BioSynthesis

Fall grant season kept our BU research students busy preparing grant proposals for funding from both Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Biologists Organization (CPUB) as well as the National Tri Beta Biology Honor Society. Among the many applicants two BU students were awarded grants.      Graduate student Mitchell Liddick received a CPUB grant to fund his research titled "Using mesocosms to investigate the role of polyester microfibers on stream biofilm community structure and function"     Undergraduate student Nathan Slotnick received grants from both CPUB and that National Tri Beta Honor Society for his project titled "Inducible BORIS Expression in Infected HCT116 Cells"       Great Job Guys! Good Luck on your research endeavors! 

On November 5th, BAHS students made a visit to Bucknell University's Campus for the 16th Annual Susquehann River Symposium. This regional conference brings students and faculty from area universities together to highlight their scholarly activity and promote collaboration in environmental projects in our region. Two BU graduate students presented on their current thesis work.        Braeden Gonzales presented a poster titled " Microbial extracellular enzymes as indicators of riparian and upstream forest cover in headwater streams ” and Mitchell Liddick presented one titled " Using mesocosms to investigate the role of polyester microfibers on stream biofilm community structure and function .” Both students work in the laboratory of Dr. Steven Rier .                Mitchell was awarded the best poster in the graduate student category! Congratulations Mitchell!    

Professor of Biology Thomas Klinger gave an invited talk at the university of Alabama at Birmingham this past month.  His talk was title "Toward an Intersection of Ecological Civilization and Religious Thought in Taiwan" was hosted by Dr. James McClintock who visited Bloomsburg University several times in recent years to speak.  Congratulations on a great talk Dr. Klinger! 👏

On Sunday October 10th BU was proud to host the annual induction of new members into the TriBeta Biological Honor Society. Students gathered with their families in Hartline Science Center for a ceremony led by the TriBeta Executive Board; Haley Fiske, president, Kimberly Bucher, Vice-president, and Nathan Slotnik, Secretary/Treasurer. New members took their Oath and heard a wonderful talk from one of our newest Adjunct Faculty Members, Dr. Jody Kull, DVM, who in addition to teaching labs at Bloomsburg works as a Mobile Veterinarian, with a focus on Food Animals! Thank you to all the family members who came out to support these fabulous students!           Congratulations Inductees, We are so Proud of your accomplishments!  

BU Alumni, Corey Conville, a 2016 B.S Biology and 2018 M.S. Biology Graduate, has recently been selected to present an EPA sponsored webinar on Harmfull Freshwater Algae Blooms. Corey is a Life Scientist at the US Environmental Protection Agency, where he is part of their Field Services Branch, working as part of their Ecology Monitoring Team. Corey complete his Masters in the laboratory of Stephen Rier in 2018.   Interested in freshwater ecology? Corey’s webinar is September 14th. Follow the information below to attend. Registration is free!       Good luck Corey, we are so proud to have you in our BU family!

Casey Donahoe , a B.S. Biology, pre-medicine major and a spring 2021 magna cum laude graduate, has accepted a position as a research associate in the laboratory of Edward Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., MPH at New York University in New York City. Dr. Fisher is the Leon Charney Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Fisher’s laboratory focuses on the molecular biology of cardiovascular disease. At Bloomsburg University, Casey served as treasurer of the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society, vice-president of the Biology and Allied Health Club, and was inducted into the interdisciplinary honor society Phi Kappa Phi. She conducted research on the effects of pesticides on oxidative stress in honeybees in the laboratory of Drs. Hranitz and Surmacz. Casey, along with fellow researcher Rachel Nenstiel, received honors for their research poster at both the Northeast District 2 Tri-Beta Biology Convention and Bloomsburg University’s College of Science and Technology Res

Current B.S Biology student, Nathan Slotnik was recognized this week for his outstanding skills on the soccer field; he was named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week .  Nathan is a 4th year Molecular Biology major with outstanding skills off the field as well: He is a Fall 2021 recipient of a COST Research PEG, working in the lab of Dr. Kate Beishline. Way to go Nathan!    

        Its a bitter sweet day as we say goodbye to some of our favorite faculty members. With COVID restrictions easing, faculty members of the department celebrated the retirement of their colleagues this year and last, with an outdoor lunch.       In the Spring of 2020, we said goodbye to Dr. Barry Nolt and Dr. George Chamuris, and this spring we say so long to Dr. Joseph Ardizzi, Dr. Judy Kipe-Nolt, and Dr. Cynthia Surmacz. While they will be missed daily by students and fellow faculty, we are so excited they get to enjoy their next chapter!         Thank you so much for all your hard work as members of the BAHS department. You will always be part of our BU family!  

       Christopher Duff, a 2020 BAHS Grad in the Ecology, Conservation, and Field Biology Program has recently secured a position in the Plant Pathology Division of the PA department of Agriculture.       Apparently he is crossing over to the dark side, molecular biology that is. Chris says he is excited to use the knowledge he gained at Bloom to identify exotic plant pathogens in his new position.           Now we know who to call when the plants in the greenhouse get sick!  Congratulations Chris, We are so happy you are part of our BU Family!   👏 🙌

The fun continues with the BAHS Department Seminar Series. We have so many speakers the weekly event will run for much of the summer. In the first weeks of June, four fantastic graduate students presented their proposed thesis projects to engaged crowds via Zoom.                                                    Interested in attending the seminar series? Contact Dr. Thomas Klinger ( tklinger@bloomu.edu ) for an updated schedule and zoom access!