Pulse #44

Marks named a Hastings Center fellow

Bioethics Program Director Jonathan Marks is among 13 new fellows recognized this year for their work advancing scholarship and public knowledge of complex ethical issues in health, health care, life sciences research and the environment.

Stewart honored with early-career investigator award

Thomas Stewart, assistant professor of biology in the Eberly College of Science, has been honored with the 2024 W.M. Cobb Award in Morphological Sciences by the American Association for Anatomy.

Ecology Students granted College of Agricultural Sciences awards

Three graduate students from the Huck Institutes’ Ecology program — Emma Rice, Marissa Kopp, Jessica Brown—recently received awards and recognition for their outstanding research contributions.

Researchers assemble 51 animal genomes using publicly accessible workflows

An international research collaboration has sequenced the genomes of 51 species using a new genome assembly pipeline in the Galaxy platform that reduces sequencing time from months to days.

New role for bacterial enzyme in gut metabolism revealed

A study led by Penn State researchers is the first to show that a new type of bile acid appears at birth, coinciding with establishment of the gut microbiome.

Temperature, humidity may drive future transmission of parasitic worm infections

As climate changes, temperature isn’t the only factor to influence the spread of infectious diseases. Humidity plays a role, too, according to new research.

Ladybug scents offer a more ecologically friendly way to protect crops

A team led by Tombros Early Career Professor Sara Hermann in the College of Agricultural Sciences has developed a novel pest management tool by leveraging the chemical ecology of predator-prey interactions between ladybugs and aphids.

New X-ray crystallography equipment expands research capabilities

The Huck Institutes X-Ray Crystallography Facility has acquired a Lumicks C-Trap2, a dynamic single-molecule microscope that combines optical tweezers, fluorescence, label-free microscopy, and an advanced microfluidics system.