Faculty and Staff

With areas of distinction in marine science, materials science, data science, biomedical science – and other research areas, OSU faculty and students are fighting climate change and moving the world forward to a greener future – whether that is through harnessing new materials, interpreting complex data or reimagining how organisms can adapt to changes. We share just a few examples in this three-part series.

With expertise spanning marine ecology, biofuel development, new modes of energy capture, evolutionary genetics and the microbiomes of coral reefs, student and faculty researchers at Oregon State University are committed to using science to help create a livable planet for the future.

Oregon State has firmly established itself as a world leader in marine science. Our faculty are frequently called upon for their expertise in coral reef bleaching, ocean acidification and coastal ecosystem preservation. They exemplify the College’s dedication to leadership on the world stage - with Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology Jane Lubchenco currently serving as Deputy Director for Climate and the Environment for the Biden Administration, and several faculty holding leadership roles in other federal institutions.

The fight to save coral reefs in peril

Although coral reefs make up a small percentage of ocean floor coverage, scientists believe they contain even more biodiversity than a tropical rainforest – or anywhere else in the world. Home to nearly one-quarter of all known marine species, coral reefs help regulate the sea’s carbon dioxide levels and are a crucial hunting ground that scientists use in the search for new medicines.

Corals are made up of delicate living organisms, which live symbiotically with tiny colorful algae known as zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae live inside the corals, and provide them with energy as well as their color. Corals are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature. Climate change-induced spikes in global temperatures cause corals to lose their zooxanthellae, which leads to starvation and often death. At extreme temperatures, distressed corals may die immediately, leaving a white skeleton barren of the nutrients the reef ecosystems depend on, which is known as mass bleaching.

The first mass bleaching event ever recorded occurred in 1998, and since then it has become an increasingly significant problem. A heatwave from 2014-17 caused a third mass bleaching event that affected more than 75% of tropical corals throughout the world. Since their first appearance 425 million years ago, corals have branched into more than 1,500 species, including the one at the center of this research: the critically endangered Acropora cervicornis, commonly known as the Caribbean staghorn coral.

In 2019, scientists in the lab of microbiology Associate Professor Rebecca Vega Thurber identified a new genus of parasitic bacteria that flourishes when reefs become polluted with nutrients, siphoning energy from the corals and making them more susceptible to disease. “The bacterial genus we’ve identified is found around the world and in multiple types of corals, but is most notably found in high abundance in the microbiomes of Caribbean staghorn coral,” said study co-author Grace Klinges, also a Ph.D. candidate in the Vega Thurber lab.

Meanwhile, biologist Virginia Weis has long been regarded as a world expert in the cell biology of coral-algae symbiosis. For more than two decades, her research has focused on the symbiotic association between corals and the algae they harbor within their cells, and the role of this mutualistic relationship in the foundation and sustenance of healthy coral reef ecosystems.

In her laboratory, Weis and her graduate students closely examine the molecular partnership between corals and algae, their communication and signaling patterns that regulate the symbiosis, and how dysbiosis or a breakdown in partnership results under conditions of stress induced by heat and environmental pollution. They are also investigating gene editing techniques that could alter the molecular cellular make-up of the symbionts of host animals. The long-term goal would be to provide the tools for engineering corals that are more resilient to bleaching.

Giovannoni lab performs research off of a boat

Oregon State University microbiologists participate in BIOS-SCOPE, a five-year, multi-institutional research program for the study of microbial oceanography in the North Atlantic Ocean. BIOS-SCOPE leverages ocean measurements and ongoing research at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site, bringing new collaborations and technologies to study the ocean’s smallest life forms.

Standing up for Oregon’s oceans

Oxygen starvation in sea life close to home

The Northwest for two decades has had a “hypoxia season” that begins in mid-summer, said OSU marine ecologist Francis Chan, and climate change is making those low-oxygen seasons worse. When oxygen levels drop significantly, many marine organisms that are place-bound or cannot relocate quickly enough, such as Dungeness crabs, die of oxygen starvation. Hypoxia occurs because summertime north winds bring nutrient-rich but oxygen-poor ocean waters to shores – factors that are exacerbated by climate change.

Oregon’s coastal waters originate in the cold waters of the North Pacific off Japan and can take up to 60 years to reach us. Meanwhile, 25-30 percent of the pollution emitted from fossil fuel combustion is being absorbed in the ocean’s surface. Over time, this deadly combination has caused as much as a 30 percent increase in ocean acidity in the waters off the Oregon coast.

Last year, Oregon State was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to lead the Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies, eligible for up to $37 million in funding over the next five years. With Chan as director, the institute will support collaborative marine research around the world, with emphasis on the Northeastern Pacific Ocean.

The quest to save a Pacific Northwest icon

The iconic sunflower sea star has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature following a groundbreaking population study led by Oregon State University and The Nature Conservancy. Biology postdoctoral scholar Sarah Gravem was lead author on the study, along with University Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology Bruce Menge. Populations of the sunflower sea star suffered dramatic crashes because of a marine wildlife epidemic event, referred to as sea star wasting syndrome, that began in 2013. “This listing is one step above extinction — and I don’t think they’re coming back without help like captive rearing and reintroduction and reducing direct harvest and accidental harvest,” said Gravem. More than 60 institutions joined the population study on the sunflower sea star, known scientifically as Pycnopodia helianthoides, which plays an important role in maintaining kelp forests, and thus sustaining marine life, along the West Coast from Alaska to Baja, California.

Working in Menge and Assistant Biology Professor Felipe Barreto’s Labs, biology student Kristofer Bauer assisted in the genetic analysis of sea stars to study their genetic resistance to sea star wasting disease. He witnessed first-hand the value of research. “I saw the impact that our research was having on understanding the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and fisheries in Oregon. I saw that as something bigger than myself that I wanted to be a part of,” said Bauer.

Leadership on the world stage

Leaders of 14 major maritime nations have announced their commitment to achieve 100% sustainable ocean management of their national waters by 2025, acting on recommendations of global experts co-chaired by marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco. The group was commissioned by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), a group of nations representing nearly 40% of the world’s coastlines.

As Expert Group co-chair, Lubchenco helped coordinate experts from 48 countries, including OSU scientists Kirsten Grorud-Colvert and Jenna Sullivan, in the production of 19 peer-reviewed papers, plus an Ocean Solutions Report to the Ocean Panel. The results, the panel says, would include producing up to six times more food from the ocean, generating up to 40 times more renewable energy, lifting millions of people from poverty and contributing 20% of the global greenhouse gas emission reductions needed by 2050 to stay within the 1.5° Celsius limit of the 2016 Paris Agreement. “It is exciting and gratifying to see presidents and prime ministers ask for, listen to and follow scientific guidance,” said Lubchenco.

Like marine plants, phytoplankton have chlorophyll to capture sunlight use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy. The foundation of the oceanic food web, they store an immense amount of carbon - critical to preventing a future climate emergency.

The ocean as a carbon sink: Unexplored potential, and unforeseen risks

North Atlantic phytoplankton sampling

The ocean has long been regarded as one of the earth’s most important natural carbon sinks, storing around 80% of all carbon on the planet. Phytoplankton, aquatic microorganisms which serve as the foundation of the food web, consume carbon at a level equivalent to terrestrial forests. When they are eaten or decompose, the carbon dissolves into the ocean. Phytoplankton are responsible for almost all carbon uptake in the ocean, but just how this process will be affected by climate change remains uncertain. OSU microbiologists have made significant contributions to this field, questioning preconceived notions about which the world cannot afford complacency.

When considering the ocean as a carbon sink, the spring phytoplankton bloom in the North Atlantic is a clear winner. According to study author Steve Giovannoni, it is probably the largest biological carbon sequestration mechanism on the planet each year. In this yearly event, huge numbers of phytoplankton accumulate over thousands of square miles.

In the first-ever winter study of phytoplankton in the North Atlantic, microbiologist Steve Giovannoni and post-doc Luis Bolaños made a disturbing find. Diatoms, thought to dominate phytoplankton blooms in the North Atlantic, often were not a big part of the samples’ genetic profiles, and when they were a big part, the cells were small – either of the nano-phytoplankton variety or at the smaller end of the micro-phytoplankton scale.

Algorithms that predict carbon export from satellite-sensed chlorophyll tend to assign high export rates to phytoplankton blooms on the belief, based on observations from the eastern North Atlantic, that large diatoms dominate at their climax. The findings of this study, Giovannoni said, suggest that extrapolating those observations to the western North Atlantic may not be a valid practice.

Heterotrophic carbon cycling

In October, associate professor Ryan Mueller led a study that shed new light on the mechanisms of carbon cycling in the ocean, using a novel approach to track which microbes are consuming different types of organic carbon produced by common phytoplankton species.

As the ocean pulls in atmospheric carbon dioxide, phytoplankton use the CO₂ and sunlight for photosynthesis: They convert them into sugars and other compounds the cells can use for energy, producing oxygen in the process. This so-called fixed carbon makes up the diet of heterotrophic microbes and higher organisms of the marine food web such as fish and mammals, which ultimately convert the carbon back to atmospheric CO₂ through respiration or contribute to the carbon stock at the bottom of the ocean when they die and sink.

The collective respiratory activity of the heterotrophic microbial consumers is the main way that fixed dissolved organic carbon from phytoplankton is returned to the atmosphere as CO₂. In his study, Mueller used stable isotope labeling to track carbon as it made its way into the organic matter produced by the phytoplankton and, ultimately, the heterotrophic microbes that consume it. The research is an important step toward forecasting how much carbon will leave the ocean for the atmosphere as greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and how much will end up entombed in marine sediments.

Downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, researchers are implementing experimental flow releases as a way to minimize ecological damage to aquatic insects. Aquatic insect and sensitive taxa are negatively associated with hydropeaking intensity, which limits the composition and potentially the quality of the invertebrate food base.

New management solutions for river ecosystems

Hydropower dams are a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, but they are not without their downsides. Large hydropower dams alter the flow of the river by creating physical barriers that alter the river’s flow regime, as well as dissolved oxygen levels, nutrients and temperature.

Biologist David Lytle teamed up with scientists from the United States Geological Survey in a project to examine how the Colorado river’s seven large dams affect aquatic invertebrate biodiversity. While on a seasonal or annual scale, hydropower dams are known to reduce the average variation in the flow level, surges in power usage throughout the day cause a phenomenon known as hydropeaking.

As the earth continues to warm, rivers have experienced steep declines in water availability; last summer, only 30% of the average amount of water entered the Colorado, with other rivers experiencing similar trends. With water availability already limited, daily water-level fluctuations may prove intolerable for many species. While declining snowpacks and drier summers may be unavoidable, Lytle’s research may help provide strategies to manage water release from dams to minimize the ecological impacts. “Invertebrates are food for fish, birds and bats, and we want to enhance that food base by testing out different flow regimes that mesh with management ideas.”

In part three of this series, learn how OSU researchers are harnessing data to uncover new perspectives on resource management, using simulations to predict possible outcomes and using their unique skills to advance climate research across many disciplines.

Knowledge is only as good as our ability to share it, and innovative science requires innovative communication strategies. Some of our students and faculty have danced their Ph.D. research, been featured in documentary films and created board games about ocean microbe ecology. The College of Science is full of creative researchers who explore how different media can help tell the stories they care about, convey the relevance of science to the public and foster engagement from diverse audiences.

Microbiologist Jerri Bartholomew epitomizes what it means to be a scientist-artist. For the last 25 years, the director of the J.L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory has created glass art inspired by her research on parasites that live in salmonids — fish within the salmon family.

“As a microbiologist and artist, I am fascinated by what occurs at the intersection between these disciplines,” said Bartholomew. “I use glass as a medium to express the beauty of the natural world I study, and through collaborations with other artists and scientists, I explore ways to encourage that curiosity and wonder in others.”

A new curation of Bartholomew’s work is on exhibition in The Little Gallery in Kidder Hall from March 7 to April 8, 2022. “Abstracted: Where Science Meets Art and Music” contrasts the scientific abstract with the artistic concept of abstraction. Collaboration with faculty from the College of Liberal Arts made this rich, dynamic show possible: Dr. Jason Fick, assistant professor and coordinator of music technology; Andrew Myers, instructor of fine arts, and Dr. Dana Reason, assistant professor of music. Bartholomew’s previous interdisciplinary collaborations have been covered by SciArt Magazine and MIT News.

Artwork, a piece of glass with screen printing of a DNA sequence inside of it.

Myxidium anatidum suspends the genetic sequence of a parasite species discovered by the artist within cast glass.

“Through collaborations with other artists and scientists, I explore ways to encourage that curiosity and wonder in others.”

In “Abstracted,” Bartholomew’s extensive work on endemic wild Pacific salmon myxozoan parasites becomes vibrant and accessible. In Murky Waters, a decade of temperature, water flow and parasite data is translated into sound in real time, allowing the listener to hear how climate change will affect salmon survival.

In video piece Weapons of Microdestruction, a piano performance and live drawing turn microscopic processes into a riveting drama. The original composition expresses the musical tension of the parasite-host relationship, while broad brushstrokes elucidate the flow of parasite development.

Microscope slide boxes and slides integrated into the show reference Bartholomew’s affection for her own research tools. “As a microbiologist, glass microscope slides are the tools of our trade, but every time I sit down at a microscope it is with the anticipation that something interesting or beautiful will be revealed,” she said. “I find microscope slides themselves to be magical; small pieces of glass that hold an invisible surprise that changes with magnification.”

A wooden microscope slide box with a model of a parasite and drawings inside.

Myxozoan Life Cycles features a pâte de verre casting of a lens-shaped parasite spore that infects both salmon and duck species, nestled within a microscope slide box.

Bartholomew believes scientists are obligated to disseminate their research and that dynamic, interactive communication can expand science’s impact. “Although the increasing specialization in science during the last century seems to have drawn a line between science and art, those lines are becoming blurred,” she said. “Scientists increasingly see the value of art in interpreting their research and in collaborating with artists in looking for solutions to the problems that face society.”

She encourages scientists of every level to experiment with artistic media, because creativity and curiosity are equally important for both art and science. Even artwork not directly linked to research can have a positive impact on your scientific potential.

“Art has largely been a tool for communicating science, but I believe there is room for a larger role,” Bartholomew said. “Being an artist has helped me, as a scientist, by providing a different perspective either through examining a topic using a new medium or through collaborations and discussions with other artists.”

Artwork, a piece of glass with music inspired by the coronavirus spike protein flowing through it.

In COVID Sonnet, Bartholomew used a score by Markus J. Buehler that translates the the structure of SARS-Cov-2 surface proteins into music. The figures are transferred onto silkscreen, printed on a sheet of glass, fused and cast to create a series of increasingly abstract representations.

In 2017, Bartholomew led the formation of ART-SCI, an inter-college faculty network that sponsors events and offers curricula designed to foster discussions about the convergence between the arts and science. ART-SCI supports student engagement with interdisciplinary knowledge through the Seminarium, a student club dedicated to promoting art-science crossover.

“For me, Seminarium has been an opportunity to work with folks who share my interests in using art to communicate science, and to expand my own horizons of how the two intertwine,” said Grace Deitzler, club co-founder and microbiology Ph.D. candidate.

“Seminarium has always been about bringing together the members of the OSU community who love art and science — whether they are scientists who are also artists, or artists who are also scientists, or folks who just enjoy both — and showing the beauty of the liminal space that exists between the two disciplines.”

“Scientists increasingly see the value of art in interpreting their research and in collaborating with artists in looking for solutions to the problems that face society.”

Students and faculty interested in exploring the connection between art and science are invited to apply to participate in the ArtSci Fellowship, a year-long program in which students will develop a creative project informed by active engagement in lab or field research under the mentorship of artists, writers, musicians and scientists from OSU and the local community. Fellows are awarded a $1,000 stipend, a modest materials budget, ongoing networking opportunities, art and science mentorship and more. Graduate and undergraduate students from any college can apply. For more details, contact Jerri Bartholomew.

On February 22, the College of Science gathered to recognize excellence at the 2021-22 Teaching and Advising Awards. Driven almost exclusively by students’ nominations, these awards are an opportunity for our community to express gratitude and appreciation for each other.

The College celebrates the Teaching and Advising Awards winners below for their deep commitment to engaging with the student experience and application of mentoring and advising expertise to ensure student learning and success within and beyond the classroom. Effective teaching, advising and mentorship are the very heart of the College of Science’s identity as a robust and thriving community of students and scholars.

2022 Teaching, Advising and Mentoring Award Winners

Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising

Rachel Palmer, a woman with long hair, smiling.

Integrative Biology Advisor Rachel Palmer

Rachel Palmer, integrative biology advisor, won the Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising for her tireless support, efforts and advocacy on behalf of undergraduate students. This award was established in 1988 in honor of Olaf Boedtker, a professor in the Department of Physics who served as Head Advisor in the College from 1973 to 1987. While at Oregon State, he provided exceptional service to students and to the College.

Several students nominated Palmer for this award, praising her dedication and ability to connect and encourage students to achieve their goals.

One student nominator wrote of Palmer: “Right off the bat, Rachel came across as a very happy-go lucky person. She has always been extremely kind and caring at every meeting, treating me as an equal adult and even cracking some jokes that set me at ease. She has always been able to answer every question I had, no matter how specific or vague. I can absolutely tell she wants to help me and set me on the best path possible. Rachel pays mind to each and every student as an individuaPassionate, inspirational, dedicatedl and she really knows her stuff!”

Another student had similar feedback for Palmer: “Rachel has made the beginning of my journey towards my Bachelors of Science in Zoology a wonderful experience even through uncertainty. She really goes above and beyond the call of duty, you would not think an advisor could be such a hero.”

“I admire how easily Rachel has helped me find a class schedule that works so well," wrote another student nominator. "She asks important questions, listens to your expectations and executes. One thing she does well is helps me find classes that work well together as far as content.”

Additional nominees for the Olaf Boedtker Award included:

Cody Duncan, advisor for integrative biology
Allison Evans, instructor of microbiology
Jen Olarra, advisor for biology
Kari Van Zee, senior instructor of biochemistry and biophysics

Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching (Undergraduate)

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Kyriakos Stylianou

This year’s Loyd Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Undergraduate Teaching in Science goes to Kyriakos Stylianou, assistant professor of chemistry.

Every year since 1946, the Loyd F. Carter Award has been presented to two outstanding College of Science faculty members: one for undergraduate teaching and one for graduate teaching. The purpose of the award is to encourage and recognize effective and inspirational teaching. The final selection is based solely on student nominations and voting.

Stylianou’s students describe him as passionate, inspirational and dedicated. “This man is so incredibly intelligent but also one of the humblest people you will ever meet,” one student said.

“He has to be one of the best professors I have had here at OSU,” said another student nominator. “Walking into CH 233, I was super nervous. I heard it was the hardest of the chemistry series. With everyone feeling the burnout of virtual learning, he made sure to make his class engaging and put everything he had into every class.”

Many students praised the learning atmosphere Stylianou creates in his classes and his attentiveness to student needs. “He cares very much about his students and wants to see them succeed. He devotes a significant amount of time inside and outside of class to give them the opportunities and resources they need to be successful in his class, and beyond. He never tries to beat around the bush, always gives you an honest answer, and just wants to see the best in people. The jokes and wise-cracks in class always help to lighten the mood as well.”

Additional nominees for the Loyd F. Carter undergraduate award included:

Daniel Myles, senior instructor of chemistry
Devon Quick, senior instructor of integrative biology
Marita Barth, instructor of chemistry
Malcolm Lowry, assistant professor of microbiology
Nathan L. Kirk, senior instructor of integrative biology
Paul Cheong, associate professor of chemistry
Phil McFadden, associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics
Scott Geddes, instructor of chemistry
Stacey Vaughn, instructor of mathematics

Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching (Graduate)

Assistant Professor of Statistics James Molyneux

This year’s Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Graduate Teaching in Science goes to James Molyneux, assistant professor of statistics.

Students nominating Molyneux described him as caring, uplifting and welcoming, and praised his ability to adapt during the pandemic. "He consistently encouraged me and my cohort during the transition from COVID to campus, to keep up our spirits in one of the most difficult academic years of our lives," said one student. "Without him, I would not have gathered the courage to continue moving forward. He is brilliant in the classroom as a professor and a loyal mentor and advocate for our success."

Another student said the following of Molyneux: "He excels at making statistics, a subject which is generally taught dryly and without much passion, relevant to grad students' research and our daily life. He uses timely examples and highlights the nuance of stats, in a way that makes it fascinating instead of frustrating. He was always available for extra help or assistance outside of class, and always seemed willing to discuss other topics than just the class material! He is supportive and compassionate with graduate students, and was the best stats teacher I've had so far at OSU! He also made sure the class content was accessible to students in multiple ways by recording both Zoom and in-person classes, and making the lecture notes easily available. His high-energy and engaging teaching style was apparent in both the in-person and online class I took with him, which I have found to be a rare occurrence in a remote setting!"

Thomas Sharpton, associate professor of microbiology, was also nominated for the Loyd F. Carter graduate award.

Frederick H. Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science

Associate Professor of Physics Elizabeth Gire.

This year’s Frederick H. Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science goes to Liz Gire, associate professor of physics.

This award honors Fred Horne, who served as Dean of Science at Oregon State from from 1986 to 1999. Fred passed away in 2021, a renowned researcher, scholar, teacher and leader.

Fred exemplified the values of our college, embracing a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in science. He was instrumental in establishing two programs that encourage students of color to pursue and continue their education in science, math and engineering: Science and Math Investigative Learning Experience (SMILE) and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).

The purpose of this award is to recognize sustained excellence in teaching science by honoring a faculty member in the College of Science who has repeatedly demonstrated exceptional instructional qualities and has had a significant impact on students over a period of not less than five years.

Liz Gire has earned this award through her tireless dedication to support the holistic student experience. A plethora of students and colleagues wrote at length in support of Gire's nomination. One student nominator said, "Her level of dedication to the genuine support and inclusion of the students in her courses is something I’ve never seen in an educator before. She backs that up with her skill and experience in education and communication that makes difficult content still accessible and enjoyable to learn. She takes every opportunity to build others up, whether that be her students, her teaching team, her research partners or the many people in our department who aren’t any of those things, but still know they can come to her because she is the type of person who will help however and whenever she can."

Another student nominator said, "Liz is a wonderful professor because she is a master at reading the atmosphere of a classroom. Sure, part of this is an intuition that comes from experience, but more importantly, she takes time to ask questions. Each student is expected to grab a small white board and marker at the beginning class. Later when Liz looks out and says, 'write down something that you know about angular momentum' she can measure students’ level of confusion and use student responses to guide the classroom discussion. This makes everyone much more willing to participate in class because they know that she honestly cares for their well-being and success."

Congratulations to all the winners and all the nominees!

The College of Science is at the heart of a flourishing new ecosystem of entrepreneurship and high-impact scientific and technological innovations. Among other breakthroughs, these include: high-performance thin-film technology to revolutionize electronics and energy; genetic studies of the human microbiome for better treatment of autism spectrum disorder; and the engineering of new proteins for therapeutic applications.

These path-breaking innovations from the College of Science at Oregon State University hold answers to critical problems in the environment, energy and healthcare.

Research innovations from the College have garnered global recognition and record-breaking competitive federal and industry research funds. In 2020-2021, the College’s research awards rose to $24.4M, a 55% increase over the average of the previous three years and one of the highest award levels ever. The previous year’s total was $15.82 million.

Seed funding from the College has helped support highly ambitious and expansive projects, making it possible for our scientists to delve into fundamental research discoveries that can be ramped up to revolutionary applications. Between 2019 and 2021, the College’s Science Research and Innovation Seed Program (SciRIS) provided $763K in seed funding to scientists leading research projects in both basic and applied science and mathematics with the potential to produce practical solutions for industry, people and the planet.

“OSU science leadership has literally reached across the globe. Our scientists achieved award-winning success even in the midst of pandemic challenges,” said Roy Haggerty, Dean of the College of Science. “They produced knowledge, generated innovations and inspired national policy to promote economic, social, health, cultural and environmental progress for the people of Oregon and beyond.”

Advancing clean energy alternatives

A $1.1 million award from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research will help University Distinguished Chemistry Professor Douglas Keszler ’s company nexTC Corporation pioneer innovations for a clean energy future. The funds will enable nexTC to develop new technologies to improve solar module performance and lower materials cost.

The awards are administered by DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, which were established to encourage diverse communities to participate in technological innovation, as well as create a bridge between DOE-supported science breakthroughs and viable products and services for the commercial market.

Keszler, a renowned materials chemist and a leading figure in the field of new generation semiconductor and solar energy devices, is known for spearheading several companies at Oregon State and in Corvallis that are regarded as nationally important centers of chemical innovation. Keszler is the founder of nexTC and serves as its science advisor.

The corporation, led by CEO Cory Perkins, a former postdoctoral scientist in Keszler’s lab, has carved a niche for itself by innovating in the area of high-performance, low-cost state-of-the-art thin film manufacturing processes that enhance energy conversion and energy efficiency. NexTC is noted for inventing several thin-film technologies for environmentally friendly electronics and energy efficient products such as smart windows.

Associate Professor of Physics Matt Graham and colleagues received the College of Science Industry Partnership Award to support their project converting waste heat to electricity. This new award from the College’s seed funding provides critical resources for projects that take a new direction, utilize a new technology or are in the “proof-of-concept” phase.

This project will engineer a prototype device that converts waste heat to clean energy, in partnership with Peter Orem of ThermaWatts LLC, Renton, WA. The goal is to achieve a cost-performance level that allows the device to be viable for part of the potential power supply market, enhancing the accessibility of sustainable energy. ;

Taking microbiome research to new heights

Our scientists are spurring societal, environmental and economic impact with the support of Oregon State’s innovation and entrepreneurial centers such as the Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator. Among the several powerful startup concepts that have recently emerged from Oregon State is Microbiome Engineering (previously called Enoveo USA), which is redefining the study of environmental and human health through the lens of the microbiome resulting in the development of innovative technologies that address several challenging problems in environmental and human ecosystems.

The startup was founded by Maude David, an OSU assistant professor of microbiology, whose research focuses on the gut-brain axis and the impact of gut microbes on behavior, specifically in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety.

With substantial momentum gained from a 2019 SBIR phase II $1.94 million grant, David and her team are exploring potential therapeutics for ASD by identifying differentiating factors within the microbiome of neurotypical children and those with ASD.

Endeavoring to carry David’s research-based innovation to the market, Microbiome Engineering is developing a gut brain chip that serves as a screening tool to rapidly assess the impact of gut microbiota metabolites on issues such as autism, depression and cognition.

Expanding the genetic code to engineer new therapeutics

A transformative project aims to bridge the gap between innovative biomedical research and the biotech industry. Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics Ryan Mehl received two grants totaling $1.6M from a biopharmaceutical company partner for projects on the engineering of antibodies as therapeutics using genetic code expansion.

Mehl and collaborators received initial support from SciRIS Stage 2 seed funding that helped them develop the base technology for the engineering of nanobodies as diagnostic agents. Mehl and postdoctoral scientists in his lab will work directly with the partner's team on their projects to rapidly accelerate the project and achieve vital scientific milestones.

Mehl is also director of GCE4All, the world’s first Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) center, funded by the NIH at Oregon State at $5.6M. This newly-established center will accommodate burgeoning industry interest in GCE technology and catalyze advances to fabricate new nanomaterials and synthesize proteins with promising therapeutic functionalities.

“This is a new adventure for our lab working with Big Pharma. Another eye-opening change for us will be the pace of this project and important connections for future students. We expect this project will lead to valuable career options for our undergrads, grads and postdocs,” said Mehl.

Mehl’s collaboration with industry was supported by OSU Advantage programs, which has an impressive track record of driving cutting-edge research innovations toward commercialization and widespread societal utility and impact.

The ocean’s most abundant life form, a type of bacteria discovered by the Department of Microbiology, consumes an organic compound commonly found in solvents like paint remover, a new study shows.

The research led by Associate Professor of Microbiology Kimberly Halsey and then-Ph.D. student Eric Moore revealed that SAR11 bacteria consume acetone, adding evidence to suggest that aspects of the marine carbon cycle, which pulls atmospheric carbon into the sea, are not being considered in the study of the cycle and its ability to buffer climate change.

Acetone and other volatile organic compound (VOCs) are produced by phytoplankton, microscopic marine algae, and are abundant in the surface ocean, from which they can move into the atmosphere and influence climate.

“It’s important to understand SAR11 and other bacteria’s potential to control the emission of climate-active gases because it helps our overall understanding of climate change and stability,” said Halsey.

Finding that SAR11 consume the gas is particularly significant due to the bacteria species’ massive abundance. “A single milliliter of ocean water might contain a half-million SAR11 cells,” said Distinguished Professor of Microbiology Stephen Giovannoni, who discovered the bacteria in 1990. SAR11 comprise 25% of all ocean plankton, and their combined weight exceeds that of all the ocean’s fish.

Find the full story here.

The inner workings of a cell, more powerful mass spectrometry and building a tropical reef at Oregon State: The 2021 College of Science Research and Innovation Seed (SciRIS) awards are empowering initiatives that will open fresh pathways in science.

The SciRIS program funds projects based on collaborative research within the College of Science community and beyond. There are two tracks through the program: SciRIS (Stages 1-3) and the SciRIS individual investigator award (SciRIS-ii). SciRIS Stages 1-3 funds teams in three stages to support training, research and capacity-building, accelerating work toward external funding opportunities. SciRIS-ii funds individual faculty to establish research relationships with external partners, enabling them to demonstrate the feasibility of their ideas and quickening the pace of scientific discovery.

The newly-established College of Science Innovation Award provides critical resources for projects that take a new direction, utilize a new technology or are in the “proof-of-concept” phase.

Three groups of scientists received SciRIS Stage 1 awards, two at $10K each and one at $20K. One group received the Innovation Award at $10K.

Professor of Microbiology Rebecca Vega Thurber and her colleagues will use their award to develop a model tropical reef facility within Oregon State’s world-renowned John Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Lab.

The model will allow College of Science researchers across biology, chemistry and ecology to perform highly controlled, repeatable experiments on reef ecosystems, which are under increasing threats from climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and disease. By bringing the reef to researchers, carbon emissions associated with travel are also reduced.

The facility will also serve as an outreach platform, bringing awareness of far-off ecosystems to the local community. By interacting with the lab, citizens will learn about how humans affect these fragile habitats and how they personally can potentially mitigate and reverse reef decline.

Chemistry Professor Wei Kong and Statistics Professor Lan Xue will use their SciRIS grant to develop more effective mass spectrometry through inclusion of electron diffraction. With this addition, future mass spectrometers will be able to reveal not only the mass composition of an unknown species, but also the three-dimensional arrangement of the constituent atoms. This capability can change the paradigm of nanomaterial synthesis, allowing intelligent design and quality control of custom-made materials applicable in medical diagnostics and therapeutics, in energy harvesting and storage, and in catalysis.

Biochemistry and Biophysics Professor Elisar Barbar and collaborators received a SciRIS award to integrate structural biology with cell and organismal biology. Capitalizing on Oregon State’s high concentration of expertise and resources for studying dynamic protein complexes across scales, the team aims to establish new technologies to investigate cancer related complexes and host-parasite interactions. Their eventual goal is to submit a proposal to the NSF Biology Integration Institute, which supports interdisciplinary projects that translate discoveries from the molecular scale to the cellular level of organisms and vice versa.

Associate Professor of Physics Matt Graham and colleagues received the College of Science Innovation Award support their work converting waste heat to electricity, contributing to a more sustainable world through the recovery of energy losses and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The team will develop a prototype of an ultralow bandgap semiconductor device that converts residual waste heat to electricity. The award will support their work optimizing the efficiency of the device’s waste heat to energy conversion and validating the current extraction model related to the device prototype.

Research by Oregon State University suggests a pair of compounds originating from hops can help thwart a dangerous buildup of fat in the liver known as hepatic steatosis.

The findings, published today in eLife, are important because the condition affects roughly one-fourth of people in the United States and Europe. While heavy drinking is often associated with liver problems, people with little or no history of alcohol use comprise that 25%, which is why their illness is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD.

Resistance to insulin, the hormone that helps control blood sugar levels, is a risk factor for NAFLD, as are obesity, a high-fat diet and elevated levels of fat in the blood. The liver helps the body process nutrients and also acts as a filter for the circulatory system, and too much fat in the liver can lead to inflammation and liver failure.

In a mouse-model study, Oregon State researchers led by Adrian Gombart, professor of biochemistry and biophysics, showed that the compounds xanthohumol and tetrahydroxanthohumol, abbreviated to XN and TXN, can mitigate diet-induced accumulation of fat in the liver.

XN is a prenylated flavonoid produced by hops, the plant that gives beer its flavor and color, and TXN is a hydrogenated derivative of XN.

In the study, 60 mice were randomly assigned to one of five groups – low-fat diet, high-fat diet, high-fat diet supplemented by XN, high-fat diet supplemented by more XN, and high-fat diet supplemented by TXN.

The scientists found that TXN helped put the brakes on the weight gain associated with a high-fat diet and also helped stabilize blood sugar levels, both factors in thwarting the buildup of fat in the liver.

“We demonstrated that TXN was very effective in suppressing the development and progression of hepatic steatosis caused by diet,” said Gombart, professor of biochemistry and biophysics in the OSU College of Science and a principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute. “TXN appeared to be more effective than XN perhaps because significantly higher levels of TXN are able to accumulate in the liver, but XN can slow progression of the condition as well, at the higher dose.”

The mechanism behind the compounds’ effectiveness involves PPARγ, a nuclear receptor protein – one that regulates gene expression. PPARγ controls glucose metabolism and the storage of fatty acids, and the genes it activates stimulate the creation of fat cells from stem cells.

XN and TXN act as “antagonists” for PPARγ – they bind to the protein without sending it into action, unlike a PPARγ agonist, which would activate it as well as bind to it. The upshot of antagonism in this case is less fat collecting in the liver.

“Activated PPARg in liver stimulates storage of lipids and our data suggest that XN and TXN block activation and greatly reduce expression of the genes the promote lipid storage in the liver,” Gombart elaborated. “These findings are consistent with studies that show weaker PPARγ agonists are more effective at treating hepatic steatosis than strong agonists. In other words, lower PPARγ activation in the liver may be beneficial.”

TXN was better at accumulating in the liver than XN, which may explain why it was more effective in reducing lipids, but the difference in tissue accumulation is not fully understood.

“It may be because XN is metabolized by the host and its gut microbiota more than TXN is, but additional studies are needed to figure that out,” Gombart said. “Also, while XN and TXN are effective preventative approaches in rodents, future studies need to determine if the compounds can treat existing obesity in humans. But our findings suggest antagonism of PPARγ in the liver is a logical approach to prevent and treat diet-induced liver steatosis and related metabolic disorders, and they support further development of XN and TXN as low-cost therapeutic compounds.”

Also collaborating on this research were Yang Zhang, Matthew Robinson, Donald Jump and Carmen Wong of OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences; Gerd Bobe of the College of Agricultural Sciences; Cristobal Miranda and Fred Stevens of the College of Pharmacy; Malcolm Lowry, Thomas Sharpton, Claudia Maier and Victor Hsu of the College of Science; and Christiane V. Löhr of the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine.

Funding the study were the National Institutes of Health; the Linus Pauling Institute; the OSU College of Pharmacy; Hopsteiner, Inc; and the OSU Foundation Buhler-Wang Research Fund.

“It was a no-brainer,” says microbiology Ph.D. student Grace Deitzler of her decision to join Dr. Maude David’s Lab. “I knew that Maude would be the optimal mentor for me during my Ph.D.”

A member of the Oregon State faculty since 2018, assistant professor of microbiology Maude David has made a powerful impression in her short time here, inspiring students with her commitment to an inclusive, welcoming learning environment. David received the 2020 Breaking Barriers Award in Education, an initiative from the President’s Commission on the Status of Women which honors excellent and high impact in teaching and mentoring that has paved the way for gender equity in higher education. She was nominated by Deitzler and fellow graduate student Alex Phillips.

Microbiology Ph.D. student Grace Deitzler

Creating an ideal learning environment

Speaking with David, her mentoring prowess, which has earned her the appreciation of her students, shines through with every word. “It’s about creating a safe space for students before they go out into the world,” says David of her teaching style. Within the David Lab, her four graduate students and five undergraduates are free to take risks, make mistakes, and branch out in unexpected directions. “She is really letting her students take the reins,” adds Deitzler, “She is dedicated to intentionally building a lab that gives young women researchers the chance to grow and succeed in our field and has been immensely supportive of our diverse intersecting identities.”

Empowering her students to take charge has worked out well for David so far, with several of them receiving fellowships from the National Science Foundation, presenting their work at international conferences, and publishing articles in journals. Yet David points out that “the number of papers a student publishes is not a correlation of how happy they are.” Knowing the challenges of a career in science, particularly for women and other underrepresented groups, David encourages her mentees to find a balance between well-being and accomplishment. “The students work so hard. I have to tell them to take time off!” she says.

A vibrant, inclusive lab atmosphere

As a recipient of an award for mentoring in education, what are David’s thoughts on creating a richer student experience at Oregon State? “It’s really about horizontal integration in the lab. Undergraduates should be treated as full researchers,” she says, instead of merely having them clean equipment. Giving students of every level the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution increases motivation and retention — or, as David puts it, assures they will “start with science and stay!” Undergraduate student Temi Adewunmi (computer science ’23) testifies to the inclusive environment of the David Lab, and how David’s leadership throughout periods of political and civil unrest last year made a strong impression on her: “She encouraged us to share our experiences about life on campus and things we felt were going well, as well as what wasn’t going so great, in order to improve our teamwork and lab atmosphere. That meant a lot to me as an international student from Nigeria, and I felt really heard and welcomed.”

“She is dedicated to intentionally building a lab that gives young women researchers the chance to grow and succeed in our field”

Embracing diverse perspectives and backgrounds is an essential element to the success of the lab team. David recalls how one day, students got so creative in using a bit of code she gave them for an experiment, that they actually broke it. “They all have different learning and problem-solving styles,” she adds with a smile, clearly impressed by her students’ ingenuity. With research interests that span computational biology, microbial ecology, and the gut-brain axis, David knows the value of creativity and versatility in science, encouraging her students to ask novel questions and break the mold.

The David Lab takes an interdisciplinary approach to gut microbiome research

Ongoing research on the gut microbiome and autism

Within the David Lab, students are currently investigating the gut microbiome from a variety of angles, including meta-analysis of existing public data and behavioral experiments with mice and honeybees. Alongside David, students also have the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking research linking the human gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most recently, David, her graduate students and her colleagues at Stanford University and Argonne National Lab published the results of their crowdsourced study on microbial markers in the gut microbiome of young children with and without ASD. While they found significant differences between the two groups, David notes that the connections between the microbiome and human behavior are incredibly complex, and we have a long way to go to bridge the gap between association and causality. In particular, she is working on stronger computational models to analyze new and existing data and break down the complexity of the gut-brain axis.

In the meantime, what’s David’s advice for keeping our guts healthy? “Eat your vegetables!” she laughs. With a wealth of mentoring knowledge as well as multidisciplinary science expertise, David is an asset to the Oregon State community, and we look forward to everything she and her students contribute in the years to come.

On April 22, the College of Science gathered virtually to recognize academic, administrative and teaching excellence at the 2020-21 Combined Awards Ceremony – a merge of our annual Faculty and Staff Awards and Teaching and Advising Awards events.

The first half of the ceremony celebrated excellence in research and administration, and the second half the ceremony focused on outstanding teaching, advising and mentoring,

The College congratulates the Teaching and Advising Awards winners below who exemplify deep commitment, skill and effectiveness in mentoring and advising to ensure student learning and success within and beyond the classroom. Effective teaching, advising and mentorship are the very heart of the College of Science’s identity as a robust and thriving community of students and scholars.

Congratulations to all the nominees and especially to the award winners.

2021 Teaching, Advising and Mentoring Award Winners

Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising

BioHealth Sciences Advisor Tiffany Bolman

Tiffany Bolman, biohealth sciences advisor, won the Olaf Boedtker Award for her tireless support, efforts and advocacy on behalf of undergraduate students. Olaf Boedtker was a former professor in the Department of Physics for 23 years and served as head advisor in the College for 14 years from 1973 to 1987. This award recognizes exceptional and inspirational undergraduate advising.

More than ten students nominated Bolman for this award, praising her dedication and ability to connect and encourage students to achieve their goals.

One student nominator wrote of Bolman: “During one of the hardest years of my life, I met my new advisor, Tiffany. Changing your advisor in the middle of your junior year can be stressful. The first time I met her, my meeting lasted almost two hours because we spent time getting to know each other and talking about life. The way that Tiffany has been here to support me is incredible – as an advisor, a mentor, a friend and a support system. She's helped me in countless ways this past year, not just for school and for my future, but personally. I know I would not be where I am right now without her.”

“Tiffany has guided me in my fast-paced college experience and is always courteous when I talk to her,” wrote another biohealth science student nominator. “She has provided ample opportunities for me to get involved in health care and shadowing, even during Covid-19, in order for me to be a competitive applicant for medical school. I feel as though Tiffany wants the best for all of her students, including myself, and her heartwarming encouragement never lets me down.”

Another student had similar praises for Bolman. “I transferred to Oregon State and [Tiffany Bolman] was the first faculty member I had any interactions with. She seems to truly care about the future of the students she is advising and is overall an amazing person to talk to.”

Additional nominees for the Olaf Boedtker Award included

Allison Evans, instructor of microbiology
Kari Van Zee, senior instructor for biochemistry and biophysics
Maureen Leong-Kee, advisor for integrative biology
Vince Remcho, professor of chemistry

Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching (Undergraduate)

Professor of physics Corinne Manogue

Professor of physics Corinne Manogue won this year’s Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching in Science. Manogue teaches the nationally-recognized Paradigm in Physics courses, which are a restructuring of the traditional upper-division curriculum for physics students to a more modern, flexible and inclusive model for learning physics.

Student nominees cited Manogue’s extra efforts to ensure her students understand content, her ability to teach complex topics, and her compassion with her students in an especially tiring year.

“She is an outstanding teacher who really works to understand how her students are approaching the material and provides numerous ways for the students to actively engage with the content,” wrote one student nominator. “She is very aware that each student has a different learning style and that content needs to be restated multiple ways and in multiple forms and that each version will resonate differently with each student.”

Other student nominators had similar praises for Manogue. "She is truly fantastic at explaining complex topics in ways that relate them to us students, and it was often that many would exclaim how well they understood ideas and techniques significantly better after having an explanation from her in class," said one nominator, and another added: "Corinne convinced me that there weren't such things as 'STEM people' and that success in STEM was available to me and other students who like me had been dissuaded by a perception of being inherently 'not smart enough' to become physicists."

Manogue has received recognition at multiple levels – Oregon State University, the state of Oregon and nationally – for her teaching excellence and has previously won a number of awards recognizing her teaching excellence, including the College of Science Frederick H. Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching in 2000, an American Association of Physics Teachers Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching in 2008, and the 2016 Oregon Academy of Science Outstanding Educator in Science and Mathematics award.

Additional nominees for the Loyd F. Carter undergraduate award included

Daniel Myles, senior instructor of chemistry
Daniel Rockwell, senior instructor of mathematics
Devon Quick, senior instructor of integrative biology
Kimberly Halsey, associate professor of microbiology
Linsday Biga, senior instructor of integrative biology
KC Walsh, senior instructor of physics

Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching (Graduate)

Charlotte Wickham with a black background

Senior Instructor of statistics Charlotte Wickham

Senior Instructor of statistics Charlotte Whickam received the Loyd Carter award for her inspirational and superb mentorship and teaching of graduate students.

“Charlotte is an extremely talented statistician and teacher. You can tell she is extremely passionate about the things she teaches and is invested in her students learning. She is also very approachable, despite teaching an online course,” wrote one graduate student nominator. “The material I have learned in her class has been useful and applicable to all of my work as a statistician,” they added.

“Dr. Wickham really took the time and got involved with my term project topic. She understood my skill level and was really great on providing feedback,” wrote another nominator.

A specialist in R training, Wickham teaches courses in data visualization and the foundations of data analytics. In 2020 Wickham received the Oregon State Ecampus Excellence in Online Teaching and Student Engagement Award. Wickham has developed multiple Ecampus courses built around students and their learning, leveraging open source materials and engaging texts from the Valley Library at Oregon State University.

Frederick H. Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science

Senior Instructor for biochemistry and biophysics Kari Van Zee

Senior Instructor for biochemistry and biophysics Kari Van Zee won the Frederick H. Horne Award for her exceptional qualities as a teacher and mentor. This award is named after Fred Horne, OSU Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and the former College of Science Dean for 13 years, from 1986 to 1999.

Kendra Jackson (’20, biochemistry and biophysics), praised Van Zee in her nomination letter, writing, “Kari made a great impact on my education at OSU and has empowered me to be an independent learner.”

Jackson interacted with Van Zee as a student, mentee, teaching assistant and advisee. She added in her letter that “Kari is compassionate and deeply cares about the well-being of her students.” This quality was especially apparent during the 2020-2021 school year with remote learning. “Kari constantly checked up on struggling students in each section, offered solutions for students who could not access technology or adequate study spaces, and adapted the class based on student feedback.”

Tanushri Kumar, a 2020 biochemistry graduate and Ph.D. student at the University of Washington, also wrote a nomination letter. She praised Van Zee’s personal connection with her students: “Kari is a fantastic teacher, a scholar, and a devoted mentor to all her students. It is truly rare to find a teacher as talented and as compassionate as she is. Without her guidance, I would have never discovered my own passion for research, and without her support I would not have had the courage to apply for graduate school. The impact she has had on my life has been huge, and I am incredibly grateful for having her as a mentor and instructor.”

College of Science Whiteley Faculty Scholar for Teaching Excellence Award

Senior Instructor of integrative biology Devon Quick

Senior Instructor Devon Quick in the Department of Integrative Biology received this award which recognizes excellent teaching and learning innovation. This award will provide Quick with an annual stipend of $12,500 for three years.

Widely commended for her teaching of biology, human anatomy and physiology courses, Quick has received awards for her exceptional teaching in the past. In 2020, she received the Loyd F. Carter Award, and in 2016 she received university-wide recognition by receiving the OSU Faculty Teaching Excellence Award.

Quick is a co-founder of the Learning Assistants Program, which puts high-achieving undergraduate assistants in large enrollment, often first-and second-year STEM classrooms to facilitate and strengthen undergraduate learning. She also collaborated with fellow biology instructor Lindsay Biga to adapt an open source biology textbook that is freely accessible to OSU students and learners worldwide.

OSU Faculty Scholars for Teaching Excellence Award

Physics instructor KC Walsh

Physics instructor KC Walsh won the Faculty Scholars for Teaching Excellence Award. This award for a three-year faculty scholar position supports excellence and innovation in teaching and carries an annual stipend of $12,500.

Walsh helped to transform OSU’s introductory physics classes by reversing the traditional learning environment. In flipped classrooms, students receive course content online outside of the classroom, freeing up classroom time for active learning. He then pioneered the flipped classroom in the online environment long before the pandemic forced all instructors and faculty to adjust to all-online teaching. The results of the flipped classroom model have been dramatic: the withdraw rate from introductory physics class dropped from 36 percent to only 12 percent with a marked increase in course satisfaction.

Walsh previously received the OSU Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for his significant and meritorious achievement in teaching and scholarship that enhances effective instruction. And in 2018, the Department of Physics received the American Physics Society (APS) Award for Improving Undergraduate Physics Education, due in part to Walsh’s pioneering flipped classrooms and his early use of online resources to increase student success.

The OSU and Whiteley Faculty Scholars for Teaching Excellence awards are made possible thanks to the generous philanthropic support of our alumni and friends and matching funds invested by the Provost’s Office.

Read more about the winners of the 2020-21 graduate and undergraduate research and administration awards.

The tough challenges the world faces in the 21^st century demand collaborative, multi-disciplinary solutions and radical innovation. Whether it happens in the laboratory, out in the field or in the classroom, College of Science faculty and students are working to envision what is possible through research and inspired problem-solving.

With a history of turning groundbreaking discoveries into high-value solutions for society, the College of Science is strengthening pathways for scientists and partners to develop their ideas into solutions to address pressing problems.

One way it is doing this is by providing seed funding through the Science Research and Innovation Seed (SciRIS) Program to research projects that are high-impact, collaborative and cut across disciplines. Launched in 2018, SciRIS program provides three tiers of funding: $10,000, which funds research planning, team formation and initial experiments; $75,000, which supports a research project to develop a proof of concept; and $125,000 to accelerate work toward or commensurate with an external funding opportunity.

Two multidisciplinary research teams recently received SciRIS funds in late 2020. Microbiologist Maude David, along with biochemist Kenton Hokanson and Kathy Magnusson from OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine received $75,000 for a project entitled “An integrative investigation of the role of the gut-brain axis on sex differences in anxiety.”

Though anxiety disorders manifest differently in men and women, the biological mechanisms underlying the sex-specific presentation of such disorders remain unexplored. The team’s research will integrate functional, molecular and behavioral data to identify the role of specific bacterially-produced metabolites that are linked with anxiety in humans. They hypothesize that the metabolites produced by the gut microbiome help establish the sex differences observed in the prevalence and severity of anxiety disorders.

Professor of chemistry Chris Beaudry and Victor Hsu, associate professor of biochemistry, along with cancer researcher Siva Kolluri in the College of Agricultural Sciences received $125,000 for their project entitled “Homoharringtonine: Chemical Synthesis and Evaluation of Designed Analogs.” The group is researching the analogs of Homoharringtonine (HHT) with improved pharmaceutical properties. HHT is a plant alkaloid isolated from the plum yew Cephalotaxus harringtonii.

HHT is showing great promise as a starting point for the development of new medicines for multiple forms of cancer, however it is highly expensive and difficult to acquire both as a chemical and as a medicine. Among other objectives, the group is working on creating an efficient chemical synthesis of HHT which quadruples the chemical yield, and can be used for investigation in combination therapies and evaluation in modern drug delivery systems.

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