Research
How One Mathematical Theory Could Unlock Consciousness | inter+SECTIONS (Student Research Series)
Apr. 28, 2023—Undergraduate students at A&S have unique opportunities to conduct a wide range of research, discovery, and scholarship during their time on campus. As an undergraduate researcher, Pax Poggi BA’25 studies the intersection of mathematics and consciousness. Hear about his work with the integrated information theory of consciousness, the first mathematical framework for evaluating awareness.
Vanderbilt Biologist investigates specialization and its impact on cultural evolution
Apr. 19, 2023—The cultural evolution of a population depends not only on size but also on the degree of specialization within a population, according to a new study published last month by a team of scientists including Nicole Creanza. The study found that populatio...
Vanderbilt Researchers find Evidence for Evolutionary Constraints on Immunity
Apr. 19, 2023—A new study led by members of Ann Tate’s lab found evidence that pleiotropy may slow down evolution of genes involved in immunity.
Vanderbilt economist: Tennessee’s early open COVID-19 testing policies worked to slow the spread
Apr. 16, 2023—Tennessee’s open COVID testing policy reduced actual COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Costs of expanded testing were so low that essentially any reduction in the number of deaths due to the policy would justify its cost.
Vanderbilt Team finds Evolutionary Support for Induced Defenses
Apr. 12, 2023—Graduate student Reese Martin and his doctoral advisor, Ann Tate, assistant professor of biological sciences, used theoretical modeling to identify a potential relationship between genetic pleiotropy and the evolution of immune responses.
Vanderbilt launches Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Protein Dynamics
Apr. 11, 2023—Led by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences professor Hassane Mchaourab, the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Protein Dynamics will focus on the application of machine learning techniques to understand how proteins work.
Trio of Vanderbilt Researchers Identify Variable Outcomes in Experimental Evolution
Apr. 10, 2023—Sarah Worthan, along with Robert McCarthy and Megan Behringer, led a new effort to understand the effects of the environment on the outcome of experimental evolution studies.
Attention to disease naming and framing can shape public health attitudes, perceptions
Apr. 10, 2023—Research from Associate Professor of Medical and Linguistic Anthropology T.S. Harvey demonstrates how a disease’s name can have a significant impact on the public’s perception, attitude and behavior toward the disease. Harvey argues that disease names ...
Vanderbilt researcher finds evidence for ant caste systems driven by chemo-sensing responses
Apr. 2, 2023—Stephen Ferguson, first-author of a new paper with his postdoctoral advisor, Laurence Zwiebel, along with two undergraduates associated with the lab, Isaac Bakis and Nicholas Edwards, confirmed the existence of a specialized soldier caste within an ant...
International collaboration yields breakthrough that could revolutionize computing technologies
Mar. 27, 2023—Scientists from Vanderbilt and UCAS made a breakthrough in single-atom vibrational spectroscopy in graphene, crucial to understanding materials’ thermal properties and nanophotonics.