Penn State Eberly College of Science

Please join us in congratulating Lu Bai for being named the Verne M. Willaman Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology! This appointment is awarded based on the recommendation of the dean of the Eberly College of Science, in recognition of research contributions, teaching, and service to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Eberly College of Science. In her research, Bai uses a variety of strategies to understand how gene expression is regulated by chromatin, the complex structure of DNA and proteins that make up chromosomes. Read more at https://bit.ly/4fxWuHT #PennStateBMB #PennStatePhysics

Undergraduate and graduate biology and ecology students came together and shared their research during the Biology and Ecology Student Research Showcase, which featured poster and podium presentations. Congratulations to all the winners! Check them out at https://bit.ly/40Hv65l #PennStateBio

For the past 25 years, Science-U camps have served nearly 500 K-12 students each summer, offering them the chance to foster their creativity and passion for science. ?? These camps and the opportunities in science that they offer for our local community are the focus of this year's GivingTuesday campaign. Science-U is looking to expand its future offerings with new camps and scholarship opportunities for campers from low-income families and historically underrepresented groups. We hope you'll join us on Dec. 3 for GivingTuesday, so more kids can experience science. #PennStateScience

The activity of thousands of ribozymes, or RNA enzymes, that have been computationally predicted to exist in a variety of organisms can now be tested in a single experiment. A research team including Phil Bevilacqua, distinguished professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology, tested the activity of over 2,600 different RNA sequences predicted to belong to a class of RNA enzymes called “twister ribozymes,” which have the ability to cut themselves in two. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3ObRpsD #PennStateChemistry #PennStateBMB

Join us in sending a "We Are!" to Natasha Dinsmore, who is an academic adviser in our college! “Natasha did an amazing job overseeing and working with student organization Nexus to coordinate the Welcome Day Involvement Fair for the college," said her nominator. "The event ran smoothly, with hundreds of students in attendance. I am certain the new students felt welcomed and supported because of her efforts!” Additionally, she was recognized at our Staff Appreciation Ceremony with the Staff Educational Excellence Award! https://bit.ly/4hTaOw5

Just as stem cells can differentiate into different cell types, so can stripped-down plant cells, according to a new method developed by Penn State biologists. ?? With this method, researchers including Sarah Pfaff, a postdoctoral scholar, explored the banding patterns that increase the stability of plant cell walls — much like the corrugated patterns in cardboard. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3Z9NlPP #PennStateBio

Science Education Abroad Ambassadors promote study abroad in our college, answer students’ questions, and serve as a peer resource. ?? Ariella Biney and Loren Foster are both fourth-year biology students and are this year’s ambassadors. Stop by Ritenour to ask them your questions about study abroad and how you can have an enriching, cultural experience. Penn State Global #PennStateBio #PennStateScience

Science Achievement Graduate Fellows joined Sara Seager, astrophysicist and planetary scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for a casual reception before she presented the joint Science Achievement Graduate Fellows-Russell Marker Lecture in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The students had the unique opportunity to chat with Seager and ask her questions about her work and much more. Then, during her talk, she spoke about exoplanets and the search for life beyond Earth. ?? ??? Heard on campus story: https://bit.ly/3V0N2EF #PennStateAstro

Did you know that lifestyle can shape the composition of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms within your mouth? A team led by Penn State biologists found that major lifestyle factors like subsistence strategy —how a person obtains the necessities of life like food and shelter — as well as more specific behaviors, like smoking, may be contributing to differences in the "oral microbiome" across different populations. Read more at https://bit.ly/4fqA9vR #PennStateBio

Congrats to David Radice, associate professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics, for receiving a Sustainment Award from NASA! This award will provide a $920,000 grant to advance an open-source code called AthenaK, which is a freely accessible code that provides an infrastructure for astrophysical simulations. Read more at https://bit.ly/4fAVhis #PennStatePhysics #PennStateAstro