Bioinformatics and Technology Laboratory - Bat Lab

05/15/2026

BatKnights forged in discipline, crowned in achievement, destined for greatness...

The BatKnight 7, Class of 2026, Classy all the time... Proud moment for our 7 BatKnights who graduated this spring 2026 at Concordia University Chicago...

These students did far more than complete coursework... As part of their Capstone journey, they designed, implemented, tested, and presented software applications in a variety of fields, demonstrating not only technical skill, but also creativity, professionalism, teamwork, and perseverance...

Their work was developed using an Agile-Scrum methodology, giving them experience in iterative development, planning, collaboration, refinement, testing, and presentation — the same kind of structured workflow used in industry... They also presented their projects at symposiums, where they shared their ideas, defended their designs, and represented our program with excellence...

One of the proud traditions of this journey is their Capstone book, our BatLegends Volume, which captures their projects, growth, and legacy as a graduating BatKnights class... It stands as a testament to their hard work and to the spirit of innovation they brought to our Computer Science program...

To recruiters and industry professionals: these graduates have worked on real project design, software implementation, teamwork, presentations, documentation, and Agile-based development... They are not only graduating with knowledge — they are graduating with experience, resilience, and the ability to contribute...

I am very proud of each of these BatKnights and excited to see the impact they will make in the world...

Congratulations, BatKnights... The journey continues...

Once a BatKnight, always a BatKnight... The Bat Never Sleeps...

With Adrian Corral, Anthony Espino, Matias Zegarra, Juan Moresco, Alexander Lechowicz, Muhammad Ayan Hafeez, Tomas Mireles, and Brandon Montford

02/23/2026

💙❤️STEM4NE1 | SAROJA Initiative — Robotics for Seniors, Reimagined❤️💙

Last week, we successfully completed Lab 01: Senior-Adapted Car Robot Lab with seniors at the Oak Park Township Senior Center — and it was a tremendous success.

What made this special?
This lab was created by us, specifically adapted for seniors. Most robotics labs available today are designed for youngsters and unintentionally exclude older adults due to:
• very small parts,
• visual complexity,
• fine-motor demands, and
• fast instructional pacing.
As part of the STEM4NE1 SAROJA Initiative (Senior-Adapted Robotics & Joint Activities), we redesigned the experience from the ground up to prioritize:
• accessibility
• confidence-building
• collaborative learning
• joy and curiosity

The result?
Seniors were engaged, smiling, asking questions, helping each other, and — yes — excitedly racing their robots against one another. Several participants asked when we’re coming back and told us they can’t wait for the next lab.

Why these matter?
A unique and growing component of this STEM4NE1 initiative is SAROJA, which addresses a critical community gap: the lack of accessible robotics programming for older adults.

During pilot sessions at the Oak Park Senior Center, we identified that traditional youth-focused robotics kits were not accessible for seniors due to fine motor demands, visual complexity, and pacing challenges. In response, we began designing senior-adapted robotics labs that prioritize accessibility, confidence-building, and collaborative learning.

This work is part of a larger vision where:
• CUC Computer Science students mentor and teach,
• seniors gain hands-on experience with modern technology, and
• future generations see learning as truly lifelong.

Grateful to our mentors, students, and community partners — and especially to the seniors who reminded us that curiosity has no age limit.
• Oak Park Township Senior Center
• Lab 01: Senior-Adapted Car Robot Lab
• More sessions coming soon!

Thank you for the STEM4NE1 mentors Adrian Corral, Arya Desai, Ava Wirata, praveen Mahadeva, Brandon Montford, Rene Mendez, and Devin Mathew.

With Victor Govinda, Concordia University Chicago, Oak Park Township and River Forest Township

10/05/2025

What a Fantastic SPICE Event!...

Last Thursday, our Computer Science community came together for an incredible SPICE celebration — Students, Potluck, Interaction, Celebration, and Engagement — and it truly lived up to its name!..

The event was filled with laughter, great food, games, and unforgettable moments as we gathered for our Computer Science Club elections and celebrated the teamwork and enthusiasm that make CUC’s CS family so special...

A big thank you to all the students who participated, volunteered, and helped make this event a success — your energy and creativity continue to inspire!..

We’re excited to see our newly elected CS Club officers lead the way forward — and can’t wait for the many exciting things ahead this year!..

09/29/2025

09/29/2025

🌟 STEM4NE1 Mentoring Clinic / Community Tech Clinic (CTC) 🌟

Another great Friday session in AD150! Last Friday, our Concordia University Chicago Computer Science students mentored the next generation of innovators by teaching SQL basics — a vital skill for understanding and managing data in today’s digital world... 📊💻

These clinics are designed to:
✅ Inspire curiosity and problem-solving in kids through hands-on coding, robotics, and STEM...
✅ Build intergenerational connections — our students also share their skills with seniors in Community Tech Clinic events...
✅ Foster teamwork and confidence while making learning fun...

📅 We meet every Friday from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm in Addison Hall (AD150), Concordia University Chicago...

We’re proud of our students for giving back to the community and excited to see the next wave of future-ready problem solvers emerging!.. 🙌

📹 A short video from today’s SQL session is attached — more highlights coming soon!..

👉 Parents, families, and friends — follow this page to stay connected with all Computer Science Department activities...

With Oak Park Township, River Forest Township, Concordia University Chicago

09/21/2025

STEM4NE1 Fall Mentoring Clinic Starts This Friday!..

We’re excited to launch the STEM4NE1 Fall Mentoring Clinic on Friday, Sept 26, 2025, from 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM in AD150 (Addison Hall, same room as the summer Robo Camp)...

Students will dive into hands-on STEM projects, teamwork, and problem-solving in a fun, supportive environment...

Special note: Summer Robo Camp attendees will receive their STEM4NE1 T-shirts at the clinic!..

We can’t wait to see everyone back on campus and continue our mission of inspiring the next generation of innovators...

Like this page to stay updated on all our Computer Science department events, camps, and mentoring clinics!..

With River Forest Township Oak Park Township Concordia University Chicago

08/15/2025

08/08/2025

Day 4 at CRISP 2025 Robo Camp: Confidence + Creativity in Action!..

From coding breakthroughs to engineering triumphs, our young innovators were unstoppable today!.. Campers fine-tuned their bots, tackled challenges like champs, and got one step closer to their final presentations tomorrow!..

We’re especially proud of the teamwork, focus, and fun that filled the lab — and of course, we couldn’t do it without our awesome camp counselors guiding every step...

Swipe through to see:
Robot debugging in action
Problem-solving duos hard at work
Proud robot builders striking a pose!

Tomorrow we celebrate it all at our Award Ceremony from 2–4 PM in KZ120! Don't miss the BatMagic!...

With Camp Counselors Tomas Mireles, Wirata Korkitcharoenkul, Adrian Corral, Mishree Patel, Arya Desai, Sai Charan, Smita Krishnan, Daniel Pattie, Abdrahman Al Zahabi...

With Oak Park Township River Forest Township

08/07/2025

Day 3 at the STEM4NE1 Robo Camp 2025 – FULL SPEED AHEAD!..

Today was all about pushing boundaries — both in code and creativity!.. Campers continued to explore robotics, logic, and teamwork through hands-on challenges and engaging tutorials...

Today’s Milestones:
Fine-tuned robot builds for better balance and precision...
Coded advanced sequences using loops and sensors...
Practiced maze navigation and obstacle avoidance...
Discovered that sometimes… robots have a mind of their own (and that’s half the fun!)...

We’re so proud of how far our campers have come in just three days!.. Their confidence is growing, and their robots are getting smarter by the hour... Big thanks to our mentors and volunteers who keep things running smoothly behind the scenes...

Swipe through today’s highlights below!
Just two more days left until our big Friday Showcase & Awards Ceremony...

With Camp Counselors Tomas Mireles, Wirata Korkitcharoenkul, Adrian Corral, Mishree Patel Patel, Arya Desai, Sai Charan, Smita Krishnan, Daniel Pattie, Abdrahman Al Zahabi...

With River Forest Township Oak Park Township

06/13/2025

Calling all middle and high school students!..

We’re excited to launch the 9th Annual STEM4NE1 CRISP Robotics and Innovation Summer Program at Concordia University Chicago!..

Date: August 4 – August 8, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM daily (Friday extended to 4:00 PM)
Location: Concordia University Chicago
Cost: FREE (thanks to our generous sponsors!)

Students will explore robotics, coding, engineering challenges, and critical thinking... It’s an unforgettable STEM experience for youth — and completely free!..

To get an application, email Dr. Victor Govindaswamy at
Victor.Govindaswamy AT CUChicago.edu
https://tinyurl.com/298rafto

Special thanks to our sponsors for making this opportunity possible:

Oak Park Township

River Forest Township

Computer Science Department

Concordia University Chicago

We welcome your help in spreading the word and encouraging young learners to explore the world of STEM right here on our campus... Let's build the future together!..