College of Science, Oregon State University

03/28/2025

Team Science, how did you spend your spring break? 🌟

Faculty and graduate students from the Department of Chemistry spent theirs communicating science at the American Chemical Society Spring Meeting in San Diego! In addition to presenting their research, materials scientist Mas Subramanian—discoverer of YInMn Blue—received the ACS Award for Inorganic Chemistry.

Congratulations to all! 👏🔬🎉

03/18/2025

Estifanos Berhe, an undergraduate majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology + bioresource research, is determined to make the most of all the opportunity in front of him.

Immigrating to the U.S. from Ethiopia at age 12 came with significant challenges, but today those challenges are the fuel that keep him engaged in research, active in the Ettihad Cultural Center, engaged as a diversity learning assistant in the dorms and a vital part of the Biochemistry community on campus.

Read more about Estifanos’ journey and OSU Science experience here: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2025/03/undergraduate-researcher-studies-autoimmune-disease-to-improve-lives

03/14/2025

Team Science in the saddle! Sophie Krueger (right) plays on the newly revived women's polo team when she's not studying biohealth. She encourages all undergraduates to find an extracurricular activity to explore during their time at Oregon State.
Read here: https://today.oregonstate.edu/all-stories/osu-polo-club-back-saddle-year

03/07/2025

Chung Kwai Lui made history in 1941 as the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in any field at OSU—right here in the College of Science! Happy Women's History Month .

We’re kicking off Women’s History Month and the weekend of International Women’s Day with a to the graduation of Chung Kwai Lui in 1941. Lui was the first woman to earn her Ph.D. in any field at OSU, receiving her doctorate in physics! 👩‍🔬 She went on to become nationally recognized for her work on the Manhattan project and at Westinghouse on phosphor development.

College of Science, Oregon State University

03/04/2025

A COS student, Natalie Donato, helped design this new license plate! Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming profile on Donato and learn more about her efforts to blend art and science.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ❗❗❗

Get ready to support shark research in style....Introducing the "Vibrant Ocean" Sharks of Oregon license plate!!

Voucher sales for the plate are now live. Designed and illustrated by BFL undergraduate researcher Natalie Donato, the plate showcases three of Oregon's fifteen shark species: a salmon shark in the center, blue shark on the left, and thresher shark on the right. All are surrounded by sea life in the vibrant ocean ecosystem that sharks play a key role in sustaining.

Right now, we *need your help* to start the production process. If 3,000 Oregonians buy a voucher, we can make this license plate a reality. A portion of the fees from each plate/voucher sold would directly support shark research 🦈

Get your voucher today and learn more about the plate here: https://marineresearch.oregonstate.edu/vibrant-ocean

02/27/2025

Oregon State physics alumnus Shane Larson will be giving the next Astronomy on Tap at Bombs Away Cafe next Tuesday March 4th at 7PM! His talk is titled "Solitude in the Cosmos: Looking for Friends in the Great Cosmic Dark".

There will be a short lecture, followed by a Q&A session and trivia!

Shane grew up in Eastern Oregon. He received his BS in physics from Oregon State, and his MS and PhD from Montana State. He is currently a research professor and associate director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) at Northwestern University. He is also a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

02/18/2025

When faced with an avalanche in Whistler, British Columbia, College of Science sophomore and ROTC cadet Emily Self didn't just survive — she stepped up. Despite being swept down the mountain, Emily helped rescue four others, digging them out and keeping everyone calm.

Whistler Ski-Patrol confirmed that Emily's quick actions and sound judgement saved the lives of members of her group. Her training, poise under duress and leadership embody the best of our OSU community. Read about her heroic actions:

One day during winter break, when much of the OSU community was relaxing at home, Army ROTC cadet Emily Self was frantically digging people out of the snow after an avalanche overtook her party while skiing in Canada.

02/16/2025

February is Black History Month!

To celebrate we want to share 8 scientists who paved the way for researchers everywhere.

From astronomers to statisticians, these scientists’ discoveries all inform what we know about their fields of study today.

Flip through the photos above to learn more about these 8 individuals and their work.

Photo credit:
Ernest E.- Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institutions
George Washington Carver- Prentice Hall Polk
Marie Maynard Daly- Ted Burrows
St. Elmo Brady- University of Illinois Archives
Alice Ball- Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy
Dr. Euphemia Lofton Haynes- 15 years, 15 Stories
David Blackwell- John Blaustein Bannaker’s Almanac

02/07/2025

We’re counting down the days until campus is buzzing with elementary students exploring the wonders of science!

On Tuesday, February 11, our bi-annual Discovery Days event will bring hands-on STEM experiences to local kids through engaging activities in biology, chemistry, math, and more.

Take a look at the fun of previous years in this photo gallery!

01/30/2025

Big news! Elise Lockwood, mathematics professor in the College of Science, has been honored with the 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀, the highest national honor bestowed by the White House to recognize outstanding early-career researchers and leaders.

Elise is dedicated to improving how college students learn mathematics, especially combinatorics, the branch of mathematics that focuses on counting objects and identifying patterns within defined parameters,

Her innovative work has already shaped mathematics teaching and curriculum development, helping students build a deeper, more intuitive grasp of combinatorial concepts — skills that are critical for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Join us in congratulating Elise in the comments!

Elise Lockwood, a professor in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Science, has been honored with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government to outstanding early-career scientists and engineers.

01/29/2025

Revolutionizing Oregon farming one seed at a time!🌱

At OSU, groundbreaking solutions come from teamwork across disciplines. Scientists, engineers, and crop experts from the College of Science, College of Engineering and College of Agricultural Sciences have joined forces to revolutionize Oregon's $500M grass seed industry.

Yanming Di, from the Department of Statistics, is part of this talented team using AI to create smarter, more efficient seed testing solutions. From a high-tech lab model to a portable field tool, this project is a game changer for local farmers.

A multidisciplinary research group is combining expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence, computer science, statistics and crop science to create a modern solution for an outdated system.

01/24/2025

Congratulations to Xavier Siemens who was honored with one of the top international awards in high-energy astrophysics, the 2025 Bruno Rossi Prize! Recognized for his contributions to gravitational wave research, Siemens uncovered the first evidence of binary supermassive black holes.

Siemens’ achievements not only advance the field of astrophysics but also inspire the next generation of scientists, including graduate and undergraduate students at Oregon State, where he continues to mentor and conduct research that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge.

Xavier Siemens, a renowned astrophysicist and professor at Oregon State’s College of Science, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Bruno Rossi Prize, one of the highest international honors in high-energy astrophysics, for his groundbreaking work uncovering evidence of binary supermassive black h...

01/23/2025

Big news! 🥳 Oregon State University was ranked #7 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report thanks to the expert OSU faculty who develop and deliver the highest-quality learning experiences online.

The College of Science is home to over 700 Ecampus students enrolled in our degree programs and thousands more taking courses in biological, physical, mathematical and statistical sciences. Ecampus enables science students to learn at any stage of life, strongly connected to OSU instructors and peers.

Read more about OSU’s 11th straight top-10 ranking.
! » https://beav.es/G7J

01/20/2025

To celebrate the efforts and successes of Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on civil rights in the
United States, OSU is hosting a day of service.

Through various projects we have the chance to
come together and serve our neighbors, promoting peace and community.

Sign up as soon as you can- spots are filling up quickly!
Link to sign up: https://see.oregonstate.edu/cel

01/16/2025

College of Science researchers are making strides in the future of optical computing and memory!

Chemist Artiom Skripka and his collaborators have discovered luminescent nanocrystals that can be quickly toggled from light to dark and back again.

The low-power switching capabilities of the nanocrystals align with the global effort to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the growing presence of artificial intelligence, data centers and electronic devices.

Learn more about the impact of their discovery and meet the other collaborators (including one in Spain).

Scientists including an Oregon State University chemistry researcher have taken a key step toward next-generation optical computing and memory with the discovery of luminescent nanocrystals that can be quickly toggled from light to dark and back again.

12/23/2024

Happy holidays, Team Science!

As the year wraps up, we hope your season is filled with joy, relaxation and time with loved ones. Take a close look at our holiday card—can you spot the Mandelbrot set, neutrinos, DNA strand and other hidden science treasures?

Thank you for following along on an incredible year of discoveries. Here’s to a bright and exciting year ahead. Warm wishes from all of us at the College of Science!

12/18/2024

Our researchers are making big strides in carbon capture technology! Chemists May Nyman and Karlie Bach have synthesized titanium-based molecules that effectively remove carbon dioxide from the air — at nearly twice the capacity of previous materials. Titanium's affordability, abundance and safety make it a game changer in developing sustainable solutions for climate change. Learn more about this research and its potential impact.

College of Science researchers have synthesized new molecules able to quickly capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, an important tactic in climate change mitigation.

12/16/2024

Eleanor Ford ('62, Microbiology) was only 4'11", but her presence and passion for lab safety and public health could fill any room. A first-generation college student from rural Oregon, she became a leader in California’s state labs, a Peace Corps volunteer who advanced tuberculosis research in Malaysia, and an advocate for microbiology education.

Today, her legacy thrives through the Eleanor G. Ford Memorial Scholarship, helping Oregon State students pursue their dreams in microbiology and public health.

Discover how Eleanor’s remarkable life continues to shape the future.

Eleanor Ford (62’, Microbiology) was six feet tall. Not literally, but when she shared her passion for laboratory safety, her personality could fill a room. Despite being only four feet, eleven inches, and a woman in a male-dominated field in the 1960s, when she talked, people listened.