Innovation & Research

Undergrads Lauren Yocum and Emily Siegel
For people traveling, in the military, without access to water — or just too exhausted to get out of bed — skipping the toothbrush for a day is sometimes inevitable. Pitt undergrads Lauren Yocum and Emily Siegel's winning pitch for a biodegradable chewing gum that kills bacteria and removes and prevents plaque could bridge the gap.
Sejdic looking at a pink-light-illuminated replica knee
Engineering researcher Ervin Sejdic studies the rapidly evolving technology and potential applications of artificial intelligence in machines, whether in health sciences or self-driving vehicles.
young man standing over a person laying on a table, adjusting his neck
Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences designed the Primary Spine Practitioner Certification Program to bring together two groups that are often at odds — physical therapists and chiropractors — to help patients with spinal problems.
An undergraduate research project in the Swanson School of Engineering sent alumnus Joe Pugar (’17) in a new career direction, as CEO of startup company Aruga Technologies.
Hmurovic smiling
In a series of studies, Jillian Hmurovic, a doctoral candidate at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, and colleagues found that boosting consumer self-esteem increased how much people were willing to pay for oddly shaped produce.
Mary Beth Rautkis wearing blue PItt sweatshirt, photographed with donated bags of pet food at an area food bank
A team led by Pitt’s Mary Beth Rauktis surveyed area food banks and found that patrons with pets had fewer food security issues than those without, though some pet owners also cut down on their own meals to feed their furry friends.
Dermody in a shirt and tie in front of a tan background
Pitt virologist Terence Dermody thinks of cells like little factories. He and a team of doctoral students are working to decode how viruses can disrupt the assembly line.
Hernandez in a red blouse in front of computer monitors
A recent study led by Pitt’s Inmaculada Hernandez found that new drugs entering the market drive up prices, but drug companies are also hiking prices on older drugs.
an "I Voted" sticker that's broken into pieces on top of a background of 1s and 0s
The Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvania’s Election Security, co-chaired by Pitt Cyber’s David Hickton, urges the state to issue bonds, require audits and create emergency plans to protect elections.
Chris Wilmer headshot against a blue-gray background
Pitt’s Chris Wilmer and a team of researchers developed a computer model that shows how tiny spongelike structures could reduce emissions from coal-generated power plants.