Good morning and welcome back, WISP community! We hope you had a restful holiday break and that you’re excited to get back into the swing of things.

For those of you who are new subscribers to this newsletter, welcome! Each week we aim to highlight STEM opportunities and events that are happening across campus. We also like to showcase women making an impact in the sciences across time and the globe. Why? Because there is ample evidence that building community and a sense of belonging is one of the key factors in keeping women, people of color, and those from marginalized backgrounds in the STEM pipeline. You are welcome here, and we celebrate your place in STEM, whatever it may be.

Over the winter and spring terms, we will also be featuring labs and research groups across campus that have supported undergraduate researchers. Our hope is that, by seeing what goes on in these spaces, you’ll feel enthusiastic about applying to conduct research yourself. We’re thrilled to start off by showcasing the research group of longtime WISP supporter, Professor Feng Fu.

Looking forward to the term ahead!

-The WISP Team

Math research in the Fu Lab goes far beyond chalkboard equations. Using mathematical and computational methods, the group explores a wide range of questions spanning society, biology, and medicine—from game theory and artificial intelligence to social networks, human behavior, and evolutionary dynamics.

Central to the lab’s mission is training the next generation of scholars. Professor of Mathematics Feng Fu has mentored dozens of undergraduate and graduate students, including 10 WISP interns, through a research philosophy grounded in one-on-one mentorship and student-driven curiosity. “Undergraduate research experience can be made pleasant, productive and fulfilling through personalized mentoring that builds on self-motivation and curiosity,” says Professor Fu. “Importantly, immersive research experience can help students play to their strengths while growing critical thinking skills.”

One such student, Luke Wisniewski ’26, became involved after taking Professor Fu’s course, Evolutionary Game Theory. With support from a leave-term grant, Luke served as lead researcher on a project examining feedback loops between human activity and global climate change. Reflecting on his experience, Luke shared that the lab’s collaborative environment and hands-on guidance were critical to developing his numerical model and shaping his research. He has since co-authored a paper currently under revision at an academic journal.

WISP friends, we would so appreciate your help understanding what kinds of activities students would be interested in seeing us host in 2026. We would be so grateful if you could take 60 seconds to fill out this quick survey!

Filene Auditorium

Dartmouth ERAS students, please remember that this is a mandatory orientation session. If you can’t make it, please email [email protected] ASAP. Arrive a few minutes early to grab some snacks.

Are you interested in mentoring the next generation of students? The Dartmouth Center for Social Impact offers a unique opportunity to give back while refining your mentoring skills.

SIBs is a one-on-one mentoring program that pairs Dartmouth students with kids (ages 6-12) from local partner elementary schools. Mentees are recommended by their School Counselors as students that would benefit from having a consistent adult mentor in their lives. Pairs develop relationships by regularly spending time together engaging in various activities around the Upper Valley.

Applications are due by 3pm ET on Friday, January 9, 2026. Learn more and apply here!

Art and writing can be a welcome outlet for members of the STEM community. The Geisel School of Medicine’s art and literary magazine, Lifelines, is seeking submissions for their 14th volume. This season’s theme is “Rhythms and Ruptures,” which explores the inherent tensions across treatment, medicine, and the healthcare system.

All members of the Upper Valley are invited to submit short fiction, essays, poems, and visual works to by January 12. Any questions by be directed to the Editorial Board at [email protected]. To learn more about submission guidelines, please follow this link.