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Biology News

  • 2024

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  • 2022

  • 2021

    • Side-by-side headshots of Jana Lenart, August Modiga, and Disha Patel

      Arts and Sciences Students Named Inaugural Nina Henderson Provost Scholars

      December 10, 2021

      Executive Vice President and Nina Henderson Provost Paul Jensen recently announced the inaugural class of Nina Henderson Provost Scholars, which included three students from the College of Arts and Sciences. Congratulations to Jana Lenart, biological sciences, August Modiga, philosophy, politics and economics, and Disha Patel, chemistry.

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    • Nick Sookhoo

      Biological Sciences Major Nick Sookhoo is on the Path to Medical School

      November 22, 2021

      From his research experience to co-op, biological sciences student Nick Sookhoo is gaining the skills he will need to be successful in medical school and achieve his longtime dream of becoming a doctor.

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    • Termite Brains Can Grow in Anticipation of a Single Moment of Flight and Light

      October 20, 2021

      New research on dampwood termites shows select members of the colony will experience brain changes in anticipation of cognitive demand. Drexel researchers measured developmental differences in the relative sizes of visual processing brain regions, called optic lobes, among dampwood termite castes to test whether optic lobe investment matches caste differences in exposure to visually complex environments.

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    • Photo of Manuel Alejandro Seman Senderos on a blue and gold Drexel background

      Meet Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology Manuel Alejandro Semán Senderos, PhD

      October 14, 2021

      Manuel Alejandro Semán Senderos, PhD, is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Biology. He previously earned his PhD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Hal Dietz studying fibrotic diseases. His research focus was cell biology processes gone awry in disease and the use of genetic tools in order to find and validate new therapeutic targets.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      October 07, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      September 09, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • A man casts a fishing net over a river

      CoAS Faculty and Research Featured in EXEL Magazine

      August 24, 2021

      The new issue of EXEL, Drexel University’s research magazine, features a number of articles on College of Arts and Sciences faculty members, departments, centers and programs, recognizing the significant contributions they have made to research and discoveries.

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    • Two students are at an event. Both are smiling and one student has her arms raised above her head in celebration.

      College to Mark Return to Campus with ‘CoAS Comes Back!’ Celebration

      August 17, 2021

      The College of Arts and Sciences, recognized by President John Fry as “the heart of the University,” presents CoAS Comes Back! on Tuesday, October 5, from 3 to 7 p.m., in Gateway Garden. All Arts and Sciences students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to gather, connect in person, and enjoy food, fun and music.

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    • Mallika Kodavatiganti

      Biological Sciences Alum Mallika Kodavatiganti ’21 Combines Passions for Co-op Success

      July 12, 2021

      Biological sciences alum Mallika Kodavatiganti '21 shares how her extracurricular activities, creative experiences and coursework inspired the work she did during co-ops at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Temple University's Center for Obesity Research and Education. She was recently honored with a 2021 Cooperative Education Award.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      Recognizing Excellence in Research, Scholarship, Creativity, Teaching and Professional Service

      July 08, 2021

      As a means of supporting the ongoing development of Drexel University’s research, scholarship and creative activities, as well as recognizing excellence in teaching and professional service, the Office of Research & Innovation and the Office of Faculty Advancement and Undergraduate Affairs are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020-21 Research, Scholarship and Creativity Awards and the 2020-21 Provost Awards for Teaching, Scholarship and Professional Service.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      July 07, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      Congratulations to Our 2021 Gilman Scholars

      June 09, 2021

      We are pleased to announce that four CoAS students have received Gilman Scholarships to support study or co-op abroad in 2021. Congratulations to Manmeen Kaur, Elana Sargent, Jade Umstead and Brenda Vong!

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      2021 Graduate Student Awards

      June 08, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the following graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences, who recently received Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference Awards and Graduate Student Excellence Awards.

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    • Tim Hanlon

      Meet Undergraduate Student Commencement Speaker Tim Hanlon

      June 07, 2021

      Tim Hanlon is an honors biology major with a concentration in organismal biology and physiology, a minor in neuroscience, certificates in creative writing and in publishing, and is also the outgoing Student Body President. Hanlon recently took the time to reflect on his time at Drexel and share what’s in store for him after graduation.

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    • screenshot of Zoom classroom with Brett Condon in a science lab

      SEA-PHAGES Lab Innovates for Remote Learning Environment

       

      May 17, 2021

       Susan Gurney, PhD, and Brett Condon, PhD, who co-teach the Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) course, had a novel solution to move their extremely hands-on lab online.

       

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    • Headshots of Tim Hanlon and Angel Hogan

      #ForeverDragons: Save the Date for the CoAS Commencement 2021

      May 04, 2021

      On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2021 with a virtual commencement. The ceremony will be live-streamed from Mandell Theater, where a small party of dignitaries and speakers will gather.

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    • Defense Mechanisms in Aphids Can Become a Double-edged Sword, Sharpened by the Seasons

      April 20, 2021

      <p style="margin: 0in;">Evolution is unfolding in real time within many natural animal populations and researchers are now observing how this influences biodiversity in the field. In a newly published study in&nbsp;<em style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: #000000;">Molecular Ecology</span></em><em><span style="color: #000000;">&nbsp;</span></em>a team of Drexel University scientists examined the biological variations in pea aphids, insects that reproduce frequently enough to evolve before our eyes, by tracing the prevalence of their protective endosymbiont,&nbsp;<em>Hamiltonella defensa</em>,<em>&nbsp;</em>which the insects use to ward off parasitoid wasps.</p>
      <p style="margin: 0in;">&nbsp;</p>

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    • Shivani Patel and Ryan Petrie stand in front of a research poster

      Undergraduate Research Leads to Lead Authorship in Biology Publication

      April 14, 2021

      Shivani Patel '20, Nicole Naranjo '18, and Kimheak Sao '16 conducted work as undergraduates in the Petrie Lab that led to a recent publication in Molecular Biology of the Cell.

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  • 2020

    • 2020 CoAS Research Day Winners

      Paper Wasps to Fenceline Communities: Top Student-Led Research from Spring and Summer

      December 07, 2020

      The College of Arts and Sciences’ first-ever virtual Research Day showcased unique and innovative research conducted last spring and summer by Drexel students and their CoAS faculty mentors. The research may have been conducted as part of a research co-op, STAR Scholars project, independent funding and more. Learn more about the students who received the day’s top prizes and how the awardees have used the projects to push forward in their academic and professional careers.

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    • Jason Orne, PhD and Jennifer Stanford, PhD

      Four CoAS Projects Funded in Support of Racial Equity

      October 28, 2020

      This summer, Drexel University’s Office of Research and Innovation funded projects by 22 faculty and staff across the university from its Rapid Response Research and Development Fund, which was designated for urgent action, short-term projects focused on racial equity. Learn more about the funded projects out of the College of Arts and Sciences, and how the researchers are tackling issues from bystandership among police officers to inclusive teaching practices.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      August 26, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel University CASTLE Faculty Fellows Advance STEM and Academic Inclusion

      CASTLE Launches Faculty Fellows Program

      July 27, 2020

      A new initiative out of the Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning Excellence (CASTLE) adds an additional layer to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Sustaining Excellence Program at Drexel University, which is aimed at improving retention of STEM undergraduates by developing evidence-based competencies among STEM educators through community building, mentorship and recognition of innovative teaching.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      July 27, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel University's 8th Annual Celebration of Faculty Authors -- June 2, 2020

      CoAS Shines at Annual Celebration of Drexel Authors

      July 22, 2020

      In June, Drexel University gathered virtually to recognize over 100 accomplished authors and editors in its eighth-annual Celebrating Drexel Authors event. Members of the College of Arts and Sciences featured prominently in the event, including professors, graduate students and alumni from across several departments.

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    • Tim Hanlon - Drexel Biology Major and USGA President

      Meet Drexel’s New Student Body President

      July 22, 2020

      Drexel’s Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) recently announced its new crop of officers, led by President and biological sciences major Tim Hanlon! Read on to find out more about Tim’s plans for the role and how Drexel students can utilize the USGA to make their voices heard.

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    • multi-ethnic hands - Our world can't wait.

      CoAS Creates New Role: Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

      July 22, 2020

      The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce that it will appoint an internal candidate to the new role of Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with an expected start date of September 1, 2020. This new position will report directly to the Dean and become a member of the Dean’s Leadership Team, a group comprising Department Heads, Associate Deans and Directors.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      June 10, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure and Promotion

      June 05, 2020

      We are pleased to announce faculty promotions and tenure appointments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members!

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      May 06, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • teacher stadning in front of classroom - drexel teaching academy

      Five CoAS Faculty Tapped for Inaugural Drexel Teaching Academy

      May 05, 2020

      Five faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences are participating in the Teaching and Learning Center’s first Drexel Teaching Academy, a 10-week program designed to develop pedagogical experts across the University and foster an interdisciplinary community among faculty who already hold this expertise.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      April 03, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      March 02, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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  • 2019

    • Book and notebook open on a table in a library

      Winter Courses

      October 18, 2019

      Explore creativity in research, the history of the Earth, globalization and more in these new and noteworthy winter courses!

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    • Deanna Mauro Biology Student at Drexel University

      Bio Grad Takes on Mental Health Stigma and Medicine

      September 23, 2019

      On co-op at Johnson & Johnson, Deanna Mauro ’19 stood confidently before a room of senior scientists. Mauro, a biological sciences major at Drexel University, had spent the past six months running her own project, designed to increase the effectiveness of a specific immunotherapy.

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    • Fabrice Kentatchime, manager of the Ganga Station, teaches students how to identify food remains from chimpanzee feces.

      Course Spotlight: Chimpanzee Biodiversity and Conservation in Cameroon

      September 20, 2019

      Most biology courses don’t take place foreign national park, or require an independent, chimpanzee research project — but Chimpanzee Biodiversity and Conservation is not your average biology course.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      August 13, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Kitchen Garden Class Promotes Diversity, Sustainability and Getting Your Hands Dirty

      August 09, 2019

      CULA 426 and related sections of the Kitchen Garden class taught through the Center for Food & Hospitality Management gives students from all majors the chance to learn about gardening and environmental stewardship.

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    • Sean O’Donnell Interim Head of Drexel University’s Department of Biology

      New Interim Department Head of Biology

      July 23, 2019

      The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce that Sean O’Donnell, PhD, has been appointed Interim Head of Drexel University’s Department of Biology.

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    • Korman Center at Drexel University

      Drexel Writing and Tutoring Centers Open in Korman

      July 23, 2019

      Drexel students now have access to a one-stop shop for academic support with Drexel’s new Writing and Tutoring Centers! In May, several of Drexel’s academic tutoring centers moved to the Korman Center, co-locating to support student academic success. Read on to learn more about these resources — and how you can take advantage of them!

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    • Ryan Petrie, PhD, with collaborator Joe Chan, PhD

      International Biology Collaboration Leads to Nature Publication

      July 23, 2019

      A new paper published in the journal Nature is the result of a successful international collaboration — and it started right on Drexel’s campus in the lab of Assistant Professor of Biology Ryan Petrie, PhD.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure and Promotion

      June 25, 2019

      We are pleased to announce faculty promotions and tenure appointments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Student Fellowships

      June 25, 2019

      Students in Drexel’s College of Arts and Sciences are scientific innovators, global explorers and leaders in education, communication and advocacy. Reflecting their accomplishments is the impressive number of national and international fellowships they received this year to support graduate education, professional experiences and research abroad.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Students Receive University-Wide Awards

      May 23, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the following College of Arts and Sciences students who have received university-wide awards.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      May 23, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Decorated Drexel Graduation Caps 2018

      Meet the College of Arts and Sciences’ Newest Forever Dragons

      May 22, 2019

      They’ve found their intellectual passions, expanded their worldviews, made friends and memories — and now they’re ready to turn their tassels! Members of the graduating class of 2019 share their advice, Philly faves, memories and more before they head off on their next adventure.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards

      May 21, 2019

      The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University could not be accomplished without the dedication and support of our faculty members. It is their pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that reinforces our position as a modern liberal arts college, and enhances our University’s reputation as a world-class research institution.

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    • Dean Schultheis with Drexel study abroad students

      With Newly Adopted Research Center, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program Welcomes CoAS Faculty and Students

      April 03, 2019

      This spring, faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences traveled to Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the official government adoption of the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program’s scientific research center. The events not only highlighted the accomplishments of the program, but also shed light on opportunities for further collaboration with Drexel University researchers and students.

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    • Drexel Bio Club

      Student Organization Spotlight: American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

      April 01, 2019

      Drexel’s chapter of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or simply “bio club,” is open to any student interested in the life sciences. We caught up with the current president of Drexel ASBMB, biological sciences senior Mary Doan, to learn more about the organization.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      April 01, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • What’s it Like to Go on ‘Wheel of Fortune?’ One Drexel Student Explains All

      March 29, 2019

      Drexel student Zaarah Abdul-Aziz recently appeared on the show on a March 20 episode during its special “College Week Spring Break” programming.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      Welcoming New Associate Deans in the College

      March 11, 2019

      The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of two new associate deans in graduate education and research.

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    • Kolkata, India - Drexel CoAS Majors Share Favorite Travel Destination

      Oh, the Places You’ll Go: 10 CoAS Majors Share Favorite Travel Destinations

      March 05, 2019

      Sure, you could complete your whole degree in Philadelphia, but why not take advantage of Drexel opportunities around the globe? With gorgeous photos, insider tips and stories from international locales, 10 College of Arts and Sciences students share the best place their major has taken them.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      March 05, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel College of Arts and Sciences Graduation

      Why Consider Graduate School?

      February 05, 2019

      When it comes to life after graduation, there are many exciting decisions to consider, from choosing where to put down roots, to applying for jobs and determining if graduate or professional school is right for you.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      February 04, 2019

      We are proud to recognize the recent presentations, publications, awards and honors of members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Ekwoge Abwe, PhD - Drexel Biological Sciences Student

      Follow My Lead: Ekwoge Abwe, PhD

      January 24, 2019

      Ekwoge Abwe has a gift for rallying others to the cause of conservation. From hunters to farmers to local community members, he has worked for two decades to empower the citizens of Cameroon to protect the country’s fragile ecosystems and its numerous endangered and endemic species.

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    • Madelyn Caltabiano, PhD

      Follow My Lead: Madelyn Caltabiano, PhD

      January 24, 2019

      For 37 years, Lyn Caltabiano has been a leader in the field of pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) at two of the top pharma companies in the world — GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. From leading operations for GSK’s early phase clinical development and oncology R&D to strengthening project and alliance management at Merck, she has sought one challenge after the next, never allowing herself to get too comfortable.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      January 03, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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  • 2018

  • 2017

    • The $100K Halftime Show That Changed One Dragon’s Life

      December 12, 2017

      No football team? No problem. Drexel University junior Isaiah Hoffman won a $100,000 tuition scholarship from Dr. Pepper for a successful halftime football toss.

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    • How the Drexel Rec Center Lined Up ‘The Balanced Project’

      December 06, 2017

      To spotlight the wellness and inclusion mission of Drexel University Recreational Athletics, the Drexel Recreation Center has released a new campaign featuring Dragons working on their physical, mental and emotional health.

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    • Ellen Wildner, Drexel Biology Alumni

      Geek of the Week: Ellen Wildner, Biological Sciences '15

      October 24, 2017

      Ellen Wildner is a trained biologist and anthropologist. She currently studies snails at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, but like most scientists is curious about everything and how it all connects.

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    • Halley Oyer, PhD

      Drexel Researcher Wins STAT News Wunderkind Award

      October 19, 2017

      STAT — a Boston-based national publication focused on science and health news — has named a Drexel University College of Medicine postdoc one of the "brightest young minds in life science."

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    • Zak Brodnik Wants to Change How You Think About Addiction

      September 14, 2017

      As a doctoral candidate in neuroscience in the Drexel University College of Medicine, Zak Brodnik’s work focuses on the biology underlying drug-use disorders, and he has a message he wants to deliver alongside his research.

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    • Dragon logo

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure, Promotion and Awards

      June 26, 2017

      The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University could not be accomplished without the dedication and support of our faculty members. It is their pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that reinforces our position as a modern liberal arts college, and enhances our University’s reputation as a world-class research institution.

      Read More

    • Drexel Honors Outstanding Faculty Achievements at Year-End Awards

      May 25, 2017

      At the annual Faculty Recognition Awards Ceremony on May 24, Drexel acknowledged the faculty and staff members whose scholarship, service and teaching contribute so much to the University and its students.

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    • Common Artificial Sweetener Likely a Safe, Effective Birth Control, Pesticide for Insects, Drexel Study Finds

      May 23, 2017

      Erythritol, a non-nutritive sweetener found in products like Truvia, has proven effective in killing fly larvae and slowing down their egg production, making it a good candidate for human and pet-safe pesticide use.

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    • Drexel Biology student Elise Krespan

      Dampening food deserts with a transdicplinary approach

      May 05, 2017

      Drexel graduate student Elise Krespan gave a talk at the 2017 Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference, which presented a novel solution to alleviate food deserts using a 3D printed hydroponic system in conjunction with cyanobacteria to produce fertilizer.

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    • Treatment Window for Fragile X Likely Doesn’t Close After Childhood, Drexel Study Finds

      March 20, 2017

      A Drexel University-led study looked into human and rat brain samples and found that the biological structures potentially contributing to Fragile X syndrome are present in adult brains — something that mouse samples did not show.

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    • Eva Karasmanis

      Prestigious Fellowship to Support Drexel Biology PhD Student in Taking on Cancer

      March 03, 2017

      Fourth year PhD student Eva Karasmanis’ fascination with cell biology began as soon as she started studying the subject, and eventually inspired her decision to join Drexel’s biology program and the Spiliotis Lab. Armed with the faculty mentorship and state-of-the-art lab space to match her passion and knowledge within the field, Karasmanis recently earned the National Institute for Health’s Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, a prestigious fellowship supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

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    • Joe Hodnicki

      25 Faces 25 Years: Joe Hodnicki

      February 23, 2017


      Joe Hodnicki isn’t biased to any one medium; painting, illustration, block printing, merchandise design — he does it all. The biology alum’s deep love of the natural world, particularly the ocean, resonates in his art and design work for big-name brands like Vimeo and Urban Outfitters, nonprofits like the Special Olympics, and independent shops like Grain Surfboards and Mother Earth Brewing Company. He’s built tree houses in the Virgin Islands, produced merchandise for events like the New York and San Diego Surf Film Festivals, and even designed the medals for the 2012 Winter X Games. But the career path that now so perfectly weaves his love of art and science was once unclear to a young Hodnicki.
       

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    • Lee Dolat

      25 Faces 25 Years: Lee C. Dolat

      February 02, 2017

      Lee Dolat has worked as a research technician at Harvard Medical School, contributed and authored articles for The Journal of Cell Biology and the Encyclopedia of Cell Biology, and become the first student in the history of Drexel’s Department of Biology to secure the esteemed Ruth L. Kirschstein pre-doctoral fellowship award from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. And that’s all before he’s even defended his PhD thesis.

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    • Drexel PhD student Eva Karasmanis

      Eva Karasmanis Receives an Award from the National Cancer Institute

      January 30, 2017

      Eva Karasmanis receives the Ruth L. Kirschstein award courtesy of the National Cancer Institute (an agency of the National Institutes of Health).

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  • 2016

  • 2015

    • Academy Exhibit Highlights Clergy’s Contributions to Science

      September 23, 2015

      An exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is highlighting the intertwined role of science and the clergy at the museum’s beginning.

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    • Drexel's Image-Tracking Technology Allows Scientists to Observe Nature vs. Nurture in Neural Stem Cells

      September 03, 2015

      One of the longstanding debates in science, that has, perhaps unsurprisingly, permeated into the field of stem cell research, is the question of nature versus nurture influencing development. Science on stem cells thus far, has suggested that, as one side of the existential debate holds: their fate is not predestined. But new research from the Neural Stem Cell Institute and Drexel University's College of Engineering suggests that the cells’ tabula might not be as rasa as we have been led to believe.

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    • Bushmeat Trade Grows with Economic Prosperity

      August 03, 2015

      The bushmeat market in the city of Malabo is bustling—more so today than it was nearly two decades ago, when Gail Hearn, PhD, began what is now one of the region’s longest continuously running studies of commercial hunting activity. Hearn’s team has now published its comprehensive results of 13 years of daily monitoring bushmeat market activity.

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    • Do Insect Societies Share Brain Power?

      June 17, 2015

      A new Drexel study suggests that social behavior evolved very differently in the brains of social insects than in vertebrate animals such as mammals, birds and fish.

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    • Underground Ants Can't Take the Heat

      June 15, 2015

      A new Drexel study shows underground species of army ants are much less tolerant of high temperatures than their aboveground relatives—and that could mean climate change models lack a key element of how animal physiology could affect responses to changing environments.

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    • Learning from the 'Grossness' of Animals

      June 02, 2015

      Let’s face it: Animals can be gross. But what can we learn from some of the things that we find disgusting or weird? A new exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences shows us.

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    • Study of African Birds Reveals Hotbed of Malaria Parasite Diversity

      April 08, 2015

      A new study published this week in the journal PLOS ONE explores the scope of malaria parasite diversity in southeast African birds, and provides insight into how lifestyle characteristics of birds can influence their association with different parasite genera.

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    • Studies of Most Endangered Chimpanzees Show Complex Evolutionary Past, Perilous Future

      January 21, 2015

      A Drexel-led team's complementary analyses of population genetics, geographical distribution and habitat use paint a new picture of the evolutionary past and potentially bleak future of the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee, already the most endangered chimp subspecies.

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  • 2014

    • Drexel Team Unveils Dreadnoughtus: A Gigantic, Exceptionally Complete Sauropod Dinosaur

      September 04, 2014

      A Drexel-led team has described a new dinosaur species with the most complete skeleton ever found of one of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth. At 85 feet (26 m) long and weighing about 65 tons (59,300 kg) in life, Dreadnoughtus schrani is the largest land animal for which a body mass can be accurately calculated.

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    • Researchers Find Sweetener is Safe Insecticide

      June 04, 2014

      In a study that began as a sixth-grade science fair project, researchers at Drexel University have found that a popular non-nutritive sweetener, erythritol, may be an effective and human-safe insecticide. Erythritol, the main component of the sweetener Truvia®, was toxic to fruit flies in the Drexel team’s study.

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    • A Tiny, Toothy Catfish with Bulldog Snout Defies Classification

      May 13, 2014

      Kryptoglanis shajii is a strange fish — and the closer scientists look, the stranger it gets. This small subterranean catfish sees the light of day and human observers only rarely, when it turns up in springs, wells and flooded rice paddies in the Western Ghats mountain region of Kerala, India. Scientists at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University have recently provided a detailed description of this fish's bizarre bone structures.

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    • Paperwasps in Different Castes Develop Different-Sized Sensory Brain Structures

      January 06, 2014

      A queen in a paperwasp colony largely stays in the dark. The worker wasps, who fly outside to seek food and building materials, see much more of the world around them. A new study led by Drexel professor Sean O'Donnell, PhD, indicates that the brain regions involved in sensory perception also develop differently in these castes, according to the different behavioral reliance on the senses.

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  • 2013

    • Dont Wash Your Chicken Video Vignettes Make Cooking Safer

      August 19, 2013

      Drexel food safety researchers have helped develop a new educational campaign to raise awareness that washing raw poultry prior to cooking risks spreading bacteria, without any benefit of removing or killing them.

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    • Grad Student Helps Peers Strengthen Teaching Skills

      July 01, 2013

      When grad student Mitchell D'Rozario noticed his fellow teaching assistants struggling to be prepared to teach classes, he created workshops to help them strengthen their skills.

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    • Co-op Profile-Victor Fiore

      June 24, 2013

      Some students are lucky if they can work part time or full time at their co-op once it is finished, but biology major Victor Fiore is planning on spending all three co-ops, as well as the time in between, as a dental intern.

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    • Grad Student Profile Vlad Ratushny

      May 31, 2013

      College of Medicine grad student Vlad Ratushny enjoyed the sweet success of graduation last month after eight long years in the combined MD–PhD program.

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    • Drexel at Philadelphia Science Festival and Philly Tech Week

      April 16, 2013

      As part of city’s vibrant scientific and technological community, Drexel University will play a big role in the 2013 Philadelphia Science Festival and Philly Tech Week on April 18-28. From a 29-story video game, to cutting-edge robotics, to an interactive Jazz concert, Drexel’s students, faculty and professional staff will be part of the programming for both week-long celebrations of the inquisitive and innovative spirits that are part of the fabric of the city.

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    • Monkey Film Premieres to Promote African Biodiversity

      April 09, 2013

      Turtle biologists with digital SLR cameras may be on the verge of something extraordinary: Empowering a nation to save endangered monkeys and the idyllic island ecosystem they call home. The very unusual nature documentary the biologists produced will have its U.S. premiere at Drexel University on April 15.

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    • New Fossil from a Fish-Eat-Fish World Driving the Evolution of Limbed Animals

      March 27, 2013

      Scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University have described another new lobe-finned fossil fish species from the same time and place in the Canadian Arctic as the famous precursor to limbed animals, Tiktaalik roseae, which they discovered several years ago.

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    • Making Axons Branch and Grow to Help Nerve Regeneration After Injury

      March 22, 2013

      Drexel researchers are a step closer to understanding how nerve cells are repaired at their farthest reaches after injury. Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

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    • QandA-Binge Drinking

      January 16, 2013

      One in eight women in the U.S. participates in binge drinking, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DrexelNow asked Drexel professor Taylor Anderson about the results of the CDC report and how the effects of binge drinking are unique to women.

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    • BEES Natural History Collections Course

      January 14, 2013

      A new course for freshmen this winter term showcases one of the most fundamental components of biology and environmental science: natural history collections.

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  • 2012

    • Umar Hafeez

      November 14, 2012

      Above and beyond. Drexel junior Umar Hafeez has become quite good at it. And others have taken notice.

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    • Commuter-Students

      September 24, 2012

      Sophomore commuter student Sarah Mukhtar offers helpful tips to fellow commuters on how to get involved at Drexel.

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    • Drexel Receives First LEED Certification for Papadakis Building

      September 20, 2012

      The biowall, a 75-ft. high wall of plants, serves as a biological air filter, demonstrating Drexel’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and progressive research.

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    • Giant Panda Conservation Researchers from China to Speak at Drexel

      August 16, 2012

      Three leading scientists involved in the conservation of giant pandas at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, China will present a mini-symposium, “Biology and Conservation of the Giant Panda,” at Drexel University on August 22.

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    • Distress Signal in Injured Nerve Cells Begins with Locally Made Protein

      July 30, 2012

      New research recently published in Neuron, co-authored by Drexel's Dr. Jeffery Twiss, is one of the strongest indicators yet of molecular signaling from end to end in peripheral nerve cells. The team's new discoveries may help scientists better understand nerve cells' distress signals and nerve cell repair, so they can eventually control and enhance the process to speed up recovery from nerve injuries.

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    • Protecting Biodiversity Arks in the Tropics

      July 27, 2012

      Many of the world’s tropical protected areas are struggling to sustain their biodiversity, according to a study just published in Nature by more than 200 scientists from around the world. Among them, Drexel's Dr. Sean O’Donnell, highlighted the important, beneficial role of private landowners who work to preserve biodiversity in their land surrounding tropical reserves.

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    • Rising Heat at the Beach Threatens Leatherback Turtles

      July 01, 2012

      New research suggests that climate change could exacerbate existing threats to critically endangered leatherback turtles and nearly wipe out the population in the eastern Pacific. Deaths of turtle eggs and hatchlings in nests buried at hotter, drier beaches are the leading projected cause of the potential climate-related decline, according to a new study in the journal Nature Climate Change by a research team from Drexel, Princeton University, other institutions and government agencies.

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    • El Niño Weather and Climate Change Threaten Survival of Baby Leatherback Sea Turtles

      May 23, 2012

      Drexel University researchers have found that the climate conditions at a major leatherback turtle nesting beach affects the early survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings. They predict, based on projections from multiple models, that egg and hatchling survival will drop by half in the next 100 years as a result of global climate change.

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    • Drexel University at Philadelphia Science Festival

      April 12, 2012

      Drexel University will play a big role in the celebration of science at the annual Philadelphia Science Festival. The festival, which runs from April 20-29, brings scientists and science enthusiasts together for a week of science-related exhibits, demonstrations and gatherings throughout the city. Drexel students, faculty and professional staff will take part in events each day during the festival. Click "read more" for a full schedule of all Drexel-related activities during the week.

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    • Pacific Danger Zones for Critically-Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles

      March 01, 2012

      A major new study of migration patterns has identified danger zones in the Pacific Ocean for critically endangered leatherback sea turtles. This new understanding could help inform decisions about fishing practices to help reduce further deaths of this fragile species. Drexel University’s Dr. James Spotila was coordinator for the study involving collaborators worldwide.

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    • 3-D Robotic Dinosaurs On the Way for Next-Gen Paleontology

      February 20, 2012

      Researchers are bringing the latest technological advancements in 3-D printing to the study of ancient life. Using scale models of real fossils, for the first time, they will be able to test hypotheses about how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved and lived in their environments.

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    • Cold Plasma Reduces Harmful Bacteria on Raw Chicken

      February 02, 2012

      A new study by food safety researchers at Drexel University demonstrates that plasma can be an effective method for killing pathogens on uncooked poultry. The proof-of-concept study was published in the January issue of the Journal of Food Protection.

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    • Academy of Natural Sciences Celebrates Bicentennial

      January 18, 2012

      The yearlong Bicentennial of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University will feature a major new exhibition opening March 24 called The Academy at 200: The Nature of Discovery. A special series of Town Square programs, some led by world-renowned experts, will focus on today’s critical environmental issues, and a science symposium will be held in the fall. For museum visitors, monthly themed activities, giveaways, and discounted admission days will provide fun and learning for the whole family.

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  • 2011

    • Drexel Academy of Natural Sciences Complete Affiliation Agreement

      October 27, 2011

      The Academy of Natural Sciences President and CEOGeorge W. Gephart, Jr., and Drexel University President John A. Fry, joined with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the completion of an historic affiliation between the Academy and Drexel that will promote discovery, learning and civic engagement in the natural and environmental sciences and further enhance Philadelphia’s reputation as a leader in scientific research and education.

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    • Biowall A Living Laboratory for Air Quality Research

      September 29, 2011

      Drexel's new Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building features a five-story vertical wall of living plants – the largest such wall in North America and the only one at a U.S. university. Scientists and students at Drexel are studying the biowall, an active living filter that removes volatile organic compounds from the air, to get a better understanding of how it works.

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    • The Academy of Natural Sciences and Drexel Announce Historic Affiliation

      May 19, 2011

      The collaboration will further Philadelphia’s reputation as a leader in the Natural and Environmental Sciences; The Pew Charitable Trusts Announces $1 million grant

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