Q&A: New text to serve as reference for advances in plant development
| psu.edu
Hong Ma, professor of biology and Huck Chair in Plant Reproductive Development and Evolution, is the co-editor of a new book, Regulation of Plant Development, recently published by Springer Nature. The book presents a synthesis of recent advances in plant vegetative growth and diverse aspects of reproductive development and provides an integrated reference for scientists advancing genetic improvement of crop plants for sustainability, according to Ma and the co-editors.
Engineering professor named American Society of Mechanical Engineers fellow
| psu.edu
Ibrahim Ozbolat, a professor of engineering science and mechanics and of biomedical engineering, has been elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The honor places him among a select group of engineers acknowledged for their impact on research, innovation and the profession.
Third Center for RNA Molecular Biology Symposium brings together researchers
| psu.edu
In this Q&A, Paul Babitzke, Don Bryant Chair in Microbial Physiology, and Philip Bevilacqua, distinguished professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology, shared about the history of the Center for RNA Molecular Biology and the importance of its annual symposium.
Penn State student wins international award for sourdough microbiome research
| psu.edu
Quinn Burnett, a fourth-year food science student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was recognized for her research on how sourdough starter microbiomes affect the digestibility of breads at the IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026 conference.
STAIR Leadership Summit aims to fill unmet need in research administration
| psu.edu
Penn State and the U.S. National Science Foundation partnered to address a growing need to strengthen national research infrastructure through inter-institutional training and shared resources, highlighting the evolving role of research administrators as strategic leaders in advancing science, managing sponsored programs and driving institutional impact.
How does conservation agriculture impact farm workers?
| psu.edu
An interdisciplinary team in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, in collaboration with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a conservation nonprofit working with farmers, has received a $250,000 grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.
Common protective soybean seed treatment may not increase profitability
| psu.edu
Many soybean farmers use seeds treated with fungicides to ward off disease, but the profits from these increased yields might not offset the cost of the treatment in most cases, according to a study done by researchers at Penn State.
Q&A: How better climate data supports smarter environmental decisions
Accurate measurements are the foundation of effective environmental management and decision-making.
Finding new ways to measure the local sustainability of rural tourism
| psu.edu
Tourism affects local populations differently in counties across the U.S., but measuring these effects may now be easier thanks to a new tool developed as part of a study by researchers at Penn State.
WATCH: Advancing biorobotics by studying the natural world
| psu.edu
Learn from Penn State College of Engineering researchers who study birds, fish, lizards, insects and other animals to develop innovative machines that deepen our understanding of the world around us.
Gugino named associate dean for research operations and graduate education
| psu.edu
Longtime faculty member and college leader Beth Gugino has been named associate dean for research operations and graduate education in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
Scientists design a new reactor that turns renewable electricity into a storable fuel
| earth.com
Scientists have created a reactor capable of converting carbon dioxide into storable methane fuel using microbes and renewable energy.