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View of the Colorado river inside the Grand Canyon.
Research

Transforming river health, ecology, seaweed, and pest control: Revolutionary SciRIS research

Founded in 2018, SciRIS funds interdisciplinary research projects that aim to create meaningful societal impact. This year, biologist David Lytle’s project focuses on understanding the complex interactions between multiple biotic components, including food base, disease landscape and microbiome in the lower Colorado River, including the Grand Canyon.

A blue background with the year 2025
Events

Celebrating inclusive excellence, administration, service and performance: 2025 College of Science Awards

The College of Science gathered on Feb. 26 to recognize and celebrate our high achieving faculty and staff at the 2025 Combined Awards Ceremony. The evening celebrated the very best in the College, from teaching, advising and research to inclusive excellence, administration and service. The following faculty and staff received awards in Inclusive Excellence, Administration, Service and Performance. Congratulations to all the awardees!

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Statistics

Helping Oregon farmers thrive with smarter seed testing solutions

A multidisciplinary research group is combining expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence, computer science, statistics and crop science to create a modern solution for an outdated system.

A graphic of a star is in front of lab test tubes.
Graduate students

College of Science graduate students earn prestigious awards in 2023-24

Graduate students in the College of Science earned notable recognition during the 2023-24 academic year, receiving a range of awards which highlight their achievements and contributions to Oregon State.

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Statistics

The versatile statistician: Jon Francis' career across industries

Jon Francis (statistics, ‘96) has built a career working for some of the biggest names in business, including Amazon, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Nike, T-Mobile, Starbucks, PayPal and currently General Motors. What education has allowed him to shift seamlessly from coffee to cars? A master’s degree in statistics from Oregon State University.

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College of Science

Empowering communities: Highlights from the College of Science’s 2023-24 outreach

Whether fostering curiosity in local classrooms, providing resources for underserved communities or translating cutting-edge discoveries for the general public, our outreach bridges the gap between science and society, elevating both. Here are some examples from across our departments during 2023-2024.

Portrait photo of Ginny Lesser standing outside in natural light.
Statistics

Dr. Ginny Lesser Transitions into Retirement After More than 30 years at OSU

Past Department Head and current statistics instructor and Director of the Survey Research Center retires at the end the Fall 24 quarter. The Department of Statistics wishes Dr. Virginia Lesser a wonderful retirement and appreciates her long commitment to OSU.

Lisa Ganio smiling in front of bookshelves
Statistics

The Department of Statistics Expresses our Deepest Gratitude for Retiring Faculty Member Dr. Lisa Ganio

Statistics professor and Director of the Data Analytics MS program, Dr. Lisa Ganio prepares for retirement. Dr. Ganio has contributed 30 years of ecological and statistical research at OSU. The Department of Statistics would like to extend a huge thank you to all she has contributed to the department and field of statistics throughout her career and wish her a happy retirement.

A man in a blue button shirt stands in front of nature.
Statistics

Merging statistics and the environment: Science alumni gives back

Statistics alumnus Steve Stehman honors his roots by giving back to Oregon State. His contributions recognize the invaluable education he received and pay tribute to one very special faculty member.

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Research

Science Faculty Secures $18.5M in FY 2024, extending the reach and impact of science

College of Science researchers received $18.5 million in research grants to support groundbreaking science between July 2023 and June 2024.

Mary Tunstall smiling for a photo under the sun in front of green leafy trees and bushes.
Data Science

How this data analytics grad excels in everything remote

Mary 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.

Two people stand in front of buildings.
Research

Immune systems for cities: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Cities are like organisms — they need immune systems. Viruses can reproduce rapidly, taking over cells and turning them into viral factories within hours. Individuals' immune systems need to rise to the challenge, but what happens when they can't, and a whole population gets sick?