Our science departments are committed to creating and disseminating new knowledge in their fields by combining research and teaching. Our 300 faculty members — including fellows of many learned societies and academies — are engaged in research that spans a broad range, from questions about the foundations of quantum mechanics, to the development of cancer cells and the workings of the brain, to work resulting in the spin-off of high-technology companies. Faculty share their excitement about their research with their students, training them to become part of the next generation of scientists who will push the frontiers of human knowledge. Explore majors, minors, concentrations, and academic programs in the Natural Sciences.
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World-Class Faculty in the Natural Sciences
Thien Nguyen
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Thien Nguyen is an expert in natural language processing, or the ability of artificial intelligence to understand, interpret and generate meaningful human language. He aims to enable computers to perform cognitive language-related tasks. His lab is among the first to develop deep learning algorithms for information extraction and text mining in natural language processing and data mining. His research on using natural language processing for multilingual learning earned him a Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation.
Nguyen's recent research focuses on programming computers to improve the efficiency and safety of large language models (LLMs) across human languages while extracting valuable information about events like natural disasters, cyberattacks, disease outbreaks, and protests from news articles and other sources. His work seeks to deliver useful insights from diverse data and make these technologies accessible in low-resource languages that lack adequate data sets for training AI models.
Tien-Tien Yu
Associate Professor of Physics, Institute for Fundamental Science
Tien-Tien is a theoretical particle physicist working at the interface of theory and experiment. She is particularly interested in understanding the nature of dark matter, whose existence is known through its gravitational effects on ordinary matter. She co-founded the SENSEI collaboration, an experiment utilizing silicon chips, much like those found in digital cameras, to search for dark matter. She was recently appointed to P5, an advisory group convened once a decade by the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation to help determine the next funded projects in particle physics.
On Jan. 14, 2025, Yu was one of nearly 400 scientists and engineers to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest award the US government awards to early career scientists.
A founding member of the group Particles for Justice, Yu is also a leader in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the physics field. In collaboration with the Comics and Cartoon Studies program, Yu created the UO Science and Comics Initiative. Read more about the initiative here.
Santiago Jaramillo
Associate Professor of Biology, Institute of Neuroscience
Santiago Jaramillo leads a research group dedicated to understanding how the brain processes and interprets sounds. Using advanced techniques to monitor and manipulate neural activity in mice, along with computational approaches, he investigates how the brain filters, learns, and assigns meaning to sounds and how brain disorders can affect these processes. His interdisciplinary work, supported by the BRAIN Initiative of the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, includes collaborations with psychologists, bioengineers, theoretical neuroscientists, and linguists, with the long-term goal of developing neural interfaces to improve human-to-human and human-to-machine communication.
Beyond the lab, Jaramillo is deeply committed to broadening participation in STEM. He provides hands-on neuroscience experiences to middle school girls through the SPICE program, serves as an advisor for international programs engaging young minds in scientific critical thinking, and mentors college students from a wide range of backgrounds through programs such as NSF STEP-UP, SPUR, and the ESPRIT scholarship for aspiring K-12 science teachers.
School of Computer and Data Sciences
The mission at SCDS is to empower a diverse population of students and faculty working to advance knowledge in computer and data science, train the next generation of scholars, and engage with the wider world to tackle interdisciplinary challenges.
To do this, we start by applying our knowledge and experience at home across the University of Oregon campus.
Research in the Natural Sciences
Natural scientists use data to understand, predict, and work with naturally occurring phenomena on earth and in the universe. From highly controlled experiments in the lab to observations collected in the field, our findings help make sense of the natural world while driving advancements in society and technology that touch everyone. By expanding the limits of human knowledge, we provide a scientific foundation for helping people live better, longer lives.
Explore Other Majors and Minors in the College of Arts and Sciences
Meet our Dean
Welcome to the natural sciences, where our top-flight researchers bring students in to experience the biological, physical, and computational sciences. Working side-by-side with faculty who are equally committed to student success and scientific discovery, students learn valuable critical thinking skills through hands-on research in the lab, field, and classroom—from studying marine biology at the Oregon Institute for Marine Biology on our beautiful campus on the coast to coding advanced systems and analyzing complex data in the School of Computer and Data Science.
The research we’re conducting at the UO makes a tangible difference in our communities, our nation, and the world. For example, our chemists are pioneering the materials and techniques that will inspire the next generation of batteries for energy storage. Our psychologists are developing and testing cutting-edge interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing. Our geologists and environmental scientists are collaborating with governments, tribes, and industry partners to protect communities from earthquakes and wildfires.
You may or may not end up in a science career, but either way these experiences will change the way you experience and interact with the world. A healthy society depends on people who know how to gather evidence and critically analyze data. No matter what field you enter, scientific thinking will help you become a more thoughtful, engaged, and critical citizen in modern society.
We’re excited to explore the natural world with you.
Elliot Berkman
Divisional Associate Dean, Natural Sciences
Happening at CAS
A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.
With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.
Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.
Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.
Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025
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Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include
- Academic Showcase, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – noon, Beetham Family Seminar Room, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: Short presentations showcasing the array of courses, research, and scholarship taking place on campus connected to the Olympic movement. Speakers include the UO Athletics Archivist and scholars from different departments and units, including the Lundquist College of Business, School of Journalism and Communications, Human Performance, Bowerman Sports Science Center, College of Arts and Sciences, and more. This session will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/2DZPjvS1iLg.
- Industry Panel, May 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education. Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness. Open to the public.
- UO Olympics History Archives Tour, May 14, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., Location: Knight Library, Special Collections and University Archives (2nd Floor, North Wing): Archivist Lauren Goss will share some of the hidden treasures the university keeps in its special collections, including writings from legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-archive-tour
- UO Olympics History Hayward Hall Tour, May 14, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m., Hayward Hall, Hayward Field, (Base of Hayward Tower): This museum within legendary track-and-field venue Hayward Field honors the university’s eight Olympic gold medalists and showcases the global reach of Oregon athletics. The tour will also include a visit to the top of Hayward Field Tower. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-hayward-tour
- Oregon Performance Research Lab Tour, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Esslinger Hall 156: Lab director Brad Wilkins will highlight how the lab's research and cutting-edge technologies advance the understanding and limitations of human performance. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-performance-tour
- Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Spring Symposium, May 15, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: The Wu Tsau Human Performance Alliance includes research from the University of Oregon, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The alliance is holding its spring symposium at UO. UO students, faculty, and staff are invited to join keynote sessions via Zoom (links available at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025)
10:00 a.m.
Join the Department of Cinema Studies for a talk with Dr. Stephanie Mastrostefano, Senior CG Animation Coordinator at LAIKA Studios, on Friday, May 16th at 10 am in the EMU Diamond Lake Room (Room 119). Free and open to the community!
Drawing on Dr. Stephanie Mastrostefano’s graduate research into women’s labor in the Ink and Paint Department at Walt Disney Studios during the 1930s, and her current role in production management at LAIKA Studios, this talk invites us to consider how we can bring the tools of academic scholarship into the everyday work of making, managing, and imagining animation’s future. Dr. Mastrostefano reflects on how historical labor patterns continue to influence the animation industry today, not only in organizational structures and workflows, but in whose voices are heard and whose work is seen. By blending historical research with personal experience, she addresses the ongoing challenges and opportunities for women in animation and explores how bridging scholarship and industry can lead to meaningful change.
Dr. Stephanie Mastrostefano (PhD 2024, University of Oregon) is a Senior CG Animation Coordinator at LAIKA Studios in Portland, OR. Her research examines how cinematic technologies, labor practices, and social attitudes shaped—and sometimes subverted—women’s roles in animation during its industrial development. After a decade researching women’s contributions to animation, Stephanie transitioned from academia to industry to actively promote pathways for women’s advancement from within. She now oversees CG animated shot production on LAIKA’s upcoming feature, Wildwood.
10:00 a.m.
Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education.
Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness.
Panelists Include:
- Adam Wood, Director, High Performance Pathways, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee
- Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Olympic bronze medalist; former UO track-and-field student-athlete.
- Rob Mullens, University of Oregon Athletic Director; member, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Collegiate Advisory Council
- Lauren Anderson, Director, Warsaw Sports Business Center (moderator)
A Q&A with audience members is also planned.
Open to the Public
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This event is part of UO Olympic Studies Week. See the full schedule of events at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025.
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Do you have questions about your fall term schedule? Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society and faculty from the Department of History are partnering to provide students with excellent advising and a free pizza party! Bring your questions and your appetite! Open to all history majors and minors.