Eva Botkin-Kowacki

People queue to be tested for COVID-19 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday Nov. 26, 2021. As the world grapples with the emergence of the new variant of COVID-19, scientists in South Africa — where omicron was first identified — are scrambling to combat its spread across the country. AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Omicron variant questions mount–answers are on the way

Researchers around the globe are working to make sense of the potential threat from the coronavirus variant the World Health Organization has named “omicron.” After more than 20 months of studying this virus, says Alessandro Vespignani, Sternberg Family distinguished university professor of physics, computer science, and health sciences at Northeastern, we have a good sense of when we will have answers.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 28, 2021

Neel Joshi, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology, and Avinash Manjula-Basavanna, a postdoctoral researcher, work on programmable microbial ink for 3D printing of living materials, in the Mugar Life Sciences building. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

With this new technology, 3D printing comes to life … literally.

In a scenario fit for Star Trek, these Northeastern scientists are 3D printing shapes with an ink that is alive. The microbial gel could one day be used for drug delivery, sequestering toxins, or building habitats on Mars.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 23, 2021

Where others see walls, she looks for bridges

Sarah Bernt, who graduated from Northeastern in 2019, has been selected for the prestigious and selective George J. Mitchell Scholarship, which sends future American leaders to the island of Ireland for a year of graduate study. Bernt will study conflict resolution and reconciliation in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 23, 2021

Mary Strother will be taking the helm as General Counsel at Northeastern University on January 3, 2022. Strother comes to the university from the office of Maura Healey, the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where she serves in the key leadership position of First Assistant Attorney General. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Northeastern’s new top lawyer helped drive Mass. Attorney General’s office

Northeastern University has appointed a new general counsel to lead its broad portfolio of legal, risk, compliance and public safety operations. Mary Strother comes to the university from the office of Maura Healey, the Attorney General of Massachusetts, where she serves in the key leadership position of First Assistant Attorney General.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 22, 2021

man with purple gloves in lab testing subject

The human genome has been mapped. Here’s the next monumental step.

Proteins may be the next frontier for researchers seeking to understand the human body. That’s why Jeffrey Agar, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern, and an international team of researchers are launching a project to map the millions of forms of protein in our cells.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 18, 2021

hands tossing graduation caps into the air

Your guide to Commencement for the Class of 2020

Commencement exercises for Northeastern’s Class of 2020 were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But on Saturday, the graduates will finally don gowns and tassels, and toss their mortarboards with their classmates in Matthews Arena. Here’s everything you need to know.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 11, 2021

Do I have COVID-19 or flu? Northeastern will test you for both.

Fall typically marks the beginning of flu season. And scientists expect this one to be a doozy. So Northeastern is now testing anyone with flu-like symptoms for both COVID-19 and influenza using the same swab. Such dual testing could help expedite treatment for influenza cases and dispel confusion between the two illnesses with similar symptoms.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 9, 2021

woman floats in zero gravity with her arms and legs outstretched

People with disabilities have been locked out of spaceflight. But that is changing.

If you can’t see in zero gravity, how do you know which way is up? Northeastern assistant professor of bioengineering Mona Minkara, who is legally blind, recently took a zero gravity flight as part of her work to make spaceflight inclusive and accessible for all.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 8, 2021

10/19/21 - BOSTON, MA.- The Northeastern sailing team practices on the Charles River on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Go out on the water with Northeastern Sailing

As the fall season wraps up, the team is ranked 14th both in the coed and women’s categories, out of 42 member schools in the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 4, 2021

Northeastern to hire 500 faculty in five years

As the first large initiative inspired by Northeastern’s new academic plan, Experience Unleashed, the university plans to hire 500 new faculty members across its global network over the next five years. “If we are to maximize our impact in the world, we need to absorb talent at an ever-increasing rate,” says David Madigan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 2, 2021

Posts by Eva Botkin-Kowacki