Elisar Barbar, head of Oregon State’s Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Outstanding Oregon Scientist Award from the Oregon Academy of Science. This award is one of the state’s highest honors and recognizes scientific achievement, leadership, mentorship and contributions that advance science in Oregon and beyond. The recognition comes as she is also leading a new $1.3 million NIH-funded training program to prepare the next generation of molecular biophysicists.
The Oregon Academy of Science selected Barbar for her internationally recognized research in biophysics and structural biology, including her pioneering contributions to the study of intrinsically disordered proteins and protein-protein interactions, which have reshaped how scientists understand dynamic protein systems in living cells.
“Elisar has spent her career advancing fundamental biophysics while investing deeply in the people who do the work,” said Dean Eleanor Feingold. “Her research has changed how scientists study intrinsically disordered proteins, with implications for improving human health, and she has built an outstanding record of mentorship along the way."
The awards committee cited Barbar’s sustained record of high-impact publications, success in securing competitive research funding and leadership in advancing major research infrastructure, as well as her long-standing dedication to mentorship.
Among Barbar’s mentees is Sahana Shah, a 2024 graduate whose research in molecular biophysics conducted in Barbar’s lab has earned a Fulbright U.S. Student Award.
The recognition comes at a pivotal moment for Barbar’s work at Oregon State. She recently secured a transformative $1.3 million training grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, to launch a new predoctoral Training Program in Molecular Biophysics of Complex Systems.
As principal investigator, Barbar partnered with Juan Vanegas, associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics, to build an interdisciplinary graduate training initiative designed to prepare the next generation of structural biologists and biophysicists. Funded through the highly competitive NIH T32 mechanism, the program supports doctoral students working at the intersection of biology, physics and chemistry to study dynamic protein networks and complex molecular systems.
The new program represents a long-time goal for Barbar and a major milestone for the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the College of Science. It also strengthens Oregon State’s capacity to train graduate students at the forefront of molecular biophysics research and to build collaborative research infrastructure across disciplines.
In recognition of her career and leadership, Barbar will serve as the keynote speaker at the Oregon Academy of Science Annual Meeting on Feb. 28 at Western Oregon University, where she will also formally receive the award.
