2011-2012 WKU BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

HIGHLIGHTS

Faculty Awards

Dr. Keith Philips, University Research Award

Dr. Rodney King, OCSE Public Service Award

Dr. Albert Meier, OCSE Student Advisement Award

Dr. Keith Philips, OCSE Research & Creativity Award

External Grant Recipients

Sigrid JacobshagenNIH/KBRIN - $26,000.00

Jarrett JohnsonKAS - $500.00Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society, $400.00KAS - $5,000.00

Rodney KingNIH/KBRIN - $26,000.00

Sahi ShivendraNSF - $375,413.00

Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Award Recipients

Dr. Jarrett Johnson received $5,000 from the 2012 Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Special Research Program to investigate gene flow among populations of multiple amphibian species in the eastern foothills of the Santa Clara Valley, California. This work will identify species-specific patterns of amphibian dispersal on a single landscape and inform conservation decision-making for several amphibian species of special concern across the region.

Kevin Tewell, a first-year MS student in Dr. Johnson’s lab, is a 2012 recipient of the Marcia Athey Award. He received $500 to study landscape genetics of marbled salamanders at Mammoth Cave National Park. Kevin's research has the potential to identify key differences in patterns of salamander gene flow in landscapes that are largely intact, versus landscapes that suffer from fragmentation and urbanization. Kevin also recently received $400 from the Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program to support this project.

2011 RCAP (Research & Creative Activities Program) Awards in Biology

Dr. Michael Collyer ($11,000): Development of a Non-Parametric Permutation Method for Analysis of Multidimensional Trait Variance

Dr. Scott Grubbs ($17,000): Food Web Dynamics in a Karst River Ecosystem

Dr. Jarrett Johnson ($15,000): Epigenetic Control of Metamorphosis in Axolotl Salamanders

Dr. Nancy Rice ($8,200): Prevalence and Mechanism of Essential Hypertension in Kasigau, Kenya

Dr. Shivendra Sahi ($16,000): Plant-Mediated Synthesis of Nanoparticles

Dr. Bruce Schulte ($8,000): The Value of African Elephants in Habitat Modification, Biodiversity and Human Perception

Dr. Michael Stokes ($16,000): Ecology of a Founder Population of Reintroduced Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis)

42nd Student Research Conference Award Winners in

BiologyGraduate Students:

Amanda Campbell, Department of Biology; Best Graduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 4 — Tracing the Evolution of Telomerase for an Ancestral Precursor to Define and Suggest Cancer Therapeutics (Dr. Chandrakanth Emani)

Chandra Pranav, Department of Biology; Best Graduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 5 — Effect of Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera) on Ulcerative Colitis in a Mouse Model (Dr. Nilesh Sharma)

Gopinath Rajadinakaran, Department of Biology; Best Graduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 8 — Cell Proliferation and Apoptotic Pathways Regulated in Zebrafish Auditory Hair Cell Regeneration Using Next Generation Sequencing (Dr. Michael Smith)

Amanda Seaton, Department of Biology; Best Graduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 1 — Defining the Essential Components of Bacteriophage HK639 Early Gene Expression (Dr. Rodney King)

Undergraduate Students:

Victoria Gilkison, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 1 – Stable Isotopic Analysis of the Upper Green River in Hart County, Kentucky (Dr. Albert Meier)

Leah Frazier, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 2 — Stimulation of Cell Migration in Corneal Endothelial Cells (Dr. Ken Crawford)

Brenna Tinsley, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 6 — The Ecological Roles of Podostemum ceratophyllum and Cladophora in the Habitat and Dietary Preferences of the Riverine Caddisfly Hydropsyche simulans (Dr. Scott Grubbs)

Henry Uradu, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 15 — The Winter-Active Dung Beetle Fauna of a Costa Rican Cloud Forest (Dr. Keith Phillips)

Elizabeth Gatten, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 6 — Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage Magnolia (Dr. Rodney King)

Lori Lovell, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 (tie) — Land Use and E. Coli / Fecal Coliform Violations in the Upper Green Watershed (Dr. Ouida Meier)

Andrea Eastes, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 9 — Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 Gene Regulation in Pulmonary Myofibroblasts (Dr. Nancy Rice)

Charles Coomer, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 10 — Bacteriophage Classification Via PCR Analysis: An Alternative to Complete Genome Sequencing (Dr. Rodney King)

BSURE Awardees for 2011

Travis Beeler, $2,500 Bethany Coffey, $2,500 James Sutton, $2,000 Sean Shannon, $1000

KAS  Undergraduate Student Awards

Oral Presentations

Ecology and Evolution 2nd- Brenna Tinsley 3rd- Mary Newton

Health Sciences 3rd-Justin Pile

Physiology and Biochemistry 2nd-Chad Willis

Zoology 2nd- Bethany Coffey

 

Posters

Cellular and Molecular 1st - Sean Shannon

Chemistry 1st - Nicholas Wright (Chem major) and Amar Patel (Chem major/Bio minor/PreMed)

Microbiology 1st - Travis Beeler and Alison Emmert

KAS Graduate Student AwardsPhysiology and Biochemistry 1st- Yajie Wang 2nd-Gopinath Rajadinakaran

Zoology 1st-Jacob Eldridge 2nd- Derek Rupurt

Ecology and Environmental Science 2nd-Jennifer Yates

Botany 1st- Pranav Chandra

Cellular and Molecular 1st-Jonathan Howton

BIOLOGY ADVISING SUPER SESSIONS (B.A.S.S.)

BIOLOGY FRESHMEN & SOPHMORES

This guy has been advised.

This guy hasn’t.

Fall 2011Total Biology freshmen 207 Total Biology sophomores 170 Total freshman and sophomores 377 Number of BASS attendees 248 Percentage of f/s advised at BASS 66% How many plan to still see their advisor? 168 What percentage found the sessions helpful? 76% Spring 2012Total Biology freshmen 93Total Biology sophomores 196Total freshman and sophomores 289Number of BASS attendees 140Percentage of f/s advised at BASS 48%How many plan to still see their advisor? 63What percentage found the sessions Helpful? 69%

2011-2012 Honors Students

We had an impressive 156 Honors students during this past year!

Ogden College Student AwardsOutstanding Biology Graduate Student Jonathan Howton

Dillard/Hoyt Graduate Scholarship (Awarded for excellence in graduate research) Kevin Tewell

Outstanding Biology Teaching Assistant Derek Rupert

Outstanding Biology Student Brenna Tinsley

Outstanding Biodiversity Center Student Victoria (Torey) Gilkison

Outstanding Biotechnology Center Student Jordan Olberding

Larry N. Gleason Award for Excellence* (Awarded for excellence in undergraduate research)

Dr. Dan Skean Award for Outstanding Microbiology Student* Sarah Schrader

L.Y. Lancaster Award* (Awarded for excellence in the study of biology) Chad Willis

Biology Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Graduate Student:

Winner: Mr. Jonathan Howton

Nominated: Ms. Jennifer Yates, Mr. Gopinath Rajadinakaran, and Mr. Jacob Eldridge

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant:

Winner: Mr. Derek Rupert

Nominated: Ms. Cynthia Worcester, Ms. Amanda Seaton, and Mr. Gopinath Rajadinakaran

WKU students present research during 2012 Posters-at-the-

CapitolStudents from WKU, seven other public universities and KCTCS participated in the 2012 Posters-at-the-Capitol event Jan. 26 in Frankfort.

Posters-at-the-Capitol is intended to help members of Kentucky’s legislature and the Governor better understand the importance of involving undergraduates in research, scholarly and creative work.

Andrea Esterle, a Bowling Green senior, presented “Biosynthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Using Yucca filamentosa Plant Extract” with faculty mentor Shivendra Sahi.

Sherry R. Helm, an Eastview senior, presented “Analysis of RNA Mediated Antitermination in Erwinia Tasmaniensis Bacteriophage” with faculty mentor Rodney A. King.

Students from WKU, seven other public universities and KCTCS participated in the 2012 Posters-at-the-Capitol event Jan. 26 in Frankfort.

28 New Members of WKU's chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) inducted on November 14, 2011

Jasmin Boone, Hendersonville, TN Zachary Claytor, Lexington Charles Coomer, Louisville Addie Dodson, Bowling Green Caylee Duncan, Dixon Joseph Edwards, Grand Island, NY Mary Greenwood, Covington Morgan Gruner, Coldwater, MI Caleb Hayes, Bowling Green Mary Katherine Higginson, Owensboro Julie Taylor Johnson, Russellville Phillip Lindsey, Bowling Green Karinne Marcum, London David Mauser, Louisville

Kaleb Moore, Central City Semir Mujezinovic, Bowling Green Jessica Oaks, Morgantown Allison Pare, Tompkinsville Jessica Parks, Bowling Green Lyle Parrigin, Bowling Green Dillon Pender, Elizabethtown Suzanne Scott, Henderson Kristina Simpson, Bowling Green Aaron Strawn, Henderson Brock Vervilles, Bowling Green Kacy Wilson, Columbia Matthew Wood, Madisonville Spencer Wright, Liberty

2012 Residency Matches of Former Students

*A few additional highlights from this group:  • Jameson Mattingly won the Dean’s Award for Scholarship as UL’s top graduate.• Joe Thomas has served as Chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges

Organization of Student Representatives, representing all medical students nationwide.

• Three of our former students will be doing residencies at the Mayo Clinic.

Student Med School Residency

Brown, Benjamin (Wes) UL Anesthesiology, Mayo (FL)

Buege, Caleb ('07) UL Peds, UL

Carraro, Stevie ('07) UL IM, East Carolina Univ.

Daugherty, Michael UK Radiology, USF

Ebelhar, Andrew UL Otolaryngology. UK

Jones, Riley ('07) UL Surgery, UT Galveston

Mattingly, Jameson UL Otolaryngology, U. Colorado

Miles, Courtney ('07) UL Otolaryngology, Mayo (AZ)

Moore, Jessica UL General Surgery, UL

Pillow, Clinton UK Anesthesiology, MU S.Carolina

Reinke, Wilson ('07) UL Peds, UL

Thomas, Jonathan (Joe) UK Emer. Med. Mayo (MN)

2012 Graduate/Professional School Acceptances

MS ProgramsJane Bartanjo – Western Kentucky UniversityBethany Coffey – Western Kentucky UniversityElizabeth Malloy – Western Kentucky UniversityJared Mink – Western Kentucky UniversityKayla Pittman – Western Kentucky UniversityBrenna Tinsley - Missouri State UniversityRachel Wilson – Western Kentucky University PhD ProgramsGopinath Rajadinakaran -Neuroscience PhD program at The University of ConnecticutDanielle Racke  -University of Virginia, PhD ProgramRachel Wigginton -University of California Davis, PhD ProgramStephanie Bryant -University of Kentucky MS/PhD ProgramJonathan Howton – Dartmouth, Ph.D. programHeather Shockley – Montana State University, PhD program (Biochemistry)  Medical TechnologyChelsey Faulk – Owensboro MercyAshley O’Bryan –Owensboro MercyKristina Fraley - Vanderbilt Veterinary SchoolMiranda Barrick (Tuskegee)Travis Beeler (Accepted to Royal Veterinary College of London, Auburn, and Tufts – Will be attending Tufts)Alison Emmert (Auburn)Jonathan Hornback (Auburn)Hillary Kerr (Tuskegee)Brittany Lenz (Tuskegee) Dental SchoolCarly Brinson (University of Kentucky)Jessica DiLeo (University of Kentucky)Virginia Faulkner (University of Kentucky)Mark Graves (University of Louisville)Tyler Jury (University of Louisville)Mark Kuzma (University of Kentucky)

Dental School con’tAshley Merritt (University of Kentucky)Lauren Wathen (University of Louisville)Joshua Whitt (University of Kentucky

Medical SchoolLauren Bretz (University of Kentucky)Patrick Bryant (Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine; Pikeville)Grant Burkeen (University of Kentucky)Emily Calhoun (University of Louisville)Chris Colonna (University of Kentucky)Jonathon Craig (University of Louisville)Morgan Crigger (University of Louisville)Stephen Edds (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine)Katie Ferry (University of Louisville)Ashton Fields (Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine; Pikeville)Sunetris Fluellen (IU)Jordan Gass (University of Louisville)Kyle Hawkins (University of Louisville)Chris Housden (Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine; Pikeville)Aric Johnson (University of Kentucky)Angela Oulay (University of Louisville)Amar Patel (University of Louisville – Deferred Admission)Khushbuben Patel (University of Louisville)Sean Shannon (University of Louisville)C.J. Simouth (University of Kentucky)Jeremy Sites (University of Kentucky)Kari Smith (Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine; Pikeville)Eric Stamper (University of Louisville)William Tucker (Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine; Pikeville)Anne Walsh (University of Louisville)Amanda Webb (University of Kentucky)Kelsey Willen (University of Louisville)Chad Willis (University of Kentucky) Optometry SchoolLee (Alex) Compton (Southern College of Optometry)