The olfactory system is essential for most animals: it supports postnatal survival, detects environmental hazards and mediates emotional, social and nutritional behaviors.
Here’s this week’s science news in review.
The area surrounding Hopkins is home to many species of birds commonly found in the Baltimore region. On Friday, April 10, the Behavioral Biology Steering Committee organized a birding expedition open to students across all majors to explore and appreciate the campus avians.
Rejji Kuruvilla is a Professor of Biology and Vice Dean for Natural Sciences who studies the development and maintenance of the sympathetic nervous system. In an interview with The News-Letter, she described her research and duties as an administrator.
Roma Desai is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. She is a recipient of the 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, which awards undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in scientific research. In an interview with The News-Letter, Desai described her research experience and future plans.
Sameer Gabbita is a junior at Hopkins, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. In an interview with The News-Letter, he reflects on his research journey and his recent achievement becoming a Goldwater Scholar.
Oliver Nizet is a junior pursuing Bachelors of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Computer Science. He is a recipient of the 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, which awards undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in scientific research. In an interview with The News-Letter, Nizet described his research experience and future plans.
Henry Le Chang is a junior who was recently awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship for his research in neuroscience. In an interview with The News-Letter, Chang discussed his work investigating the biological mechanisms of pain and itch, his research journey at Hopkins and the lessons he learned, as well as his vision for advancing his work.
On Tuesday, April 7, the Department of Chemistry welcomed Herdeline Ann "Digs" Ardoña from the University of California, Irvine, for a seminar titled "Precision engineering of macromolecular systems as transducer biomaterials."
In an interview with The News-Letter, Thiam discussed his research under Dr. Brett Morrison, a neurologist at the Hopkins School of Medicine focusing on neuromuscular medicine.
In an interview with The News-Letter, Brandacher discussed the goals of the reconstructive transplant program and the challenges of vascularized composite allografts (VCA), the process of transferring tissues from donor to recipient, along with the innovations his team is pursuing to improve organ preservation.
Take some time to catch up on the latest scientific news from around the world.
What is the common thread between engineering, public health and global affairs? Ask Ryan Alezz, a 2025 graduate from the University's Whiting School of Engineering, who was named a 2026 Schwarzman Scholar.
How does research become reality? How do findings in the lab reach the clinic? On Wednesday, March 11, at the Johns Hopkins Translational Immunoengineering (TIE) Symposium, various experts shared their insights on these questions during an enlightening panel discussion.
A fourth-year doctoral student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Hopkins, William Brakewood, is undertaking a new venture: the creation of a start-up, Microbiome Foundries, which designs bacteria to regulate surface microbiomes.
Rajiv McCoy is a newly tenured Associate Professor within the Department of Biology at Hopkins. He is renowned for his research in evolutionary genetics. In an interview with The News-Letter, he discussed his specific interests within the field of biology and expanded upon his passion for scientific research and discovery.
Yayuan Liu, a Russell Croft Faculty Scholar and Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Hopkins, was awarded the Sloan Fellowship on Feb. 17, 2026, for her work in carbon capture, water remediation and electrochemical imaging platforms.
Divyansh Lalwani, a recent Biomedical Engineering and Applied Mathematics and Statistics graduate, recently released “overlay,” a software that reduces the effort that comes with switching screens by relying on overlays, content that lays on top of the overall screen. In an interview with The News-Letter, Lalwani described the program and the journey that led to its creation.
Joshua Plotnik, director of Comparative Cognition for Conversation Lab at the City University of New York, delivered a PBS Colloquium lecture on March 4 in Gilman Hall about cognitive flexibility in Asian elephants and revealed a few of the insights gained in the field of comparative cognition.
The 2025 Maryland ACS award, presented on Feb. 4 at the Levering Hall, centered on Toscano’s work with “fundamental organic reactive intermediates and small molecule bioactive signaling agents,” which included molecules like nitric oxide, nitroxyl, hydrogen sulfide and related hydropersulfides.
