Recovering lost genetic diversity in Holsteins is focus of professors' research

May 8, 2017

Holstein calves recently born at Penn State may help to reintroduce valuable genetic variance thanks to research conducted by Chad Dechow and Wansheng Liu, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Dr. Andrew Read gives Graduate School Commencement Speech

May 8, 2017

Andrew F. Read, Ph.D., Evan Pugh Professor of Biology and Entomology and Eberly Professor of Biotechnology, was the keynote speaker for this year's Graduate School commencement ceremony held on May 7, 2017.

Entrepreneurs battle in 'Shark Tank'-style contest on WPSU’s ‘The Investment’

May 4, 2017

Penn State undergraduate students and local entrepreneurs will compete for $30,000 in funding to help grow their businesses in a student-pitch competition, “The Investment,” that will air at 8 p.m. on today (May 4) on WPSU-TV.

Record 83 undergraduates receive 2017 Erickson Discovery Grants

May 4, 2017

Eighty-three students from across Penn State’s campuses will each be awarded a $3,500 Erickson Discovery Grant for summer 2017 through the Office of Undergraduate Education. The students will use the funds to immerse themselves in original research, scholarship, and creative work under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

Invent Penn State’s Fund for Innovation awards $75,000 to Persea Naturals

May 4, 2017

A team of food science researchers from Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences are launching a promising new venture to produce a line of all-natural, vibrant food colors, dubbed AvoColor, using a compound derived from the seed of the avocado.

Team of PSU Smeal students wins 2017 Supply Chain Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest

May 2, 2017

A team of four Penn State Smeal students — Cameron Stevens, senior finance, economics, and international politics triple major; Karen Burlingame, senior supply chain and information systems; Yue Shen, senior supply chain and information systems; and Tasha Burman, sophomore business — calling themselves Team DropLocker, was selected as the winner of the 2017 Supply Chain Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest and awarded $6,500.

Legally blind golf pro earns turfgrass management degree through World Campus

May 2, 2017

A legally blind man from Toledo, Ohio, earned his bachelor’s degree online through Penn State World Campus and will graduate May 6, 2017.

Webinar to focus on reverse fiscal impact analysis in hazard mitigation planning

April 28, 2017

A webinar on how local municipalities can use reverse fiscal impact analysis to assist in hazard mitigation planning will be the topic of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension on May 17.

If some hemlock trees can just hang on, birds that need them may be OK

April 27, 2017

In 2000, when a team of scientists led by Robert Ross studied the response of birds to the beginning of hemlock tree decline in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Matt Toenies was just seven years old, and the ecological havoc wreaked by invasive species was the farthest thing from his mind.

Plant sciences student helps research natural fungicide

April 27, 2017

Cullen Dixon, a plant sciences major, participates in a lab that tests the effectiveness of secondary metabolite compounds produced by sorghum as potential biopesticides in combating foliar diseases of Zea mays, or corn.

Ingesting soy protein may ease severity of inflammatory bowel disease

April 26, 2017

A diet supplemented with soy protein may be an effective adjunct therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases, Penn State researchers reported after completing a study that included mice and cultured human colon cells.

Ag Sciences graduate students win prestigious research fellowships

April 25, 2017

Three graduate students in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences -- Phillip Martin, Ismaiel Szink and Rachel Rozum -- recently received prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

Three graduate students honored with Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award

April 24, 2017

Three Penn State graduate students -- Vasiliy Lakoba, Andrew Morris and Shanti Nachtergaele -- have been awarded the Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award. The award recognizes excellence in master’s-level thesis research in any of the disciplinary areas of fine arts and humanities; social sciences - applied and basic; physical and computational sciences - applied and basic; life and health sciences; and engineering.

13 graduate students receive the Alumni Association Dissertation Award

April 24, 2017

Thirteen graduate students received the Penn State Alumni Association Dissertation Award, Distinguished Doctoral Scholar Medal, in recognition of their outstanding professional accomplishment and achievement in scholarly research in any of the disciplinary areas of fine arts and humanities; social sciences — applied and basic; physical and computational sciences — applied and basic; life and health sciences; and engineering. The graduate students were honored during the Graduate Student Awards Luncheon held on April 18 at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Penn State announces spring 2017 commencement events and speakers

April 24, 2017

This spring Penn State expects to award 13,894 diplomas to students University-wide who are completing 226 associate, 11,435 baccalaureate, 1,590 master’s, 262 law, 244 doctoral and 137 medical degrees. Following is a compilation of commencement ceremonies and speaker information for Penn State’s 24 locations.

Undergraduates honored with Rock Ethics Institute 2017 Stand Up Award

April 24, 2017

The Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State recently celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Stand Up Award by honoring students Brian Anthony Davis, Hayly Hoch and Alexis Scott. This award is presented to Penn State undergraduates who have demonstrated courage, fortitude and ethical leadership by taking a stand for a person, a cause or a belief.

Researchers aim to eliminate malaria in Southeast Asia

April 24, 2017

Researchers at Penn State have received more than $1 million in first-year funding from the National Institutes of Health to investigate malaria transmission in Southeast Asia with a goal of working toward the disease's elimination in the region. They will receive up to approximately $9 million over seven years for this project.

Arboretum to host discussion about use of fire to restore ecosystems

April 21, 2017

The Arboretum at Penn State will host a discussion of the role of fire in ecosystem health and how Penn State uses controlled burns to manage and restore natural landscapes. The April 26 presentation precedes a controlled burn on a 12-acre portion of Arboretum lands adjacent to campus planned for this spring as part of an ongoing re-creation of a prairie/meadow containing native grasses and wildflowers.

Penn State Extension names associate directors of client relations, programs

April 21, 2017

As part of recently announced changes to its organizational structure, product development and program delivery, Penn State Extension has appointed two individuals to statewide leadership posts. Tara Mondock is the new associate director for client relations, and Jeffrey Hyde was named associate director for programs.

Disease-associated genes routinely missed in some genetic studies

April 20, 2017

Whole-exome DNA sequencing -- a technology that saves time and money by sequencing only protein-coding regions and not the entire genome -- may routinely miss detecting some genetic variations associated with disease, according to Penn State researchers who have developed new ways to identify such omissions.

Office for General Education announces Integrative Studies Seed Grant awards

April 20, 2017

The Integrative Studies Seed Grant Program, offered through the Penn State Office for General Education, will support 71 different course development projects this summer. In response to the large volume of highly qualified proposals, the budget was generously increased by more than 50 percent by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Undergraduate Education.

United Nations organization renews UNESCO Chair program at Penn State

April 19, 2017

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has renewed for another five years its support for the UNESCO Chair in Rural Community, Leadership, and Youth Development at Penn State. Mark Brennan, a faculty member in the College of Agricultural Sciences, will continue in his role as chair and provide leadership to the program.

Shale gas threat to forests can be eased by consolidating infrastructure

April 19, 2017

Fragmentation of ecologically important core forests within the northern Appalachians — driven by pipeline and access road construction — is the major threat posed by shale-gas development, according to researchers, who recommend a change in infrastructure-siting policies to head off loss of this critical habitat.

Global Programs announces 2017 Travel Grants awards

April 19, 2017

Spring 2017 produced a record-breaking number of applications for Global Programs Travel Grants.

Graduate student excellence celebrated at annual awards luncheon

April 19, 2017

Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones presented 10 awards to more than 30 graduate students in recognition of outstanding achievement during the annual Graduate Student Awards Luncheon held April 18 at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Student uses mushroom minor to benefit her home

April 17, 2017

Rana, an economics major, is minoring in mushroom science and technology, and plans to use what she has learned to improve living conditions for people in her home city of Mumbai, India.

Ag Springboard keynoter to students: Be CEOs of your own lives

April 17, 2017

Risk. Fail. Pivot. Repeat. This is the advice of Todd Erdley, the co-founder and CEO of Videon, to student entrepreneurs.

Cricket-fortified pasta pitch wins $7,500 Ag Springboard top prize

April 17, 2017

A team of food science graduate students won the Ag Springboard student business pitch contest and $7,500 grand prize after pitching and serving judges pasta made with cricket flour.

Researchers recruiting citizen-scientists for 'Great Pumpkin Project'

April 16, 2017

A researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is reaching out to Master Gardeners, teachers, students and other interested parties to participate in a citizen-science project that ultimately could benefit growers, crops, pollinators and the environment. "The Great Pumpkin Project" is aimed at describing the geographic distribution of important crop plants and the insects and microbes with which they interact.

Cover crops may be used to mitigate and adapt to climate change

April 16, 2017

Cover crops long have been touted for their ability to reduce erosion, fix atmospheric nitrogen, reduce nitrogen leaching and improve soil health, but they also may play an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change on agriculture, according to a Penn State researcher.

Media Contacts

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Media Contacts

  • Senior Public Relations Specialist/News Editor
  • Associate Director of Communications
  • Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer
  • Science and News Writer
  • Penn State Extension Writer (Marketing Communications Specialist)