How can the same genetic mutation lead to different clinical outcomes?
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A team led by Penn State scientists has developed methods to evaluate how genetic variants elsewhere in an individual’s genome work with a deletion on chromosome 16 — associated with varying neurodevelopmental outcomes including autism, developmental delay and congenital abnormalities — to help determine the features that the individual will manifest.
Vasant Honavar named vice provost for artificial intelligence at Penn State
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Vasant Honavar, who currently serves as the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Biomedical Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, will guide a comprehensive AI strategy and advance Penn State's leadership in human-centered and ethical AI innovation across teaching, learning, research and operations.
Hunters’ appreciation of a targeted deer-management program transcends harvest
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Too many white-tailed deer are damaging forests in the U.S. by eating young plants before they can grow, limiting forest regeneration and damaging biodiversity. To mitigate this challenge, the Pennsylvania Game Commission implemented an initiative called the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) that helps landowners manage deer populations by allowing hunters to harvest more female deer where they are overabundant.
Ag department head earns American Society of Civil Engineers award
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Suat Irmak, professor and head of Penn State’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, received the prestigious Royce J. Tipton Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers at the 2026 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, held April 26-29 in Mobile, Alabama.
Penn State Altoona research lab repeats sweep of two competition categories
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Members of the Penn State Altoona Integrated Social Science Research Lab (ISSRL) were successful once again at the annual Penn State Behrend-Sigma Xi Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference held in Erie on Saturday, April 25. The competition is open to Penn State students and undergraduates from other colleges and universities in the Erie region.
Plant genes influence bacterial evolution in legume-bacteria partnership
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Legumes like soybeans, alfalfa, peas, beans, peanuts and many more can mutualistically partner with soil bacteria called rhizobia to benefit both organisms. Not just any rhizobia will do, however, as specific rhizobia match with specific plants for the best crop outcome, according to a team led by Penn State researchers, who recently discovered that plant genes strongly influence which rhizobial strains plants chose from a diverse mixture.
Penn State places fourth, breaks school record in Shell Eco-Marathon competition
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The Penn State Shell Eco-Marathon Team finished in fourth place at the 2026 Shell Eco-Marathon United States Challenge, which took place April 7-11 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis.
Arts and Architecture announces 2026 faculty, staff, and sustainability awardees
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The College of Arts and Architecture announced eight recipients of faculty, staff and sustainability awards for the 2025-26 academic year.
Lehigh Valley students earn top honors at regional research symposium
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Penn State Lehigh Valley student research posters earned recognition at both campus and regional level research symposia.
Penn State alumnus brings GIS background to agriculture leadership
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Penn State alumnus Jimmy Kroon reflects on how GIS, leadership and public service shaped his path to deputy secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Kroon earned his master of geographic information systems from Penn State in 2011.
Penn State Berks students travel to Seattle area for Alternative Spring Break
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During Penn State's spring break, 10 Penn State Berks students, joined by students from Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Scranton, participated in the University's annual Alternative Spring Break trip, a service trip that allows them to travel to different areas each year. This year, students traveled to the Seattle area, where they worked with members of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe on conservation efforts and with Sound Salmon Solutions on efforts to help restore and protect waterways.
Bare root, big impact: Penn State Extension helps communities plant trees
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More than 1,300 large trees were planted across Pennsylvania this spring through a program helping communities overcome the cost and complexity of expanding local tree canopy. Supported by Penn State Extension and the nonprofit TreePennsylvania, the effort helps municipalities plant dozens of trees at a time with volunteer support and reduced expense.