Brooke Coupal
- Staff Writer, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Pelham
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Articles by Brooke Coupal
Students Gain Career-Connected Experiences in the New UML Cyber Security Operations Center
In the time it takes to send a text message, Michael Leahy can commute from his Computer and Network Forensics class to his internship with CyberTrust Massachusetts. That’s thanks to the location of the recently opened UMass Lowell Cyber Security Operations Center (Cyber SOC), which provides cybersecurity services to local government, nonprofits and businesses, as well as hands-on training for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Computer Scientist Aims to Improve AI-Generated Results by Making Models More Robust
Have you ever asked a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to interpret an image, only to be disappointed by the results? Sometimes a small change to an image is enough to make the AI tool misunderstand what it's seeing. In other cases, an intentionally manipulated image can confuse the tool, causing it, for instance, to identify a banana as an apple.
Celebrating UMass Lowell's NSF CAREER Awardees
Asst. Prof. Teresa Lee is among a dozen UMass Lowell researchers who have received NSF CAREER awards since 2022. By Brooke Coupal As UMass Lowell faculty researchers advance discoveries in fields ranging from alternative cancer treatments to using drones to strengthen public infrastructure, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has taken notice. Since 2022, the NSF has awarded 12 UMass Lowell faculty members with Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grants totaling nearly $8 million.
Computer Science Professor Receives NSF CAREER Award to Make AI More Trustworthy
Artificial intelligence systems are becoming a routine part of how people search for information, write, plan and make decisions. But even when these systems produce fluent, confident-sounding answers, they can rely on information that is incomplete, outdated, misleading or difficult to verify. Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences Asst. Prof. Hadi Amiri is working to make AI systems more trustworthy and reliable by studying how they learn, retain and forget information.
Engineering Professor Receives NSF CAREER Award for Sustainable Textiles Research
A common thread runs through Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Assistant Professor Jasmina Burek's life: fashion. Growing up in Croatia, Burek had all her clothes made by her maternal grandmother, a talented seamstress. Those skills were passed down to Burek’s mother, who continues to make clothes for Burek. Burek’s father and paternal grandmother knitted and sold sweaters. At one point, Burek considered becoming a fashion designer. And now, Burek is integrating fashion into her research.
A Powerhouse in Cyberscience
Imagine that amid a heat wave in the middle of August, you walk into your office building, expecting to feel a rush of cool air. Instead, you are hit by an oppressive wall of heat and humidity. You soon discover that your organization is the victim of a cyberattack, with hackers gaining access to the building management system. Work grinds to a halt as the cybercriminals threaten to keep the system offline until ransom is paid.
Students Gain Career-Connected Experiences in Cyberscience
Skip to Main Content UMass Lowell is #1 in What Matters Most! Read Why 1 min read By Brooke Coupal Topics: Experiential Learning Student Life Computer science majors Rohan Paranjape, right, and Viktor Akhonen, left, interned with SAIC last summer. Students are taking the cyberscience skills they learn at UMass Lowell and applying them to real-world challenges alongside industry professionals.
Students Install Solar Power in Dominican Republic to Provide Reliable Electricity
When entering a dark room, most people turn on a light without thinking twice, but for 730 million people worldwide, access to electricity is scarce. “People deserve to have these basic necessities. It shouldn’t be something they have to fight for,” says Jacob Hoffman, a rising junior mechanical engineering major. Mechanical engineering major Jacob Hoffman assists with the solar power installation at a school in the Bella Vista neighborhood of Sosúa, Dominican Republic.
Student Researchers Refine Communication Skills Through Three Minute Thesis Competition
How can you possibly explain five years of research in three minutes? That’s a question public health Ph.D. candidate Chandni Shahdev asked herself when she joined the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, hosted by the School of Graduate Studies. Started at the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008, 3MT is an international program designed to help graduate students explain their research in a succinct and compelling way to general audiences.
UMass Lowell, Florida Gulf Coast Team Up on Meaningful Research Projects
Cindy Chen, the chair of the Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences, always makes sure to turn her lights off when she leaves her office. “I care about environmental issues,” she says. “Whatever little things I can do to help the environment, I want to do it.” That’s why Chen is developing a data-driven computer model to predict and reduce plastic waste. And she’s not doing it alone.
Computer Scientist Develops Novel Framework to Secure Sensitive Data
The Federal Bureau of Investigation receives more than 2,000 reports of suspected internet crime every day, with cybercriminals often targeting the sensitive data of companies and individuals. Anitha Gollamudi, an assistant professor in the Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences, is looking to keep that data secure.
‘Here to Better the World’: Engineering Students Make Enrichment Toys for Local Animal Rescues | News
Dogtor Booty-Ham sniffed out the treats tucked away in a wooden box. The 1-year-old pit bull mix walked around the wooden container before biting a handle protruding from its side. Having no luck getting it open, he moved to a sliding door on top of the box. He pushed the door open with his snout, revealing the hidden treats. Within seconds, Dogtor devoured his findings.
National Grid Program Shines Light on Clean Energy Career Opportunities | News
Colin Ormond was surprised to learn that careers at energy companies span beyond the engineers who develop electrical systems and the line workers who install and repair power lines. “In reality, it takes so much more than that,” says Ormond, a senior majoring in political science.
Commonwealth Honors UMass Lowell for its Sustainability Leadership
The commonwealth of Massachusetts has once again recognized UMass Lowell for its leadership in sustainability with a Leading by Example award. Overseen by the Department of Energy Resources, the Leading by Example program works with state agencies and public colleges and universities to advance clean energy and sustainable practices that reduce the environmental impacts of state government operations.
‘Here to Better the World’: Engineering Students Make Enrichment Toys for Local Animal Rescues | News
Dogtor Booty-Ham sniffed out the treats tucked away in a wooden box. The 1-year-old pit bull mix walked around the wooden container before biting a handle protruding from its side. Having no luck getting it open, he moved to a sliding door on top of the box. He pushed the door open with his snout, revealing the hidden treats. Within seconds, Dogtor devoured his findings.
Students, Professors Share Biggest Takeaways from United Nations Climate Summit | News
Despite the United States not having an official presence at the annual United Nations climate summit, UMass Lowell showed up in full force. For the fifth year in a row, UMass Lowell sent students and professors to the Conference of the Parties (COP), where nearly 200 countries come together yearly to discuss climate action strategies and negotiate the next steps toward mitigating climate change.
UMass Lowell Celebrates the Power of Industry Partnerships
BAE Systems Strategic Operations Director Birtley Locke sees UMass Lowell as more than a university. “It’s an extension of the business,” says Locke, who works at the international defense, aerospace and security company’s electronic systems headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire.
NSF Awards $500K in Funding to WindSTAR
The Center for Wind Energy Science, Technology and Research (WindSTAR) continues to advance the wind energy sector, thanks to ongoing support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF recently awarded $500,000 in funding to WindSTAR, an Industry-University Cooperative Research Center run by UMass Lowell and the University of Texas at Dallas. Each university will receive $250,000 over five years.
Environmental Science Professor Helped to Develop Award-Winning Climate Simulator
Professor Juliette Rooney-Varga, left, accepts the System Dynamics Applications Award alongside her En-ROADS team members. 08/12/2025 By Brooke Coupal Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Juliette Rooney-Varga is among a team of researchers that recently received recognition for its global climate simulator, En-ROADS.
Core Research Facilities Competition Celebrates Fusion of Art and Science
A gray, cloud-like substance swirls inward, creating a calm eye in the center. Wispy remnants break free from the vortex and get lost in a sea of blue. A person looking at the image described above may confuse it for a hurricane captured by a satellite hundreds of miles away. In reality, the photo is of a tissue engineering scaffold, a 3D structure made of a biomaterial designed to enhance tissue regeneration, magnified 140 times.
New Mathematics & Statistics Program Addresses Growing Demand for Actuarial Talent
With nearly 200,000 miles on your 2012 sedan, it’s time to trade it in for a new car. You head to a local dealership, where their newest hybrid crossover catches your eye. After haggling over the price, you make the big purchase. You then call your car insurance company to adjust your current policy – and you’re shocked at your new premium. How did they come up with this number?
R1 Status Explained: The Benefits of UMass Lowell’s Designation as Top Research Institution
Hannah Allgood ’23 knew going into college that she wanted to get involved with research. For her, UMass Lowell was the obvious choice. “I chose UMass Lowell because of the undergraduate research opportunities,” says Allgood, who received a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and is now a physical therapy doctoral student at the university.
UMass Lowell Team Takes First Place in Regional Cyber Defense Competition
Students from 10 regional colleges and universities huddled around computers, anticipating an onslaught of simulated cyberattacks. The team from UMass Lowell, consisting of undergraduate and graduate computer science students, had spent countless hours preparing for this moment.
Something to chew on: Researchers look for connections in how animals eat and digest food
UMass Lowell's Nicolai Konow wants to bridge the gap between research on food processing and nutrient absorption. "There is a divide between biomechanists, who study chewing and food transport, and physiologists, who examine what actually happens to food in the gastrointestinal tract," said the assistant professor of biological sciences. To help link the two fields, Konow edited and contributed to a special edition of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
Officials: 7th-grade student at Cambridge school died in boating accident while on vacation in Aruba
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) - A seventh-grade student at a school in Cambridge died Wednesday following a boating accident in Aruba, officials announced. Cassidy Murray had been on vacation with her family when the fatal accident happened, Jennifer Price, Head of Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, wrote in a letter to the community. “Her ever-present smile, infectious laugh, and upbeat personality knit together any group she was a part of,” Price continued.
Officials identify man who died after car crashed into tree in Western Mass.
HADLEY, MASS. (WHDH) - Officials have identified the man who died in a single-car crash in Western Massachusetts early Thursday morning. Emergency crews responding to a reported crash on Mill Valley Road in Hadley around 2:20 a.m. discovered that a vehicle had left the roadway near a sharp curve and struck a tree, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Gabriel Morales, 25, of Springfield, was the sole occupant of the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, the DA’s office said.
2 hospitalized following crash in Falmouth
FALMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - Two people were hospitalized following a crash in Falmouth on Friday morning. Emergency crews responding to a reported crash on John Parker Road just before 6 a.m. learned that a 2007 GMC Canyon failed to stop at a stop sign, resulting in the GMC striking a 2010 Kia Sportage at an intersection with Clark Street, according to Falmouth police. The driver of the Kia was transported to a hospital with undisclosed injuries.
Police seeking person of interest after credit card skimmer found in NH Walmart
MANCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) - Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest after a credit card skimmer was found inside a Walmart in Manchester, New Hampshire. Officers responding to the store on Gold Street for a report of potential credit card fraud on Wednesday spoke to a member of loss prevention who told them he had been checking the store’s checkout lines and located a credit card skimmer on one of the terminals, according to Manchester police.
NH man accused of sexually assaulting juvenile
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (WHDH) - A New Hampshire man is accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile. Portsmouth police say they launched an investigation on March 19 after receiving a report of a sexual assault where the victim is under the age of 18. James McKenzie, 55, of Stratham, was identified as the suspect and ultimately turned himself over to police on Wednesday, police said. He is facing charges of sexual assault and simple assault.
(CNN) — Another record-breaking surge of migrants may attempt to cross the US-Mexico border this spring, alarming officials who are now rushing to build more facilities and lining up prison buses to help accommodate the new arrivals. The head of the US Border Patrol says he’s getting ready for as many as 8,000 people to be apprehended daily, more than double the daily number of the 2019 surge under the Trump administration.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A 14-year-old boy fell to his death from a ride at an amusement park in Orlando, sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff’s officials and emergency crews responded to a call late Thursday at Icon Park, which is located in the city’s tourist district along International Drive. The boy fell from the Orlando Free Fall ride, which opened late last year. He was taken to a hospital, where he died, sheriff’s officials said.
BELFAST, Maine (AP) — Residents near a burning potato-processing plant were urged to shelter in place until the fire was brought under control Thursday. Firefighters battled the massive fire at the Penobscot McCrum plant for hours. No one was hurt in the blaze but extensive damage to the structure put 130 people out of work. Gov.
Body of Marine veteran fatally stabbed outside Boston bar returns to his family in Chicago
CHICAGO (WHDH) - The body of a Marine veteran who was fatally stabbed outside a Boston bar has returned to his family in Chicago. The body of Daniel Martinez, 23, was flown from Boston’s Logan International Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Thursday afternoon. A motorcade then transported his body from the airport to a funeral home as family and community members gathered to pay their respects.
Man accused of performing sexual acts on his dogs, possessing child pornography
IJAMSVILLE, Md. (WHDH) — A convicted felon is facing a slew of charges after police say he performed sexual acts on his dogs as well as possessed videos of child pornography.
AMHERST, MASS. (WHDH) - A Northampton man was arraigned Thursday in connection with a hit-and-run that left a University of Massachusetts Amherst student badly injured. Jacob A. Delisle, 20, pleaded not guilty in Eastern Hampshire District Court to charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, crosswalk violation, misleading a witness, and trespassing, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
Gas rationing, food vouchers and hunger: Economic pain from Russia’s war is getting real
(CNN) — As Russian soldiers bear down on Ukraine, increasingly desperate Ukrainians are running out of food and medicine. The economic fallout from the invasion is beginning to spill over to the rest of the world, too. Forecasts for global growth are being slashed and the chance of a US recession in 2023 has risen to 35%, according to Goldman Sachs. But war in Europe is no longer a theoretical, off-in-the-future concern for economists to discuss in research papers and notes to investors.
Police: Investigation underway after mother, 2 young children found dead inside vehicle
MELBOURNE, Fla. (WHDH) — Police in Melbourne, Florida launched an investigation after a 35-year-old mother and her two young children were found dead inside a vehicle last Sunday. Officers responding to a call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked at an apartment complex on Madelyn Way in Melbourne around 10:50 p.m. found Andrea Langhorst, 35, and her children Olivia and Adam Dryer, both 3 years old, dead inside, according to Melbourne police.
6 indicted in connection with New England fentanyl trafficking operation
BOSTON (WHDH) - A federal grand jury indicted six people in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation in New England.
Police seeking tips amid search for driver accused of shooting at another vehicle in Peabody
PEABODY, MASS. (WHDH) - Police are seeking tips from the public as they search for the driver accused of shooting at another vehicle in Peabody on Wednesday night. A 26-year-old woman was driving north on Route 1 in Peabody in a Mercedes sedan when a gray Toyota SUV began tailgating her around 9:30 p.m., according to state police. The driver of the Toyota then allegedly started to drive even more aggressively and tried to pass the Mercedes.
(CNN) — After initially not scoring an invite to the big show, “West Side Story” star Rachel Zegler will now be a presenter at this year’s 94th Academy Awards. Zegler, who starred as Maria Vasquez in Oscar-nominated musical drama, revealed this week that despite the film’s best picture nomination, she had not been invited to this year’s ceremony.
BOSTON (WHDH) - Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Wednesday the creation of the Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement. The Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement is tasked with empowering, protecting, and promoting the rights, dignity, and advancement of Boston’s LGBTQ+ residents, Wu said. This office will be responsible for developing policy, community-oriented programming, and providing resources for the city’s multiracial, multigenerational, multicultural, and multilingual LGBTQ+ community.
BRIDGEWATER, MASS. (WHDH) - Bridgewater police launched an investigation into an incident possibly linked to a TikTok challenge late Sunday night. A person reported to police that while walking in the area of Summer and Grove streets around 10:15 p.m., people in a white sedan and a blue sedan shot at them with a BB-type gun, according to Bridgewater police.
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