Notre Dame Science

06/16/2026

☀️ peak vibes

Are you an undergrad researching on campus this summer? We want to learn about your research project! Sign up to be featured here on the Instagram —> link in Stories and bio

06/15/2026

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame and collaborators have discovered a key process for how the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria attaches to the cell wall, advancing the understanding of how these bacteria frequently manifest resistance to antibiotics.

The team discovered that a protein called PA2854 performs the reaction that keeps the outer membrane attached to the bacterial cell wall. This connection helps maintain the three-layer biological envelope that shields gram-negative bacteria from many antibiotics.

The study focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), an antibiotic-resistant bacterium that commonly affects people with cystic fibrosis. Other gram-negative bacteria include E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella.

Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, this research advances our understanding of how antibiotic-resistant bacteria survive—and could help inform future strategies to combat them.

06/11/2026

The chronic disease schistosomiasis wreaks havoc on more than 220 million people around the world, with the vast majority of cases being in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rice farmers and their families are particularly at risk, as the parasitic worms that cause the disease are spread by freshwater snails found in the standing water of rice fields.

New research published in Nature Sustainability has explored how rice-fish coculturing — an intervention technique that introduces fish into the rice fields — could help reduce disease incidence and poverty along the northern Senegal River basin, a hot spot for schistosomiasis.

“What is most meaningful to me about this work is that we’re taking an agricultural technique used in other regions and expanding it to infectious disease transmission,” said Emily Selland, lead author of the study and graduate student in the Rohr Lab at Notre Dame. “We can tackle schistosomiasis and also support the development of these communities by designing a sustainable and multidisciplinary solution.”

Read more:

New research published in Nature Sustainability and led by Notre Dame has explored how rice-fish coculturing — an intervention technique that intr...

06/10/2026

Congratulations, Sarah Shibuya, a biological sciences graduate student who was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship!

For the next week, we'll be posting a spotlight of 6 of our NSF GRFP awardees and honorable mentions! Starting with Sarah Shibuya, a Biological Sciences graduate student entering her second year at the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on newly discovered nexus glia cells and their role in the communication system between cells within our hearts, with critical implications for how we treat cardiovascular disorders. This highly competitive NSF GRFP Fellowship recognizes her as an outstanding graduate student expected to make significant contributions to STEM knowledge.

Congratulations, Sarah!

06/09/2026

Lisa Farmer planned on attending medical school, but she chose to follow her true passion: plant genetics.

Farmer joined the College of Botanical Sciences last year, inspired by the University’s Catholic values, “Because of the history of Catholic priests growing and seeing the value of studying plants… it means that it’s a welcoming environment to study all types of living things.”

At Notre Dame, Farmer helps freshmen learn to pursue and conduct research. Not only does her course allow new types of research to emerge, it gives students a space to have fun in the lab.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4vj9Yzb

06/08/2026

10/10 sploot

06/08/2026

Michael Pfrender, professor and associate chair in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, has been named interim department chair.

Pfrender replaces Jason Rohr, the Ludmilla F., Stephen J., and Robert T. Galla College Professor, who served as director of the department for six years.

https://bit.ly/4fxEwrR

06/04/2026

🚀 One of our most-watched videos right now

Nearly 30,000 people have watched this fascinating presentation by Dr. Michelle Thaller, former Assistant Director for Science Communication at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

How does the James Webb Space Telescope reveal hidden parts of the Universe? What can infrared light show us that our eyes can't see?

Join Dr. Thaller as she explores the invisible Universe—from newborn stars hidden within cosmic clouds to distant galaxies at the edge of space.

How does the James Webb Space Telescope reveal hidden parts of the Universe? And what can infrared light show us that our eyes can’t see? Join Dr. Michelle T...

06/04/2026

Announcing the launch of the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) minor: a multidisciplinary program designed to prepare students for the rapidly expanding global space sector.

The five-course, 15-credit minor will allow students to explore an array of subjects related to space exploration and will be available to undergraduates starting in fall 2026.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/49EXkS8

This new minor is a collaboration between the Colleges of Engineering, Notre Dame College of Arts & Letters and Notre Dame Science.

06/03/2026

Prettiest things we've ever seen ✨