The Latest
Discovery Fellow, Nan Li earns Vilas Associate Award
The Vilas Associates Competition recognizes new and ongoing research of the highest quality and significance. Recipients are chosen competitively by the divisional Research Committees on the basis of a detailed proposal.
Co-Zorbing: The New Frontier in Bacterial Cooperation
In a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers discovered that biofilms made of a specific type of bacterium, Flavobacterium johnsoniae, can form 3-D structures called Zorbs that are capable of moving. Not only do these structures move, but researcher, Shruthi Magesh, from the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery have also found that they can transport other species of bacteria by forming tri-zorbs.
Jo Handelsman Shared Insights on Federal Research Funding Cuts in Wisconsin
Last Friday morning on Wisconsin Today, a program on Wisconsin Public Radio, Jo Handelsman, Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), examined the potential impact of proposed federal research cuts. In this 13-minute talk, Handelsman discussed how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had been considering a directive to cap overhead costs at 15 percent, a move that could cost the University of Wisconsin–Madison at least $62 million annually. Her remarks provide valuable insight into how the Trump Administration’s plan to reduce federal funding for medical research could affect UW–Madison laboratories and the broader scientific community.
Exploring the Wonders of Science with Leah Elson at the Wisconsin Science Festival
The Wisconsin Science Festival welcomes renowned science influencer and author Leah Elson to engage with audiences of all ages. “I got to take the stage with colleagues from drastically different areas of science and community outreach, joining forces to educate (and entertain) an adult audience–interdisciplinary collaboration at its finest (and most impactful!)," says Elson.








