Ian Thomsen

Neha Jain delivered the student address during undergraduate 2021 Commencement ceremonies at Boston's Historic Fenway Park on May 9th. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

‘Let’s make a new normal that we can all be proud of’

Neha Jain and Nathan Hostert shared stirring stories of their Northeastern experiences as the student speakers at the undergraduate Commencement ceremonies Saturday at Fenway Park.

by Ian Thomsen May 8, 2021

A view of MRI scans is held by a technician.

Unnecessary MRI exams may be symptoms of a larger healthcare problem

Doctors are often pressured to prescribe unnecessary MRIs procedures in order to funnel money to hospitals—thereby escalating the costs of healthcare, according to new research by Gary Young, a Northeastern professor of strategic management and healthcare systems.

by Ian Thomsen May 6, 2021

These students have inspiring stories to share at Commencement

Graduating students Nathan Hostert, Neha Jain, Gagan Dep Prabhu, and Muhammad Fitrah Pratama Teng will explore their Northeastern experiences while speaking at Commencement ceremonies this weekend at Fenway Park.

by Ian Thomsen May 5, 2021

A pawpaw tree is planted at Northeastern on Arbor Day.

Northeastern’s Boston campus is full of surprises–such as a small owl stowaway on a pear tree

Chuck Doughty, who oversees landscaping for Northeastern, led a tour of the wonders of Northeastern’s campus arboretum, the only one on the campus of a university in Boston.

by Ian Thomsen May 3, 2021

Megan Carter and Sammy Shupe stand outside their co-op stations.

These athletes pursue championships while on co-op

Megan Carter, a sophomore who maintains a 4.0 grade point average in biology, was on co-op at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston while striving for a national title in women’s ice hockey. Here’s how she and other student-athletes learn to balance sports, academics, and co-op.

by Ian Thomsen April 27, 2021

Fernando Rosas pulls freshly-baked bread from the oven.

Small businesses were suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Northeastern came up with a way to help.

Julia Ivy, a Northeastern professor who directs a graduate program in international management, created a Consult-a-thon to offer a variety of solutions to the struggling businesses. “Instead of you and me,” says Ivy, “it’s us.”

by Ian Thomsen April 22, 2021

Social media channels are accused of enabling hate speech and misinformation that contributes to violence, including the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Should Facebook, Twitter review your posts before they’re published?

The threat of hate speech and misinformation has grown so great that Facebook, Twitter, and other social channels must develop artificial intelligence filters to create safe spaces, according to two Northeastern professors.

by Ian Thomsen April 19, 2021

Northeastern engineering students John Buczek and Noah Ossanna have led a team effort to build a fleet of drones based in artificial intelligence. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

They began racing drones. Now these students are using AI to build a fleet of them.

A mother ship dispatching a half-dozen drones on a search-and-rescue mission is the vision of engineers Noah Ossanna and John Buczek. They’ve spent the past three years leading a team of fellow Northeastern students to design, build, and complete the adventure by next fall.

by Ian Thomsen April 15, 2021

Giving Day generated a record number of gifts from around the world for student groups and organizations on campus. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Giving Day generates record engagement — more than 17,000 gifts from across the globe

The gifts, which came from 28 countries, exceeded expectations in the midst of the year-long COVID-19 pandemic. The 24-hour philanthropic blitz offered support for student groups and organizations on campus.

by Ian Thomsen April 9, 2021

Max Bi, assistant professor of physics, received a National Science Foundation CAREER award for cellular research. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

His parents wanted a better life for Max Bi. Their gamble paid off.

Their decision to emigrate to the U.S. from China when Bi was 14 enabled him to pursue a career in higher education. Bi, an assistant professor of physics at Northeastern, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER award for cellular research that could advance the understanding of cancer, asthma, and other diseases.

by Ian Thomsen April 7, 2021

Posts by Ian Thomsen