What's New with BSU Research
Researchers find unusual type of hybrid origin in a rare plant
A colorful wildflower called Christ’s paintbrush is found only one place in the world—atop a southern Idaho mountain in an area only slightly larger than the Boise State University campus. The plant, whose scientific name is Castilleja christii, is not only rare, it also has a remarkable origin.
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NASA DAY AT BOISE STATE September 20th, 2011
NASA Day at Boise State will open the "final frontier" for faculty and students to share research and ideas with the university community and with VIPs visiting from NASA's Johnson Space Center on September 20, 2011. JSC's experts will share their experiences and insights into the enterprise and challenges of exploration. This conference will be open to all Boise State students, faculty and staff.
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Boise State Researcher Studies Link Between Ants and Rare Plants
A Boise State University researcher is studying the link between Owyhee harvester ants and the decline of slickspot peppergrass, a rare plant found only in southwestern Idaho, as part of a study funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ian Robertson, an entomologist in the Department of Biological Sciences, is monitoring both the plants and ants in order to understand what factors allow the insects to increase in population enough to impact the small flowering mustard.
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Geology Lab Looks at Dinosaur’s Distant Cousin
What do sand volleyball and urban chickens have to do with geology? Plenty, says Boise State geosciences lecturer Sam Matson. Very early one spring morning, he helped undergraduates make the connection through a one-of-a-kind lab.
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RESEARCH Spotlight
Undergraduate research took center stage at the 8th annual Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Conference. Students majoring in fields ranging from engineering and geosciences to art, business and psychology displayed posters and discussed their research.
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NSF Grant Helps Students Link Math Theory And Application
Boise State University assistant professor of mathematics Liljana Babinkostova has been awarded a three-year, $329,000 Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The REU Site “Complexity in Algebra, Geometry and Applications” will introduce undergraduate students who are motivated by math’s application to information security.
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Report Examines Options for Electric Transmission Line Siting
The Energy Policy Institute (EPI), housed at Boise State University and part of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), recently released a study examining options to more effectively manage the National Environmental Policy Act process as it relates to public lands and electric transmission lines.
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Inaugural ‘Research Revealed’ showcases intellectual property
Members of the business community, Boise State faculty, media representatives and other interested parties gathered recently at the Stueckle Sky Center for an unprecedented look inside the university’s intellectual property portfolio and related technology transfer opportunities.
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Boise State Names Three New Arts And Humanities Research Fellows
Boise State University has announced the 2011 honorees in its Arts and Humanities Research Fellows program, which recognizes and supports research efforts in subjects ranging from anthropology and literature to religion and music.
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Dinosaur named for Boise State Postdoctoral Scholar
Meet Celina Suarez, Ph.D.
- Recipient of a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship
- Conducts geochemical research at Boise State
- Namesake of dinosaur species Geminiraptor suarezarum
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Day at the Capitol, 2011
Boise State University gave Idaho’s lawmakers a look at the positive economic and societal impacts the university has on the State of Idaho at Boise State Day at the Capitol 2011, held Jan. 24. The annual event highlighted a wide range of research initiatives that impact the state’s economy and quality of life in areas such as education, economic development and health care. For more information, click here
Researching Comprehensive Cancer Control, from Prevention to New Treatment Pathways
The work of more than a dozen faculty members has garnered millions in funding from the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and many others. Related discoveries have resulted in scholarly publications and patents, the first steps toward delivering the benefits of new knowledge to the public.
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Biology Researcher Is Part of Bone Treatment Breakthrough
Boise State biology professor Julia Oxford helped discover an important mechanism in the process by which bones build and maintain strength and elasticity.For more information, click here
Office of Research Compliance posts new guidelines and definitions for human subjects research
The Office of Research Compliance (ORC) has posted an updated Human Research Protections Guidelines Summary online. This summary serves as a quick guide to the Boise State University Human Research Protections Program Guidelines. Click here to access the summary.
The ORC has also provided a webpage of definitions for commonly used terms in human subjects research. Click here to access the definitions.
COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE / July 19, 2010
Online at: http://news.boisestate.edu/recent-headlines/
BOISE STATE BIOLOGY RESEARCHER BATTLES CANCER WITH $600,000 KOMEN FOR THE CURE GRANT
In the fight against cancer, research is the ultimate weapon. Billions are spent every year to support projects that are bringing us closer to fully understanding the disease and finding definitive cures. Some of these projects are being conducted in the Boise State University Department of Biological Sciences, including an ongoing breast cancer study led by associate professor Cheryl Jorcyk.
Jorcyk’s current work is focused on Oncostatin M (OSM), a protein produced by breast cancer and immune cells that plays a role in inflammation. A newly awarded $600,000 Komen for the Cure grant — the first Komen grant in Boise State history — will enable exploration of an existing antibody’s therapeutic effectiveness against the metastasis of cancer from breast to bone, which Jorcyk believes is connected to OSM.
Jorcyk’s award is part of a $59 million portfolio of research grants that Susan G. Komen for the Cure is investing with scientists worldwide. Of that total, more than $1.3 million has been funneled into Idaho over the last year. Komen Idaho Affiliates in Boise and Coeur d’Alene have invested more than $783,000 in community programs such as breast health education and outreach related to early detection and treatment, with the remainder of the funding going to Jorcyk’s research.
“It’s extremely exciting to be entrusted with such important resources and the responsibility to produce results,” Jorcyk said. “It is every investigator’s hope that the return on investment will be significant, and this project has the potential to deliver.”
One of the expectations of the Komen grant is that Jorcyk’s research will lead to a new treatment product in the next 10 years, a targeted therapy to better address the complexity of breast cancer. Jorcyk plans to test an existing receptor antibody she says could block the binding mechanism of OSM and translate to such a product.
If she is successful Jorcyk will have made a major contribution when it comes to combating breast cancer, which is part of cancer’s overall statistic as the second leading cause of death in America.
“Dr. Jorcyk exemplifies the spirit of Boise State’s research mission, to surpass expectations and define powerful new possibilities,” said Director of Technology Transfer Mary Givens. “The knowledge generated by her research has great promise to impact health and society across the world.”
Media Contact: Erin Ryan, University Communications, (208) 426-4910, erinryan@boisestate.edu
Boise State is a university of imagination and innovation. From its creative football play calling as two-time Fiesta Bowl champions to its recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” for its striking improvements and changes, Boise State is on the rise. Learn more at www.boisestate.edu.
Boise State University is a major contributor to economic growth in Idaho.
Click here for the university’s 2010 Economic Impact Report.
BOISE STATE NEWS RELEASE / May 24, 2010
Online at: http://news.boisestate.edu/recent-headlines/
BOISE STATE AND INOVUS SOLAR ENTER INTO UNIQUE RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Boise State University and Inovus Solar have entered into a unique research and educational partnership that includes installation of green technology on campus.
Inovus Solar, a renewable outdoor lighting company based in Boise, plans to set up grid-smart, solar-powered light poles with LED luminaries, enabling the real time testing and development of new solar and power conservation technologies at Boise State.
“Boise State’s location in Idaho’s capital city and the Intermountain West gives us a distinct advantage in studying these world-changing resource conservation issues on a more personal scale,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “We hope this will be one of many technology demonstration projects hosted on campus as the university continues to lead in energy conservation and implementation of renewable strategies, which are vital to economic success and continued quality of life in the region.”
Boise State students will have access to the Inovus Solar installations as they learn about integrating state-of-the-art solar technologies into a distributed production network or “smart grid.”
“This installation illustrates Boise State’s commitment to advancing science and engineering into innovations and products,” said Clay Young, a Boise State alumnus and co-founder and chief executive officer of Inovus Solar.
Boise State’s Office of University and Industry Ventures is facilitating the joint effort and other industry partnerships that will turn the university into a living laboratory. Director Mary Givens said this dynamic collaboration contributes to state and local economies and advances research initiatives that exchange knowledge and enhance new product development while providing educational opportunities for students in growing employment sectors.
“Boise State and the Office of University and Industry Ventures are dedicated to increasing industry collaboration in order to create jobs and support research and innovation, which are the foundations of long-term economic prosperity,” Givens said.
About the Boise State Office of University and Industry Ventures
The Boise State University Office of University and Industry Ventures assists research faculty, students and staff with the identification and protection of intellectual property. The office is responsible for commercializing inventions and creations by moving them from the research and development stage to the implementation phase through relationships with business and industry. Commercialization of Boise State intellectual property benefits the university, Idaho’s economy and the public. Visit http://www.boisestate.edu/research/tech/index.shtml.
About Inovus Solar
Inovus Solar is a privately held, Idaho-based corporation dedicated to changing the world of outdoor lighting by utilizing renewable energy and innovative technology. It engineers and manufactures lighting products using strict quality control methods as well as creative applications of technology to enhance efficiency and robustness. Visit www.InovusSolar.com.
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Media Contact: Erin Ryan, University Communications, (208) 426-4910, erinryan@boisestate.edu
Boise State is a university of imagination and innovation. From its creative football play calling as two-time Fiesta Bowl champions to its recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” for its striking improvements and changes, Boise State is on the rise. Learn more at www.boisestate.edu.
Click here to view archived Division of Research and Economic Development news.