CAS Chronicles
Stories
How the high-speed tongues of salamanders and chameleons are helping USF unlock engineering breakthroughs
While studying salamanders and chameleons, USF researchers discovered the animals use the same biological mechanism to fire their tongues at extreme speeds. The research has opened the door to potential innovative engineering applications inspired by nature.
September 8, 2025Research
How USF researchers are leading the fight against MRSA
With new support from the National Institutes of Health and USF’s CREATE Award, USF researchers are unraveling how MRSA evolves and spreads, shaping new treatments, training future scientists and confronting emerging strains in Florida and beyond.
September 4, 2025Research
In the Parkinson Lab at USF, saving Florida's Coral Reef is a top priority
John Parkinson, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, has long advocated for the need to test and implement new approaches to retain ecosystem function among coral reefs and prevent species loss.
August 28, 2025Research
Around the world in one summer: CAS students reflect on new skills and connections gained abroad
From Curaçao to Kyoto, students from USF’s College of Arts and Sciences spent the summer expanding their horizons through immersive study abroad programs that blended academic learning with cultural exploration.
August 28, 2025Community Engagement, Featured, Research
Expanding excellence: 31 new faculty members join the College of Arts and Sciences
The USF College of Arts and Sciences welcomes 31 new faculty members with a unique breadth of research and expertise in highly evolving specializations, reflecting the college’s continued commitment to comprehensive excellence.
August 27, 2025Accomplishments, Featured, Research
Mist netting for malaria: professor uses birds to track transmission
Diego Santiago-Alarcon, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and expert in disease ecology, studies patterns in the mosquito-borne pathogens carried by birds that can be used to understand changes in parasite transmission due to human activities.
August 27, 2025Research
Elevating Educators: USF celebrates next generation of STEM teacher leaders
Leadership from USF, the Coalition for Science Literacy and HCPS welcomed the recipients of the 2025 Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship and celebrated the accomplishments of the 2024 cohort, who earned their master of education in curriculum and instruction from USF this summer and completed a professional development series in mechatronic principles.
August 21, 2025Accomplishments, Alumni, Community Engagement, Events, Research
Meet the new faculty helping power USF’s future
From AI-driven discovery to cutting-edge medical research, USF’s newest faculty are advancing bold ideas and preparing students for the future. Their arrival reflects the university’s continued momentum as a hub for world-changing innovation and academic excellence.
August 13, 2025Research
Late USF professor continues to impact students
Seven years after his passing, James Strange’s legacy continues through the donation of his archaeological collection for student use.
July 31, 2025Research
Uncovering USF’s deep roots in botany
Established in 1958, the USF Herbarium is one of the University's oldest and most distinctive research collections.
July 31, 2025Community Engagement, Research
Award-winning professor uses artificial intelligence to track world’s deadliest animal
Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, USF faculty are developing a trap that uses artificial intelligence to identify the disease-carrying insects.
July 30, 2025Accomplishments, Featured, Research
What the trees are telling us: USF professor uses data to identify threats to tree diversity
Brian Maitner, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, is revolutionizing the way researchers examine and predict the impact of environmental shifts on plant diversity.
July 30, 2025Research