2025: Eberly College of Science year in review
This year, the Penn State Eberly College of Science community experienced many exciting moments together, including opportunities for reflection of impact as well as championing progress and celebrating "firsts."
The college organized its inaugural Science Equity and Diversity (SeED) Conference and hosted its first World in Conversation discussion; held a second annual Health Professions Expo, which is open to anyone across Penn State and beyond who is interested in pursuing a career in health care; launched our Science Matters Spotlight Sessions series, outreach events for the community to engage with the brilliant minds working to create real-world impact.
Alongside these firsts is a legacy of impact, including many of the college's prominent outreach programs like 26 years of Science-U and AstroFest and 31 year of the Ashtekar Frontiers of Science lecture series.
The college also celebrated milestones like the International Year of Quantum and Technology, which was a recurring theme throughout 2025 with quantum-themed talks, storytelling, outreach, and recognition of the 70th anniversary of Erwin Müller “seeing” the atom.
Relive 2025 with us as we take you through just a few of the highlights from the year.
Faculty awards
Faculty within our college have received prestigious awards that highlight their excellence:
- Chemistry professor Lauren Zarzar was honored with the Presidential Early Career Award.
- Mathematics professor Long-Qing Chen was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
- Physics professor Jainendra Jain was named Wolf Prize laureate in physics.
- Biochemistry and molecular biology professor Manuel Llinás and physics professor Zhiqiang Mao were named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Physics professor Jacob Bourjaily was awarded the Lars Kann-Rasmussen Prize by the Niels Bohr International Academy.
- Chemistry professors Joseph Cotruvo Jr. and Lauren Zarzar were honored with Faculty Scholar Medals.
- Chemistry professor Philip Bevilacqua was awarded with the Edward W. Morley Medal by the Cleveland Section of the American Chemical Society.
- Physics professor Réka Albert was elected to National Academy of Sciences.
- Biochemistry and molecular biology professor Denise Okafor was named one of the Chemical and Engineering News Talented 12.
- Biochemistry and molecular biology professor Melanie McReynolds was honored with a Faculty Early Career Development Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
- Statistics professor Matthew Beckman was honored with the Waller Education Award by the American Statistical Association.
- Physics professor Bryce Gadway was named to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation cohort of Experimental Physics Investigators.
- Statistics professor Aleksandra “Seša” Slavković was honored with the Link Lecture Award by the American Statistical Association.
- Department head of chemistry Ken Knappenberger was selected as an Optica Fellow.
- Seven Eberly researchers were recognized as highly cited researchers by the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Group.
- Jordan Bisanz, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Dorothy Foehr and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Host-Microbiome Interactions
- Daniel Cosgrove, professor and Eberly Family Chair of Biology
- Hong Ma, professor of biology, Huck Chair in Plant Reproductive Development and Evolution
- Joel Leja, Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Early Career Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Andrew Patterson, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor, professor of molecular toxicology in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology
- Mikael Rechtsman, professor of physics, associate head for research
- Mauricio Terrones, George A. and Margaret M. Downsbrough Head of the Department of Physics, Evan Pugh University Professor, professor of chemistry and of materials science and engineering in the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Research
Research in the Eberly College of Science is continuing to drive impact, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration at the University-level and beyond, and showcase the breadth and depth of expertise that the college is home to. This research includes:
- Could an Earth-like alien civilization detect us? — Jason Wright’s lab is investigating Earth’s detectability from across the cosmos
- Complete genome sequences of six ape species unveiled — Kateryna Makova’s lab is working on completing genome sequences of ape species
- Q&A: Microscopic robots may shape the future of health, tech, and the environment — Stewart Mallory’s lab is researching the collective behavior of self-propelled microscopic particles
- Eberly researchers and their various roles in quantum science
- Structure of tick-borne virus revealed at atomic resolution for the first time — Joyce Jose’s lab is studying tick-borne viruses
- Mysterious ‘red dots’ in early universe may be ‘black hole star’ atmospheres — Joel Leja’s lab is investigating the origins of galaxies in the universe
- Genes associated with obesity shared across ancestries, researchers find — Santhosh Girirajan’s lab is researching genes associated with obesity
- Newly discovered ‘super-Earth’ offers prime target in search for alien life — Suvrath Mahadevan’s lab is involved in research related to the discovery of a possible “super-Earth”
- Unique bond identified as key to viral infection speed — Ganesh Anand’s lab is researching an imbalance in viruses
- Tiny robots use sound to self-organize into intelligent groups — Igor Aronson’s lab is researching acoustic signaling to model micro-sized robots that use sound waves to coordinate into large swarms
- New method calculates rate of gene expression to understand cell fate — Wenxin Long’s lab is studying the ability to understand the nuances of gene expression and a cell’s fate
Alumni impact and recognition
Our alumni are being recognized as they stay connected with Penn State and Eberly while serving their own communities within Pennsylvania and beyond:
- Chemistry alumnus Richard Gottscho gave a $1.5 million gift to support Penn State startups and enhance research commercialization across the University.
- Physics alumnus John Panitz donated several exhibits from his work on the original Atom-Probe and a collection of Müller’s research materials to the college.
- Biochemistry and molecular biology alumnus Ryan Henrici was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award by the Penn State Alumni Association.
- Math alumna Haley McClain Hill shared her story about using her Penn State experience to create her own business — TORCH Warriorwear.
- Biology alumna Julianne Gardner used her science background to start her own entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Bottimals.
- Biology alumna Barbara Dalton was honored with the Alumni Fellow Award by the Penn State Alumni Association.
- Alumni Mario Ciabarra (science), Thomas Gardner (biology), Madhumita Ghosh-Dastidar (statistics), Maura McLaughlin (astronomy and astrophysics), Janda Kirk Griffith Panitz (physics), and John Panitz (physics) were honored with the Outstanding Science Alumni Award by the board of directors of the Eberly College of Science Alumni Society.
- Biology alumna Jocelyn J. Fitzgerald was honored with a Scholar Alumni Award from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College.
- Chemistry alumna Gail Folena-Wasserman was honored with a Fox Graduate School Alumni Society Award from the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School.
- Alumnus Matt Rhodes was recognized with the inaugural Beecher Loftus Technology Transfer Catalyst Award, which was endowed through a gift from Patricia Beecher Loftus.
University-wide impact
Eberly is a playing strong role in initiatives that are taking place across the University:
- The Big Ten Neuroscience Annual Meeting was held at Penn State’s University Park campus, which brought together interdisciplinary researchers from across the University as well as members from all 18 Big Ten schools.
- Eberly launched a new Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology degree to prepare students to tackle the cross-disciplinary questions and problems related to the brain, the nervous system and its interactions with the body and environment, and brain health.
- The University launched a new center dedicated to quantum science, the Center for Theory of Emergent Quantum Matter, which will be led by physics professor Jainendra Jain.
Student success and honors
Students at all levels within Eberly, from undergraduates to doctoral students, are making the most of their college experience to prepare them for post-grad life.
- Keuyoung Kim, chemistry alumnus who graduated last spring, was awarded the Churchilll Scholarship.
- Nate Carey, biotechnology alumnus who graduated last spring, was honored with the Oswald Award.
- Three undergraduates were awarded Goldwater Scholarships — chemistry student Elisabeth Groff, physics student Luc Schrauf, and biotechnology student Megan von Abo.
- Physics graduate student Ish Gupta was selected to receive the Alumni Association Dissertation Award, physics graduate student Garrett Wendel was selected to receive the Penn State Alumni Association Scholarship, and master of biotechnology student, now alumnus Nate Carey was selected to receive the Professional Master’s Excellence Award by the J. Jeffery and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School.
- Chemistry graduate students Kristen Aviles and Edward Hilvano and physics graduate student Pranav Diwakar were honored with the Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award by the J. Jeffery and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School.
- Biotechnology student Megan von Abo was awarded the Astronaut Scholarship.
- Former student trustee and B.S./MBA student Kevin Schulyer discusses his time on the Penn State Board of Trustees.
- Five Eberly students were named to the Presidential Leadership Academy for the 2025-26 cohort.
- Biology doctoral student Naomi Huntley spent her summer completing an internship with QIAGEN.
- Physics doctoral candidate Emma Steinebronn shared her passion for outreach efforts through her involvement in the PAW Pals program.
- Doctoral students in physics and astronomy and astrophysics — Viviana Anahi Caceres and Kanishk Pandey — received U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships for the 2025-26 academic year.
- Biology graduate student Katie Yan spoke about her journey in science at ENIVSION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women.
- Neuroscience doctoral student Chad Brunswick was selected to receive a National Research Service Award from the National Institute on Aging.
Staff recognitions
The college's faculty, postdocs, students, and — in particular — staff are essential to keeping the day-to-day operations of the college in motion and often work behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
College staff are integral pieces of the college's education, research, and outreach missions. More than 20 members of the college were recognized by the college's Kudos initiative and by Penn State’s University-wide “We Are!” feature.
Beyond these individual recognitions, rankings and accolades, what really defines the college is discovery, community and commitment to education. The past year has been marked with extraordinary momentum and progress, thanks to the passion and dedication the college community — faculty, staff, postdocs, students, alumni and friends.