News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will enable Penn State researchers to explore whether high-resolution satellite imagery can accurately identify insect and disease damage to crops on small African farms.

Nov 09, 2018

Gates Foundation grant to support research on satellite crop surveillance

A research team in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has received a Grand Challenges Explorations grant — an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A group led by David Hughes, associate professor of entomology and biology, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Pest and Disease Surveillance via High-Resolution Satellites."

Full Article

Nov 09, 2018

Professor named 2018 distinguished member of Association for Computing Machinery

Vasant G. Honavar, professor and Edward Frymoyer Chair of Information Sciences and Technology, has been named a distinguished member of the Association for Computing Machinery, the world’s largest and most prestigious association of computing professionals. Honavar, who is one of 49 distinguished members named for 2018, was recognized for his outstanding scientific contributions to computing.

Full Article

A new study used rice seedlings to demonstrate that the stress of hotter temperatures may trigger a response in a plant’s RNA to manage the change in its environment. IMAGE: PETER NGUYEN

Nov 05, 2018

Hot temperatures can trigger an RNA response in plants

The stress of hotter temperatures may trigger a response in a plant's RNA, or ribonucleic acid — part of a cell's genetic messaging system — to help manage this change in its environment, according to a team of Penn State researchers.

Full Article

Oct 31, 2018

Partnership announced between Commonwealth Campuses and shared facilities

The Office of the Vice President for Research at Penn State has announced the launch of a new program to support increased usage of shared core facilities and services by faculty at the Commonwealth Campuses.

Full Article

Penn State Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering Andrew Zydney talks with Schreyer Scholars during an Oct. 18 visit to Fresenius Kidney Care in Boalsburg.

Oct 29, 2018

Scholars get firsthand look at kidney care

Andrew Zydney, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Huck Institutes' Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology, accompanied eight undergrad honors students to Fresenius Kidney Care in Boalsburg to see the process of hemodialysis in action.

Full Article

Dr. Janet Iwasa presents at the Center for Cellular Dynamics' "Art of Cellular Biology" event

Oct 19, 2018

Innovative meeting brings scientists and artists together

The University of Utah’s Dr. Janet Iwasa headlined the “Art of Cellular Biology” event.

Full Article

A metal-free ribonucleotide reductase—an enzyme required for DNA replication—from bacterial pathogens uses a post-translationally modified amino acid (pictured) to initiate an essential DNA biosynthesis reaction. The modification (indicated by arrow) is essential for initiation of ribonucleotide reduction. This metal-free enzyme could allow microbes associated with strep throat and pneumonia infections to more effectively proliferate during iron/manganese limitation imposed by the human immune system. IMAGE: GAVIN PALOWITCH, PENN STATE

Oct 18, 2018

Pathogens may evade immune response with metal-free enzyme

This metal-free enzyme could allow microbes associated with strep throat and pneumonia infections to more effectively proliferate during iron/manganese limitation imposed by the human immune system.

Full Article

Oct 15, 2018

New Predictive Models May Transform Personalized Treatment Of Infectious Disease

Penn State’s Steven Schiff wins prestigious NIH research award

Full Article

Sep 25, 2018

Lung inflammation from childhood asthma linked with later anxiety

Persistent lung inflammation may be one possible explanation for why having asthma during childhood increases your risk for developing anxiety later in life, according to Penn State researchers.

Full Article

Sep 19, 2018

Andrew Read Named Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

Dr. Read was previously director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and will step into his new role January 1.

Full Article