Arts & Sciences
2026 Stories
The psychology of fear: Inside a USF researcher’s work on why we love to be scared
Psychology doctoral candidate Tara Perreault studies why people enjoy being scared — and how fear shapes our relationships and moral judgments, using research methods far more frightening than a traditional lab.
October 26, 2026Research & Innovation, Students
A place to belong: USF alumni honor Tim Curry through Rocky Horror shadow cast
Months after the passing of actor Tim Curry, CAS alumni continue to take the stage, blending scholarship and performance to honor the film’s enduring cultural impact.
October 26, 2026Alumni
How Tampa can build a more hurricane-resilient tree canopy
The 2024 hurricane season brought trees down across the city of Tampa. Residents say they want to replant, but the challenge is understanding what it will take to preserve a healthy urban canopy when the benefits are shared but the costs often fall on individuals.
October 26, 2026Community Engagement, Research & Innovation
New AI-powered mosquito trap could help curb dengue outbreaks
As Florida continues to face one of its worst dengue outbreaks in nearly a century, an innovative mosquito trap is being brought to market by USF startup Digitomy – helping curb the spread of the virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. The AI-patented technology has achieved more than 98% accuracy in identifying mosquito species during laboratory testing.
October 23, 2026Research & Innovation
Two chemistry alumni are transforming mental health treatment options through an unlikely source: psychedelics
Two alumni from the Department of Chemistry, Chris Witowski, PhD and Jackie von Salm, PhD, are revolutionizing treatment options for mental health disorders by utilizing the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic substances without the hallucinogenic properties.
October 21, 2026Alumni, Research & Innovation
USF part of national research team that finds drastic decline of marine life in the Gulf
A long-term study of deep-sea ecosystems in the Gulf finds a sudden, severe and unprecedented decline in marine life for over a decade, and suggests the likely cause is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from 16 years ago.
October 19, 2026Research & Innovation
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 15, 2026Research & Innovation, Students
USF launches national security hub with funding secured by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, expanding partnership with U.S. Central Command
Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences and supported by a $1.63 million appropriation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the new lab brings advanced technology and modeling capabilities to USF’s growing national security research enterprise.
October 13, 2026Events, Research & Innovation
USF researcher knew cancer ran in her family. Genetic testing told her why.
Marleah Dean Kruzel was just a child when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s since discovered that she carries an inherited BRCA2 mutation and is using her personal experience to help others understand hereditary cancer risk.
October 7, 2026Research & Innovation
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
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