News and Events

upcoming events
Events
May 17
UO Olympic Studies Week

A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance...
UO Olympic Studies Week
May 12–18

A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.

With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.

Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.

Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.

Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.

See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025

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Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include

May 18
UO Olympic Studies Week

A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance...
UO Olympic Studies Week
May 12–18

A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.

With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.

Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.

Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.

Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.

See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025

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Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include

May 19
Knight Campus BioE Seminar Series – Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Graduate Student Association 1:00 p.m.

Join us for a special seminar hosted by the Graduate Student Association at the Knight Campus: Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Graduate Student Association. This...
Knight Campus BioE Seminar Series – Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Graduate Student Association
May 19
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Beetham Family Seminar Room

Join us for a special seminar hosted by the Graduate Student Association at the Knight Campus: Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Graduate Student Association. This session will explore how students can engage in translational research, develop entrepreneurial mindsets, and connect their academic work with broader societal impact.

All are welcome. A short reception will follow.

May 20
gradCONNECT: Disabled and Neurodiverse Graduate Student Time Together 1:00 p.m.

Enjoy stress-free time together online with disabled and neurodivergent graduate students from across campus. Share experiences, exchange resources, or consult with a GE from the...
gradCONNECT: Disabled and Neurodiverse Graduate Student Time Together
May 20
1:00–2:00 p.m.
This is a virtual event.

Enjoy stress-free time together online with disabled and neurodivergent graduate students from across campus. Share experiences, exchange resources, or consult with a GE from the Accessible Education Center.

RSVP

May 23
Andrew Holston PhD Defense: Large Scale Engineering of Chimeric Histidine Kinases

Join us for the PhD defense of Andrew Holston, a Chemistry doctoral candidate in the Plesa Lab at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. Andrew will present his research on...
Andrew Holston PhD Defense: Large Scale Engineering of Chimeric Histidine Kinases
May 23
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Beetham Family Seminar Room

Join us for the PhD defense of Andrew Holston, a Chemistry doctoral candidate in the Plesa Lab at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. Andrew will present his research on the large-scale engineering of chimeric histidine kinases, offering new insights into the design and manipulation of these key signaling proteins. All are welcome to attend.

May 27
Natanya Villegas PhD Defense: Innovations in Programmable Nucleic Acid Libraries and CRISPR Enrichment for Molecular Biology Applications 2:00 p.m.

Please join us for the PhD defense of Natanya Villegas, a Biology doctoral candidate in the Plesa Lab at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. Natanya will share her work...
Natanya Villegas PhD Defense: Innovations in Programmable Nucleic Acid Libraries and CRISPR Enrichment for Molecular Biology Applications
May 27
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Beetham Family Seminar Room

Please join us for the PhD defense of Natanya Villegas, a Biology doctoral candidate in the Plesa Lab at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. Natanya will share her work on advancing programmable nucleic acid libraries and CRISPR enrichment techniques to expand possibilities in molecular biology research. All are welcome.

May 29
Spring 2025 Entrepreneurship Speaker Series: “Disruption Decoded” with Elliot Reed 10:30 a.m.

Join us for a compelling talk by Elliot Reed, co-founder and CEO of Sensate Biosystems, as part of the Spring 2025 Entrepreneurship Speaker Series. In “Disruption...
Spring 2025 Entrepreneurship Speaker Series: “Disruption Decoded” with Elliot Reed
May 29
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Beetham Family Seminar Room

Join us for a compelling talk by Elliot Reed, co-founder and CEO of Sensate Biosystems, as part of the Spring 2025 Entrepreneurship Speaker Series. In “Disruption Decoded,” Reed draws on over two decades of experience to illuminate the path from groundbreaking research to successful commercialization. Attendees will gain practical insights into identifying promising innovations, navigating complex licensing deals, and securing diverse funding sources—including federal grants and venture capital.

This session is a must for entrepreneurs, researchers, and students interested in transforming disruptive technologies into thriving ventures while avoiding common commercialization pitfalls.

May 31
gradCONNECT: Trip to the Coast 10:00 a.m.

Strengthen connections and unplug on Oregon’s beautiful coast while hiking Hobbit Trail and spending time at the ocean near Florence. Transportation, lunch, and snacks...
gradCONNECT: Trip to the Coast
May 31
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Oregon Coast

Strengthen connections and unplug on Oregon’s beautiful coast while hiking Hobbit Trail and spending time at the ocean near Florence. Transportation, lunch, and snacks provided.

A $5 deposit through the Outdoor Program (OP) is required to secure your seat. Space is limited to the first 20 students, with priority given to international students.

Please call the Outdoor Program at 541-346-4365 to reserve a spot, or sign up in person at OP's DIY Bike Space in the EMU.

Jun 9
Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering Seminar Series – Guest Speaker and Annual Awards Ceremony 1:00 p.m.

Join the Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering for the final seminar of the Spring 2025 BioE Seminar Series, featuring an invited research talk and the 3rd Annual Awards...
Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering Seminar Series – Guest Speaker and Annual Awards Ceremony
June 9
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Beetham Family Seminar Room

Join the Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering for the final seminar of the Spring 2025 BioE Seminar Series, featuring an invited research talk and the 3rd Annual Awards Ceremony recognizing outstanding trainee presentations.

  • Guest Speaker: Dr. Laurel Hind, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder Inflammation-on-a-Chip: Redefining How We Study Immune Responses

Following the seminar, awards will be presented for Best Postdoctoral Presentation and Best PhD Student Presentation from across the 2024–25 series.

All are welcome. A short reception will follow.

Jun 15
Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program Commencement Ceremonies 1:00 p.m.

Please join the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program during the tracks designated ceremony time on Sunday, June 15, at the Knight Campus. 1-2pm – KCGIP Polymers...
Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program Commencement Ceremonies
June 15
1:00–5:00 p.m.
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact Terrace or Seminar Room (pending weather)

Please join the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program during the tracks designated ceremony time on Sunday, June 15, at the Knight Campus.

  • 1-2pm – KCGIP Polymers & Sensors Programs Commencement Ceremonies 
  • 2:30-3:30pm – KCGIP Semi & Optics Programs Commencement Ceremonies
  • 4-5pm – KCGIP Bioinformatics & Genomics Program Commencement Ceremony

Graduates please RSVP here by May 30, 2025.

BIOE Science Seminars 

UO SCIENCE SEMINARs
Knight Campus News

Rachel Bedford interviewed Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance scientists who study running - from biomechanics to the use of environmental elements to enhance oxygen availability - asking them to explain their work while running alongside her. The format challenged researchers to distill complex science into short, accessible insights for athletes while also showcasing their own endurance.

Lia Strait, a PhD candidate in Bioengineering at the University of Oregon’s Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, is helping bones heal faster — and advocating for science policy on Capitol Hill. Strait, a researcher in Bob Guldberg’s lab focused on improving bone regeneration, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for a prestigious fellowship that provided hands-on experience in science policy—an area she plans to pursue as a career.

The annual event enables University of Oregon employees to spend a day on the Eugene campus with the children in their lives. Kids get a glimpse into the working world while parents and other guardians get quality time with their families — and more. Leslie Coonrod and Paul Dalton of the Knight Campus organized 3D printers creating all different toys. 

MORE KNIGHT CAMPUS NEWS »

event videos

Science Knight Out with Bala Ambati
Knight Campus research professor and ophthalmologist Bala Ambati talks about some of the ways researchers are addressing eye conditions, ranging from traumatic injury to cataracts.
Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
Chris Gibson highlights the serendipity of science and failure, and the role each played in his journey from PhD student to CEO of a multibillion-dollar public biotech company.
Distinguished Lecture Series
Karen Wooley explores synthetic strategies for the development of polymers, block polymers and crosslinked network materials, which can be produced by relatively simple approaches.
Science Knight Out with Leslie Leve
Leslie Leve discusses the importance of nature and nurture in promoting or disrupting well-being.