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Virginia Tech ranked as elite among world universities

In a worldwide ranking of programs at universities, Virginia Tech ranked in the top 200 in 13 programs with 5 of those placed in the top 100.                                               

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Three new baccalaureate degree programs to further define undergraduate...

The three new degree programs will all be administered in the College of Science. 

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Biological Sciences takes active approach to class instruction

The College of Science continues its commitment to active learning environments and interdisciplinary education. The undergraduate biology program is the latest in the college to move to an active...

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Gene removal could have implications beyond plant science

The ability to remove or replace single genes within a plant could hold the key to treating disease states within humans according to Virginia Tech biological scientist Zachary Nimchuk.

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Mike Rosenzweig receives 2014 Alumni Award for Outreach Excellence

In addition to his teaching core undergraduate courses for the department, Mike Rosenzweig serves as director of the Biological Sciences Outreach Program which supports K-12 outreach education and...

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Garden project will cultivate heirloom veggies, community ties

Following the custom of the American Indians who were Southwest Virginia's first farmers, students in a Virginia Tech project will plant a garden of native vegetables when the dogwoods bloom this spring.

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Rising treatment costs the biggest drivers of health care spending, according...

Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute find treatment costs are bigger drivers of health care spending than disease prevalence. The information that will be valuable to tackle the problem...

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Caught in the crosswalk: Molecular traffic signals keep cells on the right...

Researchers Silke Hauf and Julia Kamenz are working to uncover why and how checkpoints in the cell cycle aid in proper cellular division.

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Department of Defense awards SMART Fellowship to biomedical engineering student

Rebekah Less, first-year Ph.D. student in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, was awarded a SMART Fellowship from the Department of Defense based on the novel research she is conducting...

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State approves two science degrees for 2015

Virginia Tech continues to invent the future with two new interdisciplinary science degrees in Nanoscience and Microbiology that were approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The...

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Scientists tap natural extracts in search for malaria drug

Virginia Tech researchers are pouring through thousands of natural product extracts with the hope of finding the next drug to combat malaria.

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Bacteria may be key to feeding nitrogen to plants, reducing harmful fertilizers

Birgit Scharf is using a grant from the National Science Foundation to use bacteria to provide nitrogen to crop plants. If successful the treatment could result in dramatically lowering environmentally...

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Undergraduate studies how rhododendrons invade and conquer by disturbing...

In soils under dense rhododendron stands, Virginia Tech researchers found microbes consume the available nitrogen for their own use to sustain metabolism and fuel growth.

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Common Book inspires student to volunteer in Nepal

On a plane to Nepal the truth set in, and Shannon Mann was alone and preparing to volunteer in a foreign country. This was a journey that started in the pages of the Virginia Tech Common Book, "Little...

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Snakes in evolutionary arms race with poisonous newt

Dining on the rough-skinned newt is a dicey proposition for most species as the newt is one of the most toxic animals on the planet. But an evolutionary arms race has allowed some garter snakes to eat...

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Gotta get that rhythm: Researchers find a relationship between sleep cycle,...

Researchers reveal that a protein responsible for regulating the body's sleep cycle, or circadian rhythm, also protects the body from developing sporadic forms of cancers.

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Virginia Tech researchers develop GenoSIGHT software for 'smart' microscopes

GenoSIGHT, a new open source software developed at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, allows researchers to better control and monitor experiments by making microscopes smarter.. 

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Going viral: Targeting brain cancer cells with a wound-healing drug

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists were awarded a grant from the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund, part of the Center for Innovative Technology, to engineer a viral...

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In memoriam: Bruce Wallace, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of...

Bruce Wallace, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, member of the National Academy of Sciences, and pioneer in the study of genetics and natural...

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Virginia Tech to confront environmental problems through interdisciplinary...

The center's aim is to confront large-scale environmental problems such as habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, disease, and climate change with interdisciplinary, innovative team science.

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New bioinspiration center brings together researchers from across campus

A new interdisciplinary research center brings biologists and engineers together to tackle technological challenges.

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Scientists visualize potential brain cancer treatments in real time

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have developed new imaging techniques to watch dangerous brain tumor cells respond to treatment in real time.

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Jessica K. Li selected as 2015 Undergraduate Student of the Year

The recognition is awarded to a student who has exceptional and balanced achievement in academics, leadership, and service.

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Graduate student designs social media site to match young minds with...

Graduate student Nina Lauharatanahirun launched a social media site with the support of Virginia Tech's Diversity Scholars Program to match young minds with scientific mentors.

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In memoriam: Bryant 'Wes' Cochran, a junior majoring in biological sciences,...

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Sunhill Country Church, Sunhill, West Virginia.

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Virginia Tech ranked among world's most elite universities

Virginia Tech is in the top 200 in 18 of the 36 subjects evaluated in the 2015 QS World University Rankings.

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The Class of 2015: Michael Azir holds true to the 'never forget where you...

Michael Azir will graduate in just three years and head to medical school at Uniformed Services University. He credits summer academy and summer sessions with setting him on track to graduate early.

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Students earn university's new bachelor's degree in microbiology

The degree provides specialized training for students who are entering the workforce or who are continuing their studies.

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Personalized saline may provide solution to heart death

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists recently published a paper on how the components of saline solution affect cardiac conduction in the European Journal of Physiology. 

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University hatches science outreach partnership with Blacksburg High School

Birds have homes, researchers have data, and teenagers have a new perspective thanks to an exciting partnership between Virginia Tech and Blacksburg High School.

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Neuroscientist investigates how our social lives affect our brains

Neurobiologist Kendra Sewall received a grant to study the sweet spot of optimum social interaction in birds, which can also be applied to humans.

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Cancer biologists find a key that may unlock how tumors form and progress

An international team of scientists, led by a Virginia Tech researcher, determined that the number of chromosomes in a cell may be a key to understanding how cancer forms and progresses.

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Virginia Tech Magazine explores the fight against cancer, remembers the late...

The summer 2015 edition of Virginia Tech Magazine is available now in print and online.

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Science historian Naomi Oreskes to visit Virginia Tech and Lyric Theatre Sept. 2

The science historian will give a 4 p.m. distinguished lecture entitled "Should We Trust Science? Perspectives from the History and Philosophy of Science" at the Lyric Theatre, followed by a question...

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Virginia Bioinformatics Institute scientists reveal cellular clockwork that...

Researchers have uncovered key cellular functions that help regulate inflammation — a finding the could illuminate major health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

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Engineering’s Marc Edwards heads to Flint as part of study into unprecedented...

Virginia Tech’s Marc Edwards is traveling to Flint, Michigan, as part of a National Science Foundation-funded $50,000 one-year study into a “perfect storm” of water distribution system corrosion problems.

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Birds that eat at feeders more likely to get sick, spread disease,...

Researchers monitored the social and foraging behaviors of wild flocks of house finches, a common backyard songbird, to understand the spread of a naturally occurring bird disease called Mycoplasmal...

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Fralin researchers examine whether beneficial bacteria could rescue...

By culturing and sequencing the DNA of naturally-occurring bacteria living on the skin of four amphibian species in Virginia, Virginia Tech researchers found samples that could be useful for developing...

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It takes a village of bacteria to help frogs fight deadly disease, Fralin...

Naturally occurring skin bacteria can respond to infection and adjust structure and function to compensate for it, according to a Virginia Tech research team.

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Award from National Science Foundation may help researchers better understand...

The National Science Foundation has awarded a new grant to Virginia Tech researchers to continue study the effect of circadian rhythms on cancer genesis, particularly in shift workers. 

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Harbingers of Halloween spin smart system for scientists to mimic, create new...

Material scientists are interested in mimicking spider glue -- nature’s perfect adhesive -- for human products, and rely on biologists to determine factors involved in its creation.

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Timing is everything in cell processes, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute...

A Virginia Bioinformatics Institute study has implications for cancer research, as scientists try to understand how cells avoid errors that promote cancer development.  

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Proposed School of Neuroscience expected to attract large interest from...

Virginia Tech’s proposed School of Neuroscience will study not only disorders of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but also the mind itself, including decision-making, behavior, and creativity.

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College of Science welcomes new faculty to departments, Academy of Integrated...

The Virginia Tech College of Science recently welcomed 12 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, bringing the total number of faculty within the college and its affiliated programs to more than 215.

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Researchers find way to make resistant brain cancer cells sensitive to treatment

Scientists from the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and clinicians from Carilion Clinic have discovered how to sensitize drug-resistant human glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy.

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Science graduate students learn how to explain their work to a general...

Representatives from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science say a well-written scientific abstract is helpful, but a good elevator speech can be more important for acquiring support for...

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Global change doctoral fellows explore environmental policy on Capitol Hill

Global change fellows at Virginia Tech had the opportunity to observe congressional hearings on global change issues, and engage with members of the House of Representatives and governmental agencies.

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College of Science inducts 6 into Hall of Distinction

The Virginia Tech College of Science inducts six new members into its Hall of Distinction, bringing the total number of honored alumni and friends of the college to 24.

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New biology course transforms students into young scientists, research...

The new course, called "Phage Hunters," provides students with real-world problem-solving activities. It provides undergraduates research experience to be competitive for jobs that tackle complex issues.

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Class of 2015: Love of learning to guide Summer Caton long after graduation...

A walk on a glacier while on a study abroad trip to New Zealand set things in motion for Summer Caton to find a passion and build on her love of learning and discovery. "A life of exploration and...

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