{"id":1965,"date":"2025-04-15T16:45:29","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T16:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/science\/?p=1965"},"modified":"2025-04-15T21:54:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T21:54:55","slug":"april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/science\/newsletter\/april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\"College<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Research<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Honors<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Visibility<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

News<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Events<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/span>\"Smiling
\n
\n
\n

Words from the Dean<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

April 2025<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Words from the Dean<\/strong>
April 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dear Colleagues, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am excited this month to share two important announcements about upcoming college leadership appointments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lan Xue has admirably led the Department of Statistics for more than a year as Interim Head during a time of major new initiatives. Starting May 1, she will be appointed as the permanent department head. I am thrilled to be continuing to work with Lan in this important leadership role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davide Lazzati will assume the role of Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs for the College of Science on August 15. Davide\u2019s deep experience with faculty issues, P&T, and mentoring will allow him to expand dean\u2019s office support for every faculty group and every phase of the faculty life cycle. Unfortunately, this appointment does mean Davide will step away from his great work as department head of Physics. I will begin an internal search for a Physics department head immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other news, we are coming up on Dam Proud Day on April 30! Now more than ever, our focus on student success and on science that makes a difference needs to be unwavering. Dam Proud Day is one of the ways we support that mission. Now in its sixth year, this university-wide giving day raises funds that directly support students. Many gifts help unlock challenge funds, amplifying their impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the College level, our focus for Dam Proud Day is on the \u201cFinish in Four\u201d scholarship, which helps Oregon science students graduate on time and with less debt. Alongside the College effort, many of our departments are also participating this year with dedicated funds, including matching gift opportunities. Organized by faculty and staff, these efforts focus on making a tangible difference for their own students. They support a range of goals \u2014 from field and research experiences, to access to professional conferences, to science outreach for high school students across Oregon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I encourage you to learn more about the efforts in your department. Sharing within your networks can help extend their impact. You\u2019ll find details about this year\u2019s College of Science campaigns<\/a> below. I also want to highlight three other upcoming events, all related to student success.

The university\u2019s Prosperity Widely Shared summit<\/a> on student success takes place Tuesday, April 22 \u2014 a chance for colleagues across campus to share strategies that help every student thrive and graduate. Workshops explore topics such as inclusive teaching, supporting transfer students, using data to improve retention and the role of experiential learning.

Looking slightly ahead, another opportunity to highlight and support student success comes on May 16, when the College of Science Graduate Research Showcase will spotlight our graduate students\u2019 work through lightning talks, a poster session and a keynote address. This inaugural event is a chance to build connections, share research, and practice communicating with broad audiences. Please encourage your students to apply; applications to present<\/a> are open now.

And as we continue finding ways to support and celebrate our students, I encourage you to plan now to join in our June graduation activities. It means a tremendous amount to our students and their families to celebrate their accomplishments with us. More information about the department walking ceremonies and receptions will be available soon \u2013 stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleanor Feingold<\/strong>
Dean, College of Science<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

All the news that’s fit to print.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Please submit news, honors and awards, discoveries, events, research funding, student news, alumni updates and more. Just send us a quick email<\/a><\/strong> by the end of the month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
<\/span>\"Illustrated
\n
\n
\n

Research updates<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Research Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Led by materials scientist Marilyn Rampersad Mackiewicz<\/strong>, a team of researchers have developed a method to use light to tune the shape of silver nanoparticles \u2014 a breakthrough with major implications for medical imaging and catalysis. This opens the door to custom-designed nanoparticles tailored to specific needs in healthcare, industry and the environment. Discover how this innovation could reshape imaging technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microbiologist Maude David\u2019s<\/strong> research sits at the crossroads of microbiology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence \u2014 an intersection that may hold the key to understanding some of the most complex disorders affecting the human brain and unlocking the secrets of deep-sea ecosystems. Explore how she\u2019s using AI to redefine the boundaries of microbial research<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Funding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Microbiologist Maude David<\/strong> received $757K from the Department of Defense for a project entitled, \u201cImpact of the Gut Microbiota on Gut Sensory Neurocircuits in Autism Spectrum Disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biochemist Dan Liefwalker<\/strong> received $3K from the OHSU Foundation for a project entitled, \u201cMYC-dependent epigenetic programs evade apoptosis in lymphoma.\u201d These are remaining funds from a prior project that were transferred to OSU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
<\/span>\"An
\n
\n
\n

Congratulations<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now on YouTube: Beyond the fold<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Watch the 2025 Gilfillan Lecture, \u201cBeyond the fold,\u201d presented by Elisar Barbar on YouTube!<\/a> Elisar Barbar<\/strong> is the Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry head and has spent her career fascinated by intrinsically disordered proteins. Unlike traditional ones, IDPs do not fold into a stable three-dimensional structure. Instead, they remain flexible and dynamic, enabling them to perform unique functions within cells. In her lecture, Barbar reflects on the state of the field when she was establishing her lab, reminisces on the discoveries she has made using interdisciplinary research, and explains how they changed the direction of the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also available on YouTube is the 2025 Inclusive Excellence lecture<\/a>, a look inside the College of Science campus tour<\/a> and meet-a-major videos<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating a legacy<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

As the world marks a century since the birth of quantum mechanics and celebrated World Quantum Day on April 14, the College of Science honors OSU Physics\u2019 unique legacy in the field. One of the key milestones in this history is the work of Carl Kocher<\/strong>, now professor emeritus of physics, who conducted the world\u2019s first experimental observation of quantum entanglement. Kocher joined Oregon State in 1970, serving for more than 30 years, teaching generations of students and building the university\u2019s strength in quantum and atomic physics. Read more about his groundbreaking discovery and its lasting impact.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
<\/span>\"Conceptual
\n
\n
\n

Visibility<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The groundbreaking research on silver nanoparticles by Marilyn Rampersad Mackiewicz<\/strong> and her team has captured the attention of media. Read the local KEZI feature<\/a> highlighting the potential for medical imaging improvements, and explore why Health Imaging sees this discovery as a possible revolution in the field<\/a>. Visit YouTube to watch the KEZI segment<\/a> that aired on the 6 p.m. news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increase your visibility<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Is it time to update your directory profile or photo<\/strong>? If it\u2019s been a while since you\u2019ve updated your directory profile, now is the perfect time to give it a refresh. Your directory profile is often the first place students, collaborators, journalists and even donors turn to for information about your work. Since search engines prioritize Oregon State\u2019s main site over individual lab pages, your directory profile could be your best chance to be easily found online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to update your profile:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Log in to your department site by scrolling to the bottom of any page and clicking \u201cLog In\u201d in the bottom left corner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Once logged in, visit your directory profile page and click “Edit” in the top left corner. You may have to click edit twice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Make your updates, then click “Save” at the bottom of the page.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    For detailed instructions<\/strong>, check out the directory profile guide<\/a>, or reach out to your department\u2019s website team or Sharon Betterton at sharon.betterton@oregonstate.edu<\/a> for assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Need a new photo?<\/strong> To schedule a headshot session, contact Erica Martin at erica.martin@oregonstate.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Need help with your profile introduction?<\/strong> If you’d like help crafting a high-level introduction that appeals to multiple audiences, including media, contact Hannah Ashton at hannah.ashton@oregonstate.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \n
    <\/span>\"Two
    \n
    \n
    \n

    College News<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n

    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Watch this awesome YouTube video with astrophysicist Sanjana Curtis<\/strong>. She uses social media to share astrophysics with a general population. Her research focuses on some of the most extreme phenomena in the universe, such as the explosive death of stars and mergers involving neutron stars and black holes. She was honored with a communication award from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Listen to how she shares her science research with the world by being herself.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hatfield Marine Science Center hosted a special lecture titled, \u201cSeas the Day: A New Narrative for the Ocean,\u201d featuring Jane Lubchenco<\/strong>, University Distinguished Professor and Wayne and Gladys Valley Professor of Marine Biology. She challenges outdated views of the ocean being too vast to be harmed or too damaged to recover. Instead, she advocates for a new, science-based narrative that recognizes the ocean\u2019s central role in addressing global challenges like climate change, food insecurity and environmental justice. Read more about the event and her hope for the future.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the second time, a unique study abroad opportunity<\/strong> offers students the chance to experience science through a global and cultural lens. Hosted in Nepal and open to all majors, the program explores the connections between biology, ecology and traditional knowledge systems in the Himalayas. Learn how this unique experience blends science and global learning<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Geneticist Alysia Vrailas-Mortimer<\/strong> visited Lewis & Clark College and interacted with the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors. The students tested Drosophila behavior in  Norma Velazquez Ulloa\u2019s lab. Vrailas-Mortimer\u2019s research focuses on the mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases, utilizing the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster <\/em>as a model organism. The College of Science prioritizes outreach by supporting faculty visits where students engage in hands-on learning to explore real-world scientific research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dam Proud Day<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Dam Proud Day is coming up fast! On Oregon State’s giving day, Beaver Believers from around the world rally to support student success by giving to scholarships, research, travel and experiential learning opportunities and more. Check out these giving pages<\/a> and consider joining in to support Team Science on April 30!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This year, Team Science is raising support for these funds:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n