Natural Sciences News

EARTH SCIENCES - CRESCENT wrapped up its first-ever cohort for the Geoscience Education and Inclusion (GEI) Twinning Program. Students worked with mentors on fully funded research projects, developing practical skills and presenting their findings to fellow scientists. The program manager, Shannon Fasola, said it offered a unique opportunity because students could focus on research without having to worry about finances.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY — Lila Wollman, an assistant professor and researcher in CAS’s Department of Human Physiology is studying the effects of nicotine withdrawal on the body’s respiratory control. To support her research, Wollman received a two-part grant from the National Institutes of Health designed to support post-doctorate researchers in developing independent research paths.

COMPUTER SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS - When Fedi Aniefuna arrived at the University of Oregon, he still hadn’t decided whether he wanted to major in political science and go to law school, or study computer science and head straight into the workforce. Five years later, he’s beginning his second year as an engineer with Amazon Web Services after spending his time at the UO studying math and computer science.

PHYSICS - During the last week of August, the University of Oregon Eugene campus was home to the Europa Clipper Project Science Group meeting, offering College of Arts and Sciences students a chance to see a space mission team at work and inspire them to become the next generation of planetary scientists.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - Thanks to human physiology internships, these students are getting hands-on lessons in medicine and helping Ducks athletics soar. “Not all students can afford to volunteer to have access to these experiential learning opportunities,” says Amy Sibul, internships and career readiness director for the Department of Human Physiology. “We’ve received a lot of feedback over the years that this is a powerful experience, but students were really struggling to afford their lives.

College of Arts and Sciences researchers have tested a new combination drug therapy that could dismantle the difficult-to-treat bacteria inhabiting chronic wound infections. Their findings, published Sept. 29 in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, illuminate ways to develop more effective antimicrobial treatments that promote healing in chronic wounds.

PSYCHOLOGY - A new study led by researchers at the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with Google Research found little evidence linking smartphone use with mental well-being in adults. Researchers analyzed more than 250,000 days of smartphone usage from more than 10,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and up.

BIOLOGY - Lauren Hallett, biology associate professor at the College of Arts and Sciences discusses her ongoing work to enhance the climate resiliency of Oregon’s hazelnut farms, which account for 99% of the country's hazelnut production. With the support of a $2 million federal award, Hallett and her lab have designed an agricultural practice using native cover crops and basalt dust amendments to set a new standard for sustainable hazelnut farming.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - Performance testing transforms training from a guessing game into a precise, strategic process that builds maximum athletic potential. Oregon Performance Research Laboratory at the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences offers a number of testing services to athletes in the community, including threshold testing, VO2 max, hemoglobin mass, sweat testing and more.

BIOLOGY - An expert on child and adolescent development and an expert on host-microbe interactions have each been recognized by the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon of the Oregon Health and Science University. Karen Guillemin, professor and Philip H. Knight Chair in biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Discovery Award for her significant contributions to health-related research.

GRADUATE STUDIES - The work of writing a dissertation can be overwhelming, which is why it's important to find innovative ways for students to develop a plan for success. This summer the graduate studies team hosted a bootcamp filled with advice to help make the dissertation writing process easier, more efficient and more enjoyable.

BIOLOGY - An AI-based imaging system that is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, funded by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc., is working to monitor bee populations without harming the insects. The technology could solve a key paradox in bee conservation efforts. The collaboration includes CAS biologist Lauren Ponisio.

PHYSICS - Physics Professor Richard Taylor blends art and science to create award-winning nature-inspired designs for indoor environments. In collaboration with designers in Austria, Taylor has been using computer-generated fractal patterns, which have been shown to reduce people’s stress levels by up to 60%.

EARTH SCIENCES - Researchers at the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences are joining a new $15 million National Science Foundation center that will unite researchers across the country to understand and prepare for natural hazards like landslides, flooding, debris flows and river erosion. UO researchers will focus on how climate change and shifting storm patterns influence landslides and debris flows.

PSYCHOLOGY - Adolescence isn’t a time of dysfunction; it’s a peak period of brain development, adaptability, and growth. Jennifer Pfeifer, a psychology professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, discusses at the 2025 TEDxPortland that it’s time to flip the script and recognize that young people are acting exactly as they’re wired to, and are capable of far more than we’ve been led to believe.