News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Jessica Grembi and Nazifa Tabassum visited Bangladesh this summer as part of the ongoing research project. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Dec 12, 2025

Investigating the microbiome’s role in intestinal disorder in pregnancy

Jessica Grembi, an assistant professor of pharmacology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has received a $500,000 grant from the Gates Foundation to investigate the role of the microbiome in environmental enteropathy — a condition characterized by inflammation of the small intestine that affects nutrient absorption.

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A new study has uncovered several instances of wood warblers — like the magnolia warbler pictured here — passing color-related genes to other species of wood warblers, including those that are not closely related. Credit: Davey Walters. All Rights Reserved.

Dec 11, 2025

Warblers borrow color-related genes from evolutionary neighbors, study finds

Wood warblers, also called New World warblers, are some of the most colorful birds in North America, with more than a hundred species in the family ranging in color from yellow, orange and red to blue, green and pink. A new study led by researchers at Penn State has uncovered several instances of the birds passing color-related genes to other species of wood warblers, including those that are not closely related.

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Dec 11, 2025

Mentorship and communication take center stage at training summit

Huck Institutes’ annual T32 summit underscores benefits of professional development alongside scientific training.

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New research shows how artificial oil-in-water droplets embark on a “treasure hunt,” extending filopodia-like arms toward chemical riches hidden in their environment. The glowing chest symbolizes chemical cues that direct growth and sensing, echoing the way living cells explore their surroundings. Credit: Sanjana Krishna Mari, Sen Laboratory / Penn State. Creative Commons

Dec 09, 2025

In brief: Like living cells, oil-in-water droplets reach out with 'arms'

Oil-in-water droplets respond to chemical cues by forming arm-like extensions that resemble filopodia, which are used by living cells to sense and explore their environment. A research team led by chemists at Penn State studies the droplets to glimpse how matter may have transitioned to life billions of years ago.

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Francisco Dini-Andreote and Andrew Patterson are both faculty in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Dec 08, 2025

Two College of Ag Sciences faculty earn spots on highly cited researchers list

Francisco Dini-Andreote and Andrew Patterson in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are among the most highly cited researchers in 2025, according to the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Group.

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Dec 04, 2025

Institute for Computational and Data Sciences seeks Rising Researchers proposals

The Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) is accepting proposals from Penn State faculty for the next round of the ICDS Rising Researcher Collaborations Funding Opportunity for 2026-27.

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Dec 03, 2025

New test distinguishes vaccine-induced false positives from active HIV infection

A Penn State team has developed a new approach capable of differentiating active HIV infection from false positives — which could potentially accelerate vaccine development and testing.

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Dec 01, 2025

New technique maps genetic variants driving neurodegenerative disease risk

A team led by researchers from Penn State College of Medicine has developed a new method that substantially improves the ability to map the genetic variants that drive disease, particularly neurodegenerative diseases.

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Food science doctoral candidate Auja Bywater was selected as a recipient of the 2025 Pennsylvania Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship. Credit: Auja Bywater / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 24, 2025

Food science graduate student awarded Pennsylvania Space Grant fellowship

Auja Bywater, a doctoral candidate, studies sustainable farming practices and how to make food safer.

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Nov 19, 2025

Postdoctoral Fellow Laurel Seemiller named a Rising Star in Neuroscience

Laurel Seemiller, a postdoctoral fellow in biology, has been named one of The Transmitter’s 25 Rising Stars in Neuroscience. Seemiller is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Nikki Crowley, director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute at University Park, Huck Chair in Neural Engineering and associate professor of biology and of biomedical engineering.

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