UVA students interested in working on research with the Dark Matter Radio Telescope should email Professor Brad Johnson at bradley.johnson@virginia.edu

The Jefferson Trust makes grants to innovative ideas that enrich the University of Virginia and the student experience. Any student, faculty, or staff member may apply for funding, with grants typically ranging between $1,000 and $300,000. Grants have been made to every school; and many University organizations, centers, or institutes have received grants. To learn more about the Jefferson Trust and their upcoming grant cycle, visit jeffersontrust.org .

Pilot Projects is a Sound on Grounds podcast, produced with support from the Jefferson Trust. Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at virginiaaudio.com.

This episode of Pilot Projects was engineered, written, and edited by Sara Bastianelli.

The Pilot Projects’ show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci.

All music used in this episode was written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.

Pilot Projects is a Sound on Grounds podcast, produced with support from the Jefferson Trust. This episode was recorded by Sara Bastianelli and audio-engineered by Dalanda Diallo in the Robertson Media Center Audio Studio. The Pilot Projects show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci. Original music featured in the episode was written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.

If you are an undergraduate looking to find out more about Moot Court at UVA, follow them on Instagram @uvamootcourt.

Learn more about the Bits and Bytes course at https://vampiregames.org/ Here’s the UVA Today article mentioned in the episode: https://news.virginia.edu/content/class-dark-shadows-course-makes-game-creating-monsters Play some of the student-created games for free online at https://uvacs.games/

Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at https://www.virginiaaudio.com/soundongrounds. The Pilot Projects’ show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci.

Music in this episode includes: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor By Johann Sebastian Bach (1703-1707) Futility of Swimming by Jason Evans Groth (2025) Audio clips in this episode include: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) Twilight (2008) Sinners (2024) Arcade Akumajou Dracula (2008) Castlevania Symphony of the Night Opening (1997) Night Trap (1992) Vampirina (2017)

Scientific discovery relies on trust, trust in data, in peers, and in the systems that vet and publish research. But what happens when that trust breaks down?

This episode of Pilot Projects explores the alarming rise of academic fraud, and the consequences these practices have for research, reputation, and public trust in science. We speak with Professor Matthew Bolton, a systems engineer at the University of Virginia, who shares the origins of a new scientific fraud initiative aimed at identifying and addressing misconduct in academic publishing. Professor Bolton reflects on what first drew him to this work, recounts personal experiences that revealed just how pervasive the problem has become, and discusses the difficult balance between innovation, competition, and integrity in research.

For students interested in opportunities to research scientific fraud, contact Dr. Matthew Bolton at mlb4f@virginia.edu

Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective and is based in Clemons Library at UVA. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at http://virginiaaudio.com/soundongrounds. The Pilot Projects show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci. This episode was record by Sara Bastinelli and Jason Evans Groth, and edited by Dalanda Diallo, with original music written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth in the RMC audio studio.

This episode of Pilot Projects spotlights the Civil Discourse Initiative (CDI) at the University of Virginia, a student-led organization creating space for honest, good-faith political dialogue. With support from the Jefferson Trust, CDI hosts the “This Is (Not) a Debate” series—events where students with differing viewpoints come together to discuss complex issues, from tariffs to the Gen Z gender gap, not to score points but to seek common ground.

We hear from Sabriya Sheikh and Christoph Schoer, two student leaders from CDI, about how they’re reimagining disagreement as a collaborative act. Guided by kindness, curiosity, and a desire for accessibility, CDI helps students learn to disagree better; developing empathy, critical thinking, and the courage to change their minds.

Follow the Civil Discourse Initiative on Instagram at @civildiscourseinitiative or connect on LinkedIn.

Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective and is based in Clemons Library at UVA. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at virginiaaudio.com/soundongrounds. The Pilot Projects show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci. This episode was engineered, written, and edited by Sara Bastinelli and Jason Evans Groth, with original music written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.

Physical therapy and exercise coaching are commonly prescribed medical interventions and have long-lasting benefits for injury prevention and recovery and long-term health. However, accessing these interventions can be cost-prohibitive. The Fried Center for the Advancement of Potential, or FCAP, at the University of Virginia, is addressing this need by providing low-cost physical therapy and one-on-one exercise coaching for UVA faculty, staff, and students as well as intellectually and developmentally disabled residents of Innisfree Village in Crozet, Virginia. FCAP interns act as key providers of care, furthering FCAP's mission alongside their own professional development. Clinical Co-Director Keila Strick and interns Jenny Turner and Micha Nenbee discuss their Jefferson Trust grant-funded work in this episode of Pilot Projects.

If you would like to learn more about FCAP, visit https://fcapotential.org/.

Pilot Projects: Stories from the Jefferson Trust is a Sound on Grounds podcast, produced with support from the Jefferson Trust. Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU's Virginia Audio Collective. You can find more Sound on Grounds Podcasts at virginiaaudio.com/soundongrounds. This podcast was engineered and recorded by Sara Bastianelli. It was written and edited by Cecelia Parks. The Pilot Projects show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci, and all the music in this episode was written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.

What happens when students, faculty, and community leaders use data to reimagine justice—one spreadsheet, one policy, and one partnership at a time?

This episode of Pilot Projects explores the Criminal Justice Data Training Initiative (CJDTI) at the University of Virginia's School of Data Science. With funding from the Jefferson Trust, Professor Peter Alonzi and his students work directly with local agencies, jails, and policymakers to tackle urgent questions about incarceration, disparities, and evidence-based reform. From reducing jail overcrowding to challenging court fee cycles that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, this project demonstrates how data science can shape fairer outcomes in Virginia and beyond.

We hear from Professor Alonzi about the origins of CJDTI, its roots in UVA’s systems engineering program, and the importance of working hand-in-hand with community partners like criminal justice planners, police departments, and the Evidence-Based Decision Making policy team. With student-led research already producing award-winning papers and practical dashboards for law enforcement, CJDTI highlights how experiential learning can drive systemic change.

Keep up with CJDTI projects and student opportunities at https://alonzi.github.io/cjdti/ and see the data at github.com/alonzi.

Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective and is based in Clemons Library at UVA. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at virginiaaudio.com/soundongrounds . The Pilot Projects show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci. This episode was engineered and edited by Sara Bastianelli and Jason Evans Groth. Original music used in this episode was written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.

Become A Problem Solver, or BAPS at UVA, seeks to make your group projects a little easier. Katie Fidler, executive director and founder, talks to Sara Bastianelli about how her systems engineering major inspired her to create a service organization that helped other service organizations optimize their workflow. Furthermore, she chats about the systems engineering major as a whole, why it's crucial, and why engineering students should consider pursuing it as a pathway.

Get in touch with BAPS at UVA: www.bapsatuva.org @baps_at_uva bapscontact@virginia.edu

Pilot Projects is a Sound on Grounds podcast, produced with support from the Jefferson Trust. Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at . This episode of Pilot Projects was engineered by Sara Bastianelli and Jason Evans Groth and edited by Haley Gillilan. The Pilot Projects’ show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci. All music used in this episode was written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.