UAB Briefs: Engineering senior wins fellowship, UAB physician has new art show

In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

We also provide updates regarding UAB’s efforts to cope with the COVID-19.

Let us know about people, events and programs on campus that deserve a mention in UAB Briefs. Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.

And remember that the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Continue to follow all of the usual protocols and stay safe.

‘LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY’

Jordan Fuse, a senior in the UAB School of Engineering, has been named one of the 44 Brooke Owens Fellowship recipients worldwide, and the first from UAB. 

The Brooke Owens Fellowship is a nationally acclaimed nonprofit organization recognizing exceptional undergraduate women and other gender minorities with space and aviation internships, senior mentorship and a secure professional network.

Fuse was one of more than 800 applicants evaluated through a competitive process that included written and creative submissions, plus interviews with the fellowship’s leadership team and host companies

The fellows are matched to an executive-level mentor committed to helping students launch their careers. During summer 2021, the fellows will start an internship at a partner company and then gather virtually for the annual Brooke Owens Summit.

Fuse, a mechanical engineering major, will work full time at The Aerospace Corporation in California. She is the first Brooke Owens Fellow to secure a full-time job offer rather than an internship as part of the program. 

“I am grateful to receive such a life-changing opportunity,” she said. “It’s comforting to know that I will have access to a network of gifted professionals who are equally passionate about aerospace innovation.”

DOCTOR & ARTIST

Brandi Shah is a physician in UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine and an advocate for sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice. 

However, Shah is also a writer and visual artist who experiments with still images, animation, photography, video editing, found media and sounds.

She is presenting her latest work, an exhibition called “Sawubona/Sala Kahle,” at Vinegar Contemporary in Forest Park through March 27, according to a Vinegar new release.

Vinegar is an artist-run, women-led nonprofit that showcases contemporary artists working in emerging and experimental forms.

It is co-founded, co-directed and co-curated by Melissa Yes, an employee in the UAB Department of Art and Art History and two-time UAB alumna.

Shah’s new exhibition title combines Zulu words for greeting and leave-taking, with sawubona translating to “I see you” and sala kahle translating to “stay well,” according to the release.

The show deals in part with the use of language, story and authentic collaboration to help build community and nurture human connection.

Vinegar will host a virtual artist’s talk with Shah and her collaborator, Celeste Amparo Pfau, 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, according to UAB News. Participants must register in advance for the event.

Vinegar Contemporary is located at 701 37th St. S., Suite No. 12. For more information, go to vinegarprojects.org.

THE TOP 25

The UAB Department of Physics recently received praise for the quality of its accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree program.

The Bachelor’s Degree Center ranked the department in its 25 Best Online Accelerated Combined Physics BS/MS for 2021, according to UAB News.

The accelerated physics program allows students to take up to 12 graduate-level credits while pursuing their undergraduate degree. Integrating the two degrees allows students to graduate with their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years, saving students up to a year.

“The UAB physics ABM degree is a state-of-the-art, distance-accessible program that brings together the best of face-to-face and in-laboratory research experiences with new AI-enabled, socially rich, remotely accessible activities,” said Ilias Perakis, chair of the Department of Physics. 

UAB offers several accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree programs. 

For details, go to uab.edu/graduate/programs/accelerated-learning-opportunities.