Dear colleagues,

I am grateful to those of you who have contributed your ideas, thoughts and critiques to the College’s strategic planning process thus far. Thank you for investing in our future. The best way to effectively and sustainably implement the priorities of the College is by working together.

In this regard, I am pleased to invite you all to an exciting opportunity to engage together in vigorous analysis and deliberative dialogue at “The Future of Science – Thought Leadership Forum.” In this forum, hosted by the College of Science, we will consider insights of speakers who have led science at the highest levels and engage in stimulating discussion with our Science colleagues as we contemplate our next four years – and beyond. Watch for more details on the speakers soon.

The forum takes place a month from today, Monday, March 7, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the Memorial Ballroom (hybrid format). Please register today to attend all or some of the day’s scheduled events.

The insights and recommendations collected by our strategic planning committee members at the event will help inform the development of the strategic plan and its implementation. I’m eager to hear the priorities of those in attendance, as well as from those who participate in other engagement opportunities, including our new online survey.

One emerging theme in the strategic planning process thus far concerns the College’s need to provide world-class core facilities to support our research enterprise. Along those lines, I’d like to address some encouraging developments.

As Provost Ed Feser shared in November, the university’s 10-year capital forecast calls for the development of a “Collaborative Innovation Complex” (CIC) on the Corvallis campus as part of the university’s efforts to build research strength and renovate essential facilities. I’m pleased to share that detailed program planning for the facility is now underway.

The CIC is envisioned as approximately 150,000 square feet of space that will host Oregon State’s most advanced research infrastructure, with a goal of supporting team-based interdisciplinary research and education in materials science, climate and marine science, engineering, artificial intelligence and computation, and health science. The center, which will be situated in the heart of the campus, will aim to enhance synergies among STEM disciplines. This work is still early in progress, but you can read more details here. Physics will move to a fully renovated Heat Plant, near the Arts and Education Complex that is now under construction. Statistics will move to a renovated Plagemen Hall, which student health services will vacate. Teaching, office and research space used by Integrative Biology will move to a combination of a newly renovated Cordley Hall and to other space that is being identified.

Next month, I plan to share the College’s 2020-2021 Financial Plan with you, and I will address key challenges and opportunities we face in the coming fiscal years. These include, in part, our plan to grow Ecampus while also growing our research across the College, working to ensure equitable access and inclusion for underrepresented students, faculty and staff, and designing and moving into new facilities.

Space prevents me from sharing about other important news in my introduction, so please do read on to learn about more Science news and opportunities, including our upcoming Combined Awards Ceremony on February 22. I hope to see you there!  

Roy Haggerty
Dean, College of Science

Research Highlights

This month marks the launch of the new and first-of-its-kind Genetic Code Expansion Center, led by Ryan Mehl, professor of biochemistry and biophysics. The center, named GCE4All, will revolutionize protein-focused biomedical and materials, solidifying Oregon State as the global leader in this powerful tool for protein engineering.

A study led by Bruce Menge found that ecological communities on the Oregon coast are being subtly destabilized by the pressures of climate change despite giving an appearance of stress resistance. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Paleobiologist George Poinar, Jr., professor emeritus in the Department of Integrative Biology, discovered a novel legume tree from flowers embedded in amber.  “We can only speculate about why these fossil trees have become extinct,” said Poinar.

Integrative biology Ph.D. candidate Andrea Burton, along with research associate Sarah Gravem and Felipe Barreto, conducted a study that determined that healthy-looking ochre sea stars have minimal genetic difference from those displaying symptoms of sea star wasting syndrome. Their findings were published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

Research Funding

Chemist Marilyn Mackiewicz’s new NSF CAREER grant will support her work to mentor and train the next generation of scientists, including them the soft skills they need to be successful while also continuing to investigate the use of biomaterial to address age-related macular degeneration.

Computational biochemist David Hendrix led a multi-college collaborative team to receive $638K from USDA-NIFA for a project entitled “The essence of Cannabaceae: Comparative genomics and metabolomics to unravel the complexities of aroma and flavor.”

Ecologist Mark Novak received a $140K grant from the National Science Foundation for a grant entitled “Collaborative Research: Timescale-Dependent Effects of Transient Dynamics in Plant-Pollinator Networks.”

Marine ecologist Kirsten Grorud-Colvert received $139K from the Kingfisher Foundation for a project entitled “The MPA Project Phase 2: Catalyzing Clarity, Transparency, and Quality in Ocean Protection.”

Microbiologist Thomas Sharpton received $396K from the National Institutes of Health for a project entitled “Impacts of Bezo[a]pyrene on Microbiome Development across Lifespan and Generations and the Behavioral Consequences.”

Join us on February 22 to honor your outstanding colleagues at the College of Science Awards ceremony. See the Events section below for more details!

Research Proposal Support

You can find funding opportunities on ECOS. To access a suite of tools and resources available to faculty, visit the College of Science Proposal Support webpage.

Please remind students to apply for scholarships by February 15 through the ScholarDollars portal. Scholarships are available to students who are not graduating this academic year. Also, for those facing financial obstacles, our College of Science Equity Promise Scholarship is a possible source for help.  

The College of Science is at the heart of a flourishing new ecosystem of entrepreneurship and high-impact scientific and technological innovations. Among other breakthroughs, these include: high-performance thin-film technology to revolutionize electronics and energy; genetic studies of the human microbiome for better treatment of autism spectrum disorder; and the engineering of new proteins for therapeutic applications. 

Mathematics alumnus James Hansen (’20) has started his career as an actuarial analyst with GoInvest. What Hansen finds most fulfilling about his work is the freedom it gives him to live a life he loves.

It’s Food Drive month!

February is OSU Food Drive month, a time when the university’s departments and programs raise funds for the non-profit agencies served by the Linn Benton Food Share. The school of Life Sciences (microbiology, integrative biology and biochemistry departments) is holding a number of fundraising events, including a farmer’s market, trivia night and an online auction. The chemistry and physics departments are also participating in the drive.

Verify your vaccinations

Have you verified your vaccination status yet? The deadline to upload your COVID-19 vaccination information – including boosters – is February 15. Employees who are not yet eligible for boosters are required to obtain their booster 30 days after becoming eligible.

Strategic Planning Engagement sessions

February 8, 9 and 16, 2022

Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend any of the upcoming strategic planning engagement sessions to help shape the future of the College of Science. February 8 and 9 are focus group discussions about the mission, vision, values of the College in regards to various topics. The February 16 session will look forward at future trends and issues that should be taken into consideration to guide the College’s strategic objectives over the next four years. Sign up today.

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College of Science Awards

February 22, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Memorial Union Horizon Room and virtually

Join us for the College of Science Awards to celebrate and recognize academic, administrative and teaching and advising excellence. The in-person event will be followed by a reception of wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres and good cheer! Register by February 15.

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Black History Month Events

Oregon State University is celebrating Black History Month in February with a host of free events that highlight the achievements and struggles of African-Americans from the past to the present. Read more about the events and register for some today!

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The Future of Science Thought Leadership Forum

Monday, March 7, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Memorial Union Ballroom and virtual

Join us for a day of discussion with some leading scientific thinkers. Guest speakers include Holden Thorpe, editor-in-chief of Science Family of Journals as well as leading experts in the fields of meteorology, quantum mechanics and climate. This forum will help to further shape the College’s strategic plan. Please register today to attend all or some of the day’s scheduled events.

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International Women’s Day featuring Laura Greene

Save the date! Tuesday, March 8, time TBD

Join us for a discussion with Laura Greene, chief scientist of the National Magnetic Field Laboratory and the Marie Krafft Professor of Physics at Florida State University. Greene is an expert in quantum mechanics and is known for her discoveries and research in unconventional superconducting materials and high magnetic fields. She is also a leading advocate for diversity in science and a champion for women in STEM fields.