Northeastern College of Science

Tick-related ER visits are higher than normal this year—and experts are paying attention.

According to new data, emergency visits for tick bites are at their highest levels for this time of year since 2017, raising concerns about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Assistant Professor Constantin Takacs, who studies the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, explains why ticks are so difficult to detect—and how their biology helps them evade the body’s defenses. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your family this season.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3PQIGAv

The CDC warns tick season is off to a strong start this spring Tick-related ER visits are higher than normal this year. Here’s how you can protect yourself and your family from Lyme disease.

A co-op experience can change everything.

For Jenna Woods, who is pursuing a MS degree in environmental science and policy, it led to launching a climate tech startup focused on carbon removal. What began with studying a green mineral abroad is now a step toward scaling real climate solutions. Sometimes, the challenge isn’t creating new ideas—it’s bringing existing ones to life.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RvPjbS

From co-op to CEO, this grad student aims to speed up climate change solutions Climate change solutions are advancing fast. Northeastern grad Jenna Woods leads a startup using the mineral olivine to pull CO2 from the air.

Congratulations to Numair Elahi, Maren Ritterbuck, and Sophia Guerra, who have been named Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards in science, engineering, and mathematics!

Selected from more than 5,000 applicants, their work spans fields from antibiotic resistance to regenerative biology—highlighting the impact of undergraduate research.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4ePsvh1

Three Northeastern students named Goldwater Scholars Three students were awarded the prestigious scholarship for undergraduates studying science, engineering or math.

Experiential learning at its peak.

In the course "Cosmetic Chemistry: Design and Innovation" led by Associate Professor Leila Deravi, students are designing and testing products like waterproof blush and peel-off face masks—bringing together chemistry, biology, creativity, and real-world product design.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4tIvtaK

Try mess-free face masks at this cosmetics showcase Northeastern’s cosmetic chemistry course challenges students to make their own personal care products.

From Northeastern to Oxford.

College of Science alum Laurel Walsh has been selected for the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, where she’ll pursue an accelerated PhD while working in both the US and the UK. Her research will focus on genomics and infectious disease—turning scientific curiosity into real-world impact.

Read more: https://bit.ly/49b7sSl

A scientist and artist wins Ph.D scholarship at NIH and Oxford Laurel Walsh will divide her time between the UK and US in NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program for accelerated doctorate.

Advancing the future of quantum computing.

Yizhi You, assistant professor of physics, has been named a 2026 Cottrell Scholar—an award recognizing outstanding early-career researchers for both scientific innovation and excellence in teaching.

Her work explores quantum systems and the fundamental behaviors that could shape next-generation technologies, highlighting the growing impact of quantum science on the future of computing and education.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4dLB5MH

Quantum computing research earns professor Cottrell Scholar Award The Cottrell Scholar Awards give research funding to early-career academics studying certain scientific fields.

What if getting involved in research was easier and more accessible?

The 2026 COS Pitch Competition third place winner Soumya Raguraman, a behavioral neuroscience major, created LabMatch—a platform designed to make undergraduate research more accessible, structured, and fair.

Inspired by her own experience navigating research without a clear roadmap, Soumya saw how many students struggle to find opportunities while labs are overwhelmed with unstructured outreach. LabMatch aims to change that by matching students and labs based on skills, interests, and fit—not connections. Now, she’s working toward launching a pilot at Northeastern, turning her idea into a real system that could reshape how students access research.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RaQPAa

Soumya Raguraman ’27, Behavioral Neuroscience - Northeastern University College of Science Soumya Raguraman, a behavioral neuroscience major with minors in business administration and public health, placed third in the 2026 COS Pitch Competition for LabMatch: The Undergraduate Research Matching Platform. Learn more about how this idea came about.

What if treating chronic illness could be less painful—and more effective?

Emiko Tonachel, a biology major who placed second in the 2026 COS Pitch Competition, developed a mucoadhesive hydrogel system designed to deliver drugs directly to sites of inflammation in IBD patients. Acting like a “gut band-aid,” the system targets treatment where it’s needed while reducing harmful side effects across the body.

Her idea was inspired by a close friend living with IBD—and the challenges that come with both the disease and its treatments. Now, Emiko is taking the next step by connecting with researchers and exploring how this idea could one day move from concept to real-world testing.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4uLe8ih

Emiko Tonachel ’29, Biology - Northeastern University College of Science Emiko Tonachel, a biology major with philosophy minor, placed second in the 2026 COS Pitch Competition for Mucoadhesive hydrogel system for localized drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Learn more about the inspiration behind the research.