Featured Stories
Penn State biochemist Denise Okafor awarded 2026 Sloan Research Fellowship
Denise Okafor, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and of chemistry and Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Biophysics at Penn State, has been honored with 2026 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship. Awarded annually since 1955, the fellowship honors extraordinary researchers whose creativity, innovation and research accomplishments make them stand out as the next generation of scientific leaders.
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Skeleton ‘gatekeeper’ lining brain cells could guard against Alzheimer’s
Brain cells are constantly swallowing material from the fluid that surrounds them — signaling molecules, nutrients, even pieces of their own surfaces — in a process known as endocytosis that is essential for learning, memory and basic neural upkeep. New research by Penn State scientists has revealed this vital process may be governed by a previously unknown molecular gatekeeper: a lattice‑like structure just beneath the surface of neurons called the membrane‑associated periodic skeleton.
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Domestication has changed the chemicals squash flowers use to attract bees
In a new study published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, a team led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that domesticated flowers have different scent chemical profiles than wild plants in several species of squash. Additionally, the specialized pollinators of these plants—squash bees—detect different compounds, called floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wild plants that they co-evolved with than in domesticated plants.
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News
Apr 28, 2026
Two Eberly Faculty Honored with 2026 C.I. Noll Award
The Penn State Eberly College of Science has honored Carly Sjogren, associate teaching professor of biology, and Teh-hui Kao, distinguished professor of biology and molecular biology, with the 2026 C.I. Noll Award for Excellence in Teaching. First awarded in 1972 and named for Clarence I. Noll, dean of the Eberly College of Science from 1965 to 1971, this award is the highest honor for undergraduate teaching in the college. Students, faculty members, and alumni nominate outstanding faculty members who best exemplify the key characteristics of a Penn State educator.
Apr 27, 2026
One Health Microbiome Center names next doctoral interns for industry program
Penn State graduate students Natalie Ford and Mackenna Yount will spend this summer engaging in hands-on research with industry experts at the Hilden, Germany, headquarters of QIAGEN, a global leader in biotechnology for life sciences diagnostics, equipment and research.
Apr 27, 2026
Hydraulic brain: Body motion linked to fluid movement in the brain
The brain is more mechanically connected to the body than previously appreciated, scientists reported in Nature Neuroscience. Through a study using mice and simulations, the team found a potential biological mechanism underlying why exercise is thought to benefit brain health: abdominal contractions compress blood vessels connected to the spinal cord and the brain, enabling the organ to gently move within the skull. This swaying facilitates the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid to flow over the brain, potentially washing away neural waste that could cause problems for brain function.
News
Apr 28, 2026
Two Eberly Faculty Honored with 2026 C.I. Noll Award
The Penn State Eberly College of Science has honored Carly Sjogren, associate teaching professor of biology, and Teh-hui Kao, distinguished professor of biology and molecular biology, with the 2026 C.I. Noll Award for Excellence in Teaching. First awarded in 1972 and named for Clarence I. Noll, dean of the Eberly College of Science from 1965 to 1971, this award is the highest honor for undergraduate teaching in the college. Students, faculty members, and alumni nominate outstanding faculty members who best exemplify the key characteristics of a Penn State educator.
Apr 27, 2026
One Health Microbiome Center names next doctoral interns for industry program
Penn State graduate students Natalie Ford and Mackenna Yount will spend this summer engaging in hands-on research with industry experts at the Hilden, Germany, headquarters of QIAGEN, a global leader in biotechnology for life sciences diagnostics, equipment and research.
Apr 27, 2026
Hydraulic brain: Body motion linked to fluid movement in the brain
The brain is more mechanically connected to the body than previously appreciated, scientists reported in Nature Neuroscience. Through a study using mice and simulations, the team found a potential biological mechanism underlying why exercise is thought to benefit brain health: abdominal contractions compress blood vessels connected to the spinal cord and the brain, enabling the organ to gently move within the skull. This swaying facilitates the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid to flow over the brain, potentially washing away neural waste that could cause problems for brain function.
Apr 24, 2026
The robot Cambrian explosion: Penn State researchers advance biorobotics
Whether they’re dancing on two legs or scrambling over rough terrain on four, robots are gaining traction on social media and in everyday life. They’re already rapidly evolving in terms of capabilities and size, but according to Penn State Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Baxi Chong, they may be on the brink of something even better. Chong is one of several Penn State researchers capitalizing on unique biological features found in the living ecosystem to develop and expand the field of biorobotics.
Events
Wednesday Apr
29
Industry Strategies for Responsible Research
Operational Excellence Series
Wednesday Apr
29
From learning to leveraging graphs in bioinformatics
Weekly Wednesday Wartik Genomics Lecture Series
Thursday Apr
30
Modulation of hippocampal structure and function by ovarian hormones
Neuroscience Seminar Series
Neuroscience Institute , Neuroscience
Events
Wednesday Apr
29
Industry Strategies for Responsible Research
Operational Excellence Series
Wednesday Apr
29
From learning to leveraging graphs in bioinformatics
Weekly Wednesday Wartik Genomics Lecture Series
Thursday Apr
30
Modulation of hippocampal structure and function by ovarian hormones
Neuroscience Seminar Series
Neuroscience Institute , Neuroscience
Thursday Apr
30
CIDD Seminar with Dr. Max Lau
Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics