May Newsletter
Gen Z Workshop
April 2, 2025
VDMC hosted Hampton Roads Workforce Council’s workshop: “Hiring Gen Z: Attracting, Engaging, and Retaining the Future.”
Through panels, presentations, and discussions, attendees learned about the need for mental health support in the workplace for Gen Z workers, flexibility, like adaptable hours and remote work, as well as encouragement of utilizing PTO and taking mental health breaks.
Some of the key takeaways from the Gen Z panel members about generational values were that they are looking for a positive company culture, professional growth and learning opportunities, challenges, and having support from colleagues.
Workshops like this are a great way to bridge the gap between generations in the workplace and foster more inclusive adaptable, and future-ready workplaces. We enjoyed being involved in this meaningful event and to help spread the word about Gen Z in the workplace!
Across OERI
CoBOT Project Open House
VDMC’s Senior Manager for Technology Insertion Jessica Galassie, MBA attended the Shipbuilding CoBot Alliance (SCA) Open House and ribbon cutting ceremony. Attendees toured the Tabet Manufacturing facility and saw the new SCA robotic welding lab.
VDMC is excited to be part of this alliance to help drive innovation and workforce development through continued learning, hands-on collaboration and the advancement of cutting-edge technologies for a future-ready maritime industry.
The SCA robotic welding lab cobots increase output, reduce training time for new welders, and help experienced welders go further, faster.
OERI Leadership Retreat
From mapping future goals to strengthening collaboration and shared vision, Leadership is excited to bring insights learned back to our research centers and continue to advance innovation and lead with intention. April 3-4, 2025
The OERI Senior Leadership Team held a yearly retreat focused on strategic planning, collaboration, and navigating the way forward.
Across OERI
PEP Competition
April 15, 2025
Several VDMC members participated in the 2025 Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) competition, where universities are challenged to design, build, test, and race electric-powered boats.
AMPP Conference & Expo
April 6, 2025
VDMC’sSeniorProgramManager forMaritimeTrades,JohnSnell,was partoftheAssociationforMaterials ProtectionandPerformance (AMPP)WorkforceDevelopment panelin Nashville.Thepanel discussedstrengtheningtheskilled workforcewithinthesubmarine industrialbase.
Across OERI
Dr. Philippe J. Giabbanelli’s New Publication April 15, 2025
Title: "Guiding evolutionary algorithms with large language models to learn fuzzy cognitive maps.” It is published in the Neural Computing and Applications journal.
Description: When we learn a model from data, it may be 'accurate' but not causally valid. Our learning algorithms can pick up on correlations but they're not subject matter experts. Large Language Models like GPT encode domain knowledge. In this new open access article in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, we use GPT to guide learning algorithms in building models that are causally valid. Multiple case studies show that the models fit the data well and are built on the right relationships.
Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00521-025-11157-x
Across OERI
ODU Knowledge & Creativity Expo
April 17, 2025
Nearly 200 undergraduate and EVMS students, as well as more than 30 faculty teams, participated in the ODU Inaugural Knowledge & Creativity Expo – a celebration of innovation, research, and academic collaboration. We were excited to have five of our OERI centers participate in this event:
Center for Mission Engineering (CME)
Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS)
Virginia Digital Maritime Center (VDMC)
Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA)
Virginia Modeling, Analysis, & Simulation Center (VMASC)
This was a great opportunity for attendees to explore, learn, and network, as well as view poster and hands-on presentations of interactive research labs. Each of our participating centers showcased live demonstrations, shared highlights from current projects, and offered visitors a first look at some of our most forward-thinking innovations. VISA sponsored two engineering senior design teams - one building a propulsion system for a USV and one upgrading the electronics enclosure for the Wam-V.
Across OERI
CME Workshop
April 15-18, 2025
The Center for Mission Engineering (CME) conducted a dynamic Mission Engineering and Integration Workshop, sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division’s M Department
The event, which took place in Dahlgren, VA, brought together nineteen engaged participants who organized themselves into productive and enthusiastic teams.
Throughout the workshop, these teams tackled challenging assignments and delivered highquality Mission Engineering products that not only addressed the scenario but also advanced mission-focused thinking. A highlight of the workshop was Dr. Braden McGrath’s participation from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he serves as a professor of practice in digital engineering.
Across OERI
ODU Big Blue 5K
April 26, 2025
Several OERI team members participated in the Annual ODU Big Blue 5K and showed their Monarch pride!
Pictured: Russell Czack (VDMC), Mark Beard (OERI), Joseph Kosteczko (OERI), Jason Dudley (VDMC)
Pictured: Mark Beard (OERI), Mark Whitney (VDMC), Joseph Kosteczko (OERI)
Not Pictured: Devon Nelson (VDMC)
The Institute for Coastal Adaptation & Resilience is Hiring
Passionate about bringing data and innovation to coastal resilience action?
Come work with ICAR!
We have TWO openings:
Assistant Director for Engagement (Administrative and Professional Faculty): https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/22953
Research Assistant or Associate Professor in Resilience Engineering for the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (Non-Tenure Track Research Faculty): https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/22855
Please see postings for minimum and preferred qualifications, application instructions, and contact information. Please note that ODU cannot accept applications submitted outside of these links. Pass these links along to anyone who may be interested in either of these positions.
Upcoming Events
ODU’s Spring Commencement is just around the corner!
If you have a student that is graduating, please let us know! We would love to create a feature story about their time at OERI and future plans.
