College of Science, Oregon State University

06/17/2026

Antarctic krill are less than 2.5 inches long, but they help sustain some of the largest animals on Earth, from penguins to blue whales.

Now, Oregon State University biology grad Matoska Silva is heading to Chile as a Fulbright recipient to study how ocean currents shape krill distribution and how predators track their movements in the Southern Ocean.

Silva's award builds on years of undergraduate research at Oregon State, where he developed expertise in zooplankton ecology and polar ecosystems. His work highlights how small organisms can have an outsized impact on the health of entire marine food webs.

Congratulations, Matoska! Swipe through his story below, and get all the details at the IMPACT story here: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2026/06/biology-senior-earns-fulbright-for-antarctic-krill-research

06/16/2026

Kieran King’s interest in physics started with rockets, astrophysics and the growing clutter of satellites orbiting Earth. At Oregon State, that interest expanded through undergraduate research on organic semiconductor materials and the physics behind clean-energy technology. ☀️⚡️

This fall, the physics graduate will begin a Ph.D. at Wake Forest University, where he’ll continue researching materials that could improve solar energy devices and other light-responsive technologies.

“The reason I keep studying physics is because there is something about it that keeps challenging me in a specific way,” he said. “It keeps making me reconsider things, reconsider what I know and it pushes me to think differently.”

Read more about his research here:

Kieran King’s interest in physics started with the big, cinematic side of the field — rockets, astrophysics and the growing clutter of satellites orbiting Earth. But as he explored new coursework and research opportunities, he became increasingly drawn to the physics behind solar cells, semicond...

06/15/2026

Over 670 scientists walked in graduation ceremonies on Friday, headed to grad schools, health professions schools, government jobs, nonprofits, research labs, industry positions and more.

Cheers to these change-makers, leaders, discoverers, inquisitors, stewards, caretakers and analyzers.

Congrats, Team Science, Class of 2026!



ALT TEXT:

A stagnant shot of Kidder Hall where a banner hangs that says, Congratulations Team Science Graduates. “Let me clean my lens…” flashes on the screen, followed by fingers obscuring the lens. When the fingers move, the shot of the building includes graduates all across the steps cheering and party music plays.

06/12/2026

Sophia Jones went to New Zealand and came back with a favorite parrot, a love for solo travel and a completely different vision for her future 🦜

The Oregon State zoology student spent five months studying at the University of Otago, where she fell in love with kea — highly intelligent alpine parrots known for their curiosity and social behavior. Between hiking alone through new places, learning about Māori culture and gaining hands-on international experience, Sophia realized she could see herself building a career abroad in wildlife conservation.

Now, after balancing classes, work at a Corvallis veterinary hospital and campus life at OSU, she’s preparing for her next step: applying for the Peace Corps and hoping to work in Cambodia.

Read her story here: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2026/05/mckenna-crise-class-of-26-from-muppet-genetics-to-a-career-in-genetic-counseling

06/10/2026

How do you turn nerves into opportunities? For Jessica Chavez Chairez, that question is sometimes literal.

As a first-generation student from a small rural community, she went from being completely unfamiliar with university life to mentoring cohorts of underrepresented students in STEM. Her path took her to different opportunities culturing neurons and testing novel ways to detect nervous system tumors.

After four years at Oregon State, Jessica wants to blend her research training with a passion for public health to ensure her impact directly reaches the people who need it most.

Learn how she navigated science at OSU and beyond: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2026/05/jessica-chavez-chairez-class-of-26-from-brains-to-barriers-biochemistry-senior

06/03/2026

Sophia Jones went to New Zealand and came back with a favorite parrot, a love for solo travel and a completely different vision for her future.

The Oregon State zoology student spent five months studying at the University of Otago, where she fell in love with kea — highly intelligent alpine parrots known for their curiosity and social
behavior. Between hiking alone through new places, learning about Māori culture and gaining hands-on international experience, Sophia realized she could see herself building a career abroad in wildlife conservation.

Now, after balancing classes, work at a Corvallis veterinary hospital and campus life at OSU, she’s preparing for her next step: applying for the Peace Corps and hoping to work in Cambodia.

Read her story: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2026/05/sophia-jones-class-of-26-a-zoology-student-shaped-by-study-abroad-and-field

06/03/2026

We had so much fun with you at our last study break this year and can’t wait to see you next year!
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Alt text: Videos showing the SSC’s last study break of the year with games, clubs, rootbeer floats, and Caesar the no drama llama with subtle music in the background.

06/01/2026

When Warren Johnson leaves campus after a day of studying mathematics, he heads home to a very different routine from most undergraduate students — family time with his wife, Elizabeth, their 2-year-old daughter, Naomi, and a second child on the way this summer.

A transfer student from Linn-Benton Community College, Johnson is a mathematics major who has already started the accelerated master’s program in the Department of Mathematics. He has also competed in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, one of the most challenging undergraduate math exams in North America, improving his score from 3 to 15 in just one year.

For Johnson, mathematics, family and faith are all part of the same goal: building a meaningful life.

Read more: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2026/05/warren-johnson-class-of-26-mathematics-major-balances-parenthood-and-academic

05/27/2026

From triathlons and violin rehearsals to hospice volunteering and Parkinson’s support programs, Honors microbiology senior Riley Whisler has spent her time at Oregon State exploring what it means to care for people in every stage of life. She also completed an honors thesis examining her grandfather’s experience in the American Indian boarding school system through the lens of basketball and studied abroad in Barcelona.

Now, she’s heading to medical school through the University of Washington WWAMI program with interests in sports medicine and palliative care. Learn how community, curiosity and compassion shaped her path.

Check out her story here: https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2026/05/riley-whisler-class-of-26-future-doctor-explores-sports-medicine-hospice-care-and