IMPACT

In a career spanning forensics and pathology, alumna Lia Murty now facilitates innovation as a senior regulatory consultant.

Eleanor Ford (62’, Microbiology) was six feet tall. Not literally, but when she shared her passion for laboratory safety, her personality could fill a room. Despite being only four feet, eleven inches, and a woman in a male-dominated field in the 1960s, when she talked, people listened.

Jon Francis (statistics, ‘96) has built a career working for some of the biggest names in business, including Amazon, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Nike, T-Mobile, Starbucks, PayPal and currently General Motors. What education has allowed him to shift seamlessly from coffee to cars? A master’s degree in statistics from Oregon State University.

Biology student Micah Rogers (biology, '07) crouched by the edge of a vibrant tide pool, captivated by the swirl of colorful slimy critters swimming in slippery grasses against wind-carved rocks. It was along the Oregon coast, in 2007, that she realized her passion for marine biology fieldwork was just beginning.

Statistics alumnus Steve Stehman honors his roots by giving back to Oregon State. His contributions recognize the invaluable education he received and pay tribute to one very special faculty member.

The College of Science community recently gathered to celebrate this year's Alumni Award recipients. These individuals have enriched many lives through their professional achievements, impact and service. They embody our vision to extend the reach and impact of science by improving life for the people of Oregon and beyond.

Life scientist Jonathan Gallion (B.S. '12) is vice president of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for OmniScience, a leading AI organization focused in life sciences and clinical research. After driving major breakthroughs in life sciences for only a little more than a decade, the College of Science is proud to honor him with the 2024 Early Career Award.

Prabu Nambiar (Ph.D. '88) was honored with the College of Science's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. From earning his degree at OSU to founding his own pharmaceutical consulting company, his story embodies the success of science alumni.

As the world held its breath, Oregon State alumnus Steve Bjornson waited for results. The VP and COO of Pfizer’s vaccine research and development organization, he successfully led a team of hundreds of scientists in an unprecedented effort to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.

The College of Science honors the extraordinary legacy of Warren Washington (’58, ’60), a pioneering climate scientist and one of the university's most distinguished alumni. Washington, who passed away on October 18, 2025, earned degrees in physics and meteorology from Oregon State, laying the foundation for his groundbreaking career.

The Oregon State University Alumni Association will honor Joel Peterson, a renowned winemaker and 1969 graduate of the College of Science, as one of the Alumni Fellows during the 2024 Black and Orange Awards Celebration.

College of Science alumnus Michael S. Waterman (Mathematics '64, '66) will be presented with an honorary doctorate at this year's university-wide commencement ceremony in Corvallis.