Department of Biological Sciences | News

Researchers deconstruct chikungunya outbreaks to improve prediction and vaccine development

2025-10-13T11:17:00-04:00

This research is being supported, in part, by a postdoctoral scholar from the Graduate School, whose expertise is helping to improve the ability to predict future outbreaks of Chikungunya virus, and provide valuable research to help in the develpment of a vaccine.

The symptoms come on quickly — acute fever, followed by debilitating joint pain that can last for months. Though rarely fatal, the chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne illness, can be particularly severe for high-risk individuals, including newborns and older adults.

While the virus is common in tropical and subtropical regions, including Asia, Africa and South America, public health officials have been tracking reported infections in Europe and, in September, a confirmed case in Long Island, New York.

Outbreaks of chikungunya have prompted the Centers for Disease Control to issue health notices to travelers bound for Bangladesh; Cuba; Guangdong Province, China; Kenya; Madagascar; Somalia; and Sri Lanka.

In Guangdong Province, an “unprecedented” outbreak recently prompted government officials in China to mandate quarantines for anyone suspected of being infected by the virus, spraying individuals with mosquito repellent and spraying impacted buildings and other areas with insecticide.

In a new study, published in Science Advances, researchers at the University of Notre Dame analyzed more than 80 outbreaks of chikungunya virus to improve prediction of future outbreaks and inform vaccine trial development.

Alex Perkins

“Chikungunya outbreaks are unpredictable in both size and severity,” said Alex Perkins, the Ann and Daniel Monahan Collegiate Professor of infectious disease epidemiology in the Department of Biological Sciences, and co-author of the study. “You can have one outbreak that infects just a few people, and another in a similar setting that infects tens of thousands. That unpredictability is what makes public health planning — and vaccine development — so difficult.”

For the study, Alexander Meyer, a postdoctoral researcher in Perkins’ lab and lead author of the study, and a team of researchers reconstructed and analyzed 86 chikungunya outbreaks, creating the largest comparative dataset of its kind.

“Instead of looking at outbreaks in isolation, looking at many, all of which varied in size and severity, allowed us to search for patterns among them,” Meyer said.

Chikungunya was first identified in the 1950s. Outbreaks have become increasingly frequent and widespread, but they’re also sporadic and difficult to predict, posing a challenge to public health officials when it comes to planning for and preventing infections.

Changes in outbreaks of chikungunya, transmitted by bites from infected mosquitoes — Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus are the primary vectors — and other mosquito-borne illnesses are often considered in relation to climate change, as warmer, more humid conditions can promote mosquito activity.

But Perkins said this study showed that climate isn’t necessarily the most important factor when trying to predict the severity of an outbreak of disease caused by a virus like chikungunya.

“Climate factors like temperature and rainfall can tell us where outbreaks are possible, but this study shows that they don’t help very much in predicting how severe they will be,” he said. “Local conditions matter — things like housing quality, mosquito density and how communities respond. Some variation is simply due to chance. That randomness is part of the story, too.”

Currently, only two vaccines for chikungunya have received regulatory approval — but they are not widely available in regions where the virus is most common.

That is why having such a large, comprehensive dataset is so helpful when it comes to vaccine development, Perkins said.

To test for efficacy, vaccine makers need accurate predictions of where an outbreak might occur before it happens, to conduct trials and monitor whether candidate vaccines are effective.

The study demonstrates how a more comprehensive analysis of past outbreaks can help public health officials prepare for future outbreaks, thereby protecting vulnerable populations and aiding vaccine development.

Additional co-authors include Kathryn B. Anderson at the State University of New York, Natalie Dean at Emory University, and Sandra Mendoza Guerrero and Steven T. Stoddard at Bavarian Nordic Inc., which provided funding for the study. This work was additionally supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.

Contact: Jessica Sieff, associate director of media relations, 574-631-3933 or jsieff@nd.edu

Originally published by Jessica Sieff at news.nd.edu on October 03, 2025.

Heartland Aflame: A Notre Dame professor unearths the mysteries and the lessons of native grasslands

2025-09-05T10:18:00-04:00

The flames are bright orange and stretch two stories high as they snap at the cool March air above Little Bluestem Farm. Here, outside Goshen, Indiana, all was clear and silent just moments ago. Now the shoulder-high grass disappears into the fire with a roar. A smear of smoke the color of cast iron rises and rakes itself across the horizon.

In the midst of the blaze, through the shimmering haze of heat visible in his yellow flame-resistant jacket, is Ryan Sensenig. Sensenig is a grassland ecologist at the University of Notre Dame. A professor of the practice in Biological Sciences, he also serves as a faculty affiliate for the Environmental Change Initiative (ECI). With quick strides, Sensenig releases fresh flames from his handheld drip torch. Then he calls out directions to the team of students working at the edges of the field.

Read the story

Originally published by Brett Beasley at research.nd.edu on September 02, 2025.

Robbi was awarded a Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

2025-08-25T09:51:00-04:00

Robbi competes sucessfully for the prestigious F31 fellowship from NIH

Figure 1. The potential interactions between microglia and C. neoformans. (A) Recognition, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing of the yeast. (B) Recognition, phagocytosis, and intracellular survival. This can lead to replication and dissemination. (C) Inhibition of recognition and/or phagocytosis. This prevents killing and leads to extracellular replication and dissemination.

Back in December, Robbi submitted her application for an F31 fellowship to NIH, with the sponsorship of Felipe and supported by Drs. Smith, Adams, and McDowell. In May, she received outstanding reviews, with an impact score of 24 for a 15 percentile. For the unfamiliar, the percentile score ranks your application relative to all other applications reviewed by the current study section and the prior three meetings. Thus, if there were 100 aplications, Robbi's application scored better than the remaining 85. A great score without a doubt - yet it doesn't mean she was going to get it! Now, she has officially received the Notice of Award of her F31 - congratulations Robbi!

Ever since Robbi joined the lab, she has worked on several projects, but her main thesis project, which formed the basis of this proposal, is to study the host interactions between the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans and microglia (Figure 1). C. neoformans is an environmental yeast with a worldwide distribution, hence most of the population is exposed to it frequently. Healthy individuals get infected but are able to control or clear the infection without exhibiting any symptoms. However, under conditions of immunocompromise, the fungus disseminates from the lungs with special predilection for the brain, causing a brain infection that is very challenging to treat. The latest estimates are that there are close to 200,000 cases yearly, resulting in 150,000 deaths. This high mortality is due to many factors, including a lack of effective antifungals, and an incomplete understanding of the host-cryptococcal interactions - particularly at the brain, which is the site of the fatal pathology, and is the focus of Robbi's application. In this proposal, Robbi will test her hypothesis that C. neoformans survives in the brain using novel, brain-specific, mechanisms as well as other more broad, general mechanisms. She will be using an immortalized human microglia cell line to study the interactions, which then can be validated in vivo using mouse models.

As explained by NIH, the purpose of the NRSA program is "to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientists, to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research." Robbi was described as an "outstanding applicant with an exceptional academic record; evidence of peer review publications (2 first author); conference presentations and complimentary letters of support" and that "the fellowship is highly likely to lead her to an independent career as a biomedical scientist in infectious diseases." We couldn't agree more with that summary! Congratulations Robbi!

Originally published by Felipe Santiago Tirado at fungilab.nd.edu on August 19, 2025.

Researchers at Notre Dame detect ‘forever chemicals’ in reusable feminine hygiene products

2025-07-24T14:38:00-04:00

When a reporter with the Sierra Club magazine asked Graham Peaslee, a physicist at the University of Notre Dame, to test several different samples of unused menstrual underwear for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 2019, the results fueled concern over chemical exposure in feminine hygiene products — which ultimately ended up in a $5 million lawsuit against the period and incontinence underwear brand Thinx.

Then in 2023, the New York Times asked Peaslee to test 44 additional period and incontinence products for PFAS, a class of toxic fluorinated compounds inherently repellent to oil, water, soil and stains, and known as “forever chemicals” for their exceptionally strong chemical and thermal stability. Measurable PFAS were found in some layers of many of the products tested — some low enough to suggest the chemicals may have transferred off packaging materials, while others contained higher concentrations, suggesting the chemicals were intentionally used during the manufacturing process.

In the meantime, another group of researchers published a study that found PFAS in single-use period products, leading Peaslee and his lab to widen their investigation into all sorts of reusable feminine hygiene products — often viewed as an eco-friendly option by consumers. Now, the results of that study have been published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Most of the samples tested in Peaslee’s latest study (71.2 percent) contained PFAS concentrations low enough to be characterized by Peaslee and his co-authors as “non-intentionally fluorinated.” But period underwear (33 percent) and reusable pads (25 percent) had the greatest rates of “intentional fluorination.”

Graham Peaslee (Photo by Peter Ringenberg / University of Notre Dame)

“The reusable menstrual product market is a rapidly growing market, which relies heavily on the idea that these products are environmentally conscious because of the significant reduction in the use of paper and plastic products,” said Peaslee, professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “To the extent that they use organic textiles, these products are also marketed to consumers who are typically health and environmentally conscious. However, we found that almost a third of them were being made with PFAS. This means these products are both a risk to the wearer as well as to the rest of us when they are eventually disposed of, since we know that these forever chemicals persist when they end up in landfills, contaminating irrigation and drinking water systems for all of us.”

PFAS have been linked to several adverse health conditions including immunosuppression, hormonal dysregulation, developmental delays in children, low birth weight and accelerated puberty, high blood pressure in pregnant women, and an increased risk of some cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancer. The chemicals are so prevalent that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that PFAS, a class of manmade chemicals, have been found in the blood of more than 99 percent of all Americans.

Peaslee and Alyssa Wicks, lead author of the study, who conducted the research while a graduate student at Notre Dame, tested more than 70 products sourced from multiple markets in North America, South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear. Each product was screened using particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy, an ion beam analysis in which a proton beam bombards the surface of the material being tested, causing fluorine nuclei to emit gamma-rays, a type of high-energy light to measure total fluorine content when detected.

For products with multiple layers, Wicks analyzed each layer of each product for a total of 323 unique samples tested using PIGE.

PFAS can migrate off treated surfaces, raising particular concern when used in reusable products that come in direct contact with the wearer’s skin. Previous studies at other institutions suggest skin absorption could be a significant pathway to exposure to certain PFAS.

Even with this latest study, Peaslee said, “there’s still a lot we don’t know about the extent to which PFAS are being used in the manufacturing of these products, and too much we don’t know about the potential for these chemicals to be absorbed through the skin by the consumers who wear them.”

Another significant discovery of the study, according to Wicks and Peaslee, is that currently only a fraction of the brands that make reusable feminine hygiene products use PFAS intentionally.

“Only a subset of the products had high levels of PFAS present, which means that PFAS must not be essential in the manufacture of reusable feminine hygiene products,” Wicks noted. “This is good news in that it demonstrates PFAS are not required to produce these environmentally conscious products, and manufacturers should be able to make these textile products without chemicals of concern in them.”

The authors deliberately chose not to identify PFAS concentrations by brand, but they hope the peer-reviewed study will help identify the need for ingredient transparency in the industry.

“While we do know that these chemicals have been linked to serious environmental and human health issues, we do not yet know what fraction of these PFAS make it into humans by direct exposure and indirect exposure at the end of life of these products,” Peaslee said. “What this study, and others to follow, can do is help consumers ask manufacturers the right question: ‘Does this product contain any intentional use of PFAS?’ Currently, there’s no labeling requirement for these products, and only a handful of U.S. states have drafted legislation requiring consumer products to be free of intentional PFAS use. This paper and others like it will help regulators and manufacturers alike to identify product markets where PFAS are being used and to find better alternatives moving forward.”

In addition to Wicks and Peaslee, co-authors who contributed to the study while at Notre Dame include Thomas Hedman, Heather D. Whitehead and Alison Zachritz of Biological Sciences. Additional co-authors include Marta Venier and Sydney Brady at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Contact: Jessica Sieff, associate director of media relations, 574-631-3933, jsieff@nd.edu

Originally published by Jessica Sieff at news.nd.edu on July 22, 2025.

Father-daughter bonding helps female baboons live longer

2025-07-24T14:07:00-04:00

Besides humans, very few mammals receive care from their fathers. But when species do, it may benefit their children.

New research from the University of Notre Dame found that the strength of early-life father-daughter relationships predicts meaningful differences in the survival of female baboons.

Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study evaluated the impact father baboons may have when they choose to co-reside or interact with their daughters, even though baboon mothers provide all essential care. Until now, the consequences of early-life paternal relationships of offspring were mostly unknown.

“Male baboons tend to reach their peak reproductive success when they’re young adults,” said Elizabeth Archie, professor of biological sciences at Notre Dame and corresponding author of the study. “But once they’ve had a few kids and their condition declines, they sort of slide into ‘dad mode,’ where they don’t disperse as much and they don’t try as hard to mate. Then they have time to invest in and hang out with their kids.”

Looking at 216 female baboons and their fathers in the Amboseli ecosystem of East Africa, the researchers found about a third of the daughters lived in the same social group as their fathers for three years or more. The remaining two-thirds had fathers who either left the group or died within their daughter’s first three years of life.

Researchers also evaluated the grooming habits of juvenile females with their fathers and other adult males, which speaks to the potential strength of father-daughter and other relationships. Archie shared that grooming, which is used for hygiene and social bonding, could be considered the “human equivalent of sitting down, having a cup of coffee and a good chat.”

The study showed daughters who had a strong relationship with their fathers, who co-resided with their fathers for three years or more, or both, lived two to four years longer than females who had weak father-daughter relationships.

Elizabeth Archie, professor of biological sciences at Notre Dame. (Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame)

“Early life adversity has a powerful effect on lifespan, so this study suggests that having a dad allows females that have experienced other forms of adversity to recover some of those costs,” Archie said. “In a lot of mammals, dads have a reputation of not contributing very much to offering care, but we now know that even these seemingly minor contributions that males are making still have really important consequences, at least in baboons.”

Additionally, father-daughter pairs that lived together for longer had stronger grooming relationships. Meanwhile, strong relationships between juvenile females and other adult males did not predict adult survival. This could be because male baboons sometimes intervene on behalf of offspring in conflicts, protecting their daughters, and even the mothers, from other group members.

“Males seem to sort of expand a child’s social network, as they can be popular members of their social group. Lots of baboons are coming up and interacting with the male. So an infant who’s hanging out near a male has more diverse social interactions than if they’re only hanging out with mom,” Archie said. “And dads can create a sort of safety zone for their daughters.”

Although mammal fathers may not provide much, if at all, to their offspring, Archie believes this study may hold insight into the evolutionary roots of human parental care.

This study is part of the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, which began in 1971 and is among the longest-running primate studies in the world. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the project is co-directed by Archie at Notre Dame, Susan Alberts from Duke University and Jenny Tung at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

“We’re very grateful to the NSF and NIH for funding over the years that has allowed us to sustain this project. We could not have done over 50 years of this project without their support,” Archie said.

In addition to Archie, Alberts and Tung, study co-authors include David Jansen at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and J. Kinyua Warutere at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Archie is affiliated with Notre Dame’s Eck Institute for Global Health and Environmental Change Initiative.

Contact: Brandi Wampler, associate director of media relations, 574-631-2632, brandiwampler@nd.edu

Originally published by Brandi Wampler at news.nd.edu on June 17, 2025.

Women of African ancestry may be biologically predisposed to early onset or aggressive breast cancers

2025-07-24T13:36:00-04:00

While the incidence of breast cancer is highest for white women, Black women are more likely to have early-onset or more aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, such as triple-negative breast cancer. Among women under 50, the disparity is even greater: young Black women have double the mortality rate of young white women.

Now research from the University of Notre Dame is shedding light on biological factors that may play a role in this disparity. The study published in iScience found that a population of cells in breast tissues, dubbed PZP cells, send cues that prompt behavioral changes that could promote breast cancer growth.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, the study set out to explore what biological differences in breast tissue could be related to early onset or aggressive breast cancers. Most breast cancers are carcinomas, or a type of cancer that develops from epithelial cells. In healthy tissue, epithelial cells form linings in the body and typically have strong adhesive properties and do not move.

The researchers focused on PZP cells as previous studies had shown that these cells are naturally and significantly higher in healthy breast tissues of women of African ancestry than in healthy breast tissues of women of European ancestry. While PZP cell levels are known to be elevated in breast cancer patients in general, their higher numbers in healthy, African ancestry tissues could hold clues to why early-onset or aggressive breast cancers are more likely to occur in Black women.

“The disparity in breast cancer mortality rates, particularly among women of African descent, is multifaceted. While socioeconomic factors and delayed diagnosis may be contributing factors, substantial emerging evidence suggests that biological and genetic differences between racial groups can also play a role,” said Crislyn D'Souza-Schorey, the Morris Pollard Professor of Biological Sciences at Notre Dame and corresponding author of the study.

The study showed how PZP cells produce factors that activate epithelial cells to become invasive, where they detach from their primary site and invade the surrounding tissue.

Micrograph of PZP cells (green) and breast epithelial cells (red) grown in 3D. (Image by Madison Schmidtmann and James Clancy, D’Souza-Schorey lab.)

For example, a particular biological signaling protein known as AKT is often overactive in breast cancers. This study showed that PZP cells can activate the AKT protein in breast epithelial cells, which in part allows them to invade the surrounding environment. PZP cells also secrete and deposit certain proteins outside the cell that guide the movement of breast epithelial cells as they invade.

Overall, the results of the study emphasize multiple mechanisms by which PZP cells may influence the early stages of breast cancer progression and their potential contribution to disease burden.

The researchers also looked at how a targeted breast cancer drug, capivasertib, which inhibits the AKT protein, impacted PZP cells and found it markedly reduced the effects of the PZP cells on breast epithelial cells.

“It’s important to understand the biological and genetic differences within normal tissue as well as tumors among racial groups, as these variations could potentially influence treatment options and survival rates. And consequently, in planning biomarker studies, cancer screenings or clinical trials, inclusivity is important,” said D'Souza-Schorey, also an affiliate of Notre Dame’s Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health and Harper Cancer Research Institute.

D'Souza-Schorey and her lab collaborated with the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank to access PZP cells and epithelial cells isolated from healthy breast tissues of both African and European ancestry. The cell lines were then grown in a three-dimensional environment, mimicking the way the cells would behave in living tissues and organs.

The research team also worked with the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility for the study.

In addition to D’Souza-Schorey, co-authors include Madison Schmidtmann, Victoria Elliott, James W. Clancy, and Zachary Schafer from Notre Dame and Harikrishna Nakshatri from and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Contact: Brandi Wampler, associate director of media relations, 574-631-2632, brandiwampler@nd.edu

Originally published by Brandi Wampler at news.nd.edu on July 24, 2025.

Advocacy in Action: What Jordan Taught Me

2025-06-09T10:45:00-04:00

In our new Advocacy in Action series, we’re sharing stories that highlight how Notre Dame’s patient advocacy training extends beyond the classroom. In this piece, 2025 graduate Alexander Brandt reflects on a powerful moment from his time in the Minor in Science and Patient Advocacy: hearing young rare disease advocate Jordan McLinn's story - and meeting Jordan’s mother, Laura. By launching and leading a new Patient-Led Grand Rounds series during the academic year, Alex gained a deeper understanding of what it means to advocate with (not just for ) patients. His experience offers a moving reminder of how listening to patient voices can shape the way future healthcare professionals learn, lead, and care.

Advocacy in Action: What Jordan Taught Me

"When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Jordan McLinn responds without hesitation: a firefighter, so that “I can save people’s lives, and they can live a happy life with their family.” Every time I hear this, I am struck by the weight of his words. Diagnosed at age three with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Jordan envisions a life helping others despite the challenges he faces daily. He and his family have spent years waiting for FDA-approved treatments, advocating at state and national levels for access to experimental drugs, and traveling regularly for care. It is difficult to hear about the daily realities of living with a rare disease, and I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have grown up healthy. Jordan’s happiness is not a given—it is the result of relentless effort by him and his family.

I had the opportunity to interview Jordan’s mother, Laura McLinn, during the first patient-led grand rounds at the University of Notre Dame. Laura is a dedicated advocate: she founded a support organization for DMD families, played a key role in passing the Right to Try Act, and assists rare disease families with navigating Medicaid waivers and other resources. The grand rounds, structured as a patient-led, student-moderated experience, introduced my peers and me to Jordan’s story. During the session, I remember looking around the room and noticing how my peers leaned in as Laura spoke. The usual clinical detachment seen in case discussions was replaced with personal engagement. It was a moment when I realized that medical education is incomplete without these patient narratives. Listening to Laura deepened everyone’s understanding of the lived experiences of rare disease patients.

Laura McLinn presenting at the first Patient-Led Grand Rounds.

Over the past year, I have also interviewed patients and caregivers affected by Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, sickle cell disease, and Hirschsprung’s disease. One lesson has been clear: the McLinns’ experience of struggle and advocacy is not unique. In addition, I have learned that a patient’s pain should never be underestimated and that stereotypes can create barriers to care. I have seen how patient communities serve as vital support networks. I have realized that the word “cure” often fails to capture the realities of treatment—the burden, side effects, and ongoing uncertainty. Rare disease patients and families face far more than frequent medical visits; their stories remind us how much remains unseen.

Beyond personal awareness, this experience has changed how I view medical education itself. If future providers are to truly serve their patients, patient-led discussions should not be a rare event but a fundamental part of our training. When patients share their stories, they challenge us to move beyond textbook definitions and clinical protocols.

Jordan’s story, like those of the other patients I have met, continues to shape my path. Like Jordan, I want to help save lives, and with each patient-led grand round, my commitment grows. I now see medicine not only as a profession but as a partnership—one where the voices of patients are just as vital as the expertise of physicians. I carry with me an increased awareness of the struggles faced by those with rare diseases—an awareness that will remain with me as I innovate and care for patients in the future. Medicine is not just about treatments; it is about listening, learning, and standing alongside patients in their fight for a better life." - Alex Brandt, Class of 2025

Advocacy in Action is a guest-authored reflection series from the Patient Advocacy Initiative that highlights how students are putting advocacy into practice beyond the classroom. Whether leading volunteer teams, building partnerships, or creating new resources, these stories showcase the impact students and alumni are making, and the lessons they’re learning along the way.

Originally published by Patient Advocacy Staff at patientadvocacy.nd.edu on June 06, 2025.

College of Science faculty among University awardees for excellence

2025-05-27T16:28:00-04:00

On Tuesday, May 13, John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at the University of Notre Dame, announced the winners of the 2025 faculty awards.

“This year’s faculty award recipients exemplify the highest standards of excellence in teaching, research, and service,” McGreevy said. “Their contributions not only enrich our academic community but also advance Notre Dame’s mission as a leading global Catholic research university."

The 2025 University faculty award winners are:

Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Awards for Excellence in Teaching: Taeho Jung (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), Paul Rumbach (Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering), Michelle Whaley (Department of Biological Sciences)
Research Achievement Award: Jason Rohr (Department of Biological Sciences), Olaf Wiest (Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry)
President's Award: Holly Goodson (Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Hesburgh Legacy Award: Mark W. Roche (Department of German, Slavic, and Eurasian Studies)
Dockweiler Awards for Excellence in Advising: Rachel Branco (Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry), Anthony Pagliarini (Department of Theology), Michael Ryan (College of Engineering)
Faculty Award: Robert F. Easley (Information Technology, Analytics, & Operations)
Rev. Paul J. Foik, C.S.C., Award: Aaron Bales (Hesburgh Libraries)
Thomas P. Madden Award: Rebecca Surman (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

Coordinated by the Office of the Provost, the annual University faculty awards recognize excellence in research, teaching, and service to the University; signal milestone accomplishments and contributions across the disciplines; and celebrate outstanding members of the Notre Dame community. For more information, visit provost.nd.edu/awards.

Originally published by Emily Monacelli Guzman at provost.nd.edu on May 13, 2025.

College of Science Announces 2024-25 Faculty Awards

2025-05-22T09:18:00-04:00

Santiago Schnell, D.Phil., the William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the College of Science, has announced several faculty awards for the 2024–2025 academic year.

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.

The 2025 recipient is: Nancy Michael, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences

Nancy Michael, the Rev. John A. Zahm, C.S.C. Teaching Professor, is honored for her extraordinary contributions to undergraduate education, her inspirational teaching, and her profound impact on the Neuroscience and Behavior (NSBH) program at Notre Dame. Known for her kind, caring, and intellectually rigorous approach, Michael has taught an exceptionally wide range of courses spanning biology, neuroscience, social concerns, and theology — often carrying a teaching load of 2–4 courses per semester. Her dedication to teaching excellence is reflected in consistently outstanding student evaluations and in her ability to engage students at all levels, from first-year seminars to advanced laboratory courses.

Michael has played a central role in shaping the NSBH curriculum and has been instrumental in developing core courses that serve nearly 600 students across two colleges. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom through her work on university-wide curriculum committees, including the redesign of the Moreau First-Year Experience, which reaches all undergraduates. She also contributes to hiring and mentoring teaching postdocs and supports interdisciplinary growth in neuroscience education.

Beyond the University, Michael co-founded Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana and actively involves students in outreach through partnerships with local organizations focused on trauma and brain health. Her work exemplifies integrative, values-based education. For her inspiring teaching, leadership, and service, Michael is a truly deserving recipient of the James L. Shilts, C.S.C./Doris and Eugene Leonard Teaching Award.

The College of Science Research Award

Each year, the College of Science aims to recognize an outstanding investigator who has made substantial recent contributions to her or his field. This award highlights a highly-productive faculty member with a steep upward trajectory in research and widening national and international impact.

The 2025 recipient is: Claudiu Raicu, PhD, Department of Mathematics

Professor Claudiu Raicu joined the University of Notre Dame in 2014. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010, and held prestigious postdoctoral positions at Princeton University and the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath, formerly MSRI) prior to his appointment at Notre Dame. He was promoted to associate professor in 2017 and to professor in 2021.

Raicu is a leader in the fields of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry, and in their overlap. He has produced high-caliber results, including critical breakthroughs in these fields, as evidenced by the publication of his papers in top-tier journals. He has been a prolific producer of high-quality research, publishing 21 works since 2020. Further evidence of his research excellence is supported by his continuous NSF support, a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2016, and his rapid advancement through the faculty ranks here at Notre Dame. In 2024, he was awarded the Lucian Bădescu Prize, which is awarded to a young mathematician whose scientific activity is connected to the Simion Stoilow Institute of Mathematics in Bucharest. He has co-written papers with other leaders of the fields and has impacted the new generation of mathematicians by mentoring and co-authoring papers with young researchers. Moreover, Raicu has been an active and productive contributor to the professional community through his conference and workshop organization, and to the department through his work with graduate students, his efforts to recruit faculty, and his excellent teaching. Overall, Raicu is richly deserving of the College of Science Research Award.

The College of Science Outstanding Research Service Award

The College of Science aims to recognize an outstanding scientist who has made a difference supporting scientific research in the college. This award highlights a research faculty or staff member who has had a significant impact on the research of others by providing technical assistance, consulting, training, or other guidance.

The 2025 recipient is: Xinyu Liu, PhD, Department of Physics & Astronomy

Liu, a research professor, earned his Ph.D. in 2002 and completed his postdoctoral fellowship here at Notre Dame. He then joined the faculty in 2004 as an assistant research professor. He was promoted to research professor in 2024. Liu is a condensed matter physicist focused on the fabrication of nanostructures by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), the design and studies of low-dimensional semiconductor structures, such as quantum wells, superlattices, and quantum dots for various applications; and the investigation of spin phenomena in semiconductors. Liu has a pivotal role in operating and maintaining the MBE facility and is responsible for the Helium Recovery and Liquefaction Facility, serving both Stepan Chemistry Hall and Nieuwland Science Hall. His work has been pivotal in fabricating and characterizing the materials mentioned above for Notre Dame faculty. He has built and maintained both domestic and international collaborations with more than 50 research groups. These collaborators are attracted by the high quality of samples produced by Liu, who is often among the few (or only) with the technical capabilities to produce certain materials. Through these collaborations, he has contributed greatly to the visibility and impact that Notre Dame has in condensed matter physics, and this makes Liu an ideal recipient of this award.

Sister Kathleen Cannon Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising

This award is named in honor of Sister Kathleen Cannon, OP, D.Min., a long-time advisor for the Science collegiate sequence majors, and a tireless advocate for students from all backgrounds. Sister Kathleen served as an associate dean of the college of science from 1998 to 2022 and was associate provost of the university from 1990 to 1997.

The 2025 recipient is: Alan Huebner, PhD, Department of Applied & Computational Mathematics & Statistics

Alan Huebner, Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) has been a dedicated member of the Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics (ACMS) for 14 years and has served as the DUS in that department for the past nine years. He has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the intellectual development and scholarly engagement of undergraduates as well as providing effective academic and career advising and mentoring. The impact of his skilled advising work is immense. Huebner serves as the primary advisor for 140 ACMS majors as well as another 184 supplemental majors. He has developed novel courses to support students in these ACMS majors and also spearheaded the development of the ACMS Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Professor Huebner also guides undergraduates in applied sports analytics research as the co-director for the Mastrovich Gift for Sports Science. Student nominees commented on his steady hand in guiding them through challenging coursework, while giving sage career advice. One recent advisee commented: “He has walked me through my fears and doubts throughout my three years, and has been my go-to for all my academic questions.” For his strong commitment to the intellectual development and scholarly engagement of undergraduate students, combined with providing effective academic and career advising and mentoring, the College of Science awards Alan Huebner with the 2025 Sister Kathleen Cannon Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.

Originally published by Samantha Keller at science.nd.edu on May 21, 2025.

Notre Dame’s Jason Rohr named 2025 Fellow of the Ecological Society of America

2025-05-06T18:42:00-04:00

Jason R. Rohr, the Ludmilla F., Stephen J., and Robert T. Galla Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, has been named a 2025 Fellow of the Ecological Society of America (ESA).

This recognition honors his outstanding contributions to ecological science, particularly at the intersection of ecology and public health. Rohr is one of just eight Fellows confirmed this year.

“Being selected as a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America is such a prestigious distinction and I am so honored to be part of this select group of talented and accomplished ecologists,” Rohr said.

Rohr's research focuses on how environmental changes—such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss—impact wildlife populations, species interactions, and the spread of diseases affecting both humans and animals. His interdisciplinary approach combines fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and modeling to address complex ecological and public health challenges.

Rohr's work has been widely published in leading scientific journals, including Nature, Science, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He has received numerous accolades, such as the 2024 International Frontiers Planet Prize for his innovative research addressing disease, food, and water challenges in Africa. He was the founding chair of ESA’s Disease Ecology Section and serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Applied Ecology.

The ESA Fellows program, established in 2012, recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement or application of ecological knowledge in academics, government, non-profit organizations, and the broader society. Fellows are elected for life and are celebrated for their leadership in ecological science.

The recognition not only affirms the impact and import of the work throughout Rohr’s career, he said, but also helps to elevate the national and international profile of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

“Most importantly, this recognition underscores a steadfast commitment to advancing the importance of ecological and environmental science to humanity at a time when these disciplines, and science more generally, are navigating substantial and persistent dialogues that fail to fully acknowledge their crucial value and relevance,” Rohr said.

He will be formally recognized during a ceremony at ESA’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

Originally published by Deanna Csomo Ferrell at science.nd.edu on May 01, 2025.

Sustainability Initiative seeks student interns for summer 2025

2025-04-24T09:24:00-04:00

Notre Dame's recently established Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative is seeking driven, detail-oriented students passionate about global sustainability to join our team as 2025 Summer Interns.

The Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative will train a new generation of sustainability champions dedicated to caring for our common home in ways that will not leave behind the most vulnerable among us. Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the initiative aims to transform how students and faculty at Notre Dame engage with sustainability research and practice. It also seeks to transform the field of sustainability itself through high-impact research and knowledge creation, curricular innovations, and global engagement.

Summer interns will join a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-paced team and will work directly with Initiative leadership to help establish and grow key programs as part of the Initiative's launch phase.

Applications will be reviewed and candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis, so interested students should apply at their earliest convenience. The online application will remain open through April 30.

Learn more about the opportunity

Originally published by Emily Monacelli Guzman at strategicframework.nd.edu on March 27, 2025.

As the Harper Cancer Research Institute’s first-ever associate director for translational research, Herman Sintim is working to turn discoveries into new tools for fighting cancer

2025-04-24T09:24:00-04:00

Sintim brings a wealth of expertise in both basic science and entrepreneurship to his new role.

Herman Sintim, the Grace-Rupley Professor of Chemical Biology at the University of Notre Dame, knows how to kill cancer. As a distinguished medicinal chemist, Sintim has made important discoveries about the chemistry of next-generation treatments, such as kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy, used to target cancer cells.

But in his two decades of work on cancer, Sintim has also learned that when it comes to killing cancer, there is a big difference between what works in the lab and what clinicians on the front lines of the fight against cancer can use in their work. And it is his special expertise in bridging that gap that he will bring to his new role as the first-ever associate director for translational research at Notre Dame’s Harper Cancer Research Institute.

“I hope to be a kind of catalyst for translational research,” Sintim explained. “My role is about bringing people together and creating the right kind of environment for discoveries to move out of the lab and into the clinic.”

Sintim’s work as a “catalyst” will draw upon the two very different sides of his career, which has included both fundamental discoveries about cancer as well as entrepreneurial efforts aimed at bringing those discoveries to the people who can benefit from them.

Sintim’s research began at the University of Oxford, where he completed his doctorate in organic chemistry. Then, following postdoctoral positions at Oxford and Stanford Universities, he accepted his first faculty position at the University of Maryland at College Park (UMD). At UMD, he earned tenure and was promoted to the rank of professor while making fundamental discoveries about chemical biology and organic synthesis.

After nearly ten years at UMD, a move to Purdue University to accept an endowed professorship in drug discovery opened new doors for Sintim to think beyond fundamental research. Inspired by an environment that prized entrepreneurship and innovation, Sintim went on to file seven patents and co-founded KinaRx LLC, eventually receiving two grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

Now Sintim’s new role at HCRI will allow him to help faculty who are inspired to follow a path similar to his own.

“Researchers want to be a force for good and make a difference for people battling cancer, so they tend to be excited when they see research translating into better outcomes for patients,” Sintim said.

According to M. Sharon Stack, the Ann F. Dunne and Elizabeth Riley Director of HCRI, Sintim will focus first on strengthening connections across campus.

“To translate new insights into the clinic, researchers need to think about a complex process from filing patents to understanding the needs and interests of industry partners,” said Stack, who is also the Kleiderer-Pezold Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry. “Fortunately, we have many resources for doing that here at Notre Dame, including the IDEA Center, the Warren Center for Drug Discovery, and others. I can’t think of a better person than Herman to identify synergies between HCRI’s work and the work of other units on campus,” she said.

In addition to deepening on-campus partnerships, Sintim aims to connect Notre Dame to outside collaborators, both at businesses at other universities.

In particular, Sintim said, biotech companies and startups can help researchers think about their work in new ways. “Bringing industry experts to campus to meet with faculty, provide insights, have pitch sessions, and more is valuable for getting very honest feedback. And it can help researchers bring a new mindset and new questions to their research.”

Sintim will also work through the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI) to connect Notre Dame researchers to researchers across the state. During his time at Purdue, Sintim participated in Indiana CTSI, receiving a grant along with a colleague at Indiana University School of Medicine that eventually led to two grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Ultimately, Sintim says, his broader goal is about enhancing the research culture at the University.

“If you put the right resources in place, but you don't build a culture, then it won’t take off,” Sintim said. “So it’s not just about having all the right ingredients in place. It’s also about seeing translational research as part of our mission and our reason for doing research — that will be the driving force.”

Contact:

Brett Beasley / Research Content Strategy Program Director

Notre Dame Research / University of Notre Dame

bbeasle1@nd.edu / +1 574-631-8183

research.nd.edu / @UNDResearch

Photos by Angelic Rose Hubert.

About Notre Dame Research:

The University of Notre Dame is a private research and teaching university inspired by its Catholic mission. Located in South Bend, Indiana, its researchers are advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, please see research.nd.edu or @UNDResearch.

Originally published by Brett Beasley at research.nd.edu on April 23, 2025.

Women Who Inspire: Jennifer Robichaud

2025-03-20T10:25:00-04:00

This story is part of Notre Dame Global's series titled "Women Who Inspire."

Jennifer Robichaud had a plan for her life. After attending college in her home state of Minnesota, she had plans to go into medicine and become a physician. Knowing how competitive it is to get into medical school, she made a logical decision. To ensure she’d have a job to land on just in case, she chose clinical laboratory science as her undergraduate major. That way, she’d already have relevant experience and skills if she got into med school, and if not, she’d be able to find a job working in a hospital while she waited for the med school door to open.

But she quickly realized that the longer you wait in front of closed doors, the more opportunities you miss. So, she made another logical decision.

“I pivoted,” she says. After graduating with her degree, she went to the University of Georgia to pursue a master’s in their medical microbiology program. “I used my major to bridge a few different things,” she says, explaining how her ability to draw blood came in handy when working with an epidemiology professor on his rabies vaccine trials. By way of that professor’s connections, she was able to carry out her master’s research at the Center for Disease Control (CDC)—“that was pretty fantastic”—on bacteria that was affecting homeless populations and causing heart disease.

These projects were her introduction to public health—an area she would go on to spend her career working in, despite not having a public health degree. Driving it all was the same desire that had originally made her want to pursue medical school: the call to serve.

After getting her master’s, Jennifer stayed in Georgia to carry out research on tuberculosis at the CDC through their Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory Program. She shares that she’s most drawn to research that can directly apply to helping people, and a lot of times, that means studying germs, which doesn’t bother her in the least. “I like germs, I like gross, weird things,” she shares. “Between tuberculosis and parasites, that’s my jam”—exactly what you want to hear from someone who is actively teaching the next generation of researchers and public health professionals.

She ended up at Purdue, first as a research assistant and then as an instructor. Along the way, she met her husband, they started their family, and then they moved to South Bend for her husband’s postdoc at Notre Dame. What was intended to be a three-year stay turned into 20.

At first, Jennifer thought she’d be taking a hiatus from teaching, as they had a two-year-old and a six-month-old. But a door opened, and naturally, Jennifer knew she had to explore it. “An opportunity to teach parasitology came up here, and then I filled in for a maternity leave in intro bio, and then another course, and then another course, and now I’m the director of undergraduate studies and advisor for the biology program,” she laughs.

As the faculty advisor for the Timmy Global Health club,
Jennifer leads a medical brigade to Ecuador with students.

While Jennifer loves working with germs and parasites, working with students has proven to be even more of a passion for her. “The lab is a great way of having one-on-ones with students because you teach them a technique, then they’re doing it, then you have this time to chat with and get to know them,” she says. “It carries over to other teaching moments in the lab.”

She also finds great joy in helping students make a real difference in their community. For nearly five years, Jennifer has teamed up with St. Joseph County to do mosquito surveillance. Every summer, she leads students in carrying out mosquito collections and identification, and then the county helps with the pathogen identification for West Nile and Eastern Equine encephalitis.

“We pretty significantly contribute to a lot of the vector surveillance for Indiana because of what we send in,” Jennifer proudly shares. “Being able to contribute to the public health of our county has been really impactful, and the students recognize that.”

Jennifer is coming up on another exciting teaching opportunity this summer: a course at Notre Dame Kylemore. The idea came up when she met Lisa Caulfield, director of Notre Dame Kylemore, a few years ago, and Lisa expressed an interest in having a science course at Kylemore. Known for its beauty and remote, picturesque location, Kylemore Abbey has proved to be an excellent location for art and creative writing programs. But Lisa recognized there was also a great opportunity for science courses, and given the presence of sheep farms in the area, Jennifer’s expertise in veterinary parasitology was a perfect match.

The course will follow a similar structure as Jennifer’s parasitology class here on campus but with an Irish twist. She’ll lead students through examining parasites’ life cycles, how they cause disease, and how to treat and control them, and they’ll specifically look into the parasites that affect sheep farmers.

Jennifer with students in Quito, Ecuador

“I try to go beyond the basics and look at the impact that the parasite has on the particular community,” she says, noting how things like socioeconomic status and other social determinants of health play a role in the discussion as well.

Curating her classes to the local environment is just one way that Jennifer makes coursework more dynamic and engaging for her students. She believes it’s important to expose her students to as many learning opportunities as possible—not only to enhance their academics but also to help them determine what they’re interested in pursuing.

“Some people aren’t quite sure what they want, so getting a variety of experiences is really key,” she says, sharing how she encourages her students to “look for those open doors—there might be opportunities outside the box.” Jennifer’s advice is backed by her experience. It was her willingness to walk through open doors that led her to a fulfilling career in public health. It was an open door that led her to teaching at Notre Dame and connecting with students who fondly call her “JRo.” Jennifer exemplifies that saying yes to opportunity when it comes knocking takes courage to face the unknown, trust in oneself, and hope that what lies on the other side is something worth exploring.

Originally published by Jessie Carson at global.nd.edu on March 18, 2025.

Podcast: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Patient Advocacy

2025-03-18T11:19:00-04:00

Notre Dame researchers are advancing rare disease research and patient advocacy, driving groundbreaking discoveries to bring hope to patients and families.

Watch the podcast

Originally published by Office of Brand Content at news.nd.edu on February 18, 2025.

Finding alternatives for fighting viral infection in natural immune response

2025-03-18T11:17:00-04:00

Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus found in more than 70% of the population in the United States. The virus remains dormant in healthy people. But for those with a weakened immune system, CMV can cause severe illness and death.

CMV is the primary focus of Pilar Pérez Romero, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences who came to the university in 2023. Pérez Romero is a virologist who is researching new treatment and preventive options for the virus.

“The virus is really widespread, but immunocompromised individuals’ bodies cannot handle the infection. The existing treatments aren’t perfect, so we are trying to develop immunotherapy-based antivirals that work not only as a treatment, but also as prevention,” she said.

Her previous work in hospital environments taught her exactly the kind of immune response patients need to get protection from a natural infection. That is the response she is hoping to mimic in the design of a vaccine.

Along with her research, Pérez Romero currently co-teaches a laboratory course to undergraduates designed by Dr. Michael McConnell, associate professor of the practice in the Department of Biological Sciences. Their primary focus is the characterization of resistant mutations in multi-drug resistant bacteria, known as superbugs.

“We analyze with the students how the resistant mutations are affecting the bacteria in different ways, not only through the genes that are affected, but also phenotypically, looking at the traits that are impacted, to learn how they survive with that mutation to find a better treatment for the infections,” she said.

Next year, Pérez Romero will also teach virology with a focus in human biology to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.

Originally from Spain, Pérez Romero came to the United States to get her postdoctoral degree from the University of Michigan, where she trained as a virologist. Following this, she went back to Spain and worked as a tenured associate professor at the Virology National Centre for Microbiology in Madrid.

After deciding she wanted to continue her career in the states, Pérez Romero came to Notre Dame with her husband, citing the opportunities, spirit, and culture here as driving factors. “You see other universities that are so competitive, and while we are also highly competitive, we mostly are collaborative. It’s one of the things I love most about Notre Dame,” she said.

Outside of her research and teaching, Pérez Romero loves to play and watch tennis, pointing to professional tennis player and Spain-native Rafael Nadal as the reason why she got into the sport. Since coming to the United States she has also become a Notre Dame football fan.

She and her husband, McConnell, have three children–a 13-year-old and 12-year-old twins. She is incredibly thankful for how she and her husband have worked as a team throughout their careers and takes great pride in her family.

Pérez Romero hopes that her enduring commitment to virology and her contributions to CMV treatment development will help to address a real global health challenge and positively change countless lives.

Originally published by Anna Salentine at science.nd.edu on March 05, 2025.

The Nature of God

2025-01-28T09:53:00-05:00

As a junior at the University of Notre Dame during the 1989-1990 academic year, Terrence Ehrman had settled into his major in biology. With a special interest in ecology, he took a spring course—stream ecology—with a recently hired assistant professor, Gary Lamberti.

That course inspired Ehrman to join Lamberti’s lab for his senior-year research project, and the study set both men on a path for a mentor-mentee connection, but grew into a collegial friendship rooted in shared passions for ecology and spirituality. Now a Holy Cross priest, Fr. Ehrman, ’91 holds a master’s degree in ecology, a master’s of divinity, and also a doctorate in systematic theology, while Lamberti is now Nieuwland Professor Emeritus of Aquatic Science and continues to run a lab in Galvin Hall.

Read more about their lifelong connection, where matters of faith fuse with the substance of science.

Originally published by Deanna Csomo Ferrell at science.nd.edu on January 27, 2025.

Biology-Geology field trip to the Galápagos Islands 2024

2024-11-01T10:17:00-04:00

Over Fall break, Professor Emeritus Gary Lamberti, along with CEEES Professor Jeremy Fein, co-led 14 Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and Environmental Engineering undergraduate students on a combined biology-geology field trip to the Galápagos Islands. The trip was a part of the 2-credit semester-long course Galápagos Environmental Field Practicum. The islands are an ideal location for observing the interplay among ecology, evolution, and geology and for observing how biology is influenced by geological dynamics. The students witnessed the astounding diversity of biology and geology on the islands while conducting an observational research project of their design.

Galápagos course students and instructors on cinder cone overlooking Pinnacle Rock on Bartolomé Island.

Fighting for those with rare diseases

2024-10-11T10:32:00-04:00

Rare disease research can be as uncommon as the diseases themselves, but Notre Dame is committed to understanding, treating, and advocating for those affected by rare diseases.

Read the story

University of Notre Dame in partnership with NASA and Illumina to monitor phenotypic signals for entire forests

2024-10-10T14:01:45-04:00

At the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center in Indiana, Professor Nathan Swenson and his students are cross-referencing phenotypic signals from space with genetic sequencing data from trees. By correlating extremely high-resolution images taken from space with the microscopic gene expression patterns of individual leaves, they are creating a map of the forest’s health to a degree never before attempted.

Read full story here: https://www.illumina.com/company/news-center/feature-articles/Notre-Dame-NASA-USFS.html

Q-BIO at ND presents Half-Day Research Retreat (October 25, 2024)

2024-10-09T17:27:00-04:00

Q-Bio at ND presents Half-Day Research Retreat at Jordan Hall of Science

Join us for an afternoon or research, networking, & delicious food!