OSU Research Matters 2024

Research, scholarship and creative activity at Oklahoma State University

GUT FEELING

OSU FACULTY CONDUCTS ONE HEALTH RESEARCH INTO MICROBIOME

As a comprehensive, top-tier research university (Carnegie R1), Oklahoma State University has research expertise and productivity in virtually all areas where we offer academic programming.

From the arts and humanities, through business, all the way to the sciences, engineering, agriculture and medicine, the OSU research enterprise is broad in scope and extensive in impact. Galvanized by the We Are Land-Grant strategy, OSU has articulated four priority areas that translate nicely into the broad research domains that give OSU its character and its focus, both now and for the years that lie ahead.

Nourish the World: With a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to global food security and nutrition challenges, OSU aims to lead the way among land-grant institutions to innovate ways to feed the world’s growing population efficiently and sustainably.

Aerospace Innovation and Application: To propel the future of flight, OSU tackles not only the technical aspects of next-generation aerospace vehicles, but also the human elements of pilot performance, safety and societal acceptance of novel solutions.

Enhancing Human and Animal Health:

Embracing the One Health concept, OSU researchers illuminate the fundamental linkage between human and animal health ... and the health of the environmental ecosystems upon which all life depends.

Powering a Growing World Population

Sustainably and Responsibly: As a longrecognized leader in energy research, OSU is adopting a holistic strategy to contribute to

global energy security, promote public health, and support economic growth through energy innovation.

In this issue of OSU Research Matters, you will find stories that neatly fit into one of these priority areas. You may even notice how some of these research projects cross over to fit into two or even three areas — showcasing how truly interdisciplinary work can multiply impact.

Of course, as I stated at the outset, the breadth of OSU research expertise remains too vast to fully encapsulate even in these far-reaching priorities. So, a few stories will illustrate some OSU research that may be harder to put into a priority box, but nonetheless boundary-breaking, fascinating and inspiring to the next generation of OSU-educated leaders.

Doing research from within a single discipline has been compared to using a flashlight, illuminating things in one direction while leaving much else in the dark. The light from a single flashlight can be vitally important — even lifesaving. But whenever possible, OSU strives to bring our individual lights together, so that we might all see the vital connections needed to solve our world’s complex problems.

Bringing all those lights together is an ambitious undertaking. But once you’ve read about the amazing faculty and student researchers in this issue of OSU Research Matters, I think you’ll agree that OSU is just the place to get that job accomplished!

GO POKES!

Dr. Kenneth W. Sewell Vice President for Research

Dr. Joy Scaria’s team

Dr. Xufang Deng

PRESIDENT

Dr. Kayse Shrum

VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. Kenneth W. Sewell

EDITOR

Sydney Trainor

COPY EDITOR

Jordan Bishop

ART DIRECTOR

Dave Malec

DESIGNER

Cody Giles

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Taylor Bacon, Alisa Boswell-Gore, Sophia Fahleson, Elizabeth Gosney, Harrison Hill, Jeff Hopper, Desa James, Page Mindedahl, Sara Plummer, Shannon Rigsby, Kenneth Sewell, Sydney Trainor, Erin Weaver and Kristi Wheeler

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mitchell Alcala, Kyle Atkins-Weltman, Taylor Bacon, Matt Barnard, Ryan Jensen, Todd Johnson, Gary Lawson, Ray Lucas, Bebeto Matthews, Kevin McCroskey, Josh New, Elizabeth Perdue, Ellie Piper, Phil Shockley, Jason Wallace and Getty Images.

OSU Research Matters is published annually by Oklahoma State University and is produced by the Office of the Vice President for Research.

For details about research highlighted in this magazine or reproduction permission, contact:

OFFICE OF THE

VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH 405.744.6501; VPR@OKSTATE.EDU RESEARCH.OKSTATE.EDU

On the cover: Dr. Joy Scaria and postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Phurt Harnvoravongchai, prepare samples for their microbiome research in the lab at Venture One. (Photo by Gary Lawson)

HOW RESEARCH MOVES

WHO COMPRISES THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY AT A UNIVERSITY?

In recent issues of OSU Research Matters, the “How Research Moves” section clarified how university research gets funded, as well as explaining the differences in research and who they affect. In this installment, I will describe the different types of employees and student workers charged with conducting research.

For some employees, the job is all research, all the time. For others, research is one part of a multifaceted set of responsibilities. For those remaining, the research job is undertaken as part of an academic degree program. I’ll cover them all here.

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COMMUNITY (AT A GLANCE)

TENURE-LINE

(TENURE-TRACK) FACULTY

RESEARCH FACULTY

RESEARCH SCIENTISTS

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS (POSTDOCS)

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (GRA s)

RESEARCH STAFF

THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF RESEARCHERS

at comprehensive universities such as Oklahoma State University are employed as Tenure-line — sometimes called Tenure-track — Faculty The ranked titles for tenure-line faculty are Assistant Professor — junior or entry-level, — Associate Professor — mid-career, — and Professor — or “Full Professor” for senior, highly accomplished faculty. Job responsibilities of tenure-line faculty almost always include a combination of (1) teaching classes of students, (2) conducting and publishing research, and (3) serving the university/professional community — via administrative leadership — or the broader community — through outreach or Extension.

In this context, the term “tenure” refers to the conferral of permanent faculty status to those who successfully complete a probationary period by demonstrating excellence across these three responsibility domains over time. Although there are exceptions, the general rule is that faculty are granted tenure when they are promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor. At universities such as OSU, tenure-line faculty form the backbone of the academic enterprise … developing and overseeing the curriculum in their respective disciplines, planning and teaching the classes, conducting original research, and — through publishing their research and mentoring students — undergraduate, graduate, or both — preparing the next generation of experts in their fields.

Because complex research problems — and researchers’ individual preferences

— seem to call for at least some employees who specialize almost exclusively in research, additional job types have evolved over time. The first of this sort are generally called Research Faculty. These employees are tasked to conduct research as the vast majority of their responsibilities; as faculty, they are usually attached to a specific academic unit and can be tasked to participate in specialized teaching and student training roles for a small portion of their portfolios. Although not eligible for tenure, research faculty are professional positions (they are not considered temporary or ad hoc), and — at OSU and many other universities — have their own career ladder with ranked titles mirroring that of tenure-line faculty: Research Assistant Professor, Research Associate Professor, and Research Professor.

Research Scientists also specialize in research, but they typically do so exclusively … with no teaching or student mentoring responsibilities in an academic unit. Thus, research scientists are staff, not faculty, employees at most universities, hired to carry out specific research projects determined by the director of a center or institute, or by the lead investigator of an extensive, externally funded research program.

Postdoctoral Fellows — commonly called Postdocs — are fully trained scholars with terminal degrees — typically Ph.D.s — who are employed within a research laboratory by a tenureline faculty member to assist with ongoing projects — much like a research scientist would do — and advance their

professional development. In addition to playing a critical role in the faculty member’s ongoing research, postdocs also design and begin conducting original research, all the while amassing additional specialized research skills and accomplishments that will better enable them to obtain a permanent position (usually elsewhere) as an Assistant Professor, Assistant Research Professor, or researcher within an industry setting. The employment and training of postdocs is an excellent example of how top-tier universities integrate the teaching and research components of the institution’s mission.

To succeed and sustain, any great research university must have talented and dedicated Graduate Research Assistants — or GRAs. GRAs are postbaccalaureate students who are enrolled

in a master’s or doctoral program and simultaneously employed — typically half-time — by a faculty member (often the student’s primary mentor) to play a role in one or more ongoing research projects. GRAs develop critical skills and knowledge via their employment in a way that complements their graduate coursework and thesis/dissertation project.

Complex research programs, particularly those funded by large federal grants or corporate partnerships, rely on various additional employee types ranging from administrative support staff and lab technicians to project managers and procurement specialists. Specific job titles within the institution will vary, but this broad category of employees is often characterized simply as Research Staff. Research staff

WHAT IS IN A TITLE?

AKA: DOES AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ACTUALLY ASSIST SOMEONE?

Much like the robes we wear at commencement ceremonies, the ranked titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor have their origins centuries ago in European academia. The term ‘Professor’ appears to have evolved in separate patterns in England and Scotland from the late 15th through the early 18th century, eventually supplanting terms such as praelector and regent. Referring to someone in print as an “Assistant Professor” goes back at least as

far as 1801, in dictionary entries recounting titles putatively applied in the 1730s. However, these early entries offer no explanation of why the term assistant was utilized. One common conjecture is that junior professors were sometimes employed to conduct research and teach only at the direction of the singular senior professor (or ‘Chair’). Perhaps some of these ‘Assistant’ professors progressed in their skills such that they were allowed more independent purview, but were still not equal to or

roles are filled sometimes by regular employees and sometimes by part-time undergraduate student workers; whether or not these undergraduates perform technical tasks related to their field of study, these jobs provide them exposure to the research environment while providing financial resources to continue their studies.

OSU’s research enterprise is like a symphony orchestra comprised of many musicians — researchers of the various types described here, — divided into sections like percussion, brass and winds — our many research areas, — all coordinated and harmonizing under the baton of the maestro — our shared We Are Land-Grant strategy. As the vice president for research, it is truly music to my ears.

above the professor; if so, that could actually account for the coining of the intermediate ‘Associate’ moniker... no longer merely assisting the professor, but still associated with the professor’s realm of authority.

In modern usage, these terms are merely linear ranks and bear no literal connection to the meanings of the terms assistant and associate. We could just easily call them Level 1, 2 and 3 professors. But of course, we could also conduct commencement ceremonies in cut-off shorts and UGG boots. Instead, we continue to wear our medieval robes and use our antiquated titles ... even as we evolve research universities to meet the needs of 21st century society.

OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CONDUCTS GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH IN NUMEROUS WEATHER-RELATED AREAS

“Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy — your work becomes a dance with light and the weather.”

— Annie Leibovitz , photographer

Weather’s unpredictability can change seasons in an instant and turn a bright, sunny day into tumultuous, confounding chaos with little to no warning.

A team at the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education hopes its research in numerous areas dedicated to observing, predicting and assessing weather-related phenomena might influence the future of meteorology.

From research to Extension, from weather damage

assessment to gravity wave generation, OAIRE continues to fulfill its land-grant mission from the skies.

Assessing the aftermath

The sound of a runaway locomotive barreling out of control toward you.

That’s how some have described the aura of a tornado, and the aftermath can

A recent partnership with faculty in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the National Weather Service office in Tulsa has allowed engineers from OAIRE to lend aerial assistance in identifying and assessing a tornado’s path of destruction.

“Like the sound of a tree falling in the woods, a tornado doesn’t truly exist unless it is seen by an eyewitness or there is sufficient damage to suggest that

a tornado touched down,” said Dr. Jamey Jacob, OAIRE director and professor and John Hendrix chair in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “For that reason, the damage assessments conducted by individuals from emergency management teams and National Weather Service personnel after the fact are crucial to understanding the characteristics of a probable tornado.”

Once a tornado occurs and there is confirmed damage — in the two Oklahoma towns of Barnsdall and

Claremore for instance — a team of pilots and engineers from OAIRE deploy to the site to provide aerial coverage.

The team uses a VTOL fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft system, or UAS, to rapidly assess an area to determine the direction and length of the damage path, which it uses to plot a course for a fixed-wing aircraft called a Wingtra. The Wingtra is generally used for agricultural or surveying purposes, which is a simplified version of what the OAIRE team is conducting during flights. The UAS allows the team to cover more area rapidly and boasts an extended flight time compared to other aerial systems.

The UAS will autonomously traverse its preprogrammed flight path in a “lawnmower type path” at an altitude of nearly 400 feet while taking highly detailed photographs of the area at predetermined intervals.

“The flight process is fairly simple,” said Emalee Hough, a research and development engineer at OAIRE. “Once we program the flight path, we become observers that watch out for possible points of interference such as other aircraft. The ‘harder’ part is when the flight is done and we sometimes have thousands of photos to process.”

After the assessment is completed, each photo is geotagged with info and uploaded into a 3D rendering software, which stitches together each photo pixel to provide as accurate a 3D model as possible.

These renderings are then disseminated to other researchers and weather personnel to provide a more accurate and detailed assessment of the damage, path, longevity and other characteristics of a supposed tornado.

The CIVE faculty researchers hope that examining the destruction caused by a tornado, specifically to structures, may provide insight into how to construct

more robust buildings and infrastructure able to better withstand a tornado’s destructive forces.

“Assessment of the damage to civil structures after natural hazard events such as tornadoes is critical for emergency response operations and mitigation of the risks of future events,” said Dr. Maha Kenawy, assistant professor with CIVE. “Rapidly evolving unmanned aerial technologies and emerging data-driven approaches have created unique opportunities for advancing post-disaster damage assessment of civil structures.

“Our research team will integrate physics-based and data-driven modeling techniques to improve and accelerate the processing and interpretation of civil infrastructure damage data collected by unmanned aircraft systems. This work will also help identify infrastructure vulnerabilities that can be addressed to increase the resilience of communities across the U.S. against intense tornado events.”

For weather researchers, these aerial assessments provide a faster, more precise representation of the destructive path of a tornado, which may help to

"Like the sound of a tree falling in the woods, a tornado doesn't truly exist unless it is seen by an eyewitness or there is sufficient damage to suggest that a tornado touched down."

Dr. Jamey Jacob , OAIRE director

An aerial view of the destruction in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, following a tornado in May.

better understand the characteristics and behaviors of these seemingly unpredictable storms.

“This really is an extension of our land-grant mission,” Jacob said. “To help our communities assess and better understand these weather phenomena will hopefully lead to developments that can mitigate the impact they have on our citizens. In the not-too-distant future, I foresee emergency management teams, utility companies and weather researchers alike implementing assessment systems like these to further enhance response times and impact research.”

Until that vision becomes a reality, the OAIRE team is ready to lend its expertise to help individuals and communities affected by these powerful storms.

“It’s a humbling and amazing experience to be a part of this project,” said Allan Burba, an OAIRE flight crew member. “It’s hard to grasp the destructive forces of these storms and the devastation they can cause until you see it up close and personal. Being a part of research that may someday lessen the impact a tornado can cause is amazing.”

As a native Oklahoman, Hough has a unique connection to severe weather and the unpredictability of tornadoes.

“I grew up watching these storms and being terrified of them,” Hough said. “Barnsdall was the first tornado damage I’ve seen up close, and to be able to help my neighbors and their communities and progress the science and research into these storms is really important to me.”

Science in the shade

The recent solar eclipse provided an amazing viewing experience for astronomy enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. For OAIRE engineers, it was an opportunity to conduct unique research “in the shade.”

Sixteen OSU students and faculty members were joined by NASA representatives at the Choctaw Nation Community Center in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, where they conducted research as part of the NASA National Eclipse Balloon Program.

The team launched balloons to gather atmospheric data for nearly 36 hours surrounding the eclipse.

Jacob likened the eclipse’s effect to that of a pebble in a pond.

“Just like a pebble causes waves in the water, the eclipse causes gravity waves in its wake as it moves across the Earth, and we wanted to measure those disturbances,” he said. “These waves are essential for transporting energy in the atmosphere. They’re good at mixing the air and act as conveyor belts to help move energy and moisture from one location to another just like waves in the ocean.”

Jacob said the goal was to take the atmospheric readings from such a rare but known event and use it to provide general improvements to numerical weather prediction models.

“The atmosphere is so complicated to model — it’s just a very complex phenomena,” he said. “The eclipse provided a way to verify existing models using a known condition.”

OSU was one of 50 teams across the U.S. to participate in the NASA program, with OSU serving as an atmospheric science pod lead.

“We were responsible for organizing and supporting other teams leading up to the eclipse and bringing their data together post-event. We had teams

spread out between Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas,” Jacob said.

The OAIRE team also had a distinction from others compiling data; Dr. Brian Elbing, renowned OSU tornado researcher, incorporated infrasonic arrays into the data collection arsenal to better understand how those systems work for tornado detection.

“The solar eclipse can generate gravity waves within the atmosphere and these induce pressure fluctuations within the atmosphere,” Elbing said. “The pressure changes occur over long periods of time and can be detected as very low frequency sound known as infrasound.”

As a Choctaw citizen and planetary scientist, this event has special meaning to OSU Aviation and Space assistant professor Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy, who used the event to help achieve goals for her NASA Science Activation project, Native Earth | Native Sky (NENS).

“Seeing the eclipse from Choctaw Nation was truly remarkable,” Gardner-Vandy said. “Through NENS, we co-created curriculum with the Choctaw Nation about the story of Tvskha and Walo, two young boys who left their home on foot to find where the Sun died each night. They eventually

A view of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

made it to the Sun and talked to him and his wife, the Moon. Including this story in our science curriculum and then experiencing the solar eclipse with other Choctaw citizens demonstrates the beautiful interweaving of Native stories and science. Talking about our curriculum, passing out eclipse glasses and seeing Choctaw youth help launch balloons with OAIRE were huge highlights of the day.”

OAIRE also took drones to serve as a repeatable system taking the same measurements. Jacob said someday the balloons that carry the instruments will be replaced by drone fleets.

Zach Yap, a research and development engineer with OAIRE, has been conducting research with OSU for years, including as an undergraduate and graduate student.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to see what happens when you essentially turn off the sun and have a rapid onset of darkness,” he said. “An eclipse is an interesting and unique way of

generating atmospheric gravity waves. They happen between different layers in the atmosphere, and the waves are good movers of energy for storms and other things. If we can better understand how these waves propagate through the atmosphere, we can better — on a continental scale — forecast weather systems.”

In addition to OSU leading several other universities, OAIRE researchers had the opportunity to be a resource for students at Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and high schools in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

“Through the NEPB and OSU, we can give them the opportunity and resources to learn from these opportunities,” Yap said. “By doing this, we can share this knowledge and inspire them to pursue a STEM career.”

Freshman Research Scholar Lily Yates from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, was part of the OAIRE research team assisting with balloon launches. Conducting weather research is her career and life goal.

“My experience with research at OSU has been absolutely amazing,” she said.

Jacob said the effort included the whole range of student involvement.

“On the science side, we had high school, undergraduate and graduate students working together, and while at the eclipse, we used the opportunity for science outreach for younger kids and to our tribal partners,” he said. “The eclipse itself is a cosmic marvel that inspires awe in all who see it. What better way to reach the next generation of scientists and engineers?”

Scan to learn more about

OAIRE.

Trailblazers of Tomorrow

OSU hosts record-setting Undergraduate Research Symposium

At Oklahoma State University, students explore diverse fields, from music to accounting and biochemistry to architecture, driving impactful research that begins in the classroom.

As a land-grant institution, OSU empowers undergraduates to embark on journeys of exploration, shaping society’s future. That research was displayed this spring at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

The symposium is held each year in April to align with the national celebration of Undergraduate Research Week. The week was formally recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 16, 2010, to

celebrate the work undergraduates do nationwide.

A record 308 students presented 266 research projects on April 16 in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. This year, several departments were represented at the symposium for the first time.

Undergraduate students are part of formal undergraduate research programs, such as: Freshman Research Scholars, McNair Scholars, Niblack Research Scholars, OK-LSAMP Scholars and Wentz Research Scholars.

“I believe part of attending a great research university is everybody has that ethos,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research. “It’s

not just the faculty, and it’s not just the graduate students, but the ethos of research permeates undergraduate education and the identity of our undergraduates. It’s a big part of our identity at OSU and certainly a big part of our university strategy.”

The URS is an opportunity for undergraduate students to present what they have learned through their research experiences to the OSU campus community. Three presentation formats are available for students to choose from: poster, oral flash talk, or a short video for performing and visual arts.

“As you can see by the wide variety of disciplines, OSU takes the lead in

The Undergraduate Research Symposium is an opportunity for students to present what they have learned through their research experiences to the OSU campus community.

supporting our undergraduate research in all fields of study,” Sewell said. “We know that students who get involved in undergraduate research nearly always find that experience to be critical in choosing a career path and proven success in the workforce.”

Rachel Miller, a psychology major, is conducting a study on how concussions affect students’ college experiences.

Miller said this study is essential because most of the existing literature focuses on college athletes, whereas when one compares the rate of concussions, they are higher in the general population.

“It’s an important question to answer, and I think the results will help inform what study needs to happen next, maybe resilience-based interventions, which can help students who’ve experienced concussions succeed and graduate,” Miller said.

OSU undergraduate research is preparing Miller for graduate school as she intends to pursue a Ph.D. program, and the symposium played a crucial role in that endeavor.

Amber Smith, a biochemistry and molecular biology freshman, is researching infectious diseases in the feedlot segment of the cattle industry, specifically bovine respiratory disease, which is responsible for 50-70% of the deaths in feedlots, costing millions of dollars in losses annually.

Participating in undergraduate research has helped the Freshman

Research Scholar make decisions about her future career, and symposiums like URS allow her to gain experience communicating complex topics to the public.

“As a researcher, I think it’s important to spread awareness to topics people don’t necessarily know because the thing with research is everybody’s projects are so niche. Unless you come in with prior knowledge, you’re not going to have very much interest unless it’s explained to you,” Smith said. “I’m going to simplify it so you understand why it’s important and not necessarily every scientific detail.”

Smith’s faculty mentor is Dr. Yong Cheng, a biochemistry and molecular biology assistant professor in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, who was awarded one of seven inaugural OSU Excellence in Research Mentoring awards.

Cheng mentored nine students for the symposium and looks forward to advising students throughout their academic careers.

“They are great students, and they are really eager to do research in a lab,” Cheng said.

Cheng sees the importance of research from undergraduates all the way to faculty members. His team of researchers has set out to study hostpathogen interactions as they look for ways to treat diseases.

“It’s our mission to do research, for the future of the country and the

next generation of scientists and researchers,” Cheng said.

Also, other award recipients who were nominated by undergraduate students and selected by committee were:

 Dr. Josh Butcher — physiological sciences — College of Veterinary Medicine

 Dr. Matthew Cabeen — microbiology and molecular genetics — College of Arts and Sciences

 Dr. Jill Joyce — nutritional sciences — College of Education and Human Sciences

 Dr. Shelia Kennison — psychology — College of Arts and Sciences

 Dr. Michael Reichert — integrative biology — College of Arts and Sciences

 Dr. Kurt Rouser — mechanical and aerospace engineering — College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

“Another thing that really sets OSU apart is how our faculty embrace it,” Sewell said. “Our faculty members at OSU don’t just mentor undergrads doing research so that they can be nice and helpful; it’s a part of their own sense of identity to guide graduate and undergraduate students in the research enterprise.”

Poster presentations are one of three formats available for students to gain experience communicating complex topics to the public.

The ‘Chicken from Hell’

CHS student discovers new dinosaur species

Only a small number of people can say they’ve named a new dinosaur.

Now, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences student Kyle AtkinsWeltman is part of that exclusive club.

Atkins-Weltman, an anatomy and vertebrate paleontology Ph.D. student in the School of Biomedical Sciences, was studying a small collection of foot and leg bone fossils of what was believed to be a juvenile Anzu wyliei, which was described as a “chicken from hell” when it was discovered in 2014.

But, histology tests of the bones conducted at OSU-CHS determined that it wasn’t a juvenile, but a different species in the dinosaur family caenagnathid.

Atkins-Weltman named the new dinosaur Eoneophron infernalis, which translates to Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from hell. The name honors the description of the Anzu as well as his

late beloved pet, a Nile monitor lizard named Pharaoh.

Based on rough estimates, Eoneophron weighed around 150 to 160 pounds and stood about 3 feet tall at the hip, about the size of a human.

“It was a very birdlike dinosaur. It had a toothless beak and relatively short tail. It’s hard to tell its diet because of the toothless beak,” Atkins-Weltman said. “It definitely had feathers. It was covered in feathers and had wings.”

Kyle Atkins-Weltman

Atkins-Weltman’s paper on the new Eoneophron species was published in the peerreviewed journal PLOS ONE, released by the Public Library of Science, in January 2024.

“Kyle is the first student researcher at OSU-CHS to reveal, describe and name a new dinosaur,” said Associate Professor of Anatomy Dr. Eric Snively, Atkins-Weltman’s faculty advisor.

Atkins-Weltman said he never intended to find a new species. In January 2020, he was analyzing foot and leg fossils to study the weight-bearing metatarsal, or toe, bones of the Anzu dinosaur. The fossils were found in the Hell Creek Formation that spans parts of Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota and date back to the end of the Cretaceous period before dinosaurs went extinct.

“They were about 25% smaller than other Anzu fossils. We figured it was a juvenile Anzu,” he said. “I assumed it was an Anzu until the evidence showed it wasn’t.”

When it looked like the fossils may not belong to an Anzu, Atkins-Weltman turned to caenagnathid researchers Dr. Greg Funston, a paleontologist with the Royal Ontario Museum in Ontario, Canada, and paleontology Ph.D. candidate Jade Simons with the University of Toronto for their help and expertise.

He also called on the help of OSU-CHS Associate Professor of Anatomy Dr. Holly Woodward Ballard, whose own research utilizes paleohistology — the study of fossil bone microstructures. Through paleohistology techniques, they determined that the foot and leg bones were not structurally those of a juvenile, but of a more mature specimen, meaning a new dinosaur species in the caenagnathid family.

“It was really thrilling. Based on the work and research I do, I never thought I would be someone to discover a new dinosaur species,” he said.

Atkins-Weltman said his project and published findings would not have been possible without his co-authors and those who assisted him.

“It was the whole team of people — other scientists who have more experience in this family of dinosaurs. And Dr. Ballard’s histology was invaluable,” he said.

Snively said he was thrilled to help AtkinsWeltman discover a new dinosaur.

“OSU-CHS attracts amazing graduate students through our anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track, and Kyle is an inspiring pioneer,” he said.

Since the discovery of Eoneophron was announced, Atkins-Weltman and his research have been featured in state, national and international news outlets including The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC News, as well as dozens of science and paleontology websites and blogs generating millions of clicks and views.

“I was genuinely shocked with how much attention it got. I figured, being a relatively small dinosaur and not one of the big Tyrannosaurs or anything like that, it would make a very small splash,” he said. “It was very shocking to see how much media coverage this little fellow got. I’m blown away by it all.”

Atkins-Weltman said he will continue to conduct research as he pursues his doctoral degree at OSU-CHS. He hopes the excitement and media coverage of his discovery generates more attention to OSU’s anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track, as well as inspire other institutions to reevaluate their own fossil collections.

“It might help bring attention to the great work that all of my colleagues are doing, and that kind of attention can bring funding for research,” he said. “We might be able to build a more complete picture of these animals.”

EONEOPHRON INFERNALIS

“Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from hell” Weight: 150-160 pounds

Height: 3 feet at the hip, about human-sized LEARN MORE about the anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track at OSU.

The fossils were found in the Hell Creek Formation that spans parts of Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota.

ShiningBright

FOUR PROFESSORS

EARN THE PRESTIGIOUS FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP, ELEVATING UNIVERSITY’S GLOBAL STANDING

At Oklahoma State University, faculty members compete for nationally and internationally competitive fellowships, recognizing the value of rigorous preparation for high-achieving students.

This dedication not only makes them strong candidates for prestigious awards but also equips them for broader success and contributions, regardless of their selection outcome.

Fulbright Scholar Awards are among the most prestigious and competitive fellowships, offering scholars unique opportunities to teach and conduct research abroad. These scholars play a vital role in U.S. public diplomacy by fostering long-term relationships between people and nations.

This year, four OSU faculty members were selected as 202425 Fulbright scholars, doubling the number of awards from last year and elevating OSU to the ranks of top universities such as Yale, Emory, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota.

DR. NORB DELATTE

Delatte — the M.R. Lohmann Endowed Professor and head of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology — will teach and conduct research in Naples, Italy, at the University of Naples Federico II during the spring 2025 semester.

He will teach a graduate course on nondestructive evaluation, which uses tools to “see inside” materials and structures to examine hidden features and flaws. Additionally, Delatte will research structural performance and vulnerability assessments of masonry and concrete buildings and bridges, which provide vital benefits for society.

The Holy Roman Emperor Federico II founded the host university, which is 800 years old and one of the 10 oldest universities still operating. It’s ranked as one of the top 200 universities in the world.

“When built infrastructure fails, it is important to learn why and to share the information with engineers to improve public health, safety and welfare,” Delatte said. “However, to learn why something failed, it is important to carry out a systematic and thorough failure investigation. This information is vital to improve building codes, design procedures and construction processes. These investigations are often carried out by forensic engineers.”

STORY SOPHIA FAHLESON, SYDNEY TRAINOR, ERIN WEAVER AND KRISTI WHEELER

Italy is subjected to significant natural hazards, particularly earthquakes and volcanoes. Italy also has many heritage structures dating back centuries or millennia that are vulnerable to earthquakes and other hazards, as well as limited funding to strengthen or repair them. Delatte’s research will make significant contributions to the safety, resilience and sustainability of the built infrastructure in Italy, the U.S. and elsewhere.

“I hope to contribute to forensic engineering and engineering education in both Italy and the U.S. through this effort and also elevate the practice in both countries,” Delatte said. “I expect to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of actual practice in various international contexts. Furthermore, I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned back to my department at Oklahoma State University.”

DR. SALIM HIZIROGLU

Hiziroglu — emeritus professor in the OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management — will complete a 9-month fellowship in Romania at Transilvania University of Brasov beginning in February 2025.

While there, Hiziroglu will teach courses in value-added composite materials and advise and assist doctoral, master’s and junior faculty members on research projects for publication.

“It is a great honor for me to be a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Fellowship,” Hiziroglu said. “I will do my best to carry out my responsibilities and represent OSU.”

Before his professor emeritus appointment in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, Hiziroglu was the OSU Extension specialist for wood products from 2000-21. He has authored nearly 200 publications and has been cited in over 6,000 scholarly pieces focusing on natural resource management.

DR. HOLLY KARIBO

Karibo — an associate professor and director of graduate studies in OSU’s Department of History — will research borderlands history for four months at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.

“I’m excited to begin primary archival research on a new research project titled, ‘Ladies, Liquor, and the National Line: Gendering Prohibition in the Great Lakes Borderlands,’” Karibo said. “I’m trying to uncover some of the histories of female smugglers and people that were involved in bootlegging and cross-border illegal trades in the 1920s and 1930s, but whose stories have not yet been told.”

She will be looking at states and provinces that meet around the U.S.-Canada border, like Michigan, New York, Ontario and Quebec, as well as indigenous communities that straddle that national line.

She is interested in learning about the experiences of a diverse range of women who became involved in the illegal trade on each side of the national line. She will also examine how the policing of women during Prohibition reshaped the U.S. and Canadian legal systems in important ways.

“For my own research, this is an amazing chance to dig into some archives and historical collections I haven’t used in the past,” Karibo said. “But it’s also an important opportunity to build connections with students and faculty at Ontario universities, and I hope to sustain those connections beyond my time as a Fulbright scholar.”

At OSU, Karibo conducts transdisciplinary research by combining her degrees in history and women and gender studies. She teaches U.S. survey courses, as well as classes on gender in America, the history of North American borderlands, power and protest in U.S. history, U.S. cultural history post-1865 and more.

“The Fulbright Program wants you to build connections in the long term between institutions,” Karibo said. “My particular fellowship does include teaching one seminar, like a small seminar on my research and area of expertise, so I’m teaching on illegal economies in the U.S., Canada, U.S.-Mexico border, doing some comparative history there. Then, you give a public lecture and you engage with other classes that invite you.

“It’s a way to reach out and get to know both faculty and students through the process.”

DR. JAVIER VILCÁEZ

Vilcáez, an associate professor in OSU’s Boone Pickens School of Geology, will research lithium recovery from brines of Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flat and teach two courses — environmental data analytics and environmental mining of energy and mineral resources — at Universidad Privada Boliviana in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

“The Uyuni Salt Flat is the largest lithium brine deposit in the world,” Vilcáez said. “I hope sharing my research experience on the WaterEnergy-CO2 Nexus as a Fulbright scholar with researchers and students in Bolivia will contribute toward Bolivia’s net-zero emissions energy transition. Bolivia is full of energy and mineral resources that could be developed using environmentally friendly technologies like the ones I research.”

Vilcáez said that the Fulbright program provides the perfect opportunity for U.S. scholars to start new research collaborations to solve global challenges.

“My interest sparked from the promising results we have obtained on the feasibility of recovering critical metals, including lithium from

brines using a new technology that I’m researching with my students at OSU, as well as from a recent visit I made to Bolivia where there is remarkable interest in developing lithium resources from Uyuni’s salt flat,” Vilcáez said. “The supply of lithium is paramount for energy transition across the globe. Therefore, I decided this was a unique opportunity to expand my frontiers in research and teaching in the field of energy transition.”

Dr. Camelia Knapp, College of Arts and Sciences associate dean for research, echoed the importance of Vilcáez’s work.

“Lithium is a critical mineral for the global energy transition,” Knapp said. “Therefore, Dr. Javier Vilcáez’s selection as a U.S. Fulbright scholar for Bolivia — where the largest lithium brine deposit in the world is located — will advance CAS within the global research landscape of energy transition.

“His research on mining of critical minerals from brines will open new avenues to other research he and other faculty members at the Boone Pickens School of Geology are conducting on energy transition.”

WHAT’S WA$TE WORTH?

OSU AIDING IN CREATION OF BIOMASS ECONOMY

Have you ever asked yourself what happens to food waste?

Uneaten food in the United States is managed through donations, upcycling, composting, anaerobic digestion or landfilling, all of which produce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the U.S. is the largest contributor to food waste globally with around 120 billion pounds of food wasted each year. That’s $218 billion worth of food.

So, what can be done to fix this problem?

Oklahoma State University has an answer.

OSU is doing its part to prevent waste by studying the biomass potential of crops and forests residues. From reporting on the importance of bioenergy to fueling the American bioeconomy, OSU’s roots run deep in biomass production.

Biomass includes organic material from crop residue, agriculture and food waste, forest residue, trees and dedicated energy crops, and it is used to make sustainable fuel, fibers, electricity, construction materials, plastics and more. The materials created from biomass are what make up the bioeconomy.

In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its plans to boost biomass supply chain resiliency to increase economic opportunities for farmers and improve environmental sustainability. The U.S. Department of Energy intends to increase the use of renewable biomass for fuels, products and power to help achieve national energy and economic goals while reducing harmful emissions and not interfering with the food and animal feed industries.

Dr. Lixia Lambert, assistant professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics, has teamed up with OSU alumni from the University of Tennessee for more than a decade to help prepare the U.S. Department of Energy Billion-Ton Report, released every five years. The document examines more than 60 resources for biomass production with agricultural land, forest land, waste and algae.

Released in March, the 2023 BillionTon Report indicates the agriculture industry has the potential to produce

THE U.S. IS THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO FOOD WASTE GLOBALLY, WITH AROUND 120 BILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WASTED EACH YEAR.

THAT’S $218 BILLION WORTH OF FOOD.

about 500-800 million tons of biomass annually. The current bioeconomy produces 340 million tons of biomass per year. The report highlights that 7% of cropland and 12% of pastureland could contribute to the biomass market through native plant growth. For example, switchgrass in Oklahoma could be used as a biomass crop.

Since 2015, Lambert and Dr. Burton English, institute professor in agricultural and resource economics at UT, have championed the creation of a modeling tool to analyze the potential of forest biomass resources in the U.S.

With their Forest Sustainable and Economic Analysis Model, researchers can calculate the amount of woodland biomass available based on economic, environmental and sustainability factors.

“Dr. Lambert’s expertise provides invaluable insights into the sustainable management of forest biomass resources, how much forest biomass is available, how the distribution of those resources would work and the potential impacts to ecosystems,” said

“WE ESTIMATE THAT CONVERTING SWITCHGRASS TO JET FUEL REDUCES THE 100-YEAR GLOBAL WARMING IMPACT BY 44% PER UNIT OF JET FUEL. OUR METHOD SUPPORTS SUSTAINABILITY BY REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT AND PROMOTING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.”

DR. HASAN ATIYEH, PROFESSOR IN

Dr. Matthew Langholtz, the Billion-Ton Report’s principal investigator from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Lambert’s research showed that forestland produces about 200 million tons of biomass annually.

“The objective is to minimize harvesting costs while estimating how much woodland biomass can be harvested across the country,” Lambert said.

The next step is making the model available to the public so other researchers can utilize it.

OSU’s ties to the game-changing biomass report are strong. The OSU Eastern Research Station in Haskell conducted regional switchgrass field trials to contribute to the 2016 and 2023 reports’ economic model for determining the potential of biomass crops. The report’s modeling tool for estimating the biomass production potential of U.S. agriculture was created by Dr. Daryll Ray during his 20 years as a professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics.

Several OSU alumni contributed to the report, including Langholtz, who graduated from the OSU forestry program in 1994. UT’s Dr. Daniel de la Torre Ugarte graduated from the OSU agricultural economics doctoral program in 1991 and helped improve the biomass production modeling tool.

EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Switchgrass isn’t the only biomass crop with potential in Oklahoma.

Logan Ozment, a graduate student working with Drs. Lu Zhai and Bryan Murray, assistant professors in the OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, is comparing how climate change and

other environmental factors impact the growth of four woody biomass species: sweetgum, loblolly pine, sycamore and eastern cottonwood.

“In Oklahoma, the focus for biomass is often on switchgrass, but there are many other options, especially from the woody species,” Zhai said. “Woody biomass species have some advantages over grass species, such as their relatively high tolerance to environmental stress.”

Woody biomass has a longer growth cycle (multiple years to decades) than crop and grass biomass species, so researchers must consider long-term climate impacts. The OSU research team studied the responses of the four woody biofuel species to climate change. In addition, the team is comparing the different genotypes of sweetgum and their responses to environmental factors in various locations in Oklahoma and other parts of the south-central U.S.

“Through this research, we can inform landowners what species they should select and where they can set up a biofuel plantation based on impact,” Zhai said. “Another important educational factor is training students to measure and analyze the environmental impacts on the species.”

BUILDING A BIOECONOMY

The U.S. has set a bioenergy goal to replace the 35 billion gallons of aviation fuels used annually with sustainable aviation fuels by 2050, and there is more than enough biomass capacity to meet that goal, according to the latest BillionTon Report.

Dr. Hasan Atiyeh, professor in the OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, and Dr. Babu Fathepure, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in the College of Arts and Sciences, collaborated to develop technology that involves adding natural microorganisms into the fermentation process for creating butanol from biomass. OSU is obtaining a patent on the co-fermentation process.

Plant biomass contains three chains of large molecules called polymers: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are sugar polymers, but lignin is a polymer with a complex chemical makeup. Lignin chemically binds with cellulose and hemicellulose, preventing them from converting to the simple sugar molecules that ferment to create biofuels like butanol. This is why degrading the lignin is important in the production of biofuels. Degrading lignin is currently achieved by heating biomass at high temperatures or treating it with acid or alkali. These methods are expensive and create waste with strict disposal guidelines.

right genes and enzymes for degrading lignin. His lab uses several bacteria and fungi to degrade the lignin in biomass materials before providing them to Atiyeh to turn into butanol.

Atiyeh’s co-fermentation process can be done in two reactors or one. In the two-reactor setup, a microorganism converts the simple sugars from plant materials into butanol in the first reactor. The hydrogen and CO2 produced in this process are then moved to the second reactor, where another microorganism uses them to create more butanol. In the one-reactor setup, both microorganisms are added simultaneously to use the sugar and the gas to create butanol.

The process combines sugarfermenting and gas-fermenting bacteria while capturing carbon dioxide. With traditional fermentation methods, more than 50% of the carbon in sugars is lost, and hydrogen and/or carbon dioxide are wasted.

“It is currently not feasible to make butanol from sugars, molasses or corn with a biological method at a cost competitive with butanol from the petroleum industry,” Atiyeh said.

“Although microbial pretreatment of plant biomass is slow, it is environmentally safe and costeffective,” Fathepure said. “My goal was to figure out how we remove the lignin from the process so the sugar polymers cellulose and hemicellulose can be turned into simple sugars using enzymes. Bacteria and fungi have been breaking down lignin in nature for eons, so it was a natural choice for our process.”

Using decaying biomass from streams, termite gut fluid and rumen fluid from cattle stomachs, Fathepure discovered certain bacteria with the

Research is ongoing to improve the efficiency of the co-fermentation process as Atiyeh works with Ohio State University to genetically modify the microorganisms to improve their tolerance to harmful elements and to increase the speed of the gas-fermenting process.

“Our method can increase butanol yield by 20 to 25%, and if we add more renewable hydrogen to the process, we could potentially achieve zero CO2 emissions,” Atiyeh said. “We estimate that converting switchgrass to jet fuel reduces the 100-year global warming impact by 44% per unit of jet fuel. Our method supports sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint and promoting a circular economy.”

BUILDING THE RESEARCH BRIDGE

The research conducted by Atiyeh, Fathepure, Joshi and Zhai and the switchgrass field trials were supported by the South Central Region Sun Grant Program managed on the OSU campus in Stillwater.

It is one of only five Sun Grant centers working to advance the U.S. bioeconomy. The five centers use regional resources to research biobased alternatives and provide educational programs on America’s

energy demands while offering economic opportunities for rural areas.

Since 2006, the South Central Sun Grant Center has awarded over $7.5 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds and $2.8 million in USDA funds to land-grant universities in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

“We work with the other four Sun Grant Centers to further establish a

bio-based economy through our landgrant universities,” said Dr. Scott Senseman, associate vice president of OSU Ag Research and director of the south-central center. “Each Sun Grant Center uses its unique regional resources to meet the common goal of researching energy alternatives to meet domestic energy demands.”

THREE OSU FACULTY MEMBERS

EARN TOP SCIENTIFIC FELLOWSHIP

LEADING THE WAY

Three Oklahoma State University faculty members have received one of the highest honors within the scientific community.

Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture; Dr. Scott Senseman, associate vice president of OSU Ag Research; and Dr. Raj Singh, Materials Science and Engineering Regents Professor in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, have been named 2024 Honorary Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

AAAS Fellows are a distinguished group of scientists, engineers and innovators who are recognized for their achievements across disciplines, including research, teaching, technology, administration in academia,

industry and government, as well as excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.

Eligible nominees are members whose efforts to advance science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished. Election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor. Fellows are elected annually and are recognized at the AAAS Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., for their achievements.

The trio will receive a certificate and the traditional rosette, symbolizing the award since 1874.

The AAAS, founded in 1848, is the world’s largest general scientific society. The nonprofit includes over 250 affiliated societies and science academies, serving 10 million individuals.

“When OSU’s faculty are recognized by national organizations as leaders in their disciplines, it shines a bright light on the university,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research. “Recognition by the largest scientific organization in the U.S. carries particular weight. Drs. Lusk, Senseman and Singh are true leaders in their fields at OSU and nationwide. We couldn’t be prouder of them as members of the Cowboy family.”

Lusk was awarded for “distinguished contributions to the field of agricultural economics, particularly for research and the communication and interpretation of the science underpinning predictions of consumer food demand.”

“OSU Agriculture is leading the way with more than 50 of our scientists

“I have no doubt we will continue to accomplish unique innovations and solutions within OSU Ag Research.”

Dr. Jayson Lusk, Vice President and Dean of OSU Agriculture

as members of AAAS, with some publishing significant advances in science in the organization’s prestigious journal, Nature,” Lusk said. “I am honored to join the ranks in an organization that, at its roots, is interested in scholarship and innovation to benefit people across the globe.”

Senseman was recognized for “distinguished contributions in research, teaching and administration in the field of agronomy, particularly in residue chemistry, mode of action and environmental fate of herbicides in agricultural systems.”

“This is a very special honor, and I am profoundly humbled by it,” Senseman

“OSU Agriculture is leading the way with more than 50 of our scientists as members of AAAS, with some publishing significant advances in science in the organization’s prestigious journal, Nature.”

Dr. Scott Senseman, Associate Vice President of OSU Ag Research

said. “This is an acknowledgment of the students who allowed me to be part of their scientific journey, the colleagues I had the opportunity to work with and learn from, and the support of my wife, Laura, during the last three decades of a demanding career. I have no doubt we will continue to accomplish unique innovations and solutions within OSU Ag Research.”

According to AAAS, Singh is honored “for pioneering and gamechanging scientific and technological contributions to the field of materials, particularly transformative processing and manufacturing of ceramic composites, leading to technology insertion into commercial jet engines.”

“Never forget to be curious and inventive. It should be a lifelong pursuit.”

Dr. Raj Singh, Materials Science and Engineering Regents Professor in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

“I am proud of having professor Singh, a recognized leader in ceramic matrix composites, in our college,” said Dr. Hanchen Huang, CEAT dean. “As an elected AAAS Fellow, Dr. Singh represents OSU well and is in a great position to shape national policies of sciences.”

Singh encourages students in the engineering field to remain curious, persevering, creative, inventive and passionate about their field.

“Ultimately, use your knowledge and skills to create new materials and products to benefit society, the nation and the world,” Singh said. “Never forget to be curious and inventive. It should be a lifelong pursuit.”

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT

FIVE OSU FACULTY RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS NSF CAREER AWARDS

Oklahoma State University faculty strive to fulfill the land-grant mission by competing in research and innovation to elevate the university as a top-tier research institution.

In 2024, five OSU faculty members from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and the College of Arts and Sciences received National Science Foundation CAREER awards.

This NSF award is the most prestigious award for early career faculty based on their potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department.

The faculty were awarded grants for a specific proposal in each of their fields.

Approximately 500 awards are given annually. OSU’s newest recipients are Drs. Jorge Gonzalez Estrella, Derek Meyers, Spencer Pitre, Michael Reichert and Elijah Schnitzler.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT NSF CAREER AWARDS

Dr. Jorge GONZALEZ ESTRELLA

Gonzalez Estrella is an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research project will focus on the reactivity and mobility of microand nanoplastics from the open burning of solid waste in underserved communities.

Gonzalez Estrella plans to look at three issues regarding the open burning of plastics. First, the effect created by releasing organic carbon and additives from partially burned microplastics into the environment. Second, to understand how partially burned microplastics move through sediments. And third, how contaminants from open burning can impact the soil biochemicals cycle.

Gonzalez Estrella’s research goal is to better understand the reactivity and mobility of microplastics generated by open dumping and burning of solid waste and share that information with community members, working toward facilitating appropriate waste management for those areas that don’t currently have access.

“It takes a village to put together this award; I have a cohort of students, collaborators, friends and family that led to the success of this proposal,” Gonzalez Estrella said. “I also feel super grateful to Oklahoma State University because we have excellent support right here with state-of-the-art facilities and the sponsored programs research office.”

Dr. Derek MEYERS

Meyers is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics.

His research project will focus on synthesizing and analyzing artificial crystal structures with behaviors called topological orders.

“Our group specializes in growing crystals one atomic layer at a time, controlling the atoms in each layer, which allows us to create unique materials that do not exist naturally,” Meyers said. “For the NSF project, we are planning to use this technique to create artificial Ruthenium-based crystals that have special properties called topological orders. We will then be using state-of-the-art techniques to measure their behavior.”

Using the NSF dollars, Meyers and his student research team are working toward becoming leaders in nextgeneration electronics and quantum computers.

“I will be developing new courses on topological physics for our students so they can learn about this very new paradigm in physics research, which is being used in areas well beyond the scope of our research,” Meyers said. “We will also be running a summer camp for underrepresented minority middle school students to spend a week in the lab performing the same experiments we do to learn about the scientific process and get hands-on experience. This camp will run each summer for the next five years.”

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT NSF CAREER AWARDS

Dr. Spencer PITRE

Pitre is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry.

His award will fund research on developing cobalt catalysts that generate radicals from nontraditional precursors using visible light irradiation.

“Carbon radicals have become an indispensable tool for the construction of complex organic compounds,” Pitre said. “However, most organic molecules must be preactivated to be effective as radical precursors, adding undesired synthetic steps and creating additional byproducts and chemical waste.

“Inspired by vitamin B12 and its natural reactivity, we are leveraging analogous cobalt complexes to generate carbon radicals from new classes of precursors, avoiding the need for preactivated substrates. These methods rely on visible light photochemistry to mediate radical formation, an emerging synthetic strategy that enables mild reaction conditions.”

Pitre, who mentors several graduate and undergraduate students, said that receiving awards enhances the educational opportunities available to students.

“It means a great deal to be selected for such a prestigious award,” Pitre said. “I’m extremely grateful to be able to receive funding from NSF to help support the wonderful group of students that are part of my lab so that we can continue to pursue our research goals.”

Dr. Michael REICHERT

Reichert is an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology. His grant will fund research on animal behavior.

“An NSF CAREER award is NSF’s most prestigious award in support of early career faculty,” said Dr. Jason Belden, integrative biology department head. “Dr. Reichert has been incredibly successful in the early stages of his career, and this award provides the funding to maintain his research and student training at very high levels.”

Reichert’s project, “The Metabolic Basis of Individual Variation in Behavior,” focuses on energy’s role in fueling the behaviors that impact an animal’s ability to survive and reproduce.

“We are asking the question whether individuals differ in their metabolic rates and whether these are responsible for differences in behavior,” Reichert said. “We are testing this using acoustic mate attraction calling in gray treefrogs because these calls take a huge amount of energy to make, and so it is likely that metabolism and behavior are related.

“We will also look at whether genetic differences between individuals affect their metabolism and behavior and whether these relationships are affected by temperature.”

Dr. Elijah SCHNITZLER

Schnitzler is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry.

His CAREER award will fund his project, “Origin and Evolution of the Light Absorption of Biomass Burning Aerosol.”

Schnitzler’s research aims to increase understanding of how atmospheric aerosols affect air quality and climate, which are “two major public health concerns in the U.S. and around the world,” he said.

“Many of us have seen in pictures or experienced firsthand how these particles reduce visibility during extreme episodes of smog formation in large cities by absorbing or scattering sunlight,” Schnitzler said. “At lower concentrations, these particles may not be visible, but they still interact with solar and terrestrial radiation.

“Furthermore, many of us have experienced being surrounded by water droplets in a ground-level cloud on a foggy day. Every one of these larger droplets formed around an aerosol particle. It is through these interactions with radiation and clouds that atmospheric aerosols influence the radiative balance of Earth.”

NUTRIGENOMICS NURTURING

THE NEXT GEN OF

CHOWANADISAI’S EXPERTISE PRAISED BY COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS ALIKE

As a Carnegie R1 institution, Oklahoma State University continually attracts the best and brightest to contribute to its landgrant mission, expand research efforts across campus, and mentor students at all levels.

Dr. Winyoo Chowanadisai, associate professor in nutritional sciences, exemplifies this commitment with a passion for research and mentorship that translates to his academic and professional endeavors.

Chowanadisai became interested in the emerging area of neuroscience as an undergraduate double-major at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. Although UC did not have a neuroscience major then, he pursued biology and psychology simultaneously, blending methods, research and theory to advance his knowledge in the field.

Understanding the importance of exposure to the research process, Chowanadisai pursued an undergraduate internship with Dr. Bo L ӧnnerdal at the University of California-Davis, studying human milk proteins vital for infant nutrition and development. This experience was transformative.

“I absolutely enjoyed research, and it was a different experience than being in the classroom,” Chowanadisai said. “In many ways, it was a form of active learning, where I could take things I learned in lectures and apply them to my experiments.”

Mentorship in the lab played a crucial role in Chowanadisai quickly changing his trajectory from clinical practice to research. After additional research stints in behavioral neuroscience and clinical psychology, he continued training with L ӧnnerdal, earning his Ph.D. in nutrition while studying mental transporters and brain development.

With his doctorate, Chowanadisai broadened his expertise, alternating between UC-Davis on the West Coast and the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This unique arrangement allowed him to blend nutrition and mitochondrial function studies with cell and developmental biology research, creating a multidisciplinary foundation for his future work.

When it came time for his professional career, Chowanadisai was drawn to OSU, partly due to positive

recommendations from his mentor, Oklahoma City native Dr. Robert Rucker. The diverse research opportunities also appealed to Chowanadisai’s broad interests.

“The Department of Nutritional Sciences at OSU has a wide breadth of research, from animal and plant experiments to human and community nutrition,” Chowanadisai said. “I knew that I would be fortunate to be able to run my lab here and have all sorts of directions available.”

At OSU, Chowanadisai’s lab is focused on nutrigenomics — the study of how nutrients and genes interact to influence human health.

“We are all different people, and we are shaped by our genetics and also by our environment and what we eat,” Chowanadisai said. “Because of that, I would say that nutrigenomics affects everyone.”

The goal of nutrigenomics research is to expand knowledge about the importance of nutrients in the human diet, potentially allowing people to live longer and healthier lives. The field aims to determine the best diet for individuals based on their unique genetic makeup and how it

“TO REFER TO DR. CHOWANADISAI AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MENTOR WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS. HE TRULY CARES FOR MYSELF AND OTHER STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS. THIS RESULTS IN A HOLISTIC GUIDANCE THAT CONSIDERS STUDENTS AS PEOPLE, ACADEMICS AND RESEARCHERS.”

PARKER JOHNSON, PH.D. STUDENT AND RESEARCH ASSISTANT

impacts their food. Such personalized nutrition strategies could revolutionize preventive health care and disease management.

His work landed him recognition as a 2023 President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award recipient, allowing students in his lab to focus on important projects without the extra financial burden.

Chowanadisai’s lab employs a diverse toolkit to tackle complex research questions.

“We use as many tools as we can get our hands on,” he said. “Bioinformatics, data science, cell culture with CRISPR gene editing, PCR and knockout mice models all play crucial roles in our research.”

This multifaceted approach allows the team to investigate various nutrientgene interactions and their effects on health.

Dr. Norm Hord, head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, said Chowanadisai’s work is essential to nutrigenomics research.

“Dr. Chowanadisai’s work is pivotal in our quest to understand the nuanced differences in how essential trace minerals such as manganese, zinc,

iron and copper are metabolized and signal within the body,” Hord said. “His trailblazing research illuminates the intricate interplay between these nutrients and our genes, shaping brain health through dietary factors.”

Hord said the impact of this research could potentially transform medical approaches used in treating neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Chowanadisai recognizes the importance of pursuing his own research while providing research opportunities for undergraduate students. Similar to his own academic experience, he gladly teaches and mentors students who are excited to get their own gloved hands into nutrition, genetics and science research in the lab.

Chowanadisai’s innovative teaching methods, inspired by another mentor, Dr. Brenda Smith, integrate innovative research into the classroom experience. This approach not only keeps the curriculum current but also introduces students to real-world applications of nutritional science, preparing them for future careers in research or clinical practice.

“My undergraduate course uses research articles as assigned readings

instead of textbooks,” Chowanadisai said. “The way I approach teaching is similar to how I think about nutrition research, and my students get a glimpse of that in my classes. The topics covered in my classes often come up in our research discussions and vice versa.”

Parker Johnson, a Ph.D. student and research assistant in Chowanadisai’s lab, attests to the professor’s unique ability to connect concepts.

“Dr. Chowanadisai has a knack for connecting and prompting the application of previously learned concepts,” Johnson said. “Whether you’re a freshman or graduate student, he brings everything full circle, allowing you to incorporate valuable concepts and lines of reasoning.”

Johnson, who focuses on applying bioinformatic approaches and machine learning to large-scale datasets in nutrigenomics, appreciates Chowanadisai’s forward-thinking approach.

“Dr. Chowanadisai has a prospective viewpoint that encourages the accumulation of skills and proficiencies that will propel individuals forward in their career,” Johnson said. “He has helped increase my awareness of the

Dr. Winyoo Chowanadisai uses innovative teaching to introduce students to real-world applications of nutritional science, preparing them for future careers in research or clinical practice.

benefits of data science and analytical skills that will equip me for future success in academia.”

Chowanadisai’s expertise and dedication to helping undergraduates get involved in research has led to external funding through multiple prestigious grant awards from the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health.

The American Heart Association grant supports a collaboration with cardiovascular disease expert and fellow OSU nutritional sciences faculty member Dr. Sam Emerson. It explores how dietary manganese intake may improve cardiovascular health.

“Some people have a genetic polymorphism that results in lower manganese status and probably has an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,” Chowanadisai said. “It is possible that people with this genetic difference could benefit from consuming more foods with manganese.”

The NIH grant focuses on a zinc transporter gene likely crucial for brain development. This study, conducted in collaboration with genetic mouse model experts and OSU nutritional sciences colleagues Drs. Yoo Kim and Dingbo Lin, could provide impactful insights.

“It is possible that people with genetic mutations in this gene may be more likely to have a neurodevelopmental disorder,” Chowanadisai said.

Both grants allow undergraduates to participate in research, giving them vital experience before embarking on their professional journey or further education.

“The ability for undergraduates to participate in research is incredibly meaningful for their futures as they pursue clinical or research-oriented careers after their time in my lab,” Chowanadisai said. “Students will have the opportunity to gain experience in either data science or laboratory research and think about biomedical problems and diseases.”

Hord and Johnson see the direct impact of Chowanadisai’s mentorship efforts across the department.

“It’s encouraging to see Dr. Chowanadisai fostering the next generation of scientists by collaborating

Dr. Winyoo Chowanadisai was a 2023 President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award recipient for his research about the importance of nutrients in the human diet, potentially allowing people to live longer and healthier lives.

with and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in his laboratory’s discovery research,” Hord said.

“To refer to Dr. Chowanadisai as anything other than a mentor would be disingenuous,” Johnson said. “He truly cares for myself and other students as individuals. This results in a holistic guidance that considers students as people, academics and researchers.”

Chowanadisai stresses that research experience is the most important thing for undergraduates interested in science careers. Getting involved with one of the many faculty and research labs on campus conducting cutting-edge research is his No. 1 suggestion for students starting out.

“The No. 1 takeaway from that experience, like all internships, should be whether they want to do that as a career,” Chowanadisai said. “Experiencing the daily life of a potential profession is important for finding out if it is a good fit for each person. Being

able to interact with fellow students and professors closely allows people to ask questions from those folks currently living that life.”

Chowanadisai’s expanding nutrigenomics research at OSU exemplifies the institution’s commitment to innovative science and student mentorship. His collaborative approach is transforming both the field and the career trajectories of OSU graduates.

Johnson has witnessed this impact firsthand.

“Dr. Chowanadisai makes our university and college better through collaboration,” Johnson said. “Despite his extensive merits, he still outsources and collaborates with other researchers, fostering a cooperative environment that will help the College of Education and Human Sciences provide a greater quality of academic products to bring honor and accolade to Oklahoma State University.”

With over 1M acres of grassland burned, cattle ranchers face struggles ahead to find, feed their herds

Strong winds spread the largest wildfire in Texas history across more than 1 million acres of rangeland in the Panhandle, the heart of the state’s cattle-producing region, and into Oklahoma in late February 2024. Light precipitation on Feb. 29 helped firefighters as they tried to contain the Smokehouse Creek Fire and other blazes threatening homes and livestock, but the heat and winds picked up again on March 2. At least two people died and scores of structures, including homes, burned.

Dr. Karen Hickman, a grassland ecologist at Oklahoma State University and president of the Society for Range Management, explained why the fires spread so fast, the risks to livestock and how quickly these ecosystems can recover.

HOW DID THE FIRES SPREAD SO FAR SO QUICKLY?

This region of Texas and Oklahoma is mostly rangeland where cattle graze.

A combination of higher-than-average temperatures and low humidity had dried out the dormant plants. When the winds picked up following a couple of hot, dry days, all it took was a spark to start a wildfire.

The Texas Panhandle is mostly shortgrass prairie species that evolved with fire. But Texas also has Conservation Reserve Program fields planted with perennial species that might be mid- or tall grasses. Those taller grasses have a higher fuel load

that can feed a fire more than the short grass species.

Across the border, that area of Oklahoma is more rugged and has another problem: a lot of eastern red cedar that are native but have expanded as invasive species because of the lack of periodic fire. When mature cedar trees burn, they can send embers flying, increasing the risk to homes and towns. When fires spread that fast, it often means embers are blowing ahead of the actual fire and across any potential firebreaks that exist.

The wind’s shifting direction — it sometimes changed direction two or three times in a day — also made the fire harder to control. Fire crews and ranchers can try to protect the area ahead of the fire, only to see the wind shift and blow the fire in another direction. It’s dangerous to people and livestock, and it makes it hard to stop the fire’s spread.

Dr. Karen Hickman

Over 1 million acres of grassland burned in the Texas Panhandle in late February 2024.

WHAT IS IN THE PATH OF THESE FIRES?

Those lands are either being rested through the dormant season or being grazed by livestock this time of year, and there are new calves, as well. Texas livestock producers have been trying to move their cattle to safety, but in some cases, they had to cut the fences and let the cattle go on their own.

In Oklahoma’s rougher terrain and canyons, it can be even harder to get the cattle out because they go into the canyons to get away from the fierce winds.

For livestock producers, the immediate needs will be saving and then gathering their herds again.

Some herds will die in the fire, and cattle will be injured. Fires like these also burn fences and damage the windmills that power wells, and they can melt plastic water tanks. So, many producers will have to find new sources of both food and water for their animals. Homes are also at risk and several have burned.

The rangelands are dominated by people who are supportive of their neighbors, so typically, the surrounding

counties will offer donations. There are some concerns about hay from areas farther away and the risk of invasive species. The Panhandle saw that with red imported fire ants that arrived in hay bales after fires in 2018. But the immediate concern for ranchers is to provide food and water for their livestock.

HOW QUICKLY CAN THE RANGELAND RECOVER?

The grasses will be able to sprout back and recover fairly quickly. Over winter, they are alive below ground. Only the dead part of the plants above ground burned.

In those systems with perennial plants, once it rains and temperatures rise, the grasses and forbs will sprout back within a few weeks. The plants will recover nicely as long as we’re not in a long-term drought.

The grassland may even see a benefit if the fire removes invasive species like eastern red cedar in Oklahoma. In some areas, people have been hesitant to conduct prescribed fires, and that has led to an overgrowth of woody plants, such as sumac and sand plum. If the fire

clears out some of that overgrowth and the eastern red cedar, the prairie grass and forb species will regenerate in those areas, restoring wildlife habitat.

Where the vegetation burns away, the black surface will increase the soil temperature, activating perennial grasses and promoting resprouting. This speeds up their growth.

These are really resilient ecosystems. But the immediate concern in the coming weeks is for cattle producers to find ways to feed and water their livestock while the rangeland’s native plants regrow.

Dr. Karen Hickman, professor of natural resource ecology and management and director of the environmental science program in the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture, wrote this story in partnership with The Conversation. The Conversation is a nonprofit news outlet dedicated to sharing research from experts like those on our faculty. Read more from OSU faculty by going to okla.st/theconversation

Parts of Oklahoma’s landscape are rugged and covered in invasive eastern red cedar trees. When mature cedar trees burn, they can send embers flying, increasing the risk to homes and towns.

QUENCHING OUR THIRST

CAS FACULTY RESEARCHING WATER, PROVIDING TRAINING TO NOURISH THE WORLD

Water management, access and treatment are key to the work Oklahoma State University’s College of Arts and Sciences’ faculty are doing to ensure communities have the resources to nourish the world for years to come.

OSU’s land-grant mission inspires the work CAS researchers are taking on. With that vision in mind, these individuals use their skills and knowhow to impact society’s sustainability — sometimes in unseen, but no less important, ways.

INVISIBLE WATER SOURCE

Dr. Todd Halihan, a professor and interim head of the Boone Pickens School of Geology, has been conducting water research within the geosciences at OSU since 2000. Halihan’s work centers on Earth’s subsurface, which is then applied to address groundwater issues.

“In the ‘good old days,’ we said, ‘Water comes in and water goes out,’ and we worked with that understanding,” Halihan said. “If you’re really going to understand the subsurface, you need to know where it’s going in, how it’s moving through and how it’s coming out because along the way, the water is going to undergo chemical, biological and physical changes. Sometimes those lead to good outcomes and sometimes bad outcomes.”

Halihan added that the ultimate question he seeks to answer is, “How are we going to provide and manage clean water for 10 billion people?”

In September 2023, Halihan was awarded $2 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to study the use and risks of enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR). Halihan and a team of researchers from OSU, the Oka’ Institute at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, and Texas State University in San Marcos are using EAR to improve groundwater availability and quality.

“We know the aquifer is declining,” Halihan said. “So, we’re looking at developing a system to get more water into it and not have adverse effects while doing so. And then taking it a step further to develop an incentive program of ‘invest this much to get this

much additional water and then we will pay this much’ to rally people around supporting the future of the aquifer.”

Having earned his bachelor’s degree from Monmouth University, a liberal arts college, Halihan learned early on to value collaborations between diverse fields of expertise.

“My work with water has led me to working with other faculty in disciplines you might not expect,” Halihan said. “I’ve worked with history professor Dr. Tonia Sharlach on how the Sumerians used water. I’ve worked with art professor Liz Roth to make cover art for articles, and she has joined me in the Bahamas on geological projects. A land-grant university gives us that opportunity to think about getting involved and trying to change the outcome.”

CONTAMINANTS AND PURIFICATION

Dr. Sabrina Beckmann, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, is addressing the need for clean water for household use and irrigation. She is working on projects that directly impact Earth’s water supply quality.

“Our lab studies microorganisms in anaerobic groundwater habitats for enhanced groundwater supply and health,” Beckmann said. “Most of these microbes don’t breathe oxygen as we do, but they can breathe a wide range of other electron acceptors like sulfate and nitrate, contaminants which are chlorinated compounds, or climateactive gases like CO2 and isoprene.”

In conjunction with Halihan, Beckmann is working to understand the impacts of EAR by studying microbes in the water within the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer in southcentral Oklahoma. The Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer provides public water for municipalities and agricultural or industrial needs.

“The Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer is the primary — and often only — water source for at least 150,000 people,” Beckmann said. “We are analyzing the groundwater before and after implementing the EAR structures to prohibit and/or eliminate the inflow of microbes that cause a potential threat

Drs. Sabrina Beckmann, Todd Halihan and Caitlin Barnes are among many CAS faculty working to improve and sustain the future of groundwater and groundwater careers.

to public health. A novel electrode monitoring system will tell us exactly what microbes are active and in what quantities in the groundwater.”

Beckmann said not all bacteria are harmful and that most bacteria can help prevent pathogenic bacteria from forming.

“If the bad guys take over, we can switch the buttons at the electrodes to eliminate them and make the good ones return,” Beckmann said. “We are developing guidance tools for the characterization and monitoring of these EAR structures with the overall goal of presenting a cohesive, comprehensive and accessible framework to assist water planners in determining the feasibility of costeffective EAR structures for their scenarios elsewhere.”

In the pursuit of clean water, Beckmann has also been working on sites with groundwater contaminated with hazardous halogenated compounds. Her goal is to use the good bacteria as probiotics for the groundwater to wipe out the compounds.

“If these specific bacteria are absent in the groundwater, we must search for them elsewhere, such as in different contaminated soil habitats, pristine river sediments, or even deep-sea oceans where trace concentrations of these compounds naturally exist,” Beckmann said. “Once we find promising bacterial candidates, we must understand their physiological needs and determine how to isolate and grow them in the lab, mimicking their future home — the contaminated aquifer.”

Once the perfect probiotic is found, harvested and grown in the lab, Beckmann and her team use the bioaugmentation process to pump the bacteria into the aquifer, where they will take over and eliminate hazardous compounds.

“Our lab specializes in growing microbes that live without oxygen, called anaerobes,” Beckmann said. “In this case, the bacteria breathe the chlorinated compounds instead of oxygen and dehalogenate them for example to ethene, which is nonhazardous for us.”

USING A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Dr. Thomas LaVanchy, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, is using his research to address global concerns both in the classroom, where he teaches about sustainability and water resources, and abroad, where he works to find adequate water across nations.

“The road to meeting global food needs is a shared path through water and water management,” LaVanchy said. “To solve the global food problem, it takes more food, and the water footprint to fill that growing demand is a growing challenge.”

LaVanchy has traveled to locations including Cape Town, South Africa, and Ghana to explore climate change’s impacts on agriculture and the sustainability of access to water as a resource.

“What a farmer could typically do to sustain their industry is changing,” LaVanchy said. “Now, they are needing to irrigate, and as priorities from competing industries are shifting,

Dr. Thomas LaVanchy conducts geophysical surveying in Malawi.

we’re looking at supply issues and then the social aspect of who is sharing the burden of getting that water.”

LaVanchy said in 2018, Cape Town almost ran out of water. He was interested in helping residents be proactive to avoid future crises.

“Something cities sometimes struggle with is the waste from unhoused populations making its way to the water source,” LaVanchy said. “We’re working with populations to use nature-based solutions to clean the water and keep it clean enough to support drinking water and watering crops.”

As an instructor, LaVanchy said he aspires to help his students see the bigger picture in the world.

“Solving water problems is inherently inter- and transdisciplinary,” LaVanchy said. “CAS offers a variety of perspectives that can be partnered to solve these wicked problems.”

Groundwater research at OSU spans several disciplines. Faculty and staff from CAS Outreach, geology, microbiology and molecular genetics and geography are involved in expanding our knowledge of and access to groundwater.

ACCESSING THE FUTURE

The water below the surface is useless unless trained professionals can access it safely. CAS Outreach is leading the way in workforce development with courses and training materials to prepare future generations of groundwater professionals.

“There are several different positions within the groundwater industry that are needed to get the water to our faucets,” said Dr. Caitlin Barnes, director of CAS Outreach. “The more involved I got in conversations about the industry, the more I came to realize people don’t really even know this industry exists.”

Compounding this lack of awareness is the Department of Labor Statistics’ estimate that 130,000 geoscience positions will need to be filled by 2029. Amidst the shortage of workers, the industry is expected to also grow by 5% by 2031.

In response to these issues — and knowing the resources available at OSU — groundwater industry leaders approached CAS about building selfpaced courses taught by subject matter experts designed to prepare individuals

with varying experience levels to join the groundwater workforce. Barnes worked with Halihan in the Boone Pickens School of Geology, her CAS Outreach colleagues and the National Ground Water Association to head up NGWA University Powered by OSU. Now in its fifth year, NGWAU has provided training to people in 24 states and six countries.

Complementing the NGWAU workforce development program is Awesome Aquifer 360, a K-12 outreach program aimed at instilling an interest in earth sciences in the classroom. It has reached 387 schools, 42 states and more than 40,000 students.

“If we don’t have people filling these positions, we’re going to lose a foundational infrastructure across the nation that helps us access clean water,” Barnes said. “We’ve been accessing water for a very long time, and it is shocking that we could lose that knowledge because no one is paying attention to how we get water from point A to point B.”

To bring focus to groundwater’s essential role in providing clean water to communities, Barnes and her team launched a national public awareness

FROM DREAMS TO REALITY

OSU College of Arts and Sciences alumna Lily Chavez has raised over $60,000 for her nonprofit, Wishes for Water, which she started at OSU. The organization has funded the drilling of three boreholes at Chivakanenyama Primary School in Zimbabwe and fenced in five acres of land for school gardens, complete with a new irrigation system.

campaign in February. The centerpiece PSA, which begins with a medical professional turning on the tap to find dirty water pouring out, has reached 56 million people in 46 states and 27 countries, airing on networks like CNN, HGTV, TNT and Discovery.

“It was important to convey that you don’t have a medical industry — you don’t have anything — without clean water,” Barnes said. “It has been exciting to hear from people who have seen the PSA organically and to see that they really are absorbing the message. People who are watching this can make an impact by telling their friends and creating that chain of awareness.”

Learn more about groundwater at OSU by visiting groundwater.okstate.edu.

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True Engineering Pioneer

Singh garners national recognition for groundbreaking career

ARegents Professor at Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Dr. Raj Singh’s continued dedication and advancements to the field of materials science engineering were greatly acknowledged this year.

Singh received the American Ceramic Society’s 2023 Rishi Raj Medal for Innovation and Commercialization in Ceramics. He was elected to the rank of American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow and became a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Singh’s groundbreaking invention and his incredible talent for inventing new materials and their innovative processing led to his election as a member of the NAE.

“It is most exciting and professionally satisfying to be elected as a member of the NAE,” Singh said. “It is the highest distinction and recognition that an

engineer can achieve and is recognized as such worldwide.”

The NAE is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation and is comprised of over 2,000 members who are among the world’s most accomplished engineers. Members are peer-elected and include international, senior professionals in business, academic and government officials. The NAE provides leadership and expertise for numerous projects focused on the relationships between engineering, technology and quality of life.

Singh, a world expert on ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), has demonstrated an innate ability to invent new materials and their novel processing. He has made seminal and transformative scientific and technological contributions to the field of CMCs and their applications in jet engines — a true pioneer.

ADVANCING SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

His trailblazing work on meltinfiltration (MI) process technology for making fully dense, net-shape and damage-tolerant silicon carbide fiberreinforced CMCs has been an industry game-changer.

This unique and inherently simple MI process has led to its widespread use and commercialization by GE-Aviation since 2016. It has accumulated over 20 million flight hours in Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion engines for Airbus, Boeing 737 and 777, and COMAC aircraft.

Singh’s inventions have not only helped reduce weight and enhance engine efficiency but also offer societal benefits through reduced CO2/NOx emissions, creating multibillion-dollar businesses in the process.

“His technologies, wrought from a creative and meticulous research, have been adopted in commercial products

Dr. Raj Singh works with then-graduate student Dr. Disma Samarkoon who graduated with a Ph.D. degree from the OSU School of Materials Science and Engineering and is currently employed at Nordam in Tulsa.

“I want to encourage students in the engineering field to be curious, persevering, creative, inventive and passionate about their field.”

DR. RAJ SINGH, REGENTS PROFESSOR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

that are used in vehicles from NASA, Boeing, Airbus, and the Japanese and U.S. governments,” said Dr. Jim Smay, professor and head for the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

“His depth and breadth of impact is unparalleled on the OSU-Tulsa campus.”

Dr. John Veenstra, previous interim dean of CEAT, said Singh’s election to NAE is among the highest recognitions an engineer can receive.

“It is a clear recognition by his peers of his significant contributions to the profession,” Veenstra said. “He is a tremendous asset to CEAT and reflects the quality of CEAT faculty by having such a preeminent scholar in its ranks. A career of demonstrated sustained excellence is the hallmark of NAE members, and Dr. Singh’s academic record is unmistakable evidence of this trait.”

LASTING IMPACT

Singh said the best part of his job is to help educate the best possible engineers and impart his knowledge of the discipline of materials science and engineering.

“I want to encourage students in the engineering field to be curious, persevering, creative, inventive and passionate about their field,” he said. “Ultimately, use your knowledge and skills to create new materials and products to benefit society, the nation and the world. Never forget to be curious and inventive. It should be a lifelong pursuit.”

Singh has made tremendous scientific and technological contributions through his 350 research articles, 27 granted patents and books in the fields of CMCs, diamond films, boron nitride nanotubes, electrolyte retainer for molten carbonate fuel cell, electrolyte for Na-S batteries, self-healing glass seals and electrolyte and electrodes for solid oxide fuel cell and ferroelectric ceramics displaying large (0.8%) strain.

Smay notes that it is difficult to count all of the impacts that Singh’s research has had but said that his work in the field

puts him at the top of both the academic/ basic science wing of materials science through the significant contributions they have made to commercial applications.

“Singh was the founding department head of MSE at OSU-Tulsa and built the department to the point where it now performs over $1 million per year at the Helmerich Research Center,” Smay said. “He has collaborators all over the world, and his graduates have carried his legacy throughout academia and industry.”

TRUSTING THEIR GUTS TRUSTING THEIR GUTS

OSU’s

germ-free mice research identifies new generation probiotics, trains next generation of scientists

While some people perceive mice as pests to be eradicated and others see them as cute and cuddly symbols of Disney magic, Dr. Joy Scaria sees something entirely different.

At the forefront of microbiome research as Oklahoma State University’s Walter R. Sitlington Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases, Scaria views germ-free and humanized mice as innovative tools to enhance human health, opening doors to groundbreaking medical advancements.

When it comes to research funding, prestigious National Institutes of Health grants are highly competitive. Universities such as OSU vie for these grants alongside large medical schools like Harvard, Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University. Competitive applications for grant funding showcase a combination of innovative instruments and expertise to demonstrate the future of science.

At OSU, Scaria’s lab is trying to understand how a gut microbiome host interaction shapes health and disease. He uses germ-free mice to understand the fundamental makeup of the healthy microbiome to devise better therapeutics.

Conventional mice harbor other bacteria or species that make it difficult to clearly know whether the effect is because of the resident species or the one added. Germ-free mice provide a clean slate to conduct studies without resident species and show the cause conclusively.

OSU’s facility is unique because it has germ-free mice and microbial culturomics expertise — it’s rare for universities to have both.

“Our expertise and tools also allow transdisciplinary studies with other disciplines to use these kinds of tools and ask questions otherwise not possible by a group alone,” Scaria said. “I’m hoping that other faculty at OSU and in the region would benefit from the full spectrum tool set that we have established.”

Gut bacteria exist in unequal proportions and many studies focus on understanding the role of microbes high in abundance. Scaria’s team believes for the ecosystem to work properly, the

roles of both high- and low-abundance bacteria are essential.

Using unconventional methods, Scaria’s team cultured extremely lowabundant bacteria and studied if they could substitute functions of higher abundant species when they are lost.

For example, if only one species had a particular metabolism in the gut and that species was lost, would that function be lost?

“Insurance hypothesis says we keep multiple species in our gut as a backup to prevent loss of function,” Scaria said. “If one species is dormant or one is lost, we have a spare one who can take over and then do it.”

These anaerobic microbes need to be cultivated using microbial culturomics — utilizing techniques to isolate and identify microorganisms not easily cultured using traditional methods.

One of Scaria’s studies, recently accepted in Gut Microbes, a prestigious journal in the microbiome field, would not have been possible without the germ-free and humanized mice as tools.

Achuthan Ambat was a Ph.D. and postdoctoral student in Scaria’s lab and the lead author on this study. He and Scaria looked at the role of lowabundant bacteria in producing shortchain fatty acids. These small molecules, secreted by gut bacteria when they ferment fiber, are then absorbed and form approximately 15% of the energy of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as

One of Scaria’s studies, recently accepted in Gut Microbes, a prestigious journal in the microbiome field, would not have been possible without the germfree and humanized mice as tools.

stimulate immune cells and a host of other functions.

The team designed an experiment that isolated low-abundant, short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria from a healthy human gut and tested its effect on host health using germ-free and human microbiota-associated colitis mouse models.

They hypothesized that lowabundant, short-chain fatty acidproducing bacteria could reestablish the normal state of microbiome and reduce the severity of colitis.

These bacteria prevent the loss of function when the high-abundant bacteria-producing butyrate is lost.

“We are one of the groups that, for the first time, is showing that extremely low-abundant bacteria can reduce diseases like colitis and then mechanistically showing that extremely low numbers of those species do have function and they can serve as a backup of the other species when they are lost,” Scaria said.

The same concept now probably applies to other diseases or healthy states and will continue to do so.

Moving forward, to be competitive in the NIH grant application space, using tools like germ-free mice is becoming a requirement.

Scaria has one NIH grant where the germ-free mouse model is a component. This study was used for preliminary data. Since then, they have clearly shown that low-abundant bacteria are important for overall ecosystem function and disease prevention. This leads to the possibility of developing low-abundant bacteria as newgeneration probiotics to prevent diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. They plan to submit a new NIH application based on the results to continue research in this area.

Research in Scaria’s lab is a collaborative effort between postdoctoral and graduate students. Some individuals specialize in maintaining the germ-free mice and doing mice experimentation. Then, there are others who specialize in bioinformatics or culturomics.

“In terms of OSU, as a university, it’s our mission to train the next generation in modern techniques,” Scaria said.

“We are one of the groups that, for the first time, is showing that extremely low-abundant bacteria can reduce diseases like colitis and then mechanistically showing that extremely low numbers of those species do have function and they can serve as a backup of the other species when they are lost.”

Dr. Joy Scaria, Associate professor of Veterinary Pathobiology

Research in Scaria’s lab is a collaborative effort between postdoctoral and graduate students.

And that’s exactly what he does.

Culturomics is critical for functional studies in mice models and therapeutic developments. Still, since it’s such a new microbiology science, expertise is limited making that skill high in demand in academia and industry.

Scaria mastered the technique and created a culture library with approximately 120 species — one of the largest in the country — and trains his students to be critical assets to this area of research at major medical schools.

With a background in microbiology, Prabhjot Sekhon joined Scaria’s lab in 2020, where she first encountered working with gut microbes that require anaerobic conditions. She learned about the varying nutrient requirements of bacteria and how to prepare specialized media to meet these needs.

In March 2024, Sekhon left OSU to join the Mayo Clinic, where she will establish the media preparation process for culturomics. Given the Mayo Clinic’s high volume of patient samples and the need to isolate and compare specific bacteria, Sekhon’s expertise is crucial.

Going from OSU to one of the leading medical institutions in the world is like a dream come true for Sekhon, a dream she hopes other students chase.

As a first-generation student, Ambat grew up in rural India where he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at the Amrita School of Biotechnology, which is where he connected with Scaria.

For four years with Scaria, Ambat trained to maintain and breed germfree mice, worked with other germfree models and collaborated with prestigious research institutions like Stanford and the Mayo Clinic.

It’s critical for germ-free facilities to have personnel who can properly maintain germ-free mice and breed them to establish a colony. Many labs that do germ-free studies buy germ-free mice from commercial vendors for each project.

“That’s exactly where Joy’s lab is peculiar,” Ambat said. “He usually buys the initial parent, but apart from that, everything is bred inside, which means all the germ-free mice we get are from in-house breeding.”

The germ-free techniques Scaria taught Ambat made him an invaluable asset to microbiome research, leading principal investigators at Stanford to invite him to join their research group. Now a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, Ambat acknowledges that

his journey from a state school to such a prestigious university was rare but not impossible.

“I never thought I would end up in Stanford or get an offer from Cambridge,” Ambat said. “Seriously, I didn’t have any hopes for that. I was just going with the flow ... The time I spent in Joy’s lab, he never had any restrictions on me. He was very open to me exploring anything I wanted. He was also very supportive in giving constructive criticisms in whatever work I was doing, which eventually ended me becoming a good scientist and getting a position at Stanford.”

This all goes to show not only is Scaria shaping the future of medical research and therapy development through his research but also by training the next generation of scientists and fostering a culture of innovation.

What some might dismiss as a small rodent, Scaria demonstrates, is a crucial component in groundbreaking research advancements.

Just like Disney World, Scaria’s lab is a place “Where Dreams Come True.”

Dr. Joy Scaria’s students are taught culturomics techinques and how to properly handle germ-free mice, making them critical assets to major biomedical research institutions when they graduate.

VIRAL

VET MED ACKNOWLEDGED FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT IN COVID RESEARCH

In the past 10 years, only 11 Oklahoma State University researchers have had their research published in the prestigious journal, Science

The most recent, and the first in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s history, is Dr. Xufang Deng, assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences.

Deng has been studying coronaviruses for nearly 13 years. He began studying them while completing his postdoctoral training at Loyola University Medical School in Chicago. During this time, there was an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It was first identified in Saudi Arabia and quickly spread across the Middle East and eventually into Africa and South Asia. Although it never escalated to a pandemic, many lives were lost amidst the outbreak.

This inspired Deng to dedicate his studies to coronaviruses.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause diseases ranging from the common cold to COVID-19. They are also zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from animals to humans. This family of viruses commonly affects the respiratory system, but can also affect other parts of the body as well, particularly the gastrointestinal tract.

Deng’s research interests include understanding the molecular details of coronaviruses that cause diseases and developing antiviral interventions to prevent or treat those diseases.

At the start of the pandemic, Deng began studying SARS-CoV-2. While the pandemic has largely faded from public

attention, the virus continues to spread, mutate and cause both acute illness and long-term COVID. Only a few antiviral drugs are available, and each have different limitations: some are not available to patients with underlying conditions, and some have drug-to-drug interaction risks. Additionally, multiple antiviral options are needed to reduce the risk of selecting drug-resistant variants.

Deng and his team of researchers sought to develop an additional treatment option. The two essential proteases, or enzymes, that facilitate replication of SARS-CoV-2 are Mpro and PLpro. Mpro is the main protease and the primary target of drugs that are currently being used clinically. PLpro is a viral papain-like protease that all coronaviruses have and is required for the virus to spread. Its commonality among coronaviruses leads many researchers to pursue this target despite it being challenging.

In this study, Deng and his collaborators at Rutgers University designed and synthesized 85 noncovalent PLpro inhibitors that bind to a recently discovered binding site. From the group, they found one in vivo lead Jun12682 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. In a SARS-CoV-2 mouse model, oral treatments with Jun12682 improved mouse survival and reduced viral loads and lesions in the lungs. This success suggests PLpro inhibitors are promising options for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drugs.

“I hope that our PLpro inhibitor will eventually become a widely available treatment option for the general population,” Deng said. “It could serve as an alternative to current drugs or be used in combination therapy to reduce side effects and the risk of drug resistance.”

Developing alternative drug options is essential in preventing resistance from developing.

“Our published drug is the first in its class to show antiviral efficacy in vivo, which is a milestone for PLpro inhibitor research,” Deng said.

Deng’s lab continues to make improvements to the drug, including reducing dosage to minimize side effects, adjusting dosing frequency and

expanding the dosing window to allow for delayed treatment.

“Our goal is to develop a safe and effective drug that can be taken orally, even when individuals feel sick enough to realize they need medication,” Deng said.

Deng said they are also researching broad-spectrum PLpro inhibitors capable of blocking a range of zoonotic coronaviruses with pandemic potential. Additionally, they are exploring combination therapy with other drugs and studying viral drug resistance, which is a crucial step for designing future inhibitors.

Deng’s study, titled “Design of a SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitor with antiviral efficacy in a mouse model,” was published in the journal, Science, earlier this year.

Research is a continuous and challenging process. Deng said being published in Science validates all the hard work and dedication that went into his studies.

“The most exciting aspect for a scientist is the realization that their efforts and passion have made a tangible impact on advancing science and benefiting humanity,” Deng said.

Deng said results such as this are why he is a researcher.

“I love science and enjoy doing research,” Deng said. “When my research becomes more impactful and drives the science forward — that’s my dream.”

Deng said that when science moves forward and leads to better options for treating and helping people, it further validates why he enjoys being involved.

This study also demonstrates a collaborative effort across the OSU campus and at other universities. Other researchers from the CVM, such as Dr. Alex Ford, assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology, and members of the immunopathology core of the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases were involved.

“Without multidisciplinary collaboration and strong support from the OSU research infrastructure, achieving this milestone would not have been possible,” Deng said.

This is a considerable step in COVID-19 research and an important part of the One Health mission.

“Dr. Deng is an incredible asset to our college and the One Health mission,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, College of Veterinary Medicine dean. “He

Coronaviruses exemplify the One Health concept because they affect humans and animals, according to coronavirologists.

“THE MOST EXCITING ASPECT FOR A SCIENTIST IS THE REALIZATION THAT THEIR EFFORTS AND PASSION HAVE MADE A TANGIBLE IMPACT ON ADVANCING SCIENCE AND BENEFITING HUMANITY.”

DR. XUFANG DENG ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

continues to make advancements that positively contribute to treating and solving prevalent human and animal health issues.”

Deng said from the perspective of a coronavirologist, coronavirus diseases exemplify the One Health concept because they are ubiquitous in nature and affect domestic and wild animals as well as humans. These viruses’ pervasive presence demonstrates the need for collaborative efforts across disciplines to understand and mitigate the spread of disease.

“With increasing humanenvironment interaction, the risk of cross-species transmission has significantly risen,” Deng said. “It is imperative to study coronaviruses using the One Health approach to comprehend virus transmission, disease biology and develop interventions tailored to each aspect of the One Health concept.”

Deng’s lab will continue to collaborate with partners across campus and at other universities to develop treatments, vaccines and solve issues related to human, animal and environmental health.

“We are immensely proud of Dr. Deng and Dr. Ford’s publication in Science,” Risco said. “This achievement represents a culmination of hard work and dedication to bettering the lives of people, animals and the planet.”

Electric air taxis are on the way

– quiet eVTOLs may be flying passengers as early as 2025

Imagine a future with nearly silent air taxis flying above traffic jams and navigating between skyscrapers and suburban droneports. Transportation arrives at the touch of your smartphone and with minimal environmental impact.

This isn’t just science fiction. United Airlines has plans for these futuristic electric air taxis in Chicago and New York. The U.S. military is already experimenting with them. And one company has a contract to launch an air taxi service in Dubai as early as 2025.

Backed by billions of dollars in venture capital and established aerospace giants that include Boeing and Airbus, startups across the world such as Joby, Archer, Wisk and Lilium are spearheading this technological revolution, developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that could transform the way we travel.

Electric aviation promises to alleviate urban congestion, open up rural

areas to emergency deliveries, slash carbon emissions and offer a quieter, more accessible form of short-distance air travel.

But the quest to make these electric aircraft ubiquitous across the globe instead of just playthings for the rich is far from a given.

Following the industry as executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education provides a view of the state of the industry. Like all great promised paradigm shifts, numerous challenges

loom — technical hurdles, regulatory mazes, the crucial battle for public acceptance and perhaps physics itself.

WHY ELECTRIFY AVIATION?

Fixed somewhere between George Jetson’s flying car and the gritty taxi from “The Fifth Element,” the allure of electric aviation extends beyond geewhiz novelty. It is rooted in its potential to offer efficient, eco-friendly alternatives to ground transportation, particularly in congested cities or hard-to-reach rural regions.

While small electric planes are already flying in a few countries, eVTOLs are designed for shorter hops — the kind a helicopter might make today, only more cheaply and with less impact on the environment. The eVTOL maker Joby purchased Uber Air to someday pair the company’s air taxis with Uber’s ridehailing technology.

In the near term, once eVTOLs are certified to fly as commercial operations,

Dr. Jamey Jacob

Joby, on the helipad, and Volocopter, in the air, demonstrated their eVTOLs in New York in November 2023. Volocopter hopes to fly passengers over Paris during the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December.

they are likely to serve specific, highdemand routes that bypass road traffic. An example is United Airlines’ plan to test Archer’s eVTOLs on short hops from Chicago to O’Hare International Airport and Manhattan to Newark Liberty International Airport.

While some applications initially might be restricted to military or emergency use, the goal of the industry is widespread civil adoption, marking a significant step toward a future of cleaner urban mobility.

THE CHALLENGE OF BATTERY PHYSICS

One of the most significant technical challenges facing electric air taxis is the limitations of current battery technology.

Today’s batteries have made significant advances in the past decade, but they don’t match the energy density of traditional hydrocarbon fuels currently used in aircraft. This shortcoming means that electric air taxis cannot yet achieve the same range as their fossil-fueled counterparts, limiting their operational scope and viability for long-haul flights. Current capabilities still fall short of traditional transportation. However, with ranges from dozens of miles to over 100 miles, eVTOL batteries provide sufficient range for intracity hops.

The quest for batteries that offer higher energy densities, faster charging times and longer life cycles is central to unlocking the full potential of electric aviation.

While researchers are working to close this gap, hydrogen presents a promising alternative, boasting a higher energy density and emitting only water vapor. However, hydrogen’s potential is tempered by significant hurdles related to safe storage and infrastructure capable of supporting hydrogen-fueled aviation. That presents a complex and expensive logistics challenge.

And, of course, there’s the specter of the last major hydrogen-powered aircraft. The Hindenburg airship caught fire in 1937, but it still looms large in the minds of many Americans.

REGULATORY HURDLES

Establishing a “4D highways in the sky” will require comprehensive rules that encompass everything from vehicle safety to air traffic management. For the

time being, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring that air taxis include pilots serving in a traditional role. This underscores the transitional phase of integrating these vehicles into airspace, highlighting the gap between current capabilities and the vision of fully autonomous flights.

The journey toward autonomous urban air travel is fraught with more complexities, including the establishment of standards for vehicle operation, pilot certification and air traffic control. While eVTOLs have flown hundreds of test flights, there have also been safety concerns after prominent crashes involving propeller blades failing on one in 2022 and the crash of another in 2023. Both were being flown remotely at the time.

The question of who will manage these new airways remains an open discussion — national aviation authorities such as the FAA, state agencies, local municipalities or some combination thereof.

CREATING THE FUTURE

In the long term, the vision for electric air taxis aligns with a future where autonomous vehicles ply the urban skies, akin to scenes from “Back to the Future.” This future, however, not only requires

technological leaps in automation and battery efficiency but also a societal shift in how people perceive and accept the role of autonomous vehicles, both cars and aircraft, in their daily lives. Safety is still an issue with autonomous vehicles on the ground.

The successful integration of electric air taxis into urban and rural environments hinges on their ability to offer safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation.

As these vehicles overcome the industry’s many hurdles, and regulations evolve to support their operation in the years ahead, I believe we could witness a profound transformation in air mobility. The skies offer a new layer of connectivity, reshaping cities and how we navigate them.

Dr. Jamey Jacob — professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, John Hendrix Chair and Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education director — wrote this story in partnership with The Conversation. The Conversation is a nonprofit news outlet dedicated to sharing research from experts like those on our faculty. Read more from OSU faculty by going to okla. st/theconversation.

The cockpit of an Archer Aviation eVTOL at the 2023 Dubai Airshow shows the hand controls.

A Lasting Impact

Firefighter Mental Health Research receives new OSU Public Impact Research Award

Based on their research on first responders and their workrelated stressors, Dr. Lindsey Greco from the Spears School of Business and her co-PI, Dr. Dale Li from Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, were named the recipients of OSU’s Public Impact Research Award. Their research project focused on better understanding how first responders cope with stress.

“I am deeply honored to have received OSU’s Public Impact Research Award,” Greco said. “This recognition serves

as a testament to the dedication and commitment of our entire team and reaffirms our shared mission to make a positive impact on those who give so much to our society by working as first responders.”

The team’s research began in 2020 and involved working with multiple fire

departments to determine the impact the department’s culture was having on mental health and stress and identifying ways to alleviate that.

“A former undergraduate student, who was a fire captain, reported in his milestone course paper that the masculine culture and several

STORY HARRISON HILL | PHOTOS ADAM LUTHER, GARY LAWSON AND PHIL SHOCKLEY

Dr. Lindsey Greco

Dr. Dale Li

other toxic traditions in firehouses could do more harm than benefit to the mental health of firefighters,” Li said. “As 100% scholars who have never fought a fire, it can be very difficult for the entire research team (David Huntsman, Greco, and I) to fully understand the challenges and struggles faced by those in the line of duty as well as those in leadership positions throughout the departments.”

However, through engaging with the people facing the issues directly, the researchers were able to identify issues and present solutions. The impact of their research is clear, as the team has already seen organizations make direct changes to budgets, adjustments to department structure and increases in attention to mental health initiatives. In addition, the research team presented at many conferences across the nation

to disseminate their findings to other departments.

“Their research initiatives have created positive change for the firefighting community,” wrote Jeff Matthews, Battalion Chief of the Charlotte, North Carolina, Fire Department Health and Safety Division, in a letter of support. “Their research outcomes have directly benefited the department and also have implications for firefighters and other first responder organizations across the country.”

Given by the OSU Vice President for Research, the award recognizes research efforts that have demonstrated exceptional performance in the potential for public impact and community involvement.

“The OSU research enterprise is 100% committed to solving problems that matter to society,” said Dr. Kenneth

Sewell, OSU vice president for research. “Our Public Impact Research Award was designed to celebrate the OSU research projects and people who best exemplify that spirit of engagement and real-world solution-creation.”

Greco and Li each received $500 in professional development funds and a plaque which was presented at the university’s Awards Convocation.

They were also OSU’s nominees for the National Association of Public and Land-Grand Universities Public Impact Research Award.

“It is a privilege to be recognized for our work, and we look forward to continuing with research that supports the pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of our society,” Greco said.

Thinking Bigger

Teckemeyer produces 200% enlargement of sculpture using HAD grant, 3D printing technology

Jessica Teckemeyer, associate professor of sculpture in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History, commissioned a 200% bronze enlargement of her sculpture “Fox or Foe” using a Humanities-, Artsand Design-Based Disciplines Research Grant.

“The sculpture ‘Fox or Foe’ is about the moments when we feel vulnerable and overcome those insecurities by adopting a more powerful persona,” Teckemeyer said. “My sly fox has morphed into a warrior. Combining two species aims to provoke contemplation about how the prey has transformed into its predator.”

HAD Research Grants are funded through OSU’s Division of the Vice President for Research and are granted to advance research initiatives in creative realms.

“Creative scholarship is integral to OSU’s land-grant mission,” said Dr. Christine Johnson, associate vice president for research. “It promotes ingenuity, expression of thought, cultural preservation and community engagement.”

Before working with HAD grant funds, Teckemeyer researched the best approach for increasing the size of her sculpture with a Research Jumpstart/ Accelerator Grant. She utilized 3D printing and scanning technology with

three companies that began working on scans of the piece.

“It became apparent that the MetraSCAN 3D optical CMM scanner by Creaform provided the most accurate digital file,” Teckemeyer said. “I learned new skills in Blender software to refine digital anomalies and enlarged a small section of the scan to print at various enlarged sizes ranging from 150% to 1,000% to see how the surface translated.”

Once the best scan and size were selected, the sculpture was printed in five different materials to test burnout. From there, molds were created and burned out in a furnace to clear the 3D-printed forms.

“Fox or Foe” VoxelJet 3D print for the bronze 200% enlargement, courtesy of Pyrology Foundry in Bastrop, Texas.

“For the 200% enlargement, the multiple-part model was printed in a 3D Voxel Jet printer,” Teckemeyer said. “The vacated molds allowed for molten bronze to fill the cavities. Bronze is the most durable and desirable material for public art because it can last hundreds of years.”

While working on the enlargement, Teckemeyer had the opportunity to make a 75% version of the piece. The smaller piece was exhibited at the Eisele Gallery in Cincinnati and the Arc Gallery in San Francisco.

“I divided a 75% version of ‘Fox or Foe’ into seven parts to print on four Prusa MK3S+ extrusion printers,” Teckemeyer said. “An advantage of the reduced scale is the smaller shipping container, which significantly cuts shipping costs. Ultimately, creating replicas allows the sculpture to be sold to more collectors at a lower price than the original hand-modeled sculpture.”

Teckemeyer said she hopes to exhibit the piece in temporary public art exhibitions with the long-term objective of having her sculpture included in a public art collection or a museum sculpture garden.

“Public art is a dynamic, evolving field that plays a pivotal role in society, contributing significantly to communities’ cultural, social and economic well-being,” Teckemeyer said. “My goal is to reach a broader audience with my art to engage in dialogue about building inclusive communities that support all citizens with dignity.”

Teckemeyer said she chose “Fox or Foe” for enlargement because it appeals to all ages.

“My conversations with people about the work have ranged from their personal stories to how it can be an icon for triumph for the underdog,” Teckemeyer said. “Through translating human experience into animal forms, I aim to provide viewers with alternate perspectives. Animals hold symbolic meanings and universal appeal, serving as compelling storytelling characters that resonate with people.”

In the classroom, Teckemeyer teaches 3D design, sculpture I, sculpture II and sculpture studio courses. She hopes to impart new

The final bronze enlargement of “Fox or Foe.”

knowledge to her students from her experience working on this project.

“I teach my students technical skillsets from 3D modeling and printing, the bronze process and how to develop conceptually and creatively,” Teckemeyer said. “I am connecting students with the business aspects of being a professional artist and the knowledge I have gained along the way in leveraging technology to increase productivity as an artist.”

Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History head Chris Whittey said that Teckemeyer’s work with HAD grant funds promotes the importance of creative research and calls attention to the work being done by faculty and their students.

“I like to think that the arts help expand and perhaps redefine what research is — or what research can be — and a vibrant studio practice

like Teckemeyer’s serves to promote OSU as a leading institution in the dedication to and support of creative practices,” Whittey said.

“Her work is exhibited in highly selective venues and regularly receives top honors which, of course, draws attention to the artist and her work, but this visibility also casts a most favorable light on the kinds of research we advance at OSU.”

Scan to watch this episode of Research on Tap to learn more about Teckemeyer’s work.

Building a Legacy

Mullins reflects on a lifetime of advancements in pediatric psychology

After decades of researching solutions for families of children with chronic illnesses, Dr. Larry Mullins is now entering the unknown: retirement.

A career psychologist, Mullins has led the Oklahoma State University Center for Pediatric Psychology since its inception in 2018.

Growing up, Mullins always knew he would become a psychologist. His father, J. Dale Mullins, was the dean of the College of Education at the University of Central Oklahoma, allowing Mullins to meet and learn from many psychologists at a young age.

A native Oklahoman, Mullins earned his Bachelor of Arts from OSU in 1977 before moving to Columbia, Missouri, where he began to work

toward his combined master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology. Once he got to the University of Missouri, he began work quickly and found a mentor in the field he had long aspired to.

“I wanted to work with somebody who worked with kids and families. My first advisor, Larry Siegel, was one of the original pediatric psychologists in the country,” Mullins said. “At the time, there were probably less than two dozen folks who had a training background in clinical psychology, with their focus on working with kids with chronic health conditions. He was the one that first introduced me to this sub-specialization called pediatric psychology.”

Mullins would wake up on cold winter mornings in Columbia before the sunrise and drive

Dr. Larry Mullins receives the Eminent Faculty Award from President Kayse Shrum in 2021.

“I did everything from work with children on the burn unit, helping kids cope with pain, and I worked with kids who had traumatic injuries. I also worked with kids who had newly diagnosed diseases, such as cancer and cystic fibrosis, helping them and their families learn how to cope. I was immersed in that world.”

DR. LARRY MULLINS

FORMER DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY

to the hospital to help kids prepare for outpatient surgeries and teach them strategies they could use to cope.

After thinking he would never return to Oklahoma, Mullins learned about an internship opportunity with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He accepted this opportunity, and ultimately his passion took off.

“I did everything from work with children on the burn unit, helping kids cope with pain, and I worked with kids who had traumatic injuries. I also worked with kids who had newly diagnosed diseases, such as cancer and cystic fibrosis, helping them and their families learn how to cope. I was immersed in that world,” Mullins said.

After working as a pediatric psychologist doing consultation and liaison work with OUHSC, Mullins made his way back to OSU in 1995, where he joined his colleague, John Chaney.

“John Chaney is a nationally known expert in pediatric psychology. He’s also known for his work with Native American populations and directing the American Indians in the Psychology program,” Mullins said. “John was an old and cherished friend, and we partnered up. We became very close collaborators, working and collecting

data at the Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City and also starting to work with college students with chronic health conditions.”

One thing that drove Mullins and Chaney in their work was knowing they were giving back to the state known as the birthplace of pediatric psychology. Logan Wright, a clinical psychologist and native Oklahoman, joined the staff at the OUHSC in 1966, where he coined the term “pediatric psychology” and put the field of study on the map.

The two felt it appropriate and necessary to be involved in the training side of the field to help further the pediatric psychology mission. They aimed to recruit highly talented undergraduate students to their graduate program and create a pediatric psychology specialization track in their clinical psychology program.

“All of a sudden, we realized we were creating a pipeline, and our graduate students were getting some of the very best internships in the country for their training. It has been the proverbial icing on the cake,” Mullins said.

OSU’s Center for Pediatric Psychology has graduated some of the best pediatric psychologists in the country. Alumni work at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, one of the country’s top children’s hospitals, with

another alum an endowed chair at the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth. Yet another was recently announced as the director of research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. The list goes on and on to the Medical University of South Carolina, Catholic University, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and Nemours Children’s Hospital, among others.

Around 20 years into his career, Mullins noticed some of his colleagues in the industry earning National Institute of Health grants that were funding groundbreaking research. Taking a chance on hard work and a passion to grow the field, Mullins began to apply for grants, managing to secure funding to specifically develop psychosocial interventions for parents of kids who are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and later pediatric cancer.

Recently, OSU’s Center for Pediatric Psychology completed an 11-year NIHfunded study, earning $2.9 million in the last five years studying families of children born with rare conditions called Disorders/Differences of Sex Development.

In his almost 40-year career in pediatric psychology, Mullins has seen

the field grow tremendously. After helping build the Center for Pediatric Psychology, he hopes to see more pediatric psychologists join the OSU faculty as the profession grows.

With the final weeks of his career approaching, Mullins reflected on what his time at OSU meant to him and his work.

“OSU gave me the opportunity to help build a program with John Chaney, colleagues around the country and our graduate students. They created that opportunity and gave me the resources to forge a new path with the understanding that we wanted it to be something that really demonstrated excellence,” Mullins said. “OSU gave me that opportunity, and it was a very special opportunity that I’ll never repay completely.

“Working with such incredible graduate students has been the best part of my career. I’ve been really fortunate and lucky. I have a lot of gratitude for having had that opportunity. It’s going to be the part of my job that I miss the most.”

Mullins officially retired at the end of July and Dr. Christina Duncan took over as the director of the OSU Center for Pediatric Psychology. Duncan comes from the University of West Virginia, where she was a professor and director of the Quin Curtis Center for Psychological Services. She is a nationally renowned pediatric psychologist, is deeply involved in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is the editor of the Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology journal.

“She’s a force of nature, and she will continue the legacy that we have created,” Mullins said.

Mullins and Duncan have been colleagues and friends for many years, often collaborating on various conference presentations. The two greatly admire each other’s research and have an even greater respect for each other’s passion for their field of study.

“Dr. Mullins is a well-respected scholar in the field of pediatric psychology. His research seeks to understand and improve the well-being

of children with chronic health conditions and their families,” Duncan said. “I have particularly admired his devotion to supporting and guiding his students — while in graduate school and beyond in their careers.”

Duncan joined the Center for Pediatric Psychology in January this year and has been working closely with students on a grant that works on researching uses of pictorial asthma action plans to promote selfmanagement and health in rural youth with asthma.

“Without a doubt, having the opportunity to work with Dr. Mullins was a key factor in my decision to leave West Virginia University after 21 years and become an OSU Cowboy this past January,” Duncan said. “I have very, very big shoes to fill as the director of the Center for Pediatric Psychology; however, I find some comfort in knowing that Dr. Mullins will continue to mentor me in this role.”

Dr. Christina Duncan is the new director of the OSU Center for Pediatric Psychology.

Gettysburg tells the story of more than a battle − the military park shows what national ‘reconciliation’ looked like for decades after the Civil War

On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to dedicate a cemetery at the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Four months before, about 50,000 soldiers had been killed, wounded or captured at the Battle of Gettysburg, later seen as a turning point in the war.

In his now-famous address, Lincoln described the site as “a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that (their) nation might live,” and called on “us the living” to finish their work. In the 160 years since, 1,328 monuments and memorials have been erected at Gettysburg National Military Park — including one for each of the 11 Confederate states.

Confederate memorials in the American South have attracted scrutiny for years. In October 2023, a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee was melted down in Charlottesville, Virginia, six years after plans to remove it spurred the violent “Unite the Right” rally.

Gettysburg has received relatively little attention, yet it occupies a unique space in these debates. The battlefield is one of the most hallowed historic sites in the country, and, unlike other areas with memorials to Confederate soldiers, is located in the North. The military park’s history offers a window into the United States’ attitude toward postwar reconciliation — one often willing to overlook racial equality in the name of national and political unity.

THE ‘MECCA OF RECONCILIATION’

Today, Gettysburg draws nearly a million visitors each year.

In addition to visiting the museum, visitors can drive or walk among the monuments and plaques that cover the landscape, dedicated to both Union and Confederate troops. There are markers that explain the events of the battle, as well as monuments dedicated to individual people, military units and states.

As with any war memorial, particularly for a civil war, Gettysburg commemorates an event whose survivors held dramatically different views of its meaning. In his book “Race and Reunion,” historian David Blight identifies three main narratives of the Civil War. One emphasizes the “nobility of the Confederate soldier” and cause, while another focuses on the emancipation of slaves. The third is the “reconciliationist” view, with the notion that “all in the war were brave and true,” regardless of which side they fought for.

motivations of the conflict. The park’s own administrative history refers to Gettysburg as an “American Mecca of Reconciliation.”

NO PRAISE, NO BLAME

From 1864 until 1895, the battlefield was under the administration of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, which placed markers along military units’ battle lines.

Starting in 1890, the U.S. War Department began actively preserving Civil War battlefields. Congress approved the creation of a commission of Union and Confederate veterans to mark the armies’ positions at Gettysburg with tablets that each bore “a brief historical legend, compiled without praise and without censure.” These policies were also included in the Regulations for the National Military Parks, published in 1915.

This guiding idea — “without praise and without censure” — was also evident at ceremonies for the battle’s 50th anniversary in 1913. Reconciliation was central in speeches and formal photographs, many featuring elderly veterans from both sides shaking hands.

At the time, there were no monuments to Confederate states; most markers, both for Union and Confederate troops, were for individual battle units.

We are cultural geographers who study commemorative landscapes, with a focus on issues of race and memory. In our view, Gettysburg is a prime example of that reconciliation narrative: a site that aims to reconcile the North and the South more than it addresses the racial

STATE MEMORIALS

In 1912, the Virginia Gettysburg Commission had submitted plans for an equestrian statue of General Lee and other figures, with an inscription saying the state’s sons “fought for the faith of their fathers.”

Dr. Rebecca Sheehan

The chairman of the Gettysburg National Park Commission, however, had warned that such a statue would likely not be approved by the War Department because “inscriptions should be without ‘censure, praise or blame.‘” The chairman said that while “they fought for the faith of their fathers” might be true for Virginians, “it certainly opens the inscription to not a little adverse criticism.”

Eventually, the state commission agreed to inscribe simply, “Virginia to her sons at Gettysburg” — creating the first Confederate state monument.

But enforcement of the no praise, no blame policy was uneven.

Efforts to erect a monument for Mississippi, for example, began in the early 1960s. The state commission’s intended inscription read:

“On this ground our brave sires fought for their righteous cause

Here, in glory, sleep those who gave to it their lives

To valor they gave new dimensions of courage

To duty, its noblest fulfillment

To posterity, the sacred heritage of honor.”

The park superintendent pointed to two objections, however: first to the use of “righteous” and second to “here,” since Southern soldiers’ bodies were mostly relocated after the battle.

Mississippi Supreme Court Judge Thomas Brady, who collaborated on the inscription, wrote to the monument commission expressing his frustration over the objection to the “righteous cause” language. Even the “South’s most bitter critics … never questioned that the South felt that its cause was righteous,” he noted.

“The South has had the most to forgive in this matter and the South has forgiven,” Brady wrote. “Let us hope that the North has done likewise.”

In late 1970, a new superintendent was put in place at Gettysburg. Mississippi’s commission asked him to revisit the “righteous cause” wording — and expressed “genuine pleasure” that the new superintendent was a fellow Mississippian.

The monument was dedicated in 1973, with the “righteous cause” language included in its inscription.

‘UNFINISHED

WORK’

From the start, the policies for monuments at Gettysburg called for a commemorative landscape that would recall the actions of those who fought and died on the battlefield.

In reality, several monuments scattered over the landscape perpetuate the Lost Cause myth, which argues that the Confederate states’ chief goal was simply to protect the sanctity of state rights — whitewashing the atrocities of slavery and romanticizing the antebellum South.

In recent decades, however, the park has begun to do more to emphasize slavery in its historical exhibits and descriptions.

National Park management policy treats commemorative works as historic features reflecting “the knowledge, attitudes and tastes of the persons who designed and placed them.” As a result, the monuments cannot be “altered, relocated, obscured, or removed, even when they are deemed inaccurate or incompatible with prevailing presentday values.”

The Gettysburg website notes that legislation and compliance with federal laws would be required to move many monuments.

When Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg, he called for Americans to dedicate themselves “to the unfinished work” of the Union dead, and to dedicate a portion of the battlefield to their memory. A century and a half later, however, the site also illustrates a messy postwar debate: the U.S.’s struggle to reconcile sharply opposed understandings of the Civil War.

Dr. Rebecca Sheehan, professor of geography in Oklahoma State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, co-wrote this story with University of Tennessee student Katrina Stack in partnership with The Conversation. The Conversation is a nonprofit news outlet dedicated to sharing research from experts like those on our faculty. Read more from OSU faculty by going to okla.st/theconversation.

Union and Confederate soldiers shake hands at the 1913 Gettysburg reunion.

CONNECT WITH OSU EXPERTS

Find a research expert at Oklahoma State University, including leaders in economic development, human performance, and creative and performing arts, to name a few.

Discover and connect with researchers who are improving lives, strengthening communities and solving society’s biggest challenges.

NIBLACK RESEARCH SCHOLARS’ NEWEST CLASS

At Oklahoma State University, undergraduates dive into the world of scientific research through the Niblack Research Scholars program.

This program transforms their academic journey beyond the classroom, enriches students’ careers, sharpens their future success and guides them toward potential graduate studies.

This year, seven students are getting the opportunity to advance their careers through the Niblack Scholars program. These undergraduates have been selected as scholars for the 2024-25 school year, earning them a $8,000 scholarship to conduct research with faculty across campus.

Funded by Dr. John Niblack and his wife, Heidi, the Niblack Research

Scholars program has been a key part of OSU’s undergraduate research success since 2004. The program allows these students to perform cutting-edge research in various fields under faculty mentors’ supervision.

Dr. Niblack graduated from OSU in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and earned a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Illinois before becoming vice chairman of Pfizer Inc.

As a scientist for the international pharmaceutical giant, he was responsible for Pfizer’s Global Research and Development Division, where he directed research into drugs for viral illnesses, cancer and autoimmune disorders.

William Ertl Oklahoma City Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology

Udhav Ramachandran Stillwater Physiology

Jorja Ford Tulsa Psychology

Bennett Upton Frisco, Texas Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Carsyn Gragg McAlester, Oklahoma Animal Science and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Amber Meeker Columbia, South Carolina Zoology

Olivia Morgan Guthrie, Oklahoma Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology

WHERE IS OKLAHOMA’S HUB FOR INNOVATION?

LEARN MORE

The Innovation Foundation at Oklahoma State University brings a modern approach to discovery and creation. The foundation’s applied research, technology transfers and collaborative partnerships translate to solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.

As the home of OSU’s dynamic transdisciplinary institutes that focus on human performance, energy, and aerospace advancement and impact, the foundation unites research and

experiential learning opportunities across the OSU System in these key areas and more.

Located within The Innovation Park at OSU, a hub dedicated to creativity and ingenuity, the foundation accelerates innovation, community engagement, workforce development and technology commercialization to deliver impactful products and solutions to Oklahoma and beyond.

TWO OSU STUDENTS EARN OTTO S. COX GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

The Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowships for Genetics Research support outstanding Oklahoma State University graduate students with a proven research record in genetics from any disciplinary or interdisciplinary program.

Students earn the annual fellowship by showcasing proven records of genetic inquiry and the potential to impact the discipline in the future.

“Genetics research at OSU is growing in both breadth and depth, forming a key component of our priorities in One Health and production agriculture,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU’s vice president for research.

This year, there was a highly competitive application pool with two OSU students — Irene Lee and Yago Serra dos Santos — earning a fellowship. The award will provide a $1,000 stipend and recognition for pursuing challenging work in a rapidly evolving and critical research area.

“The Cox Fellowship for Genetics Research accelerates that growth by supporting talented graduate students to propel their research careers,” Sewell said. “Many alumni of this fellowship now have established laboratories at universities, government agencies, or in the pharmaceutical industry.”

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Lee is in the third year of her Ph.D. program in nutritional sciences, where she is studying the bioactive compounds that could prevent aging.

Her primary research question investigates the role of the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R), activated by marijuana’s psychoactive compounds, in the aging process and its associated signaling pathways.

By showing the role of CB1R in aging, this study aims to identify potential therapeutic targets that could mitigate age-related metabolic dysfunctions to promote healthier aging.

Lee saw previous recipients of the Cox fellowship who studied molecular

IRENE

LEE

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE IN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES

biology, microbiology, or veterinary medicine but never found someone studying nutritional science. Still, she was determined to apply.

“I heard that only two or three students receive this fellowship annually, and being one of the two or three recipients, it’s overwhelming. I never expected it,” Lee said.

It’s significant in medical and scientific communities and contributes to genetics by advancing understanding of the genetic factors influencing aging.

“I think this fellowship might be one step toward my future career in the academic field,” Lee said.

Serra dos Santos came to the United States from Brazil to start his doctoral studies in integrative biology. At OSU, he is part of a research group investigating the molecular basis of the stress response in fish.

“My work aims to investigate the potential stress-induced gene regulation of omDB promoters and how this

YAGO SERRA DOS SANTOS DOCTORAL STUDENT IN INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY

phenomenon affects the microbiota in fish skin,” Serra dos Santos said.

Serra dos Santos’ research contributes to this effort by expanding the knowledge on the role of AMPs in stress response in fish toward enhancing fish health, relevant for the scientific community and the aquaculture industry in the face of climate change using rainbow trout as a model.

Serra dos Santos said that receiving the Cox Fellowship is an honor that encourages him to continue his work.

“It’s a very encouraging recognition of both the quality of our project, but as well as a student, a young scientist,” Serra dos Santos said. “I think it’s a very important recognition that the work I’m doing developed here at OSU has a space that is important and is recognized as so. It’s very encouraging as a Ph.D. student.”

PRESIDENT’S FELLOWS

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY NAMES THREE PROFESSORS

2024 PRESIDENT’S FELLOWS FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD RECIPIENTS

JOHN O’HARA

Dr. John O’Hara — associate professor and PSO/Albrecht Naeter Professor in Electrical Engineering — researches the use of novel terahertz and optical systems for the realization of 6G communications; optical and RF/optical hybrid sensing and communication; IoT (internet of things); artificial electromagnetic materials; and STEM outreach to rural communities.

O’Hara’s proposal is to create the first 6G channel emulator that future engineers will use to design real-world networks.

“I am very excited and pleased to be selected for the President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award,” O’Hara said. “It is a great honor, personally, of course. But it also represents the fruit of the strong investments our department and college have made to enable impactful research. My students and I are very excited to use this opportunity to push forward the wireless communication technologies that the whole world may adopt in the next 5-10 years.”

BRUCE NODEN

Dr. Bruce Noden — associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology — researches woody plant encroachment (WPE), which is a pervasive form of human-caused land cover change ongoing globally, notability in the south-central U.S.

The long-term goal is to clarify how WPE affects tick-borne diseases in the south-central U.S. and to apply this knowledge to better predict human disease risk as well as target public health resources and WPE management that benefit human health.

“This award has been very encouraging as it comes at a critical time for my research program,” Noden said. “I am thankful for all involved as it really has allowed me to keep pursuing an important question in regards to One Health in the Southern Great Plains.”

LALEH TAHSINI

Dr. Laleh Tahsini — associate professor of chemistry — researches the growing multidrug-resistant bacterial infections impacting the globe. She plans to develop efficient metallodrugs with minimum or no toxicity using copper-NHC complexes. NHC stands for N-Heterocyclic Carbene, and copper is a promising candidate due to its behavior, offering chemical reactivity and new mechanisms of drug actions.

Tahsini’s research team has partnered with a team at the University of ArkansasLittle Rock to help test these complexes’ antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant bacterial strands.

Within a year, Tahsini hopes to provide a case to the NIH for further funding, making these antibiotics accessible to those in need.

“It is encouraging to be selected for the President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award,” Tahsini said. “The community gets to know the great research being done by OSU faculty and students. It highlights the importance of what we are doing in chemistry and helps us as a group gain visibility in the scientific community working on health-related issues.”

REGENTS DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD

Oklahoma State University honored seven faculty members with the 2023 Regents Distinguished Research Award during the December 2023 University Awards Convocation.

Recipients of the award demonstrated a distinguished record of past and continuing excellence in research and were selected based on the evidence of outstanding and meritorious achievements in research.

“The OSU community can be extremely proud of the expertise and accomplishments of scientists, scholars and artists who comprise our faculty — RDRA recipients are shining examples of that fact,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research. “These individuals push the limits of their research domains and, in so doing, inspire our students toward excellence in their pursuits as well.”

This program awards one faculty member per college, except for the College of Arts and Sciences, which awards two — one in the sciences and one in the arts/humanities disciplines.

DR. AN CHENG

English, College of Arts and Sciencess

DR. JENNIFER CRIBBS

Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences

DR. ROLF PRADE

Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Arts and Sciences

DR. LISA SCHURER LAMBERT

Management, Spears School of Business

DR. FERNANDO VICOSA BAUERMANN

Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine

DR. JEFFERY WHITE

Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

DR. RODNEY WILL

Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ferguson College of Agriculture

From left: Dr. Kenneth Sewell, Jason Ramsey, Dr. Fernando Vicosa Bauermann, Dr. Lisa Schurer Lambert, Dr. Rolf Prade, Dr. An Cheng, Dr. Rodney Will, Dr. Jennifer Cribbs and Dr. Jeffery White

Oklahoma State University

WHO TAKES RESEARCH FROM LABS TO LIFE ?

AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, OUR RESEARCH MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OKLAHOMANS AND BEYOND.

Guided by the land-grant mission, our faculty and student researchers tackle the world’s challenges with innovation, creativity and determination.

From our engineers and economists to artists and physicians — we are working together to develop unique solutions to real-world problems. Whether we are improving rural health care, challenging world hunger, sustainably powering the world, developing aerospace initiatives or improving groundwater quality our research has a meaningful impact across the globe.

ORANGE IS THE ANSWER.