Fuse at Mason Square

Center for Advancing Human Machine Partnerships

Mason, AWS partner on renewable energy lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration

Martha Bushong — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 19:00:41 +0000

Mason, AWS partner on renewable energy lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration Martha Bushong Fri, 03/01/2024 - 14:00

The significant demand for data centers and their impact on global energy requires new models for renewable and sustainable energy systems. Working with Amazon Web Services (AWS), ��AV will unveil a renewable energy lab within Fuse at Mason Square and launch a companion curriculum concentration in sustainable data center engineering this fall 2024.

“We are very appreciative of our continuing partnership with AWS,” Mason President Gregory Washington said. “Because of their support, we are providing our students and faculty with cutting-edge technology and tools that unite our researchers across many disciplines to further their knowledge about data centers. With this level of education and experience, our students are well-prepared to enter the tech workforce.”

“Investing in expanded laboratory experiences for students is critical,” Nicholas Lee-Romagnolo, program lead of workforce and economic development at AWS, said. “George Mason students from all disciplines will have access to real-world technologies and hands-on simulations. This type of immersive learning complements the breadth of new programs offered to students and helps ensure they have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to fill high-demand jobs across the region.”

The new concentration in sustainable data center engineering will focus on renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution training and hands-on experience. The course builds upon the Data Center Engineering course launched last year that develops student expertise in data center infrastructure design, operations, efficiency, cooling, and decarbonization.

President Gregory Washington (right) visits student demonstrations at Fuse Topping Out event. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

With advanced equipment and software tools funded by AWS, Mason’s new Renewable Energy Lab will allow students to explore, analyze, and simulate data related to renewable energy sources as well as the complex design and operation of microgrids. The lab will replicate real-world equipment such as power grids, wind power plants, and other renewable energy sources.

“AWS’s investment in the renewable energy lab provides another critical piece to Mason’s experiential ecosystem designed to prepare the next generation of engineers for roles that did not exist 10 years ago. Mason will now expand the number of students in our power engineering and data center engineering programs with hands-on skills development, which is essential to bridge between the classroom and industry practice,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement.

The new lab will be based at Fuse at Mason Square and is part of a broad partnership with Amazon. This project also strengthens Mason’s participation in the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), a statewide program that aims to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students completing degrees in the fields of computer science, applied computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering.

Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director for the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) adds, “Mason consistently delivers on its promise to foster collaboration across disciplines and industries not only to deliver the best student experience but also to advance critical solutions to the nation’s grandest challenges.”

In This Story

Liza Wilson Durant

Gregory Washington

Kamaljeet Sanghera

Learn About Electrical and Computer Engineering

Topics

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Sustainability

Workforce Development

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers showcase their novel prosthetic liner

Sarah Holland — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 20:25:07 +0000

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers showcase their novel prosthetic liner Sarah Holland Wed, 02/14/2024 - 15:25

As a capstone to the bioengineering program at ��AV, senior students complete a team-based, two-semester design project developing solutions to real-world biomedical and/or clinical problems.

At the topping off ceremony for Fuse at Mason Square, Mason bioengineering majors Alessandra B Coogan, Katie A Harrison, Karmel Webster, Rachel A Ometz, and Sujung Rodriguez presented their group’s project on a novel prosthetic sleeve.

Tell us about your project.

Prosthetic liners are integral in ensuring a socket fits properly and comfortably. But due to the nature of their design, prosthetic users face the challenge of heat and moisture accumulation around the residual limb. On a hot August day, a simple walk to the mailbox can generate such a significant amount of sweat that bacterial infections, blisters, and swelling can develop. Despite the plethora of solutions saturating the market, the problem endures, propelling our team to confront this issue with a user-centered perspective.

What inspired you to select this topic?

Our motivation to take on this challenge springs from a profound belief that prosthetics should transcend mere functionality; they should empower, not limit. Furthermore, this undertaking allows for the blend of diverse disciplines, ranging from material science to computational modeling. Moreover, dedicating our senior year to this cause provides us with the unique opportunity to give back to the communities around us and raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with amputations.

What has been your greatest success thus far?

Our greatest success is the number of people we've met who are willing and eager to help us with our project. We think that speaks to the greater collaborative nature of science and innovation, embodying Mason's mission: innovation is our tradition.

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

How iterative the design process is. Each iteration of brainstorming, prototyping, and refinement may seem like setbacks at first, but in reality are new avenues we can approach from a different, more educated perspective. On top of this, feedback is critical. The relationship between iteration and feedback has been instrumental in propelling our project forward. It underscores the importance of adaptability and the continuous quest for improvement.

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

Fuse would offer us the opportunity to connect with individuals from myriad backgrounds and experiences. In such a richly diverse environment, the ability to garner insights from individuals beyond the confines of our field or even engineering becomes a potent catalyst for innovation. Fuse becomes not just a physical space but an incubator for cross-disciplinary dialogue and ideation for anyone.

From left, Rachel A Ometz, Katie A Harrison, Alessandra B Coogan, and Sujung Rodriguez pose with a prototype of their prosthetic sleeve. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Karmel Webster, a member of the prosthetic liner team who was unable to attend the demonstration. Photo provided.

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Pioneer solutions with Mason's bioengineering major

Topics

Bioengineering

Students

CEC Undergrad Research

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers predict malicious intent from drone flight patterns

Sarah Holland — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:54:24 +0000

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers predict malicious intent from drone flight patterns Sarah Holland Mon, 02/12/2024 - 09:54

With today’s use and demand for all-access video, small Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, are commonplace tools in everything from defense contracting to filming backyard barbeques.

While useful technology, UAVs can pose a serious security risk. ��AV systems engineering and operations research undergraduates Dyar Aziz and Markus Garretson are working with professor Ali Raz to develop a methodology for inferring UAV intent based on sensor data.

Tell us about your project.

UAVs are becoming ubiquitous for commercial, defense, and hobbyist operations, but pose a serious security risk to various defense and state installations (such as airports and military bases). While sensors can provide detection and tracking information for UAVs, it is vital to infer any potential malicious intent of the UAV so that counter measures can be put in place in a timely manner.

Our project focuses on predicting the state and intent of UAVs from uncertain sensing data. This work shows how an inference engine for UAV state-estimation and intent can be built by exploiting sensing and tracking data from a multisensor installation, using state-of-the-art, high-level information fusion and systems engineering tools. We are applying model-based systems engineering techniques to simulate multisensor fusion and determine a UAV’s (specifically drones) movement and behavior.

What inspired you to select this topic?

We were introduced to the project by our former professor Raz and decided to work on it as we are both interested in aerospace.

What has been your greatest success thus far?

We have been able to develop multiples models and scenarios simulating both drones and real-world use cases of drone tracking such as a radar installment at an airport.

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

We have developed our knowledge and ability to apply model-based systems engineering (SysML), as well as building simulations in MATLAB. Additionally, we have learned about data fusion, fusion techniques, sensor types, and potential uses for them. Finally, we have been able to gain insight into the future of counter drone system development and high-level data fusion as it is at the cutting edge of technology.

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

A dedicated research space would enable us to collaborate amongst our team and with other teams with similar experience and knowledge, as well as with teams from other disciplines.

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Discover the Systems Engineering and Operations Research program at Mason

Topics

Volgenau School of Engineering

Student Research

Students

In This Story

Ali K. Raz

At ��AV, President Gregory Washington Is Building the Future

Kristin Heydt — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:33:24 +0000

At ��AV, President Gregory Washington Is Building the Future Kristin Heydt Wed, 02/07/2024 - 13:33

President Gregory Washington is featured in a profile of his leadership on Mason's campus.

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researcher uses satellites to better predict storm surges

Sarah Holland — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:44:31 +0000

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researcher uses satellites to better predict storm surges Sarah Holland Mon, 02/05/2024 - 12:44

Satellites aren’t just for pinging cell service across the globe: They’re also a critical resource for observing areas as large as Earth’s oceans.

Soelem Aafnan Bhuiyan, PhD student in civil engineering at ��AV, is working with College of Engineering and Computing professor Viviana Maggioni to improve coastal water level predictions with satellite observations in the hopes of better predicting storm surges amidst rising sea levels. We spoke with Bhuiyan about his research and his personal connection to the impacts of rising sea levels.

Tell us about your project.

I am working on improving the water level estimation in coastal areas. Nearly 40% of the world's population lives within 10 miles of coastlines. Coastal regions worldwide are frequently impacted by hurricane storm surges, and the risk increases in the face of climate crisis. Thus, accurately predicting coastal water levels is of utmost importance. I am developing a novel approach that rectifies numerical model-generated water levels with satellite observations dynamically, producing superior coastal water level estimation. This innovation will augment our capability to produce robust coastal storm surge and flood warning schemes globally.

What inspired you to select this topic?

I come from Bangladesh, which lies at the forefront of the climate crisis. Each year, Bangladesh battles natural hazards like hurricanes and coastal floods, which are projected to exacerbate the climate risks for the low-lying Bengal delta. With the successful implementation of my research on improved coastal flood forecasting, the coastal communities, such as the ones in Bangladesh, will benefit enormously from a more robust disaster preparedness program.

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

If there is one thing that my PhD training has taught me so far, it is perseverance. A PhD project is often similar to a puzzle, and as PhD students, we often have to spend hours, days or even months on trying to solve just a single piece of that puzzle. In those situations, dedication and perseverance are the keys. I believe these traits will be beneficial to me in the long run in my professional career too.

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

The impact of having a dedicated research space like Fuse at Mason Square would be significant. Such spaces would provide access to state-of-the-art research equipment and facilities that may otherwise be hard to come by elsewhere. Being in a dedicated research facility would put me in proximity to other research groups from similar/different research fields. This would foster the chances of collaboration between the groups, providing the opportunities to trade innovative ideas and share resources, ultimately increasing the quality of my project. The interdisciplinary nature of such facilities also attracts perspectives and expertise from different fields, helping the holistic characteristics and overall sustainability of my project. Additionally, a dedicated space like this means more networking opportunities among peers and greater access to educational and skill-building opportunities, immensely beneficial for personal growth and career development.

In This Story

Viviana Maggioni

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Delve into Civil Engineering research at Mason

Topics

Student Research

research and insight

Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA)

IDIA launches inaugural cohort of Public-Private Partnership Faculty Fellows

Shayla Brown — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:46:12 +0000

IDIA launches inaugural cohort of Public-Private Partnership Faculty Fellows Shayla Brown Wed, 11/15/2023 - 12:46

��AV’s Institute of Digital Innovation (IDIA) recently welcomed its inaugural cohort of Public-Private Partnership (P3) Faculty Fellows.

The Fellows Program aims to spark research collaborations between the university and industry partners on impactful societal problems and deliver state-of-the-art digital solutions to the local, regional, or national economy.

“The IDIA P3 Faculty Fellows are coming together with industry partners into deeply collaborative teams to further scientific and engineering foundations, enable breakthrough technologies, broadly benefit our society, and constitute digital innovation for good,” said Amarda Shehu, associate vice president for research for IDIA.

Fuse at Mason Square, the headquarters for IDIA which will open in summer 2024, is expected to transform the innovation landscape in Arlington by providing opportunities for students, researchers, and commercial partners to be part of an immersive atmosphere of ideation and innovation.

“This program beautifully embodies and gives a tangible example of what we are building in Fuse,” said Shehu. “At IDIA, we are very excited to directly support Fuse activation and spark those collisions that are the hallmark of Fuse through this innovative program.”

The 2023-24 cohort includes faculty from the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) and the Donald G. Costello College of Business (CCB).

Jonathan Auerbach

Jonathan Auerbach. Photo by ��AV

Auerbach, an assistant professor in the Department of Statistics, is working on the project “A Scientific Framework for Evaluating America’s Data Infrastructure” with a number of partners. His research covers a wide range of topics at the intersection of statistics and public policy. For this work, the team is developing a scientific framework for evaluating the health of data infrastructure.

“Our research unifies an extensive literature describing how data should be collected and disseminated—for example, the U.S. Statistical Policy Directives,” Auerbach wrote. “Our goal is to measure the extent to which these ideals are obtained in practice. Our measurements will be reported in an annual report on the State of the U.S. Data Infrastructure.”

Working with Auerbach are Claire McKay Bowen, statistical methods group lead, Urban Institute; Constance Citro, senior scholar and former director, National Academies Committee on National Statistics; Steve Pierson, director of science policy, American Statistical Association; and Nancy Potok, Urban Institute Fellow and former chief statistician of the United States.

Jiasun Li

Jiasun Li. Photo by Ron Aira/��AV

For the project “Organizing an Efficient and Inclusive Digital Economy: The Roles of Recent Technological Breakthroughs in Verifiable Computation,” Li, associate professor in the Costello College of Business, is partnering with Protocol Labs, one of the industry pioneers in verifiable computation algorithms.

Li said that Protocol Labs shares his research interests in modeling the underlying economics of different business models for providing digital services, as well as exploring the potential of various verifiable computation algorithms in ensuring an efficient, inclusive, and sustainable digital future. Li hopes that this collaboration will not only facilitate knowledge transfer but also open up many new research frontiers at the cross-section of business, economics, and computer science, he said.

Emanuela Marasco

Emanuela Marasco. Photo by Evan Cantwell/��AV

Marasco, an assistant professor in Mason’s Department of Information Sciences and Technology, is partnering with Karl Ricanek, founder of Lapetus Solutions Inc. and a computer science professor from University of North Carolina-Wilmington, on the project “Video-based, Secure, Accurate and Usable Contactless Fingerprint Authentication in Smartphones.” Marasco’s research focuses on the need for further device security to protect sensitive data due to the rapid growth and increased accessibility of smartphones.

“Finger photo recognition represents a promising touchless technology that offers portable and hygienic authentication solutions in smartphones, eliminating physical contact,” said Marasco. “Exploiting video data holds great potential for mitigating these issues since more information is available to be analyzed by the system.”

Parth Pathak

Parth Pathak. Photo provided.

Pathak, an associate professor in Mason’s Department of Computer Science, is working with AT&T Labs on “Predicting RF Exposure in Today’s Ultra-dense Wireless Networks.” The aim of this project is to develop a novel framework for Radio Frequency (RF) exposure prediction, which embeds the environment information (e.g., 3D maps of buildings) directly into the ray tracing process using deep learning.

With a close collaboration with AT&T Labs, the models will be developed using large-scale datasets from operational networks. The project has the potential to reduce the cost of wireless network deployment and operations, making them more affordable and curbing the digital divide.

Kun Sun

Kun Sun. Photo by Ron Aira/��AV

Sun, a professor in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, is working with Yan Zhai, senior director of cybersecurity at Visa Inc. on the project “Reference-based Automatic Program Repair.” Sun’s proposed research activities aim to constitute digital innovation for good by improving the quality, security, and reliability of software systems used in various industries, including health care, finance, and transportation. This research includes implementing a new automatic program repair (APR) technique that will target software bugs. Conducting this research alongside Sun are a number of Mason graduate students.

In addition to Zhai providing input and feedback to the Mason team, Visa Inc. has given $50,000 to support the research as well as two summer internships for Mason students.

Craig Yu

Craig Yu. Photo by ��AV

Yu, an associate professor in Mason’s Department of Computer Science and director of the Design Computing and Extended Reality (DCXR) lab at Mason Square, is working with a number of partners on his “Advancing Human-Machine and Human-Human Collaborations via Networked Extended Reality Innovations” project. His research aims to inform the emerging extended reality (XR) technologies industry as well as the U.S. government on strategic investments and future standards on telecommunication infrastructures.

Yu’s collaborators include Simon Su, a computer scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology; Cuong Nguyen, a research scientist at Adobe Creative Intelligence Lab; Kafi Hassan, a principal technology development strategist at Advanced and Emerging Technology Group of T-Mobile USA; Hsueh-Cheng (Nick) Wang, associate professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University; Brendan David-John, an assistant professor in Virginia Tech’s computer science department; and Christos Mousas, an associate professor at Purdue University’s department of computer graphics technology. Lastly, Yu is also working with Carley B. Fisher-Maltese from Mason’s School of Education and Andrew Garavito, beekeeper of Mason’s apiary in charge of the Honey Bee Initiative, to create a VR-teleoperated beehive.

In This Story

Learn more about the Institute for Digital Innovation

Topics

Costello College of Business

Mason celebrates the Fuse at Mason Square 'topping out'

Damian Cristodero — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 18:13:22 +0000

Mason celebrates the Fuse at Mason Square 'topping out' Damian Cristodero Mon, 11/06/2023 - 13:13

On Nov. 3, university officials, regional economic leaders, government partners, media, and students gathered at Fuse at Mason Square to celebrate the building's "topping out," which happens when the structural frame of the building is complete.

Mason President Gregory Washington and Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community, spoke at the event, and hard-hat tours were conducted. Students and faculty demonstrated some of the novel technologies, inventions, and solutions that will flourish at Fuse.

When open—tenant occupancy is scheduled to begin in August 2024—Fuse at Mason Square, the headquarters for the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA), will transform the innovation landscape in Arlington, with opportunities for students, researchers, and commercial partners to be part of an immersive atmosphere of ideation and innovation.

The following embedded content may cause issues for those using assistive technology. All included images are shown below the embed as well. Skip this content.

Fuse Topping Out photo essay by Creative Services

Fuse at Mason Square on the rise. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Fuse topping out celebration was a hot ticket. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Mason President Gregory Washington addresses craftworkers at the topping out ceremony.
Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Liza Wilson Durant talks about the collaborations that will be possible at Fuse at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

President Gregory Washington gets a tour. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Robot dog demonstration by Mason students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Bioengineering major Gabriel Gibson participates in a demonstration of prosthetic hand.
Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Computer science graduate student Quang Vo demonstrates a work-from-home virtual reality project.
Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Bioengineering students present their capstone design project. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Fuse will open for tenants in August 2024. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

See the full plans for Fuse at Mason Square

Fuse in the Media

How George Mason's new Arlington campus will boost tech education (NBC News)

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Liza Wilson Durant

This content appears in the Spring 2024 print edition of the Mason Spirit Magazine with the title "Celebrating Digital Innovation."

Fuse at Mason Square hits construction milestone

Colleen Rich — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:30:32 +0000

Fuse at Mason Square hits construction milestone Colleen Rich Wed, 11/01/2023 - 16:30

��AV’s new Fuse at Mason Square destination in Arlington will reach a major milestone this month with the “topping out” of what will become a 345,000-square-foot collaborative and digital innovation space in the heart of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

New Fuse at Mason Square destination in Arlington will reach a major milestone this month with the “topping out.” Photo courtesy of Mason Facilities

A “topping out” is commemorated when the structural frame of the building is complete.

Regional economic development leaders will join Mason leadership and Clark Construction in a hard-hat celebration on Friday, Nov. 3.

“As Mason expands from Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William County, Fuse is a groundbreaking project that is redefining the modern university’s role in catalyzing business and talent growth in the region,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community. “With it, we are one step closer to having a destination to collaborate with partners to development of new technologies.”

Watch the video about how Fuse will expand Mason’s commitment to research and innovation.

Mason President Gregory Washington will speak at Friday’s event, as will Ryan Touhill, director of Arlington Economic Development. Tours will be given to media and industry and government partners, and workers from Clark Construction will sign a commemorative banner.

When open—tenant occupancy is scheduled to begin in August 2024—Fuse at Mason Square will transform the innovation landscape in Arlington, with opportunities for students, researchers, and commercial partners to be part of an immersive atmosphere of ideation and innovation.

Fuse will be the headquarters for the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA), but all of Mason’s academic units will have a presence with expertise to amplify our collective impact on digital innovation.

That firmament will include the School of Computing, the first in the commonwealth, and the Volgenau School of Engineering, working together with the Schar School of Policy and Government, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Antonin Scalia Law School, the College of Education and Human Development, and the Donald G. Costello College of Business. The College of Public Health, College of Science, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences will also bring their expertise and programs in digital innovation to Mason Square.

“This destination really reflects computing being ubiquitous and at the center of all other applications,” said Andre W. Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact at Mason. “Mason is growing the future businesses and future talent for the region through investments in entrepreneurship and more bachelor’s degrees in computing than any other Virginia university.”

That synergy will perfectly align with Mason’s mission of propelling Northern Virginia’s transition into a global technology hub while also expanding research opportunities at a university already classified as a top research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education.

Further, Mason is ahead on its commitment as part of the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), a statewide initiative to increase the number of bachelor’s and master’s graduates in computer science, applied computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering.

Students and faculty will be on hand Friday to demonstrate the novel technologies, inventions, and solutions that will flourish at Fuse.

“We really want to encourage what we call effective intellectual collisions,” said Page architect Rob McClure said. “On every floor of this project, there is adjacency of industry partners to Mason, and the labs, all the robotics, the cool stuff. The idea is there is cross pollination for all these different users. It’s really taking the ecosystem of innovation and putting it into practice architecturally.”

Sustainability is also at the forefront of the building with such features as a vertical solar array, a high-performance HVAC system, and the capture and treatment of stormwater via a green roof.

“Fuse will hit the mark on so many levels,” Wilson Durant said. “It will be at the nexus of all George Mason does in digital innovation.”

Check out what is planned for Fuse

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Liza Wilson Durant

Andre Marshall, PhD

Topics

Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA)

Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP)

Strategic Direction

Mason launches Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program in partnership with Arlington Economic Development

Colleen Rich — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:39:44 +0000

Mason launches Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program in partnership with Arlington Economic Development Colleen Rich Wed, 10/18/2023 - 13:39

��AV has established a new Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program to bolster the start-up market and opportunities in the greater Washington, D.C., region and across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“Mason is redefining the role of a modern university—leading and networked with community, business, and government in an ecosystem that encourages collaboration, exchanges knowledge, and accelerates technical breakthroughs,” said Mason President Gregory Washington.

The goal of the university-based program is to enhance entrepreneurship in the region. The program has three main features:

Industry Expertise: Eminent influencers from the defense, biohealth, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence sectors will serve as mentors and coaches, sharing their invaluable knowledge, experience, and insights with entrepreneurs, as well as expand Mason’s partner network.

Cutting-edge Innovation Center: Based out of Mason’s Fuse pilot space at Mason Square in Arlington, the program will move next year, upon completion of the 345,000-square feet Fuse at Mason Square building in summer 2024. The facility will host 12 advanced laboratories, including robot assembly, testing beds, augmented and virtual reality, and multimedia studios, fostering innovation across various disciplines.

Collaboration Hub: The program will act as a hub for collaboration, connecting startups, federal innovators, venture capitalists, researchers, and thought leaders from Mason in a dynamic and cohesive ecosystem.

“This is a testament to Mason's unique innovation model to drive scalable impact,” said Farhad Chowdhury, serial entrepreneur, CEO of Vianova AI and founder of the Entrepreneur-In-Residence Program. “This program puts Mason and local entrepreneurs at the forefront of a unique innovation platform. The EIR program positions Mason at the center of an innovation triangle that brings together federal innovators, startups and strategic capital. With our federal and defense partners, we are collectively pushing the boundaries of AI and engineering to solve the greatest challenges of our time.”

Led by the Mason Enterprise team, Mason is currently inviting successful entrepreneurs to the program with hopes to on-board five members by the end of the year. With initial funding from Arlington Economic Development (AED), the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program leverages the robust Mason Enterprise team, funded by federal, state, and local government and corporate partners.

“Programs like the EIR help bolster the innovation ecosystem in Arlington and the region by connecting early-stage founders with experienced entrepreneurs to enhance their likelihood of success,” said Ryan Touhill, director of Arlington Economic Development (AED). “Funded through the new Arlington Innovation Fund, AED’s partnership with the EIR program is reinforcing our focus on supporting early-stage tech startups to establish Northern Virginia as one of the nation’s leading innovation ecosystems and drive demand for our world-class office market.”

“��AV and our partners are attracting top talents, groundbreaking startups, and industry giants to the region to spur innovation and economic growth,” said Paula Sorrell, associate vice president of innovation and economic development at Mason. “And we hope many Mason alumni and Mason supporters who are successful in their fields will be among the first to join this program, passing on their knowledge to future generations of entrepreneurs.”

Learn more about Fuse

Topics