BioSynthesis

Bloomsburg University was well represented at the 2018 meeting of the Commonwealth of PA Biologists (CPUB) meeting at Mansfield University.   CPUB is an organization that fosters excellence in biology education and research by hosting annual meetings for students and faculty of the fourteen institutions in the PA State System of Higher Education. Twenty-two BAHS faculty members, undergraduates and graduate students made the journey to Mansfield University for research presentations, scientific sessions, workshops, and meetings. Attending were, from left: Dr. Williams, Prof. Hartzell, Ben Paul, Dr. Surmacz, Tyler Carroll, Glen Maneval, Jerome Betz III, Alexandria Ostman, Dr. Schwindinger, Becky Price, Lakoata Wadena, Stephanie Buczkowski,   Madison Aungst, Heather Llewellyn, Adrienne Yordy, Amber Bogdanowicz, Dr. Hess, Dr. Klinger, and Dr. Henry (absent from photo: Claire Pressimone, and Drs. Beishline and Green.) The BAHS crew at the CPUB meeting at Mansfield University...

Congratulations to our BAHS students who have been admitted to medical school and will begin their studies in fall 2018.  We are very proud of you! Brandon Arnsberger:  West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Carrie-Anne Barry: Drexel University College of Medicine Andrew Denishenko: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Nathan Feiertag: Albert Einstein College of Medicine Kurt Knepley:  Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine Ethan Powell: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Michaela Wagner: Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine Adrienne Yordy:  Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Sixteen BAHS students had the opportunity to brush up on their interview skills at Tri-Beta's MOCK INTERVIEW sessions on April 2, 2018. Students had two interviews, an individual one and a group interview, conducted by faculty. This was great preparation for interviews for professional schools, graduate schools, and jobs. Following the interviews, students and faculty met for a debriefing to discuss the interview process, learn some important interview "dos" and don'ts," and to enjoy some snacks. Student participants were  Madison Aungst, Jasmine Bailey, Andrewe Cross, Dan Deignan, Heather Detwiler, Kaitlyn Gwozdecki, Nathan Feiertag, Dhir Gala, Julia Smith, Justin Salak, Phoebe Slavens, Alexandria Ostman, Jessica Paoletti, Nazia Ruiz, Pinkay Oscar, and Morgan Nicolson,  Faculty interviewers were  Dr. Bell  from Chemistry and Biochemistry and BAHS faculty members:  Drs. Beishline, Hare-Harris, Heitzman, Kipe-Nolt, Schwindinger, Wood, Klinger, Williams, ...

Emily Ashberry Emily Ashberry is the first student in BAHS’s new 3 + 2 accelerated master's program. Emily is currently working on her master’s thesis under the direction of Dr. Steven Rier .   Her project is entitled “ Understanding the environmental context of algal priming of course particulate organic matter decomposition in streams.”   Emily’s work will examine how conditions such as light, nutrient concentrations and the presence of labile carbon affect algae.   The presence of algae in an aquatic ecosystem can stimulate the breakdown of terrestrial organic matter by heterotrophic decomposers. Emily had a very successful undergraduate career. 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 recipient of numerous scholarships including the BAHS Scholarship, the Henry Carver scholarship ...

" Lung Health" was the theme of the 27th Annual Health Sciences Symposium held at Bloomsburg University on April 26 and 27, 2018.  The event was kicked off by the keynote address at Mitrani Hall at the Haas Center for the Performing Arts. Adrienne Yordy, the recipient of the BAHS Outstanding Senior  award, had the honor of introducing our guest speaker  Paul Simonelli, M.D., Ph.D., a pulmonologist from Geisinger Medical Center.  His address  entitled " "A Population Health Approach to Chronic Lung Disease"  was presented to an audience of over 500 students, faculty and community members.  Dr. Simonelli , pictured at left, is the chair of the department of pulmonology and critical care medicine, the system-wide director of  the division of pulmonary and sleep  medicine, and the director of population health. Dr. Simonelli earned his medical degree and doctoral degree in biochemistry from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai....

Congratulations to BAHS majors who made the Dean's List Spring 2018!   The following BAHS majors earned a 3.50 or above during Spring Semester 2018.  Keep up the good work! Julio Abadia Health Sciences, Pre-Physician Assistant Haeden Allbeck Health Sciences, Medical Lab Science Emily Altemus Health Sciences, Pre-Physical Therapy Elijah Anseaume Biology Kelly Arnold Health Sciences, General Kelly Arnold Medical Imaging Amanda Aulenbach Biology Madison Aungst Biology, Pre-Medical Sciences  Oriana Balascio Biology, Pre-Medical Sciences  Brandon Ball Biology, Environmental Biology Lauren Barrett Biology, Environmental Biology Allison Beaver Medical Imaging Tanner Bingaman Biology Nathan Bischof Medical Imaging Margaret Bisciotti Medical Imaging Hannah Blauch Medical Imaging Cortney Blevins Bi...

Sean Hartzell BAHS sends its best wishes to Sean Hartzell , 2015 BA Biology and 2017 MS  Biology, as he begins his new position at the PA Fish and Boat Commission. This marks the end of Sean's seven years at BU,  first as an undergraduate, then as a master's student and finally as as an adjunct instructor, teaching invertebrate zoology and anatomy and physiology.   Sean had a VERY successful academic career at BU.  He graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Biology, natural history op tion, and a minor in geology.    Sean was a member of Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society and honor society of Phi Kappa Phi.  He conducted undergraduate research on newts and hellbenders. Sean's master's thesis was enti tled " Behavior of Eastern Hellbenders and Native and Non-Native Crayfish from the Susquehanna Drainage of Pennsylvania."   Sean's broad research interests encompass herpetology, freshwater ecology, crayfish, invasive species, freshwater invert...

Dr. Rachel Melnick Dr. Rachel Melnick , a 2003 biology alumna, returned to BU to be the keynote speaker at the College of Science and Technology Research Day on April 13, 2017. Dr. Melnick earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology at Penn State University. Her graduate work focused on biological control options for cocoa diseases and led her to international research in Ecuador and Bolivia. Her postdoctoral research was conducted at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Perennial Crops Lab of the Agricultural Research Services in Beltsville, MD. Dr. Melnick currently is the National Program Leader for Agroclimatology and Production in the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. She manages programs in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and in the Small Business Innovation Research: Crop Production and Protection-Engineering program area in conjunction with the National Science Foundation. During her keynote address, Dr. Melnick spoke fondly of...

Heather Beattie Heather Beattie ,  a Health Science, medical laboratory science  major,  has been awarded the James E. Parsons Scholarship. The scholarship was established by Dr. Parsons, retired professor of microbiology, faculty emeritus, and former director of the medical laboratory science program at BU. Heather a  dean’s list student, is currently employed at Geisinger Laboratory Client Services. She also serves as a student secretary in the Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences. Heather plans to apply for clinical experiences in Medical Laboratory Science this summer. Congratulations Heather!

Pre-medical science majors Jasmine Bailey  (Top left) and Justin Salak  (bottom left) are recipients of the Dr. Stephen Schell Scholarship. The  award was generously established by  Dr. Stephen E. Schell, MD (BS Biology, 1975), a board certified otolaryngologist and graduate of Temple University School of Medicine. Funding provided by the award assists pre-medical science students in preparing for osteopathic or allopathic medical school by helping to defray the cost of a preparatory course or materials for the Medical College Admission Test. Jasmine is a Dean's list student and recipient of the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society Ruby Key. Jasmine received a Board of Governor's Scholarship and is serving as a program mentor. She has been employed as a Home Health Aide and a pharmacy technician. Jasmine has volunteered at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. She has earned Level 1 Leadership certification by the Center for Leadership and Engageme...