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Four people stand together at an awards ceremony for the College of Science.
Alumni and Friends

Alumni Awards celebrates in impactful legacies and achievements

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.

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Research

Science Faculty Secures $18.5M in FY 2024, extending the reach and impact of science

College of Science researchers received $18.5 million in research grants to support groundbreaking science between July 2023 and June 2024.

Two scientists use equipment in the GCE4All lab.
Biochemistry & Biophysics

GCE4ALL leads global advancements in genetic code expansion for advanced therapies

For billions of years, all life on Earth, from tadpoles to humans, have relied on the same 20 amino acids to build proteins — the fundamental building blocks of life. But what if that list of fundamental amino acids was expanded to include any chemical ability of our choosing? What new potential could be unlocked?

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Microbiology

Microbiology pre-med senior pursues passion for patient care

Catherine Sterrett has always been called to medicine, but when she found herself as a patient, compassion became her greatest motivation. Now a graduating senior, she looks forward to where her career will take her.

Two people stand in front of buildings.
Research

Immune systems for cities: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Cities are like organisms — they need immune systems. Viruses can reproduce rapidly, taking over cells and turning them into viral factories within hours. Individuals' immune systems need to rise to the challenge, but what happens when they can't, and a whole population gets sick?

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Biochemistry & Biophysics

Inspired by mentors and determination, biochemistry senior overcomes doubt to promising biotechnology journey

Rebekka Toyoizumi has always admired the big questions that science has to offer. A graduating biochemistry and biophysics major at Oregon State, she spent six months throughout summer and fall 2023 terms at OSU exploring those questions through an experiential internship. She is excited to continue this work for the multinational biotech and biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, in Maryland following graduation.

Cancer cells
Research

Innovation in cancer treatment and mathematics: SciRIS awardees lead the way

Collaborative science has the power to change the world. The 2024 College of Science Research and Innovation Seed (SciRIS) award recipients aim to use that power to develop better treatments for cancer and unlock the mysteries of complex mathematical equations.

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Students

Pre-med undergrad explores the convergence of medicine and research

After landing a coveted internship spot reserved for Honors College students, biology fourth-year Varsha Karthikeyan explored the nuanced intersection between research and medicine.

Wei Kong and graduate students work in the lab on a huge machine with wires.
Chemistry

Revolutionary imaging research reshaping drug development and disease understanding

One project keeps chemist Wei Kong awake at night, and it started as an idea nearly two decades ago. Now, after being awarded nearly $2 million for four years by the National Institutes of Health, the goal is to create a groundbreaking new tool with the potential to revolutionize drug development and enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms.

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Alumni and Friends

Young Alumni Award recipient aims to cure mitochondrial diseases

The remnants of ancient bacteria live inside each of us as mitochondria, structures in cells that are critical for life. Breakthrough work from Simon Johnson, B.S. biochemistry and biophysics ‘09, and his lab has shed new light on how dysfunction of mitochondria causes human disease. For his great strides towards a cure for mitochondrial diseases within a decade since his last degree, Johnson has received the 2023 Young Alumni Award in the College of Science.

Moriah Mathis, Sarah Louie, Chris Mathews, and Kate Mathews stand outside smiling, with arms wrapped around each other.
Graduate students

Sarah Louie selected as 2023 Biochemistry & Biophysics Mathews Fellow

Biochemistry & biophysics Ph.D. student Sarah Louie has been selected as this year's Mathews Fellow. Louie is working with Professor Rick Cooley of the Center for Genetic Code Expansion.

Light hits the bright leaves of a hops plant.
Biomedical Science

Hops compound study with Science researcher reduces gut microbe associated with metabolic syndrome

Oregon State researchers, including a member of the College of Science, have shown in a mouse model and lab cultures that a compound derived from hops reduces the abundance of a gut bacterium associated with metabolic syndrome.