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Alumni and Friends

Recognizing excellence at 2025 Alumni Awards

Meet the six 2025 Alumni Award recipients who made important discoveries, dedicated their time to others and improved the world through science.

Lemur in a tree
Integrative Biology

New lemur species still arising after 53.2 million years of evolution, research suggests

The explosion of new lemur species that began when the first of those animals arrived on Madagascar more than 50 million years ago has not died down, according to scientists who’ve identified three different groups of lemurs with high speciation rates.

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News

Two from Team Science named Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients

A College of Science alumna and a Ph.D. student have been awarded 2025–26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to conduct research abroad. They join 17 College of Science students and alumni who have earned Fulbright honors over the past decade.

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Integrative Biology

Marine biology student wins national Udall Scholarship for environmental leadership

Junior Natalie Donato earns national recognition for her dedication to marine conservation and science communication.

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Integrative Biology

Cierra Freese, Class of ’25: Non-traditional Ecampus student finds her calling in wildlife conservation

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.

People on top of a mountain.
Biochemistry & Biophysics

Auria Lee, Class of ’25: Adventure, research and leadership shape future doctor

Auria Lee plans to go to medical school, but her training as a physician truly began as an undergraduate Honors biochemistry major at Oregon State.

A volleyball player stands on a court.
Integrative Biology

Vivian Light, Class of ’25: Senior balances biology and volleyball at Oregon State

If you ask student-athlete and biology senior Vivian Light to share a fun science fact, she will likely tell you something fascinating about fish

A graphic of a star is in front of lab test tubes.
Graduate students

College of Science graduate students earn prestigious awards in 2023-24

Graduate students in the College of Science earned notable recognition during the 2023-24 academic year, receiving a range of awards which highlight their achievements and contributions to Oregon State.

Image of Oregon State University Corvallis campus in spring.
College of Science

College of Science shines with nine awards at University Day

Faculty, staff and graduate students from the College of Science won nine awards at University Day, the celebratory kickoff to the academic year featuring an annual awards ceremony. These awards highlight excellence in teaching, advising, research and diversity advocacy, showing the College as a leader across the university.

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Research

Immune systems for cities: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Cities are like organisms — they need immune systems. Viruses can reproduce rapidly, taking over cells and turning them into viral factories within hours. Individuals' immune systems need to rise to the challenge, but what happens when they can't, and a whole population gets sick?

A woman in a white blouse stands in front of greenery.
Students

Zoology graduate thrives with Oregon State's Ecampus

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.

Manon Vezinet in an underground cave wearing an Oregon State University sweatshirt.
Students

Undergrad explores the avian world in paid summer research adventure

Manon Vezinet spent last summer working with the Cornelius Laboratory, led by Integrative Biology Assistant Professor Jamie Cornelius, studying how increased frequency of unfavorable weather events affects nestling growth. Because of the SURE program, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, Vezinet was able to experience the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to conduct undergraduate field research and get paid to do it.