This is the College of Science biweekly newsletter. For the most up-to-date information, visit science.gmu.edu.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: College of Science Dean's Town Hall 4/20/26

Dean Cody W. Edwards will host a Spring Town Hall on Monday, April 20, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., in Exploratory Hall 3301 with a virtual attendance option available.

He will discuss progress on the college's strategic plan, provide budget updates, share developments related to the Grand Challenge Initiative, and highlight other important college- and university-wide updates.

You are encouraged to attend in person, but for those unable to, the town hall will be available virtually and recorded. It will conclude with a moderated Q&A session, offering attendees an opportunity to ask questions and participate in the conversation.

The 15th Annual College of Science URC will be held May 11, 2026 from  2 to 4 p.m. in Dewberry Hall, Johnson Center. Undergraduates with STEM research may present posters. Abstracts are due April 9 and posters April 27. Projects may include preliminary results. Posters are judged across four STEM categories with scholarships awarded to top presenters. Photo by Evan Cantwell, George Mason University.

The university will soon update the catalog’s faculty section listing of instructional and administrative faculty. If you fall into either of those categories, review your current entry and indicate whether it needs to be added, revised, or removed. If updates are required, download and complete the provided table and email it to aacos@gmu.edu by April 3, 2026. Changes will appear in the June 2026–2027 catalog. Photo by Evan Cantwell, George Mason University.

There is still time to sign up to share your expertise at the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)/Mason Science 2026 Dual Enrollment Research Symposium on Tuesday, April 28, in Dewberry Hall at the Johnson Center on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus. Volunteer as a poster reviewer and provide valuable feedback. Complete the survey by Friday, April 3. Photo by Evan Cantwell, George Mason University.

The college is seeking volunteers and faculty marshals for the College of Science Degree Celebration onThursday, May 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in EagleBank Arena. Your support plays a vital role in creating a welcoming, and memorable experience for our graduates and their families.

Faculty interested in serving as marshals should contact Melissa Hayes by April 8 to be included in the program. Those interested in volunteering in other roles are encouraged to email cosevent@gmu.edu.

by Katarina Benson

In January, Medical Laboratory Science senior Angela Victoria Rojas Rivera represented the university at the National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC), the nation’s largest student-run research conference hosted by Harvard University. Her project, “Extracellular Vesicle–Driven Immune Programming at the Sentinel Lymph Node in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer,” identified a new immunotherapy approach that helps the body recognize breast cancer cells as a threat, enabling the immune system to respond more quickly. Photo provided

by Lauren Reuscher

As a professor in George Mason University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, Paul So is a theoretical physicist who specializes in dynamical systems analysis and its application to neuroscience. Outside his role as a physics professor, So is an artist. An avid painter, he also supports developing artists as a co-founder of Hamiltonian Artists, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art incubator based in Washington, D.C. 

by Becky Ferreira

A recent WIRED article reported that newly released U.S. government files on UFOs/UAPs are unlikely to reveal dramatic evidence of aliens. Computational and Data Sciences Associate Professor Anamaria Berea emphasizes that curiosity about extraterrestrials is an existential human question and notes many UAPs have ordinary explanations, with only a small fraction remaining unexplained. Photo by Ron Aira, George Mason University.

by Warren Cornwall

Science reports mysterious bird declines in intact tropical forests, raising fears of a new Silent Spring. George Mason ecologist David Luther studies how climate change and forest fragmentation warm and dry understory habitats, stressing birds and reducing survival. His work suggests climate-driven microclimate shifts may quietly reshape bird communities. Photo provided. 

The upcoming funding opportunity has important deadlines to keep in mind. Phase I applications are due on April 28, 2026. For Phase II, the mandatory Letter of Intent is also due on April 28, 2026, with the full application submission deadline on May 19, 2026. Check out the