Natural Sciences News

MATHEMATICS - The Department of Mathematics hosts Victor Reiner for its 2026 Moursund Lectures. Morsund is a Distinguished McKnight Professor in Mathematics at the University of Minnesota. The series of three lectures is 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, at 128 Chiles Hall, 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at 125 McKenzie Hall and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at 245 Straub Hall.

BIOCHEMISTRY, CHEMISTRY — Romila Mascarenhas, assistant professor of biochemistry, is starting a lab that investigates how gut bacteria recognize, transport and use vitamin B12, a molecule that plays a huge role in shaping microbial communities in the human gut. She anticipates her research will lead to collaboration with fellow CAS researchers across disciplines and attract a new generation of STEM students.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES — When the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation recently hosted a Week of Research and Innovation, Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship in the College of Arts and Sciences Jennifer Pfeifer organized a panel session as part of the week’s events to showcase the breadth of the societal impact CAS researchers have.

ANTHROPOLOGY - University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences researcher Lynn Stephen was elected in April to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, with 250 other leaders in academia, industry, the arts and more. Stephen is an anthropologist whose research on immigration and asylum, gender-based violence, race, and Indigenous communities in Mexico, Guatemala and the diaspora in California and the Northwest.

NEUROSCIENCE, PHYSICS - PhD candidate Saumya Keremane's research, conducted in the labs of Richard Taylor, a professor and head of the Department of Physics, and Dr. Bala Ambati, an ophthalmologist and research professor in the Department of Bioengineering, focuses on understanding and preventing neuron degradation to treat inherited blindness.

MATHEMATICS - Tyler Jarvis, Brigham Young University professor, will be visiting the UO Math Department on May 13 and 14 and giving two talks as part of the Niven Lectures.

MATHEMATICS - Hannah Larson, an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will visit the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Mathematics on May 7 and 8, and give two talks as part of the Association for Women in Mathematics’ Distinguished Speaker series.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - Heat therapy is hot right now. Saunas are popping up everywhere, from the local YMCA to backyards. College of Arts and Sciences human physiologist Christopher Minson weighs in on heat therapy and its evidence-based benefits.  In a recent review paper, Minson rounded up the science behind heat therapy and how it can be most effectively harnessed to benefit health and fitness.

BIOCHEMISTRY AND CHEMISTRY - For the McLeroy family, the University of Oregon is a thread that digs deep in their ancestral roots. From two undergrads now on campus to Samuel “Edgar” McClure, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the UO in 1883 and a master’s in 1886, and was the first chair of the UO chemistry department.

COMPUTER SCIENCE - Armaan Hajarizadeh, a third-year computer science major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Clark Honors College, has been named a Goldwater Scholar. The prestigious national award recognizes undergraduates conducting research in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend graduate school and eventually pursue a career in academia.

Stories are drawn across cave walls, written into history books and verbally passed down through generations. The origins of storytelling are rooted in survival, and it’s such an essential skill, it’s a core part of the curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences. From creative writing to biochemistry, explore the power of storytelling and why it's vital for a liberal arts education.

Four College of Arts and Sciences faculty members will discuss the social impact of research during the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) Week of Research and Innovation. The event is 10:30 am to noon Wednesday, April 8, at the Cedar and Spruce rooms in the Erb Memorial Union.

CAREER PREPARATION — Tasked with meeting the College of Arts and Sciences career preparation goal, Assistant Dean for Career Preparation Yifang Zhang developed and implemented the Career Leaders Program. The program focuses on providing tools and resources to reframe and elevate the school's existing effort in career preparation in classrooms.

For Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week in 2026, CAS gradate students share their experiences of what makes their experience special at CAS. CAS is home to 1,295 graduate students: 307 master’s and 959 PhD. With April 6-10 Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week, CAS reached out to some of its graduate students to hear how about their experiences at the college.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - John Halliwill has been named a 2025 fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). A professor in the Department of Human Physiology, Halliwill was recognized for advancing the understanding of exercise-induced cardiovascular adaptation and discovering histamine's role as a signaling molecule in adaptation to physical activity.