UBNow: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University at Buffalo

Two UB English department alumni win 2026 Pulitzers
5/8/26
Sara DiNatale shares the explanatory reporting award and Juliana Spahr is this year’s winner for poetry.
Rising senior named Phi Beta Kappa 2026 Key into Public Service Scholar
5/8/26
Aisha Makama is just one of 20 students nationwide selected for the award by the nation's most prestigious academic honor society.
AI can help find best youth vaping-cessation strategies
5/8/26
UB cancer researchers applied machine learning and XAI to find out why some tactics work and others don't.
Integrating pharmacists into kidney care team
5/7/26
UB faculty member Calvin Meaney highlights the benefits of relying on pharmacists, especially with the shortage of nephrologists.
Building AI for children from the ground up
5/7/26
UB's National AI Institute for Exceptional Education's work building exceptional education tools was on display as NSF and IES officials came to UB for a site visit.
UB 5th in national ranking of New York universities
5/7/26
The Official UniRank Guide measures a university's digital presence, reputation and popularity.
Remembering Janina Brutt-Griffler
5/7/26
The longtime UB faculty member, professor in the Graduate School of Education and leader in language and international education, died April 17. She was 59.
Shedding light on lipid asymmetry in cell membranes
5/6/26
A UB study finds that cells tune membrane properties to regulate communication, transport and other duties.
Potatoes may have shaped genetic makeup of Indigenous Andeans
5/6/26
A study found that natural selection favored those with a high number of starch-digesting genes following the domestication of potatoes in the Andes.
Elkin selected for inaugural cohort of ACTS fellows
5/6/26
Fellowship recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions and service to the clinical and translational science field.
UB geographer contributes to UN report on World Heritage Sites
5/5/26
The global assessment of protected landscapes draws on Adam Wilson’s research on species’ exposure to extreme temperatures.
ELN relaunches as Office for Undergraduate Research
5/5/26
The refocused office strengthens the university’s commitment to faculty-mentored undergraduate research.

Photographs, slideshows and videos capturing life at UB

Oozefest 2026
The UB community got down and dirty on May 2 for Oozefest, one of UB’s most popular traditions and one of the largest mud volleyball tournaments in the country. Oozefest started in 1984 as a way to help students de-stress before exams and bring the UB community together. Today, anyone can play at Oozefest, including students from UB and other schools, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university. University Communications photographer Meredith Forrest Kulwicki was there to document all the muddy fun.
Published May 7, 2026

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Advancing AI

Join UB for Inside Higher Education's US AI Summit, where global leaders from across higher education, industry and policy will come together to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and how it can address society's most pressing challenges.

The community garden is growing Volunteers, including members of the UB footbal team, recently constructed 13 new raised beds at the community garden near the GRoW Clean Energy Center on Flint Road, extending the opportunity to grow to 24 groups from across campus and increase the harvest in the fall. UB Sustainability established the garden last year to serve as a gathering place for faculty, staff and students. In addition to fostering community and hands-on learning, the GRoW Garden supports food security on campus by contributing harvests to UB’s Blue Table food pantry. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
The community garden is growing
Volunteers, including members of the UB football team, recently constructed 13 new raised beds at the community garden near the GRoW Clean Energy Center on Flint Road, extending the opportunity to grow to 24 groups from across campus and increase the harvest in the fall. UB Sustainability established the garden last year to serve as a gathering place for faculty, staff and students. In addition to fostering community and hands-on learning, the GRoW Garden supports food security on campus by contributing harvests to UB’s Blue Table food pantry. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Published May 8, 2026