NEUROSCIENCE - Using a novel technique he developed in Professor David A. McCormick’s neuroscience lab, postdoctoral researcher Evan Vickers is studying how the brain’s various regions react during different states of arousal, such as sleep versus wakefulness, both at the individual cell level and across large swathes of the cerebral cortex.

EARTH SCIENCES - Deposited in 2022 when the underwater Hunga volcano spewed a 37-mile plume into the atmosphere—the biggest eruption seen in the modern satellite era—the seafloor ash provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of sediment movement on deep-sea life. Marcus Chaknova, then a marine biology and geology major, discovered ash from the volcano, which will shape scientific research for years to come.

Different mental health disorders can present drastically different symptoms, but many share a common thread: disruptions to episodic memory, or the ability to recall personal experiences. Students, faculty and staff in the Department of Psychology explored the role of episodic memory in mental health disorders during a recent workshop on “Episodic Memory as a Window to Understand Psychopathology.

Eight faculty members have been selected to win this year’s Distinguished Teaching Awards, which recognize exceptional teaching at the University of Oregon. The 2024-25 recipients are Lana Lopesi, Adell Amos, Mohsen Manesh, Marli Miller, Damian Radcliffe, Corinne Bayerl, Amanda Wojick and Naoko Nakadate.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, PHYSICS - A University of Oregon graduate student has developed a new mathematical equation that significantly improves the accuracy of the simplified computer models used to study the motion and behavior of large molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and synthetic materials such as plastics.

The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center brings together experts across disciplines to understand seismic hazards and apply their expertise toward societal resilience. This spring and summer, the center will host a variety of activities to provide researchers, community members and other stakeholders with opportunities for training, research and collaboration.

BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - The University of Oregon is now home to three new senior members of the National Academy of Inventors, a designation that recognizes visionaries and innovators whose technologies brought, or aspire to bring, a real impact on society. The CAS faculty members are Karen Guillemin, Mike Pluth and Ramesh Jasti.

NEUROSCIENCE - Valerie Owusu-Hienno, a third-year College of Arts and Sciences student who aspires to be a physician, researcher, and global health advocate, has been named a Goldwater Scholar. It's a nationally prestigious award for undergraduates conducting research in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

PHYSICS - In this video, UO physicist Graham Kribs walks viewers through the double-slit experiment and gives us a peek into the world of quantum mechanics, as well as one of the seminal experiments that helped open the quantum age.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - After serving four years as undersecretary for science and innovation at the U.S. Department of Energy, College of Arts and Sciences chemistry professor Geraldine “Geri” Richmond is back at the University of Oregon. Richmond was one of the top science officers in the federal government, overseeing billions of dollars in research spending on some of the nation’s highest science priorities, including quantum computing, clean energy and national security.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - Undergraduates regularly participate in faculty research on green materials and technology, experiential learning happens early and often—and ultimately helps students launch careers in which they’re empowered to help create a more sustainable future.

EARTH SCIENCES - Whether she’s scaling 150-foot towers or testifying before legislators, Sydney Whiting is helping to revolutionize wildfire and earthquake detection in Oregon. As a field technician for the Oregon Hazards Lab (OHAZ), the alumna installs and maintains the seismic sensors, network infrastructure and cameras that provide real-time hazard monitoring throughout the state, giving firefighters and communities a crucial tool when responding to wildfires and earthquakes.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, scientists around the globe are racing the clock to mitigate its impact. Although time is running out to meet the original goal outlined in the Paris Agreement—achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius—CAS chemists are hard at work tackling the problem from a variety of angles.

MATHEMATICS - Stephanie van Willigenburg, professor of mathematics at the University of British Columbia and winner of the 2023 David P. Robbins Prize will visit the University of Oregon campus April 10-11 to discuss both graph theory and why mathematics is for everyone who has a passion for it as part of the UO Association for Women in Mathematics Distinguished Speaker Series.