Past News
2 Purdue alumnae complete the crew of the Virgin Galactic all-Boilermaker spaceflight
April 15, 2026
Purdue University is set to send five Boilermakers on a research journey into space with the announcement of the final two crew members to take part in a Virgin Galactic suborbital flight mission. Veteran commercial astronaut Beth Moses, a Purdue aeronautics and astronautics alumna, and Florence Stahura, a 1992 graduate of the James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo Department of Chemistry, join the five-person crew expected to launch in 2027 for the groundbreaking suborbital flight, dubbed Purdue 1, that will include real-time research on board. The flight advances Purdue’s global leadership in space for education, research and alumni engagement.
2 Purdue alumnae complete the crew of the Virgin Galactic all-Boilermaker spaceflight
Purdue researchers unite to pioneer "living" neuroelectronics; paper published in Science
April 14, 2026
The ability to stimulate and modulate neural activity in the brain in a minimally invasive manner is critical from both a neurotechnology and a therapeutic perspective for patients suffering from nervous system disorders. Developing synthetic materials that are conductive, biocompatible, and stable, and can grow within living organisms by leveraging life’s own chemistry, is central to this innovation and requires both novel materials and innovative engineering methods. Krishna Jayant, the Leslie A. Geddes Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, and Jianguo Mei, the Richard and Judith Wien Professor in the James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo Department of Chemistry, along with collaborators across Purdue University in a multidisciplinary endeavor, have made an important breakthrough toward enabling this capability. The research led to findings that could help address the major challenge for the field: biocompatible integration of synthetic materials with living tissue, most notably the brain.
Purdue researchers unite to pioneer "living" neuroelectronics; paper published in Science
In Print: ‘Birck Builds the Future: Celebrating Twenty Years at Purdue University, 2005-2025’
April 13, 2026
Birck Builds the Future: Celebrating Twenty Years at Purdue University, 2005-2025” commemorates the vision, innovation and enduring impact of the Birck Nanotechnology Center. This richly detailed volume traces Birck’s journey from a bold idea — sparked by the urgent need for state-of-the-art facilities to support cutting-edge nanoscale research — to its emergence as a global leader in semiconductors and quantum research. The book highlights the center’s founding under Purdue’s then-president Martin Jischke and its role as the anchor of Discovery Park, a hub designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across the fields of engineering, science, pharmacy and agriculture.
In Print: ‘Birck Builds the Future: Celebrating Twenty Years at Purdue University, 2005-2025’
Faculty promotions and tenure approved by trustees
April 10, 2026
The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (April 10) approved faculty promotions and tenure. The following promotions are effective with the 2026-27 academic year. Exact dates are noted by campus or individual
WGHI Awardee: Laura Murray-Kolb receives Aday Award for exceptional global contributions to maternal, child health
April 6, 2026
Laura Murray-Kolb has been selected to receive the 2025 Lu Ann Aday Award, a recognition given annually to a Purdue University faculty member who has made a major impact in their field within the humanities and social sciences.
Purdue News: WGHI pilot grant awardee Laura Murray-Kolb receives Aday Award for exceptional global contributions to maternal, child health
April 6, 2026
Laura Murray-Kolb has been selected to receive the 2025 Lu Ann Aday Award, a recognition given annually to a Purdue University faculty member who has made a major impact in their field within the humanities and social sciences. Murray-Kolb, professor and head of the Department of Nutrition Science in the College of Health and Human Sciences, studies the neurophysiological and neuropsychological consequences of iron deficiency with the aim of informing the development of policies designed to improve maternal and child health worldwide.
CQT Director Tongcang Li receives Bement Award for innovative quantum research
April 6, 2026
CQT Director Tongcang Li has been chosen to receive the 2025 Arden L. Bement Jr. Award, which recognizes Purdue University faculty for recent outstanding contributions in pure and applied science and engineering.
CQT Director Tongcang Li receives Bement Award for innovative quantum research
A simple blood test could reveal Alzheimer’s risk years early
April 3, 2026
A routine blood marker tied to inflammation may reveal Alzheimer’s risk years in advance. Scientists found that higher neutrophil levels—part of the body’s first immune response—were linked to a greater chance of developing dementia. The discovery suggests this common lab value could help flag at-risk individuals before symptoms appear. It also raises the possibility that immune cells themselves may be fueling the disease.
A simple blood test could reveal Alzheimer’s risk years early
OYE Therapeutics announces FDA merger of two INDs, streamlining development across intravenous caffeine platform
March 30, 2026
OYE Therapeutics Inc. (“OYE” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing intravenous caffeine-based therapies for acute care applications, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has merged two of the Company’s Investigational New Drug applications (“INDs”), creating a more streamlined regulatory framework for development across related programs.
Purdue innovators take the stage at the 2026 Startup and Technology Expo
March 30, 2026
The 2026 Purdue Innovates and Purdue Alumni Entrepreneurship Network Startup and Technology Expo highlighted and showcased Purdue’s finest innovators and entrepreneurs including students, faculty, staff, startups, and issued patent recipients.
Purdue innovators take the stage at the 2026 Startup and Technology Expo