| RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP ACTIVITIES: COLLEGES, CENTERS, INSTITUTES, AND PROGRAMS |
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The College of Science makes a difference in the lives
of the people we serve in Oregon, the nation, and the world. The College
helps students in all disciplines experience how important science
and mathematics are to global issues affecting their lives. Learning
in our classrooms leads students in our majors and in the professional
schools to explore new ideas. Our faculty and students work together
in the field and in the laboratory to discover new knowledge for solving
the economic, social, and environmental challenges facing our communities.
The faculty, students, and staff of the College of Science achieve
results that change the world.
The College is committed to providing outstanding education and training
to graduate students in science; pursuing basic and applied research
to advance the frontiers of scientific and technical knowledge, and
advancing the health, environment, and economic welfare of the citizens
of Oregon and the nation.
Faculty members of the College of Science engage in basic and applied
research in biological sciences, physical and mathematical sciences,
earth and environmental sciences, and education. The college includes
over 200 faculty, about 400 graduate students, and generates about
$30 million annually in external grant and contract support. Our faculty
play key roles in eleven of the university’s centers, institutes,
and interdisciplinary programs. These faculty lead or contribute to
all six of the university’s research and teaching initiatives,
and they collaborate with colleagues in virtually every other college
at Oregon State University.
The College maintains diverse and vibrant research programs and has
developed particular strengths in several areas. These include ecology
and evolutionary biology; applied mathematics and numerical analysis;
computational physics; cellular and molecular biology (including biochemistry
and microbiology); materials sciences; and earth and environmental
sciences (including environmental chemistry, natural resource policy,
global change, and active geologic processes).
The College has supported a strong commitment to research in the theory
and pedagogy of science and mathematics education, including free
choice learning, as evidenced by the nationally recognized Department
of Science and Mathematics Education.
Biochemistry and Biophysics investigates life processes at the molecular level, using the methods of chemistry and physics. Major research programs in the department, conducted by the fourteen regular and two emeritus faculty members, include: crystallographic structural analysis of nucleic acids and proteins; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of protein-nucleic acid interactions and of protein and nucleic acid structures; rapid kinetic analysis of enzyme reaction mechanisms and neurotransmitter-receptor interactions; molecular mechanisms in signal transduction; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease); protein-protein interactions in metabolic regulation; DNA replication and its coordination with DNA precursor metabolism; nucleotide and coenzyme metabolism; genetic regulation of the cell cycle; protein phosphorylation and the control of energy metabolism; antioxidant compounds and their effects on human health and aging; biochemical control of cell pigmentation; biochemistry of cell aging; DNA damage, mutagenesis, DNA repair, and carcinogenesis; neuronal development in mammals; epigenetic control of gene expression; computational biology.
The department maintains strong research ties with other departments and research centers on campus. Three faculty members in the department hold their primary appointments in the Linus Pauling Institute, and one in the department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology. Most of the faculty are members of the Center for Genomic Research and Biocomputing, and about half are Center Investigators in the Environmental Health Science Center. Fifteen faculty members in other departments hold adjunct appointments in Biochemistry and Biophysics, allowing them to supervise research students in the department.
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Although the principal focus of the department is basic research, members of the faculty are involved as collaborators or consultants with faculty and students in applied and health related life science units, as well as in other basic science departments. Close research relationships are maintained with faculty in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Food Science and Technology, Animal Sciences, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine, as well as in other departments in the College of Science. |
The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology conducts research that
addresses a wide range of fundamental and applied problems in plant
biology, from molecular to ecosystem levels of biological organization,
with special consideration give to plant-microbe interactions. Major
areas of research emphasis and strength within the department include:
Research in the Department of Chemistry is focused on areas of chemistry important to biology, materials, and the environment. In addition, the department offers research and graduate courses in the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, nuclear, organic, and physical chemistry.
Active research areas in organic and biologically related chemistry include theoretical organic chemistry and reaction mechanisms, synthesis, natural products isolation, mechanisms of biosynthesis, and analytical separations of biologically active compounds. Projects which are under investigation at present include: the isolation and biological evaluation of anticancer compounds from marine sources; the study of novel reactions of heterocyclic compounds with application to alkaloid and antibiotic synthesis; the biosynthesis of microbial metabolites (especially antibiotics); the mechanisms of enzyme-catalyzed reactions; the synthesis of complex terpenoids, plant and fungal hormones, and macrolide antibiotics; carbene reactions; the influence of structural changes on the rate of certain thermal rearrangements; mechanisms of free radical reactions; and correlation of chemical reactions with molecular orbital calculations by high speed computers. Interdisciplinary programs involve collaborative research with other departments, such as biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry.
Research in materials chemistry encompasses preparation and structural characterization of new oxides, oxide halides, and fluorides; intercalation chemistry and the formation of nanoscale composites with layered hosts; design and synthesis of new oxide structures and exploration of properties such as superconductivity, thermal expansion, and catalytic activity. These materials have applications as new nonlinear optical crystals and laser hosts, and as charge-storage and other electrochemical devices. Research involves collaboration with Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
Research in environmental and analytical chemistry covers chemical sensors and field instrumentation, chemical speciation, environmental transport of metal- and organic- contaminants, ICP emission and molecular luminescence spectrometry, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, analytical extractions, biological and clinical chemistries, and microscale & high selectivity separations. Interdisciplinary programs involve collaboration with Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Toxicology.
Physical chemistry research encompasses such fields as molecular and crystal structure, linear and non-linear forms of laser spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, and surface chemistry and catalysis. Electronic structure theory is an important component in these studies, and its development is a major goal of research programs in quantum chemistry. Other theoretical work deals with reactive scattering and time-dependent properties of condensed systems and liquid crystals. Nuclear chemistry research involves the synthesis of new heavy elements and new n-rich isotopes of the heavy elements, and the characterization of intermediate energy reactions involving heavy projectiles such as Xe, Au and heavy target nuclei.
Unique facilities in the Department of Chemistry include advanced instrumentation for mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, laser spectroscopy, surface analysis, x-ray crystallography, and a TRIGA research reactor.
The Department of Entomology was closed in 2003. The faculty now base
their research in the various departments of the College of Science
and the College of Agricultural Sciences, in a number of distinct disciplinary
areas that span the whole of modern biology. The following information
about Entomology research is being updated. Contact the College of Science
with questions.
(Links to personal or project web sites are still available via this linked webpage.)
The Department of Geosciences does research relating to geology, geography,
and environmental sciences. The program integrates topics ranging from
geochemistry of the Earth's interior to environmental policy on the
earth's surface. There is a strong interest in environmental systems,
surface and subsurface earth processes, the utilization of advanced
techniques for measuring/ mapping the earth, and applying the findings
to answer policy relevant questions. The department has active research
groups focusing on water, landscape ecology, geographic information
science, surface/subsurface processes, origin of earth materials, earth
structure and movement, and natural resource policy.
The department has a long tradition of interdisciplinary and applied mathematics research supported by research in several core areas of pure mathematics and in mathematics education. Interdisciplinary research and pure mathematics projects that have been carried out over the last several years include:
Applied Math/Numerical Analysis
Probability
Algebra/Number Theory
Mathematics Education
Geometry/Topology
The mission of the Department of Microbiology at Oregon State University is to provide:
(1) A learning environment that excites and informs undergraduate majors and non-majors about microbiology and the many ways that it is relevant to everyday life;
(2) A research environment that produces relevant new knowledge for society and training for graduate and postdoctoral students who will become future leaders in science, medicine, and industry;
(3) A service program for Oregon’s citizens, government agencies, and industries that require expert advice about microorganisms and the roles they play in our health, economy, and sustainability of our natural resources.
Microbiology is both a basic and applied science and, as such, it is highly relevant to the economic, environmental, agricultural and health needs of Oregon. As the only microbiology program in the state with both undergraduate and graduate majors, the department reaches out to students ranging from undergraduates in science, agriculture, business, and the liberal arts to those seeking advanced academic and technical training in the specialized sub-disciplines of microbiology. The department offers fundamental and advanced courses, cutting-edge research training, and interdisciplinary educational opportunities to help provide an educated labor force. Departmental publications (in human, plant and fish disease; molecular and cellular interactions of bacteria and viruses; environmental microbiology; and immunology) provide examples of new knowledge to be used by state policy makers, agriculture practitioners, and regulatory agencies. New antimicrobial compounds and better environmental monitoring of bacterial contamination are among the outcomes of departmental research. The department trains many students who will work in Oregon’s biotechnology community and food and dairy industries. In research, the faculty are engaged in studies that examine host-pathogen interactions to develop vaccines, antimicrobials, and diagnostic tests. The faculty also maintains a research focus on the microbial populations/interactions in pristine and polluted ecosystems. Basic scientific studies in bacterial and viral genetics, immunology, genomics, metabolic engineering, bioinformatics, and molecular biology are being used to help solve problems in food production and natural resources around the world.
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The mission of the Department of Microbiology at Oregon State University is to provide:
Microbiology is both a basic and applied science and, as such, it is highly relevant to the economic, environmental, agricultural and health needs of Oregon. As the only microbiology program in the state with both undergraduate and graduate majors, the department reaches out to students ranging from undergraduates in science, agriculture, business, and the liberal arts to those seeking advanced academic and technical training in the specialized sub-disciplines of microbiology. The department offers fundamental and advanced courses, cutting-edge research training, and interdisciplinary educational opportunities to help provide an educated labor force. Departmental publications (in human and fish disease; molecular and cellular interactions of bacteria and viruses; immunology; plant-bacterial interactions; and environmental isolation and monitoring techniques) provide examples of new knowledge to be used by state policy makers, agriculture practitioners, and regulatory agencies. New vaccines and genetically engineered dairy cultures are examples of new molecular products produced through departmental research. The department provides service to the Oregon biotechnology community and to Oregon's food and dairy industries. In research, the faculty are engaged in studies that examine host-pathogen interactions to develop vaccines, antimicrobials, and diagnostic tests. The faculty also maintains a research focus on the microbial populations/interactions in pristine and polluted ecosystems. Basic scientific studies in bacterial and viral genetics, immunology, genomics, metabolic engineering, bioinformatics, and molecular biology are being used to help solve problems in food production and natural resources around the world.
The interdepartmental Molecular and Cellular Biology Program coordinates the Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology. More than 60 faculty in 14 departments and 5 colleges participate in the program. The goal of the program is to provide high-quality instructional opportunities for graduate students interested in molecular and cellular biology. This goal is achieved through a core curriculum (including an intensive molecular biology techniques workshop), three research rotations, teaching experience, public seminar presentations, and individualized research efforts leading to preparation of a thesis. Graduate students in the program are engaged in the research efforts of their research advisors. Student research focuses:
The basic elements of molecular biology (replication, transcription and translation) and cellular biology (cell cycle, structure and development)
The specific problems or processes using a molecular biological or cellular approach
The use of the tools of molecular and cellular biology to probe complex systems and analyze organismal differences and similarities
The application of molecular biology for the development of products
and solutions to problems
Systems under investigation include most levels of biological diversity (viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects, plants, and animals).
Research in the Department of Physics is concentrated mainly in three areas:
Solid state physics: Our largest effort, with strong connections to the Center for Advanced Materials Science on campus. Available experimental techniques include nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, perturbed angular correlation (PAC) measurements, transport measurements, and neutron scattering (done off campus). Topics of study are ceramics, semiconductors, superconductors, and magnetic materials. Theoretical research focuses on electronic structure calculations of magnetic materials (especially magnetic anisotropy), Monte Carlo simulations of magnetism, and many body calculations for strongly correlated materials.
Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics: Current research uses lasers for atom cooling and trapping and for the study of surfaces via second harmonic generation.
The Department of Physics also has an active program to improve the
teaching of physics at the junior and senior level. A new curriculum
has been developed and implemented at Oregon State University. Currently
we are preparing to test this program at other sites.
The Department of Science and Mathematics Education is committed to the improvement of science/mathematics teaching and learning. Consequently, we have major foci on both K-16 teacher education (preservice and inservice) and research on teaching and learning. We are particularly concerned with the connection between our research and classroom practice. Simply put, our research informs our teaching and our teaching informs our research. The scholarly research efforts of the department faculty are varied, but can be accurately summarized as emphasizing teachers' and students' beliefs about problem solving, inquiry, and the nature of science and mathematics. Our faculty perform research in both classroom settings and within our courses on campus. These efforts have resulted in frequent international publications and presentations during the past 10 years.
The Department of Statistics combines a program of research in statistical theory and methods with a broad range of multidisciplinary, more applied research. Areas of research interest in theory and methods include linear and generalized linear models, asymptotics, sampling, and operations research. The primary areas of multidisciplinary research are environmental and ecological statistics, including survey methods, statistical ecology, and environmental health. Collaborators in this research include faculty from the Colleges of Science, Agricultural Science, Forestry, and Health and Human Performance, as well as investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency, U. S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The questions addressed by this research concern population dynamics of numerous species and assessment and mitigation of environmental health hazards for human and other species
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DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY |
The research programs in the Department of Zoology are nationally recognized and internationally acclaimed. Faculty serve as editors of the most prestigious journals in their fields and as officers of major academic societies (e.g., AAAS, American Society of Naturalists, Ecological Society of America, International Society of Developmental and Comparative Immunology, Society for the Study of Evolution). In a recent ranking of research programs in ecology, evolution and behavior, Oregon State University placed in the top 18% of programs in the United States and was the highest ranked scientific program in the State of Oregon. Research in the Department focuses on three areas: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Physiology & Behavior, and Development & Cell Biology. A great strength of the Department is that many of our faculty work in two or even three of these areas.
Oregon State University Research Office
312 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone 541-737-3467 Fax 541-737-9041
researchsupport@oregonstate.edu
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