Murphy, Virgin elected to National Academy of Sciences

Two School of Medicine scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. They are Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, and Herbert W. “Skip” Virgin IV, MD, PhD, both of the Department of Pathology and Immunology. Election to the academy is among the highest honors that can be awarded to a U.S. scientist or engineer.

WUSM Secure wireless network extended

Washington University Information Technology has extended the WUSM Secure wireless network to enable better collaboration and access. Medical school faculty, staff and students now can connect to the encrypted WUSM Secure wireless network when visiting the Danforth Campus.

WashU Expert: The President’s plan to fight tax evasion

On May 6, President Barack Obama introduced executive reforms designed to eliminate loopholes that allow foreigners to conceal tax fraud and evasion in the United States. Olin Business School’s Lamar Pierce said the move is an effort to show U.S. global partners that it is ready to practice what it preaches when it comes to curbing shadowy financial transactions.

A new route to chaos

Researchers in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a novel route to encode chaos on light in an optomechanical microresonator system.

First Year Reading Program selects ‘Between the World and Me’

“Between the World and Me” by acclaimed writer and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, is the 2016 First Year Reading Program selection. Written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son, the book is both a tender memoir and a biting polemic that explores America’s long and persistent history of racial injustice. All first-year students will participate in a discussion about the book this fall.

Making everyday decisions

A hand reaching for two glasses of wine.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that some neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex assign value to options in everyday decision-making. The area’s neurons then can re-map to make different decisions when circumstances change.

Back to health

Professor Lori Setton (right) and collaborators, including Pranali Tambe (left), a visiting research associate, are looking at new materials for regenerating soft tissue, which could lead to new therapies for back pain. (Photo: James Byard)
Biomedical engineer Lori Setton’s collaborative research is pioneering new ways of providing relief to those who suffer neck and back pain.

Women’s Society presents 2016 awards, scholarships

three women talking
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 the group’s annual membership meeting April 19.

Strunk memorial service planned May 21

A memorial service for Robert Charles Strunk, MD, a pediatric allergist at the School of Medicine, will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Living World at the Saint Louis Zoo. Strunk died April 28.