Mississippi State biologists receive NSF CAREER awards for genetics, invasive-species research

Two Mississippi State University biological-sciences faculty members have received National Science Foundation CAREER awards for research examining genetic errors and the spread of invasive species, the university announced July 21, 2026.

The awards support work based in MSU’s Department of Biological Sciences in Starkville. The university described the development as part of its biological-sciences research program and identified the projects as addressing two different areas: the biological consequences of genetic errors and the movement of invasive species.

For farmers and land managers, the invasive-species research is the more direct point of interest because understanding how such species spread can inform ecosystem management. The announcement does not specify which invasive species are being studied, where the research will take place or how its findings will be applied.