IMPACT

Oregon State University researchers have been awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop improved ways of preventing stored potatoes from sprouting, particularly in the organic sector.

Microbiologist Jo-Ann Leong never imagined that her quest for a new vaccine would ultimately change the world we live in today.

Rather than being swayed by conventional markers of success such as titles and salaries, Parisa Khosropour (B.S., ‘89) advocates for the relentless pursuit of personal excellence. Khosropour is the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for her professional accomplishments and mentorship that has brought honor, distinction and visibility to the College of Science.

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.

Teaching faculty in the College of Science working to increase access, equity and inclusion in STEM education can create change by collaborating with a supportive community. The the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Inclusive Excellence grant creates a resource for enhancing STEM pedagogy.

Five faculty members in the Department of Microbiology were part of a research group that analyzed how the the world’s largest dam removal and restoration project, currently underway on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, will aid salmon populations that have been devastated by disease and other factors.

Eleanor Feingold joins the College of Science with almost two decades of leadership experience and a commitment to advancing science for the well-being of all. Her people-centered leadership approach and dedication to social justice align with the university's vision of shared prosperity, making her a catalyst for positive change. Read about her vision to extend the reach of science towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

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.

Congratulations to three Department of Chemistry faculty members awarded endowed positions, recognizing their exceptional contributions to solving major challenges in material science currently facing humankind. May Nyman is the Terrence Bradshaw Chemistry Professor; David Ji is the Bert and Emelyn Christensen Professor; and Chong Fang is the Patricia Valian Reser Endowed Faculty Scholar.

Biophysicist Gaudenz Danuser will present the 38th annual Yunker Lecture, “Cell Shapes Keep Cells in Shape,” focused on the interplay between cell shape and molecular action that governs function, particularly in cancer cells. Monday, Oct. 9 in the Memorial Union Horizon Room at Oregon State University’s Corvallis campus, the lecture will begin at 5 p.m. with a light reception beforehand at 4 p.m

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.

College of Science faculty, staff, and graduate students have earned a record-breaking number of honors at University Day, a celebratory launch to the academic year featuring an annual awards ceremony. Science winners amassed an impressive 12 awards, beating the previous record of seven and garnering the most of any college across Oregon State.