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2009

The Right Flippered Turtle - Annette Sieg, graduate student under Dr. James Spotila, was recently quoted in a BBC news story.

[...click here to read the BBC article!...]
[...click here to read the DNA article!...]

150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species, nearly every biologist has accepted that evolution is responsible for the remarkable diversity we see in the living world. But in spite of this widespread acceptance, this science is still greeted by skepticism and even hostility among the American Public.

This past spring, the Department of Biology hosted a panel of experts in the fields of science, pseudoscience, law, and religion to discuss issues surrounding the Dover Area School District Trial.

[...Click here to see pictures and
video of the discussion and event...]

Dr. Felice Elefant, Associate Professor, published her recent paper, "The histone demethylase Dmel/Kdm4A controls genes required for lifespan and male-specific sex-determination in Drosophila" in Gene.

Dr. Aleister Saunders and former graduate student, Dr. Martin Zhang recently published "Emerging Role for Ubiquilin 1 in Regulating Protein Quality Control System and in Disease Pathogenesis" in Discovery Medicine.

Drexel is proud to announce Dr. Jeffrey Twiss as the new Head of the Department of Biology.

[...click here to read more...]

Dr. Susan Kilham was recently elected to be Chair of the Science and Technical Advisory Committee for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. This group of scientists from academia, government, NGOs and industry oversees and assesses the scientific work going on in the Delaware Estuary region and reports regularly on the state of the estuary.

Dr. Hal Avery's research was featured as a cover story this past week in The Beacon Newspaper for his research on diamondback terrapins at Barnegat Bay. The article, "Study Shows Terrapins Can Hear", highlighted the research being performed by Ph.D. students, Lori Lester and John Wnek. Additionally, Asbury Park Press featured Dr. Avery in a photo journalism gallery.

To view the photos, [...click here...]

Dr. Hal Avery and his Barnegat Bay Terrapin Project received wide media attention this week for new technology that has helped improve and expand his research in New Jersey.

[...read APP.com...]

[...read Buffalo State News...]

Dr. Jacob Russell recently attended the annual meeting for the Society for the Study of Evolution meetings in Moscow, Idaho this past June. Attending with Dr. Russell was his two students from his lab, Colin Funaro and Karen Sullam. Colin presented a poster, "Developing TTGE as a tool for investigating microbial communities in insects." Karen also presented a poster, "The microbial community of guppy guts." Dr. Rusell presented "Heritable symbionts of ants and butterflies."

Dr. Jennifer Nasser, Assistant Professor of Biology, and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology/DUCOM was included in the book "The End of Overeating" written by Dr. David Kessler, MD, former commissioner of the FDA. Dr. Nasser's work with fat/sugar "dietary speedballs" is cited on page 275 of the book and included in the index.

Dr. Walt Bien and students are featured on NJN for work involving the use of butterflies as a bioindicators of the ecosystem in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

[...Click here to view this and past videos...]

On a trip to China, Dr. Nianli Sang paid a visit to Shanghai and Beijing, presenting his research in both cities. Dr. Sang presented "Hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha: at the crossroad of multiple signaling pathways" at the Fudan University Shanghai Medical College. Dr. Sang also presented "Hypoxia inducible factors: targets for cancer therapy" as a Co-Chair for the Track 3-1 presentations of the 2009 World Cancer Congress in Beijing

Valerie L. Darcey, doctoral student under Dr. Quinlan, received the American Dietetic Association Foundation's 2009 Lois M. Jackson Scholarship. The award is in the amount of $1000.

The Department of Biology Congratulates Valerie on achieving this scholarship!

Renata Jacob, doctoral student under Dr. Quinlan, received the Student Award in the "Food and Nutrition" section of the American Public Health Association for an abstract submitted to their annual meeting that will occur this November in Philadelphia. The award recognizes students that submitted the abstract that received the highest overall score by reviewers in the student category.

The Department of Biology Congratulates Renata on this outstanding achievement!

Elena Schroeter,a doctoral student under Dr. Lacovara and a Drexel Provost Fellow, has been awarded the prestigious NSF Fellowship. The award is for $40,500 per year for three years ($30,000 stipend and a $10,500 educational allowance), with additional funds for international travel. It is with great pleasure the Department of Biology houses students of this caliber.

Check Back soon for an interview with Ms. Schroeter!

It has been 150 years since the
publication of On the Origin of Species, and nearly all biologists have come to accept that evolution is responsible for the remarkable diversity we see in the living world. But in spite of this widespread acceptance, this science is still greeted by skepticism and even hostility
among the American public, and the resulting conflict continues to play out in both the classroom and courtroom.

Join us this following Wednesday (June 3) for a disscussion amongst experts in the fields of science, pseudoscience, law, and religion.

[...click here for more information...]

Drexel's university-wide Research Day was a great success for students within the Department of Biology. Two students from the Department of Biology won prizes for their posters.

Congratulations students!

[...click here to read more...]

Congratulations goes out to students from the Nutrition Division for being accepted into dietetic internships for the '09-'10 academic year! While the national acceptance rate for students is 52%, our students saw a 91% rate and a pass rate of 81% for the national RD exam.

[...Click here to see a list of students...]

Annie Albin Mel Lumen, graduate student under Dr. Joseph Bentz, recently won Drexel University's Teaching Excellence Award at this year's Graduate Student Teaching Awards Competition. The award was presented by Drexel University and the Graduate Excellence Committee. The Department of Biology congratulates Ms. Lumen and wishes her further success as she continues with her career.

Dr. Elias Spiliotis, assistant professor, was awarded the 2009 Drexel University Career Development Award to organize the first international symposium on brain disease and septin research. A ceremony will be held in his honor early this June. Career Development Awards are designed to help faculty increase their exposure to colleagues at other institutions who can be collaborators and role models while introducing outside scholars to faculty at Drexel.

Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, Associate Professor of Biology, returns to Philadelphia with the world's most complete super-massive dinosaur. A press conference will be held 1May09 at Pack Avenue Terminal to unveil the the fossils. For more information, please contact the Department of Biology's main office at 215-895-2624.

[...click to see the discovery...]

Jay Patel, BS/MD student in the Department of Biology and the College of Medicine, will be presenting his abstract, “Does Molecular Diagnostic Testing Offer an Insight in the Differential Effects of Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus on Immune Activation?” at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant’s annual meeting in Paris, France on April 24th, 2009

[...click here to read more...]

The College of Arts and Sciences Research Day was a great success for students within the Department of Biology. Graduate Students, Lori Lester and Drew Cronin took home 2^nd and 3^rd prize!

[...click here to read more...]

The Integrated Sciences Building's Living BioWall
is gaining more and more national news media
attention as construction continues.

Dr. Donna Murasko, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor at the Dept. of Biology
was recently quoted about it in the
Press of Atlantic City.

[...click here to read the article...]
[...click here to see the BioWall...]

The Department of Biology seeks
new Department Head.

In an effort to find a new Department Head for the Department of Biology, candidates will be presenting Seminars every Tuesday at 11am in Disque 109 for the following 3 weeks.

Dr. Jennifer Quinlan continues to excel and take advantage of every opportunity presented at her Fulbright teaching position in Budapest, Hungary. Along with attending the 2009 Fulbright Berlin Seminar entitled, "1989-2009: New Hopes - New Challenges", Dr. Quinlan also participated in the Fulbright Information Seminar for perspective students, researchers and lectyurers from Hungary to America. Next week, she will be presenting a seminar at Corvinus University entitled, "Food Science Education and Food Safety Research: An American Perspective."

[...read her interview here...]

Dr. Jacob Russell, Assistant Professor within the Department of Biology, published “Specialization and Geographic Isolation Among Wolbachia Symbionts From Ants and Lycaenid Butterflies.” in the March, 2009 issue of Evolution. This study applied novel phylogenetic methods to elucidate the evolution of symbioses between insects and their influential bacterial symbionts from the genus Wolbachis, which infect over 60% of insect species world-wide.

Feel free to contact Dr. Jacob Russell to discuss this fascinating manuscript.

Dr. Aleister Saunders, Associate Professor and Interim Associate Department Head, received a 1 year, $100,000 grant from Cure Alzheimer's Fund to advance his ground breaking research in the field of Alzheimer's Disease.

The Department Congratulates him on this acheivement! To view all active and current Grants within the Department, [...click here...]

Dr. Aleister Saunders, Associate Professor and Interim Associate Department Head, flew off this past week to the historic city of Prague to attend and participate in the the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases 9th International Conference. This international conference discusses the Advances, Concepts, and New Challenges amongst the field of AD and PD research.

Dr. Jennifer Nasser, Assistant Professor, was elected to the status of Fellow in The Obesity Society, the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity since 1982. With this new title, Dr. Nasser will enjoy special privilages, contributing to the society in an even greater way. As a Fellow Member, she is granted the ability to hold office, vote for constitutional changes, and chair committees.

The Department Congratulates her on this great achievement!

Dr. James Spotila, professor of Biology and Betz Chair Professor of Environmental Sciences, was appointed to the steering committee of the Biology Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This important committee is charged with a variety of responsibilities, including providing direction to relevant AAAS activities, nominating fellows, and planning symposia.

Why fund fruit fly research!?
A topic of hot concern during the recent U.S. presidential elections will be tackled by our very own Drosophila expert, Dr. Daniel Marenda in the weekly CoAS Dean's Seminar today, 11Feb09, entitled, “Flying in the Face of Human Disease: How We Learn Big Lessons about Diseases from the Little Fruit Fly.”