Arts & Sciences
2026 Stories
USF student documents the effects of polluted well water in Florida community
Graduate student Emily Walsh is exploring the experiences of residents in Osceola County’s Whitted Historic Community, where an abandoned landfill has raised concerns about environmental exposures. Through oral histories and archival research, Walsh aims to document the community’s experiences and preserve its history.
October 7, 2026Community Engagement, Research & Innovation, Students
Astronauts to test USF students’ wound-healing research aboard the International Space Station
To improve wound care in microgravity, USF undergraduates developed a hydrogel that will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX CRS-35.
October 6, 2026Research & Innovation, Students
CAS alumna founds nonprofit, empowers girls in journalism
Recent graduate Grace Smith is leaving USF with a master’s in mass communications, a passion for research, and a motivation to empower women around the world.
September 30, 2026Alumni
DNA damage continues long after sun exposure; USF researchers say protective measures need to catch up
The novel framework underscores the need for a new generation of sunscreens that target both direct and indirect DNA damage pathways.
September 24, 2026Research & Innovation
Preserving memories: How a new approach to archaeology became a model for interdisciplinary research at USF
From Roman villas in Sicily to forensic cases in Florida, USF's Institute for Digital Exploration has turned 3D archaeology into a training ground for students across the university.
September 22, 2026Research & Innovation
In AI-era advertising, data drives creativity
In the Zimmerman School, students are learning how AI can speed up analysis while research, critical thinking and human judgment turn data into stronger creative decisions.
September 22, 2026Research & Innovation
USF alum turns a need for Spanish-speaking psychologists into a growing mentorship network
Sylvia Herbozo, a USF alum and first-generation Peruvian American, is creating the support she needed early in her psychology career through her nonprofit, Psicólogos Latinos Avanzando Nuestros Servicios (PLANS) — an initiative born from a passion for mentorship and a need for more Latino psychologists.
September 21, 2026Alumni
New Gulf-wide study explores the mysteries of two popular fish: cobia and tripletail
An $800,000 grant is helping USF researchers and partners track cobia and tripletail across the Gulf Coast to answer key questions about the species' migration patterns and populations. The findings could support recreational fishing, inform fisheries management decisions and strengthen coastal communities that depend on healthy fisheries.
September 16, 2026Research & Innovation
Anthropologist studying history of alcohol awarded rare, multi-country Fulbright
Several years back, anthropologist John W. Arthur wrote a book tracing the history of beer. Now through a Fulbright award, he is traveling to Spain and Greece to expand on this work in countries with some of earliest known evidence of alcohol production.
September 9, 2026Research & Innovation
Chloe Jones Explores Chemistry Possibilities Through Research Experiences Across the Country
Judy Genshaft Honors College student Chloe Jones has taken her passion for chemistry beyond USF through two U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates, gaining field knowledge, building presentation skills, forming mentor relationships, and preparing for a future career as a researcher.
September 4, 2026Community Engagement
What mangrove leaves reveal about microplastic pollution in Tampa Bay
Microplastics can be found throughout Tampa Bay's waters, but little is known about how they accumulate on plant surfaces. USF graduate student Kate McLendon is examining mangrove leaves to better understand these hidden pollutants and their impact on coastal habitats.
August 28, 2026Research & Innovation
USF political ecologist to advance nature-based solutions as part of Duckwall Professorship
As the newly appointed Frank E. Duckwall Professor of Florida Studies, political ecologist Richard Mbatu will work to support the state’s efforts in using nature to solve problems.
August 26, 2026Research & Innovation