91°µÍø

91°µÍø Environmental Science and Policy major Melanie Medrano has long aspired to work in the federal government, ideally on the front lines of creating meaningful environmental change. She took a major step toward that goal by starting an internship with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS, where she will assist in their communication efforts through December 2025.

This is the first of a three-part series about 91°µÍø’s role as the NoVa Node headquarters of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), Virginia’s main access point for workforce development, cybersecurity innovation, and research.

From improving underserved communities’ care to supporting faculty research on women living with HIV, Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH ’25, gained hands-on experience in policy, evaluation, and communication.

Growing up in Winchester, Virginia, Jordan Edlich would often visit Blandy Experimental Farm on field trips as a child. Now a graduate student in environmental science and policy at George Mason, Edlich just spent a summer interning at the farm cataloging native plants.

When cyber security engineering major Connor Wadlin learned about ransomware attacks on organizations, such as the one on the Health Service Executive in Ireland, in his CYSE 445 System Security and Resilience class, it confirmed his commitment to dedicating his educational and professional career to protecting and preserving human lives.

For 91°µÍø sophomore Nathan Ferraro, summer hasn’t been about taking a break—it’s been about chasing his dream job.

Jacob Lockey improved his pipette and professional skills in his summer at Athari Biosciences.

This summer, George Mason graduate students rolled up their sleeves in busy labs, learned their way around unfamiliar equipment, and even played a part in moving clinical trials forward, working with start-ups and biotech companies in the recently established Innovation District anchored by the university’s Science and Technology Campus.

George Mason prepared students for real-world experiences ahead of their senior years.

Artificial intelligence brings new opportunities to the healthcare space, but what happens when it gets it wrong? One computer science PhD student is addressing this question and making a change.