Herpetology; BI 416
Over spring break 2014, fourteen herpetology students traded in their textbooks and lab rooms for field guides and Florida swamps. Prof.'s Schneider and Warkentin led students into the field and taught this exciting new course, Herpetology (BI 416).
A few science journalism graduate students recently created a descriptive and interesting website (bu.edu/biology/herps) to feature this new course. On this site you will find pictures, videos, research, stories and more!
Patrick Sorensen wins NSF DDIG
Understanding the response of soil microbes to freezing
Graduate student Patrick Sorensen of the Dr. Pam Templer lab has won an NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant to study forests' reduction in the depth and duration of snow cover as the climate changes.
Because snow insulates soils from below-freezing air temperatures, loss of snow cover increases the frequency of freeze - thaw events in winter. Past studies show that soil freezing increases movement of nitrogen from forest soils to nearby waterways and the atmosphere, but the causes of these patterns are not well understood, especially the role of soil microbes. The goal of this project is to gain a deeper understanding of the response of soil microbes to these changes, and the consequences for nitrogen loss downstream.
Honorable Mention for Fulweiler Student
Graduate Student Tim Maguire recognized by NewEngland Estuarine Research Society
First year Biology Ph.D. student Tim Maguire spoke at the New England Estuary Research Society (NEERS) Spring Meeting in Salem, MA., “Urbanized Watersheds – Potential Sources of Silica to Receiving Waters” and won honorable mention for best graduate student talk.
Lesneski wins Dana R. Wright Research Award
Katey Lesneski was the recipient of the Dana R. Wright Research Award for her research in marine science as a member of the Kaufman Lab.
Lesneski's research centers on the clustering behavior of Aplysina fistularis. Currently, Katey is designing and planning to implement a long-term field monitoring research project of outplanted Acropora cervicornis in Key Largo, FL.
The award was established in memory of Dana Wright (CAS '00) an alumnae of the BU Marine Program. After completing her studies, Wright went on to work in research in right whale acoustics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod.
Warkentin Lab highlighted in Science
When Dads Go Missing, Frogs Start Hatching
Dr. Karen Warkentin and graduate student Jesse Delia's research on early hatching behavior of glass frogs in Central and South America is highlighted in Science magazine.
Animal Behavior Society awards Jesse Delia
Warkentin lab graduate student wins research grant
Graduate student Jesse Delia of the Karen Warkentin lab has been awarded an Animal Behavior Society research grant to study social dynamics of paternal care, hatching plasticity, and mate choice in two glassfrogs. Read more about Delia's research.
Cohen wins Kramer Scholarship
Kristina Cohen Awarded for Excellence in Research
Kristina Cohen of the Karen Warkentin Lab was awarded the Marion R. Kramer Award for excellence in research.
Kristina studies the evolution and development of hatching mechanisms and hatching performance. She divides her time between tropical and temperate fieldwork, molecular lab work, and histology.
Timmons Wins Terner Award
For excellence in cell and molecular biology
Graduate student Allison Timmons of the McCall Lab was honored with the Terner Award for her excellence in research in Cell and Molecular Biology.
Timmons' research centers around the contribution of follicle cells to the non-apoptotic programmed cell death of the nurse cells in the Drosophila ovary
Cotter wins Macchi Award
For excellence in endocrinology and regulatory biology
Kellie Cotter of the Gloria V. Callard lab was honored with the Macchi Award for excellence in endocrinology and regulatory biology.
Cotter's research centers around endocrine disruption and adaptive strategy in Killifish from an estrogenic environment.
Warren-McLeod Fellowships Announced
Marine Biology Graduate Students Win Awards
The 12-month Warren-McLeod Fellowship has been awarded to Ben Carr of the Les Kaufman Lab and Michael Piacentino of the Bradham Lab .
Ben Carr's research concerns an "Analysis of the Western and Central Pacific Tuna and Billfish Fishery Through Historical Catch Records.” This work bears directly on the sustainability of viable populations of some of the ocean’s most valuable and spectacular fishes.
Michael Piacentino’s research concerns "Anterior Skeletal Patterning in Sea Urchin Development.” As skeletogenesis in many marine organisms is threatened by ocean acidification, and the sea urchin is the leading laboratory model system to mechanistically investigate skeletogenesis, this work bears on an issue of urgent and worldwide marine conservation concern.
The summer Warren-McLeod Fellowship has been awarded to Tina Barbasch of the Pete Buston lab and Lauren Friedman of the John Finnerty lab.
Tina Barbasch’s research concerns how males and females negotiate investment in their offspring. Her principal model system is a reef fish, the clown anemone fish. Tina’s research addresses a problem of profound significance in the behavioral ecology of sexually-reproducing species.
Lauren Friedman's research investigates the mechanisms underlying a pronounced infraspecific difference in oxidative stress tolerance she has identified in the estuarine sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. Oxidative stress is a pervasive cellular stressor, as as such, Friedman’s research has wide implications. It is also of particular interest in cnidarians because oxidative stress is the proximate mechanism underlying coral bleaching, which is the major cause of coral mortality.