Research News

Biodiversity surveys and sampling at long term monitoring sites in the U.S. Virgin Islands have provided critical data on the seasonal fluctuations of microalgae and toxicity in these reef ecosystems leading to PIRE research. Graduate student Alexis Sabine is seen conducting biodiversity surveys at Flay Cay, U.S. Virgin Islands. Photo courtesy of Robert Brewer.

Tiny Algae Causing Big Problems
October 20, 2017

USA marine scientist will lead an international investigation into coral toxins that threaten seafood consumption safety. ...

The Good Way to Deliver Bad News
October 12, 2017

South researcher Dr. Nicole Amare surveyed her students to determine how much of a buffer is needed before tough conversations. ...

Lindsay Hutcherson, center, participated in a summer research experience at Kansas State University, the alma mater of Dr. Justin Sanders, left, chair and associate professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. "She is very good at working collaboratively with others," said Dr. Jianing Han, right, assistant professor of physics.

First Assignment: Build a Laser
October 2, 2017

Lindsay Hutcherson's project led to a summer research experience, and the physics major recently presented her findings. ...

Dr. Carol Sawyer, an associate professor of earth sciences, visited Iceland this summer as part of a multi-year project examining various aspects of cold environment land forms,

Cold Landforms Amid Hot Volcanoes
September 27, 2017

Dr. Carol Sawyer's research took her to Iceland to study the relationship between cold weather and the country's terrain. ...

USA Developing Next Gen Forensic Tools
August 28, 2017

South partnering with universities and industry to create the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science. ...

Dr. Craig Pearce, center, is the co-author of the new book “Twisted Leadership” and the Ben May Distinguished Professor in the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama.

Are You Getting Leadership Wrong?
August 22, 2017

Probably so, says the Mitchell College of Business' Dr. Craig Pearce, whose new book emphasizes six ways to improve outcomes. ...

During Monday's eclipse, the entire North American continent will be in the moon’s shadow. However, the darkest part of the shadow, where the sun is completely blocked out by the moon, will occur only along a 70-mile wide band stretching from Oregon to South Carolina. Photo credit: Evan Zucker

Solar Eclipse: What You Need to Know
August 17, 2017

You've already been told not to look directly at the sun. Here's what else you should know before Monday's celestial show. ...

Dr. Michael Francis earned his Ph.D. in 2013 from the USA College of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral training at the University’s Center for Lung Biology.

South Alum Receives $800K NIH Grant
August 3, 2017

The research of Dr. Michael Francis, who earned his Ph.D. at the College of Medicine, focuses on a deadly vascular disease. ...

Lisa Schibelius, a master's student in mechanical engineering, is the lead person on the FAST lab's quadrotor project, which gathers atmospheric data along the Gulf Coast.

At South, Research Reaches New Heights
July 20, 2017

With Airbus in town, interest in USA's FAST program is taking off. 'We are engineers and want to build something tangible.' ...

Dr. Sytske Kimball, chair of meteorology, right, discusses research projects with Caroline Kolakoski and Dillon Blount, two of the four South students named as recipients of the prestigious Hollings Scholarships. Caitlin Ford and Sam Sangster are also recipients.

Hollings Scholars in Record Numbers at USA
June 15, 2017

Four South meteorology students are 2017 recipients of the prestigious Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarships. ...

6 Ways to Avert the Next WannaCry
May 26, 2017

What you should know, and what South's School of Computing is doing, to ward off malware and other disruptive cyber attacks. ...

Thomas Merrigan, a 2000 chemistry graduate, has always had a side project. One turned into Grayle, a water filter and purifier bottle now sold in 250 stores in the United States. Photo courtesy of Thomas Merrigan.

A (One-Press) Push for Innovation
May 17, 2017

Travis Merrigan's busy week: Quit job, got married, moved to Seattle and began full bore developing the Grayl water bottle. ...

Dr. Thomas Rich, associate professor of pharmacology, left, and Dr. Silas Leavesley, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, are co-founders of SpectraCyte, a previous Alabama Launchpad award winner.

South to Host Alabama Launchpad
April 20, 2017

USA, along with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, will welcome innovative startups April 27 in downtown Mobile. ...

Ben is a very impressive researcher who does an excellent job of managing his time between classes, research, student leadership and tutoring," says Dr. Kevin West, associate professor of chemical engineering, here with chemical engineering junior and Goldwater Scholar Ben Siu.

Stop What You're Doing and Be Awesome
April 7, 2017

Chemical engineering major Benjamin Siu takes his mentor's advice, and is awarded a Goldwater Scholarship along the way. ...

South Alabama students, from left, Anesha Lee, Ebony Johnson and Meghan Sergeant presented papers in the Health Sciences section of the Alabama Academy of Science competition. Sergeant won first place and Johnson won second place. The AAS held its 94th annual meeting on South's campus, attended by more than 250 scientific experts, science faculty and teachers, and college and high school students.

South Students Get Top Science Awards
March 13, 2017

The awards were given for paper and poster presentations at the 94th annual meeting of the Alabama Academy of Science. ...

Dr. Sanjeev K Srivastava, an instructor in the Health Disparities in Cancer Research Program at the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, is the director of cell biology and genetics for Tatva Biosciences, which has a lab in USA's Coastal Innovation Hub. One of Tatva's primary technologies is the development of sun protection creme that uses silver nanoparticles in an effort to block and repair DNA damaged by sun radiation.

South Advancing 'Innovation Ecosystem'
March 2, 2017

Two words — innovation and entrepreneurship — have made a prominent entrance into the local lexicon in recent years. ...

The Rev. Joji Reddy Lingaredd's research on plant extracts could lead to identifying herbal medicines as alternative cancer treatments. His research at MCI is designed to lay the groundwork for future collaboraiton.

Outreach Through Works, Not Words
February 10, 2017

The Rev. Joji Reddy Lingareddy's plans for a life of preaching led him to an unexpected place: USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. ...

Internationally recognized archaeologist Dr. Robert Kelly of the University of Wyoming will speak at USA on Feb. 22.

Leading Archaeologist to Discuss Our 'Fifth Beginning'
February 8, 2017

Internationally recognized archaeologist Dr. Robert Kelly of the University of Wyoming will speak at South on Feb. 22. ...

Dr. Sandra Stenson, professor of chemistry, worked at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a research scientist after earning her doctorate.

A Lot Goes Into Such a Little Pill
February 2, 2017

So how do drug makers cram your meds into that small space? It's complex, and not cheap, says Professor Dr. Sandra Stenson. ...

Junior anthropology majors Shaunna Goetz, left, and Antonia Carter recently visited the United Arab Emirates to do preliminary research on ancient bones, which have since been sent to South for a long-term study.

South Archaeologists Travel to the UAE
January 24, 2017

The all-female team led by Dr. Lesley Gregoricka sent back ancient bones for a long-term study on how people lived and died. ...

Dr. Jung-Hyun Kim, Ph.D., left, a post-doctoral fellow, and Dr. Erin Ahn, Ph.D., associate professor of Oncologic Sciences at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute, collected and analyzed the clinical features of 20 unrelated patients who shared a developmental delay and intellectual disability, and narrowed down which genes are closely related to brain development.

Cancer Research Leads to Syndrome Discovery
January 23, 2017

The findings by two USA Mitchell Cancer Institute researchers ends a New York family's search for their daughter's diagnosis. ...

Phiwat Klomkaew, left, a junior chemical engineering major, and Kevin Ingles, a junior math and physics major, will present scientific papers at the 94th Alabama Academy of Sciences annual meeting.

Undergrad Experiences, Ph.D. Expectations
January 19, 2017

Two USA juniors will present papers at the Alabama Academy of Sciences annual meeting next month on South's campus. ...

Dr. Don Mosley, professor of management in the Mitchell College of Business and executive director of the college’s Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said corporate tax reform, economic stimulation and deregulation would help small businesses thrive.

Good News For Small Businesses?
January 18, 2017

The backbone of America's economy could get a boost if President-elect Donald Trump and Congress do these three things. ...

South staff recognized in 40 under Forty.

Strong Showing in 40 Under Forty
January 13, 2017

Faculty, staff and alumni representing both academics and health care join Mobile Bay magazine's annual leaders list. ...

Engineering student Yousef Omar, right, and Dr. Sumit Arora, instructor in the College of Engineering's Core Facility, examine a silver wire magnified 200 times with the University's scanning electron microscope. Silver nanoparticles are a key ingredient in their research efforts regarding sunscreens and other biomedical applications.

In Search of a Safer Sunscreen
December 1, 2016

Undergrad Yousef Omar describes his 'insanely awesome' research on a more effective sun blocker using silver nanoparticles. ...

Research News Archive

Tiny Algae Causing Big Problems October 20, 2017

The Good Way to Deliver Bad News October 12, 2017

First Assignment: Build a Laser October 2, 2017

Cold Landforms Amid Hot Volcanoes September 27, 2017

USA Developing Next Gen Forensic Tools August 28, 2017

Are You Getting Leadership Wrong? August 22, 2017

Solar Eclipse: What You Need to Know August 17, 2017

South Alum Receives $800K NIH Grant August 3, 2017

At South, Research Reaches New Heights July 20, 2017

Hollings Scholars in Record Numbers at USA June 15, 2017

6 Ways to Avert the Next WannaCry May 26, 2017

A (One-Press) Push for Innovation May 17, 2017

South to Host Alabama Launchpad April 20, 2017

Stop What You're Doing and Be Awesome April 7, 2017

South Students Get Top Science Awards March 13, 2017

South Advancing 'Innovation Ecosystem' March 2, 2017

Outreach Through Works, Not Words February 10, 2017

Leading Archaeologist to Discuss Our 'Fifth Beginning' February 8, 2017

A Lot Goes Into Such a Little Pill February 2, 2017

South Archaeologists Travel to the UAE January 24, 2017

Cancer Research Leads to Syndrome Discovery January 23, 2017

Undergrad Experiences, Ph.D. Expectations January 19, 2017

Good News For Small Businesses? January 18, 2017

Strong Showing in 40 Under Forty January 13, 2017

In Search of a Safer Sunscreen December 1, 2016