Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Developing new disease treatments can take years. That's why Northeastern researcher Deisy Morselli Gysi and her colleagues looked at existing drugs to treat COVID-19. And now they have four strong contenders. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Existing drugs may hold the key to curing COVID‑19

Developing new disease treatments can take years. That's why Northeastern researchers looked at existing drugs to treat COVID-19. And now they have four strong contenders.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 28, 2021

Mechanical engineering major Amanda Vasconcelos considers herself “one of the lucky people” to have always known what career she wanted. Now, she’s building animatronic toys as a co-op at toy-maker Hasbro. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

She deconstructed robotic toys as a kid. Now she builds them for Hasbro.

Amanda Vasconcelos considers herself “one of the lucky people” to have always known she wanted to be an engineer. Now, she’s building animatronic toys as a co-op at the multinational toy-making company Hasbro.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 27, 2021

Everyone in the U.S. over the age of 16 is eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of April 19, 2021–a crucial step to bringing about the end of the pandemic. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

So you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what?

Now that everyone in the U.S. over the age of 16 is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, here’s how you can get your shots and do your part to protect the pack and support safety on campus and in the community.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 18, 2021

A more contagious variant of the coronavirus is now dominant in the U.S. Variants are complicating the fight to subdue the pandemic and raising calls for continued vigilance–and mask-wearing. Illustration by Alison Booth/Northeastern University

Vaccinated? Don’t toss that mask just yet.

A more contagious variant of the coronavirus is now dominant in the U.S. The threat of variants complicates the fight to subdue the COVID-19 pandemic, and raises questions about the efficacy of current vaccines against new strains. That means you should keep wearing that mask, Northeastern public health specialists say.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 14, 2021

What does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause mean for all COVID-19 shots?

With distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine temporarily on ice, “we’re putting really all our eggs in the basket of Pfizer and Moderna” to inoculate the millions of people in the U.S. who will become eligible for a shot on April 19, says Nada Sanders, distinguished professor of supply chain management. And that’s a risky, if necessary, bet.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 13, 2021

Ethan Derikito, left, and Arun Chundru, who both study mechanical engineering, work on a rocket engine in the Forsyth building capstone lab for AerospaceNU. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

It’s Giving Day! Here’s how fundraising challenges have rocketed students to success

Today is Northeastern’s fourth annual Giving Day, a philanthropic effort that strengthens ties in the broader university community and raises funds for student groups and organizations on campus.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 8, 2021

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Northeastern to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students this fall

As part of the university’s return to in-person learning, students on all Northeastern campuses will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the Fall 2021 semester.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 6, 2021

Northeastern’s COVID-19 test lab now processes pool tests for K-12 schools

Thanks to a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, Northeastern’s Life Sciences Testing Center now processes COVID-19 pool test samples for K-12 schools.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 1, 2021

Illustration by Hannah Moore/Northeastern University

Why kids hold the key to herd immunity

With COVID-19 vaccine trials underway for children, and Pfizer’s teen trial a success, young people are becoming a more prominent part of the fight against the coronavirus. And, Northeastern experts say, that could prove essential to reaching herd immunity.