Stanford University

I am delighted to have my first opportunity as president to address a graduating class. Graduation ceremonies have important elements of tradition. Even at Stanford, where we take pride in fresh thinking, we have our academic regalia, the Wacky Walk, and the MBA students making noise disproportionate to their numbers. Many of you who are graduating arrived at Stanford when we were reopening campus after the pandemic. Traditions had been forgotten. So the Class…

Fifteen Stanford seniors, graduate students, and recent alumni received grants from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to study and teach abroad next year. The Stanford-affiliated grantees will travel to 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Paraguay, South Korea, and Thailand, to pursue individually designed research projects, graduate study programs, or English teaching assistant programs.p]:su-m-0 [&>p]:!su-mb-0 [&>p]:su-text-16 md:[&>p]:!su-text-19 last-of-type:[&>p]:!su-mb-0 su-p-20 md:su-p-36" readability="24.260869565217">Learn more about international scholarshipsThe Fulbright U.S. Student Program,…

Cuts to university spending are likely to be announced this summer as Stanford confronts federal funding risks and uncertainties, Provost Jenny Martinez told the Faculty Senate on Thursday in her annual budget presentation.Martinez presented a “modified continuing resolution budget” for the 2025-26 year, a provisional spending plan developed this spring that largely mirrors current-year spending with small adjustments. Given the significant revenue risks the university faces, the university’s Budget Group…

Diego Kagurabadza grew up in Long Beach, California, a large coastal city near Los Angeles. It’s known as “The International City” because of its global imports and diverse population. “I was really lucky to be exposed to a variety of cultures and backgrounds,” said Kagurabadza. “That’s definitely informed my development, growth, and how I approach the world.” Kagurabadza – whose father is from Zimbabwe and mother is from Mexico – loved the…

Stanford alumni Gayatri Datar, MBA ’14, co-founder and CEO of EarthEnable, and Pamela Ronald, MS ’84, a renowned plant geneticist, are this year’s recipients of the President’s Award for Advancement of the Common Good. The award honors alumni who use their talent and education to positively and sustainably change the trajectory of people’s lives. Award recipients exemplify the university’s mission and values, and demonstrate a commitment to learning, social responsibility, and…

Combining the powers of artificial intelligence and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a team of researchers at Stanford University have created “digital twins” of struggling math students to offer first-ever insights into the neurological underpinnings of math learning disabilities, which vex as many as one in five students in America.“Our study grew out of a couple of decades of behavioral, cognitive neuroimaging work on trying to understand the brain bases…

For over a decade, scientists have been growing organoids – small clusters of cells that mimic a particular organ – to serve as miniature biological models. Organoids of the brain have been used to study neurodevelopmental disorders; intestinal organoids, to model celiac disease; and lung organoids, to investigate SARS-CoV-2. Heart organoids have even been sent to space to test the effect of microgravity on cardiac muscle. But there’s a tiny…

Constructive dialogue is essential to the university’s mission of advancing knowledge and new ideas through discovery and open inquiry. And in an increasingly polarized world, these skills are needed more than ever. “I firmly believe that even in an era of division and distrust, Stanford can be a model for how we approach each other with curiosity and an open mind, and how to nurture the type of environment of constructive exchange…

Under a bright spring sky, Bob Siegel excitedly led a group on a hike at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma), hiking for nearly two hours among verdant chaparral paths, past the roar of the cascading Searsville Dam, and into the quiet hush of a redwood grove.Along the way, Siegel carefully lifted logs to look for snakes, frogs, and salamanders. He explained the different types of lichens on trees,…

In the “Research Matters” series, we visit labs across campus to hear directly from Stanford scientists about what they’re working on, how it could advance human health and well-being, and why universities are critical players in the nation’s innovation ecosystem. The following are the researchers’ own words, edited and condensed for clarity. When I was 30, I began forgetting my friends’ names, calling them the wrong ones. Soon after, I…

Machine learning models have seeped into the fabric of our lives, from curating playlists to explaining hard concepts in a few seconds. Beyond convenience, state-of-the-art algorithms are finding their way into modern-day medicine as a powerful potential tool. In one such advance, published June 3 in Cell Systems, Stanford researchers are using machine learning to improve the efficacy and safety of targeted cell and gene therapies by potentially using our…

Stanford captured its third NCAA title in school history on Sunday morning, highlighted by victories in the second varsity eight and varsity four crews in their respective Grand Finals as racing concluded at Mercer Lake.Stanford, which also claimed NCAA championships in 2009 and 2023, put the finishing touches on an impressive season in which it lived up to its billing as the national championship favorite. The Cardinal totaled 129 points…

Michael Friedman, the Suppes Professor of Philosophy of Science, Emeritus, in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences, known for studying Immanuel Kant through the lens of the natural sciences, died March 24, 2025. He was 77.Friedman’s lifework explored how philosophy and science interact. He began by grappling with the philosophy of physics and Einstein’s theory of relativity and then turned his attention to Kant, the 18th-century German philosopher famous for…

It was an only-at-Stanford moment that became a tradition: a group of students gathered in a spacious bathroom in Outdoor House to hear three of their classmates play George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” on their saxophones from the shower stall. Turning the space into a mini jazz club on the first Wednesday of winter quarter has become a “cherished highlight of dorm life, a testament to the creativity and camaraderie that flourishes…

On a recent morning in an industrial yard on the east side of campus, a group of Stanford students and staff emptied a trash bin onto a table. Dressed in aprons and gloves, they carefully sifted through the waste. “The bin came from a residence hall, so inside we found bathroom products, personal items, a lot of food wrappers, food containers, to-go boxes, plastic forks – stuff like that,” said Katelyn…

The Stanford Alumni Association has announced the recipients of its 2025 awards honoring outstanding Stanford seniors and graduate students who have contributed significantly to the Stanford community. These awards include the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, the Outstanding Achievement Award, the Award of Excellence, and the Community Impact Award. J.E. Wallace Sterling AwardPeyton Klein | Kailani WebbPeyton Klein is this year’s recipient of the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award. Faculty and staff…

Open heart surgery is a hard thing to practice in the real world, and airplane pilots cannot learn from their mistakes midair. These are some scenarios where virtual reality solves really hard problems, but the technology has limits. That’s the upshot of a review of experimental research on VR, published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.“Virtual reality is not for everything,” said Jeremy Bailenson, lead author and director of Stanford’s…

To advance meaningful climate action, decision-makers need reliable, accessible data about what’s actually working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from Stanford Law School’s Law and Policy Lab. A central message of the policy practicum team is that trusted, accessible climate performance data isn’t a luxury; it’s a public good and a precondition for increasing investments in effective climate solutions.The report, Increasing Accessibility to Trusted Climate…

Higher education faces an “extraordinary moment” as universities navigate complexities related to civil discourse, academic freedom, and AI alongside challenges to federal research funding, institutional autonomy, and public trust, said President Jonathan Levin during the 2024-2025 Annual Meeting of the Academic Council on Thursday. “Today, those challenges are clear and present,” Levin said. “Yet I can report that Stanford stands as a pillar of excellence in its mission of research and…

With the global population aging, understanding how the brain protects itself or becomes vulnerable has never been more urgent. To address this, Stanford researchers are pushing the boundaries of how we understand and preserve brain function across the lifespan. Since 2022, Catalyst Awards from the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at Stanford’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute have supported interdisciplinary teams exploring how sleep, inflammation, endocannabinoid metabolism, cellular…

Angeline Yu spent much of her upbringing in her parents’ small Hawaiian restaurant. It was where she learned to talk to strangers. “I got to know the customers, their stories, their favorite orders,” Yu said. “I really enjoyed learning about other people.” In high school, she began volunteering at a local hospital where she’d visit patients in their rooms and learn about their medical challenges and hospital experiences. “I would often sit…

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could continuously monitor the molecular state of our body? Consider the solutions that could enable, from optimized drug delivery to early detection of deadly diseases like cancer. For the last two decades, research has aimed to make this a reality by developing devices that measure a chemical or biological reaction in our bodies and send their measurements as a signal readable from outside the…

When a neuron in our body gets damaged, segments of RNA produce proteins that can help repair the injury. But in neurological disorders such as ALS and spinal muscular atrophy, or following spinal cord injuries, the mechanisms for moving life-essential RNA to injured sites within the cell fail. As a result, RNA molecules can’t get to where they are needed and damage becomes permanent.Researchers at Stanford have developed a technology…

Stanford law Professor Norm Spaulding shares six tips for understanding what your conversation partner is trying to convey, inspired by advice from the nonprofit organization Center for Creative Leadership.1. Pay full attention“Being able to give full attention is just an incredible gift to humanize the person you’re communicating with, and that alone can sometimes have a de-escalating effect,” Spaulding said. To show you are paying attention, nonverbal cues also matter.…

Not long ago, Alzheimer’s disease could only be formally diagnosed after a person’s death, when a post-mortem examination of the brain revealed the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles – hallmarks of the condition first described by Alois Alzheimer more than a century ago. Thanks to remarkable clinical advances over the past decade, brain scans and blood tests can now reveal the presence of these disease biomarkers in living…

Chris Lindauer has been named Paul A. Violich Director of Women’s Swimming, as announced by interim athletics director and chief operating officer Alden Mitchell on Thursday afternoon. Lindauer becomes the eighth head coach in program history, taking the helm of the NCAA’s most decorated women’s swimming and diving program, which boasts 12 national titles and 25 conference championships. Stanford remains the only women’s swimming and diving program to never finish outside the…

Many an orange cat-affiliated human will vouch for their cat’s, let’s say, specialness. But now scientists have confirmed that there is, in fact, something unique about ginger-hued domestic felines. In a new study, Stanford Medicine researchers have discovered the long-posited but elusive genetic mutation that makes orange cats orange – and it appears to occur in no other mammal.The finding adds to our understanding of how subtle genetic changes give…

No feathers, no farms – just science on a plate. By suspending chicken cells in a gel and using a specialized device to turn them into chunks of edible tissue, researchers in Japan have recently succeeded in producing chicken nuggets – without the chicken. At 2.8 inches (7 centimeters) wide and 0.8 inches (2 centimeters) thick, the square of chicken is believed to be the largest single piece of lab-grown…

Stanford is naming its Science and Engineering Quad to honor a philanthropist who is helping to advance the science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) fields as well as the science of extending the human health span, or staying healthier for longer.Robert Rosenkranz will fund a number of new, distinguished professorships that will be used to recognize, attract, and/or retain highly accomplished STEM faculty. The gift resulting from Rosenkranz’s commitment is…

In addition to leukemia, CAR-T cells are now used to treat other blood cancers, including multiple myeloma and some kinds of lymphoma, and they are being tested in clinical trials for various solid tumors. Monje and her colleagues have an ongoing trial of CAR-T cells for deadly brain stem and spinal cord tumors in children, which is beginning to show success.Although patients report brain fog after CAR-T cell therapy, studies…

The United States is on track to experience the largest outbreak of measles since health officials declared the disease eliminated from the country in 2000. This year alone has seen more than 1,000 cases reported across several states, with severe outcomes for young children: Many have been hospitalized, and two children have died.About half of parents surveyed by the Kaiser Family Foundation say they’re worried about measles. Yet as cases…

The Faculty Senate received updates Thursday from the vice provosts of undergraduate education and student affairs regarding their efforts to support and enhance the Stanford undergraduate experience. Senators also learned about the Emeriti/ae Council’s work addressing the needs of the university’s emeriti community.Stanford strives to offer undergraduates a modern liberal arts education focused on self-knowledge, moral development, citizenship, and an intrinsic love of learning, said Jay Hamilton, the Freeman-Thornton Vice…

Stanford Live has announced its 2025-26 season, Amplifying Voices, with more than 60 planned performances spanning music, dance, theater, spoken word, film, and comedy. It will be the first season led by Iris Nemani, the newly appointed McMurtry Family Director of Stanford Live. “These artists will not only entertain,” said Nemani, “but also challenge, teach, and strengthen our community with their stories, their perspectives, and their passion.” The performances, featuring…

A nationwide collaboration led by Stanford’s Big Local News and Stanford University Libraries contributed to a 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, awarded to Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme, and Jessica Gallagher of The Baltimore Banner, working in partnership with The New York Times Local Investigations Fellowship.Their investigative series examined the devastating toll of Baltimore’s fentanyl crisis, with a focus on older Black men. The Pulitzer committee praised the reporting as…

In this year’s Citizenship in the 21st Century course, students explored political differences by talking openly with each other.It sounds simple. But in a world where polarization is deep and emotions are high, finding spaces for meaningful conversations across divides can be difficult. What if it didn’t have to be?Providing students with the setting and the skills to engage in rigorous, intellectual discussions on topics that can be contentious –…

In the “Research Matters” series, we visit labs across campus to hear directly from Stanford scientists about what they’re working on, how it could advance human health and well-being, and why universities are critical players in the nation’s innovation ecosystem. The following are Justin and Erica Sonnenberg’s own words, edited and condensed for clarity. Their responses have been combined into a unified voice, with their approval.When we first joined microbiome…

Remembering Donna Robertson, longtime staff member who engaged Stanford’s most generous alumni and friends | Stanford Report Skip to content

Nancy Huddleston Packer, award-winning writer who served as director of Creative Writing Program, has died | Stanford Report Skip to content

Patients with severe dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, or EB, have skin so fragile, the slightest touch can lead to blistering and, eventually, large, open wounds that never heal, causing immense pain.A treatment developed at Stanford Medicine, skin grafts, can treat those large, open wounds. Genetically engineered from a patient’s own cells, the grafts were granted approval as an EB therapy on April 29 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “I’m…

Stanford University Libraries has acquired the only known prototype of the MingKwai Chinese typewriter (明快打字機), the first Chinese typewriter to possess a keyboard. ‘It weighs a ton!’ Earlier this year, the Facebook messages and Reddit threads began circulating among antiquarians. While cleaning out her late grandfather’s basement in New York state, Jennifer Felix and her husband discovered an odd object that looked like a 40s-era typewriter with Chinese characters on the keys.…