What kind of research and faculty does UO Natural Sciences highlight?

The University of Oregon's Natural Sciences division highlights a faculty of roughly 300 members whose research spans from the foundations of quantum mechanics to cancer cell development and brain function, with some work leading to high-technology company spin-offs. These faculty—including fellows of many learned societies and academies—combine research with teaching, training students to become the next generation of scientists. This page is for prospective students, researchers, or partners who want a quick read on the division's research identity and academic breadth.

Who the faculty are

The site describes approximately 300 faculty members across the science departments. It notes that this group includes fellows of many learned societies and academies, a signal of external recognition within their fields. The framing emphasizes that these are active researchers, not only instructors: the division states its departments are "committed to creating and disseminating new knowledge" by combining research and teaching.

What research areas are represented

The page gives a deliberately wide range of examples rather than a single specialty. It cites:

• Questions about the foundations of quantum mechanics
• The development of cancer cells
• The workings of the brain

It also points to applied outcomes, noting work "resulting in the spin-off of high-technology companies." Taken together, the examples run from fundamental physics to biomedical questions to commercialization.

Research feeds into teaching and student training

A key point the page makes is that faculty "share their excitement about their research with their students," explicitly training them to become part of the next generation of scientists. So the research profile is presented as connected to the student experience, not separate from it.

Academic programs tied to this research base

The research areas map onto a broad set of majors, minors, concentrations, and programs. The site lists:

The page also links to College of Arts and Sciences graduate programs and affiliated centers and institutes, which is where much of the research activity is organized.

Recent research news the site features

The news section gives concrete, dated examples of the research culture:

• Marine biology (September 16, 2026): CAS marine biologists studying brittle star plankton larvae at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology published research deepening understanding of marine life along the Oregon coast and its connection to distant regions.
• Physics (July 20, 2026): A UO-led team received a two-year, $4 million National Science Foundation grant to develop a prototype quantum network on the UO campus. Professor Brian Smith, director of the Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular and Quantum Science, said the research "will transform communications, sensors and computers."
• Psychology (September 16, 2026): An alum profile stressing the value of trying new things.

These items illustrate the range described above—from field marine biology to federally funded quantum networking.

How to use this information

If you are evaluating the division for a specific interest, match your area to the program list above, then check the affiliated centers and institutes and graduate program links for research depth. If you want current research activity rather than a static description, the news feed is the most concrete signal, since it names projects, funding, and faculty.