BioSynthesis

The Northeast District 2 Convention of Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society was held virtually on April 17 and was hosted by St. Elizabeth's College in New Jersey. Tri-Beta is a biology honor society that aims to enhance  the understanding and appreciation of biological study and to extend the boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research.  Earning second prize in the poster division were BAHS seniors Rachel Nenstiel , an honors college student in the 3 + 2 masters program in biology, and Casey Donahoe , a biology, pre-medical science major. Rachel and Casey pres ented a research poster on "Assessing Sublethal Stress in Honeybees Exposed to “Bee-friendly” Neonicotinoid and Pyrethroid Pesticides"  that was conducted in the laboratory of  Drs. John Hranitz  and  Cindy Surmacz .  The convention's keynote address was presented by    Dr. Janet Alder from Rutgers University  on  "Using Mouse Models to Study Novel Treatment...

  Juliana Wagner  and Manuel Gutierrez are recipients of a 2021-2022 Biological and Allied Health  Sciences Scholarship.  Juliana is a Biology major in the Pre-medical Science option  and plans to become a dentist.   Juliana, a dean’s list student, is a member of the  Honors College. Juliana also serves a s community assistant in Residence Life. She  has obtained level 1 & 2 leadership certification through the Center for Leadership  and Engagement. She is a member of the Pre-medical Science Club. Juliana is  conducting research on sleep behavior in C.elegans in Dr. DeBardeleben ’s  laboratory. Manuel Gutierrez is the recipient of a 2021-2022 Biological and Allied Health  Sciences Scholarship. Manny is a Health Sciences major in the pre-physician  assistant option. Manny is an outreacher in the leadership team of the Newman  House Society, a member of the Rotaract Club, and a member of the Pre-medical  sc...

Ahmed Hayat is the recipient of the 2021-2022 Dr.  Frederick R. Maue 1976 Scholarship.   Ahmed is a Biology major in the Pre-medical Science option and plans to become a  neurosurgeon. Ahmed is a dean’s list student and a member of the Pre-medical Sciences Club. Congratulations Ahmed!

  Aaron Billig is the recipient of the 2021-2022 Dr. James E. Parsons Scholarship.  Dr. Parsons, faculty emeritus, was a longtime coordinator of our medical lab science  program. Aaron is a Health Sciences major in the medical laboratory science option  and a member of the Bloomsburg University Honors College. Aaron has received an  Academic Excellence Scholarship. He is a member of the Red Cross Club and the  Bloomsburg University Disciple Makers Christian Fellowship. Congratulations Aaron!

Lyme Disease was the theme of the 29th Annual Health Sciences Symposium held virtually at Bloomsburg University on April 22 and 23, 2021. The Symposium was chaired by Dr. Jennifer Venditti and sponsored by the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund and Bloomsburg University.  The event was kicked off by the keynote address on Thursday evening by Dr.  Stephen J. Gluckman, M.D .,  Professor of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Medical Director, Penn Global Medicine.  His presentation focused on some of the controversies associated with Lyme Disease diagnosis and treatment and was followed by a question and answer period with the audience.  Dr. Marianna Wood On Friday afternoon, Dr. Marianna Wood , Associate Professor, Department of  Biological and Allied Health sciences presented the talk "Of Mice and Lyme (And Acorns and Coyotes and...) The Ecology of Human Lyme Disease Risk at the weekly BAHS seminar. Students in An...

Twenty-four BAHS scholar athletes were  celebrated virtually at the annual scholar athlete recognition event. To receive this honor, student athletes must achieve a 3.25 GPA or higher during the past two semesters while competing in a sport. We salute our BAHS Scholar athletes for their hard work and success both in the classroom and in their sport. The following BAHS students were recognized:          Autumn Altland , Medical Imaging Allison Bardman , Health Sciences Mikayla Barrow, Health Sciences, Pre-physician Assistant Megan Brandt, Biology Alexandra Burrows, Health Science Alyssa Cianciulli , Health Sciences, Pre-accelerated 2 nd  degree Nursing Devon DiCampli , Health Sciences, Pre-physical Therapy Brianna Doebler , Health Sciences, Pre-physician Assistant Anthony Donato, Biology Haley Fiske, Health Sciences, Pre-physical therapy Mackenzie Gebhardt, Health Science Elizabeth Hirsch, Biology, Pre-medical Sciences Elisabeth Jackson, Health Sciences...

Katelyn Kelchner Katelyn  Kelchner ,   a Health S cience major in the Medical Genomics and Counseling option, was selected as Outstanding Senior in Allied Health by department faculty. Kate was named as the College of Science and Technology's Honor Graduate, the student with the highest GPA at the fall 2020 commencement ceremony. Prior to receiving her BS in Health Sciences at Bloomsburg University, Kate earned a BA in English, magna cum laude, from Millersville University. Kate has been active in undergraduate research in genomics at Bloomsburg University.  In  Dr. Abby Hare-Harris's   laboratory, she conducted a project on the "Development of an Automated Pipeline for Identifying Poison Exons in the Human Genome” Kate used bioinformatic research techniques to extract relevant genetic variants from large genomic datasets in order to assess their pathogenicity. Kate's work was supported by an URSCA grant. She presented her work at the College of Scienc...

  Sarah Buckley Sarah Buckley,  a senior biology, natural history major in the 3+2 masters in biology program, was selected as Outstanding Senior in Biology by department faculty. Sarah plans to become an environmental educator in a park, nature center, or museum setting. Sarah’s outstanding academic achievements have been recognized by a host of honors and awards including dean’s list each semester and selection for membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society. She was a recipient of the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Freshman Award, the Frank J. Michaels Scholarship, the PHEAA Ready to Succeed Scholarship, the Chester/Delaware County Farm Bureau Scholarship, and the Lila P. Wilde Scholarship. Sarah has conducted research on crayfish behavior in response to trapping and has presented a poster on including algae in environmental education at Bloomsburg University’s College of Science and Technology Research Day. She has conducted an i...

  Mitchell Liddick presented his thesis proposal at the weekly BAHS seminar series. His proposed masters thesis research is on "Using mesocosms to investigate the effects of PVC microplastics on stream biofilms." His work examines the global "plastic problem" and specifically investigates the effects of increasing concentrations of PVC microplastics on the structure and function of stream biofilm communities. He will specifically examine effects of microplastics on the relative abundance of taxa, biomass, nutrient uptake, metabolism, and photosynthetic potential of biofilms. Mitchell's thesis advisor is Dr. Steven Rier . Drs. Thomas Klinger and Lauri Green serve on his thesis committee. Mitchell earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Bloomsburg University and is a graduate assistant in the department. 

  Oriana Balascio presented her thesis research proposal on April 2 at the weekly BAHS seminar series. Oriana proposes research that will characterize a role for BORIS in  telomere maintenance in a colon cancer cell model. Telomeres promote protection of the ends of chromosomes in eukaryotic cells. BORIS is a DNA binding protein and key regulator in tumor formation. Dr. Kate Beishline is Oriana's thesis advisor.  Drs. Abby Hare-Harris and Dr. Michael Borland , Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, are members of her thesis committee.  Oriana is a biology, pre-medical science major at Bloomsburg University and is enrolled in the 3+2 aster's program.  

The Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists (CPUB) was held virtually on April 10 and was hosted by Shippensburg University. CPUB is an organization composed of faculty in the fourteen institutions of the PA State System of Higher Education that fosters excellence in biology education and research. The conference was kicked off with a keynote address entitled " An overview of Rickettsial Diseases" by Dr. Allen Richards, Senior Scientist, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine and  Federal Research Microbiologist/Immunologist (Retired) Research Coordinator, Naval Medical Research Center. The event continued with research presentations by students from throughout the PA State System of Higher Education. Among them were BAHS seniors  Rachel Nenstiel and Casey Shonis, who presented their research on "Assessing Sublethal Stress in Honeybees Exposed to “Bee-friendly” Neonicotinoid and Pyrethroid Pesticide...

Kayla  Davis presented her thesis proposal " Comparing Nesting Sites of the Wood Turtle ( Glyptemys insculpta ) Along Pine Creek Rail Trail in Pennsylvania" at a recent BAHS seminar. Wood turtle populations are declining and very little is known about their behavior along the rail trail. In this research Kayla plans to locate and determine the environmental characteristics of wood turtle nests and analyze common patterns and trends. Kayla's work is under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Franek , Department of Environmental, Geographic, and Geological sciences. Serving on Kayla's committee are Drs. Thomas Klinger and Lauri Green . Kayla completed her undergraduate studies at Bloomsburg University 

Eric Moeller Eric Moeller   presented his masters thesis proposal during the weekly BAHS seminar series on April 2.. Eric's proposed work examines " The Effect of Repeated Anandamide Treatment on Orexin, Weight Loss, and Physical Activity in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) during Caloric Restriction."  Eric research will determine whether repeated anandamide treatment affects weight loss, orexin expression and orexin receptor and CB1 expression.   Dr. Candice Klingerman  is Eric's thesis advisor. Drs. Venditti and Schwindinger are members of his thesis committee. Eric is a graduate of California University. We look forward to hearing your research results Eric!

Logan Kibler presented his masters thesis proposal at the BAHS seminar held virtually on March 26 on zoom. Logan's thesis proposal was entitled " Ethanol Toxicity and Zebrafish Reproduction." Logan's research will investigate the effects of ethanol on gamete quality in zebrafish, on sperm-associated alpha-fucosidase, and on reproductive success. Dr. Jennifer Venditti is Logan's thesis advisor and Drs. Abby Hare-Harris and Candice Klingerman are serving on his committee. Logan is from York, PA and is a graduate of Kutztown University. We look forward to hearing your research results Logan!

On April 10, 2021, two graduate students presented aspects of their research projects at the 3rd Central Ecology and Evolution Conference, which was an online conference hosted by graduate students at Oklahoma State University.  The venue was a great opportunity for students to present research and receive valuable feedback from peers at similar stages of their career in the discipline. Mary Bogert presented data from her past field season.  Her talk was titled " "Factors influencing female-bias in captures of Northern saw-whet owls ( Aegolius acadicus) ".  Her data suggest that the long held idea, that saw-whet owl populations are female dominated, may be due to measurement error in capture methods. She is also interested in the stress level difference exhibited between males and females.  A second season of blood collection on these owls should help elucidate any differences. Morgan Murphy presented her research proposal titled  "The impo...