SDSU College of Sciences

10/16/2026

This academic year, eleven SDSU doctoral students will each receive $12,500 from the San Diego chapter of the ARCS Foundation, continuing a partnership that has provided approximately $4.1 million to SDSU researchers over the course of more than four decades.

ARCS, which stands for Achievement Rewards for College Scientists, is a national nonprofit that supports graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical research. The 2026-27 ARCS Scholars at SDSU span fields ranging from biology and clinical psychology to computational science and engineering, reflecting the breadth of doctoral research at the university.

The award amount is 25% more than ARCS Scholars received in previous years. The foundation decided to increase its annual awards to help exceptional graduate students continue their research at a time when financial support for science is increasingly difficult to secure.

Learn more on SDSU NewsCenter. Link in bio.

10/13/2026

Sensory-friendly orchestral concerts for the whole family start Oct. 24!

SDSU Center for Autism and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra co-designed an inclusive and interactive performance series that offers an engaging and approachable introduction to the world of music for all children, including those with sensory and learning differences.

The Saturday morning performances take place downtown at Jacobs Music Center and include musical instrument exploration, hands-on crafts, sing-alongs, and musical games, with live music played by members of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. SDSU Center for Autism staffs each event with “concert buddies” providing professional support for families as they enjoy the experience.

Symphony Kids Series kicks off this month with “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” a concert that introduces the instruments of the string family.

Learn more on SDSU NewsCenter.

10/09/2026

Jessica Duran Sarowitz is helping San Diego State University prepare the next generation of scientists, researchers and doctors.

Her $20 million gift supporting Duran Sciences will create new opportunities for students to collaborate, discover and gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge technology to address some of society’s most complex challenges.

Set to open in fall 2027, Duran Sciences will further advance SDSU’s R1 research enterprise and help students develop the knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions in their fields.

Read how Duran Sarowitz’s belief in service, access and discovery is helping expand what’s possible at SDSU in the latest edition of SDSU Magazine.

10/07/2026

09/24/2026

Exploring snakes’ hidden colors, parasitic infections, solutions for antibiotic resistance and molecular structures for new materials.

Projects like these are getting an extra boost thanks to a $1.5 million award SDSU received from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to support seven postdoctoral researchers addressing important issues in biology and chemistry.

Swipe to learn more about these postdocs and celebrate their work this National Postdoc Appreciation Week!

Read the full story on SDSU NewsCenter.



Hayley L. Crowell studies the evolution of animal coloration in Kinsey Brock’s lab.

“My research focuses on large-scale patterns and the ecological consequences of ‘hidden colors’ (meaning, ultraviolet and near-infrared) in snakes and lizards. In particular, my work will investigate how urbanized landscapes affect the evolution of animal coloration and other sexual signals across space and time. There is still a lot to learn about how anthropogenic change influences animal communication, especially when organisms successfully adapt to the presence of dense human populations.”

Guilherme Carrara Moreira Paiva researches parasitic infections in Laura-Isobel McCall’s lab.

“My research focuses on understanding how parasites interact with their hosts and how infection changes the behavior and metabolism of both infected cells and nearby uninfected cells, which we call ‘bystander cells.’ I study Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, using approaches such as metabolomics, isotope tracing, imaging and spatial molecular technologies. By understanding how infection alters tissues beyond the cells directly infected by the parasite, we hope to uncover mechanisms that contribute to disease progression and identify potential biomarkers or new therapeutic targets.”

Dalaena Rivera inspects host-microbe interactions in Robert Luallen’s lab.

“I’m broadly interested in host-microbe interactions, especially those pertaining to the gut microbiome. I use the model organism C. elegans to understand the mechanisms underlying beneficial bacterial adherence. My research is attempting to answer two questions: Ho

09/18/2026

A $5 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure will help develop a secure solution to sharing sensitive data.

Over the next five years, researchers from San Diego State University, in partnership with Arizona State University and University of Utah, will develop a novel cyberinfrastructure called Prototype Architecture for Research Advances using Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PARAPET).

PARAPET is designed to be a more secure way to share and collaborate on sensitive data, and train AI models without exposing private data. This cyberinfrastructure could be used nationwide in health care, cybersecurity, science, finance and the social sciences to protect sensitive data, including medical records, financial information and census statistics.

Learn more about this project on SDSU NewsCenter: sdsu.edu/news

09/16/2026

Planetarium shows are BACK this fall!

Join the astronomy department for a free exploration of the cosmos at 3 p.m. every Friday starting 9/18 and continuing through 12/11 (no show on 11/27). Shows are open to the public and take place in the Physics-Astronomy building, Room 209.

08/27/2026

Today, Rosa Arriaga is a Harvard graduate and professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her path in STEM began at SDSU but, she says, it was first sparked by her mother’s determination to ensure her children could have the opportunities she did not.

Head to SDSU NewsCenter to learn about Arriaga’s journey and how she is honoring those who supported her through a gift toward the new sciences building.

08/14/2026

Why does ovarian cancer so often return? SDSU researchers have uncovered new insights.

A study led by associate professor of biology Carrie House identifies how treatment-resistant cells survive chemotherapy, pointing to a potential strategy for preventing frequent, deadly relapses.

Learn more on SDSU NewsCenter.

08/07/2026

A special birthday for this 101-year-old scientist! 🍰

This summer, emeritus professor of biology Jim Neel celebrated his birthday on campus with family and former colleagues from the College of Sciences.