From the Departments

Biological Sciences

Research scholar Nadine Kotlarz and a group of investigators from the GenX Exposure Study found PFAS stemming from a fluorochemical manufacturing plant — including Nafion byproduct 2 and GenX  — in the blood of private well users in Bladen and Cumberland Counties. 

Alexa Kuyvenhoven was selected to NC State’s most recent cohort of Beckman Scholars. The scholarship program supports 15-month mentored research experiences — funded through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation — for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry, biological sciences and interdisciplinary combinations.

Chemistry

Thanks to a DELTA grant, Associate Professor Ryan Chiechi and Aram Amassian from the College of Engineering were able to develop a robotic arm that allows students to complete organic chemistry labs remotely.

Anthony Kelly was selected to NC State’s most recent cohort of Beckman Scholars. The scholarship program supports 15-month mentored research experiences — funded through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation — for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry, biological sciences and interdisciplinary combinations. 

Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Associate Professor Ethan Hyland co-authored a study that looked at atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and their corresponding temperatures from 66 million years ago until now, finding that even small increases in CO₂ concentrations can have dramatic impacts on climate.

The MEAS Alumni Reception at the recent American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting in Baltimore was attended by more than 100 students and alumni.  

Mathematics

Mason Mcelroy, Blan Morrison and Etienne Phillips were in the top three among NC State contestants at the William Lowell Putnam Competition, a preeminent mathematics competition for undergraduate college students in the U.S. and Canada. 

See photos and video from the Jan. 23 Kwangil Koh Lecture, which featured University of Pennsylvania mathematician Robert Ghrist. 

Physics

Associate Professor Ian Roederer led a study published in Science that deepens our understanding of element formation in stars, finding that ancient stars could produce elements with atomic masses heavier than any element on the periodic table found naturally on Earth. 

Alumnus Long V. Nguyen and his wife, Kimmy T. Duong, recently established the Raymond Murray and Wesley Doggett Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship to benefit undergraduate students in the College of Sciences. Murray and Doggett were both longtime NC State faculty members who made a major impact on Nguyen. 

Statistics

Undergraduate student Sripad Ganti and fellow members of the Dreamers & Data Club developed YUNO, a chatbot designed to provide mental health support. YUNO was inspired by Professor Ana-Maria Staicu’s research regarding mental health trends on social media.

Alumna Rebecca Doerge, provost of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and former dean of the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie Mellon University, will give the commencement speech at the department’s 2024 graduation ceremony.