Category: Research
Scientist Eve Marder on the value of theoretical biologySept. 18, 2020"I have always thought of theory in biology as disciplined dreaming," Victor and Gwendolyn Beinfield Professor of Biolog Eve Marder writes in a new essay.
Why the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ is still pushed by anti-SemitesSept. 2, 2020Professor Emeritus Stephen Whitfield explains how the century-old anti-Semitic hoax has endured.
Decades in the making, women's, gender and sexuality studies is now a departmentAug. 31, 2020Like many pioneering academic programs created over the past decades, women’s studies at Brandeis struggled to win recognition and acceptance. Founded in 1975, it is now officially its own department.
'Write-ins' provide community and support - remotelyAug. 25, 2020The Write-in Studios by the University Writing Center provide a way for students from across campus to regularly get together to share their writing goals and dedicate some time to writing.
Maria Madison appointed director of Heller School's Institute on Assets and Social PolicyAug. 21, 2020Madison, who will continue in her role as associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Heller, succeeds professor Thomas Shapiro in leading the IASP. She begins her new role Sept. 1.
Tracking public opinion during a pandemicAug. 19, 2020Professor Raphael Schoenle studies how consumer expectations have evolved throughout the COVID-19 crisis
Trauma linked to cognitive decline in adultsAug. 19, 2020New research by psychology professor Margie Lachman's lab shows long-lasting effects on brain performance from child- and adulthood trauma.
He wants to know why there are no famous gay male comediansAug. 14, 2020Jason Frank '22 launched an anthropology research study into American comedy.
Anti-racism resources, produced by BrandeisiansAug. 12, 2020Browse resources around race, combatting racism and how to enact change, all created by Brandeis alumni and faculty.
A few mind-blowing inventions coming from Brandeis' Bioinspired MRSECAug. 10, 2020With their new grant from the National Science Foundation, MRSEC scientists are seeking to build the next generation of nano-sized machines and materials.
A summer program led to big things at Brandeis for Adrianna ShyJuly 28, 2020Shy first came to Brandeis for a summer program as a junior at Hampton University. Now, she is a PhD candidate and doing research in the NSF-funded MRSEC program.
Recalling 'Books in Dark Times'July 27, 2020Since COVID-19 became a global pandemic, professors John Plotz and Elizabeth Ferry have focused their podcast on a common theme: “Books in Dark Times.”
What’s really making the NFL's Washington team change its name?July 17, 2020Heller School for Social Policy and Management Senior Lecturer Michael Appell discusses corporate social responsibility and what it means for institutions like the NFL's Washington franchise.
Herbert PhD'26, Khilji '20 named Fulbright ScholarsJuly 17, 2020
MRSEC wins major new grant from the National Science FoundationJuly 14, 2020The cutting-edge research center received $18 million to develop the next generation of machines and materials.
‘Gust off the Glacier’: Prof. Elizabeth Bradfield embarks on a richly creative exploration of AntarcticaJuly 9, 2020Bradfield's “Toward Antarctica” is a collection of poems, prose, footnotes and photographs that focus on Antarctica.
The darkness at the end of the tunnelJuly 8, 2020Brandeis physicist Bjoern Penning is searching for the ultimate treasure in particle physics — dark matter.
Chaplaincy Innovation Lab awarded grant to support frontline spiritual care providersJuly 2, 2020The lab, founded by Brandeis professor Wendy Cadge, has received a $500,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Brandeis professor develops tool to help laid off Canadians determine severanceJuly 1, 2020Professor Jonathan Touboul and his collaborators in Canada used artificial intelligence to predict monetary awards in employment disputes. They've now made their program available to the public.
Karen Donelan to join Heller School faculty as inaugural Stuart H. Altman Chair in U.S. Health PolicyJune 26, 2020Donelan, who is recognized for her skill in designing surveys to measure the experiences, well-being, and work roles of health professionals, starts September 1.
‘Their Great Soul-Hungering Desire Was Freedom’June 26, 2020Historian Abigail Cooper studies how African Americans living in Civil War-era refugee camps imagined — and constructed — their futures after slavery.
Jonathan Epstein ’96 saw COVID-19 comingJune 26, 2020Epstein is among a group of scientists who are trying to stop the next pandemic before it starts.
Podcast series examines queer history at BrandeisJune 17, 2020Developed by Jay Collay '22, the series features three episodes, each with a different theme.
Reckoning with another dangerous time for Black people in AmericaJune 15, 2020Four Brandeis professors explored the complex intersections of history, politics, the law, race and white supremacy in a panel discussion last week.
Professor Karen V. Hansen awarded Voices for Economic Opportunity Grand Challenge grantJune 10, 2020Hansen awarded $100,000 grant for 18-month poverty and economic mobility study, will partner with Boston University professor Nazli Kibria
Brazil during the 1918 flu epidemicJune 10, 2020
New research by business school professor Aldo Musacchio and colleagues offers the first in-depth look at the pandemic's impact on the country. It may provide insight into what lies ahead for Brazil and much of the developing world.
- Heller School holds first Sankofa Community Conference on racial justiceJune 10, 2020
Brandeis faculty promoted, awarded tenureJune 5, 2020The Board of Trustees approved tenure for 12, promoted 6 to full professor at its January, April and May meetings
New Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations Office announces fellowships for faculty-student partnershipsMay 28, 2020Thirty-one undergraduates have received awards from Brandeis fellowship programs to partner with university faculty on unique and ambitious research projects.
Nobel Prize winner Michael Rosbash on the future of the pandemic May 20, 2020Rosbash serves on a panel of world-famous scientists proposing solutions to the health crisis. Backed by business titans, they have the White House's ear.
How much power do voters want in a primary? Maybe not as much as you think.May 15, 2020A new paper co-authored by a Brandeis professor shows primary voters are willing to accept influence from party insiders and elites.
COVID-19 ravages IranMay 14, 2020Iran expert Hadi Kahalzadeh takes stock of the political and economic outlook for the country as the virus continues to spread.
What FDR’s polio crusade teaches us about presidential leadership amid crisisMay 12, 2020FDR made the eradication of polio his personal business, American studies professor Thomas Doherty explains.
The winter of 1933: when the world turned back toward warMay 5, 2020Professor Paul Jankowski’s new book, “All Against All: The Long Winter of 1933 and the Origins of the Second World War,” chronicles a critical time in world history.
Smallpox was defeated, but it wasn't easy. Here's how it's relevant to COVID-19.May 4, 2020When the United States suffered a great wave of smallpox outbreaks at the turn of the 20th century, the public health field was in its infancy. Professor Michael Willrich describes the outbreaks and their relevance to COVID-19.
How COVID-19 is impacting health policy at federal, state and local levelsMay 4, 2020Michael Doonan of the Heller School explains.
Via social media, Simona Shuman ’22 supports chaplains on the front lines of coronavirusApril 29, 2020Simona Shuman '22 manages the social media channels for professor Wendy Cadge's Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, which is offering support to those providing spiritual care to hospital patients and staff.
From a war zone to a global pandemic: A doctor’s experience on the front linesApril 27, 2020Ishan Kaanan, MS'16 conducted his first year of residency in Aleppo during the Syrian civil war and is now as an internal medicine resident at Boston Medical Center, where he’s on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic
How artificial intelligence is helping scientists find a coronavirus treatmentApril 27, 2020Computational linguist James Pustejovsky leads a Brandeis team in developing an artificial intelligence program that can sort through all the data we have on coronavirus.
When should we reopen the economy?April 15, 2020An analysis by International Business School professor Anna Scherbina shows we would hurt more than help the economy if we do it before mid-June.
- Brandeis researchers tackle COVID-19April 9, 2020
Virologist Tijana Ivanovic's lab is looking at how the virus infects cells. Computer scientists Pengyu Hong and Hongfu Liu are using machine learning to map its genetic code.
How are college students coping with the stress of coronavirus? April 7, 2020A Brandeis psychology professor and her lab are studying how students are coping with the unprecedented stress that the COVID-19 pandemic presents.
How to teach about the coronavirusApril 6, 2020A new study guide by professor of biology Melissa Kosinski-Collins and her colleagues offers a remote-learning approach for high school and college students.
Coronavirus has shut down most places of worship. Now what?April 1, 2020Sociology professor Wendy Cadge discusses the steps America's faith communities are taking to continue worshiping during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pandemic and dystopian movies: A brief history, with Tom DohertyMarch 27, 2020American studies professor Tom Doherty explains how dystopian and pandemic films have gained popularity throughout the decades.
Podcast: Who was the ancient warrior Queen Boudica?March 17, 2020
Wife, mother, queen, freedom fighter, rebel or religious hero? Assistant professor of classical studies Caitlin Gillespie separates fact from fiction.
Plagues follow bad leadership in ancient Greek talesMarch 12, 2020Classics professor Joel Christensen examines the function of plagues in the epics.
Ancient Maya kingdom unearthed in a backyard in MexicoMarch 11, 2020Brandeis University associate professor of anthropology Charles Golden and his colleagues have found the long-lost capital of an ancient Maya kingdom in the backyard of a Mexican cattle rancher.
What’s in the Purim basket?March 9, 2020University Professor Jonathan Sarna explains the significance of sending gift baskets during Purim.
Brandeis to livestream academic panel on coronavirus (COVID-19)March 6, 2020Five scholars with expertise in public health, international relations, anthropology and health policy will discuss coronavirus (COVID-19) in an academic panel hosted online.
Anita Hill named to TIME's 100 Women of the YearMarch 5, 2020In celebration of International Women's Day and the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in the U.S., the 100 Women of the Year recognizes the most influential women of each year from 1920-2019.
The African Diaspora and the Canterbury TalesFeb. 27, 2020In the new course, “Chaucer’s 'Global and Refugee Canterbury Tales,’" students examine voices and perspectives that have been long overlooked by the gatekeepers of literary scholarship.
Ancient origins of allosteric activation in a Ser-Thr kinaseFeb. 21, 2020In a new paper in Science, biochemist Dorothee Kern and her collaborators reveal the ancient origins of allosteric regulation for the first time.
How bad are cyberattacks for the economy? This professor helped the White House assess the damage.Feb. 20, 2020As a senior economist on the Council of Economic Advisers, Anna Scherbina used her expertise to shape policy in Washington, D.C.
Work by Soroush Kazemi, MA COEX'21, featured in Oscar-winning documentaryFeb. 20, 2020The 2020 Academy Awards honored “Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone (If You’re a Girl)” with the Oscar for Best Short Documentary, which features the work of Soroush Kazemi, MA COEX’21
How do Brandeis students choose where to study abroad?Feb. 19, 2020Brandeis offers more than 200 study abroad programs in over 60 countries. Here's how Brandeis students narrow down their choices.
Between bondage and freedom: Life in Civil War refugee campsFeb. 14, 2020Historian Abigail Cooper shows how a newly emancipated people forged a new path for themselves amidst death and despair.
Is chocolate a catalyst for romance? It’s complicated.Feb. 13, 2020Think twice before you reflexively buy your significant other a heart-shaped box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day.
Shifting the conversation on Caribbean historyFeb. 13, 2020While taking professor Faith Smith’s course Literature of the Caribbean in the spring of 2019, Dannie Brice ’20 had a moment of enlightenment.
She's training the next generation of entrepreneursFeb. 6, 2020Bozhanka Vitanova, MA ’16 created an algorithm to help businesses build better teams and boost their workers’ entrepreneurial 'muscle'
How mosquitoes find humans to biteFeb. 6, 2020New research by biologist Paul Garrity's lab reveals the molecular mechanism that draws the insects to human warmth. The finding may one day help us fight mosquito-borne diseases.
Reimagining BlacknessFeb. 5, 2020Derrick Adams' art has been on TV shows and in major museums. Professor Isaiah Wooden says Adams transforms our view of African American identity.
Political science in the age of TrumpFeb. 3, 2020Respected or reviled, the U.S. president is inspiring more college students to take politics classes and prompting professors to rethink how they teach.
The geography of neighborhood opportunity: too many kids are left out Jan. 24, 2020A Heller School research team’s deep dive into census data revealed pervasive inequities in children’s access to opportunity. Black and Hispanic kids are the least likely to have access to conditions kids need to thrive.
Researcher develops a new, gut-healthy peanut butterJan. 24, 2020Just in time for National Peanut Butter Day: Inventor Dan Perlman ’68 reveals a new method for adding a probiotic nutritional supplement to one of America's favorite foods.
Introducing the Winter 2019/2020 edition of Brandeis MagazineJan. 23, 2020This edition of Brandeis Magazine includes timely features, faculty and student news, Class Notes, notable alumni books, and much more.
The entrepreneurial muscle: why business pioneers start youngJan. 23, 2020Article by World Economic Forum delegate Bozhanka Vitanova, MS '16
What does the killing of Iran’s Suleimani mean?Jan. 3, 2020The killing of the top Iranian commander by a U.S. drone strike capped a deadly week of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran - but are we closer to all-out war? The Crown Center's Gary Samore, an arms negotiator for four presidents, provides his perspective.
The neuroscience behind remembering the past and plotting the futureDec. 19, 2019A new study by psychologist Shantanu Jadhav and his lab shines new light on how rats make decisions based on recent memories.
Why isn't there more diversity in teaching? The teacher pipeline offers some insightDec. 19, 2019Brandeis professor Joshua Goodman found college educated people of color in Massachusetts are considering careers in public education at lower levels than their white peers.
Vets with brain injuries at higher risk of suicideDec. 17, 2019A new study shows that soldiers with traumatic brain injuries often endure unbearable emotional suffering when they return from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Christmas trees in Jewish homes: a brief historyDec. 16, 2019A look at the rise, fall and subsequent rise of Christmas trees in Jewish homes.
These Brandeis pollsters have new insights into the American electorateDec. 12, 2019A nationwide poll conducted by Brandeis politics students makes a number of surprising findings of American electorate
2019 protests in Iraq: a primerDec. 11, 2019Who are the protestors? What do they want? The Crown Center's David Siddhartha Patel explains.
Choreographing a cancer treatmentDec. 5, 2019Biochemist Dorothee Kern believes her new pharmaceutical company can translate what she knows about the movement of protein molecules into drugs that will save lives.
Piali Sengupta named AAAS FellowNov. 26, 2019The professor of biology received the prestigious honor for her work in the field of sensory neuroscience.
Does the brain trick you into thinking food tastes better on Thanksgiving? It’s complicated.Nov. 25, 2019Psychology and Neuroscience professor Don Katz gives us the inside skinny on taste and the Thanksgiving table.
Gabriel Fontes '19 has built lasting connections in CubaNov. 14, 2019Fontes spent his summer working with teens in Cuba as part of a collective that promotes Afro-Cuban history.
Eve Marder and Irv Epstein recall the collaborations that started it allNov. 11, 2019University Professors Eve Marder '69 and Irv Epstein spoke with BrandeisNOW about their early days collaborating at the Volen National Center for Complex Systems, and the impact it had on their illustrious research careers.
With Disney+ launch, expect the streaming wars to kick up a notchNov. 8, 2019There’s more to Disney+’s arrival than its content-rich digital library of shows and films. Business professor Aldo Musacchio discusses competitive strategy for streaming platforms.
The first American Jewish novel Nov. 8, 2019Historian Jonathan Sarna uncovered a long-forgotten book by the author Cora Wilburn that's the first work of literary fiction by an American Jew. Now Wilburn is finally getting the recognition she deserves.
John Paul Lederach honored with Gittler PrizeNov. 1, 2019The peacebuilder, conflict mediator and scholar visited campus for a three-day residency Oct. 29-31.
- Behavioral health expert Traci Green appointed new director of Opioid Policy Research CollaborativeOct. 31, 2019
What can polling tell us about impeachment? An identity politics expert has the answer.Oct. 28, 2019With the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump well underway, politics professor Amber Spry offers up her expertise in political attitudes and polling.
- Developing a new model for mentoring in academic medicineOct. 24, 2019
The National Initiative on Gender, Culture and Leadership in Medicine (C-Change) has been awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to study a mentoring program for mid-career medical school and teaching hospital faculty.
Heller School Dean David Weil testifies before congress on 'future of work' Oct. 24, 2019Weil testified in a joint subcommittee hearing Oct. 23 on what he calls "the fissured workplace."
The power of the arts to address conflictOct. 21, 2019Dancer, anthropologist and human rights practitioner Toni Shapiro-Phim has joined the faculty of the Creativity, Arts and Social Transformation program. In this Q&A, Shapiro-Phim discusses arts, culture and conflict transformation.
Could elderly care use more spirituality?Oct. 21, 2019A Brandeis study found that workshops for clinicians significantly improved their comfort and ability when it comes to identifying and helping to address spiritual needs in patients.
Morton L. Mandel, P’73, H’89, philanthropist who gave to causes worldwide, dies at 98Oct. 17, 2019Mandel said his goal was to "light as many candles as possible" to help the less fortunate.
49th Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research awarded to Ardem Patapoutian and David JuliusOct. 15, 2019The scientists were recognized for transforming our understanding of touch, temperature and pain.
Meet the Author: Charlotte Nassim discusses her new book with scientist Eve MarderOct. 10, 2019Marder and Nassim talked about "Lessons from the Lobster: Eve Marder's Work in Neuroscience," Nassim's look at Marder's lab and her contributions to neuroscience.
What are intersectionality, privilege and positionality?Oct. 8, 2019Vice president for diversity Mark Brimhall-Vargas explains these controversial topics in under 5 minutes in our latest podcast.
New adventure: Beijing native Yinan Liang pursues psychology at BrandeisOct. 3, 2019Yinan Liang '20 has always been fascinated by what makes people tick. Now she studies psychology and works in the Gutchess lab.
- Discovered: The first literary American Jewish novelOct. 3, 2019
Historian Jonathan Sarna tracked down the long-forgotten book that inaugurates the American Jewish literary canon. Read an excerpt describing Yom Kippur in Germany.
Scientists who imaged a black hole receive the Breakthrough PrizeOct. 1, 2019- Professor Emerita Susan Lanser wins the Wayne C. Booth Lifetime Achievement AwardSept. 20, 2019
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