The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. This year, BSC graduate students Sommer Starr (Mortazavi lab) and Abigail Rae Sisti (Earley lab) were awarded fellowships and graduate student Meghan Yap-Chiongco (Kocot lab) received an Honorable Mention. Congratulations!
Category: News
Dr. Asma Hatoum-Aslan and BSC graduate student Lucy Chou-Zheng uncover critical insights into bacterial immunity
In new work published in the journal eLife, Dr. Asma Hatoum-Aslan and one of her graduate students, Lucy Chou-Zheng, uncover new insights into how a common skin bacterium combats its viruses. The researchers discovered that the immune system in Staphylococcus bacteria known as CRISPR-Cas does not function on its own, but rather, it mobilizes other cellular processes that are normally not associated with immunity to defend against viral infection. These findings will help facilitate efforts to develop more effective antimicrobials […]
New publication by BSC alum Emily Brown and Dr. Ferguson identifies best conservation strategies for endangered woodpeckers
Dr. Paige Ferguson, along with UA M.S. alumus Emily Brown, recently published a structured decision making analysis aimed at increasing the Red-cockaded Woodpecker population in the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest and balancing stakeholder objectives in this area. Their paper is one of the first published studies on the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker in this 157,000-acre forested area, which is located between Tuscaloosa and Selma, Alabama. It is home to the largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers remaining in […]
Dr. Becker Assists in Global Study of Amphibians
New work published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution by an international team of researchers including Dr. Gui Becker shows how ambibian skin microbiomes – the bacteria and other microrganisms living on frogs and their relatives – are distributed globally. The team examined climate and geographic data to understand their effects on the microbiome on a global scale. Results of this work show that amphibian microbiomes fluctuate with seasons. Further, they did not find a core microbiome for species […]
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Dr. McKain Helps Map Strawberry’s Genes
Dr. Michael McKain is a co-author on the new paper “Origin and evolution of the octoploid strawberry genome,” published in Nature Genetics. This paper describes the sequencing of the highly complex genome of the cultivated strawberry and sheds light on this economically important crop’s evolutionary history. Read more about this work at UA News: https://www.ua.edu/news/2019/02/ua-biologist-helps-map-strawberrys-genes/
Novel animal model for Alzheimer’s published by the Caldwell lab including six UA student co-authors
https://www.ua.edu/news/2019/02/in-ua-research-tiny-worm-mimics-key-genetic-risk-for-alzheimers/
New Biological Sciences M.A. program announced
Starting in August 2019, Biological Sciences will offer a new Master of Arts (M.A.) program. This is a coursework-only degree designed for individuals who wish to enhance their knowledge of foundational concepts in Biological Sciences and gain practical hands-on training in laboratory techniques, data analysis and presentation as well as scientific pedagogical practices. This degree does not require the traditional intensive commitment to data-driven research that is the hallmark of the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Biology. Course catalog […]
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Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Nelson, recipient of the 2019 SFS Hynes Award
Dr. Daniel Nelson, a former Ph.D. student in Dr. Benstead’s lab who graduated from UA in 2016, has been awarded the prestigious Society of Freshwater Studies Hynes Award for New Investigators for his work on the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems. Read about Dr. Nelson’s work and the award here.
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Spring Dept. Seminar Lineup Announced
1/11/19 – Dr. Cassandra Quave, Emory University School of Medicine & Center for the Study of Human Health (Ciesla) 1/18/19 – Dr. Holly Graff , Old Dominion University (Ferguson) 2/1/19 – Dr. David Houle, Florida State University (Fierst) 2/8/19 – Dr. Nathan Fisher, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL (Olson) 2/15/19 – Dr. Kristen Whalen, Haverford College, PA (Jenny) 2/22/19 – Dr. Brandon Barton, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS (Kersch-Becker) 3/22/19 – Dr. John Manak, University of Iowa (Chtarbanova) 3/29/19 – […]
Congratulations fall 2018 BSC graduates!
Congratulations to Biological Sciences fall 2018 graduates Ed Griffin and Susanne Wiesner, masters graduates Heidi Lynn Bradley, Kelsey Lowman, Ayokunnumi Ogunsanya, and Derek Tolette, and undergraduates! Keep in touch!