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With green evergreen trees behind him, Skach smiles at the camera.
Alumni and Friends

Distinguished Alumni Award winner changes lives for cystic fibrosis and cancer patients

After decades of researching membrane protein folding as a physician scientist, Dr. William (Bill) Skach joined an industry-leading foundation to help hundreds of labs and companies worldwide develop treatments for rare mutations of cystic fibrosis.

Headshot of Lan Xue outside Kidder Hall
Statistics

From human health to AI: Oregon State statistician shapes the future of data science

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.

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Microbiology

Hands-on cancer research helps College of Science undergraduate gain confidence in the lab

Summer undergraduate research helped Matthew Hines find his footing as a scientist.

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Biochemistry & Biophysics

Undergraduate research at Oregon State empowers biochemistry student through mentorship

Every summer, Oregon State’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) in the College of Science empowers students to turn curiosity into discovery, and in many cases, personal experiences into purpose. For Ashley Tran, it was finding a sense of belonging in a lab led by women of color.

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Biochemistry & Biophysics

Peptide study paves path toward new weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The findings open the door to designing novel compounds for killing disease-causing organisms that have become resistant to antibiotics.

Diver underwater.
Research

Internal funding boosts research in AI-powered ecology and immune system regulation

This round of funding supports biologist Mark Novak and biochemist Adrian Gombart, whose work addresses urgent global questions from climate-driven shifts in marine food webs to the genetic underpinnings of immune system function.

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Biochemistry & Biophysics

2025 Honors graduate Kaitlyn Kim champions mentorship and human-centered science

From lab bench to student outreach, Kaitlyn Kim built bridges — fusing curiosity with care to uplift others in every space she touched.

Two male scientists in lab coats work with a lasers.
Health and Biotechnology

Twisted but bright: Oregon State chemist uncovers unexpected design principle in fluorescent protein biosensors

A team of scientists led by chemist Chong Fang has discovered a new way to visualize and track chloride ions in living systems, opening the door to accelerated research on diseases like cystic fibrosis, epilepsy and certain cancers.

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News

Two from Team Science named Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients

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.

Two women in lab-coats look into a microscope.
Biochemistry & Biophysics

Nature paper reveals structure of lipid transport protein and discovers two key helpers

A research team in the College of Science has revealed how cells move lipids — essential fats — between membranes, a process fundamental to brain health, metabolism and immunity.

Two women in lab coats work with a sample in a tube in a laboratory.
Microbiology

Microbiome scientist uses AI to redefine the gut-brain axis and deep-sea ecosystems

Maude David’s research sits at the crossroads of microbiology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence — an intersection that may hold the key to understanding some of the most complex disorders affecting the human brain and unlocking the secrets of deep-sea ecosystems.

Intrinsically disordered proteins
Biochemistry & Biophysics

2025 Gilfillan Lecture: "Beyond the fold: How disordered proteins control movement, viruses and gene expression"

Join us for the 2025 F.A. Gilfillan Memorial Lecture, featuring Dr. Elisar Barbar, a pioneering researcher challenging traditional views of protein structure.