Skip to main content
A closeup of two hands holding and inspecting phytoplankton in a petri dish.
Microbiology

Oregon State microbiology research furthers understanding of ocean’s role in carbon cycling

Researchers from the Department of Microbiology have shed new light on the mechanisms of carbon cycling in the ocean, using a novel approach to track which microbes are consuming different types of organic carbon produced by common phytoplankton species.

Underwater coral reef landscape background in the blue sea with fish and marine life.
Research

Innovation grants to build model reef at OSU, catalyze biological and materials research

College of Science Research and Innovation Seed (SciRIS) awards fund projects based on collaborative research within the College of Science community and beyond.

Ph.D. student and researcher Christine Tataru
Graduate students

Martin-O’Neill fellow Christine Tataru uses computers to decode our guts

Christine Tataru receives the 2021-22 Larry W. Martin & Joyce B. O’Neill Endowed Fellowship for her work in computational modeling that seeks to understand how gut microbiomes impact their human hosts’ health. She develops tools and frameworks to advance microbiome research, then uses these tools to explore gut-brain axis phenomenon.

Hops plant in full bush.
Biomedical Science

Compounds derived from hops show promise as treatment for common liver disease

Research by Oregon State University suggests a pair of compounds originating from hops can help thwart a dangerous buildup of fat in the liver known as hepatic steatosis.

Blonde woman with clear eye protection smiling in a laboratory setting
Students

Pivoting a career to become a physician and give back along the way

Kendra Krebs's interest in science started when she worked as a hair stylist in a salon. Now, this microbiology senior has her sights set on medical school.

Chris Beaudry working in a lab with a student
Faculty and Staff

Grants to boost advances in mental health and cancer research

The College of Science awarded two interdisciplinary teams funding to pursue promising leads in mental health and cancer research. One team will investigate the role of the gut-brain axis on sex differences in anxiety, and another will explore ways to develop an synthetic version of HHT-- a rare plant alkaloid that is showing great promise in the development of new medicines for multiple forms of cancer.

Corals along seafloor in Lizard Island.
Research

Scientists awarded grant to investigate how microbiomes can help species withstand climate change

A pivotal National Science Foundation award will enable Oregon State scientists to investigate how microbes influence their wildlife host’s sensitivity and resilience to disruptive changes in the natural environment.

Diseased and healthy corals sitting in bins.
Marine Science

Coral researchers find link between bacterial genus and disease susceptibility

Corals that appear healthy are more prone to getting sick when they’re home to too many parasitic bacteria, new research at Oregon State University shows. “The clear relationship we’ve discovered between this kind of bacteria and disease resistance in Caribbean staghorn coral is a crucial piece of the puzzle for coral restoration efforts in that region,” said study co-author Becca Maher, a Ph.D. candidate at Oregon State.

Aerial shot of coral reef.
Marine Science

Oregon State University scientists shed new light on viruses' role in coral bleaching

Scientists at Oregon State University have shown that viral infection is involved in coral bleaching – the breakdown of the symbiotic relationship between corals and the algae they rely on for energy.

Rebecca Vega Thurber
Marine Science

Pioneering 'coral doctor' named Pernot Distinguished Professor

The endowed professorship recognizes Rebecca Vega Thurber’s distinguished contributions to several fields of microbiology that encompass coral reef ecology, virology, marine disease ecology and metagenomics.

University Day 2020
Faculty and Staff

Scientists recognized for research, service and mentoring excellence at 2020 University Day

Five faculty and scholars from the College of Science are among this year’s award recipients at University Day, OSU’s most prestigious annual awards for research mentoring, scholarship, teamwork, teaching and service.

Kim Halsey and Cleo Davie-Martin collecting samples from a river.
Research

Science faculty research funding from FY20

College of Science faculty were awarded $15.82 million in new research grants and awards in fiscal year 2020. Two months into the new fiscal year, the College is seeing strong momentum with significant awards totaling more than $3.48 million already.