Academic Subjects

Travel with a ray of light from its origin in the far reaches of space to its ultimate destination, the retina, and even further: transformed to information in the human brain.

Dr. Hurlock is a chemist and material scientist in the Materials and System Design team, a part of the Nuclear Materials group at PNNL. Dr. Hurlock’s work focuses on the development and demonstration of scalable separations using processed sorbent materials. His work seeks to elucidate structural–property relationships of sorbents under process conditions to gain material design insights for new and emerging separations.

SPEAKER: Dr. Wenji Dong, Paul Hohenschuh Distinguished Professor, WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

BIOGRAPHY:

Wenji Dong is a professor in Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at Washington State University. Dr. Dong received his B.S./M.S. in chemistry from Lanzhou University, China, Ph.D. in biophysics from London…

Presented by Jeremiah Grissett and Maureen Marchant.

Oscar Hernandez, from Dr. Cliff Berkman’s research group, will present a literature review on the application of targeted breast cancer therapy on colon cancer cells. The data presented will support the efficacy of the antibody drug conjugate RC48 through in vitro and mechanistic studies using colon cancer cells that express HER2 proteins. Overall, summary of objectives, findings and conclusions will be presented.

Title: Beyond the Harm Principle: What Students Can Teach Us About Cyber-Sanctity

Speaker: Dr. Sherri Conklin, Washington State University

Abstract: Current ethical frameworks in cybersecurity seem to gravitate toward utilitarian-style or rights-based harm reduction, yet this fails to capture the full scope of moral injury. Drawing on recent experiences developing and co-teaching…

Ashlyn Belton, from Dr. Jack Zhang’s research group, will present a literature review on Application of Semiconductor Spin Defects for Quantum Computing.

Program: Link will open in  a new tab.

Program: Link will open in a new tab.

Design of third-generation bioactive glasses: Challenges and future research directions from the perspective of a materials scientist

Presented by Dr. Ashutosh Goel, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University

Abstract

The concept of third-generation biomaterials is based on the principle of activating a synchronized

sequence of genes at the…

“Neuronal Markers of Adolescent Reward Learning,” presented by Dr. Gabriela Manzano Nieves, Binghamton University.

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Program:

Come see Karl Falskow and Ben Findley’s junior recital! Featuring collaborative pianist Elena Panchenko and featured soprano soloist Ava Hemphill.

Eric Jacobo, from Dr. Jim Brozik’s research group, will present on “The Sequences Specific Binding and Thermodynamic Driving Forces of the Extended Region of Aquaporin-4 Binding to α-Syntrophin.”

Curious about where your STEM degree can take you?

Join us for STEM Futures: Exploring Careers Beyond College, a professional networking event designed to connect students with experienced leaders across science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related fields.

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An update on the Red Planet, and an inside look at the plans for human exploration for this intriguing world.

An update on the Red Planet, and an inside look at the plans for human exploration for this intriguing world.

Ivan A. Popov, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Washington State University, will present his seminar, “Pushing Actinides to the Limit: Bonding and Reactivity at Extreme Oxidation States.”

SPEAKER: Dr. Norbert Kruse, Emeritus Professor, WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

BIOGRAPHY:

Norbert Kruse graduated from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, in 1976 in chemistry and chemical engineering. He then moved to the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin for a PhD…

Program: Link will open in this tab.

Join the Foley Institute as we welcome Shankar Narayan, former director of the Technology and Liberty Project at the ACLU of Washington. Narayan will discuss how AI and Big Tech reshape rights, equity, and justice.

Phong Huynh, from Jack Zhang’s research group, will present on “Conventional and Modern Approaches in Iodine Adsorption: Mechanisms and Host–Guest Interactions.”

John was born in Wisconsin and obtained an A.B. from Ripon College (WI) as a double major in Chemistry and History. John was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a summer in the lab of Hairong Guan at the Univ. Cincinnati for a 10 week crash course in synthesis. John continued studying the coordination chemistry of polydentate sulfur ligands with transition metals under the guidance of Mas Iimura until he departed for Lafayette, IN and graduate school at Purdue University. At Purdue, John worked almost exclusively with the actinide elements and obtained his Ph.D. under Suzanne Bart. Their work focused on utilizing redox-active ligands to perform multi-electron bond cleavage reactions. After Purdue, John relocated to Ypsilanti for a post doctoral appointment at the Univ. Michigan under Nate Szymczak where he investigated intramolecular boron Lewis acids to promote bond activation reactions. In 2021, John accepted a position at Drury University (PUI) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. His lab studies the fundamentals of hydrogen bonds tuning through adjacent redox events.

Program:

Materials in Extreme Applications: Compact Fusion

Presented by Dr. Sergey Tsurkan, Research Materials Scientist, Avalanche Energy

Abstract:

Complex concentrated alloys (CCA’s) have recently emerged as candidate materials for extreme environments such as those found within fusion reactors [1], [2], [3] and hypersonic systems [4]. A large area…

Iaroslav Gureev, from Dr. Ivan Popov’s research group, will present on “Orbital Localization–Driven Disruption of Peripheral Bonding in Valence-Isoelectronic B12– Clusters.”

Program: link will open in this tab.

Program: Link will open in this tab.

Engaging Story Hour and Free Art Activities for Children and Caregivers! Saturday, March 14, 2026 10:00am–12:00pm

Bring the family to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU on the second Saturday of each month (through June 2026*) for story time and hands-on art activities! Each month kicks…

Pursuing a master’s degree or graduate certificate as a working professional can offer numerous benefits, both for your career and for the company you work for. It’s a strategic investment in your professional development and can lead to increased expertise,…

Featuring Dr. Gurtej Sandhu, Principal Fellow and Corporate Vice President at Micron Technology, this 2026 Innovative Leaders Lecture Series event will highlight Dr. Sandhu’s insights on the future of memory chip technology and the pivotal role continuous innovation plays in shaping the next era of computing.

SPEAKER: Dr. Sakcham Bairoliya, Postdoctoral Research Associate, WSU Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Sakcham Bairoliya is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at Washington State University. He received his Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University, where he investigated extracellular nucleic…

Ananya Biswas, a member of Dr. Sharma Anjali’s research group, will present “Dendrimer-Mediated Corneal Drug Delivery: Bridging Anatomical Barriers to Translational Therapeutics.”

Title: Scholarship Opportunities for Cybersecurity Students

Speaker: Dr. Assefaw Gebremedhin, Washington State University

Abstract: This seminar will cover several exciting opportunities for cybersecurity students. First is WSU’s CyberCorps SFS program. This program provides scholarships for cybersecurity undergraduates and graduate students, funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). In return…

Join us at the Commons 110 starting at 5PM for an evening of free food, and review of your Executive…

Rishabh Kumar, a member of Dr. Jeff Bell’s research group, will present “Metal–Support Interactions and Magnetic Field Effects in CO₂ Electrochemical Reduction.”

Join the Foley Institute as we welcome Emily Vraga, Professor of Health Communication at the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Vraga will discuss how we can rebuild social norms that value the correction of online…

Byron Fisher, a member of Dr. Xiaofeng Guo’s research group, will present “Computational Thermodynamics of Molten Salts.”

“The Dynamics of Reciprocity: Perspective-Taking in Human–Horse Interactions and Its Impact on Well-Being,’ presented by Dr. Katy Schroeder, associate professor in the Department of Counseling Education at the University of Iowa.

An introduction to one of the most exciting innovations in astronomy: so-called multimessenger astronomy.

Join us in person for our annual weekend Veterinary Spring Conference. There will be a large and small animal track and a track for technicians & assistants. We encourage veterinarians, technicians, and assistants to attend.

Kids’ Science and Engineering Day 2026!

An introduction to one of the most exciting innovations in astronomy: so-called multimessenger astronomy.

Please join the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering for a special departmental seminar by Dr. Joan B. Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at Michigan State University and recipient of the 2016 Stockholm Water Prize and 2024 IWA Global Water Award.

Dr. Rose will share reflections on four…

SPEAKER: Dr. Matthew Bernards, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Idaho

BIOGRAPHY:

Matthew Bernards is a Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of Idaho, where he has been a faculty member since 2016. Since August 2019, he has also served as the Director…

Mark E. Eberhart is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines and founder of First Principles Materials Design and Software. His research develops first-principles methods for understanding bonding and reactivity directly from the electron charge density. Building on QTAIM, he has introduced morphological and geometric analyses that quantify bond directionality, charge redistribution, and electrostatic structure in molecules, enzymes, and materials. His group has also developed electron-density analysis software used in both academic and applied research. Dr. Eberhart holds degrees from the University of Colorado (B.S., M.S.) and MIT (Ph.D.).

Exhibition

Light is ethereal; it opens and spreads. It radiates and fills spaces. It illuminates both the beautiful and tragic as well as the mundane, bringing the contents of our lives into sharper focus. In a traditional sense, light is also ephemeral—it is with us, and it wanes;…

Exhibition

In 2016, the museum commissioned Trimpin, a ground-breaking composer and sculptor, to design and create a major new work for the WSU community. Ambiente432 debuted at the inauguration of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and has now entered the museum’s permanent collection.

Comprised of 12 motion-responsive…

The MFA Thesis Exhibition highlights the culminating work of Keegan Baatz, S. Camille Comer, and Kahyun (Kate) Uhm, offering visitors a dynamic view of emerging artists at a defining moment in their careers.

Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm, CLOSED Sun, Mon

Mimi Jung: An Unfinished Origin brings together recent sculptural works from this Helena, Montana-based artist. The loom has long served…

Joseph Pacheco, a member of Dr. Cliff Berkman’s research group, will give a talk about “The first ADC bearing the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 as a payload with conservation of the fragile electrophilic warhead.”

Shinhyo Bang, a PhD student in Dr. Xiaofeng Guo’s research group, is giving his final defense titled, “The Role of Cation Polyhedra in the Thermodynamics of Actinide-Bearing Zircon and Related Framework.”

An Artist Talk and Reception with Mimi Jung

Tuesday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00pm Jordan Schnitzer Museum of…