Page 6 - ARCS Oregon Case Statement

"At the University of Oregon, we support the needs of Oregon's industries, in part through the training of our
STEM students. A degree from the UO should be a launchpad for students who have developed the skills that
prepare them to contribute, innovate, and lead in the modern workplace and in our broader society. ARCS
Founda5on Oregon is cri5cally important to our ability to maintain our pipeline of talented and inquisi5ve minds.
ARCS awards allow us to recruit and retain the most outstanding scholars from across the U.S. We deeply
appreciate the generous donors who allow ARCS Scholars to pursue their passion and help find solu5ons to our
world's most difficult challenges."
John Karl Scholz
President, University of Oregon
• A sample of notable ARCS Oregon scholars:
o Dr. Julia Maxson (ARCS Scholar at OHSU from 2006-2009) is a prominent cancer
researcher at OHSU, affiliated with the Knight Cancer Ins,tute. Her lab focuses on
myeloid neoplasms such as chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), muta,ons with the
CSF3R gene, and targeted therapies. Her lab was the first to iden,fy CSR3R muta,ons as
a key driver of certain leukemias and pioneered func,onal genomic approaches to find
therapeu,c targets.
“The ARCS Scholar Award was so helpful to both my husband and me when our daughter
was born, and we were both graduate students. It allowed me to stay in academics, finish
my training, and afforded me invaluable support from ARCS members.”
o Dr. Wade Marcum (ARCS Scholar at OSU from 2008-2011) is a professor in the School of
Nuclear Science and Engineering at OSU. He is known for his work in advanced nuclear
reactor design, thermal-hydraulics and safety analysis, computa,onal modeling in
nuclear systems. His research omen intersects with DOE funded ini,a,ves in nuclear
energy innova,on, and he’s ac,ve in both academic and na,onal policy discussions
about the future of nuclear power and small modular reactors.
o Dr. Erik Toraason (ARCS Scholar at UO from 2016-2019) is doing postdoctoral research at
Princeton University and uncovering the biological mechanisms that promote survival
and longevity. Using C. elegans, a microscopic nematode and Nobel Prize–winning model
organism, he is studying molecules that are plen,ful in youth but decline with age. By
reintroducing these factors into aged worms, he has successfully extended their lifespan.
Beyond extending lifespan, Erik discovered that injured worms release a warning signal,
promp,ng others to avoid them and protec,ng fellow worms from the same fate. This
behavior opened a new line of inquiry: iden,fying the molecular nature of the distress
signal and how it triggers the escape response.
These accomplished scholar alumni, supported by ARCS Oregon, exemplify the profound and
las6ng impact of our investments in STEM talent.
h]ps://oregon.arcsfounda6on.org
Email: info@arcsoregon.org
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