutes excellence, innovation and individuals who are “making a significant impact on the quality of health care in New Jersey,” NJBIZ noted in a story about this year’s honorees. The Highlanders were honored in three different categories. Here’s a closer look at each. Education Hero — Individual Assistant Professor Saikat Pal…

New Jersey Institute of Technology students will join 43 other collegiate teams vying for the top prize at the 2023 Student Steel Bridge Competition National Finals this summer in San Diego, after winning the New York metropolitan regional event at Rowan University. "We've got a good group that worked together and did really well, and we were able to fabricate the bridge," said team captain Thomas Hickey, a junior civil engineering major from Rochelle Park. Their top competitor at the regional event was Manhattan College, which is also heading to the finals. Hickey said that when last year'…

New Jersey Institute of Technology will award more than 3,500 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at its 107th commencement across two days of celebration. The university also will award three honorary degrees and welcome guest speakers. Visit https://commencement.njit.edu/ for all the details. Undergraduate Ceremony WHEN: Friday, May 19 at 9 a.m. (Doors open at 7:30 a.m.) WHERE: Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark  KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Kim Hanemann, president and chief operating officer of PSE&G. Before ascending to COO in January 2020, she held numerous…

Students at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have again achieved an impressive amount of prestigious awards this year with 11 students earning nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Their achievement continues NJIT run, with Highlanders amassing 34 of these awards in the past three years. The increased achievements are not by chance. NJIT students have always had the opportunity to apply, and their proficiencies and experiences have long been sufficient. Rather, the increase is due in large part to the university and the Albert Dorman Honors College allocating…

Dr. Teik C. Lim was installed as NJIT’s ninth president in a ceremony that welcomed students, alumni, faculty, staff, elected officials, family and friends to NJIT’s Wellness and Event Center. “The inauguration of a new president is a milestone occasion in the life of any institution of higher education – and NJIT is certainly no exception,” said Mistress of Ceremonies Marybeth Boger, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “Today’s ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate our university’s history and heritage, to reaffirm the uniqueness of our mission and to highlight our…

Innovation, collaboration, legislation and recognizing the implications of our actions are key to achieving sustainability, according to Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. LaTourette, speaking at a sustainability symposium at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, rejected the notion that safeguarding the environment conflicts with economic development. Rather, he sees a symbiotic relationship between nature and humans, with an investment in one benefitting the other. What’s more, he added, environmental justice must be integral to…

A marquee event during Inauguration Week was the Scholarship Reception and Networking event, which invites generous benefactors who have created scholarships at the university to engage directly with the student beneficiaries at a celebratory luncheon. The event humanizes and demonstrates the impact of giving back and removing a financial burden to those who may need it most, as President Teik C. Lim told his own story of how a scholarship changed his, and subsequently his family’s life. “Being part of the Highlander nation means being part of a support system. And a scholarship is a…