News, Media and Stories | Research

Lagrange points model
Following a grant from the Oregon National Space Grant Consortium, physics alumnus Huy Nguyen '21, along with Physics Professor Todd Duncan built a three-dimensional model showing the optimal orbit for spacecraft to "park" between the earth and moon. The model will be exhibited at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville.
Biology Professor Chris Templeton
The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year, $350,000 grant to Biology Professor Chris Templeton to further his study into the ways human-caused traffic noise affects birds' cognitive abilities.
Brendan Stamper co-chaired a session at the annual American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Research by a graduate student and Dr. Stamper was also featured in a recent ASPET newsletter.
The grant will support Dr. Mike Espiritu’s work to determine the structure-activity relationship of a cone snail toxin called MIIIB with voltage gated potassium channels. These small peptide toxins are known as “conotoxins.” 
Oregon Silverspot Butterfly
The Recovery Challenge Grant from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife funds work by Pacific University Professor Dr. Rich Van Buskirk and partners at the Woodland Park Zoo in Washington and Washington State University. 
Research
The Pacific Undergraduate Research Conference is returning to an in-person format this fall on Nov. 10. For many presenters, these research projects will become the basis of their senior capstone project. Pacific is the No. 1 private research university in the Pacific Northwest, and as such, has a reputation for mentoring its undergraduate students especially in the areas of scientific and creative research.
Aspen Shirley '21
Aspen Shirley '21 is conducting research with Pacific University Psychology Professor Heidi Island to study behavior differences between wild and captive North American river otters. “I never thought I’d be given this opportunity, so I’m just incredibly grateful, and it’s all thanks to Pacific University and of course Dr. Heidi Island.”
Flower
The Pacific University Undergraduate Research Scholarship Creative Inquiry Summer Institute (URSCI) is organizing a new project in hopes of facilitating a stronger community through the power of sharing stories. The goal of this project is to both foster feelings of hope as well as acknowledge the hopelessness people may feel at various times in their lives.
The HeartMic
Pacific University has received its first patent, marking the beginning of a new, entrepreneurial chapter for the university. It's for a device called HeartMic.
Kerry Mandulak
The speech-language pathology profession is one of the least diverse in the country — a fact that the Pacific University School of Communication Sciences & Disorders is trying to change.

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