The discovery, published in the journal , found that bacteria inside fog droplets are not simply hitching a ride through the atmosphere. They appear to be metabolically active — growing, dividing and even consuming pollutants while suspended in the mist.

For Straub, associate professor of earth & environmental sciences, the findings build on years of atmospheric research conducted in the °µÍřTV Valley.

“My previous work focused on inorganic compounds in fog measuring substances like sulfate, nitrate, sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium, and more recently organic acids and other organic compounds, but this collaboration allowed me to expand into a completely new area – the presence of biological material in fog and the role that it may play in atmospheric chemistry,” Straub said.

Scientists have long known that bacteria drift through the atmosphere as inactive particles, but researchers knew little about what happens when those microbes become trapped inside fog droplets. Arizona State University doctoral student and lead author Thi Thuong Thuong Cao set out to determine which bacteria are present in fog and whether they remain active there.

Researchers in Arizona faced a challenge. Fog is relatively rare in the arid Southwest; however, Central Pennsylvania offered ideal conditions. They contacted Straub, who has a long-standing research relationship with Arizona State University professor Pierre Herckes, for help.

Their study pursued two major questions: What kinds of bacteria exist in fog, and are those bacteria active while suspended in fog droplets?

Using facilities and field sites at °µÍřTV’s Center for Environmental Education and Research Field Station, Straub and Cao collected and analyzed samples from 32 separate fog events along with aerosol particles gathered before, during and after fog formation.

Each sample required rapid preservation and analysis. Straub conducted inorganic chemistry analyses at °µÍřTV, while collaborators at Arizona State handled biological testing and additional organic analyses.

Among the most significant findings was the identification of Methylobacterium as one of the most abundant bacteria in the samples. These microbes consume single-carbon compounds such as formaldehyde — a common air pollutant resulting from the combustion of carbon fuels that contributes to ozone smog and poses health risks.

While Methylobacterium appeared to consume significant amounts of formaldehyde, researchers found the amount exceeded what the bacteria could reasonably use simply to build biomass. Instead, researchers suspect the bacteria may also help detoxify the atmosphere by chemically altering pollutants, effectively helping to clean the air.

The findings suggest fog is more than a vehicle for transporting microbes — it may also serve as a habitat where bacteria can thrive and positively influence atmospheric chemistry, air quality and even climate processes.

“Evidence that these bacteria appear to be dividing and metabolizing formaldehyde is particularly intriguing as it suggests fog droplets can function as tiny microbial habitats,” said Sophie Charvet, assistant professor of biology at °µÍřTV who was not involved in Straub’s research. “It raises the possibility that microbial communities in fog are affecting the fate of volatile pollutants more than previously recognized.”

The research also raises questions about harvesting fog as a drinking water source and highlights how much remains unknown about the floating microscopic ecosystems. Part of the reason for that, Straub said, is because very few scientists study fog, which is a fickle weather pattern.

“You typically need moist conditions, often after rainfall, clear skies overnight and very light winds,” Straub explained. “Here we mostly get radiation fog, where the ground cools overnight and the air near the ground surface reaches saturation.”

For Straub, whose interest in atmospheric science began after studying engineering as an undergraduate, the work underscores the surprising complexity hidden within ordinary weather phenomena.

“People think of fog as just water droplets,” he said. “But there’s a tremendous amount happening inside those droplets that we’re only beginning to understand.”

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Geneive Henry, Charles B. Degenstein Professor of Chemistry at °µÍřTV, will present at the eighth annual Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry conference.

“It is an honor to be invited to participate in the Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry conference, an initiative that plays a critical role in fostering equity and advancing the contributions of women in the field,” Henry said. “Opportunities to share both scientific research and professional experiences are essential to ensuring that a broad range of perspectives continues to shape the future of organic chemistry.”

Henry, whose message will focus on empowerment through mentorship and collaboration, is one of six women invited to speak at the event, including a cancer researcher, biotechnology scientist and Nobel laureate.

Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry was founded in 2019 to recognize, identify and retain women in the field of organic chemistry. The annual conference gives women leaders in organic chemistry the opportunity to present their scientific research and to hear career stories of how eminent women in the field have developed their careers while overcoming challenges along the way.

This year’s conference will be held in June in San Francisco, California, at Genentech, a pioneering biotechnology company that specializes in oncology, immunology, neuroscience and ophthalmology, having created groundbreaking therapies like the first targeted antibody for cancer.

Henry received her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and completed postdoctoral training at Michigan State University and Harvard University. She was a visiting assistant professor of chemistry at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania prior to starting her independent academic career at °µÍřTV, where her primary area of research is natural product and medicinal chemistry.

Henry is a recipient of several research and service awards including the Henry McBay Outstanding Educator Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. She was appointed a Council on Undergraduate Research Fellow under the 2024 CUR Fellows Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Leadership and was a recipient of the 2020 CUR’s Chemistry Division Outstanding Mentorship Award. Other honors include the °µÍřTV Valley American Chemical Society section’s Joseph Priestley Service Award, and °µÍřTV’s John C. Horn Distinguished Service Lectureship. Amongst her awards, she holds many published works, has presented her research and mentoring capabilities to a wide audience over the years, and has received a number of research-related grants, including National Science Foundation-funded Research in Undergraduate Institutions and Research Corporation for Science Advancement Cottrell Scholar awards. Currently, Henry is a member of the American Society of Pharmacognosy’s Primarily Undergraduate Institution Committee and a representative of CUR’s Chemistry Division.

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“I reached out to representatives from Deloitte and the Center for Audit Quality after reading one of their previous reports on audit committee practices,” Felo explained. “My co-author and I had been looking for ways to study leadership practices of audit committee chairs and this provided an excellent opportunity for us.”

In Voices from the Audit Committee: A Supplemental Report, Felo and his co-author Steven Solieri, of Queens College, conducted interviews with 27 audit committee members, including 18 current and former committee chairs. The conversations served as a follow-up to Deloitte’s and the Center for Audit Quality’s broader survey on audit committee practices and offer a closer look at the challenges and strategies shaping corporate oversight.

The resulting provides insights relevant not only to academics, but also to corporate board members, audit committee members, financial reporting executives, external auditors and regulators, Felo said.

“By focusing on practical leadership and oversight strategies, the research highlights ways audit committees can strengthen financial reporting processes and improve effectiveness,” Felo said.

The project also created valuable opportunities in the classroom, Felo said. He has incorporated lessons from the interviews into discussions about audit committees’ roles in overseeing financial reporting and corporate whistleblowing processes. By bringing firsthand industry perspectives into the classroom, Felo said students gain a clearer understanding of how concepts discussed in class apply in real-world business settings.

“I think students benefit any time professors gain insights into how industry professionals do their work on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “Translating theory into practice helps students better understand and retain class material.”

Felo joined the faculty of °µÍřTV’s Sigmund Weis School of Business in 2020. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bucknell University before going on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in accounting from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Felo holds credentials as a certified management accountant, certified finance manager and certified fraud examiner.

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Awards were presented to John Bodinger de Uriarte, professor of anthropology, the John C. Horn Award for Distinguished Scholarship and Creative Activity; Anjee Gorkhali, associate professor of finance and analytics, the Donald D. Housley Teaching Award; and Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, the Lawrence A. Lemons Distinguished Academic Advising Award.

John C. Horn Award for Distinguished Scholarship and Creative Activity

Bodinger de Uriarte joined the °µÍřTV faculty in 2003. His nominators cited his lengthy record of publication on a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary topics, leadership in advancing study-abroad and service-learning programs, and his prolific departmental and university-wide service.

Bodinger de Uriarte’s interdisciplinary scholarship examines museums, casinos, tourism and experiential learning in Native American and Icelandic cultures, resulting in numerous grants and peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations before national and international audiences. In 2017, Bodinger de Uriarte was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award to study and teach at the University of Iceland and the National Museum of Iceland, both in Reykjavik.Ěý

At °µÍřTV, he has developed study-abroad programs in the Galápagos, Iceland and Morocco, as well as majors and minors in anthropology, museum studies and diversity studies.

Bodinger de Uriarte earned his bachelor’s degree at Vassar College followed by master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

The award memorializes John C. Horn, a former long-time member and chairperson of the °µÍřTV Board of Trustees.

Donald D. Housley Teaching Award

Gorkhali joined the faculty at °µÍřTV’s Sigmund Weis School of Business in 2019. Her nominators noted her exceptional teaching abilities, her ongoing commitment to student success and her pedagogical innovations.Ěý

Gorkhali, who teaches business analytics courses at °µÍřTV, was lauded by one nominator for combining rigor with an engaging and supportive teaching style. Students praised her ability to balance structure and clarity with meaningful application, all while making the learning process enjoyable. According to one student nominator, she is compassionate, dedicated and deeply invested in students’ success.

In 2020, Gorkhali co-founded the Bridge to the Boardroom pre-orientation program to provide first-generation college students a smooth transition to college, and she has led the program every year.

Gorkhali earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.

The Donald D. Housley Teaching Award is named for the late Charles B. Degenstein Professor Emeritus of History, who served as a distinguished member of the faculty from 1967–2003.

Lawrence A. Lemons Distinguished Academic Advising Award

Smith joined °µÍřTV’s psychology department in 2017. Student nominators described her academic advising as outstanding and emphasized that her mentorship goes beyond course planning. One student commented that what makes her exceptional is the way she “empowers students to see possibilities for themselves that they may not have previously imagined.”

Faculty nominators shared that Smith goes above and beyond to create meaningful practicum experiences for her students, and “collaborates closely with community partners to ensure these opportunities are not only educational but deeply impactful, helping students connect theory to practice in real-world settings.”

Smith earned her bachelor’s degree from °µÍřTV, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate from Kent State University.

The Lawrence A. Lemons Distinguished Advising Award memorializes a master teacher, public school leader and devoted advisor to students who served the youth of the Nebraska Panhandle for more than 50 years.

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“°µÍřTV has a longstanding tradition of providing faculty-mentored undergraduate research opportunities to students as early as their first year,” said Kathy Straub, dean of °µÍřTV’s School of Natural & Social Sciences. “Faculty members like Matt Persons are integral to making this possible. As a result of his mentorship over 25-plus years, our students have gone on to excel in careers in medicine, education, industry, and master’s and doctoral programs — outcomes tied to the hands-on experience they gained in Matt’s lab.”

Since beginning his career at °µÍřTV in 1999, Persons has mentored 186 students on original research projects, an average of seven students per year. These collaborative projects have resulted in 28 peer-reviewed publications with student co-authors (in addition to 25 other peer-reviewed publications authored solely by Persons during this period) and five additional manuscripts with student co-authors currently in preparation. His research students have presented 231 times at conferences and professional meetings, and 23 students have won individual awards at these conferences.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from the Council on Undergraduate Research,” Persons said. “Mentoring undergraduate research students is an enlightening experience. Sometimes as a scientist, you can become a prisoner of your discipline. But then a student asks a question or comes up with an idea, and they open my eyes to a new way of thinking. I learn from them every day and that’s a large part of why I do it.”

An arachnologist and behavioral ecologist who serves as the director of °µÍřTV’s interdisciplinary ecology program, Persons studies how animal communication and information use influences survival and reproductive success. Persons and his student collaborators use spiders as a model organism to ask questions about female mate choice, parental care, predator-prey interactions and kin-recognition, and broader questions in the areas of chemical ecology, ecotoxicology and neuroscience.

Some research examples include herbicide effects on spider parental care, the role of fishing spider silk on aquatic insect space use, projectile defecation in purseweb spiders, palatability and toxicity of spotted lanternflies to spiders, landmark navigation learning in spiders, sex pheromone identification, and documenting metal concentrations among arthropods in coal-impacted areas.

Persons and his students also study the behavior of other animals, including the relative importance of odor and infrared cues on ball python diet choice, urine-marking behavior in dogs, changes in aggressive behavior among creek chub and brook trout under shifting temperature, and herbicide-induced changes in earthworm seed-caching behavior.

Persons will receive his award at the CUR Award Celebration Ceremony in June.

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Rockwell receives inaugural Saridakis Natural Science Faculty PrizeĚý

Dean Kathy Straub presented the inaugural George E. ’75 and Susan Chang Saridakis Natural Science Faculty Prize to Assistant Professor of Biology Antonio Rockwell.

Rockwell is a cell and molecular biologist who began his career at °µÍřTV in 2019. His research area is epitranscriptomics, the study of how RNA modification impacts cellular function, using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster — the fruit fly. Rockwell teaches courses across the biology curriculum and consistently mentors research students of all class years both during the academic year and every summer. He publishes peer-reviewed literature with his student co-authors and regularly takes them to professional conferences to present their research.

“Antonio is a dedicated advisor, mentor and role model to students,” said Straub, “and has broadened access to and support for science through his work with institutional programs and student clubs.”

Rockwell earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his doctorate from Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York.

The George E. ’75 and Susan Chang Saridakis Natural Science Faculty Prize was created to support a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in the natural science fields by providing financial resources to further their research, professional development and educational initiatives. The recipient is selected by a committee of faculty peers.

Business faculty awarded for research, service, teaching

Dean Matt Rousu presented awards to business faculty. Recipients are nominated by their faculty peers and students and then selected by committee.

Loc Bui, assistant professor of finance, won the Excellence in Research Award.

“Loc already has a sole-authored publication in the Journal of Corporate Finance, which is a significant accomplishment, especially at this stage of his career,” Bui’s nominator wrote. “What stands out even more is the strength of his research pipeline. He has multiple working papers and several projects in progress, all centered around important questions in corporate finance and fixed-income markets. His work is thoughtful, well-executed and grounded in meaningful economic questions.”

Bui joined the Sigmund Weis School of Business in 2023 and has since taught corporate financial management, international finance, and financial modeling and fixed income analysis. His research focuses on various aspects of fixed-income securities and corporate payout policies. He earned his master’s degree from Hanken School Economics, Finland, and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Dana Zhang, associate professor of accounting, won the Excellence in Service Award.

“Since joining the faculty in 2017, Dana has consistently and quietly strengthened the school through sustained, meaningful service whose impact far exceeds its visibility,” Zhang’s nominator shared, noting Zhang is a key contributor to revising the accounting department’s learning goals and assessment activities and serves on other university committees and task forces.

Zhang joined °µÍřTV’s faculty in 2017. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting the Chinese University of Hong Kong, following by a master’s degree from The Ohio State University and a doctorate from the University of Houston.

Bo Liu, associate professor of accounting, won the Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award.

“Our AACSB accreditation emphasizes a commitment to continuous improvement, and that same principle clearly defines Bo’s approach to teaching,” Liu’s nominator said. “Since he began teaching accounting at °µÍřTV, Bo has consistently refined and enhanced its content and delivery.”

Liu joined the faculty at °µÍřTV in 2017. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Texas at Dallas.

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Known today as the Transatlantic Slave Trade, it was one of the largest forced migrations in history. Only a small fraction of those individuals have been documented; their stories — their identities — lost to time.

It’s a message that has landed with Gabriel Johnson ’28, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is the need to take a wider perspective when looking at history,” Johnson said. “These documents and databases don’t just show a list of people; they show how the author viewed the situation at hand and how his or her society viewed slavery at large.”

To date, the Freedom Narratives project has compiled enough research to draft profiles of nearly 4,000 individuals — an impressive figure that still only hints at the vast number of lives impacted by the reach of colonialism.

“This is a project that makes me emotional,” Coulon said. “This is not just history for the sake of doing history — it’s something that makes a difference.”

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At the center Sierra’s award-winning article is Almarza’s role in undermining monarchical authority among displaced enslaved communities in the central and southwestern plains region during Venezuela’s War of Independence. The last royal escribano, or notary, of Mérida in the Captaincy of Venezuela, Almarza serves as a window into how political authority shifted during the tumultuous years of 1814 to 1818.

Tracing Almarza’s fascinating life trajectory, Sierra revealed a striking transformation: from a loyal servant of the Spanish Crown to the secretary of an itinerant Republican government. Sierra’s research illuminated the surprisingly powerful role that escribanos played in the Spanish imperial system.

Research keeps curiosity alive, and that same energy inevitably flows into the classroom.

Ana Vergara Sierra, assistant professor of Latin American history, °µÍřTV

“They were often regarded as minor officials, but in practice, notaries had significant influence because the records they produced established the legally binding truths of everyday life,” Sierra said. “Their work made them essential agents of colonial rule, especially for enslaved people seeking notarial documents to claim freedom, known as manumission.”

By examining manumission records preserved in Almarza’s notarial book, Sierra uncovered how enslaved individuals actively participated in legitimizing the leadership of José Antonio Páez and the emerging Republican project. At the same time, Almarza — drawing on his longstanding authority within these communities — helped broker a fragile pact between enslaved people and a revolutionary leader still consolidating his power.

For Sierra, this ground-level approach to history is intentional. Rather than focusing on well-known figures, her work highlights the agency of ordinary people and the institutional structures that shaped their lives.

“I have always been interested in studying independence and political transformations from the ground up,” Sierra said, “beyond the actions of leaders who have dominated most of the historical literature.”

Being an active scholar, Sierra said, makes her a better professor.

“Being active researchers prevents us from becoming sclerotic as professionals. Research keeps our curiosity alive, and that same energy inevitably flows into the classroom. It makes our teaching more open to change and helps us show students new ways of observing the world from different perspectives,” she added.

Established in 1990 to honor outstanding scholarship in Latin American history published in the peer-reviewed academic journal The Americas, the Tibesar Prize recognizes work that pushes the field in new and compelling directions.

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Established in 1975, the Economic and Business History Society encourages interdisciplinary scholarship in business and economic history and applies historical perspectives to current issues. Members include historians, economists, business professionals, social scientists and others who share those common interests.

“This role allows me to bring back real-world perspectives and experiences to my classroom, incorporating topics and discussions that are current, rigorous and connected to evolving research in the field,” Finley said. “Through my involvement with the society, °µÍřTV students can gain increased exposure to professional networks and opportunities to engage with scholars from around the world.”

As president, Finley will lead the organization’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., this May. This year’s theme, “Turning Points in Economic and Business History,” focuses on the transformative episodes that have shaped businesses, economies, markets and institutions across time and place.

Finley has been an active member of the society since 2018 and served on its Board of Trustees since 2020.

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Erin Alexander, professor ofĚýbiology, is here to answer all your questions about the brain’s connection to love, how it rewires after heartbreak and how triggering fresh waves of dopamine keep love’s reward system firing.

SU: What happens in the brain when someone feels an initial spark of attraction?

EA:ĚýIn the early stages of love or attraction, dopamine creates feelings of pleasure and desire, while the stress hormone cortisol heightens urgency and focus. The body interprets this new attraction as an important situation, triggering nervous excitement — like a racing heart or jitters — that motivates pursuit. However, this initial spark fades over time as relationships evolve, with oxytocin playing a bigger role in deepening emotional bonds.

SU: What role does the brain’s reward system play in romantic attraction?

EA:ĚýThe brain’s reward system is crucial in forming romantic relationships. When we experience romantic reward, dopamine is released into the nucleus accumbens, which then sends signals in two directions. One pathway leads to the prefrontal cortex, helping us plan and make decisions about our partner. The other goes to the amygdala, reducing activity related to fear, judgment and negative emotions. This neural suppression explains the saying, “Love is blind,” as it makes us less critical and more trusting of our partner.

SU: Why is romantic attraction often compared to addiction in terms of brain chemistry?

EA:ĚýOur brain’s reward system responds to anything we find pleasurable, whether it’s food, alcohol, drugs or love. This system, which doesn’t distinguish between different rewards, reacts with varying intensity. It evolved to reinforce survival behaviors like eating, bonding and reproduction. Romantic love, especially in its early stages, activates the same brain regions as addictive substances, though drugs trigger a much stronger and more persistent response.

SU: What happens in the brain during heartbreak or unrequited love?

EA:ĚýHeartbreak activates the same brain regions as physical pain, which is why romantic rejection can feel so intense. The emotional stress triggers cortisol release while lowering dopamine, creating symptoms similar to drug withdrawal. This can lead to intrusive thoughts, trouble focusing, heightened emotions, loss of motivation, anxiety, sleep issues, a weakened immune system and even physical pain. After a breakup, the brain’s reward system remains “in love” for a while, still craving interaction with the lost partner and making it difficult to move on immediately.

SU: How does the brain try to compensate for this “withdrawal”?

EA:ĚýIn the early stages of a breakup, seeing images of an ex activates the same brain regions as a drug addict experiencing withdrawal. The rational part of the brain (orbitofrontal cortex) tries to suppress these emotional responses, but it’s initially very difficult. The longer the relationship, the more neural connections are tied to the lost partner, meaning the brain must gradually rewire itself to adapt to their absence. This is why breakups — especially after long marriages — can take years to fully heal from.

SU: How can we help our brain maintain long-term attraction?

EA:ĚýOxytocin helps regulate the brain’s reward system, making it easier to reignite excitement in long-term relationships. Since dopamine is released in response to novelty, couples who feel their relationship has lost its “spark” can restore it by trying new and exciting activities together. This can effectively reengage the brain’s reward system and enhance romantic connection.

• Erin Alexander earned her bachelor’s degrees in behavioral neuroscience and biochemistry from Lehigh University. She went on to earn her doctorate in interdisciplinary biomedical neuroscience from the University of Florida College of Medicine. She also completed postgraduate training at Georgia State University and Emory University. Alexander joined the faculty at °µÍřTV in 2009.

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