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Three men work on scientific equipment in a lab. A man in a blue plaid shirt holds a black conical object, while another with a beard inserts a black tube into a large silver metallic apparatus. A bald man in a blue polo observes the process.

Alumni founder of carbon-capture start-up receives NSF funding to collaborate with Notre Dame researchers

Author: Erin Fennessy Lawlor

Alec Houpt, who earned his doctorate from the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) at the University of Notre Dame in 2020, will collaborate with Sergey Leonov, research professor in AME, to pursue the development of a supersonic nozzle designed to freeze and capture carbon dioxide and water from industrial exhaust.

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Sunlight bursts through the vibrant green canopy of tall deciduous trees, viewed from below, creating a bright dappled effect.

How light reflects on leaves may help researchers identify dying forests

Author: Erin Fennessy Lawlor

When early signs of forest decline go undetected, the consequences can be devastating. Research involving Notre Dame graduate students and postdoctoral scholars is helping scientists identify those warning signals sooner—before ecosystems reach a crisis point. A new study from researchers at the University of Notre Dame, published in Nature: Communications Earth & Environment, uncovers a more comprehensive picture of forest health. Funded by NASA, the research shows that spectral reflectance—a measurement obtained from satellite images—corresponds with the expression of specific genes.

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Notre Dame Materials Science and Engineering program awards 10 graduate fellowships for the 2025-2026 academic year; includes Physics & Astronomy graduate student and faculty advisors

Author: MSE Staff

The University of Notre Dame’s Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) program has awarded one-year fellowships for the 2025-2026 academic year to ten graduate students pursuing the MSE PhD. This year’s recognition brings the total number of fellowships awarded to 29 since the program’s inception in 2020.

Read More about Notre Dame Materials Science and Engineering program awards 10 graduate fellowships for the 2025-2026 academic year; includes Physics & Astronomy graduate student and faculty advisors

Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart rise above a tree-lined St. Mary's Lake, covered in dawn mist. The orange and blue sky and buildings reflect in the water, where a duck stretches its wings.

Notre Dame reflects on another year of impactful research

Author: Erin Fennessy Lawlor

During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, researchers at the University of Notre Dame sustained the institution’s legacy of impact for studying and tackling the world’s toughest challenges. From addressing ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence and biocomputing, to investing in the shared future of South Bend and the broader Michiana region, Notre Dame researchers continue to be a force for good in the world.

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Ravi Dhiman, a smiling man in a light collared shirt, is featured in a Postdoc Spotlight graphic with a blurred Golden Dome of the University of Notre Dame in the background.

Breaking Boundaries: From Lipid Droplets to Cancer’s Frontlines

Author: Eva Williams

Meet one our postdocs, Ravi Dhiman, in this Postdoc Spotlight. Ravi Dhiman came to Notre Dame to bridge basic science and human impact. A Society of Science Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biological Sciences, he is applying his background in biochemistry to cancer research—seeking molecular insights that could ultimately improve patient outcomes.

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A smiling woman in a light green fleece stands on a Notre Dame campus path. The Golden Dome of the Main Building is visible in the autumn background, surrounded by trees with yellow and orange leaves, and grass scattered with brown leaves under a cloudy sky.

International Ph.D. student finds finds the right fit at Notre Dame

Author: Jessie Carson

Meet one of the Graduate School’s Ph.D. students whose research is focused on creating positive change for communities and the environment. Learn why she chose Notre Dame—and why it continues to be the right fit.

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Large white clock with Roman numerals on the brown brick building facade of O'Shaughnessy Hall set against a backdrop of dynamic white clouds and blue sky.

Franco Institute supports research of more than 150 faculty and students in fall 2025

Author: Jacob Schepers

Another great season of support for graduate scholarship in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good awarded grants and fellowships totaling over $600,000 to more than 150 scholars and students from its fall 2025 application season. This funding showcases the Franco Institute’s commitment to liberal arts scholarship at Notre Dame.

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Notre Dame Materials Science and Engineering program awards 10 graduate fellowships for the 2025-2026 academic year

Author: MSE Staff

The University of Notre Dame’s Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) program has awarded one-year fellowships for the 2025-2026 academic year to ten graduate students pursuing the MSE PhD. This year’s recognition brings the total number of fellowships awarded to 29 since the program’s inception in 2020.

Read More about Notre Dame Materials Science and Engineering program awards 10 graduate fellowships for the 2025-2026 academic year

Three men work on scientific equipment in a lab. A man in a blue plaid shirt holds a black conical object, while another with a beard inserts a black tube into a large silver metallic apparatus. A bald man in a blue polo observes the process.

Alumni founder of carbon-capture start-up receives NSF funding to collaborate with Notre Dame researchers

Author: Erin Fennessy Lawlor

Alec Houpt, who earned his doctorate from the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) at the University of Notre Dame in 2020, will collaborate with Sergey Leonov, research professor in AME, to pursue the development of a supersonic nozzle designed to freeze and capture carbon dioxide and water from industrial exhaust.

Read More about Alumni founder of carbon-capture start-up receives NSF funding to collaborate with Notre Dame researchers

A Middle Eastern man in a black, hooded zip-up scrolls through data on his cell phone as an Asian woman in a black coat and black turtle-neck looks on. They are standing in a kitchen with cabinets and countertops in the background. The Asian woman is holding a small paper bag in her left hand. Her right hand is inside of the bag.

As temperatures rise, research points the way to lower energy costs, better living conditions for low-income households

Author: Erin Blasko

Due to poor and outdated housing infrastructure and lack of material resources, lower-income individuals are less prepared than those with higher incomes to weather the coming climate crisis — in particular, the increasing risk of heat-related death and illness from longer and hotter summers and more severe heat waves.

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Large white clock with Roman numerals on the brown brick building facade of O'Shaughnessy Hall set against a backdrop of dynamic white clouds and blue sky.

Franco Institute supports research of more than 150 faculty and students in fall 2025

Author: Jacob Schepers

Another great season of support for graduate scholarship in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good awarded grants and fellowships totaling over $600,000 to more than 150 scholars and students from its fall 2025 application…

Read More about Franco Institute supports research of more than 150 faculty and students in fall 2025

Khushi Bhatt postdoc spotlight

Using physics to decipher how chemical elements are created inside stars

Author: Eva Williams

A fascinating profile of one of our Provost's Postdocs: Khushi Bhatt. Khushi also recently won the Community Choice Award for Excellence in Research Communication.  What does the oxygen we breathe, the calcium in our bones, and the gold leaf on the Golden Dome all have in common? They…

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A brown horse with a white blaze is examined via endoscope by a person in a white protective suit and orange cap, while a man in a red cap gently holds its head.

Ireland field experience connects aspiring veterinarian to the heart of Irish horse racing

Author: Renée LaReau

Graduate students at Notre Dame take their learning far beyond campus. One student’s field experience in Ireland opened doors into the world of equine care and racing—and deepened her calling to compassionate veterinary work. Notre Dame student Scarlett Powell gains hands-on veterinary experience in Ireland, learning from elite racehorse experts at Carriganóg Racing.

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Five panelists sit at a royal blue draped table. An Asian woman with glasses speaks animatedly, showing three fingers. A man in a blue plaid suit listens from the left. Other panelists, including Jeff Rhoads (name card visible), listen with water glasses & microphones on the table.

City of South Bend, Notre Dame leaders share insights on research and community impact

Author: Colleen Wilcox

Notre Dame’s growing research partnerships with the City of South Bend don’t just advance innovation—they create meaningful opportunities for graduate students and postdocs to apply their expertise for the good of the community. The ongoing efforts to strengthen research partnerships in the South Bend community were the focus of a panel discussion among leaders at the University of Notre Dame and the City of South Bend. The November 14 conversation highlighted collaborative projects already underway and explored opportunities for deeper engagement that can create lasting impact across the region. .

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Spring 2026 SAI Graduate Fellowship Program Invites Applications

Author: Laura Kresnak

Notre Dame Scientific Artificial Intelligence (SAI) Graduate Fellowship The Notre Dame Scientific Artificial Intelligence (SAI) Initiative is excited to announce a semester-long Spring 2026 fellowship program for PhD students seeking to newly…

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Four smiling finalists for the Notre Dame Postdoc Spotlight stand in a university lecture hall. They pose in front of screens displaying the event title and university logos. Empty classroom desks are visible.

Breakthrough Research. Talented Scholars. Inaugural Notre Dame’s Postdoc Spotlight Delivers.

Author: Traci DuVal

The concept wasn’t new—the competition challenged scholars to present their complex research in just three minutes, equipped with a single slide, in a way that anyone could understand. While the Graduate School has hosted the Shaheen Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for graduate students for a decade, it’s the first time postdoctoral scholars have been challenged to present and compete in a similar format.

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