The Cottrell SEED award is designed to support the members of the Cottrell Scholar community (Cottrell Scholar and Holland Award recipients) as they launch high-impact research activities. There are two types of SEED submissions:
1. New Research Directions (only for Physics and Astronomy proposals in 2025.) 2. Exceptional Opportunities (preference given to Physics and Astronomy proposals in 2025, but Chemistry proposals will also be accepted.)
Eligibility is limited to one SEED application per Cottrell Scholar per year. Also, no submissions are accepted from those with active SEED awards.
Due 3/10/25 Scialog supports research, intensive dialogue, and community building to address scientific challenges of global significance. Within each multi-year initiative, Scialog Fellows participate in intensive discussions to identify bottlenecks and encourage innovative approaches, collaborate in high-risk discovery research on untested ideas, and communicate their progress in annual closed conferences.
This Scialog series will facilitate connections between approximately 50 early career (typically within eight years of their first independent appointment) chemists, materials scientists, geologists, ecologists, engineers, and energy system modelers, with the goal of catalyzing collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects to investigate how to design, manufacture, and recycle substances so that their use and production at scale is more compatible with ethical stewardship of our environment and decarbonizing the energy system. Presented in collaboration with Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Kavli Foundation. Collaborative groups will get the opportunity to pitch ideas to foundation representatives for up to $60,000 in seed funding.
Sialog will be held September 10-13, 2025 in Tuscon, AZ. Self-nominations are due six months prior to Sialog start date. [Self Nomination]
We have heard from users that the Concur system is difficult to navigate and is not delivering on its expected benefits. Based on this feedback, we are launching a project focused on improving user experience with Concur. Faculty, employees, and students use Concur to submit expense reports, request reimbursement, pre-register for trips and book airfare or lodging. The goal of our project is to gather feedback from the Concur user base and address pain points.
There are two ways that you can help with this project:
1. Visit our project website to learn more about this effort and submit your suggestions via the feedback form. Your input will be assessed and prioritized to guide future improvements.
2. Help us reach a broad and diverse user group by forwarding this email to any of your colleagues who may be interested in visiting the site and submitting their suggestions about Concur.
Thank you for supporting this important effort; your input and participation in this project is greatly appreciated.
Alex Sims
Accounts Payable | Director Vendor Payment Strategies
I am writing to let you know that King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) has several Postdoc Fellowship openings for distinguished candidates who have obtained their PhD degrees recently, preferably within the last 2-3 years. The various Interdisciplinary Research Centers (IRCs) where the candidates will continue their research, and the sub-areas of work in the IRCs, can be found by visiting the link below:
Will highly appreciate it if you can also forward this brochure to other students/colleagues who have recently completed their PhD degree preferably within the last 3 years, and those who will be graduating shortly from your current university or from other excellent universities in other countries.
Arpa Ebrahimi is our inaugural graduate student of the quarter. She was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teenager.
In her junior year of College at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), she met Dr. Xin Wen, a dedicated teacher who sparked her research interest and guided her exploration. Initially, Arpa was her biochemistry student and had her first research experience under her guidance. What captured her heart about Oregon State University (OSU) is the wonderful mix of qualities that make it a fantastic place for her academic and research journey. The friendly atmosphere, both in the stunning natural surroundings and the supportive community, truly drew her in.
Dr. Claudia Maier has been an exceptional mentor during her time at OSU. She’s consistently guided Arpa in her research direction and helped her develop an analytical mindset to approach biological questions with precision. Under Dr. Maier’s mentorship, she has honed her ability to think like a scientist, effectively utilizing advanced analytical tools to uncover meaningful insights. Dr. Maier has also emphasized the importance of precise scientific communication, encouraging her to become a better presenter and to pursue grants and opportunities to advance her career actively.
At the start of her graduate journey, the pandemic brought some tough challenges. She couldn’t access the lab or work hands-on, and she missed the chance to connect with her lab mates in person. On top of that, being away from her partner for a year was hard, but it taught her a lot about resilience and finding ways to stay motivated during tough times. She attributes her academic success to perseverance, mentorship, and curiosity for science. Perseverance helps her navigate challenges, from setbacks to balancing responsibilities. As a science student she’s been fortunate to receive many fantastic opportunities that have shaped her career. She had an internship opportunity at the University of British Columbia, which led to an exciting collaboration with Dr. Leonard Foster’s lab. She also worked with HP Life Sciences, contributing to the development of single-cell dispensers that are now widely used in the single-cell omics community. Collaborations with the BENFRA project, which is the botanical dietary supplements research center that investigates botanicals enhancing neurological and functional resilience in aging, as well as with Dr. Siva Kolluri’s biochemistry lab on cancer therapeutics, have expanded her experience in cutting-edge research. Additionally, she’s presented at numerous international conferences and received several prestigious fellowships, including the NL Tartar Summer Research Fellowship, the David T. Wong Chemistry Research Internship, and the Harvey H. & Donna Morre Basic Cancer Research Fellowship. Each of these experiences has deepened her passion for science and enhanced her skills as a researcher. Before joining the PhD program, she worked at Amgen, where she had the opportunity to contribute to the characterization of evolocumab, a blockbuster drug for the treatment of diabetes. Sometimes, she sees the drug featured in commercials on TV, and it feels rewarding to know she played a part in its development.
In her free time, she enjoys staying active with barre classes and Pilates, gardening, and spending quality time with her friends.
We are proud to introduce, one of our Fall 2024 Undergraduates of the Quarter, Mitchell Kenny. Mitchell grew up in Portland, Oregon, where he attended Benson Polytechnic High School. He explored several career options while growing up. He went to an arts middle school, then swapped directions and attended a technical high school. At Benson, he explored and then rejected careers in architecture, computer science, and engineering. Then, in the early stages of the pandemic when he had run out of career ideas, he stumbled upon and promptly tore through what became his favorite sci-fi book series: The Expanse. He applied to college as a chemistry major to pursue the awe-inspiring future he read about, and four years later his goals have not changed. He was accepted at many schools across the country. However, upon receiving the tuition costs, OSU was the involuntary choice, with the added benefits of more easily visiting family and pleasant weather.
Mitchell is currently working with Dr. Kyriakos Stylianou on MOFs. He is involved in several projects, the largest is investigating the structural differences between many new MOFs he has made in the same family. In his quest to explain the vast and inexplicable structural diversity, he continues to encounter new materials and phenomena. He has begun to realize he is suffering from success, wading through the sprawling richness of this MOF family and hoping to understand but a small fraction of its complexity. He started his research with the URSA Engage program, (also with Dr. Stylianou) and became even more involved with a scholarship to travel to Germany and study MOFs all summer. He will be continuing his MOF research with a PhD somewhere after graduation.
When not in school, or the lab, he enjoys lifting heavy objects, playing Doppelkopf, mining Morkite, trance music, and consuming more sci-fi media when he is not doing any of the previously listed things. Picking a single book out of The Expanse saga is difficult—but he will grudgingly settle for the final one as his favorite. His favorite food is the Noodles & Company Wisconsin Mac and Cheese, best served across the street from Powell’s Books. That location has unfortunately been closed. One thing he’d like readers to know is that the show “Dark” on Netflix is perhaps the most beautiful and perplexing piece of science fiction television that exists. Watch with subtitles and without spoilers and be amazed, although it is a slow burn.
We’re proud to introduce, Trevor Storm, one of the Fall 2024 Undergraduates of the Quarter. Trevor grew up in Enumclaw Washington, a very small town just outside of Mount Rainer in the western side of the state. There, he attended Enumclaw High School. The reason he chose chemistry was because of his enjoyable experiences in Professor May Nyman’s lab which prompted him to add the Major.
He chose OSU because he knew that it was a great research school, and he would have lots of opportunities to join a lab here. Also, because he loves the Oregon climate and nature. He is currently doing research in May Nyman’s research group working on niobium and tantalum peroxide materials for use as carbon dioxide capture materials. He knew he wanted to get into research from the very beginning, so when the URSA-Engage program gave him the opportunity to apply to work in the Nyman lab, he jumped on it. He’s very thankful that Professor Nyman selected him to work with her and her graduate students.
His post-graduation plans are to continue his education in graduate school although he has not decided exactly where yet. After that, he would like to work in a national laboratory. Outside of school he loves to bike, hike, and be outdoors. He plays piano and juggles to de-stress during finals season and he enjoy fixing things and working on his house. His Favorite book is Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut, and his favorite Movies are Pulp Fiction and The Silence of the Lambs. His favorite food is mashed potatoes so he is excited for Thanksgiving. Something else that is interesting about him is that he lives in a tiny house outside of campus.
This professional development and leadership program prepares faculty from across Oregon State to successfully lead large transdisciplinary proposals and funded research programs. Applications for 2025-26 are due on June 6, 2025. Successful Fellows will have access to up to $50K in seed funding. Matching investments from colleges and units are required.
