This installment of “Dissertation Diaries” highlights Udathari Kumarasinghe, a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Tufts University. Before Tufts, Kumarasinghe completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka.
Midterm season is upon us all too soon; hopeful promises to ‘lock in’ loom large, and caffeine consumption reaches new heights, whether in the form of a tea, coffee, energy drink — or all three. Caffeine seems to transform from a fun little drink into a necessary ingredient in study routines. But, although we know that caffeine does in fact do something, the ways in which it works — and works less well the more you drink — can seem like a mystery. So, what’s the science behind the sip?
Last month, a spark was ignited within the scientific community as a team of researchers demonstrated a scientific method for decoding one’s inner thoughts. The team implanted microelectrode arrays in the brain tissues of four BrainGate2 patients who lost their ability to speak due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Each patient was then asked to perform various tasks, including responding to spontaneous questions, counting shapes and reading sentences, while the researchers collected electrical data from their brains to analyze their thoughts. This electrical data was then used to mechanically build an alternative communication channel.
Amid the near-total Israeli blockade, those in Gaza are facing a new threat to their lives — paralytic diseases. According to Nasser Hospital’s head of pediatrics, Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, “Before the war, we used to see one case of Guillain-Barré syndrome yearly, but in the last three months, we have already diagnosed nearly 100 cases. We are seeing an outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis as a result … Patients are fatigued, unable to stand or sit. Then, as the paralysis increases, it affects patients’ respiratory muscles and can lead to respiratory failure. This can, in some cases, result in cardiac arrest.”
Welcome to the third installment of “Dissertation Diaries.” This week, we will focus on Bradley Pedro, a fifth-year biology doctoral candidate in the Romero Lab at Tufts!
NASA has faced threats of losing a significant portion of its funding since the beginning of the Trump administration. A recent NASA economic impact report found that, in fiscal year 2023, the agency generated $75.6 billion in economic output despite the agency’s budget being roughly $25 billion that same year — an approximately threefold return on investment. Yet, the White House proposed setting the NASA budget for fiscal year 2026 at under $19 billion, representing an over 24% cut. Congress only has until Sept. 30 to finalize NASA’s funding — to decide whether to approve or reject the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts. As Congress has the final say over government spending, there is currently a bipartisan effort to veto the White House’s proposed budget cuts.
On Aug. 13, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a warning regarding a potentially dangerous bacterium found in the waters of Cape Cod: Vibrio vulnificus.
As fall begins its descent on the Hill, pumpkin spice everything and cozy knit sweaters accompany the perpetual change in scenery that beckons the need to take a picture of every angle of Tufts campus. The quintessential New England autumn is characterized by vibrant hues of reds, oranges and yellows, adding a richness of colors that researchers have actually found to improve physiological stress recovery and emotional ratings. But, how are these leaves able to transform into the iconic colors of fall we know to recognize with the season?
In this second installment of “Dissertation Diaries,” we highlight Amarachi Osuji, a fifth-year chemistry and biotechnology Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Professor Joshua Kritzer here at Tufts. Originally from Nigeria, Osuji earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Debrecen in Hungary. For her Ph.D., she chose to shift her focus, moving away from engineering to delve more deeply into chemistry.
Welcome to the first installment of “Dissertation Diaries,” a new column where we will highlight different doctoral candidates from various science and engineering departments at Tufts! Our first student profile spotlights Kevin Smith, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
On June 9, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s key vaccine advisory panel — and replaced them with his own appointees. Established in 1964, ACIP develops national vaccine recommendations, including schedules and safety guidelines, which influence coverage under Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.
People will always tell you to “network” and “get involved in research,” but it isn’t always clear what that actually looks like. As a senior biochemistry major at Tufts, I’ve figured out some effective ways to do both, so here are my four tips for first-years pursuing a STEM major or minor.
During the fall 2024 semester, Tufts’ Department of Earth and Climate Sciences announced two new majors, earth science and climate science, and a minor in earth and climate sciences. This semester, the department is making the academic transition and moving into new lab spaces in Bacon Hall.
When asked to describe her four years at Tufts in a single sentence, graduating senior Carmen Smoak was inspired by words often attributed to writer and professor Joseph Campbell: “Say yes to the whole catastrophe.” “It’s gonna be a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess,” Smoak said. “You might as well just say yes to the whole catastrophe and embrace it for all it’s worth.”
From sledding down Prez Lawn on laundry basket lids to running half-marathons with friends, Ian Lau, a graduating senior and a former photo and science executive for the Daily, has had what can only be described as a whirlwind four years filled with lifelong friends, supportive communities and unforgettable memories. Now, about to graduate with a degree in biology and biotechnology, he can confidently say that coming to Tufts was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
In the first 100 days of his presidency, Donald Trump slashes government spending in multiple different departments. Some of the departments most hard hit are those that fund and support research at universities across the country. Notable standouts include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which houses the National Institute of Health (NIH), as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additionally, the Trump Administration has hit university research with restrictions to federal grant funding for university medical research.
Staring at a litter of puppies, the first to go are the ones with unique colorings, mixes of merle, little white boots, or floppy ears. These days people pick their pets based on how cute they think they are. But are these really the characteristics that pet owners should be searching for?
In a lab in the heart of Boston, professor Bree Aldridge leads a team of researchers trying to understand a threat that is both microscopic in size and global in consequence. The subject of Aldridge’s research is the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In 2023, TB made 10.8 million people sick and killed around 1.25 million people.
Imagine if anyone — or anything — could perfectly copy your voice or face and spread it online. A flawless imitation, indistinguishable from the real you, saying things you never said, showing up in places you’ve never been. How would that change the way you see yourself? How would it feel to lose control over your own image, your own sound?
In 2000, the United States declared measles eradicated in the country due to the development of a vaccine. Yet, recent data has shown a measles resurgence in the United States with an outbreak in New York in 2019 and a larger outbreak this year in Texas and New Mexico.
