IMPACT

Using a laser-based technique they developed, one so sensitive it can spot a single missing oxygen atom, the group has opened a new window into how next-generation memory materials behave. The work, funded by Samsung Electronics, centers on transistors used in DRAM, the memory chips found in most computers.

AI entrepreneur Scott Clark (‘08) makes the case for putting AI in research’s “mechanical middle,” with scientists at the frontier of discovery. On Monday, Oct. 5, Clark will return to the College of Science to share how that partnership could work.

The second day of Oregon State's AI Showcase highlighted new approaches to scientific discovery, with faculty demonstrating how machine learning is reshaping research across the College of Science.

The first day of Oregon State's AI Showcase featured researchers using artificial intelligence to investigate everything from protein behavior and animal decision-making to ecosystem change and drug discovery.

Warren Johnson is a husband, father and a transfer student from Linn-Benton Community College, already working on his accelerated master’s degree. He is also a top scorer in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, one of the most difficult undergraduate math exams in North America.

Erica Baird (’05, M.A. mathematics ’09, Ph.D. mathematics and statistics ’13) didn’t set out to become an actuary. In fact, when she first heard about the career as an undergraduate mathematics student at Oregon State University, she was skeptical.

The world’s most urgent challenges are no longer held back by a shortage of data. They’re limited by our capacity to understand the mountains of information we generate every day. From climate modeling and environmental policy to biomedical research and artificial intelligence, data now underpins nearly every scientific and societal challenge. Preparing students for today’s careers, no matter the field, now requires fluency in data. It requires graduates who can move confidently between disciplines, translate complex analysis into clear decisions and understand the ethical responsibility that comes with influence.

This year’s research honorees are advancing knowledge at the frontiers of statistics, microbiome science and astrophysics, with discoveries that shape public health, global policy and our understanding of the universe. Their scholarship reflects both international impact and a deep commitment to mentoring, collaboration and research excellence at Oregon State.

Four College of Science research teams have been awarded funding through SciRIS Stage 2 and Stage 3 categories. Their projects span quantum materials, nanotechnology, spectroscopy, and cell-based computing — exploring spin waves for future computing, tracking nanoplastics in living systems, developing single-pixel spectrometers, and advancing cell-based artificial intelligence.

Meet the six 2025 Alumni Award recipients who made important discoveries, dedicated their time to others and improved the world through science.

From frogs to global health, Barbara Han’s journey reveals how curiosity can lead to groundbreaking science. Her innovative research uses AI and machine learning to predict and prevent future epidemics around the world.

As the head of the Department of Statistics, Lan Xue is steering a major expansion with the department’s first undergraduate degree, while also prioritizing mentorship and research.