College of Science, Oregon State University

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In a piece about the community initiative Project Phoenix, ecophysiologist Jamie Cornelius delves into the urgent need to understand how wildfire smoke impacts bird behavior and health. This joint project between UCLA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County leverages observations from citizen scientists to help researchers understand what decisions birds are forced to make under smoky conditions.

Jamie, who has previously partnered with Project Phoenix, is currently working on her own smoke related research thanks to a National Geographic Society Explorer grant.

As wildfires grow more frequent and severe, this research is critical for protecting our feathered friends.

What happens to birds when it's smoky outside? - High Country News A community science initiative along the West Coast is using volunteer observations to study the effect of wildfire smoke on birds.

Embark on a journey through number theory guided by the pioneering spirit of French mathematician, physicist and philosopher Sophie Germain!

David Pengelley, professor emeritus at New Mexico State University and courtesy faculty at Oregon State University, wrote a new textbook that delves into Germain’s original writings, inviting you to explore and prove fundamental concepts in mathematics inspired by her legacy.

Germain (1776-1831) overcame societal barriers to contribute significantly to the study of acoustics, elasticity and the theory of numbers, making her one of the first women to achieve prominence in mathematics.

Check out Pengelleys textbook below and uncover the revolutionary work of this mathematical trailblazer!

https://bookstore.ams.org/view?ProductCode=CLRM/70

Move over seahorse dads, there's a new contender in the realm of extraordinary fatherhood: giant Antarctic sea spiders! 🕷️👨‍👦

Our very own evolutionary biologist, Felipe Barreto, sheds light on the surprising parenting behaviors of these spindly-legged creatures in a recent National Geographic article.

Dive into the full article to uncover the fascinating world of sea spider dads and the evolutionary mysteries they unravel!

Why giant Antarctic sea spiders are surprisingly good dads The spindly-legged creatures, which are not closely related to spiders, defy expectations of fatherhood in the animal kingdom.

Congratulations to OSU alumnus Michael Waterman, who received an honorary doctorate at commencement this weekend. This honor recognizes his impact as an internationally celebrated mathematician and biologist, as an eminent figure in bioinformatics, a trailblazer in computational biology, and as an architect of the Human Genome Project, which advanced genomics and deepened the world’s understanding of life’s genetic foundation.

Waterman has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades including the Guggenheim Fellowship, university professor emeritus at the University of Southern California and distinguished research professor at the University of Virginia. He is an elected member of esteemed academies such as the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering.

Serving on the Oregon State University College of Science Board of Advisors, Waterman received the college’s Lifetime Achievement in Science Award in 2020. He has created an endowed scholarship for College of Science students and is recognized in the Harris Society, which honors donors who have made gift commitments of $1 million or more.

Learn more: bit.ly/OSU24HonoraryDoctorate

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Mary Tunstall visited Corvallis for the first time on Saturday to walk across the stage with her master's degree in data analytics! She took advantage of OSU Ecampus which is ranked 8th in the nation.

“I never thought it would be possible to work with data like this — it’s a game changer,” Tunstall said.

How this data analytics grad excels in everything remote | College of Science | Oregon State University Mary Tunstall is a data analytics student set to graduate with her master’s degree. On the way, she discovered that remote learning never kept her from success. In a way, it brought her closer.

Joey Takach from Lake Oswego is graduating with a double major in physics and mathematics and will attend the University of California, Berkeley this fall. There, he’s excited to pursue his Ph.D. and study particle physics and phenomenology.

His journey went from building Star Wars-inspired model lightsabers to modeling what happens in real life using mathematical equations to get closer to objective reality itself and teach it to others.

He’s one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming a physics college professor.

Congratulations, Joey!

Edtech-inspired physics and mathematics senior lands a spot at top-tier university | College of Science | Oregon State University A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away — in Lake Oswego, Oregon — Joey Takach ordered a bunch of soundboards, accelerometers and other metal parts online.

Graduating senior Ryan Holzschuh loves math.

“When I was in high school, I was just good at math," he said. "I didn't really know what to enjoy about it. Coming here really helped. A lot of the professors helped me learn to love it."

He will be switching sides of the U.S. to attend graduate school at Boston University this fall and pursue a career as a quantitative analyst.

Congratulations, Ryan!

Turning a talent for numbers into a career in finance | College of Science | Oregon State University Ryan Holzschuh liked math as a teenager. He was even one of the top mathematics students at Cleveland High School in inner southeast Portland and took a year's worth of college-level math classes during his senior year in 2022. However, it took going to Oregon State University for Holzschuh to truly...

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?

Check out the latest edition of the Oregon Stater to read how a College of Science led team is working on designing city-scale feedback loops to act as a kind of immune system for populations as a whole.

OSU - Stater - Spring 2024 Magazine

Graduating senior Evan Park has not only excelled in the field of chemistry, she also brought home a gold medal for team U.S.A. at the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Women's Eight Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria!

Evan discovered her love for STEM through her father, a chemist, and amazing teachers who inspired her. Next year, she will attend graduate school at the University of Washington and finish her last year of collegiate rowing. Her future is bright, and we can't wait to see what she accomplishes next!

A budding chemist and reigning gold medalist: Oregon state rower finishes strong | College of Science | Oregon State University Oregon State chemistry senior Evan Park has a gold medal.

Gabs James, associate director of student engagement, has been awarded the Hattie Redmond Feminist of Achievement award!

James is celebrated as an exceptional student advocate and change maker, dedicated to inclusion, equity and justice within and beyond the College of Science.

Congratulations, Gabs! We are proud to call you a member of

Science success leader recognized for feminist achievement | College of Science | Oregon State University The College of Science proudly announces that Gabs James, associate director of student engagement, has been awarded the Hattie Redmond Feminist of Achievement award.

Six years ago, Bereket Berhanu arrived in the United States knowing two words in English: ‘No’ and ‘Yes.’

This June, Bereket will be graduating with a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with two minors. Following graduation, he will start optometry school at a top-tier program in California.

“I began dreaming of becoming an optometrist, driven by the desire to serve and uplift my community. I am determined to make a difference in underserved areas, bridging gaps and advocating for meaningful change,“ Bereket said.

Join us in congratulating Bereket on his accomplishment!

From Ethiopia to Corvallis: Graduating senior's vision for healthcare | College of Science | Oregon State University Six years ago, Bereket Berhanu arrived in the United States knowing two words in English: ‘No’ and ‘Yes.’ This June, Berhanu will be graduating with a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with two minors.

Chemist Xiulei "David" Ji hoping to spark a green battery revolution! His research shows that iron could be used as cathode material in lithium-ion batteries instead of cobalt and nickel. Iron is more common and costs less. Great work, David!

Iron could be key to less expensive, greener lithium-ion batteries, research finds | College of Science | Oregon State University What if a common element rather than scarce, expensive ones was a key component in electric car batteries?

Communities of species living on rocky Pacific Northwest shores may have low resilience to climate change.

College of Science doctoral graduate Zechariah Meunier, is the lead author on a study using a 15-year period ending in 2020 that included a multi-year marine heat wave.

Sessile invertebrates — those that stay in one place, such as mussels and barnacles — became more abundant during the study period, while seaweed species like kelps declined. When temperatures cooled, the communities did not return to their baseline conditions.

COS researchers suggest low climate change resilience in rocky Pacific Northwest shores | College of Science | Oregon State University A study by College of Science researchers says the ecosystems at our shores may face greater danger in a changing climate.

Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Fatima Rashid 🎓🎉 Fatima earned an H.B.S in biology with a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights in Sudan: Through a Reproductive Justice Lens” under the mentorship of Dr. Mehra Shirazi, an associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies in the College of Liberal Arts. After graduation, Fatima plans to continue her job as a chief medical scribe and work as a research coordinator before applying to medical school next year and fulfilling her dream of becoming an OB-GYN, specializing in maternal fetal medicine.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Varsha Karthikeyan 🎓🎉 Varsha earned an H.B.S in biology and medical humanities with a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Role of Exosomes in the Neuroendocrine Processing of Estrogen Positive Feedback for Ovulation” under the mentorship of Dr. Patrick Chappell, an associate professor of biomed sciences in the Carlson College of Veterinary Science. Following graduation, Varsha will be applying to medical school this cycle and working as a scribe at OHSU for the next year.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Emma Gilmore 🎓🎉 Emma earned an H.B.S in biohealth sciences and medical humanities with minors in chemistry and psychology and completed her thesis, “Shadows and Spirits: Illuminating the Effects of Attention on Dark-Enhanced Startle Responses Under the Influence of Alcohol” under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Bradford, an assistant professor in the School of Psychological Science in the College of Liberal Arts. Following graduation, Emma will be working as a Medical Assistant at Knott Street Dermatology in Portland, Oregon while applying to medical school.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Alexa Marandas 🎓🎉 Alexa earned an H.B.S in biology and completed her thesis, “Using Hyaluronic Acid as a Biomarker for Liver Fibrosis in Multiparous Dairy Cattle” under the mentorship of Dr. Gerd Bobe, an associate professor in the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences. After graduation, Alexa is attending the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at OSU in the fall and beginning her journey to being a large animal veterinarian.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Megan Easterday 🎓🎉 Megan earned an H.B.S in biology with a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Investigating heartworm infection in dogs : combining publicly available dog testing data with mosquito surveillance” under the mentorship of Dr. Brianna Beechler, an assistant professor of research in vet biomedical science in the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, Megan plans to travel for the summer, and then to hopefully work while preparing to apply to veterinary school.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Kristin Felsch 🎓🎉 Kristin earned an H.B.S in biochemistry & molecular biology and medical humanities with minors in chemistry, history, and biology and completed her thesis, “The behavioral and neuropharmacological effects of acute and repeated M**A exposure during adolescence” under the mentorship of Dr. Jessica Siegel, an associate professor of biochemistry & biophysics in the College of Science. After graduation, Kristin will be taking a gap year to travel and will apply to medical school next year.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Heading to college can feel like moving to a whole new world. For chemistry senior Marua Bekbossyn, this rang even more true. Her move from Almaty, Kazakhstan to the U.S. had its challenges, but the resources and genuine connections she discovered at Oregon State made all the difference.

After she graduates, she’ll be heading to NYU for her master’s and hopes to someday give other international students the same opportunities in STEM she’s found here.

Congratulations, Marua!

International chemistry senior finds her footing at Oregon State | College of Science | Oregon State University Heading to college can feel like moving to a whole new world. For chemistry senior Marua Bekbossyn, this rang even more true. Her move from Almaty, Kazakhstan to the U.S. had its challenges, but the resources and genuine connections she discovered at Oregon State made all the difference.

Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Hallie Perlman 🎓🎉 Hallie earned an H.B.S in zoology with a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Effect of experimental warming on the emergence time of the blue orchard bee Osmia lignaria” under the mentorship of Dr. James Rivers, an associate professor of forest engineering, resources, & management in the College of Forestry. After graduation, Hallie plans to travel and work seasonally in the field of wildlife biology before she goes back to school to pursue her master's degree!

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Listen to Chemist Xiulei “David” Ji breakdown his latest discovery on OPB!

He is the author of a new study that shows iron can be used to replace metals that are scarce, expensive and environmentally damaging.

Ji spoke with Dave Miller, host of the Oregon Public Broadcasting show Think Out Loud, about the importance of green batteries and the hope that iron could be the metal of the future.

Click the link below to listen to the full segment!

The promising potential of using iron instead of scarce metals in batteries A new study shows that iron, one of the cheapest and most abundant metals on the planet, could be used in lithium-ion batteries to power electric vehicles, and ubiquitous devices, from mobile phones to laptops.

Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Kylie Rocha 🎓🎉 Kylie earned an H.B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Effects of Selenium Supplementation During Different Trimesters of Pregnancy on the Antibody Titer Against E. coli in Beef Cows at Parturition,” under the mentorship of Dr. Jean Hall, a professor of Vet Biomedical Science in the College of Veterinary Science. After graduation, Kylie plans on working as an Ophthalmic Technician for a couple of years while she applies to medical schools. In the future, she hopes to become a pediatrician.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Manon Vezinet 🎓🎉 Manon earned an H.B.S. in zoology with a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Analyzing the Impact of Long-Term Weather and Temperature Patterns on Songbird Nestling Growth Rates in Benton County, Oregon” under the mentorship of Dr. Jamie Cornelius, an assistant professor of integrative biology in the College of Science. After graduation, Manon plans on taking a gap year and then going to graduate school to study avian biology and conservation.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Blake Lee 🎓🎉 Blake earned an H.B.S. in biology and medical humanities with minors in Spanish and chemistry and completed their thesis, “Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of the Hypothalamic Neuron Kisspeptin, Between Immortalized Ovine and Murine Cell Lines Upon Estradiol Treatment,” under the mentorship of Dr. Patrick Chappell, an associate professor in the Vet Biomedical Sciences department within the College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, Blake will be conducting clinical research at OHSU in Dr. Ahmed Masri's Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy lab. After two gap years doing clinical research and volunteering as an interpreter in Spanish, he hopes to start medical school in Fall of 2026. He is moving to Portland on June 17th with his fiancé and is looking forward to new experiences and opportunities in the big city.

To see more HC grads, visit beav.es/p44.

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Team Science is transforming traditional laboratory courses.

Assistant Professor Kyriakos Stylianou and graduate student Karlie Bach, created a three-week general chemistry laboratory on metal-organic frameworks. This hands-on course sparks real-world enthusiasm and fosters essential skills.

Hear from two students how this course transformed their understanding of chemistry and prepared them for future research.

Innovative chemistry lab sparks student engagement | College of Science | Oregon State University “You do this, it makes this thing, and now you know how to make it,” said Emily Frechette, an undergraduate student studying chemistry.

When physics senior Phia Morton flew to Italy to do research, she couldn’t have imagined what she’d find hidden in the stars: the first strong candidate of a black hole merger emitting light! This discovery deepens our knowledge on the cosmic structures and may even give a new opinion on how quickly the universe is expanding.

With research experience, work with and conference presentations under her belt, she’s heading to Stanford University this fall to earn her Ph.D.

“For me, astronomy is one of the reasons that life is wonderful. We get to look up
at the sky and wonder,” she said.

Black holes devour light — except when they create it, finds physics undergrad | College of Science | Oregon State University When physics senior Phia Morton flew to Italy to do research, she couldn’t have imagined what she’d find hidden in the stars: the first strong candidate of a black hole merger emitting light. This discovery deepens knowledge on the cosmic structures and may even give a new opinion on how quickly...

Samantha Crockett, a soon to be Zoology graduate, found her perfect match with the Ecampus program.

Check out the IMPACT article below to learn more about her story and the personalized learning experience Oregon State University Ecampus offers.

"It was really a great solution for me. Oregon State professors are encouraging, especially if you're struggling," she said.

Congratulations on all your success, Samantha! We are so glad to call you a member of .

Zoology graduate thrives with Oregon State's Ecampus | College of Science | Oregon State University Samantha Crockett's journey from a struggling college student to a thriving zoology graduate is a testament to the transformative power of online education. Faced with isolation and academic disillusionment, she found her stride at Oregon State University's Ecampus program, where supportive professo...

🌌🌿 Do you love art and science? The College of Science has exciting news for you!

Two of our faculty, Jeffrey Hazboun and Dee Denver, were awarded the 2024 L.L. Stewart Faculty Fellowship from the Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts!

Hazboun and Denver have been paired with two artists to create a musical composition breaking down the mysteries of black holes and a digital weaving project based on the biodiversity-Buddhism interface. Hazboun will be working with Brian House and Denver will collaborate with Jovencio de la Paz.

Congratulations Jeff and Dee! We eagerly anticipate the remarkable work that will come from these collaborations.

College of Science faculty awarded PRAx fellowship to bridge science and art | College of Science | Oregon State University Two College of Science professors have been awarded the 2024 L.L. Stewart Faculty Fellowship.

Congrats to 2024 HC graduate Islam Abd-Alaziz Elwefati! 🎓🎉 Islam earned an H.B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry and completed his thesis, “Microplastic Contamination in Outdoor Surface Water,” under the mentorship of Dr. Scott Geddes, a senior instructor of chemistry in the College of Science at the OSU Cascades campus. After graduation, Islam plans on taking a break, joining the workforce to get practical experience for a couple of years, and then possibly going back to school to get a master's degree.

To see more HC grads, visit: https://beav.es/p44