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Red algae bloom in Key West, Fla.

Research team uses new tool to define and predict harmful algal blooms

A new study by researchers at the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University has demonstrated that a promising DNA sequencing tool can rapidly identify harmful algae in coastal waters, offering a new approach for monitoring species that could lead to improved methods for detecting potentially dangerous species before blooms become widespread.

October 14, 2026Global - Environmental - Genomic Health Sciences, Research and Innovation

mosquito

Dengue in Tampa Bay: What should residents know?

USF Health experts explain how dengue spreads, symptoms to watch for, how Tampa Bay residents can prevent mosquito bites and what researchers are learning about dengue in Florida.

October 13, 2026Global - Environmental - Genomic Health Sciences, Research and Innovation, Sten Vermund

state of the college

Dean Vermund celebrates a year of growth and achievement in annual State of the College Address

There was plenty to celebrate at the COPH as Dean Sten Vermund highlighted a year of remarkable growth, achievements and new opportunities during the annual State of the College Address.

October 9, 2026Alumni and Development, Awards and Honors, College News, Research and Innovation, Sten Vermund, Student Life

University of South Florida: A Preeminent Research University

USF leads new effort to bring facts and trust back to children’s vaccinations

Vaccinations have become clouded in uncertainty and many parents are confused on what to do and whom to trust. That’s why USF’s College of Public Health (COPH) launched a new project called Vaccine Shared Decision Making – VaxSmart, for short − to improve communication between parents and health care providers.

October 9, 2026Research and Innovation

two women

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 Health Sciences, Research and Innovation, Student Life

group

USF cancer research gets shot in the arm with $6 million in state awards

The University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute expect to be better equipped to study and treat cancer thanks to $6 million divided among three awards from the Florida Department of Health. Some of the money will help consolidate oncology efforts onto a single, more effective platform.

September 25, 2026Global - Environmental - Genomic Health Sciences, Research and Innovation, Sten Vermund

malaria sample

USF Health researchers identify promising vaccine target in malaria parasite

USF Health researchers have identified a previously unknown weakness in Plasmodium vivax, a malaria parasite that infects millions worldwide, paving the way for the development of a potential new vaccine.

September 25, 2026Global - Environmental - Genomic Health Sciences, Research and Innovation

group

USF students shine in presentations at state-wide public health conference

Students and faculty from the COPH made a strong impression with their ideas about the future at the 2026 Florida Public Health Association Educational Conference in Orlando, which featured the theme “Committing to Excellence Through Collaborations and Continuity.”

September 8, 2026Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Research and Innovation, Student Life

woman

USF researchers draw new battle lines in war against malaria

Malaria, a vector-borne infectious disease that kills more than 600,000 people each year, has an uncanny ability to slip through the cracks of health care systems in many countries around the world. How so many of its infections evade routine surveillance is a question that Rihana Aydin seeks to answer.

August 10, 2026Epidemiology, Research and Innovation

University of South Florida: A Preeminent Research University

Uncovering the hidden impacts of a hurricane on food supply

When Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck in 2024, the storms not only left behind a trail of destruction but also exposed an often-overlooked challenge for local emergency responders: How hurricanes can disrupt the food system and make it harder for residents to access it when they need it most.

August 6, 2026Alumni and Development, Research and Innovation

bird

Getting out into the natural world:” Professor Lynn Martin on biology, mentorship and global research collaboration

The house sparrow is so common that most people hardly notice it. But for Dr. Lynn "Marty" Martin, the small brown bird has become the center of a global scientific collaboration spanning numerous countries and offering new insights into how animals - and perhaps humans - adapt to changing environments.

August 6, 2026Global - Environmental - Genomic Health Sciences, Research and Innovation

people talking in front of poster

Student projects take center stage at summer research symposium; alumna’s gift creates endowment for undergraduate research

COPH alumna Alondra Velez developed a reminder and tracking system at USF’s BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic that helped more than 90% of referred patients complete colorectal screening. She is turning her findings into a research manuscript and will begin a master’s program in medical sciences at USF this fall.

August 6, 2026Alumni and Development, Research and Innovation

About Department News

Welcome to the USF COPH news page. Our marketing and communications team is entrusted with storytelling. Through written stories, photography, video and social media we highlight alumni, faculty, staff and students who are committed to passionately solving problems and creating conditions that allow every person the universal right to health and well-being. These are our stories.