Provost’s Lecture Series Spotlights Distinguished Faculty in Physics, Biomedical Engineering

Stony Brook University highlighted two of its SUNY Distinguished Professors at the latest Provost’s Lecture Series event — Chang Kee Jung of the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Clinton Rubin of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The program showcases the work and contributions of the university’s SUNY Distinguished Faculty. Provost Carl Lejuez opened the event on November 20 in the Charles B. Wang Center Theatre by emphasizing the importance of elevating the work of Stony Brook’s own faculty.

“We had fewer opportunities for our great people inside the university to present and for us to learn from them,” he said. “This series ensures our distinguished scholars receive the same benefit and visibility we offer to guests from other universities. Sometimes we’re not even aware of what our colleagues are doing. This series is an opportunity to change that.”

Nobel laureate Barry Barish introduced Chang Kee Jung, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences, whose research has helped shape modern neutrino physics. Barish described Jung as a scientist who brings clarity and collaboration to a complex field.

“Chang Kee works at the very frontier of particle physics,” Barish said. “He tackles complicated problems with remarkable clarity. He does this by being a great collaborator with others.”

Jung’s lecture, “Universe According to Neutrinos, Nobel Prizes, Breakthroughs and Future,” explored the role of neutrinos, the second most abundant particle in the universe, in understanding the origins of matter and the limits of the standard model of particle physics.

“If you put your hand out, there are ten trillion neutrinos going through it every second,” Jung said, noting that the elusive nature of neutrinos has challenged generations of physicists.

Jung described how the discovery of neutrino oscillations, observed in the Super-Kamiokande experiment in Japan with contributions from Stony Brook researchers, revealed that neutrinos have mass. “This remains the only phenomenon beyond the standard model ever observed in a laboratory setting,” he said.

He also connected neutrino behavior to one of the most fundamental questions in cosmology: why the universe contains matter at all. Early matter (antimatter imbalances, potentially tied to heavy neutrinos) may have allowed the universe to evolve as it did. “Without that imbalance, the universe would be empty,” Jung said.

The second lecture, “Good Vibes: Developing an Exercise Surrogate as a Non-Invasive Means of Extending Healthspan,” was delivered by Rubin, director of the Center for Biotechnology. It focused on extending healthspan through non-invasive mechanical interventions.

Rubin’s research has demonstrated that low-intensity vibration (LIV) can act as an “exercise surrogate,” helping preserve muscle and bone health in individuals who cannot engage in conventional exercise.

Yi-Xian Qin, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Renaissance School of Medicine, introduced Rubin by highlighting his long-standing influence on the field. “He served as a founding chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and helped build one of the strongest programs in the country,” Qin said. “His work has influenced generations of scientists and engineers.”

Rubin’s lecture focused on the possibility of extending healthspan, or how long people remain healthy rather than simply alive, through non-invasive mechanical stimulation. His research has shown that low-intensity vibration can mimic some of the biological benefits of exercise, offering potential therapeutic applications for individuals who are unable to engage in traditional physical activity.

The concept, he explained, emerged from decades of studying how bones and muscles respond to mechanical signals. “Our bodies are constantly adapting to the mechanical environment around us,” Rubin said. He described the technology as one that could help maintain muscle strength and bone density, particularly in aging populations.

Rubin emphasized that the goal is not to replace exercise but to provide options for people whose health or circumstances limit mobility. The work has already generated clinical trials and collaborations with NASA, which is studying vibration therapy as a way to counteract muscle and bone loss in astronauts.

Lejuez emphasized that the series serves as a reminder of the depth of expertise and innovation across campus and of Stony Brook’s strength in discovery.

“One tie between our two presenters today is that they are intellectually fearless. Whether it’s how they are this amazing mentor or department chair, how they are willing to go into areas where they are blazing a path, they’re never afraid,” said Lejuez. “Whether it’s Clint helping us understand how we keep our mass, or Chang Kee helping us find out that neutrinos had mass all along, this is a truly great example of what makes Stony Brook an amazing place, because we have the best scholars here. It’s really exciting to be around them.”

— Beth Squire