Dr. Kathryn Higley – OSU 2022 University Distinguished Professor – 03/08/2022
Dr. Kathryn A. Higley has been selected as one of Oregon State University’s 2022 University Distinguished Professor honorees
Interim Director Announced
December 1, 2021
Colleagues,
It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Kathryn A. Higley has been selected to serve as the Interim Director of the Center for Quantitative Life Sciences (CQLS) effective December 1.
Dr. Higley has been at OSU for 27 years, and most recently served as the Associate Director for the TRACE-OSU effort. She has a long record of both administrative and academic experience at OSU. She is a Professor and former Head of the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. She has managed OSU’s Radiation Health Physics program, including developing its online graduate degree into the largest in the country. Dr. Higley has been at Oregon State University since 1994 teaching undergraduate and graduate classes on radioecology, radiation biology, and more. She is a Council Member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, a board member and fellow of the Health Physics Society, and a Certified Health Physicist. Dr. Higley and her students have done research in radiologically contaminated environments around the globe.
I am excited to start working with Dr. Higley, CQLS staff and affiliated faculty to take the center to the next stage. Please join me in welcoming her to the CQLS and RO community!
Sincerely, Irem Y. Tumer, Ph.D., ASME Fellow
Vice President for Research
Oregon State University advances its research capabilities with Microsoft Azure
Oregon State University (OSU), in Corvallis and founded in 1868, is Oregon’s largest university. As a public land-grant university, conducting scientific research is part of OSU’s mission. However, the school’s new information and technology officer found it unacceptable that the university could not engage in health care research requiring HIPAA-level security standards because its previous cloud service didn’t meet security requirements. To address this challenge, the school chose to migrate its data to Microsoft Azure. As a result, the university now has reliable, compliant, and more secure data management that has positioned the school for additional research opportunities.
2021-2022 CQLS Seminar Series Schedule
2021-22 CQLS Seminar Series Schedule
| Fall Term 2021 | |
| September 29, 2021 | Chris Plaisier Arizona State University Finding new therapies for mesothelioma |
| October 13, 2021 | TRACE Oregon State University TRACE COVID Community Surveillance Project |
| October 27, 2021 | David Garcia University of Oregon Prion-based forms of RNA-modifying enzymes |
| November 10, 2021 | Ya-chieh Hsu Harvard University Deep: Stem Cells at the Nexus of the Niche, Physiology, and the External Environment |
| Winter Term 2022 | |
| January 5, 2022 | TBD |
| January 19, 2022 | Carrie Hanna Oregon Health and Science University Using genome editing technology to create biomedical models in the nonhuman primate |
| February 2, 2022 | Jennifer Nemhauser University of Washington Babbage’s Cabbage: The Logic of Information Processing In Plants |
| February 16, 2022 | Yanming Di Oregon State University What is a replicate? |
| March 2, 2022 | Dr. Shobhan Gaddameedhi North Carolina State University Environmental Regulation of Genomic Stability and Human Health through the Circadian Clock |
| Spring Term 2022 | |
| March 30, 2022 | Mike Harms University of Oregon Ensembles, epistasis, and evolution: how biophysics shapes evolutionary outcomes |
| April 13, 2022 | Andrew Gentles Stanford University Atlas of Clinically Distinct Cell States and Cellular Ecosystems Across Human Solid Tumors |
| April 27, 2022 | CANCELLED – Yehenew Agazie West Virginia University TBD |
| May 18, 2022 (rescheduled for Fall2022) | Elias Fernandez University of Tennessee TBD |
| June 1, 2022 (rescheduled for Fall2022) | Sourav Ghosh Yale School of Medicine TBD |
Friday September 17, 2021
Online
In celebration of our recent name change, the theme for this year is “Frontiers at the Intersection of the Life & Quantitative Sciences.” Anyone with an interest in life sciences or quantitative sciences is invited to attend. The Fall Conference will feature excellent science presentations from invited guest speakers, OSU faculty, students and staff.
Because this is our first conference since our name change (and because the event is fully online this year) the conference this year is completely free for all attendees.
The poster session will be held online on Friday, September 17. More details of the format and time will be provided soon. Posters are welcome from all participants. Posters from registered undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows/trainees will be eligible for one of three cash awards, and there will be one award for lighting talks.
DEADLINES
- Lightning Talk Registration: September 10
- Poster Registration: September 15
- Conference Registration: September 15
Thank you to our 2021 Fall Conference Committee
Kevin Brown, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemical, Biological, & Environmental Engineering
Molly Burke, Integrative Biology
Maude David, Microbiology & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Patrick De Leenheer, Mathematics and Integrative Biology
Perry Hystad, Public Health & Human Science
Natalia Shulzhenko, Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine
Fall Conference 2021
Frontiers at the Intersection of the Life and Quantitative Sciences
Friday, September 17, 2021 Online
| Location | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Conference Floor | 8:00 | Doors open. Explore the virtual conference space and watch a SpatialChat tutorial |
| Stage | 9:00 | Brett Tyler, Director, CQLSIntroduction to the Center for Quantitative Life Sciences |
| Stage | 9:30 | Matthew Bennett, Professor of Biosciences, Rice UniversityDynamics of synthetic gene circuits: from cells to consortia to organisms |
| Free | 10:15 | Break (setup for posters) |
| Stage | 10:45 | Gail Rosen, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel UniversityMachine Learning of Microbiomes: Learning and Exploring Structure and Function of DNA and Proteins at Multiple Scales |
| Stage | 11:30 | Richard Rodrigues, Bioinformatician at Leidos Biomedical Research, IncHost-Microbiome Multi-Omics Data Integration in Cancer Immunotherapy |
| Discussion Rooms | 12:00 | Lunch (networking with guest speakers and Presentation by Agilent from 12:15-12:45) |
| Stage | 1:00 | Maya Kaelberer, Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine, Duke UniversitySugar transduction in the gut |
| Stage | 1:45 | Marian Hettiaratchi, Assistant Professor, University of OregonDeveloping Biomaterials for Tissue Repair using Bio-transport Modeling |
| Stage | 2:15 | Mark Phillips, Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State UniversityUsing Experimental Evolution to Study the Genetics of Adaptation |
| Free | 2:45 | Break |
| Stage | 3:00 | Lightning Talks (you can vote for your favorite lightning talk at shell.cqls.oregonstate.edu/voting) |
| Poster Rooms | 3:45 | Poster Session (you can vote for your favorite poster session at shell.cqls.oregonstate.edu/voting) |
| Stage | 4:45 | Closing Remarks |
THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 FALL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:
Kevin Brown, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemical, Biological, & Environmental Engineering
Molly Burke, Integrative Biology
Maude David, Microbiology & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Patrick De Leenheer, Mathematics and Integrative Biology
Perry Hystad, Public Health & Human Science
Natalia Shulzhenko, Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine
THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 FALL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:
Fall Conference next week!
Hello,
We are pleased to announce the 2021 Center for Quantitative Life Sciences (CQLS) Fall Conference. This will be a full day online event on Friday, September 17, 2021 (apologies for those who did not receive a notice about this previously. There was an issue with the list serve). In celebration of our recent name change, the theme for this year is “Frontiers at the Intersection of the Life & Quantitative Sciences.” Because this is our first conference since our name change (and because the event is fully online this year) the conference this year is completely free for all attendees. We hope you will join us.
We strongly encourage all participants to submit a poster for the online poster session. Registered posters will be judged for cash prizes in three categories; Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student, and Post-Doctoral Fellow/Trainee. Since the event is online, a physical poster does not need to be printed. Rather, you will need to submit in advance a high-quality pdf and a stable internet connection. Lightning Talks will be limited to 5 minutes and no more than 5 slides. Registered lighting talks will also be eligible for a cash prize.
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tcSPOyfnG3beJw
On behalf of the organizing committee:
- Kevin Brown, Pharmaceutical Sciences, OSU/OHSU
- Molly Burke, Integrative Biology, OSU
- Maude David, Microbiology & Pharmaceutical Sciences, OSU
- Patrick De Leenheer, Mathematics, OSU
- Perry Hystad, Public Health and Human Science, OSU
- Natalia Shulzhenko, Immunology, OSU

CQLS Seminar Series 2021-2022
| Fall Term 2021 | |
| September 29, 2021 | Chris Plaisier Arizona State University Finding new therapies for mesothelioma |
| October 13, 2021 | TRACE Oregon State University TRACE COVID Community Surveillance Project |
| October 27, 2021 | David Garcia University of Oregon Prion-based forms of RNA-modifying enzymes |
| November 10, 2021 | Ya-chieh Hsu Harvard University Deep: Stem Cells at the Nexus of the Niche, Physiology, and the External Environment |
| Winter Term 2022 | |
| January 5, 2022 | TBD |
| January 19, 2022 | Carrie Hanna Oregon Health and Science University Using genome editing technology to create biomedical models in the nonhuman primate |
| February 2, 2022 | Jennifer Nemhauser University of Washington Babbage’s Cabbage: The Logic of Information Processing In Plants |
| February 16, 2022 | Yanming Di Oregon State University What is a replicate? |
| March 2, 2022 | Dr. Shobhan Gaddameedhi North Carolina State University Environmental Regulation of Genomic Stability and Human Health through the Circadian Clock |
| Spring Term 2022 | |
| March 30, 2022 | Mike Harms University of Oregon Ensembles, epistasis, and evolution: how biophysics shapes evolutionary outcomes |
| April 13, 2022 | Andrew Gentles Stanford University Atlas of Clinically Distinct Cell States and Cellular Ecosystems Across Human Solid Tumors |
| April 27, 2022 | CANCELLED – Yehenew Agazie West Virginia University TBD |
| May 18, 2022 (rescheduled for Fall2022) | Elias Fernandez University of Tennessee TBD |
| June 1, 2022 (rescheduled for Fall2022) | Sourav Ghosh Yale School of Medicine TBD |
CGRB is Hiring
Genomics Lab Technician opening in the Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing
The Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing at Oregon State University is searching for a lab technician for its genomics core facility. The appointee will be conduct services for Center collaborators spanning DNA and RNA extraction, DNA sequencing, genotyping, high throughput sequencing, and PCR assays as needed. A significant portion of the work will involve viral detection and sequencing. The position is a full-time 1 year appointment. Minimum qualifications include a relevant undergraduate degree and at least 12 months’ experience working in a molecular biology research or service laboratory. For more information, and to apply for the position go to jobs.oregonstate.edu and search for posting P04217UF.
The Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing at Oregon State University collaborates with and assists life scientists of all levels in their research using cutting-edge genomics, informatics and computational techniques. An important component of the CGRB’s activities is the molecular biology and genomics laboratory.
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by March 18, 2021. Applications will continue to be accepted until March 25, 2021. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants. For questions, contact Brett Tyler brett.tyler@oregonstate.edu
OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Congratulations, Matthew!

Congratulations to our very own Matthew Peterson, who has been appointed a 2021 Trusted CI Fellow. Trusted CI is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. The Trusted CI Fellows program empowers members of the scientific community with knowledge of cybersecurity and trains fellows to serve as cybersecurity liaisons to their respective communities. Six fellows are selected across the nation each year. To read more about Trusted CI and the other five fellows for 2021, check out the Trusted CI blog post about the 2021 fellows.