Page 23 – The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

Johnson named director of Division of Urologic Surgery

Michael H. Johnson, MD, has been named director of the Division of Urologic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine.

Psychology

What do our words say about our minds?

A researcher at Washington University in St. Louis is working to harness artificial intelligence to find psychological traits hidden in language.

Health & Society

Building momentum: School of Public Health marks milestones

The School of Public Health is rapidly expanding with new people, spaces and initiatives. In August, faculty and staff gathered to begin shaping the school’s strategic plan.

Nutrition & Wellness

Microbiome instability linked to poor growth in kids

WashU Medicine researchers found that children with fluctuating gut microbiomes showed poorer growth compared with kids with a more stable microbiome. The study sequenced the genomic material from fecal samples collected from toddlers in Malawi.

Biology

How harmful bacteria hijack crops

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified the protein involved in costly plant infestations, pointing the way to possible protections.

Awards & Notables

Advancement’s Martin selected for Focus St. Louis program

Emily Martin, a prospect management consultant with University Advancement, has been selected for Focus St. Louis’ fall 2025 Women in Leadership cohort.

Students

Longest Table’s record turnout reflects appetite for civic dialogue

Roughly 550 WashU undergraduate and graduate students gathered in Tisch Park Sept. 3 for the annual civic dialogue event — a nearly fourfold increase since its debut in 2023.

Media advisory: ‘Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection’ Sept. 12

The Kemper Art Museum will celebrate the opening of “Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection” Sept. 12.

Advancement

Guan named Earl E. and Myrtle E. Walker Professor of Engineering

Jianjun Guan, an expert in biomaterials and tissue engineering, has been named the Earl E. and Myrtle E. Walker Professor of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.

Alzheimer's

Yoo, Sun recognized for developing novel method to study aged neurons

Andrew S. Yoo, the Phil and Sima Needleman Distinguished Professor of Developmental Biology at WashU Medicine, and Zhao Sun, a staff scientist in Yoo’s laboratory, have received the Morby Prize from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund in recognition of their groundbreaking paper that describes a novel method to study aged neurons.