Students | Department of Statistics

For statistics students at Oregon State University, it's not unheard of to land a job after attending a conference. That’s how Oregon State alumna Chenyang Duan (Ph.D. Statistics, ‘23) landed a full-time position as senior statistician at AbbVie, one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world. All it took was an in-person interview at Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), the largest gathering of statisticians and data scientists in North America.

Like Duan, statistics students plotting their way to success have a wide array of conferences to explore. Each year, students ‘get their foot in the door’ and advance their career by speaking with industry leaders, connecting with researchers, presenting posters, and meeting other passionate peers.

This Dam Proud Day, you can help students access those same life-changing opportunities. By making a gift to the Supporting Statistics Student Travel Fund, you’ll help cover travel costs so students can attend major conferences like the JSM. Give now to support the next generation of statistical leaders.

Oregon State statistics faculty and students at the JSM in front of a giant mural of a postcard.

Statistics students and faculty explore and make connections at the Joint Statistical Meetings in Portland, OR 2024.

Collaborating with experts and making new connections

Conferences open doors to job opportunities in industry, research collaborations in academia, mentorships, and even future grant panel members, which are extremely valuable after completing graduate school. When it comes to attending JSM, there’s an additional benefit.

By using JSM’s online Career Service portal, students can click a button that sends their resume to every company attending the conference. Even better, interviews with recruiters can be scheduled in advance. Students can find these invitations by routinely checking the portal’s inbox. For Duan, she received 12 interview requests.

Thanks to these interviews, students have a chance to shine. “The interviews are pretty short, so make sure to remember the details on your resume and clearly explain the purpose, motivation, challenges and results of your research to help the hiring managers better understand your work,” Duan said. “That’s how I found my job!”

A group of students peruse the posters at the New Researchers Conference in Corvallis, OR.

Students attend and present their research at the New Researchers Conference in 2024.

This streamlined process helps students focus on expressing themselves through public speaking rather than worrying about handing out as many resume copies as possible.

Duan’s advice for students wanting to connect with professionals? Find something in common. It can be as simple as asking to chat over dinner because you graduated from the same university. “Most people are very willing to speak with alumni, and they might introduce you to more people, so that’s a great way to make connections at conferences,” she said. “You can also invite hiring managers to attend your presentation and speak with them there.”

Making the most of opportunities

In statistics and data science, there is a vibrant community full of opportunities for passionate learners. “Going to conferences helps you do better research, look for better jobs and have a better outcome, no matter what career you choose to have,” said Yuan Jiang, statistics associate professor and co-director of graduate studies.

Jiang co-organized the New Researchers Conference (NRC), which is always held shortly before JSM. Last year, students could attend both conferences in the same summer, meaning a chance to make double the connections without traveling far from home.

Two men finding all the necessary ingredients for tacos at a long black table full of food.

Attendees assemble yummy tacos before mingling with faculty and students at the 2024 New Researchers Conference.

Other annual conferences like the Eastern North American Region (ENAR) and the Western North American Region (WNAR) of the International Biometric Society are other options for professional networking and developing, especially in biostatistics.

“There are two ways to look for a job. You can apply by yourself to as many companies as possible or have an internal referral. I would say that if you are being recommended by someone, the success rate of landing a job is probably much higher,” Jiang said.

The College of Science offers various resources to help students expand their network both locally and around the world, even if they’ve never been to a conference before. The College of Science Student Travel Award is available for both undergraduate and graduate students. The Department of Statistics offers professional travel awards up to $1000 each academic year for graduate students who travel to regional, national or international conferences to present a paper or poster.

“Different people have different personalities. But no matter what, networking is important,” Jiang said. “Going to conferences is an integral tool to get to know people, whether you want to go to industry or academia. When people can know you in person, that gives them a more direct impression about who you are.”

Panelists intrigue a sizable audience of attendees at the 2024 New Researchers Conference.

A variety of panelists speak with attendees at the 2024 New Researchers Conference.

In West Virginia, Mary Tunstall once avoided the New River’s dangerous rapids at all costs. After all, if the raft flipped, she’d be responsible. But being a whitewater raft guide right out of high school taught her something more important: how to say, “I can do this” to overcome obstacles.

Like the river, Tunstall’s career journey roared with twists and turns. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2009 with her bachelor’s in environmental science, she landed an internship with the U.S. Forest Service right outside of Vail, Colorado.

The draw of snowboarding in the cold and crisp Rocky Mountain snow kept her and her husband sticking around. Her journey snowballed when she found herself working the front desk at Manor Vail Lodge, a popular resort hotel with its own restaurant, outdoor pool, garden and luxury bar. Little did she know she would climb the ladder nine years later.

In 2018, Tunstall and her husband made the move to Toledo, Oregon to be closer to family. By working remotely for the same hotel as director of revenue and reservations, she had the flexibility to focus on her education.

When she discovered that Oregon State University offered a fully online master’s program in data analytics that could help her make a bigger impact in her career, she decided to take the plunge.

Mary Tunstall smiles with her rafting team. She sits in the middle wearing a blue jacket and hugging a friend.

Mary Tunstall sits in the middle (with the blue jacket) with her rafting team in West Virginia.

Tunstall is a data analytics student set to graduate with her master’s degree. On the way, she discovered that remote learning never kept her from success. In a way, it brought her closer.

“It's super important to be able to understand and draw conclusions from data. Having the ability to take that data, make meaningful conclusions from it and then be able to communicate it to others well is why data analytics is so important,” she said.

Floating through rough rapids

Completing an online master’s degree while working remotely full-time was no easy feat. Courses ranged from statistics to learning the R computer programming language and advanced mathematics skills. “I hadn’t taken calculus in 15 years, so I really struggled with the probability distributions and hazard functions,” she said.

After getting the lowest score she had ever earned on a quiz, she remembered what she told herself back in the day as a raft guide: “I can do this.” She pushed forward, and her professor’s support turned her struggle into a milestone.

“I never thought it would be possible to work with data like this — it’s a game changer.”

When she felt blocked by the low quiz score in the applied survival analysis course, Associate Professor Yanming Di steered her in a direction that mattered more.

“Once I got over the grade I got on this quiz, I was able to take what I learned from him from those biweekly office hours discussions, assemble everything I learned, post it to the class discussion board and ask for clarification,” she said.

Discussion boards are a great way for both students and professors to post online messages that everyone in the course can read. Taking advantage of this format, Tunstall assembled all the different mathematical functions, explained what they did and posted them to the discussion board. If her work was a little bit off, she saw feedback from her professor fast.

Tunstall holds a cute little white dog with her family in their backyard, smiling for a photo.

One of the perks of being an Ecampus student is being able to spend time with family. From left to right is Mary Tunstall's mother, father, and her husband, Paul.

As she tackled each concept, Tunstall’s passion for data analytics blossomed in the applied survival analysis course. Analyzing the effects of a treatment on patients with a liver disease called primary biliary cholangitis was her favorite project.

“For my project, I wanted to explore the effects of the treatment on each morphological stage of the disease. I wanted to see if there was an actual correlation between the timing of the treatment and the survival rate for each of the four stages,” she said.

Utilizing data sets in this way can reveal whether it’s beneficial to take the treatment for a disease in stage one versus stage three. The effects of treatment may vary depending on the stage, but the only way to see this is to look at the data.

“I never thought it would be possible to work with data like this — it’s a game changer,” Tunstall said. “I thought you had to have a medical degree to even touch data like that. But you don’t. So it’s been a really eye-opening experience — I don't know a lot about the disease and what causes it, but I can look at this data set and make recommendations that might be better for patients.”

Embarking on her next adventure

This summer, Tunstall is attending the in-person graduation ceremony in Corvallis. After that, she’s leaving some doors open.

“Ultimately what I’d like to do is land a career that’s more impactful. I would love to work for the federal government in some sort of capacity, especially in environmental sciences,” she said. “If it exists, being the director of data analysis with an organization like the Environmental Protection Agency would be a dream.”

She also credits her partner for standing by her side and making earning her master’s degree less stressful. “My husband, Paul, has been the one that’s been supporting me and cooking dinner when I’m busy working on my classes,” she said.

After celebrating this milestone with her family, she plans to leverage the skills she learned to improve her current role at the hotel. This includes automating some of the manual tasks she currently handles, allowing her to focus more on strategy and less time on tactics.

“I do revenue management as part of my job, which involves monthly forecasts for room revenue and analyzing data to make decisions. A lot of what I do right now is manual, so I’m really interested in implementing an exponential smoothing process,” she said. After she gets permission from IT to do so, she would automate the process it takes to predict the future using past data sets.

Being able to make these predictions can help the hotel make better financial decisions so that people can still enjoy the Rocky Mountains in luxury for years to come.

Her journey from rafting to survival analysis revealed endless possibilities, and Tunstall is along for the ride. To make a difference in the world, sometimes all it takes is saying, “I can do this.”

Mary Tunstall gives a peace sign while smiling with a group of friends on a raft in a river.

Mary Tunstall poses on a raft (on the left giving a peace sign) after going on a river trip with her team.

Read more stories about: students, statistics, data, ai and robotics, graduation

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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.

By the numbers

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.

Celebrating the Class of 2021

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.

Simone Burton, Integrative Biology
Devonte Casey, Zoology
Gabriela Cortes Cortes, BioHealth Sciences
Ilana Gottfield-Lee, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Rohal Kakepoto, Physics
Kendra Krebs, Microbiology
Seth Pinckney, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Jennifer Smucker, Mathematics
Linus Unitan, Chemistry

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.

Science faculty, students and alumnae making a difference

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.

The College of Science is proud to announce that 41 science students – a record number – have received summer undergraduate research awards that will provide the opportunity and funding to pursue their research ambitions.

Undergraduate research often plays an instrumental role in developing student-faculty relationships that help students learn and grow beyond the scope of the classroom. For many OSU students, these awards provide the financial leverage to work in the field they are passionate about without being constrained to jobs that simply pay the bills.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) award is available to all science students who meet the academic requirements. Participants are paid for 11 weeks of full-time research, or 440 hours, for a maximum of $5060. Awardees also receive an additional $500 for research expenses, including travel costs, materials or equipment rental.

This is also the second year that the Department of Integrative Biology offered the Alexei Lubchenco Menge Fellowship, which was awarded to Lily Miksell to support her research examining the interactions of dominant foundation species in Oregon rocky intertidal communities under the guidance of integrative biology professor Sally Hacker. The fellowship was established in memory of Alexei Lubchenco Menge, who died at age 27 in 2005. The award seeks to help one student each year within the department who exemplifies the deep love of the ocean that Lubchenco Menge personified.

SURE science awards are made possible by generous donations of College of Science alumni, faculty and supporters.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to come changes in the SURE science program in 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting access to laboratory space at Oregon State University, the deadline for completing SURE scholar research projects was extended to May 2021. Some students have projects that can be done entirely remotely and will complete and present their findings by the end of the summer. Some of the students below are able to work on their projects in OSU labs this summer, following OSU and Oregon Health Authority safety guidelines. For the majority of this year's awardees, the extended timeframe will allow them an opportunity to continue their research safely throughout the school year while gaining research experience.

SURE Science Scholars

Juan Altamira | Chemistry | Vince Remcho

Analysis of Explosive Compounds via Paper Microfluidic Device

Roy Anderson | Biology | Bruce Menge

Examining the Effects of Upwelling Intensity and Recruitment Limitation on Successional Trajectories in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem

Thao Mi Anthony | BioHealth Sciences | Kyriakos Stylianou

Implication of Metal Organic Framework with Nanoparticle Composites to Deliver Medication

John Barnes | Biology | Felipe Barreto

Quantity and Quality of DNA extracted from dry vs. alcohol preserved samples of China rockfish

Elizaveta ‘Leeza’ Bliznyuk | BioHealth Sciences | Dylan Nelson

Targeting Mycobacterium abscessus pre-existing biofilms

Madeline Bloom | Chemistry | Claudia Maier

Microchip-MS Optimization of Oxylipins Analysis as a Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease

Elizabeth Brennan | Microbiology | Stephen Giovannoni

Plankton Need Their Vitamins: Vitamin B1 Excretion by Marine Synechecoccus

Russell Campbell | Zoology | Robert Mason

Integrative Biology Collections Management

Dustin Campbell | Zoology | Robert Mason

Sexual Dimorphic growth of Harderian glands in Thamnophis sirtalis

Emily Gemmill | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Weihong Qiu

Keeping up with the kinesins: analyzing regulatory proteins and their effects on the motility of KlpA, a kinesin-14 motor protein

Jessica Giulietti | Biology | Patrick Chappell

Exploring regulation of osteosarcoma in vitro: Mechanisms of RANKL production by autocrine neuropeptides

Dylan Gregory | Biology | Virginia Weis

Using the Split Luciferase Complementation Assay to Identify Protein-Protein Interactions In Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis

Joshua Griffis | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Richard Cooley

Optimized Phosphoserine tRNA Selection

Shelby Hansen | Biology | Brittany Poirson

How is a young mussel's life affected by coastal water conditions?

Joshua Havelind | Biology | Francis Chan

Effect of rising temperature in the ocean on Dungeness Crabs

Toren Ikea-Mario | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Tory Hagen

Glutathiones effect on Mitochondrial Decay

Rohal Kakepoto | Physics | Janet Tate

Hall Measurements of TiO2 Polymorphs

Rony Koluda | Chemistry | Claudia Maier

Low Dose Radiation Effect on Myelination -Associated Proteins in Mice

Chapman Kuykendall | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Colin Johnson

Characterizing the Biophysical Interactions between Dysferlin C2A and the H3 Helix of Syntaxin-4

Dustin Campbell | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Massimo Bionaz

In vivo-in vitro dose-effect response of bovine liver to rumen-protected fatty acids: implementation of a nutrigenomic approach in dairy cows

Jessica Li | Chemistry | Jan Stevens

The effects of xanthohumol on gut microbial metabolism

Maya Livni | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Maude David

Unraveling the impact of the gut microbiota metabolites on intestinal sensory neuronal cells and how EECs transduce signals to the brain by forming a synapse with the vagus nerve

Ruben Lopez | BioHealth Sciences | Bo Sun

Quantifying ECM Remodeling by Invasive Tumors

Christopher Markgraf | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Susanne Brander

Immortalization and Validation of Inland Silverside Cardiomyocytes, Hepatocytes, and Osteoblasts

Saki Nakai | Mathematics | Vrushali Bokil

Mathematical Modeling of Bipolar Disorder

Hunter Nelson | Physics | Tuan Pham

Blowup of Reaction Diffusion Equations

Jacob North | Biochemistry |Victor Hsu

Elucidating binding features of drug targets to Farnesoid X receptor by unsupervised machine learning of molecular dynamics trajectories

Sarah Olson | Microbiology | Frederick Colwell

Investigating Changes in the Microbiome of North Creek

Reina Paez | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Lia Danelishvili

Identifying and Purifying Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterial Surface Antigens for the Purpose of Inducing Trained Immune Responses in Macrophages

Aneila Parra | Biology | Jiraporn Lueangsakulthai and David Dallas

Premature vs. Term Infant Milk Protein Digestome

Jacob Rauenhorst | Chemistry | Kathy Magnusson

Effects of ibuprofen on NMDA receptor expression and contribution

Alan Schultz | Physics |Hoewoon Kim

The Linearized Navier-Stokes Equations Solved on the Sphere by Fourier Transform Method

Rhea Sellitto | Biology | James Rivers

Evaluating the nutritional landscape for wild bees in managed conifer forests

Anna Sung |BioHealth Sciences| Maria Franco

Role of Redox Signaling in Development and Growth of Tumors of the Nervous System

Savannah Taggard | Biology | Molly Burke

The evolution of RoundUp resistance in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Jessica Waymire | Physics | Matt Graham

Hyperspectral Fluorescence Imaging of Twisted Bilayer Graphene

Kaytlin Wearne | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Kenton Hokanson

The Effects of hsp90 on p2x7 on Human ALS Neurons

Devin Wright | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Michael Freitag

Zymoseptoria Tritici Mutation Accumulation Experiment

Elizaveta "Lisa" Zhivaya | Biochemistry & Biophysics | Maude David

Impact of the gut microbiota metabolites on the autism phenotype modulation

Baseball is full of catch phrases and obscure acronyms: trade value, ceiling, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, RBI, OPS+, wOBA and so on. They all have to do with statistics and probability at least partly or entirely, and mathematics senior Morgan Pearson is completely at home with the industry jargon.

Oregon State University’s baseball team is in the middle of a fantastic season winning all regional playoff games during the first week of June against Northwestern State and Louisiana State University (LSU) to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals and make its second consecutive appearance in the College World Series June 16 -27 in Omaha, Nebraska this year.

To prepare the team for victory, it may be all about the math. Pearson, who is an assistant to the legendary OSU baseball head coach Pat Casey, studied more than a dozen films of games played by Northwestern State and LSU. He shared data about their tendencies and statistics with Casey to make game-time decisions about who to play and how to play certain games against particular opponents.

Pearson, who has played baseball since he was five years old, has spent the last four years at Oregon State moving seamlessly between the worlds of mathematics, statistics and baseball.

He has successfully combined his passion for baseball and numbers to excel in his role as assistant to Casey, where among other weighty responsibilities he has been charged with tracking and compiling all baseball analytics including advanced scouting reports, player development and recruiting assistance. Pearson supervises and leads a group of 12 student managers who assist him on administrative tasks.

Despite all his hard work to graduate on time, Pearson won’t be joining the throngs of other graduates for commencement on June 16. That is the day he will travel with the OSU baseball team for the College World Series in Omaha to compete for the 2018 national baseball championship.

“We are the number three team in the country taking part in a national championship. Any advantage we can get is really important, said Pearson. “I need to do my best job in analyzing our opponents and inform Pat what we need to be careful about as we go into a game, what the players in the rival team like to do and how they might try to beat us. That is my role. It is a lot of fun.”

Morgan Pearson hugging baseball coach Pat Casey on Goss Stadium field.

Morgan Pearson with OSU baseball coach Pat Casey

Pearson’s statistical insights and diligent work have proven invaluable. His statistical data and analysis led to game-time decisions that contributed to an NCAA record for the highest winning percentage in a season and a record two 23-game winning streak for the team. Responsible for preparing OSU’s team with analytics, scouting reports and game videos, Pearson’s labor paid off handsomely. Last season, he watched the team chalk up triple victories as Pac-12, Regional and Super Regional champions and come in third place in the nation at the College World Series.

It is all about the numbers—a journey from academics to internships

Ever since he arrived at Oregon State in 2014, Pearson has been laser focused on a single objective: Getting the best possible academic preparation to secure a foothold in the profession of baseball analytics. He has done whatever it takes to reach his goal—working 40-60 hours every week with the OSU baseball program, managing all the baseball analytics and administrative details, travelling to dozens of games throughout the spring season, and at the same time staying on top of his mathematics coursework, even getting involved in mathematical and biostatistics research. Not to mention the fact that Pearson is graduating on time. His accomplishments are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

“It has been very challenging, especially with a demanding and rigorous major like mathematics, but I have stayed dedicated and determined, taking three to four math classes a term to graduate on time. I have had to sacrifice a lot of my social life just to get everything done,” said Pearson, who enjoys a 53 percent tuition scholarship at OSU.

Pearson was a junior catcher in Central Catholic and Lake Oswego High School’s baseball teams in the Portland area and nearly made it as a walk-on for the OSU baseball team but the spot closed up. Coach Casey gave him a position in baseball operations and Pearson stayed on. Initially enrolled as a business major, Pearson quickly realized he would require a more systematic and thorough training in mathematics and statistics to reach his career goals. He switched to mathematics with a minor and option in statistics, which is only offered to math majors.

“When my playing career ended I wanted to stay in the game as long as I could. I knew for me to stay in baseball the best way would be the front office route—the analytics, the numbers, the roster decisions. So, I knew I had to have a really strong degree in math and statistics to stand out because the baseball industry is very competitive.”

Pearson has spent a vast amount of time studying the careers of professional baseball managers to decide which major would suit him best. He noted that the majority of them had degrees in statistics, mathematics and economics. His ultimate goal is to run a professional Major League Baseball team and become the youngest general manager in baseball history. Currently only 22, Pearson certainly has a head start in major league baseball.

“I wanted to take my degree very seriously and get as much mathematics and statistics as possible. While the baseball industry is based on statistics, the coursework in mathematics has taught me meticulous attention to detail that is very valuable. Advanced classes in discrete mathematics and advanced calculus pushed my intellectual ability to a higher level,” said Pearson.

This summer Pearson will start his career as an International Assistant for the Texas Rangers in Arlington where his primary responsibilities will be international scouting and assisting upper management with projects related to statistics and baseball analytics. While hundreds of amateur baseball analysts might harbor dreams of working at major baseball leagues, Pearson has actually managed to accomplish just that with careful planning, determination and hard work.

Pearson was offered the job after an interview process that lasted four months. He notched up other impressive job offers. The legendary New York Yankees too offered a job. But Pearson, who loves interacting with people, found the latter position to be too heavily focused on analytics. He opted for the Texas Rangers because it combined player development with analytics, giving him opportunities to travel, interact with and scout players. As part of his job, he will travel to Puerto Rico, Japan and the Dominican Republic to identify the best talent to bring to Texas.

The Texas Rangers have a multi hundred-million dollar income, and heavy responsibility rests on the team of analysts who utilize statistics to tell the difference between players in order to recruit the best. “We are going to use statistics to find value. You could look at a player and not see his hidden value without the use of statistics,” said Pearson.

Pearson amassed plenty of on-the-job training in the statistical science of baseball as an undergraduate. At the age of 21, he became the youngest intern to be hired by a major baseball team when he he spent the summer of 2017 working with the Texas Rangers as an analytics assistant with their analytics team.

Pearson at home with the Texas Rangers.

He joined the team mid-season after classes ended to work on special assignments and projects that ranged from optimizing the team’s injury prevention and recovery program to building algorithms for players at the trade deadline and statistical analysis using R and Matlab software.

His biggest project was a Trackman—a 3D Doppler radar system that has applications in player evaluation and development—data manipulation of unseen traits in MLB bullpens. Pearson also assisted on a project that helped the team decide which players would be traded in exchange for all-star pitcher Yu Darvish.

“My statistics classes on methods of data analysis really prepared me for my job. If I didn’t have the experience with statistics, I would not have been able to do the projects the Rangers assigned to me. My classes in statistics and mathematics taught me to deliver what the Rangers needed,” said Pearson, who used his knowledge of single, multiple and logistic regression to evaluate and spot the differences among the players.

In the summer of 2016, Pearson worked as a coordinator with the Minor League Spokane Indians, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers in Washington state, where his hard work and abilities were noticed and earned him the internship with the Texas Rangers. Pearson has acquired broad experience and exposure to the professional and statistical side of baseball analytics in some of the nation’s top-ranking teams.

In Spokane, Pearson was responsible for all video and statistical operations for the team, employing statistical software to chart games, generate spreadsheets and reports on players and assist the coaching staff with strategy/gameplay decisions using analytics.

In summer 2015, Pearson worked for the Minor League Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. He was in charge of operating their Pitch F/x software (Pitch tracking recognition) for their games.

In addition, Pearson volunteered as an associate scout for the Boston Red Sox travelling all over the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Montana, to write reports on the statistical and physical abilities of high school and college players and “project future value in professional baseball.”

As a Texas Rangers intern, Pearson did plenty of roster and player combinations to derive the value of a player’s worth in offensive positions. His favorite player statistics is wRC+, the latest buzzword in baseball statistics. It stands for weighted runs created plus, an esoteric but practical formula that dissects a player’s overall offense, while adjusting for the effects of the parks and league he plays in.

Pearson traces his strength with baseball analytics to his classes on data analysis, mathematical statistics, stochastic modeling and probability. Some of his favorite statistics and math classes at OSU have been with mathematics professors Mina Ossiander and Robert Burton and associate professor of statistics Sarah Emerson.

Working with Burton, an emeritus professor of mathematics, Pearson conducted research on applications of Pascal’s Triangle, game theory and Markov Process Chain. He has also worked on a research project with Emerson that explored new approaches to modeling multivariate and bivariate responses in specific applications of biostatistics.

“It has been truly a joy to apply my education in mathematics and statistics to my passion of baseball.”

Pearson’s homerun success in charting a career path in his beloved sport may inspire other students of math and statistics. It certainly reinforces the vast opportunities and potential in those fields.

“What students often miss is with mathematics you can do a lot of different things. They need to see that with math you can go to almost any field. That is what’s exciting about mathematics,” said Pearson.

Read more stories about: students, mathematics, statistics, graduation, mathematics major

“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.

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