Project Symphony Group Mourns the Loss of Mr. Nick Milianta
Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. • May 31, 2020
Our wonderful colleague Mr. Nick Milianta, an Iona Employee and father of former Project Symphony Member (Peter Milianta), has passed away from the complications of Covid-19. His technical expertise in all things microscope related allowed us to build our laboratory. His genuine passion for supporting young scientists will be greatly missed. We join his family and friends in mourning this true gentleman who contributed so much to our research lab and to its members.
Project Symphony members proudly presented seven research posters at the ACS Fall Meeting in Chicago in the Biomaterials and Biointerfaces session of the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry. Presenting in this highly professional research setting—alongside graduate students and Ph.D.-level chemistry researchers—was a meaningful opportunity for our students to share their work, exchange ideas, and represent Project Symphony. This year’s group photograph is especially meaningful because it includes two Project Symphony alumni from the classes of 2015 and 2010, pictured at the far left and far right. Both are now accomplished scientists, and their return is a wonderful reminder of the lasting legacy of Project Symphony and the close-knit scientific community we have built over the past two decades. I am immensely proud of the hard work, dedication, and growth that led to these presentations. Congratulations to all of our presenters—keep up the excellent work!
We are proud to celebrate the continued success of former Project Symphony member Colleen Clarke, a Ph.D. candiate at Clemson University, who has recently received the first place in the poster session at the Women in the Global Battery Industry's Science Award. Colleen received this prestigious honor for her academic work on the impact of lignin on the transport of chemical properties of sulfonated ionomer composites for all-vanadium redox flow batteries. Colleen exemplifies the curiosity, dedication, and perseverance that Project Symphony strives to nurture in all of its participants. During her time with Project Symphony, Colleen demonstrated a strong commitment to scientific exploration and collaborative learning. Those early experiences helped shape her path toward advanced study and research, where she continues to excel and make meaningful contributions in her field. We are thrilled to see her accomplishments and look forward to following her continued success. Congratulations, Colleen—we are incredibly proud of you!
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, our Project Symphony members presented their work at the 17th annual Iona Scholars Day, a campus-wide celebration of student scholarship and creative activity. This event showcases faculty-mentored projects across disciplines and highlights the depth of undergraduate research at Iona. This year, Project Symphony members contributed an impressive total of 15 research posters, representing months—and in many cases, years—of sustained effort, curiosity, and collaboration. Their work stood alongside projects from across the university, helping to put chemistry and biophysical research in the spotlight. As the PI of Project Symphony, I am deeply proud of each team member’s dedication, professionalism, and growth. Watching them explain complex ideas with clarity and confidence to faculty, peers, and visitors was truly inspiring. Their posters did more than present data—they told the story of how careful experimentation, persistence, and teamwork lead to new insights. Congratulations again to all of our presenters—you represented Project Symphony, with excellence.
