Greetings, faculty, students, alumni, and friends.
We hope to bring you closer to the life of our department with updates that highlight achievements, events and opportunities to stay connected.
We welcomed four new professors: BB alum Sarah Clark from OHSU with expertise in cryo-electron microscopy and lipid transport, Dan Liefwalker from OHSU with expertise in epigenetics and transcriptional biology of cancer, and Maria Purice from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with expertise in neuroscience, glia and aging — all at the assistant professor level. Starting as associate professor, Myriam Cotten has expertise in solid state NMR and antimicrobial peptides. We also hired Kenton Hokanson as Professor of Teaching, Ally Erlendson as an instructor, and Autumn VanderLinden and Tanushri Kumar as professional advisors.
Last year, we proudly graduated 14 BB majors, 76 BMB majors, 2 M.S. students, and 6 Ph.D.s — a testament to the dedication of our faculty and the hard work of our students. Our undergraduates continue to make us proud, earning prestigious honors. Sahana Shah was a 2025-2026 Fulbright recipient and Giulia Wood a 2026 Marshall Scholar, the first in OSU history! This is a reflection of their talent and the strength of our academic community. We also presented the inaugural Ken van Holde Award, honoring excellence in research and scholarship to Hannah Stuwe, whose outstanding work exemplifies the spirit of integrating science, society, and mentoring that Ken championed.
On a personal note, I had the privilege to attend and speak at a retirement celebration for my postdoc mentor, Professor George Barany — a moment that prompted reflection on the legacy we leave through science, teaching, and mentorship. I also had the honor of giving the Gilfillan Public Lecture, sharing my journey in science and the experiences that shaped me. Growing up in a segregated community during Beirut’s civil war, college gave me the chance to break barriers and learn what it means to be part of a diverse, inclusive community.
As I reflect on the values of college life and a career in academia, it becomes clear that what makes this experience special is not just earning a degree or training for a profession — it’s about creating a community, exploring new ideas, and challenging the status quo. We are morally obligated to protect this way of life, which is so dear and increasingly at risk.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I look forward to continuing our productive trend this year working together to make science accessible, impactful and inspiring, taking risks, insisting, and persisting in revealing how life works and creating more just and peaceful solutions for the benefit of all.
Elisar Barbar
Department Head, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Director of the Training Grant in Molecular Biophysics