Skip to main content
Science Journal

2023 Annual Report

Tracy Langkilde photo as dean for the Eberly College of Science.
A message from the Dean
students passing by life sciences building
Eberly College of Science at a glance
pie chart of expenditures by college
Research expenditures

Research expenditures totaling $128,534,000 in the college during fiscal year 2022–2023, up 17 percent over last year.

gloved hands holding petri dish which is a diagram
Through the years

More than $1.1 billion in research expenditures in the college in the last decade.

pie chart of various funders
Research awards

External research awards granted to 511 researchers in the college, totaling $75.6 million during fiscal year 2022–2023.

Science Journal annual report hero
Emily Kuhns
How the Technology Advisory Boards help researchers bring discoveries to market

We spoke with members of the college community about how the Technology Advisory Boards helped guide their research at any stage of development.

Two mudskippers in shallow water

In the past year, nine Eberly college researchers from four departments authored articles for The Conversation, a nonprofit news outlet that makes scientist-authored articles freely avabile to other news outlets.

The Conversation
Education
student drawing organic chemistry structures on tableet
90% of all undergraduate students

at the University Park campus have taken at least one science class.

LA mark talks to students in large lecture hall
6 other colleges

at the University Park campus require Eberly College of Science classes for all their degree programs.

Professor Amine talks with learning assistant Jood
5 departments in the college

are among the top ten across Penn State for the highest number of student enrollments—the most of any college.

Science Journal annual report hero

As the STEM backbone of Penn State, the Eberly College of Science has the responsibility and privilege of educating and inspiring students and research trainees in Eberly as well as in majors across the entire University. The reach is broad: Eberly college faculty teach the second-highest number of student credit hours across the University, and majors in every college at Penn State University Park have a science course requirement. 

mcpeak works with student
First-year student support

RiSE UP (Representation in Science at Eberly for Undergraduate Prehealth Students) supports about a dozen incoming first-year students who have interest in health professions, through six weeks of summer programming in collaboration with the Penn State College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Eberly College of Science alumna Katie McPeak, a primary-care pediatrician and medical director for health equity of the CHOP Primary Care Network, has been an integral partner who sources mentors to work with each of the RiSE UP students throughout the summer program and organizes laboratory tours and real-world experiences during a day trip to the hospital. 

group of students in front of large Remote Area Medical sign

In spring 2023, the Remote Area Medical group—a student organization led, in part, by Eberly College of Science students David Starnes and Hannah Klatte—held a free clinic with more than 200 volunteers that provided over $76,000 in free medical, dental, and vision care to more than 100 patients. Many of these student volunteers are part of our premedical programs.

Learning, leading, and giving back
Engagement Beyond the Classroom
67 percent of spring 2023 graduates

engaged in undergraduate research and/or internships.

300 undergraduate student

per semester, on average, registered for research credit this past year, working with a faculty member in the Eberly College of Science on out-of-classroom research.

More than 40 students

participated in an on-campus research experience during summer 2023, all of whom were supported with programming and scholarship funding or wages.

Science Journal annual report hero
For my project, I’m focusing on creating rice plants that are more sustainable to hopefully increase yield and productivity.”
Patrick Freed, a third- year student majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, who participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program
Patrick Freed in front of his research poster
Students in tree during study abroad
Study abroad

Two hundred six Eberly College of Science students studied abroad in 2022–23, the most ever in an academic year.

three video stills, each with student

Hear from our students, in their own voices, about the experiences shaping their college careers.

Undergraduate research and cooperative work experiences
life sciences bridge among flowers
Emerging partnerships - Milton Hershey School

The college and its Office of Science Outreach began a new partnership with the Milton Hershey School, a private K–12 boarding school in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Qualifying students live on campus for a cost-free educational experience, and 61.2 percent of enrolled students identify as a minority that has been historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Students attended workshops on the Milton Hershey School’s campus and visited Penn State University Park. The college will continue developing this partnership, with the goal of supporting a diverse future STEM workforce and encouraging students to attend Penn State.

kids wear safety glasses

The college entered a new partnership with the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for its 2023 Space Day event, which focused on educational content around space exploration and entrepreneurship. The college’s outreach and communications offices worked with the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics to integrate graduate and undergraduate student volunteers into programming that provided hands-on activities and demos, displayed rocket parts and satellite models, and provided talks on trending space topics. The popular event attracted more than 300 visitors from central Pennsylvania.

Emerging partnerships - Whitaker Center
Alumni supporting our students
Anjoreoluwa Adegboyo,
Anjoreoluwa Adegboyo, biochemistry and molecular biology major

"Your generous gift has allowed me to have a balanced college experience by focusing on my studies, joining and participating in clubs and other extracurricular activities, attending conferences and seminars, and developing new relationships. It has allowed me to develop as a well-rounded and better student and supports my dream of making a difference in society as a medical doctor and biomedical researcher."
Adegboyo, class of 2026, is a recipient of the Aldine Lucille Cech Honors Scholarship.

Kelle Hart
Kelle Hart, graduate student in chemistry

"I am a first-generation college student and aspire to be the first member of my family to earn a Ph.D. Your gift helped cover expenses from my move to Penn State and helps provide a supportive home to go to at the end of the day. I hope my research on green-energy catalysis will help make the world a better place in terms of energy consumption and waste."
Hart is a recipient of the Nellie H. and Oscar L. Roberts Scholarship

A first-year Penn State student in the Prehealth Summer Bridge Program smiles during a Lunch & Learn session with the Eberly College of Science's associate deans
Your gift can support students like Anjoreoluwa and Kelle

See how you can make a difference by contacting the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Call (814) 865-5798 or email science.alumni@psu.edu today.

Science Journal annual report hero

The state of Pennsylvania ranks 49th out of all 50 states for its support of higher-education funding. Additionally, students in the Eberly College of Science have higher-than-average need compared to other students at the University Park campus, and the average dollar amount of University-level scholarships granted to Eberly students is less than the average for students at University Park. With your help, the college awarded $5.951 million in merit- and need-based scholarships to 1,578 students in the 2022–23 academic year. By offering your support, you can make a considerable impact on Eberly College of Science students, make recruitment more competitive, and continue to elevate our college among the top academic and research institutions in Pennsylvania, nationally, and globally.

Alumnus’s gift honors life-changing generosity

Alumnus Joseph Moffitt has given $1.5 million to Penn State to support premedicine and education students.

Joe Moffitt among flowers

Q&A with Distinguished Alumnus Mark Becker 

Dean Langkilde sat down with alumnus Mark Becker, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and former president of Georgia State University.

Langkilde nad Becker amongst video cameras and lights

Outstanding Science Alumni

The college recognized three alumni who have a record of significant professional achievements in their field and who are outstanding role models for students in the college.

Outstanding Science Alumni with dean Tracy Langkilde

Honoring family and recognizing the importance of plant biology

College alumnus Harold Kohn and his wife, Carol Kohn, have honored the legacy of their grandparents Louis and Hedwig Sternberg in several ways.

Axtell speaks with Kohns at arboretum

Science Journal 2023 Annual Report PDF

Science Journal cover with collage of pictures

Connect with us!

Image of keyboard keys with popular social media logos replacing the letters on the keys.