Monday, Oct. 7, 2019

Top Stories

NIH funds centers to diversify reference genome

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will provide $29.5 million to the School of Medicine and collaborating institutions to improve the accuracy and diversity of the reference human genome sequence.

A look back at Chancellor Martin’s inauguration day

In case you missed it, check out this video recapping the sights and sounds of inauguration day on campus — the first in nearly a quarter-century.

The importance of collagen fibers in health

Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering have shown that the length of collagen fibers plays a role in the ability of normal cells to become invasive. Collagen makes up skin, bone, tendons and other soft tissues.

California adopts child development accounts

California has become the third state this year to adopt universal child development accounts for all newborn children. The concept and policy grew out of research by the Brown School’s Center for Social Development.

Events

Noon Monday, Oct. 7

Lara Bazelon talk on wrongful convictions

6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7

Sam Fox visiting faculty lecture

12:30–5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8

Research symposium and poster session

View more events →

Campus Announcements

Apply for Africa humanities fellowship

The university’s Center for the Humanities in Arts & Sciences, along with other academic partners, received funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for an Africa fellowship program, aimed at enhancing research capacity for early-career humanities scholars. The application deadline is Nov. 11.

WashU in the News

WashU’s Pledge program will provide free education for low-income students from Missouri, southern Illinois

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Alzheimer’s research reset

Science

Washington University’s redesign brings order — but not rigidity — to the Danforth Campus’ East End

St. Louis Magazine

Ameren, MoBot making solar power more affordable for homes, schools and nonprofits

St. Louis Public Radio

See more WashU in the News →

Campus Voices

‘How dishonesty drains you’

Ashley Hardin, at Olin Business School, co-writes an article in Scientific American about how even small acts of dishonesty, such as lying to spare another’s feelings or taking office supplies for personal use, can damage one’s ability to read others’ emotions.

Notables

Joseph Jez, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor and chair of biology in Arts & Sciences, along with two former researchers in his laboratory, was awarded a U.S. patent for engineered plants that could help detoxify, or remediate, soils contaminated with heavy metals.

Research Wire

Peng Bai, at the McKelvey School of Engineering, published research last year finding that one of the main roadblocks to smaller lithium ion batteries was actually three separate roadblocks. Now, Bai has received a $397,214 grant from the National Science Foundation to better understand the problems.

The Record