Dr. Ciesla to give virtual NIH Office of Dietary Supplements seminar on 10/11 @ 10 a.m. CST

On October 11th at 10 a.m. CST, Dr. Lukasz Ciesla will present an NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) seminar entitled Dietary Supplements and Neurological Resilience in Aging. Dr. Ciesla will talk about a major focus of his research, the potential of chemicals present in plants abundant in the human diet to increase neurological and cognitive resilience to aging. Download the seminar flyer for more information. Zoom meeting number: 161 487 8886Meeting passcode: ODSseminar (63773646 from phones)Audio connection: 1-669-254-5252 call-in […]

Read More from Dr. Ciesla to give virtual NIH Office of Dietary Supplements seminar on 10/11 @ 10 a.m. CST

New study in PNAS by Kocot lab members sheds light on early mollusk evolution

The Cambrian Explosion was a dramatic event during which almost all major animal groups emerged simultaneously, making it a challenge to reconstruct the relationships between different branches of the animal tree of life. To better understand the early evolution of Mollusca, the second most diverse group of animals, a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences co-authored by Dr. Kevin Kocot and PhD candidate Meghan Yap-Chiongco in Department of Biological Sciences and Alabama Museum of Natural History […]

Read More from New study in PNAS by Kocot lab members sheds light on early mollusk evolution

Drs. Staudhammer, Atkinson, Shogren, Starr, and Heinrich awarded $3M NSF grant for Woods to Water (W2W) training for the next generation of ecologists and natural resource managers

Drs. Christie Staudhammer, Carla Atkinson, Arial Shogren, Greg Starr, and Kaleb Heinrich have been awarded an NSF-RaMP grant. This is a $3 million grant to train postbaccalaureates in field ecology, targeting participants who have been traditionally under-represented in ecology and natural resources. The team will be recruiting 3 cohorts of 10 students for year-long training that will occur at our local NEON sites and the Jones Center at Ichauway in southwest Georgia, with integrated classroom exercises and workshops. Units will […]

Read More from Drs. Staudhammer, Atkinson, Shogren, Starr, and Heinrich awarded $3M NSF grant for Woods to Water (W2W) training for the next generation of ecologists and natural resource managers

In Memory of Dr. Martha Powell

It is with great sadness that we notify our alumni, faculty and staff, as well as the broader community, that our former Department Chair, Dr. Martha Powell, passed away on June 20th after battling a debilitating condition for a few years. Dr. Powell joined the department in 1997 and oversaw unprecedented growth in both student enrollment and faculty numbers during her time as chair.  Under her leadership the department greatly expanded its research profile and her impact on our success is […]

Read More from In Memory of Dr. Martha Powell

Drs Ciesla, Chtarbanova, and Maitra awarded $149,000

Doctors Ciesla, Chtarbanova and Maitra were informed that NIH is funding their proposal. The project titled “Centella asiatica effects on neuroinflammatory responses in Drosophila models of acute inflammation and aging” is a two-year project with a total amount of $149,000. The project will help BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center at OHSU to investigate biological activity of a preparation they have formulated there. Data generated in this two-year project will lead to a subsequent R01 submitted together with OHSU. Project […]

Read More from Drs Ciesla, Chtarbanova, and Maitra awarded $149,000

Dr. Kevin Kocot awarded $414,000 by NSF

Dr. Kevin Kocot has been notified that an NSF proposal he submitted with Dr. Sarah Gerken (University of Alaska Anchorage) has been selected for funding. This award is for $757K with Dr. Kocot’s share being $413K. This three-year award started this August. Details: NSF. Collaborative Research: ANT LIA Cumacean -Omics to Measure Mode of Adaptation to Antarctica (COMMAA) (total amount: $757,226). Kocot share: $413,773. Co-PI: Dr. Sarah Gerken (University of Alaska Anchorage). Timeframe: 8/15/2022 to 07/31/2026  (36 months). The overarching […]

Read More from Dr. Kevin Kocot awarded $414,000 by NSF

Dr. Kaleb Heinrich and colleagues awarded $2.9M NSF Institutional and Community Transformation, Level 2, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Grant

Dr. Heinrich and his team just received news that their proposal “Evolving the culture of biology: Promoting graduate teaching assistant professional development to foster inclusion, efficacy, and evidence-based practices” was funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education. The project focuses on developing training for graduate teaching assistants (TAs) to engage in intentional, inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices. Most undergraduates that begin college intending to earn a STEM degree drop out of their STEM programs before graduating. This may […]

Read More from Dr. Kaleb Heinrich and colleagues awarded $2.9M NSF Institutional and Community Transformation, Level 2, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Grant