News: School of Life Sciences
![commencement ceremony](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/nc_D70651_073.jpg?itok=LJ-1V1Dy)
UNLV has a commencement tradition for the president to honor a few exceptional students who embody the academic, research, and community impact of the graduating class.
![Dr. Nora Vinh Svihl](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/Nora%20Vinh_0.jpeg?itok=FEv_J-K7)
Advice from Dr. Nora Vinh Svihl, School of Dental Medicine Alumna of the Year
![Dr. Kate Martin](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/kate_Martin_D70768_06.jpg?itok=Vf7iJEHY)
Advice from Dr. Kate Martin, Honors College Alumna of the Year
![Boo Shan Tseng](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/nc_D70785_10.jpg?itok=8X5nhWwz)
This Life Sciences professor is all about communities — from the bacterial ones she studies (yuck) to the UNLV community she is pleased to have joined.
![Lawrence Walker](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/releases/main-images/nc_D70721_12.jpg?itok=9QJH_wrb)
An internationally recognized plant ecologist, Walker becomes the second consecutive UNLV professor to win the Nevada Regents' Researcher Award.
![Nemanja Novokovic](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/nc_D70437_02.jpg?itok=vbxu_OaX)
A nearly native Las Vegan, Nemanja Novakovic had planned to leave Nevada when it came time for college. But that was before he discovered his academic dreams could be fulfilled at UNLV.
![Bernajane Palisoc works in UNLV's neuropsychology lab with professor Daniel Allen](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/Bernajane%20Palisoc.jpg?itok=P-a3BN1j)
The new Office of Undergraduate Research helps students engage in and celebrate their research and creative activity.
![crows at commencement](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/nc_D70275_90.jpg?itok=inPGjoqn)
Three UNLV graduates were recognized by President Len Jessup during Winter Commencement Dec. 15 for their academic and research excellence.
![four portraits](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/Group3.jpg?itok=ZH84wYGe)
Our Alumni of the Year tell us what the learned when they dealt with deadly viruses, used a crate for a desk, and faced a life-altering medical crisis.
![Nora Caberoy](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/releases/main-images/ncD68755_04.jpg?itok=NApzTgp5)
Three UNLV scientists will present their work during an Alzheimer's research symposium Nov. 13 on campus.
![Penny Amy speaks to assistants](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/BeeLine-D70349_15.jpg?itok=DqJaiXkl)
Microbiology professor Penny Amy leads a formidable team in honeycomb warfare.
![Allen Gibbs](/sites/default/files/styles/768_width/public/articles/main-images/nc_D68133_01.jpg?itok=xul01CFN)
Why UNLV researchers bred their fruit flies to be obese — and what their work reveals about heart disease.