Inspiration Dissemination

Your gastrointestinal tract is home to hundreds of bacterial species that play essential roles in digestion and metabolism. As this field of research expands it is becoming increasingly clear that these microbes influence systems beyond the gut: they can even impact brain functioning. These effects were once thought to occur indirectly over the span of minutes to hours through complex chemical signaling pathways. Over the past 15 years, however, scientists have discovered that gut bacteria can communicate directly with the brain via the nervous system, transmitting signals in a matter of seconds and reshaping how we understand the gut–brain axis. This week, we’re joined by Kevin Rice, a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Department of Microbiology, co-advised by Dr. Maude David and Dr. Kenton Hokanson. Kevin’s research focuses on how human gut cells interact with neurons and the role that the microbiome may play in influencing neurodevelopmental disorders. Through his work across both Microbiology and Biochemistry & Biophysics, he combines computational approaches with neuroscience techniques to better understand the big impact our microbial communities can have on human health. Tune in this Sunday, June 7th at 7 PM to hear Kevin talk about how pursuing scientific questions has shaped his perspective on what constitutes a worthwhile career and the implications of his work in understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.

Our guest this week is Mark Kerstens, a PhD student at OSU, who studies black-backed woodpeckers with the hope of improving forest management before and after wildfires. Black-backed woodpeckers are ecosystem engineers, creating habitat for many other forest-dwelling species, and Mark's work is helping to inform natural resource managers about what these charasmatic birds may be doing.

Millions of people visit U.S. National Parks each year. The amazing flora, fauna, and natural ecosystems of these parks draw visitors from all over the world to the United States. Wes Binder, an OSU Ph.D. Student, works exclusively in one of the most famous U.S. National Parks, Yellowstone. His work focuses on understanding dynamics between two of the top predators - wolves and cougars. In this episode, we talk to Wes about not only his doctoral research, but the decade he has spent tracking, trapping, and studying these animals.

Molecular biology is often introduced through the central dogma: DNA makes RNA, and RNA makes protein. But biology is rarely that simple. In this episode, Sanjay discusses how discoveries such as non-coding RNAs have expanded our understanding of how genetic information works, and how he uses computational approaches to investigate the functions and structures of these mysterious molecules. Tune in to hear about the frontier of RNA biology, the shift from PhD to postdoc, and Sanjay’s unique journey from the social sciences into biophysics. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Hannah Stuwe.

Many wildlife populations experience change over time. For some, this can be defined as “boom” and “bust” periods – cycles of change where population numbers rise and fall. Understanding these can be a major challenge for scientists and wildlife managers, particularly for species who have not historically been monitored. One such species, the gray-tailed vole, is being studied by PhD student Austin Nash and his collaborators here at Oregon State University. This episode reviews some of the ecology of this super cool endemic (only found in the Willamette Valley) vole, and Austin's journey to grad school.

Imagine you are in the produce section of the grocery store picking out your fruit for the week, and you remember the apple marketing slogan “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Once you make your way over to the apples, you are almost guaranteed to find a variety that fits your preference for taste and texture. These varieties are only made possible because of grafting techniques, a method for combining and reproducing desirable traits in fruit trees. Pear cultivation uses similar techniques, but producing desirable traits such as dwarfing, that apples so readily display remains a challenge in pear cultivation. This is why the selection of pear varieties is so dwarfed (pun intended) compared to that of apples. This week on the show we are joined by Claire Pierce, a 2nd year master’s student in the Department of Horticulture. Claire is co-advised by Kelsey Galimba (OSU) and Jessica Waite (USDA-ARS), and conducts her research at the Hood River Research Station. The long-term goal of Claire’s research is to diversify the available rootstocks used in the pear industry and improve yield for agricultural pear cultivation. The first step is to find compatible rootstocks (the base of the plant) and scions (the top of the plant) that exhibit dwarfing characteristics, something that is limited in the current pear industry. The next step is developing root structure phenotype characterization methods; a classically tricky task to accomplish due to the roots being hidden underground and all that. Tune into KBVR 88.7 FM at 7:00 pm PST on April 12th to hear Claire talk about how she is overcoming these challenges and gaining valuable experience along the way. Claire’s story is one filled with moments of being in the right place at the right time and leaning into making connections. If you want to see more pictures of Claire’s work and follow her through her field season this year, check out the Galimba Pear and Cherry Research Lab Instagram account @galimbalabosu.

Satellite imagery has transformed how scientists study the ocean, particularly true today with the recent launch of a new NASA satellite. However, understanding more of the oceans through satellite imagery requires data validation obtained at sea. In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Alexander Bailess shares how he combines remote sensing with field-based oceanography to ground-truth satellite data and better understand marine ecosystems across multiple spatiotemporal scales. Alexander sails aboard research vessels to collect ocean data while satellites pass overhead, while also tracking the harmful phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia, some species of which produce the neurotoxin domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning. Listen in to hear about Alexander’s research both above and below the ocean, and the path that led him to grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Alaskan wolf populations can have varied diets, likely shaped by the landscape and prey availability. But how can we study these mobile, remote animals and what is the extent of knowledge gained? In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Zach Muniz explains how wolf scat can reveal not only what wolves are eating, but also the parasites they may be exposed to. Using materials from the Levi Lab, collaborators, and public databases, Zach is developing methods to study helminth parasites in the digestive tracts of Alaskan wolves. Listen to hear more about Zach’s research, the value of noninvasive wildlife science, and his journey to and through grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Emilee Lance.

As the occurrence and intensity of wildfires in Oregon annually increase, there is an urgent need to understand how these events impact community ecology in affected areas. This episode of Inspiration Dissemination, we talk to Noelle Foster, an M.Sc. Student in the department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences about her work studying bird communities in the Oregon Cascades using remote listening devices.

Everyone living on the U.S. west coast has likely heard of "The Big One". This earthquake is commonly said to be "due any day now" and will likely have devastating consequences for coastal communities. Thankfully, researchers like this week's guest, Amina Meselhe, focus on understanding the potential extent of consequences from extreme events like The Big One and explore potential strategies for improving safety or community resilience.