Materials Research Institute seed grants aim to spark interdisciplinary research
| psu.edu
The Materials Research Institute (MRI) offers the MRI Interdisciplinary Seed Grant to Penn State researchers that encourage high-risk, high-impact collaborative projects across multiple disciplines with great potential for societal benefit. The call for proposals is now open for 2026-27, with applications due by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Jan. 30.
Putting ideas into action: BUILD Night focuses on combating food insecurity
| psu.edu
In early November, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Engineering partnered to host a BUILD Night at the Penn State Learning Center. Attendees worked in teams to map challenges, brainstorm solutions and build prototypes to combat food insecurity by reducing post-harvest waste.
Industry leaders join Penn State to shape the future of Sustainable Labs Program
| psu.edu
Penn State’s Sustainable Labs Program recently hosted its inaugural Industry Day, bringing together industry leaders, graduate researchers, campus partners and undergraduate sustainability consultants. The day strengthened connections between student learning and industry expertise and shaped a long-term vision for sustainable research spaces through hands-on opportunities that build sustainability knowledge and professional skills.
Dipanjan Pan named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
| psu.edu
Professor Dipanjan Pan, the Dorothy Foehr Huck & J. Lloyd Chair Professor in Nanomedicine at Penn State has been named a 2025 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Being named an NAI Fellow is the highest professional distinction currently awarded to inventors in the nation.
Q&A: Environmental protection benefits the American economy and public health
| psu.edu
The impacts of environmental protection on public health and the economy outweigh the costs of implementing and enforcing environmental regulations, according to Penn State researchers who conducted a cost-benefit analysis using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
$1.74M grant to fund Eastern Fire Network
| psu.edu
As large wildfires become more frequent in the eastern U.S., a new research initiative based at Penn State will develop big-picture goals for future study. Erica Smithwick, director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at the University, will lead the effort.
Opposing forces in cells could hold clues to treating disease
| psu.edu
A newly revealed molecular tug-of-war may have implications for better understanding how a multitude of diseases and disorders — including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and immune disorders — originate, as well as how to potentially treat them, according to researchers at Penn State.
The mystery of the missing ocean plastic
| by Raymond Najjar
Millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, yet we can find only a fraction of it. New research uncovers where this missing pollution may actually be hiding.
Graduate students conduct food safety research abroad with NSF grants
| psu.edu
Two graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences traveled abroad and gained experience in food safety research over the summer thanks to funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
The stories that defined 2025 for the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State
| psu.edu
From research to training programs and an international award, these are the stories that defined the past year for the One Health Microbiome Center.
Evaluating the evaluators: How do plant virus genome analysis tools stack up?
| psu.edu
Learning more about the genome structure of defective virus copies has the potential to reveal clues about the virus’s biology, but researchers found that five tools available to identify these defective genomes from data obtained through next generation sequencing datasets may be inconsistent.
Professor’s 'Anthropology of Alcohol' course a perennial favorite with students
| psu.edu
Kirk French, assistant professor of anthropology and film production/media studies, is wrapping up another fall teaching "ANTH 140: Anthropology of Alcohol," which for nearly a decade has been one of Penn State’s most popular general-education courses.