Faculty

Meet the new faculty of fall 2020

Meet the college’s newest faculty, whose disciplinary expertise—from origin of life and supermassive black holes to political psychology, ancient economics, and interdisciplinary art—enriches and expands the arts and sciences at WSU.

High-resolution X-ray spectrometer coming to Pullman

The WSU Nuclear Science Center, in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, will acquire a new high-resolution X-ray spectrometer to perform both X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. The high-resolution X-ray spectrometer will benefit analytical chemistry and materials science research at WSU by providing the means to perform […]

Small towns have highest risk of intimate partner violence

“In criminology, we often have this urban bias. We assume big cities are the worst and paint other places as idyllic,” said Kathryn DuBois, associate professor at WSU Vancouver. “We tend to think in a continuum from urban to suburban to rural, but for intimate partner violence, it’s actually the suburban areas that are the […]

Neuilly to lead criminal justice and criminology department

An expert in comparative criminal justice and criminological theory, Melanie-Angela Neuilly began on August 1 a three-year term as chair of the WSU Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Neuilly brings a broad range of strengths, experience, and energy to her new role, said Matthew Jockers, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Her […]

Tasmanian devil gene mutation offers insight on human cancer

A rare, transmissible tumor has brought the iconic Tasmanian devil to the brink of extinction, but new research indicates hope for the animals’ survival and possibly new treatment for human cancers. A team of international scientists led by Andrew Storfer, WSU professor of biological sciences, and Mark Margres, a former WSU postdoctoral fellow now at […]

Dasgupta elected to lead international statistics organization

Mathematics and statistics professor and director of the data analytics program, Nairanjana “Jan” Dasgupta has been elected president of the international Caucus for Women in Statistics. “I feel blessed to be working in a field I love,” Dasgupta said. “Teaching at WSU has always been energizing for me because I thoroughly enjoy the beauty of […]

Climate change and glacial stream insects

An endangered aquatic insect that lives in icy streams fed by glaciers might not mind if the water grows warmer due to climate change. A study co-authored by WSU post-doctoral researcher Scott Hotaling found that mountain stoneflies can tolerate warmer water temperatures, at least temporarily. While the study goes against the prevailing theory that rising […]

Understanding cybercrime marketplaces

As instances of online identity theft continue to rise over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, WSU criminologist Alex Kigerl is helping to shed light on the shady world of cybercriminals and how it operates. A backstabbing crime boss and thousands of people looking for free tutorials on hacking and identity theft were among the […]

University honors chemistry professor

Ralph Yount has given hope to millions of people who will never know his name. During his 44-year career as a professor of chemistry and molecular biosciences at WSU, Yount’s study of muscle function advanced medical understanding of diseases such as muscular dystrophy, ALS, and myasthenia gravis. His work focused on the way muscles contract, […]

Bear butter: Studying tiny moths as a rich food source

A team of international scientists led by a WSU graduate student are trekking the high peaks of the greater Glacier National Park ecosystem this summer to better understand a tiny but important food source for grizzly bears—the army cutworm moth. Erik Peterson, a master’s student in the School of the Environment, partnered with WSU professor […]