Podrabsky, an OSU alumnus with deep roots in Oregon, returns to Corvallis after serving more than 20 years at Portland State University, where he built a globally recognized research program and held several senior leadership roles.
A College of Science alumna and a Ph.D. student have been awarded 2025–26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to conduct research abroad. They join 17 College of Science students and alumni who have earned Fulbright honors over the past decade.
Eric Cole, new student head advisor, earned the 2025 Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising by helping students, especially first‑generation and Pell‑eligible, break down barriers to study abroad and navigate academic paths with empathy and personal connection.
Jacob Van of Beaverton International School is one of Oregon's 2025 National Merit Scholars. He plans to stay in the Pacific Northwest to attend Oregon State University’s Honors College and study biology on the pre-medicine track. The winners of the highly competitive $2,500 scholarship are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success of all National Merit Scholars, according to the scholarship organization.
Nathan Clay-Ehart (‘24) had just graduated with a zoology degree when he boarded a plane to Aruba. The nine-day study abroad opportunity was his first chance to meet Oregon State classmates face-to-face after earning his degree entirely online.
When she returned to college, senior zoology student Cierra Freese never expected she would feed a nocturnal kiwi chick in New Zealand or a barred owl in northern Michigan.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, graduate students in the College of Science received notable recognition through a variety of competitive fellowships, scholarships and professional development awards. These honors support students at critical stages of their graduate education, helping fund research, conference travel, tuition and other opportunities that contribute to academic and professional growth.
As part of the College of Science's innovative course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), students aren’t just learning about science — they’re doing authentic science. CUREs are an innovative pedagogical model where students engage in original research within the context of a regular course. This offers a research-intensive learning experience that is more accessible than research opportunities outside the classroom.
The College of Science will host its inaugural Graduate Research Showcase from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025 in the Memorial Union Horizon Room.
For the second time, a three-week study abroad opportunity in Nepal is available for students to experience. Led by Dee Denver, head of the Department of Integrative Biology, the Intersections of Biodiversity and Buddhist Cultures in Nepal course promises a trek through the Himalayas, excursions in lowland jungles, and time spent in centuries-old monasteries.
