The College of Science gathered on Feb. 26 to recognize and celebrate our high achieving faculty and staff at the 2025 Combined Awards Ceremony. The evening celebrated the very best in the College, from teaching, advising and research to inclusive excellence, administration and service.
The following faculty and staff received awards in Inclusive Excellence, Administration, Service and Performance.
Congratulations to all the awardees!
Hannah Stuwe, graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, received the Inclusive Excellence Award.
Hannah Stuwe, graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, received the Inclusive Excellence Award.
Department Head Elisar Barbar, who nominated Stuwe, said she has engaged in a wide-ranging set of service, outreach and training that is truly impressive. First, Stuwe conducted a GFP protein purification activity for middle and high school students from the Chemawa Indian School, Jewell High School (Seaside), and visited groups of black and Latinx students from the Portland area.
She planned, wrote and edited a handbook of science experiments geared towards middle school aged students, their parents, and teachers to fill the void of not having a BB summer camp. This handbook now serves as a free and open access resource for community members.
Stuwe is the founder of the non-profit organization Corvallis Music Collective. They have engaged in community service and activism by providing live music for events and rallies. Recent events include the Basic Needs Center Fall Welcome Party, the Disabled Students Union Disability Justice Rally and Jackson Street Youth Services National Runaway Prevention Month “Skate Park After Dark” Show.
Amy Timshel, assistant head to the department head in the Department of Microbiology, received the Gladys Valley Award for Exemplary Administrative Support.
Amy Timshel, assistant head to the department head in the Department of Microbiology, received the Gladys Valley Award for Exemplary Administrative Support.
Her colleagues describe her as proactive, always seeking ways to improve processes and deeply committed to making the department a better place for everyone. She is highly regarded by students, faculty and staff for her professionalism, broad knowledge and ability to get things done. In fact, Department Head Anne Dunn noted that when she polled faculty on department strengths during strategic planning exercises, Timshel's critical role in the department was consistently highlighted.
She has a deep understanding of university policies and constantly looks for ways to improve them. She listens, advocates for students and colleagues, and takes initiative to make the department more inclusive and equitable. For example, her work on the Core Values Committee led to the addition of gender-neutral restrooms in Nash Hall and improvements to scholarship and travel fund policies.
Beyond her administrative role, Timshel actively fosters a sense of community within the department. She organizes fundraisers and charity events and regularly attends student events to show her support.
Elaine Cozzi, assistant head and associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, received the Distinguished Service Award for her impactful service to her department, the College and the broader mathematics community.
Elaine Cozzi, assistant head and associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, received the Distinguished Service Award for her impactful service to her department, the College and the broader mathematics community.
Cozzi served as interim associate dean of academic and student affairs for the College in Spring of 2024, managing various projects, including the university’s revision of its undergraduate advising system, assessing teaching resources and addressing countless student issues. She was overwhelmingly generous with her time in responding to the many challenges and the needs of her colleagues.
Before and after serving as associate dean, Cozzi served as assistant department head for mathematics, responsible for scheduling upper-level courses and ensuring adequate staffing for the Department’s teaching mission. This affects the hiring of instructors, graduate students, and undergraduate graders.
Jon Kujawa, Department of Mathematics head and Cozzi’s nominator, noted, “It is hard to overestimate the impact of Elaine’s planning on the smooth operation of the teaching side of the department. And she readily pivots when unexpected events disrupt the plans.” Additionally, Elaine led the assessment of the Mathematics undergraduate program for several years, playing a crucial role in student success, he shared.
Cozzi also contributes significantly to the mathematics profession as Associate Editor for the American Mathematical Monthly – the most widely read mathematics journal in the world. She is also an active member of SIAM, a professional society for applied mathematics, where she helps organize meetings and contributes to administrative efforts and regularly serves as a grant evaluator for the NSF and the Simons Foundation, helping to shape the future of mathematical research.
Virginia Lesser, Department of Statistics Head, received the Champion of Science award.
Virginia Lesser, Department of Statistics Head, received the Champion of Science award for her significant contributions to the field of statistics and to Oregon State University throughout her distinguished career. After earning her PhD in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she joined OSU’s Department of Statistics in 1992.
A year later, she became Director of the Survey Research Center, a role she held until her retirement in December 2024. Lesser's expertise in probability sampling, survey design, and data collection methods ensured that the center upheld the highest standards. Under her leadership, the center became a premier institution, offering expertise in survey methodology, sampling and data analysis – supporting projects that inform policy, environmental monitoring, economic studies and public opinion research. Its work has helped agencies such as the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon State Marine Board, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife make data-driven decisions, not to mention numerous initiatives within the University.
Lesser's groundbreaking research in survey methodology, environmental statistics, applied statistics and ecological monitoring has advanced the field and influenced practice. She has authored over 55 journal articles and conference proceedings, earning national and international recognition – including being named a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.
Lesser's leadership also transformed the statistics department and elevated Oregon State University’s role in the field as department head from 2011 to 2018.
Lesser has also been a dedicated mentor and advocate for students and colleagues. Over the course of her career, she guided more than 220 graduate students and fostered a welcoming, supportive community within the department. Her colleagues regard her as an exceptional mentor and an inspiring leader, someone who consistently goes above and beyond – whether leading major academic initiatives or simply making sure the department potluck had a home-cooked turkey.
Congratulations to the Oregon State College of Science Class of 2021! This class faced enormous challenges due to the pandemic. On the spur of the moment, the class of 2021 transitioned to remote learning, virtual interaction with professors, mentors, peers, friends and experiential learning in online formats. They have also faced increased financial burdens and other stressors. Our students have persevered, showing admirable determination, resilience and fortitude that will serve them well in their lives and careers.
Succeeding against odds while making history, College of Science graduates have found ways during this pandemic to participate and make an impact on state-wide public health endeavors through the TRACE-CVOID-19 project. They have gained enduring skills and done outstanding work in adapted science labs and with science communication in the virtual domain. Our seniors have been instrumental in helping Oregon State succeed at remote teaching in their roles as peer learning assistants and tutors.
Science graduates have led the way by dint of their academic achievements, selfless service and committed leadership. Supported by awards, scholarships and dedicated advisors, our seniors have collaborated with faculty mentors to create new knowledge and achieve major scientific breakthroughs.
Check out our Commencement page to celebrate our graduates. Read their compelling stories below containing reflections on undergraduate experiences at Oregon State and their dreams for the future.
This year’s graduates include Fulbright and Ford Foundation Fellows, Gilman International Scholars, NOAA Scholars, published scientific authors, future doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, teachers and informed, engaged world citizens. We are exceptionally proud of our students and all they have achieved during their career as undergraduates in the College of Science at Oregon State.
The College graduated 670 undergraduate students with baccalaureate degrees in 2020-21, including 68 Honors graduates. More than 80% (538) of our graduates were in the life sciences, with Biology having the most graduates at 199. BioHealth Sciences came in second with 152 graduates; biochemistry and molecular biology had 71 graduates; Zoology 63; Mathematics 56; Microbiology 43; Chemistry 42; Physics 34, and; Biochemistry and Biophysics graduated 10 students.
Of the total baccalaureate graduates, 11% are underrepresented minorities and 26% are first-generation students. In addition, 10 of the 2021 baccalaureate graduates are military veterans.
The College will also award 52 doctoral degrees, 66 master’s degrees and seven certificates in online Data Analytics.
Of the 52 doctoral degrees, Chemistry had 16 Ph.D. students, followed by Integrative Biology at 11; Mathematics 9; Physics 6; Microbiology 5; Statistics 4, and; Biochemistry and Biophysics graduated one doctoral student.
The Department of Statistics awarded 15 master's degrees in statistics and 19 M.S. degrees in data analytics. Chemistry and Mathematics awarded 10 master's degrees each. Physics had 6 master's degree recipients; Microbiology three; Biochemistry and Biophysics two, and; Integrative Biology awarded one master's degree this year.
We invite you to read the profiles of our seniors. These outstanding graduates represent an inclusive and diverse learning community in the College of Science. Here they share their inspiring and unique journeys as science majors.
Biochemistry Professor Elisar Barbar in her lab.
In recognition of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, held on February 11, we acknowledge the women faculty, students and alumnae of the OSU College of Science. The world’s population is 50% women, and yet only 30% of scientists identify as women.
“Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.” (Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day)
The UN main event will take place online. Additionally, the 6th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly will be held at the United Nations Headquarters virtually.
The UN theme for 2021 is “Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19”. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women academics, including women scientists, who may face significant career damage, extending the gender gap in science and highlighting unequal effects and existing systemic inequities. In fact, if we are to learn from past pandemics, women are most affected by pandemics.
The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) endorsed an open letter, published by the European Women in Mathematics which emphasized the unequal effects of this pandemic on all women academics, especially untenured women and caregivers. They offered suggestions for universities, government and funding agencies to proactively support their most vulnerable populations.
"We did not experience the crisis equally. Untenured faculty lost more. Women lost more. Caregivers lost more. The more vulnerable the population, the greater the disadvantage. No one chooses a pandemic, but now we can choose how to respond." -- the EWM Standing Committee and the EWM Working Group on the Corona Crisis
It is also important to recognize that we cannot fold the experiences of all women into one. Covid-19 has its deadliest effects at crossroads of differing axes of oppression. To meaningfully address issues of equity and inclusion requires that we respond to the unequal effects at the intersections of race & ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, among other social axes of oppression.
And yet, women have made critical contributions to understanding and combating the virus and mitigating its effects on disadvantaged populations.
During this International day of Women and Girls in Science, we take the opportunity to highlight the contributions of OSU College of Science women, both alumnae and current faculty and students, to the fight against Covid-19.
Dr. SreyRam Kuy
Dr. SreyRam Kuy (Microbiology '00) was honored with a 2020 Alumni Fellows Award (as an OSU Honors College nominee) at the OSU Alumni Association’s awards virtual ceremony on October 20, 2020. The award recognizes eminent alumni who have distinguished themselves in their professions and communities. Kuy is a practicing general surgeon, healthcare executive and quality improvement researcher. She currently serves as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas and is a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine.
As the Covid-19 pandemic emerged, Kuy developed a Covid-19 Preparation Tool to help healthcare facilities, businesses and communities rapidly gauge their preparedness for the outbreak, identify areas of weakness and strategically target resources for their greatest impact. She partnered with industry to deploy the free tool widely.
"I had such amazing support at OSU. My teachers and advisers took genuine interest in me and helped and encouraged me. It was a pivotal point in my life that helped me get into medical school and become a doctor,” — SreyRam Kuy
Biochemistry Professor Elisar Barbar
Elisar Barbar, professor and head of the Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, has received a two-year $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to pursue research on the SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The research project is aimed at understanding how the N-protein of the SARS-CoV-2 performs its essential functions in viral infection and transmission.
The award was made by the NSF EAGER (Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research) program, which supports new, exploratory and potentially transformative research ideas or approaches that involve the application of new expertise and novel disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives.
“My lab is one of the few labs in the world that works on disordered proteins in viruses using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy). This is an opportunity for us to lead and make an impact. We cannot afford to be spectators." — Elisar Barbar
Dr. Eva Galvez
Dr. Eva Galvez (Biology ’99), a family physician at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, was honored with the 2020 Alumni Fellows Award
The daughter of immigrants, Galvez and her twin sister, Olivia, graduated from the College of Science’s biology program and went on to pursue careers in medicine. Galvez regularly speaks on panels to educate the public around health disparities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Galvez has become a vocal advocate for mitigating health risks for Oregon’s seasonal farm workers and has addressed the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis in the House of Representatives.
"Much of our society has this belief that health is something that we have control over — that if we as individuals can just eat the right food and exercise the right amount and take the right medications you will be healthy. ... The reality is only about 20% of our health is determined by healthcare and our individual choice. And the rest is shaped by social factors, otherwise known as social determinants of health, and those include cultural beliefs and your values.” — Eva Galvez
Mathematics alumna Carrie Manore
Mathematics alumna Carrie Manore (Ph.D. ’11) is at Los Alamos National Laboratory working as part of the Covid-19 modeling team. Manore is a mathematical epidemiologist in the Information Systems and Modeling Group at LANL since 2013. Her work focuses on modeling mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus. The LANL Covid-19 forecasts are part of the modeling New Mexico Department of Health officials have been using since April to prepare for and tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has placed mathematical models in the spotlight as they have become central to public health interventions, planning, resource allocation and forecasts. OSU mathematics alumni have made important contributions to Covid-19 modeling and research at both national and regional levels.
"I got a really strong background in math at OSU, which not only helped me acquire mathematical skills, but also a way of thinking. It prepared me to work on real problems in the world like I am doing now.” — Carrie Manore
Integrative Biology graduate student Rachael Aber
Rachael Aber, Integrative Biology graduate student, has been involved in the TRACE-COVID project that involves door-to-door community surveillance to gather the information that is essential to slowing the spread and minimizing the impact of the disease. She recently spoke at the ARCS Foundation Virtual Event - Science is the Solution about her experiences. She talked about the importance of scientists interacting with the public. Aber received the ARCS Foundation Oregon Chapter Scholar Award.
She was drawn to the Department of Integrative Biology because of its strong tradition of support for interdisciplinary approaches to urgent research questions. She hopes to focus her doctoral research on investigating issues at the intersection of disease ecology and population biology in the lab of Benjamin Dalziel.
“Working in a lab that employs methods from various fields of study will be invaluable to my progress as a science professional.” — Rachael Aber
Microbiology graduate student Elizanette Lopez
Recent microbiology master’s program graduate Elizanette ‘Nette’ Lopez (Microbiology, M.S. '20) was selected to participate in the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellowship program. Lopez was offered a position at the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) Biorepository in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Her graduate studies were partly funded by a diversity grant from the NIH. During her time at OSU, Lopez advocated for underrepresented minorities and was an active member of the Microbiology Graduate Student Association, Ethnic Minorities United in STEM and a founding member of the Women of Color Caucus. Toward the end of her graduate studies, the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions globally. However, the crisis also provided an opportunity for Lopez to gain experience in public health microbiology as a volunteer for the TRACE-COVID-19 project.
As a volunteer, Lopez helped process thousands of swab samples collected from participants in the field. As an ORISE Fellowship recipient, Lopez will soon process SARS-CoV-2 samples and help organize other collections in the biorepository in Atlanta, Georgia.
OSU statistician Katherine McLaughlin
Katie McLaughlin is an assistant professor of statistics and co-Principal Investigator of the TRACE-COVID-19 project. McLaughlin is an applied statistician specializing in sampling methodology and social network analysis, particularly for hidden populations at high risk for infectious diseases. The pandemic has led to volumes of data which require statistical interpretation. The data gathered and analyzed by TRACE researchers provide important guidance for local and state officials deciding which public health actions make the most sense in protecting their communities.
“Thanks to all of the support we continue to receive, and thanks to Oregon State’s overarching spirit of collaboration and service, we’re able to play a key role in helping communities stay safe.” — Katie McLaughlin
In addition to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science this month, the International Women’s Day is on March 8, 2021. The UN announced the theme for 2021 is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, which is aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and calls for the full participation of women, gender equality, elimination of violence against and empowerment for all women and girls. Activities planned around this event will be announced.
Javier Rojo, Korvis Professor of Statistics, received the 2020 Distinguished Scientist Award from SACNAS.
Corvallis, Ore. — Javier Rojo, professor of statistics at Oregon State University, has received a national award for his contributions to the fields of statistics and mathematics and for his commitment to increasing the success of minority students in those disciplines.
Rojo, whose official title is Korvis Professor of Statistics, received the 2020 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, in part for his Research for Undergraduates Summer Institute of Statistics@OSU.
Each year the institute, known as RUSIS, recruits up to 15 underrepresented minority students who don’t have easy access to a research experience at their institutions, including students from community colleges, tribal colleges, historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions. Rojo and colleagues mentor and train the students for careers in research in mathematics and statistics.
“I’m very humbled and greatly honored to be chosen for this award,” said Rojo, who came to the OSU Department of Statistics four years ago from the University of Nevada at Reno following 13 years at Rice University and 18 years at the University of Texas at El Paso. “It’s an incredible honor for anyone and especially for someone who grew up in Ciudad, Juárez, México, dreaming of being Mickey Mantle’s successor in center field for the New York Yankees.”
Rojo, who played baseball for UTEP before an injury ended his hopes of a major league career, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from that school before gaining an additional master’s from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of California, Berkeley.
“One of the amazing things about Dr. Rojo is his willingness to take risks,” said Bill Velez, professor emeritus of mathematics at Arizona State University. “He accepts students who don’t have a great GPA or who do not have a substantial background in mathematics. Yet his data is enviable and shows that in spite of this, his RUSIS students are pursuing postgraduate studies.”
Rojo created the RUSIS program while at Rice and since its inception it has welcomed 246 participants, 40 of whom have gone on to earn a Ph.D.
Korvis Professor of Statistics Javier Rojo
Korvis Professor of Statistics Javier Rojo is the recipient of the 2018 Dr. Etta Z. Falconer Award for Mentoring and Commitment to Diversity. Dr. Rojo will receive his award at the Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC) on April 14 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a professional commitment to mentoring and increasing diversity in the mathematical sciences.
Rojo joined OSU's Department of Statistics as the inaugural Korvis Professor of Statistics in January 2017. The professorship is supported by statistics alumnus Rich Carone, CEO of Korvis Automation, a leading technology and manufacturing company based in Corvallis with offices in Singapore and Shanghai. The position supports OSU science faculty in physics or quantitative sciences to help advance research in the field of statistics and in the world of science more generally.
Rojo leads and directs the nationally recognized Research for Undergraduates Summer Institute of Statistics (RUSIS), which was selected by the American Mathematical Society for its award "Mathematics Programs That Make a Difference." RUSIS was honored as a model program for encouraging undergraduates to pursue graduate studies in the mathematical sciences and for increasing the numbers of underrepresented minorities and women in mathematics and statistics.
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency for the last 15 years, RUSIS is the country’s first Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) Program in the field of statistics. It has a highly successful track record in recruiting, training and guiding underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students towards advanced degrees in mathematics and statistics.
The Institute conducts a 10-week intensive summer program for the study of statistics and its applications for a cohort of 12-15 students every year. Under Rojo’s leadership, the program has taken phenomenal strides: After 10 years, the REU program reported that 85% of the undergraduates who attended the Summer Institute were admitted to Ph.D. programs around the country, with roughly 61% of students hailing from underrepresented populations and 53% of the participants have been female.
Rojo has been commended by both students and colleagues for his exceptional dedication to mentoring and teaching in the field of statistics leading to highly positive outcomes.
"As a first-generation college graduate and female in the field of statistics, the RUSIS program has greatly influenced the type of person that I am. Dr. Rojo taught me how to collaborate, be adaptable, well-rounded, and gave me confidence in my research and work. I feel that the RUSIS program laid the foundation for me to be a strong competitor upon entering graduate school. Today, I attribute my success in both undergraduate and graduate school, as well as my career to Dr. Rojo’s RUSIS program," writes a RUSIS alumna.
In an appreciative tribute, a colleague writes:
"One of the amazing things about RUSIS is that Javier is willing to take risks; he is willing to accept students who don’t have a great GPA or who do not have a substantial background in mathematics. Yet his data are enviable and show that, in spite of this, his RUSIS graduates are pursuing postgraduate studies. I have heard over and over again from the students that I send to RUSIS that it was an amazing experience."
Falconer was an educator and mathematician and one of the first African-American women to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics. A professor of mathematics at Spelman College and Norfolk State University, Falconer once said, "My entire career has been devoted to increasing the number of African-American women in mathematics and mathematics-related careers." Over the course of Falconer’s tenure at Spelman College, the number of women majoring in science, mathematics, and engineering tripled to nearly 40 percent of the student body.
The IPC is a national conference that is designed to promote, educate, encourage and support women of color interested in mathematics and statistics. IPC 2018 is organized by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley, California, with funding from the Mathematical Sciences Institutes Diversity Initiative, a NSF program.
Read more about Javier Rojo and RUSIS.
Sastry Pantula at the 2017 International Indian Statistical Association (IISA) Conference
Statisticians from Oregon State University are in Hyderabad, India for the 2017 International Indian Statistical Association (IISA) Conference, December 27-30, 2017. The conference will take place at the Hyderabad International Convention Center. The theme of the conference is "Statistics and Data Science for Better Life, Society and Science."
Professor Sastry Pantula is a panelist in a discussion on Women in Statistics and Data Science. He is also a speaker in a special panel, entitled "Are Statisticians Prepared for the Data Science challenge?-A Career Development Panel." Pantula is a member of 2017 IISA's International Advisory Committee.
Assistant Professor Sharmodeep Bhattacharyya will present his research at a session on "Estimation and Inference in Networks and Graphical Models." Bhattacharyya will also chair a session on "Probability, Random Matrices, Big Data."
The 2016 IISA conference was hosted by the Department of Statistics at Oregon State at the Learning Innovation Center on campus, August 18-21. Emphasizing the theme of "Statistical and Data Sciences: A Key to Healthy People, Planet and Prosperity," the conference was attended by 200 statisticians from the United States and other parts of the world.
Read more: Welcoming hundreds of statisticians to campus
International statistics conference comes to campus
The OMSI Science Communication Fellowship Program
Applications are open for Oregon's top academic and professional fellowship program: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's OMSI Science Communication Fellowship. For spring 2018, the fellowship is open to researchers or science professionals including faculty, graduate students,technicians, or other individuals in STEM and health related professions.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, November 1.
Held primarily in Corvallis, OR on the OSU campus, OMSI Fellows participate in a series of professional development workshops that cover science communication best practices and provide opportunities for participants to practice new skills and techniques. In collaboration with OMSI, each Fellow will develop a unique hands-on educational activity designed to communicate their research to public audiences and will join OMSI in engaging museum visitors with these activities at Meet a Scientist events.
A series of four professional development workshops will focus on building skills to effectively communicate scientific research with broader audiences. Workshops are 3-4 hours each, spaced over the course of three to four months.
Tuition for the program is $1850 per participant. The Science Dean's Office will cover half the tuition for all accepted College of Science applicants.
The OMSI Science Communication Fellowship Program is an excellent way to fulfill broader impact and outreach goals for grant-funded research at OSU. Many of the participants in the Fellowship program secure their tuition through broader impacts or education and outreach components of current research grants.
An online application and further information about the Fellowship program can be found on OMSI's website.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Two new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in the field of statistics are training students in cutting-edge and advanced data analytics and computational skills essential to interdisciplinary research across the fields of statistics, microbiology and quantitative sciences.
New grant trains students in data analytics
The Department of Statistics was awarded its first Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant this year. The National Science Foundation’s REU program supports comprehensive, hands-on research experience for undergraduate students in the STEM fields, and awards funds to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research.
Statistics faculty Yanming Di, Lan Xue, Thomas Sharpton (PI; joint appointment in microbiology), Duo Jiang and Yuan Jiang received the NSF REU grant from the American Statistical Association (ASA). The $380K project is for 2016-2018, to support three REU sites per year, for a total of nine REU sites across the country. The grant funds 10 weeks of research and training for four undergraduate students at each site. Each student receives a stipend of $8,000.
The overall objective of the ASA-supported REU program is to promote undergraduate research experiences in statistics and to prepare students for graduate study in statistics. According to ASA, "The students will see how statistics has an impact on fields such as engineering, atmospheric science, health care, and all kinds of public policy."
Statistics REU students (from l to r) Aaron Huang, Ellen Kulinski, Betsy Hensel and Shelby Taylor enjoy the outdoors in Corvallis.
Oregon State University was chosen by ASA as one of three REU sites this year and is currently hosting students from across the country from June 19 until August 25. The four REU participants were selected from more than a hundred applicants in a highly competitive process.
The REU students are Shelby Taylor from Brigham Young University, Aaron Huang from the University of Washington, Ellen Kulinsky from the University of California-Berkeley and Elizabeth Hensel from the University of Virginia.
"The students are stellar and they are doing a fantastic job with the research. They were selected for this transdisciplinary REU because of their prior knowledge and preparation in both statistics and biology. We are very lucky to have them here," said Sharpton.
The students are gaining exposure to the entire data analysis process as it relates to biological research. They analyze DNA sequence data and use statistical methods to determine how the types of bacteria that live in the gut, known as the gut microbiome, relate to human health, lifestyle and environmental conditions.
Specifically, the students are analyzing data from a large, crowd-sourced, citizen science project led by American Gut which collects human samples, ranging from saliva to stool, along with questionnaire responses about individual lifestyles and diet. Working closely with an interdisciplinary team of faculty, each student will conduct a complete data analysis, which includes data quality control, applying statistical and bioinformatics techniques, data visualization. Faculty members will train students in all of the techniques and skills that they need to complete the project.
Students will analyze the data to gather information on how the gut microbiome varies across individuals and its association with a variety of health and lifestyle factors. Some of the REU projects explore how body mass index affects the microbiome; the relationship between age and the microbiome; and the associations between the gut microbiome and food and alcohol consumption.
REU students acquire knowledge and expertise in statistics and biology through intensive subject lectures. Hands-on experiential learning projects in bioinformatics and biostatistics give them ample opportunities to apply their theoretical and conceptual learning to design experiments and deduce results from complex data sets. The data-driven REU will prepare students to capitalize on the growing professional opportunities in data analytics.
While Sharpton and Jiang are extensively involved in guiding student research projects, the REU is a deeply collaborative process in which the other faculty are serving in important mentorship roles and providing expertise in theoretical and computational subject areas. Di, for example, has been teaching students computer coding and programming. Students are also learning R, LaTeX and Matlab as a part of their statistical and biological research.
"The REU has provided our faculty an opportunity to work with ambitious and talented undergraduate students. It has also exposed students to cutting-edge microbiome science. Through their research they are seeking answers to novel questions on human health and the microbiome, a new area of study about which much remains to be done," said Sharpton. He hopes to bring a similar opportunity to OSU students in the future.
This REU in the area of microbiome informatics research is a pivotal part of Oregon State Microbiome Initiative (OMBI), and is slated to advance education and research in the statistical, biological and computational sciences at OSU. OMBI launched this spring.
The students' research and learning experiences for the REU project are generously supported by the Department of Statistics, the College of Science and the Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing (CGRB). At CGRB, the students have conducted bioinformatics research and analysis with the aid of its biocomputing cyber infrastructure.
More information is available online.
Photo above: College of Science Dean Sastry Pantula with (l to r) Statistics REU students Ellen Kulinsky, Aaron Huang, Betsy Hensel and Shelby Taylor
The Summer Institute of Statistics targets talented, underrepresented students
Professor Javier Rojo (far right), who joined the Department of Statistics in January 2017, has moved his award-winning REU site, Research for Undergraduates Summer Institute of Statistics to Oregon State (RUSIS@OSU) from the University of Nevada, Reno. In 2003 as a professor at Rice University, Rojo started the country’s first Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) Program in the field of statistics, which has been extremely successful in recruiting, training and guiding underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students towards advanced degrees in mathematics and statistics.
The Institute conducts a 10-week intensive summer program for the study of statistics and its applications for a cohort of 12-15 students every year. This summer 12 students, chosen from a pool of 70 applicants, are working on statistical research projects at OSU from June 19-August 24. The REU cohort is 50 percent female and 10 of the 12 students are underrepresented minorities. They hail from institutions such as the University of Texas, El Paso, University of Arizona, Occidental College, California State University, Bakersfield, Fresno State University, Texas State University, San Marcos, Duke, and Harvard among other places.
"One of the benefits of transferring the REU program to OSU is the name recognition that will attract talented students. It is also a great recruitment tool and may inspire students to apply to the Statistics Graduate Programs at OSU," said Rojo.
There is promising data that REUs have a positive impact on graduate recruitment in host institutions. According to Rojo, approximately 10 students who received their Ph.D.s at Rice University had been RUSIS participants during the years the program was housed at Rice.
Current RUSIS students represent a mix of majors including engineering, computer science, mathematics and the social sciences such as psychology. Under Rojo's guidance they are pursuing research on ambitious and exciting projects that involve studying data to measure the impact of the Clean Air Act on environmental pollution, investigating studies on the impact of obesity on the environment from a statistical standpoint, using probabilistic and statistical components to model data for better financial investment decisions as well as various other research projects.
Research projects at RUSIS, Rojo points out, involve heavy computation. The students are undergoing valuable computational training and learning various programming languages such as R, LaTex, Matlab and Mathematica taught by graduate students in the Department of Mathematics. Students also go through a four-week course on statistics and probability that brings them up to speed with statistics.
At the end of the program the students are expected to produce a technical report in LaTex and present a research talk to a scientific advisory committee comprising experts from Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Arizona, University of Michigan, Rice University and the University of Texas, El Paso.
Owing to the paucity of statistics undergraduate programs in the country, Rojo has encountered fewer than one percent statistics majors at RUSIS. Most RUSIS participants come from fields such as biology, business and computer science. But he notes that nearly 30 RUSIS alumni have gone on to earn a Ph.D. in statistics and biostatistics.
"My main objective is to encourage students to obtain a Ph.D. in statistics if they have the opportunity to do so," said Rojo.
The program has been variously supported and funded by the NSF and the National Security Agency (NSA) for the last 15 years. Owing to Rojo’s sustained efforts and leadership, the American Mathematical Society (AMS) selected his REU program for its award “Mathematics Programs That Make a Difference” in 2014.
The AMS award citation states, "As the first REU in Statistics, RUSIS has served as a model program for others to emulate, both by encouraging undergraduates to pursue graduate studies in the mathematical sciences and by increasing the numbers of underrepresented minorities and women in mathematics and statistics."
Under Rojo’s leadership, the program has taken phenomenal strides: After 10 years, the REU program reported that 85% of the undergraduates who attended the Summer Institute were admitted to Ph.D. programs around the country, with roughly 61% of students hailing from underrepresented populations and 53% of the participants have been female.
These impressive results were achieved through “intensive statistics courses, close supervision of research projects and visits to various research institutes and agencies in the area” according to Rojo, who is responsible for the students’ computational training and research projects.
Read more: Internationally renowned statistician joins faculty
Heather Kitada, Ph.D. graduate in statistics
Ph.D. graduate Heather H. Kitada enjoys working in both statistics and the wider world of science communication, outreach and advocacy. A native of Pasadena, a third-generation Japanese-American and the eldest child of a dentist couple, Kitada grew up learning and performing Japanese dance in Pasadena’s Buddhist temples with her younger sister, competing in science fairs and taking part in girl scout activities.
Kitada achieved her cherished dream of teaching at a liberal arts college, landing a visiting assistant professor at Reed College following graduation.
She came to Oregon in 2008 to study for an undergraduate degree in mathematics at Lewis and Clark College in Portland and stayed on to pursue a Ph.D. in statistics at OSU.
Passionate about undergraduate teaching, Kitada amassed tons of teaching experience at OSU, teaching statistics courses at OSU and at OSU Cascades in Bend. She enjoys connecting with students and watching them master the material.
Heather Kitada, Ph.D. student in statistics
“I really appreciated the experience of teaching a group of people who are interested in learning,” Kitada said.
Alongside her doctoral research, she earned a Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching (GCCUT), a two-year program which she completed in a year. She served as a graduate teaching assistant for the GCCUT program and was the lead fellow at OSU’s Center for Teaching and Learning where she developed curriculum for training new graduate teaching assistants from all disciplines in pedagogy and school policies.
Kitada received prestigious national awards for statistical research. She led her team to victory and was awarded the first place in the ResearchHack 3.0 competition at the 2017 annual conference of the American Association of Public Opinion Research. She wrote a Shiny App that provided innovative and useful insight on employing data from several sources to help non-profits in planning future fundraising endeavors. The competition was hosted by the U.S. Census Bureau, who also provided data for the contest.
Kitada received the 2015 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) best poster presentation award in the Survey Research Methods Section for her poster, "Adjusting for effects of survey model differences across a longitudinal mixed-mode study." She also awarded the Rose Hill Foundation Statistics Fellowship for academic achievement.
Her graduate research focuses on sampling and survey methodology. With her advisor Sarah Emerson, Kitada explored statistical methods to correct for biases that stem from different modes of collecting surveys (telephone, mail and web) as well as different models to estimate bias.
Her decision to study for an advanced degree in statistics, she says, owes a lot to Emerson’s support and guidance.
“The reason I am so excited to work with her is because she is a great researcher and she has this drive to find answers. She is also very creative,” Kitada said.
Kitada enjoys disseminating statistical knowledge and illuminating its many uses outside the classroom. She has done a lot of statistical consulting for other scientists and for different companies, and authored a paper with area physicians after they reached out to her for statistical assistance on a patient study.
Kitada, who wants to make the most of her experience at OSU, has also served as an OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) Science Communication Fellow, participating in STEM outreach events for young children.
“It is very important for OMSI to show children, especially young girls, that scientists are diverse. Children see us and they realize that there are so many different types of people who can be scientists and it broadens their horizons,” she noted.
Kitada wants to continue her mission of teaching and outreach in the area of statistics. She looks forward to making a difference in the lives of many more students going forward.
