Juliana Betancourt has been using chemistry to dive into the secrets of nanoplastics, taking part in crucial research well before she finishes her undergraduate studies.
A childhood spent tagging along on veterinary calls sparked Oregon State University alum Thomas Webb’s lifelong curiosity about how the world works. Decades later, that same curiosity now shapes his legacy by supporting the tools that help future chemistry students explore it for themselves.
For graduate students in chemistry at Oregon State University, conference season is more than a professional milestone — it’s a launchpad for future careers. Each year, students share discoveries and gain experience presenting their work, but conference travel is costly, and not all research groups can fund the experience. This Dam Proud Day, we're rallying to offset these costs to ensure no budding scientist is kept from this important milestone.
The College of Science and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State University have received a $450K award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to establish the Partners in Science program on the Corvallis campus.
The novel sensor, which also has potential applications in health care and environmental monitoring, is based on the design principle of engineered interfacial chemistry. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the study by scientists at Oregon State and researchers in Taiwan was published in Applied Nano Materials, a journal of the American Chemical Society.
The honors general chemistry sequence is one of the longest-running honors offerings at OSU, and the three-term series gives participating students access to advanced laboratory experiences, faculty mentorship and a learning community that often shapes their academic paths in their very first year.
In the College of Science, materials scientist May Nyman and doctoral student Esther Julius are designing molecules that could help push the limits of traditional semiconductor manufacturing.
Margie Haak, a senior instructor in Oregon State University’s Department of Chemistry, has received the 2026 Outstanding Educator – Higher Education Award from the Oregon Academy of Science, recognizing more than three decades of dedication to teaching, mentorship and science outreach.
Both of the 2026 publications involve fluorescent proteins and their “core” chromophores that were first discovered in marine organisms such as jellyfish and coral. The earlier work focused on novel red-emitting graphene-sheet-based carbon dots engineered by the Cheng lab at College of Engineering.
The researchers used a molecule measuring technique to observe in a laboratory setting how certain metals can promote the protein clumping that leads to the blocked neural pathways associated with Alzheimer’s.
This year’s honorees are advancing inclusive excellence, strengthening research infrastructure and shaping policy and programs that impact thousands of students and faculty. Their leadership and sustained service are transforming systems across the college, from the classroom to statewide collaboration.
