Natural Science
A Window to the Brain
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.
Exploring Volcanic Fallout
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.
Workshop explores role of episodic memory in psychological disorders
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 win Distinguished Teaching Awards
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.
UO researcher develops new tool that could aid drug development
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.
CRESCENT hosts earthquake-related activities
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.
Academy names three UO researchers as ‘emerging inventors'
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 major is awarded a Goldwater Scholarship
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.
Particle or wave? Getting to the heart of quantum mechanics
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.