Light at the end of the tunnel

Dear Colleagues. Welcome to the spring semester of the 2020-2021 academic year.  I write this message with the hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and staying well during these extraordinary times.  There appears to be some light at the end of the dark tunnel in which the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep our nation and world.  The light is there because of the extraordinary leadership that Tufts University President Tony Monaco had demonstrated in keeping the university community engaged, flourishing, and safe during the fall semester, the superb science that has resulted in several effective vaccines, and the hope elicited by the Biden-Harris Administration that the United States will resume its pursuit of a more perfect union and its being a beacon for democracy, hope, equity, and social justice across the nation and around the world. IARYD will continue to be a virtual lab for the spring, 2021 semester and, perhaps as well, into the summer.  However, if, as I hope and pray, the light at the end of the tunnel continues to increase, IARYD colleagues and students will return to the lab in fall, 2021.  Until then, we will continue to do our best to continue our research and outreach with vigor, rigor, and quality productivity. We will continue as well to look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you.  Again, please stay safe and stay well.  Best regards, Rich Lerner