Our graduate students are integral to the research we conduct, and they also are dedicated to making a difference in communities. Learn more about their research, outreach efforts, and other projects below.
News
ICDS Symposium spotlights student, faculty research
The Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences Symposium highlighted University students and faculty across various disciplines, including some from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational, data and quantum sciences methodologies to their research. Wan Ki “Arthur” Lo, geosciences doctoral student, won third place in the poster session at the symposium for his research, “Analysis of Ground Deformation Preceding the December 2020 – May 2021 Eruption at Kilauea Volcano, Hawai’i."
Oct. 23 lecture: Tailoring quantum dot growth for novel quantum light sources
Paul J. Simmonds, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University, will present “Tensile-strained self-assembly: Nanoscale stretching for novel quantum light sources” as part of the Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering’s 590 seminar series. The talk will be held from 3:05 to 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, in 112 Kern Building on the University Park campus.
EarthTalks highlights critical minerals research with fall series
The Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State is focusing its fall 2025 EarthTalks series on needs, opportunities and research in critical minerals. Ten public seminars through early December will highlight ongoing work and viewpoints both at the University and across the sector, including at the federal level.
Simple stabilizing solution leads to seven new ceramic materials
By removing oxygen during synthesis, a team led by materials scientists at Penn State created seven new high-entropy oxides, or HEOs: a class of ceramics composed of five or more metals with potential for applications in energy storage, electronics and protective coatings.
Decoding dangers of Arctic sea ice with seismic, radar method
Sea ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean is at one of its lowest levels on record, yet there’s no unanimity on when that ice will disappear completely during summer months. Understanding the traits and movements of the remaining ice is a persistent challenge for scientists, but a study by researchers at Penn State has provided a new tool to explore ice characteristics and interactions along with coastal conditions.
Shedding light on materials in the physical, biological sciences
With nonlinear optical microscopy — a specialized imaging technique that looks for a change in the color of intense laser light — researchers can collect data on how the light interacts with the sample and, through time-consuming and sometimes expensive analyses, characterize the material’s structure and other properties. Now, researchers at Penn State have developed a computational framework that can interpret the nonlinear optical microscopy images to characterize the material in microscopic detail.
Penn State GIS Day 2025 to take place Nov. 17
Penn State University Libraries will observe GIS Day, an annual event celebrating the technology of geographic information systems, on Nov. 17. This year’s activities focus on geospatial presentation, networking opportunities and student engagement through trivia games and résumé reviews.
Children's diet quality linked to distance from protected conservation areas
Researchers at Penn State found that children's diet quality peaks about 80 kilometers from protected areas, with vitamin A-rich foods most likely at that mid-distance in Indigenous population areas.
Meteorology students forecast weather for NASA research campaign
Three meteorology and atmospheric science majors spent a summer internship with NASA and NOAA to forecast clouds, wind and precipitation for a multi-aircraft research campaign monitoring atmospheric greenhouse gases.
Energy and mineral engineering graduate student awarded SME fellowship grant
Chandima Sudantha Subasinghe, a doctoral degree candidate in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, received the SME Ph.D. Fellowship grant.