Skip to main content
View of the Colorado river inside the Grand Canyon.
Research

Transforming river health, ecology, seaweed, and pest control: Revolutionary SciRIS research

Founded in 2018, SciRIS funds interdisciplinary research projects that aim to create meaningful societal impact. This year, biologist David Lytle’s project focuses on understanding the complex interactions between multiple biotic components, including food base, disease landscape and microbiome in the lower Colorado River, including the Grand Canyon.

Cattle on rangeland.
Microbiology

Surf and Turf: Oregon State researchers to study feeding seaweed to cattle

Algal physiologist James Fox is a co-investigator on a $1 million study examining the impact of adding seaweed to the diets of beef cattle as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A finger in a blue glove points to honey bees in a hive.
Microbiology

Microbiologist joins collaborative effort to protect honey bees in Oregon

Although having a box of 300 buzzing bees in the corner of her laboratory is uncharted territory for Maude David, who typically works with humans, she maintains a steadfast belief that science moves forward through interdisciplinary teams.

A diver looks under clear blue water at corals.
Marine Science

Esteemed coral scientist to help identify sites for restoration in South Pacific

Sometimes knowing where not to deploy conservation efforts is the most valuable information. Oregon State Pernot Distinguished Professor of Microbiology Rebecca Vega Thurber and her team have received a half million-dollar grant to help grass roots conservation groups in French Polynesia identify ideal sites for coral restoration.

Stephen Giovannoni and Sarah Wolf working together in Giovannonis lab.
Research

Grant Awarded to Study Low Oxygen Environments in Oregon Coastal Waters

Drs. Stephen Giovannoni and Francis Chan were awarded a SciRIS Phase II grant for their proposal, “Hypoxic Barrier: Oxygenase Enzyme Kinetics and Ocean Health”. They are excited about receiving College of Science support to extend their research, which started with a SciRIS Phase I proposal.

photo of Klamath river basin
OSU Press Releases

Oregon State partnering with Yurok Tribe to envision Klamath River after dam removal

Oregon State University researchers will embark in July on a 3½-year partnership with the Yurok Tribe to study what the connections between river quality, water use and the aquatic food web will look like after four Klamath River dams are dismantled.

Saki Nakai sitting outside in a forest.
Students

Mathematics graduate to research cross-cultural psychology for Fulbright

Pre-med Honors student Saki Nakai double majored in psychology and mathematics, completing a French minor abroad. Next year, a Fulbright award will support her research in Luxembourg.

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

Microbiologist Jerri Bartholomew elevates microbes to fine art

Bartholomew’s glasswork that fuses artistry with research is on exhibition in The Little Gallery in Kidder Hall from March 7 to April 8, 2022. A new fellowship invites scientist-artists to explore interdisciplinary projects.

Ph.D. student and researcher Christine Tataru
Graduate students

Martin-O’Neill fellow Christine Tataru uses computers to decode our guts

Christine Tataru receives the 2021-22 Larry W. Martin & Joyce B. O’Neill Endowed Fellowship for her work in computational modeling that seeks to understand how gut microbiomes impact their human hosts’ health. She develops tools and frameworks to advance microbiome research, then uses these tools to explore gut-brain axis phenomenon.

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.

Coral in the ocean floor
Research

Researchers identify type of parasitic bacteria that saps corals of energy

Microbiologists Rebecca Vega Thurber and Grace Klinges have proposed a new genus of bacteria that flourishes when coral reefs become polluted, making them more susceptible to disease.