WUSTL to race wild strain of amoeba in World Dicty Race 2014

Biology researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are placing their bets on the wild side as they prepare a pack of social amoeba for competition Friday, May 16, in the first-ever Dicty World Race, an international science competition that carries a $5,000 prize for the single-celled organism deemed to be the “smartest and fastest” in negotiating a microscopic maze.

Antidepressant may slow Alzheimer’s disease

Brain plaques
Antidepressants can reduce production of the main ingredient of Alzheimer’s brain plaques, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Pennsylvania. The plaques are highlighted in red in this image of a mouse’s brain.

​IDEA Labs teams unveil medical innovations​​​​​

Interdisciplinary student teams presented innovations designed to solve problems in health care at IDEA Labs’ Demo Day last month. Engineering student Matthew Burkhardt (seated) won a summer internship through the university’s Skandalaris Center to continue developing his team’s invention. His teammates are (from left) Yuni Teh, Katrina Leyden, Adina Stoica and Elizabeth Rosenberg.​

Women’s Society presents awards, scholarships

Leaders of the Women’s Society of Washington University announced the winners of the Harriet K. Switzer Leadership Award and the Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholarship during their annual meeting April 24. Pictured (from left) are Switzer and seniors Katherine Bush and Tiffini Hyatt.

Gephardt Institute selects new cohort of Civic Scholars

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service selected eight sophomores for its fourth cohort of the Civic Scholars Program. Civic Scholars enroll in two years of academic coursework related to civic leadership and are mentored to prepare for a life dedicated to public service. They also carry out a civic project the summer before their senior years.