News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Denise Okafor, Huck Early Career Chair in Biophysics and assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and of chemistry at Penn State, teaches a course-based research experience for undergraduates (CURE), where students learn how to create molecular models of biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, to study their function. Credit: Michelle Bixby / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 04, 2025

Research need inspires student opportunity

Unprecedented demand for molecular modeling skills, coupled with a funding award for innovative teaching, leads to the creation of a new course-based research experience for undergraduates.

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Aug 01, 2025

HGSAC co-chairs recognized for symposium success

The outgoing co-chairs of the Huck Graduate Student Advisory Committee, the body representing graduate students in the six Huck-run degree programs, were recognized for their service at a recent meeting of the Huck Executive Committee.

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Sibel Irmak, left, research professor of agricultural and biological engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was honored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 01, 2025

National society honors ag and biological professor for inclusion efforts

Sibel Irmak was recognized at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' annual conference.

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Donna Korzick is the director of graduate training initiatives at the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and a professor of physiology and kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Development. Credit. Penn State. Creative Commons.

Aug 01, 2025

Redefining graduate education through mentorship and innovation

Donna Korzick, director of graduate training initiatives at the Huck Institutes, helps develop — and secure funding for — programs designed to support the next generation of researchers.

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Visitors browse the displays in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building during Penn State's 2024 Ag Progress Days expo. Credit: Michael Houtz/Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. All Rights Reserved.

Jul 30, 2025

Ag Progress Days displays showcase advanced technology, animal health, invasives

A new initiative aimed at developing emerging and advanced technologies to enhance food production, agricultural ecosystems and natural resources will be one of the focal points of the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building at Penn State’s 2025 Ag Progress Days, Aug. 12-14.

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Jul 28, 2025

College of Ag Sciences names first cohort of Land Grant Research Impact Fellows

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has launched the Land Grant Research Impact Fellows program. This new initiative recognizes and supports faculty whose research addresses pressing challenges in Pennsylvania and beyond.

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Sophia Mucciolo, a graduate student in ecology and her adviser Sara Hermann, assistant professor of ecology and of entomology, examine monarch butterfly specimens in the lab. Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State. Creative Commons

Jul 28, 2025

Huck student receives U.S. National Science Foundation fellowship

Sophia Mucciolo, an ecology student affiliated with the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, recently received a fellowship from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

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In front of the main World Health Organization (WHO) building in Geneva, Switzerland, a statue commemorates the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox. Now, researchers at Penn State and the WHO have developed a new method to estimate and predict regional measles vaccination coverage levels even when accurate or timely survey data on vaccination is not available. The new method can be used to guide better targeted vaccination interventions to potentially make measles the next human virus eradicated since smallpox. Credit: © WHO / Christopher Black . All Rights Reserved.

Jul 25, 2025

Predicting vaccination levels without accurate or timely vaccination data

Researchers at Penn State and the World Health Organization develop method to predict measles vaccination levels using routinely collected clinical data on suspected measles cases.

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Using AI-driven pattern recognition, TalkingSick analyzes short voice recordings to detect deviations from a user’s healthy voice baseline. These deviations could signal potential respiratory illnesses before physical symptoms appear. The startup team participated in the NSF I-Corps National Teams program, which they completed in June. The program requires teams to complete at least 100 customer interviews in just seven weeks. Credit: Provided by TalkingSick. All Rights Reserved.

Jul 25, 2025

Startup works to detect respiratory illnesses through vocal patterns

TalkingSick startup launches through Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps programming.

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Jul 24, 2025

Huck Students impress at Forest Genetics conference

Penn State grad students took the Forest Genetics 2025 conference by storm, winning more than half of the poster and presentation awards available. Three Huck trainees were among those recognized.

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