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Research

Research innovation and entrepreneurship combine to address critical global challenges

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

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News

Gas-passing plankton illuminate another piece of the carbon cycle puzzle

A new study shows that the ocean’s most abundant life form, a type of bacteria, consumes acetone and other climate-active gases.

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News

Outstanding incoming graduate students received ARCS Oregon scholarships

Five incoming graduate students were awarded 2021-2022 ARCS Foundation Oregon Chapter scholarships. This year, ARCS Oregon is supporting a record number of 79 scholars: 25 at OHSU, 44 at OSU and 10 at UO.

Dr. Maude David sitting at her desk
Faculty and Staff

Mentoring and the microbiome: OSU microbiologist Maude David wins Breaking Barriers Award in Education

Assistant professor of microbiology Maude David received the 2020 Breaking Barriers Award in Education 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.

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Students

The Class of 2021 succeeds against all odds

The College of Science will graduate 670 undergraduate students with baccalaureate degrees in 2020-21, including 68 Honors graduates.

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Faculty and Staff

2020-21 College of Science awards: Celebrating excellence in teaching and advising

On April 22, the College of Science celebrated its 2021 faculty and staff awards in a virtual ceremony, recognizing excellence in teaching, mentoring and advising.

Chris Beaudry working in a lab with a student
Faculty and Staff

Grants to boost advances in mental health and cancer research

The College of Science awarded two interdisciplinary teams funding to pursue promising leads in mental health and cancer research. One team will investigate the role of the gut-brain axis on sex differences in anxiety, and another will explore ways to develop an synthetic version of HHT-- a rare plant alkaloid that is showing great promise in the development of new medicines for multiple forms of cancer.

Corals along seafloor in Lizard Island.
Research

Scientists awarded grant to investigate how microbiomes can help species withstand climate change

A pivotal National Science Foundation award will enable Oregon State scientists to investigate how microbes influence their wildlife host’s sensitivity and resilience to disruptive changes in the natural environment.

Rebecca Vega Thurber
Climate and Oceans

Pioneering 'coral doctor' named Pernot Distinguished Professor

The endowed professorship recognizes Rebecca Vega Thurber’s distinguished contributions to several fields of microbiology that encompass coral reef ecology, virology, marine disease ecology and metagenomics.

University Day 2020
Faculty and Staff

Scientists recognized for research, service and mentoring excellence at 2020 University Day

Five faculty and scholars from the College of Science are among this year’s award recipients at University Day, OSU’s most prestigious annual awards for research mentoring, scholarship, teamwork, teaching and service.

Cindy Fisher standing at a doorway to one of the refrigerator rooms in Nash Hall
Faculty and Staff

Nash’s ‘Radar O’Reilly’: Longtime building manager keeps watch over research labs during campus shutdown

In Nash Hall, the Microbiology Department has 30 labs and auxiliary spaces spread over four stories. When most researchers are staying home or only visiting their labs once a week, Cindy Fisher, Nash Hall building manager, is walking the halls weekly ensuring decades of research is safe and sound.

Researchers take a phytoplankton sample on an OSU research vessel.
Microbiology

Smaller than expected phytoplankton may mean less carbon sequestered at sea bottom

For the first time, scientists have taken a winter sampling of phytoplankton in the North Atlantic. The results revealed that the carbon-absorbing cells were smaller than what scientists expected, meaning a key weapon in the fight against excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may not be as powerful as previously believed.