One College of Science alumna and one Ph.D. student have been named 2025-2026 Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients, meaning they'll be funded to travel and conduct research abroad for a year.
Jacob Van of Beaverton International School is one of Oregon's 2025 National Merit Scholars. He plans to stay in the Pacific Northwest to attend Oregon State University’s Honors College and study biology on the pre-medicine track. The winners of the highly competitive $2,500 scholarship are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success of all National Merit Scholars, according to the scholarship organization.
When she returned to college, senior zoology student Cierra Freese never expected she would feed a nocturnal kiwi chick in New Zealand or a barred owl in northern Michigan.
As part of the College of Science's innovative course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), students aren’t just learning about science — they’re doing authentic science. CUREs are an innovative pedagogical model where students engage in original research within the context of a regular course. This offers a research-intensive learning experience that is more accessible than research opportunities outside the classroom.
For the second time, a three-week study abroad opportunity in Nepal is available for students to experience. Led by Dee Denver, head of the Department of Integrative Biology, the Intersections of Biodiversity and Buddhist Cultures in Nepal course promises a trek through the Himalayas, excursions in lowland jungles, and time spent in centuries-old monasteries.
Dee Denver is a professor and head of the Department of Integrative Biology in the College of Science, where his lab investigates biodiversity and genetics through integrated scientific and philosophical approaches. He led a study abroad program in Nepal in September.
Catherine Sterrett has always been called to medicine, but when she found herself as a patient, compassion became her greatest motivation. Now a graduating senior, she looks forward to where her career will take her.
Samantha Crockett's journey from a struggling college student to a thriving zoology graduate is a testament to the transformative power of online education. Faced with isolation and academic disillusionment, she found her stride at Oregon State University's Ecampus program, where supportive professors and flexible learning opportunities reignited her passion for zoology.
