The College of Science congratulates these 20 faculty on receiving promotions and/or tenure for the 2017-18 academic year.

“The success of our faculty is essential to the success of our students,” said Roy Haggerty, dean of the College of Science. “I am proud of our faculty who are outstanding researchers, scholars, teachers and mentors to our students.”

'I want to also thank our Promotion and Tenure Committee for devoting a significant amount of time engaged in the intense review process to award the best candidates for promotion and/or tenure,” added Haggerty.

Tremendous consideration goes into each promotion and tenure decision. The Provost’s Office, the College of Science Dean’s office, department heads, Promotion and Tenure Committee members, faculty, external reviewers, student evaluation committees, and individual faculty members all spend many hours preparing, processing and reviewing the documentation.

Congratulations to the following science faculty!

Biochemistry and Biophysics Department

Note: this article is part of a yearlong series on the distinguished tradition of scientific research pertaining to Oregon State’s 150th anniversary and its four land-grant designations. From our fall 2017 issue: 150 years of science for sea and space(Introduction), On the shoulders of giants, Oregon State Science: The many "firsts" in 150 years. From our spring 2018 issue: The significance of OSU's sea-, space-, sun- and land-grant designations, "Milestones: Oregon State Science at the helm for 150 years."

While the College of Science at Oregon State University was formally established in 1932, science programs and departments have been instrumental in shaping the evolution of research and education at the university since its 1868 land grant designation.

In fact, long before OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences came into existence, the new agricultural curriculum was first taught in the Department of Chemistry in 1870 paving the way for the scientific study of agriculture for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. Such pioneering science programs since the earliest days of the institution were responsible for OSU’s land grant designation making it one of three land-grant colleges in the country at that time (The other two were the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of California at Berkeley).

The first professors of engineering at OSU in the 1890s were also professors of mathematics. Some of the university’s earliest engineering disciplines would not have flourished if it were not for the fundamental sciences. A four-year mining engineering curriculum was established in the Department of Chemistry in 1900 that led to the consolidation of early engineering programs in metallurgy.

The chemistry department was also the home of the first geology courses. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the natural and physical sciences at OSU have shaped and guided the growth of the world-class research and education that takes place across all STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields in the university today.

OSU land grant: From plows to touch screens

Science has played a founding role in carrying out Oregon State’s Land Grant mission from its origins in the Morrill Act of 1862, whose focus was to teach agriculture, military tactics and “mechanical arts” or engineering. Chemistry was hailed, for example, as “the cornerstone of Scientific Agriculture” in the 1869-70 course catalog. And in 1899, today’s microbiology department arguably began with a single course in bacteriology, to help understand and eliminate bacterial diseases of crops. Mathematics and physics courses were a core part of the mechanical arts curriculum and the fledgling department of mechanical engineering, formed in 1889.

In the 20^th century, the University’s land-grant mission expanded to adapt to the changing social and economic needs, including a new forestry program in response to Oregon’s growing timber industry and a growing emphasis on engineering after World War II. As the scope of the land-grant mission widened, science continued to be front and center. The chemistry department was home to new four-year programs in pharmacy (1898), mining (1900) and forestry (1906). By 1912, bacteriology was driving innovation across various industries and considered essential training for “any student properly equipped in Dairying, Agriculture, Agronomy, Pharmacy, Domestic Science, etc.”

In the 21^st century, Oregon State under President Ray’s leadership aims to be among the top 10 land grant institutions in America, with a focus on three signature areas: the Science of Sustainable Earth Ecosystems, Human Health and Wellness, and Economic Growth and Social Progress. The College of Science is a key contributor with pioneering programs and research in biohealth, the life sciences, marine and environmental sciences and, increasingly, statistics, as students and researchers across a wide variety of fields learn to interpret and gain often revolutionary insights from big data.

An integral part of OSU’s land-grant mission is also to foster public outreach and engagement, and science has long been at the heart of its various agricultural experiment stations and Cooperative Extension Service. Through evidence-based programs designed to make Oregon farms more sustainable, to teach gardeners how to raise bees, reduce pesticides or compost; or encourage children to pursue STEM careers through its engaging, hands-on 4-H programs — science provides both a body of evidence and a mode of inquiry that supports both backyard sleuths and future astrophysicists.

Science also contributes to economic growth with a constant stream of research-inspired innovation, producing 48 new inventions and securing 18 U.S. patents since 2011 alone. Local, state and global industries have profited from sustainable materials that began as lab experiments in Gilbert Hall, from more efficient batteries and greener touch screens, to a new heat-resistant paint using YImMn blue, the new pigment discovered by chemist Mas Subramanian.

Lastly, the College’s current investment in student diversity and success continues a long and proud tradition of opening STEM fields to all, science being a necessary part of the “liberal and practical education” for the “industrial classes” since the passage of the 1862 Morrill Act. As the University’s land-grant mission continues to evolve, science will remain at the heart – and the edge – of discovery and innovation.

Sun: Harnessing natural resources for a healthy planet

For nearly 150 years, the natural sciences at OSU have been at the forefront of research and innovation bridging the biological sciences and the physical sciences (physics and chemistry) for environmental sustainability, renewable energy and a healthy planet.

Chemist David Ji has pioneered the invention of new long-lasting and high-performance energy materials in the form of batteries for the purposes of sustainable energy storage. By employing carbon-based materials and hydrocarbon solids, Ji has designed new battery devices such as the world’s first hydronium-ion battery, potassium-ion battery, dual-ion battery and sodium-ion battery which can easily and cheaply store energy from the wind and sun. Ji’s innovations in the area of energy storage have ushered in a new era of renewable and sustainable batteries.

Materials physicist Janet Tate is a key player in the field of renewable energy technologies that includes development of transparent conductors and photovoltaic materials. Tate is a principal investigator at the prestigious Center for Next Generation of Materials Design—an Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

By integrating the talent and expertise of leading scientists such as Tate, the EFRC aims to “accelerate transformative discovery” and innovate new materials on the atomic and molecular scale to enhance energy security and protect the global environment. At the Center for Next Generation of Materials Design, Tate studies metastable alloys to design inorganic semiconductors for optoelectronic applications (electronic devices that source, detect and control light).

The OSU Sun Grant program is supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy aimed at the creation of biofuels and other environmentally sustainable green technologies to meet growing energy demands and promote opportunities for bio-based economic growth in rural communities.

One of the key sun grant projects on genetic modification of poplar trees to produce plant-based plastics will be extended in new, innovative directions with the added expertise of statistical methods. In collaboration with College of Forestry Professor Steven Strauss, statistician Yuan Jiang is investigating better methods of mapping the genes that control the process of regeneration and transformation needed for genetic engineering by using DNA sequence databases, imaging and computations.

This five-year, $4 million project is funded by the National Science Foundation and is an important advance in developing genetically engineered crop species in ways that help meet our present challenges without unintended environmental effects.

“The History of Life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings,” writes Rachel Carson in her environmental classic Silent Spring (1962). An education in Earth’s natural and physical environments and their interrelationships is at the foundation of the top-ranked interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences undergraduate program at Oregon State.

Global warming, species extinction, air and water pollution, natural resource depletion, and renewable energy demands are rapidly changing the world we live in. These developments require the expertise and knowledge of environmental scientists who can assess, tackle and mitigate environmental challenges as well as help preserve a healthy natural environment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of environmental scientists is projected to increase 11 percent from 2016 to 2026.

Housed in the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State’s online and on campus environmental sciences bachelor program is setting high standards for excellence. U.S. News & World Report features OSU in its top 40 programs for Best Global Universities for Environment/Ecology, awarding it a rank of 36 amongst similar programs worldwide.

The online program in environmental sciences was ranked No. 2 in the nation by Online Colleges in its ranking for Best Online Colleges for Environmental Science in 2018. For its rankings, Online Colleges “collected data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and utilized a custom methodology to ascertain the ten best schools for environmental science in the United States.”

Students can earn an environmental sciences degree both on campus and through online courses, which are taught by Oregon State faculty, many of whom are in the College of Science. The online bachelor of science degree in environmental sciences is offered by OSU’s award-winning Ecampus. With a focus on eco-oriented programs as well as a broad swath of fields from anthropology to computer science, OSU Ecampus has racked up top place rankings in almost every prestigious survey of online degree programs. Since 2014, U.S. News & World Report has ranked OSU Ecampus in its top 10 online bachelor’s programs.

Breaking down boundaries: An interdisciplinary approach

One of the great strengths of environmental sciences at OSU is undoubtedly its interdisciplinary character. The program emphasizes the biological, physical, earth and natural sciences as well as the integration of social sciences that cover a wide range of subject areas from ethics to environmental law, policy and management.

Director of the Environmental Sciences Program Laurence Becker explains that the program offers a broad base in the sciences with a great deal of academic flexibility for students who love the environment and desire a broad exposure to both science and environmental law and policy.

An attractive feature of the program is that students can choose from one of nine options that range from studies in alternative energy and environmental science education to earth systems and environmental water resources. The most popular options are applied ecology and conservation, resources and sustainability.

In addition, the major offers two certificates: one in the popular field of geographic information science (GIS) and the other in scientific, technical and professional communication. All of the specializations are available online through Ecampus except alternative energy and environmental science education.

More often than not students discover their vocation as they experience different facets of environmental science training in this nontraditional program.

“This program allows them to remain open to different job opportunities and different areas of environmental science they are exposed to in their undergraduate career. The broad degree allows students to shift along the way if needed and many discover interests they wouldn’t have dreamed of in the beginning,” said Becker.

The science in environmental sciences

Science is a foundation for the degree because environmental studies majors need the scientific aptitude to apply complex concepts in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics in order to understand challenging environmental issues and seek solutions. Quantitative coursework in differential, integral calculus and statistical methods prepare students to design research models and employ analytical tools to study and assess the environmental impact of development projects and businesses.

The bachelor of science degree in Environmental Sciences requires all students to complete a full year of basic science courses in biology and chemistry, as well as courses in calculus, statistics and physics.

The environmental sciences curriculum comprises many core courses that are taught in the College of Science. It offers students different specializations in the program as well as a rigorous foundation in theoretical and experimental upper-level science courses, including:

• Ecology (BI 370), which is central to the degree program
• Marine ecology
• Ecological methods
• Animal behavior
• Human ecology
• Conservation of marine mammals
• Modern chemical analysis, among others.

For example, a specialization in aquatic biology comprises coursework in a diverse and exciting mix of courses in marine and invertebrate biology offered by the College of Science, oceanography in the College of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences and courses in biological resources at the College of Forestry.

The strong presence of science in the basic, core and specialized components of the Environmental Sciences program enhances both its rigor and cross-disciplinary power.

Develop expertise that makes a difference to all

An experiential learning requirement offers students the opportunity to complete an environmental science related internship, research project, field course or a study abroad experience.

Becker points out that online students are encouraged to pursue internships; on-campus students often undertake research projects or internships.

The experiences often turn out to have a lasting impact on student careers, explains Becker. Students discover opportunities to pursue significant internships in the areas of hydrology, wildlife management, conservation science, biochemistry and geoscience across local and federal government agencies, research centers, environmental consulting firms and not-for-profit organizations. It is not unusual for quite a few of them to translate into longer-term opportunities and job offers.

The broad versus the narrow

Becker often meets parents of prospective students who are nervous about job prospects within a broad field of study.

“The program’s training in science and social science cultivates a broad knowledge of natural sciences with ethics and policy. We often attract students from more specialized majors such as engineering who don’t feel comfortable in a narrower choice of subjects and are motivated by a deep love for the environment.”

The most attractive feature of the degree is the wide variety of careers it throws open for graduates. Environmental scientists can work in local government, private companies, law firms, not-for-profit groups or government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, or the United States Geological Survey. Students also get into competitive law school programs and other graduate programs in the sciences and policy.

Due to the unique constellations of quantitative, analytical and research skills in addition to writing and communication abilities that they acquire from the interdisciplinary curriculum, environmental science students find themselves well suited to a diverse range of jobs across environmental science, policy, education and consulting firms.

“It is incumbent on us as advisors and teachers to help students find something that they are passionate about,” said Becker.

Each year Becker invites seniors and recent alumni to speak to first-year students in his Environmental Sciences Orientation class. During a recent visit, a talented environmental sciences alumnus who was also a ROTC (Reserve Officers Trainings Corps) graduate at OSU, shared insights gleaned from his professional journey.

He had easily found employment, working at positions related to the field of environmental sciences that were nonetheless very different from one another. A fourth job change landed him an enviable position in the Oregon National Guard where he leads the environmental management of their facilities.

The alumnus had a message about the enduring advantages of an environmental sciences degree: “The degree because of its breadth allowed me to apply for jobs that I hadn’t worked in.”

“Having this broad background allowed for a possibility of change when the opportunity arose,” added Becker.

Given the rising demand for experts in the field, OSU environmental scientists will be having an impact on the world around us for many decades to come.

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.

The university has awarded more than $39.5 million in scholarships to students for the 2017-18 academic year, a key component of OSU President Ed Ray’s Student Success Initiative.

Roughly $24.5 million of the total is spread among 7,271 scholarships to returning students. The rest is for awards to 2,532 new/incoming students, including 34 who received a $10,000-per-year Presidential Scholarship, OSU’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship.

Approximately 35 percent of this year’s first-year students are receiving scholarship support.

Scholarships for science students at an all-time high

College of Science students received the second highest amount of scholarship funds in the university.

More than $7.5 million in scholarship money is going to College of Science students, the college’s highest total ever, said Roy Haggerty, dean of the college. That is triple the amount awarded two years ago. Reasons for the jump include increases in university scholarships and in the number of high-achieving students enrolling in the College.

Nearly $5 million is allocated to 1,344 scholarships for returning students. The rest is for awards to 570 incoming/new students, including nine who received a Presidential Scholarship.

This year more than half of the college’s first-year students received scholarship support.

“Scholarships enable the college to attract, retain and inspire top science students, most of whom go on to high-achieving careers in industry, graduate school, medical school and other professional programs after graduation,” Haggerty said.

“Oregon State’s financial-need-based scholarships also help academically talented low-income and first-generation students from Oregon and elsewhere stay and excel in college.”

First-generation students typically have a greater financial need so scholarships are a crucial part of their educational equation, said Haggerty, who was first in his family to attend college.

“In our College, the number of first-generation students has risen from 20 percent to 29 percent in the last five years,” he said. “Many scholarship students in the College of Science attest to the value of scholarships in easing the financial burden on their families and enabling them to focus on academics, research, volunteer activities and post-college career goals.”

College of Engineering netted the highest amount in scholarship support. Thirty-five percent of engineering students are receiving scholarship support. They are receiving $12.7 million, with $7.9 million divided among 1,948 scholarships to returning students. Nineteen of the 804 their incoming scholarship students are Presidential Scholars.

In third place is the College of Business. It was awarded more than $3.7 million in scholarships, including roughly $2.3 million spread among 761 scholarships to returning students. The remainder is awarded to 276 incoming students, including one Presidential Scholar. About 29 percent of this year’s first-year business students are receiving scholarship support.

This year’s graduation numbers show that the College of Science has performed exceedingly well on all fronts. The College is graduating a record 629 students with baccalaureate degrees in 2016-17, including 55 honors baccalaureates. This represents a five percent increase from last year.

Biology majors lead the way with 159 graduates, followed by BioHealth Sciences majors with 119. Next are Microbiology majors with 79 graduates, Zoology has 59, Chemistry 51, Mathematics 49, Physics 24, Biochemistry and Biophysics 17 and General Science 17.

In addition, we are graduating 64 master’s and 66 doctoral students. The latter figure constitutes the highest number of Ph.Ds in recent years. In fact, the College is graduating 65% more doctoral students and 33% more masters students than last year.

Overall, Oregon State University graduated 6,807 students in 2017 and 5,590 baccalaureate degrees were awarded to students. The class of 2017 in the College represents 10 majors in the life sciences, physical, mathematical and statistical sciences.

Our graduates accomplish more than they thought imaginable with the help of outstanding professors, who are also scientists at the top of their fields, and a team of dedicated advisors. Supported by awards and scholarships, science students collaborate with faculty to create new knowledge and achieve major scientific breakthroughs.

Many of our graduates have had the opportunity to deepen their scientific knowledge by participating in research in labs across and beyond OSU, ranging from sciences to pharmacy, public health, agricultural sciences, forestry, engineering, robotics and veterinary medicine. For many, research has meant embracing and plumbing the mysteries of the outdoors from diving into marine habitats to field work in diverse terrains and in several parts of the world.

They are leaving OSU as accomplished young scientists in their own right, having begun research in their freshman year; they have presented their work at scientific conferences, co-authored papers in scientific publications with faculty mentors and even won top national awards for their research accomplishments. In fact, OSU ranks among the top 45 research universities in the nation for the number of opportunities it provides undergraduates to participate in research.

Our graduates have also expanded their professional and intellectual horizons by taking part in other transformative experiences such as internships, study abroad programs, leadership experiences and experiential learning in and out of classrooms. These experiences can transform great students into extraordinary leaders in science.

Our 2017 graduates are Fulbright scholars, Thurgood Marshall Scholars, Goldwater nominees, Ford Fellows, future doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, veterinarians, community leaders, teachers and informed, engaged world citizens. Together they exemplify the College’s commitment to excellence in science education and an inclusive and diverse learning community. We couldn’t be prouder of them!

Each OSU graduate has a compelling story. Here are the stories of a few of our exceptional graduates, in which they reflect on their time at OSU and share their dreams for the future.

Shan Lansing, Chemistry, M.S. 2017

Four years and two degrees later

Swechya Banskota, Biology, 2017

Leadership, healthcare research, artistic diversity: the story of a biology major

Karianna Crowder, Zoology, 2017

From cuddling gibbons to grinding horse teeth

Jason Sandwisch, Chemistry, 2017

A journey to master physical chemistry

Michael Lopez, Mathematics, 2017

Not your typical mathematician: Marine, cop, dad, first generation college graduate

The College of Science will treat science students, faculty and staff to dinner and a movie followed by a lively discussion on Tuesday, January 31. The movie is “Hidden Figures,” the 2016 Oscar-nominated biographical film about pioneering yet little known female African-American mathematicians at NASA.

Based on the book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Sheerly, the film depicts the incredible and inspiring NASA careers of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson who started working in the Jim Crow era. Johnson was a physicist and mathematician, who calculated flight trajectories for Project Mercury, the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the moon and many other early NASA missions. Jackson went on to become NASA’s first black female engineer. Vaughan was the first African-American woman to supervise a staff at NASA.

The film shows how the three women overcame racial discrimination and other social obstacles to contribute in vital ways to NASA’s various missions at a time when black women and men were still being subjected to segregation and barred from higher education and high-skilled jobs.

After the movie, the College will host a pizza dinner and an hour-long discussion exploring issues raised by the film that go beyond NASA and the field of mathematics and connecting with many of the College’s initiatives around diversity, equity and inclusion.

If interested, faculty, students, faculty and staff can RSVP to Michael Lopez at LopeMich@oregonstate.edu

Movie: Carmike Cinema at 4:10 pm, January 31, 2017 (Tuesday). Please arrive 15 minutes early.

Discussion and Dinner: Kidder 128, 6:45 p.m.—7:45 p.m.

The College of Science celebrated our outstanding scholarship students at our annual spring Scholarship Dessert in June. For the 2016-17 academic year, the College awarded scholarships for merit, need and undergraduate research experiences. The Scholarship Dessert—a festive occasion—connects students, their families, advisors, faculty and many alumni/friends whose generous support funds these awards.

This year two scholarship recipients spoke, Shan Lansing, a senior chemistry major, and Jackson Dougan ('13), a recent integrative biology alumnus. They shared their unique perspectives and experiences about their science education, transformative experiences and the power of scholarships.

For a complete list of our scholarships, visit: science.oregonstate.edu/scholarships.

Scenes from our 2016 Scholarship Dessert

»If you missed 2015 University Day, watch the Keynote presentation and President Ray's remarks.

Oregon State University ushered in the new academic year by honoring the accomplishments of its outstanding faculty, students and staff on 2015 University Day held September 21.

Not surprisingly, faculty and students of the College of Science won quite a few of the most prestigious university awards for excellence in professional achievement, research, teaching and dedicated service.

“I am extremely proud of our faculty and students. I am happy to see their excellence in scholarship, service, teaching and mentoring recognized across the university,” said Sastry G. Pantula, dean of the College of Science. “Keep up the excellent work!”

The OSU Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award recognizes a person who demonstrates outstanding professional achievement through teaching and scholarship, service to the university and the community, and professional leadership, nationally and internationally. In 2015, the honor was presented to Janet Tate, professor in the Department of Physics. Tate also received the College’s FA Gilfillan Memorial Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Science.

The D. Curtis Mumford Faculty Service Award recognizes individuals for exceptional, ongoing, dedicated and unselfish concern for and service to OSU faculty. 2015's honoree is Alix Gitelman, professor in the Department of Statistics.

The Promising Scholar Award recognizes the scholarship of junior faculty. The 2015 recipient is Lan Xue, an associate professor in the Department of Statistics.

The OSU Impact Award for Outstanding Scholarship recognizes OSU faculty who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in a specific project or activity resulting in substantial impact beyond the university setting. This year's honoree is Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry.

The University Mentoring and Professional Development Award recognizes those who excel in supporting and encouraging OSU employees to participate in professional and/or educational development opportunities. The 2015 recipient is Staci Simonich, professor in the Departments of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology and in Chemistry. Simonich received double honors, also receiving the Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award, which honors graduate faculty who have extraordinary records of excellence and effectiveness in mentoring graduate students.

The Herbert F. Frolander Graduate Teaching Assistant Award recognizes graduate students who have excelled in their capacity as teaching assistants. For 2015, this honor is given to Christopher Almlie, a graduate teaching assistant with the Department of Chemistry and to Emerald Stacy, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics. Read more on Emerald Stacy.

Other University Day events included the 2015 University Day OSU Expo designed to showcase the work and opportunities provided by units at OSU to fellow staff and faculty as well as a free lunch for attendees.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Faculty Senate President, Mike Bailey and the keynote presentation was made by Executive Director of Gallup Education, Brandon Busteed.

Heidi Schellman, professor and head of the Department of Physics, is the newly elected vice chair of the Commission on Particles and Fields within the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). The newly elected officers met recently at the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.

IUPAP promotes international cooperation in physics and sponsors four types of international and regional conferences, including general, topical and special conferences as well as workshops in developing countries. IUPAP Commissions also sponsor Young Scientist Prizes to recognize outstanding early-career physicists in addition to awards recognizing excellence in the subfields of physics represented by the Commissions.

In addition to enhancing OSU Physics’ global reputation, Schellman has received the inaugural 2015 Mentoring Award by the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Particles and Fields.

The APS unit award recognizes physicists who have had an exceptional impact as mentors of particle physics scientists and students through teaching, research or science-related activities. The award honors contributions in the areas of mentoring early career physicists, including those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds and for developing early career research and career development activities.

Schellman received the award last week at the 2015 meeting of the APS Division of Particles and Fields hosted by the University of Michigan, Department of Physics.

“I was very surprised and honored to receive this award," said Schellman. “I try to maintain connections with all of my former students and apparently they remember me, too. It has been a real thrill seeing them grow into scientific leaders.”

Schellman joined OSU’s Physics Department last year following an outstanding career as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University’s Weinberg School of Arts and Sciences. She had been on the faculty there since 1990. In her extensive career as a physicist, Schellman has not only made pioneering contributions in the area of experimental high energy physics, but has also had an extraordinary impact on the careers of scores of young scientists and students.

The Mentoring Award committee commended Schellman for “three decades of exceptional mentoring of students and colleagues throughout their careers, providing guidance regardless of affiliation, serving as a role model, and establishing a culture of service to others.”

At OSU, Schellman has already formed a research group with two undergraduates, Gabriel Nowak and Evan Peters. All undergraduate physics majors are required to complete a research thesis so Gabriel and Evan a getting a head start analyzing data from the MINERvA neutrino experiment at Fermilab. One of Schellman’s goals as Head of the Physics Department is to increase research opportunities for physics students, both at Oregon State across the country through national summer research programs.

“Heidi Schellman is an exceptional mentor, teacher and scientific leader,” said Sastry G. Pantula, Dean of the College of Science.

“I am thrilled that she has been recognized with this tremendous national honor which speaks to her passion to mentor generations of physicists. We are extremely fortunate to have her leadership skills in the College and in the Department of Physics where she will have an incredible impact on students.”

Schellman’s dedicated support and encouragement of early career physicists is unparalleled say her students. Her award, says former student Geralyn (Sam) Zeller, is a testament to the loyalty and admiration of a large number of early career physicists—graduate students, postdocs and junior faculty—whom Schellman has taken under her wing over the years.

“Personally speaking, I am one of the people who has been a beneficiary of Heidi’s vigilant support and continued mentoring," said Zeller, who was Schellman’s Ph.D. student at Northwestern and currently leads a team of more than 100 physicists at Fermilab on the MicroBooNE experiment.

"Being a woman in physics has not always been easy, and I would not have stayed in physics if it had not been for Heidi,” added Zeller.

At Northwestern, Schellman served as Associate Dean for Research in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences from 2004-2007 where she successfully reconfigured funding packages to increase guaranteed support for humanities graduate students from four to five years.

As department chair she focused on improving support for undergraduate students in Introductory Physics courses by creating smaller classes and introducing drop-in tutoring.

Schellman has also developed innovative courses to better prepare students from underrepresented groups for successful careers in academia. These include a data analysis and programming course to prepare students for research in their junior and senior years, a rigorous Qualifying Boot Camp course for graduate students and a course on research conduct.

Although widely admired for her unstinting guidance and mentorship, Schellman remains modest about her impact on the careers of many physicists.

“When I told Heidi she had won the award she was obviously surprised! She said, ‘I thought everyone did that.’ It’s proof of Heidi’s generosity and selflessness that she doesn’t realize how exceptional she really is,” said Robert Bernstein who was in charge of the Mentoring Award and is a member of the executive committee of APS’s Division of Particles and Fields (DFP).

“Everyone she works with is touched by her care and hard work for others. The DPF is honored to give her this Inaugural Award,” added Bernstein.

Schellman’s leadership and role as a mentor is matched by her achievements as a particle physicist. Her research has focused on measurements of proton structure and electroweak parameters. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and is an outstanding researcher.

Schellman has served as consultant on technical issues related to high-energy and nuclear physics for the U.S. Department of Energy and is currently a member of the scientific advisory panels for the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN), for Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York and for the Jefferson National Laboratory in Virginia.

She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.