BioSynthesis

B AHS welcomes back senior Kristen Marsh , a health sciences major, after participating in  "Semester at Sea," a study abroad program of the Colorado State University. Kristen traveled over 24,000 nautical miles aboard a cruise ship  while taking interdisciplinary coursework and conducting hands-on field experiences. Her journey took her to  the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Croatia.  She  went diving  into the blue caves in the Mediterranean Sea.  After returning to dry land, Kristen  took the time to answer some questions for  BioSynthesis: What was your favorite part of the experience? My favorite part of the experience was living in a ship-board community with 400 other eager students and 200+ faculty and staff. Learning and asking questions was highly encouraged.I made connections with friends, locals of different countries, and my professors that will last lifetime! Something new I learned: I took a co...

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 ...

Maria Figueroa and Casey Donahoe Geisinger Medical Center’s Jan Plan brought students to the hospital's Danville campus from January 3 -10, 2020 for an intensive  experience that provides a first hand look at the medical profession. Jan Plan students had the opportunity to interact with medical students, residents, and physicians during rounds, case study discussions, and observations.  Participating in Jan Plan this year were Casey Donahoe , Biology major in the pre-medicine option and Maria Figueroa , enrolled in the Pre-medical Sciences Certificate program.  Casey and Maria shared their Jan Plan experiences: Maria:  I loved my Jan Plan experience. We shadowed doctors in different specialties, such as vascular surgery, emergency medicine, and internal medicine.It was very exciting standing next to the surgical team, watching as they inserted catheters or removed varicose veins. One of my favorite aspects of the Jan Plan program was simply meeting and tal...

Primary Care Day-photo courtesy of Penn State College of Medicine Ten BAHS students traveled to Penn State College of Medicine at Hershey, PA last semester for Primary Care Day.  This annual event introduces students to primary care medicine and its specialties, internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine. In addition to a keynote speaker panels on medical school admissions, students had the opportunity to observe a delivery simulation and musculoskeletal and newborn exams. Workshops were held on suturing, vital signs, and ultrasound imaging. Students attending Primary Care Day were Kaitlyn Beechay, Allison Coffey, Casey Donahoe, Emily Gerek, Xiane Goda, Nicole Harper, Catherine Maniscalco, Aashana Patel, Allison Sowers,  Ayushi Umbrigar, and Tristen Wade.  

Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA is hosting its annual Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) from May 26 to July 31, 2020. The program  provides opportunities for sophomores or juniors who are interested in a career in biomedical research to gain hands-on experience under the mentorship of Geisinger scientists.  Research areas include biostatistics, population health pharmacy, genomic medicine,  developmental biology, cell signaling. and molecular and functional genomics.  This is a paid program and consists of 40 hours per week.  Additional information and applications are available  at   https://www.geisinger.edu/research/careers/summer-research-internships   The deadline is February 15, 2020. The National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program provides opportunities for students to conduct research with leading scientists at locations across the USA and internationally. Last summer BAHS sophomore Stephe...

Students in Dr. Kristen Brubaker's course Molecular Biology Laboratory  successfully cloned the lux operon from a genomic library this past semester. Very cool!   Molecular Biology Lab (Biology 334) is a one credit course that i ntroduces fundamental molecular biology techniques that are used in all branches of biology.  Molecular techniques are instructed in the context of a semester-long research project in a research laboratory setting.  Students begin their research projects with isolation of DNA and perform molecular techniques that purify, amplify, engineer, clone, and sequence nucleic acids to study their isolates. For more information, contact Dr. Brubaker at kbrubake@bloomu.edu

BAHS majors are invited to apply for the Summer 2020 URSCA, short for Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activiies Program. The program aims to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in research and scholarshp or engage in creative activities, while being mentored by a faculty member. To be eligible, students must be in academic good standing and enrolled in at least 6 credits in the Summer OR in Fall 2020. URSCA students are awarded wages of $200 per week (half-time) or $400 per week (full-time) for the number of weeks needed to complete the experience. Minimum awards are full-time for 3 weeks ($1200) to full-time for 12 weeks $4800). Funds for supplies are also available, The program includes required organizational meetings, workshops, and a presentation at the Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Symposium in early August. Information and applications may be found at: View competition [bloomu.us5.list-manage.com]   The deadlin...

APPLY NOW! Biological and Allied Health Sciences Scholarships Scholarship AMOUNT CRITERIA Biology and Allied Health Scholarship $500 or $250 Biology (including Secondary Education Biology) and Health Science majors who are currently sophomores or juniors and have completed 12 credits in biological science courses at BU James E. Parsons Microbiology Scholarship ~$600 Biology and Health Science majors who are currently sophomores or juniors.   Preference to Medical Laboratory Science majors Frederick R. Maue 1976 Scholarship $1,000 B.S. Biology majors officially enrolled in the pre-medical sciences option who are currently sophomores or juniors and have financial need. PLEASE APPLY ONLINE AT https://bloomu.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com You will be prompted to provide: o    one reference letter from a biology faculty mem...

Spring semester provides lots of opportunities for both undergraduates and graduate students to attend regional scientific meetings and to present their research results. Check out these opportunities: March 21, 2020. Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences (PAS). Annual Meeting, York College, York, PA. Abstracts due: February 14. April 4, 2020. Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society (Tri-Beta). Northeast Region District 2 Convention, College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ April -18, 2020. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists (CPUB), Annual Meeting, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA. April 24, 2020. College of Science and Technology Research Day. Hartline Science Center, Bloomsburg University. If you are interested in presenting at any of these meetings, please see your research advisor.

BAHS faculty and students present research at the 2020 meeting  of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology BAHS students and faculty traveled to Austin, TX during winter break to attend the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative Biology (SICB). SICB is a national professional organization whose mission is to promote research in many fields of specialization in biology from molecules and cells to ecology and evolution. SICB supports biology education and scholarship at all levels, from Kindergarten to postgraduate. SICB strives to inform the public, policy makers, and grant agencies of new knowledge in biology and its potential applications. Research is presented in a series of plenary sessions, symposia, workshops, exhibits, and oral and written poster sessions. The theme of the 2020 conference was on the importance and impact of interdisciplinary research. Presenting research at the 2020 SICB meeting this year were BAHS   graduate students  Hann...

BAHS students helped to bring in the holidays at the  College of Science Technology Holiday Party at semester's end.  Santa's helpers Kristyn Smeal and Alex Pasculle Rachel Daku and Hannah Anderson pass out presents. Cassandra Riley, and Katelyn Kelchner sharing reindeer games with Sophia.

Backstage preparing for Graduate Convocation:  From Left: Dr. Klinger, Victoria Roper, Kate Freeman, Dr. Surmacz, Dr. Nolt, Heather Llewellyn, Samantha Maywald Dr. Thomas Klinger , Professor and BAHS Graduate Coordinator, led the processional at the Graduate Convocation on December 13.  As part of the ceremony, candidates for the  Master's Degree in Biology were hooded by their graduate advisers. The hood designates the degree of the wearer and the institution.   The following Master's candidates were hooded at he ceremony: Emily Louise Ashberry Understanding the Environmental Context of Algal Priming of Coarse Particulate Organic Matter Decomposition in Streams Adviser: Dr. Steven Rier, Professor Kate M. Freeman Adviser: Dr. Barry Nolt Heather Jean Llewellyn Acute Sublethal Effects of the Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid on the Honey Bee Transcriptome Adviser: Dr. Cynthia Surmacz, Professor Samantha Lee Maywald Environmental PRedictors and Blood ...

BAHS congratulates the following December graduates. We are very proud of you! Stay in touch. Biology Jasmine Bailey Justin Blake Taylor Bozza, cum laude Rachel Helton Nour Haz Mabrouk Clifford Jones, Jr. Casey Klinger Leslie McManus Cody Pavlick Miranda Payeskie Andrew Puerzer Olivia Robertson Amara Sikalis Shannon Slesicki Sierra Smith Aurora Tamblin Faith Varner-Bruno Jeamie Velasco Lerma Austin White Health Sciences Seth Conrad Kelly Ednie Joseph Kingston Comfort Nyesuah Najha Sealy Dalton Snyder Medical Imaging Brooke Coldren Sunni Cristae Sara Hess Emily Kenna Amanda Linde Naomy Perez Danielle Perrelli Mia Perrino Emily Reynolds Brianna Robison Keara Supnick

Liz in South Korea B AHS welcomes back senior Lizmeidy Hernandez after spending a semester abroad in South Korea. Before jumping into a hectic semester took the time to answer some questions for BioSynthesis Liz explores Japan. What was your favorite part of the experience?  My favorite part was definitely the people. I met people from all over the world, even someone who visited North Korea. I had the chance to converse with them about their country and some of the situations that appear in the news. I don’t think it is possible for anyone to understand conflict in specific countries without talking to its people. I roomed with two Korean students who now mean the world to me. They opened their arms to a complete stranger and even introduced me to their parents. The Korean culture is completely different than mine. It was refreshing and intriguing to have Koreans explain their society and the division from North Korea. Liz in HongKong What is something new t...

Emily Asherry Emily Ashberry, the first graduate of our accelerated 3 + 2 Master's program, has recently accepted a position as Senior Research Technician at the Wetlands Ecosystems Research Laboratory at Florida International University. Emily's work will take her to the Everglades and require her to learn how to drive an air boat. Very exciting!  E mily, a 2019 graduate, had a very successful career at BU. Her Master's research in vestigated the environmental context of algal priming of coarse particulate organic matter decomposition in streams. Emily's research on local streams was under the direction of  Dr. Steven Rier . She presented the results of her thesis meeting at the international meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science.  She completed the requirements of the BU Honors Program and was nominated for Outstanding Senior in Biology. She was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society.    Emily is the rec...

BAHS salutes the following students who made Dean's List for fall semester 2019. To be eligible, students must achieve a GPA of greater than 3.5. Keep up the good work! Ashley Adams Biology BS, Pre-Medical Science Amanda Arellano Biology BS Amanda Aulenbach Biology BS Oriana Balascio Biology BS, Pre-Medical Science Allison Bardman Health Sciences BS, Pre-Physician Assistant Gavin Barton Health Sciences BS, Pre-Physical Therapy Allison Beaver Medical Imaging BS Kailyn Bennett Biology BS, Ecology, Conservation & Field Biology Nicole Billard Biology BS, Ecology, Conservation & Field Biology Clara Bishay Health Sciences BS, Pre-Pharmacy Cortney Blevins Biology BS, Pre-Medical Science Carly Bonomo Health Sciences BS, General Taylor Bozza Biology BS, Pre-Medical Science Madyson Brown Healt...