College of Science Media Center  

LSU researcher Laura Lagomarsino will study how tropical flowers evolve with support from a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award. Focusing on wild coffee plants in Colombia, her research explores how shifts in pollinators and environmental conditions drive repeated transitions from small, white flowers to bright, showy blooms across multiple species.

Pramod Achar, Shirley Blue Barton Professor of Mathematics at LSU, has been selected as an invited speaker at the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). His work in geometric representation theory connects algebra and geometry to address long-standing challenges in mathematics, contributing to major advances in the field and reinforcing LSU’s growing reputation for impactful mathematical research.

The LSU-Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Dr. Charles M. Smith Medical and Health Physics Program named Kenneth "Kip" Matthews director. Matthews, the Dr. Charles M. Smith Distinguished Professor of Medical Physics in the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy, previously served as Interim Director. He brings decades of leadership in medical physics education and research.

LSU researchers have developed a new method for synthesizing complex inorganic materials at significantly lower temperatures using ionic liquids as a reaction medium. By reducing the need for extreme heat, the approach lowers energy demands while enabling greater precision in how atoms assemble into structured clusters. The study identifies new bismuth-based cluster forms and integrates experimental and computational analysis to better understand and predict their formation. This work establishes a new pathway for designing advanced materials with potential applications in energy, catalysis, and next-generation technologies.

Louisiana’s coastline faces well-documented threats from sea-level rise, subsidence, and land loss. A 2024 study warned that up to 75% of wetlands could drown by 2070. New research from LSU-affiliated scientists adds nuance, showing that wetland loss varies by location. While some areas are deteriorating due to erosion, others can still build elevation when sediment is available. The findings highlight the need for site-specific restoration strategies, from marsh creation to sediment diversions, tailored to local conditions and processes shaping each landscape.

LSU chemist Dr. Fatima Rivas is investigating an oxidized cholesterol molecule that may offer a new strategy for targeting colorectal cancer. Inspired by natural compounds found in mushrooms, the molecule acts like a molecular “Trojan horse,” entering cancer cells through cholesterol pathways and disrupting critical cellular processes. In laboratory studies, the compound slowed tumor cell growth and triggered programmed cell death while showing selectivity for cancer cells over healthy tissue. Supported by pilot funding from the Louisiana Cancer Research Center, the early-stage research aims to uncover how the molecule works and whether it could lead to new therapeutic approaches.

LSU is advancing math education across Louisiana through outreach, teacher preparation, and institutional support. As Math Awareness Month gains statewide recognition and student outcomes improve, faculty and staff are helping build confidence and reshape how students experience math. Featuring Soula O’Bannon and Sarah Rispone, this blog highlights how programs like GeauxTeach and community engagement are shifting attitudes toward the subject.

LSU evolutionary biologist Daniel Powell studies how DNA shapes mate choice and helps maintain species boundaries. Using swordtail fish in Mexico, his research shows how traits like color, behavior, and chemical cues influence attraction—and how environmental changes, including pollution, can disrupt these signals. By linking behavior to genetics, Powell reveals how human impacts may influence hybridization and reshape the evolution of species.

Social work intern Morgan Bordelon at the LSU College of Science’s Dr. Mary & Ron Neal Student Success Center often sees how students’ lives outside the classroom can affect their success inside the classroom. Academic performance involves studying, along with taking care of one's overall well-being. This would include paying attention to one's stress levels, staying well-rested, eating nutritious foods, and taking care of one's mental health. She found herself fascinated by the nutritional aspect of students' success and turned to experts across campus for insight.