oldentomologybldg.png

News

Federal Government Shutdown Updates

A federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025. Federally funded projects may experience delays in communication, funding actions, and approvals. Please refer to the Sponsored Programs Administrion office for guidance. learn more
Crystal under laser technology

Using Crystals and Light, Scientists Unlock New Ways to Grow Materials On-Demand

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered how to "draw" on demand the crystals used in many crucial technologies, from solar panels and LED lighting to medical imaging. Appearing in the journal ACS Nano, the breakthrough was achieved by striking gold nanoparticles with a single laser pulse.
Leaves in bunches

Seeds of Hope

College of Natural Science plant researchers are racing to build climate-resilient crops before global food systems reach a breaking point.
Two scientists in a laboratory

Fuel for the Finish Line: How Sperm Achieve ‘Overdrive’

Michigan State University scientists have pinpointed the molecular “switch” that supercharges sperm for their final sprint to an egg — a breakthrough that could reshape infertility treatments and pave the way for safe, nonhormonal male contraceptives.
Doctor consulting patient

Researchers Lead $3.7M Study to Shed Light on Perimenopause and Psychosis

For decades, women’s midlife experiences have been largely overlooked by medical research. Despite previous assumptions about midlife mental health risks, relatively little research has systematically investigated the connections between hormonal fluctuations and psychological symptoms.
Aerial farm from above

Precision Agriculture: Soil Mapping and Measuring With a Data-Driven Approach

Digital tools make it easier to visualize how soil properties vary across our fields. Recent research suggests that using management zones to highlight these spatial patterns can help us understand field variations and how to better manage them.
Gabriela Quinlan

Spartan Scientists Contribute to Global Examination of Pollinator Habitat

Michigan State University Distinguished Professor Rufus Isaacs and CANR alumna Gabriela Quinlan (Ph.D. ’20), now an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, collaborated with researchers from 19 countries to develop a framework for informing conservation policies to increase the quantity and enhance the quality of pollinator habitat in agricultural landscapes.
Maria Molina

Molina Awarded NSF Career Grant to Advance Research on Human-AI Interaction and Privacy

Maria Molina, Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, has been awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. The five-year grant, totaling more than $500,000, will support Molina's groundbreaking research on human-AI interaction, specifically how people navigate trust and privacy in their use of generative AI systems.
Thea Knowles

Knowles Wins Grants to Improve Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s

Thea Knowles, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University, and her collaborators have been awarded two competitive grants to support their innovative research on communication challenges in Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism.
Announcements
Williams Receives NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine researcher Michael R. Williams, has received the National Institutes of Health Director’s Transformative Research Award.
Pollanen and Singh Awarded Moore Foundation Grants to Advance Quantum Science, Fundamental Physics
Michigan State University physicists work every day to advance quantum computing and help unravel the mysteries of the universe. Now, two are receiving private $1.3 million five-year grants that will further launch their research and give them more opportunities to collaborate.
The Future of Health Forum Highlights AI's Impact on Precision Medicine
Interdisciplinary leaders gathered in Grand Rapids to discuss the future of AI in healthcare.
Beal Garden Earns Prestigious International Accreditation
Michigan State University’s W.J. Beal Botanical Garden is officially internationally recognized. The garden recently earned accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International, or BCGI, a UK-based membership organization representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries around the world with the goal of linking the gardens together in a global network for plant conservation.

Faculty, Students and Alumni Honored With Prestigious ADSA Awards
Michigan State University faculty, graduate students and alumni were recognized this year by the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the leading international organization of educators, scientists and industry representatives committed to advancing the dairy industry. The strong presence of Spartans among the 2025 honorees highlights MSU’s depth in dairy science research, education and outreach.
Wu Awarded Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study
Associate Professor of History Yulian Wu has been awarded a fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study in the School of Historical Studies for the 2025-26 academic year. This prestigious membership allows for focused research and the free and open exchange of ideas among an international community of scholars at one of the foremost centers for intellectual inquiry.