Words from the Dean
June 2024

Dear College of Science Community,

As we close out the academic year, I want to give tremendous thanks to everyone who made graduation weekend special for our students – all of the organizers and participants in Friday’s departmental ceremonies, and all of the marshals and others who gave almost a full day on Saturday so that our students would see familiar, friendly faces along the parade route and at the diploma tent.

I also want to thank everyone who worked with me this year, met with me, or participated in College conversations to patiently show me (some of) the ropes in my first year on the job. I am thrilled to have so many amazing faculty and staff to work with, and am very much looking forward to continuing all of those conversations next year.

A few things to look forward to next year include:

• We will welcome seven new tenure-track hires, alongside new instructor, Professor of Teaching, and/or Professor of Practice hires in almost every department (some searches still in progress). This fantastic crop of new folks will help increase our capacity to move toward the Prosperity Widely Shared goals, including developing new educational programs, jump-starting new research areas, and increasing student success.
• We will start working at an aggressive pace on new academic programs. The top focus areas at this point are listed below, but discussion of specifics and priorities will continue over the summer and into the fall.
  • B.S. in data science (offered by the statistics department) both in person and Ecampus
  • Ecampus B.S. in general science aimed at degree completion
  • Ecampus umbrella B.S. in “biological sciences,” which could have several “flavors” offered by different departments
  • Continued development of microcredentials for Ecampus
  • Increased marketing of individual Ecampus courses that we already teach
• Focus on building smoothly running shared research resources and equipment, and improved post-award management.
• Continued discussion of ways to find efficiencies in everything we do and “eliminate the stupid.” I’m aware that some folks are feeling pressured by Prosperity Widely Shared – that it feels like “do more with less.” While there will not be piles of new money created out of thin air, there is a lot of room for all of us to identify places where unnecessary work can be cut out to ease the sense of burden on all of us and give us room to grow into new things. That ranges from strategies for teaching large classes that reduce student email to careful consideration of who should be teaching which courses, to cutting down on committee work that isn’t truly necessary (e.g., collecting letters for instructor promotions). As next year progresses, I hope to continue to hear from everyone about your efficiency ideas, as well as much more generally about your goals for yourself and for the College.

Finally, in addition to the specific thanks I started this note with, I want to thank every single one of you for everything that you have brought to our students, our research, and all of our College activities. It has been a terrific year, and I look forward to the next one.

Go Beavs!

Eleanor Feingold
Dean, College of Science

Research Highlights

Chemistry researcher Xiulei “David” Ji is an author of a new study that shows iron can be used to replace metals that are scarce, expensive and can be environmentally damaging to extract. The hope is for this technology to spark a green battery technological evolution that could aid the switch from fossil fuels to electricity. The Basic Energy Sciences program of the U.S. Department of Energy funded this research, which was co-led by Tongchao Liu of Argonne National Laboratory and also included Oregon State’s Mingliang Yu, Min Soo Jung and Sean Sandstrom.

Cities are like organisms — they need immune systems. As the early days of the pandemic demonstrated, cities can struggle to stop the momentum of a spreading disease. Armed with community input and lessons learned over the past four years, a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including ecologist Benjamin Dalziel and applied statistician Katherine McLaughlin, is designing city-scale feedback loops to act as a kind of immune system for a population as a whole. Read about their work from an article originally published in Oregon Stater magazine.

Research Funding

Materials scientist Kyriakos Stylianou received $689K from Saudi Aramco for a project entitled “New Generation of CO2 Capture Adsorbents: Synthesis, Performance under Humid Conditions, and Scaleup.” In this project, the Stylianou group aims to discover novel adsorbents for the selective capture of CO2 from diluted sources. Successful materials will undergo scaling up and evaluation for their efficacy in removing CO2 from air.

Mathematician Christine Escher received a $26K award from the NSF toward hosting the Pacific Northwest Geometry Seminar series to be held over three years in various PNW universities. Escher is the principal organizer of the conference.

Materials scientist Alison Bain received $284K from McGill University for a project entitled “MUCA Single Particle Measurements.”

Mathematician Xueying Yu received several competitive professional awards for travel for research collaborations at the American Institute of Mathematics and the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute.

Evolutionary biologist Kathryn Everson received two awards for $276K from University of Kentucky for a project entitled “UKRF The role of hybridization in generating biodiversity: Insights from genomics of Madagascar’s true lemurs (Eulemur).” 

University Honors

Anne Dunn, Chong Fang, David Ji, Jonathan Kujawa and May Nyman received medallions from the OSU Foundation at the Celebration of Faculty Excellence in recognition of their 2024 endowed positions. Also celebrated that evening was newly appointed Distinguished Professor, Małgorzata Peszyńska. “These faculty represent the excellence of Oregon State University and are among our best ambassadors,” said President and CEO of the OSU Foundation, Shawn Scoville at the event. Visit here for a full list of the 2024 New Faculty Positions. 

Congratulations to the undergraduate and graduate students who are part of the 2024 cohort for the PRAx student fellowship! Watch as they develop interdisciplinary projects in Film+Science, Humanities+Science and Art+Science. 

• Kim Tu: Biochemistry
• Arden Smith: Integrative Biology
• Jalyn Deveraux: Integrative Biology
• Natalie Donato: Integrative Biology

Graduate student Jazlee Crowley and undergraduate Arielle Damiani are part of the Art-Sci 2023–24 Fellowships cohort. Their work was on display in The Little Gallery in Kidder Hall from May 13-June 6. 

Two College of Science professors have been awarded the 2024 L.L. Stewart Faculty Fellowship. This award is given to Oregon State science or engineering faculty who explore questions alongside at least one artist. Physicist Jeffrey Hazboun, whose work as a gravitational astrophysicist looks to the stars to answer black hole mysteries, is the first recipient. The second Science recipient is evolutionary biologist Dee Denver, who studies a range of living systems from microscopic worms to sacred trees. His work melds Buddhist philosophy with ecological and genetic perspectives to examine human-nature relationships. Discover which artists they were paired with to communicate their work.  

Congratulations to Gabs James, associate director of student engagement in the Science Success Center (SSC), who was awarded the Hattie Redmond Feminist of Achievement award. This honor recognizes a member of the Oregon State community who works as an agent of change in service of racial justice and gender equity. Read more about this award and James’ impact here. 

Kudos also to SSC team member Rachel Palmer, assistant director of career development in the College of Science. She was among three peers who received the New Professionals Award given by the Division of Student Affairs. “Rachel has transformed the career experience for the students within the College of Science. … Within her first year-and-a-half in her role, she has reinvigorated programming, developed new initiatives, and made important new partnerships among the faculty.”

Promotion and Tenure

The College of Science proudly announces that 20 of our faculty members have received a promotion and/or tenure for the 2023-24 academic year. Their achievements are vital to the success of our students, our College and Oregon State University. Hearty congratulations to the following faculty: 

Biochemistry and Biophysics Department

• David Hendrix promoted to Professor 
• Kenton Hokanson promoted to Senior Instructor I
• Kate Shay promoted to Senior Instructor I
• Zhen Yu promoted to Senior Faculty Research Assistant II

Chemistry Department

• Denis Drolet promoted to Senior Instructor I
• Kyriakos Stylianou promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure

Integrative Biology Department

• Staci Bronson promoted to Senior Instructor I
• Molly Burke promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure
• Jamie Cornelius promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure
• Nathan Kirk promoted to Senior Instructor II

Mathematics Department

• Chad Giusti promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure
• Stacey Vaughn promoted to Senior Instructor I

Microbiology Department

• Maude David promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure
• Kimberly Halsey promoted to Professor, Microbiology
• Kenton Hokanson promoted to Senior Instructor I
• Tom Sharpton promoted to Professor

Physics Department

• Elizabeth Gire promoted to Professor
• Randall Milstein promoted to Senior Instructor II
• Bo Sun promoted to Professor
• Rebecka Tumblin promoted to Senior Instructor I

Statistics Department

• Kelsi Espinoza promoted to Senior Instructor I
• Tom Sharpton promoted to Professor

Chemistry researcher Xiulei “David” Ji shared new findings on using iron in lithium-ion batteries to revolutionize the electric transportation industry. Listen to his interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting to learn more.  

Several other media outlets, including Interesting Engineering, Technology Networks, CleanTechnica and KEZI 9 News, have also shared Ji’s battery research. Iron is a greener, cheaper and more efficient material. It is also the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, ensuring a plentiful supply for future battery production.

Silver nanoparticles’ shape and surface chemistry play key roles in how they affect marine ecosystems. Chemist Marilyn Rampersad Mackiewicz studied the common particles incorporated into products ranging from sanitizers, odor-resistant clothing, makeup and more. Read this story in ScienceDaily to learn what negative environmental impacts the researchers discovered and the solution they proposed. 

A 15-year period ending in 2020 that included a marine heat wave and a sea star wasting disease epidemic saw major changes in the groups of organisms that live along the rocky  shores of the Pacific Northwest. A study by doctoral graduate Zechariah Meunier with integrative biologists Sally Hacker and Bruce Menge suggests these communities of species may have low resilience to climate change. Read about the study’s findings and what they mean for wildlife and humans in this story by the Oregon Capital Chronicle. 

College of Science alumnus Michael S. Waterman (Mathematics ’64, ’66) received an honorary doctorate at this year’s university-wide commencement ceremony in Corvallis. Waterman, an internationally celebrated mathematician and biologist, is an eminent figure in bioinformatics and globally recognized as a trailblazer in computational biology. He is considered an architect of the groundbreaking Human Genome Project. Waterman received the college’s Lifetime Achievement in Science Award in 2021. A College of Science advisory board member, he also created a scholarship that supports College of Science students who are historically underserved, Oregon residents. Read more about Waterman’s extensive achievements and awards.  

Microbiologist Michael Kent aided in the introduction of an innovative training program focused on addressing diseases that affect zebrafish, a model organism in scientific research. The course was held in Spain at The University of Santiago de Compostela. Zebrafish, which share a significant genome homology to humans, are important in understanding how diseases may evolve and affect the human body. Read more on the training that garnered local media attention in Spain.  

Two Department of Chemistry members, Kyriakos Stylianou and graduate student Karlie Bach, chose to invigorate chemistry education and foster student enthusiasm for research through hands-on laboratory experiences. They introduced metal organic frameworks to general chemistry laboratories, garnering highly positive student course reviews. They are intentional about providing opportunities for first-year and students with marginalized backgrounds to develop their scientific skills, hone their interests and create community bonds. Read about how Stylianou and Bach have revolutionized general chemistry. 

Congratulations to the class of 2024!

This year’s College of Science graduating class includes 445 undergraduate students receiving baccalaureate degrees, including 66 Honors graduates. They leave Oregon State University as tomorrow’s change-makers – the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and healthcare providers – bringing hope of a healthier, more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future. We are proud of them all!

Inspiring spotlights

International student Marua Bekbossyn came to Oregon State from Almaty, Kazakhstan. Persevering through enormous challenges as she adjusted to a new culture and learning a second language, a conversation with her organic chemistry professor helped her shift her perspective on navigating a world away from home. She plans to attend New York University to earn her master’s degree, aiming to someday improve science education across the globe. “My ultimate goal is to promote and develop scientific facilities in Kazakhstan and beyond,” she said. Read more of Marua’s story here. 

Six years ago, Bereket Berhanu arrived in the United States knowing two words in English: “No” and “Yes.” This June, Bereket graduates with a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with two minors. Next, 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. Read on for more of Berket’s story. 

Samantha Crockett found her perfect match with the Ecampus zoology program. She spent last summer at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport taking classes on birds and ecosystems. She currently volunteers at the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas and plans to pursue a future in conservation work. Read about how she developed her love for wildlife here.

Ryan Holzschuh, mathematics major, discovered a new world when he arrived at Oregon State from his hometown of Portland. Transitioning from high school mathematics classes he easily excelled in to learning brand new facets of the field in rigorous courses lit him up. He was impressed with the university’s world-class faculty, and his love of math flourished. He plans to continue his mathematics education in graduate school at Boston University. Read more about Ryan’s experience in the mathematics department here.  

Proud to wear orange and black both in the lab and on the water, rowing gold medalist Evan Park will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in chemistry this month. Balancing a full STEM course load with collegiate athletics hasn’t been easy, but it has been rewarding. “It’s been a lot of work, but I’m proud of it,” she said. Evan plans to attend graduate school at the University of Washington. Read on to learn about Evan’s stellar performance in collegiate rowing.  

Microbiology senior Catherine Sterrett always felt called to a career in medicine. But after she found herself in a hospital as a patient, not a scientist, her greatest motivation became bringing humanity into medicine. The varying quality of patient care she received made her determined to bring compassion to her future in the profession. Now that she’s reached the finish line at Oregon State, Sterrett is especially grateful for the work she’s done with College of Science facult.. Read more about her educational journey here.

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. Read about Joey’s passion for physics here.

Mary Tunstall dove into the Ecampus data analytics master’s program at Oregon State while working remotely as a director at a resort hotel. Her interest in the field peaked when she began comparing survival rates and treatment impact for primary biliary cholangitis, shifting her focus from hospitality to applied survival analysis. Read about her journey from rafting to immersion in analytics.

Recent Events

Recent Events

Yunker Lecture
Monday, May 20

Chandralekha Singh, distinguished professor of physics at the University of Pittsburgh, shared how research-based approaches can revolutionize physics education, both within traditional classrooms and beyond.

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Doc Storm Lecture
Monday, May 20

Daniel T. Blumstein from UCLA explored how insights from behavioral ecology can benefit wildlife conservation, medicine and security in “Translational Behavioral Biology: A Fearful Perspective.”

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Berg Lecture
Tuesday, May 28

Jeff Gore, professor of physics at MIT, discussed how the exploration of individual interactions within microbial populations shapes the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of multi-species microbial communities.

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‘Prosperity Widely Shared’ forum with Provost Feser
Thursday, May 23

The College of Science hosted Provost Ed Feser to discuss our university’s new strategic plan, “Prosperity Widely Shared.”

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COS Research Showcase
Tuesday, May 21

The College of Science hosted its inaugural research showcase, featuring SciRIS awardee presentations, panel discussion on artificial intelligence in the College of Science, and posters and science education demonstrations by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) Fellows.