{"id":76824,"date":"2026-01-20T10:46:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T17:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=76824"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:46:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T17:46:18","slug":"in-the-spotlight-jan-20-23-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/in-the-spotlight-jan-20-23-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Spotlight: Jan. 20-23, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have a spotlight item to share with the NAU community?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">E-mail your announcements to\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"mailto:Inside@nau.edu\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Inside@nau.edu<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or use\u00a0our\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/news-tip\/#.YEjwNWhKg2w\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">online submission form<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lori Rubino-Hare<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a research associate for the Center for STEM Teaching and Learning (CSTL), co-authored an article recently published in the Journal of Technology and Teacher Education. The article, titled \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.learntechlib.org\/primary\/p\/226518\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cultivating Data Fluency through Technology-Enhanced, Place-Based, Data-Rich Instruction: A Conceptual Professional Learning Framework<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d presents an educational system that positions teachers as learners first to connect them with students\u2019 cultural identities and lived experiences. The framework was developed with support from CSTL research associate\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sean Ryan<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and CSTL senior research coordinator\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lauren Shollenberger<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as part of the Place-Based Learning to Advance Connections, Education, and Stewardship project.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eight NAU academics were co-authors on the paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S037843712600004X?via%3Dihub\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Estimating dynamic transmission rates with a Black\u2013Karasinski process in stochastic SIHR models using particle MCMC<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d published in the journal Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. The paper describes a new mathematical model for tracking how diseases spread and tests its efficacy by using Arizona flu hospitalization data. The paper\u2019s contributors are as follows:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Avery Drennan<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a part-time temporary employee in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">SICCS senior data scientist\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jeffrey Covington<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU alum and former research assistant\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Andrew Attilio<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jaechoul\u00a0Lee<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Department of Biological Sciences professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Richard Posner<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">SICCS professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eck\u00a0Doerry<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">SICCS associate professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Joseph Mihaljevic<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ye Chen,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Statistics graduate student\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Karl Reger\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was the first author of the paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6694\/18\/1\/60\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Automated Baseline-Correction and Signal-Detection Algorithms with Web-Based Implementations for Thermal Liquid Biopsy Data Analysis<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d published in the journal Cancers. The study details the development of two algorithms that automate blood plasma analysis for faster, easier diagnostics. Fellow statistics graduate student\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Keegan Line\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Department of Mathematics and Statistics associate professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Robert Buscaglia\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">were among the study\u2019s co-authors.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Five visual communication students and alumni were recognized in the annual World Brand Design Society Student Awards, an international competition celebrating outstanding design work from students and emerging creatives.\u00a0Alumnae\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Analise Talbot\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Iris\u00a0Zepezaur\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">joined undergraduate student\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alexis Beaman<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to earn bronze awards for their respective design projects. Undergraduate students\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tacey Grant\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Waylon Wilsey\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">were also commended with honorable mentions.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Department of Mathematics and Statistics associate professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jeffrey\u00a0Hovermill<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, alongside STEM Education associate clinical professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Theresa Fuller<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and associate teaching professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Joel Johanson<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, secured a $10,000 grant from the Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership. They will use this funding to support professional learning opportunities for 20 Flagstaff secondary education math teachers and six NAU faculty members.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gioia Woods<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Department of Comparative Cultural Studies chair and professor, will be launching her new book at Flagstaff&#8217;s Bright Side Bookshop on Feb. 8. Titled \u201cCity Lights: Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Biography of a Bookstore,\u201d Woods\u2019 book explores how the first\u00a0all-paperback bookstore continues to influence how literature is produced and read.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ten academics from the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science (APS) presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December. Participating presenters are as follows:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Undergraduate student\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emma Johnson<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Graduate students<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Dede Chapline, Laura\u00a0Lee\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ian Marrs<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Postdoctoral scholars<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Ben McKeeby, Lauren\u00a0McGraw\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Annika Gustafsson<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Christopher Edwards<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Associate professors\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cristina Thomas\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mark Salvatore<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">APS students and faculty also presented at the 247th American Astronomical Society meeting in Phoenix.\u00a0Presenters included undergraduate students\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Samantha McLean<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Link Boudreaux<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gabby Cruz<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as well as Chair\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">David Trilling<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"9\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">APS professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Josh Emery<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Astrophysical Ice Lab adjunct faculty member\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Will Grundy\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and NAU\u00a0alumna\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Oriel Humes\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">co-authored the paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2512.16714\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Evidence of Possible Spectral Variability in the Patroclus-Menoetius Binary System<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d published in The Planetary Science Journal. Using updated color spectrum measurements, these scientists tentatively reported anomalies in how certain asteroids reflect light.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"10\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Radiant Center postdoctoral scholar\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Benjamin McKeeby<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, APS assistant professor\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alicia\u00a0Rutledge<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Edwards co-authored the paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1029\/2025JE009465\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Polythermal Glacial Landforms in Acidalia Planitia Reveal Amazonian Ice-Related Processes on Mars<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d published in JGR Planets. The study unveils evidence that Mars had glaciers during its most recent geologic era.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"11\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Edwards and Radiant Center research scientist\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cheng Ye\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">co-authored the paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0019103526000023?dgcid=coauthor\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A Monte-Carlo radiative transfer model to simulate thermal infrared emission spectra from planetary surfaces: Mineralogical mixtures and thermal gradients<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d published in Icarus. In the study, scientists developed a new computer model to gain a deeper understanding of the mineral compositions of extraterrestrial landscapes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/in-the-spotlight-jan-20-23-2026\/\">Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs. Do you have a spotlight item to share with the NAU community? E-mail your announcements to\u00a0Inside@nau.edu, or use\u00a0our\u00a0online submission form. Lori Rubino-Hare, a research associate for the Center for STEM Teaching and Learning (CSTL), co-authored an article recently published in the Journal of Technology and Teacher Education. The&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spotlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76824\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}