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Alumni and Friends

Alumni Awards celebrates in impactful legacies and achievements

The College of Science community recently gathered to celebrate this year's Alumni Award recipients. These individuals have enriched many lives through their professional achievements, impact and service. They embody our vision to extend the reach and impact of science by improving life for the people of Oregon and beyond.

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Faculty and Staff

Materials scientist Janet Tate wins Lifetime Achievement in Science Award

Although time is an enemy for some, Janet Tate used it to leave a lasting mark on physics curriculum, students, and the field of thin-film semiconductors, earning her the 2024 Lifetime Achievement in Science Award from the College of Science.

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College of Science

College of Science shines with nine awards at University Day

Faculty, staff and graduate students from the College of Science won nine awards at University Day, the celebratory kickoff to the academic year featuring an annual awards ceremony. These awards highlight excellence in teaching, advising, research and diversity advocacy, showing the College as a leader across the university.

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Events

Oregon State students provide free dental care to those in need

When homelessness and poverty strike, dental care often becomes a distant priority, leading many to resort to desperate measures like pulling their own teeth. Anika Phuvasate and her fellow Oregon State University Pre-Dental Club members are changing that narrative by organizing free clinics that offer compassionate, judgment-free dental services. These efforts not only restore smiles but also dignity, proving that everyone deserves access to essential care.

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Diversity in Science

Ignite inSTEM summer camp mentors underrepresented students in chemistry

For five days, the students participated in the Ignite inSTEM summer camp, a groundbreaking initiative to diversify the biomedical workforce by engaging underrepresented youth in hands-on science for the first time and improving their retention in STEM.

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Research

Immune systems for cities: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Cities are like organisms — they need immune systems. Viruses can reproduce rapidly, taking over cells and turning them into viral factories within hours. Individuals' immune systems need to rise to the challenge, but what happens when they can't, and a whole population gets sick?

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Chemistry

International chemistry senior finds her footing at Oregon State

Heading to college can feel like moving to a whole new world. For chemistry senior Marua Bekbossyn, this rang even more true. Her move from Almaty, Kazakhstan to the U.S. had its challenges, but the resources and genuine connections she discovered at Oregon State made all the difference.

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Student Success

Black holes devour light — except when they create it, finds physics undergrad

When physics senior Phia Morton flew to Italy to do research, she couldn’t have imagined what she’d find hidden in the stars: the first strong candidate of a black hole merger emitting light. This discovery deepens knowledge on the cosmic structures and may even give a new opinion on how quickly the universe is expanding.

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Students

Zoology graduate thrives with Oregon State's Ecampus

Samantha Crockett's journey from a struggling college student to a thriving zoology graduate is a testament to the transformative power of online education. Faced with isolation and academic disillusionment, she found her stride at Oregon State University's Ecampus program, where supportive professors and flexible learning opportunities reignited her passion for zoology.

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Biochemistry & Biophysics

Inspired by mentors and determination, biochemistry senior overcomes doubt to promising biotechnology journey

Rebekka Toyoizumi has always admired the big questions that science has to offer. A graduating biochemistry and biophysics major at Oregon State, she spent six months throughout summer and fall 2023 terms at OSU exploring those questions through an experiential internship. She is excited to continue this work for the multinational biotech and biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, in Maryland following graduation.

Daphnia crustacean.
Chemistry

Research explores ways to mitigate the environmental toxicity of ubiquitous silver nanoparticles

A collaborative team co-led by a College of Science researcher have taken a key step toward closing the knowledge gap with a study that indicates silver nanoparticles’ shape and surface chemistry play key roles in how they affect aquatic ecosystems.