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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.

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Students

Empowered by LURE: Financial help to follow scientific pursuits

Like many college students, Lexie Swisher confronted a difficult choice concerning her time: find
a job on campus to afford rent or participate in undergraduate research. Thanks to an unwavering commitment made by college leadership and generous donors, Swisher secured financial support from Launching Undergraduate Research Experiences, or LURE, a groundbreaking program that pays students while they gain invaluable research experiences during the academic year.

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Alumni and Friends

Biochemistry and biophysics alumnus gives undergrads unexpected career advice

Kyle Ireton (Biochemistry & Biophysics, ‘12) has unconventional advice for students following in his footsteps: Don't follow him.

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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.

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Students

Biochemistry and computer science senior bridges gap between the byte and the gene

Goldwater scholar and graduating senior Alyssa Pratt has always had a love for the sciences. She started with a love for the stars and now spends her day in the cyberspace realm with her double major in computer science; and biochemistry and molecular biology at Oregon State University.

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Students

Sahana Shah, ’24, dreams of a new campus center for students with disabilities

When honors student Sahana Shah ran for the student House of Representatives, she won the election with the most votes of any candidate. One of her main platforms? Helping establish a disability cultural center to better adapt the campus to the needs of neurodiverse students. She is now joining forces with other student groups to bring the idea to life.

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Students

From architecture to biochemistry: ‘Life is too short to do something you don’t like.’

International student Elizaveta Zhivaya found her niche in microbiome research and will start a Ph.D. in neuroscience next year.

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Research

Oregon State researchers identify potential new means of slowing neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics have discovered a new class of potential drug targets for people suffering from neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Dr. Ryan Mehl
News

Breaking down barriers for remote learning

When the global pandemic forced the closure of college science departments across the nation, Dr. Kari van Zee, Dr. Ryan Mehl, Dr. Rick Cooley, and graduate student Phil Zhu—department faculty and research members at Oregon State University—had to think fast to adapt their hands-on senior-level research methods course to support remote and hybrid models of learning.

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Students

Research opportunities led Eugene native to Oregon State

Biochemistry and biophysics senior Seth Pinckney chose Oregon State for the research opportunities. He wasn't disappointed.

Goldwater Scholarship
Students

Biochemistry, mathematics and molecular biology students win 2021 Goldwater awards for research excellence

Two students from the College of Science have been awarded the competitive 2021 Goldwater awards.

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Alumni and Friends

OSU alum awarded for studies in children's health

Andres Cardenas (10', '15) has received funding to spend the next five years studying the impacts of prenatal and early childhood environmental stressors on children’s health and development.