Heather Lewellyn investigates effects of pesticides on honey bees in master's thesis


Heather Llewellyn sucessfully defended her master's thesis entitled "Sublethal  effects of the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid on the Honey Bee Transcriptome." Honey bees contribute to worldwide agricultural pollination. Since 2006, bee pollinators have experienced global declines, which may be linked to widespread agricultural use of neonicotinoid pesticides and a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder (CCD).  Heather's research investigated the effects of sublethal doses of the most commonly used neonicotinoid pesticide, imidacloprid, on motor responses, cellular stress, and gene expression in honey bees. Her work demonstrated major changes in gene networks related to key biological functions that may affect the viability of bee colonies such as oxidative phosphorylation, longevity, apoptosis, FOXO signaling, drug metabolism, circadian rhythm, and glutathione metabolism. Heather's major professor was Dr. Cindy Surmacz and Drs. Abby Hare-Harris, John Hranitz, and William Schwindinger served on her committee. Heather has presented her work at annual meetings of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. She has received funding through Bloomsburg University Research and Development and Travel Grants, a Professional Experience Grant, and a Charlotte Magnum  Student Support award from the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. 

Heather earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in DNA Analysis from Lock Haven University. She  completed clinical training at Williamsport Regional Medical Center and is a certified medical laboratory technologist employed at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, PA. Heather is a member of Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Popular posts from this blog

Internship Experience for Medical Imaging Majors

Image
BAHS medical imaging majors gained valuable experience with various imaging technologies  during internships at Geisinger Health System.   Intern Ashley Wilkins  reports: "I  have been able to see so much in the Radiology field. I have observed general diagnostic radiology, MRI, CAT scan, and ultrasound. I have seen x-rays of different body parts, especially of the chest. I have also seen numerous MRIs of the brain and spine and CAT scans of the chest and abdomen. Lastly, I have seen many pregnancy ultrasounds. My favorite part of the internship is being able to start learning early. I definitely recommend this internship to other students. It is a great way to become more familiar with the type of environment you will work in during your career. It is also  a jump start to your learning, because you get to see so much and you have the opportunity to ask questions. " Intern Xiang Liao states .  "I learned how to position patients, collimate light fields, locate cen
Read more

Penn State Primary Care Scholars Program

Image
The Penn State College of Medicine Primary Care Scholars’ Program is an exceptional opportunity for those who are interested in attending medical school and specializing in primary care. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s program will be held virtually and will kick off the week of  May 17, 2021  followed by a series of evening sessions over the weeks that follow.  The Primary Care Scholars’ Program will include discussions on topics such as medical care, primary care, medical school admissions, and the medical school’s curriculum.  Participants will have opportunities to interact with medical students and faculty, and to learn about the philosophy and practice of primary care within the disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. The format will include large group presentations, small discussion groups, panel discussions with medical students, individual application consults, and a sample problem based learning session.  In previous years, the pr
Read more

Dr. Stefanie Kroll, stream ecologist, presents seminar

Image
Seminar speaker Dr. Stefanie Kroll with host Dr. Steve Rier, professor Dr. Stefanie Kroll, Assistant Research Professor, in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science at Drexel University shared her expertise  on   aquatic macroinvertebrate ecology at the BAHS seminar series on November 1, 2019. Dr. Kroll's talk was entitled"  Macroinvertebrates Tell All: Indicators of Human Impacts on Streams" Dr. Kroll is the    project science director of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, a collaboration among over 50 nonprofit groups working in watershed conservation. She has a PhD in ecology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY.  
Read more