Claudia Fallini, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology and pharmacy, is investigating the link between stroke and dementias in a study funded by a $413,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. She hopes her research will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as to improved stroke outcomes.

Marine biology major Lindsey Reimels has received a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. This fall she will pursue a Ph.D. in ecological sciences continuing her research into the relationship between baleen whales and microplastics.

Beloved professor of natural resources science, Peter Paton, is retiring after more than three decades at URI. Known for his passion and expertise, he has been in invaluable part of the URI community.

Professor Laura Meyerson is heading to Iceland to study the ecology of the Stokkseyri-Eyrarbakki coastline for her third Fulbright award. She will help develop a baseline ecological data set to monitor biodiversity in the region.

Rachel Schwartz is an associate professor in URI’s Department of Biological Sciences who teaches Genetics, Big Data Analysis, and a variety of hands-on courses to help students learn to do research and analyze data. Professor Schwartz is interested in training researchers to efficiently and effectively manage and analyze their data, as well as to apply novel methods that she is developing to understand genome diversity and evolution.

Graduating senior James Gbaba, who will receive his degree in cell and molecular biology, found a welcoming community at URI—as well as his niche in health research.

In 2018, Bradley Wetherbee, a longtime professor of biological sciences, began what is now known as URI Shark Camp as a way to introduce students from underserved communities to the biological sciences and to marine science programs at URI. Rhode Island students are invited to apply to this year’s program, July 21 to 25.

Three students majoring in medical laboratory science recently won awards for research posters presented at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science – Central New England conference held in Warwick, RI.

Eleni Mouyos, a sophomore double majoring in marine biology and ocean engineering, has been awarded a 2025 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the most prestigious scholarship awarded to undergraduates in marine sciences.

Marine Biology major Lindsey Reimels has been active in a variety of research projects at URI, including microplastic accumulation in Narragansett Bay and the uptake of microplastic ingestion by baleen whales.