Michael Behrenfeld will lead a NASA-funded research project investigating phytoplankton blooms—the foundation of the marine food web. He will test the idea that warming oceans will have previously-unforeseen impacts on marine ecosystems.

 

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/release/2015/01/why-do-plankton-bloom-answer-could-force-rethinking-ocean%E2%80%99s-food-web

Plant pathologist Luisa Santamaria teaches plant disease prevention to agricultural workers.  Since 2011, Santamaria has reached about 500 Spanish-speaking workers from 25 nurseries through a grant awarded by the USDA and NIFA, helping to keep Oregon’s $745m nursery industry healthy.

http://oregonprogress.oregonstate.edu/summer-2015/growing-educated-workforce