Biology postdoc wins annual Lightning Talk Competition title
Tolulope “Kay” Kayode holds the Lightning Talk trophy Postdoctoral researcher Tolulope “Kay” Kayode won the top prize in the second annual Postdoc Lightning Talk Competition on Thursday, September 21, during Postdoc Appreciation Week. Fourteen postdoc finalists from five departments in the College of Science presented their research in "lightning talk" format—three minutes or less using a singular presentation slide. …
A picture of drought: ND ecologist matching NASA images with field data to measure forest health
Nate Swenson strides so quickly through the Wisconsin forest while carrying a large pole clipper that postdoctoral researcher Vanessa Rubio usually follows the 40 feet of rope dragging behind him. When they reach the designated plot, Swenson extends the clipper about 30 feet high and pulls the rope to snip off a leafy twig from the canopy of a tall, tagged tree. The twig floats down through the dappled sunlight and lands in his hand.…
Holly Goodson elected as fellow of The American Society for Cell Biology
Goodson joins 18 other distinguished scientists from across the globe in the 2023 cohort of fellows.
Fighting Irish, Fighting Cancer: University of Galway signs a cancer research agreement with the University of Notre Dame
Cancer researchers at the University of Galway and Notre Dame’s Harper Cancer Research Institute have come together to establish the Biseach Initiative, a strategic cancer research collaboration, which aims to build on the ideas, talent, and infrastructure of both Universities for global cancer impact.…
Professor emerita wins prestigious lifelong achievement award for her work assessing environmental injustice
Kristin Shrader-Frechette, O’Neill Family Professor Emerita in the University of Notre Dame Department of Philosophy, who had a concurrent appointment in the Department of Biological Sciences, has won the 2023 Cosmos International Prize…
Eliminating public health scourge can also benefit agriculture
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that causes organ damage and death, affected more than 250 million people worldwide in 2021, according to the World Health Organization. Senegalese women and children wash clothes in small basins by water covered with weeds. In those weeds live hordes of snails, hosts to parasitic flatworms.…
Champion appointed Associate Dean; Gezelter and Kolberg receive promotions
Patricia A. Champion, Ph.D., has been appointed the next Associate Dean for Research, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies effective July 1, 2023. She replaces Michael Hildreth, who transitions to his new role…
2023 Faculty Promotions and Awards
The Department of Biological Sciences would like to recognize the faculty in the department who have earned a promotion this year as a result of their outstanding teaching, research, and service. Patricia Vaughan has been promoted to Associate Professor of the Practice Kristin Lewis has been promoted to Teaching Professor…
Second gene implicated in malaria parasite resistance evolution to chloroquine
New study reveals increased complexity of drug resistance How malaria parasites evolved to evade a major antimalarial drug has long been long thought to involve only one key gene. Now, thanks to a combination of field and lab studies, an international research project has shown a second key gene is also involved in malaria’s resistance to the drug chloroquine.…
Sanders named associate director of Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility
Sheri Sanders considered becoming a veterinarian, but after one semester of coursework she realized she preferred working in a laboratory and tinkering with programming.
Rohr and international team win accolades from Ecological Society of America
A team of international researchers that includes those from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame has been honored with the George Mercer Award from the Ecological Society of America.
College of Science Announces 2022-23 Faculty Awards
Santiago Schnell, D.Phil., the William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the College of Science, has announced several faculty awards, including two new awards in research science and advising. Father James L. Shilts, C.S.C./Doris and Gene Leonard Teaching Award This award, bestowed annually on a faculty member in the College of Science, is named in honor of Father James Shilts, C.S.C., who taught in the Department of Physics from 1961 until his death in 1982, and was endowed in 1984 by Dr. Eugene T. Leonard III in memory of his parents Dr. Eugene and Doris Leonard. Dr. Leonard III was a member of the Science Advisory Council from 1976 until 1991. The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching.…
Researchers discover a potential target for immunotherapy-resistant prostate cancers
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have identified how a gene called Pygo2 makes some prostate cancers resistant to treatment with immunotherapy.
Graduate biology student Megan Vahsen wins prestigious award for environmental research
Megan Vahsen, who is graduating in May with her doctorate in biology from the University of Notre Dame, has been awarded the prestigious Shaheen Graduate School Award which recognizes one outstanding graduate student from the College of Science. Her work connects evolutionary biology and ecosystem ecology to study how populations evolve rapidly in response to environmental changes and how this evolution, in turn, influences ecological dynamics.
Collaboration for cold-chain biological transportation in Belize yields positive results
Keeping biological samples, medications, testing supplies and vaccines at the temperatures that do not exceed manufacturer requirements is crucial for public health, and yet this process has proven complex in many countries, including Belize. Recognizing the need to revamp these systems, known as the cold chain, Nicole Achee…
Expert panel to discuss PFAS in firefighting gear with documentary film screening
On April 29 (Saturday), the University of Notre Dame will host a screening of “BURNED: Protecting the Protectors” — a short documentary exploring the link between perfluorinated substances, known as “forever chemicals,” and decades of cancer in the firefighting community. The screening will take place at the DeBartolo Performing Art Center’s Browning Cinema at 6:30 p.m.
South Bend high school students represent the Harper Cancer Research Institute at regional, state, and international science fairs
This spring, students from South Bend area high schools who took part in the Harper Cancer Research Institute's Research Cures Cancer Corps (RC3) program shared their research at both regional and state science fairs—and came home with a long list of awards. Learn more
Physicist Michael Hildreth appointed vice president, associate provost and dean of Notre Dame’s Graduate School
Michael Hildreth, professor of physics and astronomy and senior associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School…
Notre Dame researchers discover mechanisms that may cause catheter-associated fungal infections
A team of scientists at the University of Notre Dame has discovered the mechanisms by which the fungal pathogen Candida albicans forms infections on urinary catheters.
Research Spotlight - Grace Bradley
Grace Bradley Major: Neuroscience and Behavior Research Location: The University of Notre Dame Grace investigated the relationship between different coping mechanisms used during COVID-19 isolation and their impacts on marital relationships. Grace chose this topic because she read research articles that indicated that domestic violence and child abuse rates drastically increased during the COVID-19 lockdown. She wanted to examine what lifestyles and coping mechanisms contributed to this increase, and what behaviors led to more positive outlooks on the pandemic.…