Cayelan Carey, Amy Pruden named Virginia Outstanding Faculty

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:59:00 -0500

The award is considered the commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at public and private colleges and universities. Carey and Pruden were two of 12 recipients honored at a ceremony in Richmond.

Meet the Virginia Tech trainees looking to break into biotech commercialization

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:22:00 -0500

Experts available: Tariff strike down, State of the Union, Iran, bombogenesis, 'Sinners', and more

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:28:00 -0500

Virginia Tech experts are available to discuss the Supreme Court striking down Trump's tariffs, the State of the Union, geopolitical tensions in Iran, the bomb cyclone storm, the musical history of "Sinners", and more.

‘Curious Conversations’ podcast: Austin Gray talks about microplastics

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:13:00 -0500

Gray talked about the growing body of research about microplastics' impact on human and environmental health. He shared insights related to the public perception of plastic pollution, the history of microplastics, and the direction of future research.

Global water forecasting

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:43:24 -0500

At Virginia Tech, researchers are using real-time sensors, machine learning, and global partnerships to give water managers 30-day forecasts that help safeguard drinking water and ecosystems.

Why Austin Gray studies microplastics

Austin Gray started seeing the connections between his father and himself as he got older. His father, who Austin lost when he was 14-years-old, was a teacher for more than three decades and held advanced degrees in education and science. Years later, during his undergraduate work at the Citadel, he decided he too wanted to be a scientist.

Researching microplastics as a public servant

Assistant Professor Austin Gray is studying the microplastics in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume. "Right now we're at the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg in understanding the implications to human health," Gray said.

The why: Austin Gray is on a quest to decode microplastics

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:40:00 -0500

Gray’s humble beginning in research feeds into a constant curiosity that he hopes can lead to a better understanding of microplastics and their impact on human health — from pollution to solution.

Students offer insights at Graduate School mentoring workshop

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:15:00 -0500

Two doctoral students were a featured panel at a recent mentorship workshop at the Graduate School. They shared their experiences and insights about being mentees on their degree journeys.

Why coronary arteries struggle to heal after surgery

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:39:00 -0500

A new Virginia Tech study by Scott Johnstone of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC identified a target for new therapies to improve recovery and reduce complications after stent procedures and bypass surgeries.

Scary science from science experts

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:27:00 -0400

It’s officially scary season, but some aspects of our natural world can be frightening all the time. Here are a few examples of real-life scary science from Virginia Tech science experts.

Capt. Alex Tucker, Capt. Timothy Teh named Hokie Heroes for the California game

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:24:00 -0400

Tucker is deployed to Ali Al Saleem Air Base in Kuwait and Teh is deployed to U.S. Central Command’s military region in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria.

Ecological forecasting research team crosses ecosystem boundaries

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:24:00 -0400

A $1 million, four-year National Science Foundation grant will help better understand how natural hazards impact the forest and soils that control the water quality that ends up in drinking water reservoirs.

Saving a salamander may require human intervention

Virginia Tech researchers William Hopkins and Erin Hotchkiss and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologists are rearing hellbender salamander eggs in captivity to help stabilize eastern hellbender populations and support long-term population recovery in Virginia. By protecting eggs and juveniles during their most vulnerable stage, the head start approach gives populations a better chance to recover while broader ecological restoration efforts, such as planting riparian buffers and implementing best land management practices, take root.

Meet the Fabulous Fralin Five

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:03:00 -0400

Joshua Drake, Nisha Duggal, Daniel English, Bryan Hsu, and Courtney Leisner were recognized for exemplifying the power of interdisciplinary research to address humanity’s greatest challenges.

Graduate fellows step up as climate adaptation leaders

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:30:00 -0400

The Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center is a federal-university-tribal research partnership that provides scientific information and tools needed to help fish, wildlife, and ecosystems adapt to the impacts of environmental change.

Mary Lofton earns Ecological Forecasting Outstanding Publication Award

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:32:00 -0400

The Center for Ecosystem Forecasting is looking years ahead to train the next generation of ecosystem forecasters, environmental data scientists, and water managers with their Macrosystems EDDIE (Environmental Data-Driven Inquiry and Exploration) undergraduate training program.

Ann Stevens honored with national award for undergraduate education

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:41:00 -0400

Stevens, professor of microbiology, received the 2026 Carski Award for Undergraduate Education from the American Society for Microbiology.

It’s peak migration season — a dangerous time for birds. Here’s how you can help.

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:02:00 -0400

Virginia Tech experts Dana Hawley and Ashley Dayer explain the threats birds face during migration, and what we can do to help them get where they are going.

Five faculty members elected to the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:09:00 -0400

The new members are Cayelan Carey, William "Bill" Hopkins, Liwu Li, Hesham Rakha, and Julie Ross.

'Curious Conversations' podcast: Cayelan Carey talks about ecosystem forecasting

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:58:00 -0400

Carey's ecosystem forecasting provides near real-time predictions about water quality in lakes and reservoirs. Believed to be the first of its kind, the system is collecting data from 15 lakes and reservoirs spanning three continents and providing each with a daily, 30-day forecast.

Bryan Hsu awarded faculty fellowship

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 2020, Hsu is involved in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program as well as in several programmatic functions of the Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens.

Cayelan Carey awarded faculty fellowship

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:56:00 -0400

Carey’s primary research addresses an increasingly serious environmental and public health challenge – predicting and controlling nuisance and harmful blooms of algae in lakes and reservoirs. This work has grown into an effort to develop broader freshwater ecosystem forecasting tools.

Virginia Tech researchers deploy water quality forecasting system around the globe

Researchers at the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting at Virginia Tech have developed a system that can predict the quality of drinking water in lakes and reservoirs. By combining advanced sensor technologies, data analysis, AI, machine learning, and cyberinfrastructure, ecosystem forecasting tools have the potential to revolutionize environmental policy and security. This technology has now been applied to help manage lakes and reservoirs in countries around the world.

Researchers deploy water quality forecasting system around the globe

Researchers at the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting have developed a system that can predict the quality of drinking water in lakes and reservoirs. By combining advanced sensor technologies, data analysis, AI, machine learning, and cyberinfrastructure, ecosystem forecasting tools have the potential to revolutionize environmental policy and security. This technology has now been applied to help manage lakes and reservoirs in countries around the world.

Rescue effort begins for disappearing hellbenders in Virginia streams

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:49:00 -0400

A collaboration with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources aims to stabilize Eastern hellbender populations by collecting eggs from at-risk nests, raising the larvae in captivity, and releasing them back into their native streams.

Studying poison frog evolution

Roberto Márquez Pizano and his lab study how poison frogs in the genus Phyllobates evolved their bright colors and ability to retain powerful toxins.

Virginia Tech researchers find promise in a new peptide drug to combat a deadly brain cancer

Fri, 30 May 2025 06:30:00 -0400

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists were able to slow glioblastoma progression in lab and animal studies by targeting treatment-resistant cancer cells.

Proof of concept grants to propel emerging research

Tue, 13 May 2025 13:58:00 -0400

Ten proposals were selected for the 2025 round of funding from the LAUNCH: Center for New Ventures' program that supports faculty in advancing the life-changing potential of technology emerging from research.

'Curious Conversations' podcast: Bryan Hsu talks about the role of bacteriophages in the gut

Mon, 12 May 2025 10:03:00 -0400

Hsu explained the role of bacteriophages, commonly called phages, in the gut microbiome as well as their potential in phage therapy and the potential as a tool against antibiotic resistance.

Researchers celebrated for innovating science for society

Wed, 07 May 2025 10:53:00 -0400

Virginia Tech faculty were recognized for their scholarship and ingenuity at Innovation and Partnerships’ fourth annual Celebrating Innovation event.

Experts available: Papal conclave, Trump's first 100 days, Canada's election, Google's monopoly hearing, and more

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:54:00 -0400

Virginia Tech experts can discuss the upcoming papal conclave, Trump's first 100 days, Canada's federal elections, Google's monopoly hearing, flood risk in the Pacific Northwest, and more.

Bacteria’s mysterious viruses can fan flames of antibiotic damage, according to new model

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:01:00 -0400

Virginia Tech biologists developed a mouse model that allows researchers to eliminate and revive bacteria-eating virus communities without affecting the gut bacteria. Using the model, researchers discovered that the viruses can exacerbate collateral damage from antibiotics.

Students explore microbial physiology in the Duck Pond

Each semester, students in professor Ann Stevens' microbial physiology class re-enact the Volta experiment in the Duck Pond and make Winowgradsky columns.

Researchers discover large dormant virus can be reactivated in model green alga

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:00:51 -0400

Frank Aylward and Maria Paula Erazo Garcia discovered the largest virus ever recorded with a latent infection cycle in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardti. Their findings were published in Science.

Giant virus discovery expands knowledge of viral latency

Researchers in the Aylward lab have discovered a dormant virus in a model green alga and were able to reactivate it and get it to produce variants. This expands the known limits of a giant virus’s ability to lay dormant within the genome without being discovered for so long, and this may have greater implications for our understanding of viruses.

Forecasting water quality

Every week, teams at the Virginia Tech Center for Ecosystem Forecasting make a trip to Falling Creek Reservoir in Vinton, Virginia. The reservoir is one of four that is managed by The Western Virginia Water Authority, and researchers for the center collect data to track the quality of water in the area.

Fast friends: Faculty runners win national cross-country championship

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

A fleet-footed team of over-50 faculty members is logging miles, earning medals, and going the extra mile for each other.

Genomics Sequencing Center offers personalized research resources

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

One of several research infrastructure facilities supported by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, the Genomics Sequencing Center hosts a team of molecular biologists and uses next-generation sequencing technologies that will save researchers time, money, and risk.

Biologists transform gut bacteria into tiny protein pharmacies

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:01:00 -0500

Biologists converted gut bacteria into miniature protein factories that manufacture and release a sustained flow of targeted proteins inside the lower intestines. This technique solves one of the longstanding problems surrounding gastrointestinal drug delivery.

Cold temperatures promote spread of a bird pink eye pathogen at winter feeders

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:07:00 -0500

A recent study by two biological science researchers that was published in Ecosphere found that a pathogen for bird pink eye remained viable on bird feeders in winter months much longer than in summer months, without losing any of its severity.

Journalist resource: Experts look ahead to the top stories of 2025

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:30:18 -0500

With the Trump administration’s promises of transformative policies across the economy, international relations, and climate action, Virginia Tech's experts are ready to add insights and context to your stories. To schedule an interview with any of our experts on the top stories of the year, email mediarelations@vt.edu.

Virginia Academy of Science honors biologist Frank Aylward as Scientist of the Year

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:58:00 -0500

The prestigious award is given to Virginia scientists who have accomplished outstanding research over the last five years in life sciences, which includes the fields of biology, botany, and zoology.

College of Science launches Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:09:00 -0500

The new center, officially launched in August, is a restructuring of the Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics, which was founded in 1987.

Harvested apple crops tap into sustainability network

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:29:00 -0500

When Associate Professor Susan Whitehead asked for help harvesting apples from her research orchard, she tapped into an established chain of events that provides food security for students and families throughout the New River Valley region.

Virginia Tech and international team win global XPRIZE challenge

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:14:00 -0500

Biologist Julie Allen and team took first place in the $10 million XPRIZE Rainforest competition.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute spinoff company translates science into peptide drugs targeting cancer stem cells

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Bioentrepreneur Samy Lamouille recently joined a Johnson & Johnson life science and health care incubator, opening new avenues for networking and development.

For students, by students: New initiative aims to make Virginia Tech a leader in peer education

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0500

A new online academy, a community of practice, and an international journal are elevating how undergrads mentor, tutor, and coach students.

A classroom in nature

The outdoors becomes the classroom for Susan Whitehead's unique freshman seminar, Natural History of Stadium Woods. This one-credit Biological Sciences course invites students to explore the wonders of this old-growth forest right on campus. Each week, the class meets in Stadium Woods to immerse themselves in the ecosystem, focusing on a new group of organisms with every visit. From towering trees to the smallest forest inhabitants, students gain hands-on experience and a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them.

Researchers detect microplastics in exhaled air of bottlenose dolphins

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:15:00 -0500

The study identified various types of microplastic particles, including fibers and fragments from multiple plastic polymers, such as polyester, which is commonly used in clothing.

Research experience powers relationships with historically Black colleges and universities

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:12:00 -0500

Since 2017, Virginia Tech’s Socha Lab has provided summer research experiences for students from historically Black colleges and universities.

Scientists suggest amping up efforts to mitigate effects of environmental change

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 06:13:00 -0500

In an article published in Nature Climate Change, three Virginia Tech Center for Ecosystem Forecasting researchers were among 23 global experts to call for scaling up current near-term iterative ecological forecasting.

Education modules build student and instructor skills

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:08:00 -0400

Frustrated with a gap of available data science training opportunities for environmental science undergraduate students and instructors, in 2017 Virginia Tech researchers built a new educational program and extended it to other universities.

2023-2024 College of Science Award Winners

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:35:36 -0400

College of Science faculty members and staff recently were honored with awards from both the college and university.

Grant unites humanities and health sciences for infectious disease coursework

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:46:00 -0400

Faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences are teaming up with colleagues in the College of Science and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine to create courses centered around the human dimensions of infectious disease.

PREP Program cultivates grant writing skills for early career researchers

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:55:00 -0400

Five faculty members from three departments, one school, and three colleges have been selected for the 2024-25 cohort, receiving up to $10,000 each to develop research proposals.

Inaugural postdoctoral awards cap appreciation week

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:16:00 -0400

Virginia Tech recognized National Postdoc Appreciation Week with a weeklong celebration that included an appreciation lunch, an online career panel, a postdoc scholars showcase, and three new awards.

Researcher explores mechanisms behind the antifungal resistant infections to find new curative therapeutics

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 01:08:00 -0400

José Vargas-Muñiz received a five-year $2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to better understand the role of the septins within the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus when exposed to the antifungal drug caspofungin.

Woodpecker’s comeback is professor’s Golden Goose

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:31:00 -0400

Jeffrey Walters, the Harold H. Bailey Professor of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, has been recognized with the prestigious Golden Goose Award for his research and its impact on conservation of the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Research team discovers molecular mechanism for a bacterial infection

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:05:00 -0400

Daniel Capelluto and his research team have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterial pathogen Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of dysentery, manipulates molecular activity to assure its survival against its host’s natural defenses.

New research illuminates the impact of surface properties on bacteria movement

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:10:00 -0400

As an undergraduate student, Megan O'Hara had a unique opportunity to study how bacteria move across surfaces — a process known as twitching motility. The findings led to the surprising discovery of the key role surface properties play in either enabling or preventing this movement, recently published in mSphere, the primary open access journal by the American Society for Microbiology.

Virginia Tech wraps up competition in $10 million XPRIZE Rainforest

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Part of a multinational team, a Virginia Tech-led genetic sampling group traveled deep into the Amazon Rainforest to compete in the final round of XPRIZE Rainforest. Each of the six final teams had 24 hours to autonomously survey the biodiversity of a patch of rainforest. Winners will be announced at the 2024 G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

A watershed moment for the survival of imperiled Appalachian salamanders

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 10:15:00 -0400

In partnership with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Virginia Tech researchers received a $2 million science-guided conservation award from a joint venture of the National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

International scientists converge at Virginia Tech to further plant health research

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:39:00 -0400

Virginia Tech hosted the International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, bringing 250 plant health scientists from 27 countries to Blacksburg for an exchange about the global food chain.

Weather 'whiplash' in Antarctica may help predict effects of future climate change

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:21:00 -0400

J.E. “Jeb” Barrett, professor of biological sciences, and his colleagues have reported findings indicating that a March 2022 “weather whiplash” led to record-high death rates for invertebrate organisms that count on surviving winter in an “inactive freeze-dried state.”

Students dive into summer microplastics research experience

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Professors Austin Gray and Tina Dura have developed the first microplastics summer research experience of its kind to train the next generation of environmental scientists, with intended ripple effects to impact government policy and help protect ocean ecosystems.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is widespread in wildlife, Virginia Tech scientists find

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Six of 23 common wildlife species showed signs of SARS-CoV-2 infections in an examination of animals in Virginia, as revealed by tracking the virus’s genetic code.

Students explore evolutionary marvels during a journey to the Galápagos Islands

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 08:24:00 -0400

Fifteen undergraduate students spent their spring break being inspired by the living laboratory of Charles Darwin.

New period product offers progress in women’s health

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Matter, Hsu and his team have created an eco-friendly, blood absorbent biomaterial that improves the performance of menstrual products. Their work was published in the Cell Press journal.

Virginia Tech team readies for rainforest race

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:35:00 -0400

On July 8, a Virginia Tech group and collaborators will compete to win the $10 million XPRIZE Rainforest competition. They will have 24 hours to survey autonomously the biodiversity of a square kilometer of rainforest.

Undergraduates Wade into Research

Erin Hotchkiss, Ph.D, and Katherine Pérez Rivera guide undergraduates in a hands-on Ecology Research and Local Waterways course . Students dive into practical learning by collecting samples from the duck pond's inlets and outlet. Through detailed data analysis, they uncover trends and insights into the local ecosystem.

Summer internships lead to research wins

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:18:00 -0400

Through internship programs, Daniel Capelluto's research lab provides students a place free of distractions with an academic family and mentorship to help them stay focused and have the best chances of being successful.

Virginia Tech faculty receive National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot awards

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 10:56:00 -0400

The NAIRR Pilot awards – a joint effort led by the National Science Foundation in collaboration with other U.S. federal agencies – are a result of President Joe Biden's landmark Executive Order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI and provide researchers and students access to key AI resources and data.

Brent Opell honored with emeritus status

Tue, 21 May 2024 10:05:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1978, Opell’s scholarship focused on organismal biology

Class of 2024: Abigail Lewis loves lakes — and the role they play in climate resilience

Tue, 21 May 2024 09:32:00 -0400

Abigail Lewis, the 2024 Outstanding Doctoral Student for the College of Science, has carved out a place where she can make a difference in the connected crises of climate change: freshwater management.

NIH award funds Virginia Tech scientist’s study of link between diet, diabetes, and heart disease

Thu, 16 May 2024 14:21:00 -0400

Jessica Pfleger, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is exploring the role of a certain protein in heart cells becoming insulin resistant, doubling the risk of heart disease and death in Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers confirm scale matters in determining vulnerability of freshwater fish to climate changes

Thu, 16 May 2024 08:21:00 -0400

Ph.D. student Samuel Silknetter and Associate Professor Meryl Mims recently led a team that explored the influence the spatial extent of research – the geographical coverage of data collected – has on evaluating the sensitivity of fish species to climate change.

A hydrogen future could offer sustainable energy and economic growth for Appalachia

Mon, 13 May 2024 14:33:00 -0400

A $1.5 million grant will allow researchers to study the feasibility of underground hydrogen storage in already-depleted oil and gas fields throughout the region, bringing new economic and job opportunities.

Six Virginia Tech faculty elected AAAS Fellows

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:37:00 -0400

The newly elected lifetime fellows represent the fields of biological sciences, chemistry, medical sciences, and engineering followed by neuroscience and physics.

Invasive species sound off about impending ecosystem changes

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:01:00 -0400

A team of researchers led by Grace O’Malley, Ph.D. candidate in biological sciences, and Gabrielle Ripa, Ph.D. student in plant and environmental sciences, have discovered that the silent growth of non-native invasive plants can affect the soundscape of an ecosystem.

Earth Day 2024: Experts available to discuss environmental issues and how to solve them

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:40:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech media relations office has experts available for interviews to speak on issues ahead of Earth Day on April 22, 2024. Those topics include the environment, energy, infrastructure, invasive species, food waste artificial intelligence, sustainability, and more. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.

Five faculty members honored with academy membership for leadership, service

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:35:00 -0400

Hailing from biological sciences, industrial and systems engineering, University Libraries, psychology, and architecture, the faculty members will join Virginia Tech's prestigious Academies of Faculty Service and Leadership in honor of their substantial contributions to the university.

New center showcases Virginia Tech's strengths in global sustainability

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:26:00 -0400

Cayelan Carey and Quinn Thomas, co-directors of the Virginia Tech Center for Ecosystem Forecasting, are striving to stay ahead of ecological hazards and broadly extending their efforts to encompass partners both home and abroad.

Leaves of three, let it be? Maybe not anymore

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:55:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers have found wide variability amongst poison ivy plants, rendering identification and avoidance more challenging.

Graduate students commit to research despite early challenges

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 12:45:00 -0400

Students in the first cohort of the Molecular and Cellular Biology graduate program are preparing to graduate.

Novel discovery may benefit severe immune conditions

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:44:00 -0400

Discovery of a DNA shift in the innate immune memory of cells may aid in the fight against one of humans’ most deadly foes – sepsis.

Unveiling a hidden threat: Researchers show viral infections pose early heart risks

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:36:00 -0500

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists challenge traditional assumptions and open a new window to help people with cardiac infections.

Rare collection of plant specimens arrives at Virginia Tech herbarium

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 10:03:00 -0500

A collection of approximately 50 plant specimens, some more than 180 years old, was sent to Virginia Tech as part of a plant specimen exchange with the Natural History Museum in London. The specimens will be stored in the Massey Herbarium at Derring Hall and later can be used for student projects and research purposes.

A challenge of rare disease: Roanoke woman went undiagnosed for nearly seven decades

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 13:48:00 -0500

Susan Wallace, who thrived in the face of many struggles, was in her late 60s when she was diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome. Then her brother learned research into the rare genetic disorder was taking place within walking distance of his home.

Researchers receive National Science Foundation grant for long-term data research

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 12:15:00 -0500

The five-year grant will support three Virginia Tech researchers working to help better predict the future of ecosystems.

Solstice Farm Brewery: A dream 30 years in the making

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:14:00 -0500

Two Virginia Tech alums who graduated in the 1980s return to open up a microbrewery.

Low oxygen in lakes may breathe new life into conservation efforts for water quality

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:38:00 -0500

Abigail Lewis and her international team analyzed 656 lakes across five continents to provide empirical evidence supporting a long-held theory regarding low deep-water oxygen concentrations, or anoxia.

Meet two Virginia Tech research couples who share a special bond

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 12:55:00 -0500

Two Fralin Life Sciences Institute research couples — Brenda Winkel and Jim Westwood, along with Nisha Duggal and James Weger— share insight on how their worlds of being partners in life intertwine with their roles in academia.

A new approach to creating an ancient tree of life

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:59:00 -0500

Carolina Martinez-Gutierrez and Frank Aylward have created a genetic tree that establishes a timeline for when 13 clades – the lineages of bacteria and archaea – colonized in the ocean.

Virginia Tech biologist is a finalist in the $10 million XPRIZE Rainforest competition

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 09:56:00 -0500

For College of Science Assistant Professor Julie Allen and her teammates on Team Waponi, winning the grand prize is secondary to preserving the planet’s vanishing rainforest ecosystem.

Bird feeding may give humans something to chirp about

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 09:20:00 -0500

Ashley Dayer and a team of researchers at Virginia Tech and beyond are working to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between bird feeding and human well-being.

External fellowships open doors for graduate students

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:19:00 -0500

Graduate students likely are familiar with the ways in which their colleges, programs, and labs provide financial support for them, but they may be far less aware of funding sources beyond Virginia Tech.

Forget social distancing: House finches become more social when sick

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 09:18:00 -0500

Marissa Langager, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, led a new study about the social behavior of sick house finches.

Happy Halloween: Spooky news and fall favorites

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:38:00 -0400

Ghosts and goblins gather round for some scary stories, spooky science, tips, and trends to help you make the most of the fall season.

Caribbean parrots are relics of human-driven millennial-scale extinction, research shows

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 08:50:00 -0400

Julie Allen, assistant biological sciences professor, co-authored a paper about changes in parrot diversity after the arrival of humans in the Caribbean.

Interdisciplinary team receives $5 million grant to explore COVID-19 virus ecology at the human-animal interface

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 08:43:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers will explore the risk of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, infections in wildlife communities and how those risks could affect humans.

Biological science’s Daniela Cimini named College of Science Faculty Fellow

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 07:09:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2005, Cimini serves as associate head and graduate program director of the Department of Biological Sciences. She has been instrumental in building the department’s program in cell and molecular biology and imaging.

Graduate students vie for top prizes in science fair with a twist

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:56:00 -0400

Elementary students judged Virginia Tech graduate students' research presentations at the Flip the Fair event held at the Melrose Branch Library in Roanoke.

Carla Finkielstein named Roger H. Moore and Mojdeh Khatam-Moore Dean’s Faculty Fellow

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:42:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2005, Finkielstein currently serves as the associate director of research of the Academy of Integrated Science in the College of Science and as interim co-director of the Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance.

Liwu Li named College of Science Faculty Fellow

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:36:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2005, Li serves as the director of the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at Virginia Tech.

Not all viruses are harmful

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:07:00 -0400

An assistant professor of biological sciences, Bryan Hsu received a five-year $1.9 million Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to develop a model to test the role of viruses attacking bacteria within the gut microbiome.

Tales from the Galapagos: Study Abroad Spring 2023

In this captivating journey, join Professors Ignacio Moore and William Hopkins—experts in Biological Sciences and Fish and Wildlife Conservation, respectively—as they guide a diverse group of Hokies on an extraordinary study abroad adventure to the Galapagos Islands. From students majoring in various academic disciplines to the unique wildlife encounters, this trip offers an unparalleled educational experience you won't want to miss.

‘The real deal’: Students thrive and grow in summer hands-on research experiences

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This was the seventh summer of programs aimed at engaging and training the next generation of scientists. This year, 34 students from colleges in Virginia, North Carolina, and as far away as California, and from five area high schools, participated in summer undergraduate research fellowship programs at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

Undergraduate students SURF into research this summer

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:16:00 -0400

Nine undergraduate students were paired with Fralin Life Sciences Institute-affiliated faculty mentors for the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program, a 10-week training program designed to give motivated undergraduates full-time research experience that mirrors real-world graduate work.

In memoriam: Jack Cranford, emeritus associate professor of biological sciences

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 04:45:00 -0400

Cranford was internationally known for his research in the field of ecology of small mammals and published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles in the field.

Virginia Tech is fertile ground for a new rural environmental health training program

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 07:20:00 -0400

A $500,000 institutional research training grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences will support Virginia Tech’s new Rural Environmental Health Ph.D. Fellowship Program by providing a two-year assistantship for six qualifying graduate students during the next five years.

In its seventh year, College of Science Dean’s Discovery Fund supports new research efforts

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 08:54:00 -0400

The Lay Nam Chang Dean’s Discovery Fund recently announced research awards to support projects that include the discovery of non-opioid pain killers, wildlife disease, a mobile app for rural parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and bat guano. This year's awarded grants exceed $120,000.

Faculty do their homework for the fall semester

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 10:29:00 -0400

While students have been preoccupied with thoughts about packing and moving back to campus, faculty have been focused on preparing to be back in the classroom and their teaching content.

Research team makes surprising discovery of low-noise genes

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Often upstaged by the more striking, well-publicized high-noise genes, Silke Hauf and her research team were intrigued by their discovery of ultra-low noise genes as they provide a window into the understanding of gene expression and gene expression noise.

Scientists spurred by a thirst to transform the field of phytoplankton forecasting

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:02:00 -0400

Cayelan Carey, professor of biological sciences, will serve as the lead principal investigator on a $2.2 million National Science Foundation grant to develop the first automated, real-time system to forecast the toxic blooms that endanger drinking water.

A river of water research flows throughout the commonwealth

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 07:53:00 -0400

The Virginia Water Resources Center plays an important role in supporting collaborative research on water science at Virginia Tech while fostering public engagement and outreach across the commonwealth.

Homestays are the heart of studying abroad

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:52:00 -0400

Living with local families allows Virginia Tech students studying abroad to immerse themselves in the local culture and to develop close relationships with their host families. Students can learn more about these opportunities at the Global Education Fall Fair in September.

TOUR Scholars visit the National Institutes of Health

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:52:00 -0400

The Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research Scholars Program is a research-intensive summer experience that prepares students for graduate and medical education in translational obesity research.

Zooming in on microplastics

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:22:00 -0400

These tiny particles are creating big challenges worldwide and are at the core of emerging fields of study for researchers, including many at Virginia Tech.

Collaborative seed grants nurture high-impact social and environmental research

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 10:16:00 -0400

Each year, the Fralin Life Sciences Institute’s Global Change Center and the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment allocate seed funding program to support researchers who are interested in tackling major global change issues from both biophysical and sociological perspectives.

Five honorees inducted into College of Science’s Hall of Distinction

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:37:00 -0400

New members are Lewis L. Lanier, Kathryn Parker Martin, Benjamin Z. Stallings II, Paul M. Thorn, and James D. Watkins. They bring the total number of Hall of Distinction members to 44.

Innovating around complex problems

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 11:20:00 -0400

Virginia Tech inventors who contributed to the innovation ecosystem last year by disclosing 169 new innovations, executed 30 new license agreements with commercial partners, and created 10 new start-up companies, were honored at the second annual Celebrating Innovation event, last Monday.

Three Virginia Tech advisors win awards from national advising organization

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 11:04:00 -0400

NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising recognized excellence in advisors from University Studies and Scholarship Support and the Department of Biological Sciences.

Signs of Spring: Ramps and Skunk Cabbage

Jordan Metzgar, curator of the Massey Herbarium, takes us through a Blacksburg trail to teach us about two local plant species.

What's Your Major? - Microbiology

Natalie shares her studies in microbiology and her interest in studying disease.

College of Science launches Robert E. Benoit Distinguished Lectureship in Biological Sciences

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:35:00 -0400

The inaugural lecture, to be held Wednesday, April 12, at the Holtzman Alumni Center's Assembly Hall, will feature Steven Wilhelm of the University of Tennessee.

Virginia Tech scientist identifies narrow opportunity to address a disease connected with autism, schizophrenia

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 06:53:00 -0400

A National Institutes of Health grant will allow a team led by Anthony-Samuel LaMantia, a professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, to further his 20-year deep dive into DiGeorge syndrome, a genetic disorder that is usually diagnosed too late for treatment.

No frogs or toads left behind on Virginia Tech researchers’ watch

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:02:00 -0500

For the last two years, researcher Traci DuBose and her team have evaluated and compared more than 140,000 observations of anurans native to the contiguous United States, making it the first study of this size and scope.

Can the fungus from ‘The Last of Us’ really create zombies? An expert explains

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:00:59 -0500

The HBO television series, “The Last of Us,” a tale of survival in a zombie apocalypse that was already a hugely popular video game before it invaded our screens this year, imagines a zombie plague caused by a fungal infection that exits in nature. Jordan Metzgar, curator of the Massey Herbarium at Virginia Tech, answered a few questions about what humankind should realistically fear from the millions of species of fungi that live on our planet.

Calls for new railroad transportation safety measures, Virginia Tech experts weigh-in

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:07:00 -0500

There’s a new push for railroad safety measures - engineering and environmental - in the wake of two recent train derailments, including the one in East Palestine, Ohio. Virginia Tech experts in engineering and biological sciences weigh-in.

This ecosystem toxicologist is tracking microplastic consumption in dolphins

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:39:00 -0500

Biological sciences' Assistant Professor Austin Gray’s research has led him and fellow team members to find an average of 1,400 microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of dolphins in Charleston Harbor.

Berkeley researcher to headline ecological forecasting event at Virginia Tech

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:57:00 -0500

The Spring Seminar, Skills and Social event hosted by the Ecological Forecasting Project at Virginia Tech will take place Thursday, Feb. 23, in Fralin Auditorium.

How harmful are the microplastics in our waterways?

As car tires deteriorate, they leave behind tiny particles that make their way into our waterways, along with other emerging contaminates. Assistant Professor Austin Gray, along with his graduate and undergraduate students, are researching the effects of these microplastics.

Internationally recognized scientist and writer C. Brandon Ogbunu to speak at Martin Luther King Jr. Seminar

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 07:36:00 -0500

The 12th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Seminar features C. Brandon Ogbunu, a self-described radical collaborator, who will lead a talk, “Living, Learning, and Adaptive Landscapes: How Evolutionary Biology Can Help us Navigate it All,” on Jan. 20 at Steger Hall on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus.

Biological sciences’ Dana Hawley leads study showing how symptoms of illness help pathogens spread amongst songbirds

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 19:00:00 -0500

Hawley and a team of researchers have shown just how easily these pathogens — in this case, a form of conjunctivitis common in birds but harmless to humans — spread, suggesting similar scenarios for humans.

Three biological sciences alumni name undergraduate research fellowship in honor of emerita professor Anne McNabb

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 11:18:00 -0500

Three alumni of the Virginia Tech College of Science have established an undergraduate research fellowship grant in honor of F.M. Anne McNabb, a professor emerita of what is now the Department of Biological Sciences.

John Phillips honored with emeritus status

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 09:40:00 -0500

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 2000, Phillips maintained continuous research funding from a variety of federal agencies including four programs at the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Oak Ridge National Labs, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Research Council of Norway, and the Fetzer Institute.

Cardiovascular scientists to explore viral infection that can lead to sudden death

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:56:00 -0500

James Smyth, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has been awarded a five-year, $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to discover why viruses that normally infect our lungs can turn deadly when they infect the heart.

Virginia Tech researchers will investigate how bird feeding influences humans and birds

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:44:00 -0500

Ashley Dayer of the College of Natural Resources and Environment and Dana Hawley of the College of Science are leading a multifaceted project funded by the National Science Foundation to study the effects of bird feeding.

In its sixth year, College of Science Dean’s Discovery Fund supports wide array of research

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 13:42:00 -0400

This year’s grants exceed $160,000 for projects focused on cancer research, battery materials, inflammatory bowel disease, age-related distractibility, the development of antibiotics, and more.

Virginia Tech team awarded NSF grant to assess how salt in freshwater streams impacts aquatic ecosystems

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 10:35:00 -0400

The Appalachian region is home to extremely high biodiversity, making it urgent need to understand how increased freshwater salinization affects these environments.

Fralin Life Sciences Institute sponsors inaugural Infectious Disease Symposium

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:01:00 -0400

The Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Anthropod-Borne Pathogens will host the symposium on Friday, Oct. 7, with keynote speakers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes for Health, and One Health Institute.

College of Science’s J. Mark Sowers Distinguished Lecture Series returns with live, in-person event

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:32:00 -0400

The lecture on Sept. 29 will feature Ron Vale, vice president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and executive director of its Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia. He will discuss “The World’s Smallest Machines,” an inside look at how the cells found in every living creature have incredibly intricate moving parts that operate similarly to robots.

Biological Science’s Cayelan Carey to expand modeling capabilities for daily water quantity and quality forecasts

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:41:00 -0400

The Fulbright Future Scholar aims to give water managers the tools to forecast the effects of droughts, storms, and algal blooms on driving water conditions in lakes and reservoirs as regularly as we predict the weather.

Casting for data on microplastics in the ocean

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 11:24:00 -0400

With the new Seale Coastal Zone Observatory, Robert Weiss, a professor of geosciences, aims to model the present and future effects of microplastics on the marine environment and its life.

Professor supports Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students’ research projects through endowment

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 08:46:00 -0400

Established by Charles J. Schleupner, professor of internal medicine at the school and infectious disease physician at Carilion Clinic, four students at the medical school will pursue summer research fellowships.

Neuroscience’s Michael A. Fox to hold I.D. Wilson Chair in the College of Science

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:26:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2012, Fox is a nationally recognized neuroscientist and an expert on understanding how neuronal circuits form in the developing brain.

The past, present, and future of Virginia Tech's herbarium

The Massey Herbarium at Virginia Tech is the largest herbarium in Virginia. It houses thousands of dried and pressed plant specimens used for research and education. The oldest is over 200 years old. Massey Herbarium Curator Jordan Metzgar explains how the museum first began and how the collection is used by students, faculty, researchers, and the public for a variety of purposes, including modeling future species distribution in response to climate change.

College of Science students win Beckman Scholarships for collaborative research projects

Wed, 25 May 2022 10:21:00 -0400

Three Virginia Tech students were awarded scholarships from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. They are Camille Bridgewater, double majoring in chemistry and physics; Sera Choi, a biological sciences major; and Nikki Keith, double majoring in biological sciences and clinical neuroscience.

New study: A vicious cycle of oxygen loss threatens water quality in lakes

Wed, 25 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In a seven-year field experiment that manipulated oxygen levels in the bottom waters of a nearby reservoir, Cayelan Carey and her research team found that with anoxic conditions came effects they had expected: The sediments release a lot of nutrients and carbon.

Virginia Tech nanoscientist seeks to develop thin films with a big payoff

Tue, 24 May 2022 10:31:00 -0400

Satoru Emori, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, wants to create new thin films made of specially engineered magnetic materials, a project funded by a five-year, $500,000 National Science Foundation CARRER Award.

Whitney Woelmer named Outstanding Doctoral Student for College of Science

Tue, 17 May 2022 10:13:00 -0400

Woelmer’s research is broadly focused on understanding water quality – things like the amount of algae or nutrients – in lakes and reservoirs and predicting how it can change both over time and spatially.

What's Your Science? - Sera Choi

Sera describes her interest in DNA replication and 3D printing as a biological sciences major.

What's Your Science?- Nikki Keith

Nikki shares her excitement to begin research using ultrasound to break up cancerous cells.

What's Your Science? - Carla Lopez Lloreda

Carla shares her interest in studying aquatic ecosystems and how greenhouse gas emissions affect and interact with them.

What's Your Science? - Whitney Woelmer

Whitney Woelmer, Ph.D candidate in Biological Sciences, shares her interests in water quality.

Class of 2022: Carla López Lloreda honored as College of Science's Outstanding Master’s Student

Tue, 10 May 2022 08:24:00 -0400

Hurricane María was a turning point in the life of Carla López Lloreda, the 2022 Outstanding Master’s Student in the College of Science. Experiencing firsthand the devastation wrought by the hurricane – including weeks without water and months without power – she became even more motivated to make a difference through her research.

Inventor spotlight: Dorothea Tholl, professor of Biological Sciences

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:27:00 -0400

As a biochemist and molecular biologist, Tholl explores chemical interactions of plants and insects to develop sustainable pest control strategies.

Virginia Tech team studies greenhouse gas emissions from Appalachian streams

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 09:36:00 -0400

Kristen Bretz, a Ph.D. candidate, and Erin Hotchkiss, an assistant professor of biological sciences in the Virginia Tech College of Science, found an interesting linkage between temporary pools and stream emissions of two greenhouse gases.

Microbiologist Frank Aylward to use $989,000 NSF CAREER Award to study ‘giant’ viruses found in ecosystems

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 06:50:00 -0400

Aylward, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, will use the award funding to better understand how such viruses affect ecosystems.

Oversized and understudied: Researchers begin to uncover the mysterious lives of jumbo bacteriophages

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Alaina Weinheimer, a Ph.D. candidate, and Frank Aylward, an assistant professor of biological sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Science, have answered a few big questions about jumbo bacteriophages.

Dog sledding a passion project for Virginia Tech alumna

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 10:52:00 -0500

Paige Drobny, who graduated from Virginia Tech in 1997 with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, went to Alaska in 2004 to take a position as a fisheries biologist. But a love of Alaskan huskies and exploring the beautiful Alaskan landscape led to a different passion project — competitive dog sledding. She and her husband now annually compete in the Iditarod, which is the nation's premier dog sledding event.

Biochemistry enhances experiential learning for students with investment in two state-of-the-art scientific instruments

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0500

The purchase of these two instruments allows students to be better prepared for their careers in industry.

Scientists identify neural disruptions underlying feeding, swallowing disorders in children

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 10:05:00 -0500

In a new study published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientists led by Anthony-Samuel LaMantia depict the early development of pain-sensing and movement-sensing neurons in the face and throat. The findings reveal a previously unexplored feature of brain and cranial nerve development underlying eating, swallowing, and speech.

Recipients of John L. Johnson Awards for Graduate Student Excellence in Microbiology are announced

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 08:35:00 -0500

The awards are supported by an endowment in the name of John L. Johnson, a former professor in the Department of Anaerobic Microbiology and a pioneer in the field of microbial diversity and microbiome research, who passed away in 1996.

New covered bike racks are coming to the Blacksburg campus

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:07:00 -0500

To encourage the use of alternative transportation on the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus, multiple covered bike racks will soon be installed near Life Sciences I and Steger Hall.

Karine Gibbs to speak at 11th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Webinar

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 10:19:00 -0500

Gibbs, an associate professor in the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, will talk on Friday, Jan. 21, from noon to 1 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session.

Researchers find whimsy at the nano scale

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 07:08:00 -0500

Mohsen Hosseini, Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering, and William Ducker, professor of chemical engineering, recently had their entry declared a winner in the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure image contest.

Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in interdisciplinary classrooms

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:20:00 -0500

Virginia Tech faculty are intersecting research, education, and service through COVID-19 classes, which give students the tools to maneuver through an ever-evolving pandemic and a minefield of COVID-19 misinformation.

Class of 2021: College of Science’s Outstanding Doctoral Student continues passion as postdoctoral researcher, educator

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:55:00 -0500

Mary Lofton’s goal as a student was to help find ways to sustainably provide high-quality freshwater resources to all communities. “One of the things that draws me is the ability of water quality to bring people together,” she said. “It’s a unifying topic."

Researchers identify behavioral adaptations that may help Antarctic fishes to adapt to warming Southern Ocean

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0500

In a new study published in PLOS ONE, Michael Friedlander and his team at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute describe how Antarctic fishes with and without hemoglobin react to acute thermal stress. The findings characterize species-specific behavioral responses that may help these endemic species withstand the impacts of climate change.

Virginia Tech researcher tackles restoring the Florida Everglades with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:28:00 -0500

During the past century, the Florida Everglades has been facing habitat loss, declining biodiversity, and an ecological collapse. Jeff Walters, the Harold Bailey professor of biological sciences and Global Change Center affiliate, is working with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to restore the Florida Everglades.

Biological Sciences hosts first #VTBioWalk

Assistant Professor Erin Hotchkiss and Professor Ignacio Moore, both of Biological Sciences, lead an excursion with undergraduate students from Derring Hall to the Duck Pond as they hosted their first #VTBioWalk.

Researchers develop miniature optical fiber treatment device for more effective cancer immunotherapy

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 10:50:00 -0500

Deciding to merge their expertise to help combat cancer, two researchers are addressing problems with current immunotherapy delivery methods by developing a miniature optical fiber treatment device that can deliver cancer immunotherapeutic antibodies while monitoring treatment efficacy.

Training dogs for a cause

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 08:49:00 -0400

Cassie Krause, a 2010 graduate of the College of Natural Resources and Environment, trains puppies to be service dogs for veterans with disabilities — a job that allows her to combine her love of animals and her desire to contribute to a greater cause.

How plant parents ensure that their kids make it far in life

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 08:48:00 -0400

Seed dispersal is being studied by a team led by Susan Whitehead, an assistant professor of biological sciences in the College of Science, to better understand how chemicals affect interactions between fruits and the animals that consume them.

Researchers receive $1.75 million grant to study host variation

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 09:37:00 -0400

Disease outbreaks and evolution are hard to predict. Researchers at Virginia Tech and three other institutions are studying immunity variation to get a better grasp on this phenomenon.

First-year cadets chosen to highlight the colors at the Richmond game

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0400

First-year cadets Ainsley Brewer, Dom Meoli, and Victor Mou were chosen for the special duty because of their dedication to bettering themselves and their classmates.

New museum exhibits showcase Virginia Tech research

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0400

A partnership between Virginia Tech and the Science Museum of Western Virginia has resulted in four new interactive exhibits that highlight the work of the university’s faculty and students.

Global Change Center undergraduate researchers investigate questions related to environmental change

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 08:00:00 -0400

In a year complicated by the global pandemic, three recipients of Global Change Center Undergraduate Research Grants succeeded in conducting important research and presented their work at a campus conference attended by hundreds of Virginia Tech students and faculty.

New Fralin Biomedical scientist explores how metabolism, stress alter gene expression in heart cells

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:21:00 -0400

Jessica Pfleger, a new faculty member starting at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on July 1, studies how lifestyle factors, such as stress and diet, alter the genes and proteins involved in heart disease progression.

Fifth year of College of Science Dean’s Discovery Fund supports faculty research

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 11:16:00 -0400

Now in its fifth year, the Virginia Tech College of Science Lay Nam Chang Dean’s Discovery Fund recently announced research awards that will support such diverse projects as water quality, discovery of drugs for pain and viruses, mental health treatment, and economics forecasting.

Discovery of circadian rhythm gene in mice could lead to breakthroughs in understanding those in humans

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 08:44:00 -0400

In a new study, Virginia Tech scientists have identified a novel gene, Per2AS, that controls the natural sleep/wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, in mice.

Former student-athletes ready for next chapter after graduation from VCOM

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:22:00 -0400

Tara Feehan and Marie Johnston, two former Virginia Tech student-athletes, graduated from the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine on May 8, and with their formal education complete, the two doctors now are getting ready for the next chapter of their careers — multiyear residencies in their preferred fields of interest

Virginia Tech researchers identify a missing piece of the Lyme disease puzzle

Thu, 13 May 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Assistant Professor Brandon Jutras and his lab have continued to tackle the Lyme disease epidemic over the past year, and they have recently identified another missing piece of the Lyme disease puzzle.

What's your science? - Katie Duffett

Katie Duffett shares how she wants to use her training to become a pediatrician or ER doctor in the future.

Carla Finkielstein honored with Ut Prosim Scholar Award

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 10:38:00 -0400

Finkielstein, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science and an award-winning cancer researcher, anticipated the limitations of existing methods for testing the novel coronavirus and enlisted a team to develop an innovative method that would more accurately, reliably, and rapidly detect the virus and help mitigate its spread.

Virginia Tech launches Translational Plant Sciences Center

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:13:00 -0400

There is a pressing need for research to promote safe, sustainable production of food, feed, and fiber. To meet this need, Virginia Tech has created the Translational Plant Sciences Center, which will focus on the development and translation of basic plant research discoveries into technologies and practices that improve agriculture.

Virginia Tech freshwater scientist Cayelan Carey selected for 2021 cohort in Earth Leadership Program

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:06:00 -0500

Carey, an associate professor of biological sciences in the Virginia Tech College of Science and an affiliated faculty member at the Fralin Life Sciences Institute and the Global Change Center, is one of 21 academics who have been handpicked for the 2021-22 North American cohort.

Virginia Tech researcher highlights infectious diseases and social distancing in nature

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:00:00 -0500

In a new review published in Science, Dana Hawley, a professor of biological sciences in the Virginia Tech College of Science, and a team of scientists have highlighted some non-human species that have intuitively practiced social distancing when one of their own became sick - long before humans learned about and started “social distancing due to COVID-19."

Tumors and centrosomes: Researchers receive grant to investigate cancer evolution

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:30:00 -0500

Unlike many of us during the COVID-19 pandemic, biological cells are not isolated from the outside world. This relationship between cell and environment also applies to the development of cancer, which a team of Virginia Tech scientists is now researching with the help of a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

This Valentine's Day protect your heart by learning about Virginia Tech’s AED program

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0500

There are more than 180 automated external defibrillators in place throughout the Blacksburg campus and greater Washington, D.C., area. The student-run Virginia Tech Rescue Squad leads the operation, maintenance, and inspections of these life-saving devices.

College of Science announces inaugural recipients of Inclusion and Diversity Fellowship Program

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 09:15:00 -0500

The Virginia Tech College of Science has awarded two faculty members with its first-ever Inclusion and Diversity Fellowships, aimed at advancing inclusivity and diversity among students, faculty, and staff in the college.

Songbirds exposed to lead-contaminated water show telltale signs about human impacts

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:19:00 -0500

Kendra Sewall, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science, and a diverse team of scientists and students have found that lead levels like those reported in Flint, Michigan, can interfere with the vocal development of songbirds and affect mate attraction.

Q&A: Vaccine basics, their history, importance, and role in COVID-19

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Kate Langwig, a quantitative disease ecologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, breaks down the basics about vaccines, how they work, and how they have protected humans from lethal diseases for decades.

Understanding the New Coronavirus Vaccines

Infectious Disease Ecologist Kate Langwig explains the complicated dynamics that are at play in determining how effectively the new COVID-19 vaccines will regain pre-pandemic normalcy.

Max-Planck Institute director to present at Virginia Tech Life Science Seminar

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:35:00 -0500

Melina Schuh, esteemed scientist and pioneer in chromosomal abnormalities in ovarian cells, will speak at the Virginia Tech Life Science Seminar, a universitywide seminar series funded by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech, on Jan. 29.

Virginia Tech, Children’s National Hospital award $100,000 to fund collaborative cancer research pilot projects

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 14:10:00 -0500

Children’s National Hospital and Virginia Tech have awarded two $50,000 one-year pilot grants to multi-institutional teams of scientists for pediatric brain cancer research.

Fatal attraction: Bats with white-nose syndrome prefer suboptimal habitats despite the consequences

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech researchers have been studying little brown bat populations to see if bats alter their preferences across hibernacula, or hibernation sites, in response to the invasion of white-nose syndrome. But instead of avoiding these deadly sites, bats continue to use them year after year.

Erik Nilsen honored with emeritus status by Virginia Tech Board of Visitors

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:31:00 -0500

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1983, Nilsen’s research and scholarship has focused on the physiological ecology of higher plants

In memoriam: Robert Benoit, associate professor emeritus in Department of Biological Sciences

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 09:32:00 -0500

Benoit joined the then Department of Biology between his master’s and doctoral degrees, in 1962. He became one of the founding members of the department’s microbiology program, teaching thousands of students over his career.

Low oxygen levels in lakes and reservoirs may accelerate global change

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 13:10:00 -0500

In a first of its kind study, researchers at Virginia Tech have experimentally tested, at the whole ecosystem-scale, how different oxygen levels in lakes and reservoirs affect the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and contribute to global change.

Managing salt pollution to protect drinking water resources and freshwater ecosystems

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:24:00 -0500

Researchers recently received a $3.6 million grant to catalyze solutions for salt pollution by merging ideas, approaches, and technologies from widely diverse fields of knowledge to stimulate innovation and discovery.

Biomedical engineering and mechanics faculty receive NSF grant to study oxygen delivery in insects

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:36:00 -0500

With support from an NSF grant, two faculty members in biomedical engineering and mechanics have combined forces to answer questions pertaining to insects’ breathing, which may lead to new applications in microfluidics.

Lurking in genomic shadows: How giant viruses fuel the evolution of algae

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:22:00 -0500

Viruses are tiny invaders that cause a wide range of diseases, from rabies to tomato spotted wilt virus and, most recently, COVID-19 in humans. But viruses can do more than elicit sickness — and not all viruses are tiny.

New Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientist pursues heart disease treatments

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:09:00 -0500

Scott Johnstone’s team is designing drugs that interrupt protein interactions to curb pathological cell division.

Virginia Tech launches Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 07:35:00 -0400

The new program offers graduate students the opportunity to get involved in research as diverse as SARS-COV-2 reverse genetics, treating microbial contamination in drinking water, and reducing mosquito-borne diseases.

The race against cancer’s clock: New study shows chronic jet lag impairs immune response, accelerates tumor growth

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

A new study led by Carla Finkielstein, an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Diego Golombek, a professor at the National University of Quilmes, reveals that chronic jet lag impedes the body’s immune system and also changes the tumor microenvironment, favoring tumor growth.

Study: Land development and climate change threaten clear water lakes, but there is hope for protecting them

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 08:09:00 -0400

A recent study from the Virginia Tech Department of Biological Sciences shows that the negative effects from climate change on clear water lakes can be mitigated by limiting nutrient pollution from land development in clear-water lakes.

Cadet Devin Scofield named honorary flag cadet for the North Carolina game

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

Scofield is part of the corps’ Citizen-Leader Track program, and she will pursue a career in the health care industry after graduation.

Carla Finkielstein named Luther and Alice Hamlett Junior Faculty Fellow by Board of Visitors

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:31:00 -0400

The award provides support for outstanding faculty members who hold the rank of assistant or associate professor and whose work supports the missions of the college’s Academy of Integrated Science.

Interdisciplinary molecular and cellular biology graduate program flourishes

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 11:28:00 -0400

Virginia Tech launched this new interdisciplinary doctoral program in 2018. The first, second, and third cohort are made up of impressive students from diverse backgrounds with extensive research experience, and the program is now recruiting for its fourth cohort.

Biological sciences’ John Tyson honored with emeritus status by Board of Visitors

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Tyson, University Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, brought international visibility to Virginia Tech’s Department of Biological Sciences through his work in systems biology.

Scientists, engineers to discuss COVID-19 response in virtual HokieTalk on Wednesday

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 07:34:00 -0400

When the novel coronavirus hit the United States in January, Virginia Tech faculty recognized the nation was on the brink of a COVID-19 pandemic that would affect the university and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. Hear the inside story about what happened during a virtual HokieTalk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.

College of Science debuts annual magazine

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 11:52:00 -0400

When COVID-19 shook the world at the start of 2020, eventually killing more than 900,000 people worldwide and shuttering economies, the Virginia Tech College of Science took action. The 2020 Virginia Tech College of Science Magazine covers these actions from across every department and program.

Scientists advance understanding of blood-brain barrier health with implications for brain disease

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:25:00 -0400

The finding gives scientists a path to understand diseases where frequent blood-brain barrier damage occurs, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

To ensure safe drinking water, experts forecast the health of lakes and reservoirs

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:39:00 -0400

An aquatic ecosystem forecasting system, developed by Virginia Tech researchers, will measure water quality conditions that can be shared every day with water utilities, drinking water managers, and many other decision-makers.

Walking a fine line: How chemical diversity in plants facilitates plant-animal interactions

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 12:54:00 -0400

Chemical ecologists at the Whitehead Lab at Virginia Tech are working to uncover why plants have such diverse chemicals and to determine the functions of these chemicals in plant-microbe and plant-animal interactions.

Swallowing difficulties in children with developmental disorders may be due to misfiring brain cells

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:19:00 -0400

Problems ingesting, chewing, or swallowing food occur in up to 80 percent of children with developmental disorders and can lead to food aspiration, choking, or life-threatening respiratory infections.

Biological Science’s Josef Uyeda using NSF CAREER Award to capture big picture connection of macro- and micro-evolution

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:20:00 -0400

Josef Uyeda, an assistant professor and evolutionary biologist in the Virginia Tech Department of Biological Sciences, seeks to study evolution across the tree of life from simply looking for patterns of how traits are related, to understanding what causes them to evolve.

Researchers co-locate to Steger Hall at the Fralin Life Sciences Institute to tackle infectious diseases and rapid environmental change

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:10:00 -0400

The Fralin Life Sciences Institute is co-locating researchers from across three colleges at Virginia Tech to Steger Hall to make an impact at the interface of infectious disease and the environment.

TECH Together Campaign announces winners and finalists

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 09:38:00 -0400

After the TECH Together Campaign launched in July, a whopping 76 applications from 20 different colleges and departments were submitted. Of those, 10 finalists and 5 winners have been chosen to implement their creative, innovative, and integrated solutions for the reopening of Virginia Tech campuses this fall.

Animal Model Research for Veterinarians Ph.D. training program awarded NIH grant

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 13:30:00 -0400

The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is among a relatively small group of veterinary colleges awarded a T32 grant to train post-D.V.M. veterinarians in biomedical research.

Virginia Tech COVID-19 lab ready to test thousands of student samples

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 12:59:00 -0400

Starting this week, as students begin to return to campus for the fall semester, the lab’s capacity of 1,000 tests per day will also be dedicated to Virginia Tech students and employees in high-contact roles.

Biology student boosts sustainability efforts through green lab certification

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:31:00 -0400

Home to more than 1,200 laboratories, Virginia Tech strives to solve the world’s most complex problems by connecting brilliant minds with powerful technology. But at the end of the day, every researcher is facing the same challenge: copious amounts of laboratory waste.

Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens to tackle infectious diseases

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:20:00 -0400

The center will be administratively established as an institute-level center in the Fralin Life Science Institute and will include faculty participants from at least seven colleges and more than 25 departments on campus.

Researchers use cell imaging and mathematical modeling to understand cancer progression

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 14:40:00 -0400

Using a combination of experiments and mathematical modeling, a team of researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute are beginning to unravel the mechanisms that lie behind tetraploidy - a chromosomal abnormality that is often found in malignant tumors.

From Hokie researchers to your home: science activities for kids to do this summer

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 10:32:00 -0400

Science doesn’t take place just in a lab or field station — discoveries can happen anywhere. For the curious kids out there, affiliated faculty members of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute give their suggestions for fun science experiments and activities to do this summer.

SCHEV approves new Ph.D. program in School of Neuroscience

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 11:50:00 -0400

By the time it is fully operational, the number of total students in the program, set to launch in fall 2021, will be about 24. The program requires a minimum of 96 credit hours of coursework and research.

COVID-19 research projects propelled by Rapid Response Seed Fund

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:42:00 -0400

To support COVID-related research and provide immediate support for Virginia Tech researchers, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation collaborated with Virginia Tech institutes and colleges to establish a COVID-19 Rapid Response Seed Fund. As a result, nine projects were selected for funding.

Virginia Tech graduate student co-organizes #BlackBirdersWeek

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 09:11:00 -0400

Amber Wendler, a biological sciences Ph.D. student in the College of Science studying the behavior of tropical birds, was one of the organizers of #BlackBirdersWeek, a social media movement that took place from May 31 to June 6.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute scientists confirm usually benign virus attacks the heart’s electrical system

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:13:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers made their findings via first-of-their-kind experiments to observe adenovirus effects on human heart cells in a culture dish.

Michael A. Fox named new director of Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 12:11:00 -0400

Fox, director of the Center for Neurobiology Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, will move from his current leadership position into a new role as director of the School of Neuroscience, taking over a position held by founding director Harald Sontheimer.

Recipients selected for inaugural Undergraduate Research Excellence Award

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 10:08:00 -0400

This year’s Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference, a day-long celebration of student research, offered students the opportunity to gain experience communicating their research or creative scholarship while engaging faculty and other students on an online platform.

Amber Abbott named 2020 Outstanding Senior for the College of Science

Mon, 04 May 2020 09:23:00 -0400

Abbott, a senior Honors College member majoring in microbiology in the Department of Biological Sciences with a minor in music, will pursue a Ph.D. in the Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine in the fall.

Lauren Haacke named 2020 Undergraduate of the Year

Mon, 04 May 2020 09:10:00 -0400

Five years ago, Haacke suffered a traumatic head injury. Now, she is graduating from the Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience as the winner of a Fulbright Scholarship and with the honor of being named the 2020 Virginia Tech Undergraduate of the Year.

Class of 2020: Biochemistry and biology major encourages students to gain experience while finding their own way

Fri, 01 May 2020 14:23:00 -0400

Astrid Meenan has advice for new Virginia Tech students: “Keep an open mind to opportunities. Don’t automatically think it’s not for you or that just ‘other people do that.' Virginia Tech opened so many opportunities for me.”

Virginia Tech researchers develop new COVID-19 tests to combat backlogs, shortages

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech scientists have developed a new COVID-19 test and secured federal and state approvals to immediately begin processing samples at on-campus labs in Blacksburg and Roanoke.

Viruses don’t have a metabolism, but some have the building blocks for one

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 05:30:00 -0400

In the genomes of giant viruses, researchers discovered genes that match metabolic cycles in the viruses' cellular hosts. The viruses may be rewiring the hosts' metabolism when they invade.

Microbial Systems mini-symposium highlights small organisms with big impacts

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:03:00 -0400

On March 6, faculty and students discussed "wicked" societal challenges through participation in the second annual Microbial Systems mini-symposium at Virginia Tech.

Pathogen levels in the environment drive disease outbreaks in bats

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:00:00 -0400

In a new study led by Joseph Hoyt, researchers have found that the pathogen levels in the environment play a major role in whether bat populations are stable or experience severe declines from white-nose syndrome.

Symposium addresses how protecting plant health protects life

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 11:01:00 -0400

Faculty, graduate students, and visiting researchers gathered for the 2020 Translational Plant Sciences Symposium at Virginia Tech on Feb. 28 to discuss how their research is protecting plant health in the four areas of sustainability, environment, development, and monitoring and early warning systems.

What's your science? - Maddie Turner

Maddie Turner loves the hands-on aspect of science and talks about her experience working in a lab.

What's your science? - Helen Ngov

Helen Ngov talks about wanting to use biology and economics to solve healthcare problems.

What's you science? - Eric Ramos

Eric Ramos talks about why he was attracted to the College of Science and how he feels empowered to apply to medical school in the future.

Graduate student receives first Mitzi L. Frank Memorial Scholarship to support cancer research

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 08:37:00 -0500

The inaugural Mitzi L. Frank Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Jesse Janoski, a first-year graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences, who is researching cancer and circadian rhythms.

X-ray images help reveal insects’ physiological responses to gravity

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:00:00 -0500

A new study by Jake Socha, professor in biomedical engineering and mechanics in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science journal shows that insects experience physiological effects of gravity similar to that of humans.

Class of 2019: Graduate student Samantha Fenn combines laboratory background with public policy studies in cyberbiosecurity

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:10:00 -0500

Fenn, who graduates this December from the master's of public administration program in Arlington, says her studies have helped her see how biological data becomes vulnerable currency in the struggle for public safety.

Honors College Senior Andrew Pregnall awarded Marshall Scholarship

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:16:00 -0500

Pregnall, driven by his passion to remodel the health care system to improve the health outcomes of the LGBTQ community, is a double-major in microbiology and history. As a Marshall Scholar, Pregnall will continue to pursue his ambition by studying health data science at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

Global Change Center partners with Hollins University to promote undergraduate research opportunities

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:32:00 -0500

The partnership, continuing into its third year, pairs distinguished undergraduate students with Virginia Tech professors for a summer of unique research opportunities.

Registration open for Kids’ Tech University, which connects researchers with students

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 09:28:00 -0500

Hosted by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute in partnership with Virginia 4-H, Kids’ Tech University bridges the gap between scientists and kids to make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics more hands-on while investigating a variety of topics.

Researcher receives NSF grant to study the fate of terrestrial carbon in freshwater ecosystems

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:40:00 -0500

Erin Hotchkiss, an ecosystem ecologist and assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, and her collaborators received the grant to study how carbon moves across land-water boundaries and the multi-scale consequences of terrestrial carbon losses for freshwater ecosystems and global carbon budgets.

Scientists using collaborative NSF grant to understand hydrologic controls on carbon processes in wetlands

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 11:11:00 -0500

Scientists will research the links between hydrological and carbon dynamics taking place in forested wetlands to better understand the role that these ecosystems play in the export, storage, and emission of carbon.

New scholarships celebrate experiential learning through undergraduate research

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0500

The Office of Undergraduate Research has announced three students who are recipients of experiential learning scholarships this fall: Stephanie Flear for the Jacklyn W. and William R. Jones Jr. Experiential Learning Scholarship, as well as Amber Abbott and Kyle Rega for the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research Scholarship.

Multidisciplinary team seeks Rosetta Stone of insect communication

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 10:56:00 -0500

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Virginia Tech, Rutgers, and SRI International has received a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to delve deeper into a particularly rich set of insect communication compounds called terpenes.

Virginia Tech professor receives $1.85 million NIH grant to study sepsis

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:02:00 -0500

Caroline Jones, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, received the grant to study the factors that underlie the decision-making processes that determine immune cell migration, differentiation, and activation in response to sepsis.

Happy Halloween: Meet the Batmen and Batwomen of Virginia Tech

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 10:14:00 -0400

While bats are often portrayed as scary in myths and folklore, especially around Halloween, they play a critical role as insect regulators and pollinators. At Virginia Tech, assistant professors Kate Langwig and Joe Hoyt focus their research on endangered bats and the proliferation of the fungal disease white nose syndrome.

The Global Change Center sponsors ‘Hidden Rivers’ film at the Lyric Theatre

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 09:41:00 -0400

“Hidden Rivers,” a film 10 years in the making, explores the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, which are home to North America’s most biologically rich waters. The film follows conservation biologists and explorers as they find ways to protect the beautiful and delicate life within our rivers, streams, and lakes.

Three College of Science faculty receive Luther and Alice Hamlett honors to support research

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 10:35:00 -0400

Three faculty members in the Virginia Tech College of Science were recently honored with faculty fellowships named for Luther and Alice Hamlet by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Researchers study the mechanisms behind learning and long-term memory in the brain

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:38:00 -0400

Hehuang “David” Xie, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and his collaborators just published a new study in the journal Nature Communications.

Professors take part in journal’s test for peer review bias in major international study

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 10:34:00 -0400

Editors of the journal Functional Ecology are testing to see the hidden biases in scientific peer review.

Six College of Science faculty receive fellowships from Board of Visitors to support research

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:54:00 -0400

Each of the three-year fellowships is dedicated to recognizing faculty for extraordinary research and teaching as well as recruiting scholars with exceptional records of achievement.

Science students invite celebrated nanoscientist to campus for guest lecture

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 11:42:00 -0400

When an opportunity arose for undergraduate students in the Virginia Tech College of Science’s Academy of Integrated Science to invite a speaker to campus, they didn’t hesitate in their first choice: renowned nanomedicine scientist Joy Wolfram.

Professor receives $1 million NSF award to study regulation of motility and biofilm formation in bacteria

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 10:19:00 -0400

Zhaomin Yang, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to understand how bacteria decide whether to stay and build a biofilm or to initiate motility and move to new territory.

Virginia Tech researchers receive $2.9 million grant with China to study infectious diseases

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 11:19:00 -0400

Researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science received the award from the National Science Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China to understand the long-term host and pathogen dynamics of white-nose syndrome in bats.

Researchers receive NSF grant to create Ecological Forecasting Research Coordination Network

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:39:00 -0400

A group of researchers, led by Quinn Thomas, associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech, received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to tackle environmental challenges with the creation of a new network.

Search committee for Fralin Life Sciences Institute director announced

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 13:00:00 -0400

Stefan Duma, executive director of Virginia Tech’s Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, will chair the search committee.

Six students receive Sigma Xi Awards for 2019

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 09:30:00 -0400

Six students — two undergraduates and four doctoral students — received grants from this endowment. They were honored at the annual Sigma Xi induction ceremony on April 25.

Researchers find that probiotic bacteria reduces the impact of white-nose syndrome in bats

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 09:20:00 -0400

It is widely accepted that probiotic bacteria are beneficial to human health, but what if they could also be used to reduce wildlife disease and conserve biodiversity? Researchers from Virginia Tech and UC Santa Cruz did just that. The findings were published recently in Scientific Reports.

Carla Finkielstein and team honored with award for research into circadian rhythms and cancer

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 11:33:00 -0400

A team of Virginia Tech researchers led by Finkielstein, an associate professor in the College of Science, has been honored with the 2019 J. Shelton Horsley Research Award from the Virginia Academy of Science.

Twenty students awarded Fralin Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 10:30:00 -0400

The SURF program is designed to give students hands-on research experiences during a 10-week curriculum that mimics graduate training.

Third year of College of Science Dean’s Discovery Fund supports faculty research

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 10:53:00 -0400

The fund recently announced research awards that will support such diverse projects as nanotechnology, mass extinction events, and diseases in corn.

Virginia Tech researchers discover connection between symbiotic worms and the magnetic orientation of crayfish

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:17:00 -0400

Researchers have found that ectosymbionts – species that live on the outside of the host’s body and have mutually beneficial relationships with their hosts – affect a crayfish’s use of the earth’s magnetic field as a directional reference.

Biological Sciences’ Frank Aylward awarded Simons Foundation grant to study evolution of oceans

Fri, 24 May 2019 10:43:00 -0400

The three-year, $540,000 grant will help Aylward to understand evolutionary trends in prokaryotes and the roles they play in carbon and nitrogen cycling, and other biogeochemical processes that are vital to the Earth’s climate.

Alumna Melanie Pearson Hurley inducted into College of Science’s Hall of Distinction

Mon, 13 May 2019 10:53:00 -0400

Hurley has worked as an environmental professional at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, D.C., for the past 28 years. She currently is a project manager responsible for environmental remediation and waste management policy and programs at multiple sites across the DOE.

Island lizards are expert sunbathers, and it’s slowing their evolution

Wed, 08 May 2019 12:09:00 -0400

According to a new study by Assistant Professor Martha Muñoz at Virginia Tech and Jhan Salazar at Universidad Icesi, physiological evolution in Anolis lizards is actually much slower on islands than on the mainland.

Andrew Pregnall named 2019 Undergraduate Student of the Year

Wed, 08 May 2019 10:00:00 -0400

Pursuing a dual degree in microbiology and history at Virginia Tech, Pregnall has made it his goal to improve health care for the LGBTQ community.

Fralin Fellow studies herpes simplex virus

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 08:52:00 -0400

Amber Abbott is one of 15 recipients of the Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship, a program created by Dennis Dean, director of the Fralin Life Science Institute, in partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Researchers use high-powered computer simulations to study reintroduction of bull trout

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 14:00:00 -0400

A multi-institutional team of researchers, led by Meryl Mims, has assessed how environmental, demographic, and genetic factors play a role in the reintroduction of bull trout in Washington State. Their project is one of the first to use an advanced computer model to project 200 years into the future.

Researchers analyze biodiversity patterns in Antarctic Dry Valleys

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 11:19:00 -0400

Antarctica is a nearly uninhabited, ice-covered continent ravaged by cold, windy, and dry conditions. Virginia Tech researcher Jeb Barrett was part of an international collaborative team that analyzed biodiversity patterns in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica.

Researchers craft unique system for predicting water quality in reservoir

A Virginia Tech team, led by Cayelan Carey, assistant professor of biological sciences, has created a water forecasting system that the Western Virginia Water Authority in Roanoke is using to predict drinking water quality in Vinton’s Falling Creek Reservoir.

Virginia Tech researchers receive NSF grant to study the honey bee gut microbiome

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 12:50:00 -0500

Researchers Lisa Belden, David Haak, T.M. Murali, and Richard Fell from Virginia Tech and Jenifer Walke from Eastern Washington University are collaborating to study the critical role of the honey bee gut microbiome in health and defense against parasites using a systems biology framework.

Virginia Tech professor researches vaccine efficacy

Kate Langwig, an infectious disease ecologist and assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, is researching ways to improve vaccine efficacy.

Virginia Tech professor researches vaccine efficacy

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 05:00:00 -0500

Kate Langwig, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, is researching ways in which vaccine effectiveness can be improved.

Researcher embarks on kayaking trip to assess invasive crayfish species

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 10:33:00 -0500

Bryan Brown studies large-scale community ecology. His work focuses on how multiple species interact in aquatic habitats and how those interactions are altered by changing environmental conditions.

Paleontologists identify small fossils as that of oldest frog relative found in North America

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 05:00:00 -0500

Paleontologists from Virginia Tech have identified fossil fragments of what are thought to be the oldest known frogs in North America.

Virginia Tech researchers tackle the biological invasions crisis

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 10:53:00 -0500

Examples of invasive species threatening Virginia include a sap-sucking invasive insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid, which has decimated the hemlock tree population, and the spotted lanternfly, which attacks grapes, peaches, hops, and many tree species.

The Fralin Life Science Institute supports sustainability and green lab efforts

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 10:30:00 -0500

Ph.D. student Ellen Garcia has created a grassroots green lab effort at Virginia Tech and is working to build a Green Lab Program.

Researchers investigate a billion years of coexistence between plants and fungi

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 11:13:00 -0500

What can a billion years of coexistence tell us about plants and fungi evolution? Virginia Tech professor emeritus Khidir Hilu, along with a team of 13 researchers with complementary expertise in botany, mycology, paleontology, and bioinformatics, joined forces to address this question in a large-scale study published in Nature Communications.

More than 200 high school students to participate in Virginia Tech-hosted 2019 Science Olympiad

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:28:00 -0500

The event is part of the national Science Olympiad, a series of science competitions held in all 50 states designed to help youth improve their understanding in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to work together in teams to learn new skills.

Robert Cohen named head of Department of Biological Sciences in College of Science

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Cohen most recently was chair of the biological sciences department in the College of Science at Clemson University.

Students reflect on lessons learned during study abroad in Ecuador

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tropical Conservation and Biology, a six-credit course offered at Virginia Tech, is taught in the classroom, followed by a three-week study abroad trip to Ecuador.

Researchers discover how 'cryptic' connections in disease transmission influence epidemics

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 11:00:00 -0500

A new study by Virginia Tech researchers of disease transmission in bats has broad implications for understanding hidden or "cryptic" connections that can spread diseases between species and lead to large-scale outbreaks.

Researchers awarded NSF grant to build computational framework to test gene mutations in living cells

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 13:00:00 -0500

Virginia Tech and Colorado State University researchers have been awarded a $1.52 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new algorithms and mathematical models with the goal of predicting the effects of novel combinations of gene mutations in living cells.

Arianna Krinos wins Astronaut Scholarship Foundation award for second consecutive year

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Krinos, a senior with triple majors, will be presented with the scholarship on Thursday by former NASA astronaut Michael J. McCully, who will then give a guest lecture that is open to the public.

Roanoke-based Virginia Tech graduate student selected as a Society for Neuroscience fellow

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Ubadah Sabbagh is a doctoral student in Virginia Tech's Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program.

Video and photos: VTCSOM Class of 2022 participates in their White Coat Ceremony

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400

The 43 members of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2022 received their white coats during the annual White Coat Ceremony on Oct. 19.

Undergrad students named outstanding winners at international MathFest

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Two College of Science students recently were honored as Outstanding Winners in the 2018 Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications Mathematical Contest in Modeling.

Researchers discover insights into cellular surveillance pathway that may have implications for cancer treatment

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0400

Silke Hauf, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, studies a cellular surveillance pathway, or a cellular "checkpoint," that prevents cells from acquiring the wrong number of chromosomes.

Researchers examine how the laws of physics impact evolution

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 10:00:00 -0400

Using various biomechanical systems in animals, the researchers have demonstrated that mechanical relationships in the structural traits of animals impart distinct, predictable footprints on biological diversity. Specifically, morphological traits that more strongly impact the way an animal moves also evolve faster.

Tags